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750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $295.91
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $420.87
Full ruby-red. Slightly roasted aromas of black raspberry, cassis, smoked meat, truffle, leather and espresso. Sweet,...
VM
92
WA
91
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $547.91
In many respects, the 2002 may be even more impressive than the 2003. A far more challenging vintage to get...
WA
95
WS
92
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $59.45
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $138.04
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $103.78
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $80.95
The successful 2002 exhibits a beautiful, dense ruby/purple color, a lovely concoction of raspberries, cassis,...
WA
90
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $341.05
Fabulous aromas of crushed berries, with cassis and blueberries and hints of spice. Full-bodied and very rich, with a...
WS
95
VM
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $156.63
Fabulous aromas of crushed berries, with cassis and blueberries and hints of spice. Full-bodied and very rich, with a...
WS
95
VM
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $74.33
Blackberry and chocolate with hints of toasted oak. Medium-bodied, with good tannins and a medium, fruity finish. Not...
WS
88
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $677.21
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $158.81
A refined and pretty wine now with spice, berry and chocolate character on the nose and palate. Medium to full body,...
WA
94
JS
94
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $83.68
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $60.95
Red-ruby. Very sweet, exotic aromas of red berry liqueur and licorice. Nicely concentrated, sweet and fruit-driven,...
VM
88
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $85.61
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $102.50
A sweet, fruity, medium-bodied, surprisingly forward effort, the deep plum/purple-colored 2002 Gruaud Larose exhibits...
WA
90
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Red
1.5Ltr - Case of 6
Bottle: $841.95
As it closes in on age 20, the 2002 Haut-Brion is beginning to drink very well, opening in the glass with aromas of...
WA
93
WS
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $454.17
As it closes in on age 20, the 2002 Haut-Brion is beginning to drink very well, opening in the glass with aromas of...
WA
93
WS
93
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Red
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle: $141.95
The 2002 l’Eglise-Clinet has a straightforward bouquet with more tertiary scents than other vintages, airy red...
WA
90
VM
90
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Red
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle: $224.35
90-92 Good deep ruby-red. Currant, roasted plum and oak notes of chocolate and coconut on the nose. Then bright, pure...
VM
92
WA
90

Red Bordeaux Tequila White Rhone Blend 2002

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world's finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six 'official' Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act – the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.

Tequila is probably Mexico’s greatest gift to the world of fine spirits, and is also possibly one of the most underestimated and misunderstood drinks in the world. Widely used for shots and slammers, and more often than not associated with parties and hangovers, Tequila is in fact a wonderful drink full of subtleties and expression of terroir, that is highly rewarding for those who look into its finer points.

One of the special things about Tequila is the fact that it is capable of expressing the fine nuances and subtle notes of its raw material, far more so than other, similar spirits. That raw material is, of course, the Blue Agave - not a cactus, as is commonly believed, but rather a succulent quite like a lily, which grows in the deserts of Mexico mainly around the province of Jalisco. The Blue Agave takes a decade to mature, and during those ten years, it takes in many of the features of its surroundings, just like a grapevine would. This is why Tequila varies in flavor and aroma from region to region, from the earthier Tequilas of the lowlands, to the more delicate and floral examples from areas of a higher altitude.

The picking and peeling of the spiky Agave, and the distillation process of Tequila is a complicated one, and one which is carried out with enormous skill by the jimadors and master craftsmen who produce the spirit. Steam cooking of the body of the plant is followed by crushing, then fermentation and distillation completes the process. The end product is categorized according to whether or not it is made with pure (‘puro’) agave, or blended with other sugars, and according to how long the spirit is aged for.

The Rhone region of France has been producing superb quality white blended wines for centuries, and is a region highly respected and esteemed around the world, with plenty of New World countries keen to emulate the styles and techniques displayed by the historic wineries and skilled vintners of the area. The secret to the Rhone's success when it comes to blended white wines is the careful and expert selection of certain grape varietals, which each lend special features to the blended wine and bring balance and harmony to the bottle. Most commonly, blended white Rhone wines feature no more than two grapes of either the Viognier, Rousanne, Marsanne or Grenache Blanc varietals, and are renowned for their exceptional flavors and highly aromatic, floral character.