Please find below a summary of my recent offers. I know many people are away this time of year so I thought it would be helpful to have all the wine on one email.
There should be something for everyone including a hand-picked selection of some of my favourite Medoc wines which won’t break the bank.
Chateau de Sours
Chateau de Sours rosé 2010, Bordeaux // £119.88 per case of 12 bottles inc VAT
£129.00 per case of 6 magnums inc VAT
Bright salmon pink with an enticing nose of primary, almost grassy red fruits. Juicy, fresh and bright red fruits on the palate, yet creamy and restrained, hugely appealing with a nice bite of acidity and a lovely fresh finish. Truly delicious.
Domaine Pascal Bouchard
Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume 2009 // £216.00 per case of 12 inc. VAT
Nutty nose with fine minerality on the palate - the perfect stepping-stone between a very good Bourgogne Chardonnay and the village wines of Meursault, Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachet.
Hamilton Russell Estate
Hamilton Russell Chardonnay 2009, Walker Bay // £225.00 per case of 12 inc. VAT
(Fortnum and Mason price £294.00)
This consistently impressive South African Chardonnay was one of five Chardonnays from around the world which made the cut for the Sommelier Journal’s Top releases of 2010. Its tightly structured citric core, savoury lees and smoky hazelnut notes put me in mind of really good Burgundy. This vintage weighs in at an old Old World-like 13% abv too. A beautiful wine – cool and poised, yet deeply satisfying.
Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir 2008, Walker Bay // £295.00 per case of 12 inc. VAT
(Fortnum and Mason price £390.00)
A tangy and racy style, boasting a nice core of mulled cherry, red currant and incense notes backed by a long, iron-tinged finish. Taut but vigorous, this should stretch out a touch with brief cellaring. Wine Spectator
Muratie Estate
Muratie Ansela Van de Caab 2007, Stellenbosch // £83.94 per six inc. VAT
48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 3% Shiraz.
A Cabernet dominated nose, Bordeaux-esque with minty complexity. Velvety tannins balance the fruit and fresh acidity follows in the finish. Cedar, chocolate complexity already as well as pure black fruit . Alcohol in check. Drink or keep for 10+ years.
Muratie Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Stellenboch // £80.94 per six inc. VAT
Old World restrain on the nose. Good concentration of cassis fruit with pencil lead complexity. Firm tannins give structure. Fresh acidity on the finish. Great overall balance and only 13% alcohol. Drink or keep for 8+ years.
Muratie Shiraz 2007, Stellenbosch // £80.94 per six inc. VAT
Lovely violet Syrah colour. Ripe, powdery red and black berry fruit. Pepper spice complexity and sweet tannins. Great oak integration and balance. A long, lingering finish. Drink or keep for 8+ years.
Muratie Pinot Noir 2008, Stellenbosch // £77.94 per six inc. VAT
A Pinot worthy of this great estate. Fresh strawberry and cherries on the nose combined with classic, Pinot earthiness. Gentle toasty oak. Harmonious and elegant finish. Drink now and over the next 2-3 years.
Muratie Isabella Chardonnay 2009, Stellenbosch // £74.94 per six inc. VAT
In many ways this is the estate’s piece de resistance. An elegant, Burgundy style with good integration of creamy French oak. (7 months in 30% new barrels.) A combination of tropical and citrus fruit with balancing acidity. 13% Drink now and over the next 2-3 years.
Rudi Schultz
Rudi Schultz Syrah 2007, Stellenbosch - 91 points WINE SPECTATOR
£144.00 per case of 12 inc. VAT – 10 cases remain
“Gorgeous and pure, displaying blueberry, raspberry and boysenberry fruit that is well-harnessed by cocoa powder, red licorice and mineral notes. Nice fresh acidity carries the racy finish.” — J.M. Wine Spectator, July 2010
Scali Estate
Scali Syrah 2006 - £198.00 per case of 12 bottles inc. VAT
Savoury aromas mixed with hallmark Syrah red and black fruits. Powerful blackcurrant and blackberry fruit. Some welcome black pepper before the dark chocolate finish. A Syrah rather than Shiraz in style and best when decanted. Will continue to age well for a decade.
Scali Pinotage 2006 - £198.00 per case of 12 bottles inc. VAT
Pure, bramble and cherry fruit together with some spice. Relatively soft structure but with some fine tannins and balanced acidity. This wine shows what Pinotage (a Pinot Noir and Cinsault cross) can do if made well. The maiden 2000 vintage is absolutely superb now. Drink or keep for 5 years+.
Bordeaux Médocs
Haut Médoc de Maucaillou 2005, Haut Médoc // £150.00 per case of 12 inc. VAT
Very typical Haut Médoc cassis fruit with pencil lead and savoury oak complexity. It shows the bright fruit of the vintage but with supple tannins. Very approachable.
Château Beaumont 2004, Cru Bourgeois Haut Médoc // £153.00 per case of 12 inc. VAT
This 2004 vintage sits neatly between the extreme heat and overblown wines (and prices) of 2003 and the near perfect but expensive 2005. It is a vintage that can be drunk young, particularly at this level but will also reward short to mid-term aging on some wines. For me, this wine is perfect now as an everyday, drinking claret. Seductive cassis fruit with classic Médoc cedar complexity and silky tannins. A reliable bargain.
Château Lanessan 2001, Haut Médoc // £198.00 per case of 12 inc. VAT
“Lanessan's 2001 is a consistent overachiever in Haut-Medoc. This wine nearly rivals the outstanding 2000. It is a seriously-extracted, dark ruby/purple-colored offering with ripe cassis fruit, notes of leather and earth, and a hint of truffles. It is medium-bodied, pure, and savory, with copious tannin. It will age well for 10-15 years.” Score: 87-89, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (140), April 2002
L'Abeille de Fieuzal 2007, Pessac Léognan // £198.00 per case of 12 inc. VAT
Made at the iconic Château de Fieuzal and rated 88/100 by Wine Spectator
Château Potensac 1998, Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel Médoc // £276.00 per case of 12 inc. VAT
“A solidly made Potensac, with spice box and black currant fruit, this medium-bodied effort reveals sweet fruit, moderate weight, and excellent purity. Drink it over the next 5-7 years”. 87 points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 134.
Also available at my website... http://rankinefinewines.blogspot.com/
Rankine Fine Wines
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7193 2907
Mobile: +44 (0) 7968 79 79 39
Email: info@rankinefinewines.co.uk
http://rankinefinewines.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com//RankineFineWine
Brook Cottage
Petworth Road
Chiddingfold
Surrey
GU8 4UA
Terms - please note our new delivery charges:
* All cases are 12 x 75cl unless otherwise stated.
* Minimum delivery is one case of 12 bottles or two cases of 6 bottles.
* Payment on receipt of invoice – cheques or bank transfers only.
* All wines are offered subject to final confirmation E&OE.
* If you are not satisfied with any wine on delivery simply return any unopened bottles to me for a full refund.
* Any breakage must be reported to me within three days of receipt.
Delivery Charges:
Inside M25 - £15.00
Other UK - £19.00 (reduced to £15.00 for one case)
