Winemaker and owner Chris Phelps has an impressive pedigree: training at the infamous Chateau Petrus of Bordeaux's right bankc and then 12 years at Dominus in Napa Valley, owned by Jean-Pierre Moueix of Chateau des Laurets. Phelps's winemaking experiences in both Napa and Bordeaux led him to create what he calls "New World wines with an Old World sensibility". Phelps has been producing Ad Vivum since 2007. Grapes for the wines are sourced from the Sleeping Lady Vineyard in Yountville, CA. This 100% Cabernet is dense with aromas of cassis, violets and spicy oak with a rich, full body, silky tannins and a well-balanced exceptionally long finish. This wine will surely age for 20 years or more.

The nose is striking with its floral hints of violet and rose accompanied by red fruits such as raspberries and sweet spices. In the mouth, the wine is balanced and elegant with an almost creamy texture supported by silky and well-integrated tannins. Spicy notes accompany the persistent finish.

COLOUR: Fawn with brick edge
AROMA: Intense and precise bouquet of fresh and grilled nuts, great depth with also aromas of dried fruits and candied fruits
PALATE: Elegant entry on the palate, dominated by nutty, dried fruits and caramel notes. The mid-palate is spicy, with cinnamon and nutmeg, the finish feels dryer with citrus notes, very long and elegant.

BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho is a complex golden rum with a deep, layered and mellow flavour of dried fruits, spices and oaky vanilla.

One of the wines of the vintage, the 2000 has barely budged in its evolution since it was bottled and released in 2002. After ten years in bottle, it still reveals a dense opaque purple color along with a potentially sensational bouquet of blueberries, black currants, graphite, asphalt and background oak. Extremely powerful, full-bodied and superbly concentrated with good acidity and high but round tannins, this massive La Mission-Haut-Brion should take its place among this estate's most hallowed vintages when it hits full maturity in another one to two decades. I was surprised by just how youthful this wine tasted at age 12. If tasted blind, I would have guessed it to be around 4 to 5 years old. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050.

In 1720, Maison Champy became the oldest wine company in Burgundy. By the arly 1900's, Champy has established itself as a premier wine company and had acquired more land in the Beaune, specifically in Savigny and Clos Vougeot. Pale yellow color with golden reflections. With a good intensity, the rich bouquet opens on ripe fruits (peach, apricot), on floral notes, and on notes of bread and freshly baked croissants. An elegant nose on a subtly woody base. On the palate, a good richness and smoothness with a long finish, opulent and round.

Shiraz from old dry grown Barossa vineyards is blended with Viognier, complementing the strengths and complexities of these individual parcels of fruit, whilst giving the resulting wine a further dimension.
Although wonderfully aromatic, RunRig also exhibits a power and latent richness making it more akin to the hugely concentrated wines sourced from the sun drenched hill of Hermitage – the historic home of Syrah and some of the world’s most powerful and longest living wines.

A blend of 44.7% Merlot and 55.3% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion has an alcohol of 14.3%. It rolls effortlessly out of the glass with seducing notes of warm black plums, black cherry compote and blackberry pie, plus suggestions of lavender, crushed rocks and underbrush with a hint of sassafras. The medium bodied palate is delicately played and refreshing, offering lots of soft spoken black fruit and earthy layers with a soft texture and seamless acidity, finishing with a spicy kick.

Contention as one of the top vintages produced here, the wine is strong on its floral characteristics. Once past the opening bouquet of white flowers and dried roses, you find plums, black cherries, black raspberries, mint and cigar wrapper nuances. The palate provides a lush, opulent, vibrant, energetic backdrop for its wealth of deep red fruits and oceanic influences. The finish has a touch of salty chalk that adds complexity to its wealth of silky, ripe, red fruits.

Chocolate shavings and smoked coffee bean on the nose, it's a vintage where you can't get away from the tannins, but here they have sinew and juice, like the best translation of the tannins in the year. This has a real purity of fruit (very low SO2 addition at Palmer) and the gourmet touch you want in Alter Ego. 45% of overall production. 3.73pH. Survived mildew better than in 2018 because of my experience in dealing with the conditions. August 15 to 29 for the harvest.

Made from 100% Furmint, the Château Pajzos "T" displays a pale golden color with a gorgeous aromas of apricots, grapefruit, volcanic soils and nuts. The palate is awash with fresh citrus notes of clementine and lime, intermingle with stone fruit flavors and a slighlty smokey minerality. The wine is light and crisp with a wonderful tension of taut acidity, giving it a beautiful backbone to which all those falvors can cling. An excellent choice with grilled poultry, fish or cheese dishes, especially grilled cheese with salulmi.

Catherine and Didier Champalou share a common background, both hailing from vigneron families. However, their shared spirit of independence led them to embark on their winemaking journey alone. In 1983, they founded their Domaine, and since then, their label has earned widespread acclaim in the appellation. Vouvray, the region they call home, is renowned for the noble Chenin Blanc grape, also known as Pineau de la Loire. The Champalou family tends to 21 hectares of vineyards, committed to sustainable farming practices and even incorporating the lunar calendar into their work. Their vineyards boast rich, deep soils, well-aerated due to regular plowing. Embodying the Champalou house style, their wines exude elegance and tenderness, characterized by intense aromas and impeccable balance. Their unique style sets them apart, and no one else comes close to replicating their distinct and exceptional wines.

Critic tasting note: "This blend of Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc is ripe and yeasty. It has perfumed fruit, although the fruit is ensconced in a bitter, nutty character. The acidity is intense, giving freshness at the end."

The Bowmore Distillery, established in 1779 and located on Islay is so close to the sea, the Atlantic waves smash against the iconic sea-facing wall. This salt spray of this No. 1 Vaults release is a key tasting note. The aromas will give you bright orange zest and marmalade drizzled with the sea and the palate will give you salted honeycomb, iodine soaked blood orange, ocean spiced blackberry and kumquat. Ageing in ex-bourbon casks adds greater depth to this spirit.

With their winery located with the National Park area of Gran Sasso, this family owned winey began their estate in the early 1900's when the first vineyards were purchased but it wasn't until two generations later, the family decided to bottle wines under their own label. When the first grandchild was born, she had flaming red har just like her grandmother, so the label created was "Testarossa" (redhead). This 100% Montepulciano has aromas of plums and cherries with nuances of violet. On the palate it's full-bodied with ripe red cherry, cocoa, licorice, tobacco, leather with smooth tannins and a long finish. The bottle boasts a leather label on this 1.5 L.

Xavier Gerard is one of the young stars of the Northern Rhone. His father left him some prime land in the regions of Cote Rotie (including a tiny parcel in La Landonne), Condrieu and Saint Joseph. Although he is not certified, he practises organically in all his vineyards, and all of his wines are unfined and unfiltered. This is a blend of 96% Syrah and 4% Viognier, which makes its presence known with a touch of stone fruit among the ripe forest berries. Good concentration and smooth tannins, yet with high acidity that all lead to a long finish.

Located in the Cote Chalonnaise, Laurent Dufouleur works with the three grape varieites of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Aligote. As part of the Tramier Collection, three family wineries work together to achieve excellence in everything they do. This red wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay, effectively a Passetoutgrains. An unbelievable quality here at an incredible price - aromas of red berries, spice and hints of earth and mushroom with a smooth mouthfeel.

Domaine Reine Juliette is located in the heart of Languedoc, less than 10km from the Mediterranean Sea. The sixth generation runs the winery now and is named for the road the domaine is built on. The wine is a blend of Grenache and Syrah, showing bright strawberry, pomegranate and watermelon notes with excellent acidity and focus. Great with summer salads and even pizza!

Mike Grgich first gained international recognition at the celebrated Paris Tasting of 1976. This historic tasting gave the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, crafted by Mike Grgich, first place as the finest white wine in the world. After this solid recognition, he started Grgich Hills winery in Rutherford Hills. 2023 marks the 100th birthday of this iconic producer who is a legend in Napa Valley. This Cabernet offers black currant and ripe black cherries, followed by forest floor and bay leaf and vanilla undertones. Bright acidity, and youthful tannins are evident; no doubt this wine has the ability to age.

Its robe is soft, with discreet copper glints and lively fine bubbles. The bouquet is rich and intense in cauldron-cooked small red and black fruits, biscuits and pastry aromas. A very lovely attack on the palate which subsequently reveals its suppleness, fruitiness and vivacity in terms of fine and full-bodied tannins. This is a tender and structured cuvee.

The Rosé Dolorès is best enjoyed as a fresh and light aperitif on a beautiful sunny day. It is also perfect for sweet dishes such as seasonal red fruit tarts with lemon zests, or a red fruit salad with mint served with a generous slice of a flaky brioche. A touch of elegance that is pleasing to everyone.