A benchmark Tuscan wine, released in 1927. Still respecting the traditions of Chianti Classico. Cherry, plum, spice, and leather notes on the nose; dry, medium to full bodied, tart cherry and plum flavours with hints of cedar. Serve with osso buco or steak.
FONTANAFREDDA BAROLO DOCG-Italy-(XD)$85.0
Garnet red color; plum and cherry aromas and flavors with hints of violets, tar, licorice, earth and spice; dry, medium to
Full bodied, excellent balance of fruit and tannins with a long, complex finish.
MASI COMPOFIORIN –RIPASSO- IGT-Italy (XD)$62.0
Deep ruby red color; aromas of ripe red cherries and spice; the palate is extra dry, full-bodied with dominating
Flavors of cherries, red berry fruit and a nice backbone of spice; tannins are soft and the finish is medium.
TOMMASI AMARONE DOC - Italy (D)$125.0
Deep purple ruby colour; rich, ripe, plummy cherry aromas and flavours with hints of chocolate, spice and earth; Full-bodied with a firm, long finish.
TOM GORE CABERNET SAUVIGNON CAB.SAUVIGNON- California (D)$55.0
Dark red color with faint translucence; cherry candy, red currant, mocha on the nose; vivid red cherry initial attack, Chocolate and assertive sweet, juicy red fruits, plum, a bit of blackberry on the palate.
BREAD & BUTTER- PINOT NOIR- California (D)$50.0
Generous fruit with notes of oak toast, mixed berries and red plum. Floral and nutty hints grace a long silky finish. Serve with with grilled salmon, duck or mushroom risotto.
RAVENS WOOD VINTNERS BLEND OLD VINE ZINFANDEL- California (D)$47.0
Aromas of blackberries, raspberries and blueberries along with a hint of oak, with a cascade of fruit flavors, fruit forward finish.
GHOST PINES MERLOT- California (D)$57.0
Opaque, ruby verging on purple in color; the nose is moderately intense with aromas of black cherry and mocha. On the dry, medium-bodied palate look for pronounced flavors of black fruit, chocolate, and coffee followed by a medium length and a fruit-forward finish. Full-bodied & Smooth.
White Wine
SEQUOIA GROVE CHARDONNAY 2014 CHARDONNAY – California (D)$90.0
Elegant, balanced and crisp with notes of apple butter, pineapple rind, egg custard, vanilla bean and cinnamon.
ROBERT MONDAVI PRIVATE SELECTION CHARDONNAY – California (D)$47.0
Deep yellow colour; Aromas of anise, citrus, cooked apple, and tropical fruit; Dry, full-bodied, with nice balance of tropical fruit and oak; crisp acidity on the long spicy finish. Grilled seafood, lobster, poultry, and soft cheese.
THREE THIEVES CHARDONNAY - California (XD)$45.0
Made in a big, bold, and buttery style, this Chard really showcases the richness and fullness that can be coaxed from the abundant Cali sunshine. Look for aromas and flavors of pineapple, orange marmalade, and lemon tart.
ST. FRANCIS SAUVIGNON BLANC – Sonoma California (D)$60.0
This is a crisp, flavorful Sauvignon Blanc with bright aromas of key lime, tangerine and yellow peach. The flavors are rich and
Opulent with notes of mandarin orange and stone fruits that precede a backbone of acidity on the smooth finish.
KIM CRAWFORD SAUVIGNON BLANC – New Zealand (D)$55.0
Vintage after vintage, the world-renowned Kim Crawford displays his winemaking prowess with Sauvignon Blanc. The 2007 and 2008 vintages each received 91 points from Wine Spectator! This lively wine exhibits aromas such as gooseberry, passion fruit, grass, nettle, mineral, and citrus. Tantalizing with steamed mussels or warm chicken salad.
ROBERT MONDAVI WOODBRIDGE WHITE ZINFANDEL- Rose-California (MS)$29.0
Pale pink color; fresh berry aroma and flavour; soft off-dry finish.
VERDICCHIO FAZI-BATTAGLIA – Italy (D)$40.0
Pale lemon yellow with green tint, green apple & melon in aroma and in taste, slight spritz and light body clean.
SANTA MARGHERITA PINOT GRIGIO – Veneto Italy (D)$55.0
Pale straw colour with aromas of citrus and melon; green apple notes on the palate and a dry crisp finish. Serve with antipasto, light meat dishes or cream pasta.
Sparkling & Ice Wine
SANTA MARFGERITA PROSECCO (D) – Italy$57.0
A green-flecked star-bright straw yellow ushers in fragrances of peach and acacia blossom mingling with rennet apple and pear-led, white-fleshed fruits..
VEUVE CLICQUOT PONSARDIN (S) – France$190.0
Pale straw yellow color, yeasty bread aroma, tiny bubbles full toasty flavor, clean, crisp, dry wine, long finish.
MOET & CHANDON NECTAR IMPERIAL ROSE (S)$190.0
The scintillating coral colour is followed by an intense bouquet of ripe wild berries, red and black currant along with notes of yellow peach. Supple on the palate with resonating red fruit flavours and hints of nutmeg and caramel.
New World Wines
Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon-D- Napa Valley-California 2012$400.0
Exhibits a delicious, up-front core of juicy dark berry, blackberry, black licorice, and creamy, toasty, vanilla-scented oak. Appropriately tannic and structured, this is made in a style you can drink now or cellar for up to a decade. Drink now through 2026. Score – 94
From one of Napa's pioneering families and possessing all the signature lush flavours and aromas of premium
Cali Cabs -- crème de cassis, cocoa, anise, and cardamom full-bodied and smooth. This is definitely a trophy wine.
Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five –D- Napa Valley-California 2016$350.0
Made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five Stags Leap is very deep purple-black in color and gives up intense Black Forest cake, black berry pie and blackcurrant cordial scents with hints of licorice, eucalyptus, espresso, tar and chargrilled beef. Full-bodied, it packs the black fruit preserves flavors and earthy accents into the palate, with a firm frame and great freshness on the finish. Drink date: 2019-2045. Score - 95.
Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon-D- Napa Valley 2012$175.0
This is the family owned winery's best Cabernet Sauvignon, Full bodied, smooth it shows the depth and complexity. This really exemplifies Napa's rich, smooth tannins and dramatically ripe black currant, anise and dark chocolate flavors. Some of the valley's best vineyards that contributed to the blend, of all five classic Bordeaux varieties, with 1% Syrah.
J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon Seven Oaks- D- California 2013$65.0
There's a reason this Cab is the most popular red in the VINTAGES Essentials Collection. It's full bodied and packed with black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar, vanilla, and spice. Equally at home with a casual steak sandwich or a thick rib-eye steak.
ST Francis Merlot- D- Sonoma Valley- California 2015$75.0
This polished Merlot shows off layered aromas and flavors of espresso, red cherry and chocolate that finish with a touch of savory spices. Medium-to-full bodied with good structure and a long, lingering finish.
St Francis Zinfandel-D- Sonoma Valley-California 2015$80.0
The 2015 Zinfandel Reserve, which was aged 20 months in French oak, is really sensational, with a dense ruby/purple color, beautiful blueberry and blackberry fruit, a judicious use of toasty oak, full-bodied opulence, a multi-layered mouthfeel, and a spectacular finish.
ST Francis Cabernet Sauvignon - XD- Sonoma Valley- California 2015$85.0
Rich and full-bodied this Cabernet delivers layered aromas of black licorice, vanilla bean, sweet tobacco and graham cracker followed by concentrated flavors of dark Bing cherry, wild berry compote and allspice. Structured yet silky on the palate, the finish is lengthy and vibrant.
Kim Crawford Pinot Noir – XD-Zealand 2015$55.0
Aromas of black cherry, raspberry and a touch of beetroot, this Pinot is forwardly fruity with a nice core of acid and a hint of tannin to bring balance. Enjoy it with grilled veal chops, pulled pork sandwiches, or even grilled salmon steaks.
Cakebread Cellars Two Creeks Pinot Noir- XD- Napa Valley California 2014$180.0
Two Creeks Vineyard' Pinot Noir is a flat out delicious wine from Cakebread's estate Apple Barn (60%) and Annahala (40%) vineyards in Mendocino County's Anderson Valley. This instantly opens with a mix of both sweet and savory aromas, consisting of blackberry and plum, followed by sweet spices along with notes of moist earth and subtle hints of roasted notes. On the palate this is beautifully balanced and possesses a gorgeous satin-like texture that follows through to the silky finish.
It exhibits a dense purple color, lots of sweet black cherry and mocha-infused fruit, and caresses the palate with an opulence and richness that are hard to resist. The wine's beautiful purity, stunning texture, and overall ripeness and sexiness are what Merlot is all about. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully balanced.
Cellar Wines
FONTANA FREDDA BAROLO SERRALUNGA D’ALBA – D – PIEDMONT 2013$145.0
The 2010 Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba opens to a darkly saturated color and shows pretty highlights of wild cherry, cassis, black truffle, cola and menthol herb. This is the estate's most popular wine with an annual production of 200,000 bottles. The wine is extremely focused and bright with the heft and structure that is common to Serralunga d'Alba. Some 80% of the fruit comes from the Fontana Fredda estate and the other 20% is purchased off-site. Drink: 2017-2028. Score - 93
LA PIEVE BAROLO – XD PIEDMONT 2011$100.0
The legendary Nebbiolo-based wines of Barolo are famously ageable and highly sought-after, and are rarely priced as approachably as this example. From the warm 2011 vintage, this offers the expected complexity and depth of aroma and flavour, with a dried and roasted fruit tone colouring the nose and palate. Look for spicy, layered fruit with leather undertones. Perfect for rich beef-based stews
One of the most sought after Super Tuscan wines, this is a must for any cellar. Tignanello is considered to be one of the best Italian wines and has racked up numerous awards of accolades with every vintage. This rich and spicy blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc should be cellared for two to ten years. A fine choice for grilled beef tenderloin. Kirsch, rose petal, pomegranate, exotic spices and mint are woven together in a fabric of notable class in the 2012 Tignanello.
Forest floor, porcini mushroom, truffle, moist soil, red berry, sage, mocha and leather sensations all emerge on this young wine. It's still tightly tannic and brooding so give it time to unwind. Drink: 2020-2040. Score - 93.
ANTINORI BADIA A PASSIGNANO CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA – D – TUSCANY -2015$145.0
Chianti Classico Riserva Badia a Passignano bursts from the glass with expressive dark cherries, plums, flowers and cloves. The Badia a Passignano is a bit brighter and more focused than the Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva, largely because it is 100% Sangiovese. Hints of tobacco, leather and cedar add further nuances on the soft, resonant finish. Over the last few years, the Badia a Passignano has been one of the most improved wines in the Antinori range.
TEDESCHI AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO – D – 2012$125.0
Amarone is a labour of love. The art of drying grapes creates in the finished wine sweet Port-like aromas of chocolate and plum that are very inviting. In addition, it is loaded with delectable currant, cherry, spice and tobacco aromas and flavours. Medium full-bodied with a very long finish, it is ready to drink now on its own, with Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese or good dark chocolate
ANTINORI PIAN DELLE VIGNE BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO – D – TUSCANY 2014$175.0
A rich ruby light garnet highlights, the powerful and expressive nose of red fruit, herbs, of major intensity and concentration, warm and round with impressively defined Sangiovese fruit and much complexity on the lengthy, and intense finish drink 2005-2018 score-93
MASI MAZZANO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO – D – 2011$300.0
Mazzano is consistently the tighter, sharper, and more angular and structured of Masi's two excellent single vineyard Amarone, thanks in no small measure to the slightly higher elevation vineyard, but mostly the more ventilated house where grapes are left to dry in the vineyard, exposed, like the vines, to the full brunt of north winds. The result is less botrytis, thus less glycerol, and more 'exposed' bones. So while the '09 Campolongo is already quite beguiling, Voluptuous and smooth, the Mazzano is not nearly ready to look at currently, even in this ripe and generous vintage. Significant fruit extract is hidden under a cloak of tannins and surprising acids, and I suspect this is a solid decade away from prime drinkability, and it should hold until the end of the '30s without a stretch. Score - 95
ANTINORI MARCHESE CHIANTI CLASSICO RESERVA – D – TUSACANY 2015$95.0
Medium body and fruit. Sangiovese with 10% Merlot, the 2010 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori opens with a two-fold delivery of espresso grits and pressed red rose that give this wine a rather unique personality. The mouthfeel is bright and well-defined with cherry and dried raspberry that do a lot to sharpen the mouthfeel of this balanced Chianti Classico Riserva.
SANTA SOFIA AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA – D – 2015$120.0
Date and dried cherry notes are layered with bright, juicy acidity and accents of coffee liqueur, gumdrop and dark chocolate in this balanced red. Fine-grained tannins and a sweet detail of smoky mineral show on the finish. Drink now through 2023
DIEVOLE LA VENDEMMIA CHIANTI CLASSICO – XD – TUSCANY 2014$125.0
A beautiful nose with fresh herbs, dark cherry, raspberry and chocolate notes. Dark and pleasurable in the Mouth with a smoky edge, good structure, fine acidity and lovely texture. A classically styled food-friendly wine that will offer immediate enjoyment with grilled herb-encrusted pork tenderloin
ZENATO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA – D – 2013$135.0
Wonderful aromas of black licorice and blueberry lead to a full body, with juicy, round tannins. Luscious and decadent. Might be better on toast! A gorgeous wine, this is the real deal for Amarone. Why wait? But a little bottle age should really bring it together. Best after 2011. Highly recommended.
ORNELLAIA BOLGHERI SUPERIORE – D – TUSCANY 2004$500.0
The gorgeous 2004 Ornellaia is lively dark ruby, it is vibrant effort bursting with expressive aromatics and layered, well-delineated fruit, showing much purity on the palate and closing with a long, finessed finish. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot.
A stunning wine, this Ripasso uses grapes sourced exclusively from the hillside Montecorna vineyard in the Valpolicella Classico zone. It has an intense nose with aromas of black cherry, chocolate, and coffee, raspberry and a hint of smoke. Classy and well-structured with a plush mouthfeel, intense fruit flavours, and hints of chocolate and good length, this wine bridges the gap between the Valpolicella Classico Superiore and the Amarone Classico styles. Enjoy with braised leg of lamb.
ORNEILAIA LE VOLTE – XD – TUSCANY 2015$80.0
Perennially a great buy in terms of the price-quality ratio, this red blend - 50% Merlot, 30% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon - leaps from the glass with aromas of baking spice, dark berry fruit and floral notes of lilac. Balanced, palate-bathing flavours of mint-infused black currant and black plum mingle with tangy red currant and mocha persisting through the lengthy, fruit-filled aftertaste. Drinking now, it pours and pairs well with grilled rack of lamb or grilled beef steak.
MONTE ZOVO SA' SOLIN RIPASSO VALPOLICELLA – XD – 2016$60.0
Fruit-forward, with complex notes of cherry, herbs, and cranberry masterly integrated with spicy pepper and meat notes. Dry and medium-full bodied with a flavourful and lingering finish. The upfront style makes this a very pleasant sipping wine, but it will also work splendidly with a roast leg of lamb, or a gourmet pizza with the works.
POGGIOTONDO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO – D – TUSCANY 2015$99.0
Rich and supple in texture, framing cherry, raspberry, licorice, tobacco and subtle underbrush flavors. This is harmonious, with fine length and a juicy red fruit, spice and mineral aftertaste. Best from 2018 through 2030.
BANFI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO – D – TUSCANY 2014$175.0
This wine commands respect and is consistently one of the best of the region. Aromas of black cherry, truffle, plum, sage, violets and oak leads to full fruit and oak flavours with firm tannins. A hearty wine to be enjoyed with sirloin steaks.
CASTELGIOCONDO BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO – XD – TUSCANY 2014$145.0
Montalcino's long growing season creates Brunellos that are luxurious and age-worthy, like this one with flavours of blackberry, raspberry and earth. Decant for two hours and serve with rare steaks or roast leg of lamb, or cellar for up to 10 years.
RUFFINO MODUS SUPER – D – TUSCAN 2012-2013-2014-2015$85.0
Modus is very complex and inviting. The delicate floral notes are intertwined with the fruity, aromatic aromas of blackberry, violet and licorice aromas follow through to a full body, with silky tannins. This sweet fruit, with toasty oak and citrus fruit on the finish. The Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot reach a perfect union, highlighting characteristics of each varietal. The texture is rich and full, with velvety tannins and a long aftertaste with notes of blueberry, chocolate and sweet tobacco. A wine of grand class.
RUFFINO RESERVA DUCALE ORO – XD – TUSCANY 2012$140.0
This was the wine that captured the heart of the duke of Aasta and honour the wine its name. Reserva Ducale was first produced in 1927 and is the only Italian wine permitted to use the word “Reserve” in its name. This wine shows a raisiny tar character with hints of brown sugar. Full -bodied and very rich, with velvety tannins. This will improve with age, or drink now. Score 95. Food match: wild mushroom risotto
REVERA IL FALCONE RESERVA – D – PUGLIA 2015$60.0
Is named in the tribute to the 13thcentury emperor and humanist, Frederick ll of Sawbia. He built the castle, castle Del Monte, that later gave this region its name. He was also renowned for hunting with a falcon, thus IL Falcone. The wine is blended of 70% Nero diTroia and 30% Montepulciano. It is aged for 12 months in french barriques and then a further year in the bottle before release. Enjoy its rich, ripe, balanced bouquet with braised meat or game dishes. The bouquet boasts a wild side with bramble, forest berry and pressed violets. Other aromatic components include toasted nut, licorice and tar. The tannins are softly polished and help to give the wine a silky texture. This may be the best vintage of Il Falcone Riserva. Drink: 2015-2021. Score - 93.
GAJA SITI MORESCO LANGHE – D – PIEDMONT 2006$175.0
Angelo Gaja is a huge fan of Nebbiolo, describing it as more like Marcello Mastroianni than John Wayne. Nebbiolo “would never be in the center of a room. He is shy. He is a closed book. And women became beautiful beside him. This is the beauty of Nebbiolo”. With this spectacular wine, Gaja combines 35%Nebbiolo with 35% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Expect an elegant, balanced, age worthy wine (5-7 years) that can be enjoyed now with mature cheeses or rare cuts of meat.