South African wine lovers don't miss this offer - Damascene Syrah

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)

2023 from Javi Revert of Valencia

There’s a lot of exciting wines coming out of Spain at the moment, with a series of passionate young winemakers reviving old native vineyards and making some stunning wines. Javi Revert is one such winemaker making waves with his wines from around Valencia, a region that we don’t often hear from.

“Javi Revert is one of the most exciting young growers in the Mediterranean zone of Spain. He started in 2016 while working at Celler del Roure, recovering old vines planted by his great grandfather in the village of La Font de la Figuera in Valencia. "

- Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate

Javi Revert is redefining the potential of Valencia’s forgotten vineyards. Rooted in his family’s heritage, he has restored old sites on north-facing limestone slopes around La Font de la Figuera, planting indigenous varieties and farming organically. With elevations reaching over 700 metres, his vineyards produce wines of remarkable freshness and precision, harvested weeks later than his neighbours. Fermented with native yeasts and aged in amphorae, demi-johns, or neutral oak, his wines express purity, vibrancy, and an unmistakable sense of place.

Simeta is one of Javi Revert’s most captivating wines, crafted from a rare one-hectare vineyard of Arcos planted in 1970 on limestone and iron-rich soils. Fermented with whole clusters and native yeasts, it is aged in a mix of foudre, barrel, amphora, and glass demi-john, preserving purity and energy. The wine brims with Mediterranean character, showing vibrant red fruit, wild herbs, and peppery spice, carried by refreshing acidity and a clear expression of its singular terroir.

Javi released his first vintage in 2016, and with both production and demand continuing to grow, 2023 marked an exciting step forward. He began working from a new barrel room, with further expansion already planned. This added space and control brings greater precision to his winemaking and élevage, setting the stage for even higher quality in the years ahead.

The Simeta 2023 is arguably his finest wine to date, awarded 96–97 points by the Wine Advocate. With such limited production from this tiny one-hectare plot, allocations will disappear quickly. This is a rare chance to experience one of Spain’s most exciting new voices at the very peak of his craft.

 

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Javi Revert Simeta 2023

€44.95* Inc NL VAT per bottle

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96-97 Points | Wine Advocate, Luis Gutiérrez

I tasted the 2023 Simeta next to the 2022 vintage, still unbottled. 2023 was a cooler year, basically saved by some rain at the end of the summer. The wine had a similar vinification and élevage—100% full clusters and aging in oak vat and barrel—that's already completed, and the wine is resting in concrete. It has lower alcohol, 13.5%, a lower pH, 3.48, and higher acidity. This is obviously too young, but it's a little narrower and longer, more complete than the 2023 but, at the same time, more approachable and with better parameters. It should be bottled around March 2025. He expects to produce some 3,200 bottles of it.

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

 

See all wines from Javi Revert

2022 Carmes Haut-Brion scoring 100 points 

Photo: the winery - believe it or not ! Video showing the winery here

The 2022 vintages of Les Carmes Haut-Brion stands head and shoulders above all previous vintages with huge score upgrades in bottle. With not one, but three perfect 100-Point ratings, this is a wine that you'll be wanting in your collection. 

This is an estate on the rise with fair pricing for the quality, and I have a small number of 3-packs available today, so act quickly if you're a fan.

100 Points - Wine Advocate - "The 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is the finest wine bottled to date at this estate under Patrice Pichet's ownership and Guillaume Pouthier's direction"

100 Points - Antonio Galloni - "The 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a towering masterpiece from Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier. Dark and seamless in the glass, the 2022 presents an exotic mélange of black cherry, lavender, sage, blood orange, menthol, espresso and dried flowers, showing tremendous depth and substance in all of its dimensions. Time in the glass hints as to what is to come in the years and decades that follow."

100 Points - Decanter - "Deep and brooding, this wine is beautifully floral with violets, irises, and peonies alongside ripe black cherries, liquorice, and dark chocolate. Concentrated yet bursting with energy, it flows effortlessly across the palate. [...] A true expression of place and a sure-fire hit"

Few estates have captured the imagination of Bordeaux lovers in recent years quite like Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion. Nestled within the city limits of Bordeaux itself, this singular property has become a beacon for modern winemaking in the region. Since Guillaume Pouthier’s arrival in 2012, Les Carmes has undergone a remarkable transformation—its striking winery, bold vision, and boundary-pushing approach marking it out as one of the most exciting names in the Left Bank today.

Les Carmes Haut-Brion stands at the forefront of Bordeaux’s new wave, combining meticulous vineyard work with avant-garde vinification. Whole-bunch fermentation, gravity flow, and amphora ageing are used to craft wines of incredible energy, perfume, and finesse. The blend—often with an unusually high proportion of Cabernet Franc—is shaped to reflect its unique terroir rather than conform to tradition. As a result, Les Carmes is now widely regarded as a rising star producing some of the region’s most original and compelling wines.

There is no doubt that Bordeaux 2022's were exceptional, William Kelley of the Wine Advocate wrote that "the best 2022s’ compelling marriage of ripeness and aromatic freshness, power and precision has made it into bottle intact…what is clear is that the very best 2022 Bordeaux are wines that everyone is going to want to have in their glass—no matter the price.’

Les Carmes Haut-Brion was one of just ten chateaux to receive a perfect 100-point score from the Wine Advocate in 2022, a remarkable achievement that firmly places it among the elite. Even more impressive, it outscored its more famous neighbour and First Growth, Haut-Brion, by a full three points. Given the considerable difference in price between the two wines, this makes Les Carmes one of the most compelling buys of the vintage.

 

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Les Carmes Haut-Brion 2022 (3x75cl) 

€140* In Bond per bottle

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100 Points | Wine Advocate, Yohan Castaing
The 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is the finest wine bottled to date at this estate under Patrice Pichet's ownership and Guillaume Pouthier's direction. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of violet, iris, dark wild berries, pencil lead and mulberries, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated with a deep core of fruit beautifully framed by velvety, precise tannins, segueing into a long, saline and perfumed finish. Suave and harmonious, it was crafted with 70% whole bunches and matured in 70% new oak. This unconventional blend of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot represents a turning point for the estate, cementing its rapid ascendancy in the Bordeaux firmament.

100 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni
The 2022 Les Carmes Haut-Brion is a towering masterpiece from Technical Director Guillaume Pouthier. Dark and seamless in the glass, the 2022 presents an exotic mélange of black cherry, lavender, sage, blood orange, menthol, espresso and dried flowers, showing tremendous depth and substance in all of its dimensions. Time in the glass hints as to what is to come in the years and decades that follow. The 2022 is a co-ferment of 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Merlot done with 70% stems that saw six full weeks on the skins. Élevage is 70% new oak, 20% 18HL cask and 10% amphora. Most importantly, all the elements are so well balanced that nothing sticks out. Instead, it is the wine's total sense of harmony that is mind-blowing. Magnificent.

100 Points | Decanter, Georgie Hindle
Deep and brooding, this wine is beautifully floral with violets, irises, and peonies alongside ripe black cherries, liquorice, and dark chocolate. Concentrated yet bursting with energy, it flows effortlessly across the palate. Vibrant red fruits - strawberry, cherry, raspberry - sit atop a mineral backbone of salty, wet stones. Crisp yet powdery tannins and bright acidity give incredible tension. Despite its depth, it feels almost weightless, so drinkable yet built to age. Pure, pristine, and vibrant, with no trace of heat - just balance and finesse. Juicy, lively, and utterly compelling. A true expression of place and a sure-fire hit. 70% whole bunch fermented. Two years ageing, 80% new oak, 10% big 20hl vats and 10% amphora. 3.55pH. 40% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot.

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

 

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2023 Awatea by Te Mata

We love discovering wines that punch well above their weight, and today’s offer is a perfect example. Awarded a very respectable 96 points by The Wine Advocate, it delivers serious quality for just €23.50* IB per bottle—proof that great wine doesn’t need a grand price tag.

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96 Points - Wine Advocate

“Aromatically, this wine is thrilling: dusty cassis, bramble, raspberry pip, blood/iodine, sweet tobacco, raw cocoa, violet perfume, tarragon and fennel and a hint of hazelnut/nutmeg. […] It is a magnificent wine and a tremendous value."

- Erin Larkin

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Last week we offered Te Mata Coleraine—one of our favourite Bordeaux blends from New Zealand and the flagship of the estate. Normally, we pass over the rest of the range in favour of the top cuvées, but in 2023, Awatea is simply too good to overlook. This vintage demands attention and deserves a spot in any serious collection.

Named after the SS Awatea—an elegant 1930s ocean liner whose name means “Eye of the Dawn” in Maori—this wine reflects both heritage and finesse. Aged for 15 months in French oak, it is crafted to showcase the classic varietals of Hawke’s Bay: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. Rather than power, Awatea offers precision and poise, with Merlot leading the blend in a style that is refined and expressive.

Awatea opens with vibrant dark berry fruit, graphite, and delicate floral notes, underpinned by silky tannins and fresh acidity. Its medium-bodied frame makes it instantly appealing, while the wine’s polish and structure promise graceful evolution over the next decade. A benchmark for value in New Zealand reds, Awatea consistently delivers a level of quality and charm that far outpaces its price point—perfect for both early drinking and thoughtful cellaring.

Awarded its highest-ever score from The Wine Advocate—96 points from Erin Larkin—Awatea 2023 is not only a magnificent wine, but also a remarkable value. At €23.50* IB per bottle, we see this as an unmissable buy. Grab it while you can.

 

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 Te Mata Awatea 2023

€23.50* In Bond per bottle

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96 Points | Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin

The 2023 Awatea Cabernets Merlot comprises 52% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc. Aromatically, this wine is thrilling: dusty cassis, bramble, raspberry pip, blood/iodine, sweet tobacco, raw cocoa, violet perfume, tarragon and fennel and a hint of hazelnut/nutmeg. In the mouth, the wine is savory, structural, spicy and chewy, with a ductile splay of tannin that moves across the palate and through the finish. The palate speaks of structure and shape, while the fruit is mostly on the nose at this early stage. This will evolve beautifully in bottle over time, and as the bottle I am tasting here today was bottled four weeks ago, no doubt your bottle will look more polished and sleek. As it is, I love it, but I am sure I will like it more in time. It is a magnificent wine and a tremendous value. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under 44-millimeter Diam 10 cork (usually it's a 44-millimeter natural cork). Next year it will be a 49-millimeter Diam 10 cork.

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

 

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2018 Vieux Chateau Certan - 99 Points 

Today, we have a small parcel of a few bottles and a couple of cases of VCC 2018, which comes from a great vintage and flirts with perfection with a 99+ Point score from the Wine Advocate.

Few estates in Pomerol inspire as much admiration as Vieux Chateau Certan. Owned by the Thienpont family since 1924, this historic chateau lies at the heart of the appellation on a privileged plateau of deep clay and gravel soils. Known for its high proportion of old-vine Cabernet Franc, VCC is a wine of grace, power and precision. Its unmistakable signature blends Pomerol plushness with Left Bank structure, delivering deeply complex, age-worthy wines that rival Bordeaux’s most celebrated names.

The 2018 vintage in Bordeaux was marked by extremes—spring rains and mildew pressure followed by a long, hot summer. The result was a harvest of small, concentrated berries producing deeply coloured, rich wines with ripe tannins and ageing potential. Particularly strong in Pomerol and Pauillac, 2018 is a vintage that combines opulence with structure, and rewards both patience and curiosity.

The 2018 Vieux Chateau Certan is a profound expression of Pomerol’s greatness. A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, it offers a complex perfume of black cherries, blueberries, spice, and floral notes, with hints of espresso and sandalwood. The palate is seamless, layered, and elegant, supported by ultra-fine tannins and mineral lift. A wine of structure, purity, and poise, the 2018 VCC will evolve beautifully over the next three to four decades.

As part of today’s offer, we have a couple of 3x75cl cases and a few bottles of this highly scored vintage that is flirting with perfection at 99+ Points from the Wine Advocate.

With limited availability, Pomerol fans don’t hesitate.

 

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Vieux Chateau Certan 2018

€220* In Bond per bottle

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99+ Points | Wine Advocate, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The 2018 Vieux Château Certan is composed of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, weighing in with 14.4% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is locked down tight at this youthful stage, requiring a lot of patient swirling to release a profound powerhouse of a perfume: preserved plums, blueberry compote, ripe black cherries and boysenberries, leading to suggestions of Indian spices, lilacs, espresso and licorice, plus a waft of sandalwood. The medium to full-bodied palate has an amazing sense of cohesiveness. There are no edges to the seamless flow of exquisitely fine-grained tannins and perfectly knit acidity, beautifully framing the blue and black fruits, which are at once elegant and also so, so rich. It finishes with many slowly lapping waves of minerals and exotic spices, which just go on and on. It is a wine that is, simply put, an experience not to be missed. Give it a good 6-8 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 30 years or more.

99 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

The flagship 2018 Vieux Château Certan is based on 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc and was brought up in (I suspect) roughly 50% new French oak. It tips the scale at 14.5% natural alcohol, which is the same as the 2010 (slightly higher than the 2009) and has a pH of 3.78, which is also very close to the 2010. This rock star of a Pomerol offers a kaleidoscopic array of red, black, and blue fruits, white truffle, spring flowers, tobacco, and crushed rock-like minerality on the nose. It has perfectly integrated oak, gorgeous concentration, building yet ultra-fine tannins, and not a hard edge to be found. I was able to follow this bottle for multiple days, and the large Cabernet Franc component became more and dominant, yet it never truly shut down and was always a joy to drink. Nevertheless, a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and it should evolve for 30-40 years in cold cellars. Again, the Thienpont family produces a heavenly wine that wine lovers should all have in their cellar. Along with Petrus, Conseillante, Lafleur, and a handful of others, it's one of the appellation's most singular wines.

99 Points | James Suckling

Blackberry and hints of plum with intense wet-earth and black-olive undertones. Bark and some iodine. Full-bodied with superb depth of fruit and structure. The palate is so broad with super tannins. This is a powerful and very structured VCC with fantastic depth and muscle. Down-to-earth style. You can taste the soil. 70% merlot and 30% cabernet franc. One for long cellar aging. Old-vine character. Try after 2027.

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

 

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2021 Produttori del Barbaresco 2021 Release

If there’s one Barbaresco producer we always recommend, it’s Produttori. In 2021, that advice rings even truer. Like much of Italy in this vintage, this is a wine you won’t want to miss.

“In a vintage shaping up globally to be one of the most sought-after in almost a decade (with perhaps the unfortunate exception of Bordeaux), the wines of 2021 continue to impress and woo the critics internationally, and the incredible new releases from the appellation of Barbaresco are certainly no exception”

- Greg Sherwood MW

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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.

“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

Produttori del Barbaresco, a historic cooperative winery in the heart of Barbaresco, Piedmont, traces its roots to 1894 when it was founded by Domizio Cavazza, headmaster of the Royal Enological School of Alba, as a collective of nine growers. Re-established in 1958, it now unites over 51 small growers dedicated to crafting exceptional Nebbiolo wines that reflect the region’s unique terroir. Under the management of Aldo Vacca, former assistant to Angelo Gaja, Produttori del Barbaresco is celebrated for its traditional winemaking, producing both classic Barbaresco and distinguished single-vineyard bottlings. The wines are noted for their elegance, complexity, and longevity, establishing the cooperative as a benchmark for Nebbiolo and a symbol of Piedmontese excellence.

The 2021 Barbaresco from Produttori del Barbaresco is a standout expression of a thrilling vintage. The Wine Advocate has scored it 95+ Points, whilst Greg Sherwood goes one further with 96 Points. Greg Sherwood highlights that this bottling rivals past declassified Crus for complexity and finesse—an exceptional wine and a superb introduction to what 2021 holds for Barbaresco.

In our view, Produttori stands among a select group of producers offering some of the best value wines in Italy, delivering exceptional quality at a price that’s hard to beat. The wines of Produttori del Barbaresco usually don’t hang around too long, so be sure to secure your bottles while you can.

“While much of Barolo has succumb to the pressures of a buoyant, thirsty international fine wine market over the past few years, Barbaresco defies the odds and remains incredibly well priced but also very much Barolos equal in terms of quality, complexity, age ability and simple winemaking precision. I recently tasted a pre-release sample of probably THE greatest value for money Barbaresco on the market from Produttori del Barbaresco, and needless to say, I was not left disappointed!” - Greg Sherwood MW

 

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Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco 2021

€28.50* In Bond per bottle

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96 Points | Greg Sherwood MW

Showing a super bright piercing aromatics of pressed red cherry, saline black berries and tart cranberry fruit complexity with fragrant undertones of polished mahogany, damp earth and a delicately herbal, floral potpourri spice melange. The palate is sleek, fulsome and absolutely brimming with tart juicy red and black Nebbiolo fruits that support an incredibly tight, fine grained tannin structure, with notes of cherry cola and pink rock candy, finishing with a sleek, sumptuous, supple sappy mineral persistence. This cooler vintage has delivered a Produttori del Barbaresco expression that surpasses possibly even some of the previous non-declared / declassified Cru Barbaresco expressions where all nine Crus were blended together into the Barbaresco normale. A simply spectacular, mouth watering wine once again.

95+ Points | Wine Advocate, Monica Larner

This wine gives us our first taste of the epic 2021 vintage from a producer as prolific as Produttori del Barbaresco. Bottled in April 2024, this vintage shows the immense power and complexity that likens it to 2016, another year for collectors. The 2021 Barbaresco offers medium-rich density that is transmitted both to the wine's appearance and its mouthfeel. There is black fruit, spice and a touch of nutmeg. However, the wine maintains its youthful tension and energy throughout. The tannins are chalky, fine and void of any bitterness. This is a classical expression of Nebbiolo that gives us good reason to be excited for the upcoming 2021 Barbaresco Riservas.

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

 

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