ABV: 15%

Region: Japan

The Ultimate Delight in Sake

Ozeki Junmai Daiginjo is sake in its purest form-Junmai with no other alcohol additions and a Daiginjo that is the utopia of premium sake due to the polishing rate of the rice (over 50% of the kernel is removed). This combination brings a sophisticated flavor by combining ingredients and technique to create an easy to sip full-bodied sake. Fruity yet floral in aroma with subtle sweetness make this Junmai Daiginjo a rich flavorful experience.

Food Pairing
Great as an aperitif or a dessert sake.

Serving Temperature

Chilled or at Room Temperature.

Tempranillo is the king and queen of Spanish grape varieties with over 206,000 hectares in that country’s entire vineyard area, making it the most planted red grape variety and the second most overall after the little known white Spanish grape called Airen. 

This tasty and super affordable, dry Spanish red is made from organically certified vineyards in Uclés in Castile, Spain, where the vines are grown as part of an integrated ecosystem, along with old oak trees. This region's continental climate provides hot sunny days and cool nights, which provide favourable ripening conditions for the Tempranillo grape. 

The grapes in this wine are harvested in the cool of night and early morning, given a light crush and fermented in stainless steel to preserve fruit freshness. Maceration is typically eight to 10 days and no oak is used in the winemaking, so the fruit is hero in this smooth, medium bodied red. 

The name Tempranillo comes from the Spanish word temprano, which means early. It’s apt. Tempranillo is an early grape to bud in spring and it ripens early in autumn. Along with its big bunches of small, thick skinned grapes and relatively big yields (that’s means it provides a lot of grapes to harvest and make wine from), it’s a successful grape to grow. As for the taste, Tempranillo’s character tends to be soft, smooth, bright and fruity. What’s not to love? There’s

Viña Casa Viva was founded in 1993 in Chile’s Casablanca Valley where a strong maritime influence, and a significant difference between daytime and night time temperatures (diurnal variation) allow for a longer ripening process that results in tremendous balance between acidity and sugar levels.

This Carmenere, the grape that put Chile on the map, is beautifully fragrant with dark fruits complexed by savoury herbal, almost minty elements. The palate is lush and opulent with the silken texture we have come to expect from ripe yet balanced fruit that is grown in this region.

Gekkeikan Traditional is the world’s most popular Junmai-shu! It embodies the signature Gekkeikan style and represents over 370 years and 14 generations of sake brewing experience.

This versatile sake can be enjoyed warm, at room temperature or chilled. Excellent for sake cocktails and infusions.

Ozeki Karatanba Junmai Sake 大关 辛丹波 

ABV: 16%

Region: Japan

Ozeki Karatanba Junmai Sake has a rich, smooth flavor with prominent umami notes and a hint of sweetness. It features a balanced acidity that adds freshness, complemented by subtle earthy and fruity undertones. The finish is clean and satisfying, making it enjoyable either chilled or warmed.

Ippin Junmai Japanese Sake 一品纯米 720ml

ABV: 15%

Region: Japan

Polishing Ratio: 60%

IPPIN’s traditional Sake over 200 years. Nicely balanced medium bodied Sake.Smooth on the palate with a dry and finish.

Serving Termperature
Enjoyable with cold or warm.

Awards
San Francisco IWC Double gold 2017, Silver 2015,2014.

Ippin Junmai Daiginjo Japanese Sake 一品纯米大吟酿 720ml

ABV: 16%

Region: Japan

Polishing Ratio: 50%

A hint of pineapple fragrance and sweet on the palate.

Awards

Double Gold prize of San Francisco IWC Winer 2017.

The best 2017, Double Gold 2017, 2015, 2014. USA international wine competition.

Serving Suggestion

Ideal on any occasion. Best served chilled, possible to warm up around 45 degrees.

Tasting Notes:

It displays a deep ruby color and reveals expressive aromas of ripe red and black fruits, with floral undertones. On the palate, it stands out for its elegance and freshness, with polished, well-integrated tannins. The finish is persistent, with a strong presence on the palate.

About the producer:

In 1933, Clemente da Silva, recently arrived from Brazil, fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a producer of premium wines that would lead to the international expansion of his business: C. da Silva – an abbreviation of his own name. A year later, he registered the Dalva brand, a contraction of “da Silva”. Simple to pronounce and very Portuguese, the brand achieved rapid success in its different markets.

A Duoro DOC wine combining Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo) grown on the slopes of the Douro (Ervedosa), Pinhão and Varosa rivers. The Douro Valley is characterised by very hot days & cool nights, high altitudes & deep schist soils which leads to red wines with robust tannin & fruit & white wines with poised acidity & lots of aroma.

Harvest & Vinification:

Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were fully destemmed, macerated, and fermented under temperature control, in order to highlight the primary fruit aromas and deliver a fresh, lingering palate.

Technical Analysis:

Alcohol: 13,5% vol. 

Total Sugar: <0,6 g/l

 Total Acidity: 4,9 g/l 

(Tartaric Acid) pH: 3,73

About the Wine:

Variety: 50% Macabeo (Viura), 50% a blend of Verdil, Malvasía, Pedro Ximénez and other local varieties.

Aged in clay. Organic. 6 months in amphoras.

Cullerot 2024 is a fresh, aromatic, and elegant white wine, with a Mediterranean touch that balances delicacy and playfulness. Its notes of dried hay, fennel, and yellow flowers with a clean and precise sensation on the palate, offering a gentle yet characterful freshness. It appears easy to drink, yet serious in its complexity, and its long finish invites you to enjoy a sunny afternoon, a light aperitif, or simply let the Mediterranean essence fill your glass. Irresistible.

The name Cullerot means tadpole in Valencian.

About the Producer:

Celler del Roure is nothing short of the pioneer of quality wine in the DO Valencia. Until recently, Valencia was only known for its cheap bulk wines, but it is now blossoming into one of Spain most interesting wine regions. Thanks to the estate, which rehabilitated long-forgotten local grapes like the red Mando and the white Verdil, and also rediscovered the use of amphoras.

Pablo Calatayud is like the exception that proves the rule. He has no family roots in wine. He is a newcomer in the profession, which is not really a bad thing in a region like Valencia, where it is better not to follow the « tradition » of high yields, low prices and bad quality. He was lucky enough not to be influenced by all this and to start with a sound basis. His family is active in the local furniture business but supports his project wholeheartedly. Since a few years, his wife Sandra has also been working on the estate. The vineyard is located in Clariano, Valencia’s hinterland, a region with an enormous wine potential. Pablo’s wine story began in 1995-1996, just after he finished his agronomy and oenology studies. Then, with the help of his father and brother, he decided to buy an estate in the highlands and plant it with vines. French grapes, but also old local varieties, which bear witness to the Valencian wine history (even if most of them are long forgotten). In 2000, Pablo produced the first vintage of his Alcusses (the name is a reference to an Iberian settlement dating 4 centuries BC). On the labels of the wines and in the boxes, we'll find the text of a small tin plaque dating from these times, found on the estate. It is written in paleo-hispanic. This is a way for Pablo to pay his dues to the culture of this beautiful region. Pablo’s ambition re-dynamised the whole region. Several other estates followed his example and started producing quality wines, in accordance with their terroirs and tradition. Pablo’s most important decision was the purchase of an old bodega on the mountainside. There they found a real treasure: nearly 100 dug-in amphoras in an almost perfect state of conservation. This is something really unique, all the more so as these amphoras are nearly 500 years old ! Pablo is experimenting with making white and red wines in them, and the results are encouraging. This estate’s future looks bright and the birth of Pablo’s first daughter, Carla, on March 8th 2011, only confirmed it.

Pablo can use a wide range of grapes, but after 15 years on the estate, he knows which ones are really interesting. He thus grafted Monastell onto his Tempranillo, since this last variety did not seem suited to the area. Pablo’s estate covers 66 hectares of old and young vines, more precisely: 14.5 ha of Merlot, 12.5 ha of Monastrell, 12 ha of Cabernet Sauvignon, 7 ha of Tintorera, 6.5 ha of Petit Verdot, 6.5 ha of Syrah, 4 ha of Mandó and 2.5 ha of Chardonnay. He also buys some Macabeu, Malvasía, Pedro Ximenez and Verdil grapes for his whites. As far as red grapes are concerned, he has a special interest in Mandó, a very delicate variety that was nearly exctinct, and which needs a skillful ageing process. Pablo also likes Monastrell (also known as Mourvèdre), a very Mediterranean grape quite common down south. Last but not least, the red-pulp Tintorera, which plays an increasing part on the estate. The other grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Syrah add structure, body, juicy tannins, and spiciness to the wines, respectively. The vines of these varieties are more than 15 years old. Pablo farms the estate organically. Celler del Roure takes part in several university experiments on water stress, canopy management, vine training methods, etc…\

Terroir:

Vineyards are divided between four fincas, on the northern flank of the Serra Grossa (“l’Ombria”) and in the Alforins-Alcusses vale. The average altitude is 550 m. Most soils are very poor in organic matter - mostly sands, clay and limestone. The area is in a transition climate – this is what is called the pre-meseta, a link between the high plateau of Castilla La Mancha and the Costera valleys (Vall d’Albaida and Rio Cànyoles). The mountain ranges guide the wind coming from the interior (El Poniente) to the vineyard; the area also takes advantage of the humid breezes coming from the Mediterranean (El Levante), which gives the region some 600 mm of rainfall.

A silky red with light spicy aromas and lovely depth of flavour with layers of red and dark fruit on the palate due to the inclusion of four different grapes in the blend of this wine. Three French grapes lead the way with Shiraz 56%, Grenache 17% and Cinsault 17%, all supported here by the dark deep flavours of Portugal's Tinta Barocca which contributes 10%. 

A portion of foot stomping helps to extract colour and juice prior to fermentation.
Ageing is in older, larger 4000 litre oak for 16 months.

From the winery...
The 2014 AA Badenhorst is our ninth release of this appellation wine. The wine has the potential to age very gracefully for the next decade or so. The tannins are prominent and well integrated and refreshing as a number of the parcels were picked quite early. The aromas are more upfront than normal with complex notes of pepper, liquorice, perfume and black cherries. The palate entry is quite dense with lavender and dark berry fruit. The finish is dry with well spread tannins ending with savoury and currant flavours.

The black grape of Mavrodaphne is native to Northern Peloponnese. It is commonly used to create a sweet fortified wine known as Mavrodaphne de Patras. The palate of this wine is full of sultana, dates, molasses, and kirch.

The Kaapzicht (Cape View) Wine Estate covers 174 hectares in the Bottelary Ward in the world-famous Stellenbosch district of South Africa. The vineyards stretch over predominantly north-facing slopes on fertile granite soils with a climate that favours the cultivation of quality wine grapes.

This wine is made using fruit from old bush vines planted in weathered granite topsoil and crumbly clay sub-soil, with a yield of up to 4 tons per hectare. Some of the fruit coming from a vineyard planted in 1947 (second oldest Chenin in the country).

Made reductively. Grapes were harvested during early morning hours in cool temperatures and were given ± 8-10 hours skin contact. Enzymes were used to help extract flavours while on the skins. Wine lay on the lees for 3 months before being racked, cleaned & bottled.

Tasting Notes
Ripe quince, pineapple and stone fruit with some interesting savoury undertones. Lightly textured palate, with a hint of sweetness and balancing crunchy acid, results in a brisk finish.

This Reserva Tempranillo from Valdepenas is a great example of the quality coming out of Spain at the  moment.  Ripe and juicy, yet also with hints of oak and complexity.  Grapes from their oldest, low-yielding vineyards were combined with those of younger vines to create a blend of rich dark fruit with smooth vanilla and rich cocoa. 12 months in American oak barrels, followed by a further 24 months in the bottle add a silken texture to the blend.  Superb with hearty stews and char-grilled steaks as well as a variety of tapas.

"Dark cherry red with a savoury bouquet infused with redcurrant fruit and cake spices, then spicy and savoury to the taste with lifted red berry fruit, a touch of orange zest and peppery spices. There's a nice touch of smokiness coming through, underlying earthy notes and a long dry finish lifted by vanillin oak and mint. Tannins are firm yet the wine is ripe and juicy with a pleasing generosity. Fantastic presentation.  13% alc."