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The best of the best at every price point from Australia's most highly curated online wine and spirits list.
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2024 Jasper Hill Georgia's Paddock ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $95.00$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 15 Years (2025-2040)ABV: 15.5%Closure: CorkBold, rich and sumptuous with classic Jasper Hill structure and a long energetic finish.
Georgia’s Paddock contains twelve hectares of Shiraz resulting in an average yield of about three tonnes per hectare. Planted on its own roots in 1975/76 on basaltic rock from the Cambrian period at an altitude of 320 meters. The dry-grown vines here have to rely on natural rainfall only, producing fruit with the immense concentration that the winery is known for.
Magnificent depth of colour featuring a saturated inky black heart along with a near equally deep black dark red hue. Wafting through the nostrils with great authority are aromas of ripe blackberry, liquorice and dark plum followed by spicy vanillin cedar, fennel and peppered earth notes. Bold, rich and sumptuous, the sizeable palate manages to retain remarkable underlying freshness. Opulent blackberry, liquorice, dark plum and ripe blueberry fruits engage every corner of the mouth, showing outstanding concentration and drive. Spicy vanillin cedar, subtle scorched earth, fennel and pepper elements the undercard. Firmly built yet perfectly integrated tannin structure. Concludes exceptionally long and energetic with lashings of ripe fruit.
Drink over the next 10-15 years.
Alc. 15.5%Other Reviews…..
Here is a first-rate lesson on soils and what they contribute to wine. Georgia hails from red, iron-oxide–rich, ancient Cambrian soils that have brought the most astonishing natural balance in '24. The boldness we associate with Georgia is there, but so too a well-delivered fineness of expression that seems to belie the 15.5% abv. The fruit is black and ripe, the spices soar, the oak is well integrated and a ferrous minerality adds a brightness and spark to everything. The tannins are firm but still welcoming, and it just gels so beautifully, so resoundingly. Drink by 2042.
97 Points
Jeni Port – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThis is a great bottling of this famed central Victorian icon. Layers of black and blue fruits intertwine with a mineral-edged undertone, showing aromas of graphite, ferric earth, spices, violets, blackberries and licorice. The palate is seamlessly integrated, with a fine backbone of acidity and almost silken tannins. An excellent wine that balances fruit, earth and vineyard character, all pulled together with a high level of polish. Excellent. Drink or hold.
99 points
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2024 Jim Barry AssyrtikoClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2024-2026)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinJim Barry’s love affair with the Assyrtiko began in 2006 whilst on holiday on the Greek Island of Santorini, the birthplace of the variety. Its crisp acidity reminded him of Clare Valley Riesling yet it had a unique flavour profile that he had not experienced before. Intrigued, he began the process of importing cuttings and by 2012 had planted Australia’s first Assyrtiko vineyard.
Brilliant water like core with a subtle greenish tinge to the edges. Aromas of pear, lime and red apple skin sail out of the glass with some fresh herb and delicate slatey mineral notes also chiming in. Pear, lime and green apple fruits are amply concentrated across what is a mouth watering palate. Crisp, invigorating acidity counterpoints the wines textural volume. Infusions of Mediterranean herbs and a tonic like minerality linger through the long scrumptious finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12%
Other Reviews....
An appealing white wine of gentle savouriness, brightness of fruit alongside that, floral lift and saline minerality. Yes thanks. It feels quite racy in texture but there's oatmeal and ginger biscuit qualities under tart lime and green apple fruitiness. The perfume is loaded with citrus blossom florals, sea spray, lime and ginger. A racy finish lends ultimate freshness. A very good vibe here. Drink by 2028.
93 points
Mike Bennie - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion
I am shocked to discover that I have not yet reviewed a single vintage of this wine for "The Wine Advocate," despite having consumed my fair share of it and judged it at many wine shows over the years. Here, the 2024 Assyrtiko is crunchy and fleshy, with white linen, cheesecloth, brine, green apple, nashi pear, lemon barley and vanilla wafer. The wine is complex and impressively layered, with texture and flavor in profusion. This wine comes highly—and perhaps unsurprisingly to drinkers in Australia—recommended as a great dining wine. One day, as we see more vine age develop in this vineyard, we might see a premium Assyrtiko produced, in line with some of the great, old-vine beauties of Greece. One can hope. 12% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2024--2032.
93 points
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2022 John Duval Entity ShirazBarossa, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$44. 99Bottle$539.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2024-2034)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinWith nearly 30 years spent making Penfolds Grange and developing the RWT label at Penfolds, John Duval qualifies as one of Australia's living wine legends. In 2003 he launched John Duval Wines and wasted no time sourcing some of South Australia's finest fruit. “After 35 years in the business, I know who the best growers are,” comments Duval. Today, John is joined by his son Tim who assists with both winemaking and marketing.
2022 was a standout season in Barossa vintage with mild harvest conditions allowing for even flavour accumulation and vibrant aromatics and acidity. Fruit was sourced from old vineyards in the Krondorf, Tanunda, Marananga, Ebenezer, Moppa and Eden Valley districts, the final blend being made from 85% Barossa Valley and 15% Eden Valley fruit. Maturation took place in French oak (28% new) for a period of 15 months.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Intense blackberry, liquorice and dark plum aromas engulf the nostrils complimented by vanillin oak, dark chocolate, earthy mocha and spice notes. Rich and seductive yet terrifically refined, the medium to full bodied palate has a gorgeous layer of blackberry, dark plum and liquorice fruit flowing across it. Plush in its feel it has seamlessly integrated, velvety tannins and possesses an understated power. Spicy vanillin oak, earthy mocha and pepper elements ensue. The long, silky finish the epitome of finesse and class.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
Velvety opulence speaks from the moment this hits your tongue until the last drop disappears. It’s a luxurious take on the grandeur of fit, medium-bodied Shiraz, putting plush red berry characteristics on a pedestal, encasing them gently in oak and fine-gain tannin, then allowing them to saunter gracefully down the long catwalk before sashaying out the exit curtain. Bravo! Further ageing will only enhance its beauty. Drink 2024-2038.
96 points
Decanter.comShiraz sourced from vineyards in Krondorf, Tanunda, Marananga, Moppa and Eden Valley (BV 85%, EV 15%), matured in French oak, 28% new, for 15 months. A vibrantly coloured multi-subregional blend that shows plum, black cherry and blackberry fruits cut with hints of baking spice, cedar, vanillin, mace, licorice and earth. A thickly shouldered wine, plush with ripe fruit and creamy oaken nuance finishing long and elemental with fine, chalky tannins and a sense of mineral definition. Drink by 2038.
95 points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- Nick's Import
Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Colleccion Extra Anejo 100% Agave Tequila (700ml) - 38%Jalisco, MEXICO$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 38%First released in 1995 to celebrate the company's 200th birthday, José Cuervo Reserva de la Familia pioneered the category of extended age Tequila. Matured for a minimum of two years in a combination of American and French oak barrels, some of the reserve components are up to thirty years old. The tequila itself which has been described as "rich and brandy-like" doesn't change much from year to year. And just as consistency has become its hallmark, so too has been its high praise. What does change annually is the packaging, with a different Mexican artist making each release a collector’s item.
In 2023 the box has been designed by artists Rolando Flores and Gabriel Cázares of the Mexico-based Tercerunquinto Collective. The custom art titled “Structuring a Landscape”, features a geometric abstraction of the landscape of Jalisco.
[2017 edition tasted from a 20ml sample] Pale copper gold. The bouquet combines blanco-like vibrancy with the kind of depth you'd expect from XO cognac - brine, charred capsicum, smoldering eucalyptus, beeswax, vanilla and menthol... with air contact, it also presents a drier, woody aspect including cigar box, cedar and white pepper. Likewise the silky delivery matches sappy agave and butter menthol lozenge-like flavours against drying astringency. It's delicate and somewhat fleeting through the finish, trailing off with black tea, potpourri, white pepper, hints of grilled pineapple, vanilla and trace beeswax. The overall effect strikes a fine balance between young and old. [40% Alc./Vol. tasted]
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Jose Cuervo Reserva De La Familia Platino Tequila (700ml)Jalisco, MEXICOReduced from $169.99$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 40%Closure: Cork"Enduringly subtle, the tequila feels meticulously crafted and deftly balanced, light on its feet but bursting with fresh flavors. Sip it, mix with it, whatever. Just buy it." - drinkhacker.com
Launched in 2007 but relatively new to Australia, the Platino expression from Cuervo's hugely successful "Reserva De La Familia" range of premium Tequilas comes with a strong recommendation from the World Tequila Awards - amongst others. Made using 10-12 year old estate grown agaves, the tequila benefits from a proprietary method which is said to capture the steam during the cooking process, which is then turned back to water to dilute the tequila to a standardised strength. On the nose it's an almost floral blanco with an appealing grilled capsicum, tobacco and white pepper lift that follows through to vibrant flavours suggesting dried pear, light vanilla, white pepper, earthy smokiness and sappy agave. The finish is salty, drying, minerally and pleasantly warm making for a complex standalone sipper that's closer to a Reposado, at least in terms of mouthfeel. Each hand-dipped wax-sealed bottle arrives housed in a presentation box, adding to the premium vibe. Certified organic. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Though it’s a blanco, this tequila is rested in stainless steel for 60 days before bottling, a common practice for higher-end white spirits. It doesn’t take long to see what the fuss is all about: This is instantly an expressive and engaging tequila that quickly becomes hard to put down. A gentle nose expresses notes of white pepper, lime juice, and a touch of coconut husk. Tropical and a little sweet, it’s mild and enveloping from the start. The palate keeps perfectly on message: Light sweetness paired with citrus quickly evokes a note of limeade, then moves into a light sprinkle of baking spice, green herbs, lemongrass, and another grind of white pepper. This is definitely not your father’s Cuervo, and it’s miles away from a brash, alcohol-driven experience. Enduringly subtle, the tequila feels meticulously crafted and deftly balanced, light on its feet but bursting with fresh flavors. Sip it, mix with it, whatever. Just buy it. Bottled Dec 15 2020. - drinkhacker.com
...vegetable notes, fried zucini and unripe pear. Finishes dry with slightly peppered notes and enduring agave flavours. 4.5 stars - diffordsguide.com
Gold Medal - World Tequila Awards 2021
"A benchmark blanco Tequila that tastes and smells exactly how your minds eye envisions one." 88 points - tastings.com (2023)
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2012 Nicks Secret McLaren Vale AR Shiraz Museum ReleaseMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $39.99$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2024-2027)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinFrom a highly regarded estate that has regularly featured in our newsletter over the years comes this Museum Release Shiraz that offers excellent value with all of the bottle ageing done for you. Matured in a mixture of French and American oak with only the best barrels selected for the final blend this offers superb drinking over the next year or two.
A seductively rich and velvety McLaren Vale Shiraz that’s sitting in its prime drinking window.
Dense inky black core with a deep very dark red black tinged hue. The nose gives up pronounced liquorice, black cherry and blackberry aromas which are complimented by vanillin oak, scorched earth, hints of leather and blackpepper. Rich, plush and seductive the palate is layered with liquorice, dark plum and blackberry fruits which overlay a toasty vanillin oak, earthy mocha and blackpepper back drop. Possessing excellent power and velvety tannins it has an opulent yet refined feel. Cruises through to a long, silky smooth finish that sees pepper and subtle tertiary elements lending further complexity.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
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2021 Journeys End Coonawarra Station Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2023-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinCoonawarra’s famous strip of Terra Rossa soil has long been considered to be ideal for the production of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes and the Journeys End Coonawarra Station has consistently proven to be one of the best values the region has to offer. The 2021 vintage was exceptional with a long mild vintage allowing for steady increases in maturity levels of the fruit which meant winemakers could pick at optimum levels of ripeness and flavour. The resultant wines feature great depth of colour, fruit concentration and tannin structures.
A perfectly proportioned Coonawarra Cabernet that combines the variety's trademark structure with a wealth of rich, generous fruit.
Dense pitch black heart with a deep black dark red hue. The nose is drawn in by captivating and powerful scents of ripe blackcurrant, mulberry and cedary tobacco characters which are followed by hints of black olive, dusty earth and bay leaf. Rich, concentrated black currant, ripe mulberry and liquorice flavours reign supreme over a back drop of dusty vanillin cedar, tobacco, subtle black olive characters and infusions of bay leaf. A classic Cabernet Sauvignon structure of sturdy yet nicely integrated tannins frames the deep well of glorious ripe fruit. Long, robust yet generously endowed conclusion.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
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2019 Three Brothers Reunited ShirazSouth Australia, AUSTRALIA$9. 99Bottle$119.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2023-2027)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinIt’s a rare achievement in this industry for a wine to maintain its price point for more than 15 years without sacrificing quality, even more so when it's priced under $10. But the Three Brothers Reunited Shiraz has done just that. Most new labels (particularly in the sub $20 category) start with a bang and over deliver in the first couple of vintages in an attempt to win new customer's loyalty. However, in follow up releases they often stretch expectations of quality in order to meet increased demand. Gradually the brand fades away as customers are disillusioned with what's become a lesser wine. Three Brothers, on the other hand, has made quality and consistency its number one priority, only gradually increasing production while growing a very loyal customer base that's made this our top selling red for over 20 years. Further testimony to this label's commitment to quality was demonstrated by the fact that no wine was produced from the difficult 2011 vintage - the challenging conditions simply didn't offer fruit to meet the label's required standards.
Succulent, silky textured and deeply flavoured this is the ultimate quaffing Shiraz that delivers unbeatable value.
Very deep midnight black core with a dark red black tinged hue. Nosing draws out lifted aromas of dark plum, liquorice and dark cherries followed by some toasty cedar and peppered earth notes. Rich, velvety and juicy, dark plum, liquorice and dark cherry fruits unfold across the medium to full bodied palate with scorched earth, subtle dried herb and spicy pepper characters lying underneath. Excellent concentration and fruit weight for the price. Velvet smooth tannins impart a plush feel to the long refined and highly moreish finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
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Isle of Jura 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Isle of Jura, SCOTLANDReduced from $169.99$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 44%Other reviews... There is an outlandish outbreak of massive flavour on delivery, both the malt and fruit almost shrill in their proclamations of intent. This is high juiciness in excelsis, the sugars crisp and full of grist and Dmaerara. And on the finish a slight chocolate note hovers, but then a degree of sulphur drifts in... as threatened by the nose.... This has so many beautiful moments. But... 85.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2014
Jura has introduced a new house style of ‘sweetness and smoke,’ and this spent 18 years in bourbon barrels, with a finish in red wine casks. Malt, peach blossom, raspberries, vanilla, and dark chocolate on the nose. The palate offers red berries, more chocolate, cloves, and peat. Dry red wine notes in the finish, with fruity spices and black pepper. 44% Alc./Vol. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Fall 2018)
Imagine I haven’t tried the 18 since… Oh my, 2007! But Jura was weak back then, really. Some nasty bottlings, not all of them, but there. Now this newer expression was finished in some Bordeaux red, most sadly (not STR), but you never know, this little juice may have escaped the mighty cabernety army. Which, by the way, I just love – In my wine glass. Colour: golden amber. Nose: some earth, peonies, blood oranges marmalade, heather honey, candied cherries, leather and ginger, more earth, wallflowers, pecan pie… I have to say this is a fine, rather rich and yet pretty elegant nose. But don’t we all know that silly wine finishings usually rather fail… on the palate? Mouth: nah, they know what they’re doing. This is not my preferred style at all, and we’re rather finding more café latte plus these dusty and honeyed sides (both at the same time), but otherwise except a drying cardboard and coffee combo in the back, this would rather kind of work, relatively. Well no, I’m having trouble liking it a lot, honestly. Finish: medium, dry and a little burnt and bitter. Burnt molasses, heavy cinnamon, some sour cardboard in the aftertaste. Comments: love the distillery, the people, the master blender, the settings and some of their whiskies, but frankly, I find this one rather too difficult. Tough love. 75 points - whiskyfun.com
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2024 Kalleske Moppa ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinThe fruit for this Shiraz is sourced from Kalleske’s certified organic Moppa vineyard with grapes coming from ten different blocks, the oldest of which was planted in 1961. Troy Kalleske reports that the 2024 growing season was near-perfect delivering average yields and superb quality fruit.
Small dollops of Petit Verdot and Viognier were included in the blend to provide added complexity and give the wine a contemporary edge. Maturation took place in a combination of approximately 20% new French, American and Hungarian oak hogsheads for 12 months.Rich, dense and luxuriously silky in its flow, this is Barossa Shiraz at its seductive best.
Super saturated inky black heart with an equally deep black dark purple hue. Dark plum, liquorice and fresh ripe blackberry scents show terrific aromatic intensity out of the glass with some vanillin cedar, earthy mocha and spicy blueberry notes also chiming in. Rich and sumptuous, layered across the full bodied palate is a luxurious flow of opulent dark plum, blackberry and liquorice fruits. Vanillin oak, earthy dark chocolate and spicy fennel elements extend across the back half. Dense and plush yet fresh it boasts terrific power and concentration. Velvety tannins with a long lavish finish that’s pure seduction.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
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- Nick's Import
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Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique Cask Strength Single Malt Taiwanese Whisky (1000ml)TAIWAN$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 53.2%Cask strength one litre format at the same price as the standard issue 700ml import.
Kavalan continue to confound critics and purists, proving that lengthy maturation is no longer the rule when it comes to great whisky. Master Blender, Ian Chang concedes that he will almost certainly never release anything older than ten years. If he waited that long, most of the liquid would have evaporated anyway, making it both physically and financially unviable. So long as Kavalan remain obsessive about quality wood - which they do - age doesn't seem to matter.
Jim Murray rightly observes, "Kavalan has that very rare talent for brilliance without apparent effort". Perhaps no other whisky in their portfolio more routinely exemplifies this than the Vinho Barrique. While there are many distilleries that turn out gargantuan malts, there are few on the planet offering young casks that combine raw power with so much complexity and nuance. Right now you can get it in a one litre format at the same price as the standard issue 700ml import. It's a 'no-brainer' buying opportunity promising a massive bang for your buck in every sense. Please note: ABV may vary slightly from the product pictured.
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Kentucky Owl Confiscated Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (700ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATESReduced from $230.00$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 48.2%"...the balance of maturity on the nose and verve on the palate work to excellent effect. " - whiskyadvocate.com
A brand that dates back to 1879 under the stewardship of Master Blender, C.M. Dedman, with the modern company revived in 2014, then acquired by Stoli in 2017 with plans to open up a new distillery using the brand name. According to Kentucky Owl, “Confiscated pays tribute to the barrels the government seized from Dixon's great-great grandfather, C.M. Dedman, just ahead of Prohibition. Those barrels were never seen or tasted again. More than a century later, Confiscated is the first offering from Kentucky Owl that will be available in all 50 U.S. states.”
Sourced from undisclosed distillery[ies] in Kentucky, the bottle comes beautifully presented with an old school label, sub titled "The Wise Man's Bourbon". More recent acclaim includes 96 points by Tasting Panel magazine and 96 points from the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2023.Other reviews... The nose is spiced—cinnamon, allspice, clove, pepper—and rich with cooked fruit—blueberry jam, stewed plums, pomegranate molasses—as well as roasted peanuts, vanilla, and oak. In the mouth, there’s more liveliness, with Big Red gum, cherry pie, blackberry cobbler, peanuts, and cinnamon-apple coffee cake. It wraps up beautifully, with chili-chocolate, roasted nuts, and cigar end. Kentucky Owl doesn’t disclose the ages of the bourbons used in this bottling, but the balance of maturity on the nose and verve on the palate work to excellent effect. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton 2019
...Mystery or no, it’s solid stuff: Bright and fruity on the nose, it evokes mint and citrus peel, plus more natural, expected cocoa powder and vanilla elements. The palate is subtle and balanced — really quite gentle. More mint up front, then chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, vanilla sauce. Lots of sauce — in the best way. Here and there: Notes of Maraska cherry, a pinch of spice. A hint of barrel char only serves to balance things out on the back end, lending a light touch of savoriness to an otherwise silky, cocoa-heavy finish. I greatly enjoyed this whiskey from start to finish — and wish I’d tasted it back on release in 2019. As for the Prohibition part, I am reasonably certain those hepcats didn’t have it nearly this good. - drinkhacker.com
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Kilchoman Sanaig 2024 Edition Cask Strength Limited Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 57.8%Sanaig and Machir Bay are Kilchoman’s two core products, but only the latter has had the honour of an occasional cask strength release. Prospective samples of Sanaig were floated during a 2021 Feis Isle virtual tasting. No release date was ever suggested and the label had to wait until November 2024 to finally get its own natural-strength iteration. Looking at the colour, you might think they've mistakenly filled the bottle with Loch Gorm. That's down to a high proportion of x-Oloroso sherry casks (the remaining 30% are x-Bourbon). Essentially, this release uses the same recipe as the regular Sanaig, however, we can assume casks have been cherry-picked, then bottled uncut as opposed to the regular release strength of 46% ABV. Impressive from the get go, through that’s fairly standard praise for Kilchoman, the bouquet kicks off with menthol rub, iodine, damp earth and wood smoke with bitter peel and dark chocolate in tow. Creamy on entry, then catapults into a full-throttle mid palate attack, keynotes being cocoa, Oloroso sherry and sweet peat. Bracing spices and alcohol give this a drying, bittersweet finale, trailing off with pepper, elastoplast and nutty chocolate. Feels like there's more sherry influence than your standard Sanaig. Either way, it's an absolute blast for Islay fans. No outturn is stated, but the Australian allocations are likely in the hundreds rather than the thousands. 57.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... From this Islay-based distillery comes an annual expression matured in both sherry and bourbon casks. Smoke on the nose, Grape-Nuts, tasty peat smoke, and barbecue. The palate has heat but is flavorful and not at all spiky, showing pleasant flavors of raspberry compote and an earthy note of pipe tobacco. The finish is long, with red berries, smoke, and peat embers. Smoky, with lively fruit notes that rise above the peat. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...the entry is bold and spicy, with an explosive mix of black pepper, chilli, nutmeg and aniseed, anticipating a palate of dark pastry, chocolate, red fruit (sour cherries, plums, blackberries), sweet liquorice, blood orange juice, pink grapefruit and carob. Fleshy and iodised smoke that envelops the flavours like Linus’ blanket. The addition of water accentuates the marine aspect, bringing sulphurous notes to the surface. The long finish is coastal and full, with a tingle of spices that accompany red fruits and citrus, liquorice, chocolate, coffee and a vegetal, sulphurous vein. This is closer to a Loch Gorm on steroids than the original, which could be seen as either a distortion of the classic Sanaig or a liberation of its nature. A matter of opinion, mine appreciates the fullness of a slightly rambunctious but sincere dram. - Lamberto Lamarina, whiskyart.blog
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2014 Kilchoman Single Cask #14/1007 Australian Exclusive Sauternes Cask Finish Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 56.3%The Australian importer's single cask selection was aged in fresh Bourbon wood for just over six and a half years, then spent a further eighteen months finishing in an x-Sauternes Hogshead (sweet white wine from Bordeaux). While Kilchoman have previously released bottlings that were fully matured in Sauternes casks, this nevertheless ranks as an extended secondary maturation, compared to 5-6 months that many might consider the 'norm'. Consequently, if you're used to the style of core releases like Machir Bay or Sanaig, this offers a different Kilchoman experience. On the nose, the usually effusive maritime character is offset by notes of bush honey, dried apricots and jaffas with just a little iodine/menthol lift contributing freshness. Flavour wise, it's quite an attack - mouthfilling, textural and oily with a malty mid-palate followed by a tang of tangerine peel and a spike of heat. The Sauternes cask almost gets the better of the peat, leaving you with residual notes of sweet tobacco, chimney soot, menthol rub and dark chocolate. An after dinner treat. 56.3% Alc./Vol. 50ppm. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the importers... Nose: Driven by notes of vanilla and rich apricot with an elegant underlying peat smoke. Palate: Opening rich honey-sweetness makes way for an intense influence of almond followed by a classic Kilchoman peat smoke combined with toasted oak. Finish: Dried fruit, lemon zest and rich spice balanced with a long-lasting malty sweetness.
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2020 Kooyonga Creek ChardonnayNorth East Victoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinRich, lusciously fruited and creamy textured.
This richly flavoured Chardonnay spent ten months on lees with no added preservatives, and eight months maturation in new French oak. The wine was allowed to undergo Malolactic fermentation which has enhanced the wines texture giving it a creamy feel.
Brilliant yellow straw colour with a glimmer of green around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of ripe peach, honeycomb and toasty oak unfurl from the glass followed by some crème brulee, butterscotch and spice notes. Rich and luscious, the creamy textured palate features ripe peach, apricot, honeycomb and crème brulee flavours over a back drop of butterscotch, bacon fat and spice. Nicely balanced acidity concluding long and opulent.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
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La Gritona Reposado Tequila (700ml)Jalisco, MEXICOReduced from $114.99$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 40%Premium Tequila scoop buy. Get ready for Spring / Summer Margaritas.
‘La Gritona’ is Spanish for ‘The Screamer’ - an appropriate name seeing that one of the people behind this outstanding tequila is LA-based punk guitarist Andy Coronado. The other significant player is the renowned tequilero Melly Cárdenas, who fashions La Gritona at her small distillery in Valle de Guadalupe in the highlands of Jalisco. One of Mexico’s few female master distillers, the fiercely independent Cárdenas—who has 20 years of quality tequila production under her belt—shares Coronado’s love of the exceptional and unconventional, and leads a team staffed by only local women.
In a market dominated by major companies like Herradura, Patrón and Fortaleza, the duo set out to create a rocking, pared-down Reposado that would stand out by staying true to the region’s heritage. For a Reposado, La Gritona is light on colour and sweetness—Coronado and Cárdenas want none of the flavours that mask many commercial Reposados like vanilla, chocolate and dulce de leche. Instead this is packed with delicious, honest and savoury, roasted agave flavor, reminiscent of the old-style ‘rested’ tequila, before the mass market took hold: “It’s tequila like our grandparents drank,” says Cárdenas.
Working with 9- to 10-year-old, mature Blue Weber agave grown in the iron-rich red soil of the Jalisco highlands, every step of production after harvest takes place under Cárdenas’ own roof and with an attention to detail that the big boys, or those outsourcing distillation, cannot hope to replicate. The agave is steam-cooked in a single, thick-walled earthen oven for 24 hours and then allowed to rest for another 24 hours before crushing. The collected liquid is naturally fermented (no additives are used to push things along) in open steel vats at a rate dictated by the ambient air temperature and the wild yeasts, usually lasting between six to nine days. The double distillation takes place in small steel stills. Those bespoke bottles by the way are made from recycled Mexican glass, hand-blown just an hour’s drive from the distillery. Coronado uses any recycled clear glass he can find (mostly old Coke bottles) then chips in a few Dos Equis bottles for the green tint!
The distilled blanco is then rested in reused American whiskey barrels for eight months before bottling. These low-impact second- or third-fill barrels are given only the lightest char which allows for the refreshing, sappy notes of the agave to shine through, resulting in a tequila that sips and mixes perfectly in equal measure - it’s crisp, clean and elegant and kills it in a Tommy’s Margarita. Tasted uncut, the bouquet offers stunningly pure and keenly fresh scents of brine, dill pickles, capsicum, black pepper and pine sap; Five minutes stirs up sweeter scents of grilled pineapple, vanilla and coconut butter. The silky, medium bodied delivery is gently sweet and wonderfully elegant; Capsicum, green pine and white pepper feature while sappy agave flavours finish the profile with admirable balance. Seamless from start to finish, this stands out from Reposado pack. Highest recommendation. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Look for a pale straw hue and fruity/funky aromas. The palate offers distinct tropical fruit notes, opening with lychee and a faint floral hint, plus a faint waft of ripe-banana funk midpalate. The finish is long and drying, showing grapefruit peel and pink peppercorn. Sip or mix into Palomas. 95 points — wineenthusiast.com
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Laherte Freres Ultradition Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$130. 00Bottle$1560.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkAurélien Laherte’s Ultradition showcases vineyards from 8 villages of the Côteaux Sud d'Épernay & Vallée De La Marne. 60% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir grown ecologically on limestone soils. The base wine is vinified in a combination of large format foudres, tanks and oak barrels, where it partially goes through malolactic fermentation. The assemblage contains 40% of reserve wines that have been aged in barrel. Finally, the wine spends 6 months maturing on fine lees in bottle before disgorgement for release.
Showing ample buoyancy over a pale straw coloured base is a lacy white mousse. A delicate yet very persistent bead finely threading its way through the wines core. Captivating aromatics of yeast lees and baked bread are followed by some citrus, oily toast like notes and hints of almond. Vividly sculptured the palate combines tension with intensity and richness delivering citrusy yeast lees and toasty baked bread flavours over a stimulating finish of subtle cashew and a chalky minerality. Concludes long and refined with a chiselled feel.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
Lovely orange and raspberry fruit on the nose, with some candied citrus and brioche. Very bright, fruity and full of joy, with lively acidity and fine bubbles. 60% meunier, 30% chardonnay and 10% pinot noir. Based on 2022, with 50% reserve wine. Disgorged December 2024. 4 g/L dosage. Drink now.
92 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 94
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Laherte Freres Rose de Meunier Extra Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$140. 00Bottle$1680.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkAurélien Laherte’s Rose de Meunier is constructed from fruit grown in Côteaux Sud d'Épernay & Vallée De La Marne. 100% Pinot Meunier, grown ecologically on limestone and chalky soils. The base wine is made up of 60% direct pressed white wine, 30% maceration (destemmed fruit is left in contact with the skins for a short while) and 10% red wine, which is fermented and matured in a combination of large format foudres and oak barrels.
An exceptionally fine and very persistent bead weaves its way through a strawberry pink coloured base after a well formed frothy white mousse dissipates. Filling the nostrils are enticing strawberry and raspberry aromatics which are complexed by some baked bread, yeast lees and light toast notes. Delightfully sculptured by refreshing acidity, the palate has delicious raspberry and strawberry fruits racing across it with yeast lees, baked bread and chalky tones lending further interest. Finishes nervy, crisp and long.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
The NV Extra Brut Rosé de Meunier is dazzling. Rich yet focused, with superb depth, Laherte's Extra Brut Rosé is a magical Champagne in every way. Orange peel, sweet red berry fruit, cranberry, mint and chalk are some of the many aromas and flavors that develop as this breathtaking Champagne shows off its pedigree. This release is a blend of 2017 and 2016 composed of 60% Meunier (white), 30% Meunier (macerated) and 10% Meunier (still red wine). In a word: magical. Dosage is 2.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: March, 2020.
94 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous
Very open and fruity, showing raspberries, wild strawberries, violets and manuka honey on the nose. So pure, fun and fresh with a medium body and light bubbles. 100% pinot meunier, 60% pressed into white wine plus 30% macerated juice plus 10% still red wine. Base wine 2022. Dosage 2.5g/L. Disgorged January 2025. Drink now.
92 points
JamesSuckling.com -
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Laherte Freres Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$135. 00Bottle$1620.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam Cork100% Chardonnay Champagne from the Laherte family's chalkiest soils in Chavot and Épernay. These vineyards are all biodynamically farmed and are not only rich in chalk and chalky clay (marl) but there is also flint and schist. It has been aged for just over two years in bottle following a first fermentation in barrique, foudre and tronconique cask. No dosage. A creamy white mousse sits gracefully above a pale straw coloured base that’s finely threaded by a very persistent bead. Pronounced pear and citrus aromas stand out from the glass with baked bread and yeast lees characters then taking over. Finishes off with some lightly honeyed toast notes. Sculptured mouthfeel with energetic acidity racing through the elegant yeast lees, toast and citrus flavours. Some light brioche and almond nuances are also evident. Finishes bone dry, tense and crisp with a refined citrus, oily toast, yeast lees and chalk tinged aftertaste.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
The NV Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs marries power with energy to a degree I have not seen before here. In this edition, the Brut Nature is decidedly powerful and broad, with less of the tension seen in some previous releases. It's as if all the Chardonnay flavors have been turned up to the maximum. Orange peel, apricot, chamomile and spice are some of the many notes that fill out the layers. The current release is based on 2017, with reserve wines from 2016 and 2015, all done in neutral oak. Zero dosage. Disgorged: February, 2020. Drink 2020 - 2026.
92 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous (November 2020)
White peaches, lemons, raw hazelnuts and lightly salted butter. Saline and tangy, but also sleek on the palate, with just-ripe white fruit flavors and soft bubbles. Chardonnay from Coteaux Sud d’Epernay. Base is 2021 with 50% reserve wines. Disgorged October 2024. Drink now.
92 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
- Reduced
2022 Langmeil Valley Floor ShirazBarossa, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $29.99$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinDripping with rich, plush fruit, this is a modern take on classic old school Barossa Shiraz.
Fruit for the Valley Floor Shiraz was sourced from the Barossa (85.4%) and Eden (14.6%) Valleys with vines aged between 10 to 142 years old and yields of 1.5 to 3.5 tonnes per acre. Maturation took place in a combination of 11% new American oak, 5% new French oak and 84% seasoned American and French oak hogsheads for a period of 24 months.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Wafting through the olfactory senses are heady ripe blackberry, dark plum, liquorice and dark chocolate aromas trailed by some vanillin oak and spicy mocha notes. Rich, concentrated and plush the palate is generously endowed with succulent dark plum, liquorice, blackberry and dark chocolate fruits. Opulently textured it has notions of spicy vanillin oak and earthy mocha flowing across the back half. Velvety tannins with a lick of freshness lending balance to the long sumptuous finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
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- Nick's Import
Laphroaig 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Gift Pack with GlassIslay, SCOTLAND$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%Cheaper than the standalone bottle, with a bonus glass!
From the remote island of Islay in the Western Isles of Scotland. Laphroaig, pronounced 'La-froyg', is a Gaelic word meaning 'the beautiful hollow by the broad bay'. The full history of Laphroaig seems to be lost in the mists of time. It's clear that the Irish had been distilling on Islay for many years and that the locals picked up the skills when they left, but because it was illegal the small stills on the farms were rarely discussed - just a nod and a wink in the right direction! What is known, is that the family called the Johnstons started farming there around 1800, and that soon after messers Charles and Willie Doig were asked to do some 'work on a distillery' at Laphroaig. By 1815 Laphroaig's reputation had spread and the tax man was getting suspicious so they 'officially' established 'Johnston & Johnston' - the legend of Laphroaig had begun.
Laphroaig is a malt to either love or hate. Full of the smoke and iodine, seaweed character Islay has become famous for, it has spurred some commentators to describe it as 'mouthwash', 'hospital gauze' or at best, 'medicinal'. Suffice to say, this is not a whisky for the faint hearted. Take Laphroaig neat like a stalwart, or with a splash of soft water. Roll it around on your tongue, release the pungent earthy aroma of blue peat smoke, the sweet nuttiness of the barley, the delicate, heathery perfume of Islay's stream and either swallow or spit. The final judgment on Laphroaig must always be left to the individual. 40% Alc./Vol.
Re-tasted 2019... Tamer than previous incarnations, earthier too with a farmyard edge. Less iodine / elastoplast than before, more peppermint, baked citrus, kipper and lanolin, creaming up towards the finish, trailling off with hints of Fisherman’s Friend.
Other reviews... 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022
...An essay in voluptuousness. The oils speak volumes here, gathering the two-toned phenols and gathering them in all corners of the palate and ensuring they stick there... The finish is not so much enormous as controlled and long, with a sublime bit of mocha moving in for the last blissful moments. Glorious still, after all these years. 40% alc./vol. 94 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2019
...This expression offers an uncompromising note of brine-laden peat and iodine, with charcoal and sweeter fruit notes also present. The palate is equally out there, with old-fashioned fabric Band-Aids, bladderwrack seaweed, black pepper, smouldering peat, vanilla, caramel, and sweet oak. The finish is as big as everything else, with barbecue, iodine, and asphalt. Still a classic! 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Fall 2018)
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Larmandier-Bernier Longitude Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra BrutChampagne, FRANCEReduced from $180.00$155. 00Bottle$1860.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkOther Reviews....
The Larmandier-Bernier wines are marked by a feeling of textural intensity and vinous resonance that is quite distinctive. The wines are fermented in wood, mostly larger format foudre with some smaller barrels, with spontaneous fermentations and generally minimal handling. Dosage is on the low side. In recent years, the style here has shifted towards a greater focus on energy and tension than in the past, likely a reflection of a generational change being led by Pierre and Sophie Larmandier’s sons Arthur and Georges. The wines remain compelling.
The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Longitude 1er Cru is a powerful, ample wine. The Longitude builds beautifully in the glass, creamy and textured, with tons of resonance. Pear, white pepper, dried flowers, mint and chalk are all delineated in a Champagne that blends power and tension. This is all class. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: February, 2023.
94 Points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous (November 2023)Scents of just ripe stone fruit, talc, faint honey and toast, a light caramel note too, all adding up to quite subtle and pretty. Creaminess in texture with very fine bead, vivacious and fresh-tasting with lovely salty-chalky feel very present through the wine and to the powdery, lightly puckering finish. Vinous in a way, gently savoury throughout, exceptionally long and runs with so much energy. Beautiful.
95 Points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front (March 2020) -
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Larmandier-Bernier Latitude Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra BrutChampagne, FRANCEReduced from $150.00$135. 00Bottle$1620.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkLarmandier-Bernier’s Latitude is a 100% Côte des Blancs Chardonnay from vineyards on the southern side of Vertus. These are vineyards on roughly the same latitude and the name also hints at the breadth of texture that the wines from these sites (having more clay in the soil) tend to offer up. In the cellar Larmandier uses mostly large format casks (almost all the wood now comes from Stockinger in Austria) and less and less steel tanks. The alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place without inoculation, and there is no fining or filtration. Bottle maturation takes place in the underground cellars over a period of more than two years, and each bottle is disgorged manually, six months before being released and dosed at low, Extra Brut levels.
Once dissipated, the creamy white mousse leaves behind a pale straw coloured base that has a glimmer of gold to the edges. Nibble and exceptionally fine bubbles rising to the surface. On the nose, aromas of pear intermingle with citrus, yeast lees, light baked bread and hints of sherbet. Long, dry and virile, the refreshing palate consists of baked pear, citrus and yeast lees characters over subtle oily toast nuances and faint remanets of biscuit and cashew. The finish is very dry with crisp, mouth watering acidity and a long refined aftertaste.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
The Larmandier-Bernier wines are marked by a feeling of textural intensity and vinous resonance that is quite distinctive. The wines are fermented in wood, mostly larger format foudre with some smaller barrels, with spontaneous fermentations and generally minimal handling. Dosage is on the low side. In recent years, the style here has shifted towards a greater focus on energy and tension than in the past, likely a reflection of a generational change being led by Pierre and Sophie Larmandier’s sons Arthur and Georges. The wines remain compelling.
The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Latitude 1er Cru is bright and beautifully focused. The Latitude contains 40% perpetual reserve wine dating back to 2004. It is usually a bit more approachable on release, but this year's version clearly needs time to soften. Today, citrus, floral and mineral notes abound on the steely finish. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.
92 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous
This Blanc de Blancs champagne is anything but flashy and it might take a moment switch onto its wavelength. However, it has excellent depth and finely etched contours on the medium-bodied palate, the Amalfi-lemon character building as it aerates in the glass. Beautiful balance at the very long, rather rich but very dry finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
93 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
2024 Lawson's Dry Hills GewurztraminerMarlborough, NEW ZEALAND$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinThis luscious, intensely flavoured Gewurztraminer was sourced predominately from Lawson’s Home Block vineyard which was planted in 1981. The 2024 vintage was low yielding, and the dry season meant the grapes ripened perfectly, packed with flavour.
Luscious and exotic, this is a superb example of Gewurztraminer.
Brilliant water like core with distinct highlights of green skirting the edges. Incredibly potent nose with exotic scents of lychee, rosewater, musk and Turkish delight captivating the olfactory senses. Some pear and subtle ginger spice notes also chime in. Engulfing the mouth are luscious lychee, Turkish delight and rosewater flavours with notions of musk and ginger spice the undercard. Excellent concentration and power with a long off dry finish that’s balanced by fresh acidity.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14% -
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2021 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet SauvignonMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 15 Years (2025-2040)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinRich and concentrated yet showing sublime finesse this is a wonderful Cabernet that draws comparisons to the great wines of Bordeaux.
A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Malbec matured for 22 months in French oak. Midnight black dark red core with a dark red hue. A bounty of red currant, violet, mulberry and vanillin cedar aromas engulf the nostrils with a Bordeaux like nobility. Subtle tobacco, earth, bay leaf and spice notes lend further interest. Rich and concentrated yet showing sublime finesse, the mid weighted palate is layered with fleshy red to black currant and mulberry fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, delicate earth, tobacco and infusions of bay leaf extend across the back half. Beautifully proportioned and refined it marriages power and depth with seamlessly integrated, fine grained tannins. Concludes very long and wonderfully savoury. Outstanding.
Drink over the next 10-15 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
One of the distinctive features of this wine, and in a way a DNA link to all Art Series cabernet, is its savouriness. It’s the rolled tobacco, nori, iodine and whiff of new leather plus the cedary oak, but these are not separate, they form a whole impression. There’s also the core of excellent fruit, the structure, the supple tannins and the bright acidity. And the joy of drinking it. Drink by 2036.
96 Points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionA fascinating wine which offers all the amazing qualities that Margaret River Cabernet possesses, but it walks the fine line with nuances of Bordeaux, more than most. It works wonderfully well. The wine incorporates 2% Malbec. All up, the wine spends 22 months in French oak. Crimson/blood red hue, it offers entrancing complexity. There are notes of tobacco leaves, black fruits, chocolate, smoked meats, licorice, a touch of ever-so-slightly charry cloves and quality oak, which is superbly handled here. A silky texture, this is a wine of balance and length with the finest tannins. Intensity runs the full length. Eerily reminiscent of an Aussie version of Bordeaux (or possibly a Bordeaux version of Marg River?). Whichever, it is a cracking wine. Drink for twelve to fifteen years. Drink 2024-2039.
96 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.comImmediately captivating: the nose is vibrant and energetic, while simultaneously the epitome of elegance and poise with restrained fruit power. This is a silk evening gown of a wine: form-fitting, precisely tailored, mellifluous and effortlessly chic. Abundant in aromatics and lifted perfume, fine red fruits include wild strawberry tip, bramble and just-ripe blackcurrant, alongside hints of piquancy: Szechwan pepper, clove and a fine dusting of deep, lightly toasted cocoa powder. There’s a charismatic iodine weave, the savoury and slightly saline minerality proving a foil to both the fruit flesh and the floral hues. Displaying extremely fine-grained tannins, it's firm, focused and delicate, with a graphite line, fresh acidity and plenty that will reveal itself in good time. Tasted pre-release. Drink 2024-2046.
96 Points
DecanterThe 2021 Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon is lighter in color and tannic intensity than the 2020 tasted beside it. No surprise for the vintages that birthed these wines. The latter was sunny, hot and dry, while the 2021 season was decidedly cooler, with more cloud cover and rain. This wine bears the fruits of the diligent labor in the vineyards and is one of the shining lights in the region this year. There are notes of raspberry and nori, moss and petrichor, blood and forest floor. This is a lighter style of Cabernet—and a lovely one at that. Drink 2025-2041.
96 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate -
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2022 Leeuwin Estate Art Series ChardonnayMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2025-2035)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinRich and enveloping yet remarkably fresh this is one of Australia’s most iconic Chardonnay’s.
Barrel fermented in new French oak barriques with regular lees stirring and matured in the same barrels for a period of 11 months. Brilliant pale straw colour with a greenish tint to the edges and a watery hue. Engulfing the olfactory senses are intense aromas of white peach, pear and nectarine which meld into a dried honey, subtle citrusy crème brulee, delicate cashew and gun flint infused back drop. Rich and layered yet remarkably fresh, enveloping the palate are mouth filling white peach, pear, nectarine and dried honey flavours. Lending further complexity are delicate biscuity oak, almond, citrus, crème brulee and flint elements. Beautifully shaped and refined, it boasts superb power and volume finishing long, texturally full and energetic.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
If you were sitting quietly in a corner, contemplating the vicissitudes of life, and a glass of this exceptional chardonnay came your way, well, all would be very well indeed. And you’d perk up. It’s a wine that tends to be scintillating in youth, driven by all manner of citrus flavours – lemon, pink grapefruit with a dash of lime but also a mille-feuille of leesy lusciousness, oak spices and a moreish savouriness. It seems powerful and explosive with its acidity, drive and energy yet manages to remain classy and complex. Drink by 2032.
97 Points
Jane Faulkner – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThe 2022 season was warm and low-yielding, particularly for Chardonnay, and many of the wines produced in the region this season can be typified by their nuttiness and a distinct chamomile tea/white flower character. Here, the 2022 Art Series Chardonnay is showing both of those characters, neatly wedged into the authoritative profile of Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay. Today, for perhaps the first time ever in seeing these wines on release, I note that the oak is a key player in the drinking experience—as ever, seamlessly matched to the fruit and an important part of the wine's style and evident here today. There are toasted nuts, yellow fruits, exotic spices and an open fan of acidity/phenolics through the finish. This 2022 will prove to be a powerful and statuesque player in the wider footprint of Art Series Chardonnays. It's one to collect, but for drinking in the short/immediate term, decanting is recommended. Sealed under screw cap. Drink 2030-2047.
97 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
This iconic Australian Chardonnay never allows standards to drop and this is yet another stellar effort from the great Chardonnay production line. A shimmering pale lemon, we have notes of spices, lemon curd, ginger, pink grapefruit, lemongrass, florals, peaches, nectarines, jasmine and stone fruits. There is a whiff of smoky oak as well and integration is proceeding well. There is complete balance here, with focus and energy. The wine is still very young and it will certainly be better if you can wait for two or three years before opening. Then enjoy it for a further ten to fifteen years. Juicy, with a supple texture and a long and lingering finish, along which the intensity is maintained for the full journey. A cracker. Drink 2025-2040.
97 points
Ken Gargett - WinePilot.com - Longrow 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 2022 bottlingCampbeltown, SCOTLAND$999. 00Bottle$11988.00 DozenABV: 46%
Collectors note: Springbank's labels almost always arrive with minor wearing and markings, most often to the top of the front labels. This is unavoidable. If you are likely to be disappointed by minor label scuffing, we recommend you don't buy these whiskies. There is some minor scuffing to the boxes.
Like the Local Barleys, the annual Longrow limited editions have garnered a cult following. Ever since 1973, a run of twice-distilled peated malt has been produced at Springbank (Springbank itself is two and a half times distilled). Named after an earlier distillery in Campbeltown, Longrow's creation was prompted by a whisky shortage. According to Serge Valentin, it shares parallels with Tobermory’s Ledaig and Clynelish’s Brora. All were created because Islay whisky was in short supply after severe droughts in the late 1960s, and because of the temporary closure of Caol Ila. Expect a peaty punch. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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2024 Madeleine Mediterranee RoseMediterranee, FRANCE$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinCrafted from a blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 30% Syrah and 10% Rolle this is a delicious Rose at a highly attractive price produced by Burgundian domaine Famille Paquet.
A moreish Provence styled Rose that over delivers.
Pale salmon pink tinged colour. Streaming from the glass are delightful scents of peach, raspberry and strawberry followed by some musk and wet stone notes. Intensely flavoured and gorgeously rounded in it’s feel, the palate sports a delicious flow of fleshy peach, raspberry and strawberry fruits. Notions of musk, pomegranate and wet stone unravel across the back half. Fresh acidity with a long slippery textured finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
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2021 Majella Coonawarra Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2024-2032)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA success story of long term agricultural diversification, the Majella property was originally owned by Frank Lynn, and bought in 1960 by his nephew, George, for a prime lamb enterprise. Viticulture was not on the agenda until 1968, when George, encouraged by his friend, Eric Brand (of Brand's Laira fame) decided it would complement the sheep. Eric purchased the fruit for Hardy's, but the deal later fell through and for a couple of vintages tonnes of premium grapes were left to rot. The risk ultimately paid off. Majella have since had a long term contract supplying Wynns and today, plantings have continued to expand (150 acres now under vine), with Cabernet the flagship varietal. First produced in 1994, Majella Cabernet Sauvignon has quickly established a reputation as one of Coonawarra’s best.
The 2021 Coonawarra vintage was excellent in both terms of quality and yields. Maturation took place in a mix of new and second use French oak hogsheads for a period of 18 months.Layered with a rich chorus of red to black currant fruit this is a beautifully refined and polished Coonawarra Cabernet.
Magnificent depth of colour featuring a super saturated inky black heart and a very deep black dark red hue. Intense ripe blackcurrant aromas flood the nostrils with some liquorice, mulberry, vanillin cedar, subtle tobacco and bay leaf accents also chiming in. Beautifully refined yet concentrated the mid weighted palate is layered with a rich chorus of red to black currant, mulberry and red liquorice fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, subtle earthy tobacco and infusions of bay leaf ensue. Showing a delighted red fruited freshness, it possesses a fine grained tannin structure and an elegant, polished feel. Concludes long and highly finessed.
Drink over next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
Black raspberry, red cherry and pomegranate. Burdock root, crushed cumin and pulled paperbark stripped from the tree. Nutmeg and cinnamon. Fresh bay leaf, oregano and pepperberry. The silkiest of palates with ripe red fruit flowing down the centre, wrapped in cabernet berries that weave in and out. A mocha coffee and carob sweetness with a touch of anise and tobacco pouch. Such a grateful palate – it's a dream of a vintage, this one. Drink by 2032.
95 points
Shanteh Wale – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
2023 Masso Antico PrimitivoSalento, ITALY$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: Diam CorkRich and plump with ripe, slightly chewy tannins and a lush, generously endowed finish.
Matured in French oak barrels for approximately 6 months, this Primitivo is crafted from bush vines and made in ancient tradition of Apulian winemaking, known as Alberello Pugliese which concentrates the flavours in the grapes. Yet again this wine has been rated a massive 99 points by Italian wine critic Luca Maroni.
Very deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Black plum, liquorice and ripe morello cherry scents are complimented by some dried herb, scorched earth and cinnamon notes. Rich juicy black plum, liquorice and morello cherry fruits flood the palate with notions of dried herbs, earth and cinnamon spice the undercard. Plump textural feel with ripe, slightly chewy tannins and a lush, generously endowed finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 95
2023 Maude ChardonnayCentral Otago, NEW ZEALAND$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinSourced from 30 year old vines, this generous Chardonnay is fermented with indigenous yeasts, matured in seasoned French oak and undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation.
Brilliant pale straw to straw colour with a subtle glimmer of green around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of white peach, dried honey and cashew fill the nostrils followed by some biscuity nougat and subtle butterscotch notes. Rich, creamy textured white peach, dried honey, crème brulee and cashew flavours flood the mouth, whilst biscuity nougat and gentle spice elements unfold across the back half. Medium to full in body it finishes long, refined and beautifully rounded.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
Complex, youthful, varietal and enticing bouquet. Aromas of grapefruit and sweet peach, lemon and vanilla, raw cashew nut butter and layers of lees complexities. Near full-bodied on the palate with fruit, oak and lees flavours reflecting the bouquet. The key with this wine is the acid line accentuating the citrus with grapefruit peel, then complexities from lees and development. The minerality is also a feature with a clay, stone and baking spice qualities. Lengthy, dry on the finish and delicious with best drinking from 2024 through 2030+.
94 points
CamDouglas.com -
- 93
- Nick's Import
- Reduced
Maxime Trijol XO Cognac (700ml)Cognac, FRANCEReduced from $119.99$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%A super buy in XO Cognac with the presentation to match.
Since the Trijol family originally settled as growers and distillers in St Martial Sur Né, in the heart of the Cognac region they have built on their expertise as growers and distillers, becoming full time distillers in 1962. An independent family firm, Maxime Trijol has twenty 2,500 litre charentais pot stills and is now one of the largest distillers of cognac supplying many of the larger houses. In recent times the company has concentrated on releasing more of its own cognacs which have been building a great reputation for quality.
Re-tasted June 2015 [New packaging] Perfect clarity, polished copper coin colour. Rich and robust with scents of roasted nuts, cocoa, cigar box and dates. This is super soft and elegant with dried fruit and sweet spice flavours unfolding with excellent length. Sits so lightly in the mouth yet without any compromise on depth and power – in a word, ‘graceful’. 40% Alc./Vol.
First tasted 2011: Deep copper / brass colour displaying good cling to the sides of the glass. First nosings offer restrained but attractive cocoa and dried fig notes. Ten minutes in the glass opens scents of orange peel, subtle vanilla, roast nuts and cedary oak. Entry is concentrated, soft and plush building with medium dry flavours of spicy dried fruits, raisin and fig. Good balancing acidity. Excellent length. Very long dried apricot / cedar aftertaste with a late dried fig burst. Great value.
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- 93
- Organic
2023 Mesta TempranilloCastilla La Mancha, SPAIN$14. 99Bottle$179.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA great value Spanish Tempranillo full of juicy dark to black fruit.
This great entry level Tempranillo is produced by Fontana Bodegas & Viñedos, a leading producer of high-altitude vineyards in Castile, Central Spain.
Deep dark red black tinged colour with a dark red hue. A mix of dark to black cherry and liquorice aromas are delivered with plenty of aromatic lift followed by some dried herb, vanillin spice and scorched earth notes. Juicy morello and black cherry fruits combine with some liquorice to flood the mid weighted palate. Scorched earth and spicy dried herb elements lie beneath. Slightly chewy mouth feel with ripe, sturdily built tannins. Long well fleshed conclusion.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 91
- 94
Mobius The Company You Keep Citrus and Black Cardamom Gin (700ml)New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenABV: 44%The alter ego to Mobius Distlling's Signature Gin employs a different recipe. This citrus-forward style comes with a creamier nose feel offering notes of orange spice cake and moderate juniper, the cardamom ever-lingering in the background. There's noticeably more citrus on the palate too (think orange rind or mandarine) contributing a tongue coating oiliness as hints of cardamom emerge through the zesty, warming finish. A nice marriage of flavours with a richer mouthfeel, you'll appreciate its nuances most when enjoyed neat or over ice. 44% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The name of the gin itself begins this sense of anticipation; cardamom is often utilised in gin, but rarely in this form. The decadent, complex variation brings the classic menthol, cleansing notes of green cardamom with a distinctly smoky flavour. On the nose, black cardamom presents more subdued, warm, dry spices that are present but not yet fully realised. Funky esters grip onto the aroma, at first concealing but then blowing off to reveal lovely baked alpine characters. Hints of mint begin to cleanse the sinuses and offer a cooling sensation. The palate then bursts forward with intricate citrus that seems to dance. Oily juniper on the palate helps to keep the spirit hydrated and carries flavours together, building momentum. The black cardamom then culminates on the finish, all the subtle spices becoming fully realised in this punchy, enigmatic and rich smokiness, creating an eerie, almost arcane finish with just a touch of black lime. 94 points - Jess Clayfield, winecompanion.com.au
GOLD MEDAL - San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Silver Medal at the 2022 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards
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- 91
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Mobius The Company You Keep Signature Gin (700ml)New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenABV: 43%Getting the botanical balance right in a 'classic' gin can be tricky. Too many ingredients and it can lose direction and lack style. Too few and the gin can taste one dimensional. Mobius Distlling have succeeded in creating a signature expression defined by juniper (like a London Dry should be) with a hint of citrus in reserve. The aroma is soft and pure, infused with notes of crushed pine buds exuding a peel-like freshness, later joined by hints of cardamom and white pepper. The taste is silky, creamy, smooth and lemony with bright juniper and warming peppers finished by a gentle peel tang. Relaxed and refreshing on its own, this middle-weighter makes a lovely G&T, but go easy with the mixing as it can be quickly overwhelmed. The distiller's recommend a light tonic, garnished with a lime wedge. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Designed as a versatile 'signature' gin, it hits the marks of the classic form without heavily leaning into particular profiles. It drinks very prettily and is well balanced, belying a carefully crafted spirit with a clear intention to be flexible in its uses. The nose offers a subtle, sweet character with wisps of orange blossom, dry green spice and an almost dusky, ginger note. The palate follows through and elongates the sweeter tone all the way through, which helps to develop its lovely texture. The citrus notes that permeates the gin remain lively and sunny, while soft, juniper oils bring everything together. All in all, a polished and elegant gin that retains its joyful energy. 92 points - Jess Clayfield, winecompanion.com.au
Silver medal 2023 London Spirits Competition
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- 93
- 93
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2016 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage ChampagneChampagne, FRANCEReduced from $140.00$120. 00Bottle$1440.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkThe 77th vintage from Moët & Chandon reflects a season of contrasts, with a cool, wet start followed by a warm, dry summer and an unusually late harvest. Cellar Master Benoît Gouez blended 48% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, and 18% Meunier, aged for six years in Moët’s chalk cellars before release. The result is an Extra Brut Champagne (5g/L dosage) that is radiant and harmonious, offering orchard fruit, citrus, florals, and a mineral edge. Supple in texture yet finely structured, it marries freshness with depth, capturing the grace and poise of a truly distinctive vintage.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews....
Lovely salinity to this Champagne, which has notes of Asian pears, aniseed, preserved lemons, chalk and biscuits. It’s mineral and seamless, with transparency and brightness. Fine bubbles. 48% chardonnay, 34% pinot noir and 18% meunier. 5g/L dosage. Disgorged March 2023. Drink now or hold.
93 Points
Claire Nesbitt - JamesSuckling.comGrand Vintage 2016 sums up the year's strong suits very neatly – beautiful ripeness without heaviness, compact build and fine ageworthiness. It's a characteristically clean-cut, snappy vintage from Moët, with aromas of fresh baguette, satsuma, sweet red apple and strawberry, all framed with the toasty sourdough aromas typical of the house. There's some concentration and vinosity lurking here, even with the house's delicate style and pinpoint, meringue-soft mousse. This seems destined to be one of the top Moët vintages of late. Drink 2024-2034.
93 Points
Tom Hewson - Decanter -
- 94
- 92
2024 Monte Tondo Soave ClassicoVeneto, ITALY$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinTexturally voluminous and concentrated Soave with crisp acidity and a long expressive finish.
The Monte Tondo vineyard can be found nestling in the gentle hills of Soave just a few kilometres from Verona on a slope overlooking the valley. Today it is 4th generation brother and sister team, Luca and Marta Magnabosco, who tend to the 25 hectares of vineyards situated on the best plots that the Soave zone can offer.
Brilliant water like core with a subtle greenish tinged surrounds. Elevated pear and red apple skin aromas are complimented by some lime, fresh herb and wet slate notes. Concentrated pear and red apple fruits are delivered with terrific textural volume over a spicy quince and wet stone back drop. Crisp acidity with a long expressive finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5%
Other Reviews…..
Pleasant citrusy, peachy and floral-mineral aromas follow through to a medium-bodied palate with a silky texture and good intensity of fruit, driven by nicely balanced acidity through the long, flavorful finish. Bright peaches and a hint of almond at the end. All in good order and delicious. Sustainable. Vegan. Drink now.
92 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
- 93
Morris Rutherglen Classic Muscat (500ml)Rutherglen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$25. 99Bottle$311.88 DozenABV: 17.5%Closure: StelvinBrown Muscat grapes from non-irrigated vines are fermented and the resulting juice fortified with high strength neutral spirit. Maturation takes place in large oak casks ranging in size from 1500 to 4500 litres.
Sienna Brown, onion skin colour with an olive green hue. Honeyed raisin and marmalade top notes meld into some well integrated spirit with toffee and subtle rancio end notes. Texturally viscous with a creamy like feel the palate is filled with sweet concentrated flavours of raisins, honey and marmalade over fine spirit, marzipan and some distinct rancio characters. Finishes with a long texturally viscous aftertaste of raisins, honey, marmalade, marzipan and rancio characters.
Alc 17.5%Other Reviews....
More touches of red-brown than the Liqueur Tokay, precisely as it should be; fragrant raisin varietal fruit luring you into the second glass; perfect balance. 500 ml.
93 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion
Much younger than the AUD $90 Old Premium but still showing great depth of flavour and lusciousness, this has a medium-deep red/tawny hue with yellow tints, and a hauntingly perfumed bouquet of rose petals, flowers and spicy muscat fruit. Very sweet, deep, lush flavour and freshness. Great quality – and affordable! (screwcap)
95 points
Huon Hooke -
- 94
Morris Rutherglen Classic Tawny (500ml)Rutherglen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$25. 99Bottle$311.88 DozenABV: 17.5%Closure: StelvinProduced from Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro grapes this is an excellent example of entry level Tawny. Dark red onion brown colour with an onion brown hue. The nose shows medium intensity with scents of Christmas cake and honeyed walnuts over marzipan and light well integrated brandy spirit notes. Initial raisin and honey flavours meld into some marzipan and nutty brandy spirit. Dry nutty finish with the nuttiness following through to the aftertaste of walnuts, honey raisins and marzipan.
Alc 17.5% -
- 99
- 99
- 98
Morris of Rutherglen Old Premium Rare Liqueur Topaque (500ml)Rutherglen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$110. 00Bottle$1320.00 DozenABV: 17.5%Closure: StelvinEstablished in 1859, Morris Wines of Rutherglen is the continuing story of 5 generations of family winemakers. Over these 158 years, the Morris family have earned their esteemed position as one of the most prominent winemaking families in Australia. Today, David Morris continues their winemaking history combining tradition with contemporary techniques, ensuring that the Morris name remains one of the Australia’s most iconic and respected wine family dynasties.
Despite the waning interest in fortifieds over the last decade these amazing wines are unique to Australia and internationally renowned treasures that should not be lost to future generations. A warming glass of Muscat or Tokay is indispensable during the winter months.
Totally opaque sienna brown black colour with a deep walnut brown olive green hue. Such is its viscosity that it clings to the side of the glass like paint. Knockout aromatics of toffee, honey and raisins are laced with perfectly integrated spirit. Nuances of marmalade, Christmas cake and spice are also apparent in this very complex sniff. Prodigiously rich with a syrupy like texture, so thick that you could almost eat it with a spoon, the palate is completely saturated with a concentrate of raisin, honey, toffee and maple syrup flavours over traces of marmalade, well integrated spirit and spice. Exceptionally long conclusion of honey, raisins, toffee, marmalade, finely integrated spirit, maple syrup and spice. Pure decadence in a bottle. Alc 17.3%Other reviews.... The colour is an astounding density. A myriad of dried fruit panettone, lapsang, five-spice, hoisin and roasted walnut doused in espresso and bitter chocolate, reel from a core of thoroughbred intensity. An immense wine that dichotomously, despite its sheer weight, almost evaporates from the tip of the tongue and surfaces of the cheeks, while lingering endlessly.
99 points - Ned Goodwin - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion
Almost incomprehensible concentration here. This has a deeply aged, toasty and dark nutty edge on the nose. Roasted honey, dark chocolate, coffee and roasted malt, too. The palate has implausibly concentrated flavors that follow the same threads shown on the nose, all swooningly sweet and rich. Yet, somehow it extrudes and balances to the point of lightness, leaving a trail of long, dark and toasted flavors of almonds. Extremely impressive and complex. Drink now. Screw cap.
98 points - JamesSuckling.com -
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- 95
- 94
2023 Moss Wood Amy’sMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA Bordeaux style blend bristling with juicy red and blue fruit.
Moss Wood’s entry level Cabernets, Amy’s, is a Bordeaux-styled blend that’s produced in an earlier drinking style loaded with generous fruit that shows plenty of flesh. Sourced from the Glenmore vineyard just north of Yallingup. It’s a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Malbec and 5% Merlot. Maturation takes place in 228 litre older French oak barrels for a period of 18 months.
Midnight black heart with a vibrant dark red hue. Delightful red to black currant and violet scents mix with some mulberry, red liquorice, lightly dusted vanillin cedar, tobacco and bay leaf notes. Mid weighted, the palate is layered with rich juicy red to black currant, red liquorice and blueberry fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, delicate earth and infusions of bay leaf form the back drop. Excellent concentration with seamlessly integrated, fine grained tannins. The long, fresh finish bristling with a mix of succulent red and blue fruit.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
This is a blend if cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, malbec and merlot. In a good year like this one, it offers some of the best value classy red wine going around. This is as good as any in this line. Plush red fruit of tremendous intensity. A firm core of tannin and oak holds it firm as the succulent fruit washes through. Such energy and vibrancy.
95 Points
RayJordanWine.com.auVery much Cabernet Sauvignon dominant (83%), the wine also enjoys contributions from Merlot (5%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot (6%). After fermentation and blending, the wine was returned to the 228-litre French oak barrels, none of them new, for maturation for a year and a half. A purple/maroon colour here, we have a nose exhibiting some of those classic Cab notes with black fruits, truffles, black cherries, cedar, cigar boxes and tobacco leaves, beef stock and graphite. There is deftly handled oak, silky tannins, excellent balance and length. This is a superb Cabernet blend and should drink beautifully for at least the next ten to twelve years. The team talk about it being approachable young and it certainly is, but I also think it has a long future – it simply has such fine balance and so much going on that it can’t miss. This is a stellar Amy’s. Drink 2024-2036.
94 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com
Perfumed, deeply brooding and floral aromas of crushed blackberries, raspberries, dark cherries and potpourri with blueberry compote, baking spices, bitter chocolate and violets. The medium-bodied palate has a silky texture, finely tuned tannins and real depth of fruit with mineral notes and a vibrant finish. A blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon with equal parts merlot, petit verdot and malbec. Delicious. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
95 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
- 94
2023 Mr Riggs Outpost Coonawarra CabernetCoonawarra, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinBen Riggs sourced the fruit for this excellent Cabernet Sauvignon from one of Coonawarra’s top growers - Michael Wetherall’s, Wetherall Estate. From two premium vineyards on the estate that are a combination of terra rossa and sandy loam soils, the sites are located at the northern end of the region and are traditionally some of the earlier ripening blocks that deliver lower yields but excellent concentration. Picked on different days and from different blocks to allow for optimum ripening and multiple blending options, parcels of fruit for this Cabernet were separately fermented in 5 tonne open fermenters. On skin fermentation was completed before pressings were sent to barrel to complete fermentation in a 30% new French and 5% American oak combination.
A beautifully balanced Coonawarra Cabernet that’s deeply concentrated and amply fleshed yet wonderfully refined.
Dense midnight black core with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Sailing out of the glass with plenty of intensity are enticing blackcurrant, mulberry and choc mint aromas which intermingle with vanillin cedar, tobacco and spicy dried herb notes. Rich blackcurrant, liquorice and mulberry fruits caress the mid weighted palate with ample flesh and concentration. Lending further interest are notions of spicy vanillin cedar, earthy tobacco and infusions of bay leaf. Beautifully balanced and structured it has fine grained tannins and a finish that’s long and deep yet refined.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews....
A classic regional statement here, again sourcing the variety from outside Riggs’s home base – and unsurprisingly Coonawarra, showcasing its best-known features. Starts with a fragrant crush of black berries, bay leaf and mint providing their herbal aromatics, before easing into the palate with a certain grace and elegance, juicy, superfine tannin feels with just a delicate grab to finish, oak supportive and balanced – impressive given a decent amount is new French. Winner winner lamb shank dinner.
94 Points
Tony Love – WinePilot.com -
- 97
- 95
2021 Mr Riggs J.F.R. ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$46. 99Bottle$563.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2024-2034)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinFormerly known simply as Mr Riggs Shiraz, beginning with the 2018 vintage this wine was re-branded J.F.R. as a tribute to winemaker Ben Riggs father. Fruit is sourced from three of McLaren Vale’s iconic Shiraz vineyards; Piebald Gully, Gateway and Martins Vineyard. Maturation took place in a mixture of 80% French oak and 20% American oak with 35% being new oak.
Rich, expansive and incredibly powerful, this is seductive McLaren Vale Shiraz at its finest.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. Wafting from the glass are intense ripe blackberry and liquorice aromas which are complimented by dark plum, vanillin cedar, hints of dark chocolate, earthy mocha and spice notes. Rich and lavish, the opulently textured palate is layered with a thick coating of blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, earthy mocha characters, fennel and dark chocolate elements are sprawled across the back half. Expansive and incredibly powerful it possesses silky smooth yet underlying assertive tannins. Finishes splendidly long, plush and seductive. Mr Riggs at his best.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 14.5%
Other Reviews.....
This is a blend from three McLaren Vale vineyards from three distinct subregions. Each of the vineyard wines was kept separate until bottling. The cooler Piebald Gully fruit seems to contribute to the elegance and vibrancy with its bright fruit characters. It’s full-bodied but refined and elegant, displaying spicy red fruit aromas and a rich, juicy, dark fruit palate. It’s largely been in French oak, but 20% American oak has added a sweetness to the middle palate. Impressive wine and great value in the cellar. Drink 2025-2043.
95 points
Ray Jordan - WinePilot.com -
- 95
- Australian Exclusive
2008 Murray McDavid Benchmark Single Cask Glenallachie 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Australian ExclusiveSpeyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$220. 00Bottle$2640.00 DozenABV: 50%Present day Glenallachies are either heavily oaked or wine-driven - or both - placing them alongside some of the biggest malts on the market. Here we have an importer's selection that leans away from the extremes of Billy Walker’s official bottlings, straddling a line between older Glendronachs or Glengoynes, making for something more sophisticated in the genre. At first taste, leather and bitter peel lead into biscuity malt followed by juicy oloroso; time in the glass develops hints of honeyed cereals, curaçao, cinnamon buns, cafe cremes, walnuts and dark chocolate. It takes water well, but on its own this is perfectly approachable and worthy of the attention of fans of complex, drier-styled malts. Kudos to the Australian importer for bringing something different to the table! Eleven years in a 600L sherry butt / twenty one months in a 1st fill Oloroso cask. Limited to 287 bottles. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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2024 Muto Beechworth ChardonnayBeechworth, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $29.99$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.3%Closure: StelvinWinemaker Waldo Smit sourced fruit for this Chardonnay from 20-year-old vines grown in the Beechworth township of Baarmutha by the Iwanuch family. Hand-picked fruit was gently pressed to 500 litre French oak barrels (15% being new) for fermentation, followed by 10 months maturation. Regular lees stirring took place and full malolactic conversion was encouraged to build textural qualities.
A sub $30 Beechworth Chardonnay that delivers the goods.
A brilliant pale straw core is surrounded by green tinted edges with a watery hue. Drifting through the olfactory senses are white peach, nectarine and subtle dried honey scents complimented by some biscuity nougat, hints of ginger and delicate flint notes. Rich and full in the mouth but far from heavy handed, the expansive palate is layered with fleshy white peach and nectarine fruits. Notions of dried honey, biscuit, nougat, spicy ginger and flint lend further interest. Offering Beechworth’s trademark depth and drive it has a shapely textural feel that’s nicely counterpointed by fresh acidity. Finishes long and gently spiced.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.3%Other Reviews....
Muto goes to Beechworth. Didn’t see this coming, but can’t say that I’m complaining.
This is a characterful chardonnay with good flavour, enough texture and complexity, and plenty of both punch and interest through the finish. This is excellent buying. Grapefruit, stonefruit, a flash of smoky/meaty oak and a lemon fresh note through the finish, combined with rust/mineral notes. Ripper buying/drinking here. 92-93, opted for the higher. Drink 2025 - 2030.
93 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front -
- 93
- Reduced
2025 Muto VermentinoMurray Darling, Vic, AUSTRALIAReduced from $21.99$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now (2025)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA zesty, mineral laced Vermentino brimming with lime, green apple and mango fruits.
Vermentino is native to southern Italy, most famously grown along the coastal regions of Sardinia and Liguria, where its freshness and saline edge are prized. The fruit for this wine was sourced from Chalmers Family’s Merbein vineyard in the Murray Darling region of Victoria.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with flashes of green around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of lime juice, Granny Smith apple and mango infused with fresh herbs are trailed by some saline mineral like notes. Zesty lime, green apple and mango fruits meld into a Mediterranean herb and stony mineral back drop. Crisp acidity with a long refreshing finish that’s brimming with minerality.
Drink now.
Alc. 12% -
- 94
- 92
- 93
- Reduced
2021 Nicks Secret JEST McLaren Vale ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $19.99$12. 99Bottle$155.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.9%Closure: StelvinFrom a very well-known family owned estate with an Italian-Australian heritage, this McLaren Vale winery burst onto the scene in the early 2000’s when the then, world's most powerful wine critic, Robert Parker, lauded many of the wines with scores in the high nineties. Hailing from the same winery as our 2019 Nicks Secret SERP Cabernet Sauvignon and 2021 Nicks Secret ANGL Shiraz there’s only one parcel available at this price so jump in quick!
Rich, weighty and opulent, this McLaren Vale Shiraz is a brilliant buy at just $12.99.
Impenetrable inky black in colour with a deep dark red black hue. Dark plum, ripe blackberry and liquorice aromas sail through the nostrils with plenty of intensity followed by some subtlety smoked vanillin cedar, fennel and peppered earth notes. Rich, weighty and opulent, the palate is engulfed with bold ripe blackberry, liquorice, dark plum and subtle dark chocolate flavours. Spicy vanillin cedar, scorched earth and peppered fennel elements traverse across the back half. Amply powered it has a sturdy yet velvet like tannin structure and a long fleshy finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.9%Other Reviews….
Great value McLaren Vale Shiraz from a sensational vintage. After a cool fermentation, the wine spent 14 months in a mix of French (75%) and American (25%) oak hogsheads. We have notes of mocha, spices, plums, coffee beans, chocolate, blackberries, tobacco leaves and aniseed. A richly flavoured palate, which is really rather attractive. Good focus, balance, and length with silky tannins. There is generosity and richness here. Cracking value to enjoy over the next six to ten years. I know there can be a reluctance to give wines at lower price points high scores, but this one deserves it. Drink 2024-2034.
93 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com2021 is a superb vintage and its beauty shines through the wines, from entry level to top-drawer. All the classic signatures of fine shiraz, fresher and cooler climatic of feel than its origins suggests, even at this approachable line. Blue fruits, lilac and nori. Perfumed, mid-weighted and brisk. Perfectly judged. It would be hard to find better value, irrespective of origin. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
92 Points
JamesSuckling.comIt's gorgeously ripe and inviting on the nose with blackberry, game, warm spice and roasted hazelnut aromas. The palate is equally satisfying with excellent weight and silky texture, well framed by finely infused tannins, offering delectable drinking. At its best: now to 2031.
93 Points
Sam Kim – WinePilot.com -
- 94
- 93
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2022 Nicks Secret HEW Barossa Rhone Blend Carignan Syrah CinsaultBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $27.99$14. 99Bottle$179.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinAn utterly delicious Rhone styled blend that combines rich, generous fruit with a gently chewy texture.
Inky black heart with a dark red black tinged hue. Scents of black cherry, black raspberry and liquorice combine with scorched earth, dried herb and peppered dried meat notes. Rich, juicy black cherry and liquorice fruits drive the medium bodied palate which possesses a slightly chewy mouth feel and good underlying freshness. Some black raspberry, subtle blueberry, scorched earth and peppered dried herb elements extend across the back half. Sturdy tannins with a long, mildly robust, generously fruited finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews….
Gorgeously fruited and complex, the wine shows dark fruit intensity, toasted spice, rich floral and cedar characters on the nose. The palate is equally satisfying with excellent weight and plump mouthfeel, wonderfully supported by velvety texture and grainy tannins. Firmly structured, yet velvety and soothing. At its best: now to 2037.
94 Points
Sam Kim – Wine OrbitA blend of 45% carignan, 34% syrah and 21% cinsault with 60% whole bunches in the mix, matured in old French barriques for 12 months. Bright and perfumed and packed with ripe fruit and gingery spice. Blueberry, satsuma plum and boysenberry with hints of jasmine, salted licorice, gingerbread, sarsaparilla, earth and mountain and amaro herbs. Exuberant and slinky, it comes across as quite fragrant in the mouth as well, with something akin to Turkish delight whipping around on the fringes of the palate. Fine and powdery in tannin with bright, sapid acidity, and it sports a supple tide of plush fruit and spice on the finish.
93 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionDelicious and cracking value were the two things that sprang immediately to mind with this delightful red. A blend of 45% Carignan, 34% Syrah and 21% Cinsault, with 60% whole bunches utilised plus 11 months maturation in old French barriques. …… A deep vibrant purple, it offers aromas of plums, blackfruits, cloves and chocolate. This is a big, ripe, flavoursome, exuberant, fruit bomb style. Granted that is a style which can divide the crowd, but for all of us who love them, this is a cracker. Beautifully supple, with silky tannins, the texture has some density and there is decent length here. Utterly delicious, enjoy it over the next five to six years. Drink 2023-2029.
93 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com
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