Product Line

Proprietor Sam Bilbro has spent virtually a lifetime around wine. His family owns Marietta, while brothers Jake and Scot are behind the reborn Limerick Lane. At Idlewild, Sam Bilbro focuses on Italian and other less well-known varieties. In addition to these wines, I also tasted the, Arneis Fox Hill Vineyard, Vin Gris Dry Creek Valley and Grenache Gris Gibson Ranch. The best wines in this range are compelling, and point to a bright future. ANTONIO GALLONI, www.vinousmedia.com

Having had a relationship with the Bilbro family as importers of the Marietta wines some years ago we were delighted to find youngest son, Sam, was behind this new venture, Idlewild. In many ways the wines are the anitpathy of what so many believe Californian wines are supposed to be. Hunting out heritage stands of Italian and Rhone varietals (mostly in Mendocino County) Bilbro makes extremely interesting wines characterised by texture, savouriness and subtlety. Skin contact is a part of the wines as is a relatively non-interventionist approach; both indicative of the preferences of the younger brigade of Calfornia producers. PWS

The 2017 White The Bee Flora & Fauna, is a classy, polished wine to drink now and over the next few years. Green pear, mint, white flowers and light tropical overtones all grace this very pretty, expressive wine. The Muscat in particular adds an attractive aromatic flair. ANTONIO GALLONI

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

I love the subtle floral honey, ripe grapefruit and shiso leaf aromas of this super elegant and creamy, full-bodied gewurz that is so unique you might well not recognize the grape variety. What delicacy and vitality at the long, silky finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.  96 STUART PIGOTT, jamessuckling.com

STAFF PICKS 2024 - RICH

Gewurtztraminer can be often misunderstood with low quality examples from the and 80's and 90's still in the minds and on the palates. This is a great wine to help change that mindset. Floral notes with honeysuckle leap from the glass with a hint of white pepper and the traditional spiciness. Due to an drier than normal vintage the alcohol is lower than usual and coming in at less than 1g residual sugar, there is a mineral freshness not often seen from this varietal. The palate follows the nose but brings in elements of stone fruit and sweet spice. If you haven't had a Gewurtztraminer in a hot minute, this is perfect. RICH

Hard as it may be to believe, this gewurz has stacks of yellow rose and star fruit aromas, but is only medium-bodied and tastes so bright. The interplay of the acidity and the exciting touches of tannin and bitterness drive the long, bone-dry finish. Just 12.6% alcohol. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now. STUART PIGOTT, jamessuckling.com

Very fresh and bright with effusive pink grapefruit and lilac aromas from the warm, dry growing season. I love this wine’s zesty personality and the wonderful mineral freshness that gives the long finish a terrific kick. This almost pure muscat a petits grains. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now. STUART PIGOTT, jamessuckling.com

Estate grown field blend of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay Musqué, Riesling and Grüner Veltliner. Up to 7 days of skin contact before pressing. Natural co-ferment and maturation in a Pozvek foudré for 9 months on full lees. 100% malolactic fermentation. Bottled in January 2024 unfined and unfiltered.

Amber hue in the glass, this wine is complex and highly aromatic with scents of fresh apricot, musk and lychee. Peach, beeswax and subtle smoky notes. A creamy mid palate with a refreshing saline finish.

The colour tells a big part of the story: deep, dark amber brown. The scent is complex, sweet and pure with walnut, honeyed fruitcake, treacle, coffee bean and vanilla. Falls like velvet on the tongue; seamless. This classification is the domain of the expert blender and the choices she makes to convey house style (elegant, fine), complexity and, importantly, freshness. Jen Pfeiffer is one such master of the art. (97) JENI PORT, wine companion

Deep amber in appearance. The nose is incredibly complex and concentrated, with aromas of burnt oranges, roasted walnuts, sandalwood, dried fruit and dark chocolate coated coffee beans. Seriously deep and brooding and an iconic style of Australian wine found nowhere else in the world. The average age of base wines is 28 year. Exceptional. (98) JAMES SUCKLING

The brooding and immaculate NV Rare Muscat Rutherglen (2024 release) is superbly pitched and mesmerizing, with its aged coffee grounds, roasted nut, old spice and cocoa tones brightened by cherry compote. Incredible fruit density fills the palate while balanced sweetness provides a seamless quality. The finish builds and builds to a fabulous conclusion. (97) angus Hughson, vinous media

Extraordinary intensity – wow, it just keeps on expanding across the palate. Thick, oily texture with intense dried fruit and incredible ripeness. An absolute scene-stealer! 18.5 jancis Robinson

Zind Humbrecht is one of the unquestioned kings of aromatic whites. His ceaseless drive to create the world's greatest examples of his varieties is nothing short of remarkable as are the resulting offerings. A devoted proponent of Biodynamics, a gifted presenter and communicator and a towering figure of modern wine, the first Frenchman to be awarded the MW (International Master of Wine) he has justifiably earned his reputation as one of the legends of modern wine.

The Tuckheim Range is the value tier and represents classic Alsatian whites from a regional blend of grapes as well as estate fruit. These vineyards are grown on the valley floor, where the glacial debris of rolled stones, granite and gneiss has settled over the aeons. Wine from these soils tends to have a lovely fruit profile underpinned with a stoney-mineral tension that screams 'drink me' and marks the wines with the typical mineral streak of Alsace.