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2021 Nicks Secret SE ERB Barossa ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 15.5%Closure: StelvinProduced by an under the radar estate with limited local distribution, this bold expression of Barossa Shiraz has a winery listed price of around $120 per bottle which is perhaps a little over the top. Made by winemaker Jo Irvine from the great 2021 vintage, utilising some of the estate's best fruit, this punches well above it’s weight at the Nicks Secret price of just $19.99.
A deep, powerful Barossa Shiraz that oozes opulence.
Matured in French oak hogsheads for 24 months. Dense inky black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. Heady dark plum, liquorice, ripe blackberry and dark chocolate aromas waft through the nostrils complimented by notes of earth, vanillin cedar and spicy mocha. Rich and voluptuous, the dense weighty palate is completely immersed in dark to black plum, liquorice, ripe black cherry and blackberry fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, earthy dark chocolate and subtle fennel characters extend across the back half. Ripe and polished it has slightly chewy tannins and a deep, powerful finish that oozes opulence.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 15.5%Other Reviews….
A rich and opulent wine from this outstanding Barossa vintage. Layers of dark richly concentrated plummy fruit topped with syrupy dark chocolate. Apart from its opulence and richness, the feature is the balance, with a seamlessly interwoven tannin and oak combination cuddling it through to a long finish. It’s a bold wine but the balance keeps it under control. Drink 2024-2042
95 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.comSweetly ripe and richly expressed, the bouquet shows dark fruit intensity, toasty oak, cake spice and rich floral aromas, followed by a flavoursome palate that's filled with succulent fruit flavours, backed by silky texture and beautifully melded tannins, offering terrific drinking. At its best: now to 2035.
95 Points
Sam Kim – Wine OrbitWe are told that **** means heritage and the team see this wine as reflecting the heritage of their vineyards. Jo Irvine is the winemaker. Under cork, just 14,800 bottles made. A vibrant maroon colour, the nose exhibits well-handled oak, as well as some spicy notes of cassis, chocolate, soy, blackberries, florals and liquorice. It is seamless and seductive, neatly balanced with good acidity, silky tannins and impressive length. This will offer pleasure for the next 12 to 15 years. Drink now–2039
94 Points
The Vintage Journal -
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2021 Nicks Secret HEW Barossa MourvedreBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $27.99$14. 99Bottle$179.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinSourced from a prominent Barossa Valley producer who specialise in Mourvedre and other Rhone varietals, this is their entry level offering made from younger vines that have an average age of 18 years. Some whole bunch fruit is included in vinification with maturation taking place in seasoned French oak barrels for a period of 16 months.
A rich, juicy, mid weighted Mourvedre with lashings of blue and dark fruits.
Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Pronounced ripe black cherry, liquorice and dark plum aromas flow from the glass with some scorched earth, blueberry, subtle dried herb and spice notes also chiming in. Rich and juicy, the mid weighted palate is flooded with lashings of dark cherry, liquorice and ripe blueberry fruits. Subtle dried herb, earth and spice elements sit in the background. Polished yet underlyingly sturdy tannins with a long fresh blue to dark fruited finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
So, this beaut little Mourvèdre is based on fruit created by taking cuttings from the Old Garden Vineyard, planted in 1853. It is such a brilliant and vibrant example of this terrific variety. I have seen this wine evolve over many years, and I have to say it just seems to get better each year. The balance of the fruit and oak is harmonious, allowing the fragrances and seductive aromas to reveal their true beauty. A great entry wine to understand some of the appeal of Mourvèdre. Drink 2023-2030.
94 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.comThe 'baby' mourvèdre vines were established in 1998 from cuttings off the epic 1853-planted Old Garden vineyard. Lots of colour and lots of fruit depth for babies! Rich dark plum, blueberry and black cherry fruits with hints of turned earth, light bramble tones, graphite, dark spice, roasting meats and charcuterie. There is a wee whiff of choc-mint way off in the distance, too, with an impressive fruit density, tight granite dust tannins and bright acid drive finishing pure and savoury. Drink by 2030.
93 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionVibrant ruby red colour. Mulberry, raw beef and ironstone aromas. Lashings of blue and purple fruits fill the core whilst it builds layers of anise, black graphite, and dried blood savouries. Tannins have a fine gravel persistence as it rolls long to the dry finish. Remarkable sense of tension and purity at this price point.
93 Points
Stuart Knox – Real Review -
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2022 Nicks Secret ROCKG ShirazFrankland River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $22.99$11. 99Bottle$143.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinFrom one of Western Australia’s most well known wineries and arguably the state’s premier producer of Shiraz and Riesling, this Shiraz is their entry level offering made with small additions of Touriga Nacional and Malbec to provide additional complexity and aromatic lift. At it’s normal price of $22.99 it offers great value – at it’s secret price of just $11.99 it’s a complete steal!
Juicy, pepper laced and well fleshed with chewy tannins, this is a highly savoury Shiraz that’s a complete steal!
Midnight black dark red core with a dark red black tinged hue. Black cherry, dark plum and liquorice aromas mix with scorched earth and peppered dried herb notes. Rich spicy dark plum, liquorice and black cherry fruits abound carrying with them a nicely fleshed feel across the mid weighted palate. Juicy mouth feel with chewy tannins and an underbelly of scorched earth, dried meats and peppered herbs. Highly savoury, it has a long pepper laced conclusion.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
This is a good wine, and it’s good value. It’s a spicy, medium-weight style of shiraz, with a touch of positive reduction helping it along, with bell pepper and black pepper characters wedded to cherry-plum fruit. There’s also the merest whisper of musky vanilla, though oak is a low-impact player here. The tannin has a grainy, grunty aspect to it but then, it’s not overdone, and not dominant. There are no question marks here, everything is positive, though a slight warmth to the alcohol is the only thing you’d point to, if you were forced. It’s no real matter and besides, even at full price the value here is decidedly in the buyer’s favour. Drink 2025-2030.
92 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine FrontDark purple hues with a ruby outer rim lead toa bouquet of ripeness and richness, aromas of dark berries and roasted plums, a dark raspberry almost jammy quality then smoky earth, a touch of boot polish wood smoke. Fleshy, fruity, varietal and dry on the palate. All the fruit scents turn into flavour on the palate set in a silky frame with fine polished tannins and medium+ acid line. A lovely example, balanced and well made with best drinking from day of purchase through 2030+.
92 Points
CamDouglasMS.com -
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2020 Nicks Secret CMKY Barossa ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $58.00$16. 99Bottle$203.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 15.5%Closure: StelvinWith a history stretching back to the early 1900’s, this esteemed Barossa producer is renowned for crafting decadently rich, old-school Shiraz. Retailing at $58.00 ex-cellar door and boasting several years of bottle age this is in prime drinking form, delivering exceptional value for those seeking a classic Barossa experience.
Extravagantly rich and voluptuously textured this is a quintessential example of old school Barossa Shiraz.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a deep very dark red black hue. Hedonistic aromas of dark plum, liquorice and mocha are sent wafting through the nostrils followed by some vanillin oak, earthy dark chocolate and spice notes. The rich, voluptuous full bodied palate is drenched with lavish dark plum, liquorice, scorched earth and mocha flavours. Also chiming in are spicy vanillin oak and dark chocolate elements. Concentrated, power packed and opulently textured, it possesses silky smooth tannins, gliding through to a long, plush finish. Super seductive stuff!
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 15.5%Other Reviews....
Fine Barossa Shiraz which spent eighteen to twenty-four months in oak barrels. The colour is an inky maroon. A beautifully crafted wine with a nose exhibiting notes of chocolate, cassis, blackberries, smoked meats and some deftly handled oak. There is bright acidity here, with exemplary balance and great length. A wine which is dense but dances across the palate. An exquisite example of the style and one which will provide immense pleasure over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035.
95 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com -
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2022 Nicks Secret AC Blewitt Springs SyrahMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $54.99$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinFrom a renown McLaren Vale winery, this is one of their flagship cuvees which is only released in top years. Sitting at an altitude of 200 metres the Blewitt Springs sub region normally ripens 1-2 weeks later than most other areas in McLaren Vale producing refined wines that have a silken feel and gorgeous layers of rich blue to black fruit.
Sleek and glossy textured this is a gorgeous marriage of opulence and finesse.
Midnight black heart with a dark purple black tinged hue. Wafting out of the glass are seductive aromas of blackberry, liquorice and dark plum which are complimented by spicy vanillin cedar, traces of dark chocolate, earth and peppered fennel notes. A rich, silky flow of dark plum, liquorice and blackberry fruits caress the full bodied yet wonderfully refined and polished palate. Vanillin cedar, subtle earthy dark chocolate and peppered fennel accents line the back half. Outstanding in it’s power and depth, it possesses velvety tannins and a long glossy textured finish that marries opulence with finesse.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
From three sandy sites, two planted in the '70s and one the late '90s; 14% whole bunch in the final blend; matured in French barrels (12% new) and a 2600L foudre. This is the most aromatic and lifted of the triad of single-site syrah in this range, which is unsurprising given the sandy soils. It doesn’t lack for depth and intensity though, the fruits simply more red, blurring a little into black, the structure tautly tensioned, the finale pleasingly brisk. Sour plum and cherry, tart blackberry, clove and pepper, struck rock, iron and black tea. It’s a lovely expression, just starting to suggest some tertiary perfume, which promises to build appealingly. It’s very good. Drink by 2035.
96 Points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionAn impressive nose of blackberries, dried kelp, violets and licorice. The structure is a taut coil, like a spring contracting and expanding across gritty, detailed tannins melded to saline acidity. Iodine reduction, nicely handled. Full-weighted but detailed and classy. Drinkable now, but best from 2027. Screw cap.
95 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2023 Nicks Secret Barossa Valley YP Grenache Cinsault MataroBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $24.99$14. 99Bottle$179.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13.1%Closure: StelvinProduced by a husband and wife team, this Grenache blend is designed to deliver a juicy, unpretentious and joyous wine that still retains plenty of interest. It delivers all that in spades. Sourced from several vineyards located throughout the Barossa, it’s a blend of 46% Grenache, 39% Cinsault and 15% Mataro with a portion of whole bunch fermentation. Maturation taking place in seasoned oak for a period of 8 months.
A juicy and joyous blend that makes for fabulous everyday drinking.
Red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a light vibrant red hue. Showing good aromatic lift are attractive red raspberry and red liquorice aromas which are trailed by some fresh herb, red cherry and peppered earth notes. Carrying a fresh, bouncy feel across the light to mid weighted palate are juicy red raspberry and red liquorice fruits. Infusions of fresh herbs, earth and peppered clove lend further interest. Polished tannins with a long red fruited finish that’s energetic and quite succulent.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.1%Other Reviews....
*** do a great job with their *** , a blend of grenache, cinsault and mataro, this year 46/39/15%. As the name suggests, it's built for 'drinkin, not thinkin', with a vibrant hue, bouncy, lifted aromatic profile and an airy flow of red fruits, spice, amaro and floral tones on the palate. I'd label this 'chill-safe' if the weather dictates such terms; it's great, light drinking. Drink by 2029.
94 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionA blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Mataro from the Barossa providing a cute spin on the traditional blend. Lifted notes of florals with a slightly earthy rose petal character dominant. The medium bodied palate has such beautiful mouthfeel with a smooth seamlessly integrated oak and tannin combination. The sweet fruit is balanced with a slightly minerally savouriness to complete a terrific little wine. Drink 2024-2032.
93 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com*** are the masters of reliable drinking and here we go again with the latest * release. Translating to 'unpretentious wine', that sums up what **** do ever so perfectly. Such a versatile blend, this medium-bodied delight delivers in spades.
A blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Mataro (46/39/15), I felt the Cinsault really talks bringing energy, buckets of cranberries and red apple crunch. Loaded with bright cherries, raspberries, chorizo, pan juices, cured meat, cinnamon and earthy spices, it is such an inviting and sessional red wine. Clever blending and fabulous drinking, you are winning with this in your glass.
Drink to five years.
93 Points
QWineReviews.com -
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2022 Nicks Secret FE Frankland River ShirazFrankland River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $27.99$14. 99Bottle$179.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinFrom one of Western Australia’s most well known wineries and arguably the state’s premier producer of Shiraz and Riesling comes this certified organic Shiraz at a never before seen price. Co-fermented with the addition of 2.5% Touriga Nacional and 1.5% Viognier to lend further complexity, 5% whole bunch fermentation was employed with maturation taking place in 500 litre French oak puncheons of varying ages for a period of 14 months.
Rhone styled Shiraz that delivers crazy value.
Pitch black core with a dark red black tinged hue. Streaming from the glass are aromas of liquorice and ripe black cherry which intermingle with dark plum, subtlety smoked vanillin cedar, scorched earth and peppered meat notes. The refined, mid weighted palate carries a plush feel, rich black cherry and liquorice fruits delivered with terrific intensity. Spicy vanillin cedar, scorched earth and peppered meat characters the undercard. Slightly chewy tannins with a long, fleshy, pepper laced conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews....
Super savoury and highly appealing from the first pour. Certainly there are dark plums in the mix but also lots of woodsy spices, ferrous earth, wood smoke and some Aussie bush fragrance. Fuller bodied, yet the palate is neatly shaped with grainy, drying tannins and lithe acidity. Drink by 2032.
92 Points
Jane Faulkner – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThis stylish mid-weight 2022 Shiraz delivers a powerful yet elegant Syrah expression with layers of licorice, old earth and spice well integrated with fine French oak. Genuine tannins and generous flavours are well balanced with chewy textures which make for an impressive package with all the pieces in place to be enjoyable over the medium term. Drink 2025-2030.
92 Points
Angus Hughson – WinePilot.comA well-balanced, peppery and delicious shiraz offering aromas of cherries, strawberries, cured meat and warm spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. A refined texture with a dense core of delicious berries and chocolate. Textural finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
92 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2017 Nicks Secret Pyrenees CabernetPyrenees, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $69.99$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinWith a history dating back over 50 years this iconic Pyrenees producer has earned a reputation for producing sturdily built Cabernets that develop a Bordeaux like finesse with bottle age. For the 2017 vintage maturation took place in French oak barriques for a period 18 months.
Bordeaux inspired Pyrenees Cabernet that’s drinking beautifully.
Totally opaque black dark red colour with a deep dark red hue. Delightful red to black currant and ripe mulberry scents sweep through the nostrils with enchanting effect, complimented by some well integrated spicy vanillin cedar, delicate tobacco, earth and dried herb notes. Still retaining an abundance of rich red to dark fruit, the refined palate has mellowed wonderfully with bottle age. Red to black currant and mulberry flavours overlay a cedary tobacco, subtle earthy black olive, dried herb and spice back drop. Providing the framework are seamlessly integrated, fine grained tannins which carry a sturdy underbelly. The long, polished conclusion showing a real sense of finesse.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
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2024 Oakridge Vineyard Series Hazeldene Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $39.99$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinLight, supple and graceful with a eloquent finish of great persistence that shows plenty of spice.
Semi translucent bright red core with a light red hue. Wonderfully fragrant, the nose displays a perfumed like intensity with red to dark cherry, violet, red liquorice and clove scents engulfing the olfactory senses. Strawberry, rhubarb, bramble, forest floor and spice notes ensue. Light, supple and graceful, delicious red cherry, anise, rhubarb and strawberry fruits are underscored by an energetic freshness. Forest floor, spicy clove and bramble elements lend further sophistication. Excellent power wave with polished tannins fanning out across a long, eloquent finish of great persistence that shows plenty of spice.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews…..
The Vineyard Series offers mirror images of the same vineyards in the Yarra Valley for both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Always fascinating to see which variety really steps up. The 2024 vintage has provided us with a photo finish, although the nod probably goes to Chardonnay by a wafer-thin margin. That certainly doesn’t mean there aren’t some brilliant Pinots on offer, none more so than this stunning wine. Fermentation is by way of a combination of whole bunches and berries in open containers for two weeks before eleven months maturing in French oak. Pale crimson with a russet rim, this offers a beautifully fragrant nose with notes of florals, raspberries, dried herbs, cherries, spices, notably nutmeg and cinnamon, and kirsch. A Pinot Noir of finesse and focus, this is superbly balanced with impressive length. Like one imagines drinking silk would be. And such persistence. For enjoying over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2026-2036.
96 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com -
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2024 Oakridge Vineyard Series Hazeldene ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $39.99$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA graceful and beautifully fleshed Yarra Valley Chardonnay.
Matured in 500 litre French oak puncheons for a period of 16 months on lees. Brilliant very pale straw colour with a distinct greenish tint to the surrounding edges and a watery hue. Wonderfully refined yet intense nose with alluring scents of white peach, nectarine, dried honey and delicate cashew captivating the olfactory senses. Biscuity nougat and subtle gun flint notes ensue. Medium weight and graceful in its flow, the beautifully fleshed palate features rich white peach, nectarine and citrus fruits over a dried honey, biscuity nougat, spicy cashew and gun flint back drop. Fresh underlying acidity with a long generously textured finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
Oakridge’s Hazeldene Chardonnay is a perennial favourite and this 2024 is another ripper. This wine is flush with fruit and long through the finish, and while its complexity more or less looks after itself there’s plenty going on beneath the bonnet. Nuts, yellow stone fruits, cooked apples, sweet meal and cracked wheat are all washed through with citrus, cedar and grapefruit. There’s a delicate aspect to the texture, in the best of ways. We are absolutely on song here. Drink 2027-2032+
95 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front
This wine is part of the Oakridge Vineyard Series. It should be noted at the outset that the Vineyard Series sits, at least in theory, below their prestige range known as ‘864’. To be honest, particularly with this Chardonnay, I think they might have a little trouble as it is very hard to imagine that even any of their wonderful 864 Chardonnays will be able to top this wine. This is an absolute cracker and while it may not be priced for daily drinking, it is ridiculously undervalued. For this money, good luck finding anything in Burgundy which comes within cooee. The Hazeldene Vineyard is in the Gladysdale sub-region. The wine was made by whole bunch pressing directly into 500-litre French oak puncheons, with a natural fermentation, and then fourteen months maturation. A shimmering pale lemon hue, the complexity and quality in this wine is immediately evident. The nose reveals notes of hazelnuts, stone fruits, citrus, grilled cashews, peaches, nectarines, melon and a touch of jasmine. The wine of exquisite balance, finesse and power, there is extraordinary length here. The intensity is maintained for the entire journey. A brilliant Chardonnay which will easily handle the next twelve years. Wow! Drink 2026-2038.
97 points
Ken Gargett - WinePilot.com
From chardonnay planted at the Hazeldene vineyard at Gladysdale in '13. Six months on lees in tank before release. A pristine, bright green gold. Gorgeous aromas of stone fruits, lightly grilled nuts and marine scents precede the palate, which is rounder and slightly more textured than the Willowlake but no less pristine or structured. Finishes saline and long. Another '24 Chardonnay from Oakridge that can be confidently cellared for at least the next six to eight years. Drink by 2032.
96+ points
Philip Rich - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
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2024 Oakridge Yarra Valley ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $29.99$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinGenerous in its flavour yet possessing a refined, glossy feel.
Oakridge’s Yarra Valley Chardonnay is consistently one of the best value’s coming out of the valley. Fruit is sourced from the cool slopes of the upper Yarra Valley notably Gladysdale (Willowlake) and Wandin East (Barkala) with some also coming from Coldstream.
Fermented in barrel and matured on lees for 9 months. Brilliant pale straw colour with hints of green around the edges and a watery hue. Drifting through the nostrils are scents of white peach, nectarine and dried honey followed by biscuity nougat and subtle gun flint notes. Generous in its flavour yet possessing a refined, glossy feel, white peach, nectarine and dried honey are featured over a biscuity oak, nougat and gun flint infused back drop. Nicely shaped it finishes long and fresh with a hint of emerging creaminess.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13% -
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2022 Old Mill Bendigo ShirazBendigo, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$13. 99Bottle$167.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2026-2029)ABV: 14.7%Closure: StelvinEvoking memories of the original Water Wheel label, this Shiraz returns to the winery's golden age of bold, explosive, flavour packed reds at a price that delivers exceptional value.
A hefty Bendigo Shiraz lavishly layered with rich black fruit and toasty oak.
Super dense inky black heart with a very deep dark red black tinged hue. Potent aniseed, black cherry and blackberry scents waft through the nostrils with great authority followed by some toasty vanillin oak, fennel and peppered earth notes. Boasting a liqueur like richness, concentration and texture, the hefty palate is overwhelmed with decadent aniseed, black cherry and blackberry fruits. Toasty vanillin oak, fennel and peppered earth elements extend across the back half. Outstanding power and volume with ripe chewy tannins and a long voluptuous yet robust finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14.7% -
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Old Pulteney Harbour Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 40%"...super good, certainly a worthy candidate for the Bang-For-Your-Buck title..." - whiskyfun.com
Pulteney's Master Blender has risen to the challenge of capturing the distillery's coastal character in a NAS bottling, and has done so with aplomb. Few malts at this entry level price and ABV match it for substance and style. Prepare to be surprised! 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... A small NAS probably rather kind-hearted, matured in first and second fill bourbon casks. If it doesn’t lean too heavily on vanilla cream, this could be quite good indeed… Colour: white wine. Nose: no, this is fine, quite the opposite in fact, it’s fresh, the sea is clearly perceptible too, with touches of salted candied lemon, grapefruit, and streusel. Nice coastal tension, just what one expects from Pulteney. Mouth: slightly softer on the palate but the balance has been especially well crafted, there’s none of that vanilla-and-sawdust overload one might have found in similar bottlings ten years ago. Grapefruit returns, along with passion fruit, seaweed, our friends the oysters, and a white pepper that does its job without being over the top. Finish: fairly long given the strength, a bit ‘old-Ardbeg-ten-long’, we’re talking early 80s to early 90s batches. Comments: I find this super good, certainly a worthy candidate for the Bang-For-Your-Buck title this August. 86 points - whiskyfun.com
...Overall I think this is a great entry to Old Pulteney. It carries the distillery DNA plus it was in my opinion matured in good quality casks because there are lots of added flavours to the whisky. Yes it's 40% but it doesn't feel thin due to Old Pulteney's style of whisky and probably, most probably due to the wormtubs... you can't go wrong with this. It's a great beginners malt and a great daily sipper to anyone who likes salty whisky. I'll award this whisky with 85 / 100. Great stuff. - whiskybase.com
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- Nicks Import
2012 Old Pulteney Flotilla Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 46%"For a ten-year-old, let's say it's pretty impressive." - whiskyfun.com
'Flotilla' is matured next to the sea in hand-selected first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. The profile promises vanilla sweetness with hints of zesty lemon and green apples, rounded off with a distinct maritime note, typical of Pulteney. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Totally ex-American oak. I found it so good and so balanced, after some previous versions more on sawdust and vanillin, that I placed it among my 'best of show' during the 'masterclass' we did with Dave B. at Whisky Live Paris this year. We always have a good laugh when doing these things with Mr. Broom. Colour: pale white wine. Top. Nose: we are really by the sea, it's not just some vague advertising pitch thrown on labels by marketeers from Wick or London. Sea spray and seaweed thus blend with a very subtle vanilla, which combines perfectly with wet chalk, baker's yeast, unleavened bread, and white beer brewed in town by the last local hipsters. A few notes of smoked fish, followed by some vanilla fudge. Mouth: very fragrant, powerful, smoky, spicy, salty, citrusy... I think that if we start to find more of such Pulteney, we can soon organise a large comparative session between them and Clynelish. It's good to have goals in life. I also really like these notes of dill, watercress, and sorrel in the background, on top of the lemon. Finish: rather long, still slightly fatty but otherwise perfectly centred on oysters and lemon. Some fresh spices in the aftertaste, as well as a few little Easter eggs in sugar. Not very sure about our timing here, ha. Comments: not much to add. For a ten-year-old, let's say it's pretty impressive. 89 points - whiskyfun.com
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- Nicks Import
Old Pulteney 16 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$179. 99Bottle$2159.88 DozenABV: 46%Reportedly one of the better Pulteneys of recent times, with some tasters describing it as a new favourite that's as good as - or even better - than the long lost 17 year old. Having been aged in both x-Bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry-seasoned Spanish oak casks, you can expect a nicely balanced, slightly sweet, fruity Highlander with a little Christmas cake richness. The colour is spectacular! Normally exclusive to Travel Retail, there are no guarantees we'll be able to source this again. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... There, a proper strength and some high hopes. Colour: gold. Nose: wait, this is something else. Green cigars, as they have in Indonesia, patchouli and mothballs, mushrooms and mosses, lamp oil and bone marrow, tincture of iodine and creosote, watermelon skin, fumes, plaster, sorrel… It’s pretty unconventional and full of character, I have to say I’m really fond of this unusual nose. Forgot to mention a little mustard and manzanilla. I agree, even better news. Mouth: seriously? Caraway and aniseed upfront? Then maize flour and miso? There is a fermentary side to this one, some sake-like notes, not really easy to enjoy, but there’s also a citrusy-hoppy development that just works. The good news is that it’s the latter that wins it. A funny, rather cinematic dram. Finish: long, greener, spicier. Bitterer herbs, leaves, peppers… Comments: good fun to be had with this one, it’s just that its rather a fighter and that you’ll need a few months to empty a bottle. Unless it’s the only bottle you own, naturally. Now I like it that they would go towards character and individuality, and not towards… stupid vanilla. Very good, Inver House. 87 points - whiskyfun.com
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2010 Old Pulteney Flotilla Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLANDReduced from $119.99$109. 99Bottle$1319.88 DozenABV: 46%"...this is excellent... it lost a few points in the end, but I’m still relatively in love with this fresh little baby." - whiskyfun.com
A vintage-dated Old Pulteney that has some similarities to Highland Park's style. 'Flotilla' here simply refers to a small fleet of boats, appropriate as this is a maritime malt matured next to the sea. Hand-selected first fill ex-bourbon barrels held the whisky for ten years before being bottled for the West European market. The profile promises vanilla sweetness with hints of zesty lemon and green apples, rounded off with a distinct maritime note, typical of Pulteney. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... A brand new Flotilla! Seriously, silly names do not bother me as long as there is a proper age statement, quite the contrary. So, ‘flotilla’, you say that’s Gaelic?* Colour: white wine. Nose: I’m falling in love already. Ten years old, a well-behaved wood, and a rather pure distillate, that’s the recipe for a winner in my book. Shall we call this baby ‘the HP 10 of the mainland’? Lovely sunflower oil, williams pear, gooseberries, candlewax, artisan cider, ale, bread, seaweed… What’s not to like? Mouth: yeeppie! Sure it’s a little on ripe pears and juicy sultanas, so perhaps a tad ‘too easy’, but let's not deny ourselves our joy, this is excellent. Reminds me of those ripe jujubes that they sell in Chinese food markets (no, not next to pangolin meat). So loads of pears, but also vanilla, barley syrup, the said jujubes, a touch of turmeric and ginger… What I’m missing is a little more coastalness at this point, but there, it’s a fine dram. Finish: rather long, sweet, on pears, plums, grass, beer, hay… Comments: it lost a few points in the end, but I’m still relatively in love with this fresh little baby. Rather drink at 12°C, like a white wine, would I say. Ehhh? 85 points - whiskyfun.com
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- Nicks Import
Old Pulteney Huddart Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 46%Named after the street where the Pulteney Distillery is located in Wick, 'Huddart' is one of three new products released in 2018 along with a 15 year and 18 year old. Matured in second-fill American oak ex-Bourbon barrels, it was finished in barrels which formerly held heavily peated whisky. The nose suggests wood shavings, salted water biscuits, muesli and pepper with mere hints of maritime smoke, the latter more salient on the palate where it's intermixed with subtle orchard fruits, spiced citrus and a salt'n'pepper tang through the fresh, drying finish. Solid depth at 46%.
Other reviews... This NAS expression is part of the new 2018 Old Pulteney core lineup. Sweet woodsmoke, crème brûlée, green apples, and cinder toffee on the nose. The smoke is more peat-induced on the palate, with banana fritters, and subtly sprinkled with sea salt. The finish features caramel and herbal notes. 46% Alc./Vol. 87 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Winter 2018)
...This is ex-bourbon Pulteney, probably young since there’s no age statement, finished in ex-peated casks. As for the ‘shouldn’t this rather be a blended malt then’ debate, we’ll do that later. Perhaps. Probably not. Colour: pale gold. Nose: they have a thing with these ex-peater finishes, because this works very well on the nose, really. Some apple pie that would have been baked near the ocean – or on a boat – while someone in the neighbourhood was burning lemon wood, whilst smoking eucalyptus cigarettes. Mouth: really, I find this surprisingly good. It’s as if Pulteney’s slightly coastal character was amplified, in a Spinal-Tap way. Some butterscotch too, toffee, charred US oak, salty lemons, a touch of ginger and nutmeg… All is very fine here. Finish: quite long, with a rounder texture (newish US oak indeed?) and a beautiful mentholy freshness. Comments: crikey, I seem to be enjoying this little NAS quite a lot. 86 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com
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Old Pulteney 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 40%"yesss! Spot on Pulteney character with the malt bristling the taste buds..." 91 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible.
Suitably marketed as 'The Maritime Malt’, Pulteney’s sweet and fruity style comes with a lick of salt and sea air. It's one of a small number of coastal distilleries turning out a very distinctive style, further distinguished by its extreme northern location. Owned by a relatively small company without the promotional muscle of the major players, many whisky enthusiasts only 'discovered' Pulteney after Jim Murray named the now discontinued 21 year old World Whisky of the Year, (replaced by the superb 18YO). Choose any age statement and Pulteney promises a solid northerner, frequently matured in x Bourbon where you get the best feel for the distillate, but also suited to sherry when handled with care. Apart from the notable saline character, we often find hints of beeswax and light smoke that give it a Clynelish-like feel.
Established in 1826, for a long time the distillery was only accessible by sea. Barley was brought in by boat, the whisky shipped out and many of the distillery workers were also employed as fishermen. The herring fishing industry is no longer part of daily life in Wick, but the heritage of the region is referenced in the packaging of Old Pulteney, the labels incorporating the depiction of a traditional Wick herring drifter.
The twelve year old presents a pale gold colour in the glass and a minor sulphur note is evident beneath the light, salty, peppery malt that leaves one with an overall impression similar to fino or manzanilla sherry; it sweetens slightly with aeration releasing hints of fruit. The medium dry, biscuity palate has a pleasantly spicy burst - over all, dry and saline. The finish is crisp and fresh with delicate bready notes followed by a late coastal tang. In the spectrum of single malts, this belongs at the aperitif end, and is all the more refreshing for its individuality. 40% Alc./Vol. [2007 batch tasted].
Other reviews... Remarkably consistent.... The salt continues to ensure lustre, though this bottling has a little extra - and welcome - barley gristiness. 91 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022
...The only survivor from Old Pulteney’s core range shake-up of 2018, this has been matured in first and second-fill bourbon casks. The nose is delicate, with almonds, honey, and floral notes. Malt and toffee on the palate, with spicy oak and a hint of brine. The medium-length finish is nutty, with wood spices. 87 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Winter 2018)
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2024 Osicka Selection Colbinabbin SangioveseHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA deliciously juicy Heathcote Sangiovese.
The 2024 Osicka Selection Sangiovese was grown at Gerard Kennedy and Lucy Runnalls vineyard on the Eastern slopes of the Mt Camel Range. Maturation took place in a combination of older oak (40%) and a concrete sphere shaped vessel (60%). The softer oak component had a more complex flavour profile whilst the portion stored in concrete brought intense primary fruit and structural drive to the blend.
Deep dark red black tinged colour with a dark red hue. Expressive red currant, cherry and red liquorice aromas fill the nostrils followed by some tobacco, earth and spicy dried herb notes. Moreish ripe red currant, red to dark cherry and red liquorice fruits show impressive intensity and flesh across the mid weighted palate. Spicy tobacco, dried herb and earth elements sit in the background. Slightly chalky tannins and fresh underlying acidity lead into a long juicy finish that has plenty of spice to it.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews....
Normally Simon Osicka sends through detailed notes on wines, and these seem to have arrived from the astral plane. Maybe he did send something and I lost the memos, though have had a dig around and nada. Anyways, minutiae of my day, hey? These ‘Selection’ wines come from outside the estate, and posit another level of value and value add to the existing Osicka stable of wines. This wine feels like a red someone would drink in a tavern, taverna, bistro or trattoria – varietal, accessible, x-factor, deliciousness. Not quite the right label here but close enough. At $28 at full whack this is another gift from the Osicka family.
Red cherry, stewed and fresh, some pomegranate juice, a dash of woody spices, some blood orange, a lick of dark chocolate, a pinch of pepper. Tannins tumble in with a gruff but pleasing and somewhat light chew. A graphite mineral line lends detail and a lift. Acidity takes its cue from the blood orange. Pitch perfect. It sits at around medium weight, it’s chuggable and gluggable and damn good. Drink 2025-2030.
93 Points
Mike Bennie – The Wine Front -
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2024 Pala Soprasole Vermentino di SardegnaSardinia, ITALY$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2026-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA snappy dry white featuring crunchy lime, green apple and fresh pear fruits.
Established by Salvatore Pala in 1950, today, over 70 years later Mario Pala represents the third generation of the family to run this famous estate. The winery is located in Serdiana, a small town some 20km from Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia and specialises in Vermentino and Cannonau.
Brilliant pale straw colour with green highlighted edges and a watery hue. Fragrant lime zest and Granny Smith apple scents infused with fresh Mediterranean herbs fly out of the glass trailed by some slatey mineral and saline like notes. Crunchy lime, green apple and fresh pear fruits are delivered with impressive intensity over a back drop of Mediterranean herbs and a saline like minerality. Crisp, snappy acidity, finishing long and zesty.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
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2025 Paladino Pinot GrigioVeneto, ITALY$13. 99Bottle$167.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2026-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA delicious, shapely textured Pinot Grigio that shows admirable intensity for its price.
This fantastic entry level Pinot Grigio that delivers on both intensity and texture was produced by the Rocca family who have been producing wines since the late 1800’s. This wine hails from the Veneto region in northeastern Italy, renowned for its picturesque vineyards and a climate that is ideal for producing crisp white wines.
Brilliant very pale straw almost water like colour with faint green toned edges. Delightful pear and red apple scents flow from the glass with whiffs of lime and wet stone also evident. Delicious pear and red apple fruits caress the palate with a shapely textural feel. Delicate lime, quince and wet stone elements linger across the back half. Showing admirable intensity for its price, brisk acidity lines the lengthy, river stone like finish.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12.5% -
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Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$5499. 00Bottle$65988.00 DozenABV: 47.8%Home to one of the highest rated whiskeys in the world, and now released bi-annually, the 23 year old began as a semi-annual bottling in 2005 that would quickly sell out upon release. That changed in 2010 when it was made a permanent member on the portfolio. Distilled and bottled by the Sazerac Company at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, the various age statements on offer are regarded by many as some of the finest bourbons in the world. As the oldest of the Pappy Van Winkle line up, the 23 year old is also the woodiest of the range with a slightly diminished sweetness. However bourbons of this ilk always need ample air contact to show their finer points, which was precisely Jim Murray's experience upon re-tasting it for his 2020 Whisky Bible (95 points review below). Almost unobtainable, it routinely commands big dollars.
Other reviews... The corn oils kiss and caress, the tannins barge and batter in a good cop / bad cop delivery... one of the holy grails of bourbon is to produce a consistently a 23-25 year old bourbon which is still sweet and not tannin dominated: no easy task. [this is] unquestionably drier... there are still sugars enough to give some fabulous moments on the palate. The tannins do though, still have the biggest say. But remember, this whiskey has matured for a very long time. 47.8% Alc./Vol. 95 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2020
...Nose: Deep, powerful and concentrated. This has moved into almost rancio territory: eucalypt/laurel, spice, burnt orange peel, apple, pear, biscuity wood. Palate: Soft and surprisingly delicate given the age. A charred note adds to the complexity. Gentle and elegant: cigar box, prune, molasses, soot. Finish: Long. In fact it’s very, very long and complex. Comment: A subtle sipper to be taken neat and definitely without ice! 90 points - David Broom, www.whiskymag.com
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Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$4999. 00Bottle$59988.00 DozenABV: 45.2%"...beautifully constructed and remains one of my favorite bourbons ever." - breakingbourbon.com
In a blind taste test of whiskey labels from around the world, the Beverage Tasting Institute in Chicago gave the 20-year old Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve a 99 out of 100 rating... the highest mark ever awarded. It began as a rye-heavy style but it's now a wheated bourbon, making the whiskey softer, sweeter, mellower and more rounded. It remains the most-awarded of the Pappys, and is sometimes compared with top shelf cognac, helped by its slightly younger age and slightly lower proof.
Other reviews....
An ancient Bourbon, so should be a flavour powerhouse. But this is all about understatement and complexity. 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2020...Amber mahogany. Rich, mature aromas of vanilla, cinnamon, leather, tea berry, coconut, and dark fruit-very complex indeed. Big, coating, soothing texture. Flavors are very mature, rounded and nicely balanced, with notes of molasses, dried fruit, cinnamon, and teaberry. It finishes long, with a very soothing demeanor.... An exemplary example of the style. 92 points - whiskyadvocate, 3rd Quarter 2001 Issue-Vol. 10#3
...This has always been my favorite Van Winkle bourbon and after this recent tasting, it remains that way. It has aspects of all of the other Van Winkle bourbons in a single package. It’s nose is by far the best out of the bunch. It proves how important a bourbon’s nose really is to the entire tasting experience. The palate features the rich fruit flavors of the 12 Year, the cinnamon of the 15 Year, and a touch less oak than the 23 Year. It’s beautifully constructed and remains one of my favorite bourbons ever. - breakingbourbon.com
...Nose: Deep, powerful and concentrated. This has moved into almost rancio territory: eucalypt/laurel, spice, burnt orange peel, apple, pear, biscuity wood. Palate: Soft and surprisingly delicate given the age. A charred note adds to the complexity. Gentle and elegant: cigar box, prune, molasses, soot. Finish: Long. In fact it’s very, very long and complex. Comment: A subtle sipper to be taken neat and definitely without ice! 90 points David Broom - whiskymag.com
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2024 Paralian Marmont Vineyard Blewitt Springs GrenacheMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $44.99$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinRich, juicy and muscular this is classic Blewitt Springs Grenache delivered with great authority.
From 65+ year old Blewitt Springs vines with 20% whole bunch fermentation and maturation in old French oak for a period of 10 months. Dark red heart with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Enchanting aromas of red to dark raspberry, red liquorice and dark cherry are delivered with impressive intensity trailed by some crushed rock, vanillin spice and peppered herb notes. Rich, juicy and energetic, dark raspberry, red liquorice and red to dark cherry fruits burst across the palate with explosive force. A bed of crushed rock, dried herbs and peppered earth lie underneath. A muscular yet integrated tannin structure together with mouth watering acidity provide wonderful tension. Magnificent depth and concentration of fruit finishing long, expansive and super succulent yet resoundingly fresh.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
Pale in the glass and engagingly savoury, feeling a little less up-front fruitful than the '23 at the same stage, but certainly no less for it. More, perhaps. This is savoury, with pressed flowers, dried cranberry, damson and macerated cherries, warm stone, whole spices – fennel seed, clove, cardamom – and a little blood orange note, speaking to flavour and zesty, sour-fruited tension. The tannins, chalky, pithy, sandy and purposeful is a real feature, as is the fine seam of acid. It’s a wine built with a light, thoughtful touch, confident, layered and very engaging. Drink by 2036.
96 Points
Marcus Ellis - James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThe best grenache wines wear their structure, and their delicacy, on their sleeve. This release from outstanding McLaren Vale producer Paralian does both those things. Indeed if you want to know why there’s so much excitement around McLaren Vale grenache these days, buy and drink this wine. It offers ample raspberried, boysenberried, strawberried fruit, throws floral and sweet spice characters into the fray, and then draws all these elements long through the finish via exquisite, earthen, assertive chains of tannin. The words ‘it’s a pearler’ might have been uttered.
95 Points
CampbellMattinson.comRaspberry, almond and peanut packed milk chocolate, spice and perfume, a subtle nori character too with Japanese ginger tucked in. It’s medium-bodied, red cherry and raspberry, again the almond meal richness, a bright cranberry freshness to acidity, quite some fine sandstone grip to tannin gives it substance and texture, spiced blood orange rolls on a crisp finish of excellent length. A super Grenache, though it’s quite firm and structured, so give it another year or two, I’d say. Drink 2026-2033+
95 Points
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2025 Paul Osicka Heathcote GrenacheHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinIntensely flavoured, energetic and bursting with succulence, this is a sublime example of Heathcote Grenache.
Established in 1955 by former Czech vigneron Paul Osicka, this is Heathcote’s oldest producer, 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the vineyard's planting. The 2025 vintage is considered outstanding for Heathcote ranked alongside other great years such as 2010, 2015 & 2022 all characterised by consistently warm weather without hot days.
Dark red core with black tinged edges and a red to dark red hue. Fragrant red to dark raspberry, liquorice and ripe cherry scents flow out of the glass with splendid intensity. Fresh herb, delicate scorched earth and pepper notes ensue. Rich, intensely flavoured and super juicy yet relatively light on its feet, the mid weighted palate is swamped with dark raspberry, red liquorice and cherry fruits. Vanillin spice, subtle earth and pepper elements lurk underneath. Boasting magnificent power, it has polished yet structured tannins which impart a subtle muscularity to the mouth feel. Wonderfully fresh and bursting with succulence, it finishes with impressive length and energy.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%
Other Reviews......
Timing is everything, and grenache has timed its run in Heathcote to perfection, bringing a vivacious, lively addition to the region's red wine stable. Bright, super fresh in acidity, with lithe tannins and an underlying current that runs deep in fruit flavour. Juicy red cherries, plum and blue fruits with dried herbs, red licorice, gentle spices and earth. Delivers an impressive grenache experience. Drink by 2033.
94 points
Jeni Port - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
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2018 Pewsey Vale Museum Reserve The Contours RieslingEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA beautifully aged Riesling that combines vivid fruit with emerging tertiary characters.
The Contours Riesling is crafted from old vines grown on the coolest slope within the Pewsey Vale Contours vineyard. Bottle aged for six years before release delivers a Riesling that’s rich and complex.
Brilliant very pale straw core with a distinct shimmer of green around the edges and a watery hue. Intense aromas of lime and green apple are intertwined with oily toast and wet steel notes. Hints of lemon butter and bees wax are also evident. Vivid lime, lemon and green apple fruits infused with oily toast like characters are layered across the palate with terrific concentration, drive and textural volume. Lying underneath are traces of bees wax, lemon butter and a steely minerality. Crisp acidity is delivered with pinpoint accuracy. The long, dry finish carrying a gentle waxy feel.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews……
Another museum release riesling from the excellent Contours block of the Pewsey Vale vineyard, way up around 500m in the High Eden. A gentle mid-straw in the glass with aromas beginning to take on the complexity that we love from aged riesling. Bickford's lime cordial, citrus blossom and Christmas lily are joined by buttered brioche, washed rind cheese, pressed wildflowers, almond paste, petrichor and stone. Porcelain acidity provides clarity and cadence, and it is clear that this wine is in a great place, possibly heading to a greater one. Drink by 2040.
95 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion
Ah, the wonders of Eden Valley Riesling as it just starts to enter its secondary phase. This one is beginning to show some toasty character, which you might expect with a wine that is seven years old. But it is hardly going to flip in the short term and it retains a youthful, vibrant edge highlighted by that strong mineral and lemony character that you might expect with a little bit of Eden Valley bath salts and dry talciness. Already a high degree of richness, but it’s held tight with control. Outstanding. Drink 2025-2035.
96 points
Ray Jordan - WinePilot.com
Walk into a bath house and you’ll be met with trickling water, essential oils and the feeling of calm, this too has the same effect. Lemon myrtle, lemongrass, bath salts and rainforest greens. Just like the cool sloping site. The Contours is a supreme wine from a rugged site, this brings together the poignancy of aged Riesling into a holistic white wine experience. Grilled chestnuts preserved citrus and slinky lines of thirst quenching acidity. It’s complex, textural and hella moreish. What a pleasure to sip and contemplate, and a total steal at that price. Drink now or allow it to gain even more detail with another 6-8 years in the cellar. Drink 2025-2033.
96 points
Shanteh Wale - WinePilot.com -
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2025 Pewsey Vale Estate Single Vineyard Riesling - Last StocksEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 11.5%Closure: StelvinIn 1839, shortly after his arrival from England, Joseph Gilbert started building a fine homestead in Eden Valley and planted the region’s first grapevines in 1847. Like so many vineyards in the 1920s and 30s, Pewsey Vale fell into disuse but, thankfully, its potential was rediscovered.
In 1961, pastoralist Geoffrey Angas Parsons became aware his property had once incorporated the region’s earliest vineyard and shared his discovery with good friend, and vigneron Wyndham Hill-Smith. Hill-Smith needed no further persuasion – work soon began on re-establishing Pewsey Vale Vineyard. Initially, 56 hectares of Riesling were planted in contoured rows. The several remaining hectares of these vines continue to provide fruit for The Contours Riesling. All plantings at Pewsey Vale Vineyard are propagated from the original 1847 vines.Classic Pewsey Vale Riesling at the top of it’s game.
Brilliant very pale straw almost water like colour with green tinted edges. Intense lime, citrus and orange rind aromas jump out of the glass trailed by distinct chalky talc, green apple and mineral notes. Scrumptious lime and citrus fruits fill the mouth carrying with them plenty of textural volume. Crunchy acidity with orange rind, green apple, chalky talc and subtle steely mineral elements lining the back half. The finish, long and racy.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 11.5%Other Reviews….
What a beautiful example of Eden Valley Riesling is this estate Pewsey Vale wine. The nose is intense lemon with a minerally bath salts character, while the palate has that lemon rind edginess, balancing the deeply intense, linear and focused fruit that emerges from this high-altitude block. It retains a degree of tension with a slightly talcy character, and the finish is long and fine. Excellent wine. Drink 2025-2037.
95 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com
Riesling sourced from a single vineyard way up around 490m elevation in Pewsey Vale. Classic Eden Valley characters from woe to go. Fresh limes, Christmas lily, citrus blossom, crushed stone, lemongrass, Bickford's lime cordial and ozone. Dry, precise and thirst-slakingly good drinking. Super stuff; we all need a bottle of this close at hand when the weather warms up. Drink by 2040.
94 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion
The 2025 Single Vineyard Estate Riesling is precise, esthery and aromatic, with notes of crushed shells, white flowers, pressed linen, white pear and green apple. In the mouth, the wine is persistent and smooth, with saline acidity that is woven throughout every aspect of the palate. This is a gorgeous wine, as ever. 11.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2045.
94 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
This wine marks another debut appearance in our Best In Show selection – for Eden Valley Riesling, though we've featured Eden Valley Shiraz/Syrah here in the past. It's a young wine and light on its feet (just 11.5%). Riesling here manages, remarkably enough, to deliver full-season fruit complexities at this strength since phenolic ripeness continues, in the High Eden's skeletal soils, even after sugar ripeness has slowed, including in very warm vintages like that of 2025. It's an enticingly aromatic wine with a tumble of blossom blowing about an aromatic core of zesty lemon, lime, fresh dessert apple and early season nectarine. On the palate, the wine is bright and tangy with racy apple and rhubarb acidity; it has ample mid-palate wealth and poised texture, then the blossoms come blowing back to lift its brisk, mouth-freshening finish. Its Eden Valley pedigree suggests that this beautifully vinified wine will age well, too.
97 points
Decanter World Wine Awards -
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2025 Pierro L.T.C.Margaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2026-2029)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinConcentrated, textural and mouth wateringly fresh with a long scrumptious finish.
In 1979 Mike Peterkin produced Australia’s first Semillon Sauvignon Blanc. Working at Cullen’s at the time, the wine went on to win a trophy at the Perth Royal Show. He never claimed any originality for the idea, he simply borrowed it from the French. In 1980 he was so convinced of the blend’s potential in Margaret River he devoted a third of the Pierro plantings to the varieties.
The 2025 L.T.C. is made up of 45% Semillon, 32% Sauvignon Blanc and 23% Chardonnay. A portion of the blend was fermented and matured in new and one & two year-old French oak barrels for a period of 2-3 months with the balance fermented and matured in stainless steel.
Brilliant water like core with green highlighted edges. Passionfruit, lime and green apple scents jump out of the glass trailed by some subtle herbaceous grassy notes, guava and mineral flint. Mouth watering passionfruit, guava, lime and green apple flavours are delivered with fantastic concentration and show impressive textural volume. Subtle herbaceous grassy elements and zingy minerals line the back half. Displaying outstanding drive, it has crisp acidity and a long scrumptious finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
The 2025 L.T.C. comprises a combination of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Chardonnay. The wine is typically crunchy and fresh on release but also ages exceptionally well, and I have had the benefit of some extensive verticals over the past 15 years. Aromatically, the wine leads with notes of white spring flowers, wax, nashi pear and green apple. In the mouth, the wine is typically textural and fresh, with layers of shaved fennel and saline acidity. Ripe nashi pear also appears on the palate. This release is perhaps a little softer than the previous to my memory and is all the better for it. I love it. Actually, I think it's the best release of LTC I've ever tasted. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2026-2040.
96 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateSemillon(45%), Sauvignon Blanc (32%), Chardonnay(23%). As far as I know, Pierro is probably the only producer who adds Chardonnay to the classic SSB blend. And it works.
This is a great release. It’s juicy but stays tight and balanced. Lime, green apple, melon, bright acidity, a very subtle herbal/grassy flavour, fine chalky grip, a dollop of vanilla yoghourt, with a limey finish of excellent length. Very nice. Drink 2026-2032+.
94 points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front -
- 98
2024 Pierro ChardonnayMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$110. 00Bottle$1320.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2025-2035)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA benchmark Australian Chardonnay that balances power and richness with exceptional finesse and impeccable structure.
Owner and manager of Pierro Estate, Dr Mike Peterkin, has a viticultural pedigree second to none. Besides making one of Margaret River's and Australia’s best Chardonnays, Mike also produced the first Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blend in Australia.
Fermented in French barriques, the wine goes through a full malolactic fermentation which helps achieve superior texture, mouth feel and a more refined, persistent flavour. Lees are stirred fortnightly by hand in barrel over a period of 12 months.
Brilliant pale straw colour with green highlighted edges and a watery hue. Both complex and captivating, the nose features an elevated aromatic profile of white peach, nectarine and citrus infused with gun flint married to biscuity oak, faint nougat, delicate dried honey and spice. Rich and incredibly powerful yet possessing wonderful finesse, the medium weighted palate is layered with mouth filling white peach, pear and nectarine fruits. Infusions of gun flint, citrusy nougat, subtle dried honey, mealy roasted almond like characters, traces of crème brulee and spice lend further sophistication to what is a kaleidoscopic flavour experience. Generous creamy like textural feel counterpointed by a delightful underlying freshness. Finishes exceptionally long with a Burgundian like refinement.
Magnificent drinking over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
From one of Margaret River’s great chardonnay producers, this is yet another brilliant example of the style that has made Pierro so admired. You wouldn’t guess it came from a warm year—it’s delicate and fine, with a pristine brightness. The nose shows light grapefruit, citrus, a touch of butterscotch, and a subtle mealy note in the background. The palate has real zing, with lively, pristine acidity driving through to a sustained finish. A chalky, minerally edge adds to the linear feel and precision. Another outstanding Pierro chardonnay.
98 points
RayJordanWine.com.au -
- 92
- Australian Exclusive
Pinhook 5 Year Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) - Whiskey Hunt Australia SelectionKentucky, UNITED STATES$169. 99Bottle$2039.88 DozenABV: 57.5%"Pinhook" is an old term for buying young horses and seeing them through to racing maturity. The whiskey project bearing the same name was founded in 2011, originally sourcing liquid from MGP in Indiana to mature in Kentucky. Pinhook has since moved onto distilling their own whiskeys at the once abandoned and now restored Old Taylor Distillery. To find this cask, Whiskey Hunt Australia visited one of the longest rickhouses in the country (163m, holding up to 35,000 barrels). It's a 5-year-old, described as a "bright style, without the heavy-handed oak or sweetness you sometimes see at this age". It's also the first ever Pinhook Australian exclusive. Not quite your 'classic' Kentucky profile (which would be heavier on vanilla and caramel), rather, the palate falls on the drier side, the initial pass offering muted notes of dry orange zest, light peachy fruitiness and a little cherry chocolate. Delicate oils go some way to amplifying the mouthfeel, with subtle restraining tannins and a kick of wood spice sealing the elegant finish. The length and balance improve after extended air contact. Tasted blind, without water, you might mistake it for a young, burgeoning, bourbon-casked single malt. 210 bottles from barrel #3174 have been imported at a natural strength of 57.5% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the importers... Nose: Orange zest, leather, oak, cloves. Palate: Fresh oak, jaffa cake, cooked cloves on the front, fresh cloves on the back. Finish: Long, coating, and dangerously easy to go back to. Summary: Incredibly well balanced with surprisingly little heat for the ABV. This is cask strength bourbon you can actually sit on.
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Plantation Isle of Fiji Rum (700ml)FIJIReduced from $99.99$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 40%From the pristine lagoons to the lush jungles, Plantation Isle of Fiji is an ode to the beauty of the Fiji Islands. Molasses-based and made using both pot and column stills at the Fiji Distillery, including local Fijian sugar cane, the liquid was first aged in the tropical climate in bourbon casks for three years, then sailed to the southwest of France for twelve months finishing in French oak. This double ageing method paired with Fijian know-how creates a rum with warm notes of exotic fruits and raisins. 40% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the producers... Color : Gold. Nose : Intense, it starts on molasses, pear and varnish. It then becomes fruitier and spicier on apple, banana and gooseberry, also nutmeg and vanilla with a hint of smoke. Palate : Rich and round, it follows the nose with vanilla fudge, honey, ginger and fruity notes of prune and coconut. Finish : Very long on dried banana, bourbon and allspice. Empty glass : Molasses, oak and allspice.
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Plantation 3 Stars White Rum (700ml)Caribbean,Reduced from $89.99$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenABV: 41.2%"Smooth but with a kick, this is a premium white rum with lots of cocktail versatility." - drinkhacker.com
A combination of rums from Barbados, Trinidad, and Jamaica - hence the name '3 stars'. Some of the rums are unaged, others aged 3 and 12 years, blended and filtered back to clear before being bottled by the French Cognac house, Pierre Ferrand. Light to moderate aromatics yield notes of unripe banana, green olive and peppercorn, becoming more subdued and waxy with aeration. Starts off light and easy in the mouth but crescendos enough by mid palate to gain a point in concentration. Almost a fine grappa-like profile with subtle fruity / unripe banana flavours leading into a mildly creamy, waxy, grassy finish. Concludes pleasantly spicy, crisp and precise. Not the driest on the market but one of the best. 41.2% Alc./Vol.
Alexandre Gabriel, proprietor of Cognac Ferrand, comments, “…Our desire was to develop a rum that shows character, elegance, complexity and a great finish – the ideal rum for cocktails … beginning with a 3-year aged Trinidad rum, carbon filtered to maintain its white colour and to remove the heavier tannins while preserving the aromatics developed and refined by aging. Un-aged rums from Barbados and Jamaica are blended, along with a 12 year old rum from Jamaica. The Jamaican rum is an expensive ingredient but key to the taste of the overall blend. Trinidad brings elegance and refinement, Barbados brings character and aromatics with fruit notes without being too heavy and Jamaican brings the funk, the touch that makes it a complete product.”
Other reviews... Look for sweet, candied citrus-peel aromas and flavors, enlivened with white pepper and fresh ginger. 94 points - wineenthusiast.com
...This rum is extremely sugar-forward, a monstrously sweet rum that leaves delicacy behind. Big tropical notes — mango and especially banana — hit you after the raw sugar cane fades, and that old Jamaican rum, pot-distilled for sure, brings a touch of hoary funk to the finish. Some citrus notes laced throughout. Smooth but with a kick, this is a premium white rum with lots of cocktail versatility. - drinkhacker.com
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- 93
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Planteray (formerly Plantation) Original Dark Double Aged Rum (700ml)Caribbean,Reduced from $74.99$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenABV: 40%The Pierre Ferrand Company has had relationships with a number of the Caribbean’s top rum producers for many years via the supply of x-Cognac casks. Presented with the opportunity to taste the fruits of his trade, Ferrand’s owner/director, Alexandre Gabriel, visited the Caribbean and was blown away. The experience ignited a love affair with rum, and followed with the launch of the Plantation brand around 2005. One of its key points of difference is Ferrand’s finishing process. When maturation in the Caribbean is deemed complete, the rums are transported at natural strength to the historic Ferrand estate in France and then ‘finished’ for several months in small French Cognac barrels. This process was used extensively in the 18th and 19th centuries but has almost disappeared, with ninety-nine percent of rums now aged in barrels that previously held Bourbon. “It is a very difficult thing to get right, but when done well, it's paradise”; Gabriel concludes, "In the Caribbean, Plantation Rums are rare treasures. At Ferrand they become jewels.”
The brand's entry-level dark offering is predominately Barbados rum blended with a smaller amount of older Jamaican rum (aged 10 to 15 years).
Other reviews... The subdued aroma is woody, with just a hint of vanilla. But the palate tells a more complex story, opening with oak and vanilla before rounding to dark fruit, a fleeting hint of pineapple and dusty cocoa powder. Cinnamon and cayenne sparks emerge on the long, warming finish. 93 points - wineenthusiast.com
Plantation’s standby bottlings, a blend of dark rums with no age statement, finished in Bourbon casks. Very strong on the nose with coffee and raisin notes the most powerful elements, along with a hefty slug of hogo. On the palate, it’s more easygoing, but offers mushroom, more coffee grounds, and a slightly sweaty finish. A winner if you like your rum musky and a little funky. - drinkhacker.com
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Planteray (formerly Plantation) O.F.T.D. Overproof Rum (700ml)Caribbean,Reduced from $139.99$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 69%Mix with abandon, but OFTD stands up as a drink in its own right.
A blend of rums from Barbados, Guyana and Jamaica in the overproof dark style, replacing Plantation’s 'Original Dark Overproof' which was a Trinidad exclusive. "O.F.T.D." stands for "Old Fashioned Traditional Dark". In its conception, Alexandre Gabriel, Master Blender for Plantation Rum, brought together six rum luminaries - Jeff "Beachbum" Berry from Latitude 29, Martin Cate from Smuggler's Cove, Paul McFadyen from Trailer Happiness, Paul McGee from Lost Lake, Scotty Schuder from Dirty Dick, and Dave Wondrich, cocktail historian extraordinaire. After many tasting and blending sessions they formulated a rum ideally suited for use in top-shelf Tiki and tropical cocktails.
Distinguished by its deep topaz colour and super aromatics, this powerhouse is clearly made for boozy tropical libations and bar circuits. Banana fritter, dried mango, dates and molasses are up front with air contact adding pipe tobacco, balsa wood and dark chocolate. The intensely caney / grassy entry cranks up with flavours of raw sugar, liquorice strap, fruit mince pie and all-spice, capping off a surprisingly well balanced overproof expression with profound depth and staying power. Mix with abandon, but OFTD stands up as a drink in its own right. 69% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The color is a nice toffee-coffee brown, which seems like it should be nice and easygoing, not an overproof bruiser. The nose quickly proves you wrong, offering a mix of Madeira, burnt sugar, black coffee, coal fire, and a mix of Caribbean spices… cloves, anise, and salty licorice. Very hot with alcohol (as it should be), this heat spills over into the palate, which offers a heavily charred barrel influence to dry out the rich molasses underpinning it. The secondary character includes some lingering orange peel, more of those heavy cloves, ginger, some petrol. It’s slightly nutty at times, and even a little floral if you can push past some rather intense and tarry licorice notes. If nothing else, at least the heavy amount of alcohol makes for a finish that gently burns away anything lingering on the palate, leaving behind some light but not unpleasant notes of tar and coffee grounds. It is tough to make a great overproof rum, but our friends at Plantation have done quite a good job of it. Let us honor their hard work of delving through hundreds of samples and historic reference points by taking a hearty pull from the OFTD flagon, no? - drinkhacker.com
...Some of the world’s best rums are being made by a man who cut his teeth on Cognac, Alexandre Gabriel, owner of Maison Ferrand. Not long after reviving that brandy house, Gabriel turned his attention to rum, creating Plantation and endowing it with a Cognac distiller’s sense of balance, elegance and variety. OFTD (Old-Fashioned Traditional Dark), created with input from rum specialists including cocktail historian David Wondrich and tiki expert Martin Cate, is a blockbuster. Earlier Plantation dark rums had relied exclusively on Trinidadian stocks, but OFTD instead blends Jamaican rum’s oily funk with Guyana’s focused intensity and Barbados’s lithe grace—all in a powerhouse package at 138 proof. This is a mixing rum that will stand up to even the stoutest of punches. - wineandspiritsmagazine.com
Summing up, the Plantation Old Fashioned Traditional Dark is a deserved yet unusual — perhaps even controversial — entry to the Key Rums series. It is a multi-country blend, not something that showcases a certain country. Yes, it was deliberately created to do only one thing, and therefore its value as an all-round consumer drink is somewhat circumscribed; yes it’s really strong, and sure…in that segment it stays and plays. Yet as I have suggested here, it has qualities over and above all that. It supercedes the modest aims of its creators, to the point where it actually can stand by itself. It remains, nearly a decade after its introduction, one of the most reviewed, commented on and widespread rums around and if its shine is less now than it was when first introduced and now that it has stiffer competition, there is no reason to doubt either its many uses or availability. It remains, for all its parent company’s woes, an incredibly popular and in-use bar staple and drinking adjunct to this day. It demonstrates, if nothing else, how well the Caribbean distillates work with each other in a way that is not often seen. And that’s no mean accomplishment for any rum – especially one made by this outfit – to claim. One can only ask why more of the company’s rums don’t adhere to its philosophy. - thelonecaner.com
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- 93
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Planteray (formerly Plantation) 20th Anniversary XO Rum (700ml)BARBADOSReduced from $149.99$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%A rich and luxuriously textured dessert-style rum.
Made from pot and column-distilled rums re-casked and aged for a second time in small French Cognac barrels for 12 to 18 months. The restrained nose nevertheless entices with vanilla slice, creme caramel, dried coconut and choc-fudge notes - the prelude to a dessert lover’s dream. The theme continues on the palate: rich and luxuriously textured flavours of praline, creme caramel, barley sugar and coconut melt in the mouth followed by confectionary and dried coconut. For all of its sweetness - and this is very sweet and coconutty - it (just) manages to maintain sufficient vibrancy. Bottled in honor of the distillery’s 20th anniversary. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Rich copper color. Bold aromas of coconut creme pie and creme brulee follow through on a rich entry to a fruity medium-full body with layers of dried tropical fruits and sweet baking spices. Finishes with a spicy praline, cherry, and toasted coconut fade with spicy cedar and leather underneath. A mildly sweet, very flavorful and appealing aged rum for sipping or fruity cocktails, especially piña coladas. 94 points - tastings.com
...This rum is just one shade of brown darker than the Original Dark, but it’s much more fully developed. The nose offers intense chocolate and coffee notes, with kind of a brown sugar sweetness on top. The body is glorious, a big rum full of dessert notes that run from chocolate pudding to marshmallow cream. Butterscotch and gingerbread notes come along in the finish, all begging in unison for this rum to be served alongside a nice slice of cake. Something with chocolate, methinks. - drinkhacker.com
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Pokeno Single Cask Virgin Cask Finish Single Malt New Zealand Whisky (700ml)NEW ZEALANDReduced from $179.99$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 46%After a full maturation in a first-fill bourbon barrel, Pokeno have re-racked this edition into a virgin oak cask, built to specification using 36 month air-dried American oak. A light toast and char has enhanced the distillery's classic citrus and vanilla notes, adding hints of shortbread, toasted caramel and cocoa. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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- 89
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Pokeno Discovery Single Malt New Zealand Whisky (700ml)NEW ZEALANDReduced from $109.99$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 43%Other reviews... A blend of whiskies fully matured in first-fill bourbon, oloroso sherry, and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, all mingled after aging (no age stated). The flipside of the bourbon-barreled expression, with the impact of sherry firmly evident. The blend of oloroso and PX — alongside the bourbon barrels — makes for some added complexity, albeit less clarity. The sherry isn’t as sharp on the nose or the palate as you might expect — particularly with PX in the mix — leading to both aromatics and flavors of Eastern spices, fresh leather, and a pecan note. The finish is surprisingly mild, acknowledging the sherry influence only modestly. Mostly, it’s the citrus that’s endemic to sherry aging that is more muted here than I expected, though that’s not altogether a bad thing. Still, I was expecting to see more power out of this bottling. I sipped on the Origin expression for quite a bit longer. 43% Alc./Vol. - drinkhacker.com
...The malt is young, the tannins are feisty, and the fruit is thick... 89 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2024
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Pokeno Origin Single Malt New Zealand Whisky (700ml)NEW ZEALANDReduced from $109.99$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 43%The New Zealand scene has gone from just one distillery that closed in 1997 (Willowbank in Dunedin) to over ten small-scale and craft distillers. One new venture, nestled amongst the volcanic mountains and misty valleys of the Waikato region is a family-owned and operated passion project aiming to distill in the style of the finest Speyside malts. And with decades of whisky industry experience, Matthew Johns, who has been associated with some of the biggest names in the world of single malts has Pokeno right on track. Founded in 2017, it is already the largest single malt distillery in the country, handling all aspects of production on-site, including maturation and bottling. It even has its own cooperage. According to some tasters, what's coming out of barrel now resembles Japanese whisky, showing more delicacy than most Scotch, and zero peat. Four whiskies make up the current range. 'Origin' comes aged in ex-bourbon casks, making for a pure, light, breezy, well-rounded whisky with hints of honey drizzled fruits (think dried pear or cantaloupe), followed by suggestions of honey, cream and coconut chocolate through the medium-long finish. 43% Alc./vol. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... A nose of cereal bars, honey, flatbread crackers, peppercorn, cinnamon, shelled almonds, and dried grasses. It’s rounded, with good weight and texture, delivering honey, vanilla, apricot, light citrus, fudge, peppercorn, cinnamon, and oak char, with an actively spicy finish. Well-made and a great introductory malt, but this flavor profile positions it in pretty crowded territory, up against numerous similar-tasting bourbon cask-matured single malts. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...most impressive is the cleanliness of the malt; this has been beautifully and carefully made. 92.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2024
...Matured in first-fill bourbon barrels. No age statements. A refreshing single malt, it could easily pass for a bourbon barrel-aged Scotch. Light, buttery grains and a pinch of citrus are evident on the fresh nose, and the same follow through on the palate. Almost coming across like a shortbread cookie, the creamy whisky showcases a slightly nutty character that evokes nougat, almond butter, coconut, and again some lemon extract, filtering into the finish. Bright as sunshine, it’s a perfect (if uncomplicated) aperitif. - drinkhacker.com
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2018 Pol Roger Vintage ChampagneChampagne, FRANCEReduced from $175.00$160. 00Bottle$1920.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2026-2036)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkRich and powerful yet wonderfully finessed with a weightless, airy like feel.
Pol Roger’s 2018 vintage Champagne is made from the traditional house vintage blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay sourced from 20 Grands and Premiers crus vineyards in the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs regions.
An exuberant mousse slowly subsides into a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold tinged edges and a fine persistent bead coursing through it. Classic Pol Roger nose with exquisite aromas of baked bread, yeast lees and citrus intertwined with delicate roasted almond, nougat and subtle oyster shell like notes. Rich and powerful yet showing wonderful finesse, the refreshing palate is graced with baked bread, citrus, yeast lees and pear flavours. Subtle cashew, nougat and ginger elements lurk underneath. Satiny in it’s flow and possessing a weightless, airy like feel, it finishes crisp, long and enveloping.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
I like the berry fruit aromas mingling with bread crust, grapefruit and lemon pastries. It's lively on the palate, with excellent structure and a bright wild-berry character. Clean and nicely focused. 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. Disgorged 2024. Drink or hold.
94 Points
JamesSuckling.comMade from 60% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay and pouring a vibrant silver/yellow color, the 2018 Champagne Brut Vintage (like all these wines) was aged in stainless steel without any oak. In the glass, it opens to springy and dewy floral aromas of honeydew melon, fresh flowers, citrus blossoms, and pastry dough. Medium-bodied and inviting, it’s approachable now and takes on a more mineral character on the palate without ever feeling austere. All its components move seamlessly through the palate, with a refined mousse and a kiss of sunny feel on the finish nodding to the warmth of the vintage, but it’s clean and refined all the way through. This is going to improve with age, but it’s quite enjoyable now. Drink over the coming 15 or so years. It was made exclusively from Premier Cru and Grand Cru villages, was aged for 6 years on the lees, and saw 7-8 grams per liter dosage. Drink 2024-2040.
94 Points
Audrey Frick – JebDunnuck.com -
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- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2021 Poonawatta The Cuttings ShirazEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$54. 99Bottle$659.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, plush and full with velvety tannins and a long, opulent conclusion.
Midnight black core with a dark red hue. Dark plum, liquorice and blackberry scents drift through the olfactory senses followed by some fennel, subtlety smoked vanillin cedar and peppered earth notes. Rich, concentrated and plush, the full bodied palate is flooded with liquorice, blackberry and dark plum fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, earthy fennel and pepper elements unfurl across the back half. Velvet smooth tannins concluding long and opulent.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews....
2021 was a stellar vintage in the Eden Valley and there is plenty to like here. Ripe black plum and blackberry fruits, deeply etched with dark spices, sage, bay leaf, licorice, dark chocolate, pan juices and oaken spice. Quite structured with plenty of tannin chew and gristle; acidity sleek and driving and a lingering exit studded with spiced black fruits. Drink by 2038.
93 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
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Powers John's Lane Release 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (700ml)County Cork, IRELANDReduced from $139.99$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 46%96 points from Jim Murray and unanimous acclaim as one of the very best Irish Whiskey releases in recent years.
Just over five years ago there were only four distilleries in Ireland with mature whiskey stocks, and four new distilleries in operation whose stocks are not yet fully matured. Meanwhile, the popularity of Irish whiskey is growing at an unprecedented rate. Ireland's Minister for Agriculture and Food, Simon Coveney, said "Irish whiskey brands now represent the fastest growing spirit globally, with investment of €1 billion planned over a 10-year period". In fact, there are around twenty distilleries either being planned or being built in Ireland to cater for the expected 300% growth by 2030. The mammoth demand has inevitably led some to conclude that a supply shortage is imminent. Will Ireland follow the same path as Japan and Scotland, repositioning its prestige labels as reduced age / NAS (no age statement) releases? Are Irish classics destined to be compromised by a disproportionate inclusion of younger material? Time will tell...
This single pot still incarnation of Powers is named for the now-defunct old Powers distillery. Using a pot still distillate which is true to the original style of John's Lane, the whiskey has been matured for not less than 12 years, mainly in first fill American bourbon casks, with a small contribution from whiskies matured in Oloroso sherry butts.
Tasting note: The brilliant, brassy gold colour is visual pleasure. Typically robust, Irish pot still bouquet is oily and rich; gorgeously lifted, sweet, floral-soft scents develop followed by apple / pear fruitiness and vanilla wafer. Sublime. Svelte-smooth entry builds into a superb, fruity, semi-sweet palate: Ripe pear, vanilla wafer and gently pulsing spices are delivered with dazzling purity and balance. The finish is clean, juicy and fresh, like biting into perfectly ripened nashi pear. The aftertaste buzzes with staying power, trailing off with dried coconut, cocoa and vanilla. Just so pure and poised. A must-try Irish whiskey experience. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Wow! Could this be the greatest comeback since Rocky climbed back in the ring and showed the young upstarts who was the boss? It’s taken Irish Distillers a long time to respond to the pounding it’s taken from Cooley but it’s back in the ring with two wonderful pot still whiskeys. This is the better of the two, a whopping oily, woody package of classic pot still Irishness. The green fruits tumble over tannin and spice like frisky puppies. Editor's Choice. 94 points - maltadvocate.com (Vol. 20, #3) Reviewed by: Dominic Roskrow.
"...Remains the go to Pot Still of quite staggering beauty." 96 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2022
"...Unmistakable. Unique. Utopian...Certainly one of the top five world whiskies of the year." 96.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2013
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2022 Pressing Matters Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIA$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2024-2032)ABV: 12.8%Closure: StelvinSemi translucent ruby red colour with a bright crimson red hue. Perfumed scents of violets, red to dark cherries and strawberries escape from the glass followed by hints of anise, forest floor, fresh herbs and spicy cedar notes. Rich, intensely flavoured and possessing an expansive peacocks tail and power wave, the highly moreish palate is supplely decorated with red to dark cherry, strawberry and anise flavours. Infusions of fresh herbs, rhubarb, forest floor and spicy cedar like characters lie underneath. Possessing ample freshness and polished tannins it finishes exceptionally long and uber delicious.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 12.8%Other Reviews…..
Coal River Valley pinot noir made by Samantha Connew. A very pretty bright ruby in the glass with aromas of amaro and blossom-flecked red cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry fruits underscored with hints of spice, Peking duck, leaf litter, dried citrus rind, struck flint and earth. It smells gorgeous, and the palate follows up with smallgoods and undergrowth and mountain herb tones, finishing long with detail, sapid acidity and powdery tannins – it's a wonderful release. If you're ever down Tassie way, make sure you check out the new Pressing Matters cellar door too. It's a beauty. Drink by 2038.
96 points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
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- Organic
2021 Principe Corsini Cortevecchia Chianti Classico RiservaTuscany, ITALY$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinFinessed and polished with a rich chorus of red fruits flowing through to a long, sweeping finish.
The family behind Villa Le Corti, the Corsini Family, has an amazing history as winemakers that dates back to the 13th century making it one of the oldest Estates in Tuscany. Current custodian of the Corsini Empire is 22nd generation Duccio Corsini.
Deep dark red core with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Delightful aromatics of red currant and red cherry infused with rose petals show wonderful intensity out of the glass complimented by some red liquorice, Mediterranean herb, spicy cedar and earth notes. A rich chorus of ripe red currant, red liquorice and red cherry fruits unravel across the mid weighted palate. Finessed and polished it has seamlessly integrated, fine grained tannins and a beautiful underlying freshness. Terrific length with infusions of fresh Mediterranean herbs, earth and spicy cedar extending through what is a long sweeping finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
Delicate notes of roses, leafy lightness, bright red cherries and some mineral depth. Velvety texture with a medium body and refreshing, integrated acidity. Tasty and slightly toasted in the juicy finish. Drink or hold.
94 Points
JamesSuckling.comThe Villa Le Corti Principe Corsini 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Cortevecchia (made with organic fruit) boasts a very direct and intense bouquet that remains beautifully balanced and elegant at the same time. Cherry, blueberry and cassis are presented in clear tones, as promised by this excellent vintage. There are lighter background notes of grilled rosemary and blue flower. This Riserva knocks it out of the park with fresh acidity and general brightness. Drink 2024-2036.
94+ Points
Monica Larner – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate -
- 94
- Nicks Import
2024 Puech-Haut Argali RosePays d'Oc, FRANCE$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Glass StopperPuech-Haut’s lighter coloured style of rosé is akin to what the French call "Vin Gris", usually enjoyed with Summer Mediterranean dishes like grilled fish, tian (a cold vegetable flan) and salads, but also as an aperitif with finger foods. Made as a "Rose de presse" (juice straight off the press), the grapes are pressed rather than macerated (as is the case in a "Rose de Saignee").
Chateau Puech Haut employ Grenache and Cinsault for this wine, which is fermented in thermo regulated stainless steel over twenty days to increase flavour intensity.Gorgeously textured and wonderfully intense with a long super moreish finish.
Very pale salmon pink tinged colour. Delighting the olfactory senses are fragrant aromas of peach, raspberry, strawberry and pomegranate which mix with whiffs of musk and wet stone. Gorgeously textured with a supple feel, and wonderfully intense, the palate is layered with peach, raspberry, strawberry and musk flavours. Stony back drop with flashes of pomegranate also making an appearance. Fresh acidity with a long slippery finish that makes a second glass impossible to resist. Blissful Summer drinking.
Drink over the next 1-2 years
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews…..
Silvery pink wine. Super-juicy, like a crush of blood orange, raspberries and early-season strawberries. Sharp and round at the same time. Tremendous energy. Lemongrass and basil-leaf sherbet, verbena-leaf freshness. Smooth as a pebble.
17/20
JancisRobinson.com -
- 95
- 93
- Organic
2022 Querciabella Chianti ClassicoTuscany, ITALY$54. 99Bottle$659.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkQuerciabella Chianti Classico has been the centrepiece of the estate’s winemaking operations since the onset. First produced in 1974, it consistently receives high levels of critical acclaim. Maturation took place in fine to extra fine grained oak barriques (225 Litre) and tonneaux (500 Litre), and partially in larger oak vessels for a period of 14 months, before the final blend is assembled. It’s then given a further 12 months bottle age before release.
Refined and energetic, this delicious Chianti strikes a beautiful balance between varietal purity, vibrancy and depth.
Deep dark red black core with a red to dark red hue. Attractive red currant and red cherry aromas are trailed by some red liquorice, earth, subtle tobacco and spicy dried herb notes. Mid weighted, the palate is layered with expressive red currant, red liquorice and red cherry fruits which meld into a dusty earth, dried herb, tobacco and spicy cedar back drop. Energetic acidity and fine grained tannins impart a slight chalky feel yet there’s an overwhelming refinement to the wine. Long, savoury, red fruited finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
Pouring a youthful jeweled ruby color, the 2022 Chianti Classico is entirely Sangiovese from Greve, Lamole, and Radda. (The producers have stopped using fruit from Gaiole in the blend, as they are concentrated on vines closer to home, including the higher elevation site in Lamole for freshness.) The nose is very pretty and fruity, with aromas of mixed berries, crushed flowers, and sweet earth. Medium to full-bodied, it’s elegant on the palate, with a fresh feel, fine tannins, and a refined texture. It is elegant all the way through and is going to offer a lot of pleasure over the next 10-12 years. Drink 2025-2037.
93 Points
Audrey Frick – JebDunnuck.com -
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- Nicks Import
- Reduced
Redbreast 12 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (700ml)County Cork, IRELANDReduced from $139.99$109. 99Bottle$1319.88 DozenABV: 40%This is the world's best whiskey! Drinkstrade.com.au have reported that Redbreast 12 Year Old has won the World Whiskey Trophy at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2019. The competition awarded Redbreast 12 an impressive 98 points, narrowly beating other competitors from Australia, South Africa, Denmark, India, Taiwan and Switzerland, among many others.
The judges said: “It starts with a gorgeous nose, a fantastic composition of aromas all complementing each other. Think of roasted coffee, toffee apples, malt and warm Christmas spices. The palate is bold but very elegant with a nice balance and all in order to a great finale with dried fruits, candied oranges and sweet spices.”
For decades, serious whiskey drinkers drank Irish "blended" whiskey, mixing it with cola or adding a dash to coffee. But, John Hansell, editor and publisher of Malt Advocate magazine, says that's changing. "The line between Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky has become blurred," says Hansell, since Irish whiskey companies like Bushmills and Jameson have expanded their range to include deluxe whiskies from aged blends to pure pot stills and their own brand of single malts. "The top Irish whiskeys are just as good as many single-malt scotches. It's too bad more people aren't aware of how complex some of these whiskeys have become."
Here's a case in point. From Irish Distillers Ltd, Redbreast is a 'Single' unblended, pure pot still Irish whiskey made with malted and unmalted barley which has been triple distilled. Our tasting found powerful, sensuous aromatics, at first reminiscent of creaming soda then vanilla wafer and sweet cereals enter giving this a Bourbon slant. The entry is soft and light. Mid palate turns deliciously creamy with semi-sweet, toasty cereals and brandy cream sauce flavours superbly counterpointed by spicy, drying oak. Finishes crisp and dry with terrific length as the vanilla wafer biscuit again emerges followed by a late creme-caramel fade. An Irish with soul and distinctive style, this also offers a mouthfeel that’s uncommon. Its lightness of body combined with depth of flavour make for a terrific aperitif. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews...Very elegant, complex, and stylish. Honeyed and silky in texture, with toffee, toasted marshmallow, nougat, maple syrup, banana bread, and a hint of toasted coconut. Bright fruit and golden raisin blend in nicely with the layers of sweetness. Impeccable balance and very approachable. Classic Irish whiskey! (Value Pick) 96 points
- maltadvocate.com, (Vol. 19, #4) Reviewed by: John Hansell... Probably the softest Redbreast delivery of all time... a Cadbury's chocolate and fruit and nut finale with grain being surprisingly reticent; lots of toffee and vanilla late on. One of the most docile and pacific Redbreasts I've encountered in the last 30-odd years. Lovely, though.
93 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021 -
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- 91
- Packaging may vary
- Nicks Import
- Reduced
Redbreast Lustau Edition Sherry Finish Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (700ml)County Cork, IRELANDReduced from $169.99$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 46%"A complex pot still of dazzlingly varied texture and intensity - Faultless sherry casks at work." 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021
Initially matured in traditional bourbon and sherry casks for a period of 9-12 years, this unusual Irish was finished for an additional year in first fill, hand selected sherry butts seasoned with Oloroso sherry sourced from the prestigious Bodegas Lustau in Jerez. On the nose, the pot still character gets an added injection of sherried richness: Fruit cake, toasted marshmallow and muted cinnamon follow through on the palate with dense dried fruits augmenting the barley. Excellent balance; plump, but never overly sweet, the distillery character shining through on the finish. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews…A complex pot still of dazzlingly varied texture and intensity - plenty of Demerara sugars and chocolate raisin too.... The barley, though, is always on hand. Faultless sherry casks at work. 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021
...This robust newcomer is a collaboration between the master blender at Midleton Distillery and winemakers at Bodegas Lustau; the whiskey spends time in former oloroso Sherry barrels. Big, spicy flavors sweep over the palate in waves: vanilla, waxy honey, apple butter, dried apricot and dried fig, drying to chamomile tea and oak midpalate, and winding into a rich honey finish. 46% Alc./Vol. 91 points - wineenthusiast.com
The 120 year old sherry house Lustau originally operated as an almacenista, but now produces a broad portfolio of wine styles in Jerez. The nose is intensely fragrant, bursting with fat dates and squidgy prunes, red apple and Battenburg cake. It’s fruity, yet bone dry, with oak, walnut, and spices. This is full-bodied yet refined Redbreast: the Spanish oak sherry butts shaping the red berry fruits, apples, marzipan, and creamy yet oily consistency. Clean, sweet oloroso finish. Qué delicioso! 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2016)
...Medium golden amber color. Floral, fruity aromas and flavors of geranium, roasted almond, fresh melon and ripe red apple, and semisweet baking chocolate with a slightly chewy, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a hot, delightful, medium-long rice pudding with cinnamon and amontillado sherry, banana leaf and coriander chutney, bananas foster and cherry candy, and candied yams and Italian leather finish. A strong and sherry influenced pot still whiskey that will be a great player in cocktails or as a sipper. 88 points - tastings.com
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2025 RieslingFreak No. 4 Eden Valley RieslingEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 11.5%Closure: StelvinConcentrated and powerful yet tightly wound with a long zingy finish.
Since it’s establishment in 2009, winemaker John Hughes has in a very short period of time established RieslingFreak as one of the country's preeminent producers of the variety. Wine critic Mike Bennie describing it as ‘the definitive Riesling project in Australia.’ The 2025 vintage was one of meagre yields due to frost and lack of rainfall, however, the quality was remarkable delivering wines with terrific intensity of flavour and electric acidity.
Brilliant water like colour with green tinged edges. Intense lime and citrus scents burst out of the glass followed by some green apple, orange rind, talc and chalky mineral notes. Concentrated and powerful yet tightly wound, the zippy palate is flooded with lime, citrus and orange rind fruits which are sculptured by crisp, steely acidity. Subtle green apple, chalky talc and flinty mineral elements linger through the long, tense and zingy finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 11.5%
Other Reviews......
Tightly wound and pure aromas of lemon pith, grapefruit rind, slate, passion fruit, fresh herbs and white flowers. The palate is sharp and focused, with bright acidity and a firm line of minerality carrying notes of mandarin and chalk. The finish is both electric and precise. Excellent. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
97 points
JamesSuckling.com
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It's not uncommon for long-time customers to comment, "I've never had a bad wine from Nicks" . Part of the reason is that we taste and rate all the wines before you do. In fact, we offer an independent review for most of the wines on this website. Think of the "What's Hot" page as a shortlist - not only of the most highly rated wines from every category and price point - but also many of the best value spirits and liqueurs in Australia. Our selections include the most exciting wine growing regions around Australia as well as imports from around the world. Not sure what to buy? Give us a call on 1800 069 295. Let us know what you've enjoyed in the past and one of our knowledgeable staff will guide you in your choice. Unlike many retailers, we let you mix it up. Order online in straight dozens or make every bottle different to enjoy a new flavour each day. When you order more than $200 worth, get it delivered free to most areas of Australia.
















































