CONTI COSTANTI BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO 2001
R4200,00Why Is It Special?
- The Costanti family has been making wine in Montalcino since the 16th century.
- Their Brunello is elegant yet powerful, balancing classic structure with modern finesse.
- The 2001 vintage was an excellent year for Brunello, known for wines with great depth and longevity.
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: Dried cherries, blackberries, tobacco, leather, balsamic, and hints of spice and earth
Palate: Full-bodied, well-structured, with firm yet refined tannins, vibrant acidity, and complex layers of dark fruit, dried herbs, cedar, and minerality
Finish: Dry finish
GAJA CONTEISA LANGHE 2000
R16700,00Why Is It Special?
- "Conteisa" means "dispute" in Piedmontese, referencing the historical land battle between Barolo’s La Morra and Barbaresco.
- Comes from the Cerequio vineyard in Barolo, one of the region’s most prestigious sites.
- Initially classified as Barolo DOCG, but Gaja reclassified it under Langhe DOC to allow for winemaking flexibility (adding Barbera).
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: Ripe red cherries, plums, dried roses, tobacco, leather, and earthy truffle notes
Palate: Elegant yet powerful, with well-integrated tannins, vibrant acidity, and flavors of dark fruit, licorice and spice
Finish: Lengthy close
GAJA DARMAGI LANGHE 2013
R5200,00TASTING NOTES:
Nose: An enchanting blend of tea and herbs tangos with grilled cherries and reconstituted currants creates an aromatic profile that's sure to turn heads.
Palate: The palate is a sublime combination of fresh and preserved red berries, wild herbs, leaves, tar, and crushed stone that all work in unison, ever-evolving with each glance of the glass.
Finish: Well-structured and firm, a wine of remarkable elegance.
GAJA SORI SAN LORENZO LANGHE 2000
R18300,00Why Is It Special?
- Sorì San Lorenzo is one of Gaja’s most prized single-vineyard wines, known for its intensity, complexity, and longevity.
- Originally classified as Barbaresco, but Gaja labeled it as Langhe DOC to allow for flexibility in winemaking (including small amounts of Barbera).
- Considered one of the finest Nebbiolo-based wines in the world.
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: The nose of the Darmagi 2013 opens with neat and powerful aromas of violet and liquorice. It evolves then into a spiced bouquet of juniper, charcoal and a dominant note of perfectly ripened blackberry
Palate: Full-bodied, powerful, and structured with firm tannins, bright acidity, and layers of dark fruit, spice, and minerality
Finish: A gentle and long finish with a peculiar mineral almost salty character
GAJA SPERSS LANGHE 2000
R16700,00Why Is It Special?
- "Sperss" means "nostalgia" in Piedmontese, reflecting Gaja’s return to Barolo after decades of focusing on Barbaresco.
- Made from a top vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba, known for producing powerful and long-lived Barolos.
- Originally labeled as Barolo DOCG, but reclassified as Langhe DOC to allow for Barbera blending.
- One of Gaja’s most celebrated wines, often considered a benchmark for modern Barolo-style wines.
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: Dark cherries, dried roses, tar, liquorice, tobacco, truffle, and spice
Palate: Full-bodied and structured, with firm tannins, lively acidity, and complex layers of dark fruit, earth, leather, and mineral notes
Finish: Long and complex, revealing fruit and spice elements.
GAJA SPERSS LANGHE 2010
R7800,00Why Is It Special?
- "Sperss" means "nostalgia" in Piedmontese, reflecting Gaja’s return to Barolo after decades of focusing on Barbaresco.
- Made from a top vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba, known for producing powerful and long-lived Barolos.
- Originally labeled as Barolo DOCG, but reclassified as Langhe DOC to allow for Barbera blending.
- One of Gaja’s most celebrated wines, often considered a benchmark for modern Barolo-style wines.
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: Multidimensional aromas of raspberry, flowers, mocha, menthol, orange peel, liquorice and underbrush, plus a whiff of petrol that reminded me of Riesling
Palate: The palate is dense, tannic and austere with a firm structure under the vivid black fruits, together with hints of exotic spices
Finish: Long and complex, revealing fruit and spice elements.
MASSETO TOSCANA 2006
R33000,00TASTING NOTES:
Nose: The intense nose with ripe fruit and jam reflects the summer sun
Palate: On the palate, it is powerful, rich, and opulent, with tightly woven, sweet, polished tannins balanced perfectly by acidity
Finish: A long finish marked by elegance and freshness
OPUS ONE 2007
R13600,00TASTING NOTES:
Nose: A very enticing exotic edge to the nose
Palate: seamless, polished and full of plush, ripe black fruit. The oak is balanced and should facilitate a long ageing period
Finish: Smooth velvety tannins and a lovely, long soft mocha and cedar wood laden finish
OPUS ONE 2014
R12300,00TASTING NOTES:
Nose: A very enticing exotic edge to the nose
Palate: seamless, polished and full of plush, ripe black fruit. The oak is balanced and should facilitate a long ageing period
Finish: Smooth velvety tannins and a lovely, long soft mocha and cedar wood laden finish
SASSICAIA BOLGHERI SASSICAIA 1995
R18000,00Why Is It Special?
- 1995 was a great vintage in Bolgheri, producing structured yet balanced wines with long ageing potential.
- Sassicaia pioneered the Bordeaux-style revolution in Tuscany, elevating Italian wines to global prestige.
- Considered one of the top-performing vintages of the 1990s, often compared to the legendary 1985 and 1990 vintages.
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: Blackcurrant, ripe cherries, cedar, tobacco, leather, graphite, and hints of dried herbs and spice
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, with refined tannins, vibrant acidity, and complex layers of dark fruit, balsamic, earth, and mineral notes
Finish: Long, elegant, and beautifully structured
Ageing Potential: 25–30+ years (drinking exceptionally well now but still has life left)SASSICAIA BOLGHERI SASSICAIA 2011
R15000,00Why Is It Special?
- 2011 was a warm vintage, producing a richer, riper Sassicaia compared to cooler years like 2010.
- Sassicaia remains the benchmark for Super Tuscans, consistently ranking among Italy’s greatest wines.
- The terroir of Bolgheri, with its maritime influence, gives Sassicaia a unique balance of power and elegance.
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: Blackcurrant, ripe cherries, cedar, tobacco, leather, graphite, and hints of dried herbs and spice
Palate: Medium to full-bodied, with refined tannins, vibrant acidity, and complex layers of dark fruit, balsamic, earth, and mineral notes
Finish: Long, elegant, and beautifully structured
Ageing Potential: 20–30 years (drinking beautifully now but will continue evolving)
SASSICAIA TENUTA SAN GUIDO 1985
R94000,00Why Is It Special?
- The 1985 Sassicaia is often considered the "perfect vintage" and is one of the most celebrated Italian wines ever made.
- It was the first Italian wine to receive 100 points from Robert Parker, bringing global fame to Sassicaia and Super Tuscans.
- Tenuta San Guido pioneered Bordeaux-style wines in Tuscany, breaking the rules of traditional Italian winemaking.
- The 1985 vintage is still sought after by collectors, with bottles fetching extremely high prices at auctions.
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: Intense and complex, with notes of blackcurrant, dried cherries, cedar, leather, tobacco, graphite, and earthy truffle
Palate: Silky yet powerful, with well-integrated tannins, bright acidity, and layers of dark fruit, spice, and minerality
Finish: The finish is exceptionally long and elegant
Ageing Potential: One of the greatest ageing Sassicaia vintages—still remarkable today at nearly 40 years old
VEGA SICILIA COSECHA UNICO 1981
R19500,00Why Is It Special?
- Vega Sicilia Único is considered Spain’s greatest and most age-worthy wine, often compared to First Growth Bordeaux.
- The 1981 vintage was aged for over 20 years in barrel and bottle before release, a hallmark of Único’s unique ageing process.
- It is a collector’s treasure, with bottles from top vintages fetching high prices at auctions.
TASTING NOTES:
Nose: Dried red and black fruit, leather, tobacco, cedar, vanilla, truffle, and earthy spice
Palate: Full-bodied yet elegant, with velvety tannins, well-integrated oak, and flavours of dark cherries, plums, liquorice, balsamic, and cigar box notes
Finish: Exceptionally long and complex, with evolving layers of fruit and earth
Ageing Potential: 40–50 years (still drinking well, with tertiary complexity at its peak)