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Fine Wine

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Wine Shop and Fine Wine Merchant > Fine Wine Shop > Fine Wine Offers

Sorry

This offer expired on 30 September 2012

It has been a long time since Lay & Wheeler has put together an offer of Californian wines, but the number of great wines we have collectively tasted over the past six months has made it a region that is impossible to ignore.

Of course, we have offered Ridge Vineyard’s great Bordeaux blend of Monte Bello in the past, but now – alongside – we are pleased to be able to offer some extraordinary wines from the famous vineyards of Au Bon Climat and Peter Michael.

While California is the land of sun, the Napa Valley is itself surprisingly cool (in relative terms at least) due to the temperature-modifying effects of the breezes that come off the Pacific Ocean. It is this that makes the area ideal for the quality wines that are produced there, allowing the grapes to achieve full ripeness, yet retaining crucial acidity. The resulting wines show immense appeal, but superb poise and elegance – new world fruit, combined with refreshing old world structure.

The Ridge estates are in the Santa Cruz region to the south of San Francisco, where a combination of sunshine hours, dry farming, cool breezes and mists creates the perfect situation to create the classically proportioned and long-lived Monte Bello.

Peter Michael

2009 Les Pavots Estate Cabernet, Peter Michael, Napa

Planted with Bordeaux varietals, the Pavots vineyard is extremely rocky, with volcanic soil. The resultant wines have concentrated, ripe fruit and are elegantly structured. The 2009 has dark, spiced hedgerow fruit on the nose; highly attractive and appealing. The tannins on the palate are silky-textured and effortlessly integrated, enswathing the black berry fruit. This is a subtle, elegant and restrained style of Californian Cabernet and supremely balanced, with a lovely vein of freshness that gives lift and verve to the overall structure. Long on the finish and rather moreish.

Dry, Red, Still
USA
No Drink Dates Available

Cabernet Sauvignon 100%

Ridge Vineyards

2011 Monte Bello, Ridge Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains

Wine currently held in transit or abroad, estimated arrival in the UK April 2014 (Find out more about En Primeur)

The final blend of this wine has not been fully ascertained, however winemaker Eric Baugher said the following about the potential of the wine in December 2011:
“… we are tasting the lots regularly to track quality. Albeit unofficial until sit-down assemblage tastings in February, as things stand now, cabernet sauvignon stands out as exceptional, and will be a significant percentage of the blend. Although
merlot yields were low, it was a hard year for ripening. Our best guess is that we will include a small amount from the oldest, most water-stressed parcels. The petit verdot shows excellent aromatics, but may not be rich enough to include in the Monte Bello. Cabernet franc also had difficulty ripening; it did, however, produce beautiful results—the wine is opaque and structured. Alcohol is likely to be in the 12.7 -12.9% range, something we have not had for a decade. Depending on the outcome of first-assemblage blind tastings, this Monte Bello vintage might have as much as 92%
cabernet sauvignon. This hasn't happened since the mid-1980s. Based on the fine quality of the cabernet lots, with rigorous selection, the 2011 Monte Bello should rival any past wine from this great site. In a difficult cabernet vintage, it will be one of the few stand-outs.”

Dry, Red, Still
USA
Leave 2015 – 2030

Au Bon Climat

2008 Pinot Noir, The Clendenen Family Estate, Le Bon Climat

Wine currently held in transit or abroad. (Find out more about En Primeur)

From family-owned Le Bon Climat vineyard, planted with low yielding clones and organically farmed, this is a wine of quite serious intensity.
Darkly appealing on the nose, with complex notes of hedgerow fruit, woodsmoke and minerals. The palate has more structure than the Bien Nacido and Talley wines, with finely-grained, silky tannins providing an elegant but firm framework for a core of dark fruit. A dart of acidity comes through on the finish, but the overall impression of this wine is that of effortless integration and balance. A very fine wine from a great producer.

Dry, Red, Still
USA
Leave 2013 – 2025

Pinot Noir 100%

SOLD OUT

Kistler Vineyards

2009 Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay, Kistler Vineyards, Sonoma

“The 2009 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard is one of the most complete wines in this lineup. It boasts extraordinary class and elegance from start to finish. All of the elements are in the right place in this multi-dimensional, textured Chardonnay. Pineapple, mango, spices, white flowers and creme brulee are some of the many nuances that inform the understated, polished finish. This striking wine is all about nuance and transparency. 96 points.” Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate

Dry, White, Still
USA
Leave 2013 – 2020

Chardonnay 100%

2009 Parmelee-Hill Stone Flat Chardonnay, Kistler Vineyards, Sonoma

“The 2009 Chardonnay Parmelee-Hill Stone Flat Vineyard is one of the more structured, mineral-driven wines in this lineup. It shows marvelous focus and length in an energetic style that is immensely appealing. This head-spinning Chardonnay boasts tremendous integration of fruit, acidity and overall textural elegance. Give it another year or so in bottle and enjoy it over the next few years. 95 points. “ Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate

Dry, White, Still
USA
Leave 2013 – 2020

Chardonnay 100%

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Contact Address: Lay & Wheeler Limited, Holton Park, Holton St Mary, Suffolk CO7 6NN

Registered Address: Lay & Wheeler Limited, Majestic House, Otterspool Way, Watford, WD25 8WW, England

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