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2023 Lightfoot Pinot NoirGippsland, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinLight and supple with red fruits extending through to a savoury finish.
Semi translucent red to dark red colour with a light red hue. Drifting out of the glass are red to dark cherry and rhubarb scents which are complimented by some dried herb, brambly cedar and spice notes. Fresh red cherry, winter strawberry and rhubarb flavours decorate the light, supple palate with notions of dried herbs, forest floor and spice lying underneath. Polished tannins and nicely balanced acidity lead into a savoury finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews…..
There seems to be a gentle touch this vintage, with wonderful fruit expression. A pinot with all the fine aromas and flavours the variety can muster, yet it’s restrained with mouth-watering raspberry-like acidity and silky tannins. There’s a savoury edge to this, lighter framed yet highly enjoyable. Drink by 2029.
95 Points
Jane Faulkner – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- Nick's Import
2003 Edradour 21 Year Old Small Batch Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$499. 00Bottle$5988.00 DozenABV: 54.3%Considered a 'small batch' bottling, this series offers about half the outturn that Edradour would normally. In this case, it's the culmination of eight bourbon barrels yielding 1126 bottles. Unlike many Edradour releases which are finished in sherry casks, this 21 year old allows the spirit’s natural character to shine through, with the Bourbon barrels contributing a little vanilla and spice. 54.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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2021 Greenock Creek Barossa Valley ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinGreenock Creek was thrust onto the world stage in the mid to late 1990’s by the then world’s most powerful wine critic Robert Parker who lavished lusty praise on the wines including eight 100 point scores.
From a vintage that’s considered as one of the best in living memory in the Barossa, this is the estate’s entry level Shiraz. A portion of the wine was fermented and matured in new French oak hogsheads (10%), with the balance in a selection of seasoned French and American oak hogsheads for a period of 18 months.Delivers a level of concentration and power that belies it’s entry level price tag.
Dense pitch black core with a very deep dark red black hue. The seductive nose features pronounced aromatics of liquorice, dark plum and blackberry which are intertwined with black cherry, subtle smoked vanillin oak, mocha and fennel notes. Rich, exuberant and lavishly textured, the full bodied the palate is flush with opulent black cherry, liquorice and dark plum fruits. Vanillin oak, spicy fennel and subtle peppered earth elements linger underneath. Concentrated and powerful it has velvet smooth tannins and a long plush finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- Nick's Import
2012 Signatory Vintage Glentauchers 12 Year Old 100 Proof Edition #18 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 57.1%Glentauchers’ has always gone into lighter blends, initially Buchanan’s and Black & White, and these days Ballantines. This bottling turns Glentauchers on its head. If fat sherry is your thing, it's the 100 proof for you. Admittedly, the distillery character might be a bit lost, but sometimes that's the trade-off when you want a bomb. Expect a mouth full of thick and oily Oloroso, raisins and overripe fruit, balanced with some mild spices. A whisky to remind us what decent quality should sell for. 57.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... This is a whisky that doesn't convince at first sip. It requires some work, some water and a little time. But that's actually what we as nerds are looking for. Even then, it won't be an outstanding whisky - but it is a delicious whisky that is easy to drink and that you can experiment with a little. And it is a whisky that is absolutely worth its price. - whiskybase.com
...Inviting nose, in part due to the vibrant fruits interplaying with the sherry casks. Those fruits are more subdued on the palate, otherwise I would've liked this even more. But overall this Glentauchers from the Signatory 100 Proof range is a flavourful single malt. It swims well and I wouldn't be surprised if it develops nicely a few months after you've opened the bottle. - wordsofwhisky.com/
Described as “having a disruptive effect” and [probably] “the most talked about series of the last twelve months”, Signatory Vintage’s 100 Proof range is bringing value back to the independent category and in a big way. If other bottlers can afford to follow their strategy, it may also mark a turning point. As of 2025, the whisky industry is facing poor global economic performance, rising energy costs, instability, shifting consumer behaviour and overproduction risks. Whether a comprehensive price correction would be good for the industry as a whole, only time will tell. Right now it’s a godsend for drinkers. These are the whiskies you want to stock up on. Largely sold out in the UK and said to be limited to around 3000 bottles per edition, most are drawn from sherry casks and deliver the kind of value we can only hope to see again. If you were too late on our last few Signatory offers, this is your final chance to take advantage of a bevy of keenly priced, high strength malts, many from acclaimed distilleries sourced by one of Scotland’s most respected independent bottlers.
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2023 Wittmann Morstein Riesling Grosses GewachsRheinhessen, GERMANY$230. 00Bottle$2760.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkIt's hard to quantify the impact and value of 350+ vintages the Wittmann family have under their belt in their hometown of Westhofen. As part of the 15th generation of ownership, current steward Philipp Wittmann has embraced the organic viticulture ethos started by his father Günter, even taking it one step further by converting their vineyards to biodynamic in 2004. He lays the foundation for wines of exceptional quality through intensive, year-round maintenance, low yields and the uncompromising selection of bunches by hand. These are superb dry Rieslings from this superstar Rheinhessen winery.
Other Reviews....
Compared to the Brunnenhäuschen, Wittmann's 2023 Morstein Riesling GG is light and clear but also still very reduced in the fresh and mineral, even savory and precise nose, which is still restrained in the fruit. Pure and extremely salty on the palate, with a very firm and grippy structure and an almost dry/drying minerality, this Morstein draws saliva. It seems more austere and sinewy here and now than the Brunnenhäuschen, and it's still extremely influenced by limestone. This is a great and promising wine. Tasted at the Vorpremiere VDP.Grosses Gewächs in Wiesbaden in August 2024.
In another tasting two days earlier at the domaine, the 2023 Morstein showed a wonderfully chalky, elegantly fruity and balanced nose. Pure and with citrusy freshness as well as chalky salinity, this is a ravishingly fine, elegant and clever Morstein that is light-years away from the abundance and power of the 2000s and early 2010s. This is vibrant and stimulating salty and truly reminiscent of Champagnes from the Côte des Blancs. A magnificent Morstein! Drink 2028-2060.
96+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Westhofener Morstein Grosses Gewächs still flickers with the slightest flinty reduction on its cool nose, but with air, lemon moves in and stays center stage. The palate is just as lemony and immediately projects cooling, moist, chalky depth. The palate is slender, delving deep into that chalkiness. Scented with lemon and bedded on soothing, citric yeast, the finish is totally zesty, precise, strait-laced, pristine and very long. (Bone-dry). Drink 2028-2060.
98 points
Anne Krebiehl - VinousNothing is more fundamental to the world than the interplay of light and darkness, and this wine brings that into your glass in a completely compelling way. There’s an incredible intensity to the minerality of this dry riesling. It’s a giant of orginality, but lies at the upper edge of medium-bodied, resulting in a fantastic sense of lightness. Extraordinary focus and precision in the enchanting and totally fascinating finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink from release.
100 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
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- Biodynamic
2023 Wittmann Kirchspiel Riesling Grosses GewachsRheinhessen, GERMANY$210. 00Bottle$2520.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkIt's hard to quantify the impact and value of 350+ vintages the Wittmann family have under their belt in their hometown of Westhofen. As part of the 15th generation of ownership, current steward Philipp Wittmann has embraced the organic viticulture ethos started by his father Günter, even taking it one step further by converting their vineyards to biodynamic in 2004. He lays the foundation for wines of exceptional quality through intensive, year-round maintenance, low yields and the uncompromising selection of bunches by hand. These are superb dry Rieslings from this superstar Rheinhessen winery.
Other Reviews....
Clear, bright, elegant and fresh, with spicy citrus fruit and a distinct lime and saline note, Wittmann's Westhofen 2023 Kirchspiel Riesling GG starts strong! Elegant, dense and creamy on the palate, it has a zesty character but is also balanced and noble in texture. Pleasantly round, juicy and intense and always supported by its limestone texture, this is an excellent Riesling from Westhofen! Tasted at the Vorpremiere VDP.Grosses Gewächs in Wiesbaden in August 2024. Drink 2026-2050.
95 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Westhofener Kirchspiel Grosses Gewächs comes with notes of lemon balm and chervil, deeply scented and deliciously herbal. The palate gushes with coolness, like a mountain brook over stone, sinking deeper and deeper into the cool limestone with its serene, bright, lemony scent and the merest creamy edge—rather seductive. Pure, ripe lemon zest shines on the finish. (Bone-dry). Drink 2028-2055.
96 points
Anne Krebiehl - VinousHow can a mysterious labyrinth be so delightful? Because at every turn there’s a new aspect of the wine’s beauty. The incredible tension between the flinty and floral aspects of this wine makes it remarkably energetic for a dry riesling with this level of concentration. Then comes an astonishing Amalfi lemon freshness in the super-long and precise finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold.
98 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
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- Biodynamic
2023 Wittmann Aulerde Riesling Grosses GewachsRheinhessen, GERMANY$160. 00Bottle$1920.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkIt's hard to quantify the impact and value of 350+ vintages the Wittmann family have under their belt in their hometown of Westhofen. As part of the 15th generation of ownership, current steward Philipp Wittmann has embraced the organic viticulture ethos started by his father Günter, even taking it one step further by converting their vineyards to biodynamic in 2004. He lays the foundation for wines of exceptional quality through intensive, year-round maintenance, low yields and the uncompromising selection of bunches by hand. These are superb dry Rieslings from this superstar Rheinhessen winery.
Other Reviews....
Wittmann's Westhofen 2023 Aulerde Riesling GG continues the top performances of the last five years. It has a deep, concentrated, fresh and citrusy nose with substantial saltiness and still some reduction, reminiscent of clay, lime and lime chutney, and a dense and tightly woven palate. This is a fleshy, juicy and concentrated, very youthful but elegant and balanced Aulerde with great potential and long-lasting minerality and savoriness, but it's also generous and elegant in its fruit expression. Tasted at the Vorpremiere VDP.Grosses Gewächs in Wiesbaden in August 2024. Drink 2026-2040.
94 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Westhofener Aulerde Grosses Gewächs is made from vines planted in the rich marls Aulerde in 1949 and 1951, at a then-unusual density of 8,000 vines per hectare. Wittmann says that this is the earliest ripening site, yielding tiny, ripe grapes year after year. A touch of mellow, ripe, yellow apple appears alongside gentle lemon on the nose. The palate also has that beautiful yellow apple spice and lovely juiciness and texture. The serene and smooth yet hearty palate radiates coolness. (Bone-dry). Drink 2028-2050.
94 points
Anne Krebiehl - VinousBold, compact and concentrated, this astonishing dry riesling GG makes a very serious statement. It also remains cool and restrained, with a glittering thread of flint winding through the textural complexity on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Try to be patience, because this is delicious now, but the tension in the extremely long finish and the youthfulness of the aromas speak of wine with decades of life ahead of it. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink from release.
97 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
- Nick's Import
2012 Signatory Vintage Glendullan 11 Year Old 100 Proof Edition #32 Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 57.1%"...this is very good." - whiskyfun.com
That Glendullan is such an under-the-radar distillery is one of those curious anomalies in the Scotch whisky industry, as it produces over 5 million litres of alcohol a year. That makes it Diageo’s second largest distillery and one of the top 25 producers in the country. Of course, most of it goes into blends, but we love to import whiskies that everyone else seems to ignore whenever the opportunity arises (and the price is right). Matured in first-fill Oloroso Sherry Butts, this expression is said to have tons of fruit. 57.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Warning! If you don't like a crazy fruit bomb, don't buy this. This is really a completely different profile than most dark sherry bombs from the 100 proof series. Incredibly many light and fresh sweet fruits. - whiskybase.com
...One gets the sense that Signatory has turned this successful series into something of their own A'bunadh, in a way. Imagine—batch #32! We had rather enjoyed some Glendullans from the Signatory UCF series. Colour: amber. Nose: well then, metal polish, dark chocolate, roasted hazelnuts, tar, toffee, instant coffee, burnt raisins... In short, textbook sherry. With water: the arrival of unsurprising old walnuts. Mouth (neat): remarkable how much this brings to mind that other series we mentioned a few lines above. Bitter marmalade, chocolate, tobacco, leather and a pepper note that grows increasingly assertive. With water: there we go, it loosens up, though there’s even more spice—juniper, cloves, burnt sugar, pipe tobacco... Finish: very long, still on similar notes, with added pumpernickel. Comments: bone-dry oloroso, marching in step, just a little on the forceful side. No, this is very good... 86 points - whiskyfun.com
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- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Longview Saturnus NebbioloAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinSupple on entry yet restrained in it’s feel with vibrant acidity and slightly muscular tannins.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a light red to red hue. Delighting the olfactory senses are aromas of red cherries, rose petals, red raspberries and red liquorice which are followed by whiffs of earth, dried herbs and spice. Supple on entry yet restrained in it’s feel, dried and morello cherry flavours are featured over Mediterranean herb, earthy leather and brambly spice characters. Vibrant acidity and slightly muscular tannins lend some firmness to the mid length finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
This wine pours with an appropriate vibrant-garnet colour. So tense and fine; a medium-weight red of cranberry, rosehip tea and woody spices, with cola, just-ripe raspberry and fennel in tow. So very succulent, great length, amazing fine-grained tannin profile and a general sense of freshness. It feels so legit, so good to drink, serious but with such high drinkability. Awesome. Drink by 2043.
95 Points
Mike Bennie – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 95
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Reed White Heart RieslingMount Alexander, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinTaut and tight yet concentrated and expressive with an edgy feel to the long zippy finish.
Sierra Reed’s winemaking journey began in New Zealand whilst filming and interviewing the Family of Twelve (a fraternity of New Zealand’s most prestigious and elite wineries). This inspired her to become completely immersed in winemaking taking on vintages around the world from Napa Valley to Barolo, Germany, Barossa and beyond, eventually making her own wines in 2015.
Aged predominantly in stainless steel on lees for 6 months. Brilliant pale straw colour with a faint greenish tinge to the edges and a watery hue. Lemon and lime scents burst out of the glass trailed by some Granny Smith apple skin, wet steel and flinty mineral notes. Taut and tight yet concentrated and expressive, the palate features mouth filling lime, lemon and green to red apple fruit over traces of honeysuckle, wet steel and flinty mineral elements. Crisp acidity lends an edgy feel to the long zippy finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 93
2023 Cape Mentelle Marmaduke Cabernet SauvignonMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.2%Closure: StelvinYouthful mid weighted Cabernet that carries good flesh and an inky feel.
Dense inky black core with a vibrant dark red black tinged hue. Spicy red to black currant and mulberry aromas infused with a mix of black olive, bay leaf and earthy tobacco notes greet the nostrils. Rich blackcurrant and ripe mulberry fruits carry good flesh and an inky feel across the youthful mid weighted palate. Earthy tobacco, black olive and spicy bay leaf infusions the undercard. Slightly chalky tannins and bright acidity with a medium to long, generously fruited finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.2 -
- 95
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2022 Picardy Pinot NoirPemberton, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkLaden with juicy red to dark fruits that carry a supple flow across the palate.
Red to dark red core with black shaded edges and a light red hue. Perfumed like aromas of violet, red to dark cherry and strawberry blossom out of the glass with hints of anise, fresh herbs and spicy vanillin cedar also evident. Delicious red to dark cherry and strawberry fruits are both juicy and supple in their flow across the palate. Some anise, infusions of fresh herbs, forest floor and spicy cedar the undercard. Excellent power with polished tannins and a long fleshy finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
This is a portrait of the vineyard and a picture of juicy, ripe, perfectly formed berries. 11 clones are now producing fruit for this wine, and they are showing in this mid-weight and concentrated wine. Morello cherry, satsuma plum, mulberry skin and black-skinned plum-like dusty spice. There’s a fine dusting of cocoa powder and an ever-changing, savoury undercurrent. Winter leaves, petrichor and black, fertile earth. Wow, just wow. The fruit intensity is eye-bulgingly exciting and makes you sit up straight. This is a fine Pinot, focused on the purity of fruit, great oak, and one that will continue to develop for many years. Velvety tannins, long and nubile acidity, finger-laced spice, and a graphite minerality that goes on and on. It’s just sublime, and the finish wraps and tugs at the heartstrings with its red earthy and ferrous finale.
95 Points
Cassandra Charlick – WinePilot.comA bolder and immediately more powerful statement of this wine, reflecting a warm vintage. Yet the cooler Pemberton region has reigned it in nicely providing control and precision. A savoury and slightly mushroomy aroma with primary black cherry notes. The palate has a density and life yet with medium to light body. Layered and detailed throughout to a sustained long finish. Make sure you decant to allow the sweet fruit characters to release.
95 Points
RayJordanWine.com.au -
- 93
2021 Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot Nuits-Saint-GeorgesBurgundy, FRANCE$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13%Closure: CorkRed fruited with graphite like tannins and energetic acidity.
Deep dark red core with black toned edges and a dark red hue. Fragrant violet top notes are complimented by sour to red cherry and red liquorice aromas with some fresh herb, subtle dusty cedar and spice notes also evident. Red fruited and showing a shade more elegance than the 2021 Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot Vosne-Romanne, graphite like tannins and energetic acidity frame the palate. Some earthy cedar, fresh herb and spice characters linger underneath. Firms up on the mid length finish with a meaty feel.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13% -
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2022 Domaine de la Vougeraie Gevrey-Chambertin Les EvocellesBurgundy, FRANCE$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkFleshy and supple with an amply fruited mid length finish.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Nosing evokes aromas of sour to red cherries, hints of stalk, fresh herb, forest floor and spice notes. Fleshy dark cherry and strawberry fruits seamlessly integrate with subtle dried herb, forest floor, delicate cedar and spice elements. Supple mid palate feel with polished tannins and an amply fruited mid length finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews…..
Racked this morning. Quite a dense purple. Definitely the darker side of raspberry on the nose. A concentrated dark raspberry fruit with plenty of pepper notes behind, adding counterpoint to the ripe fruit which surges back at the finish. This adds to the argument that Evocelles is at least half way to being a 1er Cru. Drink from 2030-2037. Tasted Nov 2023.
91-93 Points
Jasper Morris – Inside BurgundyThe 2022 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Evocelles, which has small berries due to millerandage, has a lilting bouquet of red and blue fruit, a touch of violet in the background, and more mineralité than the La Justice. The medium-bodied palate is cohesive and focused with fine tannins, well-judged acidity and a bright, sapid finish. This is a delightful Gevrey-Chambertin. Drink 2026-2040.
91-93 Points
Neal Martin - Vinous -
- 93
2024 The Crossings Sauvignon BlancMarlborough, NEW ZEALAND$17. 99Bottle$215.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinZesty Sauvignon Blanc with crisp acidity and a finish of admirable length.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Pungent herbaceous gooseberry, passionfruit and green apple aromas fill the nostrils complimented by some grassy asparagus notes. Zesty gooseberry, passionfruit and green apple flavours drive the palate with some herbaceous grassy elements the back drop. Crisp acidity with a dry, mouth watering finish that shows admirable length.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 93
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2022 Domaine Faiveley Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Myglands MonopoleBurgundy, FRANCE$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkLight, juicy and fresh with bright acidity and a refined amply fruited conclusion.
Aged for 15 months in French oak barrels (30% of which are new). Deep dark red black tinged colour with a vibrant red to dark red hue. Fragrant scents of violet, freshly crushed cherries and wild strawberries sail out of the glass trailed by some anise, fresh herb and blueberry spice notes. Light, juicy and fresh, the palate sports cherry and wild strawberry fruits over a delicate back drop of anise, fresh herb infusions, earth and spice. Bright acidity and polished tannins with a refined amply fruited conclusion.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews…..
Enticing nose of black raspberries and sour cherries. Wonderful freshness and vitality. Silky tannins for this appellation. Long, clean and bright finish.
93-94 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2022 Massena The Moonlight Run Shiraz Mataro GrenacheBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, weighty and lush with a chewy feel.
Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Aromas of liquorice, dark plum and black raspberry drift through the nostrils complimented by some scorched earth and peppered dried herb notes. Rich, weighty and lush the palate is swamped with black cherry, liquorice and black raspberry fruits. Imparting a chewy feel onto the otherwise opulently textured palate is a sturdy tannin structure. Terrific concentration and power with scorched earth, spicy vanillin cedar and peppered meats forming the underbelly. Concludes long, peppery and mildly muscular.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%
Other Reviews.....
A blend of 42/30/28% shiraz/mataro/grenache; some whole bunch with the mataro (30%) and grenache (50%). This is such a pretty wine; it's lighter in body thanks to the '22 vintage conditions and it makes for fantastic drinking. Red/blue fruits, plenty of spice and bunchy nuance along with hints of dried citrus rind, clover blossom, panforte, dried meats, red licorice and earth. Lithe, filigreed and textural, there's a great energy to this wine. Good stuff. Drink by 2035.
94 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 96
2019 Tim Adams Aberfeldy ShirazClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.9%Closure: StelvinA rich, densely concentrated Clare Shiraz saturated with opulent, dark chocolatey fruit.
Aged in new American oak hogsheads for 24 months. Dense inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Potent aromas of dark plum, liquorice and mocha waft through the nostrils complimented by toasty vanillin oak, subtle earth and spice notes. Rich, powerful and densely concentrated the palate is engulfed with lavish dark plum, liquorice, dark chocolate and vanillin oak flavours. Earthy mocha and spice elements ensue. Opulently textured it has a velvet smooth yet underlyingly sturdy tannin structure. Concludes long and plush.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.9% -
- 93
2022 Benanti Etna RossoSicily, ITALY$54. 99Bottle$659.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13.5%Closure: Diam CorkLight to medium bodied with fresh acidity and some muscular tannins lending a mildly grippy feel to the elegant, red fruited finish.
Semi translucent red to dark red colour with a light red hue. Elevated scents of spicy red raspberries, red liquorice and red cherries drift through the nostrils trailed by some crushed rock, dried herb and white pepper notes. Delicious red raspberry and red liquorice fruits make a supple entrance onto the light to medium bodied palate. Some muscular tannins firm up the back half with notions of crushed rock, earthy Mediterranean herb like infusions and pepper ensuing. Fresh acidity with a mildly grippy feel to the elegant, red fruited finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
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2022 Domaine de la Vougeraie Vougeot Les Cras Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13%Closure: CorkLight and nicely fleshed with a refined feel to the medium to long conclusion.
Dark red heart with a red hue. The nose slowly builds intensity to reveal a mix of sour and red cherry scents intermeshed with hints of violet, red liquorice, earth, fresh herbs and spicy cedar. Light and nicely fleshed across the palate with red to dark cherry and winter strawberry fruits overlaying a delicate earth, fresh herb and spicy cedar back drop. Velvety tannins with a refined feel to the medium to long conclusion.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews……
A racily fresh purple, with a bouquet full of floral energy, as was the village Vougeot. Again, I could imagine whole bunches but there are none. Perhaps what I am tasting is the effect of retaining whole berries from the top-end destemmer which they now use, suggests Sylvie. A saline finish alongside abundant red fruit. Drink from 2030-2037. Tasted Nov 2023.
91-94 Points
Jasper Morris – Inside BurgundyThe 2022 Vougeot Les Cras 1er Cru has an uncomplicated nose: black plum and briar, missing a bit of presence compared to some of the other cuvées. The palate is more promising, with a corpulent entry counterbalanced by a silver bead of acidity, quite strict, finishing with a touch of sour cherry. Quite peppery on the aftertaste. Worth seeking out. Drink 2026-2038.
91-93 Points
Neal Martin - Vinous -
- 94
2021 Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot Vosne-RomanneBurgundy, FRANCE$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkLight and fresh yet concentrated with some gentle grip on the long savoury finish.
Deep dark red core with black toned edges and a dark red hue. Pretty violet, red cherry and winter strawberry aromas infused with earthy notes are trailed by some provincial herb and spicy cedar notes. Rich red cherry and strawberry fruits are light and fresh in their feel across the palate yet show ample power and concentration. Dusty earth, dried herb and spicy cedar characters ensue. Lending some gentle grip and a subtle rusticity to the long savoury finish are firm, grainy yet integrated tannins.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 White Gate Wine Co. GrenacheBarossa Valley, AUSTRALIA$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13.5%Closure: Diam CorkRich, succulent Grenache with a prominent whole bunch influence.
Includes 75% whole bunch fruit. Deep dark red core with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Rising out of the glass are red to dark raspberry, clove and red liquorice aromas followed by some smoky earth and peppered meat notes. Rich, succulent and spicy, the palate is layered with dark raspberry and liquorice fruit infused with dried clove. Sleek mouth feel with notions of scorched earth, dried meats and peppered dried herbs lying underneath. Velvet smooth tannins concluding long, fleshy and peppery.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews…..
What a flavour bomb we have here! It's melt in your mouth kind of stuff. So evocative, so expressive, it's an absolute delight to drink and demands selfishness and large pours at that.
Picked earlier than the 2022, the fruit comes off 90+ year old vines just to the west of Nurioopta. That slight tweak with harvest has paid dividends deluxe.
Pretty and vivid aromas explode from the glass unravelling with incredible ease. So floral and gorgeously perfumed, this is an utterly seductive drink. Think lavender, purple flowers, dried red petals and ripe blueberries smeared all over your face. And if that's not enough to get the juices flowing, well-handled fruit floods the mouth highlighted by an abundance of purple berries and blueberries driving its medium body frame. A fine milk chocolate textural presence slides through late with a lick of spice and a fine rub of brick dust tannin that lingers on a respectable finish. What an absolute winner! Go here.
Drink to five years.
94 Points
QWineReviews.com -
- 92
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2023 Famille Hugel Classic RieslingAlsace, FRANCE$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkEnergetic Riesling with frisky acidity and a mineral laced finish.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with a subtle tinge of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Lifted lime and red apple scents intermingle with hints of honeysuckle, quince and wet steel. Energetic lime and red apple skin flavours are underscored by frisky acidity. Some fresh pear, wet slate and mineral elements are spread across the back half. Finishes dry with a mineral laced aftertaste.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews….
This is a wonderfully fresh and expressive dry riesling with a slew of citrus aromas, but also some spring flowers and meadows. The vivacity of the medium-bodied palate is as impressive as the depth in the long, crisp finish, where it bares its Alsace soul. Drink or hold.
92 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Buller Wines RLB Pinot GrigioVictoria, AUSTRALIA$15. 99Bottle$191.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinLight and refreshing with a crisp edge.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with a watery hue. Pear, green apple and citrus scents are trailed by some mineral notes. Pear, red apple and lime fruits carry nice shape across the light refreshing palate. Some citrusy mineral elements persist through the dry finish that has a crisp edge to it.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12% -
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- 94
- Nick's Import
2024 Chateau Pontet Canet Pre-Arrival OfferPauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenClosure: CorkToday Chateau Pontet Canet is one of the most popular and collectable wines in all of Bordeaux, and much of this success has come from the extraordinary quality of wines made in the last two decades. While ranked as a Fifth Growth in the 1855 Classification, today the property would easily be regarded as a Second Growth as the wines often rival the best in the region. Much of the emphasis at Pontet Canet is in the vineyard, and the property has converted to 100% biodynamics as of 2005. The vineyard is next to Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, and is planted to 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot.
Other Reviews....
The 2024 Pontet-Canet underlines the fact that daring to harvest late paid dividends in this challenging vintage, wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis, black raspberries and plums mingled with accents of rose petals, licorice and exotic spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and integrated, with mid-palate density that's all too rare this year, it's layered, suave and seamless, concluding with a long, sapid finish. Picking began on September 26 and concluded on October 11, with the heart of the estate's old-vine Cabernet Sauvignon coming in between the seventh and the ninth, well after many châteaux had finished their harvest. Greater reactivity during the season means that Pontet-Canet's vineyards are gaining in vigor, while in the winery, a lighter touch with extraction, systematic climate control and a wholesale refinement of the estate's cooperage choices have brought new harmony and sensuality to this estate's wines. That has combined with a willingness to take risks with harvest dates to deliver what is clearly one of the wines of the vintage. The blend is roughly half Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
94-96 points
William Kelley - Wine AdvocateThe 2024 Pontet-Canet is one of the most elegant wines I have tasted here in some time, as in a long time. Brisk acids and beams of tannin shape a mid-weight, classically built Pontet-Canet unlike any I have tasted. The 2024 is not an obvious wine, it does not have the opulence of most recent years, rather it is a wine that impresses with its energy, tension and class. Floral, spice and mineral notes stain the palate in this vibrant, beautifully sculpted Pontet-Canet. The 2024 is seriously impressive, but it is also less immediate than what was once the norm because of a shift towards a style that favors greater energy and vibrancy than in the recent past. The evolution here is going to be fascinating to follow in the coming years. Tasted three times. Drink 2032-2044.
94-96 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousVibrant ruby in colour with violet edging, this is beautifully measured, with a careful release of black fruits. Puts the focus on the floral side of Cabernet Sauvignon, with rose petals, chamomile, fragrant tomato leaf and lilac. There is austerity on the opening, with tight architecture but as it opens juice begins to flow through the pumice and slate-textured tannins, and this delivers a finessed, slim-style of Pauillac, with plenty of ageing potential and quiet confidence. One of the successes of the vintage. Harvest September 26 through to October 11. 3.8ph, 50% new oak, 35% concrete amphoras. Tasted twice. Drink 2032-2046.
94 points
Jane Anson - Inside BordeauxConditions of Pre Arrival Offer:
There is no minimum order unless stated.
All wines are 750ml unless indicated otherwise.
Payment is due at the time of ordering to secure stocks.
The wines are being collected and shipped in refrigerated containers and are due to arrive in late 2027.
Nicks Wine Merchants reserve the right to pass on any changes in Government duties and taxes and delivery charges from the date of order to the date of final delivery of the wine.
Errors and omissions excepted.
Delivery charges may apply - these can be determined by visiting the Freight Rates page.
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2024 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon BlancMarlborough, NEW ZEALAND$47. 99Bottle$575.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA mouth watering rendition of New Zealand’s most famous Sauvignon Blanc.
The 2024 release of the Sauvignon Blanc that put New Zealand wine on the map marks it’s 40th vintage. Brilliant pale straw colour with highlights of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Soaring out of the glass are intense passionfruit, guava and ripe gooseberry aromas followed by hints of capsicum and grassy asparagus like notes. Mouth watering passionfruit, guava and lime fruits are delivered with excellent concentration. Herbaceous gooseberry, grassy asparagus and subtle capsicum accents lie underneath. Crisp acidity finishing long and scrumptious.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5%
Other Reviews…..
Sleek, seamless and expressive, with notes of ruby grapefruit, Key lime, mango puree, salted and preserved lemon, and lemon basil, plus details of fresh sea salt, all on a mouthwatering frame. Shows plenty of intensity on the long, expressive finish, where a hint of green tea emerges.
93 points
Wine Spectator - Delord 25 Year Old Bas Armagnac (700ml)Armagnac, FRANCE$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 40%
A departure from Delord's vintage-dated bottlings is this quarter-century old brandy with an age statement prominent on the label. The pricing is consistent with the rest of Delord's range, i.e. - surprisingly cheap. Apparently there is more colombard in the blend which fills out the fruitiness of the mid palate. Expect notes of cocoa, roasted nuts, baking spices, dried fruits and cinnamon.
Founded by one of the mobile distillers of the region in 1893, Delord became a permanent operation in 1932 with an estate in the Bas Armagnac region. They distill from a mixture of ugni blanc, colombard, baco and folle-blanche, each vinified separately and then distilled using both continuous and batch stills. The former distillate is primarily used for spirits destined to age for a significant amount of time while the double distilled spirit is primarily used for younger expressions. 40% Alc./Vol.
- G.E. Massenez Butterscotch Caramel Liqueur (700ml)Alsace, FRANCE$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenABV: 15%
Give a sweet and savoury twist to classic dessert cocktails with Massenez's new butterscotch caramel liqueur. Works in a crème brûlée cocktail, add a sweet twist to martinis, richen up an Old Fashioned or experiment with Rum & banana. 15% Alc./Vol.
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- Nick's Import
2007 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Teaninich 16 Years Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$179. 99Bottle$2159.88 DozenABV: 57.8%Rattray had a sister cask to this one (#461) released at 14 years old in 2021. By comparison, Bourbon hogshead #462 was afforded two further years of maturation through perhaps the most significant mid-teen ageing period, allowing fresh orchard fruits to develop into more tart citrus notes over the ever-present, hearty cereal base. 290 bottles were filled at 57.8% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Polished gold. Nose: Chalky lemon, honey pomelo and soda bread. Palate: Rustic loaf, Parma violet and fresh lime.
Finish: Subtle saffron, liquorice and ginger decorate the palate. -
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2023 Moss Wood Amy’sMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA Bordeaux style blend bristling with juicy red and blue fruit.
Moss Wood’s entry level Cabernets, Amy’s, is a Bordeaux-styled blend that’s produced in an earlier drinking style loaded with generous fruit that shows plenty of flesh. Sourced from the Glenmore vineyard just north of Yallingup. It’s a blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 6% Malbec and 5% Merlot. Maturation takes place in 228 litre older French oak barrels for a period of 18 months.
Midnight black heart with a vibrant dark red hue. Delightful red to black currant and violet scents mix with some mulberry, red liquorice, lightly dusted vanillin cedar, tobacco and bay leaf notes. Mid weighted, the palate is layered with rich juicy red to black currant, red liquorice and blueberry fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, delicate earth and infusions of bay leaf form the back drop. Excellent concentration with seamlessly integrated, fine grained tannins. The long, fresh finish bristling with a mix of succulent red and blue fruit.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
This is a blend if cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot, malbec and merlot. In a good year like this one, it offers some of the best value classy red wine going around. This is as good as any in this line. Plush red fruit of tremendous intensity. A firm core of tannin and oak holds it firm as the succulent fruit washes through. Such energy and vibrancy.
95 Points
RayJordanWine.com.auVery much Cabernet Sauvignon dominant (83%), the wine also enjoys contributions from Merlot (5%), Malbec (6%) and Petit Verdot (6%). After fermentation and blending, the wine was returned to the 228-litre French oak barrels, none of them new, for maturation for a year and a half. A purple/maroon colour here, we have a nose exhibiting some of those classic Cab notes with black fruits, truffles, black cherries, cedar, cigar boxes and tobacco leaves, beef stock and graphite. There is deftly handled oak, silky tannins, excellent balance and length. This is a superb Cabernet blend and should drink beautifully for at least the next ten to twelve years. The team talk about it being approachable young and it certainly is, but I also think it has a long future – it simply has such fine balance and so much going on that it can’t miss. This is a stellar Amy’s. Drink 2024-2036.
94 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com -
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2024 Tahbilk MarsanneNagambie Lakes, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$16. 99Bottle$203.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA delicious rendition of Tahbilk’s ever reliable Marsanne.
Established in 1860 and purchased by the Purbrick family in 1925, Tahbilk has the world’s largest single holding of Marsanne, a grape that plays a major role in some of the worlds most famed white wines, those of Hermitage in Northern Rhone.
Brilliant pale straw colour with highlights of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Fresh peach and lime aromas jump out of the glass complimented by some floral honeysuckle, apple skin and subtle spicy bees wax notes. On the palate delicious peach and red apple skin flavours meld into a back drop of lime, delicate honeysuckle and stony mineral elements. Supple in its feel it possesses solid concentration and vibrant underlying acidity. Dry, refreshing finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews....
Such a steal at $22. Full of flavour, distinctive with it, long through the finish, and with a proven track record. It’s got so many ticks it feels quality certified. Stonefruit, grapefruit, slate, a pinch of salt and of course citrus. Intensity of flavour here is very good, as this wine is from all angles. Drink 2024-2035+
93 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front
One of the top value Aussie whites going – year in, year out. It is unwooded and so the purity of varietal expression is keen, with the prettiest of spring florals on display and a brightness of citrus that sparks the palate. Honeysuckle, citrus blossom and acacia work with citrus, quince, green apple and a lemon sorbet tang to ignite the tastebuds, hand in hand with juicy acidity. A mid-palate creaminess opens up the food-matching possibilities. I'm thinking lobster meunière. As for ageing? It's up for a decade or more. Drink by 2038.
95 points
Jeni Port - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 90
Cape Byron Stone Beer Cask Single Malt Australian Whisky (700ml)New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 46%Cape Byron continues as it began in 2016 - as a family owned and run operation situated on a Macadamia farm. Scotch Whisky Master, Jim McEwan is significant for his early involvement, alongside current distiller and owner, Eddie Brooks. Cape Byron's house style has been compared to Bruichladdich's "Classic Laddie" - not unwarranted, nor surprising. Full-size, 200 litre American oak ex-bourbon barrels are the mainstay, with multiple casks vatted for each release. The whiskies mature in a cool, damp environment and are bottled non-chill filtered. Here's another in a series of 'experiments', this time following a tradition more aligned with Northern European distilleries - maturation in x-beer casks. Aged in ex-bourbon barrels previously filled with Stone & Wood's rich and distinctive 'Stone Beer', a dark porter brewed with wood-fired stones, the resulting whisky shows some nice tropical fruit character, dustings of cocoa and stout, rounded off with a subtle herbaceous tang and lingering pepper heat at the finish. As far as this sub-category goes, it's a success, even if the beer influence seems slight. 46% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the producers... crème brûlée and indulgent vanilla custard, followed by a burst of fresh orange zest evolving into mocha and tiramisu. It concludes with a lingering honey note, leaving a sweet and satisfying finish.
- Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky Tasting Pack (4 x 100ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$79. 99Bottle$959.88 Dozen
Discover why Glenmorangie is one of world's best selling Single Malt Scotch Whiskies via this handsome tasting pack. The collection includes one 100ml bottle of each of the following expressions, beginning with the entry level 10 year old and building in richness as they progress.
The Original Aged 10 Years – Bourbon cask matured.
The Lasanta Aged 12 Years – Sherry cask finish.
The Quinta Ruban Aged 14 Years – Port cask finish.
The Nectar D’Or – Sauternes cask finish.
- 1995 Chateau de Laubade Bas Armagnac (700ml)Armagnac, FRANCE$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenABV: 40%
Château de Laubade only release these Armagnacs after a minimum of 15 years of ageing, each vintage beautifully presented in a hardwood box - in this case making the perfect gift for a 1995 anniversary of any kind! Anticipate deep, powerful flavours including candied prunes, dried fruits like figs, vanilla and coffee, all framed by fine oak tannins.
More than eighty different vintages are currently being matured in Laubade’s cellars. The oldest vintage is from 1888. Each year tells a story dealing with the ongoing climate changes, cask quality and the cellar's temperature - all of which define the vintage identity. A culmination of rich know-how and dedication to quality from three generations, the Lesgourgues family continue to run their own 260 acre property. Planted to Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche & Baco, each variety is distilled seperately. Notably, Laubade remains alone in coopering their own Gascon oak casks. Sustainable agriculture is also the standard here (manure is produced by 600 ewes). 40% Alc./Vol. Very limited stocks.
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2023 Neldner Road by Dave Powell Steinert RieslingEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenABV: 13%Closure: StelvinSourced from a single five-acre vineyard in Flaxman’s Valley at 480 metres elevation, this Eden Valley Riesling is a true expression of place. Planted over 80 years ago by the Steinert family, the dry-grown, rod and spur-pruned vines produce fruit of exceptional character. Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed and fermented dry with minimal handling, delivering a pure and expressive reflection of its historic site.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews....
The 2023 Riesling Steinert is a little unusual in style thanks to a later pick, but I like where this is headed in a genuinely flavorsome style with hearty aromas of pear and citrus. Richly textured with ripe, crisp acidity, appreciable flavor and balanced phenolics, this has some quite serious personality that holds over a lingering finish. Drink 2025 - 2032.
92 Points
Angus Hughson - Antonio Galloni's VinousThe 2023 Steinert Riesling leads with white pineapple and saline, crushed rocks and straw. The wine is gently floral without being overt, and it has a mineral seam of crushed quartz and sand. Pretty. The mid-palate is spicy and taut, with a width through the finish that adds complexity and density to the fruit. Really smart. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2024 - 2038.
93 Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
- 91
- Reduced
2023 Fat Bastard ChardonnayCalifornia, UNITED STATESReduced from $14.99$13. 99Bottle$167.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinLuscious, full and sweetly fruited quaffing Chardonnay.
The Fat Bastard brings welcome relief to those looking for a bigger, fuller style of Chardonnay amidst the current market trend of lighter, fresher and more elegant styles. Filling a gap in the market and delivering incredible value for money has made this our best selling Chardonnay over the last 9 years.
Bright straw colour with pale gold tinged edges and a watery hue. Ripe peach, honeycomb and bacon fat scents fill the nostrils with some creme brulee and spicy butterscotch notes also evident. Rich and creamy, the palate is greeted with sweet ripe peach and crème brulee flavours which overlay a butterscotch, honeycomb, toast and spicy vanilla back drop. Soft, integrated acidity with a full, lusciously textured finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
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Santis Malt Dreifaltigkeit Edition Single Malt Swiss Whisky (500ml)SWITZERLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 52%'Dreifaltigkeit' means trinity in German, and this whisky apparently gets its name from a local Swiss mountain peak. Reportedly the barley is smoked in multiple ways – first wood-smoked in beech and oak woods, then re-smoked with local peat from the Appenzell Highmoor. It's said to be a polarising experience, even for peat freaks. An earlier edition was awarded Jim Murray's “European Whisky of the Year” for 2010. 52% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... The kind of smokey infusion which just makes you purr with happiness. One of my favourite peat styles: a kind of mix between cattle sheds and bacon frying in the pan... Thick, chewy and frankly magnificent... such a long finale. The smoke pulses, the spices tingle and the fruit allays with the barley and the growing oak for a deeply pleasing sweet-dry interplay... Santis back to its most brilliant... If you see a bottle grab it and ask questions later. 95 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2024
Peat cut from the moors in Appenzell is used to make peated malt that is then matured in beer casks. The nose has rich woodsmoke, leather, charred oak, bruised orchard fruit, and a mild pepperiness. Unsweetened chocolate, dark fruit, clove, and ginger lead to an intense spicy peak, diluting to leave hazelnut ganache, chocolate brownie, and a gentle smoky character. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com
[circa 2021 bottling] We're in Appenzell and unless you're a native German speaker, please try to say 'Dreifaltigkeit'. Bravo! Indeed that means 'trinity' in German. This was matured in old beer casks, a typical set-up at Säntis. Colour: deep gold/amber. Nose: with bags of pencil shavings and tons of pinewood chips, this should work well as a spread over your barbecued ribs. Seriously, I think this is awesome, totally deviant in a great way, and more and more on smoked and grilled bacon. Spectacular, I can't wait to check what will happen once water's been added. With water: same but with even more pinewood. A little aquavit, perhaps, Schinken häger… ever heard of Schinken häger? Mouth (neat): total extreme fun. Tons of smoked bacon, litres of Jägermeister and Fernet Branca, and this feeling of drinking sauna oil. With water: more tar, myrtle liqueur (first time I'm finding this much myrtle), salty bacon… Finish: very long. Perhaps a tad too long in fact, you'll need a break before you pour another whisky. Yes, of course this is whisky. Comments: utter fun! Isn't this Whiskyfun? 86 points - whiskyfun.com
- 1998 Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 23 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$1199. 00Bottle$14388.00 DozenABV: 43%
The eighth addition to the Bond House No.1 Collection, Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1998 showcases some of the first 'Morangie ever to be aged in new charred oak barrels. Distilled in 1998, the year Dr Bill Lumsden became Director of Whisky Creation, the 23-year-old limited edition results from one of his earliest experiments. By marrying that experimental whisky’s intense colour and spice with other casks selected for notes of ginger, baked apples and orange chocolate, Dr Bill brings a delectable twist to Glenmorangie’s fruity finesse. 43% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the producers... Ripe pears, plums and baked apples are drizzled with rich toffee sauce. Then comes gentle oak and creamy vanilla, touched by fresh mint leaves and a spiralling scent of incense. A splash of water reveals Glenmorangie’s classic citrus side, light with lemon and mandarin orange. Sweet tobacco is brushed with lavender and a sprinkling of ginger. Zesty, vibrant fruits pop in the mouth, smoothened by chocolate and soft butter candy, scattered with raisins and figs. Then, deliciously hinting at the new charred oak, comes orange chocolate, spiced with clove, ginger, aniseed and sweet chilli. Subtle and mellow. A harmony of sugared almonds, leather and dates.
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Santis Malt Sigel Edition Single Malt Swiss Whisky (500ml)SWITZERLAND$124. 99Bottle$1499.88 DozenABV: 40%Other reviews... It is well known that I am no advocate of beer barrel matured whisky, not least because the bitterness of the hops can cause havoc with the overall balance. Santis, though, are in a league of their very own - especially when it appears to create a creamy hop-less stout like this with sugars appearing from every angle. 92 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2024
Why is it that so many great beer-producing European nations, many of them with Germanic roots, didn't progress to whisky making? Appenzeller brewery makes this malt using old beer casks, and they have softened the edges of the malt and given it a liquid honey frame around which woody-earthy notes and unripe dates create an intriguing mix. A long, long way from the Alps to the Scottish Highlands, but a lofty malt nevertheless. [2011 bottling] 80 points -whiskyadvocate.com
- G.E. Massenez Popcorn Liqueur (700ml)Alsace, FRANCE$52. 99Bottle$635.88 DozenABV: 17%
Massenez continue to innovate the liqueur category with the introduction of a Popcorn flavour. Delivering a buttery, slightly savoury delight that captures the nostalgic taste of freshly popped corn, it will add a novel twist to your favourite cocktails. Shake it into an Espresso Martini, stir it into a Whisky Sour, or reinvent an Old Fashioned. 17% Alc./Vol.
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Santis Malt Himmelberg Edition Single Malt Swiss Whisky (500ml)SWITZERLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 43%Other reviews... Such an attractive, seductive nose... the fruit is so delicate it seems the oak may break through any moment. Or a rush of intense malt might happen along. But it doesn't... a sublime redcurrant freshness to that coats the palate. Muscovado sugars act as an anchor keeping the barley, fruit and charming oak in place... unquestionably the most elegant malt I have tasted from this distillery. The perfect pre-prandial whisky, even when given the full Murray method of tasting, its growth in the glass always remains studied and perfectly balanced. Such charm. 94 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2024
Made from Alpine water and barley harvested from one of Europe’s highest growing areas, this was double matured in beer casks and red wine barrels. Spicy and fruity aromas, with apple, cranberry, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, and roasted chestnut. Mouth-coating, with bright apple flavors, cherry, malt, and pepper, then showing its darker side with hints of dark toffee, chocolate, blackberry, and leather. 89 points - whiskyadvocate.com
- 2008 Delord Bas Armagnac (700ml)Armagnac, FRANCE$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 40%
A relatively young release by Delord's standards. Situated in Bas-Armagnac, Delord's distillery is to be found in the village of Lannepax, the ancestral home of the Delord family. They comment, "Our old Sier Armagnac alambics, that we wouldn't part with for all the gold in the world, produce less than 30 litres of eau-de-vie an hour. Our cellars contain our old treasured vintages and include more than 700 oak barrels that protect and age the Armagnac eau-de-vie dating from the 20th Century to the present day". 40% Alc./Vol.
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2022 Nicks Secret FE Frankland River ShirazFrankland River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $27.99$14. 99Bottle$179.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinFrom one of Western Australia’s most well known wineries and arguably the state’s premier producer of Shiraz and Riesling comes this certified organic Shiraz at a never before seen price. Co-fermented with the addition of 2.5% Touriga Nacional and 1.5% Viognier to lend further complexity, 5% whole bunch fermentation was employed with maturation taking place in 500 litre French oak puncheons of varying ages for a period of 14 months.
Rhone styled Shiraz that delivers crazy value.
Pitch black core with a dark red black tinged hue. Streaming from the glass are aromas of liquorice and ripe black cherry which intermingle with dark plum, subtlety smoked vanillin cedar, scorched earth and peppered meat notes. The refined, mid weighted palate carries a plush feel, rich black cherry and liquorice fruits delivered with terrific intensity. Spicy vanillin cedar, scorched earth and peppered meat characters the undercard. Slightly chewy tannins with a long, fleshy, pepper laced conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews....
Super savoury and highly appealing from the first pour. Certainly there are dark plums in the mix but also lots of woodsy spices, ferrous earth, wood smoke and some Aussie bush fragrance. Fuller bodied, yet the palate is neatly shaped with grainy, drying tannins and lithe acidity. Drink by 2032.
92 Points
Jane Faulkner – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThis stylish mid-weight 2022 Shiraz delivers a powerful yet elegant Syrah expression with layers of licorice, old earth and spice well integrated with fine French oak. Genuine tannins and generous flavours are well balanced with chewy textures which make for an impressive package with all the pieces in place to be enjoyable over the medium term. Drink 2025-2030.
92 Points
Angus Hughson – WinePilot.comA well-balanced, peppery and delicious shiraz offering aromas of cherries, strawberries, cured meat and warm spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. A refined texture with a dense core of delicious berries and chocolate. Textural finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
92 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
- 95
2021 Nicks Secret WLS Margaret River Cabernet SauvignonMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.2%Closure: StelvinFrom a lesser known yet nonetheless 5 star Halliday rated winery comes this Nicks Secret Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon that is stamped with all the hallmark traits of this regions signature varietal. Selling for $45 ex cellar door, it was matured in French oak with winemaking under the skillful direction of Larry Cherubino.
Rich and fleshy textured yet carrying a sturdy feel, this is a classically styled Margaret River Cabernet that delivers great bang for your buck.
Midnight black dark red colour with a dark red black tinged hue. The nose offers up pronounced aromatics of blackcurrant, black olive and cigar box which intermingle with mulberry, earth and spicy dried herb notes. Rich blackcurrant and liquorice fruits infused with cigar box and black olive characters are delivered with excellent intensity. Mulberry, vanillin earth and spicy dried herb elements extend across the back half. Fleshy textured, it has grainy tannins which impart a sturdy feel into the long savoury conclusion.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.2%Other Reviews....
An elegant style that doesn’t forfeit flavour or depth to get there. Expect cassis, mulberries, lots of herbs, black olive and cedary oak infusing the more mid-weighted palate. Fine tannins match the acidity to lengthen the finish. Drink by 2037.
95 Points
Jane Faulkner – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 95
- 92
2024 Hoddles Creek Estate Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13.2%Closure: StelvinFresh, juicy and supplely textured, this is a delicious Yarra Valley Pinot Noir that delivers great value.
Winemaker Franco d’Anna regularly fashions some of the best value Pinot Noir’s and Chardonnay’s out of the Yarra Valley and the 2024 releases are no exception.
Red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a vibrant red hue. Perfumed like aromas of violet, wild cherry, strawberry and anise stream out of the glass with wonderful intensity. Some bramble, forest floor and spicy dried herb notes ensue. Delicious wild cherry, strawberry and anise flavours are supple yet simultaneously fresh in their feel across the palate. Supplementing the fruit are infusion of fresh herbs, delicate bramble, forest floor and spice. Polished tannins and lively acidity with a long, energetically juicy finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.2%Other Reviews….
Red fruit, cherry, a little earthy, with some cinnamon oak showing, and sarsaparilla. It’s a more fruity and bouncy expression of Hoddles Pinot, some grainy chew to tannin, a bit of sap and orange rind, something of a ferrous edge, with a stiff tannic finish of good length. Needs a bit of time to come around. It’s maybe a little more robust and fruity than is usual for this wine, though it’s still good. Drink 2026-2034.
92+ Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front -
- 94
- 95
2024 Hoddles Creek Estate ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.2%Closure: StelvinAn energetic, mid weighted Chardonnay that’s amply fleshed and concentrated.
Brilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Elevated aromas of pear and nectarine mix with dried honey, biscuity oak, citrus and spicy nougat notes. Concentrated, fleshy and energetic, pear and nectarine fruits are layered across the mid weighted palate. Biscuity nougat, dried honey and spicy cashew elements the support act. Brisk acidity imparts a fresh, flinty feel onto the long and otherwise generously textured finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.2%Other Reviews….
On the sample labels attached to the bottles of Pinot and Chardonnay, Franco talks about the ‘envelope’ of the wine. I’m not really sure what that means. Maybe he’s getting a lot of fan mail? Franco thinks this is the best Chardonnay since the 2021.
Juicy white fruit, grapefruit, aniseed, a little struck match, almond paste, cinnamon and clove spice. It’s packed with flavour, white nectarine and nutty spicy characters, a flinty grip to texture, quite some intensity and power here, and in some respects it seems more Beechworth than Yarra, or so I think. Pear and citrus, lime rind, with excellent length of flavour. It’s elemental as at now, and a little raw, though I reckon it will deliver with a couple of years in bottle. It’s a cracking release. Drink 2026-2035+
95 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front -
- 88
- 86
Santis Malt Alpstein XIX Edition Single Malt Swiss Whisky (500ml)SWITZERLAND$174. 99Bottle$2099.88 DozenABV: 48%Part of the distillery's flagship series, Alpstein comes matured in a range of casks, varying with each release. XIX started life in x-beer barrels followed by a sherry cask finish. Aged for a total of seven years, these limited editions are released in runs of around 2200 bottles. 48% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Fabulous sherry trifle on the nose and a marvelously confident delivery makes for a storming start to this flavoursome malt. Indeed, despite the healthy sherry influence on the delivery, the malt makes its presence felt in both the flavour and texture. However, the bitterness on the finish, almost rubbery at times, compromises the overall balance. That said, the nose and delivery combo is sublime. 86.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2024
[IV Edition tasted 2013] Whisky Advocate is moving out into the unknown, turning over the rocks and discovering beautiful and unfamiliar creatures like this one. In tiny distilleries in Switzerland, Sweden, and, er, Swansea, they're throwing the rule book up in the air and creating new whiskies based on how it falls. This has spent four years in a beer barrel and then a year in a port cask, and it's fabulous. Think licorice, aniseed, and cherry-flavored soda. Then add cream, fruit…and yowza! 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com
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- 96
2021 Chaffey Bros. Wine Co. Synonymous ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinSo named as Shiraz is synonymous with the Barossa, Chaffey Bros is a collaboration of brothers in law Daniel Chaffey Hartwig and Theo Engela who are at the forefront of the new wave of Barossa winemakers. From a benchmark year this sumptuous Barossa Shiraz delivers all you could wish for in a bold Shiraz at a price that delivers terrific bang for your buck.
Rich, powerful and plush, this is one super seductive Barossa Shiraz.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. Wafting out of the glass are heady scents of ripe blackberry, liquorice, dark plum and blueberry which are complimented by some fennel, subtlety smoked vanillin cedar and peppered earth notes. Rich, plush and deeply concentrated, the weighty palate is flush with succulent blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits. Lending further interest across the back half are notions of spicy vanillin cedar, earthy dark chocolate and peppered fennel. Opulently textured, it has velvet smooth tannins yet there’s an underlyingly sturdy structural presence. Boasting superb power, the finish is long and super fleshy.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%