Rare Limited Vintages

"One of Pauillac's most consistently brilliant wines” Pro-review: The 1983 Pichon-Baron is an uncommon example of a Pauillac that surpasses the previous vintage, albeit by a whisker, displaying more freshness on the nose of blackberry, raspberry, sage and Italian delicatessen. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy, leathery opening. There is moderate acidity here, and you could argue that it is muffled and lacks clarity toward the finish. However, there is presence and length, plus a pinch of white pepper that lingers on the aftertaste. Tasted at the Pichon-Baron vertical at the château. Grand Cru Classe en 1855. The vineyard of Pichon Baron (as they called to distinguish it from its neighbor Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande) is situated right next to Chateau Latour on one of the finest vineyards in Pauillac. In the seventeenth century, Jacques de Pichon Longueville Baron, began to construct the vineyard of Pichon-Longueville. The reputation of the wine was established a few years later. The present castle was built in 1851 by Raoul de Pichon-Longueville. The wines of Château Pichon Baron come from this historic property. Resulting in full-bodied wine, rich in tannins, which are characterized by their finesse and elegance. Their length in the mouth is exceptional and they have a significant aging potential.

Legendary 1972 Petrus. A rare, perfectly cellared bottle from Bordeaux’s most revered estate. Velvety Merlot from a singular terroir. For collectors, not casuals.

99 James Suckling: Glorious aromas of perfumes, rose petals and currants. Lavender and violets. Full-bodied and dense. A rich center palate with polished and velvety tannins. Layered and gorgeous. A cylinder of fruit with firm and silky tannins, which drive the wine.

Robert Parker 100Jeb Dunnuck 100Served at the table of King Charles II in 1660, Château Haut-Brion has never stopped writing history since. Certainly the most legendary wine from Bordeaux; deep and powerful, this premier cru classé from a domain founded in the 16th century will need to age for a good few years before expressing its full elegant, noble majesty.  The harvests are manual, and the grapes are sorted several times throughout the process. Limited yields and a long maturation of 22 months in new oak barrels contribute to the production of this magnificent wine. Haut Brion develops velvety notes of ripe blackcurrant and has a mineral profile with legendary finesse. In its best vintages, it can be aged for several decades. This blend is made up of   Blend: 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc    The prestigious Château Haut-Brion surprises by the number of first places it occupies in many situations. Created in 1553 by Jean de Pontac, Haut-Brion was the first wine of Bordeaux's history to have the same name as the domain. At that time, the wines were sold anonymously. First chateau to practice techniques which are now unavoidable, such as racking or aging in oak barrels. Therefore, it will be the only classified Grand Cru in the Graves appellation in 1855, and is number 1 of course! There is no small vintage at Haut-Brion, owned by the Dillon family since 1935. In 1983, the Dillon family bought La Mission Haut-Brion, Haut-Brion's neighbour. It is always exciting to compare the different vntages of the property. In great vintages, it is perfectly able to age for several decades. Some vintages, such as the 1961 or 1989, show the incredible potential of Château Haut Brion, one of the greatest red wines in the world.

Experience the pinnacle of elegance with the 1996 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. This esteemed Bordeaux gem boasts a rich, complex bouquet of blackcurrants, tobacco, and cedar, with harmonious notes of leather and spice. Its full-bodied structure and refined tannins reveal a timeless sophistication, while its lingering finish offers a taste of opulence. Perfect for collectors and connoisseurs alike, this vintage embodies the essence of luxury in every sip. ROBERT PARKER WINE ADVOCATE 100 P. Tasted three times since bottling, the 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is unquestionably this renowned estate's greatest wine. As I indicated last year, only 38% of the crop was deemed grand enough to be put into the final blend, which is atypically high in Cabernet Sauvignon (83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot). This massive wine may be the biggest, largest-scaled Lafite I have ever tasted. It will require many years to come around, so I suspect all of us past the age of fifty might want to give serious consideration as to whether we should be laying away multiple cases of this wine. It is also the first Lafite-Rothschild to be put into a new engraved bottle (designed to prevent fraudulent imitations). The wine exhibits a thick-looking, ruby/purple color, and a knock-out nose of lead pencil, minerals, flowers, and black currant scents. Extremely powerful and full-bodied, with remarkable complexity for such a young wine, this huge Lafite is oozing with extract and richness, yet has managed to preserve its quintessentially elegant personality. This wine is even richer than it was prior to bottling. It should unquestionably last for 40-50 years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2050. The wine of the vintage? Reviewed by Robert M. Parker, Jr., Issue date: April 1999. Drinking window: 2012-2050.

The wine is made from traditional Carmigiano grapes - Sangiovese, Cabernet and Canaiolo grow in the historic ancient Medici property known as "Barco Reale" - meaning Royal Property - which was established in 1626 that was a hunting preserve surrounded by walls over 30 miles long. Barco Reale is a younger version of Carmignano that received DOC status in 1994. It prodiced by the Nobil casa Contini Bonacossi  at Capezzana in Carmignano , Tuscani. Purplish dark and deep red with ruby red shades. On the nose, sweet, ample, elegant, very intense and fruity with light tones of oak. Soft, voluminous, ample with sweet tannins of medium density in good balance with the acidity. Fruity, long lasting finish. Alc: 13.5%    

SPECIAL EDITION.  100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Created from 5 selected barrels. Powerful, concentrated and rich wine with flavours of black currant, dark chocolate and hints of cedar and cigar. --Louisvale.com

This 100% Sangiovese is ruby red, rich and bright. Aging 16 months in barrels of 28.5hl Slavonia Oak and 225-liter barriques. The elegant sensations of cherry and violet come out decisive at the first olfactory approach and then leave room for the nuances that are coming from the wood aging. .The spicy aromas are expressed with elegance, precision and a lot of details; given by the texture of the woods in which it matures. To the taste tannins are silky, dense and fresh, never unbalanced. The unmistakable flavor of BBS11 makes it a harmonious and elegant wine. VINEYARD NOTES Sassoalloro Oro was born in an extraordinary land, where galestro mineral varieties contribute to an optimal development of the plant by giving its fruits unique and representative scents of the territory. We are in the “Aia di Clemente”, 6 hectares, a small garden in Montepò. The vineyard is exposed to the East, South-East (112.5° compass) and the slope is 17%. Its rows have a length of about 280 meters and the average production settles at 41 q/ha with a production per stump of 780 gr. PRODUCTION NOTES The grapes were desteped and crushed before fermentation in steel vats. Reassembly and delestages have been carried out until the must sugars are exhausted. The must was derailed on October 12, cleaned of lees and then carried out malolactic fermentation always in steel vats. In December, at the end of the malolactic fermentation, the wine was refined in barrels of 28.5hl Slavonia oak and 225-liter barriques for 16 months. Then the final mass was assembled and bottling proceeded on May 26, 2021. WINEMAKER NOTES To celebrate the 30° anniversary of Sassoalloro (1991-2021), the iconic wine of the Castello di Montepò, we produced Sassoalloro Oro, fruit of the study that lasted several years between Jacopo and Tancredi Biondi Santi in collaboration with the winemaker Donato Lanati. The selected vineyard is located in a portion of Galestro with good slope and has east, south-east exposure. There is no irrigation in the vineyards precisely to favor a deep and well-resistant radical development even in the most droughty vintages. FOOD & WINE PAIRING Sassoalloro Oro finds its natural combination with traditional Tuscan cuisine, especially with roasted game meats and medium-aged cheeses. It is an excellent meditation wine, to be tasted alone or on special occasions. It has an estimated longevity of 30 years. MORE INFORMATION From Sangiovese Grosso BBS11 grapes, a clone owned by the Biondi Santi family, Sassoalloro Oro comes from vineyards with excellent exposure and from plants over 15 years old.

Variety : 100% Nebbiolo, in a unique bottle - "Facsimile Di Champagnotta NAPOLEONICA".        The classical dry red wine comes from the Barbaresco DOC in Northern Italy, the important wine region of Piedmont. The Bersano winery was founded in the end of the 19th century in Nizza Monferrato. Bersano has today over 230 hectars in the best Cru areas in Barolo and Langhe, making the largest private wine grower company in Piedmont. The premium wines are from the Conti di Cremosina vineyards. With the 1981 Barbaresco Riserva Bersano Cremosina Nizza Monferrato, comes a personal present meant for a person who is very special to you.                     The wine matures in oak for 24 months then is left to age in the bottle until being sold. Food: Pairs with red meats, cheeses and it excellent as a meditation wine. organic, Piemonte . only 2 bottles in stock

Characterized by a lively ruby red color, Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia 2018 is a wine of great aromatic complexity, a distinctive feature of this vintage. In the glass, aromas of berries, blackberry, raspberry and red cherry are accompanied by floral hints of wild rose and spicy notes of pink pepper and licorice. On tasting, the wine has a good tannic structure, enveloping and balanced, with a crisp and savory finish.  95James Suckling. The aromas of currants, tobacco, chocolate and mushrooms are very attractive here. It’s full-bodied with juicy tannins and a flavorful, round-textured finish. Gorgeous wine and very approachable now, but better in 2023.  93Decanter Crackling with personality, this has a lovely mix of dark chocolate shavings, liquorice, sweet cedar, raspberry, sage and Tuscan underbrush. Really one to savour, holds its grip through the palate and is juicy, nuanced and mouthwatering. A brilliant second wine, made mainly from the younger vines of Ornellaia. 17% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Aged in oak (25% new) for 15 months, with six months further ageing in bottle before release. Drinking Window 2023 - 2034 93Robert Parker Blend: 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 17% Petit Verdot

PARKER 95 pts. Wine Spectator 96 pts. The 2001 Sori San Lorenzo is the richest and deepest of these 2001s. It remains cool, inward and totally implosive. Dark fruit, leather, goudron and licorice are some of the notes that begin to emerge over time. The 2001 is dazzling, but it is also very much on the muscular side and needs time to soften. I imagine it will drink beautifully for another 20 years, and that is likely to be conservative in light of the glacial pace with which the San Lorenzo ages. Winemaker notes: Almost always the most powerful and austere of Gaja's 5 single-vineyard wines, requiring a longer time to fully develop. Highly concentrated currant and black cherry fruit with a hint of coffee in addition to aromas of fine herbs, minerals and exotic spices. A very focused, concentrated wine with a long, lingering finish and refined tannins, it has excellent aging potential. Grapes: 100% Nebbiolo. Use code TEN for 10% OFF

Winemaker Notes: With richness and depth of flavor, the 2018 Timeless Napa Valley is the embodiment of patience and attention to detail. Decades of experience at Soda Canyon Ranch allow winemaker Nate Weis and team to highlight the individual merits of each block. Combining the strongest lots from each resulted in a refined and harmonious bottling. In 2018, the diurnal shift at Soda Canyon Ranch produced a darker, lusher fruit profile of Cabernet Sauvignon. Simultaneously, the overnight recovery periods resulted in expressive and refined Merlot, giving the wine a pleasant profile of bright, red fruit. With an extended harvest window, the signature, plush density and structure of Petit Verdot is also prevalent in the final blend. Cabernet Franc thrived in 2018 with its predilection for the cooler soils and the climate of blocks 5, 6, 16, 20 and 21—areas we call the Transition Zone and Hardpan Alley. The variety’s floral and tobacco-like aromatics are accentuated, and its more aggressive nature for back-end tannins tamed. Once blended, the 2018 vintage rested in French oak barrels for 16 months, developing flavors of vanilla and baking spice. Velvety tannins dance across the palate of bright and lingering cassis. With a smooth finish, this is a comforting wine of elegance and depth—a sophisticated expression of the sedate summer VINTAGE DESCRIPTION :In vintages of abundance, the beauty at Soda Canyon Ranch never ceases to astonish. Steady winter rains quenched the hillsides through the end of May. An impressive fruit set was the result of mild temperatures and ideal conditions through the spring, and long, warm summer days followed by cool evenings helped develop a balanced crop load. A leisurely season was met with calm anticipation as we waited patiently for the fruit to develop. Then, all at once, we quickly and diligently picked the remarkable bounty of vibrant and intense fruit, confirming that 2018 would long be remembered as a vintage of exceptional quality. James Suckling 93 points This is a little old-school and shows lots of dark berry, chocolate and dried fruit. It’s full, dense and layered with fleshly sensibility.

++ Each bottle has a unique art label. Special requests for a specific label will be honored if possible++ California Pinot Noir | 100% Pinot Noir from Our Lady of Guadalupe Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and Annapolis Ridge Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast A garnet core with a ruby gemstone rim, the Equinox Edition XVIII opens with aromatic notes of bright cranberry, strawberry, pluot and an intriguing touch of endive, creme fraiche and fennel. Fresh, alive, and enveloping just scratch the surface of the palate; a developing mid-palate of black cherry, wild raspberry, orange peel and pomegranate - all with a prominent vein of acidity - dominate. Bright through the finish, the wine closes with a slight tart cherry upon a piquant, endless crescendo. | Equinox by Orin Swift Cellars