Wine Importer. March 2018 SPANISH TASTE RED SIX $ Six well-made ripe reds using Tempranillo, Syrah, Grenache, Petit Verdot and Tannat grapes.

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The Wine Importer March 2018 SPANISH TASTE RED SIX $99.50 BORDEAUX MAGNUM Ch Aime de Musset 2010 Lalandede-Pomerol 1500ml $73.

This is dark and succulent with scrumptious plum, anise and blackberry fruits melded together and allied to a racy, graphite underpinning.

Wine Report 90/100 Wine Spectator Six well-made ripe reds using Tempranillo, Syrah, Grenache, Petit Verdot and Tannat grapes. Bodegas Barreda Tempranillo 2014 Broad wine with fresh and sweet flavours.

1 The Wine Importer March 2018 SPANISH TASTE RED SIX $99.50 BORDEAUX MAGNUM Ch Aime de Musset 2010 Lalandede-Pomerol 1500ml $73.50 Merlot 80%, Franc 10%, Cabernet 10%, from 5ha; aged in barrique 15 months (40% new). Owned by ex-ausone winemaker Pascal Delbeck who also has the very popular Ch Tour de Pas St Georges. This is dark and succulent with scrumptious plum, anise and blackberry fruits melded together and allied to a racy, graphite underpinning. Shows good length with a light cocoa dusting adding some range at the back end. 91/100 Int. Wine Report 90/100 Wine Spectator Six well-made ripe reds using Tempranillo, Syrah, Grenache, Petit Verdot and Tannat grapes. Bodegas Barreda Tempranillo 2014 Broad wine with fresh and sweet flavours. Chapillon Cuvée Harmonie 2015 Smoky, vigorous, lifted fruit. Abadia de San Quirce 6 Meses 2015 Ribera del Duero flavourful, fleshy palate. Bodegas Langa Passion 2014 Intense aromas of soft, ripe fruits. Estrada Palacio Vispius 2016 Somontano Brimming with elegant black and red berries. Bodegas Barreda Syrah 2014 Soft and polished tannins intense, fresh finish.. USA - PINOT NOIR Forge Cellars, Finger Lakes, NY Three like-minded friends, Louis Barruol of Chateau de Saint Cosme, Justin Boyette (winemaker) and Richard Rainey (viticulture) making hand crafted wines that reflect the Finger Lakes terroir. Forge Cellars Pinot Noir 2015 $47.50 Aged 11 months in new and one year old French barriques. Attractive mulled plum, violets, raspberry tea, truffles and charcoal aromas can be found on the nose. Results of low yields in a warm growing season are evident in the density of this year s Classique. Sweet plums, raspberries and pure cherry juice are spiced with cinnamon, cocoa powder and violets. Savoury elements of underbrush and stone join the profile, staying focused and juicy on a long finish. BUBBLES SPECIAL Paul Robin brut Cuvée Prestige blanc de blancs r.r. $18.95 now $13.95 or just $79.50 six Aged on its lees and another 12 months in bottle. A fresh, dry style with delicate scented notes, good bead and a creamy, lingering finish. Contact: Paul Mitchell Paul@wineimporter.co.nz P.O.Box 268, Kumeu, Auckland 0841 Ph Free Fax

CHABLIS- Jean Marc Brocard Jean Marc Brocard originally trained as an engineer until gifted some Chablis vines by his fatherin-law in 1973.

His children are now involved in the business with viticulturist son Julien gradually converting all the vineyards to biodynamics The Brocard style emphasizes the unique minerality and terrior of the

2016 -miniscule vintage due to severe hail with some producers making no wines at all. Brocard Chablis 2015 $28.50 plus 1500ml $59.50 30 year vines with south exposure near village of Prehy.

2 CHABLIS- Jean Marc Brocard Jean Marc Brocard originally trained as an engineer until gifted some Chablis vines by his fatherin-law in Over the years he has increased his vineyards to over 100ha throughout Chablis and its immediate surrounds. His children are now involved in the business with viticulturist son Julien gradually converting all the vineyards to biodynamics The Brocard style emphasizes the unique minerality and terrior of the region turned out a very good vintage for Chablis although quantities are right down due to a violent September hail storm just prior to vintage miniscule vintage due to severe hail with some producers making no wines at all. Brocard Chablis 2015 $28.50 plus 1500ml $ year vines with south exposure near village of Prehy. A textbook flinty aroma gives way to green apple lemon and mineral flavours in this white, which show fine depth and richness, offset by vibrant acidity. Excellent length. Brocard Chablis Sainte Clair 2015 $30.00 Biodynamic from Kimmeridgion soil from year old vines. A rich take on Chablis, yet with a salty tang to the apple, melon, yellow plum and lemon flavours. The chalky minerality finish adds a sense of place. Drink now through /100 Wine Spectator PREMIER CRU White Burgundies greatest bargains! Virtually all of the Brocard Crus are now farmed bio-dynamically and major inroads in that direction have been made with their village level vineyards too! Brocard Premium Cru Fourchaume 2013 $49.50 From 40 year vines with south west exposure. This exhibits still more ripeness, indeed to the point of mild exoticism to the dried yellow orchard fruit aromas. There is good volume to the seductively textured flavours that possess a very suave mouth feel. 91/100 Vinous Brocard Premier Cru Montee Tonnerre 2014 $52.50 From 30 year vines with south west exposure. A lean, steely style, with well-defined flavours of white peach, lemon and apple chiselled into a tensile frame. Stays long and succulent on the subtle aftertastes. Drink now through /100 Wine Spectator Brocard Premier Cru Vau de Vey 2015 $43.50 Biologique Certified. Some of the steepest slopes in Chablis. Taken from vat, the 2015 has a crisp yellow flower, lemon zest and wax resin-scented bouquet that unfolds nicely in the glass. The palate is well balanced and contains energy and tension. Crisp and tensile on the finish with a touch of lime lingering on the aftertaste. Drink over 5-8 years. 93/100 Decanter Brocard Premier Cru Butteaux 2015 $ ha vineyard next to Montmains. Ripe and creamy, this white displays lemon cake and white peach flavours, with a stony undertow. Harmonious and long on the finish. Lively acidity keeps this focused and clean. Drink now through /100 Wine Spectator 2 GRAND CRU Chablis very best sites patience, for the cellar! Brocard Grand Cru Valmur 2015 $79.50 An 11ha vineyard, considered by many experts as one of the best expressions of Chablis. The 2015 Chablis Valmur has a detailed bouquet with yellow fruit, fig and light chalky scents that gain intensity in the glass. The palate is well balanced with a very sappy, saline entry. I appreciate the tension and mineral expression of this Valmur and toward the finish it maintains wonderful focus and a sense of energy. This is one of the best offerings from Brocard in /100 Wine Advocate Brocard Grand Cru Bougros 2015 $79.50 A 15ha vineyard producing quite rounded and less austere Chablis. This 2015 Chablis Grand Cru Bougros is matured entirely in wooden foudres. It has an attractive bouquet of citrus fruit, nutmeg and subtle waxy scents that become accentuated with aeration. The palate is certainly well balanced with a fresh line of acidity. This is surprisingly strict and linear with a touch of spice toward the poised finish. Very fine, but it will require two or three years in bottle before trying. 90/100 Wine Advocate

Direct from Bordeaux Ch d Yquem 2006 Sauternes 375ml r.r. $499.50 now $199.50 on special The 2006 Chateau d Yquem has a slightly reticent bouquet at first that unfolds in the glass.

Delving further into the aromatics there is a hint of spice and white pepper. The palate is extremely well balanced with a viscous opening. There is great harmony and composure here.

3 Direct from Bordeaux Ch d Yquem 2006 Sauternes 375ml r.r. $ now $ on special The 2006 Chateau d Yquem has a slightly reticent bouquet at first that unfolds in the glass. There aromas are well-behaved at first, but then start having some fun with lovely scents of dried honey, dried quince, marzipan and beeswax. Delving further into the aromatics there is a hint of spice and white pepper. The palate is extremely well balanced with a viscous opening. There is great harmony and composure here. A controlled and very focused Yquem with a slight saltiness coming through towards the finish. The edginess is absorbing and it should play out nicely with bottle age. Drink now /100 Wine Advocate SAUTERNE SPECIAL Domaine de L Alliance sauternes ml r.r. $49.95 now $29.95 on special Semillon 85%, Sauvignon 12%, Muscadelle 3%; fermented in barrique then further aged for 18 months. Daniel and Valerie Alibrand purchased this 7ha estate in 2005 with yields around 10 hectolitres/ha. Forward in feel, with a creamy side to the pineapple, yellow apple, ginger, white peach and quince notes, give way to a marzipan edge through the finish. Great purity and restrained elegance. -To /100 Wine Advocate Southern Rhône Red Six $ Six ripe, juicy reds from two outstanding vintages. Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhéne 2016 Elegant currant & mineral flavours -89/100WS. Domaine les Aphillanthes Vielle Vignes 2015 Full bodied, elegant & charming -90/100WA. Domaine Vindemio Regain 2015 Ventoux Rich, concentrated, layered style - 92/100WA Domaine Fondrèche Rouge 2015 Ventoux Long, elegant, supple finish - 91/100WA Engaran Rouge 2015 Languedoc Chewy, nicely concentrated style. Domaine Vindemio Imagine 2015 Ventoux Nicely concentrated and textured -91/100WA.. CHAMPAGNE SPECIAL Champagne Maxims de Paris brut Now $49.95 or $ six on special Plus Magnums 1500ml $ Almost Krug-like richness in its yeasty, freshly baked bread style. NZ Herald Ch d Yquem 1995 Sauternes 750ml r.r. $ now $ on special Ex-Yquems cellars. The 1995 Chateau d Yquem is moving into it secondary aroma phase. A deep golden colour, it has a dense and almost Barsaclike bouquet with tangerine, apricot, acacia and melted candle wax. It displays good intensity, unfolding beautifully in the glass. The palate has strident opening, with a slight bitter edge that lends this Yquem great tension. One can discern layers of marmalade infused with honey fruit, with a powerful, spicy finish that lingers long in the mouth. This is drinking perfectly now, but will surely age with style over many years. Drink Tasted March /100 Wine Advocate MARGARET RIVER SPECIAL New World Winery of the Year 2017 Wine Enthusiast Vasse Felix Margaret River Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 rr $29.95 now $18.95 or $ six on special Attractive, clean and pure, fruit-driven aromas of cedar, tobacco, cassis and violets. Full bodied and intense with superb balance. A ripping Cabernet! 95/100 Huon Hooke Vasse Felix Margaret River Filius Chardonnay 2016 r.r $29.95 now $21.95 or $ six on special Tight, restrained and complex with taut natural acidity. Vibrant mineralty and pristine fruit definition. Lemon pith and hints of lime carry into the dry finish. 91/100 West Australian Wine Guide 3

WEINGUT KEES-KIEREN The Kees brothers, Ernst-Josef and Werner own vines in several excellent sites in the Mosel, including on the famous slopes of Graach, Kinheim, Kesten and Erdener.

They carry out crop thinning to lower yields and harvest late, manually and over several runs through the vineyard, for fully ripe fruit.

the grapes fully in these northern climes. Kees-Kieren Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett 2016 $30.00 The largest single vineyard near the town of Graach. Gold Medal Very attractive nose of white peach.

Superbly racy nose of passionfruit, yellow peach and spice. This wine is loaded with bright and lively exotic fruits on the palate and leaves a gorgeously elegant feel. 2025-2045.

Massive investment followed in cellar and vineyards with lesser vineyards being sold-off.

4 WEINGUT KEES-KIEREN The Kees brothers, Ernst-Josef and Werner own vines in several excellent sites in the Mosel, including on the famous slopes of Graach, Kinheim, Kesten and Erdener. In total they work 7.5 hectares, the vast majority planted with Riesling, with an environmentally sustainable approach and working almost entirely by hand. They carry out crop thinning to lower yields and harvest late, manually and over several runs through the vineyard, for fully ripe fruit. The soils, weathered blue and Devonian slates, are rich in minerals and reflect the sunlight back on to the vines during the day and radiating the soaked-up warmth during the night, helping to ripen the grapes fully in these northern climes. Kees-Kieren Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett 2016 $30.00 The largest single vineyard near the town of Graach. Gold Medal Very attractive nose of white peach. It is nicely fresh and vibrant on the palate and leaves a direct feel in the mouth-watering finish /100 MFW Kees-Kieren Graacher Himmelreich Spatlese* 2016 $36.75 *barrel selection. Superbly racy nose of passionfruit, yellow peach and spice. This wine is loaded with bright and lively exotic fruits on the palate and leaves a gorgeously elegant feel /100 MFW WEINGUT von KESSELSTATT Established in 1349 by the Kesselstatt family and purchased by Gunther Reh in Massive investment followed in cellar and vineyards with lesser vineyards being sold-off. Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt cultivates top vineyards in almost all districts of the Mosel, namely the Middle Mosel, the Saar and the Ruwertal Vintage Time. -For 2015, when there s little, there s even less! Healthy, golden-yellow berries with Oechsle readings of 92 to 100 and sensational fruit aromas. You can look forward to an outstanding vintage, the only disappointment being the small harvest. Wolfgang Mertes- Cellarmaster 4 Kesselstatt Kaseler Nies chen Kabinett 2015 $33.75 The Ruwer s top site with great southern exposure and 60 degree slope. The intrinsic quality shines through on the palate where superbly gorgeous scents of pear and melon are lifted by zesty acidity. The finish is long and well balanced /100 MFW Kesselstatt Piesporter Goldtropchen spatlese 2015 $42.50 Picked in perfect health, this spatlese is clear, intense and aromatic on the nose with delicate, flinty aromas. Round, lush and aromatic, with a stimulating piquancy and freshness, this is a rich spatlese with grip and tension /100MFW 91/100WS Kesselstatt Josephshofer spatlese 2015 $47.75 Wholly owned by Kesselstatt.iemonopole. Very intense and aromatic on the nose but also deep, clear and flinty. On the palate this is a rich, round and juicy spatlese with a good mineral backbone and grip /100 MFW 92/100 WS

2016 Vintage This vintage taxed many winemakers with a rugged beginning to the year, but end results extraordinarily surprising.

Wolfgang Mertes- Cellarmaster Kesselstatt Piesporter Goldtropfchen Kabinett 2016 $33.75 Exhibiting gorgeous ripe and juicy scents of lead pencil, raspberry, honey and apricot.

91+/100 MFW 90/100 James Suckling Kesselstatt Josephshofer Kabinett 2016 $34.75 Monopole vineyard. Superbly fruity with an exotic nose of apricot, quince, orange and grapefruit.

5 2016 Vintage This vintage taxed many winemakers with a rugged beginning to the year, but end results extraordinarily surprising. The small yield positively manifested itself into excellent grape quality and defined concisely the expressional attributes of the vintage. Wolfgang Mertes- Cellarmaster Kesselstatt Piesporter Goldtropfchen Kabinett 2016 $33.75 Exhibiting gorgeous ripe and juicy scents of lead pencil, raspberry, honey and apricot. The wine develops almost Ausleselike richness on the palate yet proves juicy and creamy right through to the smooth rich, honeyed finish. Great potential /100 MFW 90/100 James Suckling Kesselstatt Josephshofer Kabinett 2016 $34.75 Monopole vineyard. Superbly fruity with an exotic nose of apricot, quince, orange and grapefruit. Still quite sweet at this stage on the palate with candied fruits as well as tropical influences adding to a feeling of richness and intensity right into the finish. One for the cellar to integrate its richness and residual sugar /100 MFW ORDERING Website paul@wineimporter.co.nz Freephone Mobile Secure Fax FREIGHT AND INSURANCE Per case Auckland $3.00 Waiheke Island $10.00 North Island $5.00/6 $7.50/doz South Island $6.00/6 $10.00/doz NZ Post Rural Charge $5.00 DOMAINE DE FONDRÈCHE Ventoux- Biodynamic Sebastian Vincent purchased this property with help from his parents in 1991 just after he graduated in oenology. It is a magnificently sited estate on a plateau above Carpentras with views to Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux. Nearly every shrewd wine consumer is aware of the remarkable wines that emanate from this high quality, biodynamically run estate in the Ventoux. A long standing point of reference for what is possible from this outlying appellation, this operation has been run with great precision and passion. The natural, pure, uncomplicated, fresh, lively wines are a message to anyone trying to produce something special from relatively obscure areas. Robert Parker Fondrèche Blanc 2016 Ventoux $20.00 Grenache Blanc 30%, Roussane 30%, Clairette 30%,Vermintino 10%; aged 6 months on lees. The addition of Vermintino makes it more complex and minerally. A white that will be hard to beat as a meal starter, the 2016 Ventoux Blanc is a racy, mineral-driven beauty that offers clean, crisp notes of buttered citrus, tangerine peel and grapefruit. Fondrèche Persia Blanc 2016 Ventoux $30.00 Old vine Roussanne aged 9 months in tank with plenty of lees contact. Similar to the Domaine Blanc with its racy style, the 2015 Persia Blanc comes mostly from very old vine Roussanne. It has lots of citrus rind, apple and crushed rock notes in a medium-bodied, lively, vibrant style with more texture and richness. 91/100 Wine Advocate 5 Fondrèche Rouge 2015 Ventoux $20.00 PLUS ml $ % Grenache, 40% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre; aged 12 months in 1/3 barrel, 1/3 Foudres 1/3 concrete. Fruit from Cuvée Fayard and Cuvée Nadal have been combined to create a polished result without increasing pricing! Its saturated purple colour is followed by rockin notes of black and blue fruits, olive, graphite and saddle leather, with just a kiss of barrique. Long, elegant and with supple finish, you re not going to find this quality at this price very often. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years (although it will keep longer). 91/100 Wine Advocate Fondrèche Il Etait Une Fois red 2015 Ventoux $ % Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah; 60+ year vines, aged in barrel. The top wine of the estate only produced in exceptional years - A playground for the old Grenaches! The flagship wine is the 2015 Côtes du Ventoux Il Etait Une Fois and this cuvée is always Grenache-dominated, with small amounts of Syrah and Mourvedre. Destemmed and aged in foudre, it s a fresh, elegant example from this vintage that gives up notes of raspberry, black raspberries (even a hint of fresh plum) to go with lots of floral characteristics, medium to full-bodied richness and ripe, polished tannins. It needs 2-3 year of bottle age and will shine over the following decade. 94/100 Wine Advocate FONDRECHE TASTE SIX $ x Fondreche Blanc x Fondreche Persia Blanc x Fondreche Rouge x Fondreche Une Fois 2015

SPAIN- CHAPILLON Christopher Chapillon is a French winemaker who lives at Zaragoza, in Northern Spain. He sources parcels of old-vine grapes and produces a very interesting, unique range of reds.

Dense red still with some purple on the rim, intense and quite spicy nose of ripe blackberry fruit with a touch of leather that smooths out as it comes onto the palate and then the vigour of Petit

6 SPAIN- CHAPILLON Christopher Chapillon is a French winemaker who lives at Zaragoza, in Northern Spain. He sources parcels of old-vine grapes and produces a very interesting, unique range of reds. Chapillon Cuvée Harmonie 2015 $20.00 Petit Verdot 90%, Tannat 10%. From the Calatayud region, aged 10 months in oak. Used as a blending grape in Bordeaux, Petit Verdot shows very well in sunny Spain. Dense red still with some purple on the rim, intense and quite spicy nose of ripe blackberry fruit with a touch of leather that smooths out as it comes onto the palate and then the vigour of Petit Verdot and Tannat kick in, still slightly smoky from the oak, but the vigorous and lifted fruit will soon dominate and the firm natural tannins will blend in as well. A wine of personality and vigour without over-extraction, remaining sweet on the palate. To /100 Int Wine Report CHAPILLON RED TASTE SIX $ x Cuvée Paul x Cuvée Harmonie x Cuvée Remy 2013 Chapillon Cuvée Paul 2015 Calatayud $ % Grenache from 70 year old vines. Aged in barrique for 12 months. The 2015 Cuvée Paul is produced with Garnacha vines from Calatayud from old vines that contain some Garnacha Peluda, a biotype of variety that has fluff/hair on the back of the leaves. It s fermented in tanks and matured in American oak barrels, 30% of them new, for one year. It has some blurry aromas, and intriguing notes reminiscent of damp earth. The palate has some dusty tannins and earthy rusticity. There is less oak than in the past. 89/100 Int. Wine Report Chapillon Cuvée Remy 2013 DOC Priorat $26.95 Grenache 35%, Carignan 35%, Cabernet 30%; aged 16 months in barrique. This is extremely well priced Priorat! Cherry red, complex and fruity with dark berry aromas impressed with toasted minerals, plum and balsamic notes. Smooth, soft and silky, the red fruits cascade down the mid-palate. Good structure, round and balanced. 88/100 Int. Wine Report 6 BODEGAS IMPERIALES Abadia de San Quirce Ribera del Duero Taking the name of a local Romanesque Church Abadia de San Quirce, Bodegas Imperiales was established in 1998 with a new winery and 21ha of vines, some over 100 years old. The reds are fermented in stainless steel then aged in barriques (50% French 50% American oak) in Imperiales underground cellars. Abadia de San Quirce Blanco Rueda $ % Verdejo; aged 3 months on the lees. Night harvesting at 5oC ensures good extraction of varietal aromas and freshness. Comes from Rueda and not Ribera del Deuro. It has a very phenolic bouquet with caramelised pear, candied orange peel and quince aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is well-balanced with notes of honeycomb and dried apricot that builds nicely in the mouth, demonstrating impressive weight and delineation on the fresh finish with touches of shaved ginger and pear on the aftertaste. 90/100 Verema Abadia de San Quirce 6 Meses 2015 Ribera del Duero $20.00 Tempranillo 100%; aged 6 months in barrique. Deep cherry red. Intense nose of red fruits with spicy notes. Flavourful, fleshy palate, round tannins, balsamic and spice lead to a long, balanced finish with mineral touches. 91/100 Verema

CHABLIS TASTING REPORT AUGUST 31,2018

CHABLIS TASTING REPORT AUGUST 31,2018 Chablis Grand Cru ChÂteau Grenouilles 2016 93 points Rich, plush and fleshy. This has a very vibrant and complete. Rich and ripe peaches, toasted hazelnuts and a deep