Durigutti Cabernet Franc
$24.99
Brothers Héctor and Pablo were born in Mendoza, the cradle of Argentinian wine, and grew up together surrounded by wine culture. Their childhood was linked to a sensory world with aromas, ingredients, and flavours that, over time, led them to the winemaking path in Mendoza. Hector started at Alto Las Hormigas at the age of 15 and has completed 25 projects at various well-known wineries, learning old-world techniques and agriculture. Pablo started at La Rural, a winery now owned by Catena, and they began their final journey in 2002, starting with a small family winery with the brothers assuming the dual role of owners/winemakers. In 2008 they moved into an old recovered winery (Las Compuertas) and by 2010 their wines started receiving accolades in the wine press, including their 2008 Malbec which made the Wine Spectator's Top 100. A few years ago they introduced the Las Compuretas range of wines produced from their oldest vineyards.
St Antony Hipping Riesling GG
$69.99
St. Antony, a top-shelf riesling producer making high-quality wine since 1912. The ultra-modern winery they built sits on top of cellars that hold decades of premium riesling, a white grape that ages as well, if not better, than any first-growth Bordeaux or Burgundy (and for a lot less). These are dry wines, brimming with minerality and acidity, and three of the four we received are GG (Grosses Gewächs), the grand cru designation for dry German riesling. They are situated in the town of Nierstein, a charming village that is effectively the epicentre of wine in the Rheinhessen. Praised by critics and adored by riesling lovers, these are beautiful, mineral-driven wines that are delicious now and even better over time.
Canals Nadal Cava Brut Nature Reserva
$36.99
Joan Miquel Canals is a winemaker who began his education at the University of Barcelona before receiving a PhD in 1997 from the Rovira i Virgili University, where he is a full professor at the Faculty of Oenology. He is a member and former president of the College of Oenologists and Oenologists of Catalonia, and an expert in the quality factors that influence the sensory perception of wines, particularly sparkling wines. Since 1983, he has produced base wines from the traditional varieties for cava in the Alt Penedès region.
He has been the winemaker for his family's cavas from the beginning, where he has developed the current product line in the framework of a philosophy of constant improvement with respect for nature and trying to minimize the human footprint in his wines. The Brut Nature is a blend of 45% Macabeu, 40% Xarel·lo, and 15% Parellada. It's a clear, brilliant pale gold colour with aromas of ripe fruits (baked apple, quince, peach syrup, backed by fine pastry and vanilla notes. Flavours of ripe green and stone fruits (apple and peach), and hazelnut follow; it's voluminous with good balance. There's a creamy mousse along with a fine, persistent finish.
Poggio al Sole Syrah
$65.99
Second-generation winemaker Johannes Davaz isn't from Tavernelle. Originally, he worked for his father in the family's Swiss vineyards and wine cellar before going to college to study enology. Years later, when the Davaz family took over the Poggio al Sole estate, Johannes (known locally as "Giovanni") undertook the responsibility of overseeing the new venture. There are not a lot of Chianti producers making syrah but when we first tasted this we wondered why. Stylistically, it's closer to the Rhone style than an Aussie shiraz. There's a great interplay of fruit and savouriness on the nose, with ripe cherry, pepper and cloves as well as a hint of violets. Structured on the palate, starts with lots of juice, ripe tannins, dancing acidity, savoury, persistent finish. Organic and vegan-friendly.
Carlisle Pagani Zinfandel
$91.99
Carlisle Winery & Vineyards is the realization of a dream for long-time home winemakers Mike and Kendall Officer. After a decade of producing award-winning wines at home for family and friends, they crushed their first "commercial" grapes in 1998. Focusing on Zinfandel and Rhone-based varieties, their goal is simple but ambitious: to produce small lots of world-class wines from some of California's most exceptional vineyards. Although the winemaker’s bag of tricks has grown considerably over recent years, these tools and techniques can only take a wine so far. For a wine to be exceptional, it must be intrinsic to the grapes. Given this simple fact, Carlisle strives to work with only the best vineyards, vineyards that consistently produce grapes of quality and distinction, vintage after vintage. For their numerous Zinfandels, Mourvèdres, and a couple of their whites, they source fruit from some of the finest old-vine Sonoma Country vineyards, some planted as early as the 1800's. For other varieties – Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Grüner Veltliner – they work diligently with small family growers who share Carlisle's passion for great wine. The Wine Spectator wrote that Carlisle is making the best zinfandels in California, and we couldn't agree more.
Hansel Estate Chardonnay
$51.99
In the 1970s Walter Hansel enlisted the help of his son Stephen to plant 257 Chardonnay vines. Throughout the 1980's the winery grew, as did the quality of the wine. It's still a relatively small winery but their Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs are now highly regarded and offer a Burgundian esthetic in a Sonoma setting. The Estate Chardonnay from Walter Hansel is one of the best showcases of what this winery can do with the grape. It avoids extreme oak and over-the-top flavour in exchange for balance, elegance and food-friendly compatibility.
Marie Courtin Efflorescence Brut 2019
$144.99
A Kensington Wine Market exclusive! The champagnes from Marie-Courtin are truly something special. An ultra-fine, elegant style with amazing freshness. Delicate and racy, yet absolutely unique in style thanks in part to biodynamic viticulture. All her grapes are grown in a single plot of 2.5 hectares, which is also the total size of the domain that Dominique Moreau founded in 2000. Because all her wines come from a single vineyard, she has decided to emphasize the differences in champagnes through vinification. There are wines matured in barrique, amphorae, enamel tanks and one without sulfur. All come from the 2.5 hectares of single vineyard on the Kimmeridge marl soil of the Soden, on the Côte des Bar. Winemaker Dominique Moreau, who named the estate after her grandmother, is a master of purism. Her champagnes are delicate and elegant, yet with underlying power and a high degree of drinking pleasure.
Brut Efflorescence (100% Pinot Noir) is at first rather cool and inward, then explodes on the palate with great intensity. It is a fabulous wine endowed with tons of persistence and sheer energy. The aromas and flavors build towards the rich, generous finish.
Hansel South Slope Pinot Noir
$68.99
The South and North Slope vineyards of Hansel lie in the Russian River Valley. The two vineyards face each other, side by side, but show very different characteristics despite their proximity. Here is what Stephen Hansel has to say about the South Slope and the French Clone 777 Pinot Noir planted there: "The South Slope begins at the highest elevation and the furthest South of all of our Vineyards blocks. It slopes from South to North about 45 feet and it's soils are predominantly sandy loam. The berry size is medium with a high berry count giving cluster weight that has yields approaching 2 1/4 tons/acre (our highest yields). It is 100% French clone 777, and tends to show it's earthy side far more then our other clones. Although this wine definitely has a French origin, each year it becomes more and more new world."
Terredora Lacryma Christi Rosso
$41.99
This winery begins with a tale of two brothers - Walter and Antonio Mastroberardino -who parted ways, with Antonio acquiring the winery and Walter acquiring the vineyards (renamed as Terradora). The Terredora di Paolo estate is located on the hills of Irpinia surrounding the valleys of the Sabato and Calore rivers. With about 180 hectares of vineyards, they rank among the most prestigious producers in Southern Italy. The South of Italy is one of the most interesting wine areas in the country and Campania, and especially the Irpinia region, produces wines from native grape varieties such as Aglianico, Fiano, Greco, Piedirosso and Falanghina, all of which are brimming with personality. Aglianico has been called the Barolo of the South for its power and its ability to age for many years. We have just received their Irpinia Aglianico, Falanghina, Rosato, and Lacryma Cristi Rosso (made from Piedirosso).
The Lacyrma Christi from Terredora is a red wine made from 100% Piedirosso harvested selected vineyards on the slopes of Vesuvius. An ancient legend suggests that God cried when he found a strip of paradise stolen by Lucifer in the Gulf of Naples and, where his tears fell, the vine grew. Piedirosso, the vine grown on the slopes of the Vesuvius volcano, celebrates life from the ashes and testifies to the ceaseless work of recovery and innovation that Terredora undertakes to promote wine-growing in the region. Essence of fire and sea - the signature of Terredora Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso.