Wine Bargain: Envinate Albahra 2024

2023 Le Petit Cheval Blanc 2023

-12% discount to 2022

“It has everything you want from this cuvée which has found its rhythm. Tasted in a vertical going back to 2018 and this is the most impressive." - Decanter

Le Petit Cheval Blanc is one of Bordeaux’s most thrilling white wines, crafted by Chateau Cheval Blanc to showcase precision and elegance. First released in 2014, it blends Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Semillon, sourced from vineyards on gravel and clay soils in Saint-Émilion. The result is a wine of crystalline freshness and complexity, marked by citrus zest, white flowers and mineral drive. With finesse and ageing potential, it offers a rare glimpse of Cheval Blanc’s white expression.

The 2023 Le Petit Cheval Blanc is a striking vintage, uniting crystalline citrus purity with layered complexity. Aromas of lemon zest, grapefruit and orange lead into green apple, elderflower and acacia. On the palate, it balances precision and texture, with piercing acidity lifting notes of confit lemon, pecan, grapefruit and subtle spice. Savoury, sappy nuances from Semillon add depth, while early harvesting and meticulous winemaking deliver clarity and structure. This vintage confirms its status as one of Bordeaux’s finest whites.

Released at €100 In Bond per bottle and coming in beautiful cases of 3x75cl OWC, the 2023 has already drawn high praise from critics. With Decanter calling it their favourite vintage in a vertical tasting, this is a release that no serious Bordeaux collection should overlook.

 

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Le Petit Cheval Blanc 2023

€100* In Bond per bottle

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97 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

Freshly zested lemon with grapefruit and orange aromas - so pronounced and really quite crystalline on the nose. At the back some green apple and white floral elderflower and acacia notes too. Clean and focussed, lovely precision and clarity to the flavours with such a strikingly poised texture. This has grip and zing but also just a touch of buttery, softness that adds weight to the body. Threads of nuttiness and wood enter giving accents and spiced edges. Piercing acidity adds lift and joins the layers of confit lemon, baked vanilla pecans, bitter grapefruit and soft cinnamon spice. Gorgeously complex and the flavour lasts for ages. It has everything you want from this cuvée which has found its rhythm. Tasted in a vertical going back to 2018 and this is the most impressive. Director Pierre-Olivier Clouet and cellarmaster Carole André.

96 Points | Jane Anson

Pale green gold, this is savoury and sappy, with a wave of white peach and nectarine pit. Structure and longevity, focus and clarity, this wine is now seriously finding its feet and setting itself apart. Early harvest, precision winemaking, the Sémillon comes through on the texture with the dominant flavours of tea leaf, chamomile, citrus, greengage and lime speaking to the Sauvignon Blanc. Pierre-Olivier Clouet director.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

See all wines from Cheval Blanc.

2022 Cheval des Andes

99 points - Vinous

“The 2022 Cheval des Andes is a significant upgrade to Mendoza’s historic regional blends, combining grapes from Las Compuertas (Luján de Cuyo) and Paraje Altamira (Uco Valley). […] Boasting serious concentration, fine tannins and a slight creaminess, the 2022 has a structure that is firm but never tight, maintaining weight without losing balance. The finish is long, energetic and full of flavor. This is an exceptionally beautiful wine."

Cheval des Andes is where Bordeaux heritage meets the high-altitude magic of Mendoza. Founded as a collaboration between Chateau Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes, the estate unites French savoir-faire with Argentine terroir. Old-vine Malbec from the foothills of the Andes is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to craft wines of precision, elegance and power. With meticulous vineyard management and refined winemaking, Cheval des Andes has established itself as one of South America’s most celebrated fine wine estates.

Cheval des Andes is rooted in the high-altitude vineyards of Las Compuertas in Mendoza, where old-vine Malbec thrives alongside Cabernet Sauvignon at over 1,000 metres. The terroir combines alluvial soils, cool Andean breezes and dramatic diurnal shifts, giving intensity with freshness. Grapes are hand-harvested and vinified parcel by parcel, using gentle extraction to preserve purity and elegance. Ageing in French oak barrels and foudres brings polish, allowing the wines to express both Mendoza’s vibrancy and Bordeaux refinement.

Cheval des Andes 2022 is a luminous blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot from Las Compuertas and Paraje Altamira. Aged in a mix of Bordeaux barrels and large foudres, half new, it combines bright red fruit, cassis and violets with savoury herbs and spice. The palate is polished yet energetic, with fine, refined tannins and remarkable balance. Elegant, precise and deeply expressive, this vintage delivers freshness, complexity and impressive ageing potential.

Scoring 99 points from Vinous and further supported with 98 points from Decanter, Suckling and Jane Anson, the scores are unanimously high for what could arguably be the finest vintage of Cheval des Andes yet.

Releasing at €65* In Bond per bottle, this is a vintage not to miss.

 

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Cheval des Andes 2022

€65* In Bond per bottle

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99 Points | Vinous, Joaquin Hidalgo

The 2022 Cheval des Andes is a significant upgrade to Mendoza’s historic regional blends, combining grapes from Las Compuertas (Luján de Cuyo) and Paraje Altamira (Uco Valley). The 2022 vintage allowed for a slower ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon, which take prominence in this blend alongside 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Aging was carried out in 40% 225-liter Bordeaux barrels, 35% 400-liter barrels and 25% 2,500-liter foudres, with 50% new oak. A bouquet of bright fruit—raspberry, blueberry and delicate cassis—and complementary bay leaf and mint tones give way to a touch of ash and mild bell pepper. Boasting serious concentration, fine tannins and a slight creaminess, the 2022 has a structure that is firm but never tight, maintaining weight without losing balance. The finish is long, energetic and full of flavor. This is an exceptionally beautiful wine.

98 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

Earthy, savoury nose full of wet soil, peppercorns and blackcurrants alongside violets, chocolate, cherries and raspberries. Well crafted, such a svelte and streamlined expression with real charm and finesse. There’s power for sure but it’s funnelled into one line from start to finish. I love the brightness and opulence here yet there’s super charm and precision too. Great energy, succulence and vibrancy with natural acidity creating a salivating effect that makes you want to come back for another glass. Expertly made with an accumulation of details that make it so enjoyable. The joint project of Château Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes. Winemaker Gérald Gabillet.

98 Points | Jane Anson

Fragrant, exceptional quality, a standout in the lineup. Concentrated black cherry and damson fruits, nuanced pulses of orange peel and pomegranate, gunsmoke and peony flowers. Gérald Gabillet winemaker, at this joint venture between Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de los Andes. Fermented and aged in a mix of 225l barrels, 400l barrels and 2,500l casks, 50% new oak - almost entirely French, with some Austrian, Slovenian and German.

97 Points | Wine Advocate

Soon to be released through La Place de Bordeaux, the 2022 Cheval des Andes opens with an exotic, spice-driven bouquet, supplemented by lifted herbal notes and a vibrantly red-fruited and perfumed backdrop. The palate is similarly energetic, melding an elegantly rich, polished texture with a slender, tensile energy. It concludes with a long, persistent and high-toned finish that gradually unfurls a sturdy structure of supremely refined tannins. This is an excellent counterpoint to the comparatively darker and more open-knit 2021, showcasing a brighter, more tenacious profile while sacrificing none of the grace, nuance and textural attention to detail that has come to define Cheval des Andes. It's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

See all vintages from Cheval des Andes. 

Love Over Gold 2021

A Fine Wine Library Exclusive:

If there is one wine that you buy in September, make it this one.

This looks to be the breakout vintage for Love Over Gold, with the wine topping the Vinous report as the highest scoring and ‘best’ Australian wine of 2021, but with a price tag of €36.50 IB per bottle, it remains one of the finest value propositions in Australian fine wine.

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98 Points - Vinous

“Its seamless, satiny texture enhances powerful and energetic flavors that are both youthful and refined. Firm yet fine tannins drive the long, impressive finish. This is absolutely great but needs time to flower."

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Love Over Gold is a vineyard project born out of Eden Valley’s rugged beauty on historic goldfields. Founded in 2014, Love Over Gold unites some of the most recognisable figures in Australian wine: Michael Twelftree, owner of Two Hands, Pierre-Henri Morel, its GM, and Tim Hower, also of Two Hands, together with Joel Mattschoss of Thistledown. Based on the historic Barr-Eden Estate, this project reflects a shared passion for wines of place. The 130-acre site lies on Mengler’s Hill, straddling Eden Valley and Barossa Valley, and rises between 465 and 545 metres above sea level.

Winemaking here is guided by provenance and precision, with ancient soils of sandy loam, ironstone and quartz over schist and shale providing remarkable complexity. Hand harvesting, gentle handling and minimal intervention preserve clarity and finesse, while sustainable farming protects the plateau’s biodiversity. Production is intentionally limited, ensuring each bottle reflects its unique site, offering collectors rare expressions of Shiraz and other varieties that balance Barossa richness with Eden Valley refinement.

Love Over Gold’s Avenue to Gold Shiraz is a rare bottling, with only 3,960 bottles produced annually. Aged in concrete to emphasise purity and freshness, it shows lifted aromatics and ripe, expressive fruit. The palate is long and refined, with a lasting mouthfeel and structure to age gracefully for 10–15 years.

 

A breakout high score & still a low price:

 

Love Over Gold has been quietly producing outstanding wines in recent years, and with the superb 2021 Barossa vintage, they have delivered a true breakthrough. The Avenue to Gold 2021 outscores icons such as Hill of Grace, Penfolds Grange and Torbreck RunRig, earning 98 points from Vinous and ranking as the joint highest-scoring Australian wine of the vintage. It also claimed the top spot in a recent Australian wine report, cementing its status as a rising star.

The guys over at Two Hands are old friends of ours, and we were delighted when we called them up requesting an allocation. We’re bringing this exclusively into the Netherlands, and judging by Wine-Searcher listings, there is very little stock in Europe. This could be your only chance to secure the wine.

To celebrate, we are offering a pre-arrival price of €36.50* In Bond per bottle, delivering exceptional value. We are truly excited about this wine and believe it deserves a place in your collection.

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Love Over Gold Avenue to Gold Shiraz 2021

€41.50 In Bond per bottle

Pre-arrival special price:

€36.50* In Bond per bottle

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98 Points | Vinous

The 2021 Shiraz Avenue to Gold slowly reveals beautifully composed and even aromas of dark cherry, raspberry, red licorice and touches of dried herbs, all wrapped up in a cocoon of fine French oak. Its seamless, satiny texture enhances powerful and energetic flavors that are both youthful and refined. Firm yet fine tannins drive the long, impressive finish. This is absolutely great but needs time to flower.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

See all wines and vintages of Love Over Gold.

2021 Yjar-  Double 100 Pointed Vintage

100 Points - Jane Anson

“An excellent vintage in Rioja, and the promise of Yjar is delivering a totally knockout wine here. Impossible not to smile when tasting this, so much energy and precision, savoury, mouthwatering redcurrant, cranberry, blueberry fruits, with waves of dried herbs, lavender, and crushed rose petals”

Telmo Rodríguez’s Yjar was the first Spanish wine to be released on the La Place de Bordeaux system, highlighting a significant milestone for Spanish wine in the world of fine wine.

Having learned his craft at Pétrus and Cos d’Estournel, Rodríguez is arguably one of Spain's greatest winemakers. He sparked a renaissance by making wines that showcase Rioja’s distinctive terroir, rather than masking the grape’s qualities with layers of American oak.

Yjar is crafted from a single 3.8-hectare vineyard located in the limestone-rich foothills of Rioja Alavesa. Yjar’s vineyard history stretches back to the 1400s, situated at 600-800 meters above sea level on the foothills of Sierra de Toloño. Originally maintained by Hieronymite monks, the estate later fell into the hands of the Divisia de Nuestra Señora de los Angeles de Toloño, who managed it for five centuries. After being abandoned following a fire in the 1800s, the property lay dormant until the 1960s, when a Basque family began its restoration. Telmo Rodríguez acquired the 3.8-hectare estate about a decade ago, marking the beginning of Yjar’s exciting new chapter. This specific plot benefits from the region's unique terroir, with its well-drained, mineral-laden soils contributing to the wine’s distinctive character. 

Telmo Rodriguez’s YJAR 2021 is a landmark Rioja, earning perfect 100-point scores from leading critics. The wine bursts with energy and precision, showing redcurrant, cranberry and blueberry alongside notes of herbs, violets and crushed rose petals. Fermented with native yeasts in wooden vats and aged 30 months in foudres and barrels, it balances finesse, depth and vibrancy. Stylish, polished and beautifully persistent, YJAR 2021 captures Rioja’s heritage with a truly modern elegance.

Released this morning, we are offering an introductory special price of €99 In Bond per bottle. Both single bottles and cases of 3x75cl are available to order now on our website.

With only a small amount of the 2021 vintage available, Rioja enthusiasts should seize the opportunity to add these remarkable wines to their collection before they’re gone.

 

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Telmo Rodriguez YJAR Rioja 2021

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100 Points | Jane Anson

An excellent vintage in Rioja, and the promise of Yjar is delivering a totally knockout wine here. Impossible not to smile when tasting this, so much energy and precision, savoury, mouthwatering redcurrant, cranberry, blueberry fruits, with waves of dried herbs, lavender, and crushed rose petals. Juicy, moreish, building in power across the palate. Tasted at the estate and again in Bordeaux. Telmo Rodriguez winemaker of this 3.8ha plot set within his family Remelluri estate in the foothills of the Sierra de Toloño in Rioja Alavesa. Harvest October 14 to 24, fermentation with native yeasts, open top wooden vats.

100 Points | James Suckling

Crushed dark berries are complemented by violets and underbrush with a gentle touch of tobacco. The sophisticated palate shows exceptional definition and polished tannins that are seamlessly integrated into a core of vibrant, restrained fruit. It’s all held together by a linear freshness characteristic of the vintage. This wine has depth, persistence and an incredibly stylish profile. Firm yet with an underlying tenderness. Beautiful now but will continue to evolve. Drink or hold.

98 Points | Wine Advocate, Luis Gutiérrez

The finest Yjar to date has to be the 2021 Yjar. It's super elegant and aromatic and has more finesse than the Gran Vino, subtler, nuanced and insinuating. It's seamless and balanced, very harmonious, with ripeness, concentration and power but very elegant. It fermented in small oak vats and matured in foudres and barrels of different sizes for 30 months. It has a seamless palate with very elegant and fine tannins, the 2021 signature and very good freshness too. 10,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2024.

96 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

A fabulous Yjar on the Place this year. Fragrant nose, roses and peony flowers, Chinese five spice, cinnamon and exotic spices. Great clarity and focus, juicy and fleshy with a great mouthfeel. A modern take on Rioja but so well defined and delineated. Lovely poised structure, definitely powerful but funnelled into a long finish. Beautiful in all the senses - calm, collected, detailed, easy to drink with plenty of interest and power. I love it. Telmo Rodriguez winemaker.

 

See all available vintages of Yjar.

2022 Syrahs from Damascene Syrah

It seems like Damascene burst onto the South African wine scene out of nowhere, and winemaker Jean Smit is doing everything right. Top quality terroir-driven wines that are, for now, very affordable. We advise South African wine fans to really take note of this offer and get ahead of the curve.

Damascene has quickly become one of South Africa’s most exciting modern wineries, celebrated for its precision, elegance, and terroir-driven wines. Founded in 2017 by winemaker Jean Smit and businessman David Curl, Damascene focuses on cool-climate Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and site-expressive Chenin Blanc from top Cape vineyards. With minimal intervention and a focus on purity, the wines capture energy, texture, and a vivid sense of place. In a short time, Damascene has earned international acclaim and a devoted following.

Jean Smit’s winemaking journey spans some of the world’s most renowned estates. He trained under Andy Smith at DuMOL in California, refined his craft with Stéphane Ogier in Côte Rôtie, returned to California at Larkmead, and back in South Africa, he gained invaluable experience at Rustenberg before leading the winemaking team at Boekenhoutskloof for nearly ten years.

In his 2023 South Africa report, Tim Atkin elevated Damascene to his coveted ‘First Growth’ category, placing the estate alongside the Cape’s elite names, including Porseleinberg and Sadie Family. This is especially impressive as winemaker Jean Smit is considered to be one generation after Eben Sadie.

At their Elgin winery, Jean Smit employs a meticulous yet thoughtful approach. Fermentations are natural, whole-cluster fruit is often used, and élevage takes place in large 2,000-liter Austrian oak foudres and striking conical concrete tulip vats. These vessels, with their gentle infusion and minimal racking, enhance purity and texture while preserving lower sulphur levels. Final blends rest in concrete to harmonise before bottling. The philosophy is clear: protect vineyard identity, balance ripeness with freshness, and allow each site’s voice to shine.

When we tasted a vertical of Porseleinberg, one of the striking developments was the greater purity from 2018 onwards, when the estate adopted a submerged cap technique inspired by Jamet. Damascene employs the same method, favouring this gentle infusion style of maceration to enhance finesse and preserve vineyard character.

Today we have a trio of Syrah’s all from different terroirs, to present from the highly esteemed 2022 vintage. Both Tim Atkin MW and Neal Martin score the wines very highly, with scores up to 98 points. Stylistically, these wines are compared to Syrahs from Côte-Rôtie but with a price tag that’s a fraction of their Rhone counterparts at €41.50* inc VAT per bottle.

Damascene is sure to be a future icon in the making, so get in on allocations whilst they are available and reasonably priced!

“Damascene is a protagonist in South Africa's New Wave. The estate was founded in 2017 by winemaker Jean Smit and entrepreneur David Curl and is based in Elgin. It sources fruit from various sites in Stellenbosch, the Swartland, Cederberg and Franschhoek. The Syrahs and the Chenin Blancs are of special interest. Jean Smit runs a tight ship in a state-of-the art winery. He employs natural fermentation, whole-cluster fruit and aging in large oak foudre and concrete vats. The goal is to preserve varietal character and the identity of each vineyard site. These are extremely exciting wines. Watch this space.” - Wine Advocate, Monica Larner

 

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Damascene Swartland Syrah 2022

 

€41.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

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98 Points | Tim Atkin MW

A majestic follow up to the 2021 release, this world class Syrah combines components from the shale soils of Riebeeksrivier and 25% from the granite of Jakkalsfontein. Hauntingly aromatic, it's a red with remarkable energy and vibrancy, flavours of fig, cooked meat, hot stones and tapenade, lots of underlying grip and the faintest whisper of oak. 2025-38

96 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2022 Syrah from Swartland comes from mostly shale and schist soils, 25% on granite soils, using 75% whole cluster fruit (the shale using submerged cap during fermentation). Aged in 2,000-liter Austrian oak, this leans more towards red berries, with touches of flint and white pepper with a hint of garrigues coming through with aeration. The medium-bodied palate has finely sculpted tannins. There’s a lovely symmetry and focus here, a gentle but insistent grip with the whole bunches imparting irresistible peppery notes towards the finish. Superb.

 
Damascene Stellenbosch Syrah 2022

€41.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

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“If South Africa has a Grand Cru Syrah site, it is arguably Karibib, the main source of this superb red from Jean Smit”, wrote Tim Aktin on the 2021 vintage

 

97 Points | Tim Atkin MW

“Syrah is in my blood," says Jean Smit, and it shows. This is one of a trio of brilliant examples of the variety, combining grapes from the Polkadraai Hills with 20% from Bottelary. Bloody, intense, brooding and almost indecently aromatic, it's a tribute to the great reds of the northern Rhône, with plenty of granitic grip, tapenade, liquorice and blackberry flavours and the structure and focus to age beautifully in bottle. 2027-40

95 Ponts | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2022 Syrah from Karabib is 75% whole clusters matured for 11 months in 2,000-liter Austrian oak. This elegant nose of incense and pressed violets infuses the vivacious melange of black and blue fruit. The medium-bodied palate has fine structure, slightly chalky in texture, with real backbone and density, yet the elegance floods through on the black pepper and clove-infused finish. Very persistent in the mouth. Tuck bottles away for several years as this is a serious Syrah sculpted by its cooler microclimate.

 
Damascene Ceres Plateau Syrah 2022

€41.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

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95 Points | Tim Atkin MW

The Ceres Plateau already has a bit of form as a high-altitude Syrah region and this first release from Jean Smit will only add to that. Made with the submerged cap technique to keep the tannins soft, this is a racy, focused, fynbos and rose petal-scented red with Asian spice and red berry fruit, plenty of acidity and a tangy mineral core. 2026-35

94+ Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2022 Syrah from Bokkeveld Shales utilizes 60% whole cluster fruit matured for 11 months in 2,000-liter Austrian oak. This has a more fruit-intense bouquet, perhaps partly from using submerged cap during fermentation. There’s blueberry and blackberry fruit, just a hint of iodine and garrigue surfacing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, a slightly powdery texture, and a touch of flintiness emerging towards the finish. Very pure in style, gaining volume with aeration. I foresee this cuvée closing down for 2-3 years before exiting the other side. Great potential, but one for the patient.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

View all wines and vintages of Damascene

Lousas Vina de Aldea 2023 from Envinate

There is no doubt we are fans of what Envinate are doing, and today we are delighted to present their 2023 release from Ribeira Sacra. When we first tried the Lousas range, we were taken aback by just how aromatic the wines are, leaping straight out of the glass with energy and fragrance.

95 Points - Wine Advocate
“The bottled 2023 Lousas Viñas de Aldea is perfumed, intoxicating and showy, with a floral note of dried rose petals that I also found in the Misturado from this same vintage. […] There's also a flinty smokiness that gives the wine a different twist. It's stunning and incredibly priced”

Envínate is one of Spain’s most exciting and talked-about wine projects. Founded by four friends, Alfonso, José Ángel, Laura, and Roberto, who first met at enology school, the group has redefined Spanish terroir with a minimal-intervention approach and a focus on volcanic, Atlantic-influenced vineyards. Working across Tenerife, Ribeira Sacra, and Almansa, they champion old vines, wild fermentations, and an unembellished style. The results are raw, pure expressions of place, wines that are textured, soulful, and full of energy and authenticity.

In Galicia’s rugged northwest, Ribeira Sacra provides some of Envínate’s most captivating wines. Their Lousas Viñas de Aldea comes from steep, slate-rich vineyards that rise above the Sil River. Predominantly Mencía, with small amounts of native red and white grapes, it offers fragrant aromatics and striking mineral precision. Always a benchmark for value, Viñas de Aldea translates the region’s dramatic landscape into a wine that is both authentic and compelling.

The vines sit between 400 and 600 metres in altitude. Staying true to the Lousas style, grapes are foot-trodden before fermenting with around 40% whole clusters in small open vats. The 2023 vintage was outstanding in Ribeira Sacra, with Luis Gutiérrez of the Wine Advocate noting, “The wines are amazing” and describing Envínate’s 2023s as “possibly their finest collection to date.”

We are delighted to offer a small allocation of Lousas Viñas de Aldea 2023, awarded 95 points by the Wine Advocate, at €25.95* inc VAT per bottle. This is exceptional value for such a distinctive wine. Secure your bottles while you can.

 

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Envinate Lousas Vina de Aldea 2023

€25.95* inc VAT per bottle

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95 Points | Wine Advocate, Luis Gutiérrez

The bottled 2023 Lousas Viñas de Aldea is perfumed, intoxicating and showy, with a floral note of dried rose petals that I also found in the Misturado from this same vintage. It's a blend of grapes, 80% Mencía and the rest a field blend of reds and whites, Brancellao, Merenzao, Alicante, Grao Negro, Mouratón, Jerez, Godello, etc., and zones, Amandi, Quiroga and Ribeiras del Sil with lots of gneiss and also slate and granite, depending on the plot. The grapes were picked between the first and 23rd of September, a very long harvest because of the rain. It fermented with 70% to 100% full clusters in concrete or plastic bins, and 30% of the volume remained in concrete and the rest matured in used barrels of different sizes, from 225 to 500 liters, for 11 months with lees and without racking. There's also a flinty smokiness that gives the wine a different twist. It's stunning and incredibly priced. There were 31,150 bottles and 329 magnums produced. It was bottled in November 2024.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

View all wines from Envinate

2023 Stones and Bones from Catena

From the legendary Adrianna Vineyard, often called the “Grand Cru” of South America, these are benchmark, high-altitude Chardonnays with huge critical acclaim. Tiny production, top scores, and exceptional pedigree - these won’t last long.

99 Points - James Suckling
"The palate is extreme, marked by intense mineral tension, pronounced salinity and a delicious severity that sets this wine apart from even the greatest chardonnays of the world. Incredibly fresh and mouthwatering. Spectacular"

Catena Zapata has been the driving force behind Argentina’s rise to global wine prominence. Founded in 1902 by Nicola Catena, the estate is celebrated for pioneering high-altitude viticulture in Mendoza and elevating Malbec to world-class status. At the helm of Catena Zapata’s cellar is Alejandro Vigil, locally referred to as “The Messi of Wine.” Under his guidance, the winery continues to set benchmarks for Argentine wine, combining innovation, terroir expression, and remarkable consistency.

Planted in 1992 at nearly 5,000 feet in Gualtallary and named for Nicolás Catena’s youngest daughter, the Adrianna Vineyard was a daring venture at the edge of viticultural possibility. Few believed grapes could ripen here, but the site’s combination of intense sunlight, cool nights, and limestone-rich soils produced wines of remarkable ripeness, complexity, and precision. Vinifying parcels separately revealed the site’s intricate terroir, with the White Stones and White Bones sourced from neighbouring blocks that express two very different soil profiles.

The White Bones Chardonnay (2.2 hectares) comes from calcareous soils interlaced with fossilised animal bones from an ancient riverbed. It holds the distinction of being the first white wine from South America to ever receive a perfect 100-point score, and this new release carries a 99-point score from James Suckling and is further supported by 98 points from Vinous. Rich yet precise, it’s a gastronomic Chardonnay of savoury complexity, saline lift, and remarkable ageing potential.

The White Stones Chardonnay comes from 27 rows in Block 1, where the soils are littered with small, white, oval river stones. These stony soils give the wine its hallmark purity, tension, and laser-like minerality. Crisp acidity and a long chalky finish make up this exceptional chardonnay.

The White Stones and White Bones Chardonnays are arguably the undisputed benchmarks of Argentinian Chardonnay, redefining what white wine from the country can be. Allocations in Europe are extremely limited – we have just 12 bottles of each. With scores from the Wine Advocate placing them alongside top Grand Cru Burgundy, these are not to be missed.

Photo: map of the Adrianna vineyard

 

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Catena Adrianna Vineyard White Stones Chardonnay 2023

€94* inc VAT per bottle

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97 Points Vinous, Joaquín Hidalgo

The 2023 Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard White Stones from Gualtallary Tupungato delivers an expressive profile with notes of green apple mountain herbs light nuttiness acacia and chamomile framed by understated oak and a hint of flint. Dry vibrant and energized by acidity it has a chalky texture and delicate tension leading to a long refined finish.

97 Points | James Suckling

This shows characteristic aromas of green ginger stone fruit herbs and stony austerity. The palate is austere almost severe focused entirely on chalky texture and tension. Sourced from a section of vineyard with granite boulders covered in calcium carbonate. Pressed once with whole bunches then aged in 500-liter barrels and 30% in tanks. It develops flor during aging adding further complexity. Drink or hold.

96+ Points | Wine Advocate, Matthew Luczy

The 2023 Adrianna Vineyard Chardonnay White Stones showcases its classic aromatic purity and focus centering on aromas of citrus peels iodine and dried herbs complemented by an elegant hint of pastry cream in the background. The palate continues this combination with a sculpted precisely defined texture that extends into a dazzlingly focused ethereal conclusion. Initially quite restrained it gradually and consistently reveals textural depth and length on the finish and I suspect it will warrant a higher score with additional time in bottle.

 

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Catena Adrianna Vineyard White Bones Chardonnay 2023

€94* inc VAT per bottle

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99 Points | James Suckling

Dill, limes, green ginger and crushed stones on the nose. The palate is extreme, marked by intense mineral tension, pronounced salinity and a delicious severity that sets this wine apart from even the greatest chardonnays of the world. Incredibly fresh and mouthwatering. Spectacular. Drink or hold.

98 points | Vinous, Joaquín Hidalgo

The 2023 Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard White Bones from Gualtallary Tupungato opens with clear notes of huacatay chamomile and hops. It’s reminiscent of reductive Sauvignon Blanc and layered with green apple mint and nutty notes. Compared to previous vintages this is leaner and more vibrant with fine chalky grip and medium body. Just a gorgeous wine.

97 Points | Wine Advocate, Matthew Luczy

The 2023 Adrianna Vineyard Chardonnay White Bones leads with its quintessentially lifted vibrant bouquet of citrus rinds dried spices white flowers and fresh herbs continuously developing additional complexity from its biological aging under flor. The palate combines live-wire focus with ethereal richness and a gently creamy core that runs through its mouthwatering and mineral-drenched finish. A fantastic iteration of the exotic precise profile readers have come to expect from this pioneering Gualtallary Chardonnay reference point.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

See all wines and vintages from Catena.

2020 Riservas from Produttori del Barbaresco

We’ve offered the Barbaresco before, and now we’re stepping it up with the Cru Riservas from Produttori del Barbaresco.

“Here we have the cooperative of Barbaresco and one known as producing some of the best-priced quality wines in all of Langhe.” - Decanter, Aldo Fiordelli

 

The Barbaresco wine region, nestled in Italy’s Piedmont, is often called the “Queen” of Nebbiolo, a title that reflects its graceful, elegant style, while Barolo holds the title of “King” for its powerful, structured expression of the grape. Set in the Langhe hills, Barbaresco benefits from a unique terroir of calcareous soils and a temperate climate, creating wines with refined tannins and vibrant acidity. Known for their longevity and aromatic depth, Barbarescos are characterised by flavours of red fruit, rose, and earthy notes.

Produttori del Barbaresco’s classic Barbaresco remains one of the finest values at its level, yet it is the single-vineyard Riservas that truly define the estate. These wines capture the individual character of Barbaresco’s Crus with remarkable clarity, offering some of the best expressions of terroir in Piedmont. Vinified traditionally with long macerations, malolactic in steel, and ageing in large oak casks, the Riservas combine bold fruit with structure, depth, and age-worthy finesse. If you’d like to read up more on the Crus, the information is here.

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As with any great vineyard, certain vintages can shine more brightly than others. That said, Produttori del Barbaresco’s Crus are generally viewed along a stylistic spectrum, beginning with the lightest, most elegant expressions and progressing towards the most powerful and structured wines. The order is below and we’ve highlighted in bold the wines which we have available as part of this offer:

Pora - 93 WA

Pajè - 93 WA

Ovello - 95 WA

Rio Sordo - 94 WA

Asili - 95 WA

Rabajà - 95 WA

Muncagota - 94 WA

Montefico - 96+ WA

Montestefano - 93 WA

 

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These Crus are not only benchmarks for Barbaresco but also some of the most authentic reflections of Nebbiolo anywhere in Piedmont. Each vineyard tells its own story through soil, exposure, and microclimate, and Produttori captures these nuances with a rare clarity.

This is your opportunity to secure some of the region’s most celebrated Riservas, wines that deliver both immediate charm and the promise of decades in the cellar.

 

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Montefico Riserva 2020

 

€54.50* inc NL per bottle

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96+ Points | Wine Advocate

Two standouts from the 2020 vintage are Montefico and Asili. The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico comes from a site that is distant from the warm air that travels through the Tanaro River Valley and is closed within an amphitheater. This is a beautiful vineyard that looks toward the village of Neive and has active limestone soils. The wine is especially compact in texture and has a distinctly herbal note, with dried rosemary and lavender, that gives it a Mediterranean or botanical feel. The palate delivers a brief moment of softness, but otherwise the wine is structured and rich.

96 Points | Vinous

A complex, beautifully layered wine, the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico expresses so many of the attributes that make the wines from this vintage and site so intriguing. The bouquet alone is wonderfully complex. Dried herbs, mint, pine, tobacco and cedar open first, leading to a core of chiseled dark-toned fruit. A vertical, structured Barbaresco, the Montefico is superb.

Muncagota Riserva 2020

€54.50* inc NL per bottle

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94 Points | Wine Advocate

The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is quite powerful and ample but not fully integrated as of yet. This vineyard site is located in a warm growing area, and you do feel the heat of the vintage in terms of the ripeness of the bouquet and the softness of the tannins. This wine paints with broad brush strokes, offering blackberry, plum and spice. It needs another year or two to find better focus.

94 Points | Vinous

The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota comes across as somewhat austere today, which is pretty atypical. Floral, mint and white pepper lend notable aromatic brilliance. Deceptively medium in body, the 2020 offers plenty of drive. Floral, savory and mineral notes extend the intense, saline finish. I am curious to taste this again with more time in bottle.

 
Rio Sordo Riserva 2020

€54.50* inc NL per bottle

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94 Points | Wine Advocate

The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo comes from an area that is further removed from the Tanaro River and has southwestern exposures. It shows a typical profile for Nebbiolo with rich fruit, a velvety mouthfeel and textural volume that is delivered with ample blackberry, blackcurrant and spice. The character of this wine is generous and rich. There is plenty of meat on these bones.

94 Points | Vinous

The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is pretty closed today, which is probably a very good sign for its aging prospects, as this site tends to produce wines that are more open than this. Dark cherry, plum, leather, incense and tobacco offer a decidedly somber expression of Rio Sordo. The 2020 clearly needs time.

 

Ovello Riserva 2020

€54.50* inc NL per bottle

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95 Points | Wine Advocate

The Ovello vineyard has some northern exposures and generally represents a cooler growing site. You can expect intense fruit flavors and more prominent tannins as a result. The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello fits the bill. Vine growth starts much later and usually lasts longer to produce dark intensity and bold aromas in the wines. In the cold years, the tannins can be aggressive, but in the hot years like 2020, they show better balance. This wine offers ferrous notes of iron and rusty nail followed by cherry-driven sweetness.

95 Points | Vinous

The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is a massive, packed wine. Graphite, crushed rocks, dried herbs and cedar open first. Ovello tends to produce a more linear style of Barbaresco, and that is very much the case here as well. However, the 2020 also possesses notable depth and layers in the mid-palate. It's a gorgeous wine in the making.

 

Pora Riserva 2020

€54.50* inc NL per bottle

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93 Points | Wine Advocate

This is the first wine served in a flight of nine that increase in intensity and power moving forward. The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pora opens to a medium-light color with garnet highlights. Aromas include wild cherry, cassis and blue flower. You also get hints of crushed limestone. The Pora vineyard is near the Tanaro River Valley, where warm air accumulates, and the vines are planted in fertile soils. The extra heat and humidity of the area makes for accessible wines that are ready to drink and are less complex overall.

93 points | Vinous

The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is aromatic, effusive and quite charming. Crushed flowers, spice, leather, tobacco and cedar lend notable inner sweetness. Medium in body and gracious, the Pora is pretty approachable today, although it will be better with a few years in bottle. This is a very beautiful, vivid Pora and a fine introduction to the Riservas.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

See all wines and vintages of Produttori del Barbaresco.

2022 Beausejour 2022 - Top Right Bank of the vintage

100 Points - Jane Anson
“A curl of woodsmoke and cedar aromatics, peony and crushed roses, fleshy black fruits, rose petals, love the switch between the texture of opulent silk and pumice stone tannic grip, this is exceptionally good. […] A potential 100 points during En Primeur, living up to billing."

 

Perched on Saint Emilion’s limestone plateau, Chateau Beausejour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) is one of Bordeaux’s most thrilling estates. This Premier Grand Cru Classe vineyard, just seven hectares, is famed for producing wines of remarkable depth and finesse. Its clay-limestone soils give a striking minerality and tension, while old vines add layered complexity. With a history rooted in the 19th century and an exciting new generation at the helm, Beausejour delivers powerful yet precise wines that epitomise Saint Emilion’s finest terroir.

In 2021, Chateau Beausejour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) entered a new chapter when it officially shortened its name to Chateau Beausejour. The decision reflected both a respect for tradition and a desire for clarity, aligning the estate with a modern identity while honouring its long history.

Josephine Duffau-Lagarrosse, among Bordeaux’s youngest proprietors, has already transformed Chateau Beausejour. Taking over in 2021, she introduced meticulous vineyard work, lower intervention winemaking and a clear focus on terroir expression. Her aim is purity and elegance without sacrificing power. 2022 is her first vintage that she was there from the start to finish, which makes it even more incredible that her wine got 100 points. The wines are now marked by striking freshness, tension and mineral drive, qualities that reflect both limestone soils and her forward-looking vision. Josephine’s stewardship promises a new golden era for this historic estate.

Selection of top-scoring Right Bank wines by Jane Anson:

The 2022 Chateau Beausejour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) is a breathtaking achievement and a landmark first full vintage for Josephine Duffau-Lagarrosse. From Saint Emilion’s limestone plateau, it combines silk-like richness with chiselled minerality, lifted by a low pH and remarkable freshness. Notes of violets, cassis, peony and chalk unfold across a seamless, layered palate of precision and length. With 18 months in oak and consulting support from Axel Marchal and Julien Viaud, this is a wine of poise, brilliance and long-lived potential.

Jane Anson originally scored the 2022 Beausejour at 98–100 points during En Primeur, alongside other right bank wines Belair-Monange, Lafleur, Ausone and Cheval Blanc. From that elite group, only three achieved a perfect 100 in bottle: Ausone, Belair-Monange and Beausejour. To outscore Cheval Blanc, Figeac, and even Petrus is a remarkable feat, particularly at a fraction of their price.

This week, we are delighted to offer limited 3-packs at an exceptional €139* In Bond per bottle, a rare opportunity to secure an allocation of one of Bordeaux’s most in vogue Chateaus.

 

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Chateau Beausejour (Duffau-Lagarrosse) 2022

€139* In Bond per bottle

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100 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

A curl of woodsmoke and cedar aromatics, peony and crushed roses, fleshy black fruits, rose petals, love the switch between the texture of opulent silk and pumice stone tannic grip, this is exceptionally good. Josephine Duffau Lagrosse's first vintage from beginning to end. A low 3.4ph, reflecting the limestone soils, bottling two months later than usual because of new cellar construction, so 18 months in barrel, 70% new oak, rest in one year old oak. Axel Marchal and Julien Viaud consultants. A potential 100 points during En Primeur, living up to billing.

98+ Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Violets, ripe black cherries, spring flowers, cassis, and a riveting sense of chalky minerality all shine in the 2022 Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse), another heavenly 2022 that has gorgeous tannins, a seamless, layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It's not massive or incredibly concentrated, yet it has flawless balance and remarkable length. The pH is 3.45, with an alcohol of 14.5%. It's a more elegant, pure, seamless example of the 2020 vintage and has everything in the right place. Give bottles just 4-6 years if you can and it’s clearly going to have 20-30 years of overall prime drinking, as well as a gradual decline thereafter.

98 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

One of the clear standouts of the vintage! A sensual, fun, salivating and sublime wine from winemaker Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse that manages to give such generosity, power, terroir markers and overall drinkability. Aromatic, scented, open and expressive with cherries, blackcurrants, purple flowers and crushed stones. Sleek and supple, sharp, tangy acidity and concentrated ripe fruit - it’s forward and intense, direct but defined and detailed. Fine and supportive tannins have bite and a mineral tang putting you squarely in St-Emilion on limestone. Raw and wild in a way, but so expressive and open - honest and just such a captivating wine that belies the heat of the vintage with its cool menthol, blue fruits and lifted finish. Streamlined and focussed, sustained, determined and characterful - sleek in the best way, this is confident but not showy. Succulent, classy, polished. A brilliant wine. 3.5pH. A yield of 42hl/ha. Harvest 6 - 9 September for Merlot and 23 September for Cabernet Franc. Julien Viaud and Axel Marchal consultants. 98-100 points.

98 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2022 Beauséjour is fabulous. I find it better from bottle than it was in barrel. Explosive aromatics from the Franc make a strong first impression. Bright acids drive through a core of dark red fruit, blood orange, spice, new leather and espresso. All the elements meld together seamlessly. What a vivid and gorgeous wine this is. I especially admire the long, saline finish. This is a superb effort from the team led by Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse.

97 Points | Vinous - Neal Martin

The 2022 Beauséjour has a gorgeous bouquet with pure redcurrant, raspberry and wild strawberry fruit scents. Hints of pencil shavings and orange sorbet emerge in the background. It’s very harmonious and the oak is seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, fresh and vibrant with crisp acidity. This is a more intense Beauséjour under Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse, yet it retains delineation from start to finish, with the tongue tingling on the aftertaste. Exchanging the wine between two glasses really brings out the true character of this fabulous Saint-Émilion that is going to give a lot of pleasure. Chapeau Joséphine Duffau!

96+ Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

The 2022 Beauséjour (Duffau Lagarrosse) saw a slightly longer élevage than usual, due to construction at the new winery, but that seems to have suited this broad-shouldered, powerful vintage very well. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of blackberries, blood orange, espresso roast, bay leaf and vanilla pod, it's full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with lively acids, chalky tannins and a long, creamy finish. This blend of 69% Merlot and 31% Cabernet Franc is the second vintage made by Joséphine Duffau Lagarrosse since she took control of the family estate in April 2021.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

 

All vintages of Beausejour (Duffau-Lagarrosse)