France
DOMAINE DU PAVILLON CORTON-CHARLEMAGNE GRAND CRU  2004
AC  
(Albert Bichot)
The greatest white wines of Burgundy's Aloxe-Corton appellation come from the sub-appellation Corton-Charlemagne; this is a superb example of that style of wine.

TASTING NOTE: Steely, yet with a richness and expressive flavors of lemon verbena, almond, vanilla and mineral. Fine texture and harmony already at this stage. It ends with a blast of youthful exuberance and lemon vanilla aftertaste. Drink now through 2018. Score - 92. (Bruce Sanderson, www.winespectator.com, Sept. 30, 2006) 
46698    (XD)            750 mL    $134.95   

California
LANDMARK OVERLOOK CHARDONNAY  2005
Sonoma County/Santa Barbara County/Monterey County
Landmark Vineyards are devoted Chardonnay specialists and this is their signature wine. The Overlook Chardonnay has made the Wine Spectator's Top 100 list six times in the last decade.

   

ZIND-HUMBRECHT HERRENWEG DE TURCKHEIM GEWURZTRAMINER  2005
AC Alsace  
Zind-Humbrecht is one of the recognized kings of Alsace and that distinction rests on the quality of their Gewurztraminer.

  

WEGELER RIESLING SPÄTLESE  2004   
QmP, Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland, Estate Btld.

The 2004 vintage is considered a classic for both Kabinett and Spätlese Riesling. TASTING NOTE: Sweet spices and white peach complement the apple flavor in this succulent white. Its lively acidity leaves a mouthwatering impression as it glides to a long aftertaste. Fine balance and purity. Drink now through 2018. Score - 90. (Bruce Sanderson, www.winespectator.com, April 30, 2006) 
918771    (MS)            750 mL    $29.95   

CAYMUS SPECIAL SELECTION CABERNET SAUVGNON  2004
Napa Valley  

A wine needing no introduction, Caymus Special Select is true to its name: it is always special.

  

CHATEAU MONTELENA THE MONTELENA ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON  2003
Calistoga, Napa Valley  

Château Montelena made its reputation at the classic Judgement in Paris French/California taste-off in 1976. It continues to be at the forefront of winemaking in California.

  

California
BERINGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON PRIVATE RESERVE  2002
Napa Valley  

One of Napa Valley's oldest continuously operating wineries, Beringer deeply impresses both critics and consumers with a hit parade of spectacular wines such as this Private Reserve.

TASTING NOTE: ... It is a fruit-forward, softer, more flamboyant, already seductive effort displaying gorgeous notes of chocolaty creme de cassis, some spicy, high-quality, toasty oak, a rich, plush, savory, expansive mid-palate, and a long, heady finish with elevated glycerin and plenty of sweet tannin and fruit. This wine is delicious yet promises to age gorgeously for 15-20 years ... Score - 94. (Robert Parker Jr., www.erobertparker.com, Dec. 2005) 
552851    (XD)            750 mL    $120.95   

JOSEPH PHELPS CABERNET SAUVIGNON  2004
Napa Valley

Joseph Phelps' first vintage in 1974 represented a radical new approach to Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Today his wines are considered one of California's greatest success stories.

  

ELDERTON COMMAND SHIRAZ  2003
Barossa, South Australia, Single Vineyard  

Wine Spectator considers Elderton Command Shiraz "one of Australia's modern classics". Discover it for yourself.

TASTING NOTE: While the deep plum/ruby/garnet-tinged 2003 Shiraz Command is slightly less nuanced than the 2002, it is just as powerful and full-bodied, offering copious quantities of fruit, glycerin, tannin, and muscle. This chewy, rich offering appears to be on a faster evolutionary track than its 2002 counterpart. Give it another 2-3 years of bottle age, and consume it over the following 12-15. Score - 94. (Robert Parker Jr., www.erobertparker.com, Oct. 2006) 
716142    (D)            750 mL    $74.95   

D'ARENBERG THE DEAD ARM SHIRAZ  2005
McLaren Vale, South Australia
 
It is not an overstatement to say that without d'Arenberg, McLaren Vale would not have the worldwide reputation it enjoys today, and the latest vintage of The Dead Arm Shiraz is considered one of the best ever. TASTING NOTE: Inky violet. Vibrant, perfumed nose melds blackberry, cassis, kirsch, licorice and dried flowers. On the palate, this shiraz shows an intriguing mix of sweet dark fruit flavors and firmer earth and mineral notes, with big but supple tannins contributing structure. The palate-staining finish features notes of bitter cherry, cured tobacco and high-octane chocolate. Nothing obvious here.
Score - 93. (Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, July/Aug. 2007)
 
981183    (XD)            750 mL    $55.95   

CHÂTEAU DE LA TOUR CLOS-VOUGEOT VIEILLES VIGNES  2005
AC, Grand Cru   (J. Labet & N. Déchelette)

This is an extraordinary wine from what many are calling the greatest Burgundy vintage ever.

CA'MARCANDA PROMIS  2005
IGT Toscana  
(Gaja)

Ca'Marcanda is Angelo Gaja's winemaking venture in Tuscany's coastal region of Maremma. Here he takes his experience and skill as one of Piedmont's greatest winemakers and applies them to international varieties in Tuscany. The 2005 Promis is a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Syrah and 10% Sangiovese. Aged 18 months in barrels, it displays fascinating aromas of tobacco, smoke, cedar and ripe red and black fruits. There's nice aroma replay on the full-bodied palate with medium leathery tannins and bright acidity providing structure to this elegant and supple wine. It should develop further over the next 5-7 years.

745638    (XD)            750 mL    $44.95   

LE SERRE NUOVE DELL'ORNELLAIA  2005
DOC Bolgheri Rosso  

This estate has a track record envied by wineries all over the world. Demand today for the wines of Tenuta dell' Ornellaia has never been higher. Le Serre Nuove, a blend of Merlot, Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc and Petit Verdot, is a bright and fruity wine with red and black berries tinged by subtle oak flavours of chocolate and clove. Previous vintages have consistently rated in the 90s by top wine critics and this 2005 - a vintage that is already acclaimed in Tuscany - will certainly join those ranks.

ORNELLAIA  2004
DOC Bolgheri Superiore  

Ornellaia and Sassicaia are the two names one associates with the revolution in Tuscany that began in the late 1970s and 1980s. These Super-Tuscans changed the world's perception of Italian wines.

   

CAVALLOTTO BAROLO RISERVA BRICCO BOSCHIS SAN GIUSEPPE  2000
DOCG  

Collectors know that the warm 2000 vintage in Piedmont made for some spectacular Barolos like this fascinatingly complex wine.

TASTING NOTE: ... Thoroughly convincing, it displays a balsamic nose of spices, menthol and licorice, followed by deep layers of dark fruit and tar, with a backward, structured personality and potent tannins. This wine should start to be expressive around age 12-15 after which it will offer a long window of highly enjoyable drinking. The 1989 and 1990 versions were still youthful and full of life when last tasted two years ago. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. Score - 91. (Antonio Galloni, www.erobertparker.com, Oct. 2006) 
50716    (XD)            750 mL    $69.95   

GAJA SITO MORESCO  2005
DOC Langhe  

One of the great innovators of Italian wine, Angelo Gaja is a huge fan of Nebbiolo, describing it as more like Marcello Mastroianni than John Wayne. Nebbiolo "would never be in the center of a room. He is shy. He is a closed book. And women become beautiful beside him. This is the beauty of Nebbiolo". With this spectacular wine, Gaja combines 35% Nebbiolo with 35% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Expect an elegant, balanced, ageworthy wine (5-7 years) that can be enjoyed now with mature cheeses or rare cuts of meat.

976043    (XD)            750 mL    $59.95   
998575    (XD)            375 mL    $29.95   

MASI CAMPOLONGO DI TORBE AMARONE CLASSICO  2001
DOC  

This limited-production Amarone is the top bottling from the famous Masi estate.

TASTING NOTE: The Amarone Campolongo di Torbe is very similar to the excellent 2000 version. It's built in the same style, with well-behaved fruit and very interesting iodine sensations mingling with Mediterranean sc-rubland. The progression is steady and gradual as the light, harmonious palate develops. Score - (out of 3). (Gambero Rosso Italian Wines, 2007) 
548677    (D)            750 mL    $84.95   

MASI MAZZANO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO  2001
DOC  

The 2008 Gambero Rosso Italian Wines guide awarded this Amarone its highest rating. Production for this wine is very limited and it is made only in the finest vintages. Aged for three years in oak and a further six months in bottle, this Amarone presents a bouquet of violets, vanilla, plums, candied fruit and cocoa which resound splendidly on the full-bodied palate and linger on the long finish. Enjoy with red meats, richly-flavoured foods and strong cheeses or let this beauty mature in your cellar for 10 -20 years. Score - (out of 3). (Gambero Rosso Italian Wines, 2008) 
545129    (D)            750 mL    $92.95   

ALION  2003
DO Ribera del Duero  
(Vega Sicilia)

Ribera del Duero is one of the most important wine maker regions that's recently come to prominence in Europe and Vega Sicilia, the maker of Alion, is regarded as one of Spain's best producers.

TASTING NOTE: The good news is that the 2003 Alion is even better than the 2002. It has a similar personality but with more depth and concentration as well as structure. The ripe tannins suggest much more will be revealed with another 6-8 years in the bottle. It will drink well for 15+ years thereafter. Score - 96. (Jay Miller, www.erobertparker.com, Feb. 2007) 
707166    (XD)            750 mL    $69.95   

ALVARO PALACIOS LES TERRASSES  2004
DOCa Priorat  

Superstar winemaker Alvaro Palacios and his wines were the driving force behind the elevation of Priorat to DOCa status, a status it shares with only one other region in Spain- Rioja.

  

VINTAGES Essentials Collection
RÉMY MARTIN LOUIS XIII COGNAC  
Baccarat Crystal Decanter, With Gift Box  

A magical combination of savoir faire, art and patience. Presented in a luxurious Baccarat Crystal decanter, this smooth-as-glass, mouth-filling, long-finishing Cognac is made with eaux-de-vie that range from 50 to well over 100 years old. Louis XIII is adored by the likes of Christian Dior, Queen Elizabeth II, Elton John and Winston Churchill, we invite you to join their ranks.

MARTELL XO COGNAC  
France  


TASTING NOTE: ... This beguiling blend of mature cognacs is a luscious example of how great the Borderies eaux-de-vie can be and proves that not all of cognac's heavy-hitters are the domain of the two Champagnes, though this beauty does includes some Petite Champagne and Grande Champagne from Martell-owned estates; the fruit concentration is so perfectly balanced by a resiny, cheesy oakiness that you almost begin applauding with delight and affirmation; the aftertaste is stately and woody, indeed almost chunky in its final stages; I loved the touch of rancio in the aftertaste; this classic is an absolute must for any cognac lover ... Highest recommendation. Score - ***** (out of 5). (F. Paul Pacult, Kindred Spirits: The Spirit Journal Guide to the W, 1997) 

29165    750 mL    $199.95 

VINTAGES Essentials Collection
HENNESSY PARADIS EXTRA RARE COGNAC  
France, With Gift Box  

Eight generations of the Hennessy family have built up what is now the finest collection of old eaux-de-vie in the world and they use it to create Paradis Extra. An explosive array of flavours with a smooth and supple finish is delivered to you in a gorgeous package. This is Hennessy at its pinnacle. F. Paul Pacult in his book Kindred Spirits, calls this the Fred Astaire of Cognacs for its artistry and elegance. Made with over 100 different cognacs, some dating back more than a century.

VINTAGES Essentials Collection
THE MACALLAN 18 YEARS OLD HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT     

The Macallan 18-Year-Old is now, finally, back on the market, after a period of being sold-out around the world. The truth of its greatness will be revealed to the latest generation of Scotch aficionados.

TASTING NOTE: Compelling, crystal clear sherry notes with not a single blemish; massive fruitcake character fortified by a dry oloroso theme ... [Taste:] The whole almost overloads the tastebuds and senses. [Finish:] Just so deft and subtle: the enormity of the mouth arrival settles down now for a series of cross skirmishes between sweetened cocoa, ripe plum and even the softest wave of apologetic peat. Glorious... Score - 95. (Jim Murray, Whisky Bible, 2007) 

214759    750 mL    $279.95  

VINTAGES Essentials Collection
JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL  
In Gift Box  

Considered the ultimate blended whisky, Blue Label's production is limited by the rarity and expense of the whiskies selected. Some of them are more than 60 years old. Each bottle has its own serial number and comes in a silk-lined box. Assertive and bold, distinct and smooth - this should be served neat.

POLI GRAPPA DI SASSICAIA  
Italy  

Tenuta San Guido (the owners/makers of Sassicaia) contract grappa specialists Jacopo Poli to create this stellar eau-de-vie. Poli distills the Sassicaia must, creating a grappa that beautifully echoes the Super Tuscan classic. A perfect gift for Sassicaia's many ardent admirers.

747519    500 mL    $99.95  

VINTAGES Essentials Collection
GRAND MARNIER CUVÉE DU CENTENAIRE  
1827-1927, France  
(Marnier-Lapostolle)

This exquisite liqueur was first released in 1927 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Grand Marnier. It's created using a blend of primarily Fine Champagne Cognacs that are aged up to 25 years. Opulent subtly complex and very polished, expect bright and zesty flavours of candied orange, almond and brown spice notes. There's little wonder F. Paul Pacult awarded it a perfect score of ***** (out of 5) in his book Kindred Spirits. (1997).