Marie Courtin Cuvee Concordance
$159.99
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.
The Concordance is an Extra Brut 100% Pinot Noir offering with zero dosage from Champagne Marie Courtin and winemaker Dominique Moreau.
Quote From Antonio Galloni
"Proprietress Dominique Morneau embodies all of the qualities of the artisan approach in Champagne. Hers are some of the most adventurous, cutting edges Champagnes readers will come across. Biodynamic farming, the use of natural yeasts, and low or no dosage are some of the elements that inform these wines. Above all else, the Marie-Courtin Champagnes are made with meticulously grown fruit that makes the above possible. Readers who want to explore the outer boundaries of Champagne should pay close attention to this tiny, emerging estate in the Cote des Bars, a previously under the radar part of the region that continues to produced a bevy of compelling wines."
Billecart Salmon Brut Rose
$154.99
Such a beautiful pink sparkling wine! 89 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, too. The review: "The NV Brut Rose is a pretty, gracious wine. Freshly cut roses, red berries and spices take shape nicely in the glass as the wine shows off its understated, timeless personality. Billecart-Salmon’s NV Brut Rose is a reliably tasty wine." Billecart Salmon has been family owned since it was created in 1818; today, "the house is managed by brothers François and Antoine Roland-Billecart, who represent the sixth generation. Production averages 1.7 million bottles per year," according to Wine-searcher.com. The house is particularly famous for its legendary rosé. "We consider our Rosé to be a Champagne Rosé and not a Rosé Champagne. Because if you were blind tasting it, you wouldn’t guess it was a Rosé," Antoine Roland-Billecart told Wine-Searcher.com.
Darroze 20 Year Armagnac
$129.99
A beautiful gift for any fan of French spirits, from a wonderful small, family-owned Bas Armagnac producer that has been leading the way since 1974! ! "Francis and Marc Darroze roam the estates on the best terroirs, that of the Bas Armagnac and its tawny sands, to select, cultivate and bottle the most beautiful discoveries. Around 30 estates contribute to this extraordinary collection," according to the Darroze website. "After 10 years in contact with the oak, Armagnac starts to take on the aromas of ageing. The fruit that is still present, is accompanied by the first aromas of soft spices such as liquorice and cinnamon. Still quite fiery, this eau de vie will become more complex after a few minutes breathing in your glass."
Compass Box Great King Street Glasgow
$69.99
The Glasgow Edition of Compass Box's Great King Street series is a more heavily sherried and peated blend than the original Artist's Series. The whisky has been created as a tribute to the style of blend popular in Glasgow during the 1930s.
The whisky is composed of 33% Lowland Grain with 67% malt from Islay, the Speyside and Highland. The whisky was matured in high proportion of First Fill Sherry and a mix of First and Refill American oak and a small amount of French oak.
From the Distillery: "In his 1930 book “Whisky”, Aeneas MacDonald teaches us that Glaswegians historically preferred fuller bodied and more flavour-packed whiskies than people in other parts of the world. So what better name for a whisky such as this? You’ll find here a rich vein of peaty-smokiness, underpinned by sherry cask-aged whiskies, full of dried fruit and wine character. The palate is full and round, with a sweetness typical of whiskies from our company."
About the label: "For decades, The Wellington Statue, outside Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art, has been cheekily topped by a traffic cone, something the local population has taken to heart as a symbol of their sense of humour. It has become one of Glasgow’s most iconic images, and graces our label for the Glasgow Blend."
Jermann Vinnae IGT
$46.99
KWM staff just love this winemaker - and so do many others! Winemaker Silvio Jermann — who has a reputation for making Italy's best white wines, and you'll know why when you try this elegant, unusual white wine, made mostly from Ribolla grapes, with a little Tocai and Riesling.
Tawse Riesling
$29.99
One of Niagara's most celebrated wineries, and one of Canada's most critically acclaimed wines! "Off-dry but loaded with citrus refreshment and Riesling’s ‘come-alive’ feeling," according to critic Billy Munnelly from Billy's Best Bottles. "Equally good for sipping or gulping." We agree! Pair with Thai takeout or pork loin. You'll want to buy a couple of bottles at this price.
Michter's American Whiskey
$83.99
"Unlike bourbon or rye, which, by definition, must be aged in new oak barrels, our US 1 Unblended American Whiskey is aged in a way that utilizes bourbon-soaked barrels to achieve a rich and unique flavour profile," according to the team at Michter's. It has notes of "deep butterscotch and vanilla notes, hints of caramel and dried fruit with a ripened fruit finish."
While the Michter’s name has a long and storied history, the Michter’s Distillery of Louisville, KY has only been in operation since 2015. Any whiskey bottled that is older than that was sourced from other distilleries, typically within Kentucky. Luckily, the quality of anything bottled with the Michter’s label on it is typically high, regardless of their original provenance.
Other than their single barrel products, Michter’s typically bottles their whiskey from selected small batches of 20 barrels or less.
Michter's Sour Mash Whiskey
$84.99
Bottled at 43% the Sour Mash is produced in small batches of less than 20 casks, it is part of the distillery's core range.
While the Michter’s name has a long and storied history, the Michter’s Distillery of Louisville, KY has only been in operation since 2015. Any whiskey bottled that is older than that was sourced from other distilleries, typically within Kentucky. Luckily, the quality of anything bottled with the Michter’s label on it is typically high, regardless of their original provenance.
Other than their single barrel products, Michter’s typically bottles their whiskey from selected small batches of 20 barrels or less.
From the Distillery: "During the 1970s and 1980s, Michter’s Original Sour Mash Whiskey was the distillery’s single most popular product. While the “Sour Mash” moniker originated from the whiskey production process of the same name – whereby some previously fermented mash is used as the starter for the new mash to be fermented, much like making sourdough bread – Michter’s Original Sour Mash earned distinction for its unique taste. With its unique grain selection, it cannot be categorized as a rye or a bourbon. After disappearing from the market in 1989, Michter’s Original Sour Mash Whiskey made a triumphant return in 2012 with its introduction into the US*1 line. Staying true to the profile and palette of its predecessor, Michter’s US*1 Sour Mash has quickly become a favorite of whiskey enthusiasts.
Le Clos des Cazaux Gigondas Sarrasine
$54.99
This powerful wine is the result of a selection of exceptional terroirs from Gigondas vineyards situated on the arid slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail. The Mistral wind blows regularly on those hillsides providing a cool balance to the heat of summer.
The poor, rocky soils force the vines to struggle down deep for moisture, keeping yields low but delivering high-quality fruit. This terroir produces a robust wine that can be kept for up to 10 years in the cellar. It's a blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 15% Mourvèdre, with a core of dark ripe cherries, garrigues and spice. It would go nicely with ham or prime rib.