California
California is one of the most renowned wine regions in the world, known for producing exceptional wines that reflect the unique character of the region.
One of the most famous vineyards in California is the Napa Valley's Robert Mondavi Winery, which produces a range of high-quality red and white wines, including the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, the Fumé Blanc Reserve, and the Chardonnay Reserve. The estate is committed to sustainable farming practices and is known for its focus on traditional winemaking techniques.
In California, there is also a strong focus on producing organic and biodynamic wines, with vineyards such as the Frog's Leap Winery and the Benziger Family Winery using these practices to produce exceptional wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region.
Overall, California is a region known for producing exceptional wines, with famous vineyards such as Harlan Estate, Dominus, Opus One, Screaming Eagle, Robert Mondavi and many others. With a focus on sustainable and organic farming practices, and a commitment to traditional winemaking techniques, wines from California are gaining increasing recognition and popularity among wine enthusiasts worldwide.
California
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Delight your palate with the Kutch Trout Gulch Chardonnay 2021 - an exquisite ensemble of viticulture finesse. Crafted by the expert hands of winemaker Jamie Kutch, this marvellous creation heralds from the renowned Trout Gulch Vineyard in California's cooler Santa Cruz Mountains. The vineyard's marine shale soils impart a unique mineral edge.
The Kutch Trout Gulch Chardonnay 2021 is hand-harvested whole cluster pressed, fermented naturally, and aged in neutral oak casks for 12 months followed by an additional six months in stainless steel. The result? A perfectly balanced wine, shimmering with bright acidity, lithe structure, and compelling hints of citrus, green apple, and saline minerality.
With Kutch's non-interventionist approach, this chardonnay beautifully expresses terroir in its purest form. A must-have inclusion in any fine wine collection, the Kutch Trout Gulch Chardonnay 2021 is certainly a testament to the grandeur of California Chardonnays.
HK$6,020.00 -
Jancis Robinson (17.5)
Wonderfully bright, energetic but fully ripe fruit that informs a wine that's already a pleasure to drink. Complete. Great fruit/acid integration and a slightly saline note on that lime framework. My kinda Chardonnay ... Quite long. I'd love to taste a fully mature version of this wine.HK$5,085.00 -
(6x75cl) 2012Wine Advocate (96)
The terrific 2012 Cote a Cote is 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah that was aged in a combination of new and used French oak barrels. Seamless and elegant, with full-bodied richness, it has awesome notes of kirsch and black raspberry-styled fruits, toasted spice, licorice and roasted meats all emerging from the glass. This beauty shows the purity of the vintage, and backs that up with rock star concentration, perfect balance and serious length. It will have over a decade of longevity.HK$5,955.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
A massive, gorgeously rich and decadent version of this cuvee, the 2014 Estate Cuvee (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah and 15% Petit Verdot) is reminiscent of a 2005 Pomerol with its huge bouquet of cassis, toasted spice, graphite, damp earth and leafy herb aromas and flavors. Thick, full-bodied, unctuous and palate-saturating, yet still with purity and grace, it's an insanely good Bordeaux blend (or close) from Paso Robles that will have two decades of overall longevity.HK$4,085.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (99)
A wine that flirts with perfection is the 2016 Estate Cuvée, which is 52% Syrah, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Petit Verdot, all of which spent 15 months in new French oak. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with a masculine bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, liquid rock-like minerality, and lead pencil shavings, it reminds me of a top 2010 Pomerol with its opulence, power, and purity. Hitting the palate with full body, a layered, seamless, multi-dimensional texture, and present yet polished tannins, this beauty is one of the finest examples of this cuvée yet produced. Give bottles 2-3 years and it will keep for 15+.HK$4,730.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (98)
The flagship 2017 Estate Cuvée (49% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 21% Petit Verdot) spent 15 months in 90% new French oak, and I certainly blew the barrel review on this wine. It offers a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, crushed violets, lead pencil, chocolate, and a rocking sense of minerality. Deep, full-bodied, concentrated, and seamless on the palate, it's about as polished and sexy as they come in the vintage.HK$3,905.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
The 2018 Estate Cuvee checks 45% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot brought up in 90% new French oak. Tasting like the straight Cab, yet with more sex appeal, it offers a huge nose of crème de cassis, white flowers, crushed stone, graphite, and crushed flowers. This carries to a full-bodied, gorgeously textured red with incredible balance, no hard edges, a thrilling mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It's going to benefit from 5-6 years of bottle age and keep for upwards of two decades or more. Hats off to winemaker Stephan Asseo on another incredible wine, as well as, I suspect the wine of the vintage.HK$4,230.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
Pure perfection from Paso Robles, the 2019 Estate Cuvee checks in as 50% Syrah, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Petit Verdot that was raised in 81% new French oak. Incredible cassis and black berry fruits as well as violets, chocolate, graphite, and who knows what else emerges from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a concentrated yet weightless mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish. It’s more seamless and approachable than the more backward, structured 2018 and will have two decades of prime drinking.HK$4,800.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
Pure perfection from this talented team, the 2021 Estate Cuvee checks in as 50% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Petit Verdot that was raised in 80% new French oak. Absolutely incredible aromatics of crème de cassis, blueberries, violets, ground pepper, and graphite give way to a full-bodied red with a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, a deep, layered mid-palate, and that rare mix of power and elegance that's so hard to come by. It shows the pure, layered, elegant style of the vintage, and this beauty offers pleasure today yet will ideally be given 3-4 years in the cellar, and it will evolve for two decades at a minimum.HK$4,810.00 -
Vinous (92)
Bright violet. Potent aromas of ripe red and blue fruits, floral pastilles, woodsmoke and minerals develop a spicy nuance in the glass. Sweet and fleshy on the palate, offering intense black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that become livelier with air. The very long, sharply focused finish features supple tannins and subtle, lingering notes of ripe red berries and candied rose.HK$2,500.00 -
(6x75cl) 2015Vinous (93)
Inky ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes spice-accented cherry and blueberry, while smoke and vanilla nuances add complexity. Sappy and expansive on the palate, offering sweet dark fruit flavors that show liqueur-like depth and a surprisingly light touch. Closes on a gently tannic note, displaying impressive clarity, repeating spiciness and strong cling.HK$2,485.00 -
Decanter (93)
Tobacco, tar, dark chocolate, floral touches, bitter blood orange, scrubland herbs - so much going on the nose, really aromatic and expressive in a dark, sticky way. Gorgeously lifted and lively, full of bright and crunchy red fruits that you're just not expecting after the nose, this is direct but it has a pristine quality to it. Tannis are fine and the whole taste is just so clean. Juicy, mouthwatering and joyful, really bright and playful, I love the whole lifted tone, almost verging on tangy and sour but just keeps the depth. You get a bit of saltiness too on the finish. I like this a lot, especially the touch of metallic, iron-filing, blood on the finish. Characterful. The first vintage to use an optical sorted at harvest. Ageing 14 months in French oak (65% new and 35% in one year old).HK$3,140.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2017 Cabernet Franc Howell Mountain is very deep purple-black colored and gives expressive black cherries, kirsch, warm blackberries and boysenberry scents with touches of sawdust, red roses, camphor and cinnamon stick plus a waft of stewed tea. Full-bodied, the palate reveals a lot of depth with tons of red and black fruit layers and savory accents, framed by ripe, firm, grainy tannins, finishing with a refreshing lift and some mineral notions coming through.HK$6,110.00 -
Wine Advocate (96+)
Made from 100% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Cabernet Franc Howell Mountain was aged for 22 months in oak, 65% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with a lifted, perfumed nose of red roses, kirsch, red plums and red currant jelly, followed by hints of mulberries, pencil shavings and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with taut, muscular red fruit, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long with loads of earthy sparks. 547 cases were made.HK$6,235.00 -
Decanter (98)
Such a fantastic nose of delicious currants, this wine is elegant and refined. The palate does not disappoint and displays harmonious notes of liquorice and baking spices on top of the luscious black fruit. A wine to go wild for.HK$7,998.00 -
(6x75cl) 2013Vinous (95+)
Deep, dark ruby. Very dark, slightly high-toned aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, minerals and violet; I would have guessed this wine included some Cabernet Franc (Mega Purple, said general manager Michael Updegraff, tongue in cheek I assume). Very concentrated and intense, with its almost port-like cassis and black cherry flavors leavened by saline minerality. The echoing finish features huge ripe tannins that saturate the sides of the mouth. This wine shows the opulence of the 2012 but a bit more obvious breed and structure. Another classic Napa Valley Cabernet with a lot going on. Incidentally, Updegraff considers this the top Napa Valley Cabernet vintage of his career, which began in 1982. (15.9% alcohol; 73% new oak)HK$13,090.00 -
(6x75cl) 2014Vinous (95)
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon John Daniel Cuvée turned out beautifully. In fact, it is even better from bottle than it was from barrel. Deep, unctuous and powerful, but with good freshness, the 2014 hits all the right notes. Specifically, the 2014 offers tons of richness, but without the heaviness or raisinated character that has defined some previous years.HK$10,990.00 -
(6x75cl) 2015Jeb Dunnuck (98+)
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee is an inky, full-bodied, majestic Cabernet Sauvignon that should be a candidate for perfection in a decade. Black currants, the essence of blackberries, crushed rocks, gravely minerality and charcoal all emerge from this incredible, full-bodied, massive wine that’s still backward and tight. Brought up in 80% new barrels, forget bottles for 3-4 years and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades. Bravo!HK$11,475.00 -
(6x75cl) 2016Wine Advocate (100)
One-hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 75% new French oak, the 2016 J Daniel Cuvee is deep garnet-purple in color and offers up exuberant notes of crème de cassis, chocolate-covered cherries, wild blueberries, violets and unsmoked cigars with touches of garrigue, fragrant earth, powdered cinnamon, black olives and tree bark. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house, with a solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness supporting the taut, muscular fruit, finishing long and minerally. 950 cases produced.HK$14,235.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon J. Daniel Cuvee comes from a mix of terroirs (Howell Mountain, Stags Leap, Oakville, Calistoga) and is brought up in 75% new French oak. Heavenly notes of red and black currants, dried tobacco, sandalwood, flowers, and spice give way to a full-bodied, concentrated, yet weightless texture that carries awesome tannins, no hard edges, and just flawless balance. This majestic, regal wine is going to drink brilliantly for 25 years or more.HK$18,215.00 -
Wine Advocate (100)
Lail's 2021 J. Daniel Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon blends lots from several high-end vineyards, including Heimark (Calistoga), Vine Hill Ranch (Oakville) and Steltzner (Stags Leap), plus Lail's own Mole Hill on Howell Mountain. It's an exciting wine, starting from the pulse-quickening aromas of raspberries and black cherries tinged with dark chocolate. In the mouth, this full-bodied beauty is richly concentrated, with a sensuous texture somewhere between silky and velvety, while the softly dusty finish shows terrific length and a spine-tingling hint of licorice. To reduce this wine to deceptively simple yet hard-to-pin-down words, it's complex, harmonious and elegant, yet it's enough of its place that it could only come from Napa Valley.HK$16,330.00 -
(1x150cl) 2015The Lail Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Mole Hill 2015 exemplifies the pinnacle of Napa Valley winemaking. Sourced exclusively from the esteemed Mole Hill Vineyard, this vintage benefits from the region’s ideal climate and diverse terroir, imparting deep complexity and elegance. Hand-harvested grapes undergo meticulous sorting before fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, ensuring optimal extraction of rich flavours. Aged for 24 months in French oak barrels, the wine develops its signature structure and silky tannins. The Lail family, renowned for their commitment to quality and sustainability, meticulously craft each bottle to reflect their dedication to excellence. On the nose, vibrant notes of blackcurrant, plum, and subtle hints of tobacco unfold, leading to a full-bodied palate with balanced acidity and a lingering finish. The Lail Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Mole Hill 2015 is a distinguished choice for connoisseurs seeking a timeless expression of Napa’s finest Cabernet, perfect for both immediate enjoyment and cellaring.
HK$4,830.00 -
James Suckling (94)
This is a solid cab with a backbone of ripe and chewy tannins and lots of wet earth, black currant and autumnal leaf character. Full and powerful. This needs a few years to soften. Better in 2019.HK$6,335.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (95)
Moving to the 2015s, the largest production cuvee from younger vines is the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon and it includes 3% Cabernet Franc and spent 18 months in 65% new French oak. Possessing terrific richness in its dark fruit, tobacco and Graves-like minerality, this beauty is full-bodied, concentrated and layered on the palate. It’s a beautiful base cuvee that does everything right.HK$6,280.00 -
Wine Advocate - Robert Parker (96+)
The opaque purple 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Black Label) has a Château Latour-like nose of cedar wood, graphite, oodles of creme de cassis and forest floor, stunning concentration, power and structure. This is an amazing wine, and with 1,635 cases produced, has reasonable availability. This all is produced from the so-called clone 7, which became better known across the street and up on the Vaca hillsides as the Eisele Vineyard clone. This wine should really be laid down for 7-8 years and probably has a good 40-50 years of potential longevity.HK$10,195.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2013 Firebelle Proprietary Red is a blend of 76% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. This wine shows loads of roasted espresso notes mixed with white chocolate, plum, black cherry and currant. The wine is ripe, opulent, full-bodied and a very sexy, lush example of 2013 to drink over the next 15 or more years.HK$7,820.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (93)
The Merlot-dominated cuvee of the estate is the 2015 Firebelle and it checks in as 71% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in 65% new French oak. It offers a terrific bouquet of black cherries, leafy herbs, lavender, and dried violets, medium to full body, loads of minerality, and a fresh, focused, beautifully balanced style. It’s ideal for drinking over the coming 15 years.HK$7,700.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (94+)
A blend of 60/40 Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, the 2015 LMV Salon is a cuvee that’s moving towards being a Cabernet Franc-dominated release as the estate plants more Cabernet Franc. Cassis, spring flowers, chocolate and a rocky, river bottom-like earthiness all flow to a full-bodied, concentrated, tannic 2015 that has exceptional purity and a great finish. Give bottle 3-5 years and enjoy over the following 15+.HK$9,475.00 -
(12x75cl) 2005The Larkmead Vineyards Solari Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 stands as a testament to exceptional winemaking in Washington’s esteemed Columbia Valley. Meticulously crafted by the esteemed vintner Alex Solari, this reserve is produced from hand-selected Cabernet Sauvignon grapes grown in sustainably managed vineyards. Fermented in French oak barrels, the wine undergoes a rigorous ageing process of 24 months, allowing it to develop profound complexity and depth. This vintage displays a rich ruby hue, with an intricate bouquet of blackberry, cassis, and subtle hints of tobacco and cedar. On the palate, it is full-bodied and elegantly structured, featuring velvety tannins and a harmonious balance of acidity and fruit. The Larkmead Vineyards Solari Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 exemplifies the winery’s dedication to quality and tradition, offering a sophisticated choice for connoisseurs seeking a distinguished and memorable wine experience. Perfectly suited to gourmet pairings, it embodies the pinnacle of Larkmead’s acclaimed portfolio.
HK$35,185.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (97)
Another head-turning wine from this project, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Project 18 got a handful of expletives in my notes. A plush, sexy, full-bodied 2018 delivering pure dark fruits, hints of menthol and tobacco, a deep, layered texture, and a blockbuster of a finish, it leans into the hedonistic end of the spectrum yet also has balance and class. Drink this brilliant effort over the coming 15-20 years.HK$10,215.00
