Ten trips to take before it’s too late
It’s a bucket list of amazing places to see — and hopefully protect — before waning species or declining ecosystem catches up with them.
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In honour of Earth Day earlier this week, we're visiting some of our favorited destinations that may not be around much longer.
Whether due to a waning species (Rwanda's critically endangered mountain gorillas; the Himalayas' rare snow leopards) or a rapidly declining ecosystem, these 10 beautiful places may soon dramatically change forever. Others may disappear altogether.
The Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Australia's northeast coast is home to the world's largest reef complex and the only one that can be seen from space. At about 350,000 square kilometres — that's roughly half the size of France — the Great Barrier Reef nurtures at least 300 species of hard coral and 1500 species of fish.
But rising ocean temperatures, water pollution, cyclones, and ocean acidification all bleach the coral reef, and scientists worry that poor water quality and high emissions won't allow it to recover.
Where to Stay: Hamilton Island's Qualia resort is our favourite way to experience the reef firsthand. Its 12 hectares, which include 60 hillside pavilions and a private beach, sit alongside the Coral Sea among fragrant eucalyptus trees.
See the magnificent reefs surrounding it — including the famous heart-shaped reef — with a helicopter tour, launched from the resort's helipad. (qualia.com.au)
The Amazon Rainforest
The "Save the Rainforest" movement took the world by storm more than a decade ago, but the Amazon — which stretches through nine South American countries and measures roughly 7 million square kilometres — continues to be threatened by deforestation and pollution.
Environmentalists have warned about the loss of biodiversity that such habitat destruction will cause; some predictions even show that the rainforest could completely disappear by the end of the 21st century.
Where to Stay: Instead of staying in one location, explore the Amazon's awe-inspiring river — the world's largest drainage system — and its heavily forested shores aboard Aqua Expedition's intimate 16-suite _Aria _.
Voyages allow guests to kayak with the river's pink dolphins, fish for piranhas, and hike on shore among native Titi monkeys. New seven-night cruises with the renowned ocean environmentalist and film producer Jean-Michel Cousteau are also available for next year, providing an in-depth look of how we can help protect the Amazon. (aquaexpeditions.com)
The Arctic
The U.S. Navy is expanding and setting up resources to be able to respond to situations and emergencies that may arise with the increasing ice melt that is projected to occur between now and 2030.
This is hotly debated, but among the numerous statistics of melting ice, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that average Arctic temperatures are rising almost twice as quickly as the global average rate.
Regardless of future predictions, the current state of the Arctic is undeniably in decline: Coastal erosion, ice cap retreat, and permafrost melt are all well documented.
Where to Stay: The luxury French cruise line Ponant is an expert in polar expeditions, and its 132-room ship _Le Boréal_ features an internationally recognised Clean Ship label. A navigational positioning system eliminates the need to drop anchor — protecting the seabed from any contact and potential damage — and an optical and submarine-detection system prevents collisions with orcas and other cetaceans.
Arctic itineraries range from seven nights in Norway to 14 nights in Alaska and Canada, and include exceptional naturalist guides, Zodiac trips to spot polar bears or explore breathtaking fjords, and — depending on specific itinerary — immersive encounters with local communities. (us.ponant.com)
The Dead Sea
The Dead Sea is the world's saltiest body of water, and humans have been floating in its waters since Biblical times for its many believed healing properties. However, it has been reported that in the last 50 years, the depth of the lake has dropped 34 metres, reducing its surface by 30 percent.
Thousands of sinkholes, which continually and unexpectedly appear along its shores, have scientists and conservationists concerned that most of the lake will one day disappear altogether.
Where to Stay: Roughly 90 minutes from the Dead Sea, Beresheet is arguably the best resort in Israel. Its 111 one- and two-story villas — many with private pools — perfectly blend into the remote desert landscape, and activities range from horseback and camel rides to jeep excursions and mountain biking in the nearby Ramon Crater. ( isrotel.com)
Rwanda
A study conducted by more than 30 scientists around the world and released earlier this year shows that 75 percent of primate species have shrinking populations, and 60 percent are threatened with extinction.
Their decline is being attributed to hunting, farming, ranching, logging, mining, and oil drilling. In the forests of Rwanda, the native mountain gorilla population is most famous as the subject of primatologist Dian Fossey's research.
Though Fossey's work became the impetus for a widely successful conservation effort that has over the last century brought a species back from the brink, Rwanda's gorillas remain critically endangered due to habitat loss caused by human development.
Where to Stay: Encounter mountain gorillas — as well as chimpanzees and golden monkeys — while trekking through the forests of Rwanda with Volcanoes Safaris. The outfitter's six-day safaris take place at its Virunga Lodge and highlight gorilla conservation and education, as well as local culture.
The lodge also recently debuted its new Dian Fossey Map Room in honour of the 50th anniversary of the primatologist's Karisoke Research Centre. (volcanoessafaris.com)
The Maldives
As the lowest lying country in the world, the Maldives are in danger of sinking due to climate change. None of the island-nation's approximately 1200 small coral islands rise to more than 1.8 metres above sea level, and its highest natural point sits a mere 2.4 metres above the Indian Ocean on Addu Atoll.
Scientists predict that the idyllic atolls could be completely submerged within the next 30 years. Luckily, local officials are taking vital steps in the right direction, pledging to be completely carbon neutral by 2019.
Where to Stay: Located on a lush 9-hectare island roughly 160 kilometres southwest of the main island of Malé, the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort opened late last year with a focus on wellness. The 77-villa property features an onsite Ayurvedic doctor, a 1860-square-metre spa, and the island-nation's largest hydrotherapy pool. (starwoodhotels.com)
Madagascar
Nearly the size of Texas, Madagascar is the planet's fifth largest island; its unique wildlife — including the endangered Silky Sifaka lemur and rare Ploughshare tortoise — is some of the planet's most exotic.
In fact, 95 percent of its reptiles, 89 percent of its plant life, and 92 percent of its mammals exist nowhere else on Earth. And all of them are unfortunately in danger due to poaching and deforestation.
Where to Stay: Meet Madagascar's many endemic species at the soon-to-open Miavana Island Sanctuary. Set to debut in June, the low-impact private-island resort is located on island-nation's northern tip.
Each of its 14 villas comes with snorkel gear, allowing guests the opportunity to swim among some of the world's largest coral reef systems. (timeandtideafrica.com)
The Himalayas
Experts estimate that as few as 4080 snow leopards currently exist in the wild, landing the powerful white-and-grey cat on the endangered species list. And while hunting is the biggest threat to these majestic cats, scientists say that climate change could result in a loss of up to 30 percent of their habitat in the Himalayas alone.
Where to Stay: Increasing snow leopard awareness and conservation efforts is andBeyond's 13-day expedition into the heart of Ladakh. The 13-day expeditions through the Himalayas will take travellers on hikes and four-wheeled treks specially designed to spot the mysterious cat.
Guests stay at the Snow Leopard Lodge in Ulley, and make visits to the local Snow Leopard Conservancy devoted to the species' survival and the preservation of its habitat. (andBeyond.com)
Glacier National Park, Montana
Glaciers are generally a minimum of 10 hectares in size. In 1850, approximately 150 glaciers were present in what is now Glacier National Park, and most were still present when the park was established in 1910. In 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey reported that only 25 of the park's glaciers were larger than 10 hectares.
While the impact of this glacial retreat on the park's ecosystems is still uncertain, scientists say that native plant and animal species could suffer due to a loss of habitat. Glacial retreat — and the resulting reduction of seasonal melting — could also lead to an increase in forest fires.
Where to Stay: Helping visitors appreciate the beauty and importance of the precious ice masses is the Resort at Paws Up, a 15,000-hectare working cattle ranch in western Montana. Choose from 28 luxury homes or 30 luxury tents as a home base for visits to Glacier National Park and other outdoor adventures.
This summer, the resort will also launch a new campsite along the Blackfoot River, which will feature North America's only three-bedroom canvas tents. Each of its 91- to 113-square-metre tents will offer a king-size bed, a bathhouse with heated floors and granite counters, and a private deck overlooking the river. (pawsup.com)
Venice, Italy
It's no secret that Venice is sinking. Annual floods have been taking over the Italian island for nearly a century; a submerged walk in the Piazza San Marco is even a cherished tourist activity.
Aiming to help keep the city afloat, however, is Mose, a multi-billion-dollar project that — expected to be completed in 2018 — is constructing a series of flood barriers in an effort to protect Venice. The city is expected to sink by another 1.8-metre by the year 2100; hopefully this new initiative will keep total submergence at bay.
Where to Stay: Aman Canal Grande Venice is a 16th-century palazzo located directly on the city's Grand Canal. Brimming with original Italian designs — including gilt cornices, terrazzo floors, carved woodwork, and a centuries-old fresco by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo — the hotel features private gardens that overlook the canal.
It's also a short stroll from the Piazza San Marco, where guests can wade through the ankle-deep waters that regularly rush into the square. (aman.com)
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Watch of the Week: TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith
The legendary sports watch returns, but with an unexpected twist.
Over the last few years, watch pundits have predicted the return of the eccentric TAG Heuer Formula 1, in some shape or form. It was all but confirmed when TAG Heuer’s heritage director, Nicholas Biebuyck, teased a slew of vintage models on his Instagram account in the aftermath of last year’s Watches & Wonders 2023 in Geneva. And when speaking with Frédéric Arnault at last year’s trade fair, the former CEO asked me directly if the brand were to relaunch its legacy Formula 1 collection, loved by collectors globally, how should they go about it?
My answer to the baited entreaty definitely didn’t mention a collaboration with Ronnie Fieg of Kith, one of the world’s biggest streetwear fashion labels. Still, here we are: the TAG Heuer Formula 1 is officially back and as colourful as ever.
As the watch industry enters its hype era—in recent years, we’ve seen MoonSwatches, Scuba Fifty Fathoms, and John Mayer G-Shocks—the new Formula 1 x Kith collaboration might be the coolest yet.
Here’s the lowdown: overnight, TAG Heuer, together with Kith, took to socials to unveil a special, limited-edition collection of Formula 1 timepieces, inspired by the original collection from the 1980s. There are 10 new watches, all limited, with some designed on a stainless steel bracelet and some on an upgraded rubber strap; both options nod to the originals.
Seven are exclusive to Kith and its global stores (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Hawaii, Tokyo, Toronto, and Paris, to be specific), and are made in an abundance of colours. Two are exclusive to TAG Heuer; and one is “shared” between TAG Heuer and Kith—this is a highlight of the collection, in our opinion. A faithful play on the original composite quartz watch from 1986, this model, limited to just 1,350 pieces globally, features the classic black bezel with red accents, a stainless steel bracelet, and that creamy eggshell dial, in all of its vintage-inspired glory. There’s no doubt that this particular model will present as pure nostalgia for those old enough to remember when the original TAG Heuer Formula 1 made its debut.
Of course, throughout the collection, Fieg’s design cues are punctuated: the “TAG” is replaced with “Kith,” forming a contentious new brand name for this specific release, as well as Kith’s slogan, “Just Us.”
Collectors and purists alike will appreciate the dedication to the original Formula 1 collection: features like the 35mm Arnite cases—sourced from the original 80s-era supplier—the form hour hand, a triangle with a dot inside at 12 o’clock, indices that alternate every quarter between shields and dots, and a contrasting minuterie, are all welcomed design specs that make this collaboration so great.
Every TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith timepiece will be presented in an eye-catching box that complements the fun and colour theme of Formula 1 but drives home the premium status of this collaboration. On that note, at $2,200 a piece, this isn’t exactly an approachable quartz watch but reflects the exclusive nature of Fieg’s Kith brand and the pieces he designs (largely limited-edition).
So, what do we think? It’s important not to understate the significance of the arrival of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 in 1986, in what would prove integral in setting up the brand for success throughout the 90’s—it was the very first watch collection to have “TAG Heuer” branding, after all—but also in helping to establish a new generation of watch consumer. Like Fieg, many millennial enthusiasts will recall their sentimental ties with the Formula 1, often their first timepiece in their horological journey.
This is as faithful of a reissue as we’ll get from TAG Heuer right now, and budding watch fans should be pleased with the result. To TAG Heuer’s credit, a great deal of research has gone into perfecting and replicating this iconic collection’s proportions, materials, and aesthetic for the modern-day consumer. Sure, it would have been nice to see a full lume dial, a distinguishing feature on some of the original pieces—why this wasn’t done is lost on me—and perhaps a more approachable price point, but there’s no doubt these will become an instant hit in the days to come.
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The TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith collection will be available on Friday, May 3rd, exclusively in-store at select TAG Heuer and Kith locations in Miami, and available starting Monday, May 6th, at select TAG Heuer boutiques, all Kith shops, and online at Kith.com. To see the full collection, visit tagheuer.com
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8 Fascinating Facts You Didn’t Know About Aston Martin
The British sports car company is most famous as the vehicle of choice for James Bond, but Aston Martin has an interesting history beyond 007.
Aston Martin will forever be associated with James Bond, ever since everyone’s favourite spy took delivery of his signature silver DB5 in the 1964 film Goldfinger. But there’s a lot more to the history of this famed British sports car brand beyond its association with the fictional British Secret Service agent.
Let’s dive into the long and colourful history of Aston Martin.
The origin of the Aston Martin name
The company that would become Aston Martin started out as a car dealership. In 1912, Englishmen Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin partnered to sell cars, but soon after they decided to build their own models. Their first prototype debuted in 1915, named in honour of Martin, a racing driver, and his favourite racing venue, Aston Hills. Thus, the name Aston Martin was born.
A speed-demon co-founder banned from driving
Aston Martin co-founder Lionel Martin wasn’t just a keen racing driver—he was an all-out speed demon. As a student, Martin won numerous gruelling bicycle racing records, including riding nearly the full width of England in one 22-hour stretch. He competed in motorcycle and sidecar races and automotive hillclimb competitions. It seems he also brought that need for speed to the public roadways: In 1909, having neglected to pay a previous speeding fine, Martin was caught driving 41.5 km/ph in London and was banned from driving for two years—during which he set yet another cross-country bicycle record.
A tractor company takes over
The years after World War I were tumultuous for Aston Martin, with financial difficulties and numerous takeovers. In 1947, Aston Martin went up for sale and was purchased by David Brown Limited, a company that specialised in farm tractors and industrial gears. Sir David Brown, grandson of the company’s founder, was a lifelong car enthusiast and racer, having built his own competition cars while working as an engineer at the family company. The first car built by Aston Martin after this takeover was called the DB1, named after the tractor company (and the man) that had saved the carmaker.
An indirect connection to Bentley
Around the same time that Sir David Brown took over Aston Martin, he purchased another struggling British carmaker, Lagonda. The company was developing a revolutionary twin-cam six-cylinder engine called the LB6, and Sir David wanted the engine for his new line of Aston Martin sports cars. The Lagonda engine had been designed by none other than W.O. Bentley—the man who co-founded Bentley Motors, who had long since been pushed out of the company bearing his name.
The history of the DB Series
Aston Martin built seven vehicles named in honour of owner Sir David Brown: The DB1, DB2, DB3, DB4, DB5, DB6, and the combo-breaker DBS all bore Sir David’s initials. In 1972, Sir David sold the car company, and the new owners ended the DB series of vehicles, but the name was revived in 1993 with the DB7 in honour of Sir David—who himself was given an honorary position at the company that same year.
Bond, James Bond
Of course, the most famous Aston Martin of them all is the DB5. Just over 1,000 examples were built between 1963 and 1965, but millions worldwide know this as the James Bond car. In the books, author Ian Fleming had specified an earlier Aston Martin DB Mark III as Bond’s car. Still, the DB5 was introduced in the 1964 Bond film Goldfinger, equipped with gadgets including machine guns, smoke screens, oil slicks, an ejector seat, and rotating license plates. Bond has driven several Aston Martin models over the years, including a V8 Vantage, a V12 Vanquish, and two DBS models, but the original DB5 will always be considered the quintessential Bond car.
The angular years
Today, the Aston Martin badge is most closely associated with swooping, evocatively curvy car designs, but in the 1970s the company was obsessed with angular, wedge-shaped designs. The trend began in 1976 with the Aston Martin Lagonda, a shockingly unconventional four-door luxury sedan with “folded-paper” body styling and the world’s first all-digital instrument panel. The Lagonda’s styling was further evolved in 1979 with the Bulldog, a radical concept car with gullwing doors and a sharply pointed nose. The Bulldog was meant to become the fastest road car on earth, but the project was abandoned before production could begin.
For Bond’s eyes only
While most of James Bond’s Aston Martins have been commercially available to anyone who could afford one, the DB10 seen in the 2015 film Spectre was exclusive to 007. As Aston Martin executive Marek Reichman explained to Variety, director Sam Mendes, producer Barbara Broccoli, and Bond star Daniel Craig were touring Aston Martin’s design studios when they saw a concept sketch on the wall. The Bond team insisted that this should be 007’s next car, and Aston Martin spent the next six months furiously working to turn the drawing into a real-world car. The DB10 was unveiled during the launch of the film Spectre, and eight of the 10 examples built were featured in the movie, with the remaining two used for promotional appearances.
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What Venice’s New Tourist Tax Means for Your Next Trip
The Italian city will now charge visitors an entry fee during peak season.
Visiting the Floating City just got a bit more expensive.
Venice is officially the first metropolis in the world to start implementing a day-trip fee in an effort to help the Italian hot spot combat overtourism during peak season, The Associated Press reported. The new program, which went into effect, requires travellers to cough up roughly €5 (about $AUD8.50) per person before they can explore the city’s canals and historic sites. Back in January, Venice also announced that starting in June, it would cap the size of tourist groups to 25 people and prohibit loudspeakers in the city centre and the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello.
“We need to find a new balance between the tourists and residents,’ Simone Venturini, the city’s top tourism official, told AP News. “We need to safeguard the spaces of the residents, of course, and we need to discourage the arrival of day-trippers on some particular days.”
During this trial phase, the fee only applies to the 29 days deemed the busiest—between April 25 and July 14—and tickets will remain valid from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Visitors under 14 years of age will be allowed in free of charge in addition to guests with hotel reservations. However, the latter must apply online beforehand to request an exemption. Day-trippers can also pre-pay for tickets online via the city’s official tourism site or snap them up in person at the Santa Lucia train station.
“With courage and great humility, we are introducing this system because we want to give a future to Venice and leave this heritage of humanity to future generations,” Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) regarding the city’s much-talked-about entry fee.
Despite the mayor’s backing, it’s apparent that residents weren’t totally pleased with the program. The regulation led to protests and riots outside of the train station, The Independent reported. “We are against this measure because it will do nothing to stop overtourism,” resident Cristina Romieri told the outlet. “Moreover, it is such a complex regulation with so many exceptions that it will also be difficult to enforce it.”
While Venice is the first city to carry out the new day-tripper fee, several other European locales have introduced or raised tourist taxes to fend off large crowds and boost the local economy. Most recently, Barcelona increased its city-wide tourist tax. Similarly, you’ll have to pay an extra “climate crisis resilience” tax if you plan on visiting Greece that will fund the country’s disaster recovery projects.
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Omega Reveals a New Speedmaster Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics
Your first look at the new Speedmaster Chronoscope, designed in the colour theme of the Paris Olympics.
The starters are on the blocks, and with less than 100 days to go until the Paris 2024 Olympics, luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega was bound to release something spectacular to mark its bragging rights as the official timekeeper for the Summer Games. Enter the new 43mm Speedmaster Chronoscope, available in new colourways—gold, black, and white—in line with the colour theme of the Olympic Games in Paris this July.
So, what do we get in this nicely-wrapped, Olympics-inspired package? Technically, there are four new podium-worthy iterations of the iconic Speedmaster.
The new versions present handsomely in stainless steel or 18K Moonshine Gold—the brand’s proprietary yellow gold known for its enduring shine. The steel version has an anodised aluminium bezel and a stainless steel bracelet or vintage-inspired perforated leather strap. The Moonshine Gold iteration boasts a ceramic bezel; it will most likely appease Speedy collectors, particularly those with an affinity for Omega’s long-standing role as stewards of the Olympic Games.
Notably, each watch bears an attractive white opaline dial; the background to three dark grey timing scales in a 1940s “snail” design. Of course, this Speedmaster Chronoscope is special in its own right. For the most part, the overall look of the Speedmaster has remained true to its 1957 origins. This Speedmaster, however, adopts Omega’s Chronoscope design from 2021, including the storied tachymeter scale, along with a telemeter, and pulsometer scale—essentially, three different measurements on the wrist.
While the technical nature of this timepiece won’t interest some, others will revel in its theatrics. Turn over each timepiece, and instead of a transparent crystal caseback, there is a stamped medallion featuring a mirror-polished Paris 2024 logo, along with “Paris 2024” and the Olympic Rings—a subtle nod to this year’s games.
Powering this Olympiad offering—and ensuring the greatest level of accuracy—is the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 9908 and 9909, certified by METAS.
A Speedmaster to commemorate the Olympic Games was as sure a bet as Mondo Deplantis winning gold in the men’s pole vault—especially after Omega revealed its Olympic-edition Seamaster Diver 300m “Paris 2024” last year—but they delivered a great addition to the legacy collection, without gimmickry.
However, the all-gold Speedmaster is 85K at the top end of the scale, which is a lot of money for a watch of this stature. By comparison, the immaculate Speedmaster Moonshine gold with a sun-brushed green PVD “step” dial is 15K cheaper, albeit without the Chronoscope complications.
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The Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope in stainless steel with a leather strap is priced at $15,725; stainless steel with steel bracelet at $16,275; 18k Moonshine Gold on leather strap $54,325; and 18k Moonshine Gold with matching gold bracelet $85,350, available at Omega boutiques now.
Discover the collection here
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Here’s What Goes Into Making Jay-Z’s $1,800 Champagne
We put Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs Assemblage No. 4 under the microsope.
In our quest to locate the most exclusive and exciting wines for our readers, we usually ask the question, “How many bottles of this were made?” Often, we get a general response based on an annual average, although many Champagne houses simply respond, “We do not wish to communicate our quantities.” As far as we’re concerned, that’s pretty much like pleading the Fifth on the witness stand; yes, you’re not incriminating yourself, but anyone paying attention knows you’re probably guilty of something. In the case of some Champagne houses, that something is making a whole lot of bottles—millions of them—while creating an illusion of rarity.
We received the exact opposite reply regarding Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs Assemblage No. 4. Yasmin Allen, the company’s president and CEO, told us only 7,328 bottles would be released of this Pinot Noir offering. It’s good to know that with a sticker price of around $1,800, it’s highly limited, but it still makes one wonder what’s so exceptional about it.
Known by its nickname, Ace of Spades, for its distinctive and decorative metallic packaging, Armand de Brignac is owned by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy and Jay-Z and is produced by Champagne Cattier. Each bottle of Assemblage No. 4 is numbered; a small plate on the back reads “Assemblage Four, [X,XXX]/7,328, Disgorged: 20 April, 2023.” Prior to disgorgement, it spent seven years in the bottle on lees after primary fermentation mostly in stainless steel with a small amount in concrete. That’s the longest of the house’s Champagnes spent on the lees, but Allen says the winemaking team tasted along the way and would have disgorged earlier than planned if they’d felt the time was right.
Chef de cave, Alexandre Cattier, says the wine is sourced from some of the best Premier and Grand Cru Pinot Noir–producing villages in the Champagne region, including Chigny-les-Roses, Verzenay, Rilly-la-Montagne, Verzy, Ludes, Mailly-Champagne, and Ville-sur-Arce in the Aube département. This is considered a multi-vintage expression, using wine from a consecutive trio of vintages—2013, 2014, and 2015—to create an “intense and rich” blend. Seventy percent of the offering is from 2015 (hailed as one of the finest vintages in recent memory), with 15 percent each from the other two years.
This precisely crafted Champagne uses only the tête de cuvée juice, a highly selective extraction process. As Allen points out, “the winemakers solely take the first and freshest portion of the gentle cuvée grape press,” which assures that the finished wine will be the highest quality. Armand de Brignac used grapes from various sites and three different vintages so the final product would reflect the house signature style. This is the fourth release in a series that began with Assemblage No. 1. “Testing different levels of intensity of aromas with the balance of red and dark fruits has been a guiding principle between the Blanc de Noirs that followed,” Allen explains.
The CEO recommends allowing the Assemblage No. 4 to linger in your glass for a while, telling us, “Your palette will go on a journey, evolving from one incredible aroma to the next as the wine warms in your glass where it will open up to an extraordinary length.” We found it to have a gorgeous bouquet of raspberry and Mission fig with hints of river rock; as it opened, notes of toasted almond and just-baked brioche became noticeable. With striking acidity and a vein of minerality, it has luscious nectarine, passion fruit, candied orange peel, and red plum flavors with touches of beeswax and a whiff of baking spices on the enduring finish. We enjoyed our bottle with a roast chicken rubbed with butter and herbes de Provence and savored the final, extremely rare sip with a bit of Stilton. Unfortunately, the pairing possibilities are not infinite with this release; there are only 7,327 more ways to enjoy yours.
