While it was only back in early July when we last honed in on some great names of the United States, the warm response from many attendees at that tasting gave us reason enough to have another planned for the near future! It happened to work out perfectly, as a big shipment holding some very famous American names came through our doors just a couple of weeks back - we're thrilled to step things up a notch come this Saturday (13th September) from 12 to 2pm, as we pop open a handful of these elite houses for our tasting! Au Bon Climat, Clos du Val, Chateau Montelena, Far Niente and Spottswoode are set to feature for what will be an impressive showcase of both power and winemaking prowess.
For fans and collectors of the USA in general, below you'll find a comprehensive general list of our whites and reds from both California and Oregon currently, organised alphabetically by house, with all bottles on special for the next two weeks! Names like Elk Cove, Joseph Phelps, Kistler, Littorai, Nicolas Jay, Ridge and William Selyem can be found within (with some down to the last available bottles of their particular vintage). It's certainly proven a rarity down the years for all these names to be available with us at one time, so we hope it all proves a bit of fun to scroll through!
Of the following wines below on offer, the bottles being poured at our tasting this Saturday 13th September (12 to 2pm) will be:
Bogle Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023
Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2023
Au Bon Climat 'Los Alamos' Chardonnay 2021
Clos du Val Napa Valley Red Blend 2021
Clos du Val Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Far Niente Post & Beam Chardonnay 2023
Far Niente Estate Chardonnay 2023
Spottswoode 'Lyndenhurst' Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Au Bon Climat
Santa Barbara Chardonnay 2023 -
$75 on special this week; $85 RRP
"Santa Barbara County’s climate and terroir consistently enable Au Bon Climat to produce balanced and lively Chardonnays year after year. Our 2023 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is sourced from five carefully farmed vineyards: Bien Nacido, Los Alamos, Rancho Real, Gold Coast, and North Canyon. A bouquet of citron, apple blossom, and chamomile culminate in fresh floral notes on the nose. Bright acidity and flavors of grapefruit and baker's yeast make this wine a joy to drink now and a versatile option for food pairing." - Winemaker Notes
Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2023 -
$75 on special this week; $85 RRP
"This wine is a handcrafted blend from premier vineyards in Santa Barbara County. The majority of the blend comes from the Santa Maria Valley, featuring Bien Nacido, North Canyon, and Rancho Real vineyards. Classic fruit aromas followed by an earthy depth. Aromas of red currant, blueberry, and blood orange greet the nose, followed by subtle hints of bay leaf, white pepper, and wet stone. The palate is well-balanced, with just the right amount of tannin and acid, resulting in superb structure and a delightful mouthfeel." - Winemaker Notes
'Los Alamos' Chardonnay 2021 -
$99 on special this week; $115 RRP
"The Los Alamos Vineyard is roughly 500 planted acres, most of which is on flat bottomland of the Los Alamos Valley that is sandwiched between the warmer Santa Ynez Valley and cooler Santa Maria Valley appellations. The best grapes from this vineyard are found to the north on the gentle slopes of the hills. We source from grapes grown at the top of the wind-swept slopes of the Solomon Hills. On this hilltop the wind and shallower soils keep the yields low and the grapes struggle to ripen. Even though it is a struggle, the small crop ripens early. The fruit is hand harvested, whole cluster pressed, and put to barrel. It was aged 16 months on the lees in 33% new François Frères French oak barrels." - Winemaker Notes
Bogle Vineyards
Chardonnay 2023 -
$35 on special this week; $39 RRP
"The aromas of freshly baked brioche are captivating, giving way to yellow plum, bruléed orange slices and notes of Elderflower honey on the nose. The flavors on the palate are sugared lemon rind, baked pear, Pink Lady apple with yeasty medium mousse and a mineral dry finish." - 92 Points, Tonya Pitts, Wine Enthusiast
Old Vine Zinfandel 2022 -
$35 on special this week; $39 RRP
"Aged 12 months in 2-year-old American oak. Bright, ripe and intriguing our Old Vine Zin bursts from the glass with aromas of raspberries and pink peppercorns. Cranberries mix well with brambly berries, creating dense fruit flavors framed by pipe tobacco leaf and cedar. Finishing with great structure and moderate tannins, this wine is the epitome of balance and finesse, while never compromising its authentic Zinfandel character. A perfect pair to so many dishes, including wood-fired pizza, pasta with red sauce and absolutely anything off the grill." - Winemaker Notes
Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 -
$37 on special this week; $42 RRP
"Delightful, juicy aromas of ripe Bing cherry, red plums, dried bay leaf and fresh tobacco play lively on the nose. It builds into an electric, juicy raspberry and citrus cream structure with silky tannins, leaving you awaiting the next sip. Pour and enjoy with smoked duck." - 91 Points, Tonya Pitts, Wine Enthusiast
Chateau Montelena
Napa Valley Chardonnay 2021 -
$165 on special this week; $189 RRP
(Our final bottles of this vintage!)
"A warm, rich concentrated year, very much the opposite of 16. We wanted to express the characteristics of the vintage, looking at different picking windwos, lots of lemon curd, wet stone and brightness, tons of fresh white pepper and caramom, a consistent ripe stone fruit finish carries the wine out." - 93 Points, Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 -
$205 on special this week; $230 RRP
"Deliciously savoury and herbaceous, this Cabernet from the iconic Montelena Estate is a welcome throwback. Wild anise, turned earth, and wild lavender flowers announce the aromatics, followed closely by dusty red berries. The palate is fresh and lively with savoury dill and bay leaf notes and a tremendous chalky texture that envelopes a core of bright, concentrated berries. Perfectly tart blackberries, smoky clove, and white pepper provide brightness and spice. This delicious Cabernet's finish is marked by eucalyptus and mint." - 95 Points, Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
Clos du Val
Napa Valley Red Blend 2021 -
$94 on special this week; $105 RRP
// 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, and 17% Malbec
What lovely detail there is to this blend from Clos du Val; seductive array of red and dark fruits, oaked spiced characteristics, long finish with fine velvety tannins, very much an old-school style Bordeaux vibe going on. Ripe plum, licorice, dark chocolate, and a fresh bite of lead-like minerality. All the components feel in harmony with one another; effortlessly enjoyable! - Our Notes
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 -
$145 on special this week; $165 RRP
// 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
"Seductive oak spices and a plush mouthfeel come with abundant red and black fruits in this full-bodied, appropriately tannic wine that needs time to reach its full potential. Pine and rosemary accents merge nicely with the blackberries and blueberries. Best from 2028–2038." - 94 Points, Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast
Elk Cove Vineyards
Pike Road Pinot Noir 2022 -
$59 on special this week; $67 RRP
"This 100% stainless steel-fermented Pinot Noir is as fresh and crisp as snow melt flooding a mountain stream. Prickly boysenberry and smoked salmon aromas blend into flavors like raspberry lemonade laced with black tea. Citrusy acidity meets silky tannins on Pike Road." - 91 Points, Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2022 -
$84 on special this week; $95 RRP
"The 2022 vintage was a classic in Oregon, though bookended by some bizarre weather. Elk Cove has estate vineyards in both the Chehalem Mountain and Yamhill-Carlton AVAs. This Pinot Noir is comprised of wines from six different sites. Brilliant red fruit aromatics, with sweet candied raspberries coming to the fore, buoyed by notes of fresh mint. The palate is fleshy and offers plenty of tannin and structure, fresh red and black bramble fruits interplaying with savoury herbal notes, and finishes with a gravelly mineral tone.” – 92 Points, Clive Pursehouse, Decanter
Evesham Wood
Willamette Pinot Noir 2022 -
$69 on special this week; $79 RRP
"The 2022 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley displays a beautiful lightness of being, rising up from the glass with a woodland-inspired bouquet as nuances of sage and flowery undergrowth come together with crushed cherries and spice. It’s soft-textured yet lifted in feel, with crisp red fruits and an herbal tinge that roots the experience in the earth. Saline mineral tones and grippy tannins resonate under an air of lavender, yet in the end, this is a wine of freshness. Beautiful. It was refined in all neutral French oak." - 92 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous
'Le Puits Sec' Pinot Noir 2021 -
$132 on special this week; $150 RRP
"What a beauty! The 2021 Pinot Noir Le Puits Sec blossoms in the glass with a gorgeous mix of dusty violets and roses complemented by autumnal spice, giving way to citrus-tinged wild berries. This sweeps across the palate with finesse, lifted and ethereal, with shades of blue and purple inner florals accentuating dark red fruits. It finishes long and hauntingly floral with a tactile mineral crunch and coating of gently grippy tannins. For lovers of old-school Oregon Pinot, the 2021 is dreamy." - 94 Points, Eric Guido, Vinous
Far Niente
'Post & Beam' Napa Valley Chardonnay 2023 -
$89 on special this week; $99 RRP
"The 2023 growing season was marked by cool weather and more rain than usual. This weather, along with a late budbreak made for one of the later harvests in recent memory. The slow ripening allowed the Chardonnay to develop nuanced flavors and retain a vibrant acidity. We picked all of our Carneros Chardonnay vineyards at their peak ripeness, and fermentations were carried out mostly in French Oak barriques with some stainless-steel tank ferments to retain some lifted fruit characteristics. Bright and lively, the 2023 Post & Beam Chardonnay displays hints of lemon curd, honeysuckle and orange blossom on the nose, with flavors of melon, passionfruit, and Anjou pear all sitting nicely on the palate. The finish is vibrant with lifted acidity and lingering notes of French vanilla that is a true and unique expression of Carneros Chardonnay." - Winemaker Notes
Far Niente Estate Chardonnay 2023 -
$175 on special this week; $199 RRP
"Pure aromas of lemon confit, poached Asian pears, pastry and lanolin. The palate is medium-bodied with focused acidity and a creamy texture, giving notes of lime curd, orange blossoms, yellow apples and flint. Very well constructed and polished. Drink or hold." - 93 Points, James Suckling
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 -
$190 on special this week; $215 RRP
// 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 1% Malbec
"The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is absolutely gorgeous. Succulent red cherry, red plum, mocha, spice and leather are front and center. Soft contours and silky plush tannins give the 2019 its tremendous immediacy and overall appeal. The 2019 is a superb wine in its peer group." - 93 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Kistler
'Les Noisetiers' Chardonnay 2023 -
$190 on special this week; $215 RRP
"Kistler Chardonnays are produced from one proprietary, heritage California selection that brings low yields, tiny berries, great concentration of both flavor and texture, and naturally low pH with high acids. Using only one selection of Chardonnay across all vineyards is the realization of Kistler’s vision in 1978 to exhibit a transparency to site in our wines. Les Noisetiers is focused on the lean, sandy, Goldrige soils where the Russian River and Sonoma Coast overlap which produce a distinct set of earthen, toasted hazelnut aromatics. The primary terroirs that drive Les Noisetiers are Vine Hill, Trenton Roadhouse, Dutton Ranch and Laguna Ridge." - Winemaker Notes
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2022 -
$190 on special this week; $215 RRP
"Our multi-vineyard Pinot Noirs are repositories for our young up-and-coming plantings of the varietal as it’s not uncommon for us to wait 10-15 years for a vineyard to show us that it is ready to be bottled on its own. The fruit that informs the Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir will someday be driving new single vineyard bottlings and it offers an intriguing look into the future. It is driven by two plantings in the cooler fog influenced climes of western Sonoma County." - Winemaker Notes
"The 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is laced with crushed flowers, sweet, red-toned fruit, white pepper, herbs and orange peel. Aromatic and medium in body, the Sonoma Coast Pinot offers quite a bit of floral and savory character to play off its mid-weight personality." - 92 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Russian River Pinot Noir 2022 -
$205 on special this week; $230 RRP
"The Russian River Pinot Noir is a single vineyard source on the Sonoma Coast. Just like all Kistler Pinots, it is fermented in small open top fermenters and the free run juice is barrel aged and remains in barrel for fourteen to eighteen months until bottling. This wine comes from a cooler Russian River site and offers a complex bouquet of red currants, smoked earth, ground pepper, and exotic floral and rosehip notes. Rich, medium-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it’s incredibly classy as well as perfectly balanced." - Vintage Imports Wines
Littorai
'Les Larmes' Pinot Noir 2023 -
$165 on special this week; $185 RRP
"Exciting, bold and lively with a smooth texture already and certainly not aggressively youthful, although it will doubtless develop further. Much fresher than some California Pinot Noirs." - 17.5+ Points / 20, Jancis Robinson MW
Nicolas Jay
Willamette Valley 'Bishop Creek' Pinot Noir 2018 -
$190 on special this week; $215 RRP
"Bright violet. Powerful, oak-spiced cherry and blackberry scents, along with suggestions of incense, star anise, vanilla and musky sassafras. Alluringly sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering intense red and dark berry preserve, cherry cola and spicecake flavors and building smokiness. In a pretty primary state right now. Closes impressively long and gently chewy, with slowly building tannins and repeating spice and dark fruit notes." - 95 Points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous
Orin Swift
'Abstract Proprietary' Blend 2019 -
$79 on special this week; $89 RRP
// Blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah
"Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Proprietary Red Abstract leaps from the glass with a pretty perfume of chocolate-covered cherries, stewed plums and kirsch with hints of Chinese five spice, menthol and Ceylon tea plus a waft of wild sage. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has lovely purity with juicy black and red berry flavors and a soft texture, finishing with a minty lift." - 91 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
'Eight Years in the Desert' Zinfandel Blend 2019 -
$92 on special this week; $105 RRP
// Primarily Zinfandel, with Petite Sirah and Syrah
"Medium garnet-purple colored, the 2019 Zinfandel Blend 8 Years in the Desert delivers notions of stewed plums, baked raspberries and fruitcake with hints of powdered cinnamon, clove oil, tree bark, hoisin and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of ripe, spicy black and red fruits, supported by chewy tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and earthy." - 93 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
'Papillon' Napa Cabernet Blend 2019 -
$139 on special this week; $170 RRP
// 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cab Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot and 2% Malbec
"A blend of all five Bordeaux varieties, the 2019 Papillon Red Wine is a full-bodied, open-knit effort marked by pronounced notes of cedar, mocha and black cherries. Soft across the mid-palate, it turns crisper on the juicy, mouthwatering finish, but it manages to nicely conceal its considerable alcohol content." - 92 Points, Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Ridge Vineyards
'Ponzo' Zinfandel 2018 Museum Release -
$135 on special this week; $155 RRP
(Last bottle available!)
“The 2018 Zinfandel Ponzo comes from the Russian River Valley and is blended with a 3% splash of Petite Sirah. The nose is bold and fruit-driven with tricolored berry aromas accented by notes of blood orange, licorice and dried flowers. The palate, though packed with fruit, is soft, approachable and fresh and finishes long and lifted.” - 93 Points, Erin Brooks, Robert Parker Wine Advocate
'Geyserville' Zinfandel Blend 2021 -
$175 on special this week; $199 RRP
(Final few bottles!)
// 76% Zinfandel, 16% Carignane, 6% Petite Sirah, 1% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro
The 2021 Geyserville hits the palate with a burst of dark red/purplish fruit, sweet spice, lavender, chocolate, dried herbs and American oak. I would be in no rush to open the 2021, as it is clearly an infant at this stage. The 2021 is a powerhouse, that much is pretty clear." - 94+ Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (April 2023)
'Lytton Springs' Zinfandel Blend 2021 -
$175 on special this week; $199 RRP
(Final few bottles!)
// 72% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Sirah, 9% Carignane and 2% Alicante Bouschet
"The 2021 Lytton Springs is fabulous. Bright and vibrant to its core, the 2021 impresses with its poise. Readers will find a Lytton Springs that is very much in reserve, as opposed to the rest of the 2021s in this report, all of which are more approachable. Salivating acids and veins of tannin lend shape and persistence, but the 2021 needs time. Red cherry fruit, blood orange, rose petal and sage are some of the notes that linger on the close." - 95+ Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (October 2023)
Schrader
'Double Diamond' Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 -
$129 on special this week; $145 RRP
"100% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 54% new French oak and 46% second-use Schrader Darnajou French oak. The Oakville Cabernet from Double Diamond delivers greater power and a more intense structure than Proprietary Red. It is a slightly more serious wine with a brooding, inky character that commands attention. The tannins are long and finely grained, coating the palate in broad, luxurious strokes. This lush, full-bodied wine offers a silky texture and a plethora of blackberry fruit underpinned by ironstone minerality. Aromatic notes of sweet fennel, sage, and a hint of tarragon intertwine with black liquorice, leading to a long finish accented by fine cigar box and toasted cedarwood nuances. Enjoy now, or cellar to reveal even greater depth over the next decade." - 95 Points, Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter
Spottswoode
'Lyndenhurst' Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 -
$249 on special this week; $280 RRP
"Spottswoode's 20th anniversary blend of its Lynderhurst bottling combines 79.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.6% Merlot, 3.8% Petit Verdot, 3.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2.9% Malbec. Sourced from a number of sites throughout Napa Valley, aged 20 months in 35% new French oak. Though this is considered a second label of the estate, it is a fabulous wine in its own right. In 2021, it captures the powerfully compact tannin structure of the low-yielding vintage, matched by the savoury-spiced aromatics that are so prevalent in the best-made Cabernets of the year. Beautifully fragrant cranberry and cassis intermingle with dusty minerals, spearmint and sagebrush. Medium-bodied on entry, its upfront bright, red-berry fruit is juicy and showy until a wealth of robust chalky tannins overtakes everything and holds firm until resolving several seconds later with a cache of sweet brown baking spices, and candied violets." - 94 Points, Jonathan Cristaldi, Decanter
Williams Selyem
Central Coast Pinot Noir 2022 -
$249 on special this week; $280 RRP
"The 2022 growing season experienced epic drought conditions, with the first half of the calendar year being one of the driest on record. Most of the rainfall came in November and December, saturating the soil, and setting the stage for the early part of the year. The key to success in 2022 was the selective thinning of shoots and fruit to reduce the variation, tightening the window of ripening. Due to the complexities of the growing season, the wines show excellent structure and verve, with typical site specificity, and all in all a terrific vintage with aging potential. Notes of plum and purple flowers combine with wood spices to showcase this elegant offering. Hints of dried herbs add a wonderful counterpoint to the fruit and floral aromatics. Easy to drink and approachable with the soft tannin structure and seamless acidity. With an already round palate architecture, the wine can be enjoyed young, but certainly will hold for several years." - Winemaker Notes
If you wish to buy any of these wines, please use the links above
Alternatively, email us at sales@thewineemporium.com.au, or contact us on (07)32521117 if you have any questions.
// Special prices valid until Thursday the 25th of September