Maison Trimbach

"Maison Trimbach, where dry means dry!" - Hugh Johnson

The story of Maison Trimbach began in 1626 when Jean Trimbach settled in Riquewihr and established the family wine trade. By the time Louis XIV visited Alsace in 1673, the Trimbach family was well established as a wine producer. The business prospered in Riquewihr despite the turmoil caused by the French Revolution Today, the tradition of quality continues with the 11th and 12th generations of the Trimbach family.

Hubert and his older brother Bernard, along with Bernard's sons, Pierre and Jean, have continued operations and currently produce approximately 80,000 cases of wine annually. While one of the smallest of the many producers in Alsace, barely ranking in the top 50 by volume, they nonetheless enjoy one the highest profiles in the region with a reputation for quality, particularly for their Rieslings that is second to none.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Zind Humbrecht

"The wines of a genius"
- Robert Parker

Olivier Humbrecht is one of the stars in the wine world’s firmament. As well as being one of relatively few winemakers to have achieved the MW qualification, he is also one of the champions of biodynamics, and is currently president of Biodyvin (www.biodyvin.com). More than this, he’s also a really nice, approachable guy!

While the Humbrecht family have been winegrowers since 1620, the Domaine Zind Humbrecht was founded in 1959. It has 40 hectares of vines, spread throughout a range of Grand Cru and single-vineyard sites.

Annual production is small and much of the vineyard work, driven by the biodynamic principles, is labour intensive. Yields are also very low by Alsace standards (Alsace being a region known for often heroic yields). Olivier says that he’s ‘not too bothered by vintages high or low in acid: if you are doing things right in the vineyard it is an interesting wine.’

In the winery, unsurprisingly the wines are made in a hands-off way: the fermentations are slow and the wines spend at least six months on gross lees. Bottling occurs after filtration some 12–24 months following the harvest. ‘One of my goals before I die is to avoid filtering the wines’, says Olivier: this isn’t possible at the moment because of the risk of refermentation in these wines, as many of them are bottled with high residual sugar levels.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Domaine Weinbach

Named after the “Wine Brook”, a little stream that flows through the estate, Domaine Weinbach was founded by Capucin monks in 1612 (which is why the neck labels feature the picture of a monk on them).

Ownership of this historic 5.2 hectare estate came to the Faller family in 1898, and the day to day running is now in the hands of sisters Catherine and Laurence Faller, with considerable input still from mother, Colette.

With as many as five different Rieslings, four Gewurztraminer and three Pinot Gris (and that's not including the late harvest and sweet wines), the potential for the Weinbach range to lead to confusion is there, but there can be no confusion as to the quality of the wine in the bottle. Domaine Weinbach produces some of the very finest examples of Alsace wine to be found and they should feature in the cellar of any true fan of the region.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Krug

Krug was established in 1843 and has specialised in producing only prestige and ultra-premium champagnes since. Krug is the only firm still producing all its champagne in small oak casks, an essential element for developing Krug's intense bouquet and complex flavours.

Today, Henri, Rémi and Olivier Krug, who supervise every step of production, tasting and blending, represent the 5th and 6th generations. With long periods of maturation (6-8 years), Krug champagne continues to age gracefully after release, developing an intensely rich, nutty flavour whilst remaining remarkably fresh. Krug's finest champagne is generally thought to be Clos du Mesnil, a 100%-Chardonnay based champagne that comes from a small walled vineyard at Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. It is unquestionably one of the world's greatest Blanc de Blancs, but perhaps also one of the world's greatest white wines.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Louis Barthelemy

Louis Barthélémy is an up-and-coming Champagne from a superb family grower in the Grand Cru Village of Epernay. We fought tooth and nail to secure this champion, which at a recent blind tasting scooped the title of ‘best Champagne on the market’ ahead of Moët, Veuve, Taittinger …even Krug!

It’s made from top-quality, old-vine grapes and has been patiently bottle-aged for extra richness. Gloriously rich and elegant, with a creamy texture, toasty notes and fine, long-lasting bubbles. In addition, the Brut NV and the Brut Rosé (a recent addition) have been highly successful in blind tastings in Switzerland where the Améthyste Brut NV was voted Best Brut Non Vintage and the Brut Rosé was voted Best Brut Rosé. In both cases the Champagnes were tasted against a number of high ranking Champagne houses - it just goes to show that marketing and aggressive advertsing are not everything...

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. Comte Armand

Domaine du Comte Armand is undoubtedly the greatest estate in Pommard.

Winemaker Benjamin Leroux, still in his thirties and newly married to an English woman, has been in charge at Comte Armand since 1999. He is one of Burgundy's most vociferous advocates of bio-dynamic viticulture and his No 1 spot in Bourgogne Aujourd'hui magazine's Top 10 for the next decade came as no surprise.

The Auxey Duresses 1er Cru comes from purchased grapes from three different vineyards on the flank of the hillside where Auxey takes over from Meursault. The wine is aged in larger barrels so as not to show too much oak. The cuvée is named for an ancestor of the Comte Armand’s, Nicolas Marey, who bought extensive vineyards just after the French revolution.

Comte Armand's Pommard Clos des Epéneaux must surely be considered among the great red wines of all Burgundy. But don't be in a hurry to drink it, it invariably needs time but is well worth the wait.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Joseph Drouhin

We've been importing Joseph Drouhin for many years now, and to us they represent everything that is good about the recent improvement in Negociant wines in Burgundy.

Their wines reflect their terroir faithfully, and they have elegance and a lightness of touch that allows the fruit to shine, rather than oak or winemaking artifice. The crown jewels in the Drouhin portfolio are without doubt the Domaine Marquis de Laguiche, which has the largest percentage of land in Le Montrachet (30%) of all the owners, and the 100% Drouhin-owned Clos des Mouches. Clos des Mouches is one of those rare Burgundy monopoles, originally planted with Pinot Noir, almost half the vineyard was later replanted with Chardonnay in 1921 by Maurice Drouhin.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. Comte Senard

The village of Aloxe-Corton, situated three kms to the north of Beaune (Burgundy, France) is full of history. The vineyards started in the second century BC. The properties were initially given the name of Curtis, with Aloxe Corton taking pride in the title of Corton Othonis, contracted to Courthon and it is now known as Corton. With a population of 180, the title's territory spreads over 284 hectares of marly soil for the white wines and of reddish-brown chalk soil for the reds. 96 hectares are categorized as Aloxe-Corton, 38 as Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru, 101 hectares as Corton red and white Grand Cru, and 49 hectares as Grand Cru Corton Charlemagne.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. Corsin

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Remi Jobard

Rémi Jobard, nephew of the highly regarded François Jobard, took over his family domaine in 1997 with impressive results. To capture all the texture and nuance he can, all the wines are bottled without filtration sixteen months after vintage.

There is no telling how great this domaine can become. Remi’s brilliant Meursault 1er crus from Genevrières and Charmes consistently win him accolades for their elegant minerality and creamy structure. But the ‘everyday’ wines in his range, such as this Bourgogne Aligote also punch well above their weight and represent fairly serious drinking for the money.

There have beed a lot of changes at this domaine in the last ten or fifteen years, each another small step to the top of the quality tree. Rémi and his father have always done quite a lot of cordon pruning (in such a way as to limit initial yields enough that bud-thinning and green harvesting are not necessary), and this has been extended over the entire vineyard. There has been no use of fertiliser since 1994, and the vineyard is grassed-over to encourage the vine roots to go deep.

While not completely organic he uses many organic treatments. He has two vast new presses, to enable him to press very slowly over six hours, and is sure that this has resulted in a big jump in finesse. The élevage now lasts nearly fifteen months, so as to allow the wines to develop slowly and to avoid fining or filtration. As a result these are wines which take a moment to show, but which reward the patient with great depth of flavour.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. Robert Groffier

"Each and every wine at this Domaine was a first-rate example of its terroir, from the Bourgogne to the grand crus. The meticulous work of Serge Groffier (Robert's son) in the vineyards is evidenced by each glass of nectar from this well-known and certainly soon-to-be-famous domaine."
- Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, Issue 118

Robert Groffier is considered one of the finest producers in the Cote d'Or. With seven hectares of top vineyard land, including Chambolle-Musigny, Bonnes Mares and Chambertin Clos de Beze, Groffier has some outstanding material to work with.

The time and effort Serge and Nicolas Groffier (Serge's son) give to the vineyards is paying back handsomely and correspondingly low yields lead to wines of real purity and class; indeed they are among some of the purest expression of Pinot Noir anywhere.

Groffier's wines are powerful, featuring deep colour, good structure and plenty of tannin for Pinot Noir. The Chambolle Amoureuses is often the most forward, showing lots of ripe, succulent berry fruit from the moment it hits the bottle. The Bonnes Mares is deeper with much more muscle but with lots of obvious fruit underneath. Finally, the Chambertin Clos de Beze is the sleepeer of the bunch, with laser-like acidity and high-toned berry fruit.

Groffier is similar to many top winemakers in that his winemaking techniques are flexible and vary from vintage to vintage. Some years he includes stalks in his fermentation and some years he does not. Each year he will do a cold maceration for five to six days followed by a hot fermentation that extracts lots of colour and flavour.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. Geantet-Pansiot

"One of the up and coming domaines from the Côte d'Or."- Robert Parker

This domaine could be a case study for the current trend in Burgundy and how it is shaping the future: a member of the younger generation is intent on improving upon what their ancestors have left them, Vincent Geantet relieved his father at the helm of this 11-hectare property in 1989. Since then, the quality curve has arched progressively skyward, and Vincent is already emerging as a new star of the appellation.

Vincent believes in low yields, limited use of chemical fertilizers, and minimal vineyard treatments. With regard to vinification, he employs total destemming to avoid sappy tannins, practices 3-4 day maceration before fermentation, and keeps the juice in prolonged contact with the grape skins. The wines are aged in approximately one-third new oak for the Vieilles Vignes and premiers crus, and one-half new oak for the Charmes. They are bottled without filtration.

His wines tend to be accessible and giving early in life, but with the ability to age superbly as well. These are supple, generous, terroir-expressive Burgundies that regularly garner excellent press from Allen Meadows’ Burghound, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, and Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Jean Marc Brocard

Soil and aspect are the key factors at Jean Marc Brocard`s estate in and around the small village of Préhy. The vines are planted on south-facing slopes on Kimmeridgian limestone, the best quality soil for Chablis. The resulting wines are classic, with excellent concentration of fruit.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

JP & Benoit Droin

The Droins have been producing wines in Chablis for nearly 400 years, Jean-Paul Droin is the 12th generation of growers and is one of the most dynamic in the region.

He has 13 hectares of vineyards and produces 14 different wines, including Petit Chablis, Chablis, 7 Premiers Crus and 5 Grands Crus. Droin's Premiers and Grands Crus are fermented and aged in oak, although recently the proportion of new oak used has been considerably reduced. Droin says "I use less new oak now than I did 10 years ago; my feeling is that you don't make your best wines in new oak barrels."

Although these are rich, full-bodied, buttery wines, they still manage to retain a steeliness, raciness and purity of fruit which are the hallmarks of classic Chablis.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

La Chablisienne

“Is there a better cooperative in France than La Chablisienne?” – Wine Spectator Magazine

Its 280 members farm about 2,500 acres, or about a fifth of all the vineyards in Chablis. The growers pick and press the grapes, then the co-op transfers the must to its large, modern winery, which ferments, ages, bottles and sells the wine - nearly half a million cases a year.

La Chablisienne makes wine from six of the seven single-vineyard appellations that make up Chablis' grand cru; its growers own 35 acres, or 15 percent, of this top appellation. The co-op's lineup also includes 15 premiers crus and various Chablis and Petits Chablis labels.

Quality, quantity and very reasonable prices converge at La Chablisienne. Until recently, winemaking was overseen by Hervé Tucki, who developed a seductive house-style defined by rich fruit, opulent texture and a touch of oak (about 30 percent of many Chablisienne wines ages in barrels, but always used, never new oak). Some of these bold wines not only show impressive consistency, they are made in fairly large quantities. The Chardonnays from La Chablisienne represent some of the best values in Burgundy.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. Bernard Defaix

Bernard Defaix, fourth generation of a family of vine-growers, started in 1959 with 2 hectares. At about this time, the first techniques for protecting vineyards from spring frosts were discovered. Through much perseverance and hard work, Bernard and his wife Monique were able to acquire and plant new land over the years. Their efforts duly enriched the domain, which now included some of the best named places of the Chablis region. Today, true to the family tradition, the domain is run by Sylvain and Didier (pictured in the photo above). Bernard nevertheless continues to provide his expert advice to his two sons.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Bouvet Ladubay

Winemakers of Saumur claim to have discovered how to make sparkling wine independently of, and at around about the same time as their rivals in Champagne.

Either way, Bouvet are the second oldest proudcer in the region and undoubtedly one of the finest. They have won more than 50 Gold medals in the past 30 years, and that's for their "standard" Brut NV. The other wines in the range offer even more interest and complexity.

The house of Bouvet Ladubay is controlled by quintessential Champagne producer Taittinger. Bouvet's headquarters cover 6.5 acres and five miles of subterranean cellars with a storage capacity of 7,000,000 bottles. Substantial capital investments, completed at the end of 1982, have increased production capabilities and also brought the vinification facility to the technical forefront. Temperature controlled stainless-steel fermentation tanks, computer-regulated "gyropallets," or riddling machines, highly advanced freezing and disgorging equipment, micro-wave cork heaters and computer-assisted stock management have contributed to the same concept of quality implemented by Taittinger itself.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

François Chidaine

One of the great winemakers of the Loire valley.

Only a few years ago, François Chidaine was being talked about as a 'winemaker to watch' in the Loire. This was probably based on a flurry of excellent vineyard acquisitions he was making at the time and perhaps also on his commitment to bio-dynamic farming and non-interventionist winemaking. Now that transition is complete and already, François Chidaine is considered one of the great winemakers of the Loire Valley, if not France.

His wines show a combination of finesse, intensity, minerality and power which we only encounter in the great wines of France. Chidaine now sells out every bottle he makes within a few months of bottling, and we are lucky to receive these wines which remain some of the best values in the wine market today.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Chapoutier

Chapoutier now produces the most diverse and complex wines to be found in the northern Rhône. Since Michel Chapoutier took control of this long-established firm in 1988, quality has soared. All the vineyards are now run on biodynamic principles and now all the grapes in Hermitage and Châteauneuf are totally destemmed prior to fermentation. Previously, Chapoutier wines were criticised for the length of time they spent in old wood - Michel Chapoutier has thrown out the old chestnut foudres and now the wines spend a maximum of 18 months in small oak casks, up to a third of which are new. "Filtering a wine is like making love with a condom," says Michel Chapoutier and all his wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered. Crucial to Michel Chapoutier's philosophy is the production of "téte de cuvées", which include La Mordorée made from 60 year old vines on the Côte Blonde and Hermitage La Pavillon from 70 year old vines at the base of Les Bessards. Michel Chapoutier first produced Hermitage Vin de Paille in 1990 and it is by far the finest sweet wine produced in the Rhône Valley.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. Montirius

Domaine Montirius is one of the stars of the appellation, and deservedly so, judged by the care afforded to its wines by Christine and Eric Saurel. They represent the fifth generation to work this 57 hectare domaine in the heart of Vacqueyras and their property, now farmed entirely by biodynamic principles. Labour-intensive and rigorous, low yielding old vines on optimal soil provide the perfect raw materials, and a careful three week maceration allows the full expression of the terroir. Their patient methodology is rewarded with superb expressions of terroir, described by Christine as `vins lumineux'. Here you can find their village Vacqueyras, as well as the stunningly opulent Clos Montirius. The Saurels are a charming, quiet couple; their wines however, are powerful and regal. One of the rare examples where the wine’s personality does not reflect that of those who make it!

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. Grand Veneur

Among the "World's Greatest Wine Estates"
- Robert Parker

One of the "Top 100 Wines in the World"
- Wine Spectator

In 1320 Pope Jean XXII planted the first vines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but it was only in 1360 that the wines of the region first gained fame. Oddly, the wine that gave Châteauneuf-du-Pape its reputation was the Blanc and not the Rouge. The white wine was a favorite of Pope Innocent VI. Domaine Grand Veneur dates back to 1826 having been founded at that time by Mathieu Jaume. Since 1979, Alain Jaume has run the Domaine and now has the help of his two sons: Sébastien and Christophe.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. de la Mordoree

“It is unlikely anyone could find a better-run estate than Domaine de la Mordorée. Christophe Delorme and his team continue to produce extraordinary wines whether whites, rosés, or their portfolio of serious red wines.” - Robert Parker

Started in 1986 by the Delorme brothers, Domaine de la Mordoree (woodcock) has become one of the top estates in the Rhone, with arguably the most consistent quality. Christophe Delorme's objective as a winemaker is to be unintrusive and maintain total respect for his terroir and the fruit it produces, striving to achieve a perfect balance between concentration, terroir and balance. The domaine consists of 55 Hectares, on 38 different parcels, providing a rich, wide range of soils and climates. They practice "culture raisonnée", with minimum intervention in the vineyards, and as close as possible organic viticulture.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. de Marcoux

One of the oldest viticultural areas of France, the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and its environs sit at the center of the Southern Rhone winemaking region. Originally cultivated by the Romans, the area became famous when Pope Clement V was instrumental in forming a dual papacy in Avignon and spent much time in his “new” Chateau just north in what is now Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Blessed with tremendous amounts of summer sun and a warm Mediterranean climate, the region is known for the large “galets” (large river rocks) that cover the vineyards. As far back as 1344, it is clear that the Armenier family has owned vines in what is now Chateaneuf-du-Pape. Today, the Armenier family is still intimately linked with the village and its vineyards. The property is run and managed by sisters Catherine Armenier and Sophie Estevenin. Together, they share the winemaking responsibilities and oversight of their extremely old vines which are farmed biodynamically. The domaine is comprised of 57 acres spread across various zones of the appellation. Much of the vineyard land is planted on the large stones which store heat during the day known as “galets” and other parcels are planted on clay/chalk soil, while others sit on sand and gravel. The average age of the vines is over 50 years old, with 10 acres of 95 year old vines. Although the majority of the vineyards is planted to red varietals, there are also some vines of Grenache Blanc, Rousanne, and Bourbelenc.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Ch de la Tuilerie

Château de la Tuilerie has been a family owned property for the last three generations and is currently headed up by the indefatigable Chantal Comte. Situated in the heart of the Costieres de Nimes region, an area of exceptional beauty, surrounded by woods, orchards, vineyards and the stunning mountain range of Les Cévennes to the West and the sea to the South, beyond the lagoons of the Camargue.

The estate has 98 hectares of vines planted primarily with Syrah, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, and Viognier, but also with small plots of Cabernet, Merlot and the exciting new variety Marselan. The estate has become a reference point in the region for quality, particularly for their Syrah predominant wines.

Chantal Comte also produces a small but outstanding range of Rum from the Caribbean island of Martinique. Rums from Martinique are considered to be among the very finest and they are the only ones to have French AOC status(!).

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. Santa Duc

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Grange des Peres

"Voluptuously-textured, with superb concentration, this full-bodied, beautifully pure, intense, layered wine is a dead-ringer for a top-notch Chateauneuf du Pape or Coteaux de Baux. Availability is limited, but readers who have access to it should consider buying it by the case. This estate’s wines are terribly hard to locate in the United States, selling out instantly upon arrival on our shores. Nevertheless, it is important for The Wine Advocate to report on them as doing so may inspire young winemakers in the Languedoc to follow in the footsteps of Laurent Vaille, the dedicated, highly talented winemaker of Domaine La Grange des Peres."
- Robert Parker on Grange des Peres

Founded in 1992, Grange des Peres has quickly become arguably the greatest and most respected domaine in the entire Languedoc region. Located in the village of Aniane, the estate is run by former physiotherapist Laurent Vaillé. His impeccable resumé includes stints with Gerard Chave and Francois Coche-Dury, and, as Andrew Jefford writes in The New France, "...this background in wine-craftsmanship is evident in every bottle that comes from his cellar."

The red sees up to two years in wood, but the oak comes across as seamlessly integrated even upon release. There are also incredibly miniscule quantities of a suave, polished white, made from Roussanne and Chardonnay. Extremely conscientious viticulture -- low-cropping young vines, harvesting ripe and healthy fruit -- are de rigeur here.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Clos Marie

"The Clos Marie of Christophe Peyrus is a superstar in the Languedoc firmament."
- The Wine Advocate

Christophe Peyrus took over his family’s vineyards in 1991. Prior to this, his father had sold the grapes to a local cooperative. From that point on, he sought council with some of the greatest winemakers in France (Didier Dagueneau, Clos Rougeard, Grange des Pères, etc) and now the French wine press (and us) consider his winery to be at the very top of the appellation. The twenty hectare (50 acres) property is situated in and around the village of Lauret, north of Montpellier and the vineyards are scattered around the terraces that rise from the village up to the sharp cliffs that form part of the plateau of the Hortus mountain. The soils are clay and chalky limestone, and all of the vineyards are continuously plowed to force the vines’ roots to seek nourishment deep down in the limestone bedrock. The domaine has been farmed using biodynamic principles since 2000, and no pesticides or herbicides have ever been used. The harvest is done manually. Yields for the various cuvees are usually dramatically lower than the appellation average. The wines of Clos Marie are precious, rare and spectacularly delicious.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Dom. de Trevallon

Like his father, Eloi Durrbach studied architecture in Paris. Already in love with wine, he started to trade his artwork for wines from the Vignelaure Chateau, and dreamt of a winemaking experience with his wife on the Domaine of Trevallon. Georges Brunet from the Chateau de Vignelaure encouraged him to plant Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah (the other consultants thought he should plant Mourvedre). In 1973 he planted his first vines, and soon thereafter closed his architecture firm, moved to Prevence, and became a full-time vigneron.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Mas Daumas Gassac

Aimé Guibert was a lawyer, who in 1970 bought Mas de Daumas Gassac as a country retreat. The estate is located in a hidden valley 30 kilometres north-west of Montpellier in the heart of the Herault, in the Languedoc.

Famously described as the "First Growth of the Languedoc", Mas de Daumas Gassac is the brainchild of Aimé Guibert, oneologist Emile Peynaud, and geologist Henri Enjalbert. Aimé planted vines in 1974 and produced his first wines in 1978.The identification of Burgundian terroir and an extraordinary micro-climate, dominated by gentle garrigue slopes and cool underground springs, led to the challenge to reproduce the quality of the best Médoc Châteaux in the enclave of Aniane, located just north of Montpellier. The gauntlet has been passed from Aimé, now retired, to sons Samuel and Roman, and the challenge has been successfully met.

The red is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend that is rich, elegant and packed with cassis and cedarwood notes. It needs at least five years of bottle age before it shows at its best and not for nothing is it described as the" Lafite of Languedoc". This is special wine from special terroir and the result of a fanatical and wholistic approach to wine production that should serve as an inspiration to the rest of the industry around the world.

And it's important not to forget that a brilliant and exotic white is made from Chardonnay, Viognier, Petit Manseng, Chenin Blanc and other varieties is also produced. Described by Wine Direct astaff as the "ultimate outdoor white wine" being full of transporting aromas of woodsmoke, steak fat, acacia flowers and tropical fruits, all with a fresh underpinning of minerally acidity. Unique stuff.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Villa Cafaggio

Villa Cafaggio is located in the commune of Greve which lies in the very heart of the Chianti Classico region.

It can trace its history back nearly 700 years and today is one of the most modern and dynamic producers in the region. Under the direction of Stefano Farkas, the wines are vinified in a state-of-the-art winery and then matured in a mixture of new French barriques and traditional large Slovenian casks.

The two Chianti Classicos are benchmark examples of new wave Chianti with San Martino (100% Sangiovese) and the Super-Tuscan Cortaccio (90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Sangiovese) being only produced in exceptional years, both are aged in French barriques for 18 months and are very concentrated wines that, while very appealing in their youth, really show their best with at least 5 years of cellaring.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Querciabella

"Gorgeous and subtle"
- Wine Spectator

"A leader in Chianti Classico"
- Hugh Johnson

"This model of a modern Chianti Classico producer serves up a gorgeously scented, rich-fruited Chianti Classico"
- Oz Clarke

"A top class Chianti Classico estate"
- Robert Joseph; The Good Wine Guide

"In recent years Quericabella’s Chianti Classico has established a new benchmark for fnessed Chianti made in a contemporary style that nevertheless remains faithful to Sangiovese and the unique qualities of these sites."
- Robert Parker

Querciabella was founded in 1974 by Giuseppe Castiglioni, an avid collector of French wines and interestingly, the owner of the largest collection of Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne throughout all of Italy.

The property is now managed and owned by Sebastiano Cossia Castiglioni who carries with him the fundamental philosophy of Querciabella. Cossia Castiglioni remarks “Querciabella is dedicated to producing among the finest Italian wines - as a winemaker and an avid collector, I believe that quality begins in the vineyard and with minimal intervention one can produce a wine that is truly a reflection of its terroir”. Querciabella wines are all estate grown and bottled and made from grapes from their Southeast and Southwest facing vineyards located high on the hilltop of Ruffoli in Greve, Chianti.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Castello dei Rampolla

Castello dei Rampolla, located in the prestigious Conca d'Oro in Panzano is a small, family-run property with a decidedly artisanal approach (both organic and biodynamic) to their work in the vineyards and cellar.

The estate produces big, concentrated wines with imposing structure that can be extremely ageworthy.

The range consists of a Chianti Classico made from Sangiovese with a dash of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon followed by two Super Tuscans - Sammarco (Cabernet/Sangiovese) and d'Alceo (Cabernet/Petit Verdot).

The original biodynamic Super-Tuscan producer, the estate’s conversion to a wholly biodynamic regimen transpired over the course of several years and has been in effect for over a decade now. The estate is also noted for its rigorous, uncompromising viticultural practices, which emphasize high-density planting and low yields. An artisanal mindset informs all phases of production.

Truth be told, Sammarco, which for many years was Rampolla's flagship wine, somewhat lost its position as the alpha of the house with the 1996 debut of Vigna d’Alceo. Conceived by Alceo’s son, Luca, in homage to his father, Vigna d’Alceo blends Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot. The latter’s contribution—unusual in the Super-Tuscan genre—renders d’Alceo more potent than the most power hungry of cult Cabernets, imparting a sleek and spicy dimension to an otherwise blockbuster structure.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Domenico Clerico

“One of the most gifted winemakers in Piedmont...these are wines of extraordinary richness, amazing aromatics, and sensual personalities that satiate both the hedonistic and the intellectual senses."
- Robert Parker

Clerico is one of the most respected names in all Barolo, and his wines are renowned for both winemaking of the highest quality and for exceptional character, deriving from outstanding vineyard holdings in four of the greatest crus of Monforte: Ginestra, Bussia, Pajana and Mosconi. The Barbera d’Alba and Dolcetto d’Alba from this estate are an easy and affordable way to enjoy the genius of this winemaker, and represent two of the greatest wines made from those varietals.

Clerico’s single-cru Barbera d’Alba “Trevigne” is matured briefly in barriques, 40% of which are new. His Dolcetto “Visadi” regularly receives 90 points from the major international publications. Barrique-aged Nebbiolo/Barbera blend “Arte” was the original “super-Piedmont” wine; Marc de Grazia and Clerico devised this blend together in 1983. His 2004 Baroli, the Ciabot Mentin Ginestra and Pajana, most recently confirmed the estate's superiority with 97 points from Parker for the former and 95 points from Spectator for the latter.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Albino Rocca

The Albino Rocca estate was established in 1960, when Giacomo Rocca decided to divide his property in Barbaresco between his two sons Albino and Alfonso. Albino is now supported by his son Angelo in the management of 15 hectares of vineyards, a third of wich are planted with Nebbiolo for Barbaresco, the rest are planted with Dolcetto, Cortese and Barbera.

His two Barbarescos are exceptional. The 'Loreto' is a very seductive and elegant wine while the sturdy 'Brich Ronchi' is more akin to a Barolo and, unlike the big old 'futs' (barrels) used for the Loreto, is aged in new barriques for a year. The suave wines of Albino Rocca are a must for any serious Piedmont fan.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Paolo Scavino

Truly one of Italy’s great estates with holdings in Barolos finest Crus, Cannubi, Bric del Fiasc and Rocche dell’Annuziata. Along with Elio Altare, Enrico Scavino is surely responsible for the great reputation Piedmont has today.

"Scavino is a master of Barolo." - James Suckling; Wine Spectator

Since the 1980s he has been crafting benchmark modern Barolo. Through high fermentation temperatures, short maceration and finishing in a mixture of French oak barriques and the larger traditional ‘Botte’, Enrico makes svelte wines whose polish and sophistication enhance rather than shroud their character and typicity.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Sottimano

“Hedonistic yet thrilling… impossible to resist.”
- Robert Parker

From top to bottom, Sottimano's wines are impressive, a property that continues its rapid ascent into the top echelon of the region's finest estates. Andrea Sottimano's wines have always been about potential but with his 2004s he has produced the first of what will hopefully be many important vintages. Sottimano loves Burgundy and his 2004 Barbarescos are clearly informed by the passion he has for those wines.
- Antonio Galloni; The Wine Advocate

We are really excited to have Sottimano in the portfolio, the wines are remarkable value and as of the 2004 vintage they are in the top half dozen producers in the Barbaresco zone.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

La Spinetta

La Spinetta means "Top of the hill" and refers to the location of their first cellar in Castagnole Lanze.

The Rivetti family story begins in the 1890s, when Giovanni Rivetti, grandfather of the three Rivetti brothers, Carlo, Bruno and Giorgio, left Piedmont for Argentina. Like many Italians of that time, he dreamed of returning rich and a powerful man, perhaps even one day able to make a great wine in his homeland. He never did, though his son, Giuseppe (nicknamed Pin) did.

Pin married Lidia, bought vineyards and began to make wine. In 1977 the family took up residence at La Spinetta (top of the hill) in Castagnole Lanze. It was the heart of the Moscato d’Asti country, home of a rather light and simple dessert wine. But the Rivettis believed that Moscato had the potential for greatness and set out to prove it by making Moscato Bricco Quaglia and Biancospino.

Eventually though the family’s vision was even grander. In 1985 La Spinetta made its first red wine, Barbera Cà di Pian. After this many great reds followed: In 1989 the Rivettis dedicated their red blend Pin to their father. In 1995 they started to make their first Barbaresco, Gallina. In 1996 and 1997 the Barbarescos Starderi, Barbera d'Alba Gallina and Barbaresco Valeirano follow. In 1998 premiered the Barbera d'Asti Superiore. In 2000 the family’s ambition of also making a Barolo became reality. The Rivettis acquired vineyards in Grinzane Cavour and built a state of the art cellar, Barolo Campè.

In 2001 La Spinetta expanded over the borders of Piedmont and acquired 65 hectares of vineyards in Tuscany, between Pisa and Volterra to make three different 100% Sangiovese wines, as Sangiovese to us, is the true ambassador of the Tuscan terrain.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Ceretto

The Ceretto brothers, Marcello and Bruno, are widely credited for pioneering the modern style of winemaking in Pedmont.

Affectionately known as The Barolo Brothers, the Cerettos specialize in estate-bottled, single-vineyard Barolos and Barbarescos and as Piedmont's most progressive producer, their influence and importance within the region is perhaps second only to Gaja.

The secret to the Ceretto brothers' success lies in the quality of their vineyards and the authenticity of their wines. So strong is their passion for authentic regional expression that they have dedicated wineries in both Barolo and Barbaresco where the respective wines are made.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Cavallotto

"Singular, traditionally-made Barolos . . . terrific 1997s . . . profound 1998s.”
- Robert Parker

“I would be hard-pressed to name another Barolo that delivers as much pure drinking pleasure at its price point than Cavallotto’s gorgeous 2001 Barolo Bricco Boschis.”
– The Wine Advocate

"Readers who have the opportunity to drink these lovingly cared for Barolos are in for a treat."
- The Wine Advocate

Cavallotto is one of the newer members, and perhaps the most traditionally-minded, of the stunning Marc de Grazia Langhe portfolio. The family claims sole ownership of the beautiful Bricco Boschis cru in the Castiglione Falletto district (also home to Scavino and Azelia), where they have been growing Nebbiolo since 1929, and bottling their own wine since 1948. These richly structured wines place emphasis on elegance and longevity, attributable to excellent vineyards in the Bricco Boschis and Vignolo crus and traditional long maturation in large Slovenian oak.

Steadfast devotion to tradition combined with a high regard and respect for modern viticultural and vinification techniques result in complex and elegant Baroli that are released for sale only when they have acquired a perfect mature harmony; often the release date falls much later than those of other producers. The Dolcetto and Barbera from the estate are deliciously soft, without the modern flash of many of the others found in this region, and offer great value.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Bodegas Hidalgo

Founded in 1792 by José Pantaleón Hidalgo, Vinícola Hidalgo is owned by the sixth successive generation of the family. Hidalgo is a modern rarity, being the last remaining family business (and almacenista, for those familiar with this term) to produce and export its own unblended, single-solera sherries. Just as rare is Vinícola Hidalgo's total reliance on its own vineyards, 500 acres of Palomino Fino located in the great chalk pagos ("crus") of Balbaína - the closest Jerez vineyard to the sea - and Miraflores, the great Sanlúcar vineyard renowned for the pedigree of its wines. Just as significant is the privileged location of the family's Bodega San Luis - at beach-level in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, where the Guadalquivir River meets the ocean. Here, the miracle of manzanilla is made possible by constant exposure to Atlantic breezes, laden with moisture and an ambient yeast/algae culture called flor. This surface-growing culture thrives year-round along Sanlúcar's southwest-facing beach-front, protecting the resting wines from exposure to the air. At the same time, flor imparts the bracing, briny smell of sea spray which is manzanilla's hallmark, reflecting its years-long maturation process within earshot of the waves.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Emilio Lustau

"Simply staggering in quality… Sherries such as these remain among the last great unknown wine bargains of the world. They must be tasted to be believed!" - Robert Parker Emilio Lustau SA was founded in 1896 by Don José Ruiz-Berdejo. In the beginning, Lustau was essentially an Almacenista, a modest estate with small holdings that sold most of its wine to large exporting Bodegas. It was not until the 1950s that Lustau became Emilio Lustau SA, and it joined the prestigious ranks of a select group of exporters of Sherry. In the early 1980s, Emilio Lustau SA, then under the management of the late Rafael Balao, became one of the most innovative companies in Jerez, launching the "Almacenista" line and creating the distinctive bottle that we know today. Lustau is now widely considered one of the finest producers of Sherry, with their Almacenista line breaking new ground in hand-crafted, boutique wines. These Sherries, drawing on rare and marvelous wines held by small producers, are some of the finest Sherries made today. Lustau offers a wide array of Sherries; bone-dry Finos are wonderful matches with garlic-y shrimp and langostinos. Racy Amontillados balance power with finesse and are wonderful with nuts, olives, cheeses, and jamon Serrano. Powerful Olorosos can be served during a meal and match well with traditional soups and stews. Of course, the wide range of dessert wines from Lustau are unparalleled; the elegant East India Cream Sherry is as soft as silk, the Moscatels offers a delightful citrus edge that keeps the wines lively on the palate while the dark Pedro Ximenez is best served as a “syrup” over vanilla ice cream, pancakes or waffles.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Martin Codax

The Martín Códax winery was founded in 1986 by a progressive group of winegrowers, and since that time it has become a point of reference within the Rías Baixas region of Galicia in north-west Spain. Albariño is the mainstay grape variety of Bodegas Martin Codax as it is for the Rias Baixas region as a whole. Think of Rias Baixas as Marlborough, Albarino as Sauvignon Blanc and Martin Codax as Cloudy Bay. By using the Cloudy Bay comparison we mean to suggest that Codax is not only a consistent producer of very high quality wines but also that they have blazed a trail around the world opening up new export markets for Spanish Albarino and shining the spotlight on the region of Rias Baixas and on Albarino as a variety and wine style. So, who was Martin Codax? He was a medieval Galician troubadour who lived in the latter part of the 13th century. His songs and poems were discovered by chance in an ancient library at the beginning of the 20th century and since then he has become a regional folkloric legend in Galicia. His songs were invariably about wine, women and the joys of life.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Bodegas Contador

Benjamin Romeo has devoted his life to making great wine in Rioja. And at this moment in time he is the undisputed King of Spain.

Benjamin worked as the winemaker at the famous Rioja house Artadi between 1985 and 2000, in fact he is largely responsible for the quality reputation they enjoy today. But a few years ago Benjamin left to set up his own winery where he now makes very limited quantities of high-priced, ultra-high quality Rioja, called Contador, Cueva del Contador, and La Vina de Andres, named after his father Andres.

The volumes for all Benjamin's wines are absurdly low, with 'Contador' being made from hand-selected individual berries and a total production of just a few hundred bottles. To say wine critics have given the wines rave reviews is a huge understatement. The wine press are absolutely feverish with enthusiasm for these wines, in some cases heralding them as the finest wines of any type to issue from Spain. Bodega Contador has only been in operation for 6 or 7 vintages but already their track record is second to none.

"Words can barely do justice to how singular these wines are. They must be tasted to be believed."

"as great a Rioja as one could ever hope to taste."

"Impossibly complex aromas ...Truly remarkable stuff."

"Contador reveals great purity and texture as well as that nobility and stature found in all of the world’s most profound wines."

"this is the kind of clarity one finds in the greatest vintages of Chateau Margaux."

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Niepoort

One of things that most attracted us to Niepoort is that in addition to making a very drinkable style of Port, they also produce an absolutely standout range of dry table wines. In fact Niepoort are pioneering the emergence of Portugal on the world stage as a serious table wine producer.

Significantly, the Niepoort range isn't centred around the ubiquitous so-called international varieties (Chardonnay, Cabernet etc.) but is a fascinating and very high quality offering of Portugal's indigenous varieties: Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Amarela, Tinto Cão, Tinta Barroca to name just a few of the reds. And the whites feature various blends of Rabigato, Codega, Donzelinho, Viosinho, Arinto, Cercial, Loureiro and others. If you are a true wine adventurer, you must try these wines. They're fabulous.

Niepoort has been extremely well received by the world's wine press in recent years and in 2007 were voted "Entrepeneur of the Year" in Portugal for their pioneering work with indigenous varieties in making dry table wines for the export market.

Here's Robert Parker's take on Niepoort:
"Dirk Niepoort is the principal of this familiar, family-owned Port house. However, dry wines are hardly a sideshow for Niepoort, and he has become one of the region’s driving forces in establishing the table wine industry. His dry wines date back to circa 1990, which seems to be a very long time ago considering how many new wines, wineries and winemakers have emerged in the Douro in the last decade or so. It occurred to me that if the Douro has a Robert Mondavi, a relative pioneer who seems as interested in pushing the brand as himself, it is probably Dirk Niepoort. One ironic thought also occurred to me. While the winery is justly considered a quality house for reds and a driving force in the dry, red revolution, it ultimately may become most famous for another reason: Niepoort is perhaps without equal for whites."

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Gunderloch

In 1890 the banker Carl Gunderloch purchased the "Gunderloch" manor house in Nackenheim. He also purchased property in the Rothenberg and Engelsberg vineyards which still constitutes the nucleus of the Gunderloch estate. As the story goes, he used to trek from Gundersblum, his place of birth, to his bank in Mainz. On these daily journeys he carefully observed how the sun played off the hills along the Rhein Terrace. Based on these observations he purchased vineyard property that appeared to collect sunlight most efficiently. Today the estate, as a result of these shrewd acquisitions, owns unquestionably the best vineyards in Nackenheim. Hans Jorison, a very knowledgeable German vineyard and wine classification specialist, rated the Gunderloch's Nackenheimer Rothenberg, as one of only three grand cru A vineyards in all of Rheinhessen. In 1920 Carl Gunderloch transferred the estate to his granddaughter Elisabeth Usinger and her husband Dr. Franz Usinger. They managed the estate till 1965 when their son Carl Otto took over after having assisted his parents since 1945. In 1969 he added a winebar where the estate's wines could be enjoyed with or without regional dishes from the Rheinhessen area. Today the estate is managed by Carl Otto's oldest daughter Agnes Hasselbach-Usinger and her husband, a viticultural engineer, Fritz Hasselbach. He brought two top Niersteiner vineyards, Hipping and Pettenthal, to add to the estate's holdings. Fritz Hasselbach is a highly accredited winemaker. In 2002 the Winespectator Magazine celebrated him as the only winemaker ever to have received a perfect 100 points score for not only one, but three of his wines. The 1992, 1996 and 2001 Riesling TBA, Nackenheimer Rothenberg were each awarded with 100 points. The Gunderloch estate also has an interesting tie to the German dramatist Carl Zuckmaier. Zuckmaier, who became a Hollywood screenwriter, was born in Nackenheim and a friend of Carl Gunderloch. Zuckmaier not only wrote the screenplay for the film "The Blue Angel", but also the plays "The Captain from Koepenick" and "The Devils General". He also used the Gunderloch estate for the setting, and Carl Gunderloch as the main character for his very first play "Der froehliche Weinberg" (the jolly vineyard). In this play Zuckmaier renamed Carl Gunderloch "Jean Baptiste" which is where the brand name used on the Gunderloch "Jean Baptiste" Kabinett is borrowed from. The estate has over 28 acres of vineyards. In Nackenheim almost a monopole position in the Rothenberg (65% of the estate's holdings) which is planted to Riesling, the Engelsberg with Riesling, Silvaner, Ruländer and a little Gewürztraminer.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Markus Molitor

1999 - Voted: 'Shooting Star of the Year'
2003 - Recorded highest ever measured sugar concentration in the world.
2007 - Voted: 'Best producer of off-dry Riesling'
2007 - 5 Stars and 'Best International Wine Producer'

In 1984, at the age of just 20, Markus Molitor assumed responsibility for the family wine estate, which then consisted of just 7 acres of vines. Almost 25 years on, the estate now comprises 38 hectares and Markus Molitor is at the top of his game. The wines are winning unprecendented attention from wine critics and consumers alike. They are hot property, and we're over the moon to be able to bring his wines into the country.

Molitor is considered a specialist in late harvest wines, such as Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein. They have produced a unique unbroken series of sixteen vintages of Trockenbeerenauslese wines in succession with the 2003 vintage achieving a world record in sugar concentration! Needless to say, these wines are dramatically expensive and very hard to come by. But they also produce a large range of classic Riesling styles. The best of which are challenging some of the Mosel's most famous names (Prum, Haag, etc.) for a place at the top table.

The estate's best plots are in the Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, Zeltinger Schlossberg, Wehlener Sonnenuhr and Graacher Domprobst vineyards. With many of these vineyards having an 80% gradient, the picking work is all done by hand. Markus achieves a complex character in his wines through temperature controlled fermentation and he also practises traditional filtration whereby fining agents, enzymes or other additives are strictly 'verboten'.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

JJ Prum

For centuries the Prüm family has called the village of Wehlen home. The 33.5 acre estate consists of nearly 70% ungrafted vines. Holdings are in the best parts of the top Middle-Mosel sites: Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, Graacher Himmelreich, Graacher Domprobst, Bernkasteler Lay, Bernkasteler Badstube, and Bernkasteler Bratenhöfchen.

Average annual production is 13,000 cases. The harvest at JJ Prüm is always extremely late, and the wines have a reputation for being very long-lived and Dr. Prüm suggests that even his Kabinett wines be cellared for five years. A 1955 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese consumed at a high profile tasting in 1981 was still apparently marvelously fresh and drinkable - once again demonstrating the longevity of fine Mosel Riesling. The 1949 Wehlener-Zeltinger Sonnenuhr TBA stillhas many years in front of it. The wines of JJ Prüm have earned a special place in the ranks of the world's greatest wines.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Karthauserhof

Recent archaeological findings near the Karthäuserhof and the village of Eitelsbach indicate the prior existence of a Roman settlement where winemaking was practiced.

In the 13th century, the Karthäuserhof was the property of the Electors and Archbishops of Trier. From 1335 until 1803, it was farmed by Carthusian monks from the monastery of St. Albanus in Trier, but with secularization in 1794 it became the property of France. Then in 1811, Valentin Leonardy acquired the property at an auction Paris (from Napoleon), and to this day it has remained in his family.

Mr Leonardy studied French winemaking techniques and was very active in the winemaking process, keeping meticulous records of the annual production and prices of his wines. It was under the direction of Leonardy's grandson, Wilhelm Rautenstrauch, however, that the Karthäuserhof achieved its reputation for great wines. The wines won awards and prizes in London (1863) and at other exhibits throughout Europe since then.

The estate is made up of an English park with centuries-old trees. The large manor complex includes the formerly moated castle dating from the 12th century, which still carries the name Bruno. The name Bruno is fashioned from steel rods attached to one of the walls (Bruno von Chartreuse was the founder of the Carthusian order). For six generations the estate has been in the same family.

In 1986 Christoph Tyrell and his cellarmaster Ludwig Breiling took charge. Their work has been recognized by Feinschmecker, Germany's leading food and wine publication, where Christoph Tyrell was chosen as the 1997 German Winemaker of the Year. The single vineyard estate makes wines exclusively from the Karthäuserhofberg vineyard. One important step taken by Mr. Tyrell was to remove every third row of vines, which improved exposure of the vines and their grapes clusters to the sun and air, as well as easing vineyard work. Karthäuserhof uses no pesticides, preferring pheromones, which prevent insect pests from reproducing. The 19 ha or 44.5 acres of vineyards are planted 90% to Riesling (mostly original rootstock) and 10% other varieties.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Rudi Pichler

The newest member of the elite winemaker club in Wachau is Rudi Pichler who, after working with his father for many vintages is now making the wine his way.

His way, as it turns out, is a “no compromises” approach that features as natural a winemaking process as possible. Pichler favours warm, natural fermentation temperatures, which allow him to gain more flavour and extract from the grapes. Pichler accepts the inherent risks of high temperature fermentation saying only, “well, you have to know what you’re doing.”

Whenever possible, which is often, Pichler uses only the wild natural yeasts for fermentation. Though this is another risky practice, Pichler’s wines demonstrate that it can pay big dividends. The wines are often more exotic and elusive than others, and they can challenge our preconceptions about the varietals.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Leo Alzinger

Sleek, clear, winsome yet authoritative wines from the kindly hands of the newest Wachau superstar, Leo Alzinger!

And now, after a stint with the renowned winemaker Hans Gunter-Schwartz (ex-Muller-Catoir), Leo Alzinger Jr. also makes a significant contribution. Every vintage since 1995 is amongst the best collection in Austria. Alzinger’s wines are uniformly threaded into skeins of nuance and even when they’re at their biggest they’re always shapely and lissome. They aren’t delicious because they’re great; they’re great because they’re delicious.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

Grosset

Grosset Wines was founded in 1981 and since then Jeffrey Grosset has achieved fame as the producer of Australia’s most celebrated Rieslings. As well as the two superb and very well-known Rieslings (Polish Hill and Springvale), Grosset also makes other sought-after wines including a very classy Chardonnay, a Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc, a Pinot Noir and 'Gaia' one of Australia's most highly regarded Cabernet blends.

Jeffrey has won numerous awards including the Inaugural Australian Wine Magazine Winemaker of the Year Award and the Inaugural Riesling Winemaker of the Year Award, Germany in 1988. And Jeffrey's meticulous viticultural management and highly sophisticated winemaking approach recently led to the recognition by acclaimed Australian wine writer, James Halliday in 2008 that the Grosset range of wines are 'benchmarks'.

Jeffrey has also been at the forefront of investigating and promoting the development of alternative wine closures, having established the Australian Closure Fund which is designed to encourage research into the science of sealing wine bottles. Needless to say, all Grosset wines are currently sealed under screwcap.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »

First Drop

First Drop is responsible for some of the most exciting wine to come out of South Australia in a long time.

This young winery is jointly owned by Matt Gant and John Retsas, and was recently deemed one of the "Ten Best New Wineries" by James Halliday who also gives it the maximum 5 Star producer rating in his Australian Wine Companion.

Having made wine for other people for many years, Matt and John are now making the most of their own venture by working with the varieties they most want to work with, and making the wine styles they most want to drink themselves. And the results are nothing short of astonishing. Wine Spectator recently stated "First Drop is becoming a winery to be reckoned with."

What binds the eclectic First Drop range of wines together is a trademark depth of character and sophistication that places them well outside the norm. They are what Matt Gant calls 'Next World' wines, as distinct from Old World or New World.

With winemaking stints in NZ, California, Italy, Spain and Portugal as well as a notable 7 year tenure as the winemaker for Barossa legend St Hallet. Matt Gant has won Wine Society's Young Winemaker of the Year in 2004 and the Young Gun Wine Award in 2007.

Click here to view all wines for this producer »