L a m e l l a - 3 x 2020 and 3 x 2021 Case

2020 Lamella - 98-100 Points - Stuart McCloskey “Unfurling at a glacial pace - my note arrives after three days in the decanter (without any signs of oxidation), which provides an insight into the wine’s sheer concentration. Glass-staining beetroot red journeys to a core of midnight black. The bouquet interests the heck out of me – potency juxtaposed with a sense of unerring restraint, which is an artform. Savoury at first, and brooding. Cooling graphite, coal and coconut provide lift before the wonderfully heady aromas of mulberry, blackcurrant pastille, creme de mûre, black raspberry, violet and dark, bitter chocolate arrive, star anise too. A wonderfully, exotic and sensational perfume which keeps you hooked. Make no mistake, this is a towering wine, but perfectly proportioned with a masterful touch. Texturally, Lamella is one of those wines that delivers immediate impact, the quality indisputable. The flavours run deep, as deep as the ocean and quite honestly are difficult to convey. Concentrated dark berries, crème de cassis, mulberry and blueberry liquor flood the palate. Mid-palate provides relief from the richness – bitter chocolate, wild herbs and liquorice. I sense bitter orange zest – Negroni-esque which spikes even more intrigue. Acidity provides freshness and lift. Structurally, this is rock-solid with firm, grippy tannins. The complexity and animation of this wine is simply jaw-dropping. Alas, this is one for the cellar and will be drinking from 2032 to 2050+. If you cannot resist, decant for at least 48 hours. Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware.”

2021 Lamella - 98-99 Points – Stuart McCloskey “In this case, the bouquet continues to be elusive and smoulders rather than leaps out. Compote-like, blue and black fruits, violet, overlayed with fresh pencil shavings, iodine, sea kelp, espresso, cooling steel, graphite, minerals, bergamot and peppermint oil. An intoxicating, heady fusion. The palate is incredibly dense (almost off the scale) – virtually chewable. Solid tannins frame the pure, ripe fruits. The palate feel is the archetypal ‘iron fist in a velvet glove.’ Sensual, powerful, tightly coiled and statuesque. With lots of aeration the wine’s rhythm unfolds to its own, wonderful tune. The flavour profile is extraordinarily pure – the core of fruit is off the scale. This is the perfect example of a wine that fans out and deepens to more notes of pastille fruits, blueberry compote and florals. An unremitting finish finally brings this great wine to a close. This will take at least a decade to develop and this is the reason my score errs on the modest side. Don’t let this put you off as this will ultimately be another magnificent ’21. Today, it’s reserved and it shows…