Winemaker Notes Pale yellow. Piercing lifted scents of ripe orchard fruits and floral nuances with its classic marine aromatic base layers framing the higher pitched tones. Conveys a sense of weight without heaviness. Supportive and integrated natural acids buoy the forward presence of the wine. Finishes with great length, depth and persistence with a quiet verve. A compelling example of Durell. About Winery Kistler Vineyards is a small winery in the Russian River Valley specializing in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Founded in 1978 on the notion that compelling wines of site can and should be made in California. Kistler has been working with their own heritage selection of Chardonnay since the mid-1980s and is known the world over as a single clone Chardonnay house. They plant one heritage selection of Chardonnay across fifteen vineyards, giving rise to eleven vineyard designate Chardonnays. Similarly, Kistler produces four Pinot Noirs; each of these wines is crafted from the two small-clustered, low-yielding clones that were imported from a Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy, which they began propagating over 20 years ago. Geoff Labitzke, MW, is the National Director of Sales for Kistler Vineyards and will be our guide as we explore five distinct bottlings of Kistler’s highly sought-after wines.

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Winemaker Notes Krug 2011 presents a pale golden robe with fine, persistent bubbles, immediately revealing aromas of quince, candied citrus, and subtle dried fruits alongside delicate hints of brioche and toasted nuts. On the palate, it is both structured and refined, with a precise balance of Pinot Noir (53%), Meunier (25%), and Chardonnay (22%) that delivers layers of lemon zest, caramel apple, and chalky minerality. The cool vintage character shines through in its fresh acidity and remarkable tension, giving the wine a timeless elegance. The finish is long, complex, and vibrant, confirming its reputation as one of Krug’s most harmonious and age-worthy vintages. About Winery Krug Champagne is one of the most prestigious Champagne houses in the world, known for its commitment to quality and tradition. Krug was founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug, a visionary who believed in creating the best Champagne every year, regardless of climate variations. He established the house in Reims, the heart of the Champagne region. Joseph Krug’s philosophy was to focus on the individuality of each plot and its wine, creating a library of reserve wines from different years to ensure consistency and excellence. Krug is credited with pioneering the concept of non-vintage Champagne, blending wines from multiple years to achieve a consistent and complex flavor profile.

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Winemaker Notes Krug 2011 presents a pale golden robe with fine, persistent bubbles, immediately revealing aromas of quince, candied citrus, and subtle dried fruits alongside delicate hints of brioche and toasted nuts. On the palate, it is both structured and refined, with a precise balance of Pinot Noir (53%), Meunier (25%), and Chardonnay (22%) that delivers layers of lemon zest, caramel apple, and chalky minerality. The cool vintage character shines through in its fresh acidity and remarkable tension, giving the wine a timeless elegance. The finish is long, complex, and vibrant, confirming its reputation as one of Krug’s most harmonious and age-worthy vintages. About Winery Krug Champagne is one of the most prestigious Champagne houses in the world, known for its commitment to quality and tradition. Krug was founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug, a visionary who believed in creating the best Champagne every year, regardless of climate variations. He established the house in Reims, the heart of the Champagne region. Joseph Krug’s philosophy was to focus on the individuality of each plot and its wine, creating a library of reserve wines from different years to ensure consistency and excellence. Krug is credited with pioneering the concept of non-vintage Champagne, blending wines from multiple years to achieve a consistent and complex flavor profile.

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PRE-ORDER Winemaker Notes The 2011 Marius Delarche Corton Le Corton (Reserve/Vieilles Vignes) is a distinguished Grand Cru red crafted from 50+ year old vines that reflects the elegance of a classic Burgundy year through its refined red cherry, cranberry, and rose aromatics. About Winery Domaine Marius Delarche, established in the 1940s in Pernand-Vergelesses, is a family-run Burgundian estate known for producing, refined, and terroir-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Corton hill. Currently managed by Étienne Delarche (who took over in 2005/2007), the 9-hectare domain specializes in high-quality Premier and Grand Cru wines, including the esteemed Le Corton. 

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Winemaker Notes Bibi Graetz Testamatta offers aromas of prune, dried flowers, porcini and cedar lead to a full body, with velvety tannins and lots of ripe fruit and milk chocolate. Long and very soft, yet powerful. About Winery From a medieval castle, Castello di Vincigliata, acquired by his parents over 60 years ago, winemaker Bibi Graetz crafts his wines on a hillside overlooking the great city of Florence. Beginning initially with only a small, 5-acre vineyard on this hillside in Fiesole, in little under two decades, Bibi has become one of Italy's most ingenious winemakers adding "cult winemaker" in addition to "talented abstract artist" to his dossier. Since the release of his first wines in 2000 and without any formal training, Bibi Graetz has managed to stir-up the Tuscan wine scene, and with the creation of Testamatta and Colore, has made his name eponymous with great Tuscan wines. Regularly scoring in the high 90’s with wine publications like Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate, and James Suckling, coupled with his unique and artisanal winemaking approach, Bibi Graetz’s wines have garnered a loyal following among wine collectors and wine trade. Sourcing grapes from parcels of old vines around Tuscany give the Bibi reds great depth and soul; while grapes from vines on the Isola del Giglio have provided proof that Tuscany can be known for beautiful white wines as well. This affinity for old vines allows for the concentrated yet elegant wines of Bibi Graetz making this portfolio a collectible from Tuscan producers. His passion for producing his flagship wines exclusively from traditional varieties of Sangiovese, Colorino, and Canaiolo for the reds and the indigenous varieties of Ansonica and Vermentino for his whites have resulted in very distinctive wines that consistently set his wines apart from those from the rest of Tuscany, and Italy.

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Winemaker Notes Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 The Matriarch rocks up with forthright notions of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries and mulberries plus hints of crushed rocks, dried herbs, iron ore and black soil plus a touch of Ceylon tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals impressive intensity with a firm texture of grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing with an herbal lift. About Winery Sourced from select hillside estates, the Cabernet Sauvignon wines of BOND vividly demonstrate the range of Napa Valley's finest terroirs. From the more than eighty vineyards we have worked with over the past quarter century, we have slowly and vigilantly selected five sites. BOND became our covenant and shared commitment to produce only the best expression of the land. By way of this valuable experience, we had the opportunity to identify select properties that we felt had the potential to define the ‘Grand Crus’ of Napa Valley. These small hillside Cabernet vineyards, ranging in size from 7 to 11 acres, became the basis for the wines of BOND.

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The 2012 Château Cheval Blanc is a beautifully balanced wine with a deep red-purple color. It features aromas of red and blackberries, floral notes, and a touch of mint and graphite. On the palate, it offers a smooth attack, fine tannins, and incredible length. A blend of 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Franc, this elegant wine is already complex and will continue to evolve gracefully over the next 20 years. Decanter | D 96 A beautifully balanced claret with a fragrant silky texture, fine backbone and length on the palate, promising a long life. Not a ‘big’ wine but a delicious one with class. Made in the spanking new cellar (inaugurated June 2011).  The Wine Advocate | RP 95 Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Cheval Blanc reveals lovely cassis, warm black cherries and redcurrant jelly notions with underlying hints of cedar chest, garrigue, Indian spices and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it possesses wonderful energy and freshness on the palate with a beautifully poised ethereal nature and long mineral-tinged finish. This elegantly crafted beauty should enter its drinking window in a couple of years and cellar gracefully for another 20 years.   About Winery The present-day Cheval Blanc vineyards had vines at least as far back as the 18th century, as shown by Belleyme's map of the region dated 1764. Nearly a century later, the estate was acquired by the Fourcaud-Laussac family who owned it until 1998, when it was sold to Mr Bernard Arnault and Baron Albert Frère. The vineyard is in a single block, and borders on the Pomerol appellation. An outstanding terror and unusual proportions of Cabernet Franc and Merlot give this great wine an absolutely unique flavor. Chateau Cheval Blanc has had a greater number of outstanding vintages than any other classified great growth over the past century. Another unusual characteristic of Cheval Blanc is that once it reaches its peak, it maintains it for a very long time. This admirable wine is powerful, soft, rich, round and silky. It has tremendous fruit and elegance as well as exceptional quality from year to year.

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PRE-ORDER About Winery Château de la Tour, located in Clos de Vougeot, Burgundy, was founded in 1890 by Jean Morin and remains the only château within the famous Clos de Vougeot vineyard. Built in the late 19th century, it quickly became a symbol of the appellation, with its wines exclusively produced from Clos de Vougeot vines. The estate has stayed in family hands, now managed by François Labet, who also oversees Domaine Pierre Labet. Château de la Tour is notable for being one of the largest landholders in Clos de Vougeot, farming about 5.5 hectares, including prized parcels of old vines planted in 1910. The domaine is known for traditional Burgundian winemaking, minimal intervention, and a focus on expressing the unique terroir of Clos de Vougeot. Today, it stands as both a historic landmark and a benchmark producer of this grand cru vineyard.

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Winemaker Notes de Sales is owned by no less than 14 cousins and headed up by Henri and Marguerite de Lambert, and has strong claims to be the Bordeaux estate with the longest time in any one family`s hand (since 1464!). Marine Treppoz is the President, and along with cousins Henri and Marguerite, represent the 25th generation at de Sales. Located in the far west Pomerol, with 47-hectares of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are almost all in one block on sandy soils, which has produced in the excellent 2012 vintage a supple, rounded and delicious Pomerol. Good medium ruby. Blackcurrant, violet and a dusty mineral note on the deep nose. Dense, lush and chewy, offering, pure, precise dark berry and floral flavors. Finishes broad, saline and very long, with a density of texture and a degree of fruit concentration that I have never before found in De Sales--and that I didn`t even think was possible in view of this estate`s very sandy soils. Without doubt the best wine ever made by owner Bruno de Lambert. Well done. 90/100 points. Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, August 2013. About Winery Built in the 17th century, Chateau de Sales is largest estate in the Pomerol appellation on the Right Bank. The chateau possesses exceptional beauty and elegance, and the same is true for its wines as they are the true expression of the Pomerol terroir from which they originate. Located in the northwest corner of Pomerol, it is the only true chateau building in the appellation and has been owned by the same family for more than five hundred years. Chateau de Sales wines are the expression of their terroir: fruit-driven, round and full-bodied, with good structure on the palate, smoothness, refinement and elegance. Located 22 miles east of Bordeaux, the vineyard of Chateau de Sales is situated in the northwestern part of the Pomerol appellation. The chateau's vineyard has a surface area of over 200 acres, of which 118 acres are planted — the largest in Pomerol. The soils of Chateau de Sales are comprised of fine gravel and sand, with clay in some areas and an omnipresence of iron oxide, known as "crasse de fer." The vines are an average of more than 30 years old. The grape varieties planted here are typical of this appellation: 73% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon and 12% cabernet franc. The vines are cultivated in the traditional way: the soil is regularly ploughed, vineyard practices are environmentally sound, leaves are removed with clusters thinned at regular intervals, and the grapes are harvested by hand at optimum maturity for each parcel.

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Winemaker Notes The nose shows some blackcurrant, vanilla and hint of wood. On the palate, the typical nice freshness of Château Ferrière and some power. The wine has great potential and will need time to reveal itself.  About Winery Gabriel Ferriere, a well-known broker in Bordeaux in the 18th century was the founder of this estate. Chateau Ferriere was classified a third growth in 1855. The Villars family bought the vineyards and the chateau in 1988 and took over the viticulture and winemaking. With its 10 hectares, Chateau Ferriere is one of the smallest classified growths. The vineyard is maily located in Margaux, and the soil consists of very deep gravel on limestone marl. The size of the vineyard, combined with its beautiful terroir, make Chateau Ferriere a rare and highly-valued wine. Claire Villars Luton is responsible for the revival of this estate. Year after year, she has done her best to bring out the unique terror of Chateau Ferriere in the wine, to restore the vineyard to its original splendor, and to make it fully worth of its prestigious classification.

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Winemaker Notes The bouquet is redolent of red fruit. In fact, this is a paradoxical wine. It is soft on the palate, yet also quite tannic and, although fresh, it also has a certain warmth and suavity. 2012 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion is full-bodied and juicy, but tightly-wound on the middle palate. Barrel ageing overseen by a talented cellarmaster will enable this wine to show its character more clearly in the coming months.  About Winery Produced in small quantities, this second wine is a gateway to the world of Château La Mission Haut-Brion. Its name is a nod to the chapel of La Mission Haut-Brion, built by Lazarist priests in 1698.

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Winemaker Notes 2012 Château La Mission Haut-Brion has overtones such as liquorice typical of very ripe grapes, but also fresh nuances reminiscent of menthol. Fruitiness and a touch of oak round out the wine’s aromatic complexity. The alcoholic degree is once again high, but this gives the wine a sort of lightness and ethereal quality. However, this impression is misleading because the wine is, in reality, very powerful. The rich tannin adds a silky texture and the taste profile is altogether charming, with tremendous balance. 2012 La Mission Haut-Brion has the beautiful long aftertaste of all great wines.  Chateau La Mission Haut Brion Château La Mission Haut-Brion is a world-renowned winery located in the prestigious Pessac-Léognan appellation in the Bordeaux region of France. It holds a special place in the history of Bordeaux wines due to its exceptional quality and long-standing heritage. The estate is known for producing top-tier red wines, and its wine is often regarded as one of the most sought-after in the region.

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Winemaker Notes Lovely flowery bouquet with notes of acacia. The palate is well balanced with no harsh tannins indicating quite early maturity. About Winery In 1826, Hugh Barton, already proprietor of Chateau Langoa, purchased part of the big Leoville estate. His part then became known as Léoville Barton. Six generations of Bartons have since followed, and continued to preserve the quality of the wine, classified as a Second Growth in 1855. In 1983, Anthony Barton, the present owner, was given the property by his uncle Ronald Barton who had himself inherited it in 1929. Anthony Barton's daughter Lilian Barton Sartorius now helps her father in managing the estate. Together, they maintain the traditional methods of winemaking, producing a typical Saint-Julien of elegance and distinction. The Château Léoville Barton is the property of the Barton’s family and Lilian Barton Sartorius manages it with her two children, Mélanie and Damien.

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Winemaker Notes The Cuvelier family's flagship estate has been on fine form in recent years. Their style is sumptuous, velvety, quite modern St Julien, but with the underlying structure to age for many many years. There is a beautiful bouquet of decadent dark berries, gravelly minerality, humidor, cedar and flowers. It is quite heady and perfumed with a lovely seductive core of opulent fruit and large scale tannic structure.  About Winery With origins dating back to 1638, Léoville was the largest vineyard in the Médoc region at the time of the French Revolution. Léoville Poyferré springs from various divisions and successions in 1840. Its outstanding quality wines gained early recognition when it was ranked 2nd Growth in the 1855 classification. Château Léoville Poyferré was acquired in 1920 by the Cuvelier family. Château Léoville Poyferré was the Léoville that got left in the starting blocks in terms of reputation and in the quality of its wines. Léoville Poyferré has been owned by the Cuvelier family (who also own Château Le Crock) since 1921, yet it was not until the 1970s, when Didier Cuvelier took control at the château, that quality began to improve. In the last 20 years, Didier, with the assistance of Michel Rolland since 1995, has turned Léoville-Poyferré into one of StJulien's finest estates. Now up with the best of the St-Juliens but still selling at nonscary prices. Léoville Poyferré is classified as a 2ème Cru Classé

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Winemaker Notes The wine is a deep, dazzling purple. Initially rather closed, the nose opens with airing to reveal elegant fresh fruit, blackcurrant bud and eucalyptus aromas. A fresh, clean attack leads into a full, powerful and silky mid-palate, building to an incredibly long finish on notes of brioche and liquorice. An intense and stylish vintage to come back to in a few years’ time. About Winery Second growth classified in 1855. With its terroir of big gravels located by the river Gironde, its classic and powerful style, Montrose is often called the Latour of Saint Estephe. Montrose needs time to express its incomparable delicacy. In the first decade, its fantastic potential is hidden behind a certain austerity. In the second decade, the wines open themselves. In the third decade, they explode, and the terroir expresses itself. In the hands of the family Charmolle from 1896 to 2006, it is now run by Martin and Olivier Bouygues.

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Winemaker Notes The wine has a deep, glittering hue and a complex nose on which black fruit aromas mingle with graphite and spice notes. The structure on the palate is particularly dense and long, with chiselled tannins of incredible precision. A 2012 of remarkable purity and energy, with fantastic fruit and radiance that take it to the peak. For the first time, Pontet-Canet matured nearly a third of the vintage in concrete amphoras. About Winery Chateau Pontet Canet Pauillac 5th Grand Cru Classé, has enjoyed an irresistible rise to become one of the Médoc's most emblematic names. Managed by Justine and Alfred Tesseron, Château Pontet-Canet has established itself as one of the pioneers of biodynamic viticulture in the Pauillac appellation, with results that exceed all expectations. Vintage after vintage, the estate has established itself as one of the finest references on Bordeaux's Left Bank.

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PRE-ORDER About Winery Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, based in Chambolle-Musigny in Burgundy’s Côte de Nuits, traces its origins back to the 15th century when the de Vogüé family first acquired vineyards in the region. Over centuries, the estate became one of Burgundy’s most prestigious domaines, remaining in the same noble lineage and eventually shaped in the 20th century by Comte Georges de Vogüé, who established its international reputation. Today, the domaine is best known as the largest holder of the legendary Musigny Grand Cru vineyard, with 7.12 hectares, alongside holdings in Bonnes-Mares and Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru. Renowned for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the estate embodies centuries of tradition and excellence, producing wines celebrated for their elegance, purity, and depth.

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