A decent introduction to Australian Grenache, a bit simple and one-dimensionally cherry-fruited but clean, supple and easy to drink despite plenty of body, with just a bit of warmth on the finish.

Maison Louis Jadot is one of the most trusted and revered wine houses in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or. Frédéric Barnier, Jadot’s esteemed winemaker, and his team balance tradition and technology, focusing on the purest expression of each wine’s terroir.  Founded in 1859, the house now owns 528 acres of vineyards, including 280 acres of the Cote d’Or’s most prestigious Premier and Grand Cru plots.

This is a luxurious brandy with rich flavors of baked plum, lemon meringue, and French vanilla. An admirable sweetness leads the palate and saturates the tongue with delicious dessert-like flavors of pastry and cream.

Another Port success from the Branco family of Quinta do Portal, following their success with the 2003 vintage. This is a lovely, lively wine, with fresh acidity alongside good, mature fruit. It is ripe but very elegant, with a sweet, dried fruit aftertaste.

Nose: Intense aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, and dark cherry, with hints of cedar and tobacco.

Taste: Rich and full-bodied, with flavors of ripe black fruits, including blackberry and plum, complemented by notes of vanilla and dark chocolate.

Palate: Velvety smooth tannins, well-balanced acidity, and a long, lingering finish with a touch of spice.

Elegant, light and pretty. This amber spirit has a light, briny vanilla scent and a silky feel. A veil of smoke rises through the Scotch (but fades out fast), leaving behind a sweet nutty, vanilla finish.

A deep golden yellow color, the nose is expressive with notes of fresh breadcrumbs, a touch of toast and butter, and a hint of minerality. Full-bodied and unctuous on the palate. A great Chardonnay, rich, mineral and well-balanced, playing in the same league as its illustrious neighbors Chassagne and Puligny!

Rebecca Creek Distillers had the opportunity to age their bourbon for up to four years in new Spanish Oak barrels in the attempt to produce a bourbon whose taste and colour resembled whiskey that was twice its age. The whiskey was then aged for a further two years in second-fill American Oak barrels to complete the unique, dual-aged maturation process. The mashbill for this whiskey is: 75% Corn, 21% Rye and 4% Malted Barley and it is bottled at true cask strength.

Producer's notes:

Nose: Rich and spicy rye with a sweet pecan nose.

Palate: Coffee up front with subtle roasted nuts.

Finish: Dark chocolate.

The Brunello Di Montalcino is fragrant with incense, rose petals, red raspberry, and blood orange. Elegant, with fine tannins, it is approachable already in its youthful stage. Its refreshing acidity and wonderful dusty earth minerality make it a very pleasing wine to drinking now or over the next 10 years.

George Remus Highest Rye 6 Year Straight Bourbon takes the rye content to its legal limits, resulting in a bourbon that pays homage to the rye trend preceding Prohibition. Aged for six years, this bourbon presents an enchanting fusion of sweet, rich fruit, and maple on the nose.

Nose: Aromas of ripe black cherry, raspberry, and plum, with hints of violet and baking spices.

Taste: Rich and velvety on the palate, with flavors of dark berries, black currant, and a touch of cola.

Palate: Well-balanced acidity, silky tannins, and a long, lingering finish with notes of vanilla and oak.

Nose: Intense aromas of red berries, particularly strawberries and raspberries, with hints of floral notes.

Taste: Lively and vibrant on the palate, with a burst of fresh red fruit flavors. Delicate notes of cherries and cranberries.

Palate: Crisp acidity balanced with a subtle creaminess. A long and refreshing finish, leaving a lingering taste of red fruits.

Nose: Rich caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak.
Taste: Sweet and creamy with notes of butterscotch, honey, and baking spices.
Palate: Smooth and full-bodied with a long, warm finish of caramelized sugar and a hint of smokiness.

Nose: Rich and aromatic with notes of dried fruits, vanilla, and honey.

Taste: Smooth and well-balanced, with flavors of caramel, toffee, and a hint of spice.

Palate: Full-bodied and creamy, with a lingering finish of oak and a touch of smoke.

Nose: Citrus zest, juniper berries, floral notes
Taste: Smooth and well-balanced, with hints of pine, coriander, and green tea
Palate: Refreshing, with a touch of sweetness and a lingering herbal finish

Concentrated fruit ripeness gives this wine a soft, plushy quality that contrasts—and complements—the firm, chalky tannins. Find notes of red cherry, pomegranate, wet stone and river water with well-integrated oak tones.

Nose: Rich and aromatic with notes of dried fruits, vanilla, and honey.

Taste: Smooth and velvety, with flavors of caramel, toffee, and dark chocolate.

Palate: Well-balanced and complex, with hints of oak, spice, and a touch of smoke.

Each batch is a little bit different, this one leaning to sweet orchard fruits, nutty barley, and hot spicy rye. Butterscotch and vanilla on the nose translate well onto the palate. Brisk peppery spice underlies developing layers, adding another dimension of complexity to an already broad range of flavors. Hints of oak tannins on the finish remind us this was finished in Canadian wood.

Bags of orris root florality. This gin would work exceptionally well in an Aviation cocktail. Lingers well, nice texture. Pine could be boosted tbh.

R de Rieussec is the Château's dry white wine made from a blend of 59% Sauvignon Blanc and 41% Sémillon with 20% of the fermentation occurring in barrel to help the wine's aging potential. The R has a beautiful bouquet of citrus-tinged tropical fruits. This wine is powerful and harmonious with flavors of citrus, mango and papaya, an energetic acidity and textured mouthfeel which lead into a complex and refreshing finish. Enjoy with Asian dishes, spicy fried chicken or mixed vegetables.

Discreet on the nose, notably not too many varietal notes from Sauvignon Blanc. Waxy , certain complexity, quite elegant. Round and full, with minimal acidity. Good finish with lees notion.

As if visiting a First Growth Bordeaux château and tasting the wares, including pristinely cellared library vintages, wasn't awesome enough, the folks at Lafite-Rothschild take the experience one step further. For many years, they have treated esteemed guests and friends to rare and impeccable old Cognac and Armagnac casks individually selected by the Lafite winemaking team themselves. While the secret was well-kept for decades, word eventually got out and demand for these ultra-rare, premium spirits started to reach a fever pitch. Thankfully, the château took it upon themselves to release a few precious bottles each year into the market, and we were recently lucky enough to get our hands on a miniscule allocation. The Très Vieille Réserve Cognac is constructed from lots of at least 50 years in age and sourced from Grande Champagne and Borderies. Quite simply, the opportunity to own a bottle of this unicorn spirit is a gateway into one of the most exclusive clubs in the world.

As so often with Lafite, it is power that marks this wine. That, and density of texture. The additional element in this vintage, and at this stage of the wine's development, is a dominant wood element. The vanilla and tannins from the wood match well with the concentrated tannins of the fruit, which is dark, dense and tight. This is a wine for long-term aging: in 15 years this will have superb richness.

The color is bright and the aroma, while not that intense, is precise and extremely pleasing thanks to how clean and assorted it is. The bouquet has notes of blueberry, blackberry and juniper, all topped with a balsamic touch. The mouthfeel is extraordinarily soft, perhaps too much so, but fortunately this is balanced by a lively acidity. It is decidedly impossible not to like this wine.

Like traditional Amarone, the grapes are dried per regulations before pressing after January 1. Full bodied, structured and typical aromas and flavours of dried cherries, figs, balsamic, licorice, espresso and earthiness, Allegrini is one of the more famous families of the Valpolicella region. If you love Amarone, but find a full bottle too much, this 375ml, although pricey, is well worth the price of admission.

45% Corvina Veronese, 45% Corvinone, 5% Rondinella and 5% Oseleta