94 RP
2016 La Rioja Alta, Vina Ardanza Reserva, Rioja 6x75cl
"The 2016 Viña Ardanza Reserva was produced with 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha that matured in used American oak barrels for three years, where it was hand-racked from barrel to barrel six times... in the case of Tempranillo and five times for the Garnacha, as it had a slightly shorter élevage of 30 months. Against all odds, I found the 2016 to be fresher than the 2015 and less developed, despite the fact that winemaker Julio Sáenz told me he considers it a warmer year. But I have found many wines I like in 2016, and the wine feels very clean and quite harmonious, younger and less developed, with more primary notes and a velvety mouthfeel. 600,000 bottles produced. The wine was bottled in June 2020." 94+ pts., Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com
£119 / Case£19.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2016 Croft, Vintage Port 6x75cl
"The 2016 Vintage Port is a field blend with 104 grams of residual sugar. When last seen this was in good form. Let's check in. Darker in its flavor profile than the 2017, this is more rhubarb, plums... and blackberries. The tannins have moderated a bit, but obviously this is not exactly tamed. It is coming along fast enough so you can dive in now (or soon) with some decanting, but it certainly will show better at the end of the decade (or later)." 94 pts., Mark Squires, robertparker.com
£233.34 / Case£38.89 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Future Arrival
2018 Paul Jaboulet Aine, Hermitage, La Maison Bleue 3x150cl
£270 / Case£90 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2018 Elvio Cogno, Barolo, Ravera 6x75cl
“The Elvio Cogno 2018 Barolo Ravera is becoming one of the most important wines in Novello, and it performs very nicely in this more challenging vintage. In fact, 2018 helps to cement Ravera's... steadfast reputation precisely because it performs so well despite spells of humidity and heat. The wine shows small-berry detailing with rust and crushed stone at the back. There is a point of bitterness that accompanies the tannins of this full-bodied wine. Production is 15,000 bottles.” 94 pts., Monica Larner, robertparker.com
£325 / Case£54.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur