Region
Region
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Coastal Region | 7 | 92 (VN) | HK$1,615.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The 2015 Rubicon had been a source of contention prior to my visit, hailed by some respected commentators as one of the Cape’s greats and then almost pilloried in a contemporaneous blind tasting. It is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, each fermented separately before blending. It was matured for 18 months in 66% new oak and the remainder second-fill. So what do I make of the wine? It is clear in color with quite a deep core. The bouquet is refined and focused, offering attractive mint- and graphite-infused black and red fruit and perhaps leaning a little more toward the latter compared to previous vintages. With aeration, subtle touches of pencil shavings emerge. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin and quite velvety in texture, displaying very well integrated new oak. There is a satisfying sense of harmony to this Rubicon and it is certainly well constructed, but it does not possess that peacock’s tail on the finish that takes a very good wine to the level of great. Perfectly enjoyable, and it demonstrates very good winemaking; however, when compared to, say, the 2015 Paul Sauer, it just falls a little short. [I tasted this sighted and then in a mini blind tasting to confirm.] |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 98 (TA) | HK$11,025.00 | |||||
Tim Atkin MW (98)I've tasted this on three occasions and I'm convinced that it's a brilliant Rubicon release, right up there with the best reds in the country. Featuring Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, this is a beautifully poised, elegant cuvée with cassis, red berry and sweet spice flavours, a herbal undertone and fine, filigree tannins. |
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Western Cape | 1 | 17.5 (JR) | HK$1,490.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (17.5)Lean and fragrant, very slightly meaty in a light-touch way, rooibos tea, fynbos, biltong, nectarine skin. A slightly crazy collision of flavours but it works. And then, in the mouth, held, the spices begin to build. Fine spice. The tannins hum with spice. It tastes like rain and it tastes like red apples and it tastes a little like a lick of rust and its savoury with driftwood tannins. Ultra-elegant. The tannins fill my mouth like a suspension bridge in the mist. This Sam Lambson makes wine … VGV |
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Cape South Coast | 2 | 17.5 (JR) | HK$1,850.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (17.5)It may have been a hard vintage, but damn, this is beautiful. Soaring, floral, sweet and salty and saturated with blood and juice and pulse and thrum. Bacon and cello. Tannins like rose petals. Rose harissa and baharat. Dark cherry and damson fruit. Soaring and glorious. A triumph. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | - | HK$965.00 | |||||
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Minimalist Wines Stars in the Dark 2019 exemplifies the pinnacle of craftsmanship from the esteemed Minimalist Wines estate, nestled in the renowned [Region]. Hand-selected Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes undergo meticulous vinification, employing traditional fermentation techniques in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, imparting subtle tannins and complex aromatic layers. The 2019 vintage showcases deep blackberry and plum notes, intertwined with hints of smokey spice and dark chocolate, culminating in a velvety, lingering finish. Minimalist Wines, celebrated for their commitment to sustainable viticulture and minimal intervention, ensures each bottle of Stars in the Dark embodies both elegance and depth. This exquisite wine pairs flawlessly with red meats and mature cheeses, making it a distinguished addition to any connoisseur’s collection. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 96 (GS) | HK$1,880.00 | |||||
Greg Sherwood MW (96)A 100% pure Syrah red, the 2020 once again reveals a piercing black berry fruit aromatic profile that shares so much with the greatest Syrah examples from the Northern Rhone and Cote Rotie in particular. With the complex melange of black berry fruits come nuances of dried violets, potpourri and lavender together with dried herbs, garrigue, peppercorns and pithy cherry spice. The palate shows wonderful poise and precision, real intensity of fruit together with purity, minerality and telltale coastal salinity expressed with a kelpy, oyster shell reductive hint. Still tightly coiled and full of tension, this will be a fine Syrah to bury in the cellar for 5+ years but can be coaxed to display some of its finery with an hour or so in a decanter. A truly splendid wine that builds on the successes of the previous two drought affected vintages. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 94 (VN) | HK$2,050.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2021 Syrah Stars In The Dark comes from two parcels, one on clay and the other on Koffieklip soil, matured for 10 months in neutral 228 and 300-litre Ooak barrels. Winemaker Sam Lambson told me that he is seeking to express the rotundone element of the variety, essentially the "peppery" element. It certainly comes across here with lovely red berry fruit, white pepper, fennel and thyme. It's quite understated with a degree of transparency. That theme follows through on the palate that is beautifully balanced with fine tannins, elegant red fruit mixed with thyme and black olive, the latter imparting salinity that begs you back for another sip. Wonderful. |
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Cape South Coast | 1 | 96 (VN) | HK$1,795.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)The 2022 Stars in the Dark comes from Cape Agulhas, stomped underfoot with one-third whole bunches, aged in 3rd and 4th fill French oak. The red fruit on the nose seems to "hug" the olfactory senses, very pure and beautifully delineated, an underlying mineralité gaining momentum with aeration. The medium-bodied palate has fine-grained tannins, extremely well-balanced with a precise, edgy finish, black pepper and black tea lingering temptingly. This continues Lambson's strong run of form and comes highly recommended. |
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Sendai | 1 | - | HK$4,500.00 | |||||
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As a discerning connoisseur, the Miyagikyo Single Malt 2000's NV is a sensory treat to your palate. Exquisitely created by the prestige Nikka Whisky Distilling Company, this exquisite malt embraces the artisanal mastery inherent to Nikka's second distillery, Miyagikyo. Located amidst the serene setting of Sendai's picturesque north, the malt mirrors its verdant surroundings, featuring hints of fruity sweetness and spice merged with a soft smoke. Harvested in the early 2000's, this revered spirit is a snapshot of the distillery's unique evolution over the years. Distilled meticulously with copper pot stills, savouring Miyagikyo Single Malt 2000's is a journey through Nikka's sophisticated whisky making process. Rich, complex, yet smoothly balanced, each sip of this fine spirit unveils layers which evocatively depict Miyagikyo's inherent character. As a revered addition to any collection, Miyagikyo Single Malt 2000's NV is the epitome of Nikka's bold innovation and enduring legacy. |
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Burgenland | 1 | - | HK$930.00 | |||||
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Burgenland | 1 | - | HK$2,260.00 | |||||
