We have just received some fantastic drops from California - the cult wines of Orin Swift in the Napa, the delicious and well-priced Central Coast Nielson Wines, the elegant and juicy Mendocino Zin of Edmeades and a little top-up on crowd favourite La Crema + Ridge. All the details below!
- ORIN SWIFT -
Orin Swift is the brainchild of a brilliant young man by the name of Dave Phinney. His Midas touch with grapes from seemingly anywhere in the world, is unusual, but the brilliance of the wines, his creativeness and unparalleled blending talents have built an incredible portfolio right out of the gate. - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Magnificent packaging, intriguing blends, quirky, bold & in-your-face - It can only be a Dave Phinney's Orin Swift wine! From the almost perfect 2018 vintage, we are very excited to have these in stock - but they won't last long!
2018 Mannequin Chardonnay - $75 ; (91 Points, Wine Advocate) SOLD OUT
2018 Machete Petite Sirah Blend - $110 ; (93 Points, Wine Advocate) SOLD OUT
2018 Papillon Bordeaux Blend - $149 ; (94 Points, Wine Advocate) SOLD OUT
2018 Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon - $110
"Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Palermo gives up gregarious scents of kirsch, Black Forest cake and warm cassis with hints of dried mint, dark chocolate and rose hip tea plus a waft of unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with ripe black berry layers, framed by velvety tannins and a lively line, finishing long and fragrant." - 93 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
- NIELSON WINES -
Nielson Wines pays homage to its namesake, Uriel J. Nielson, who in 1964 planted the first commercial vineyard in Santa Barbara County, a region previously considered too cold to grow grapes. Known as a viticulture pioneer, Uriel didn’t heed warnings from neighbouring farmers and didn’t flinch in his stance that Santa Barbara County could be one among the top wine growing regions in the world - and that paid off, with two delicious and polished wines that perfectly walk the line between fruit-forward and elegance.
2019 Santa Barbara Chardonnay - $68
The 2019 has aromas of citrus flower, clean linen, and a burst of pineapple. The wine has a pleasant weight on the palate with honey and citrus notes and a light salinity.
2018 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir - $75
This wine has an elegant bouquet of black cherry, tea leaf, a slight caramel note, and lighter red fruit aromas. On the palate the wine has a delicate touch, with more flavours of red fruit, earth, and a long lasting savoury quality.
- EDMEADES -
Edmeades have built a reputation of producing delightful single vineyard Zinfandels - although this is their entry level one, expect a wine that balances the big, bold fruit of Zin balanced by superb tension and zippy acidity.
2018 Mendocino County Zinfandel - $65
The Mendocino County Zinfandel begins with concentrated aromas of baking spices including; cinnamon and cloves. Those spices give way to aromas of blackberries, black currants, and dried sage. The texture is round, and the fruit expression is focused and lush. Subtle and integrated tannins accentuate the richness of the wine, while pleasant acidity keeps it fresh on the finish.
- LA CREMA -
When La Crema was founded in 1979 as La Crema Viñera, meaning the Best of the Vine, the name was intended as an unabashed boast: These vineyards produced the very best grapes in the region. Today, the name has been shortened to mean, simply, the best, and La Crema’s wines represent the best grapes from preeminent cool-climate regions in California and Oregon. La Crema wines—inspired by Burgundian-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir—are made in small lots that nurture distinct flavours and balance. The end result is elegant wines that are unswerving in quality over time.
La Crema produces many delightful wines, so we encourage you to browse the whole range by clicking the link below.
BROWSE THE WHOLE RANGE OF LA CREMA
- RIDGE VINEYARDS -
In 1962, Ridge made its first Monte Bello, and two years later its first zinfandel. Since that time, Ridge has championed single-vineyard winemaking, searching California for those rare and exceptional vineyards where climate, soil, and variety are ideally matched. For more than six decades now, Ridge has been recognised by top critics and chefs for their consistent quality and steadfast approach to winemaking.
“The 2018 Chardonnay is classy, translucent and so vivid. Apricot, tangerine oil and light tropical overtones open up first, but the 2018 only starts to show all it has to offer with some aeration. The layers start to fill out, and yet the 2018 never loses its sense of transparency and overall detail. A real sense of phenolic weight gives the wine its distinctive mountain feel.” - 94 Points, Antonio Galloni
2018 Lytton Springs Zinfandel Blend - $149
“The 2018 Lytton Springs is magnificent. Elegant, layered and so complete, the 2018 has a lot to offer, but it needs time to fully come together. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice, mint and rose petal open up in the glass. Bright acids and beams of tannin give the wine its vibrant energy. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2018 for at least a few years. Wow!” - 96 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
2018 Geyserville Zinfandel Blend - $149
"The 2018 Geyserville is an infant. That much is obvious, especially in this lineup of otherwise more settled 2018s. Ripe Zinfandel flavors drive the overall profile. A blast of wild cherry, leather, tobacco, smoke, licorice, menthol and spice hit the palate first, followed by swaths of tannin and a touch of new oak that suggest the wine still needs time to come together. Readers should be in no rush.” - 94+ Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - $210
“Ridge’s 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a fabulous choice for readers who want a Monte Bello fix now, without having to wait. Supple, radiant and silky, with tremendous balance, the 2017 is just flat-out delicious and utterly irresistible. Dark red cherry/plum fruit, mocha, licorice, sweet tobacco and a kick of American oak build as this sumptuous Cabernet Sauvignon shows its allure. The 2017 is an outrageously beautiful wine. Don’t miss it.” - 94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous