The 2001 Leoville Las Cases is simply stunning

Cervaro della Sala 2023

“The most impressive aspect of the Castello della Sala ethos is its ability to reinvent itself. This latest edition of Umbria's headline white is a true delight. Renzo Cotarella and his team have created an Italian masterpiece that is reminiscent of the great whites of Burgundy.  

- Wine Advocate

High above Orvieto, Castello della Sala is one of Italy’s great white-wine estates and a benchmark for what Umbria can achieve. Owned by the Antinori family since the 1940s, its high-altitude vineyards sit on fossil-rich clay and limestone soils, cooled by elevation and airflow. Under Renzo Cotarella’s long stewardship, the estate has combined innovation with restraint, quietly redefining Italian fine white wine.

Cervaro della Sala is Italy’s answer to great white Burgundy, without imitation. First released in 1985, it blends Chardonnay with a small, vital proportion of Grechetto to bring freshness, minerality and tension. Barrel fermentation, carefully judged malolactic work and evolving élevage have shifted the style from power to precision. The result is a white of depth, texture and remarkable ageing ability, now firmly world-class.

Cervaro della Sala 2023 is the estate at its most refined. Flinty reduction and crushed stone lead into yellow apple, pastry cream and subtle savoury tones. The palate is silky yet energetic, balancing richness with drive and mineral grip. Larger foudre, no batonage and a reduced role for Grechetto sharpen focus and length. According to critics, this is the finest Cervaro yet, built to age gracefully for decades.

Scoring a very respectable 97-Points from the Wine Advocate, which places it amongst Grand Cru level white Burgundy. Monica Larner goes on to summarise that the 2023 is “this is the best Cervaro della Sala I have tasted”.

We’ve got a very small parcel available at a very competitive price of €57.50* In Bond per bottle. Don’t hesitate if you love this wine.

 

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Castello della Sala (Antinori) Cervaro della Sala 2023

€57.50* In Bond per bottle

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97 Points | Wine Advocate, Monica Larner

The most impressive aspect of the Castello della Sala ethos is its ability to reinvent itself. This latest edition of Umbria's headline white is a true delight. Renzo Cotarella and his team have created an Italian masterpiece that is reminiscent of the great whites of Burgundy. The 2023 Cervaro della Sala opens to an elegantly reductive note of flint or crushed granite before sliding gracefully into silky fruit sensations, breakfast pastry and crème fraîche. It offers carefully balanced richness and textural importance. Winemaking is moving away from 500-liter barrels to embrace larger foudre. No bâtonnage is implemented. The wine is mostly Chardonnay, with a smaller part (between 5% and 10%, depending on the vintage) of Grechetto that has been further reduced in order to avoid any rustic tones from the Italian grape. Part of the Chardonnay does malolactic fermentation, but the Grechetto does not. This gives energy and verve to the final results. Castello della Sala has recently planted more Chardonnay (now totaling 80 hectares) for flexibility in choosing the best clusters. Throughout its many reinventions, this is the best Cervaro della Sala I have tasted.

95 Points | Vinous, Eric Guido

Youthfully coy, the 2023 Cervaro della Sala blows off an air smoky reduction to reveal depths of crushed yellow apples, sesame seeds, pine shavings and nuances of vanilla custard. This is pure elegance in the glass, as silken textures envelop the palate. A bump of residual acidity maintains energy throughout, even as the 2023 tapers off tannic and potent, with a resonance of mineral-infused apricots. This is a suburb rendition of Cervaro della Sala.

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

 

See all wines from Castello della Sala

Guidalberto 2023

Rewind 10 years, and Guidalberto was very much Sassicaia’s second wine. Now, Guidalberto is forging an identity of its own, and in 2023, it’s the best rendition of this wine yet. Best of all? Still a bargain, for now…

96 Points - Decanter
“Guidalberto 2023 has blossomed into a grand vin all of its own. Invigorating cool forest berry flavours mingle with touches of spice and fine, silky tannins. So poised. Wow!”

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Tenuta San Guido is one of Italy’s most iconic estates, set in Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast. Founded by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, it reshaped Italian wine with Sassicaia, the original Super Tuscan. Cabernet thrives here in gravelly coastal soils, shaped by sea breezes and light. Today, the Incisa della Rocchetta family continues to produce refined, age-worthy wines that balance Bordeaux structure with Mediterranean ease.

For many years, Guidalberto lived firmly in Sassicaia’s shadow. It shared the same vineyards and family but played a supporting role, released younger and often shown alongside Sassicaia while still evolving. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and aged for a shorter period in barrel, it offered earlier drinking and accessibility, but was rarely judged on its own terms.

That has changed decisively. Over the last few years, the quality of Guidalberto has increased as some fruit destined for Sassicaia was put in the Guidalberto blend instead. At the same time, production has been tightened significantly, with volumes reduced and élevage extended by several months. The message from San Guido is clear: Guidalberto is no longer an afterthought, but a wine being shaped with real intent.

This shift is underlined by investment in a new, dedicated winery for Guidalberto, completed in summer 2025 on a former brickworks site on the estate. The 2026 harvest will be the first fully produced there, marking the next stage in Guidalberto’s evolution. What was once the younger sibling is now carving out its own identity, grounded in the same world-class terroir, but increasingly confident, precise, and serious in its own right.

Comparison of Guidalbeto scores:

Outscoring acclaimed vintages such as 2016, 2019 and 2021 is genuinely exciting. It not only raises expectations for the wider Tuscan landscape, but also underlines the progress Tenuta San Guido has made in shaping Guidalberto as a wine in its own right. Those extra one or two points higher than previous vintages mean a lot in the context of fine wine.

 

“Guidalberto gives you a good taste of the same DNA that brings us one of Italy's greatest wines, Sassicaia” - Monica Larner, Wine Advocate

Guidalberto 2023 shows just how far this wine has come, now confidently standing on its own terms. Aromatically lifted with balsamic herbs, cassis and floral notes, it opens into cool forest berries, spice and savoury depth. The palate is poised and energetic, with fine, silky tannins, bright acidity and impressive length. Refined and confident, this is Guidalberto at its most complete.

Available at €37.50* In Bond per bottle, the 2023 represents a top vintage of Guidalberto and outstanding value from Tenuta San Guido.

 

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Guidalberto 2023

€37.50* In Bond per bottle

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96 Points | Decanter, James Button

Super-fresh with balsamic herb, blueberry and floral aromatics, Guidalberto 2023 has blossomed into a grand vin all of its own. Invigorating cool forest berry flavours mingle with touches of spice and fine, silky tannins. So poised. Wow!

96 Points | James Suckling

This vintage shows a remarkable aromatic profile of Mediterranean herbs, cassis, black cherries, leather and earth with a kind of gamey depth. Full-bodied, it shows velvety, slightly sandy tannins with a firm structure, refreshing integrated acidity and a savory cedar finish. Drinkable now, but best in one or two years.

95 Points | Greg Sherwood MW

A classical blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot from 18-year-old vines, the 2023 displays a deep dark opaque colour suggesting a broody aromatics which is indeed tightly packed with red and black berry fruits, damson plum and sun-dried black cherry laced with sweet baking herbs and subtle hoisin plum sauce nuances. The energy on the palate is notable, the acids bright and tangy, combing with sweet savoury berry fruits, creamy tannins, and a spicy, mineral-tinged length. Beautiful mid-palate weight with a long, intense, potent finish. This is another serious release indeed!

92 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2023 Guidalberto is another terrific wine from Tenuta San Guido in this vintage. Aromatic, medium in body and gracious, the 2023 is pure charm. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, spice and blood orange all pulse through a vibrant, refreshing Guidalberto that will drink well on release. The more refined side of Bolgheri is very much on display. This is a fine effort in a year marked by heavy rains and elevated disease pressure. What a delight.

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

 

View all wines and vintages of San Guido

Dom Perignon 2017 - New Vintage Release

Champagne lovers, pay attention!

Today, we present the smallest and rarest release of Dom Perignon to date. Unlike most vintages, which are produced in significant volumes, the 2017 is genuinely scarce and, as a result, unlikely to linger on the market for long. The 2017 is extra special as it’s the last vintage made by long-time cellar master Richard Geoffrey. This is a bold and radical wine, like the man who made it.

97 Points - Vinous
“The 2017 Dom Pérignon is so impressive. A sort of mini-2002, the 2017 is a Champagne of textural richness and resonance above all else. Its creamy, voluptuous contours are so inviting. Production for the 2017 is tiny, about a three-month supply, so this wine will come and go pretty quickly."

 

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Few wines command attention like Dom Pérignon. Each release is a statement of intent, a snapshot of Champagne pushed to its limits through selection, patience and vision. When Dom Pérignon chooses to declare a vintage, it is never routine. It reflects a belief that adversity can be shaped into something expressive and enduring. The 2017 release is exactly that, rare, uncompromising and already one of the most talked about bottlings in recent memory.

The 2017 release ranks among the smallest Dom Pérignon vintages ever bottled. The growing season was highly unusual, marked by a dry winter, repeated spring frosts and an intense, sun-baked summer that pushed the vineyards hard. In a notable departure from house norms, the final blend contains significantly less Pinot Noir, resulting in a rare Chardonnay-led cuvée. Exceptionally ripe Chardonnays, the most concentrated since 2000, underpin a wine shaped by rigorous selection, precision and confident blending.

The result? Dom Pérignon 2017 is a striking, Chardonnay-led cuvée shaped by tension and texture. A classic Dom Perignon profile with aromas of citrus peel, dried flowers, toasted hazelnut and subtle smoky reduction unfold into a rich yet focused palate. Creamy mousse, vibrant acidity and savoury phenolics give depth and momentum.

Described as a “mini 2002” by Antonio Galloni, it is generous, exotic and finely structured, with real presence and long-term potential. Galloni, awards 97 points, writing, ‘The 2017 Dom Perignon is so impressive […]  a champagne of textural richness and resonance above all else. Its creamy, voluptuous contours are so inviting.’

Kristaps Karklins of The Wine Advocate concluded that the 2017’s tiny production should not lull readers into complacency. On the contrary, he notes that he would far rather own several bottles of the 2017 than split his allocation with the 2018, a clear endorsement of the vintage’s quality and character.

We are doing an introductory special price at €166.50* In Bond per bottle, which we don’t think will hang around too long.

At this price, and with production this tight, the question is not whether 2017 belongs in the cellar, but how many bottles you will wish you had put away once its true stature begins to show.

 

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Dom Perignon Vintage 2017

 

Add to Cellar - BUY

€185* In Bond per bottle

€166.50* In Bond per bottle - Special introductory price

 

97 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2017 Dom Pérignon is so impressive. A sort of mini-2002, the 2017 is a Champagne of textural richness and resonance above all else. Its creamy, voluptuous contours are so inviting. Production for the 2017 is tiny, about a three-month supply, so this wine will come and go pretty quickly. That represents a fairly dramatic shift in philosophy at Dom Pérignon. In the past, a wine like the 2017 would not have been commerically viable because of its small volume. Today, Chef de Caves Vincent Chaperon prefers to bottle Dom Pérignon in every vintage, if possible, as a document of the year, even if that means some releases will be very small. The 2017 is a wild, exotic Dom Pérignon. I loved it.

95+ Points | Wine Advocate, Kristaps Karklins

Of the two releases—the 2017 and the 2018—the 2017 Dom Pérignon is the deeper and more structurally endowed wine, unfurling from the glass with a complex bouquet of orange peel, dried apricot and burnt buttered toast, mingling with nuances of dried flowers, toasted hazelnut and cacao bean, all strongly singed with the house’s signature smoky reduction. On the palate, it is full-bodied and concentrated, with a rich core of fruit. Its darker, open-knit profile is animated by a pillowy mousse, vibrant acidity and attractively bitter, structuring phenolics that assert themselves on a long, resonant finish. This is a superb achievement for a vintage that required uncompromising selection, as acetic rot began to intrude upon the Pinot Noir grapes despite otherwise favorable conditions until mid-August. The fact that it represents the smallest Dom Pérignon release by volume should not mislead readers into complacency; indeed, I would much sooner own several bottles of the 2017 than divide my allocation with the 2018. A blend of 61% Chardonnay and 39% Pinot Noir, it was disgorged in March 2024 with a dosage of five grams per liter and will offer considerable complexity and generosity out of the gates.

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

 

View all vintages of Dom Perignon

Taaibosch Crescendo 2021

97 Points - Greg Sherwood MW
“I’ve already gone on record for saying I truly believe that the top Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs and Cape Bordeaux blends from the 2021 vintage will in future be recognised as some of the best wines produced by the Cape industry to date, surpassing the heights of even 1995, 2009, 2015 and possibly even 2017”

 

“Seeking great Stellenbosch Cabernet Franc and crazily great value? Step this way.”

- Neal Martin

 

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Last year, we offered the 2020 vintage of Taaibosch Crescendo for the first time, a new project in the Cape that has wine critics giddy. Greg Sherwood hailed it as one of the most exciting Bordeaux-style wines emerging from Stellenbosch’s revered Helderberg region.

The wine has an interesting back story, having been originally made by legendary winemaker Chris Keet in the mid to late 1990s. For many, drinking a bottle of Crescendo 1995 ranked among the pinnacles of local fine wine experiences, until the winery suddenly disappeared.

For years, the fate of this iconic Helderberg property remained unclear, its disappearance as puzzling as it was abrupt. That changed in 2017 when the Oddo family acquired the estate with the aim of restoring it to its former glory. They appointed Schalk Willem Joubert, formerly of Rupert & Rothschild, as cellar master, and Crescendo was back.

The first vintage, 2018, was a success, with critics quick to respond. Neal Martin wrote at the time, “Think what Figeac might taste like if it suddenly woke up and found itself in Stellenbosch,” and the wine sold out across global markets.

We’ve tasted a lot of reds from South Africa in the 2021 vintage and, as a vintage, it’s one we’ve loved. Cooler conditions delivered finesse, tension and clarity in the wines. We’ll let the critics’ tasting notes do the talking, but in short, it’s a vintage of elegance rather than power, which suits Crescendo perfectly.

In our opinion, for the quality on offer, the wine is simply too affordable. With double 97-point scores from both Greg Sherwood MW and Tim Atkin MW, a price of €24.95* represents extraordinary value.

With its roots in one of South Africa’s greatest fine wine stories and its future firmly secured, Taaibosch Crescendo 2021 is a must-have for South African wine lovers.

Don’t miss the chance to secure it while you can.

 

Want a bit of extra background reading? Check out Greg Sherwood’s 2018 vintage article here.

 

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“There was a point during my morning visit to Taaibosch when after inspecting the winery and vineyards we descended the Lower Helderberg Mountains in Shalk-Willem Joubert’s jeep and I enquired about the price of his wine in the United States? “Between $40 and $50 a bottle” he answers. I almost laugh at the absurdity of price perhaps because I am so accustomed to the stratospheric prices found across Burgundy and Bordeaux. “Incredible” I reply. “Frankly I was expecting another zero on the end.”  - Neal Martin, Vinous

 

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Taaibosch Crescendo 2021

€24.95* In Bond per bottle

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97+ Points | Greg Sherwood MW

A sleek, sophisticated blend of 62% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from Taaibosch yields up notes of earthy black currant, cedar spice, wet tobacco, tree bark, sun raisined red currant, dried herbs and subtle fynbos nuances. But it’s on the palate that the true pedigree of this classy blend reveals itself, where incredibly tight grained mineral tannins marry with bright, fresh, taut blue and black berry fruits, saline creme de cassis, sappy currants, damson plums and a mouth coating creamy mineral grip on the finish. Beautifully compact with pin point precise tannins balanced with a real sense of effortless harmony and purity. A simply astounding expression. Drink from 2026 to 2045+.

97 Points | Tim Atkin MW

Schalk-Willem Joubert held back the latest vintage of Crescendo for another year, rightly reasoning that it needed more time in bottle. The latest in a superb, if short, run of releases from this revitalised Helderberg property, it's a structured, well-balanced assemblage of Cabernet Franc, 31% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon. Leafy, focused and chiselled, with herbal undertones, sinewy tannins, subtle 30% new wood and flavours of black cherry, cranberry and dill. 2027-38

92 points | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2021 Crescendo has a powerful, intense bouquet, whereby this year the Cabernet Franc component is more expressive, imbuing the aromatics with a touch of bell pepper and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, classic in style, reserved but fresh, with an underlying marine influence. Very stylish, with a touch of cracked black pepper that enlivens the finish. Seeking great Stellenbosch Cabernet Franc and crazily great value? Step this way.

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

 

View all wines and vintages of Taaibosch

Robert Weil Monte Nostrum Riesling 2024

“Wilhelm Weil presented another flawless collection of spine-tingling and pure Rieslings that vividly embody the precise house style and the character of the vintage. Clarity, coolness and crystalline poise are the hallmarks of the 2024 Robert Weil wines, which reflect all the briskness, rigor and bracing freshness of their elevated sites” - Vinous, Anne Krebiehl MW

Robert Weil is one of the most revered names in German wine, a benchmark for what Riesling can achieve in the Rheingau. Founded in 1875 and still family-run, the estate’s vineyards rise steeply above the town of Kiedrich, planted exclusively to Riesling on phyllite soils that lend a distinct mineral clarity to the wines. Wilhelm Weil has spent decades perfecting a house style that combines richness and precision, producing wines of exceptional purity, elegance, and age-worthiness.

The Monte Nostrum cuvée, a relatively new addition to the estate’s portfolio, comes from the highest-elevation parcels of the famed Turmberg and Gräfenberg vineyards, sites that enjoy optimal drainage and cooling forest breezes.

The 2024 Monte Nostrum captures Robert Weil at its most precise, shaped by altitude, airflow and mica schist soils above Kiedrich. Heavy rainfall defined the season, yet slow, even ripening preserved tension and clarity. Sugar never outpaced physiological maturity, allowing modest alcohols and vivid acidity. Certified organic for the first time, the estate met the challenge with rigorous selection, patient harvesting and calm confidence in a demanding, cool climate year.

From the highest parcels of Turmberg and Gräfenberg, Monte Nostrum 2024 is taut, saline and uncompromisingly dry. Citrus, nettle and iodine notes lead into a focused, stony palate with grip and energy. Spontaneously fermented in wood and raised on lees, it delivers crystalline precision, mouthwatering length and quiet power. A Riesling of rigour and longevity, built for patient cellaring from organically farmed, elevated Rheingau vineyards with clarity, poise and precision.

For lovers of precision Riesling, this is a rare chance to secure one of the Rheingau’s most thrilling new cuvées: pure, crystalline, and unlike anything else in the region. Don’t miss it.

 

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Robert Weil Monte Nostrum Riesling 2024

€69.90* IB per bottle

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97 Points | James Suckling, Stuart Pigott

There’s just a hint of wood, but it is beautifully integrated with the Amalfi-lemon, white-currant and gooseberry fruit. Very pure and crystalline on the sleek and compact, medium-bodied palate. Beautiful as it already is, this will develop extremely well with a bit more time in the bottle. From organically grown grapes. Wild-fermented and matured sur lie in large neutral-oak casks. Vegan. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.

96 Points | Wine Advocate, Stephan Reinhardt

From the highest plots above (not of) Turmberg and Gräfenberg and from the poorest soils, the 2024 Rheingau Riesling Trocken Monte Nostrum is a super focused, rigorous wine that opens with a deep, pure and stony, rather coolish and leafy bouquet of citrus fruits intermingled with notes of nettles, tomato leaves and iodine or sea breeze. Bone dry on the palate, this is a rich but pure and saline, very savory but elegant and straightforward, nicely grippy and energetic Riesling from the Kiedrich Wasseros. The finish is mouthwatering, still pure and vital. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in August 2025.

96 Points | Vinous, Anne Krebiehl MW

The 2024 Riesling Monte Nostrum is from the most elevated parcels of the estate, all along the forest edge across Graefenberg and Turmberg. This bears the original estate label from 1875. It fermented spontaneously in wood and the very slightest note of yeast still swings youthfully. This is followed by tangy citrus notes of lime, green tangerine and a touch of white grapefruit-tinged spiciness. The palate is a pure, clear soprano tone of Meyer lemon. The body is elongated, precise and wonderfully strait-laced, with a bracing but ripe freshness. This has crystalline poise and purity. It will be auctioned in March 2025 at the VDP Rheingau auction. (Bone-dry)

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

 

View all wines from Robert Weil. 

Vieux Chateau Certan 2023

Last week, James Suckling released his Bordeaux 2023 in-bottle scores, and one Right Bank wine really stood out.

100 Points - James Suckling
“Perfect aromas of ripe, pristine blueberries, subtle black olives, raspberries, violets, minerals, lavender and sandalwood. The finesse, depth and grace are mesmerizing. It's medium-bodied with incredible energy and length. A masterpiece in subtly. Can't get better than this"

 

“The 2023 Vieux Château Certan is like a drug. Its exotic aromatics, deeply layered fruit and sublime textures are just captivating” - Antonio Galloni

 

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Vieux Chateau Certan sits among Bordeaux’s true elite, a Pomerol estate defined by quiet authority rather than noise. Owned by the Thienpont family, it draws extraordinary depth from its gravel and clay soils on the plateau. Old vines of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, meticulous farming and restrained winemaking combine to deliver wines of texture, perfume and longevity that rank among the region’s most consistent benchmarks year after year globally today.

The 2023 Bordeaux vintage rewards attention, offering classical balance after the power of 2022. Higher yields and later season rain preserved freshness, lower alcohols and terroir clarity. The best wines show ripe fruit framed by tension, saline detail and finesse, delivering charm now with the structure to age gracefully long-term.

Vieux Chateau Certan 2023 is a masterclass in Pomerol refinement, blending 82 percent Merlot with 18 percent Cabernet Franc. Aromatically, it is vivid and floral, with blueberries, violets, sandalwood and subtle savoury notes. The palate is medium-bodied yet deeply layered, combining energy, salinity and polished tannins. Harvested after the September rains, it shows calm power, precision and balance, delivering hidden depth now and remarkable ageing potential from 2030 onwards for decades to come.

Awarded a perfect 100 points by James Suckling in his in-bottle scores, it was one of only a handful of wines to achieve the top rating. We have collated a selection of the leading scorers in a comparative table of Right Bank releases, where Vieux Chateau Certan 2023 clearly stands out, offering markedly stronger value relative to its peers.

We have a parcel available at the release price of €220* In Bond per bottle, for cases of 6x75l OWC.

We’ve long adored this estate, and it comes strongly recommended if you missed this during the En Primeur releases.

 

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Vieux Chateau Certan 2023

€220* In Bond per bottle

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100 Points | James Suckling

Perfect aromas of ripe, pristine blueberries, subtle black olives, raspberries, violets, minerals, lavender and sandalwood. The finesse, depth and grace are mesmerizing. It's medium-bodied with incredible energy and length. A masterpiece in subtly. Can't get better than this. 82% merlot and 18% cabernet franc. Lovely to drink now, but it will age beautifully. Wait until 2030.

96-98 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Not harvested until after the rains in the middle of September, the 2023 Vieux Château Certan is based on 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc that was brought up in roughly 60% new oak. It's another ripe, medium to full-bodied, aristocratic, beautifully textured Pomerol that has ample black cherry, mulberry, chocolate, and tobacco-like aromatics, medium to full-bodied richness, flawless overall balance, and ripe tannins, as well as a certain salinity on the finish. Checking in at 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.74, it should surpass the 2014 and is a beautiful, elegant, classic wine that every reader would love to have in their cellar.

96-98 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

The 2023 Vieux Château Certan is like a drug. Its exotic aromatics, deeply layered fruit and sublime textures are just captivating. I tasted the 2023 from an assembled base blend and four core components. Every wine was nothing short of breathtaking. When I think of the archetypes of greatness in Bordeaux, VCC is one of them. The 2023 is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Like all producers, Alexandre and Guillaume were forced to decide whether to pick their Cabernets before or after the September rains. As it turned out, none of the lots picked before the rain made it into the Grand Vin. Only those picked later were deemed of high enough quality.

96 Points | Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux

Fresh floral heights to the aromatics, then dark berry fruits and a core of muscles of the palate, classically-weighted with grip and texture, white pepper spice and salted cracker salinity on the finish. Stretches out through the palate, feels gloriously old school, full of hidden depths and pleasures. 43hl/h yield, harvest September 18 through to 29. Youngest vines here are 1988, which helps give the complexity that is so celebrated at VCC.

94-96 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

The 2023 Vieux Château Certan bursts from the glass with demonstrative aromas of dark berries, pencil shavings, violets mingled with notions of burning embers, iris, crushed mint and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and sensual, with a gourmand attack that segues into a layered, enveloping mid-palate, it's polished and perfumed, with a sweet core of fruit and a long, gently oak-inflected finish. This year's blend of 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc checks in at 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.74.

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

 

View all wines from Vieux Chateau Certan

2023 Montrose

The first Bordeaux 2023 in-bottle scores are starting to land, and Montrose has opened with a perfect 100-point rating. If we were betting men, we’d expect other critics to follow with high scores. Speaking with the Bordelaise this morning, many simply replied “sold out yesterday” once the score was published.

We do still have a small parcel available, so if you missed Montrose during En Primeur, this is a rare chance to secure a case while it’s still possible.

 

100 Points - James Suckling
“A new benchmark for Montrose. Extremely aromatic and beautiful, with lavender, violets, pencil shavings and black currants on the nose. Complex and medium-bodied. The muscular structure and intensity are something else. The purity of fruit is dreamy. Marks a new era for Montrose. ”

 

97-100 Points - Wine Advocate, William Kelley
“The 2023 Montrose is another brilliant wine from an estate that's now routinely among Bordeaux's very best, year in, year out. It will be worth a special effort to seek out”

 

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James Suckling has now released his full 2023 Bordeaux report, and among a very small group of wines awarded a perfect 100 points sits Montrose, alongside names like Yquem, Petrus and Le Pin. It’s a clear signal that 2023 should not be overlooked, and that Montrose continues to operate firmly at the very top of Bordeaux.

The 2023 vintage is a return to classic Bordeaux proportions. Compared to the power and opulence of 2022, the best wines show greater restraint, freshness and definition. At Montrose, this plays perfectly to the estate’s strengths. The wine combines ripe, dark fruit with a dense, compact core, framed by firm yet refined tannins and a vivid line of natural acidity. Alcohol levels are lower than in 2022, lending poise, energy and a distinctly timeless feel.

Montrose has been on an extraordinary run over the past decade, and many would argue the estate is producing the finest wines in its history. The 2023 captures that confidence beautifully, delivering Saint-Estephe authority with precision and finesse rather than brute force. It is a wine built for long ageing, but one that already shows harmony and clarity.

We have a small parcel available at the release price of €140 In Bond per bottle. We tried to source more stock this morning, but many Bordeaux negociants replied with “sold out yesterday" when the score was published.

For collectors seeking classic structure, longevity and one of the benchmark wines of the 2023 vintage, Montrose 2023 is an unmissable addition to the cellar.

 

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Montrose 2023

€140* In Bond per bottle

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100 Points | James Suckling

A new benchmark for Montrose. Extremely aromatic and beautiful, with lavender, violets, pencil shavings and black currants on the nose. Complex and medium-bodied. The muscular structure and intensity are something else. The purity of fruit is dreamy. Marks a new era for Montrose. It is now made from only 45 hectares of vineyards right in front of the chateau instead of about 60 hectares before. From organically grown grapes. 75% cabernet sauvignon, 21% merlot and 4% cabernet franc. Best after 2030.

97-100 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

The 2023 Montrose is another brilliant wine from an estate that's now routinely among Bordeaux's very best, year in, year out. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, derived exclusively from the estate's historic core on the fourth terrace situated just in front of the château itself, it unwinds in the glass with aromas of cassis and wild berries mingled with notions of lilac, violet and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, deep and layered, with a textural attack that segues into a dense, multidimensional mid-palate framed by beautifully ripe tannins and lively acids, it concludes with a long, resonant finish. It will be worth a special effort to seek out.

97-100 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

Made from a strict selection of only the best terroirs (terrace 4) around the estate and the oldest vines, the 2023 Château Montrose is a more Cabernet Sauvignon-driven wine than normal and is based on 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc that will see 18 months in 60% new French oak. The result is a more plush, deep, opulent wine that has classic Montrose darker, almost blue fruits, violets, chocolate, and damp earth-like aromas and flavors. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and expansive on the palate, it has more richness, breadth, and concentration than just about every other wine in the vintage. The 2023 hit 13.5% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.7. It has some similarities to the 2010 (or 2016?) and might end up being the wine of the vintage.

98 Points | Decanter, Georgina Hindle

So floral and aromatic, really inviting and welcoming on the nose, more aromatic than some. Smooth and intense, clearly concentrated but supple and bouncy, there’s movement to this, it’s not strict. So precise, and finessed, you can feel the edges of the fine tannins - well executed with a mineral grip underneath. You can tell there’s power here, it has muscles but sinew also. Quite demonstrative really - it’s flexing but keeps such a clear line of focus and cool blue fruit with graphite and liquorice too. Round and penetrating with an excellent weight and balance of acidity in the mouth while keeping harmony alongside a hint of sweet and just-ripe strawberries mostly with crunchy cranberry too. A lot to like here. Great effort, classy and comfortable - multi-faceted while still being so juicy and approachable. 60% new oak, ageing in barrels only for 18 months. 3.7pH. 13.6% press wine (300 barrels of press split into seven qualities). 35% grand vin in total, mainly from the old vines which is 45% of the vineyard but 35% of the crop. 48hl/ha yield.

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

 

View all wines and vintages of Montrose.

2022 Meerlust Rubicon - a valiat follow-up to the 2021

“The quality of the 2021 vintage will be remembered for a long time in the Cape but winemaker and cellar master Wim Truter certainly stepped up to the plate to craft an incredibly impressive 2022 Rubicon Cape Bordeaux Blend. There are few wine brands in the Cape more iconic than Meerlust Rubicon, thus magnifying the expectations and pressures on the estate to release a benchmark expression year after year”
- Greg Sherwood MW

 

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Meerlust, one of South Africa’s most historic estates, has been in the Myburgh family since 1756. Situated near Stellenbosch, just five kilometres from False Bay, its vineyards benefit from cooling maritime influences that shape its elegant, age-worthy wines. Meerlust pioneered Bordeaux-style blends in South Africa, with its flagship Rubicon first released in 1980. Crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, Rubicon reflects the estate’s balance of tradition and innovation, offering depth, complexity, and remarkable longevity.

Since taking the reins in 2020, Wim Truter has refined Meerlust with a forensic focus on site and soil, isolating each cultivar and parcel to understand exactly where it performs best, replanting where needed. Rubicon draws on four distinct estate terroirs, from granitic Compagniesdrift and diurnal river terraces to the rocky Quarry and clay-rich Lowlands, each contributing structure, freshness, precision and depth to the final blend.

Meerlust Rubicon 2022 is a confident, estate-driven expression shaped by a warm, dry Stellenbosch season. Drawn from the property’s four distinct terroirs, it blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot into a wine of depth and poise. Aromas of cedar, coffee bean, herbs and dark berries lead into a concentrated, structured palate.

In the glass, 2022 shows generous mid-palate richness balanced by fine, chalky tannins and graphite-laced freshness. The heat of the year brings breadth and ripe fruit, yet careful parcel selection preserves precision and elegance. Plush, savoury and composed, this is a serious Rubicon that will evolve gracefully, rewarding patient cellaring from 2026 onwards.

Coming in at €25.75* IB per bottle, this wine offers incredible value. If you’ve not tried it, we recommend giving it a go.

 

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Meerlust Rubicon 2022

€25.75* In Bond per bottle

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96 Points | Tim Atkin MW

Could Meerlust follow up on its spectacular 2021 Rubicon? The answer is not quite, but that's mostly a reflection of the hotter vintage. Sourced from the estate's four distinct terroirs, this is a very classy cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Coffee bean, cedarwood and fresh herb aromas segue into a palate that has good density and concentration, bramble, plum and dark berry fruit, a top note of graphite and nuanced tannins. 2026-35

95+ Points | Greg Sherwood MW

The 2022 Rubicon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (44%), Merlot (40%), Cabernet Franc (12%) and Petit Verdot (4%). The deep broody blue black fruit aromatics retain an enticing brambly, savoury, mellow aromatic elegance showing violets, lavender and a freshly tilled earth complexity. The warmth and dryness of the 2022 vintage shows in the wine’s rich generous mid-palate, with a plush accessible breadth but also a supple, creamy, attractively sweet fruited glycerol palate weight. This 2022 has the sweet fruit concentration of 2020 combined with the structural precision and elegance of 2017 but with perhaps an extra intensity of minerality, chalky granitic spice and pure black fruit persistence. A delicious Rubicon expression. Drink from 2026 to 2045+.

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

 

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2023 Standish Wine: Lamella, Shubert Theorem & 'The Standish'

If there is one Australian winemaker worth your attention right now, it is Dan Standish. His wines are pure, layered and beautifully expressive, evolving steadily in the glass and rewarding patience. They are the kind of bottles that define an evening rather than accompany it. Let us introduce you to Standish and the remarkable character of the 2023 vintage.

 

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Standish Wine is one of Barossa’s most compelling modern stories, proving that site, restraint and absolute focus can elevate Shiraz to world-class status.

Founded by fifth-generation Barossan Dan Standish, the estate crafts tiny volumes from ancient vineyards, vinified with a consistent hand to reveal soil, elevation and season rather than excess. The result is Shiraz of purity, texture and quiet authority built for longevity and nuance above simple power and hype globally.

The 2023 growing season in Barossa was defined by cold, wet conditions and a notably late harvest, testing even the region’s most experienced hands. Winter and spring rainfall built healthy canopies and balanced yields, while a cooler, drier summer slowed ripening and extended hang time. Picking stretched into May for later sites, preserving natural acidity and aromatic lift, and imprinting the wines with freshness, detail, and a distinctly cool year signature.

The resulting 2023 wines are quietly brilliant, combining Barossa depth with finesse, clarity, and tension. Whole bunch use was carefully moderated, fermentations handled in smaller batches, and time in oak was reduced to maintain energy and precision. Across The Standish, Schubert’s Theorem, and Lamella, the wines feel layered yet restrained, offering perfume, saline drive, and finely etched tannins. They confirm Standish’s ability to translate challenging seasons into wines of poise and longevity.

The critics have been emphatic in their praise, with scores brushing perfection. The 2023 releases have received outstanding recognition, including 98 points from Wine Advocate and up to 99 points from James Suckling, underlining the precision, depth and consistency achieved in a challenging year. These are benchmark wines not just for the vintage, but for modern Barossa Shiraz more broadly.

Each wine expresses a distinct personality, which we explore below on an individual basis. To allow you to experience the full breadth of Standish’s sites and styles, the wines are available as single bottles, and we strongly recommend taking at least one of each. Full tasting notes and critic scores are included below for closer study and comparison.

 

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Erin Larkin of the Wine Advocate has released a video explaining the wines and vintage:

 

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Standish The Standish 2023

€97.50* In Bond per bottle

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One of the crown jewels within the Standish portfolio is the self-titled "The Standish" Shiraz. Sourced from the esteemed Greenock vineyard, this wine captivates with its opulence and concentration. Balanced with precision and a purity of fruit, it boasts an aromatic nose. It’s savoury, full-bodied, spicy, full-bodied and powerful but incredibly balanced. 

 

99 Points | James Suckling

This is all about perfume, with integrated blue and black fruit that shows polish and refinement, plus undertones of mulberry bush, cocoa, crushed stones, fresh herbs and violets. The palate is plush and rounded with no hard edges, showing a silken, creamy texture that flows across the palate for minutes, supported by almost melting tannins. In near perfect balance, with all the hallmarks of a cool-vintage syrah. Pretty, textural and aromatic. Excellent. Drink or hold.

97 Points | Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin

The 2023 The Standish Shiraz is the most "Barossan" of all the Standish cuvées. It exudes earthy brick dust tannins and layers sumac and exotic spices with roasted game and sweet marrow. There are notes of black cherry, dried rose petals, sandalwood, hung deli meat and licorice, all of it strapped to rails of grounded tannin. It's chewy, substantial and of the earth, in its way. The fruit is sourced from the Laycock family vineyard in Greenock, as always, and it expresses the red clay and loam soils there in its splay of tannic fortitude and density. This is very impressive. It is fresh yet meaty/rocky—both attractive qualities in Shiraz/Syrah. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.

 

Standish Schubert Theorem 2023

€97.50* In Bond per bottle

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The Schubert Shiraz is sourced from the famed Roennfeldt Road vineyard. In the range, the Schubert is the darkest wine. The fruit is dark fruit such a black cherries and blackberries and the nose has plenty of mocha and dark chocolate. Overall, it’s very concentrated, and tannic but with a sophistication that is incredibly impressive. 

 

99 Points | James Suckling

Deeply scented and perfumed, with layered aromas of wild red berries, blueberries, blackberries, bitter chocolate, coffee, black cherries, graphite and licorice. The palate is textural and silken, in near perfect harmony with fine tannins and a rounded mouthfeel cut through by a fine line of acidity. The complexity and integration have built this wine to last for decades, while already offering immediate drinking pleasure from the cool vintage. Excellent. Drink or hold.

98 Points | Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin

The 2023 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz is a gorgeous wine. It is silky, inky, pure, black as the ace of spades and long through the finish. The use of concrete egg in the fermentation/maturation stages lends the wine a sense of purity and finesse. It supports a core of crystalline fruit that is wrapped in earthy, grainy tannin and woven together with threads of saline acidity. It has rose petals, detail and delicacy, power and precision. Standish performs somewhat like a Burgundian producer—he works with one grape (I suppose two, if you count the small inclusion of Viognier in the Relic) to express different vineyard sites, soil types and elevations. There's no "declassified" fruit in these wines, no flow-on opportunities to other cuvées, just "make or break" viticulture and winemaking. The ancient terroir of the Barossa is writ large in these wines. It is striking. This 2023 Schubert, despite the cool and wet conditions, is a testament to Standish's clarity of vision. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.

 

Standish Lamella Shiraz 2023

€97.50* In Bond per bottle

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The Lamella Shiraz is sourced from the Eden Valley. This cool-climate region imparts distinctive characteristics to the wine, resulting in a captivating expression of Shiraz that is elegant, refined, and beautifully structured. The Lamella often has a savoury, bacon fatness that you often find in Cornas in the Rhone. Crushed rocks and Asian spice usually follow suit to round of this pure expression of Shiraz.

 

99 Points | James Suckling

There’s great balance of blue and black fruit, with undertones of licorice, minerals, potpourri, bresaola, bitter chocolate and cherry confit. The palate is firmly framed yet silken in texture, with length and body that carry the finish for minutes. Made from 100% whole-cluster fermentation, from vines planted in 1858. Spiced, perfumed and textural, with a firmly built structure that will live for decades yet is delicious now, showing all the hallmarks of a world-class syrah. Excellent. Drink or hold.

98+ Points | Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin

Following on from the perfect 2022 release, I find myself opening this wine with a fair bit of excitement. I called Dan Standish one day in early May 2023 (I think to ask my questions about the wines I was tasting), and he was in the vineyard up in Eden Valley, picking the Lamella fruit for this wine. 2023 was a wet, cool season, so much so that the fruit for this cuvée was picked in May. Still, aromatically, the 2023 Lamella Shiraz leads with sumac and orange peel, fresh raspberry, black cherry, licorice, petrichor, wet asphalt and river stones. Sandalwood and rose petals follow through the finish. This is velvety and grainy, supple and pliable. The tannins are dry and silky, and they perfectly balance the intensity of sweet/spicy fruit in the mouth. This wine is a clear example of why you must back a producer over a vintage, because a good producer will triumph no matter the conditions. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax.

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

 

View all wines from Standish Wine.