Fine Wine

Rated as the best Napa Cabernet Sauvignon in Decanter’s panel tasting, this wonderful wine is dark, dense yet smooth and juicy with ripe blackberries and dense plum; juicy and concentrated.

All estate fruit from the original Monte Bello estate, from lots considered not inferior, but more suitable for early consumption rather than the grand vin's 30-yr window approach. So, effectively the 2nd wine of Monte Bello. Minimal intervention as ever, natural and organic. 20 months in air-dried American oak, half new. The first vintage from these vineyards was 1892, and the oldest vines making this wine were planted in 1949. Eric the winemaker, visiting us in Cambridge, tipped us off that this is a smart buy.

Made with incredible craft and passion by owner Byron Dooley, this wine is made from 100% Luminous Hills fruit and is built for early approachability as a richer wine, but with backbone and vibrancy.

Steve Kistler, started as a winemaker at Ridge (long-term fave of ours and true California royalty) in the 1970s. He and his dedicated long-standing team founded this winery in his favourite coastal one in eastern Sonoma, cool and perfect for gloriously complex, aromatic Pinot Noir. His skill and dedication are peerless, his wines a sensual joy. Very rare, we only get a few dozen a year from the tiny UK allocation. A must-try Parker "The 2018s from Occidental are simply magnificent" "While everyone knows of Steve Kistler’s remarkable chardonnays, I believe his pinot noir will ultimately prove even more historic." - ROBERT PARKER, JR.

Parker 90 pale to medium ruby in color and has an herbal/earthy nose with sage and mint, bitter citrus peel, amaro, tart red cherries and wild blackberries. The palate is light to medium-bodied with herbal and bitters-tinged fruit and spicy berries notions, grainy tannins and great juicy freshness on the finish. 325 cases produced.

Parker91 Pale to medium ruby, the 2016 Pinot Noir features scents of dried cranberry and red cherry, orange peel, potpourri and hints of smoked meats over a core of wild blackberry and black raspberry. The palate is light to medium-bodied with spicy fruits, a great frame of grainy tannins and integrated freshness, finishing long. 975 cases produced.

Chateau Montelena 2012 92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Rather Chablis-like aromas of apple and resin, plus a hint of honey. Sweet and ripe in the nature of the vintage, offering a touch of creaminess to the flavours of fresh peach, apple, herbs and spices. Shows a broad spectrum of ripeness without any obvious extremes. A very successful vintage for this wine. (ST) Chateau Montelena’s Napa Chardonnay showed that the new world could create classically balanced and complex wines in its own voice, and that from the right sites and with perseverance, the results could equal anything made the world over. Through fads and trends, Montelena has never changed in its philosophy of bringing the sunshine of California in a style that is structured, balanced and age worthy. In 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris”, Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays in a blind tasting with a who’s-who of the French food and wine industry judging. And as they say, the rest is history. The wine opens with fresh peach, apricot, and honeydew amidst citrus blossom and rose water. The diversity of aromas in this vintage is astounding as the floral characteristics begin to take center stage with time in the glass along with ample fresh pear and cinnamon. The palate is lush viscous, and driven by lemon curd, the palate leans toward creaminess but with enough bright acid, green apple, and toast to bring balance and finesse. The ripeness of the vintage drives the mouthfeel as the flavors exude freshness and vibrancy, a unique combination. The finish is concentrated and persistent, again stone fruit appear, albeit in candied form, along with a hint of white pepper and plenty of orange zest.

JancisRobinson.com: 'Aged in 50% new Francois Frères French oak barrels. The wine was racked in the spring and then aged another 20 months (24 months total). ‘Estate bottled’ is emblazoned on the front label. Fairly subtle aroma of violets and a very dry finish. Serious wine that is still in its infancy.'

Zinfandel-based, ancient vineyards. Lovely richly-spiced, open style. Great vintage.

Vinous Media 94+/100 (Previous Vintage) " fabulous wine.. Dense and powerful... striking depth and tons of character... superb quality and pedigree... cassis, graphite, lavender, mint ..."

Winemaker Tasting Notes: "Pale, sun-bleached straw color with aromas of fresh lemon zest, green apple, wet stone, and honeysuckle flowers. Creamy texture on the palate with juicy acidity, notes of salinity, and citrus blossom and pineapple on the finish."

A refreshing, dry white with citrus lemon/lime notes, flinty minerality, and crisp finish. In the mouth the wine is rich and textural, from the time spent on lees in the barrel. This is a great match with shellfish of any kind, or richer white meats such as turkey or duck.

Chateau Montelena’s Napa Chardonnay showed that the new world could create classically balanced and complex wines in its own voice, and that from the right sites and with perseverance, the results could equal anything made the world over. Through fads and trends, Montelena has never changed in its philosophy of bringing the sunshine of California in a style that is structured, balanced and age worthy. In 1976, in what is now memorialized as “The Judgment of Paris”, Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay was the top-ranking wine against four white Burgundies and five other California Chardonnays in a blind tasting with a who’s-who of the French food and wine industry judging. And as they say, the rest is history. The wine opens with fresh peach, apricot, and honeydew amidst citrus blossom and rose water. The diversity of aromas in this vintage is astounding as the floral characteristics begin to take center stage with time in the glass along with ample fresh pear and cinnamon. The palate is lush viscous, and driven by lemon curd, the palate leans toward creaminess but with enough bright acid, green apple, and toast to bring balance and finesse. The ripeness of the vintage drives the mouthfeel as the flavors exude freshness and vibrancy, a unique combination. The finish is concentrated and persistent, again stone fruit appear, albeit in candied form, along with a hint of white pepper and plenty of orange zest.

Decanter Magazine Outstanding (95-97pts) December 2020 "Reserved plum and blackberry nose. Plump and svelte, concentrated and fleshy, with fine-grained tannins and enough acidity to give some persistence. Well made. Dark chocolate finish." WINE ENTHUSIAST 90 points || This wine is a richly layered and softly approachable expression of the variety. Blackberry, plum and caramel are wrapped in a viscous, velvety texture that lasts through an impressive finish. Before grapes dominated the landscape, the oak studded Napa Valley provided rich grazing land for sprawling horse and cattle ranches. Black Stallion is located on the historic Silverado Trail in Napa Valley`s Oak Knoll District, and was once home to the Silverado Equestrian Center, an indoor arena that welcomed up to 3,000 visitors. The property`s name pays homage to this equestrian history, and today its 32 hectares cover some of Napa`s most prestigious vineyards. Dedicated to producing small-batch, site-specific Cabernet Sauvignon, they have built a stellar reputation for their age worthy, expressive wines with dense, dark berry fruit and medium high acidity. Since acquiring the property in 2010, the Delicato family have expanded the range to include a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir, as well as a Limited Edition range that includes a Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. All these wines are sourced from a selection of exceptional Napa vineyards and adhere to the same principles that made Black Stallion`s original Cabernets famous. In the cellar, winemaker Ralf Holdenried treats each lot gently and individually, from vineyard to fermentation to barrel. Each wine is blended from dozens of individual lots to express its varietal character and the diversity of the Napa Valley.

"The 2017 Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard comes from a Grand Cru site in the Santa Maria Valley and was fermented and aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. This Burgundian beauty gives up lots of caramelized citrus, toasted bread, and spice-driven aromatics and shows medium-bodied richness on the palate, with bright acidity and some classic Santa Maria salinity and seaside-like nuances. You can drink bottles today, yet they'll also keep for over a decade." Jeb Dunnock 94pts

All estate fruit from the original Monte Bello estate, from lots considered not inferior, but more suitable for early consumption rather than the grand vin's 30-yr window approach. So, effectively the 2nd wine of Monte Bello. Minimal intervention as ever, natural and organic. 20 months in air-dried American oak, half new. The first vintage from these vineyards was 1892, and the oldest vines making this wine were planted in 1949. Eric the winemaker, visiting us in Cambridge, tipped us off that this is a smart buy.

A huge, berry-scented mouthful; a blend of mostly cab, with merlot and petit sirah in supporting roles. Silky but crisp with wild blackberry and currant, the wine shows ripe fruit and ripe tannins and is a bargain at the price point

Made by all female star team of owner Lindsay Hoopes, Anne Vauter (ex Screaming Eagle) and Jennifer Rue this has richness and eleganc in equal measure. Extended barrel ageing has softened the wine, as has some bottle age, making it exquisite to drink now. It will keep but why wait?

Strawberries and blackberries aromas slowly rise out of the glass. Overtime, more of the anise and clove will mix with these other aromas. Currently, the wine is young with mouth filling intensity and suppleness. Complexity will increase as the wine ages, but this wine should stay “fresh” for 6 or 7 years. In its youth, match this wine with lamb or dried meats. After a few years, as the flavors coalesce, it will pair better with salmon or mild red sauce with pasta.

Long-established star winery of Santa Barbara. Creamy vanilla, rich but all in balance. Impressive. Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is a beautiful example of the Au Bon Climat style. The flinty, stony aromas stand out while in the background is a hard spice note from “sur lie” barrel aging. There are notes of lemon-lime and soft vanilla.