December Premium Six Pack 2022 - Christmas Magnum Party Pack

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Andre Clouet Grande Reserve NV 1500ml

ANDRE CLOUET (9/10) 

Bouzy and Ambonnay are the epicentre of pinot noir in Champagne, and the Clouet family is the priviledged custodian of eight hectares of estate vines in the best middle slopes of both villages.  These are rich and concentrated expressions of pinot noir, wines of deep complexity, multi faceted interest and engaging character, yet with remarkable restraint and sense of control.  Recent tastings confirm my impression that this small and relatively unknown grower ranks high among Champagne's finest practitioners of pinot noir - and expresses one of the best value of all.

100% Bouzy and Ambonnay pinot noir.  6g/L dosage
Release after release, year after year, I have always marvelled at the lemon blossom freshness that Clouet manages to capture in pinot noir from two of Champagne's most powerful terroirs.  Here it is again, in a captivating interplay of fleshy mirabelle plums, white peaches, crunchy golden delicious apples, and even a hint of pepper.  Wild honey and mixed spice join the maelstrom along the way, gliding obediently into a well defined finish of soft minerality and integrated dosage.  TYSON STELZER, The Champagne Guide 2014-2015

(100% Pinot Noir)The NV Brut Grande Reserve offers up layers of mineral-infused red fruits on a silky, mid-weight frame, with gorgeous length and a refined, subtle mousse. This impeccable, elegant wine shows terrific overall balance as well as complexity. I loved it. Andre Clouet is based in Bouzy, a village where Pinot Noir speaks with great eloquence, as is evident in these superb, pedigreed Champagnes. ANTONIO GALLONI, Robert Parker

Domaine Merlin Cherrier Sancerre 2019 1500ml

From 13 hectares of vines in Bué - one of the most revered villages in Sancerre - Thierry of Domaine Merlin-Cherrier produces beautifully classic white wines of which the region is famed.

When we arrived at the Domaine we looked down the street to see a gentleman in stubbies running from his tractor to a steep hill with possibly one of the biggest grins we had ever seen. Out of breath and without a word of English, his enthusiasm could only be rivaled by Manuel of Fawlty Towers!

A sign of a great producer is pride of their work in the vineyard. Thierry grabbed the keys to his ex US Military Jeep and we began a tour of his beautiful vineyards. It became evident quickly that this was a first class producer with fantastic attention to detail and passion.

William Fevre Chablis 2019 1500ml

A sleeper of the vintage, Fèvre's 2019 Chablis Village opens in the glass with notes of citrus oil, white flowers, crisp green apple and oyster shell. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and chiseled, it's taut and concentrated, with racy acids and a long, chalky finish. Produced from some 40 hectares of vineyards, averaging around 50 years old, this was cropped at yields of 43 hectoliters per hectare. Unusually intense and structured, readers willing to give this cuvée a bit of bottle age will be rewarded. WILLIAM KELLEY, Robert Parker

This is really bright and clear with sliced apple, pear and stone. Some chalk, too. It's linear and tight. Pretty length and freshness. JAMES SUCKLING

Selvapiana Chianti Rufina DOCG 2020 1500ml

So much crushed-stone character here with citrus and black-cherry aromas. Medium-bodied with iodine and oyster-shell undertones to the blue fruit. Lemon rind at the end. JAMES SUCKLING

There is a lot of talk about how Selvapiana makes Chianti that is what Chianti used to taste like. That may be a little difficult to get your head around but there is quintessential Tuscan heart to these wines with there rustic tannin profiles, sour cherry fruits with that wild herb and fresh leather/tobacco backdrop. Its evocative and very difficult to resist. These are fabulous wines whatever way you look at it.

Remejeanne Un Air de Cotes du Rhone 2021 1500ml

No one… ever paid much attention to the wines of the out-of-the-way village of Sabran - until a careful, thoughtful winemaker like Rémy Klein came along. ANDREW JEFFORD, The New France

Proprietor Rémy Klein is one of the most consistently top-flight winemakers among the Côtes du Rhone producers. ROBERT PARKER

Full of bright red fruits, just picked raspberry and crushed cherry intermingled with a bouquet garny of lavender, sage, thyme and a top-not of violet that adds a little bit of prettiness to the nose. Lovingly crafted in a pure elegant style with lots of nascent energy at its core that gives it some wonderful vitality. Supple with perfectly ripe fruits and sweet caress of fine tannin.

Woodlands Clementine Cabernet Merlot Petit Verdot 2017 1500ml

Cabernet sauvignon takes the lead (56%), with decent amounts of malbec and merlot plus petit verdot and cabernet franc. Excellent dark purple-garnet; expect blackberries and mulberries, hints of spices and rosemary and while the oak (17 months in barrel, 30% new) adds to the flavour profile, it'll continue to melt into the wine, now a touch drying on the finish. Plenty of juicy fruit though across the fuller-bodied palate. It's not a big wine just neatly composed. JANE FAULKNER, James Halliday