Castarede Armagnac 1985
$159.99
If you are looking to gift somebody a birth year bottle of something they can either drink now or hold onto as long as they want, Castarède Armagnac should be considered.
The Armagnac House Castarède was founded in 1832 and remains in the same family to this day. It is now headed by Florence Castarede, who is the sixth generation of the Castarède family in charge of the Armagnac house. Castarède has an impressive selection of vintages still available, with consecutive vintages from 2003 back to the 1890s.
The vineyards are in the heart of the Bas-Armagnac region and are planted with a variety of grapes: Folle Blache, Colombard and Saint-Emillion. Castarede Armagnacs then get aged in black oak barrels in the family's ancient cellars, before a little bit finds its way to Canada for fans like us!
Plantation XO 20th Anniversary
$69.99
Nose : The stunning floral/fruity opening aroma is transcendent, then releases fragrance of vanilla, cocoa and milk
chocolate.
Palate : The delightful mango notes lend evidence to its advanced age, a result of long maturation in French oak cask.
If one isn’t too careful this bottle will drain in a night. Cursory check for all those Ron Millonario lovers: here is your new love. This 20th-anniversary edition was created to celebrate Alexandre Gabriel’s rum meets cognac brainchild, this spirit was crafted from strictly Barbados stock in secret to surprise the head honcho on the anniversary of the companies inception. From selected stock 12 to 20 years of age, partially matured in the Carribean and then shipped to Cognac, France for further ageing before being bottled.
Darroze 12 Year Armagnac
$91.99
Francis Darroze started his business in 1974, as a producer and trader of fine Armagnac. Here's a fantastic and very rare example, from 1985. Here's what Robert Parker has to say about him: "One has never really tried an Armagnac until trying those of Francis Darroze!" One for every serious fan of French spirits. All the Darroze Armagnacs are aged in their own barrels, and no caramel or other coloring agents are ever added. And to be sure they keep their true character, they are never blended. Rare, hand-crafted, original.
Pierre Huet 15 Year Calvados Pays D`Auge
$119.99
A beautiful Calvados from a top producer! This apple brandy is one of France's most famous creations and is only made in Normandy. Serve after a good dinner. "The Calvados AOC Pays d’Auge is obtained through a process of double distillation of cider in a traditional copper still called “alambic à repasse” (which translates as a “double distillation still”). First, the juice obtained by pressing the apples is completely fermented (12 months) in one hundred year old oak barrels," according to the distillery.
Lopez Heredia Tondonia Gran Reserva Red
$289.99
*** LIMIT OF 1 PER PERSON OR HOUSEHOLD
It all started in the middle of the nineteenth century when French negociants visited the Rioja region to find alternative sources of quality grapes to transform into wine, since the phylloxera epidemic had decimated their vineyards. The founder, Don Rafael López de Heredia y Landeta, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic student in the art of wine making, followed closely in their footsteps.
Don Rafael fell in love with the region and especially the area around Haro, the mythical capital of the Rioja Alta region. He observed that there was a magical combination of soil and climate that would offer the perfect environment for producing wine that would eventually become world famous. Around 1877 he began the design and construction of the complex that is today known as the López de Heredia bodega (winery), the oldest in Haro and one of the first three bodegas in the Rioja region.
Le Clos des Cazaux Cote du Rhone Rose
$29.99
The Le Clos des Cazaux estate has been a family property focused on viticulture for five generations since Gabriel Archimbaud, an ancestor, was one of the first to produce wines from Vacqueyras in 1947. It is now owned and operated by brothers Jean-Michel and Frédéric Vache. They farm 35 hectares, 20 in Vacqueyras and another 15 in Gigondas. They own mostly low-yielding hillside vineyards, fashioning high-quality white wines, rosés, and red blends.Their Gigondas vineyards are situated in the heart of the Dentelles de Montmirail massif range that has been in the family since the 1950s. This very special terroir benefits from the solar power of the southern slope, balanced by the cool nights at higher altitudes, mostly on clay soils. The reds are blended primarily from Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. however, they include lesser-known grapes such as Aubun, Counoise, Cinsault, Muscardin and Carignan. The white wines mainly employ old-vine Clairette, complemented by Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, and a little Viognier.
Exclusively ours and we're tickled pink! It's made from a blend of Cinsault, fruity Syrah and some Grenache for the structure and fat needed for Rose wines. On the nose: Scents of red fruits, candied fruit and hints of spice and flowers (grenadine, vanilla) The palate shows great freshness especially flavours of red berries. This is such a versatile food wine! Try it with mozzarella with basil, Provencal salad, fish soup, melon and prosciutto. For main courses, you can try salmon, swordfish steak, grilled pork kebabs or Penne Primavera. Cheese is simple: goat!
Noteworthy Gin
$50.99
This is a big gin with a floral-citric backbone. The "New Western Dry" gin was such a hit just in BC that it has delayed the production of the distillery's whisky. We firmly belive Stevely is one of North America's up and coming distillers, so much so that we've already filled our own cask. We love this gin, and know that you will too.
From the producer: Our award winning Noteworthy Gin is our initial signature release which is a hand-crafted, small batch gin made from 100% British Columbian grown barley, carefully fermented in stainless steel and then transferred to our German copper pot still. After three precision distillations – two to clean the spirit and one to infuse our botanicals, it is then both hand bottled and labeled allowing constant monitoring of the quality control process.
"Ceres, the Roman Goddess of agriculture and grain crops, inspired this exquisite gin recipe. Our careful, meticulous process contributes to the smoothness of this refreshing and carefully balanced gin making it ideal for cocktails, the classic G&T or your favorite martini. It’s an incredibly balanced and refreshing gin.
"Everything about Noteworthy, from the premium packaging to the raw ingredients is about quality and craftsmanship. Our attention to detail and passion for high quality spirits is in every bottle."
Alipus Mezcal San Baltazar
$69.99
Wyoming Small Batch Bourbon 44%
$62.99
Small batch Bourbon from the town of Kirby in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming. This whiskey is made with local grains: corn, wheat, winter rye and barley and water from the Madison Formation, a limestone basin 1 mile below the surface. Bottled at 44%.
Producer's Tasting Note
Nose: floral, with a hint of vanilla bean and caramel pudding
Palate: floral with brown baking spices and browned butter, vanilla crème, caramel, and a hint of cinnamon
Mouthfeel: light and smooth with vanilla bean and cinnamon spice filling the mouth cavity, hint of mint
Finish: medium length finish with toffee. Spice and vanilla fade