After the light, complex oak spice aromas, the next thing that strikes you about this medium-bodied wine is an unusually appetizing, even grippy texture from good acidity and possibly oak tannins. The wine is structured, concentrated and a good candidate for further aging.

The Chateau Angelus 'Blanc du Milieu' stands as a distinguished and relatively rare expression of white wine from a domain more typically celebrated for its commanding reds. This exquisite white blend, primarily composed of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, dazzles with its intricate balance of vivacity and depth. Aromatically, it presents a captivating array of white peach, citrus zest, and floral notes, delicately accented by hints of vanilla and toasted almond from judicious oak aging. On the palate, it reveals a rich, creamy texture that gracefully balances the wine's refreshing acidity. Layers of ripe stone fruits, lemon curd, and a touch of herbaceousness lead to a persistent, finely nuanced finish. The 'Blanc du Milieu' offers a sophisticated and versatile pairing option, ideal for dishes ranging from seafood and poultry to rich, creamy sauces, embodying the elegance and complexity that is the hallmark of Chateau Angelus.

Extremely fascinating and polehydric in the primary profile alternating notes of red prunes, currants, coriander, white pepper, bergamot and green mandarin. A lot of lime describes the very fresh secondary scene. Medium bodied, perfectly extracted tannins and a finale with a graceful, subtle closure. Wow!

Medium to deep ruby red colour. Aromas are meaty with red fruits. The palate is firm & again quite meaty. Alcohol is warm & the acid quite soft, fruit on the finish is a little flat & rounded.

Precise and biting showing notes of currants, raspberries, wild strawberries, blackberries and dried cherries. Medium bodied, tannins slightly rigid at the moment and a juicy, slender finale of a dynamic nature.

The Tomatin Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky has a nose of sweet vanilla, honey, and caramel with a hint of oak. On the palate, it is rich and full-bodied with flavors of toffee, dark chocolate, and dried fruit. The finish is long and warming with a touch of spice and a lingering sweetness. Overall, this whisky is complex and well-balanced, with a smooth and satisfying mouthfeel.

Nose: Rich and sweet with notes of honey, vanilla, and caramel. Taste: Creamy and smooth with flavors of ripe fruits, toffee, and a hint of oak. Palate: A long and warming finish with a touch of spice and a lingering sweetness.

This is a crisp, textured wine with an emphasis on Chardonnay. That gives the Champagne delicacy, freshness as well as a tight edge of minerality. Drink this fine cuvée now. Roger Voss

The Charles Mignon Comte de Marne Grand Cru Brut Rosé offers an enticing nose filled with aromas of fresh strawberries, raspberries, and red cherries. On the palate, it is lively and vibrant, with a delicate mousse and a refreshing acidity. The flavors of red fruits continue to dominate, accompanied by hints of citrus zest and a subtle minerality. The finish is long and elegant, leaving a lingering impression of red berries and a touch of creaminess.

Nose: Rich and smoky with notes of peat, sea salt, and charred oak.

Taste: Full-bodied and robust, with flavors of bonfire smoke, dark chocolate, and dried fruits.

Palate: A balance of sweetness and spiciness, with hints of vanilla, cinnamon, and black pepper.

Nose: The 2020 C. Ferrand Plantation Cigar Box Grands Crus Rum Collection opens with a rich and inviting aroma of dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans, and sweet tobacco. Hints of vanilla and caramel add a touch of sweetness, while oak and leather notes provide depth and complexity.

Taste: On the palate, this rum delivers a harmonious blend of flavors. Rich cocoa and espresso flavors dominate, accompanied by a subtle smokiness that perfectly complements the cigar box theme. The sweetness of toffee and butterscotch emerges, balanced by a gentle spiciness of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Palate: The mouthfeel is velvety and smooth, coating the palate with a luxurious texture. The rum's complexity shines through as layers of flavors unfold, revealing a delightful interplay between the sweet and savory elements. The finish is long and satisfying, leaving a lingering warmth and a touch of dried fruit on the palate.

Glen Breton Rare 21 Year Old is a Canadian single malt whisky known for its rich and complex flavor profile. It's crafted in Nova Scotia, Canada, at the Glenora Inn & Distillery, and is aged for 21 years in American oak barrels. The whisky offers notes of toffee, apple blossom, toasted oak, and a hint of maple, with a smooth and warming finish.

Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2027-2045

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
"The Grand Vin is based on 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc that included 11.3% of press, saw malolactic fermentation in barrel, and will spend 18 months in 80% new barrels. Its deeper ruby/purple hue is followed by a beautifully pure, layered, elegant, and medium-bodied Margaux that has both red and blue fruits, some violet, spicy wood, and cedar pencil nuances, fine, polished tannins, and outstanding length. This hit 12.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.53."

Crafted with elegance and power, Chateau Lynch Bages 2020 offers a full-bodied profile with vibrant acidity and layers of dark fruit —an exceptional wine that captures the soul of its vineyard with every sip.

Reflecting centuries of winemaking mastery, Chateau Gruaud Larose 2020-704 offers silky tannins interwoven with flavors of blackberry, tobacco, and graphite —an exceptional wine that captures the soul of its vineyard with every sip.

Blend: 75% Sémillon, 23% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Muscadelle
Drinking Window: 2026-2047

97 Points - Jane Anson
“Delivers texture and flesh, love the aromatics that are sweet without being heavy, this has restraint and carefully-measured fleshy fruits, nectarine, pineapple, white peaches, lime zest, gunsmoke, perfectly-judged acidities. One of the wines of the vintage, great stuff from Philippe and Aline Baly.”

Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2026-2045

96 Points - James Suckling
“Fine cocoa powder, cedar, minerals, currants and blue fruit. Juicy and medium- to full-bodied with fresh, firm tannins and a long, crunchy finish. It lingers well.”

Blend: 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2026–2045

A bold and expressive Saint-Émilion, the 2024 Château Larcis Ducasse delivers impressive structure and depth. Rich layers of dark fruit, spice, and florals unfold with power and finesse. This is a wine that showcases remarkable balance and ageing potential.

97 Points – Vinous
“The 2024 Larcis Ducasse is dense, powerful and imposing—almost surprisingly so. All of the mid-palate. Black cherry, plum, mocha, lavender, chocolate and cinnamon meld together in the glass, but it is the wine's mind-blowing balance that stands out most. This is another stellar showing from Larcis Ducasse. There's real potential here.”

Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2029–2055

A deeply structured and powerful Pauillac, the 2024 Lynch-Bages offers a bold expression of its Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend. Expect pulpy dark fruit, signature grip, and excellent ageing potential, underscored by its brooding personality and dense tannins.

95 Points - James Suckling
"A brooding nose, showing pulpy blackberries, ripe mulberries, peppercorns and violet extract. The signature Lynch-Bages tannin structure with good concentration of fruit helps deliver an almost full-bodied, structured red and a long, fruity finish. Wait and see."

Blend: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Drinking Window: 2032–2046

One of the most elegant Pontet-Canet vintages to date, the 2024 balances freshness, fluidity, and fine structure. Blue fruits and floral notes shine alongside chalky tannins and a pristine, energetic finish.

96 Points - James Suckling
"A light but juicy wine that's fresh and fluid, with good depth of blue fruit and violets, a medium body and nicely reactive tannins. Crunchy, with a delicate mid-palate and firm, chalky tannins. Long, balanced and pristine finish. This will show early appeal. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 43% merlot, 4% petit verdot and 1% cabernet franc."

Blend: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Drinking Window: 2026–2042

A beautifully defined red with spiced blue fruit, graphite, and floral aromas. Fine-grained and structured, the 2024 offers precision, freshness, and a long, mineral finish with al dente texture.

97 Points - James Suckling
"A fresh, complex and deep nose of spiced blue fruit, waxberries, blue flowers, minerals, licorice and graphite. Full-bodied and really fine-grained, with tight, chalky tannins and a long, structured finish. Very juicy and complete, with excellent fruit definition and an al dente texture. More reactive tannins this year. 67% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot."

Red pit fruits, flowers, cedar, and plums with a touch of tobacco leaf create the nose. The wine is medium-bodied, vibrant, soft, and energetic on the palate, with an air of elegance, refinement, and silky textures, which feel great on the mid-palate and in the finish. This is the debut vintage produced in their new cellars, which helped shape the wine, allowing the team to vinify for the first time on a parcel-by parcel basis.

The 2016 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion is another second wine that tastes more like a grand vin. Made from 51.3% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it too is deeply colored and has a classic Haut Brion bouquet of minerals, crushed rocks, cassis, graphite, and violet. With medium to full-bodied richness, good concentration, building tannins, and impeccable balance, it’s more supple and sexy that it’s big brother yet still has the balance, structure, and depth to keep for two decades. It’s a stunning wine in its own right.

Like Brane-Cantenac, Cantenac Brown is one of the big outperformers in Margaux this year. Is it better than the 2009? It is probably more a question of taste. The 2010 wine is characterised by ripe black fruits well woven together into a sweet oak framework. This is a classic ‘silky’ Margaux but with very present refreshing acidity. Good length. A really successful wine this and with Brane-Cantenac surely a must buy in this vintage.

Aromas of roasted grain and a hint of orchard fruit lead into an earthy, malty palate tinged with chamomile tea, oak and cinnamon, winding into a mild almond finish. This expression is part of Waterford Distillery's The Arcadian Series. Made using biodynamic barley, the spangly night-sky label refers to practice of using lunar cycles to guide farming. Released October 2021, with a limited edition of 21,000 bottles worldwide.

The Sori della Sorba Langhe Nebbiolo offers an enticing nose filled with aromas of ripe red cherries, dried roses, and hints of tobacco. On the palate, it displays a medium-bodied structure with silky tannins and vibrant acidity. Flavors of red berries, cranberries, and a touch of earthiness intertwine, leading to a long and elegant finish.

This Port Gift Set from Quevedo includes four 375ml bottles of the following:

1x Quevedo 10 Year Tawny Port
1x Quevedo 20 Year Tawny Port
1x Quevedo 30 Year White Port
1x Quevedo Quinta Vale D'Agodinho 2013 Vintage Port

375ml

Nose: The H by Hine V.S.O.P. Fine Champagne Cognac offers a delightful bouquet of floral and fruity aromas. Notes of jasmine, honeysuckle, and orange blossom intertwine with hints of ripe apricot, pear, and vanilla.

Taste: On the palate, this Cognac reveals a harmonious blend of flavors. The initial sip brings forth a burst of luscious dried fruits, including raisins and figs, accompanied by a touch of honey and caramel. Subtle spices like cinnamon and nutmeg add depth and complexity to the overall taste.

Palate: The palate is smooth and velvety, with a rich and full-bodied texture. The fruity elements persist, with the addition of a gentle oak influence that provides a pleasant balance. The finish is long and satisfying, leaving a lingering warmth and a touch of sweet vanilla on the tongue.

What's in the bottle is a Kentucky finished for nine to 12 months in barrels that previously held Port-style California wine. Aromas of allspice, cedar and oak lead into a palate wrapped in dry tobacco, chamomile tea and leather, finishing with hints of espresso and clove. Kara Newman

Nose: Rich and aromatic with notes of caramel, vanilla, and toffee. Subtle hints of dried fruits and oak.

Taste: Smooth and velvety on the palate. Flavors of dark chocolate, honey, and roasted nuts. Slight spiciness with a touch of cinnamon and cloves.

Palate: Well-balanced and complex. Layers of flavors including caramelized sugar, dried fruits, and a touch of tobacco. Long and satisfying finish with a lingering sweetness.

Mature plum, vanilla, toast and toasted oak sensations lead the nose. The palate opens with juicy black cherry and plum layered with coffee, dense chocolate and bitter espresso that slightly diminish the impact of its Nebbiolo pedigree and purity. It's already accessible but should also age well.- Wine Enthusiast

TASTING NOTES:

COLOUR:INTENSE RUBY RED COLOR WITH A LIGHT GARNET HUE.
AROMA:THE PERFUME OF WILD ROSES, SWEET THYME, TOBACCO, LIQUORICE, ALONG WITH RASPBERRIES, CHERRIES AND MINERALS.
TASTE:THIS MEDIUM + BODIED DRY RED HAS SOFT AND ROUND MEDIUM+ TANNINS, FLAVOURS OF RIPE CHERRIES, PLUMS WITH HINTS OF VIOLETS, LEATHER, LICORICE AND MINERALS.
PAIRING:POULTRY, RED MEAT, RED SAUCE PASTA, AND CHARCUTERIE.

Wine Advocate-Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy- "This wine offers a unusual bouquest of candied cherry and cola aromas that are distinct to this wine. There is a savory side to the wine, with cedar and baking clove, its center of gravity defers to that candied cherry or creme de cassis characteristic."

Masumi Shiro Junmai Ginjo offers a light, refreshing sake experience with subtle aromas of banana and apple, a palate of gentle sweetness, bright acidity, and lingering savory umami.