Three each of SOTTIMANO BARBARESCO PAJORE 2018 and SOTTIMANO BARBARESCO COTTA 2018

Sottimano is a family-run winery in the Barbaresco zone of Piedmont, Italy. The 2018 vintage of their single-vineyard Pajore Barbaresco is a beautiful expression of Nebbiolo, with aromas of red berries, rose petals, and tar. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and structured, with firm tannins and a long finish. This wine is still quite young and will benefit from some additional bottle aging, but it has already received high scores from wine critics, with Antonio Galloni of Vinous awarding it a score of 96/100.

Sottimano Barbaresco Cotta 2018 is a full-bodied red wine made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, grown in the prestigious Barbaresco subregion of Piedmont, Italy. This wine has intense aromas of dark fruit, spices, and tobacco, with notes of licorice and leather. On the palate, it is well-structured and balanced, with firm tannins and a long finish. This wine has received high scores from wine critics, with both Wine Enthusiast and James Suckling awarding it 95 points. It can be enjoyed now or aged for several years to develop more complexity.

Sottimano is a family-run winery in the Barbaresco zone of Piedmont, Italy. The 2018 vintage of their single-vineyard Pajore Barbaresco is a beautiful expression of Nebbiolo, with aromas of red berries, rose petals, and tar. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and structured, with firm tannins and a long finish. This wine is still quite young and will benefit from some additional bottle aging, but it has already received high scores from wine critics, with Antonio Galloni of Vinous awarding it a score of 96/100.

The Sovereign Port Dundas blended Scotch whisky is made using a combination of single malt whiskies from the closed Port Dundas distillery and other distilleries in Scotland. The exact composition of the blend is not disclosed, but it is known to have a light and floral character with a hint of sweetness and a smooth and balanced flavor profile.

Selbach-Oster's Zeltinger Riesling Kabinett Dry (Trocken) is a refined, low-alcohol (often 9-10%) German white wine from the Mosel region, renowned for its intense slate minerality, high acidity, and "crunchy" fruit. It is light-bodied, crisp, and dry to off-dry, typically featuring aromatic notes of peach, spice, citrus, and wet stone.

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Alte Reben Riesling Trocken is a dry, high-quality Riesling from the Mosel region of Germany, known for its vibrant acidity and minerality. It's crafted from old vines, typically resulting in concentrated flavors. Expect aromas of ripe orchard fruits like peach and pear, with citrus notes and a hint of minerality, sometimes described as flinty or slatey. The wine is often praised for its balance between fruit and acidity, with a refreshing, long finish.

The Shinobu Distillery, located in Niigata on Japan’s western coast, is renowned for its “Three White Treasures”: snow, rice, and sake. Master blender Mr. Usami Ken crafts Shinobu Pure Malt whiskies, blending malts aged in sherry and bourbon hogshead casks before finishing them in Japanese Mizunara Oak, known for its rich flavors of apples, pears, cloves, and nutmeg. The Shinobu Lightly Peated Pure Malt Whisky offers a robust body with smoky, toasty oak flavors. Unchill-filtered and free from added color, it preserves its complex character. The nose is minty and creamy with light peat and lemon hints, while the palate features moderate peat, toasted oak, and a hint of saltiness. The finish lingers with toasted wood sweetness and roasted malt.

Nose: The Shetland Reel Blended Malt Scotch Whisky offers a delightful aroma of rich honey, vanilla, and caramel, with hints of dried fruits and a subtle touch of oak.

Taste: On the palate, this whisky reveals a smooth and creamy texture, accompanied by flavors of toffee, butterscotch, and a gentle spiciness. There are also notes of ripe apples and pears, complemented by a delicate smokiness.

Palate: The finish is long and warming, leaving a lingering sweetness of honey and vanilla, with a touch of oak and a hint of peat smoke. Overall, the Shetland Reel Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is a well-balanced and flavorful expression, showcasing the best of Shetland's whisky-making tradition.

Siddiqui Brown Rum, pronounced 'sid-dee-key,' is designed to serve as a bridge between whisky and rum. It starts with Siddiqui White Rum as its base, which is then aged in American oak barrels. This process allows the rum to acquire its distinctive color along with a slightly smoky, oaky, and caramel flavor profile. Although Siddiqui is an American brand headquartered in California, its production for the international market is undertaken by the team from Penderyn in Wales.

Local Edmonton brewery Trial and Ale is well known for artisinal wild and sour ales. This is a farmhouse ale/sour blend, so as its name suggests, it is brewed with several strains of brettanomyces to create the bready, yeasty, somewhat funky, earthy and tart flavours.

“2018 Hillside Select is an enticing balance of opulence and energy. This classic Cabernet Sauvignon fills the glass with vivid aromas of blackberry, black cherry, warm earth, and baking spice. The flavors richly echo the wine’s aromas, adding juicy layers of summer briar fruit, berry compote, cinnamon, lively red and black plums, and mocha with a long, radiant finish. Structured tannins offer the promise of a lengthy, sumptuous tenure in your cellar.”
— Elias Fernandez, winemaker

Rossville Union Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey is a 5-to-6-year-old Indiana rye from the historic Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP). Bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof), it features a blend of 51% and 95% rye mash bills, delivering a smooth, caramel-forward, and spicy flavor profile with a slightly smoky, oaky finish.

Salentein Reserva Malbec is a vibrant, fruity Argentine red known for its intense purplish-red color, complex aromas of red fruits (plums, cherries) and floral notes (violets, roses) with hints of spice, chocolate, or tobacco, and a balanced, juicy palate with supple tannins, good structure, and a long, fresh finish, making it ideal for grilled meats and aged cheeses.

At 600 meters above sea level, on the volcanic soils of Mount Calvarina, in the area of Lessini Durello and Soave DOC, the family has been producing wine for three generations, in an optical of synergy and harmony with nature, with the aim of interpreting and enhancing the native varieties of this area, creating a product that preserves tradition. This Soave, made with 100% garganega shows very pleasant mineral and savoury notes, which alternate with fruity-citrus hints and aromatic herbs. It is a wine with a fresh and enveloping drinkability, perfect for aperitifs and paired with fish-based dishes.

Cabernet Franc Blend, Intense red and violet reflections with a pleasant perfume and clear aromas of blackberry and raspberry. A wine of great personality, balanced, full, decisive and particularly full-bodied.

Réviseur VS Cognac is a "Single Estate" Petite Champagne Cognac known for its vibrant, fruity character and exceptional value. Produced by the ABK6 family on their 90-hectare estate, it is distilled in small 1600-liter stills and aged in dry cellars to enhance its aromatic intensity.

Signature Brands is operated by the father and son team of Marius Sr. and Marius Jr. Burger. They are integral members of South Africa’s Old Vine Project, an initiative started in 2002 by the iconic Vineyard Manager Rosa Kruger. Under Rosa’s guidance, growers with old vines get paired with winemakers who share their passion of not preserving South Africa’s old vines, but to manage them in such a way that they will consistently produce superior fruit to sustain their future.

The 1983 refers to the age of the vines. Grapes are carefully selected and hand harvested. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks, after which the wine stayed on its lees for three months. A small portion of the wine was then barrel aged for added complexity and richness.

This wine offers fragrant aromas of tropical and stone fruits, leading to rich, layered flavors of white peach, pineapple, and citrus, with a subtle touch of vanilla on the finish. It is pleasantly fresh with a lingering aftertaste, and the complexity and structure from old vineyard fruit promise excellent aging potential in the bottle.

"Clean, quincey apple aromas lead to a poised savoury palate. Drink with gratin dishes." - Bronze, International Wine Challenge

Quails’ Gate Queue is a premium, full-bodied red blend from BC's Okanagan Valley, featuring a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Part of the Distinction Collection, it offers a bold, aromatic profile of blueberry, cocoa, and violet with rich dark fruit, black pepper, and supple tannins on the palate.

This limited-edition Advent Calendar masterfully unites the art of carpentry and Port Wine, a unique piece of collection for true Port Wine Enthusiasts. This handcrafted cabinet holds 24 of our most precious Port Wines: From our recently declared 2022 Vintage Port to our family cask 50-Year-Old White Port, including some of our most precious single harvest Colheitas and our new Garrafeira, which can only be found in this limited collection. Made of mahogany wood, this box can then be used to store other precious goods such as jewelry or watches. The perfect gift for true Port Wine Collectors.

Always one of the top performers in Margaux, this dense and concentrated wine has a bold, ripe character from the plum and berry fruits. It has the weight to develop. Drink from 2020.

The LOUIS XIII Jeroboam is a masterpiece of the collection, presenting the finest blend of cognac in an exclusive decanter that represents the essence of time at the heart of LOUIS XIII while inviting a unique tasting ritual.

This new permanent addition to the Redbreast range is partially matured in ruby port casks, which have helped the vitality and the complexity of the finished whiskey while still delivering a remarkable intensity of red berry fruit. Orange peel, pine cone, vanilla, and walnut on the nose. Raspberry, cherry, plums, and active spices like a wildfire across the tongue, with pepper and chile heightened by the strength and menthol late on the finish.

From the Veneto region, international grape varieties thrive, especially Cabernet Franc. The Savian winery is a family owend winery in the Lison Pramaggiore region fo Veneto, in operation since 1925. They received their organic certification in 1993. The company owns seven brands, and the Quota 7 line is also biodynamic. This Cabernet Franc is full bodied with juicy black fruit, herbs and hints of earth. Super drinkable and will pair well with grilled meats, and the price point is undeniable!

Raphet Burgundy is handmade from field to bottle, with a rhythm and method that hasn't changed in more than four generations. Pinot Noir vines at the estate are on average very old, with many surpassing 100 years. Raphet wines are a Burgundy lover's Burgundy. While the wine's colour in the glass is a delicate ruby, aromas and flavours surprise with their forceful intensity. This contrast often catches the uninitiated off guard, yet it is part of the seduction of these limited and highly sought-after wines.

The Plantation Land Selection 12 Year Moscatel Cask (now under the Planteray brand) is a strictly limited, multi-region rum blend. Following tropical aging, the rum is matured in France and finished in Moscatel wine casks, imparting a sweet, fruity, and highly complex flavor profile.

A "Spotlight Viognier," often from producers like Play Estate, is a vibrant, aromatic white wine known for floral notes (honeysuckle, rose), stone fruits (peach, apricot, nectarine), tropical hints, and a full, sometimes creamy body with low acidity, balancing rich flavors with a fresh palate, excellent with spicy Asian, creamy chicken, or pork dishes. 

The nose is a light lunch on a rocky beach, where the dusty stones contrast with the sanguinity of bresaola and the richness of sweet chili jam. The jam spreads onto the palate, but the meatiness doesn't go anywhere either, before a crackle of black pepper sets up a lingering finish.

POLI MARCONI 46 GIN is a handcrafted Italian gin that is distilled using traditional methods and features a distinctive blend of juniper berries, muscat grape, mountain pine, cembra pine, mint, cardamom, and coriander. This unique infusion of flavors is inspired by the Asiago plateau in the north of the Veneto region, which is the ancestral home of the Poli family.

Roger Voss from Wine Enthusiast: Crisp and also fruity, this is a lively, bright Champagne. Touches of red fruits are integrated with the grapefruit flavors and tight acidity. The wine has softness at the end and is ready to drink.

This 50ha walled vineyard was created by the Monks of Citeaux and the soils in the areahas a large clay content, which accounts to the powerful, well-structured wines that can be rustic when young. This Grand Cru is on 1.28ha plot with 100% pinot noir. The grapes were handpicked and destemmed, then fermented in large oak vats. The wine was further aged for 20 months in French oak. The nose shows floral notes of rose petals, berries and spices. The tannins are fine and elegant with flavours of fresh fruit and spices of nutmeg and pepper.

Adelphi presents this bottling of 2015 vintage Welsh whisky from the lovely Penderyn Distillery. It was aged for 8 years in a single cask which filled 247 bottles at 56.9% ABV. This single malt is presented without chill-filtration and with its natural colour.

If you're looking for Beaujolais Cru, look no further. Of the 10 Cru, CLS has wines from seven. Rather than sourcing the grapes from all across the Beaujolais region, each individual Cru has their own terroir and soil structure; all made with 100% Gamay with the resulting wines unique and set-apart from each other. The Fournaise vineyard of the Cote de Brouilly is located on the steepest hill of the Cru, where all the work has to be done manually, normally in very hot temperatures. The hill has an elevation of 480 m and is totally covered by 60-year old vines. The roots have to work hard to break through the blue volcanic rock. The resulting wine is powerful and it needs time to reveal its depth and minerality. The palate is full with an amazing concentration and an outstanding, complex finish.

Periquita Red, produced by José Maria da Fonseca, is a historic, widely popular Portuguese dry red wine (first bottled in 1850) from the Setúbal Peninsula. Known for being fruit-forward,, juicy, and medium-bodied, it typically features flavors of black cherry, raspberry, and vanilla with soft tannins and a smooth finish.

These are not the usual Special Bins that Penfolds releases every so often but this is a new wine that will be in regular production, although not every vintage. 

Crushed blackberry meets chocolate and vanilla, even on the nose generosity and concentration are apparent right away. The first sip is full-on: bold, concentrated tannins, fine freshness that highlights the wonderfully generous, bold, big, muscular fruit. It is that delicious and pervasive acidity that allows every nuance to show: that pure flavour of wild blueberry, that note of cocoa powder, that powdery vanilla and nutmeg-scented texture, those fine-grained but ripe tannins with both their rigour and their juiciness. This is brooding, dark, and profound and for now, it only gives us an idea of what will be possible. A wonderful new addition to the range. Seamless and balanced.

92 points James Suckling:
Outer quote mark This has aromas of blackberries, porcini mushrooms, tobacco and charred bark. It’s medium-bodied with fine, supple tannins. Savoury, with plenty of earth and mineral character. Fresh finish. Inner quote mark