The fruit contained a mix of four Pinot Noir clones – 777, 115, Abel & UCD5. Fruit was spilt into three fermenters – one containing 100% whole bunch, 70% whole bunch, and the other 100% de-stemmed. Fermented with natural yeast. Gentle winemaking techniques were used to avoid excessive extraction. 23 days on skin, pressed to 100% old French oak barrels. 12 months in barrel, and allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation naturally in spring, before being racked and allowed to naturally settle and integrate in tank. Unfined and unfiltered.

Hand Harvested: 6th and 12th April 2021
Bottled: 8th June 2022
pH: 3.69
TA: 5.9g/L
Alcohol: 13.5% v/v

This California grown Rhône varietal blend is focused and piquant with a smack of black pepper, lifted by the scent of dried roses. It surges with ripe Rainier cherries, a touch of dark chocolate, and a depth of black tea and liquorice, delivering both power and balance with a seemingly endless finish.

95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The 2018 Christo is made up of 60% Syrah, 24% Grenache, 12% Petite Sirah and 4% Viognier. Vibrant ruby-purple in colour, the nose offers pure scents of crushed red, black and blue berries, tobacco, violets, tar and smoked meats. The palate is full-bodied and packed full of perfectly ripe, juicy fruit, with a grainy frame and loads of uplift on the finish. (EB)"

100% Chardonnay from a region just to the southwest of Chablis, where there is still a fair bit of the much loved Kimmeridgean limestone, which gives the wines in this area the freshness and energy they are famous for. Lots of lime and lemon with just a touch of the exotic on the finish.

'The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is coy in the glass, youthfully restrained and requires coaxing to reveal its delicate bouquet. With time, a dusty display of dried roses, licorice, cherries, cloves and camphor emanates from the glass. This model of purity is polished, silky and refined with savory spice and mineral-laden red fruits that saturate, all perfectly guided by brisk acidity. It leaves the palate stained in primary concentration, turning inward upon itself. Tart currant and mentholated herb notes add freshness to a web of fine-grained tannins. The 2019 is a breathtaking interpretation of Montosoli fruit. Drink 2027-2042'

 97/100 Vinous, Eric Guido

"Boasting aromas of new leather, eucalyptus, violet, forest floor and spice, the stunning 2019 Vigna Montosoli from Canalicchio di Sopra is an excellent expression of this celebrated site, great vintage and historic winery. Firm and youthfully austere, it delivers ripe raspberry, blackberry, tobacco and licorice before a salty finish. Framed in tightly wound, fine-grained tannins, it’s elegantly structured, packed with energy and intensity, with bright acidity that also keeps it balanced. Give it time to fully develop. A gorgeous wine. Drink 2039–2044."

98/100 Kerin O’Keefe

'Dusty violets, lavender and cloves accentuate dried black cherries as the dramatic 2019 Brunello di Montalcino smolders up from the glass. This is impossible to ignore, bursting with energy as depths of ripe red fruits, chalky minerals and exotic spices saturate all they touch, balanced by textures of pure silk. The 2019 finishes with fantastic length and concentration, leaving a staining of tart blackberry and hints of orange that curl the tongue as crunchy tannins tug at the palate. It’s rare to see such a combination of vibrancy and power. Canalicchio di Sopra nailed it in 2019. Wow. Drink 2026-2042'

96/100 Vinous, Eric Guido

A floral Chardonnay that displays lanolin, flintiness and stone fruit aromas on the nose. The palate is creamily textured and full bodied with ripe nectarine-like fruit, underlying notes of toasted cashew nuts, sourdough bread and cinnamon quills - ending with a clean and crisp finish and a lovely persistent and savoury toastiness.

Luta 2022 Chardonnay from Echo vineyard in Weka Road, made from Clones 15, 95 & Mendoza grown in Moutere Clay soils.

The Grapes were whole bunch pressed & aged in 500L 5-7 year old oak puncheons on the lees for 10 months.

Lemon rind, Brioche & Yoghurt on the nose.

Lemon rind fruit up front into brioche & Oats on the midpalate then a delicate minerality into the finish.

A very elegant wine with great texture.

Commercial description

A Tantalus is a small wooden cabinet that contains two or three decanters of precious wine, for which there is a lock and key.  The Tantalus prevents unauthorised people from opening the cabinet and drinking its contents, while allowing the bottles? beauty to be on display. With a key to the Tantalus wines, one obtains access to the secrets of the treasures held within. All of the Tantalus reserve wines have names referring to the origins of Tantalus... An Ecluse allows boats to pass through bodies of water at differing levels. Unlock the Ecluse and let your glass take you on the most amazing journey.

Made up of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec, the Ecluse pours a deep garnet with a bright carmine ring. This Cabernet blend elegantly displays pure fruit notes of wild berries and black plum. A hint of pennyroyal underpinned by aromas of violets, cedar, sweet tobacco and saddle leather support the fine grain tannins, slowly unlocking the secrets within, this wine displays tremendous structure and sustained length.

A fantastic wine, that elevates slow roasted lamb shoulder with fresh mint topping, Flank steak and tamarind stir-fry, Porcini mushroom risotto, Old fashioned beef stew, Grilled rib steak on vine shoots barbecue

Winemaker's notes... 

Rich and opulent, this traditionally styled chardonnay presents plenty of weight and texture. Deeply concentrated, showing ripe yellow stone fruits, citrus blossom, and layers of nutty complexity. Judicious use of superior french oak and generous lees contact for a full twelve months bring savoury lusciousness, integrating volume and character. 

Cellaring Potential: 2021 - 2028

Big brassy Sauvignon Blanc from Nelson with oodles of gooseberry and grassy notes. 

From Domaine Chanson...

Grape Variety : Pinot Noir

Soil : Gravel mixed with clay

Site : On the Mont Battois hillside, facing Beaune, the name "Grèves" derives from the sandy and gravely soil. Separated from the Clos des Fèves by a narrow path this Chanson vineyard covers 2 hectares

The Vintage 2022 : After a winter characterized by marked variations in temperature between January and February, spring started with mild temperatures. A sequence of cold weather in April was followed by warm temperatures in May but the lack of water was very noticeable and could not be compensated by the rainy storms of June. Summer was marked by several and long heat waves and the storms of the end of August were most welcome. The harvest at Chanson started on August 30 with a team of 100 persons and ended on September 13. 2022 vintage was quite generous both in volume and quality and the red wines are generous and well-balanced with an outstanding crunchy fruit.

Tasting : Bright ruby colour. Fragrances of peony mixed with intense aromas of ripe red berries (strawberry, cherry) mixed with coffee and spicy notes. Delicate vanilla. Well-balanced and complex. Deep and refined texture. Elegant and well-integrated oak note, well-shaped tannins. Long and spicy finish. Scores : 93/100 Jasper Morris/Inside Burgundy - 16,5+/100 Jancis Robinson

Food pairing : It is perfectly matched with red meat grilled or en sauce, and all cheeses, especially the local cheeses like Epoisses or Citeaux.

Chanson is one of the major owners of Clos des Mouches with a vineyard of 4.5 hectares. Ideal location on the hill at the southern end of the vineyards of Beaune on a spur pointing toward Pommard. A plot of 2.5 hectares is planted with Pinot Noir on a limestone subsoil covered with clay.

VINEYARD

Chanson is one of the major owners of Clos des Mouches with a vineyard of 4.5 hectares. Ideal location on the hill at the southern end of the vineyards of Beaune on a spur pointing toward Pommard. A plot of 2.5 hectares is planted with Pinot Noir on a limestone subsoil covered with clay.

WINEMAKING

The wine is for the most part left alone, as the philosophy is one of “infusion rather than construction.” The wine is vinified 100% whole cluster to extract a deeper color and enhance the structure and aromatic complexity. The major condition is that the grapes must be perfect in terms of ripeness and condition. Chanson also strives to maximize the preservation of fresh fruit characteristics, which is why grapes are chilled immediately on arrival in a proprietary tunnel that provides a very quick chill with no oxygen exposure. Then, Champagne-style fractional pressing is practiced to gently extract the purest juice. Aged 17 to 19 months in barrels (30% new oak).

VINTAGE

After a winter characterized by marked variations in temperature and a summer like weather spring, A sudden and intense frost fell upon Burgundy early April and severely hit the buds that had formed on the vine. The months that followed were a succession of rainy and warm episodes. During summer there were warm and humid periods and the harvest started at Chanson on September 15, under a bright sunshine. The red wines have a good color. They give off floral fragrances and a beautiful fruit expression but the volumes produced are quite low.

TASTING NOTES

Bright ruby color. Beautiful aromas of red berries (strawberry, cherry, red-currant) mixed with pepper. Complex and well-balanced with an outstanding energy tight and deep texture. Well-integrated tannins and well-crafted oak note. Long and elegant finish with spicy notes.

Winemaker's notes...

Our Palomino is produced using the grapes from a traditional Spanish varietal planted here on Brakkuil farm back in 1978.

The vineyard at the foot of "Klein Tafelberg" (small Table Mountain) is comprised of limestone rich coastal soil - adding hugely to the Palomino's subtle notes of natural sea salt minerality.

During harvesting, the grapes are pressed and their juices inserted into tanks until primary fermentation has been successfully executed.

It is then when the veil starts its process for a couple of weeks to months. After this process the wine is transferred to French oak barrels and left for 6 to 12 months to reach maturity.

? John Bouwer, Winemaker

Structure and purity of blackberries, ripe currants and concentrated ripe fruit all intermingle in this beautiful Argentinian red wine. Full bodied and intense with the balance of fresh acidity and ripeness all add up to a great red wine with presence. Drink now or keep for another 9 to 10 years. This wine will last the distance.