Chateau Lafite-Rothschild

"Well, well, well - Lafite Rothschild does it again. Ever since manager Charles Chevalier was transferred from his beloved Sauternes property of Rieussec (also owned by the Rothschilds) to Lafite in 1994, there has been a succession of profound wines to emerge from this noble estate. The 2000 Lafite Rothschild, a blend of 93.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.7% Merlot (only 36% of the crop made the grade) has an opaque ruby/purple color, followed by an extraordinary aromatic expression of liquid minerals/stones interwoven with the tell-tale graphite notes, mulberry, black currants, caramel, and tobacco. In the mouth, it is remarkably light on its feet, but somehow seems to pack intense flavors into layer upon layer of fruit and richness that cascade over the palate. A compelling wine, with extraordinary precision, great intensity, and a seamlessness in spite of what are obviously elevated levels of tannin, this wine was provocatively open and beautiful when tasted in January and February, but I am sure it will soon close down. The finish lasted a whopping 72 seconds! This is utterly fascinating stuff. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2050." RP - 100(Subject to Availability) LAFT00 LAFT00

Chateau La Mission Haut Brion

"An extraordinary effort that gets better with each tasting, this dark, murky, garnet/purple-colored 1982 exhibits a fabulously complex nose of hot bricks, asphalt, black fruits, tar, roast beef, and truffles, colossal concentration, superripeness, an unctuous texture, and low acidity. While still exceptionally youthful, this wine is powerful, dense, large-scaled, and intense. It is evolving at a snail's pace, but should continue to improve for another 10-15 years, and last for another three decades. A candidate for perfection!" RP - 99 (Subject to Availability) LMHB82 LMHB82

Ch Haut Bailly Pessac Leognan

"This is the best Haut-Brion since 1959 and perhaps one of the best Bordeaux we have ever tasted. This dry red wine from France has loads of character, packed to the brim with fruit and tannins. A wine for the next century. Enjoyable now, but much better after 1998. Great gift! 1982 Bordeaux horizontal. (JS)" WS - 99 (Subject to Availability) HAUB82 HAUB82

Penfolds '82 - Grange Hermitage

Production: 9,060 cases Blend: 94% Shiraz/6% Cabernet Sauvignon "Although huge, phenomenally rich, and pure, the 1982 appeared less concentrated than the monster 1981. Nevertheless, this is no shy wine. Its weight and richness rival anything from California. However, the 1982 possesses more poise and, dare I say it, elegance than other Grange vintages. The color remains an opaque ruby/purple, and the nose offers up sweet aromas of berries, vanilla, toast, and herbs. Intense, full-bodied, unctuously-textured, and moderately tannic, this youthful tasting Grange Hermitage will benefit from another 3-4 years of cellaring; it should keep for at least 15 more years." -Robert Parker - RP Rating: 95 "A rich and extremely complex wine. (Subject to availability) PNG82 PNG82

Maison Surrenne Vintage Cognac 1946

In the fall of 1946, in the village of Bilhouet, Hubert Portier returned to his life work: the crafting of small-lot cognacs from his vineyards. World War II had disrupted production, but this year's harvest was superb...the best in memory. In a rustic building behind the vineyard, Porter charged his ancestral still; even in 1946, the fact that it was wood-fired was old fashioned. Using methods passed from father to son for generations, Portier carefully produced sixteen barrels of a wonderful cognac. 51 years later, cataloguing their inventory in various small cellars in the region, one of the last of the family-owned houses, Maison Surenne, discovered a lot of Portier's fine cognac. Originally intended to be used in blends, this cognac was left undisturbed. Its aromas and flavors were astonishing. Maison Surrenne has bottled the lot unblended, with no additives, just as it came from the tun, in tribute to its distiller, who quietly produced one of the finest French cognacs ever made. Great gift for dessert lovers! (Subject to availability) GRS46 GRS46

Le Montrachet - Grand Cru

The Protheau Estate began in 1720 with 55 hectares in Mercury. Since then they have grown to 280 hectares with 130 hectares covering most of the important growths of the Cote d'Or and the southernly Cote Chalonnaise. Now based in Meursault, the firm produces 69 Burgundy appelations which include 23 Premier Crus and 3 Grand Crus. The Protheau Montrachet is golden yellow in color with a nose of white flowers, green apple and hints of oak and vanilla that jumps out of the glass at you. The mouth is quite mineral with modest, mature acidity and hints of ripe pears. A very exceptional Montrachet. (Subject to Availabilty) LMO98 LMO98