| 1 | 4 | 7 | A | B |
| C | D | E | F | G |
| H | I | J | K | L |
| M | N | O | P | Q |
| R | S | T | U | V |
| W | Z |
|
|
Purveyors of fine wine, spirits and premium cigars since 1977
|
| Wine | Spirits | Events |
|
|
***This Month's Shipping Special*** Germain-Robin
In the summer of 1981, I stopped along Highway 101 north of San Francisco to pick up a pair of vacationing hitch-hikers. The man came from a family that had produced cognac since 1782. The firm had recently been taken over by giant Martell. Hubert Germain-Robin told me a sad tale: ancient hand-methods of distillation were disappearing as the large firms that dominate production applied "improved" high-volume production methods to an ancient industry. Hubert yearned to find a way to use what he had learned growing up, secrets of distillation handed from master to apprentice for centuries.
The next summer, Hubert found an antique still in an abandoned cognac distillery, had it refitted, and shipped it to my Mendocino County ranch, in the northern part of California's fabled wine country. We built a modest redwood shed, and in it we made an historic discovery. We had decided to experiment with premium wines, instead of the thin acidic wines—not fit for the table— that are used to make Cognac. The very first time that brandy distilled from Pinot Noir flowed from the still, Hubert put his nose in the sampling glass, took a long sniff, turned to me, and said, "this is the finest I have ever seen".
Visit the Germain-Robin website.
Germain-Robin is the only producer in the world to base its distilling material on 100% world-class wine grapes. The Select Barrel XO is 80% Pinot Noir. No French producer distills grapes of this quality. Ten barrels/year of XO alambic brandy, hand-distilled on our antique cognac still from twelve different premium ... more
BN#122653
It's a far more subtle take, with a base of mead brandy and a complex mix of herbs distilled into it - hyssop, rose geranium and so on - plus the usual wormwood. more
BN#288165
Distilled by hand on our antique cognac still, blended from an appealing mix of richly fruited brandies and deeper, oakier, and more mature distillates. Some of the brandies date back to our earliest distillations. Plenty of pinot noir brandy in the blend; tons of flavor and a finish that lasts ... more
BN#414206
The blend is very rich, with 10-year-old Colombard, some Riesling, and a touch of Zinfandel. There is also a solera enrichment: Joe Corley rolls over earlier lots into the ongoing blends. more
BN#417241
All sizes are 750mL unless otherwise noted.
Vintages and ratings subject to change at any time. All pricing and availability subject to change. |