Laucala Island might just be the most perfect resort in the world
South Pacific charm meets Teutonic precision in Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz’s private Fijian paradise.
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Among those who’ve not visited Laucala Island, it is probably best known for two things. One, that its accommodations are among the most expensive in the South Pacific, ranging per night from US$4800 for a single-bedroom villa to US$45,000 for the three-bedroom Hilltop Estate – or indeed, an island buyout (24 villas, excluding Hilltop) at US$170,000 per night.
The second thing? The fact that Laucala Island’s private owner is Mr Dietrich Mateschitz, co-founder of the Red Bull energy drinks business and said to be among the 40 wealthiest people in the world.
No matter how grand an expectation those two tidbits might create, Laucala Island will exceed them. Not with unimagined opulence or overbearing service, but with a simple and disarming sincerity and an outwardly effortless attention to detail.
The statistics go a long way towards explaining how Laucala, situated among the Vanua Levu island group in Fiji’s north-east, achieves its get-under-your-skin specialness. The 1350-hectare island, of which more than two-thirds remains untouched, hosts a maximum of 80 guests. Around 400 staff tend not only to the 25 super-luxury villas, four restaurants, five bars and the whims of those guests at any hour, but also to a 100-hectare farm and garden that provides almost all the island’s livestock, vegetables, fruits and herbs, and contributes to Laucala’s being 80 per cent self-sustaining.
The island’s activities are, simply, the best of the best. The 18-hole championship golf course is designed by David McLay Kidd. The water activities include a full complement of jet-skis, water-ski boats, cruising and fishing vessels, but also extend to a classic teak yacht, Rere Ahi, and a $2.4m Deep Flight two-seat submarine. And the activities’ being “all-inclusive” means exactly that.
Laucala Island’s classic teak yacht, Rere Ahi
It’s our suspicion that behind Laucala Island’s strivings for ultimate privacy and perfection lies the greatest luxury of all: the absence of need to be profitable. Indeed, it’s possible that the island was only opened to tourism at all to better enable it to retain its world-calibre staff (such as executive chef, Jean Luc Amann) – a task more difficult if there’s only a smattering of visits from the owner’s family, friends and Red Bull athletes each year.
Mateschitz purchased Laucala in 2003 from the estate of the US publishing baron Malcolm Forbes, who had owned it, with its small copra plantation, since 1972. Forbes renovated the main Plantation House mansion, later added a sprinkling of thatched huts for guests, and built a house and small estate on the nearby hilltop.
(Incidentally, actor Mel Gibson and Oakley sunglasses founder Jim Jannard also own islands hereabouts).
So fond of Laucala was Forbes that, after his death in 1990, his ashes were buried beneath a small concrete monument on the Hilltop Estate. The inscription reads: “While Alive, He Lived.”
Laucala Island’s Peninsula Villa with Seagrass Bay beyond
Mateschitz evidently waited until 2005 to commence building an authentic and (eerily, at all hours) postcard-perfect resort, focused on the lovely Plantation House – now the main fine-dining restaurant – and with its villas, bars and dining areas strung along 4.5 kilometres of the heavily-wooded island’s northern coastline.
The Laucala experience begins on Fiji’s main island of Nadi, where arriving international guests are greeted at the aeroplane door and fast-tracked through passport control on a short walk to the private Laucala lounge. This anticipatory oasis, luxuriously yet authentically decorated in local hardwoods, offers the first true feel of Laucala. Literally, too, as its washrooms are stocked with the soaps, lotions and shampoos that are made on the island, from its own produce.
The island has an 18-hole championship golf course designed by David McLay Kidd
From Nadi it’s a 45-minute flight to Laucala on one of the resort’s two Beechcraft King Air twin-engined six-seaters. The island’s 1143-metre airstrip also handles private jets (with a landing fee of US$10,000, and departure fee of US$8000 if Customs formalities are required). That’s handy for the likes of the owner, who’s also a renowned aviation enthusiast and is said to fly in from Europe in his Falcon, after a final hop from Cairns.
A Land Rover Discovery travels the final few minutes to Laucala’s main village. As one emerges from the woods, the view unfurls with the glorious Plantation House mansion and its aspect over mown lawns dotted with coconut trees and a cluster of thatched-roof buildings (client services, gift store, the Pool Bar with its signature infinity pool), to the crisp white sand and blue ocean beyond.
Laucala’s Pool Bar in the focal Plantation area
The Villas themselves are large and luxurious, with impeccably maintained gardens and sprawling swimming pool, yet they are outwardly inconspicuous and quite private, each being camouflaged in its own enclosure of mature bushland. The 14 single-bedroom, eight two-bedroom and three three-bedroom villas are divided variously among the Plantation beachfront and the overlooking Plateau, a golf cart’s journey west to more waterfront villas at Seagrass Bay and finally to the Peninsula, on the island’s north-west tip.
Bedroom in one of the Plateau villas
Among them are three specialty villas: the two-bedroom Overwater; the clifftop-clinging one-bedroom Peninsula; and the “resort-within-a-resort” Hilltop Estate. This latter compound of three luxury villas and pools, intended for three couples, is the owner’s preferred residence during his one or two stays each year.
Our Plantation single-bedroom villa awaited with a dedicated golf cart outside the private gateway, along with a pair of painted coconuts – red and green, replacing door swing-tags – atop a traditional hollow wooden drum, used by staff as a doorbell. The “single-bedroom” accommodation actually comprised three adjoining thatch-roofed huts (lounge, bedroom and bathroom), while in the large waterfront gardens outside, additional open pavilions provided for dining, poolside relaxation and an outdoor bath.
One of Laucala’s entry-level Plantation one-bedroom villas, with its private gardens, beach and outdoor pavilions
Each building is crafted from local hardwoods and decorated in a masterful blend of traditional Fijian themes with bespoke luxury; just one example being the immense “jellyfish” lampshades, unique to Laucala, that hang like primitive chandeliers from the fascinating network of rope-bound timber rafters.
The overall aesthetic of dark timbers, billiard-table green lawn, white sand and blue ocean demands that every photo be tagged #nofilter. The scene glows with an almost super-natural crispness. It takes some time to realise this is because blurry lines are being constantly excised.
Ambience and smiling servce at the Beach Bar
One does not see untidy edges, peeling flakes of paint, drips of rust down the sides of swimming pools. Irrespective of the number of guests (which totalled just four, during my stay), every restaurant table is set. Pebbles accidentally kicked onto the path on my way to dinner were magically gone when I returned; my golf cart, hurriedly parked nose-in at the clifftop Seagrass Lounge, had rotated 180 degrees during dinner, its rain curtains lowered against intervening showers.
At the risk of torturing the Teutonic stereotype, this is Fiji done by an Austrian.
There is clearly a lot going on behind the scenes, though at the same time, the service is utterly unobtrusive; the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the world manifests not in endlessly scurrying golf carts – very much the opposite – but as an elevated level of attentiveness and caring. With so few guests, those one-on-one interactions – whether with the golf pro, the spa staff, the water activities team members, the personal concierge who each day leaves incredible, freshly-made cakes and pastries – soon lull you into feeling like a family member whose uncle owns the place.
Dinners and desserts are created almost exclusively from produce from the island’s own farm
Our first dinner was at the Plantation House, a degustation menu that included lobster with watermelon sorbet, followed by baked fennel, then A5 Wagyu Angus fillet – all these ingredients sourced from the farm, mere hundreds of metres away, where chef Nico and gardener Pedro enjoy the ritual of personally picking the day’s vegetables and herbs. Guests are made very welcome to join them.
The following day, my wife and I enjoyed lunch with executive chef Jean Luc in his kitchen, watching and chatting as he personally prepared the meal. A stunning dinner followed at Seagrass followed, perched among treetops with views across to the neighbouring Qamea island, home to many of Laucala’s staff and to the artisans and performers of Laucala village’s wonderful cultural activities.
Our final meal, the next day, was to be something quick at the Pool Bar. Instead, Jean Luc popped in with a prepared Szechuan lobster dish: “I picked up that you both liked Asian food, so I thought I’d do this for you …”
Such service never feels contrived nor forced, and applies equally to the many guests who will opt never to leave their villa for the duration of their stay. Indeed, it’s quickly evident that, from the point of entering the lounge at Nadi, one can completely and confidently disappear from view; even to the extent of being protected by Laucala’s negotiated sea and air exclusion zones.
Laucala’s $2.4m Deep Flight submarine – one of only a handful in the world – is at your service
Images and words can’t fully communicate that which elevates Laucala Island beyond an outstanding, five-star luxury South Pacific experience. It lies in the eager attention to detail, the efficiency and circumspection of the staff, the excellence in absolutely all things.
As we boarded the King Air to depart, my wife and I once again having the plane to ourselves, we were sung Isa Lei, the ubiquitous Fijian farewell song. It speaks of the joy of one’s visiting, sadness at one’s leaving, and the unforgettable beauty of Fiji. We did not need to own the island to own the feeling.
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Watch of the Week: TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith
At last, the original Formula 1 returns, but with an unexpected twist.
Over the last few years, watch pundits have predicted the return of the colourful and eccentric TAG Heuer Formula 1, in some shape or form. You could say that the writing was on the wall when TAG Heuer’s heritage director, Nicholas Biebuyck, teased a plethora of vintage models across his Instagram account in the aftermath of Watches & Wonders 2023. In fact, speaking with Frédéric Arnault at last year’s trade fair in Geneva, the former CEO asked me directly if the brand were to relaunch its legacy Formula 1 collection, loved by collectors globally, how should they do it?
My answer to the baited question, whilst informed (in my opinion), definitely didn’t mention a collaboration with Ronnie Fieg of Kith, one of the world’s biggest streetwear fashion labels, but here were are: the TAG Heuer Formula 1 is officially back and as colourful as ever.
As the watch industry truly enters its hype era—in recent years, we’ve seen MoonSwatches, we’ve seen Scuba Fifty Fathoms, we’ve seen John Mayer G-Shocks—the new Formula 1 x Kith collaboration might just 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’s 10 new watches in total, all limited, with some designed on a stainless steel bracelet, and some on an upgraded rubber strap; both options a direct nod to the originals.
Seven are exclusive specifically 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, like the originals. Two are then 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 1350 pieces globally, features the classic black bezel with red accents and a creamy-taupe, vintage-inspired dial. This particular model arrives on a steel bracelet with an eggshell dial, and will present as pure nostalgia for those old enough to remember when the original TAG Heuer Formula 1 made its debut.
Of course, across the entirety of the collection, you will find Fieg’s design cues punctuated throughout: 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 compliments the fun and colour-theme of the Formula 1, but all the same 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 rather reflects the exclusive nature of Fieg’s Kith brand and the pieces he designs (largely, limited-edition).
So, what do we really 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 on their sentimental ties with the Formula 1, it being their very first timepiece or one that was seminal in their horological journey.
This is as faithful of a reissue as we’ll get from TAG Heuer right now, and buddying watch fans should be pleased with the result. The collection has been executed extraordinarily well, pondered on for years, and to TAG Heuer’s credit, a great deal of research has gone into perfecting and replicating the proportions, materials, and aesthetic of this iconic collection 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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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.
