Egon Muller Scharzhof Riesling 2022
$137.99
Jean-Jacques Koch, Egon Müller's great great-grandfather acquired the Scharzhof estate from the "République Française" in 1797 after the French Revolution and the occupation of the West Bank of the Rhine River by the revolutionary government. The Scharzhofberg vineyard was likely planted by the Romans and belonged to the Monastery "St Marien ad Martyres" in Trier from its founding around 700 A. D. through the Middle Ages.
Egon Müller's vineyards are exposed to a northerly climate. Consequently, much depends on the vintage and on late harvesting. Regarding the winemaking process, however, Egon Müller's family's philosophy is based on the belief that the best wines are the ones that "make themselves". The Egon Müller-Scharzhof family lives in its own vineyards and oversees the day-to-day operation at the estate.
All of the family's wines are Rieslings. "Scharzhof" is their most basic wine. Qualitätswein by German legal standard, it is made of the grapes from their vineyards in Saarburg, Kanzem and Wawern and from the Wiltinger Braunfels and Wiltinger Kupp vineyards. The Kabinett wines, made from ripe grapes with low alcoholic content constitute the backbone of the production.
At the Scharzhof they favour a traditionally minimalist approach to winemaking. Their work continues to be based on the quality-driven philosophy of the late Egon Müller III.: "One hundred per cent of the quality of a wine is generated in the vineyard. It is impossible to reach even 101 per cent in the cellars but it is a great achievement to pack the full potential of the vines into a bottle".
They believe that it is the quality of their vineyards that allows them to produce the best grapes and they go to great lengths to fully exhaust this potential.
Their Northern climate is characterised by great annual fluctuations, which means that every year is full of new challenges. However, the foundations remain the same:
- Old vines of which some have ancient roots that originate from the 19th century.
- Low yields that never exceed 60 hl/ha and frequently are as small as 30 hl/ha.
- Intensive ploughing up to six times a year.
- Very restrained use of chemicals: no chemical fertilisers, no herbicides, no insecticides and as few fungicides as possible.
Content courtesy of http://www.pfv.org
Vilmart Grand Cellier Brut 1er Cru
$144.99
91 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate for this outstanding Champagne! The review: "The NV Grand Cellier Premier Cru Brut offers a very clear and precise bouquet with citrus and some smoky/flinty flavors. Pure, clear and fresh on the palate, very precise and mineral, this is a remarkably finesse-full and expressive Champagne. It was disgorged in June 2015 with nine grams of dosage, but it tastes significantly more dry. The finish is full of tension and minerals, which makes this a seriously expressive Champagne of great elegance and ageing potential. The blend is 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir."
Paulaner Helles Lager Tall Can
$4.69
Bright and crisp with crackery, lightly lemony malt with floral hop notes and light body.
Speri St Urbano Valpolicella
$35.99
"Deep ruby with a rich, ample bouquet of spice and ripe red fruit confirmed on the full, layered palate," according to the importer. "The Speri family’s presence in the heart of Valpolicella goes back to 1874. Their vineyards (totaling 60 hectares/24 acres) are located in the finest districts of the Classico area. And every grape that goes into their wines is estate-grown and cultivated by the Speri family with just as much pride in the craft of viticulture – the hands-on, hard-working side of it – as the art of it. The vineyards are divided into three distinct crus: La Roverina, Sant’Urbano and La Roggia." Pair with red meats, perhaps game, or hard cheeses.
Lismore 15 Year
$94.49
The Lismore 15 year - showing balanced malt and a lighter touch of sherry than its older siblings. 40%
Old Pulteney 25 Year
$569.99
Bottled at 46% after maturing in Ex-Bourbon and finishing in Ex-Sherry. Lovely with lots of layers.
Producer Description
"For a quarter of a century, casks of this rare expression of Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky breathed the invigorating sea air of the Caithness coast. Sheltered from a fast-changing world by the darkened calm of a distillery warehouse, the spirit mellowed at its own steady pace, echoing the reassuring rhythm of its hometown port. Aged firstly in American oak, its spicy sweetness was later granted depth and colour by casks of Spanish oak. Elegant and charismatic, this wonderful whisky embodies both Wick’s spirit of endurance and Pulteney Distillery’s devotion to its craft."
Plantation OFTD - 69% Barrel Proof
$55.99
A marriage of rums from Barbados, Jamaica and Guyana, this molasses-based over-proof was made with the intentions of emulating the old-school, traditional dark over-proof rums found in the exotic locales of the Caribbean and South America. Big, rich, intense, an excellent concoction of robust flavours balanced out by the high alcohol content of the spirit, this is the kind of spirit that excels in expressing both sweet and balanced tones.
Ken Wright William Valley Pinot Noir
$55.99
Established in 1994 in Oregon, Ken Wright Cellars produces a single vineyard Pinot Noir from 13 different vineyard sites in the Northern Willamette Valley. This beautiful example will show you why these wines are so beloved!
Lapierre Morgon Raisins Gaulois
$39.99
A fun, fresh, well-priced red wine made from Gamay grapes by one of the top organic producers in Beaujolais. This pretty red is simple and straightforward and delicious. A wine of thirst par excellence! Marcel Lapierre, who died in 2010, was a major force behind the natural wine movement that has been sweeping the globe. His son and daughter, Mathieu and Camille, now heads up the winery, making fruit-forward wines with minimal intervention.