Issue: 52 / Sunday 16 December, 2018
Written by Stuart McCloskey
Hundreds, if not thousands of bottles have been sampled and consumed throughout the course of 2018, which has made our final selection extremely difficult. Some of our most recent arrivals are convalescing after their long-distance journeys and require a few more months before they are showing their full potential, which makes next year a greater challenge. Many wines (and you will be surprised how many) did not make our shelves let alone our shortlist. We enjoyed some great individual (one-off) bottles, which and in many ways should appear however, we believe that winners and runners-up must come from available stocks. Next year, we will publish a full list of great, one-offs too.
DuMol Finn Pinot Noir 2014
99-100 Points - Stuart McCloskey
"The nose is very intense and does require a good hour in a decanter to unlock its captivating bouquet of dark berries, bilberry and sous-bois. The palate is medium-bodied exquisitely balanced with ultra-fine tannins. At times the ‘Finn’ comes across as something very powerful, at other times sensory. Certainly, a mercurial Pinot Noir which washes effortlessly across your palate. Extraordinary, a moving wine and nigh on perfection."
£84.50 per bottle
Gramercy Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2013
100 Points - Stuart McCloskey
"Wow what a bouquet – This is such a fantastic Cabernet Sauvignon which reminds me of a top Pauillac - Château Pontet Canet / Latour come to mind. The aromas soar from the glass - Exotic, seductive with vibrant scents of cassis, black currents, graphite and cedar. I detect a little menthol in the background. The palate is rich and coats every facet. The filigree framework of tannins are seamless and support the wine beautifully. There’s a beguiling sense of purity which is something rarely seen. The finesse, poise and focus is quite extraordinary. Overall, the wine is effortless with layer upon layer of perfectly ripe fruit. The complexity builds with time in the decanter and I cannot wait to come back to this wine over the next decade or two. I cannot see how this utterly majestic wine could possibly improve therefore, I have no alternative but concede perfection
and add it to my legends list..."
£94.50 per bottle
Paul Lato "Il Padrino" Bien Nacido Syrah 2014
99 Points - Stuart McCloskey
"A wine which offers a special level of purity from the outset and riveting from beginning to end. The nose is flamboyant, intensely perfumed and layered beautifully with plum, liquorice, asphalt, turning to roasted coffee with more aeration. The palate is seamless and washes sweet fruit across every facet with effortless grace. Sweet raspberry, cassis, violets with a touch of background spice. The tannins are fine with perfectly judge acidity, neither of which interrupts the super-long finish. This wine highlights Paul’s natural skill to understand the correlation between vineyard, grape to wine, which is often amiss. A captivating wine of ethereal grace, magical beauty opposed to a dense powerhouse. A US Syrah masterpiece for sure and will only get better over the next decade (sampled using Zalto Bordeaux glass)"
£85.95 per bottle
Standish The Relic Shiraz Viognier 2016
99 Points - Stuart McCloskey
"98% Shiraz & 2% Viognier. First question; does a mere 2% Viognier add something to the overall wine? Yes, and abundantly so. The floral aromatics soar from the glass and interplay beautifully with the blueberry compote, blackberry, liquorice, grilled meat and a smidgeon of black olive tapenade. The palate offers dark chocolate, sweet, dark fruits and musky dried herbs. Again, the floral character from the Viognier is evident. With time in the glass the wine offers smokey, peppery game notes with an obvious gunflint and mineral character. Creamy textured but nonetheless, concentrated and dense. Svelte tannins which glide seamlessly across my palate. Quite surreal given the wine’s sheer saturated density. Mind blowing, hedonistic and unquestionably one of Australia’s truly great shiraz wines . A snip of warmth from the alcohol (16% of alcohol) and the only reason why I cannot, at this stage, award 100 points. Let’s see how the wine develops over time but let me be clear. This is an extraordinary wine that surpasses the majority of great Australian Shiraz (Including recent releases from Grange and Hill of Grace). Served in Zalto Bordeaux, decanted for three hours (needs much longer)
and will drink beyond 2035."
£64.95 per bottle
Leung Estate Ma Maison Pinot Noir 2015
98 Points - Stuart McCloskey
“An incredibly exciting wine from the boutique winery based in Martinborough. Dark, brooding with a wonderful perfume - full of the aromas of Autumn. Damson, cinnamon, spice and a touch of woodsmoke. The palate exudes intense, luscious and concentrated flavours of sweet, ripe damson, plum, spiced cherry and black fruits. The quality of the fruit enriches the fleshy mouthfeel which is so satisfying and moreish. Lots of drive and energy too. The texture is luxurious and balanced perfectly with fine-grained supporting tannins. A superb wine which flows seamlessly and lasts on the palate forever. Just beautiful” Zalto Burgundy glass is a must!
£22.95 per bottle
Glaetzer-Dixon Avancé Pinot Noir 2017
96+ Points - Stuart McCloskey
“The Pinot Noir for the ’17 Avancé was sourced from three vineyards in Southern Tasmania’s Upper Derwent and Coal Valleys. Sweet, succulent entry with an abundance of red cherries, wild strawberry, plums and sweet spices all laced together with bright, perfectly judged acidity. Medium-bodied, with pure silky tannins. The quality of racy, plush fruit is exquisite however, it’s the wines overall balance and completeness which stands out the most. You will have to look very hard to find a better buy for the money. A wine of pure and total pleasure. Just gorgeous and not to be missed”. Served in Zalto Burgundy glass (Highly-Recommended by the way! ), drinking beautifully now but will develop over the next 3-6 years.
£22.50 per bottle
Bay of Fires Chardonnay 2015
96+ Points - Stuart McCloskey
"Hand-picked from the Coal River Valley, East Coast and Derwent Valley, whole bunch-pressed, fermented in French oak from five different coopers. Deep aromas of gunflint and ripe, yellow stone fruits harmoniously fused with layers of mineral complexity and a touch of nutty oak. Medium to full-bodied and a silk-like mouthfeel. The palate is drenched with ripe stone fruits and a density, opulence, energy and drive which is quite extraordinary given the wine’s value. Every grape is assessed for its quality and character, hand-picked with care and thoughtfully considered for its winemaking potential. Each fruit parcel is kept separate, which ensures the core of its flavour components are captured at precisely the right moment. Each batch of wine is matured in the finest oak, resulting in a wine that is deeply impressive. Please do not miss this wine's exhilarating complexity and pedigree. Truly remarkable for the price and quite simply the best Chardonnay I have ever sampled at this price level. Magnificent. Superb now and enjoy to 2023. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware".
£14.50 per bottle
£11.95 a bottle per case of 12
Jamsheed Beechworth Roussanne 2016
97 Points - Stuart McCloskey
“Unlike many Roussanne’s - The palate has a sense of natural balance and everything is played down, not a hair out of place. The palate is captivating with breathtaking purity and clarity. Structurally, think very expensive Burgundy. Buttered toast and lemon curd which I, quite frankly, find irresistible. The weight and quality of the fruit glides across the palate with much flair. The flavour profiles fan out gloriously towards a mineral-rich finish juxtaposed with candied lemon peel. Total inviting now but will undoubtedly be at its pinnacle in 3-5 years. Thrilling, individual and certainly one of my favourite Roussanne’s”.
£24.95 per bottle
Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2015
98 Points - Stuart McCloskey
"Less expressive than some 2015’s however, decanting for thirty minutes to an hour and serving in a large Burgundy glass brings this wine alive. The wine is silky, graceful with mouth-coating waves of life affirming minerality. Real breadth and depth here with a laser-like focus. I love the juicy yellow stone fruits and spices. I imagine this will be utterly spectacular in another 6-8 years. It is the nectar of the Aussie Gods and would shame many a white Burgundy at double the price. I recommend drinking this stupendous wine from now to 2028 and beyond (in good cellar conditions)."
£29.95 per bottle
House of Arras Late Disgorged 2003
99 Points - Stuart McCloskey
"Extraordinarily left on the lees for 12 full years and disgorged June 2015. This is far from a New World gimmick - Mind-bogglingly brilliant and without question, the greatest sparkling wine outside of Champagne and better than many within. A sublime blend of 61% Chardonnay & 39% Pinot Noir which offers a profusion of aromatics and flavours. The wine delivers mouth-filling generosity with nutty honeycomb, toasted brioche, bread (a factor of the extended lees contact), toasted grains, caramel and citrus notes. I detect some ocean sea salinity which makes sense given the marine location. Clearly, the wines maturity is for all to see however, the purity and finesse is quite staggering. A towering masterpiece, riveting, difficult to share as several glasses is never enough and I honestly can't imagine it getting any better. Truly epic and the New World benchmark. Almost perfect! Served using Zalto universal. Only 2,200 bottles produced."
£57.95 per bottle
Egly Ouriet Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru NV
99 Points - Stuart McCloskey
"In short, this is simply the greatest Blanc de Noir (100% Pinot Noir) which money can buy. Produced from an ancient vineyard planted in 1946 and spends an incredible 72 months on its lees, which adds considerable complexity to what is already something quite extraordinary. This is truly a treat and stirs the depths of your soul (if you are one of the lucky few)".
(Disgorged July 2015, Lees: 72 months)
£105.00 per bottle
2014 La Judith Pinot Noir
Magically Crafted by Nick Glaetzer
We’ve had the privilege of some truly epic wines this year with several coming within a cat’s whiskers of being nominated our 2018 Wine of the Year. Dan Standish, Greg Harrington MS and his co-winemaker, Brandon Moss, Ed Carr, Francis Egly, Andy Smith and Paul Lato are some of the most gifted winemakers around today, but we tip our hat to Tasmanian winemaker, Nick Glaetzer and his, quite extraordinary
2014 La Judith Pinot Noir.
All these winemakers are truly gifted; they trust their instincts, their natural understanding of their craft instead of relying upon science, which translates to pure, minimally handled fruit which in turn offer the fullest expression of themselves.
La Judith is a tribute to Nick’s late mother and produced in tiny quantities (251 bottles). I’ll confess, I was nervous when I first sampled the wine as I could not imagine how cool climate Tasmanian Pinot Noir would handle 3 years in brand new oak barriques. Surely a gimmick resulting in a wine of excessive oak which throttles the aromatics and perfume of the grape? How wrong I was… The bouquet is breathtakingly heady and fills the room with black & red cherries, plums, violets, rose and sweet spices. The selection of the Pinot Noir must have been a tireless act as the sheer power (not what one expects from Tasmanian Pinot Noir) is a skyscraper in size and something I have never encountered from the apple isles. The palate is exquisite and judged to absolute perfection. Seamless and endless layers of sweet, deep, exotic fruit. Mineral-rich, spicy with a touch of bitter orange peel. Signs of earth / truffle notes but these are ten years away from taking centre stage. Truly spectacular with a finish which never ends (thank goodness). A New World masterpiece and the stuff dreams are made of. Best served in a Zalto Burgundy glass.
The back label is minimalistic with a small quote from Nick “She will be praised”.
She will certainly be proud, that’s for sure…
99+ Points Stuart McCloskey
£100.00 per bottle
Join us next weekend
We are open 22nd and 23rd December – 9am-6pm
Please note: the shop will be closed on Christmas eve
Our office will close on Friday 21st December at 5pm and re-open
on Thursday 3rd January.
Dog Point Pinot Noir 2015
97+ Points - Stuart McCloskey "What a welcome back after a three-vintage absence (for me, not the wine!). Waves of plums, mulberries, black cherries and hints of blood orange wash effortlessly across your palate. There is an intense core of rich dark fruits perfectly framed by fine tannins which is impossible not to admire. Certainly, an intriguing Pinot Noir which straddles styles and certainly would not be out of place with some of Sonoma’s ‘top’ Pinot Noirs. Utterly joyful and quite honestly soars above many of its New Zealand peers. Served in a Zalto Burgundy glass but I do feel a little unkind with my score – Perhaps another point (98+) if I had the patience to decant which I
would highly recommend."
£27.95 per bottle
St Hallett Butchers Cart Shiraz 2015
93 Points - James Halliday "Matured in American oak (20% new). Full crimson-purple; the cart carries a full load of all things nice, dispensing blue and black fruits along the way, and just when you wonder whether that's all to be had, polished tannins and a swish of oak put matters right."
£15.95 per bottle
Reynella Basket Pressed Shiraz 2010
Eileen Hardy Chardonnay
Special Vertical Case
1 x Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2013 / 96 Points
1 x Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2014 / 97+ Points
1 x Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2015 / 98 Points
1 x Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2016 / 97 Points
2013
96 Points - James Halliday "65% Tasmanian and 35% Yarra Valley grapes, hand-picked and wild yeast barrel-fermented, the Yarra component with no mlf, the Tasmanian portion with mlf. The blend was made after 10 months in barrel, the wine settled with four months in tank. It has a super-intense, pure, flinty bouquet, the palate a waltz for two, white peach from the Yarra Valley, grapefruit from Tasmania, piercing in its
intensity and purity."
2014
97+ Points - Stuart McCloskey "More intense, open-knit and richly textured compared to the 2015 although, both vintages are matched by their exquisite balance. The wines aromatics (honeyed citrus fruits, waves of minerals and a little maritime note) unfold with 20 minutes in a decanter (advised for ultimate satisfaction). The palate is medium to full-bodied, ripe and endlessly long. The play between textured weight and acidity is fantastic – A perfect marriage of cohesion and completeness. Given my experiences with mature Eileen Hardy Chardonnay’s, the ’14 is difficult to pin down to specific flavours. This wine is more to do with sensation as the palate feel is incredible. I do feel the 2015 has the slight edge and will become one of their best vintages over the past three decades however, there is something irresistibly special about the 2014."
2015
98 Points - Stuart McCloskey "Less expressive than some 2015’s however, decanting for thirty minutes to an hour and serving in a large Burgundy glass brings this wine alive. The wine is silky, graceful with mouth-coating waves of life affirming minerality. Real breadth and depth here with a laser-like focus. I love the juicy yellow stone fruits and spices. I imagine this will be utterly spectacular in another 6-8 years. It is the nectar of the Aussie Gods and would shame many a white Burgundy at double the price. I recommend drinking this stupendous wine from now to 2028 and beyond (in good cellar conditions)."
2016
97 Points - James Halliday "Tasmanian and Yarra Valley fruit bursting with flavour and complexity in equal measure, yet linear in its profile. An amalgam of excellent fruit, mouth-watering sulphides, seamless oak integration and zest appeal, with everything reined-in by superfine acidity. Chardonnay nirvana well and truly thriving in Australia."
Heritage Reserve Bin Range
In 1865 Thomas Hardy had the foresight to begin blending grapes from different regions, believing that the blending would enhance the different qualities of the grapes. His vision proved to be right and it has since become the inspiration for their Heritage Reserve Bin (HRB) range. Hardy's award-winning Heritage Reserve Bin range pushes the boundaries of winemaking through the cross regional blending of hand selected grapes.
Hardys HRB Chardonnay 2013
95 Points - James Halliday "There is definite synergy in the blend, even it if it's the Yarra Valley that provides most of the flavour and the glue; grapefruit is in the driving seats, but there's a special texture to the mouthfeel, part fruit, part oak-derived."
£16.95 per bottle
Hardys HRB Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
95 Points - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front) "It’s much like last year’s release with just a bit more weight. It’s a better wine as a result. This is a powerful, sturdy red, built Tonka Tuff, with blackcurrant, black olive and bay/gum leaf notes rumbling throughout. In flavour terms it’s almost into gravel territory, and indeed almost into coffee grounds/bitter chocolate. Ropes of muscular tannin pull assuredly through the fruit,. This will be a 25 year+ wine. It is excellent."
£16.95 per bottle
95 Points - James Halliday "Only Hardys has the viticultural resources available to make a synergistic blend such as this, the unexpected result a coherent medium-bodied wine that is light on its feet, skipping through the full Monty of red and black berry fruits, the tannins adding to the overall picture of elegance."
£16.95 per bottle
One of the most exciting
US producers for years
Utterly mesmerising Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs & Shiraz which we adore. Our second vintage / offering. Welcome home Paul Lato.
Written by Stuart McCloskey
Valentines Day, 2001 was Paul’s final service as a sommelier. With few possessions and life savings of thirty-five thousand dollars, Paul left Canada and headed south to California’s Central Coast to start a new life as a winemaker. 2002 marked Paul’s first vintage with a humble six-barrel production. By chance, Robert Parker tasted his 2002 vintage about a year and a half into its making. “The wine was bottled, but I had neither a label nor a name for my winery.” Paul explained to me that he could not afford a trademark hence the simplistic use of his name, which remains on the bottles today.
To me, Paul has a natural gift which and believe it or not, alludes many of the world’s winemakers. Science produces many wines whereas Paul’s wines are made from a unique and rarely seen understanding of each barrel he produces. He listens to his wines during their maturation / life cycle prior to bottling. Paul explained “some wines ask for more time and some have had enough” and “that’s when I know it’s time to leave or remove them from the barrel”.
Paul is not a vineyard owner. Instead, he sources fruit from some of the most blessed spots in California, Pisoni, Larner and Zotovich. He also sources some of the best Syrah from the Hillside Block of Bien Nacido and Pinot Noir from the Gold Coast Vineyard.
I met with Paul in June and spent some of the most enjoyable hours I have experienced in a very long time. Being in the presence of a great winemaker, a man so humble, is a wonderful experience. I have met and tasted with many winemakers, many of the very best from Bordeaux however, and in countless cases, felt it was more of a show. This is not the case with Paul as he talks with much integrity, often a trait lost by many winemakers.
The tasting was held in the City, Brigadiers restaurant to be precise. I arrived prompt, 10.00am as I hate to be late. The small side room was simply laid out with two tables. One for Paul’s white wines and one for his reds. Current vintages were available as well as some mature vintages from his own cellar, which would be a fascinating test of time and for me, to see how and if Paul’s style has changed over the years. It was great to see Zalto Burgundy glasses being used however, and if I were to give one smidgen of advice, I would have opted to serve his white wines in Zalto Bordeaux glasses rather than the Burgundy.
First up, the 2015 "le Souvenir" Chardonnay from the Sierra Madre Vineyard. To highlight Paul’s super-talents his 2011 le Souvenir was voted by Robert Parker as one of the top six Chardonnays in the world placing his tiny production of Chardonnay on-par with Burgundy’s Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet and California’s Marcassin. We quickly sold-out of the ’15 "le Souvenir" therefore, it was nice to reacquaint myself again. Delicate, layered and multidimensional. Tight-knit and a wine which has extraordinary potential. Superb satiny texture and enough structure and acidity to see this through to 2030. Those of you who purchased the ’15. Forget about it for 6-8 years and please invite me over.
I moved onto the current vintage (2016) which was chalk and cheese. Full-bodied, more exotic and densely layered. Minerality, judicious use of French oak and a fine line of acidity keeps everything perfectly in check. Incredible length and I cannot wait to enjoy a full bottle to myself.
The 2016 East of Eden Pisoni Chardonnay from the famed appellation of Santa Lucia Highlands followed. Again, another powerful example with mouth-coating waves of honeyed minerals. The nose was mesmerising and the palate sensational – Well, beyond sublime. It’s one of those rare wines which overwhelms the senses.
The next wine, 2016 Batana Larner Vineyard Malvasia Bianca was nothing short of a shock sensation. In fact, I went back and sampled four times as it was utterly captivating. Paul explained he produces one solitary barrel as it’s a serious labour of love. Everything is done with Paul’s own hands from de-stemming to hand massaging the grapes in the barrel. Utterly brilliant, fun and I am desperately hoping for a tiny allocation. Full tasting note to come if I decide to share a little!
I moved on to the small production (4 barrels) of 2008 Lancelot Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir which showed endless layers of the sweet, intensely perfumed red berries which covers the palate from start to finish. Lifted acidity with a little savory herb coming through after time in the glass. There is astonishing focus here and a real shame that I will not able to taste it again.
The incredibly youthful 2009 Solomon Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir was a joy. The palate was animated and flowed with layer upon layer of dark fruits. For all of its obvious delights I noticed a green / slightly unripe finish? I kick myself for not going back and re-sampling. Bloody annoyed with myself.
The current (2016) Solomon Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir was superb. The nose was heavenly scented with sweet raspberry and rose petal. The palate is immensely concentrated and profound. Utterly superb and must be tasted to be believed.
The 2016 ‘Atticus’ John Sebastiano was the final Pinot Noir, which certainly did not disappoint. More Burgundian with earth / forest floor / fern notes coming to the fore. A wine which certainly needs time and aeration as each swirl of the glass unveiled more and more complexity. Filigree tannins, incredible finesse and a wine I cannot wait to drink in 2028. Simply superb.
To my favourite wine of the tasting, the utterly mesmerising 2008 ‘Larner’ Syrah. This must be quite honestly, one of the most profound Syrahs I have ever sampled. Black raspberry liqueur / framboise, black cherry and crème de cassis dominate the nose. Utterly seamless, not a hair out of place and unashamedly a brilliant Californian Syrah. Ripe tannins support all the fruit and the finish is quite honestly as long as the Pan-American Highway. Something as banal as a number will have to do – 100 points any day of the week. Stunning.
The 2009 Il Padrino Bien Nacido Vineyard Syrah followed and did not disappoint. Thankfully, the smoky / roasted meat characteristic took this closer to Cote-Rotie than the previous. Although concentrated, there’s a real sense of elegance and weightlessness which is admirable. Perfectly polished tannins and a wine which will put a smile on most faces however, my mind kept wondering back to the perfect ’08 Larner. Sorry!
The (2014) Il Padrino followed. A pure, primary sense of Syrah handled beautifully. Elegant, super-long and a wine that all Syrah lovers need to taste. Just a joy for me.
From start to finish, Paul’s wines demonstrate his natural, intuitive ability to create beautiful wines. There’s an honesty and sensitivity which is in play with each varietal he works with. I wonder if Paul’s previous work as a sommelier has shaped his natural understanding of harmony, balance and flavours? For me, and to bring this short article to a close, Paul Lato wines represents some of the best wines coming out of the US today.
My enthusiasm for Paul’s wines is obvious and come highly-recommended. Last years allocation sold-out incredibly quickly and despite an increase in numbers allocated this year, I envisage these will also sell-out swiftly too. I will re-sample each wine once they have landed and will print my full tastings notes. Until then, do not delay, and take my word for it – these are simply some of the best wines produced in the USA today. Mercurial brilliance!
Paul Lato "Il Padrino" Bien Nacido Syrah 2014
99 Points - Stuart McCloskey
"A wine which offers a special level of purity from the outset and riveting from beginning to end. The nose is flamboyant, intensely perfumed and layered beautifully with plum, liquorice, asphalt, turning to roasted coffee with more aeration. The palate is seamless and washes sweet fruit across every facet with effortless grace. Sweet raspberry, cassis, violets with a touch of background spice. The tannins are fine with perfectly judge acidity, neither of which interrupts the super-long finish. This wine highlights Paul’s natural skill to understand the correlation between vineyard, grape to wine, which is often amiss. A captivating wine of ethereal grace, magical beauty opposed to a dense powerhouse. A US Syrah masterpiece for sure and will only get better over the next decade (sampled using Zalto Bordeaux glass)".
£85.95 per bottle
Paul Lato "East of Eden" Pisoni Chardonnay 2016
97+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from a terrific site located at the southern end of the Santa Lucia Highlands, the 2016 Chardonnay East of Eden Pisoni Vineyard boasts phenomenal notes of ripe citrus and white peach fruits, white flowers, and freshly crushed rocks. It's clean, incredibly pure, and elegant on the palate, with a level of tension and vibrancy you don't find too often in the vintage. I followed this bottle for two days and it only improved with air. It's a brilliant Chardonnay from Lato that’s going to benefit from a year or two of bottle age and age gracefully for a decade or more. Don’t miss it!
£92.25 per bottle
Paul Lato "Suerte" Solomon Hills Pinot Noir 2016
96+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Lato always makes the most of this great vineyard, which is located in the cooler, Pacific Ocean-influenced Santa Maria Valley. Black raspberries, red plums, violets, and hints of scorched earth all emerge from the 2016 Pinot Noir Suerte Solomon Hills Vineyard and it’s one of the more masculine, mineral-laced wines in the lineup. Nevertheless, it has beautiful purity and an undeniable elegance. Aged 15 months in 65% new French oak, give bottles a year or so and enjoy over the following decade.
£82.50 per bottle
Paul Lato "Le Souvenir" Sierra Madre Chardonnay 2016
95 Points - William Kelley (robertparker.com)
From one of the oldest vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley, Paul Lato’s superb 2016 Chardonnay le Souvenir Sierra Madre Vineyard reveals attractive aromas of yellow orchard fruit, citrus zest, peach and honeycomb. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with more textural glossiness than the Belle de Jour, underpinned by bright acids and concluding with an intense, chalky finish. This is quite structurally tight-knit right now and will need a couple of years in the cellar to blossom.
£75.95 per bottle
Paul Lato "Atticus" John Sebastiano Pinot Noir 2016
96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
From a site on the eastern side of the Sta. Rita Hills and aged in 50% new French oak, the 2016 Pinot Noir Atticus John Sebastiano Vineyard offers a very pretty, perfumed style. Red cherries, red plums, rose petals, and blood orange notes give way to a medium-bodied, ethereally textured, seamless 2016 that has some background oak, a layered, ultra-fine personality, and a great finish. It's going to age beautifully. Again, this is easily the most ethereal and seamless in the lineup and shines more for its nuance and elegance than power or richness. Drink it any time over the coming decade.
£75.95 per bottle
Christmas Domestic (UK) Delivery
Schedule from our HQ
• We are advising all our customers to place their orders before
4.30pm on Wednesday 19th December to ensure delivery before Christmas.
• We will be despatching all orders placed before 4.30pm on Thursday 20th December on the same day but please note that these are not guaranteed to arrive pre-Christmas.
• We will be extending our same day despatch promise until 4.30pm from
Monday 10th December.
• All orders placed after 4.30pm on Thursday 20th December will be despatched on Thursday 3rd January.
Domestic (UK) Delivery
Schedule from our UK Bond
• We are advising all our customers to place their orders before
12pm on Wednesday 20th December to ensure delivery before Christmas.
• Orders for the following postcodes must be placed by:
16th December
IM
17th December
PO, IOW
18th December
AB, BT, DD, DG, FK, IV, KA, KY, PH, TD
19th December
EH, FK, G, LD, ML, PA
The following postcodes have missed their respective cut offs
HS, KA, KW, PA, ZE
European Delivery Schedule
Our Office and Shop Christmas Hours
Monday - Friday
• The shop will be open Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm
Weekend Opening Times
22nd and 23rd December – 9am-6pm
The shop will be closed on Christmas eve
• Our office will close on Friday 21st December at 5pm
and re-open on Thursday 3rd January.
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