2011 Chateau d'Yquem $305 / 375mlA lovely, creamy, tropical style, with mango, papaya and guava notes lending a caressing feel, while singed almond and warm piecrust accents blossom through the lush finish. Just when you think that's all there is, toasted coconut, fig, orange blossom and persimmon details kick in, lending length and dimension. The finish is ridiculously long.
2011 Chateau Rieussec $56 /375ml
A very ripe, juicy, spicy style, with bold apricot, tangerine, toasted almond and papaya notes. Shows lots of power, with the length to match. A winner in the making.
2011 Chateau Raymond-Lafon $32 / 375mlDeliciously plump in feel, with toasted coconut, piecrust and warm brioche notes caressing a core of apricot, fig and creamed pear. The long and flattering finish.
2005 Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey $39.50 / 375mlThere's beautiful ripe fruit in this, with pineapple, mango and papaya and hints of vanilla and honey. Full-bodied and medium sweet. Rich and round, with loads of cooked apple, citrus peel and spices. Long and flavorful. Dense and rich.
1998 Kracher Chardonnay Trockenbeerenauslese Auslese No. 9 $65 / 375mlThe Yquem of Austria. Clean and opulent, this melts in the mouth, unfolding layer after layer of honey, citrus blossom, orange peel and vanilla. The purity and harmony are rhapsodic as it fades gently away over the long finish.
2010 Didier Dagueneau Les Jardins de Babylone $112 / 500ml100% Petit Manseng from the Pyranees near the village of Aubertin. Balanced, fragrant, with great acidity and long finish. Wonderfully clean & pure.
1927 Domaine Bory Rivesaltes $98In the South of France, there is a long tradition of producing fortified wines.. Undisturbed in 500-liter casks for decades, this wine was only recently-bottled at the Chateau. A delightfully refined Rivesaltes with a classy bouquet of soft caramel, stewed apples, pears, nuts and an overriding impression of completeness.
2004 Badia a Coltibuobo Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Occhio di Pernice $76/375mlSilky in texture and complex in flavor, with honey, caramel, fig, dried apricot, tobacco and clove notes boosted by vivid acidity. This cascades to a long aftertaste of dried fruit and spice. Very pure and harmonious. A stellar Vin Santo.
1964 Taylor Fladgate Very Old Port $285A limited edition port that has been at the winery all this time.
It’s poised between amazing fruit and a wonderful velvet texture that is shot through with acidity. A feeling of lightness comes from the acidity that gives great freshness as well as complex flavors. A real treat!
2003 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port $108Lovely aromas of currants, blackberries and licorice. Full-bodied, with medium sweetness and layers of ripe, round, velvety tannins.
El Maestro Sierra Pedro Ximenez PX Viejisimo $98/375mlFrom a solera that hasn't been disturbed for decades (believed to be between 50-60 years old), this is a true rarity. Wild blueberries, red fruit and reductive notes of almond and burnt caramel lead into bright acidity and an imperturbable finish.
2010 Sergio Mottura Muffo del Lazio Passito $54/375mlEnticing aromas of roasted banana, honey, saffron and caramel. Fresh, dense and very sweet, with good mid-palate verve thanks to vibrant acidity. The rich papaya and caramel apple flavors show a delicate smoky, almost charred touch. 100% Grechetto.
Vilmart Ratafia de Champagne $65
100% Pinot Noir from Champagne, fortified to 19%. Vibrant, clean, sweet but not too sweet.
2011 Quinta do Noval Vintage Port $103
Wonderfully precision on the nose with blackberry, cassis, intriguing flinty notes and a whiff of smoke with a underlying freshness. That comes through on the beautifully composed palate, which is underpinned by fine tannins that lend it a silky smooth mouthfeel. There is real intensity here, but it is very controlled with superb minerality on the finish.
