The Wines of This Week's Tasting:
Anthony Hamilton Russell in person
May 27, 2026
2025 Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc
This smooth, full wine is nicely balanced between Loire and New World, which has made it our best-selling Sauvignon Blanc. The 2025 may be one of the best yet.
Selected blocks in mostly Walker Bay & Hemel-en-Aarde, 2025 distinctive & concentrated, lime fruit & minerality teased with wild herbs, subtle salty seaweed. Vibrant acidity binds variously vinified components, including some wild yeast & 7% older barrels. Very Good Plus$19.95, Case $16.95
2024 Ashbourne Sandstone
Ashbourne is a deft blend of sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sémillon, making a unique and subtly savory, mouth-filling whole. Neither Sancerre nor Chardonnay, it partners the same foods as either. We will have an older version to show how it improves with age.
Alluring, substantial sauvignon with chardonnay & semillon, 2024 follows complex script: wild yeast ferment in neutral oak, clay amphora & concrete 'egg; 6 months in amphora. Intricately woven herbal, nettle & grass notes, flinty minerality, subtle green apple & honeyed wax. Excellent 14 bottles, more coming in June, $37, Case $31.95
Hamilton Russell
Anthony’s flagship wines have garnered international acclaim. They are fine and buancd expressions of their grape and improve with age longer than many higher-priced domestic versions,
2023 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay
Graceful, flavoursome 2023 is poised on tightrope of pristine fruit vibrancy & oak-imparted cream & pastry richness. Textured, lipsmacking dry finish tilts the balance toward vivacity, with notes of tangy pomelo & wet stones. Bodes well for long aging, like 2022 (4.5 stars. Whole bunch ferment with indigenous & wild yeast, 9 months on lees in barrel, 25% new, 40% through Malo. Excellent-Outstanding? $55, Case $46.95 $55, Case $46.95
2023 Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir
In the 90s and early aughts, I had fun comparing the various releases of Anthony's signature pinot noir to the signature structures of various Burgundy communes. Now they stand alone as fine expressions of Pinot Noir’s elegance and purity, in my view as well as that of many international critics. We aill have an older version to taste also
Refined & precise 2023, delicate, subtly spiced aromas of red berries, plums & violets in a balanced structure of tannin & oak, 31% new, 10 months. Rounded, with dry, savoury complexity on long, fresh finish. Excellent Plus $55, Case $46.95
Pinotage
A century ago, South African scientists crossed Pinot Noir and Cinsault, creating a new grape, Pinotage, designed to thrive in their country’s warmer climate. The resulting wines have often been mediocre. Anthony demonstrates that he can make vibrant and imposing Pinotage from his cooler vineyards and treats it as a noble grape in the cellar. The Southern Right has the more forward fruit, while the estate Ashbourne is more concentrated, with more oak aging, to rival the first growths of Bordeaux in style but not in flavor.
2023 Southern Right Pinotage
Succulent 2023, vibrant dark plum & hints of violet & mocha in a creamy texture. Balance & understatement the hallmarks, yet good intensity & presence, too, sustained savoury-herb grip after 10 months in small & larger barrels, 18% new. Will age well. Very good – Excellent $37, Case $31.95
2021 Ashbourne Pinotage
Shows serious intent in brooding dark fruit & savoury notes of tapenade & spice. 2021 full, rounded, with layers that unfold on the nose & palate, smooth & succulent to the last powdery drop. Well-judged oaking, 40% new barrel & foudre, 20 months. Excellent 7 bottles only, 2022 coming mid-June $59, Case $50.95
Hamilton Russell Pack one each $235
Mix your own case at the wines' case prices
At the tasting, get any wine at its discounted case price
Len Rothenberg
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- Len Rothenberg
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