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12 FREE
750ml
Bottle: $133.88
12 bottles: $131.20
12 FREE
Sale
750ml
Bottle: $169.89 $184.20
Dark ruby. Deep, brooding nose hints at dark plum, blackcurrant, coffee and lavender accented by cinnamon and...
12 FREE
VM
91
WS
90
Sale
750ml
Bottle: $1513.35 $1681.50
The 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is unquestionably this renowned estate's greatest wine. As I indicated last year, only 38%...
12 FREE
WA
100
Sale
750ml
Bottle: $1296.18 $1440.20
Softly spoken, fine tannins, pencil lead and leather, with truffle, earth, campfire and spice. Long drawn out finish,...
12 FREE
DC
100
WA
100
Sale
750ml
Bottle: $476.55 $529.50
Tasted over dinner in July 2009.
12 FREE
VM
94
WA
91
Spirits
750ml
Bottle: $120.59
6 bottles: $119.80
12 FREE
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $453.83
It's extremely rare to taste older vintages of Angélus. It's utterly sumptuous, and it's such a shame that the...
DC
95
WS
92
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $501.41
It's extremely rare to taste older vintages of Angélus. It's utterly sumptuous, and it's such a shame that the...
DC
95
WS
92
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $102.95
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $117.96
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $190.43
This is a backward, muscular, highly-extracted wine with a boatload of tannin, thus the question mark. The saturated...
WA
91
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $59.62
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $229.64
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $94.37
A wine must reflect its terroir, its origins. We strongly believe that the uniqueness of the vineyard’s location is...
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $567.93
While in some vintages La Mission Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion can be close in quality, that is not the case in this...
WA
95
WS
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $545.43
While in some vintages La Mission Haut-Brion and Haut-Brion can be close in quality, that is not the case in this...
WA
95
WS
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $67.20
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $1059.83
Many 1996 are still pretty closed up right now, as it was a vintage with fairly hefty tannins but this is perfect for...
DC
95
VM
93
Case only
Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $1038.95
The 1996 Lafite-Rothschild is unquestionably this renowned estate's greatest wine. As I indicated last year, only 38%...
WA
100

Armagnac Ice Wine Red Bordeaux 1996

Armagnac is a beloved grape brandy, hailing from the beautiful French region of Gascony, in the south-west of the country. It has been in constant production since sometime just before the fifteenth century, and over the decades has been the toast of royal households across Europe. Today, it is still enjoyed for its unique flavor profile and characteristics, and although it is understandably compared with Cognac, its more famous cousin, lovers of Armagnac claim that its distinctive rusticity and full body make it a superior brandy, perfect as a digestif or as an evening treat.

Armagnac is made from more than one grape varietal, but the major player in this drink is the fine Ugni Blanc grape, more commonly known by its Italian name, Trebbiano. This is one of the most widely planted grape varietals in the world, and grows beautifully in Gascony, which has a similar microclimate as its neighbouring wine region, Bordeaux. Armagnac grapes reveal fascinating and complex flavors after distillation, which commonly include christmas cake, earthy, oaky notes and praline.

Armagnac is sold under two categories - vintage, and non-vintage. A vintage Armagnac is made from a blend of grapes which have been grown in a single year, and will have the date printed on the label. Non-vintage Armagnacs, on the other hand, are labelled according to their age. V.S indicates that the brandy has been aged for a minimum of two years, VSOP for four years, XO six years, and Hors d’Age is a premium Armagnac which has been aged for at least ten years.

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world's finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six 'official' Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act – the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.