Summer Whites
2020 he-li-an-thus, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage production: 163 cases
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most exciting grape varieties in Napa, and at the top end it’s up there with the best white wines in the... World. One of the rarest examples is the he-li-an-thus Sauvignon Blanc. The source of the fruit is a 22 year old hillside vineyard shrouded in secrecy, but we do know the winemaker is a modern day Napa genius: Jason Exposto from FUTO Estate.
Jason specifically chose this cool, north facing vineyard as the dry-farmed vines have the perfect synergy of natural richness and crystalline acidity he looks for in a great Sauvignon Blanc.
Jason Exposto, Winemaker:
"Sourced from a cool pocket of the vineyard and picked over numerous passes. We basket press the whole clusters and run the cool juice to seasoned French oak barrels, where the native yeast ferments the wines to dryness. We age for several months on lees before bottling unfined and unfiltered. Mouthwatering flavour of meyer lemon, jasmine and stone fruit and wrapped together with a flinty acidity."
£61 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £77.02 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2020 O’Shaughnessy, Chardonnay, Oakville 12x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Production: 377 cases
The O'Shaughnessy Oakville a wine that's often been described as an a-typical Napa Chardonnay, edging to the more steely, energetic end of the spectrum.... Winemaker Saen Capiaux achieves this by blocking malolactic fermentation, and using just 26% new French Oak during élevage. He builds depth and texture through a combination of a very special selection of four Chardonnay clones in the vineyard, with gentle lees stirring in the winery.
£590 / Case£49.17 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £746.45 / Case, £62.20 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2020 O’Shaughnessy, Chardonnay, Oakville 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Production: 377 cases
The O'Shaughnessy Oakville a wine that's often been described as an a-typical Napa Chardonnay, edging to the more steely, energetic end of the spectrum.... Winemaker Saen Capiaux achieves this by blocking malolactic fermentation, and using just 26% new French Oak during élevage. He builds depth and texture through a combination of a very special selection of four Chardonnay clones in the vineyard, with gentle lees stirring in the winery.
£51 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £64.40 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2021 Aperture, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County 12x75cl
Blend: 97% Sauvignon Blanc, 3% Semillon
Production: 1,808 cases
Aperture's Sauvignon Blanc was originally inspired by winemaker Jesse Katz’s experience working at Bordeaux First-Growth, Château... Haut-Brion in Bordeaux. His unique barrel program provides the wine with a distinct complexity and a subtle weight on the palate.
The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc is the first vintage to include Estate-grown Sémillion and Sauvignon Musqué, planted on the Aperture property in 2019. These two estate blocks were hand-harvested in early September while fruit from Dry Stack Vineyard in the Bennett Valley AVA was brought in
in early October, consistent with this vineyard’s unique late-ripening characteristics.
1/3 New French oak, 1/3 once used French Oak, and the remaining neutral French oak was selected for this vintage’s barrel program. Once transferred to barrel, the wine was placed in a cold barrel room to keep fermentation cool and slow to intentionally preserve the bright aromatics and fresh quality. As the wine slowly fermented for an additional 3 weeks in barrel, it was topped and stirred weekly. The wine stayed in those same barrels for 6 months. At that point, Jesse stopped the fermentation in order to maintain the wine’s natural bright acidity.
£505 / Case£42.08 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £644.45 / Case, £53.70 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2021 Aperture, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County 1x75cl
Blend: 97% Sauvignon Blanc, 3% Semillon
Production: 1,808 cases
Aperture's Sauvignon Blanc was originally inspired by winemaker Jesse Katz’s experience working at Bordeaux First-Growth, Château... Haut-Brion in Bordeaux. His unique barrel program provides the wine with a distinct complexity and a subtle weight on the palate.
The 2021 Sauvignon Blanc is the first vintage to include Estate-grown Sémillion and Sauvignon Musqué, planted on the Aperture property in 2019. These two estate blocks were hand-harvested in early September while fruit from Dry Stack Vineyard in the Bennett Valley AVA was brought in
in early October, consistent with this vineyard’s unique late-ripening characteristics.
1/3 New French oak, 1/3 once used French Oak, and the remaining neutral French oak was selected for this vintage’s barrel program. Once transferred to barrel, the wine was placed in a cold barrel room to keep fermentation cool and slow to intentionally preserve the bright aromatics and fresh quality. As the wine slowly fermented for an additional 3 weeks in barrel, it was topped and stirred weekly. The wine stayed in those same barrels for 6 months. At that point, Jesse stopped the fermentation in order to maintain the wine’s natural bright acidity.
£43 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £54.80 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2022 Bevan Cellars, Dry Stack Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County 12x75cl
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage production: n/a
The Dry Stack Vineyard rests 170 metres above sea level on the eastern slope of Mt. Taylor in Bennett Valley, towards the more elevated eastern... reaches of Sonoma County. The soils are marine clay and loam with gravel throughout which brings minerality, while the cool climate provides lift and vibrancy. Russell uses a touch of French Oak to add texture and depth, making sure that the wine is all about rich aromas and pure, intense fruit. This is a Summer-showstopper and simply has to be experienced.
Russel Bevan: "Gold...pure gold in a glass. This years Dry Stack stands apart from previous vintages in it's sophistication. It highlights the aromatic characteristics and mouth-watering flavors, while staying true to our rich, expressive, bold style of winemaking. Notes of bosc pears, melon and fresh Meyer lemon balance the dazzling acidity. Minimal french oak influence on the wine offers a hint of fresh cedar and shortbread on the finish. This wine screams for grilled figs with goat cheese, drizzled in orange blossom honey."
£425 / Case£35.42 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £555.50 / Case, £46.29 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2022 Bevan Cellars, Dry Stack Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage production: n/a
The Dry Stack Vineyard rests 170 metres above sea level on the eastern slope of Mt. Taylor in Bennett Valley, towards the more elevated eastern... reaches of Sonoma County. The soils are marine clay and loam with gravel throughout which brings minerality, while the cool climate provides lift and vibrancy. Russell uses a touch of French Oak to add texture and depth, making sure that the wine is all about rich aromas and pure, intense fruit. This is a Summer-showstopper and simply has to be experienced.
Russel Bevan: "Gold...pure gold in a glass. This years Dry Stack stands apart from previous vintages in it's sophistication. It highlights the aromatic characteristics and mouth-watering flavors, while staying true to our rich, expressive, bold style of winemaking. Notes of bosc pears, melon and fresh Meyer lemon balance the dazzling acidity. Minimal french oak influence on the wine offers a hint of fresh cedar and shortbread on the finish. This wine screams for grilled figs with goat cheese, drizzled in orange blossom honey."
£37 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £48.19 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2021 Aperture, Chenin Blanc, Alexander Valley 12x75cl
Blend: 100% Chenin Blanc
Production: 3,294 cases
Aperture's Chenin Blanc is a vibrant and bright wine, coming from old vines planted in the 1940’s. It is a product of its rich clay loam soils and... colder, brisk nights that are made possible by the Delta Breeze coming in off the San Pablo Bay.
The 2021 Chenin Blanc fruit was night-harvested from the cool Clarksberg AVA on the Sacramento River. Jesse incorporated 80% stainless-steel barrels and 20% neutral French oak barrels for the 2021 vintage. Once it was transferred to barrel, the wine was placed in the cold barrel room to keep the fermentation cool and slow, maintaining freshness and bright aromatics. As the wine slowly fermented for an additional 3 weeks in barrel, Jesse topped and stirred each barrel weekly. The wine stayed in those same barrels for 6 months before bottling.
£355 / Case£29.58 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £464.45 / Case, £38.70 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2021 Aperture, Chenin Blanc, Alexander Valley 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Chenin Blanc
Production: 3,294 cases
Aperture's Chenin Blanc is a vibrant and bright wine, coming from old vines planted in the 1940’s. It is a product of its rich clay loam soils and... colder, brisk nights that are made possible by the Delta Breeze coming in off the San Pablo Bay.
The 2021 Chenin Blanc fruit was night-harvested from the cool Clarksberg AVA on the Sacramento River. Jesse incorporated 80% stainless-steel barrels and 20% neutral French oak barrels for the 2021 vintage. Once it was transferred to barrel, the wine was placed in the cold barrel room to keep the fermentation cool and slow, maintaining freshness and bright aromatics. As the wine slowly fermented for an additional 3 weeks in barrel, Jesse topped and stirred each barrel weekly. The wine stayed in those same barrels for 6 months before bottling.
£31 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £40.40 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2019 Spear, Gnesa Vineyard Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills 12x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage production: c.250 cases
SPEAR's Estate Gnesa Vineyard lies immediately west of the home ranch on the steep, north facing slope of almost pure sand, giving the wine... its unmistakable intensity and minerality. What makes this Chardonnay so good is its balance of richness and zing. This complexity and sense of place is a direct result of owner Ofer Shepher's dedication to sustainable, organic farming.
£435 / Case£36.25 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £560.45 / Case, £46.70 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2019 Spear, Gnesa Vineyard Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage production: c.250 cases
SPEAR's Estate Gnesa Vineyard lies immediately west of the home ranch on the steep, north facing slope of almost pure sand, giving the wine... its unmistakable intensity and minerality. What makes this Chardonnay so good is its balance of richness and zing. This complexity and sense of place is a direct result of owner Ofer Shepher's dedication to sustainable, organic farming.
£37 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £47.60 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2019 Scherrer, Scherrer Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma County 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Production: 136 cases
From the family’s hillside Scherrer Vineyard in the far north of Alexander Valley, this sublime Chardonnay has a signature lime note and a leaner,... higher acidity, offering an intense and complex wine. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed to French oak cooperage, where primary and malolactic fermentation occurred. All of these elements were allowed to integrate during its more than yearlong residence in wood. It was bottled without fining or filtration to respect both its delicacy and its more substantial qualities.
£37 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £47.60 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2019 Scherrer, Scherrer Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma County 12x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Production: 136 cases
From the family’s hillside Scherrer Vineyard in the far north of Alexander Valley, this sublime Chardonnay has a signature lime note and a leaner,... higher acidity, offering an intense and complex wine. The grapes were whole-cluster pressed to French oak cooperage, where primary and malolactic fermentation occurred. All of these elements were allowed to integrate during its more than yearlong residence in wood. It was bottled without fining or filtration to respect both its delicacy and its more substantial qualities.
£440 / Case£36.67 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £566.45 / Case, £47.20 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2019 Peake Ranch, Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 12x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage production: 251 cases
A single-vineyard Chardonnay from one of the hottest producers on the West Coast... Only 251 cases produced... Scores of 96+ WA and 96 JD...... This already sounds like a serious prospect, and with an incredible price the Peake Ranch Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 is an unbelievable buy.
Winemaker Wynn Solomon has produced a wine that showcases the pedigree of this vineyard in northern Santa Barbara County, and why Peake Ranch is held in the very highest regard.
The Wine Advocate's Erin Brooks picked up on the Sierra Madre 2019s "Tangy acidity and shimmery mineral character", which is textbook for the vineyard. The cold Pacific breezes and fog drawn inland from the nearby coast, and terroir dominated by chalky/sandy ancient seabed, come together gloriously.
Jeb Dunnuck talked about how it is "Delivering California fruit in a Burgundian style" (i.e. richness and bags of tension), yet a Chardonnay of the same class from the Côte d'Or would be double the price if not more.
The Sierra Madre 2019 is a tremendous wine to savour now and anytime over the coming 10 years.
£550 / Case£45.83 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £698.45 / Case, £58.20 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2020 Favia, Carbone Chardonnay, Coombsville 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage Production: 1,609 cases
£41 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £52.40 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2020 Favia, Carbone Chardonnay, Coombsville 12x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage Production: 1,609 cases
£480 / Case£40 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £614.45 / Case, £51.20 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2017 Larry Hyde Vineyard Estate, Chardonnay, Los Carneros 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage production: 550 cases
£47 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £59.60 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2017 Larry Hyde Vineyard Estate, Chardonnay, Los Carneros 6x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage production: 550 cases
£280 / Case£46.67 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £355.22 / Case, £59.20 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2019 Peake Ranch, Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage production: 251 cases
A single-vineyard Chardonnay from one of the hottest producers on the West Coast... Only 251 cases produced... Scores of 96+ WA and 96 JD...... This already sounds like a serious prospect, and with an incredible price the Peake Ranch Sierra Madre Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 is an unbelievable buy.
Winemaker Wynn Solomon has produced a wine that showcases the pedigree of this vineyard in northern Santa Barbara County, and why Peake Ranch is held in the very highest regard.
The Wine Advocate's Erin Brooks picked up on the Sierra Madre 2019s "Tangy acidity and shimmery mineral character", which is textbook for the vineyard. The cold Pacific breezes and fog drawn inland from the nearby coast, and terroir dominated by chalky/sandy ancient seabed, come together gloriously.
Jeb Dunnuck talked about how it is "Delivering California fruit in a Burgundian style" (i.e. richness and bags of tension), yet a Chardonnay of the same class from the Côte d'Or would be double the price if not more.
The Sierra Madre 2019 is a tremendous wine to savour now and anytime over the coming 10 years.
£46 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £58.40 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2018 Arista, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 6x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage production: 1,500 cases
Arista's 'RRV' Chardonnay is always an exceptional introduction to the character of Russian River Valley Chardonnay from the vintage. With... contributions from some of the finest Chardonnay vineyards in the appellation and made with slightly less new oak than the vineyard designates, this cuvée offers the highest level of early drinkability in our portfolio while maintaining an extraordinary degree of quality.
£270 / Case£45 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £343.22 / Case, £57.20 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2018 Arista, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage production: 1,500 cases
Arista's 'RRV' Chardonnay is always an exceptional introduction to the character of Russian River Valley Chardonnay from the vintage. With... contributions from some of the finest Chardonnay vineyards in the appellation and made with slightly less new oak than the vineyard designates, this cuvée offers the highest level of early drinkability in our portfolio while maintaining an extraordinary degree of quality.
£45 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £57.20 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2018 FEL, Chardonnay, Anderson Valley 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage production: 4,133 cases
£25 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £33.20 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2018 FEL, Chardonnay, Anderson Valley 12x75cl
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Vintage production: 4,133 cases
£295 / Case£24.58 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £392.45 / Case, £32.70 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2020 he-li-an-thus, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 12x75cl
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Vintage production: 163 cases
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most exciting grape varieties in Napa, and at the top end it’s up there with the best white wines in the... World. One of the rarest examples is the he-li-an-thus Sauvignon Blanc. The source of the fruit is a 22 year old hillside vineyard shrouded in secrecy, but we do know the winemaker is a modern day Napa genius: Jason Exposto from FUTO Estate.
Jason specifically chose this cool, north facing vineyard as the dry-farmed vines have the perfect synergy of natural richness and crystalline acidity he looks for in a great Sauvignon Blanc.
Jason Exposto, Winemaker:
"Sourced from a cool pocket of the vineyard and picked over numerous passes. We basket press the whole clusters and run the cool juice to seasoned French oak barrels, where the native yeast ferments the wines to dryness. We age for several months on lees before bottling unfined and unfiltered. Mouthwatering flavour of meyer lemon, jasmine and stone fruit and wrapped together with a flinty acidity."
£720 / Case£60 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £909.79 / Case, £75.82 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days