New releases through La Place de Bordeaux

4 Sep 2020

La Place for New World icons

There's more to Bordeaux than Bordeaux, you know. For some time now, proprietors of other top estates in Italy and across the New World have been investigating using the experienced and increasingly dynamic marketplace that this unique cluster of merchants offers. And so as more wines choose this route to the consumer for their top wines we have the chance to offer you allocations of these sought-after crus without having to buy loads of more entry-level wines we might not choose to stock. There's freedom and choice in this method.

From Napa Valley in California comes Quintessa, planted on virgin Rutherford land in the 1990s. It has slopes so steep that some of the land is terraced; a rare thing in California. It has only ever been cultivated organically or as now, biodynamically. Its Margaux-like cepagement gives it perfume, elegance and intensity. In creating L'Aventure, former Bordeaux winemaker Stephan Asseo has taken Paso Robles by the scruff of its neck and the only part of Bordeaux philosophy that survives is the importance of blending. He uses amphorae for freshness and terroir expression.

From Australia we have Wynns from Coonawarra - John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 2016. The original Coonawarra estate, the top wines from this iron-rich land are some of Australia's fines reds. A relatively short hop away in Clare Valley we have unarguably one of the finest Shiraz grown in Australia by the equally remarkable Peter Barry; Jim's son. It's an elegant style with tension and red fruit

Across the Pacific to Chile. Chile has been trapped in a perception of mass market wines for such a long time and has struggled to unlock its huge potential for producing some of the planet's finest wines. But they have everything in their favour - a brilliant climate, great soils, old and often ungrafted vines. Now we have a series of wines that aren't just overoaked grape juice but express their terroirs and have a sense of place. Almaviva 2018 is a Mouton-Rothschild x Conch y Toro collaboration. It is a true Maipo wine benefitting from the stony soil and the ideal climate. Sena is up in the Aconcagua Valley and the 2018 here is a marvel, making utterly beguiling and complete wines. Finally, back down in Colchagua, another Franco-Chilean collaboration has produced a fabulous Clos Apalta - a cru with a 20 year track record of excellence. It's a big wine, but with everything in proportion and fabulous tannins and texture. Le Petit Clos is more elegant with less new oak and the tannins are refined. /CW

Offered subject to confirmation; for shipment Winter 2021

Vintage Description Cs Sz Bt Sz Cs Bts Cs ib Cs inc Bt inc
2016 drink or keep Wynns Coonawarra John Riddoch Cabernet
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6x 75cl 1 4 £420.00 £523.24 £105.00 Buy