Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc 2007, New Zealand

On a voyage of discovery in the 1800’s, the bold ship 'The Astrolabe' visited the shores of Marlborough and discovered the region’s significant beauty and potential. Today, its namesake has captured these qualities and created a distinctive range of wines – Astrolabe. Nurturing the attributes of the soil, vine and climate and combining these with his minimalist approach in the winery, Simon Waghorn transforms the regions grapes into stylish and expressive wines. Despite the siesta-inducing 13% alcohol, this pale straw coloured wine with green highlights shows strong gooseberry and currant flavours on the palate, with a hint of freshly cut capsicum and a refreshingly smooth lingering finish.

Jean-Pierre Mouiex Saint Emilion 2003 , France

Jean-Pierre Mouiex wines carry an awesome pedigree, since they are the owners of Chateau Petrus – the most expensive and reference point for Bordeaux wines. This wine retails in India for Rs. 75,000 per bottle in the finer years – and that is before our excruciating taxes! This commitment and passion for excellence permeates their entire wine portfolio, and similar care and attention is given to their other wines – which are a best-kept secret for many connoisseurs. Under the direction of Jean-Pierre’s son, Christian, and their oenologist, Jean Claude Berrouet, these wines receive the care of a pampered child. Being a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the Merlot provides fruitiness and velvet with the Cabernet Franc providing structure and elegance. This wine exudes fresh, plummy stone fruit and blackberry flavours which carry into notes of herbs, earth and restrained oak on the bright, balanced palate which is supported by firm acidity and ripe tannins. The 2003 was historically hot in the Bordeaux region, with one of the earliest harvests in living memory. As a result, the wine is full-bodied, extracted and prime for early drinking – a true Bordeaux lover’s vintage.

Brancaia TRE 2005, Italy

Italian Super Tuscan wines have created a world class reputation for themselves in the past 20 years due to their sheer quality and class. Falling outside of the strict DOCG regulations due to their varietal selections, super Tuscans cannot fit within the Chianto Classico designation, but they are a true Connoisseurs Selection. We are delighted to be able to source this prime example of the Italian winemaker’s art. La Brancaia, encompassing the two estates Brancaia and Poppi has been owned by the Swiss couple Brigitte and Bruno Widmer since 1981. It is located in the heart of the Chianti Classico area and saw a vertical take-off when it’s vintage 1983 won first place at a major Chianti Classico tasting. Since then, through uncompromising dedication to quality and a strong own identity, the continuous recognition of BRANCAIA has been built up. Tre’s success lies in the careful selection of the fruit in the vineyard. The wine is a blend of 80% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot and 10% Cabernet sourced from the estate’s three main vineyard sites in Chianti and Maremma. The blend is then aged for 12 months in second year French oak. The wine shows a lot of blackberry and mineral character. It is medium-bodied, with fine tannins. 2005 TRE is well-balanced and already delicious to drink, but will improve with a little more bottle age.