Tasting Notes
Wines from Puligny-Montrachet are typified by aromas and flavors of green apple and lemon and tend to be tauter and firmer on the palate compared to wines from neighboring villages. Aging in a small percentage of new French oak barrels lends accents of toast and vanilla. Structured white wines with high acid and grip, Puligny-Montrachet is destined for long aging.

Food Pairing
White Burgundy, with its rich texture and toasted flavors, pairs well with white fish and shellfish and its naturally high acidity can counterbalance cream-based sauces. Oak-aged Chardonnay from warmer climates lends itself well to grilled fish, starches, butter, and toasted nuts.

Diageo has released a collection of rare and limited edition whiskies from Scotland's top distilleries every year since 2001 as part of their Special Releases series. The 2021 series, titled "Legends Untold," features 8 single malt whiskies bottled at cask strength and released in limited quantities. The series has notable design work from digital illustrator Ken Taylor. The Oban whisky included in the series is rich and smooth, with a maritime aroma, notes of seaweed and citrus, and a hint of smoke. The taste offers a balance of sweet and savory flavors, including fruits, honey, vanilla, smoked fish, pepper and woody spices.

The Chateau Malescot St. Exupery is a 3rd growth of Margaux that sits right next to Chateau Margaux- one of the 5-first growths of Bordeaux. This exceptional terroir goes all the way back to 1697 when it was owned by the Escousses family. In the 1800's the property was handed to Jean-Baptiste Saint-Exupery enriching the name of the Chateau with HIS name. By June, 1955 the estate had only 7 ha of vines and the Zuger family began to restore the grounds and the castle. 30ha of the property are dedicated to the vines where the varieties of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc and petit verdot are grown. This is one of the most well-priced wines of Bordeaux and always well regarded, garnering high scores from critics. The 2016 vintage is comprised of 55% cabernet, 37% merlot and the 8% balance is cabernet franc and petit verdot. The wine scored high with typical notes of black currant, cedar, earth, tobacco and mocha around a backbone of fine tannins, and fresh acidity with a lengthy finish and great depth of character. Drink now to 2036

94 points- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate" Blended of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Clos du Marquis has a very deep garnet-purple color and is a little broody to begin, giving way to notes of crushed blackcurrants and black cherries with touches of warm plums, pencil shavings, earth and new leather with a waft of yeast extract. Medium-bodied with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins, it has bold fruit matched by freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. (LPB)" (11/2018)

95 points - Jeb Dunnuck

The perfectly ripe Chardonnay grapes lend the wine its aromas of ripe, sweet fruit complemented by subtle oaky notes. The palate is rich and ripe with a luxurious texture that coats the palate, the signature of an outstanding Chardonnay. The Pinot noir and Meunier grapes from the Vallée de la Marne complete the wine’s broad, luscious, smooth and juicy character. The finish is energetic and fresh.

The eagerly anticipated Limited Edition Smokehead Sherry Cask Blast, formerly known as Sherry Bomb, from Iain MacLeod Distillers has made its debut! This Islay single malt whisky has been treated to an intense infusion of rich, sweet, and spicy Spanish sherry casks, resulting in a powerful and full-bodied dram. Bursting with flavors of sherried fruits, dates, burnt orange peel, and sticky toffee, it delivers a robust punch of Islay peat smoke. A dream come true for lovers of Islay and sherried whiskies alike, this innovative and special release promises a taste sensation like no other.

Chateau Giscours is a famous third growth located in the Margaux appellation of the left bank of Bordeaux. Documents indicate that the estate has been around since 1330. After World War II, it was purchased by Nicolas Tari who set about mondernizing the estate. Here there are 83ha of vineyards that make four labels, including a rose. The 2019 is made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, this a serious wine with high intensity aromas of spicy cumin and cloves, black cherry and blackcurrant with a full bodied palate that is layered and concentrated, bright acidity and a great. long finish. Hold for the next couple of years, and age for the enxt 10+ years.

Critic tasting note: "I love this single Quinta offering from this venerable house. The fruit has proven more than up to the time in the barrel here, with rich, concentrated berry character taking on the nutty marzipan and subtle spice character that no doubt comes from skilled barrel maintenance and a watchful eye on the oxidation that comes over so many years. A unique treasure! (Rich Cook)" - 95/100, Wine Review Online

Bright, ruddy highlights show in the dark amber liquid. Dried cherry and fresh plum mix with cocoa and vanilla, leading to a flavor that resembles chocolate-covered cherry. Made of VSOP Cognac finished in Kentucky bourbon casks, this bottling is not labeled as Cognac. Overall, it's mildly sweet and plenty easy-drinking. Best Buy.

A non-age statement Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey comprising of pot still whiskeys aged between 7 & 10 years. The whiskey has matured in a combination of new bourbon and refill bourbon casks as well as sherry casks.

Nose: Fresh aromatic oils and spices with orchard fruits and barley on a background of toasted wood.

Taste: Full spicy body. A hint of cloves along with the fruity sweetness of green apples, rounded off with toasted oak. Followed by lingering flavours of spices and barley.

The 2019 bottling marks the 20th anniversary of the production of Oreno. This “Super Tuscan” of Merlot, Cabernet and Petit Verdot are blended beautifully with aromas and flavours of black fruit, exotic spice, cured tobacco and new leather.

The history of Chateau Duhart-Milon is not as well known as it should be. In the 18th century the wines of Milon became the "second" wine for Chateau Lafite. The 1855 classification awarded Duhart-Milon the only 4th growth in Pauillac, recognizing it for the quality of its soil. Sometime between 1830-1840 35 acres was left to the Casteja family who subsequently possessed a 99acre vinyard name Duhart-Milon. Over the years the property changed hands many times and suffered a decline in the quality of the wines. The property was acquired in 1962 by the Rothschild family who totally overhauled the vineyards and brought back the quality of the wine as a 4th growth. The 2019 Duhart-Milon is a red Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with an up front fruity nose of black currant and blackberry, along with typical Pauillac nuances of pencil shavings, forest floor and cedar. Round, layered and creamy through the palate this wine has excellent potential for great ageing Drink from 2025-2045.

The palate is soft and seductive, with integrated, ripe tannins subsumed by fleshy black fruit. Oily black cherries with a long, fruit-laden finish, this will be approachable and moreish from the outset. Gorgeous aromas of currants, crushed stones, blackberries and flowers.

Reflecting centuries of winemaking mastery, Domaine De Chevalier 2019 offers silky tannins interwoven with flavors of blackberry, tobacco, and graphite —an exceptional wine that captures the soul of its vineyard with every sip.

Adictivo Tequila Extra Añejo is a luxury 100% blue agave ultra-aged spirit from Jalisco, Mexico, renowned for its 7-year maturation in French oak barrels, deep reddish-dark amber color, and intensely sweet, dessert-like profile.

Champagne Blanc de Blancs is the all new cuvée from Maison Charles Heidsieck : a tenseness and mineral cuvée.
This champagne is generous and fleshy both, and composed of 80% of the year's wine and 20% of 5 years reserved wine.Following 4 years of raising on lees, this 100% chardonnay offers peach and citrus aromas to the nose. On the palate, freshness and tenseness are combined in a typical Charles Heidsieck's style.
The attack is frank, without agressivity, with an almost atypical suavity for a Blanc de Blancs, which is often described as being more angular than creamy. The balanced finish surprises with its minerality and salty character.This champagne offers an aromatic complexity for which Charles Heidsieck is famous. It can be enjoyed within 7 years.

Initially aged for 4 years in large, wooden tanks that are over 60 years old at the distillery, followed by a 48-month rest in American oak barrels, this extra añejo tequila unveils aromas of cooked ripe agave, complemented by notes of honey, ripe pineapple, and hints of menthol and Darjeeling tea. It concludes with the essence of freshly ground coffee, bitter chocolate, berries, and orange peel. The flavor profile is sweet, with a slight astringency from the barrel, evoking memories of cooked agave and the once robust blanco tequila. This beverage represents a perfect harmony between barrel and tequila, serving as an enchanting tribute to the 16-year journey from field to barrel.

The Matsui Single Malt Mizunara Cask is a Japanese whisky known for its distinctive notes from rare Mizunara oak, offering a complex profile with spicy hints of vanilla, oak, and cinnamon, alongside fruity aromas of pear, citrus, and tropical fruits (mango, papaya), balanced by subtle sweetness, malt, and often a unique salty, umami depth, resulting in an elegant, award-winning spirit best enjoyed neat with water to unlock its full character. 

The 2016 Château Talbot is a highly-rated (93-96 points), medium to full-bodied Saint-Julien Fourth Growth, offering a rich, polished profile. It features intense aromas of black fruit, cassis, and tobacco, with refined, silky tannins and high acidity. This 2016 vintage is praised for its power and aging potential. 

Craigellachie 17 Year Old is a robust, non-chill filtered Speyside single malt (46% ABV) known for its distinctive, slightly sulfury "meaty" character balanced with sweet, tropical fruit notes. Matured in a blend of 50% first-fill bourbon and 50% first-fill sherry casks, it offers a creamy, complex flavor profile featuring notes of pineapple, vanilla, licorice, and roasted nuts.

Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old (formerly Platinum Label) is an intensely rich, 40-43% ABV blended Scotch whisky, aged for at least 18 years. Featuring whiskies from distilleries like Cardhu and Mortlach, it offers a sweet, complex flavour profile with notes of dried fruit, creamy vanilla, caramel, almond, and a light, lingering smoke. 

Redbreast 15 Year Old is a premium, single pot still Irish whiskey produced by the Midleton Distillery, renowned for its rich, complex, and velvety profile. Originally created as a special, one-off release, its popularity established it as a permanent member of the Redbreast portfolio.

Aberlour 16 Year Old is a rich, smooth Speyside single malt, double-matured for 16 years in a combination of traditional oak and Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 40%-43% ABV, it features a complex profile of sweet raisin, soft plum, and creamy oak, with a long, warm, and slightly spicy finish.

Weller Antique 107 is a bold wheated Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 107 proof. Rich and full-bodied, it offers notes of caramel, vanilla, baking spice, toasted oak, and dark fruit, balanced by a warm, lingering finish. Its higher proof adds intensity while maintaining the smooth, rounded character associated with wheated bourbon.

"The 2016 Prieure-Lichine has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and a bold, intensely scented nose of warm blackcurrants, black raspberries and mulberries with hints of cedar chest, tobacco, dried herbs and iron ore. Medium-bodied, the palate has bags of class with lovely, vibrant black berries flavors and earthy sparks framed by ripe grainy tannins, finishing long and refreshing. (LPB)" (3/2019) -92 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

94 points - Wine Enthusiast

93 points - James Suckling

94 points-Vinous "Another sleeper from Saint-Estèphe, the 2016 Phélan Ségur is super impressive. An enticing bouquet laced with crushed rocks, graphite, iron, smoke, lavender, mint and inky blue/purplish fruit makes a strong opening statement. A wine of power, resonance and gravitas, the 2016 Phélan is remarkably expressive and also full of potential. (AG)" (1/2019)

The 2016 Château Duhart-Milon is a highly-rated, elegant 4th Growth Pauillac blend (typically ~67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot) featuring a deep, dark ruby color. It offers intense aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, and violets. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with silky, well-integrated tannins, excellent freshness, and a long, savoury finish. 

Crafted to mature gracefully over the years, the Ladoix 1er Cru Les Joyeuses undergoes a meticulous aging process of 15 months in 40% new wood casks, specifically 228-liter Burgundian tuns. This wine delights the palate with its gourmet and fruity profile, offering a nose redolent of raspberry, cherry, and subtle hints of clove. The mouthfeel is silky, round, and utterly delightful, reflecting the delicacy and sensuality characteristic of this premier cru. Pair it with a range of dishes, including raw ham and game bird terrine, rabbit casserole, pigeon casserole, pheasant with figs, as well as Vacherin, Reblochon, and Cîteaux cheeses for a truly harmonious culinary experience.

The warehouses at Glenora are not heated, so aging virtually stops in winter. Thus, the whisky doesn’t reach its peak until its mid-teens. By then, it is malty, fresh, crisp, and grassy, with hints of vanilla and delicate, slightly bitter fruits, including apricots and citrus pith. Fragile floral notes join exotic hints of mango and a nuttiness reminiscent of almond skins and sweetened coconut. Air do dheag slàinte, Glenora , as they say in Cape Breton’s Gaelic Highlands. (Canada only)

Slow-roasted corn, marzipan, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kettle corn start this experience and slowly fade to corn on the cob with butter, salt, and pepper. Then, it’s apple cider vinegar, deep-fried mushrooms, and Nutella. Fried pie dough and hints of chocolate appear before a medium finish that has a hint of toffee.

Montes Folly is an adventurous wine of exceptional quality. Its grapes are grown on the steepest, highest slopes of our vineyards in Apalta, Colchagua Valley. For that reason, they deliver more colour, tannins, and flavours, making Montes Folly richly complex and powerful. Grapes are hand-selected and sorted on special selection tables. Montes Folly has been recognised as the best Syrah of Chile.

Blackened Whiskey Cask Strength Volume 03 is an unfiltered, cask-strength blend of North American bourbons and ryes, finished in black brandy casks. Bottled at 61.5% ABV, this limited release features notes of brown sugar, cinnamon spice, and ancho chili with a viscous, bold flavor profile.

" I loved the 2016 Château d'Issan and this is a certainly a wine to seek out. Made from a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot from yields of 55 hectoliters per hectare, aged 18 months in 50% new oak, it has a beautiful perfume of blue fruits (cassis, blueberries, etc.) as well as hints of graphite, subtle oak, and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, with integrated acidity, a terrific mid-palate, and perfect balance, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age and is going to cruise in good cellars for 20-25 years or more. It's a beautiful, elegant, seamless wine that's very much in the style of the vintage." -Jeb Dunnuck (2/2019)

97 points - Decanter

Crystal Head Aurora is a premium, additive-free vodka made from English wheat and Newfoundland water, known for its dry, bold, and spicy profile with notes of white pepper, anise, and lemon peel. Its distinctive iridescent bottle is inspired by the Aurora Borealis, and the vodka is seven-times filtered, with three of those filtrations passing through Herkimer diamonds.

Adictivo Añejo Blue Label is a premium 100% Blue Weber Agave tequila, aged for two years in French oak barrels, and presented in a distinctive blue ceramic bottle. It has an intense golden-amber color with a silky texture and a balanced flavor profile of dried fruits, toasted oak, and sweet notes of caramel and vanilla. The finish is long, smooth, and elegant.

Equiano is a multi-award-winning premium aged rum, distinguished as the world’s first African & Caribbean blend. This exceptional rum emerges from a unique collaboration between two distilleries spanning two continents, crafting an innovative expression within the centuries-old tradition. 100% natural and devoid of spices, additives, or added sugar, Equiano derives its rich and deep flavors solely from the ex-bourbon and ex-cognac casks in which it matures tropically. Named in homage to Olaudah Equiano, a freedom fighter who found liberation through rum trade, Equiano embodies principles of equality, with 5% of company profits and $2 from each bottle sold contributing to ground-level freedom and equality projects annually. Tasting notes, curated by Equiano Co-Founder and Global Ambassador for the Rum Category, Ian Burrell, offer a sensory journey: On the nose, Equiano exudes tropical warmth, with rich dried fruits, toffee, butterscotch, and caramel nuances, leading to hints of orange peel, vanilla, and buttered wood. The palate reveals natural sweet notes from American white oak ex-bourbon casks, offering a warm toffee and butterscotch mouthfeel, accompanied by chewy raisins and brown sugar flavors. The finish, while naturally sweet with no added sugar or spices, presents a medium to sweet conclusion, accented by oak, anise, sweet pepper, and a subtle hint of bitter orange peel.

Bisquit & Dubouché XO is a luxurious cognac meticulously crafted from the finest Eaux-de-vie sourced from the prestigious Grande and Petite Champagne crus. Aged slowly in French oak barrels for a minimum of 10 years, it boasts a remarkably smooth taste and a lingering finish, thanks to its uniquely extended distillation process. With a deep, copper hue reminiscent of its oak cask aging, the nose reveals a captivating bouquet of wood, smokey tobacco, cocoa, cinnamon, and fragrant candied fruit. On the palate, it offers a rich, full-bodied experience, with flavors of plum, mocha, cedar wood, and licorice adding depth to its profile. The finish is enduring, leaving a lasting impression that is simply unforgettable.

From a fine vintage for Champagne, particularly the Pinot Noir favored by this producer, this wine is still young, while suggesting great maturity and further aging to come. It is a great, balanced wine, with an edge of minerality. Drink now, but also age for many years.