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2022 Querceto di Castellina L’Aura Chianti ClassicoTuscany, ITALY$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2026-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkAn energetic and quite juicy red fruited Chianti with a long, savoury finish.
Deep dark red black tinged core with a dark red hue. Red to black currant and red cherry scents intermix with earth, tobacco and spicy dried herb notes. Energetic and quite juicy, red to dark currant, red cherry and red liquorice fruits carry medium body weight supported by undertones of earth, dried herbs and spicy tobacco. Grainy, slightly chalky tannins with fresh underlying acidity and a long savoury finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
Ripe cherries and strawberries with hints of chocolate nibs and spices on the nose. Dried flowers, too. Medium-bodied with tense, juicy acidity and dusty tannins. Smooth and textured. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold.
91 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 93
2025 Chaffey Bros. Not Your Grandma’s RieslingEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2026-2030)ABV: 12.3%Closure: StelvinA juicy, off dry style of Riesling that carries good textural volume.
Brilliant water like core with green highlights around the edges. Intense lime, red apple and orange blossom aromas are followed by whiffs of honeysuckle and mineral. Juicy red apple, lime and orange fruits meld into an off dry finish of honeysuckle and gentle spice. Crisp acidity with a fruity conclusion of good textural volume.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12.3% - 2014 Cooper's Choice The Golden Cut Collection Campbeltown 11 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Campbeltown, SCOTLAND$169. 99Bottle$2039.88 DozenABV: 50%
Part of Cooper's Choice new 'Golden Cut' series, into which only the most characterful casks make the cut. This should bring a smile to the face of those partial to Campbeltown styles - regardless of presumed origin - and there is speculation that it's a tea-spooned Springbank (which is why it's classified as a blended malt rather than a single). Comes finished in an x-Martinique Rum cask with a yield of 318 bottles at high strength. Be quick! 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... An extremely pleasant 50% ABV; there's absolutely no harshness here. Initially, a hint of caramel reminiscent of Glengyle, but the taste quickly moves away from this impression and towards what it already impressed with on the nose: delicious fresh apricots and peaches, along with mandarin orange blossom and mirabelle plums, damp pebbles, a touch of salt and pepper, and eventually, dry wood. Finish: Medium-length, almost creamy finish, maritime, mineral, fruity, fresh. - whiskybase.com
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2025 Weaver Single Vineyard Sauvignon BlancAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2026-2028)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA zesty Sauvignon Blanc that shows plenty of punch and impressive concentration.
Brilliant water like core with a subtle greenish tinge around the outskirts. Intense green apple and tropical fruit scents mix with lime, fresh herb and subtle mineral notes. Zesty lime, green apple and tropical fruit flavours are delivered with plenty of punch and show impressive concentration. Elements of fresh herbs, wet stone and mineral lie underneath. Superb textural volume and drive with crisp acidity imparting tense, zippy feel across the long mouth watering finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
There's something so effortless and good about this wine. Pure. Drives with energy. Tart with its freshness. Deep in the flow of varietal character. Citrus on just-ripe stone fruits, a lick of cut grass and dill herbal nuance, cucumber in tonic water and light passionfruit and gin 'n' tonic characters. Utterly delicious, fine boned, sleek and long lived in flavours. It finds such a great balance of things. Drink by 2029.
95 Points
Mike Bennie - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
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2024 De Bortoli The Estate Vineyard ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2026-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA nicely fleshed, mid weighted Yarra Valley Chardonnay.
Brilliant pale straw colour with green tinged edges and a watery hue. Attractive white peach, ripe nectarine and dried honey scents drift from the glass trailed by some biscuity nougat, delicate crème brulee and spice notes. Mid weighted, the palate carries a nicely fleshed feel with white peach and nectarine fruits to the fore. Subtle dried honey, biscuity nougat and spice elements sit beneath. Good freshness with a shapely medium length finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13% - 2013 Cooper's Choice The Golden Cut Collection Tomatin 11 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$169. 99Bottle$2039.88 DozenABV: 50%
After a primary maturation in an x-Bourbon barrel, this youthful Tomatin was transferred to an Oloroso sherry cask to develop a deep, nutty, and spicy character that also brings fruit cake, poached orchard fruits and nut brittle to the table. Judging by the fantastic colour, it should be a text book example of Highland malt successfully married with traditional Spanish oak. Limited to 342 bottles. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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2022 De Bortoli Woodfired Heathcote GrenacheHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$17. 99Bottle$215.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2026-2029)ABV: 14.2%Closure: StelvinA light to mid weighted Grenache with slightly muscular tannins, fresh acidity and a bright red fruited finish.
Dark red heart with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Pronounced ripe dark raspberry, liquorice and black cherry scents evolve out of the glass followed by some vanillin confectionary and spice notes. Juicy raspberry, cherry and red liquorice fruits bounce across the light to mid weighted palate with subtle notions of earth, vanillin spice and pepper lying underneath. Slightly muscular tannins and fresh acidity with a bright red fruited finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14.2% -
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2024 Gunderloch Fritz’s Riesling DryRheinhessen, GERMANY$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA zingy, entry level German Riesling.
Fritz's Riesling grows in a very small and special part of Rheinhessen called the Roter Hang, a name meaning “red hill“ due to its red-slate soils. The combination of the red slate soil, its proximity to the Rhine river, exposure to the sun and the steepness of the vineyards are perfect for producing wines with wonderful ripeness.
Brilliant water like core with green toned edges. Lime and red apple aromas lead the way followed by hints of mandarin, wet slate and flinty mineral notes. Zesty lime, red apple and mandarin fruits intermingle with delicate honeysuckle, wet slate and a flinty mineral under current. Crisp acidity imparting a zingy feel across the long, mouth watering finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12% -
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2022 Protero Gumeracha NebbioloAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: 4 - 5 Years (2030-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinJuicy red fruits shaped by fresh, energetic acidity and a muscular tannin framework.
Red to dark red coloured core with black tinged edges and a light red hue. Spicy red cherry and red currant aromas intermingle with earthy graphite and dried herb notes. Juicy red cherry, red currant and red liquorice fruits are underscored by fresh, energetic acidity. Muscular tannin framework with earth, tobacco and spicy dried herb elements lurking across the back half. Chalky feel finishing sculptured and grippy.
Cellar 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
It does both speeds of lightweight and serious with fine tannin profile. Lots of perfume, too, and a dark cherry, brambly herbal focus for descriptors. In all that, it nails the brief of proper nebbiolo, with succulence to texture, great volume of perfume, restraint in fruit character and yet finesse. Elegance personified. And beautiful drinking. Drink by 2040.
95 Points
Mike Bennie - James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionPerfumed and lifted, with aromas of dark cherries, dried herbs, tobacco leaves and orange peel. The palate is medium-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of mulberries, Damson plums and leather. Well balanced with an underlying tension. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2025 Reillys Watervale RieslingClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$17. 99Bottle$215.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 11%Closure: StelvinA mouth watering Watervale Riesling that has a long racy finish.
Brilliant water like core with a subtle tinge of green to the surrounds. Lime, citrus and orange scents jump out of the glass with impressive intensity. Talc and chalky mineral notes also chime in. Mouth watering lime and citrus fruits combine with some green apple, orange rind and chalky mineral elements. Crisp invigorating acidity with a long racy finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 11% -
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2022 Donne Fittipaldi BolgheriTuscany, ITALY$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 14%Closure: Diam CorkA rich, generously endowed Tuscan red with assertive tannins.
Dense pitch black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Pronounced ripe blackcurrant and liquorice aromas lead the way followed by some Mediterranean herb, spicy cedar, red cherry and earthy graphite notes. Rich blackcurrant and liquorice fruits are framed by assertive tannins which impart a chewy mouth feel. Bright acidity with earth, fresh herb and spicy cedar elements the undercard. Generously endowed with fruit it finishes with a firm grippy feel.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
A round and crunchy red with black-cherry, dark-chocolate and currant character. Medium body, firm tannins and a savory finish. Hints of cedar and stone here. Drink or hold.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2024 Quarisa Johnny Q ChardonnaySouth Australia, AUSTRALIA$13. 99Bottle$167.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2026-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA rich, creamy textured, fruit driven style of Chardonnay.
Brilliant pale straw to straw colour with glimpses of green around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of ripe peach and tropical fruit mix with subtle toast, crème brulee and spice notes. Rich, creamy textured flavours of peach, tropical fruit, crème brulee, delicate bacon fat and spicy nougat are draped across the palate. Relatively mild acidity with a well rounded, fruit driven conclusion.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13% -
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2022 Catena Zapata Birth of Cabernet Cabernet SauvignonMendoza, ARGENTINA$185. 00Bottle$2220.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2026-2036)ABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkA wonderfully finessed Cabernet that concludes long and juicy yet elegant.
A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Dense inky black heart with a deep dark purple red hue. Wonderfully perfumed, the nose offers up alluring scents of violet, red to black currant, liquorice and blueberry followed by some spicy vanillin cedar, earth and fresh herb notes. A sustained wave of rich red to black currant, red liquorice and blueberry fruits swamp the refined medium bodied palate. Showing impressive concentration and finesse, notions of spicy vanillin cedar, dried herbs, subtle tobacco and earthy dark chocolate form the undercurrent. Delightful freshness with polished yet structured tannins and a long, juicy yet elegant conclusion.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
The 2022 Birth of Cabernet continues the greatness quest of the 2021, blending a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon with 100% whole-cluster fermentation on the smaller 10% amount of Cabernet Franc only. Medium-bodied, it holds a wealth of complex aromas and flavors within its folds, from fresh tobacco to dark chocolate. Hints of pencil shavings and dried herb beckon as well along a continuum of cassis-laden tannins and spiced oak. Drink 2030-2042.
98 Points
Virginie Boone – JebDunnuck.comThis has a very elegant nose of cassis and fresh, tight fruit. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, juicy, incisive and saline, with a fresh side. This comes from a 17-year-old vineyard planted in Agrelo. Drink now.
96 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2024 Carpineta Fontalpino Chianti Colli SenesiTuscany, ITALY$44. 99Bottle$539.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkJuicy and vibrant with mildly chalky tannins and a long, elegant red fruited finish.
Since the 1960’s, the Cresti family has been running this estate located in Castelnuovo Berardenga in the southern part of the Chianti Classico region. This 80 hectare property, of which 23 are dedicated to wine, produces a traditional style of Chianti Classico with a modern edge to it.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a bright red hue. The nose expels aromas of red currants, Mediterranean herbs and red liquorice followed by hints of earth, tobacco and spice. Delicious red currant and red liquorice fruits are both juicy and vibrant in their flow across the medium weighted palate. Some red cherry, earth, dried herbs and spice form the underbelly. Energetic acidity and mildly chalky tannins with a long, elegant red fruited finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% - 2015 Cooper's Choice The Golden Cut Collection Teaninich 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 50%
Looking for something a little controversial for your next tasting event? This could be it. A bottling that has intrigued more than a few. It's not your typical Ruby Port profile, rather capturing an unusual earthy character. The expected red fruits remain present though not exactly popping out. Lots of oak spice, too. The outturn equates to 360 bottles 50% Alc.Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... I'm giving this whisky a STRONG 88, but only for one reason: This whisky has an aroma, both on the nose and on the palate, that I can barely identify. I've tasted quite a few whiskies in my life, but I've never encountered a bottle with such a "strange" flavor profile. I wouldn't call it delicious... but it's highly intriguing! A brief update after the second glass: I would say the taste is most similar to damp earth. This note is already slightly present in the nose, but then quite pronounced in the taste. - whiskybase.com
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2024 Le Pezze Pinot GrigioVeneto, ITALYReduced from $24.99$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2026-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA tasty, intensely flavoured Pinot Grigio that carries excellent textural shape.
Sourced from various vineyard sites across the foothills and upper hilly areas of the Val d'Alpone, this is a highly flavoursome and textured Pinot Grigio that delivers great value. Brilliant pale straw colour with a subtle green tinge around the outskirts and a watery hue. Elevated pear, lime and green apple aromas mix with delicate fresh herb and wet slate notes. Tasty pear, lime and green apple fruits make a shapely entrance on to the palate and carry with them excellent intensity. Infusions of fresh herbs and stony mineral elements lie underneath. Brisk acidity with a long refreshing finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
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2023 Ponce La Xara GarnachaManchuela, SPAIN$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkTucked away in Manchuela, roughly two and a half hours south of Madrid, Juan Antonio Ponce is quietly producing some the best value Spanish wines. After honing his craft under Telmo Rodriguez and spending a formative stint in Beaujolais, Juan Antonio returned to his family's 80-year-old vineyards in Iniesta to prove that the often-maligned Bobal grape could be a vehicle for world-class elegance rather than just rustic bulk wine. By farming 70 hectares of high-altitude, dry-grown vines with incredibly low density, he maintains a meagre average yield of just 2 tonnes per hectare, resulting in a modest annual production of 170,000 bottles that prioritise concentration and freshness. His signature move is a 100% whole-cluster fermentation for all his reds, a technique that, combined with the region's nutrient-rich soils and 800m+ elevation, produces wines that are remarkably fragrant, poised, and powerful.
Other Reviews...
Their pure Garnacha 2023 La Xara shows finesse and elegance and is fresh and Mediterranean. It matured in an 11,000-liter oak vat and 600-liter barrels. It has 13.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and 5.5 grams of acidity per liter of wine. None of their wines are fined, filtered or cold stabilized. It has a bright ruby color and a serious and complex nose beyond what the price might suggest. It has a combination of red and black fruit, Mediterranean herbs, a medium-bodied palate, with bones, freshness and juicy fruit. It's still very young and tender, but it will grow in bottle and gain in complexity. 13,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2024. Drink 2025-2027.
93 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThis is so tangy, peppery and bright, with grilled grapefruit, white pepper and touches of botanicals, ginseng, tile and minerals. The palate is full of energy even without the support of high acidity. Instead, this is supple and really firm. Amazing value for the money, with superb drinkability. You could really down this easily, but that doesn’t mean it’s not serious. Enjoy now.
94 points
Zekun Shuai - JamesSuckling.com -
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2024 Ponce P.F BobalManchuela, SPAIN$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkTucked away in Manchuela, roughly two and a half hours south of Madrid, Juan Antonio Ponce is quietly producing some the best value Spanish wines. After honing his craft under Telmo Rodriguez and spending a formative stint in Beaujolais, Juan Antonio returned to his family's 80-year-old vineyards in Iniesta to prove that the often-maligned Bobal grape could be a vehicle for world-class elegance rather than just rustic bulk wine. By farming 70 hectares of high-altitude, dry-grown vines with incredibly low density, he maintains a meagre average yield of just 2 tonnes per hectare, resulting in a modest annual production of 170,000 bottles that prioritise concentration and freshness. His signature move is a 100% whole-cluster fermentation for all his reds, a technique that, combined with the region's nutrient-rich soils and 800m+ elevation, produces wines that are remarkably fragrant, poised, and powerful.
Other Reviews...
The 2024 P.F. is ungrafted Bobal ("P.F." stands for "pie franco" in the Spanish language and means "ungrafted") that fermented with full clusters in 4,500-liter oak vats, where it matured for 10 months. It comes in at 13.5% alcohol, with a pH of 3.63 and 5.5 grams of acidity. This is somehow earthier and darker in character, complex and nuanced, serious, a little closed, showing the more austere profile of the year and the soils. This has nuance, complexity, depth and purity of flavors, with very good precision. This has the juiciness but with the concentration from the smaller bunches delivered by the ungrafted vines, with fine-grained, polished tannins. This is going to improve with time in bottle, which I think will be more in the direction of a Northern Rhône than a Burgundy. 12,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2025. Drink 2027-2035.
96 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateDeep yet very fresh nose, with a stemmy, herbal note to its complex melange of bramble and wild cherry fruit. Round, fleshy and full-bodied, with tight but melted tannins slowly making themselves felt on the palate. Chewy, powerful finish, with savory herbs and dark cherries. From organically grown grapes. Drink from 2026.
94 points
Zekun Shuai - JamesSuckling.comPF for Pie Franco, indicating that the vines are still on their own roots. Around eighty years old for the parcel. Rugged bush vines of waist to chest height.
A very savoury number, dark cherry, salted plums, bitter herbs, bloody game meat characters, ferrous, turned earth notes, white pepper and some Autumn leaf notes. Quite gravelly and grippy in texture, a thick, plodding palate too. Rusticity found here, so too lift and crunch through the finish, but yes, a charm in the bric a brac feel to the wine. Traditional, per se. Drink 2026-2029.
93 points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front -
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2024 Ponce La Estrecha BobalManchuela, SPAIN$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkTucked away in Manchuela, roughly two and a half hours south of Madrid, Juan Antonio Ponce is quietly producing some the best value Spanish wines. After honing his craft under Telmo Rodriguez and spending a formative stint in Beaujolais, Juan Antonio returned to his family's 80-year-old vineyards in Iniesta to prove that the often-maligned Bobal grape could be a vehicle for world-class elegance rather than just rustic bulk wine. By farming 70 hectares of high-altitude, dry-grown vines with incredibly low density, he maintains a meagre average yield of just 2 tonnes per hectare, resulting in a modest annual production of 170,000 bottles that prioritise concentration and freshness. His signature move is a 100% whole-cluster fermentation for all his reds, a technique that, combined with the region's nutrient-rich soils and 800m+ elevation, produces wines that are remarkably fragrant, poised, and powerful.
Other Reviews...
The 2024 La Estrecha comes from a plot that tends to deliver finesse, a floral character and complexity. It shows freshness and approachability, but it can also age. It fermented with full clusters in 4,500-liter oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in a 5,000-liter oak vat until right before the next harvest. It's an old Bobal vineyard on granite soils that has some 10% other varieties. It comes in at 12.2% alcohol (12.5% on the label), a pH of 3.5 and 5.7 grams of acidity. It started a little shy but with nuance and detail and then becomes insinuating and serious. This is always one of my favorite wines here, irrespective of the price. Here, the varietal blend and possibly the soils make it very elegant, complex and complete, with very fine chalky tannins and less grippy than those from the Pino. This could very well be the highlight from the 2024 vintage. 5,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2025. Drink 2026-2036.
98 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateWild fruit, sour raspberries with flowers, chalky mineral and grapefruit give this a refreshing herbal lift. It’s a delicate and elegant bobal, with firm, chalky tannins and a pure, tensioned finish, long, juicy and pristine. A unique expression of bobal that’s more stony and ethereal than fleshy and structured. From organically grown grapes. Delicious now, but can hold.
94 points
Zekun Shuai - JamesSuckling.comOld bush vines spaced at quite the distance, planted on very sandy, ferrous looking soils. Rugged country.
Brooding, dark fruited, so sloshy and come hither in its jolly, jubey, inky way. Some sour elements too, a touch of dark vermouth character complete with botanical lift, white pepper, aniseed. Such a joyful and lush red, not heavy, just lots of character and an ease of drinking. Pleasure zones hit. Drink 2026-2030.
94 points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front -
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- Organic
2022 Ponce BobalManchuela, SPAIN$115. 00Bottle$1380.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkTucked away in Manchuela, roughly two and a half hours south of Madrid, Juan Antonio Ponce is quietly producing some the best value Spanish wines. After honing his craft under Telmo Rodriguez and spending a formative stint in Beaujolais, Juan Antonio returned to his family's 80-year-old vineyards in Iniesta to prove that the often-maligned Bobal grape could be a vehicle for world-class elegance rather than just rustic bulk wine. By farming 70 hectares of high-altitude, dry-grown vines with incredibly low density, he maintains a meagre average yield of just 2 tonnes per hectare, resulting in a modest annual production of 170,000 bottles that prioritise concentration and freshness. His signature move is a 100% whole-cluster fermentation for all his reds, a technique that, combined with the region's nutrient-rich soils and 800m+ elevation, produces wines that are remarkably fragrant, poised, and powerful.
Other Reviews...
The eponymous red 2022 Ponce was produced with 80% Bobal from granite soils and 20% Moravia Agria from limestone and clay. It fermented with 100% full clusters in open-top 4,500-liter oak vats and finished fermenting and aging in a single 7,000-liter oak vat for 11 months. It has 13% alcohol and a pH of 3.6 with 5.7 grams of acidity. This has something in common with the La Estrecha from this same vintage, with a more ethereal profile, both with changes in the élevage toward larger volumes that give the wines more relaxed, less tight personalities. Complete, balanced and harmonious from very early on, this is a great vintage for this wine. 7,000 bottles were filled in September 2023. Drink 2024-2032.
98 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThis is a much better bottle than the one I had last year, which was riper and fruitier. This one is quite different, with attractive white pepper, minerals, red sour berries, citrus and iron. Very firm and linear, with chalky tannins and a long, streamlined finish. Medium-bodied and very fine-boned. Drink now or hold.
95 points
Zekun Shuai - JamesSuckling.com - Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (700ml) - Batch 30Kentucky,$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 43.2%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such may have some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
This older iteration of Distiller's Select appears to be the precursor to the current Distiller's Select. A mildly confusing title, as multiple current releases of WR have the phrase labelled on the bottle. The key point of difference in this bottling is its unusual ABV - 43.2% as opposed to the 45.2% found on other similar bottlings. It's also a batch release, which seems to have fallen out of favour. As of 2019, they were up to batch 037 in the USA, so we would estimate this bottling to be around 10 years old since release. Reported to be a mixture of pot still whiskey distilled at Woodford and column still spirits from the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively, Kentucky. The exact ratio is undisclosed. Collectable.
Other reviews... [April 2017] Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select may not be as relevant as it once was in the marketplace, however it still serves a purpose. Its simple flavor profile offers a way to dive into bourbon without being overwhelmed by worrying about trying to pick out exotic flavor characteristics. Additionally, for those who have since moved on from drinking it neat, it still offers a good base for cocktails due to its straightforward and approachable flavor profile that doesn’t overpower the drink. There’s still a time and place for Distiller’s Select, but it's just not as exciting as it once was. - breakingbourbon.com - Aberlour A'bunadh Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Batch 059Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 60.9%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
At the time of writing, we're up to Batch 84 in the series. This older bottling goes back a way (circa 2017). The dark colour looks like some older sherry casks made it to the mixing vat. One to collect or set aside for a special occasion. 60.9% Alc./Vol.Each batch of Abunadh varies in proof and flavour as proportions of older or younger material make the cut, but the brief remains the same: Make a 100% ex-oloroso sherry aged malt using the inventory at hand (anywhere from 5 to 25 years old). Keep it natural, which means zero chill filtration, keep it balanced and keep it affordable. No information about the number of bottles from each batch of A’bunadh is offered, but they're large outturns for a global community, which makes for a significant blending challenge. That hasn't stopped collectors and fans of sherried malts from stocking up on those that are deemed better than others.
- Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (1000ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$109. 99Bottle$1319.88 DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Tasting note... Pale gold. Subtle, soft, sweet orange rind and biscuit notes are overpowered by vanilla and cocoa. Very clean. Medium weight, semi-sweet cereal and biscuit flavours are accompanied by a pleasant spiciness. Vibrant and youthful. Biscuit and toasty cereals repeat on the moderate aftertaste. Uncomplicated everyday drinking. 40% Alc./Vol.First tasted 31/10/2005... A straight forward whisky that has nonetheless retained its characteristic smoothness that first won it the following of so many. The simplicity of the nose is repeated on the palate with dried fruits and a suggestion of peat. Extremely soft mouthfeel with a faint smokey finish.
Other reviews... The world’s best-selling single malt. Isn’t that sufficient to give this dram some respect? It might be me, but it strikes me that ’Fiddich has more heft to it these days, with a sherried element giving the pear, apple, and light cereal of the distillery character a sweet, plump, sultana underpinning. This then adds chewiness to the palate, balancing the dry nuttiness and receding on the finish where those green fruits come through to add fresh acidity. Great balance. 86 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Dave Broom (Summer 2013)
Reputedly founded with almost no capital and only second hand equipment bought from the Cardhu distillery, distillation at Glenfiddich began on Christmas day in 1887. It now boasts twenty-eight stills and is the largest selling single malt in the world and remains the only Highland Malt whisky to be matured and bottled at its own distillery in Dufftown, Banffshire, Scotland.
William Grant, the founder of Glenfiddich was the man behind the success of the brand. However, it was only in 1963 when Glenfiddich was accepted into the blend-dominated English market in 1963, that Glenfiddich re-introduced Single Malts to the world. Glenfiddich was marketed as a 'traditional' Scotch whose taste expressed its origins, much like a great wine expresses its 'terroir'.
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2024 Oakridge Vineyard Series Hazeldene ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $39.99$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA graceful and beautifully fleshed Yarra Valley Chardonnay.
Matured in 500 litre French oak puncheons for a period of 16 months on lees. Brilliant very pale straw colour with a distinct greenish tint to the surrounding edges and a watery hue. Wonderfully refined yet intense nose with alluring scents of white peach, nectarine, dried honey and delicate cashew captivating the olfactory senses. Biscuity nougat and subtle gun flint notes ensue. Medium weight and graceful in its flow, the beautifully fleshed palate features rich white peach, nectarine and citrus fruits over a dried honey, biscuity nougat, spicy cashew and gun flint back drop. Fresh underlying acidity with a long generously textured finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
Oakridge’s Hazeldene Chardonnay is a perennial favourite and this 2024 is another ripper. This wine is flush with fruit and long through the finish, and while its complexity more or less looks after itself there’s plenty going on beneath the bonnet. Nuts, yellow stone fruits, cooked apples, sweet meal and cracked wheat are all washed through with citrus, cedar and grapefruit. There’s a delicate aspect to the texture, in the best of ways. We are absolutely on song here. Drink 2027-2032+
95 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front
This wine is part of the Oakridge Vineyard Series. It should be noted at the outset that the Vineyard Series sits, at least in theory, below their prestige range known as ‘864’. To be honest, particularly with this Chardonnay, I think they might have a little trouble as it is very hard to imagine that even any of their wonderful 864 Chardonnays will be able to top this wine. This is an absolute cracker and while it may not be priced for daily drinking, it is ridiculously undervalued. For this money, good luck finding anything in Burgundy which comes within cooee. The Hazeldene Vineyard is in the Gladysdale sub-region. The wine was made by whole bunch pressing directly into 500-litre French oak puncheons, with a natural fermentation, and then fourteen months maturation. A shimmering pale lemon hue, the complexity and quality in this wine is immediately evident. The nose reveals notes of hazelnuts, stone fruits, citrus, grilled cashews, peaches, nectarines, melon and a touch of jasmine. The wine of exquisite balance, finesse and power, there is extraordinary length here. The intensity is maintained for the entire journey. A brilliant Chardonnay which will easily handle the next twelve years. Wow! Drink 2026-2038.
97 points
Ken Gargett - WinePilot.com -
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- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Tin Shed Single Wire ShirazBarossa, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 15%Closure: Diam CorkA plush yet bright Shiraz.
Impenetrable midnight black core with a vibrant dark purple red hue. Dark plum, liquorice and ripe blueberry aromas sail out of the glass followed by spicy vanillin cedar, subtle dark chocolate and leather notes. Lively acidity lends energy to the vibrant dark plum, liquorice and blueberry fruits. Notions of spicy vanillin cedar, earth and pepper lie underneath. Polished tannins with a plush yet bright medium length conclusion.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 15%Other Reviews…..
To me, the Single Wire seems to be a style that spans both contemporary and traditional. The fruit profile is blackberry, blackcurrant, dark plum and black cherry with dark spices in the form of clove, nutmeg and star anise. Hints of licorice, olive tapenade, tobacco, vanillin oak, earth, violets and pan juices. There's bright acidity that pulls the wine along and spiced plum conserve on the palate, tannins superfine and powdery and the finish showing nice sustain. Drink by 2038.
94 Points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion - Johnnie Walker Blue Label Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Older PackagingKilmarnock, SCOTLAND$350. 00Bottle$4200.00 DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
Is this the Holy Grail of blended Scotch Whisky? The Blue Label blend echoes early pioneering days when Johnnie Walker would select a small number of whiskies in his own local grocery shop in order to create an outstanding blend for the specific tastes of a highly valued customer. John Walker and his son Alexander began their earliest blending experiments using a limited range of whiskies, drawn mainly from the islands, the western and northern Highlands and a few distilleries in Speyside. After rejecting whiskies that didn't meet their standards, they found that the very best were strictly limited in supply. Following their lead, the Johnnie Walker master-blender developed Blue Label as a celebration of the founder's unremitting standards for only the highest quality whisky.The blend is similar to the taste and character of some of the earliest whisky blends created in the 19th century, possessing a traditionally rich peaty taste combined with an exceptionally smooth, deep, distinctly malty flavour. Whiskies of up to 60 years old contribute to its character.In 1993, a panel of international experts at the International Wine and Spirit Competition awarded Johnnie Walker Blue Label its most prestigious medal, the Gold Medal for the Best Blended Whisky. Indeed this is a venerable whisky and one that would have been much appreciated by Walkers clients. A toasty, sweet aroma is complemented by a peaty and spicy taste that develops into heady flavours of oak, dark-chocolate and rich fruitcake. Comprising 16 of the world's rarest whiskies, Blue Label is dominated by Islay malt whisky, and balanced by several rich Speyside malts that have undergone exceptional periods of sherry oak maturation.
Other reviews… Magnificently powerful and intense. Caramels, dried peats, elegant cigar smoke, seeds scraped from vanilla beans, brand new pencils, peppercorn, coriander seeds, and star anise make for a deeply satisfying nosing experience. Silky caramels, bountiful fruits of ripe peach, stewed apple, orange pith, and pervasive smoke with elements of burnt tobacco. An abiding finish of smoke, dry spices, and banoffee pie sweetness. Close to perfection. Editor's Choice - 97 points whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Jonny McCormick 2018
...Nose: Opens very slowly to reveal a mass of aromas: lanolin, smoke, hessian, dried fruit, polished wood floors, oak, liquorice, cake, silky red fruit, cream. Palate: Hold it in the mouth and there's allspice, sultana cake, crisp malt, bung cloth, turfy smoke which builds in intensity as the whisky opens. Finish: Long, smoky, but also fruit pastilles. Comment: This needs time. Right enough at this price you're hardly going to shark it back. 90 points - David Broom, whiskymag.com
Nose: Perfumy. Lime skins. Juniper. Slightly sweet spiciness. Tobacco? juicy oak. Palate: Beautifully rounded. Voluptuous. Ginger cake. Marzipan. Nuts. Pears in chocolate. Finish: Flowery dryness. roses. Long, lingering. Comment: A lovely, luxurious whisky. 40% alc./vol.
9.3 - Michael Jackson, whiskymag.com - Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml) - Older PackagingSCOTLAND$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
There are many bottlings of Johnnie Walker, however few Australian whisky enthusiasts will be familiar with Johnnie Walker Gold Label. Until recently, Gold Label was reserved exclusively for the duty free market. The product has now been released at the retail level and provides lovers of Johnnie Walker with an opportunity to taste the portfolio’s "older brother".Conceived by Alexander Walker in 1920 for a centenary blend, Gold Label had to wait another 30 years to see the light of day, due to shortages of aged malts caused by the First World War. It remained as jottings in a notebook until the early 1950s when, shortly after Alexander's death, the Johnnie Walker master blender completed this unfinished symphony. However, this time shortages caused by the Second World War, meant that bottlings were exclusively reserved for the company's blenders and directors. From its smoky, caramel and vanilla aroma to its creamy, honeyed taste, this Scotch whisky finishes with a light and lingering spiciness. It's unique character comes from an alchemic blending of 15 whiskies, at the heart of which is Clynelish, the rare Highland malt whisky made from spring water that flows over veins of pure gold.
40%Alc.Vol.Tasting note:Nose: Big, soft-hearted nose: honeycomb, meaad, exotic spice, rose petal, butter, light wood and ozone. Palate: Hugely silky and ripe: a whiff of smoke, peach, mango. All very rich, waxy and long. Finish: Soft, honeyed and gentle with some light smoke. Comment: Voluptuous and deeply sexy. More of a cousin to Black than a brother. Rating: 90 - tasting note sourced from David Broom, www.whiskymag.com
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Laphroaig Triple Wood Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Older PackagingIslay, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 48%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured. No gift box included.
This unusual Laphroaig has gone through a triple maturation - firstly in American oak, ex-bourbon barrels, before being transferred into smaller '19th century style' casks for a second period. These 'Quarter Casks' +/- 120 litres were originally used to transport whisky on horseback. They were easier to conceal from the excise men, but also speed up maturation. European oak x-Oloroso sherry casks conclude the triptych. Expect lots of fruit cake flavours, glazed with Laphroaig's classic smoke.Other reviews... This is the first time I’ve been up for reviews here so I had a game plan: play it cool, mark tightly, let everyone know I’m hard to please. Then they gave me this, the whisky equivalent to front row tickets to Neil Young on his current Twisted Road tour: not just a chance to get up close and personal with an old favorite, but to do so with an old favorite who’s on fire. Laphroaig’s owners are intent on ensuring a big peaty engine for any new release, but this is a monster by anyone’s standards. It’s essentially Quarter Cask finished in oloroso sherry casks, so in addition to the intense charcoal smoke attack there are rich fruity notes; blackcurrant and berries. It’s an evening barbecue whisky. Grill that fish until it’s blackened and crispy, drizzle on lemon, and as the smoke rears up in protest, sip this. Big, moody, broody, fruity, and rich: what’s not to love? 94 points
– Dominic Roskrow, whiskyadvocate.com Vol. 19, #3...Bright amber color. Layered aromas and flavors of cigar ash, honeyed roasted nuts and grains, fruity pepper jelly and iodine with a supple, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a lingering peppery, smoky peat moss accented finish. A must for cigars. 48% Alc./Vol. International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal
RATING: 92 points (Exceptional) - tastings.comWhen I first tried the Triple Wood, in 2009, I had thought the idea was terrible. But I found out that the whisky was rather excellent (WF 86). Now I haven't tried it since… And it was a different livery – and a 1l bottle. Of course it would be better with an age statement, but at least we have the vintage in large letters. That's 1815, right? Colour: amber orange. Nose: we said lapsang souchong to the max, well this has even more of that, plus touches of cedarwood and ginger, as well as a little sherry. Simple but pretty lovely. Mouth: modern, a tad woody and too spicy/sour (green pepper) but otherwise pleasant indeed, with a lot of green wood spices, stuff ending with -ol, menthol indeed, resinous wood… I'm reminded of the first Mackmyras from Sweden, I do not know why. Finish: long, saltier and tarrier. The woody oiliness remains there in the back. Comments: a very fine, very modern wood-driven Laphroaig. In fact all this fresh oak and the huge smoke do combine pretty well, but do not leave much room for any other flavours. 85 points - whiskyfun.com
Gold - Single Malt Scotch - to 12 Years - 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
- Glenmorangie The Nectar D'or Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Older PackagingHighlands, SCOTLAND$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 46%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Replacing the Wood Finish Range, the Glenmorangie Extra Matured Range is a selection of three single malt whiskies that, following an initial maturation of at least ten years in ex-bourbon casks, have been matured for an extra period (bringing the total time in cask to at least twelve years) in specially selected, extremely high quality, casks that previously held Port, Sherry or Sauternes wine. All are bottled at 46% ABV and non chill-filtered to enhance taste, mouthfeel and/or texture.With a tremendous ‘gourmand’ appeal, The Nectar D’Òr is Glenmorangie’s delicious, complex base spirit that, after a minimum of 10 years in ex-bourbon casks, is then extra matured in specially hand selected Sauternes wine barriques. This makes it rich and sumptuous with a heady, luscious, beguiling spectrum of aromatic patisserie desserts that helps create a memorable occasion whenever it is enjoyed.
Tasting note: Pure, bright gold appearance. From a freshly opened bottle, first passings are very shy. This is one of those whiskies that really benefits from a good twenty minutes in the glass after which the aromas open and deepen. Aeration reveals the sweet malt, combined with honey and stone fruit scents with hints of cinnamon and clove. Entry is soft and off dry building slowly with excellent length. Spice and cedary oak give way to a luscious finish with the honeyed, biscuity malt finally superseded by dried stone fruits and cedary oak. Concludes clean and dry. The Sauternes impact really comes through on the finish and texture of this malt while it avoids falling in to the ‘too sweet’ trap. Nicely done. 46% Alc./vol.
Other reviews... An exercise in outrageously good sweet-dry balancing. 94.5 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2020Other reviews on the previous NOS (No Age Statement) bottling... Nose: delicate cinnamon on toast and a drizzle of greengage and sultana; Taste: equally refreshing and dense on the palate ...excellent weight and body. Finish: remains clean and precise, allowing some custard on the apple strudel finale. Great to see French casks that actually complement a whisky - so rare!...46% Alc./Vol. 94 points. - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2008
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Johnnie Walker Swing Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml) - Duty Free 43%Kilmarnock, SCOTLAND$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 43%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
In the 20's this blend was created for ocean liners, the decanter / bottle being designed with a rounded bottom, so that it will never tip over - just swing. A boon for the barmen who had to endure rough seas and shelf balance and a testimony to Sir Alexander Walker's ingenuity. Swing virtually disappeared for several decades to be recently re-launched as a super-premium blend. Its distribution remains largely confined to duty-free markets. We have imported a small quantity for whisky lovers to experience what is reputedly one of the smoothest, silkiest blended Scotch whiskies on the market today. 43% Alc./Vol. -
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2024 Turon Lenswood Vineyard Limited Series ChardonnayAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$52. 99Bottle$635.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA refined Adelaide Hills Chardonnay with fresh acidity and a finish that echoes pear, nectarine and gun flint characters.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with green tinged edges and a watery hue. Spiced pear and nectarine scents intermix with white peach, biscuity nougat, subtle dried honey and gun flint notes. The refined palate features pear, nectarine and white peach fruits over a biscuity oak, dried honey, citrus and gun flint infused back drop. Fresh acidity with the finish echoing pear, nectarine and gun flint characters.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews…..
A toothsome chardonnay of lighter frame, compact nature, striking, chalky texture and a crystalline mid-palate and finish. Lean but flavoursome, with green apple juice, lime, saline minerality and a touch of alpine herb character. It slips along the palate elegantly and through to a long, fine point. It harks back to Chablis of old. A beautiful wine.
95 Points
Mike Bennie - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
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2020 Woodlands Margaret CabernetsMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinRich, concentrated and well fleshed yet refined with a long, generous conclusion.
A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Malbec and 10% Merlot matured in barrel for 19 months. Dense midnight black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Soaring out of the glass are aromas of blackcurrant and mulberry complimented by vanillin cedar, tobacco, subtle earthy black olive and spicy dried herb notes. Rich, concentrated and well fleshed yet refined, the medium to full bodied palate is flooded with blackcurrant and ripe mulberry fruits. Providing further complexity across the back half are cedary tobacco, earth, black olive, dried herb and spice elements. Polished fine grained tannins with a long, generously shaped conclusion.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews……
78/13/9% cabernet sauvignon/malbec/merlot. A lovely Margaret with its heady aromas of violets, cedary oak, mulberries, nori and Dutch licorice. It feels cool across the fuller-weighted palate, lots of tannins yet shapely and fine bolstered by oak tannins, too. A pop of fruit sweetness comes up and the acidity pulls it all together through to a long finish. A complete wine now but will last some distance. Drink by 2035.
96 Points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThis is a personal favourite. It's a 68% cabernet, 22% malbec and 10% merlot blend. Such a good vintage captured perfectly to reveal all the power and concentration with a deft hand creating an elegant and finely tuned finish. Super intense cabernet fruit dominates with that graphite and slightly oyster shell minerality helping to focus and present through its long finish. The oak has been beautifully handled.
97 Points
RayJordanWine.com.au -
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2023 Yalumba The Cigar Coonawarra Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA medium to full bodied Cabernet that impresses with its richness, power and concentration.
Sourced from Yalumba’s famed Menzie’s vineyard, the name ‘Cigar’ is derived from the unique cigar like shape of Coonawarra’s famous terra rossa strip. Maturation takes place in a mix of new (18%) French oak hogsheads, barriques and Hungarian oak hogsheads and one year old American oak barriques with balance in older French, American and Hungarian oak for a period of 17 months.
Pitch black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Pronounced blackcurrant, liquorice and mulberry aromas are complimented by spicy vanillin cedar, tobacco, subtle earthy black olive and bay leaf notes. Medium to full bodied, showing impressive concentration are rich, fleshy blackcurrant, liquorice and mulberry fruits. Vanillin cedar, tobacco, earth and spicy bay leaf accents lend further interest. Beautifully integrated yet sturdily built tannin structure. Possessing admirable power, it has a long, deeply fruited and fluid finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
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2025 Juniper Canvas MalbecMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2026-2030)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA fresh, super juicy Malbec with an inky blue fruited finish.
Dense pitch black core with a youthful looking purple hue. Fragrant dark cherry, violet, liquorice and ripe blueberry scents mix with inky earth and fresh herb notes. Rich and super juicy, the mid weighted palate is awash with freshly crushed dark cherries, ripe blueberry and liquorice fruit. Infusions of fresh herbs and inky earth the back drop. Fine grained, slightly chalky tannins with bright acidity lending an energetic feel. Inky blue fruited finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14% - 2015 Cooper's Choice The Golden Cut Collection Highland Park 9 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Orkney Islands, SCOTLAND$169. 99Bottle$2039.88 DozenABV: 50%
Before bottling, this indie Highland Park was treated to a finish in a x-Malaga cask sourced from Southern Spain. These wines are usually sweet fortified dessert styles made using Pedro Ximenez or Moscatel grapes, so we'd expect the finish to contribute a honey sweetness to the gently smoky malt. The release of 342 bottles lands at 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... What type of Malaga are we dealing with? Very sweet PX or, on the contrary, bone dry as a truncheon blow, which we rather adore… Colour: deep gold. Nose: it is rich and it is rounded, this is sweet Malaga, all maple syrup and sultanas gone wild. The cask’s impact is significant, yet that does not mean it fails to work. It continues towards Cointreau further enriched with honey… With water: the honey takes flight and joins forces with lime blossom infusion. Mouth (neat): strictly identical to the nose, Cointreau, honey, candied oranges, raisins etc. etc. etc. With water: pretty herbal infusions and little earthy touches join in and increase the overall complexity. Finish: of medium length, a little less demonstrative, it settles down somewhat. Comments: rounded and ultimately all about softness. A lovely bottle, assuredly. 84 points - whiskyfun.com
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2024 Ministry of Clouds GrenacheMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$42. 99Bottle$515.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2026-2036)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinRich, juicy red fruits framed by muscular tannins and energetic acidity which provide a tense, structured feel.
After almost three decades of shared experience in the wine industry, Bernice Ong and Julian Forwood decided to have a crack at their own venture sourcing fruit mainly from high quality vineyards in McLaren Vale to produce wines under their Ministry of Clouds label.
This excellent example of Grenache is comprised 9 different Grenache ferments with varying amounts of whole bunch, skin time varying between 1 to 6 weeks. The 9 ferments are off five vineyards - four of which all neighbour each other in Blewitt Springs. One planted in 1930, another in 1939 and 1940 with the last planted in 1952. These 4 vineyards make up 49% of the blend. The last component is from the oldest part of the Smart vineyard in Clarendon planted in 1922. Maturation took place in large old oak for 7 months.
Semi translucent ruby red colour with black tinged edges and a vibrant light red hue. Fragrant red raspberry, cherry and red liquorice aromas mix with hints of clove, earthy graphite and peppered dried herb notes. Rich, juicy and bouncing with vibrancy, moreish red to dark raspberry, red liquorice and cherry fruits dance across the mid weighted palate. Muscular tannins and energetic acidity provide a tense, structured feel. Notions of scorched earth, graphite and peppered herbs sit underneath. Superb power with a long, pepper infused finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
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2023 S. C. Pannell Blewitt Springs Little Branch GrenacheMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinRich, super succulent and energetic with a sculptured core and long expressive red fruited finish.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Red to dark raspberry, red liquorice and cherry scents are propelled out of the glass followed by some scorched earth, fresh herb and pepper notes. Rich, super succulent and energetic, the medium bodied palate is awash with red to dark raspberry, liquorice and red cherry fruits that are deep and powerful. Notions of crushed rock, vanillin spice, infusions of fresh herbs and pepper lend further nuance. Bright and muscular, the long finish combines wonderful tension with expressive fruit.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews……
The 2023 Little Branch Grenache is floral and ultra fine—the tannins sit through the middle and the back of the fruit and drag out through the fine finish. The fruit leads with Boscobel rose, green tea, petrichor and wet asphalt (although they may in fact draw from the same thing, they feel necessary to outline individually). I tasted this 2023 alongside the 2022, and the two have clear identities and are different, yet they are cut from the same cloth. The 2022 is silkier and more supple, with great depth and complexity; the 2023 is lacier, more diaphanous and very perfumed, and both are very long. The vineyard DNA is clear, while the vintage conditions have extracted different characters. They are both excellent wines. They are collectible in the extreme, but magnificent to drink today. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2043.
97 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateThe second release from the Pannell-owned site in Blewitt Springs, planted to Maslin Sands peppered with ironstone. Fermented in steel with 14% whole bunches; raised in an old 2800L French oak vat. Steve Pannell loves grenache, of course. Also, nebbiolo. The kinship of those varieties in the current zeitgeist is hard to deny. Here it is writ large. Definitively grenache though, with a flex of fruit succulence through the middle (seemingly a feature of this site, based on the early evidence). Such transparency allied with depth, the tannins expansive, authoritative, sandy, refined, natural. Pressed rose, dried cranberry, sour cherry, umeboshi, warm terracotta, mace, freshly ground cinnamon, a hint of musk, the explosive perfume on the palate utterly compelling, the finish relentless. Stunning. Drink by 2038.
97 Points
Marcus Ellis - James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionSo pure and refined with aromas of wild raspberries, dried strawberries, cinnamon bark, pencil shavings and dried herbs. The palate is vibrant with crunchy tannins, focused acidity and a high-tension mouthfeel, showing dark cherries, hibiscus, kirsch and citrus peel. A serious yet bright and highly drinkable grenache that is built to last. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
96 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- Batch may vary
- ABV may vary
Bertrand Uberach X 10 Year Old Single Malt French Whisky (500ml)Alsace, FRANCE$189. 99Bottle$2279.88 DozenABV: 55.1%A rather extreme Alsatian malt whisky that's spent a lot of time in x-Banyuls casks (heavy sweet wine). Some compare it to a heavily sherried Scottish malt (PX we presume). Double-pass distilled in copper Holstein column stills and bottled at high strength, this release is often praised for its rich, unctuous profile of gingerbread, confit orange, crème brûlée and hazelnut. A dessert in a glass! Limited to around 250 bottles per batch. 55.1% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... Quite a remarkable dram - I would have guessed this was a well-aged Scottish dram - a Laddie or similar. Another example of how French whisky is producing some remarkable drams. - whiskybase.com
- Sullivans Cove Single Cask TD0297 French Oak 17 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Australian Whisky (700ml)Hobart, Tasmania, AUSTRALIA$2499. 00Bottle$29988.00 DozenABV: 61.3%
A significant release for Sullivan's Cove, cask TD0297 represents their first age statement whisky to be bottled at cask strength. Filled in July of 2008 and decanted in October of 2025 for a maturation of 17 years, 3 months, the 300L French oak cask yielded only 343 bottles. As with other expressions under the "Old & Rare" label, the casks employed previously contained x-tawny port. Aside from notes of juicy dark fruits, chocolate, spice, nuts and earthy herbal nuances, these single casks boast incredible complexity and length. Originally available via ballot, each bottle comes in a unique, hand made, Huon Valley Blackwood presentation box, and includes a letter from Distillery Manager, Heather Tillott. Summing up the whisky, she describes it as “A divine interplay of vibrant fruit and deep Sullivans Cove spirit. The oak’s structure is present but measured, binding each element with finesse. A whisky that settles the mind - one for worm-tub loyalists and those who appreciate spirit-forward depth.” Very limited stocks. 61.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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Milhoc Premiere Flamme Single Grain French Whisky (700ml)Armagnac, FRANCE$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 50%Milhòc means “corn”, an appropriate title for Denis Lesgourgue's new spirits project which sees corn instead of malted barley as the main ingredient. The reasons are several. Legourgues’s family is from Gascony where they're well respected as Armagnac producers under the Château de Laubade label. However, the south west is also the country's major region for corn (mainly used in animal feed and for industrial purposes). Both are part of his family heritage, now channeled into whisky making.
Kicking off in early 2020, 45 acres of Château de Laubade’s estate are now dedicated to corn. Barley is out-sourced. “We decided to convert some of our vineyards into corn parcels,” says Lesgourgues. “When you walk the estate, you can see the two cultures side by side.” The whisky is distilled in Laubade’s column still via the same single distillation method used in traditional Armagnac-making. There are two expressions: Milhòc Le Premier-Né (First Born), and the higher-proof Milhòc Première Flamme (First Flame). Both whiskies are aged 4 to 5 years in Laubade's cellars, in new oak, x-bourbon, and x-Armagnac casks (think sweet and soft American oak, counterpointed against spicy Gascony oak).
Though classified as a 'single grain', Premiere Flamme comes with a mash bill of 54% corn and 46% malted barley. The nose opens citric and dry building mildly sweet, bready aromas, followed by a soft entry and a grassy, crisp, vibrant delivery with hints of tea biscuits and vanilla wafers. Oily and rounded at mid palate, spritely pepper and fine tannins punctuate the gently sweet finish. Bottled at 50% with zero chill filtration.
Other reviews... On the nose, there’s baked apples, white grape juice, and cherry cola, with a whisper of dark rye bread. The fruits are more muted on the palate, where raisins, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and funnel cake take the lead. The finish is long, with fruit tart and chocolate-covered espresso beans. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
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- 95
2024 Yalumba Vat-11 GrenacheBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$37. 99Bottle$455.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA rich, succulent Grenache that possesses explosive power.
Semi translucent red to dark red core with black tinged edges and a vibrant light red hue. Fragrant red raspberry and red liquorice scents are interwoven with cherry, subtle earthy graphite, vanillin confectionary and pepper notes. Rich, succulent and powerful yet relatively light on its feet, the palate is flooded with red to dark raspberry, liquorice and juicy cherry fruit. Very powerful and silky in its flow, notions of scorched earth, vanillin spice and pepper sit underneath. Velvet smooth tannins and fresh acidity finishing exceptionally long and luscious.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 82
- 89
- Nicks Import
Laphroaig Oak Select Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Gift Pack with GlassIslay, SCOTLAND$84. 99Bottle$1019.88 DozenABV: 40%Comes with a bonus branded tasting glass.
Considered "the easy-going one" in the Laphroaig line-up, the repackaged Oak Select is created from selected casks from each of the distillery's key styles (Quarter Cask, PX, Triple Wood, and 10 year old) with one exception - the heart of the spirit is reportedly sourced from a final maturation in virgin American oak. Seasoned whisky drinkers will be aware that new wood is rarely used in Scotch Whisky maturation. Instead, almost all whisky is put into casks that have previously held other beverages, usually Bourbon or Sherry. New wood tends to stamp its inherent flavours into the whisky in a definitive way. Can we expect this to be a battle between peat reek and coconut?
Other reviews... Missed by a trick by not being unfiltered and 46% 89 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2018
...The nose is reminiscent of freshly-treated decking, before some classic iodine creeps in. Water brings out geranium, pollen, and damp leather. The palate is simple, clean, and mild (and smoky), with bay leaf, light dried fruit, and that oily wood. Undoubtedly there's a lot going on, but it’s not married, and 40% means it lacks the necessary wallop.
82 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Dave Broom (Fall 2014) -
- 93
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2025 Protero PinotsAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2026-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA delicious, slippery textured Pinot Grigio dominate blend.
A blend of 77% Pinot Grigio, 19% Pinot Blanco and 4% Pinot Nero. Brilliant very pale straw colour with a watery hue. Elevated pear and red apple aromas mix with light honeysuckle and wet stone notes. Delicious pear and red apple fruits carry a round, shapely feel across the palate. Notions of lime, delicate quince and stony mineral elements linger underneath. Brisk acidity with a long, slippery textured and highly moreish finish.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews…..
A blend of mostly pinot gris with a larger balance of pinot bianco and a smaller one of pinot nero (noir). It's a textural feast, slippery and grippy through the finish. Quite a bit of talc and ginger, some peachy notes, lots of nashi pear. It feels great to drink, super easygoing, but with some more interest from the varied varieties playing well. Good, chirpy white is the result. Drink by 2027.
92 Points
Mike Bennie - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Piazzo Comm. Armando Fil Rus Barbera d’AlbaPiedmont, ITALY$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2026-2030)ABV: 14%Closure: Diam CorkA savoury, medium bodied Barbera that finishes fresh and elegant.
Deep dark red core with a bright red to dark red hue. Nosing offers up aromas of dark cherry, plum and liquorice which are followed by some earth, fresh herb and spice notes. The savoury, medium bodied palate features dark cherry and liquorice flavours underpinned by lively acidity. Notions of earth, Mediterranean herb and spices lie beneath. Fine grained tannins finishing fresh and elegant.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 93
2024 Chrismont La Zona RosatoKing Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now (2026)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA delicious, silky textured Rose.
Made from Sangiovese grapes. Pale damask pink colour. Intense peach, strawberry, pomegranate and musk aromas flood the nostrils with hints of wet stone also evident. Delicious silky textured pomegranate, strawberry and musk flavours slide across the palate with some cherry and subtle wet stone elements lying underneath. Brisk acidity with a long intensely flavoured finish.
Drink now.
Alc. 13% - 2015 Cooper's Choice The Golden Cut Collection Tormore 9 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 50%
Can't say we're the biggest fans of Tormore's style, which tends to be fairly simple and middle-weight, however there have been exceptions (almost always from indies). For added interest, Cooper's Choice have finished this one in an Amontillado Sherry cask, releasing 396 bottles at 50% ABV without chill filtration. Expect a rich profile of nutty malt, honeyed stone fruits, and sweet toffee.
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- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Banks Road Pinot NoirBellarine, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA light, savoury Pinot with fine, bony tannins and slightly tangy acidity, finishing spicy and elegant.
Semi translucent red to dark red core with black toned edges and a light red hue. Spicy red cherry, strawberry and rhubarb scents infused with clove mix with whiffs of violet, forest floor and brambly cedar. Savoury red cherry, winter strawberry and rhubarb fruits meld into a spicy back drop of clove, forest floor and brambly dried herb elements. Fine, bony tannins and slightly tangy acidity with a finish that’s spicy and elegant.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 93
2022 Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret La Superbe Coteaux BourguignonsBurgundy, FRANCE$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkA light, savoury red fruited Pinot that has a fresh energetic feel.
Produced from approximately 70% Gamay and 30% Pinot Noir grapes sourced from vines with an average age of 40 years old. Dark red core with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Attractive red to dark cherry and rhubarb scents are complimented by some violet, earth, fresh herb and spicy cedar notes. Light in body the palate features elegant red cherry and winter strawberry fruits over a fresh herb infused back drop of forest floor and delicate spicy cedar. Fresh energetic feel with fine grained tannins and a savoury red fruited conclusion.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%
















































