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The best of the best at every price point from Australia's most highly curated online wine and spirits list.
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2023 Torbreck The Factor ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$130. 00Bottle$1560.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 15.5%Closure: CorkThick, power packed and ultra rich, this is pure decadence in a bottle.
Predominately sourced from the Gomersal and Marananga sub regions of the Barossa with contributions from Krondorf and Greenock as well. Maturation took place in a combination of new (40%), second fill and seasoned French oak barriques for a period of 24 months.
Magnificent density of colour featuring an impenetrable inky black heart along with an equally deep black dark purple hue. Heady ripe dark plum, blackberry, dark chocolate and liquorice aromas waft through the olfactory senses complimented by toasty vanillin oak, earthy mocha and spicy fennel notes. Thick, power packed and ultra rich, the palate is pure decadence in a bottle. A super concentrate of dark plum, blackberry and liquorice fruits flow across the palate with tidal wave like force. Earthy dark chocolate, spicy vanillin oak and mocha characters lend further nuance. Sturdily built yet velvet like tannin structure with a saturating and profoundly long finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 15.5%Other Reviews…..
The 2023 The Factor is a celebration of old-vine vineyards in the Barossa Valley, and this sourcing philosophy is clear in this wine. The Barossa is capable of great density, power, intensity and focus, and this wine here shows all of these things. The cool, wet and late season that was 2023 has yielded a wine of saturated red fruit flavor and freshness. I like it so much. 15.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork. Drink 2026-2043.
96 Points
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2024 Torbreck Woodcutter's ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 15%Closure: StelvinThe Woodcutter’s Shiraz is sourced from Torbreck’s younger vineyards located in the prime Barossa sub regions of Marananga, Greenock, Seppeltsfield, Gomersal, Moppa, Lyndoch and Ebenezer.
Fruit is hand harvested and fermented in a mixture of cement, wooden and stainless steel vats for 6-7 days. It is then basket pressed to well-seasoned hogsheads and French oak foudres where it’s matured for 12 months.Hands down one of Barossa’s most consistent wines, the 2024 Woodcutter’s delivers an abundance of rich, succulent fruit with Torbreck’s signature flamboyance and power.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a very deep dark purple black hue. Wafting out of the glass with classic Torbreck hedonism are dark plum, freshly crushed black cherry and liquorice aromas which are trailed by some vanillin cedar, scorched earth and pepper notes. Rich, densely concentrated and voluptuous, propelled across the multi layered palate is a thick coating of dark plum, liquorice, blackberry and black cherry fruit. Lurking underneath are notions of vanillin cedar, smoky fennel and peppered earth. Velvet smooth tannins with a long, seductive finish that oozes flamboyance.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 15%Other Reviews….
The 2024 Woodcutter's Shiraz is juicy and fruit-driven, despite being structurally endowed and shapely as well. In the mouth, the wine is sweet and abundant in both flavor and weight, yet it retains a freshness and inherent drinkability that has founded and maintained its reputation over time. This is an impressive wine and excellent value for money. It speaks of both place—Barossa Valley—and variety in equal measure. Drink 2026-2034.
92 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate -
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2024 Torbreck The Struie ShirazBarossa, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 15.5%Closure: CorkA rich, plush Barossa Shiraz that possesses terrific density and concentration.
A blend of Barossa Valley (70%) and Eden Valley (30%) fruit, the Barossa Valley contributes plushness and concentration whilst the Eden Valley component brings elegance and structure to the blend. The average age of vines is 50 years old and maturation takes place in a mixture of new (25%) and seasoned French oak for a period of 18 months.
Dense pitch black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Potent ripe blackberry, dark plum and liquorice scents engulf the nostrils followed by some dark chocolate, vanillin oak, subtle earthy mocha and spice notes. Rich and plush, the palate possesses terrific density and concentration with saturating dark plum, blackberry and liquorice fruit to the fore. Dark chocolate, spicy vanillin oak and earthy mocha elements lurk underneath. Deep and powerful it has velvet smooth tannins and a long, texturally voluminous finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 15.5%Other Reviews….
The 2024 The Struie is from Barossa Valley (70%) and the balance Eden Valley. The blend composition changes year to year. This is silky and dark, velvety and intense in the mouth. I love the hedonistic way of this wine—it carries the alcohol and the weight with ease. While ripe and powerful, it feels effortless and polished. The blue fruit/graphite component contributed by the Eden Valley fruit is an important part of the way this wine tastes. 15.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork. Drink 2026-2039.
95+ Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateDeep, dark red-purple colour with terrestrial aromas summning dry earth, terracotta, forest underbrush on a hot day, and chocolate. Full bodied and fleshy with loads of supple ripe tannins and smooth, supple texture. There's a subtle vegetable note that reminds us we are in Eden Valley for at least part of the wine—traces of sage and raspberry that are typical of the higher country. The wine has elegance and harmony aplenty.
96 Points
Huon Hooke – Real Review -
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2023 Torzi Matthews Schist Rock ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$21. 99Bottle$263.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinTorzi Matthews is partnership between Domenic Torzi and Tracy Matthews. Their Schist Rock Shiraz is sourced from the Eden Valley sub region of Mt McKenzie with the vines 27 years old. Maturation takes place in predominately older French oak barrels (only 10% are new) and 10% whole bunch fruit is included in the ferment.
Rich and plump with a silky flow of dark fruit.
Totally opaque black dark red heart with a dark red hue. Intense ripe black cherry, liquorice and dark plum aromas are complimented by dried herb, vanillin cedar, fennel and peppered earth notes. Rich and plush, a silky flow of dark plum, liquorice and spicy dark cherry fruits are layered across the medium to full bodied palate. Notions of fennel, vanillin cedar and peppered dried herbs ensue. Deep and powerful it has velvet smooth tannins and a long, sumptuous finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
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Two Accents Limited Release Barrel Aged Shiraz Gin (700ml)McLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $120.00$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenABV: 41%Gold Medal - 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
If you're going to start a small-batch distillery in McLaren Vale, there's one type of tipple that's a no-brainer: Shiraz gin. Which is why Two Accents took advantage of the region's grapes. Both the regular shiraz gin and this limited edition barrel-aged variety use fruit from local vines as evidenced by their crimson hue. This bottling has been batch-distilled and crafted using local botanicals and world-renowned Barossa Shiraz. To finish it off, the liquid was placed in five-year-old x-Shiraz American oak barrels for a minimum of three months, creating a smooth vanilla and berry infused style. On the nose, it's not dramatically different to the standard Two Accents Shiraz Gin, although it does feel a little richer with subtle charred oak aromas adding further complexity. Likewise on the palate which is more full bodied and reveals more winey sweetness, but nothing is overdone, and the gin base is allowed a good showing to keep things fresh. Citrus, potpourri, white pepper and woody juniper carry a medium long finish. The flavours hold up well with minimal water, giving the gin a light tawny port / vermouth character. Over ice, or perhaps garnished with red berries, this drier-styled Sloe expression will work as a refreshing aperitif. 41% Alc./Vol.
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2025 Tyrrell’s Estate Grown ChardonnayHunter Valley, New South Wales, AUSTRALIAReduced from $32.99$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2026-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA refined, highly moreish Hunter Valley Chardonnay that displays excellent length and intensity of flavour.
Made entirely from Tyrrell’s famous HVD vineyard, these dry-grown blocks were planted in 1984 and 2003 and together they produce a modern style that has both richness and finesse.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a greenish tinge around the outskirts and a watery hue. Elevated white peach and nectarine scents intermingle with dried honey, cashew, biscuity nougat and spice notes. Rich fleshy white peach, nectarine and dried honey flavours are layered across the medium bodied palate. Excellent length and intensity of flavour with citrusy nougat, subtle cashew and spice elements lending further nuance across the back half. Perfectly balanced, it’s fresh and focused yet gently creamy texturally. Finishes long, refined and highly moreish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews…..
A delicious, composed, modern chardonnay, nicely expansive with effortless generosity, comfortable in its own skin. Impeccably balanced fruit is at its heart. Made entirely from the dry-grown HVD vineyard, from blocks planted in '84 and '03. Satisfying, refreshing and sensational value. Drink by 2029.
95 Points
Toni Paterson - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
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Valdespino El Candado Pedro Ximenez SherryJerez, SPAIN$47. 99Bottle$575.88 DozenABV: 18%Closure: CorkOne that proclaims to be the crème de la crème of PX’s and with six centuries of sherry production under their belts, Valdespino can lay claim to being one of the oldest sherry houses in the region. In a process called Soleo, after harvesting, the grapes are sun dried for two weeks to concentrate the sugar and turn the grapes into raisins. After partial fermentation of the must the wine is fortified and then enters the soleras where it’s aged for between 10-12 years in American oak casks.
A Magnificent Black Sherry
Deep sienna brown colour with deep olive green hue. Wonderful nose filled with the aroma of toffee, molasses, spice and brandied ripe raisins. The palate is a viscous treasure with its rich luscious texture and oil like consistency. Totally mouthfilling flavours of spice, honey, toffee and crushed dried raisins fill the mouth. Incredible length – perfect harmony with clean finish and exceptionally long aftertaste of treacle, caramel, honey and raisins. Perfect with chocolate cake and a must with the Christmas pudding.
Drink Now
Alc/Vol: 18.0% -
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Valdespino Pedro Ximenez Yellow Label SherryJerez, SPAIN$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenABV: 17%Closure: CorkWith six centuries of sherry production under their belts, Valdespino lay claim to being one of the oldest sherry bodegas in the region.
Pedro Ximenez is often referred to as “Black Sherry” due to its dense, dark colour. This is a superb example of the style made entirely from the Pedro Ximenez grape and is a wonderful pairing for chocolate dishes of any sort (or that ‘special’ mid year Christmas celebration being the perfect wine with Christmas pudding). The wine has the viscosity of oil. Very dark sienna brown colour with olive green hue. Superb nose of mollasses, treacle, crushed dried honeyed raisins. Rich and luscious, totally mouthfilling with a silky, oily texture which disolves into honeyed toffee. Layers of treacle and caramel add further depth and complexity to the wine. Sweet, yet clean finish with exceptionally long aftertaste. -
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Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 Year Old Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$2499. 00Bottle$29988.00 DozenABV: 47.8%"...Top notch rye that deserves the praise it gets." - breakingbourbon.com
An increasingly rare release. According to Chuck Cowdery via Whiskey Advocate, the Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye has been a 50/50 combination of Medley and Cream of Kentucky rye whiskeys. It was put into steel tanks years ago and is being drawn down for each fall release. The mash bill is not stated. 47.8% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... A great improvement on the Winkle Rye of old. 94 points- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2017
[Oct 2013 release]...If you see it buy it. This may be the hardest of the Van Winkle lineup to locate and sees lowest production of the bunch. ... It is great stuff. It’s really hard to find, and it’s something you won’t regret purchasing. If you’re lucky enough to find a bottle open and share it, don’t horde this one... Delicious and memorable. A perfect balance of spicy and sweet, youth and age. There’s something amazing happening here. It’s as if the master distiller knew exactly when to pull the barrel… which of course he did. You can taste the age, but it’s not overdone. You can taste the youthful elements, but they don’t overpower the age. It balances rye spice with bourbon-like sweetness to give us something that’s delicious and memorable. This is a top notch rye that deserves the praise it gets. - breakingbourbon.com
Notes from the producer... Nose: Good mint-toffee, rye aroma. Palate: Good viscosity. Sweetish. Spicy. Cinnamon. Nutmeg. Rich fruitcake. Finish: Cigar smoke. Very late soothing warmth. Comment: Certainly showing its age, but full of character. 47.8% Alc./Vol.
85 points. - Michael Jackson, whiskymag.com
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Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot "B" 12 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$1999. 00Bottle$23988.00 DozenABV: 45.2%Lot 'B' 12 year old comes with a swag of rave reviews from blind tasters, including 90-95 points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine (winemag.com), 98 points - Beverage Tasting Institute (tastings.com), Best in Class Gold Medallion - 2008 IWSC (iwsc.net) and a Trophy for Worldwide Whiskey - 2008 IWSC (iwsc.net).
Some have asked, "Why is this whiskey drawn from 'Lot B' every year and not some other?" Apparently, the designation derived from an original 'Lot A' released only in 1991. For every subsequent release, it's been called 'Lot B'. More on this subject from straightbourbon.com: "I’ve always assumed that Julian III went through his stock of barrels that were older than the 10 year range and took the barrels that he did not think were worthy of continued aging for inclusion in future PVW releases and bottled those as Lot B. With Lot B indicating that they weren’t his best juice. At the time of the 1991 release of course there was no such thing as PVW as it hadn’t been released yet. I believe the first ever PVW release was in 1994. So maybe in 1992 he had decided that he would start setting aside his best barrels for future super premium older releases, and decided to start bottling those that didn’t make that cut as B then?"
One responder who actually emailed Julian Van Winkle for an explanation confirms: "It's pretty much to that affect, Lot A was small and ran out quickly. Lot B was much larger and by time those barrels ran out, everyone got so used to his 12 year old release being called Lot B that the name stuck so as to not confuse anyone." Hence, the designation is pretty much meaningless, except from an historical perspective.
Other reviews... For those who like their Bourbon hairy, bristling with spice, honey and big oak interaction.
94.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021Please note: We are not able to ship spirits to the United States or Canada.
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2023 Vasse Felix Cabernet SauvignonMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2026-2036)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinVasse Felix is one of Margaret River’s pioneering estates. Produced every year since 1972, this is an archetypal expression of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon from the outstanding 2023 vintage.
Beautifully refined and seamless with a long, impeccably finessed finish.
A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Malbec matured in French oak barriques (34% new) for a period of 18 months. Pitch black core with a dark red black tinged hue. Elevated scents of blackcurrant, black olive, red liquorice and mulberry move through the nostrils with impressive intensity. Lending further complexity are cigar box, subtle earth and bay leaf notes. Rich and concentrated yet beautifully refined, a seamless flow of blackcurrant, mulberry, liquorice, cedary tobacco, earthy black olive and spicy bay leaf flavours are layered across the mid weighted palate. Terrific depth and power with perfectly integrated, fine grained tannins providing a sturdy structure across the long, impeccably finessed finish.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews……
Cabernet has been the focus for the last 51 years, and the results show. From a great vintage, this wine has elegance, poise, and medium weight — just as Tom Cullity sought from the start in 1967. Loaded with black fruits, seamlessly integrated oak and tannin, and impeccable balance. A cracking wine that marks the next phase of Vasse Felix cabernet.
97 Points
RayJordanWine.com.auClassic Margaret River. Aromas of blue, black and purple fruits with a spicy edge and underlying mineral tension of crushed stones and graphite, lifted by perfumed notes of violets and blackberry bush. The midweight palate has real density of fruit and no hard edges, yet the tannins are tightly wound. So taut, pure and balanced. Great value. A blend of 87% cabernet sauvignon and 13% malbec. Delicious. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
95 Points
JamesSuckling.com
This vintage turned out so many elegant, compelling wines – both red and white – and here’s another to add to the collection. A deep, dark garnet, with all the best aromas and flavours the variety can muster, yet there’s a restraint to this. It’s classy with finely shaped tannins and lithe acidity. Drinking beautifully today and won’t disappoint those who want to cellar it. Drink by 2038.
96 points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
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2024 Vasse Felix ChardonnayMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $39.99$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinEstablished in 1967, Vasse Felix is one of Margaret River’s founding estates. The fruit for this superb Chardonnay was sourced from premier vineyards in the Margaret River sub regions of Wilyabrup and Wallcliffe. Fermentation and maturation took place in French oak barriques (30% new) for a period of 10 months.
A rich and powerful yet wonderfully harmonious and refined Margaret River Chardonnay.
Brilliant pale straw colour with highlights of green around the edges and a watery hue. Streaming out of the glass are white peach, nectarine and gentle cashew scents complimented by some biscuity nougat and spice notes. Rich and gently creamy in its textural feel yet wonderfully refined, the mid weighted palate is layered with fleshy white peach, nectarine, dried honey and cashew flavours. Biscuity nougat, subtle ginger and spice elements also chime in. Perfectly harmonious, it has a long driving finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
What a great release, fresh and mineral yet showing a touch of the sun from the warmer vintage. Aromas of Meyer lemons, oyster shell, shortbread, crushed river stones and grapefruit pith. The refined palate is tightly wound with focused acidity and underlying power that will only develop. So much generosity with a hint of funk, pure drive and a precise, compact style. Excellent. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
96 Points
JamesSuckling.comA slightly more generous style of chardonnay, showing richness and concentration while retaining fine linear precision. Minerally lemon curd with a savoury edge, intense and sustained. One of the best under this label. Drink over next 8 years.
95 Points
RayJordan.com.au
While it rightly reveals the openness of the warm vintage with its flavour profile, this remains a stylish wine underscored by lovely acidity and some funky detail. White peach, grapefruit and preserved lemon with an oyster shell briny note and grilled nuts, so there’s a savoury element, too. Plus, a whisper of moreish sulphides and superfine lees add a level of complexity across the palate. Refreshing and delicious. Drink by 2034.
95 points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion
This is a damn beautiful chardonnay. I mean, hot damn. It’s so juicy, so fruity, so lively and generous but also, simultaneously, so flinty, so refined and so complex. This is a buy/drink by the bucketload proposition. It tastes of grapefruit, lemonade, a range of citrus fruits and a mix of pears and peaches. At every step, it is 100% delicious. Plus. Drink 2026-2033.
95 points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front
A great showcase of Margaret River’s ability to make dense, dank and highly enjoyable Chardonnay. This wine is undeniably from the region. It speaks of the southwest’s oceans, people and the infamous Gin Gin clone. Green mango, apricot kernel, tangerine zest and candied orange peel. Power and wild elegance. In the mouth, the fruit is deep, sticky and salty. The acid frames the wine, with fruit, phenolic grip and generosity draped over it. Dried cumquat, spiced lime sorbet, mandarin oil, wet pavement and struck match. It has an old man’s strength, but childlike surprise. A lot is going on. And I’m all about it. Drink 2026-2036.
96 points
Cyndal Petty - WinePilot.com
The 2024 Chardonnay is mealy, nutty and spicy on the nose, with a framing of subtly toasty oak. In the mouth, the wine comes together, showing a textural creaminess and wide complexity, while the purity of the Margaret River acidity races across the palate at pace. It was wild fermented and matured in French barrique (30% new), with a total élevage of 15 months, including five in tank prior to bottling. This is routinely a superb wine, offering complexity and depth at a reasonable price point. The 2024 vintage was challenging, as it was hot and dry (breaking records in both categories); however, in a global context, it remained no more than moderate in its extremes. The whites, if anything, show a little firmness in their structure, given the slightly earlier picking—a decision no doubt undertaken in order to preserve fruit quality and natural acidities. But this wine feels both balanced and healthy in its fruit condition. It is warmly recommended, as usual. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2026-2034.
95 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate -
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2023 Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet SauvignonMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinEstablished in 1967, Vasse Felix is one of Margaret River’s founding estates. Known as the ‘son of’ Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon the Filius Cabernet Sauvignon is made in a more fruit forward style designed for earlier drinking. The 2023 vintage is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot matured in a combination of 1-7 year old French oak barriques for a period of 10-12 months.
An impressive sub $25 Cabernet from one of Margaret River’s premier estates.
Dense pitch black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Captivating aromatics of red to black currant and mulberry enchant the olfactory senses followed by some cedary tobacco, dried herb and spicy black olive notes. Rich blackcurrant and ripe mulberry fruits are layered across the mid weighted palate with an impressive degree of intensity. Cedary tobacco, earth and spicy bay leaf elements extend across the back half. Showing ample freshness, it has structured yet integrated tannins, concluding with classic Margaret River refinement and length.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
Consistently one of the best cabernets from WA. It’s designed to express its best qualities as a young wine, with its brightness and energy immediately apparent. It’s a blend of cabernet with a small amount of malbec, an important variety at Vasse Felix. Smooth and seamlessly structured with a sublimely elegant expressive palate. It’s medium-bodied with a fine boned structure. Subtle use of oak and fine tannins adds support. The best yet.
94 Points
RayJordanWine.com.au
Abundant black-fruit aromas supported by spices, cedar, crushed stones and violets. The medium-bodied palate has a creamy texture and finely tuned, generous tannins with so much purity of fruit. Grown further away from the ocean with a more continental feel. Delicious and early-drinking yet serious. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
94 points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2021 Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet MerlotMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinEstablished in 1967, the 2021 vintage celebrates 50 years of Margaret River Cabernet at Vasse Felix. Known as the ‘son of’ Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon, the Filius Cabernet Merlot combines Margaret River Cabernets classic structure and power with the succulence of Merlot to form a generous fruit driven blend that makes it an ideal earlier drinking style.
A delightful blend of Cabernet and Merlot that highlights all of Margaret River’s great qualities at an entry level price.
A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot & 1% Malbec matured in 1-6 year old French oak barriques for a period of 10 months. Deep dark red black colour with a dark red hue. Lifted red to black currant and mulberry aromas are married to notions of vanillin cedar, tobacco, earthy black olive and bay leaf. Beautifully refined and elegant the mid weighted palate is layered with savoury red to black currant and mulberry fruits which meld into a spicy vanillin cedar, tobacco, earth and bay leaf infused back drop. Fine, seamlessly integrated tannin structure with a long highly finessed conclusion.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14% -
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W.L. Weller 12 Year Old Wheated Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATESReduced from $250.00$209. 99Bottle$2519.88 DozenABV: 45%"Does it get better than this? Van Winkle recipe, aged 12 years, low price... There are a very few bourbons that can flat-out beat it without blowing your budget." - breakingbourbon.com
Many Australian collectors remain oblivious to the surge in demand and dwindling supply of premium American whiskeys. In the US and Europe, ask for Pappy Van Winkle et al. and retailers will laugh in your face. Meanwhile, older age statements from Michter's and the annual releases from Buffalo Trace's 'Antique Collection' are seducing collectors and selling at stratospheric prices on the secondary market. Asia is fast catching on. The good news is, so long as international allocations are honoured, buyers in countries like Australia can capitalise on fair opening prices. Right now, Weller 12 should be on your list. With tiny volumes imported via official channels, this may be your last chance before the market wakes up.
Produced by Buffalo Trace Distillery, replacing rye with wheat makes for an extra smooth Bourbon. This is also aged considerably longer than most wheated styles. In fact, the boys at breakingbourbon.com reckon Weller 12 is as close as you can get to tasting Pappy Van Winkle - it comes from the same recipe as Van Winkle Lot B, which is also aged 12 years, (but it's not matured in the sweetest spots in the warehouses). Factor in the price difference and you have yourself a bargain.
Other reviews... Sheer quality. And an enormous leap in complexity and grace from the 7yo.
93 points- Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2018A “wheated” bourbon, meaning that it doesn’t have the spicy rye notes found in a more traditional “ryed” bourbon. A pleasantly sweet, easy-going, well-balanced experience. Creamy vanilla, caramel, candied corn, and ripe berried fruit , along with more subtle notes of glazed orange, cocoa powder, and wood shavings. If I were going to ease a new bourbon drinker into the category, I might pick this one. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: John Hansell (Fall 2008)
Double Gold Medal Best Straight Bourbon - 2018 New York International Spirits Competition
...Balanced, and sporting a great flavor profile, this is one bourbon that is far better than many in its price range... Does it get better than this? Van Winkle recipe, aged 12 years, low price and an above-average nose/palate/finish? There are a very few bourbons that can flat-out beat it without blowing your budget. Also don’t let the Weller’s line of underwhelming bottle design and labels deter you from finding the gem. The money Buffalo Trace saves on the bottle itself is passed along to the consumer. As their shortages continue, if you see a bottle of W.L. Weller 12 Year, grab it. It might not immediately blow you away with gimmicks, but once you familiarize yourself with it, you're likely to become great friends. - breakingbourbon.com
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W.L. Weller Full Proof Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenABV: 57%"Definitive...something unlike any other bourbon in Kentucky." - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2025-26
As far as availability and price go, the top end Weller whiskeys are following the same path as American icons like Van Winkle and Michters. Produced by the Sazerac Company, 'Full Proof' is a new addition to the range as of 2019. The mashbill isn't disclosed, other than being a Buffalo Trace “Wheated” formula - i.e. - corn, wheat and malted barley. 57% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Talk about controlled intensity. The layering on the delivery is stupendous.... If you want a definitive wheated bourbon nose, come and get it. And if you want a truly memorable wheated theme throughout then set aside at least 20 minutes to get to know something unlike any other bourbon in Kentucky. 96 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2025-26
94 points- Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021
Fragrant lemon and dried herbs on the nose, along with a sprinkling of powdered sugar and a hint of licorice. The palate offers deep notes of blackberry compote, tiramisu, and milk chocolate, all underpinned by earthy tones of cedar and polished oak. A rich symphony of flavor punctuates the long, impressive finish—mocha, almond, and cooked dark fruit, draped in notes of gooey caramel and pepper spice, set against balanced oak. 93 points- whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2020)
...It’s hard to believe the Weller brand bourbons were once bottom shelf dwellers before becoming the highly desired and elite bourbons they are known as today. They are arguably some of the best wheated bourbons “available,” and few could argue against calling William Larue Weller the best barrel proof wheated bourbon on the market.... Weller Full Proof is a winner and for most releases it would end there, but the Weller brand has another side to it thanks to its insane popularity. For a company that cites shortages and sees heavy allocation of their products, they continually release new products, including a rapid expansion of their Weller brand. For consumers, it’s a frustration exchange and it’s hard to fault them for feeling a bit disenchanted with Buffalo Trace.... Weller Full Proof is a worthy addition to the Weller brand, and offers a rich and flavorful pour at a spot-on proof. - breakingbourbon.com
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W.L. Weller C.Y.P.B. 8 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$450. 00Bottle$5400.00 DozenABV: 47.5%"...quite possibly, one of the best Wellers I've ever encountered... Phenomenal Bourbon." - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2025-26
Buffalo Trace launched a "Craft Your Perfect Bourbon" (C.Y.P.B.) website in late 2015 as an interactive experience that "allowed people to learn about and create their own perfect bourbon". Probably inspired by what Glenfiddich did a few years back with 'Project X', it included selecting a recipe, warehouse placement, age and proof. 100,000 fans completed the process online with the consensus preferencing an eight year old wheated bourbon bottled somewhere between 90-99 proof. Buffalo Trace's response was to create 'C.Y.P.B.' First offered in 2018, this is an an ongoing annual release, the quality of which already appears to be flirting with perfection.
Other reviews... Yet another Weller nose where you almost collapse into the glass letting out a contented sigh... This is quite possibly, one of the best Wellers I've ever encountered. And after 30 years of sampling this brand, that's saying something. Complex. Yielding. Phenomenal bourbon. 96 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2025-26
...has all the chatzpuh of a wheated Bourbon that knows it's damn good... 95.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021
...Buffalo Trace asked fans to “Craft Your Perfect Bourbon” and this is the result. Cracker Jack and butterscotch sweetness appear on the nose, with cedary oak and black cherry soda lurking just beneath. On the palate, the flavors are bold, mouthwatering, and juicy, like dark berry fruit sprinkled with baking spices and spearmint. This has big impact, but is also delightfully drinkable, as the finish delivers citrus oil, stone fruit, and blackberry. 90 points- whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Spring 2020)
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W.L. Weller Full Proof Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) - Whiskey Hunt Australia SelectionKentucky, UNITED STATES$375. 00Bottle$4500.00 DozenABV: 57%"...a worthy addition to the Weller brand, offering a rich and flavorful pour at a spot-on proof." - breakingbourbon.com
Buffalo Trace's “Wheated” mashbill is absent of rye, instead it includes corn, wheat and malted barley. Ratios are not disclosed. The fact that this forgoes chill filtration to preserve all the naturally occurring residual oils makes it something a little special from the get go. The nose possesses a depth and weight not often encountered in young Bourbon, matched by a mouth filling attack. Cherry chocolate, cola and pepper are underscored by a superb thread of caramel and vanilla. As the heat and oak ramp up, 'harmonious' isn't a descriptor that comes to mind. Nevertheless, this slightly disjointed, high octane whiskey will satisfy those who get a thrill out of incendiary styles. With water, the aroma shifts to oak shavings, pecans and hints of maple syrup, the palate accenting hazelnuts and milk chocolate, while hints of peppermint add freshness to the finish. It's an intimidating Bourbon experience, with non chill filtration clearly benefiting the overall persistence, richness and amplified texture, but also one that needs time to evolve in the glass. 192 bottles produced. 57% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 30ml sample.
Notes from the importers... Having a nose of vanilla, dark cherries and caramel. On the palate, there is a balance of caramel and toasted oak. The finish is said to be long, with notes of crème brûlée and chocolate.
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2024 Walnut Block Nutcracker ChardonnayMarlborough, NEW ZEALAND$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.6%Closure: StelvinRich, concentrated and creamy textured with a long beautifully shaped finish.
Walnut Block’s Chardonnay, planted in 1996 with the Mendoza clone, is known for its low yields and ‘hen and chicken’ fruit set which provides a high skin-to-juice ratio, thus resulting in a wine that possesses both depth and concentration of flavour. Maturation takes place in French 500 litre oak puncheons with wild yeasts from the vineyard providing a natural fermentation. The wine is left to develop in barrels for a period of 12 months.
Brilliant pale straw colour with highlights of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Expressive white peach, nectarine, dried honey and cashew scents sail from the glass with ample intensity followed by some biscuity nougat and spice notes. Rich, concentrated and creamy textured, the palate is layered with white peach, nectarine and dried honey flavours. Cashew, biscuity nougat and spice elements are interspersed throughout the back half. Beautifully shaped it finishes long with a lick of underlying freshness.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.6% -
- 95
- Australian Exclusive
2015 Warenghem Distillery Armorik Single Cask Australian Exclusive Cask Strength Single Malt French Whisky (700ml)Brittany, FRANCE$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 58.7%French whiskies are so rarely encountered here that when they do arrive they come with a sense of mystery. Yet, if there are regional challengers to the malts that emerge from Scotland's Western Highlands, then Northern France would have to be one. Whiskies from Brittany can be hugely flavoursome, capturing a sense of place with the freshness of the seashore and a touch of rusticity that's occasionally augmented by varying degrees of peat. Kornog and Warenghem are standouts, the latter offering whiskies under their Armorik label. When the Australian importers visited Brittany earlier in the year, their barrel selection came with a further French twist: Full-term maturation in a cask that previously held Pineau des Charentes - a speciality aperitif of Cognac, generally categorised as a fortified wine (aka 'mistelle' or 'vin de liqueur' in France, however, being a blend of grape must and eau-de-vie it could be argued that the genre is more akin to a liqueur). There is one cask only, all for Australia and the whisky it yielded continues a theme of beautifully rounded, utterly mouthfilling and wonderfully textural malts from Warenghem, this time with a light honey, fruit compote and sponge cake character in the mix. On the palate, poached fruits work to heighten the succulence of the barley before trailing off with lively spices, vanilla and honey. Hints of brine and pepper add vitality to the finish as does a slightly tart quince or citric note. It's wound up in a beautifully integrated delivery that's dangerously easy to drink uncut. With water the profile loses some of its finer points, but fluffs into a deliciously creamy dram. Distilled in October 2015 and bottled in February 2023, the visual presentation might lack sophistication, however the final result has exceeded the importer's expectations. 150 bottles are on offer. 58.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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2014 Watt Whisky Miltonduff 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 57.1%Notes from the bottlers... Honey, peaches, melon, stem ginger and toffee apples. 325 bottles from a hogshead. 57.1% Alc./Vol.
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2014 Watt Whisky Royal Brackla 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$144. 99Bottle$1739.88 DozenABV: 57.2%Typically a sweet, fruity Highland malt, Watts 11 Year Old is a 2025 release matured in a hogshead, yielding 288 bottles at 57.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Sweet, juicy fruits, bubblegum, peach melba, banana sweets and brandy snaps.
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2014 Watt Whisky Aultmore 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 56.9%Reportedly the influence from the Bourbon barrel here is delicate, yielding a whisky that is "...solid and delicious in its basic structure. The alcohol is well integrated, the flavours are clear and harmonious." The outturn was 319 bottles at 56.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Nose: Quite light and smooth with pleasant fruit aromas. Gooseberry, kiwi, and then croissant, along with vanilla, a slightly sugary sweetness, and a hint of candle wax. All the while, I have a midsummer sunset and a field of grain in mind. Palate: Fruity but also very grainy. I taste granola and dried kiwi, various citrus fruits, malt, butter cookies, caramel, and cornflakes with honey. Finish: Medium length, cake with citrus fruits and caramel. - whiskybase.com
Notes from the bottlers... Creamy, fruity, herbal. Kiwi, key lime pie and rosemary.
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2012 Watt Whisky Inchgower 13 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 58.3%Commenting on an earlier Watt's bottling (also 13 years old and from a Bourbon cask), Angus MacRaild of whiskyfun.com said, "I've always thought Inchgower was an underrated / unnoticed distillate and I can see why Kate and Mark would select such a cask. This direct and narrow distillate style feels extremely 'Diageo' - which I mean in a good way, it's a style they've perfected I would say." Distilled 2012 in and bottled from a single Hogshead yielding 258 bottles
Notes from the bottlers... Peaches in syrup, very creamy, honeycomb, slightly minty with lots of butterscotch.
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Waubs Harbour Maritime Sherry Limited Edition Single Malt Australian Whisky (500ml)Tasmania, AUSTRALIA$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenABV: 52%Waubs' latest release sees French oak ex-Apera sherry casks balanced by x-Bourbon matured stocks. Drawing on some of the first casks the distillery filled, and landing in at just over six years old, the distiller's say it's no sherry bomb, nor is it intended as a whisky of extremes, being slightly lighter, though better integrated and more easily approached than many previous releases. Upfront sherry and spicy fruit cake flavours develop into poached orchard fruits, ending with a tangy, coastal vibe that leaves the impression of distant peat. Waubs' salted caramel keynote is also evident, particularly through the long finish. In terms of maritime style, we're heading towards the coastal Highlands - Pulteney and Orkney come to mind, but even Campbeltown would be a reference point. Indeed, no other distillery in the Southern hemisphere succeeds in capturing a Scottish coastal character as convincingly as this. Already sold out at the distillery, 618 bottles at 52% Alc./Vol. make up the limited edition. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 25ml sample.
Notes from the producers... Nose: Red apple, apricot, almond husk, pear with a slight sea spray and woody character. Palate: Apricot, apple and pear in syrup, buttery and biscuit notes, salted caramel with an undertone of golden syrup, balanced by citrus and a lovely oak spice. Finish: A bitter sweet balance between fruited syrup and kitchen spices.
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2025 West Cape Howe Old School ChardonnayMount Barker, Western Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $19.99$16. 99Bottle$203.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2026-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinWest Cape Howe's Old School Chardonnay is made the way Chardonnay used to be – rich, textured and full-flavoured. Sourced from specific vineyard blocks in Mount Barker, the wine was barrel fermented and matured in French oak (20% new) for a period of 10 months. Extended lees contact with fortnightly stirring and full malolactic fermentation further enhanced the wines texture. 2025 was an outstanding vintage with near perfect growing conditions delivering fruit of spectacular quality.
Rich, viscously textured and full flavoured, this is classic old school Chardonnay delivered at a dirt cheap price.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a luminous green tint to the surrounds and a watery hue. Engulfing the nostrils are intense aromatics of ripe peach, nectarine and honeycomb with hints of crème brulee, subtle bacon fat and spicy nougat also chiming in. Rich, mouth filling and displaying great viscosity, fleshy peach, nectarine, creme brulee, nougat, honeycomb and spicy butterscotch flavours are layered across the palate. Creamy textured, a lick of fresh acidity chips in to provide balance. Concludes long, full and round with a dash of spice. Sensational value!
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 96
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2020 Whistling Eagle Vineyard Eagles Blood ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$54. 99Bottle$659.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA seductive Heathcote Shiraz that boasts ample power and a plush textural feel.
Renown as one of Heathcote’s leading growers and viticulturalists, Ian Rathjen also produces small parcels of wine under his own label, Whistling Eagle. Matured in French oak (30% new) for a period of 18 months, the Eagles Blood Shiraz is his ultimate expression of the Cambrian terroir displaying spectacular colour, depth and power.
Pitch black core with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Heady aromatics of ripe blackberry, liquorice and dark plum waft out of the glass complimented by some vanillin cedar, fennel and peppered earth notes. A rich, silky flow of opulent blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits decorate the full bodied palate. Vanillin oak, subtle earthy mocha and peppered fennel characters also chime in. Boasting ample power and a plush textural feel, it has velvet smooth tannins and a long seductive finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews…..
One sniff and you are standing on the mineral-rich soils of Heathcote, surrounded by the warm, inviting scents of the local bush. This is an evocative wine, of the place, of the dirt, capturing both the natural generosity of Heathcote shiraz and its environment beautifully, artfully. Earth, bush mint, undergrowth, acacia, briar, cassis, black cherry, anise and red licorice join forces with well-mannered oak to seduce. Seduction complete. Drink by 2038.
96 Points
Jeni Port – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 96
2024 Wilson Polish Hill River RieslingClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinWonderfully concentrated and tense with zingy mineral laced acidity.
Wilson’s Polish Hill River Riesling is sourced from their oldest vineyards planted over 40 years ago. Its miniscule yields typically produce a wine rich in citrus fruits within a steely structure, tight with lots of minerality. Beneath the iron stained clay lies a bed of decomposing slate and scattered quartz. It’s also not unusual to find remnant pottery and agricultural implements from the Polish Settlers who once lived and farmed the area now planted to this small vineyard.
Brilliant water like colour with a faint greenish tinge around the edges. Lime and citrus aromas leap out of the glass trailed by some green apple, hints of orange rind, wet steel and chalky mineral notes. Delivered with fabulous intensity and tension are racy lemon, lime and green apple flavours. Zingy mineral laced acidity with delicate orange rind and wet steel elements also shining through. Dry and chalky it finishes very long and zesty.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 91
- Australian Exclusive
Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (1000ml) - Whiskey Hunt Australia SelectionKentucky, UNITED STATES$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 45.2%Whiskey Hunt Australia's debut with Woodford Reserve comes courtesy of the distillery's owners, Brown Forman. Guided by Woodford's Brand Ambassador, Andy Tsai, in December 2023 the group were invited to choose from three Woodford select profiles. Unlike most WHA releases which have been single cask picks, the Woodford Personal Selection Program asks customers to preference a bourbon that matches their palate, typically based on three distinct distillery 'profiles'. Jack Daniels (also owned by Brown Forman) have a similar approach. No.2 was judged the winner, showcasing aromas of oak shavings, cherry-dark-chocolate and dried peach, complemented by medium bodied flavours of burnt caramel, subtle smoke, orange spice cake and drying oak. True to the Woodford house style, the whiskey was distilled from a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley with 180 one-litre bottles imported to Australia. 45.2% Alc./Vol.
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Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum (1000ml)Kingston, JAMAICA$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 63%Closure: Screw Cap"made by one company that remembers its roots and continues to distil a real rum." - thelonecaner.com
Ask a native where you could sample J.Wray & Nephew over-proof rum, and they will tell you knock on the door of any household. Such is the legendary status of this spirit that it accounts for 90% of rum sales in Jamaica. Other brands produced under the J.Wray & Nephew name are Captain Morgan, Coruba and the renowned Appleton Estate range. Use this product in classic rum punches with tropical juices. Alternate with flavoured rums and liqueurs for something new. Also great in the traditional Mai Tai and Daiquiri.
Other reviews... This is the flagship rum from Wray and the rum ... familiar instantly on the nose, with a mixture of citrus and petrol notes, very aromatic with florals and the raw alcoholic notes one expects from an overproof rum. The body is a bit tougher and astringent, slightly charcoal-dusted but otherwise intense with fruit, both citrus and tropical, with overtones of overripe banana, bubble gum, and a touch of eucalyptus on the finish. Surprisingly approachable despite the heavy alcohol level. - drinkhacker.com
...I’m not a huge white rum lover but this is as good as I have had. It will give a massive kick to tiki style cocktails, where it is very often used. W&N Overproof is very popular and highly regarded amongst bartenders and mixologists. Rightly so as well. The danger in this drink maybe that at 63% its very drinkable. At the price it is also very good value. W&N Overproof needs to be evaluated on what it is. It is a very good white overproof mixer. It’s availability and price makes it a no-brainer to have on hand. 4/5 stars - thefatrumpirate.com
...I have gained a sort of sneaking appreciation for overproofs, including this one, because while it lacks the subtlety of a more refined 40% variation (subtlety? don’t make me laugh…the thing is like a charging brontosaurus on steroids at rutting time), it makes an intense, strong, powerfully tasting mix with whatever you decide to chase it. Try adding cola to a 40% low-ender and then to the White Overproof and try and tell me this one doesn’t have more character, more taste, more…well, cojones. It absolutely is not afraid to charge the gates and get the hell off the reservation. When you drink J. Wray’s clear hooch, reader, there’s no ifs, ands or buts — you know Elvis has left the building; and didn’t just exit, he took off with rocket-powered, turbo-charged steel-toed boots. And a jet pack.... made by one company that remembers its roots and continues to distil a real rum. - thelonecaner.com
5 Stars - diffordsguide.com
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2021 Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 15 Years (2025-2040)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinOne of Coonawarra’s benchmark Cabernets from an outstanding vintage.
Renown as one of Coonawarra’s benchmark Cabernets, Wynns John Riddoch is made from parcels of the estates best fruit and is only produced in exceptional vintages.
Outstanding colour featuring an impenetrable inky black heart along with a very deep dark red black hue. Soaring out of the glass are captivating aromas of blackcurrant, liquorice and mulberry which are complimented by vanillin cedar, tobacco, subtle earth, violet and traces of bay leaf. Rich and concentrated yet refined and structured, the medium to full bodied palate is redolent in fleshy red to black currant, liquorice and mulberry fruits. Lending further complexity are spicy vanillin cedar, earth, delicate tobacco and bay leaf accents. Fine grained, sturdily built tannin framework yet quite polished in it’s feel. Marrying finesse with power it finishes very long and eloquent with a deep core of fruit.
Drink over the next 10-15 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
16 months French oak hogsheads and barriques (31% new, the balance one to six years old) and 22 months in bottle prior to release. A cacophony of blackberries, Bing cherries and elderberries. Blackcurrant leaf, acaí and prune skin. Black coffee, vanilla pod, ash and charcoal. Acidity wisps about the palate like magic, a mesh of thread-like tannins pull and draw the focus. A hint of dark chocolate bitters; the wine finishes perky with echoing tunes of granite. It's just so centered and chic. Pure cabernet poise. Drink by 2038.
98 Points
Shanteh Wale – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThe 2021 John Riddoch Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon is a brilliant wine. It is achingly intense yet is defined by its levity, which is not a common attribute in Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine expounds the virtues of the red gravel in which the fruit was grown, via its iodine and crushed shells, cassis and blood, sweet marrow and tobacco. It tastes so clearly of the place, which is a wonderful thing. The back palate swells with flavor, framed by the earth and the attuned oak. This is a tribute to the earth, an ode to it. Plentiful tannins bob along on the current of fruit. This will cellar interminably. It's up there in both quality and feel with the 2010, or so I think. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2024-2051.
98 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateOne of the best vintages in Coonawarra for many years. Little wonder this release of the John Riddoch is one of the best since the initial release from the 1982 vintage. Aromas of violets and red berry with a slightly cherry glaze character adding further intrigue. The palate is medium weight and refined but with tremendous power and persistence. A combination of hogsheads and barriques has been used to deliver the perfect level of oak. One of the best of these I can recall. Drink 2024-2054.
98 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.comThis 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Wynns John Riddoch is stylish and built for the long haul. It takes a couple of days to show its true colors. It radiates with blackcurrant, gravel and dried mint aromas, with a dusting of earth all wrapped up in a gentle blanket of French oak. Composed and super refined, the wine is underpinned by a line of seductive yet firm tannins with killer length and balance to finish. It is already very approachable but with serious staying power. Drink 2030-2045.
97 Points
Angus Hughson - Vinous -
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2023 Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $69.99$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkA richer, more opulent rendition of Yalumba’s Signature that has a long and quite sumptuous conclusion.
A classic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz first produced in 1962, Yalumba’s Signature pays homage each vintage to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the culture and traditions of Yalumba. The 2023 vintage’s signatory is Yalumba’s trade marketing manager, Peter Sawrey who has been responsible for writing the last 32 Signature back labels. This year’s release marks the 52nd vintage of Yalumba The Signature.
From vines with an average age of 23 years the 2023 Signature is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Shiraz with maturation taking place in a combination of French barriques and Hungarian hogsheads (22% of which was new oak) for a period of 19 months. Impenetrable inky black heart with a near equally deep dark red black hue. A mix of blackcurrant, blackberry and liquorice aromas engulf the nostrils. Vanillin cedar, tobacco, hints of dark chocolate and bay leaf follow on. Rich, opulent and full bodied, the seductive palate is flooded with blackcurrant, liquorice, dark plum and lush blackberry fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, subtle earthy tobacco and bay leaf accents linger across the back half. Velvety yet underlyingly sturdy tannin structure. Deep and powerful it has a long and quite sumptuous conclusion.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews……
Yalumba's iconic blend sees 55/45% cabernet sauvignon/shiraz with the '23 release. Again, the release impresses with its fruit purity, elegance and cellaring potential. Deep blackberry, satsuma plum and black cherry fruit with underlying layers of brown spice, cedar, tobacco, pencil case, roast meats, dried herbs and black olive tapenade. Beautifully composed on the palate with a firm yet kinetic, fine-grained tannin structure, lacy acidity and a finish that sails on gracefully for ages. A cracking release. Drink by 2055.
96 Points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionWe might be yet to learn who is to be honoured with the 2023 Signature, but whomsoever it is should be well pleased. This is a cracking release, one of their best. An opaque centre with a dark maroon rim, there is still vanillin oak evident on the nose, but it is integrating well. The aromas include notes of dried herbs, black fruits, graphite, licorice, mocha, chocolate, plums and cassis. This is balanced, youthful, offering real persistence and coiled power. The palate sees the move to gorgeous chocolate notes. A wine with serious length, there is much to love here.
96 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com -
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2021 Yalumba The Caley Cabernet ShirazSouth Australia, AUSTRALIA$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 20 Years (2026-2046)ABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkThis is the seventh release of Yalumba’s flagship wine, the ‘Caley’ and it’s up there with their best yet. A classic marriage of two noble grape varieties sourced from two of Australia’s greatest wine regions, Coonawarra and Barossa it’s a blend of 74% Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and 26% Barossa Shiraz. The wine is matured for 18 months in a mix of 21% new French oak barriques with the balance in 1 year and older French oak barriques.
A seamless blend of Cabernet and Shiraz highlighted by extraordinary length and wonderful finesse.
Pours with spectacular colour density featuring an inky black heart alongside a deep dark red black hue. Soaring through the olfactory senses is a complex matrix of blackcurrant, liquorice and mulberry scents interwoven with vanillin cedar, subtle earthy dark chocolate, tobacco, pepper and bay leaf notes. Rich yet gorgeously refined and structured, the mid weighted palate is flooded with red to black currant, liquorice, dark chocolate and ripe mulberry fruits which meld into a spicy vanillin cedar, earthy tobacco and bay leaf infused back drop. Displaying immaculate tannin integration and outstanding power, it concludes long, highly finessed and sophisticated.
Drink over the next 20 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews...
At this viewing (and we are a long way off from this wine's intended release), we are in for a very special wine – Yalumba's flagship, from the excellent 2021 vintage. It is a picture of elegance and fruit power in one package. There is a glass-staining deep crimson colour for starters. The fruit, seemingly reduced to an essence, is all blackberry, cassis, black cherry and dark plum. Hints of deep spice, blackforest cake, licorice, cedar, tobacco pouch, bouquet garni, black olive tapenade, pencil shavings, roast beef, earth, veal glace and dark chocolate. The tannins are powdery, layered and in perfect resolution, the oak sitting simpatico with the deep fruit, the finish stretching out for a considerable length of time. The best Caley release thus far for mine. Drink by 2024.
99 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionIt might be suspicion only but one feels that our venerable old Barossa producer, Yalumba, may have felt that, as impressive as its portfolio of wines is, the world did not see them having a release which challenged the Granges and the Hills of Grace and a surprising number of new releases at ridiculously high and arguably undeserved prices. Enter this wine, although it still sits well below how others when we start talking cost, but then that is only to its advantage. They opted for the great Aussie red blend to take it away from the usual single variety rock stars. It is also a blend of regions with the Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra and the Shiraz from the Barossa. There have been some absolutely superb releases of this wine over the years but for me, none better than this 2021. It is a superstar. Under cork. Gleaming blood red/maroon, the nose reveals notes of bright cherries, tobacco leaves, spices, well integrated oak, plums, blackberries, aniseed, cassis and beef stock. It is subtle and seductive, generous and plush, offering a fine line of acidity in great length. There are silky tannins on the lingering finish. Superbly focused, this is surely the best Caley to come my way (and I have seen them all). Stonkingly good, if one wishes to get technical. Thirty years with ease. Drink 2026-2056.
99 points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.comThe 2021 The Caley Cabernet Shiraz hails from an excellent year in South Australia. The season was warm but not hot (in fact, it has been described as cool, although I think "mild" and "benign" are more accurate terms) and offered both growers and makers the opportunity to get the best of their vineyards and produce some of the best wines possible. These should be exceptionally long-lived wines. So here, the 2021 The Caley Cabernet Shiraz leads with a nose of deep dark chocolate, dark fruits, mahogany and black olive tapenade. In the mouth, the tannins are both intense and profuse, encasing the fruit at this early stage yet promising many years in the future to come. This is persistent and long, powerful and concentrated. Sealed under Diam and wax. Drink 2026-2051.
97 points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateThis is not only the greatest wine to ever emerge from the hallowed halls of Yalumba, it is categorically the finest exemplar of the great Australian blend of the modern era, and the equal of the greatest in history. Kevin KG Glastonbury’s relentless fanaticism has fused Coonawarra Cabernet with Barossa shiraz (26%) to perfection, and I use this word very deliberately.
While I was not alive at the time to have the privilege of tasting it in its youth, it has perhaps not been since Max Schubert’s legendary 1962 Penfolds Bin 60A that this union has been mastered with such breathtaking harmony. Since its inaugural release a decade ago, The Caley has set the standard for refinement in cabernet shiraz, reincarnating the Coonawarra/Barossa blends of Yalumba of a half- century ago to become the first wine to win Matthew Jukes and my The Great Australian Red competition four times with three vintages, each of which I scored 98-99 points. 2021 embraces this profound legacy and takes it further to establish an all-new benchmark. It elevates this distinguished label by effortlessly contrasting greater depth of black fruits, higher lift of violet fragrance, more energetic, cool season acidity and more profound confidence of tannins that are at once finer and more velvety and yet somehow stronger, more rigid and more enduring - the pinnacle of KG’s life work. I have bestowed a perfect score on an Australian table wine only once in the past decade, and The Caley 2021 is every bit deserving. Be sure to be first in line when it is unleashed on 1 May 2026.
100 Points
Tyson StelzerI am infinitely grateful to have creator, creative and creation knowledge of this wine, from its inception to this moment in time. All vintages, all progressions, all inflections and all moments of ‘worry’ have been shared, and so when a wine, and there are few on the planet with this epic consistency of production, is released, the world must pay attention. There is so much class here, it is extraordinary. How would you place this wine if you were an alien landing at our intergalactic hub in search of a refreshing libation? It could only be a wine from the 5263 quadrant of SA, which I am sure an alien could compute faster than most humans. But there is a looming sense of disquiet about this 74% Coonawarra wine, because it has an x-factor that transports into an otherworldly plane that is simply jaw-dropping. My wine mind does all it can to personify every sip I taste and yet, as much as I admire all the James Bonds, Hans Solo, and even, and this might sound somewhat incongruous, the Jackson Lambs of this world, this wine has no earthly human form synonym. It soars, mythical, half-human, half-deity, and it holds back more than it gives, and then releases unfathomable mysteries when you momentarily switch off. It is, in short, epic. I wondered if any wine could eclipse the inaugural 2012 The Caley, and then a handful of them have done just this. 2021 is the most recent to do so, and I am thrilled to bring it to your attention.
20/20
Matthew Jukes -
- 94
- Biodynamic
- Organic
2024 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Circle Blewitt Springs Field BlendMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA juicy, youthfully vibrant Rhone blend that finishes fresh and succulent.
A blend of 70% Grenache, 17% Carignan, 10% Counoise, 2% Cinsault and 1% Mourvedre. Vibrant dark red core with black toned edges and a bright purple red tinged hue. Alluring red to dark raspberry, red liquorice and plum scents intermingle with whiffs of fresh herbs, vanillin confectionary and delicate peppered earth notes. Light to medium weight, juicy and possessing a youthful vibrancy, red raspberry, red liquorice and red plum fruits overlay dried herb, subtle scorched earth and pepper elements. Smooth, seamlessly integrated tannins finishing fresh and succulent.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 95
- 95
- Organic
- Biodynamic
2024 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Circle Blewitt Springs GrenacheMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinYangarra Estate’s Circle Collection is a new range of entry-level wines that focus on Southern Rhone varietals. Made from younger vines they are uber delicious fruit driven wines that deliver fantastic value.
An explosive, super juicy Grenache that makes for highly addictive drinking.
Deep dark purple red core with black shaded edges and a bright purple hue. The wonderfully fragrant nose is singing with red to dark raspberry, violet, red liquorice and blueberry scents. Subtle fresh herb and peppered earth notes are also evident. Super juicy and intensely flavoured, rich red to dark raspberry, red liquorice and cherry fruits explode across the exuberant palate with delicate infusions of dried herbs, scorched earth and pepper the undercard. Magnificent power and silky tannins with fresh acidity lending an energetic feel to the long super succulent finish. Highly addictive drinking over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews....
This is the younger vine bottling, coming mainly off vines planted in '08. Up to three weeks on skins; maturation in steel and old puncheons and foudre. This is a nice foil to the Old Vine bottling, showing what relatively youthful vines can do on this great site. There’s an open red-berried and cherry fruitfulness, with red florals supported by savoury spice and a foundation of purposeful natural tannin. This doesn’t have the mineral depth of the Old Vine, but the fruit vibrancy and exuberance yield their own rewards. Drink by 2030.
95 Points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
- Biodynamic
- Organic
2025 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Circle Blewitt Springs RoseMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2026-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinAn incredibly moreish Rose that’s almost impossible to stop drinking.
A certified organic and biodynamic blend of 53% Mourvèdre, 41% Grenache, 4% Counoise, 1% Carignan, 1% Cinsault. Salmon pink tinged colour. Gorgeous aromatics of raspberry, strawberry and pomegranate spiral out of the glass followed by some musk and wet stone notes. Delicious raspberry, peach and strawberry fruits are delivered with wonderful intensity and carry a supple textural feel. Pomegranate, musk and wet stone elements ensue. Brisk acidity with a long silken finish that makes for irresistible drinking.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 13.5% - Ardnahoe 7 Year Old Feis Ile 2026 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenABV: 59.7%
The ninth distillery on Islay is already commanding respect with a number of impressive releases. Added to that are limited editions like this 7 Year Old, which at the time of writing, ranks as Ardnahoe's oldest effort to date. Bottled and labelled for Fèis Ìle 2026 with barley peated to around 40ppm, it achieves a precocious balance of sweet vanilla, coastal character and peat smoke with 830 bottles drawn from first fill bourbon barrels at 59.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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- 94
- 92
2022 Bouvet Saphir Brut VintageSaumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkOutside of Champagne, Bouvet is the most awarded Sparkling Wine House in France, garnering high praise from critics like Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Decanter Magazine, James Suckling and many others. After many years of ownership by Champagne Taittinger, Bouvet Ladubay is once again fully owned by the Monmousseau family who have continuously run the business since their purchase in 1932. Bouvet Ladubay employs precisely the same wine making process as Grand Marque Champagne, delivering French sophistication at an everyday price.
Delivering remarkable value this is quite possibly the best vintage of Bouvet Saphir yet.
A blend of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay that’s aged for a minimum of 18 months on lees. An exuberant mousse holds well over a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold tinged edges and a generous stream of delicate bubbles flowing through it. Expressive pear, baked apple and yeast lees aromas are trailed by citrus, delicate toast and subtle chalk notes. Loaded with flavour the mouth watering palate features ripe pear and apple fruits over a yeast lees, citrus and gently toasted brioche backdrop. Soft airy feel with crisp, stimulating acidity leading into a long scrumptious finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews…..
A precise, succulent and textural Saumur with notes of apples, ripe pears and sweet spices. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity. Bright and agile, with fine bubbles and a focused finish of excellent length. Drink or hold.
92 Points
JamesSuckling.com - Bruichladdich Octomore 16.1 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$270. 00Bottle$3240.00 DozenABV: 59.3%
Other reviews... 5 years old, as noted, bourbon-barreled in 100% first-fill barrels; peated to 101.4 ppm of phenols — quite low for the series. 100% Scottish Concerto barley. This is one of the most immediately engaging “.1” Octomore releases I’ve encountered in a while, and it hits the nose with a freshness that can be lacking in the bourbon-exclusive version of Octomore. Sweet and fruity, there’s a strong tropical bent on the nose that makes for a nice companion to the lacing of peat smoke, ringed with tobacco-adjacent greenery notes. The palate keeps the theme going, here the fruit veering more to apricot and peach notes, later segueing into almond and honey. The peat is fairly light-handed here but always waiting in the wings. When the fruity sweetness fades a bit, it roars to life with a gravelly punch evoking turned earth more than beach bonfire this year, which ultimately threatens to overpower the milk chocolate notes that arrive on the finish. 118.6 proof. - drinkhacker.com
...I expected a mediocre whisky for a lot of money, which doesn't match the quality, but instead I received a very decent whisky, traditionally with plenty of smoke, sweet yellow fruit in the form of apples, apricots, and juicy peaches. The finish is very pleasant, with a campfire and a hint of chocolate and fresh mint. If I find it at a good price somewhere, I'll gladly buy it. - whiskybase.com
101.4ppm peat, which is almost nothing really. I mean, for Octomore’s malt, which can apparently reach 300ppm or so. The barley itself was harvested in 2018, then distilled in 2019. Never forget the dormancy period of barley, during which freshly harvested grains don’t germinate straight away, it can last several months. Naturally, no germination means no malting. Colour: straw. Nose: precisely the feeling of burying one’s nose in a full ashtray at an open-air nightclub on the Côte d’Azur, around four in the morning. Then the smell of a spent fireplace in which mostly coniferous wood had been burnt. In the background, just a faint whiff of slightly sour beer. With water: apples and almond milk emerge, accompanied by a touch of brine. Mouth (neat): very powerful, it does burn a fair bit, but it also recalls high-ester Hampden, something like <DOK. One of these days we ought to do a proper and methodical comparison. With water: someone seems to have smoked brine and added sour apple juice. Finish: very long, very nervous, with a kind of ultra-concentrated fino sherry character. Ashes and black pepper rule the aftertaste. Comments: a bit like sea water after a phantom Russian tanker has passed by, feels rather more extreme than last year’s ‘15.1’. 87 points - whiskyfun.com
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- 93
- Nicks Import
- Reduced
Bushmills 12 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey (700ml)County Antrim, IRELANDReduced from $79.99$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 40%Whisky Advocate's Editor's Choice No.16 in the Top 20 of 2022.
Bushmills 12 Year Old is set to be the distillery's new core product. Like the rest of the range, it’s triple distilled, but comes matured in three cask types: Oloroso sherry butts for depth and dried fruit, bourbon barrels for sweetness and structure, followed by a finishing spell in Marsala wine barriques. While some would like to see the ABV increased to give the whiskey more depth, most consider it a super-serviceable Irish, whose strong point is its amiable character. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Bushmills has developed considerable experience in marsala cask finishing, so this release marks a distinctive new addition to the spectrum of flavors of their core range. Dark, sweet, juicy aromas of plum, damson jam, clove, peppercorn, citrus, mixed peel, grilled peach, sultana, and walnut oil precede a full-bodied whiskey with flavors of date loaf, sweet fig, chocolate orange, oak tannins, black tea, walnut, sweet wine, and runny honey. 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com
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- 94
- 93
- 92
- 91
- Nicks Import
2022 Chateau LanessanHaut Medoc, Bordeaux, FRANCE$46. 99Bottle$563.88 DozenCellar: 6 - 8 Years (2031-2033)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkFirm and chewy with rich red to black fruits and assertive tannins.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. A mixture of red to black currant and red liquorice fruits greet the nostrils followed by some earth, spicy vanillin cedar, faint graphite and subtle spicy tobacco notes. Firm and chewy, the mid weighted palate sports rich red to black currant and liquorice fruits over an earthy back drop of cedary tobacco, dried herb, pencil lead and spice characters. Assertive tannins impart a grippy feel across the muscular conclusion.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%
Other Reviews....
Ripe and open on the nose - expressive scents of dark, sun-kissed fruit. Concentrated on the palate but with such a lovely weight and texture - slightly grippy, slightly chewy and cool overall. Feels nicely balanced, round and forward. Calm and fresh. Juicy strawberries with mint and aniseed. Drink 2026-2036.
93 points
Georgina Hindle - DecanterThe 2022 Lanessan is bold and punchy right out of the gate. A blast of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, sage, menthol and licorice makes a strong first impression. Lanessan speaks with authority. It is quite assertive yet also poised, with fine balance and plenty of potential for the future. Drink 2027-2037.
92 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousA well-balanced, velvety and comforting red, showing forest berries, dried herbs and dried spices. Medium-bodied with chalky tannins. Juicy blue-fruit character on the palate. The focused, flavorful finish has excellent length. Drink from 2026.
91 points
James SucklingCigar box, licorice, espresso, and black currants with a trickle of chocolate define the core of this wine. From there, it gets even better with its fresh, juicy mouthful of blackberries, cocoa dust, and herbs. This is another screaming Left Bank value wine that consumers seeking serious QPR should be all over. Drink from 2026-2045.
93 points
Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider -
- Nicks Import
Coruba 12 Year Old Cigar Rum (700ml)JAMAICA$109. 99Bottle$1319.88 DozenABV: 40%Reminiscent of Dalmore’s Cigar Malt, this Jamaican rum is marketed as the perfect pairing with a fine cigar. Various sources report aromas and flavours of dried mango bark, brown sugar, vanilla, toffee, pineapple, cloves, cinnamon, tobacco smoke and burnt oak. Others suggest it to be more suitable as a mixer rather than sipped neat. Distilled and matured in Jamaica on behalf of the The Rum Company Basel, creators of fine rum since 1889. 40% Alc./Vol.
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- 95
- 91
- 97
- Nicks Import
- Not gift boxed
- Reduced
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye Blended Canadian Whisky (1000ml)CANADAReduced from $119.99$109. 99Bottle$1319.88 DozenABV: 45%Another chance to snap up the World's Best Whisky for 2016 in a one litre format.
The Gimli Distillery situated on the shores of Lake Winnipeg in central Canada is one of the world’s most remote distilleries, as well as being home to the Crown Royal brand. Although Canadian whisky is commonly known as rye, this new CR edition is one of only a handful which is actually made from near 100% rye grain. Most others are distilled from corn or wheat with rye and other flavourings added. Jim Murray gave the Northern Harvest Rye a record-qualifying 97.5 out of 100 points in his 2016 Whisky Bible commenting: “Rye, that most eloquent of grains, not just turning up to charm and enthral but to also take us through a routine which reaches new heights of beauty and complexity. To say this is a masterpiece is barely doing it justice.”
While the whisky was never scheduled for release here, we've managed to secure a small quantity in 1 litre format for Australian whisky lovers. Find out what all the fuss was about!
Tasting note: Brilliant amber gold. Fabulous purity with whiffs of apple/peach tart and fresh-picked mint over vanilla wafer biscuit, pencil shavings, hints of gum and green banana. Crisp and spicy in the mouth. The rye is assertive, oily, dense. An almost brittle mouthfeel. Finish offers buttered ryvita biscuit, vanilla custard, cocoa, pepper and sustained mint freshness. Long, concentrated and beautifully harmonised. 45% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... A blend of 95% rye-grain flavoring whisky with a variety of base whiskies. Its big whisky cocktails will tempt mixers into sipping. Very fruity and floral, with prunes, peaches, red apple skins, and bouquets of spring flowers all boosted by vibrant peppery spices on a slightly oaky base. Crown Royal’s signature balsam resin note and hints of vanilla round it out. The long, spicy finish ends with hints of citrus pith. A complex, tightly woven blend. 91 points
- whiskyadvocate.com, (Fall 2015) Reviewed by: Davin de Kergommeaux -
- 97
- 97
- 96
- 95
2024 Elanto Vineyard Pinot Noir Magnum (1500ml)Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$195. 00Bottle$2340.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkRich, supple and expansive with a long peacock’s tail like finish.
Elanto Vineyard is fast becoming one of the most compelling projects on the Mornington Peninsula. Established in 2018 by Elizabeth and Tony Todaro with Sandro Mosele at the helm, the 10.6-hectare Balnarring site is planted at an extraordinary density over 11,000 vines per hectare, four times the regional norm. Yields are kept to just 300-500g per vine, resulting in small, concentrated bunches that carry the depth and power Sandro has long championed. Volcanic red soils, southeast exposure, and the cooling influence of Western Port Bay provide the setting, while meticulous organic farming and uncompromising vineyard detail push the wines into rare territory.
The five Pinot Noir vineyards, Vertex, Ironstone, Chicory, Kilnside, and Basalt, span 6.7 hectares on the upper slopes with basalt-rich soils. The red volcanic soils transition to shallower, stonier terrain mid-slope, producing lower yields, concentrated flavors, and a distinct tannin profile. Each vineyard was harvested and vinified separately, with chilled, destemmed fruit (3-5% whole bunches) undergoing cold soak and natural fermentation in concrete vats. After 25-30 days on skins, the wine was pressed and aged in a mix of new and older French oak barriques for 11 months before blending and bottling.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Perfumed aromas of violet, dark cherry, strawberry and anise soar from the glass trailed by some spicy cedar, forest floor, subtle dried herb and brambly rhubarb like notes. Rich, supplely textured dark cherry, strawberry and anise flavours expand across the palate with a peacock’s tail like power wave. Spicy cedar, rhubarb, forest floor, delicate infusions of dried herbs and bramble are spread across the back half. Seamlessly integrated, velvet smooth tannins and fresh underlying acidity. Finishes super seductive and very long.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews……
What a beguiling wine – only the second release and showing complexity far beyond its years. It’s certainly youthful and pretty with heady aromas of florals and autumn leaves with flavours of wild strawberries, dark cherries and pips, chinotto, Middle Eastern spices and some poached rhubarb, too. The medium-bodied palate is evenly poised, laden with filigree tannins (lots of them) and energising acidity; oak (25% new) completely integrated. This has depth, some grip, a little amaro bitterness on the finish and, of utmost importance, it will age but it’s oh-so pleasing to drink today. Drink by 2036.
97 points
Jane Faulkner – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThe intensity of fruit here is fantastic, as is the length of the finish, as is the tannin profile. This wine is out of the ordinary on these matters alone. It tastes of stewed red and black cherries, peppercorns, cedar and undergrowth, the dry crackle of the finish – yet sluiced with fruit – one for the ages. The slightest degree of warmth is my only hesitation; in all other respects this is superb. Drink 2026-2033+
95 points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine FrontThe 2024 Balnarring Pinot Noir is perfumed and fragrant and quite different in character compared to the 2023 tasted alongside. Where the former was powerful, structural and condensed, this is floral, perfumed and fresh. I love the way this wine performs. There is levity here and minerality too. The tannins are structural and chalky through the long finish. This is very good. It doesn't break stride at any point. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2039.
96 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate -
- 92
- 92
- 95
- Kosher Certified
- Nicks Import
Glencadam 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$109. 99Bottle$1319.88 DozenABV: 46%"My God, the guy who put this one together must be a genius, or something." - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible.
Pale straw gold. Opening inhalations include toasted marshmallows followed by melted butter and grain store; the seductive buttery characteristic persists in later passes. Sweet malty entry hints at shortbread while also being mildly grassy. Delicious, sweet, exuberant malt through the middle stages. Ends bright and spicy with hints of lemon barley sugar and orchard fruits. Great length and mouthfeel. Pristine barley is the focus from start to finish. 46% Alc/Vol. Non chill filtered. Tasted from a 20ml sample.
Other reviews... Sophisticated, sensual, salivating and seemingly serene... My God, the guy who put this one together must be a genius, or something. 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021
...Impeccable balance from start to finish; clean and structured. The nose is floral and fresh with jasmine, freesia, and apple blossom, plus green pears, lemon, talcum powder, and almond cream. Lemon, coconut, and vanilla form a sweet bright palate that revels in its celebration of malt: Think of apricot jam in a shortbread thumbprint cookie. Sweet and clean finish with persistent lemon, vanilla, and mouthwatering oak.
92 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Spring 2021)Bright fino sherry yellow color; impeccable purity. First scents after the pour are all about new saddle leather/leather gloves, sour malted barley, new spirit, grapefruit then the later sniffs detect more of the grapefruit and a touch of lime but the oak remains hidden while the barley dances a jig. Entry reinforces the grapefruit/tropical fruit asset while the midpalate goes more grainy/malty and sap-like, almost but not quite succulent. Finishes medium long, slightly resiny, leathery, lean but not austere and pleasingly youthful and sprightly. 3 Stars / Recommended - spiritsjournal.com
Silver Medal, International Wine & Spirit Competition London – 2010
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- Limit One per customer
2017 Hazelburn Oloroso Cask Matured 8 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Campbeltown, SCOTLAND$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 48.2%"...a very impressive release, especially at only 8 years old." - whiskybase.com
A chance to pick up a fully Oloroso matured whisky from Springbank where the sherry isn't too dominant. It also showcases Springbank's ability to squeeze the most out of just eight years in barrel. Despite its youth, consensus is that this is a terrific Hazelburn. 10,500 bottles produced. 48.2% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... One of the best Hazelburns I've ever tasted. The nose was already a fantastic experience, and I didn't expect this 8-year-old to be so good. This one is definitely going into my collection. Hopefully, it'll still be available when I'm back at the distillery. Nose: A true wow moment and a huge smile on my face. Red fruit, dark chocolate, coffee beans, strawberry, licorice, orange peel, complex dark notes. Just what you'd expect from an Oloroso cask. Taste: Honey drop, liquorice, wooden barn, blueberries and tree bark. Finish: Licorice, red fruit, long finish that definitely lingers for a while so you can enjoy it a little longer. - whiskybase.com
...I've had this a few times now and every time it surprises me. On paper - Hazelburn, 8 years old, sherry, fairly low ABV - this would appear one of the "friendlier" type of whiskies coming out of the Springbank distillery, but the reality is the complete opposite of an easy dram. It's bone dry, salty, slightly tannic on the palate and filled with a slight peatiness/Springbank funk/cigar box/engine oil type of vibe on the nose. Only in the finish do you start getting a bit of sweetness. Absolutely jam packed with flavour and smell too. I think this is a very impressive release, especially at only 8 years old. - whiskybase.com
...A great nose, which reaches more or less the same heights as some considerably older expressions. On the palate it gets a little rougher with the youth and oak shining through. Overall a nice release though. - whiskynotes.be
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- Limit One per customer
- Nicks Import
Hazelburn 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 2025 BottlingCampbeltown, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 46%"if you’re a fan of elegant, simple, unpeated whiskies that don’t try too hard but still deliver, you’re in for a treat." - dramface.com
Named after one of Campbeltown's lost distilleries, Hazelburn gains its delicate character from unpeated barley and is distilled following the Longrow run, three times instead of twice, as is the standard for Scotch single malt. Sometimes described as "a light triple distilled version of Springbank", consistent with previous releases, the 2025 release comes 100% matured in x-Bourbon casks. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... I won what felt like the whisky lottery and managed to snag a bottle of this year’s Hazelburn 10 release – and it did not disappoint. From a nose that’s bright, fruity and coastal, to a palate that is smooth, creamy, and quietly confident: if you’re a fan of elegant, simple, unpeated whiskies that don’t try too hard but still deliver, you’re in for a treat. So, maybe, if you’re set on a resolution for 2026, it should be something like picking up one of these. If you can find one. - dramface.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: On the nose we have notes of Victoria sponge, honey, vanilla, gooseberries, dried apricots and a soft floral element. Palate: The palate brings notes of key lime pie, icing sugar, green grapes and fruit syrup. Finish: There is a waxiness in the finish with a note of bergamot lemon.
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- 91
- Nicks Import
2014 Lady of the Glen Glen Elgin Single Cask #800982 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 57.3%A fruity, floral and honeyed distillate that's a favourite at LOTG due to its versatility and compatibility with many cask types. This one was originally matured in a hogshead then 'finished' for six long years in a first fill Amontillado sherry cask sourced from Josafer cooperage. It needs time to blow off the intense bittersweet cocoa nose and sharp citrus edge, giving way to poached Summer fruits. Settles into a gargantuan malt-drive. A tongue blasting malt-fest. Few will have tasted Glen Elgin as bold and feisty as this. You'll need water to get past the over-the-top experience uncut, which turns the profile to orange-filled milk chocolates. 236 bottles. 57.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Telling a palo cortado from an amontillado in a finishing is nothing short of wizardry, and we’ll freely admit we are quite unable to do so. Colour: full gold. Nose: earth, peppers and oranges in various guises. Will that do for you? With water: notes of Swiss cheese fondue, kirsch and white wine. I promise. Mouth (neat): the oranges save the world, at least here, yet it remains a touch… improbable. Think bitter orange liqueur with pepper and ginger. With water: ah, that’s better, though still a tad uncertain (Gruyère, pepper, kirsch and glue, really?) Finish: very long, very peppery, fairly bitter. Notes of glue and Seville orange. Comments: another highly acrobatic Glen Elgin, let us be frank, but really very, very decent. 80 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the bottlers... stewed strawberries, nutmeg and chocolate coffee beans.
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