French Aussie Cellar Offer November 2024
The cellar is a combination of two vendors parting with a small part of their impressive collections. Cellaring conditions have been excellent througout the life of the wine and to our inspection, the wines are in excellent condition. Where any label damage or lower fill levels have been detected we have mentioned that in the description.
Apart from superstars like from a who's who of Bordeaux, the cellar also features some incredible large format bottling from the 1970s - Lafleur, Ducru, La Lagune, Mouton Rothschild etc from magnum through to double magnum and imperial.
Beyond these, you'll find Guigal, d'Yquem, Chapoutier, Penfolds, Bass Phillip, Mt Mary, Pichon Lalande and so it goes. The vintages are mainly from the late 1980 through to late 1990s but also some 2000s bottlings; the point being that there's loads of ready or almost ready things to drink right now. Very special things.
Cheers
Michael McNamara
-
Chateau d'Yquem 1990A warm to hot vintage ideal for producing outstanding reds does not necessarily make for a great Sauternes vintage, but in the case of 1990 it did. Dry, warm winds in the autumn contributed to the level of concentration that this wine exhibits. Fortunately, a little rain in late September and early October ensured that botrytis flourished well in the end, the final factor necessary to achieve this extraordinary expression.
Medium to deep golden colored, the 1990 d'Yquem opens with unabashed opulence, giving expressive notes of dried apricots, toffee, candied walnut, tree bark and sandalwood with nuances of preserved mandarin peel, lemongrass and fallen leaves. The palate is entering that stage where it still has bags of fruit and yet appears quite dry, with a lively line contributing jaw-dropping tension and finishing with epically long-lingering honey nut and earth-inspired notes. Pure. Hedonism. The multilayered intensity perhaps makes this appear a much bigger, sweeter Yquem than it is, and yet it possesses a relatively modest 12.7% alcohol and 126 grams per liter of residual sugar with 3.9 grams per liter of total acidity (H2SO4). Well into its ideal drinking window, there is no real rush to drink this beauty, as it should remain suspended at the heavenly plateau for another 25+ years. (98) LISA PERROTTI-BROWN, robert parker
1989Sem/Sauv BlendFrance481$2,735.00 As low as $2,461.50 -
Lafleur 2002 3000ml OWBA wonderful minerally nose with a savory, almost biscuity touch from the Cabernet Franc. The palate is very supple and lithe, but there is immense concentration here. Rounded, seamless tannins almost meaty on the mid-palate. The Cabernet Franc really makes this wine. A sublime, slightly savory finish. Very persistent length. This is an outstanding 2002. Tasted April 2005. NEAL MARTIN
Somewhat of a revelation in a vintage that was obviously difficult in this appellation, Lafleur’s 2002 represents the essence of old vines with structured, deep, concentrated flavors. This medium-bodied, dense ruby/purple-colored effort exhibits impressive purity as well as a persistent, long palate offering a kiss of sweet kirsch and licorice. Some jagged tannin needs to be resolved if this wine is to merit a score in the low nineties. However, it will be very long-lived, especially for a Pomerol. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025 ROBERT PARKER
2002Cabernet BlendsFrance356$5,500.00 As low as $4,950.00