Availability:
What's New
We boast Australia's fastest growing online selection of wines, spirits and liqueurs added to weekly. If you can't find what you're looking for, call us on 1800 069 295 and we'll try to track it down.
-
- 89
2023 Prosper Maufoux Bourgogne Pinot NoirBurgundy, FRANCE$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinSemi translucent red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a red hue. Sour to red cherry and strawberry aromas intermingle with dried clove, earth and spice notes. The light, elegant palate features red cherry and winter strawberry fruits which are intermeshed with subtle dried herb, earth and spice elements. Fine grained tannins with a fresh, savoury finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 92
2021 Irvine Altitude MerlotEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2024-2026)ABV: 14.7%Closure: StelvinVery dark red black colour with a dark red hue. Pronounced ripe dark to black plum and liquorice aromas fill the nostrils with some toasty vanillin cedar, earth and mint notes also evident. Rich and weighty, the lusciously textured palate is engulfed with black plum and liquorice fruit which melds into a toasty vanillin cedar, earth and spicy mint back drop. A sturdy tannin structure imparts a gentle chalky feel onto what is otherwise a well fleshed finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14.7% -
- 93
- 92
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Skillogalee Basket Press ShirazClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2024-2032)ABV: 14.2%Closure: StelvinDense inky black heart with a deep vibrant dark red black tinged hue. Aromas of liquorice, dark plum and choc mint fill the nostrils trailed by some vanillin cedar and dusty earth notes. Rich fleshy textured blackberry, liquorice and choc mint flavours meld into a subtly toasted vanillin cedar, earth and spice back drop. Bright juicy acidity and fine velvety tannins with a medium to long finish that combines succulence with freshness.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.2%Other Reviews…..
A supple, smooth, rich but uplifting red on deck. There's ripe plum, salted licorice, choc-mint, clove and sweet tobacco scents and flavours here, lavish, generous and delightfully velvety. There's a touch of tannin grip in the mix, but, really, this is about the more hedonistic elements in play, and leaning into the sweeter/ripe fruit, spices and comfort the wine brings. It's all quite lovely. Drink by 2029.
92 Points
Mike Bennie - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 93
2022 Tiefenbrunner Merus ChardonnayAlto Adige, ITALY$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2024-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinConsidered to be a benchmark producer in the region, Tiefenbrunner was founded in 1848.
Brilliant pale straw to straw colour with a distinct glimmer of green skirting the edges. Pear, nectarine and citrus aromas intermingle with hints of bees wax and subtle stony mineral notes. Rich fleshy nectarine and peach fruits meld into a dried honey, faint almond and wet stone back drop. A gently rounded feel is counterpointed by good underlying freshness. Concludes medium to long with ample generosity of flavour.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Forage Supply Co. Whole Lotta RoseBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2024-2025)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinDamask pink in colour. Raspberry jube, pomegranate and Turkish delight aromas sail out of the glass followed by subtle wet stone notes. Delicious raspberry, strawberry and pomegranate fruits sit over a musk back drop. Concentrated and silken in its feel, it concludes long and delicious with a lick of refreshing acidity.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 94
2022 d’Arenberg The Feral Fox Pinot NoirAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinRed to dark red in colour with black toned edges and a red hue. Fragrant red to dark cherry and rhubarb scents intermix with brambly dried herbs, forest floor and spice. Delicious spicy dark cherry, strawberry and rhubarb flavours are supplely layered across the palate with some dried herb and brambly forest floor like characters lying underneath. Fine grained tannins with a savoury finish that’s medium to long in it’s length.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 92
2023 Woodstock Next Gen MontepulcianoMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2024-2028)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinDark red black tinged core with a dark red hue. Nosing reveals aromas of blueberry, liquorice, plum, dried herbs, earth and spice. Bright and juicy the palate features ripe cherry, plum, blueberry and liquorice fruits over a subtle earth and spicy Mediterranean herb infused back drop. Fine, slightly chalky tannins and fresh acidity with a savoury mid length conclusion that holds plenty of fruit.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 94
2024 Fraser Gallop Estate Semillon Sauvignon BlancMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$21. 99Bottle$263.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinBrilliant water like colour with a subtle greenish tinge to the outskirts. Intense herbaceous grassy top notes are followed by green apple, subtle lime, asparagus and delicate pencil shaving notes. Mouth watering lime and green apple flavours infused with herbaceous grassy elements decorate the palate with traces of spicy capsicum and light pencil shaving characters lying underneath. Finishes very dry with crisp, energetic acidity and a long conclusion that’s both savoury and refreshing at once.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 93
- Biodynamic
2022 Chateau Malherbe Pointe du Diable RoseProvence, FRANCE$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2024-2025)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinMade from biodynamically grown Grenache and Semillon grapes. Brilliant pale salmon tinged colour. Pronounced peach, raspberry and strawberry aromas jump out of the glass followed by hints of blood orange and wet stone. Delicious peach, raspberry and blood orange fruits are delivered with excellent intensity and possess a supple feel. Stony mineral back drop with a long voluminous finish.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
D’ Soumah Blanc de Blanc SparklingYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesABV: 11%Closure: Diam CorkA buoyant lacy white mousse shows good hold over a very pale straw coloured base that has a fine bead coursing through it. Elevated pear and Jonathan apple aromas flow out of the glass trailed by some peach and subtle lees notes. Light and vivid the palate features pear, citrus and red apple fruits which are framed by crisp acidity which lends a sculptured feel. Some delicate chalky lees characters are also apparent. Finishes very dry and refreshingly lean.
Alc. 11% -
- 94
2022 Atze’s Corner Bachelor ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinAtze's Corner is owned by sixth generation Barossa Valley vigneron, Andrew Kalleske. At the heart of the project are low-yielding 1912 and 1951 Barossa Valley Shiraz vines planted adjacent to the locally-known Atze's Corner, in an unassuming plot of land to the east of Nuriootpa on the valley floor. Fruit is also sourced from several other vineyards, also owned by the Kalleske family. Two of the Barossa Valley's prized sub regions make up 100% of the Shiraz in this wine - Ebenezer and Koonunga. Open, small-batch fermentation, hand plunging and pumping and minimal filtering and fining define Andrew's unobtrusive approach. Maturation takes place in a combination of new French oak (20%) with the balance in seasoned French and American oak for a period of 22 months.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a dense dark red black hue. Pronounced dark plum, liquorice and black cherry aromas are followed by some dusty vanillin cedar and peppered fennel notes. Rich and concentrated, plush dark plum, liquorice and black cherry fruits are framed by sturdy tannins. Toasty vanillin oak, subtle earthy mocha and pepper characters lie beneath. Robust feel finishing long and chewy.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 92
2024 d’Soumah Brachetto FrizzanteYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now (2024)ABV: 10%Closure: Diam CorkA gentle mousse folds into a red raspberry tinged base that has a light bead flowing through it. The nose expels aromas of strawberry, pomegranate and Turkish delight with hints of rosewater also evident. Luscious raspberry, strawberry and Turkish delight flavours have a gentle spritz coursing through them with some musk and rosewater elements ensuing. Finishes refreshingly sweet with an airy feel.
Drink now.
Alc. 10% -
- 94
2023 Soul Growers Equilibrium Grenache Shiraz MataroBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinDark red black tinged core with a dark red hue. Elevated aromas of dark raspberry, liquorice and dark plum engulf the olfactory senses with some vanillin confectionary, earth and spice notes also chiming in. Juicy dark raspberry, plum and liquorice fruits overlay a vanillin spice, dried herb and peppered earth back drop. Plush in it’s feel it possesses velvety tannins and a long, succulent finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2015 Reschke Vitulus Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2024-2026)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinMidnight black heart with a deep dark red hue. Sailing from the glass are aromas of blackcurrant and mulberry which are complimented by cedary tobacco, earthy leather and spicy bay leaf notes. Rich, full bodied and concentrated the palate is engulfed with fleshy textured blackcurrant and liquorice fruits which are interwoven with vanillin cedar, mulberry, spicy tobacco and earthy leather characters. Firmly structured tannins with a slightly grippy mid length finish that’s beginning to dry out a touch.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 94
2022 Domaine Faiveley Rully Les VillerangesBurgundy, FRANCE$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkAged for 16 months in 50% French oak barrels (10% new) with regular lees stirring and 50% stainless steel vats. Brilliant pale straw colour with straw tinged edges and a watery hue. Lifted ripe peach and baked pear aromas intermix with bees wax, crème brulee, roasted almond and spicy nougat notes. Rich baked pear, peach and nectarine fruits mix with crème brulee, subtle roasted almond and stony mineral characteristics. Relatively full it has a gentle river stone like textural feel yet retains a sense of freshness. Finishes long and generous with a lingering stony mineral element.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Warrabilla Reserve Cabernet SauvignonRutherglen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)ABV: 15%Closure: StelvinImpenetrable midnight black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Nosing reveals herbaceous green bean and tobacco leaf like aromas over blackcurrant, black olive and earth notes. Rich and full the palate features generous blackcurrant and ripe mulberry fruits avoiding much of the green notes that were evident on the nose. Tobacco, subtle green herb, earthy black olive and spicy cigar box characters ensue. Stern muscular tannin structure with a tightly wound finish that’s slightly bitter.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 15% -
- 95
- Reduced
2021 Nicks Secret SF Barossa ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $27.99$16. 99Bottle$203.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinWith a Barossa heritage going back six generations this renown family owned Estate knows a thing or two about producing top notch Shiraz. Matured in American oak hogsheads (40% new) for a period of 14 months, the superb 2021 vintage produced Shiraz with intense flavours and colours together with great power.
Rich, plush, voluptuously textured Barossa Shiraz.
Dense inky black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. Wafting out of the glass are ripe blackberry, liquorice and dark chocolate aromas which are interwoven with vanillin oak, earthy mocha and subtle spice notes. Rich and plush, the voluptuously textured palate is saturated with dark plum, liquorice and dark chocolate flavours. Complementing the lavish fruit are vanillin oak, mocha and spicy earth elements. Excellent power with a velvety yet underlyingly sturdy tannin structure. Concludes long and seductive. A great follow up to last year’s top selling Nicks Secret wine.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 94
- 95
2023 Shaw & Smith M3 ChardonnayAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinEnergetic and intense with bright acidity, layered citrus, and a touch of spicy ginger snap.
Founded in 1989 by winemaker Martin Shaw and Master of Wine Michael Hill Smith, Shaw + Smith owns 59 hectares of vineyards across Balhannah, Lenswood, and Piccadilly in the Adelaide Hills, specializing in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz. The M3 Chardonnay is sourced from Piccadilly, Lobethal, and Lenswood at elevations of 455–500m. Despite a slow-ripening season due to high rainfall, careful viticulture yielded exceptional fruit. Hand-picked fruit is whole-bunch pressed and fermented in French oak barrels, undergoing primary and malolactic fermentation before nine months of maturation. The resulting wine is energetic and intense, with bright acidity and layered complexity, offering notes of lemon curd, grapefruit pith, and ginger snap.
Alc.12.5%Other Reviews....
A mellow and understated chardonnay but with plenty of detail in spice, gentle savouriness and winemaking seasoning, cool acidity, a tightly wound fruit profile, general minerality and high drinkability. Overall, elegant and refined, sleek across the palate and quite compact with a light juiciness in tow. Nougat, lime curd, green apple and ginger in the bouquet, a similar set of descriptors to taste, with a lively trail of spice following on. High in the pleasure stakes, this continues to be an impressive Hills chardonnay. Drink 2024 - 2032.
94 Points
Mike Bennie - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionWonderfully constructed, showing polished aromas of lime curd, lemon balm, orange blossoms and gun smoke on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with precise acidity and a generous mouthfeel, giving notes of fresh pineapple, white peaches, lime curd and shortbread. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
95 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
- 94
- 94
2022 John Duval Wines Plexus Shiraz Grenache MourvedreBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$42. 99Bottle$515.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA blend of 43% Shiraz, 41% Grenache and 16% Mourvedre aged for 15 months in French oak of which 10% was new. The Shiraz component was sourced from old vineyards at Krondorf, Ebenezer and Tanunda. Grenache was sourced from vineyards at Tanunda, Moppa and Ebenezer, and Mourvèdre from Light Pass and Ebenezer.
Very deep black dark red core with a dark red hue. Pronounced dark plum and liquorice aromas mix with some black raspberry, ripe cherry, subtle vanillin spice and gentle peppered earth notes. Rich succulent dark plum, raspberry, liquorice and blueberry fruits engulf the medium to full bodied palate. Notions of vanillin spice, subtle scorched earth and pepper lie beneath. Amply fleshed it has velvet like tannins and a long, juicy finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews…..
The 2022 Plexus comprises 43% Shiraz, 41% Grenache and 16% Mourvèdre (a.k.a. Mataro). This is the most Grenache that has ever been included in the Plexus, and 2022 was a beautiful season for that variety. "It's always an SGM," says winemaker John Duval. "The Shiraz helps it age in the cellar." On the nose, you get black fruits and exotic spice, layers of forest berries and brine. On the palate, the wine is sweetly fruited and brilliantly fresh. It has an earthy textural bedrock presumably from the Mataro, which grounds the fruit. The tannins are a highlight here. There are some very old vineyards that add to this cuvee, four at over 100 years old, and perhaps these assist with the tannic complexity. A portion of the fruit is from the Hoffmann Vineyard: Shiraz Dallwitz block, Church Block Mataro and 65-year-old dry-grown Grenache. This is a sensational release. Really good. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2024-2037.
94 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateThis year's Plexus release sees a blend of shiraz (43%), grenache (41%) and mourvèdre (16%) from across a number of the parishes of the Barossa. Lovely dark plum and boysenberry fruits with hints of cherry clafoutis, dark chocolate, roasting meats, clover blossom, softly spoken cedar and vanillin and earth. Supple and pure with fine gravelly tannins and a minerally cadence showing plum, spice and mocha tones at the tail. Drink by 2035.
94 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 95
2022 Pllana Hans Old Vine GrenacheBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinSemi translucent red to dark red colour with a light red hue. Fragrant spicy red raspberry, cherry and red liquorice aromas drift through the olfactory senses trailed by some subtle scorched earth and peppered dried herb notes. Juicy red to dark raspberry, ripe cherry and red liquorice fruits unfold across the palate with a silken feel. Excellent concentration with vanillin confectionary, subtle dried herb and peppered earth elements dancing across the back half. Outstanding power with velvet smooth tannins concluding long and luscious.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 92
2021 Hay Shed Hill MalbecMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinDense inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Inky blackcurrant and liquorice aromas mix with vanillin cedar, earth and spicy tobacco notes. Rich blackcurrant and blueberry fruits sit over an inky back drop of earthy black olive, tobacco and spicy dried herb characters. Firmish tannins impart a chewy feel onto the mid length finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 95
2022 Grasshopper Rock Earnscleugh Vineyard Pinot NoirCentral Otago, NEW ZEALAND$46. 99Bottle$563.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)ABV: 13.3%Closure: StelvinAged for 10 months in French Oak barriques (28% new) followed by 18 months bottle aging.
Semi translucent red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a light red hue. Alluring violet, ripe cherry, dark plum and anise scents show plenty of elevation out of the glass trailed by some toasty oak, earth, dried herb and spice notes. Ripe and fleshy the palate is amply endowed with rich dark cherry, plum and anise flavours which meld into a subtlety toasted vanillin cedar, dried herb and spicy earth back drop. Polished and supple, it has velvety tannins and a long powerful finish that’s highly seductive.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.3% -
- 93
- 93
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
- Organic
2017 San Polo Brunello di MontalcinoTuscany, ITALY$130. 00Bottle$1560.00 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkDark red core with black tinged edges and a brick red hue. Pronounced ripe dark to black cherry and blackcurrant aromas are interwoven with earthy leather, tobacco, dried herb and spice notes. Medium to full bodied, ripe dark cherry and blackcurrant fruits are framed by a stern tannin structure which imparts a rustic feel. Earth, leather, old cedar, tobacco and spicy dried herb characters ensue. Dry linear finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
Ripe plum and dried citrus notes in the form of oranges on the nose follow through to a full body with juicy fruit and a creamy and rather chewy aftertaste. This 2017 shows some balance and focus for the vintage, considering the hot growing conditions. Try after 2023.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.comThe San Polo 2017 Brunello di Montalcino (made with organic fruit) opens to a really fun and unique bouquet. I found aromas of dried herb, oregano and wild licorice, which I don't find in other wines from this vintage. There is also a pretty floral component that actually outpaces those characteristic aromas of cherry and redcurrant that you always get with Sangiovese. This wine has that extra layer of balsam intensity that sets it apart in a crowd. Production is 28,600 bottles. Drink 2023-2035.
93 Points
Monica Larner – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate -
- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2021 Raidis Wines Coonawarra Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinDense pitch black heart with a dark red black tinged rim. Ripe blackcurrant aromas tinged with black olive and cigar box fill the nostrils followed by some bay leaf and spicy earth notes. Rich blackcurrant and mulberry fruits carry plenty of weight and a supple texture across the full bodied palate with some prominent cigar box, earthy black olive and dried herb characters lying below. Polished, slightly grainy tannins with a ripe spicy medium to long conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 93
2023 Casabianca Millesimato Prosecco Superiore Valdobiaddene DOCG Extra DryVeneto, ITALY$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2024-2027)ABV: 11%Closure: Diam CorkA nicely formed mousse overlays a pale straw coloured base that has a nimble stream of bubbles flowing through it. Aromas of lime and green apple mix with green pear skin, lemon and chalk notes. Delicious pear and green to red apple fruits meld into a lime, citrus and fresh herb infused back drop. Vivid acidity leads into a long and dry yet fruity finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 11% -
- 94
- 92
2023 Langmeil Prime Cut ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinMidnight black dark purple heart with a dark purple black tinged hue. Intense liquorice and dark plum aromas are intermeshed with toasty vanillin oak, earthy fennel and pepper notes. Rich and plump, juicy dark plum, liquorice and blackberry fruits fill the mouth with spicy vanillin cedar and earthy fennel elements the undercard. Opulent textural feel with velvet smooth tannins. Finishes long and succulent.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews…..
Crimson with fruit aromas of macerated plum, blackberry and black cherry fruits with hints of baking spices, dark chocolate, turned earth, pan juices, oak spice and tobacco leaf. Plenty of Barossa fruit character here, for the price, with a fine, sandy tannin structure and spiced black fruits on the exit. Drink by 2034.
92 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 90
Loredan Gasparini Prosecco Superiore Asolo DOCG BrutVeneto, ITALY$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenABV: 11%Closure: Diam CorkPours with a buoyant mousse which sits atop a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold tinged edges. The bead fine and persistent. Pronounced pear and ripe apple aromas mingle with a faint whiff of honeysuckle and quince. Light and invigorating across the palate, fresh pear, citrus and red apple fruits are featured over a dry chalk tinged back drop that also sees some subtle lees characters evident. Crisp acidity with a racy finish.
Alc. 11% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2017 Terra Felix Heathcote ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2024-2026)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinMatured for 12 months in French oak barriques. Midnight black core with a brick red black tinged hue. Aromas of stewed and dark plum mix with liquorice, subtle earthy leather notes, vanillin cedar and pepper. Rich and plush in texture, the medium to full bodied palate is decorated with dark plum and liquorice fruits which overlay a vanillin cedar, earth, leather and subtle pepper back drop. Polished tannins with a juicy medium to long conclusion.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 92
Casabianca Prosecco Superiore Valdobiaddene DOCG Extra DryVeneto, ITALY$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenABV: 11%Closure: Diam CorkAn exuberant fluffy white mousse subsides to reveal a pale straw coloured base that’s threaded by a stream of tiny bubbles. Green apple skin and lime aromas lead the way followed by some citrus and stony mineral notes. Delicious green to red apple and pear flavours fill the mouth with some fresh quince and subtle sherbet characters extending across the back half. Crisp stimulating acidity with a dry, flavoursome finish.
Alc. 11% -
- 95
- 93
2024 Greywacke Sauvignon BlancMarlborough, NEW ZEALAND$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinGreywacke is the Marlborough label of former Cloudy Bay winemaker Kevin Judd, where he presided over that company’s first 25 vintages establishing the reputation that it has today. The name Greywacke was adopted by Kevin and his wife Kimberley for their first Marlborough vineyard in Rapaura, named in recognition of the high prevalence of rounded greywacke river stones in the soils of the vineyard. Kevin registered the name back in 1992 with the vague notion that he might one day want to use it on a wine label of his own.
Fruit was sourced from various prime vineyard sites in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys and the central Wairau Plains with a portion of the juice fermented in old oak barrels.
Brilliant water like core with greenish tinged edges. Pungent nose with aromas of passionfruit, herbaceous gooseberry and lime leaping out of the glass. Subtle green apple, stony mineral and grassy notes ensue. Scrumptious passionfruit, lime and green apple fruits burst across the palate with terrific intensity. Complimenting delicate herbaceous gooseberry, subtle grassy and flinty mineral elements also chime in. Displaying outstanding power and textural volume it has crisp acidity and a long, zesty finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5
Other Reviews....
The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc was hand delivered to me in Fremantle by winemaker Richelle Tyney from Greywacke, all the way from Marlborough, New Zealand—roughly 5,200 kilometers between us. The wine leads with passion fruit and white pineapple, green apple, beeswax and brine. The wine is salty, fine and sedate—the characters are all in balance with each other. I love this wine from this small producer. It is intense and concentrated, shaped by savory phenolics and loaded with crunchy New Zealand acidity. This speaks of the place in a clear, unfettered voice, and it's brilliant for that. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2030.
93 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate -
- 93
Domaine de Joy VSOP 5 Year Old Bas Armagnac (500ml)Armagnac, FRANCE$88. 99Bottle$1067.88 DozenABV: 40.5%The brainchild of Swiss couple, Paul and Marguerite Gessler, Domaine de Joy is a luxury French brand specializing in high-quality drinks. The company is particularly well-known for its exceptional range of flavoured liqueurs, however, they also bottle spirits, including Cognac, Armagnac and Calvados. Distilled from Bacco and Ugni blanc, matured in Limousin oak, then finished in older Gascon casks for maximum fruit-oak balance, at just five years old, Joy's VSOP is described as "already well poised". 40.5% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Deep amber in the glass, the sweet aromas suggest honey, maple, vanilla and oak. The remarkably light, silky palate shows oak, vanilla and a hint of cocoa powder. Most of the flavor is on the mouthwatering, exceedingly long finish, echoing with baking spice and vanilla. 93 points - wineenthusiast.com
- 2008 Darroze Domaine de Cantau Cask Strength Bas Armagnac (700ml)Armagnac, FRANCE$230. 00Bottle$2760.00 DozenABV: 50%
Located in the golden triangle of Bas Armagnac, the commune of Mauléon d'Armagnac has been producing great eaux de vie for decades. At Domaine de Cantau, the classic sandy soils are accompanied by clay, a terroir known as 'boulbènes'. Folle blanche and Baco find their best conditions here. Guy Beyris has farmed his property for decades, always favoring the former, Armagnac's historic grape variety. His 2008 vintage was distilled in Philippe Gironi stills and aged in 400-liter Bartholomo cooperage barrels. Like others in the Unique Collection, no blending of domains or vintages takes place. There's also no dilution before bottling to tame the aromatic strength or the nuances of the terroir. It's Armagnac made for purists. 50% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the bottlers... the tannins are fine. Notes of vanilla and rancio accompany candied fruit, creme caramel and elderflower. Superb!
-
- Organic
Darroze Biologic 4 Year Old Bas Armagnac (700ml)Armagnac, FRANCE$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 47.5%Distilled from organically grown Folle Blanche grapes, at just four years old, you might anticipate this to be a little 'rustic' (having said that, unaged eaux de vie from this appellation can be fantastic). Cognacexpert.com were struck by its "remarkable finesse" - the tannins are yet to assert themselves, instead, fruity aromas of prune and apricot are balanced with notes of honey and almond. The simplicity of the presentation reflects its organic origins. Try it neat or over ice or use it as a base for innovative organic cocktails. 47.5% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the producers... Light yellow colour. A fruity, spicy nose (candied orange peel, dried apricot, prune, mango, vanilla) which also reveals notes of brioche, honey and almonds. Elegant both on the nose and on the palate (where those same fruity flavours emerge) thanks to its silky tannins. Rounded on the palate, despite its youth, and very long.
-
- 86
- 88
2022 Hudelot-Noellat BourgogneBurgundy, FRANCE$130. 00Bottle$1560.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkHudelot-Noëllat is no longer one of Burgundy’s hidden gems as word is well and truly out now on just how exceptional these wines are. Charles Van Canneyt runs this iconic family owned domaine based in Vougeot where he crafts elegant and classic wines from some of the region’s most prized vineyards. Staying true to tradition, Charles practices minimal intervention in the cellar along with limited new oak usage. His aim is to produce refined Burgundy with an emphasis on purity and finesse, all while letting the terroir shine.
Other Reviews....
An extremely fresh and bright nose is comprised mostly by red berry aromas that are in keeping with the equally bright, delicious and well-detailed flavors that conclude in a lightly austere and rustic finale. This refreshing effort should drink well after only a year or so of keeping. Drink through 2025+.
86 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2022 Bourgogne Rouge is charming and expressive, bursting with aromas of cherries, raspberries and sweet spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and succulent palate. Drink 2024-2034.
88 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Bourgogne Rouge offers brambly red fruit and briar on the nose, perhaps requiring a little more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with pretty strawberry and cranberry, a smooth texture and an easygoing open finish. Drink 2024-2030.
86 points
Neal Martin - VinousIn bottle. A cherry to crimson colour. Fine, pleasing, stylish cherry fruit on the nose, cherry to raspberry on the palate, a little tannin to help the structure, but essentially on the fruit, pure and classy. Drink from 2025-2028.
89 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 95
- 92
- 92
2022 Hudelot-Noellat Vosne-Romanee Les Beaumonts Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$750. 00Bottle$9000.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkHudelot-Noëllat is no longer one of Burgundy’s hidden gems as word is well and truly out now on just how exceptional these wines are. Charles Van Canneyt runs this iconic family owned domaine based in Vougeot where he crafts elegant and classic wines from some of the region’s most prized vineyards. Staying true to tradition, Charles practices minimal intervention in the cellar along with limited new oak usage. His aim is to produce refined Burgundy with an emphasis on purity and finesse, all while letting the terroir shine.
Other Reviews....
The Beaux Monts from Hudelot-Noëllat is another level of richness and depth in 2022, with a pronounced mulberry and fig fruit aroma touched with earth, smoke and spice. The wine is dense and tannic, impressively muscular for this appellation. One can only imagine the secret is the old vines and judicious punching down; Van Canneyt farms 0.3 hectares at the top of the slope; otherwise, it is a cool terroir. The grapes were partially destemmed and firmly punched down before ageing in cask (25% new). Drink 2030-2065.
95 points
Charles Curtis MW - DecanterA more deeply pitched and spicier, if perhaps slightly less elegant, nose is comprised by notes of exotic tea, sandalwood and an interesting hint of star anise. Here too the medium-bodied flavors possess a really lovely and sophisticated texture yet no lack of power on the intensely mineral-driven, dusty and youthfully austere finale. Excellent quality in an equally age-worthy package. Drink through 2034+.
91-94 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundAromas of plums, red berries, orange zest, exotic spices and potpourri preface the 2022 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaumonts, a medium to full-bodied, deep and layered wine with a concentrated core of fruit that's framed by sweet, powdery tannins. It's pure and complete.
92-94 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaumonts 1er Cru has red and black fruit, plus a touch of shucked oyster shell and Japanese nori. Impressive delineation and focus. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, a pretty and relatively delicate Les Beaumonts. It is sapid and quite linear, maybe needing a little more grip on the finish. Give it 3-4 years once in bottle. Again, I think this will gain weight during its élevage. Drink 2027-2048.
92-94 points
Neal Martin - VinousRuby purple in colour, with an intensity on the nose well ahead of its predecessors. The Beaumonts goes into the mouth discreetly, then blossoms, offering summer pudding fruits with vivacious acidity, an excellent balance here. Drink from 2032-2040.
93-96 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 90
- 91
2022 Hudelot-Noellat Vougeot Les Petits Vougeot Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$485. 00Bottle$5820.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkHudelot-Noëllat is no longer one of Burgundy’s hidden gems as word is well and truly out now on just how exceptional these wines are. Charles Van Canneyt runs this iconic family owned domaine based in Vougeot where he crafts elegant and classic wines from some of the region’s most prized vineyards. Staying true to tradition, Charles practices minimal intervention in the cellar along with limited new oak usage. His aim is to produce refined Burgundy with an emphasis on purity and finesse, all while letting the terroir shine.
Other Reviews....
This too is cool, airy and spicy with its essence of red currant, cherry and crushed fennel aromas. The notably finer texture of the middleweight flavors is immediately evident as there is a lilting but punchy mouthfeel, all wrapped in a dusty, silky and refined yet firm, serious and youthfully austere finish. I very much like the balance and this too should be more than capable of rewarding a decade plus of keeping. Drink through 2032+.
91-93 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2022 Vougeot 1er Cru Les Petits Vougeot is beautiful, bursting with aromas of sweet plums and red berries mingled with orange zest and warm spices. Medium to full-bodied, pure and ethereal, it's supple and seamless, with lively acids and a saline finish.
91-93 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Vougeot Les Petits Vougeot 1er Cru has quite a potent oyster shell scent on the nose, almost overriding the dark berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and veins of blue fruit surfacing towards the finely detailed finish. This is a delightful, very well-crafted Vougeot. Drink 2027-2045.
90-92 points
Neal Martin - VinousCrimson with a pinker tinge. Lifted little red fruits on the nose, stylish and racy, some youthful bitters on the palate, light tannins, adequate acidity, then the fruit comes rushing back behind. Persistent, discreet, fine, with a pleasing mineral touch. Drink from 2030-2038.
92-95 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 97
- 94
- 94
2022 Hudelot-Noellat Romanee St Vivant Grand CruBurgundy, FRANCE$2499. 00Bottle$29988.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkHudelot-Noëllat is no longer one of Burgundy’s hidden gems as word is well and truly out now on just how exceptional these wines are. Charles Van Canneyt runs this iconic family owned domaine based in Vougeot where he crafts elegant and classic wines from some of the region’s most prized vineyards. Staying true to tradition, Charles practices minimal intervention in the cellar along with limited new oak usage. His aim is to produce refined Burgundy with an emphasis on purity and finesse, all while letting the terroir shine.
Other Reviews....
Lavish aromas of blackberry and plum fruit with an edge of earthy complexity make the initial attack compelling. The texture is firm and elegant, with grippy tannins but no astringency and enough extract and freshness to ensure an interminable finish. The grapes are from a half-hectare of century-old vines that run the length of the vineyard just north of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti vines. They are partially destemmed and gently fermented before ageing in cask (half new). Ideally, one would wait a decade before opening this wine, but there is enough substance here to age 50 years beyond that. Drink 2030-2075.
97 points
Charles Curtis MW - DecanterA highly restrained and decidedly cool nose requires aggressive swirling to coax the wonderfully spicy red pinot fruit, floral and exotic tea scents from the glass. On the palate the super-refined, energetic and well-detailed middleweight flavors possess a lilting, pure and highly refined mouthfeel thanks primarily to the beautifully fine-grained tannins supporting the striking long, balanced and lightly austere finale. This is very classy juice. Drink through 2034+.
93-96 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2022 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru unfurls in the glass with scents of cherries, wild berries, rose petals and exotic spices. Full-bodied, fleshy and perfumed, its velvety attack segues into a fleshy, layered, almost unctuous core of lively fruit that's framed by sweet, powdery tannins, concluding with a long, resonant finish.
94-96 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Jan 19, 2024)The 2022 Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru is vivacious and well-defined on the nose. A mixture of red and black fruit swirls with crushed violet, and blueberry aromas emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with those graphite elements that tincture that black fruit, fleshy and rounded. A crescendo towards the finish delivers the sapidity that entices you back for more. This oozes class, even if I don't think it is the ultimate wine Van Canneyt has overseen. Tasted at the Stannary Wines dinner in London with Charles van Canneyt. Drink 2029-2055.
94 points
Neal Martin - VinousA fine mid ruby purple, then the nose says ‘hold on, this is special’. The quintessence of Vosne-Romanée finesse. An intense raspberry seedless intensity straight away on the attack, broadening slightly behind, medium acidity, submerged tannins and a fine very long finish. Drink from 2035-2045.
95-98 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 94
- 92
Vilmart & Cie Ratafia de Champagne (LRata2013) (500ml)Champagne, FRANCE$84. 99Bottle$1019.88 DozenABV: 18%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2013 Ratafia (Chardonnay) is laced with hints of dried fruit, almond, dried flowers and chamomile. It offers gorgeous complexity, along with notable energy and freshness. It is a very fine, elegant Ratafia. Drink 2022-2027.
94 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThe 2013 Ratafia is 100% Chardonnay and is aromatic of perfume of quince, ripe apricot, orange flower oil, and marzipan. The palate is fully sweet and saline, with nutty praline, dried yellow plum, and baking spice. Drink 2022-2042.
92 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
- 91
2017 Carn Mor Strictly Limited Glenlossie 6 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 54.6%Matured for over six years before bottling in 2024 at natural strength. Young but sherry-heavy aromas speak of new leather, cinnamon toast, vanilla and dry fruit cake. An initially crisp spirit develops a broad, expansive mouthfeel with a tropical fruit edge, mouth filling and chewy through the finish. The outturn equates to 840 bottles - all from first-fill sherry butts. 54.6% Alc./Vol. Non chill-filtered. Tasted from a 30ml sample.
- Glendronach 15 Year Old 100% Sherry Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - New PackagingSpeyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$164. 99Bottle$1979.88 DozenABV: 46%
Sporting a new presentation, the 15 year old continues to be matured in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía. Master Blender, Rachel Barrie sums up the profile as "Honey-glazed apricot and ripe fig with a crescendo of black cherry, angelica, and muscovado." 46% Alc./Vol. States natural colour and presumably this is chill filtered.
Other reviews... [2020 bottling] I had thought it had lost a large part of its original oomph when I last tried the 15, back in 2018 (WF 81). That was already a version to which they had added PX. Seems that our friend Ralfy had noticed that it is now not 'non chill-filtered' anymore, not too sure why a bottler would take that away while still bottling at 46% col. But sometimes whisky is like wurst or the law, you wouldn't want to know how they make it. Colour: gold. Nose: same path as that of the 10, only a little hotter and with more raisins I would say. Same cherry stems, nuts, grist, burnt cake, a little metal polish… The first Revivals had been stunning more than ten years ago, but rumour had it that they had added much older whiskies to the vattings. As B.B. King would have said, the thrill is gone now. Mouth: still a pleasant whisky and I think I actually like it better than last time. I'm particularly fond of these mentholy and liquoricy notes, the sour oranges, this earthiness, and certainly the orange blossom (our pals the panettones, I love panettone and my birthday is… joking). Roasted nuts. Frankly, I find this pretty good, if not as thick and wide as the early batches. Finish: rather long, with a retro style. Earth and soot on top of sherry and all that. Roasted nuts in the aftertaste. Comments: Glendronach, you had me worried for a minute… 86 points - whiskyfun.com
-
- 93
2023 Farina ValpolicellaVeneto, ITALY$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2024-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA blend of 45% Corvina, 25% Corvinone, 25% Rondinella and 5% Molinara matured in stainless steel. Dark red in colour with black shaded edges and a red hue. Morello and dried cherry aromas mix with dried herb, scorched earth and cinnamon spice notes. Mid weighted and possessing a fleshy feel, juicy morello cherry fruits are interwoven with dried cherries, vanillin spice, dried herbs and cinnamon characters. Polished tannins and good underlying freshness with a savoury finish that shows plenty of spice.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 93
2024 Freycinet Louis ChardonnayTasmania, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2024-2027)ABV: 12.8%Closure: StelvinGeoff and Susan Bull were early viticultural pioneers on the East Coast of Tasmania, establishing Freycinet Vineyard in 1979. It is situated adjacent to the picturesque Freycinet Peninsula, (latitude 42 degrees), which is named in honour of the French explorer Louis de Freycinet, who chartered the region in 1802.
Brilliant water like colour with greenish tinged edges. Elevated white peach, nectarine and melon scents mix with stony mineral elements. Nectarine, citrus and subtle grapefruit flavours are intermeshed with melon and flinty mineral accents. Zippy acidity with a fresh, energised conclusion.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12.8% -
- 89
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Pllana Pinot GrigioSouth Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now (2024)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinBrilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. The nose exhibits aromas of pear skin, dried apple and quince followed by some stony mineral notes. On the palate pear skin and dried apple flavours are featured over some subtle salted nut characters. Dry crisp finish with salted hazelnut like characters lingering through the aftertaste.
Needs drinking.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 94
- 93
- 92
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2021 Hartford Court Russian River Valley Pinot NoirSonoma County, California, UNITED STATES$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 14.5%Closure: Diam CorkDeep dark red core with black toned edges and a dark red hue. Lifted ripe black cherry, anise and dark plum scents fill the nostrils trailed by some vanillin cedar, earth and spice notes. Rich dark plum, black raspberry and anise flavours glide across the palate carrying with them a ripe weighty feel. Earth, vanillin cedar and spice characters linger through the back half. Excellent power with a polished yet underlyingly sturdy tannin structure. Concludes long with an opulent generosity to it.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews……
The Laguna Ridge soils have higher iron content, producing wines of great minerality. This Pinot flashes beautiful blue fruit aromatics with hints of cola and crushed slate. The palate is showy, with turned earth-based umami, fresh red berries and a spiced cassia bark undertone. Fresh, bright mint carries a finish of true elegance. Drink 2023-2032.
93 Points
DecanterA youthful and saturated ruby hue, the 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is ripe and spicy, with aromas of fresh pine, cherry liqueur, and fresh wildflowers. Medium to full-bodied, with ample richness on the palate, it reveals notes of ripe berries, turned forest floor, and toasted baking spice, and it has a classic feel, with good structure and a long finish. Drink it over the next few years. 15,000 cases were produced.
92 Points
Audrey Frick – JebDunnick.com -
- 93
- Organic
2022 Domaine Faiveley MontagnyBurgundy, FRANCE$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkMontagny is the most southern of the Côte Chalonnaise villages and lies at the border of the Mâconnais. The Chardonnay vines thrive in this rugged terrain where they face east/south-east and are planted on slopes that reach as high as 400 metres above sea level. Twenty percent of this Chardonnay was aged in French oak barrels (10% new) for a period of 12 months with regular stirring.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Aromas of nectarine, peach and bees wax drift through the nostrils followed by hints of crème brulee and wet stone. Generous white peach, nectarine and dried honey flavours carry a refined, river stone like shape across the palate.
Subtle notions of crème brulee and stony mineral characters lie underneath. A lick of brisk acidity freshening up what is otherwise a well rounded finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Water Wheel Cabernet SauvignonVictoria, AUSTRALIA$17. 99Bottle$215.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinAged in French oak. Dense midnight black heart with a deep dark red black hue. Lifted blackcurrant aromas intermingle with tobacco, black olive, earthy vanillin cedar and spicy dried herb notes. Rich blackcurrant and liquorice fruits are framed by a muscular tannin structure with black olive, tobacco, charred cedar and spicy earth characteristics the back drop. Dry grippy finish with a medium length aftertaste.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 95
- 95
- 94
2023 Dune The Empty QuarterMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.3%Closure: StelvinDune is a project of brothers Duncan and Peter Lloyd (next generation Coriole) using fruit sourced from their vineyard in the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale. The Empty Quarter blend is composed of 38% Shiraz, 24% Mataro, 21% Grenache, 10% Touriga Nacional and 7% Cinsault. The varieties are picked together and fermented in open top concrete fermenters for around 10 days on skins. The wine is then pressed off into seasoned oak for approximately 12 months before bottling.
A highly savoury blend packed with juicy blue and dark fruits.
Deep black dark red heart with a dark purple black tinged hue. Alluring scents of dark raspberry, liquorice and dark plum and blueberry are delivered with plenty of intensity followed by hints of violet, earthy incense and fragrant herb notes. Mid weighted and refined in its feel, juicy dark plum, raspberry and blueberry fruits meld into a subtle liquorice, earthy incense and peppered herb back drop. Possessing slightly dryish but otherwise polished tannins, it shows ample freshness through the highly savoury finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.3%Other Reviews....
A blend of shiraz, mataro, grenache, touriga nacional and cinsault, picked at the same time and co-fermented; about 12 months in seasoned oak. Year on year, this offers such exceptional value. The varieties, though all dedicated contributors, somewhat fall away here, which is testimony to the cohesion of the wine. It’s medium weight, cut through with ferrous mineral notes, blue/purple florals, cracked pepper and warmed whole spices. Blue and red fruit notes fill the palate, along with fermented salami and dried woody herbs. Such a beautiful balance of the savoury and the vibrant; made for the table. Drink by 2031.
95 Points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionBlewitt Springs. Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro with a little Touriga Nacional. I’ve read all the Dune books, though I’ve not yet seen either of the new films.
Such a pleasing wine to drink. Blue and purple fruit, coal dust and ozone, sage and thyme, some dried flowers, pastrami and aniseed. It’s medium-bodied, has a distinctly ‘mineral’ feel to it, with fine dusty and peppery tannin, a quiet juicy blueberry succulence, and it’s also quite savoury, bresaola and Spanish black olive, I reckon, with a gently sticky and tactile finish of excellent length. Fresh. Spicy. Yum. Drink 2024-2029.
94 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front -
- 98
- 97
- 96
2023 Pierro ChardonnayMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2024-2034)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinOwner and manager of Pierro Estate, Dr Mike Peterkin, has a viticultural pedigree second to none. Besides making one of Margaret River's best Chardonnay, Mike also produced the first Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blend in Australia.
Fermented in French barriques, the wine goes through a full malolactic fermentation which helps achieve superior texture, mouth feel and a more refined, persistent flavour. Lees are stirred fortnightly by hand in barrel over a period of 12 months.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a subtle tinge of green around the edges and a watery hue. Captivating the olfactory senses are intense white peach and nectarine aromas infused with gun flint followed by complexing notes of subtle dried honey, biscuity oak, citrus and faint roasted almond. Refined yet relatively full and textural, rich white peach, nectarine and dried honey flavours are sculptured by seamlessly integrated, bracing acidity. Intricate nuances of gun flint, delicate roasted almond, biscuity nougat and citrus lend further sophistication across the back half. Powerful and voluminous across the palate yet remarkably fresh and energetic, it finishes with exceptional length and a sense of elegance.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
This will sit alongside anything Peterkin has made in more than four decades as one of the finest winemakers in the region. It is a cracking good wine delivered with precision and power with a degree of delicacy and finesse that makes it so appealing. Incredible intensity on the nose with aromas of white peach and grapefruit with a little muted butterscotch in the background. The palate is powerful and drives with urgency through to a remarkably long finish. The oak is neatly interlaced, and the fresh acidity adds another dimension with its savoury chalky character.
98 points
RayJordanWine.com.auPierro Chardonnay be what Pierro Chardonnay be. But there’s a smidgen more finesse in this year’s release and, combined with Pierre’s trademark fruit power, the effect is quite the sensational. Pierro is one of the original (as in, it was the first) close-planted blocks in Margaret River, at 6000 vines per hectare.
Power up front; finesse through the finish. This makes well and truly sure that it has your attention and then it shows that it has both depth, and style. Pears, yellow peaches, grilled nuts and a creamy, smoky, nougat character. There’s an element of quartz to this wine, or of something stony, and it’s a part of its glory. This is a noted wine in noteworthy form. It finishes long. It’s compelling throughout. Drink 2025-2032+
96 points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front
I’ve tried this quite a few times because I can’t get enough of it, as it’s the most detailed and finely tuned chardonnay from Pierro to date. It is beguiling, precise and elegant. All that is backed up by excellent fruit, integrated oak, a laser-light show of acidity with some creamy-nutty lees shimmying across the palate. And the finish – wow! Lingers long. Bravo. Drink by 2033.
97 points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion