DE-98
2023 Opus One, Napa Valley 6x75cl
“The bouquet is utterly enticing, offering cool blue-fruit notes and a dusting of cocoa-powder freshness that stirs anticipation for the first sumptuous sip. On the palate, satiny richness unfolds,... imbued with crunchy red cherry and juicy blackberry fruit, alongside refined sagebrush and tobacco nuances. There is a sense of intricately fine-knit tannins – compact yet impressively integrated at this youthful stage – framed by subtle, refined oak spice. The finish is long and mineral, marked by graphite and a touch of black sea salt. The wine was fermented entirely with native yeasts in stainless steel, with a portion aged in amphora in this vintage, before maturing for 19 months in 95% new French oak. The blend is rounded out by small additions of Malbec and Petit Verdot. In 2023, the vines were farmed regeneratively for the first time, with harvest completed by mid-October.” Drink 2026-2050
98 pts., Jonathan Cristaldi, decanter.com
£1,410 / Case£235 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Cheval des Andes, Mendoza 6x75cl
“The 2022 Cheval des Andes is a significant upgrade to Mendoza’s historic regional blends, combining grapes from Las Compuertas (Luján de Cuyo) and Paraje Altamira (Uco Valley). The 2022 vintage... allowed for a slower ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon, which take prominence in this blend alongside 30% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot. Aging was carried out in 40% 225-liter Bordeaux barrels, 35% 400-liter barrels and 25% 2,500-liter foudres, with 50% new oak. A bouquet of bright fruit—raspberry, blueberry and delicate cassis—and complementary bay leaf and mint tones give way to a touch of ash and mild bell pepper. Boasting serious concentration, fine tannins and a slight creaminess, the 2022 has a structure that is firm but never tight, maintaining weight without losing balance. The finish is long, energetic and full of flavor. This is an exceptionally beautiful wine.”
99 pts., Antonio Galloni, vinous.com
£330 / Case£55 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2016 Vintage Port Mixed Case 6x75cl
2016 Warre’s Vintage Port, Douro Valley
“Nearly 50% is made from old field blend vines, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca from the Douro Superior. Very pure violet aromas – already utterly... charming with lovely, supple and seamless fruit. Fresh and lithe with fine-grained tannins building in the mouth leading to a peacock’s tail of a finish. A beautiful wine with real poise, definition and great finesse. Don’t be deceived by the early charm, this is a wine that will last. Total production of 4,250 cases.” Drink 2030-2055. 98 pts., Richard Mayson, decanter.com
2016 Quinta do Noval, Douro Valley
“The 2016 Vintage Port is a field blend, mostly Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinto Cão and Sousão, aged for 18 months in old wood. It comes in with 82 grams of residual sugar. This was in bottle for only about seven weeks when seen, but I made sure at least some of it had a lot of air. It looks super, with plenty of room to grow in the cellar. Christian Seely likes to say that this regular Noval and the Nacional are not better than one another, just different. In fact, I usually prefer Nacional, but in this vintage I make a case for equality and endorse that view. This was stunning from the first smell, promising concentration, intensity of fruit and great things to come. It had a 100-point nose that made me go "wow!" No wine I tasted had a better nose than this. Violets and blue fruits lead off, with a trace of eucalyptus. I tend to think Noval is a producer that always shows mid-palate finesse, but this seems pretty deep too. It is also intense. The tannins won't sear your mouth because the balance is impeccable. To be sure, it might close down, but it is surprisingly approachable now, notwithstanding that intensity. Rest assured that this lively young Porto still has all the materials to make old bones. Needless to say, "approachable" does not mean "ready." You need to toss this in the cellar for a decade, at least. Purists will say to double that or more. When the palate becomes as expressive as the nose—if it does—this will be entitled to an uptick”Drink 2026-2075. 97 pts., Mark Squires, robertparker.com
2016 Taylor’s Vintage Port, Douro Valley
“The 2016 Vintage Port was aged for 20 months in wood and comes in with 102 grams of residual sugar. When last seen, this was a fine Taylor's, not my favorite, perhaps, but very fine. It is a little precocious in this elegant year, which is not to say there isn't a tannic backbone. Also, this did have a few hours in the glass. Still, the first and last impression is the big, beautiful fruit. It is a delicious Taylor's that is hard to resist. It also is firm on the finish and likely to evolve well. Complexity will come in time. I don't see any reason to change anything about my original evaluation just now. This is still too young to show much development.” Drink 2026-2075. 96 pts., Mark Squires, robertparker.com
£280 / Case£46.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate