International Wines

91

pts

Tornatore Etna Rosso is ruby red with faint purple color, a typical trait of the Nerello Mascalese variety, which is not known for rich color. The wine has notes of macerated strawberries and raspberries, morello cherries and black plum, which blend with subtle hints of herbs and earth. Surprisingly full in structure, fine tannins and bright acidity give the wine richness, complexity and persistence.

Whitehaven Windward Sauvignon Blanc V22 750ML

91

pts

Whitehaven Windward Sauvignon Blanc V22 750ML

Our top expression of Sauvignon Blanc, Windward delivers wonderful aromatic intensity, a generous, layered taste profile and classic Marlborough style. Aromas of white peach, kiwi and lemongrass carry through to the silky palate, blending seamlessly with hints of passion fruit, citrus and crushed fresh green herbs. An attractive mineral backbone and suggestions of sea spray add appealing texture, finishing long and bright. This memorable, food-friendly Sauvignon Blanc can be paired with creamy cheeses, green salads, fresh seafood or grilled chicken. VITICULTURE NOTES Grown in four exclusive vineyard sites across Marlborough, 55% from three sub-regions within the Wairau Valley (22% Renwick, 22% Spring Creek, 11% Lower Wairau) and 45% from two separate blocks of a single vineyard in Awatere Valley. The 2022 growing season was cool and long, offering optimal conditions for ripening while preserving excellent acidity. A wet winter gave soils ample water resources for the season ahead. Spring arrived with ideal conditions, giving us wonderful fruit set and healthy yields. Summer was dry and lengthy, allowing fruit to hang on the vines while ripening slowly. Grapes were harvested later than usual, delivering fruit with flavor maturity and concentration while retaining pure fruit expression. WINEMAKING NOTES Windward Sauvignon Blanc is a blend of our five best lots of Sauvignon Blanc from the 2022 vintage. Both in the vineyards and in our cellar, these standout blocks stood out above the rest for their aromatic intensity, layered flavor development and incredible structure. Sauvignon Blanc grapes were harvested in cool conditions, then pressed immediately with minimal skin contact. After cold settling, the clear juice was fermented entirely in stainless steel tanks at very low temperatures with selected yeast strains to preserve inherent varietal characteristics and classic Marlborough flavors. These lots sat on light yeast lees in tank for up to six weeks prior to blending

La Marca Prosecco 750ML

Our delicate La Marca Prosecco has a pale, golden straw color and sparkles with lively effervescence. Opening with aromas of fresh-picked citrus and honeysuckle blossoms, the crisp, clean palate brings fruity notes of green apple, juicy peach and ripe lemon, framed by hints of minerality. The finish is light and refreshing with a tantalizing hint of sweetness. Winemaking Notes: The grapes for La Marca Prosecco were selected with great care from small vineyards throughout the Prosecco DOC. After harvest, the grapes were crushed and then pressed in gentle membrane presses. The juice was allowed to cold settle before initial fermentation in upright stainless steel tanks at a maximum temperature of 65°F. The still wine was aged on its lees prior to secondary fermentation. Recommended Cuisine: La Marca Prosecco has the charm to stand alone as an aperitif, but it also has the body and the acidity to pair well with a range of foods, from seafood and mild cheeses to rich pasta dishes and decadent desserts. La Marca adds sparkle to bubbly brunch bites, like classic eggs benedict, chorizo chilaquiles or chicken and waffles. For a crisp and vibrant dinner party, pair Prosecco alongside fresh-caught crab or fish tacos with endive slaw, goat cheese flatbread pizza or roasted chicken with creamy lemon La Marca sauce.

92

pts

Pieropan Soave Classico V22 750ML

Our liveliest and most youthful style from Soave Classico, the Pieropan family has been producing this wine since the early 1900’s. Generous, pleasingly fresh and versatile, it is made from the traditional varieties of Garganega and Trebbiano di Soave grown in family-owned vineyards situated in the Soave Classico region. The 2022 vintage was characterized by a winter without significant rainfall, both snowy and rainy, and mild temperatures that led to an early but always dry spring. The temperatures of the first spring months were above average and this situation of scarcity, almost no rainfall and high temperatures lasted until the month of August. In the summer months we then witnessed prolonged waves of extreme heat which exacerbated the evo-transpiration rates of the plant. This has led to a situation of water stress, mainly in hilly areas, where both the scarcity of substrate and the drainage capacity of the soil have made irrigation vital. The budding was slow due to the shortage of water in the spring, partial in some cases. The setting was poor, with sparse bunches, which accentuates a lack of product and weight. This is more marked in early varieties such as Trebbiano, which was affected by the vintage. The Garganega, thanks to the rains of August and September, only partially recovered as the rains were not such as to make up for the water deficit. The plants finish the final stages of grape ripening in water suffering In our Valpolicella, on the other hand, the situation is a bit different, undoubtedly due to a more favorable climatic condition. The grapes are ripe, with low yields but in any case the position of the vineyard and its altitude have meant that the product is optimal from the point of view of the ripening parameters. We report an optimal state from a phytosanitary point of view of the grapes. As far as the finished product is concerned, it is still premature to say anything, it will certainly be slightly scarcer in terms of quantity.

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT V21 750ML

Allegrini’s Palazzo della Torre wine comes from the eponymous cru in the Valpolicella Classico subzone of Fumane, adjacent to the Renaissance-era Villa della Torre, where Allegrini hosts hospitality and events. About 30% of this wine undergoes the appassimento process; in this way it is similar to a Ripasso wine, but distinct in that no re-fermentation takes place. Rather than add “fresh” wine to leftover grape must - as is traditional - Allegrini blends a finished appassimento wine (in effect, an Amarone) with a finished "fresh" wine. A small percentage of Sangioveto - a local clone of Sangiovese - adds lift. The result is a broad, round, and versatile expression of the region and a calling card expression of the estate

Brancaia TRE Red Blend V21 750ML

TRE stands for its three grape varieties Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon as well as for its three Tuscan vineyards (Maremma, Castellina and Radda in Chianti). The assemblage is dominated by Sangiovese with 70 percent, but Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon also bring their charm with 15% each. This well-structured, medium-bodied wine is aged for twelve months before it is bottled. Two thirds of the expansion takes place in French tonneaux and one in cement. This elegant, well-structured cuvée offers plenty of drinking pleasure now or later and goes well with every kitchen. “There is no better entry-level wine than this,” says Monica Larner (for Robert Parker) with reference to the TRE 2014. And James Suckling states: “Really delicious, really juicy, with wonderful aromas of red fruits.” Ideal with: pasta and rice dishes, light roasted or sautéed meat, poultry, fried or grilled fish. Our favorite: with Vitello Tonnato with fresh capers.

Ratti Ochetti Langhe Nebbiolo DOC V22 750ML

Fine, delicate and persistent fragrance with trace scents that bring to mind forest strawberries and raspberries. Pleasantly bitter taste, velvety, at once light and full. A juicy and aromatic Nebbiolo from a single vineyard in Roero. The fruit has been purchased from the same handshake contracted grower for 50 years. 100% Nebbiolo from sandy soils. 300m asl. 30 year old vines. Aged for less than a year in neutral Slavonian oak. A wine well suited to red meats on the spit and grilled, game, truffled fondue, agnolotti, Italian gourmet dishes of white and red meats, also with spiced sauces.

Jermann Pinot Grigio Friuli DOC V22 750ML

92

pts

Jermann Pinot Grigio Friuli DOC V22 750ML

Pinot Grigio is a grape particularly at home in northeast Italy. Aromatic, layered and bright, this 100% Pinot Grigio opens with a tropical flourish on the nose and a striking straw yellow color. Full, smooth and very well balanced, notes of green apple, juicy Bartlett pear and fresh-cut citrus fill the palate, with a crisp mineral edge and hints of honey and melon on the long finish.

Locations FR French Red Wine 750ML

We have incorporated some of the best regions in France, drawing upon our network of growers from Rhone, Roussillon, and Bordeaux. Our commitment to quality has enabled us to secure fruit from exceptional old vine blocks in revered sub-appellations. Blend Grenache, Syrah, and assorted Bordeaux varietals Winemaker Notes A dominant nose of red raspberries and wild strawberries, which leads into notes of cranberry, cherry, and rhubarb compote. The wine is fresh and lively with bright acidity, smooth texture, and chewy tannins. Aging Barrel aged 10 months prior to release

92

pts

Fleur de Mer Rosé V22 750ML

Invitingly flavorful and refreshingly crisp, 2022 Fleur de Mer Rosé captures the serene artistry of Provence’s idyllic, sun-washed coastal shores and fragrant, floral hillsides. This versatile, food-friendly Rosé opens with generously aromatic notes of white peach, strawberry and melon. In classic Provençal style, notes of raspberry, cherry and apple layer on the bright palate with nectarine, citrus and a subtle touch of honeysuckle. Hints of sea spray and minerality add balance and attractive texture before a delightfully crisp finish. Enjoy Fleur de Mer on its own or alongside creamy goat cheeses, green salads, sushi or fresh seafood dishes, citrus or herb-roasted chicken or a charcuterie board. Viticulture Notes The world’s best-known region for Rosé, AOP Côtes de Provence enjoys a refreshing Mediterranean climate of warm days and cool, brisk nights. Here, vine roots plunge deep below the dry clay soils and limestone gravel, called gravoches, to reach water. Vintage 2022 was outstanding, delivering concentrated, high-quality fruit. An ideal dry spring resulted in a wonderful fruit set, followed by a warm, dry growing season. Careful canopy management allowed clusters to develop bright, expressive flavors, intense aromatics and the crisp structure of Provençal Rosé. Winemaking Notes The grapes selected for our 2022 Fleur de Mer Rosé were harvested at ideal maturity, ensuring layered flavors and delicate structure. Grapes were picked in the cool early morning hours to preserve aromas and acidity, then crushed, immediately pressed and cold settled to maintain the bright, concentrated fruit characteristics and attractive pale-coral hue. Lots were fermented in cool, temperature-controlled tanks. Winemaker Florian Lacroux selected Cinsault, Grenache and Carignan to form the core of the blend, supported by other extraordinary Provençal grapes in a beautifully harmonious, layered Rosé wine.

Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc V23 750ML

Whitehaven 2023 Sauvignon Blanc offers an elegant, crisp and flavorful expression of Marlborough. Bright aromatic notes of green apple, grapefruit and lime zest open with every swirl in the glass. Refreshingly crisp and vibrant on the palate, classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc notes of white peach, tropical pineapple and Meyer lemon citrus layer seamlessly with hints of fresh-cut green herbs, florals and wet stone. This mouth-watering sip offers an essence of freshness and precision, making an excellent pairing with food. Enjoy it on its own or alongside creamy goat cheese, seasonal salads, grilled citrusy chicken or a wide variety of fresh seafood dishes.

La Marca Luminore Prosecco Superiore 750ML

Luminore sparkles with a pale, golden straw hue and lively bubbles, bursting in the glass. Delicate aromas of white flowers and stone-fruits complement the soft, creamy-texture. Subtle hints of fresh citrus, pear and nectarine round out the exquisite palate. Clean, crisp acidity balances a touch of sweetness and offers a light, refreshing style.

Starborough Sauvignon Blanc V23 750ML

Our 2023 Starborough Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is generous, balanced and bright. Aromas of lime zest, ripe peach and white florals unveil with every swirl. Crisp and smooth on the palate, appealing notes of tropical passionfruit, guava and kiwi blend with subtle suggestions of fresh-cut green herbs and lemongrass. The long finish is marked by palate-refreshing hints of citrusy grapefruit and Meyer lemon. Enjoy alongside creamy goat cheese, prosciutto-wrapped melon or grilled chicken.

Sign in with your social media Account

Sign in with your social media Account