The Wine Importer November 2017 NEW VINTAGE Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône 2016 $20.00 100% Syrah from Vinsobres and the Villafranchion terraces in the Gard. Aged 6 months in tank. SOUTHERN RHÔNE DRY WHITE SIX $99.50 Grape varieties include Grenache Blanc, Maccabeu, Marsanne, Roussanne, Chenin Blanc, Clairette, Vermintino, Viognier and Picpoul. This pack is definitely Sauvignon Blanc Free! 1x Domaine Vindemio Blanc 2016 Ventoux - Nicely textured, ripe style. 1x Domaine Les Aphillanthes Clementin Blanc 2016 - Orchard fresh, good freshness and minerals. 1x Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2016 - Broad, ripe style with ample underlying zip. 1xDomaine Fondrèche Blanc 2016 Ventoux - Racy, mineral driven beauty. 2x Domaine Gayda Figure Libre Blanc 2014 Languedoc - Layered lemon tart, peach and honey notes. 90/100 LANGUEDOC CLEAROUT! Domaine Gayda Figure Libra Freestyle 2014 Rouge Recommended Retail $32.95 now $12.95 or $75.00 six 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 20% Carignon, 10% Mourvedre. Certified organic, aged in barrique for 9 months. The bold ripeness of 2016 is reminiscent of the 2009 and 2010 vintages, but with a level of freshness that sets it apart. Louis Barroul An exciting introduction to the excellent 2016 vintage, it is deep plum coloured with violet reflections. Aromas of bright berry fruits and liquorice give way to a medium bodied palate with elegant flavours of red currants and minerals. Direct from Bordeaux Ch d Yquem 2006 Sauternes 375ml now $299.50 on special The 2006 Chateau d Yquem has a slightly reticent bouquet at first that unfolds in the glass. The 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 2050. 95+/100 Wine Advocate 96/100 Wine Spectator This red shows nice focus, offering sleek mineral notes framing currant and black berry fruit flavours. Accents of savoury pepper and smoke add interest, with balanced tannins lining the finish. Drink now through 2022. 90/100 Wine Spectator Contact: Paul Mitchell Paul@wineimporter.co.nz P.O.Box 268, Kumeu, Auckland 0841 Ph 64 9 412 8542 Free 0508 412 8542 Fax 64 9 412 8541
NEW VINTAGE SAINT COSME NORTHERN RHÔNE 2015 2015 Once in a generation vintage. J Livingstone-Lermouth MW 2015 Best Vintage in 55 years. Jancis Robinson MW 2015 A vintage of serious potential. Wine Spectator 2015 A gold plated triumph! Berry Bros & Rudd St Cosme Crozes Hermitage 2015 $39.50 100% Syrah aged 12 months in barrique (20% new). The 2015 Crozes Hermitage shows how good this vintage was for the appellation. It offer gorgeous notes of plum sauce, blackberry jam, crushed rocks, pepper and violets in a medium to full-bodied, fresh, focused, impeccable balanced style. I love its fruit and this rocking effort will drink nicely in it youth and keep through to 2025. 92/100 Wine Advocate St Cosme Saint Joseph 2015 $42.50 100% Syrah aged 12 months in barrique (30% new). Another terrific Northern Rhône from Louis is the 2015 St Joseph which comes all from granite terroirs. Plums, cassis, black raspberry and graphite characteristics emerge from this rich, fullbodied, impressively concentrated red that has present, yet sweet tannin. It will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and shine for a decade. 93/100 Wine Advocate USA - PINOT NOIR Forge Cellars, Finger Lakes, NY Three like-minded friends, Louis Barruol of Château 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. The 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. St Cosme Côte Rôtie 2015 $79.95 100% Syrah fermented with 100% stems and aged in barrique for 12 months (30% new). This has a little sauvage note peeking out, with bay leaf and game accents adding range to the rich core of crushed plum and blackberry fruit. A warm cast iron detail drives the finish and latent grip allows everything to linger. Distinctive in profile and should age well. Best from 2020 through 2035. 95/100 Wine Spectator 2 ORDERING Website www.wineimporter.co.nz Email paul@wineimporter.co.nz Freephone 0508 4128542 Mobile 027 4128542 Secure Fax 09 4128541 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
NEW VINTAGES SAUTERNES SECOND WINES Petit Guiraud 2013 Sauternes 375ml $23.50 Semillon 65%, Sauvignon 35%; aged in barrique for 12 months. Lovely floral, aromatic nose. This is a leaner style, not too sweet with a clean, relatively dry finish. Beautifully made, very enjoyable and great value. 91/100 Huon Hooke Lions de Suduiraut 2011 Sauternes 375ml $23.50 Semillon 90%, Sauvignon 10%. A juicy, direct style with apricot, peach and anise notes backed by almond and fig hints on the framed tight finish. 93/100 Wine Spectator An Excellent Gift Idea? Second Sauternes Six Pack $126.90 3 x Petit Guiraud 375ml 2013 3 x Lions de Suduiraut 375ml 2011 DOMAINE VINDEMIO Ventoux Educated as a Pharmacist, Jean Marot has long been considered one of the Rhône s best winemakers when running Domaine Le Murmurium, a feature on almost every 3star restaurant in France. His latest project is the family owned biodynamic estate Domaine Vindemio. The current owners are fashioning some super bargains meant for serious wine consumer. Robert Parker Vindemio Blanc 2016 $20.00 Clairette 80%, Grenache blanc 20%; 8 months on lees. Plenty of spiced melon, orange blossom, lavender and honeycomb in a medium bodied, nicely textured and ripe style. It will drink well to 2020. Vindemio Cuvée Regain 2015 Ventoux $23.75 Grenache 70%, Syrah 30%; from 30 year vines, aged six months in tank. The deepest coloured of the three Ventoux releases, the 2015 Ventoux Regain sports a saturated purple to go with impressive notes of scorched earth, black fruits, charcoal and pepper. It s flat out gorgeous on the palate, with ripe tannin, full-bodied richness and a concentrated, layered style. It offer lots of pleasure and is ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years. 92/100 Wine Advocate 3 Vindemio Cuvée Imagine 2015 $30.00 50% Syrah, 50% Grenache; from 40+ year old vines. The 2015 Ventoux Imagine is a fruit-loaded effort that gives up lots of juicy blackberry, blueberry, pepper and minerality, with serious tannin lurking under its fruit. Fullbodied, nicely concentrated and textured it, like the Amadeus, has plenty to love. 91/100 Wine Advocate Vindemio Cuvée Amadeus 2015 Ventoux $45.50 Grenache 99%, Syrah 1%; from 60+ year vines, aged 9 months in tank. The 2015 Ventoux Amadeus is the most elegant of the three red Ventoux and offers a beautiful nose of black raspberries, toasted spice, pepper and graphite in a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated style. There s a chewy edge to the tannin, but it has great potential. Give the bottles a year or two in the cellar. 92/100 Wine Advocate Vindemio Taste Six $146.50 2 x Vindemio blanc 2016 2 x Vindemio Regan 2015 1 x Vindemio Imagine 2015 1 x Vindemio Amadeus 2015
GERMANY MOSEL-SAAR-RUWER 2016 Vintage After a spring from hell, things turned out better in July with dry, sunny weather right through to harvest. Yields were very low and less botrytis present meant little very sweet wines produced. 2016 is one of the most exciting and elegantly balanced vintage since the 1990 s, the Kabinett and Spatlese are some of the most exciting and classic ever tasted. MFW WEINGUT WILLI HAAG Based in the village of Brauneberg since the 1500 s the Haag estate was split between brothers Fritz and Willi in the 1960 s. Willi s grandson, winemaker Marcus Haag has made huge quality improvements and says his 6ha of very steep vines is quite enough!. Riesling is perfectly suited to the Brauneberg s steep slate-soil vineyards. Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer 2016 Kabinett $30.00 Alc 8.49%, acidity 8.2 g/l, residual 58.1 g/l. An initial smokey side gives way to superb notes of almond, pineapple, apricot and raspberry. The wine delivers a gorgeously clean yellow peach flavour with spatlese intensity on the smooth palate and leaves with a feeling of delicacy in the fruity finish-2024-2036. 90/100MFW Willi Haag Veldenz Spatlese 2016 $30.00 Alc 8%, acidity 9.1 g/l, residual 61.2 g/l. Screw cap. Veldenz is a village (and castle) near Bernkastel-Kues in the Middle Mosel. High levels of ripeness evident in its richness and intensity. Excellent balance, good concentration while retaining freshness and fine minerality. This is a delicious, fine, elegant Riesling. Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Spatlese 2016 $39.95 Alc 7.3%, acidity 6.6 g/l, residual 88 g/l. Quite closed, this spatlese needs airing in the glass to reveal quite complex notes of almond, peach and apple. The wine offers a playful interplay of sweet, juicy pineapple and grapefruit on the palate and a superb feel in the long finish.2024-2036. 90/100 MFW Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese 2016 $49.75 Alc 7.3%, acidity 7 g/l, residual 104.1 g/l. Gradually revealing ripe scents of quince, peach, honey and melon. The wine is quite compact as sweet apricot, beeswax and juicy yellow fruits emerge on the palate but leaves one with a great sense of freshness in the very long finish. This will prove a superb drinking auslese at maturity. 2026-2046. 91/100MFW WEINGUT VON KESSELSTATT 2016 This vintage taxed many winemakers with a rugged beginning to the year, but end results are extraordinarily surprising. The small yield positively manifested itself into excellent grape quality and defines, concisely, the attributes of the vintage. Wolfgang Mertes- Cellarmaster Kesselstatt RK Riesling Trocken 2016 $23.75 Introduced to mark the estate s 650th anniversary, it is 100% estate grown Riesling grapes from their own vineyards. Supple ripe notes of quince, peach, apple and tangerine. The wine is smooth and fruity on the palate with some creamy fruits and a sense of vanilla cream carrying to the satisfying finish. Great feel of intensity and almost power in the aftertaste. 2018 2021. 87/100 MFW Kesselstatt Piesporter Goldtropfchen Kabinett 2016 $33.75 Exhibiting gorgeous ripe and juicy scents of lead pencil, raspberry, honey and apricot. The wine develops almost Auslese-like richness on the palate yet proves juicy and creamy right through to the smooth rich, honeyed finish. Great potential 2026-2046. 91+/100 MFW 90/100 James Suckling 4
Kesselstatt Josephshofer Kabinett 2016 $34.75 Monopole vineyard. Superbly fruity and 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 which add to a feeling of richness and intensity right into the finish. One for the cellar to integrate its richness and residual sugar. 2020-2031. 89/100 MFW 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 Kinheimer Rosenberg Kabinett 2016 Trocken $26.95 This vineyard rests on red soils, rich in slate near Urzig. Screw cap. Light and elegant on the palate with excellent balance that leaves a gorgeous mouth-watering feel. An airy, subtle, offdry style. 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. 2023-2030+. 89/100 MFW Kees-Kieren Graacher Domprobst Spatlese* 2016 Feinherb $33.75 *barrel selection, Feinherb off dry. Vino-seal closure. The vineyard was located in the centre of former Catholic holdings, the name refers to the taxes that went to the highest ranked official of the Trier diocese. Gold Medal Ripe and creamy with herbal notes gracing the peach and apple flavours. Wellintegrated with a mouth watering finish. GERMAN RIESLING SIX $146.50 Sample five producers from two outstanding vintages. Bischofliche Piesporter Goldtropfchen 2015 Kabinett - Plenty of refined, spicy notes. Kees-Kieren Kinheimer Rosenberg Kabinett 2016 Trocken - Clear and elegant with delicate aromas. Dr Thanisch Riesling Kabinet 2015 - Pure and salty on the well-structured finish. Von Kesselstatt RK Riesling Trocken 2016 - Great feel of intensity and power. Willi Haag Brauneberger Juffer 2016 Kabinett - Fine freshness and minerality. Bischofliche Urziger Wurzgarten 2015 Kabinett - Gorgeous sense of finesse and elegance. 5 Kees-Kieren Graacher Himmelreich Spatlese* 2016 $36.75 *barrel selection. Superbly racy nose of passion fruit, 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. 90/100 MFW
BORDEAUX LARGE FORMAT With Christmas around the corner these large format Bordeaux from two of the best red vintages ever, will make a lovely gift. Individual wooden Gift Boxes are available for the magnums. 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 Ch Loudenne 2009 Haut Medoc 1500ml $72.50 50% Merlot, 50% Cabernet; aged 16 months in barrique. Michel Rolland consults. This is an elegant, well-balanced, finesse style of wine with a dark ruby colour and some notes of cranberry and black cherry fruit as well as red currants and dusty, loamy soil undertones. It is medium-bodied and best drunk over the next decade. Recommended Decanter Magazine Ch Ame de Musset 2009 Lalandede-Pomerol 1500ml $69.50 80% Merlot, 10% Franc, 10% Cabernet; from 5ha, aged in barrique for 15 months (50% new). Trophy Brabant Wine Competition. Cherry and plum flavours ease into herbal and anise notes in this fleshy red. Vanilla and toasted almonds add sweetness. A generous texture is supported by modest tannins with just enough acidity for freshness. 91/100 Wine Spectator Ch Haut Carles 2009 Fronsac 1500ml $109.00 Merlot 90%, Franc 5%, Malbec 5%. From 16ha; aged 18 months in oak. Jean-Luc Thunevin and Alain Reynaud consult. Right up there with the very best Fronsacs, the 2009 shows an abundance of crushed rock, blueberry and graphite. Chalky notes are present in this dense, purple wine, which is full bodied, rich and clearly an over achiever. Drink over the next 10+ years. 90/100 Wine Advocate 91/100 Wine Spectator Ch La Rousselle 2009 Fronsac 1500ml $109.50 Merlot 65%, Franc 35%; from a 4.6ha vineyard. Owned by the Davau family since 1971. Stephane Derenoncourt consults. An absolutely stunning sleeper of the vintage, this blend has produced an uncommonly rich, concentrated wine that is one of the very best wines of Fronsac. Opaque ruby/purple in colour, the aromatics offer up notes of blueberry liqueur intermixed with kirsch, blackberries, liquorice and crushed rock. The wine hits the palate with some serious thunder and lighting and lots of depth, richness and mouth filling intensity. Consultant Stephane Derenoncourt has made the best wine I have ever tasted from La Rousselle and it should continue to drink well for at least a decade. 94/100 Wine Spectator 6 Ch Puygueraud 2009 Côtes de Francs 3000ml (Jeroboam) owc $195.00 Merlot 80%, Franc 15%, Malbec 5%; 16 months in barrique (40% new). A beautifully made wine from the wellknown, highly renowned team of Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt, it shows both richness and fresh minerality. The Thienponts also own Ch Pavie Macquin and Larcis Ducasse in St Emilion. Mineral and blackberry skins aromas follow through to a full body, with mineral and spice flavours and a long finish. Yummy! 90/100 Wine Spectator Ch Guiraud 2010 Sauternes Imperial 6000ml (Methuselah) owc. Now only $995.00 on special Lanolin and dried honey aromas gently unfurl in the glass before revealing its mineral core, as if this wine is teasing you! The palate is well balanced with a fine line of acidity. There is abundant clean, pure botrytised fruit and a crisp, linear finish that is very appealing, leaving a very accomplished Giraud to 2110+! 94/100 Wine Spectator