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Champagne - Other, Champagne, France
A sophisticated wine drinkers champagne presented in a lovely gift box. It is like drinking a fine wine because of the complexity of the blending from aged cuvees from top cru vineyards. Krug Grande Cuvee is the timelessly stylish signature of Krug, a breathtaking champagne that effortlessly balances richness and freshness, power and finesse. A gleaming gold colour, an extravagantly expansive bouquet, an almost creamy texture. Then, an explosion of flavours, at once mellow and mature, crisp and clean. Its a dream drop.
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Bonnefond, Rhone Valley, France
"Youthful purple color. Sexy Asian spice and red berry aromas are complicated by smoked meat and incense. Darker berries are on display in the mouth, along with hints of black olive and sweet chewing tobacco. Finishes with good grip and a jolt of refreshingly bitter cherry pit. This is already beginning to show some complexity."88-91 Tanzer
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Bordeaux, Bordeaux Region, France
"This classically made, dense purple-hued wine exhibits enormous potential, but currently it is forebodingly backward, dense, and broad. Once again, proprietor Anthony Barton delivers a wine with superb concentration, a classic style, and the possibility of three decades or more of ageability. Like most of the finest Leoville Bartons, considerable patience will be required. The 2006 will need 8-10 years of cellaring, and may even rival the 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035".92-94 Parker
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Bordeaux, Bordeaux Region, France
"This is a very strong effort from this estate, which sits just adjacent to Petrus. In fact, they sold part of their vineyard to Petrus in the early 1970s. This is a full-bodied, powerful 2006 with the oak more restrained than it normally is in a young Gazin. Copious quantities of sweet plum, fig, and black cherry fruit are intermixed with cedar and dried herbs in a medium to full-bodied, rich, long, impressively endowed style. This is an outstanding wine, with enough stuffing, structure, and density to age beautifully over a 20- to 25-year period."92 Parker
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Vielle Julienne, Rhone Valley, France
"Outrageously fine, the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape achieved 16.5% natural alcohol. With great intensity, it is more similar to a 2001 than one normally finds in this vintage of charming, elegant, fruit-forward wines. It possesses a dense purple color along with extraordinary richness, copious quantities of cassis, kirsch, and licorice, and a meatiness to both its texture and density. This remarkably pure, full-bodied, opulent beauty exhibits good acidity as well as ripe tannin. It should last for 15-20 years" 93-95/100 R.Parker
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Champagne - Other, Champagne, France
Due end of August. Book now. Made by Laurent Perrier and we would challenge you to say that the quality isnt exactly the same as all the big brands selling at $60-$90.The quality of Beaumet for which it is renown comes primarily from the grapes, sourced from the best crus of the Côte des Blancs, Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Bar. The grapes are then pressed in new state-of-the-art facilities in Oger. Beaumets Brut nv has less dosage than many non vintage champagnes. This gives it greater refinement and elegance than many of the big brand blends. "Fine mousse and an elegant nose and palate, with a subtle bready quality and green apple and citrus fruit. The acidity provides a
good structure and a fresh finish, balancing
the fruit character." Qality chamapgne for a song.
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Bordeaux, Bordeaux Region, France
"An ethereal, finesse-styled, Cheval Blanc-like delicacy accompanied by intensity characterize the 2006 l'Arrosee, another terrific effort from new proprietor Roger Caille. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by a sweet perfume of crushed rocks, raspberries, cherries, flowers, and spice. Velvety-textured and structured, with considerable concentration yet a lightness of being, this finesse-styled beauty should be ready to drink in 3-5 years, and last for two decades.92-94"Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
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Bordeaux, Bordeaux Region, France
Cos was good in the 1990's but since 2000 the quality level here has reached another level. Jean-Guillaume Prats has been given total control by the new owner to produce the best wine possible and his avowed aim here is to make wine of First Growth quality at less than half the price. This is something that he has already achieved in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.. Cos is now battling it out with Leoville Lascases, Ducru Beaucaillou, Pichon Lalande and Palmer as the Medoc's best non-First Growth. Yields are low, prices are up but Cos is really making great wine. In 2006 Cos is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 45% of the total production (and the majority of the Merlot) was relegated to the 2nd label - Les Pagodes de Cos. Elevage in 80% new oak.Dark and inky in colour, this is clearly a Cos of great depth. The brooding nose offers layers of aromatic black fruits, exotic spice and minerality, with a generous overlay of super-classy oak. The powerful, mouthfilling palate is packed with extract and full, ripe tannins, yet is smooth and balanced throughout. The cassis-laden Cabernet fruit shows pure St Estephe minerality, infused with Cos' trademark exotic allure. This is a big wine that carries itself with true grace. A tour de force for 2006. ONE OF THE WINES OF THE VINTAGE.
Farr Vintners
Jean-Guillaume Prats told me that yields were a modest 38 hectoliters per hectare, and only 55% of the production made it into the 2006 Cos. The harvest took place between September 21 and October 6, and the final blend is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (78%), followed by 20% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. The dense ruby/purple-tinged 2006 recalls such vintages as 1988 and 1996. It offers a classic bouquet of incense, licorice, pain grille, black currants, truffles, and flowers. Medium-bodied and concentrated with moderately high tannin, it will require 8-10 years of cellaring, and should keep for 30 or more. It is another terrific effort from an estate that has done everything right over the last decade.92-94+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
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Veuve Cliquot, Champagne, France
Normally $115. Rich Reserve is a magnificant vintage bubbly that has a sweeter dosage added making it an off dry style of bubbly. The basic blend is composed of 21 Grands and Premiers Crus (55% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay and 12% Pinot Meunier) vintages. "This wine has a brilliant, attractive goldenyellow colour. The nose is extremely fruity, including aromas of fresh fruit compote, citrus fruits and peaches. When the wine is agitated, more spicy (cinnamon, liquorice) and buttery (marzipan) notes appear. The dosage plays its role perfectly; the bouquet seems more generous and concentrated. In the mouth, the wine is rounded and full-bodied, with Pinot Noir grapes (the majority variety used in this wine) providing strength and structure. The presence of Chardonnay gives the finish a fresh, pure touch with a finely integrated dosage. The wine ends with notes of caramelised citrus fruits, dried apricots and honey. Stored under good conditions, the Vintage Rich 1999 can be kept for 8-10 years, during which time it will develop complexity and aromatic richness."
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Lucien Le Moine, Burgundy, France
"A very spicy, and very Vosne, nose is trimmed in discreet oak where a touch of crushed herb surfaces though it does not continue onto the rich, soft and quite forward medium full flavors that culminate in a firm and dusty finish. This is really quite seductive and is blessed with excellent length."90-92 Burghound
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