page 1 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château La Nerthe, 2006 The 2006 vintage produced deliciously silky wines that are just about ready now. La Nerthe in 2006 is finely judged and very long. Product Code RH24181 Dominant Grape Grenache Syrah Mourvedre Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2011 to 2018 Origin Chateauneuf-du-Pape Alcohol Level 14.5% Style not applicable Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2006 Price No longer for sale Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château La Nerthe 2005 2005 is a wonderful vintage for La Nerthe. This is full-bodied, very richly flavoured and dominated by the taste of very ripe fruit. The balance is impeccable without any heaviness. Product Code RH18951 Dominant Grape Grenache Syrah Mourvedre Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2010 to 2020 Origin Chateauneuf-du-Pape Alcohol Level 14.0% Style Full-bodied Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2005 Price No longer for sale Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Etienne Gonnet, Domaine Font de Michelle 2006 Jean and Mickey Gonnet use some of their 100-year-old grenache to make this very full and concentrated cuvée of Châteauneuf. This is thickly textured and very rich. Product Code RH19601 Dominant Grape Grenache Syrah Mourvedre Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates Now to 2024 Origin Rhone Alcohol Level 15.0% Style Very Full Bodied Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2006 vintage Price 36.00 / Bottle Producer : Domaine Font de Michelle - See next page.
page 2 Producer : Domaine Font de Michelle The Font de Michelle estate in Châteauneuf-du-Pape was created by Etienne Gonnet in 1950. His sons, Jean and Michel took charge after him and now their own sons Bertrand and Guillaume have taken over in their turn. Font means fountain or in this case spring ; in other words, a sure guarantee of the presence of water in this arid land. The vineyards are very low yielding and most of the work is done by hand, using no artificial fertiliser or insecticides. A more modern approach is taken in the cellar in order to make softer, rounder wines. Everything is destemmed, as woody elements can create hard herbaceous flavours in the wine. Maceration is gentle under rigorous temperature control. The wines are raised in oak for 18 months, part foudres and part barrel.
page 3 Hermitage Cuvée Emilie, Domaine des Remizières 2005 A well constituted Hermitage: big boned and full bodied, with a weighty tannic structure that will need time to soften. Product Code RH17901 Dominant Grape Syrah/Shiraz Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2022 Origin RHONE - Northern Rhone Alcohol Level 14.0% Style Medium-bodied Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2005 Price No longer for sale Producer : Domaine des Remizieres One should never forget that growers in this part of the world were before anything else, fruit farmers and orchards remain a part of the landscape. The Desmeure family were typical of so many except that they took the decision a while back to branch out into winemaking and under Philippe Desmeure the estate expanded to include both Crozes- Hermitage and of course Hermitage itself though land ownership here remains limited. The Desmeure family don't own much land on Hermitage itself, though what they have is good and the wines that they make are solid, well made and keep very well. The Hermitage is called Emilie, after the daughter who is gradually taking over the reins from her father. Holdings in Crozes include the Côteau des Paons which makes super, long-lived whites
page 4 Rockford Basket Press Barossa Shiraz 2006 Robert O Callaghan s legendary Australian shiraz is in a class of its own. This highly individual wine is dense and velvety, balancing ripe cassis and savoury flavours with incredible length. Six bottles only per member. Product Code AU15391 Dominant Grape Syrah/Shiraz Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2021 Origin South Australia Alcohol Level 14.5% Style not applicable Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2006 Price No longer for sale Cornas les Vieilles Fontaines, Domaine Voge, 2004 Deeply sensual, ripe Cornas made from 80-year-old syrah vines planted on pure granite at the southern end of the appellation. Product Code RH18581 Dominant Grape Syrah/Shiraz Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2009 to 2018 Origin RHONE - Northern Rhone Alcohol Level 14.0% Style Medium-bodied Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2004 Price No longer for sale Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos des Papes 2008 Tiny yields but fine quality from this leading estate in Châteauneuf. In style this resembles 1999, which means that it should be good for drinking relatively early. This is lovely now, particularly if decanted, but will develop greater complexity with more time in bottle. Product Code RH24201 Dominant Grape Grenache Syrah Mourvedre Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2025 Origin Chateauneuf-du-Pape Alcohol Level 15.0% Style Very full and rich Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2008 Price No longer for sale Producer : Paul Avril et Fils - See next page.
page 5 Producer : Paul Avril et Fils Attaining perfection has been Vincent Avril s aim ever since he took over the running of the Clos des Papes estate from his father, Paul. He is unquestionably an outstanding winemaker with an attention to detail that is second to none, seeing the estate move to the top rank of Châteauneuf producers. Yields are extremely low and likely to get lower as the vineyard is being converted to organic viticulture. The Clos itself is right by the ruins of the castle at the top of the village and is beautifully laid out in terraces, a showcase with all of Châteauneuf s 13 grape varieties present. It is, however, just one of 18 separate plots scattered across the appellation, enabling the Avrils to play with the many different soil types and expositions. It also means they can spread the harvesting over a longer period of time thus obtaining the best from each of their sites. Whilst this is certainly demanding work, it is this amount of diversity in the estate that without doubt is behind the greatness of Clos des Papes. What also makes Clos des Papes stand out is the Avril family s belief in the mourvèdre grape which was planted here long before it became fashionable. A normal vintage of Clos des Papes is around 65% grenache, 20% mourvèdre and 10% syrah, the balance being made up by all the other Châteauneuf varieties. With such a high percentage of mourvèdre, Clos des Papes is, unsurprisingly, long lived and needs plenty of bottle age.
page 6 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine de la Janasse, 2004 Very concentrated blend of grenache (85%) and syrah from four contrasting plots of very old vines. This is the top wine at La Janasse and is made for keeping. The 2004 is just about ready to drink but there is no hurry. Product Code RH20861 Dominant Grape Grenache Syrah Mourvedre Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2012 to 2028 Origin Chateauneuf-du-Pape Alcohol Level 14.5% Style not applicable Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2004 Price No longer for sale Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Clos des Papes, Avril, 2000 Clos des Papes in a good vintage always needs ten years to come round. The 2000 is delicious now. Product Code RH8141 Dominant Grape Grenache/Garnacha Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2008 to 2025 Origin Chateauneuf-du-Pape Alcohol Level 14.0% Style Full-bodied Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2000 Price No longer for sale Producer : Paul Avril et Fils - See next page.
page 7 Producer : Paul Avril et Fils Attaining perfection has been Vincent Avril s aim ever since he took over the running of the Clos des Papes estate from his father, Paul. He is unquestionably an outstanding winemaker with an attention to detail that is second to none, seeing the estate move to the top rank of Châteauneuf producers. Yields are extremely low and likely to get lower as the vineyard is being converted to organic viticulture. The Clos itself is right by the ruins of the castle at the top of the village and is beautifully laid out in terraces, a showcase with all of Châteauneuf s 13 grape varieties present. It is, however, just one of 18 separate plots scattered across the appellation, enabling the Avrils to play with the many different soil types and expositions. It also means they can spread the harvesting over a longer period of time thus obtaining the best from each of their sites. Whilst this is certainly demanding work, it is this amount of diversity in the estate that without doubt is behind the greatness of Clos des Papes. What also makes Clos des Papes stand out is the Avril family s belief in the mourvèdre grape which was planted here long before it became fashionable. A normal vintage of Clos des Papes is around 65% grenache, 20% mourvèdre and 10% syrah, the balance being made up by all the other Châteauneuf varieties. With such a high percentage of mourvèdre, Clos des Papes is, unsurprisingly, long lived and needs plenty of bottle age.
page 8 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Fay Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 2005 Named after Nathan Fay, whose 1968 Cabernet inspired founder Warren Winiarski to buy this now prized corner of the Napa Valley. The 2005 is silky smooth with wonderful richness on the palate and still a touch of slightly smoky oak on the finish. Hold for two years and cellar until 2017. Product Code US4081 Dominant Grape Cabernet Sauvignon Product Type Red Wine Drink Dates 2009 to 2020 Origin California Alcohol Level 14.0% Style Full-bodied Closure type Cork, natural Vintage 2005 Price No longer for sale