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Billecart-Salmon Le Rose Champagne (375ml)Champagne, FRANCE$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkBillecart-Salmon Le Rose is considered the reference point for non vintage Rose Champagne. It consistently outshines other houses in terms of both quality and value for money. Previously labelled as simply Brut Rose Champagne, the blend has been fine tuned and now consists of 45% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier. Aging takes place on lees for 36 months and the blend includes 50% reserve wines (an increase of 10% on it’s former incarnation) sourced across 15 different vintages. It is also slightly drier with the dosage reduced down from 9 g/l to 4.7 g/l
Your go-to Rose Champagne for this festive season.
Pours with a frothy mousse that slowly subsides into a salmon pink coloured base that’s finely threaded by a steady stream of bubbles. Buoyant aromatics of strawberry, yeast lees and citrus fill the nostrils followed by hints of baked bread and chalky mineral notes. A chorus of mouth watering yeast lees, strawberry and white peach flavours are sculptured by vivid acidity which lends a racy feel. Baked bread, delicate almond, ginger and mineral elements sit in the background. The lingering dry, chalk tinged finish providing plenty of stimulation for the senses.
Alc. 12% -
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Veuve Fourny & Fils Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Champagne Premier CruChampagne, FRANCE$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkRich aromatics with a full flavoured yet sculptured palate that has a dry chalky finish.
Made only from Chardonnay with vines 40 years old on average, Brut Nature is produced with zero dosage.
Pours with an exuberant mousse that holds well over a pale gold base that has pale gold tinged edges and a very persistent fine bead. Rich aromatics of baked bread, citrus, yeast lees and dried honey are followed by some brioche and roasted almond notes. Full flavoured yet sculptured with a dry chalky finish, mouth filling baked bread, yeast lees and roasted almond characters combine with citrus, brioche and oyster shell like elements. Crisp acidity concluding long and tense.
Alc. 12% -
- Nick's Import
1995 Signatory Vintage Tomintoul 30 Year Old Symington's Choice Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$499. 00Bottle$5988.00 DozenABV: 50.7%"Very elegant, no overpowering sherry. The subtle, soft Tomintoul profile is noticable." - whiskybase.com
A cracking value sherry matured malt from a relatively obscure distillery known for a softer style distillate and promoting itself as “The Gentle Dram". Some tasters at whiskybase who were lucky enough to try this against the classic Glenrothes 30YO (in the same shipment) found this to be their preference, especially after about 30-40 minutes in the glass. "Elegance" is the recurring descriptor. Unfortunately, we couldn't secure enough to satisfy more than a handful of customers. Three decades in a first-fill Oloroso Sherry butt yielded 565 bottles at natural strength. 50.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Very elegant, no overpowering sherry. The subtle, soft Tomintoul profile is noticable. Notes of old leather, wood polish, candied oranges, soy sauce. Some dried red fruit sweetness. Finish is warming. And everything is subtle and elegant. Very good this. - whiskybase.com
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2008 Lady of the Glen Macduff Single Cask #1 16 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 56.2%Another miniscule outturn which Gregor Hannah sub labels a 'Myosotis Release'. It's similar in age to the Glenrothes except this time matured in an Oloroso American oak butt instead of European oak. The result is a softer wine input that pairs with MacDuff's slightly lighter spirit. Rich and malty on the nose, a lovely nutty sherry influence here, too, of the Amontillado kind (even though it's oloroso finished). Full bodied, unpretentious, leaning towards fruit'n'nut dark chocolate on the palate, thick with chewy choc-malt presence supported by balanced heat, slow burn oak and a flurry of spices. One for lovers of beefy-textured Highlanders. This distillery is rarely high on complexity, however for sheer weight and delivery, Lady of the Glen offer one of the more impressive Macduffs to date. Just 53 bottles decanted! 56.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... battenburg cake, golden syrup and green pear.
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- Nick's Import
2014 Lady of the Glen Glen Elgin Single Cask #800982 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 57.3%A fruity, floral and honeyed distillate that's a favourite at LOTG due to its versatility and compatibility with many cask types. This one was originally matured in a hogshead then 'finished' for six long years in a first fill Amontillado sherry cask sourced from Josafer cooperage. It needs time to blow off the intense bittersweet cocoa nose and sharp citrus edge, giving way to poached Summer fruits. Settles into a gargantuan malt-drive. A tongue blasting malt-fest. Few will have tasted Glen Elgin as bold and feisty as this. You'll need water to get past the over-the-top experience uncut, which turns the profile to orange-filled milk chocolates. 236 bottles. 57.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Telling a palo cortado from an amontillado in a finishing is nothing short of wizardry, and we’ll freely admit we are quite unable to do so. Colour: full gold. Nose: earth, peppers and oranges in various guises. Will that do for you? With water: notes of Swiss cheese fondue, kirsch and white wine. I promise. Mouth (neat): the oranges save the world, at least here, yet it remains a touch… improbable. Think bitter orange liqueur with pepper and ginger. With water: ah, that’s better, though still a tad uncertain (Gruyère, pepper, kirsch and glue, really?) Finish: very long, very peppery, fairly bitter. Notes of glue and Seville orange. Comments: another highly acrobatic Glen Elgin, let us be frank, but really very, very decent. 80 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the bottlers... stewed strawberries, nutmeg and chocolate coffee beans.
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2012 Lady of the Glen Pulteney Single Cask #800134 13 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$179. 99Bottle$2159.88 DozenABV: 58.9%We are excited to offer Lady of the Glen's first ever cask from this legendary North Highland distillery. Thankfully they resisted the temptation to re-rack it, instead keeping it in its original barrel. If you've only tasted the rather mild Pulteney twelve year old, this will be atomic. Peppered crackers and hints of orange spice cake on the nose, before blasting the tastebuds; waxed orchard fruits compete with sweet oak and a salivating salt'n'pepper tang. Takes water amazingly well, expanding the flavours to include hay bails, distant fruitiness and a faint sooty peat, all while maintaining a vivacious coastal vibe. Pure and simple Pulteney, this will be nothing short of a revelation for those accustomed to official age statements. 58.9% Alc.Vol. Non chill filtered. 241 bottles produced.
Other reviews... Colour: white wine. Nose: the profile is naturally quite close but it’s even less marked by American oak, consequently showing more lemon and green apple, and naturally more power as well. At this stage, it also seems a little more mineral than maritime, or so it seems to me. With water: we’re extremely close to the wee ‘Harbour’, only leaning more clearly towards minerality and even greenness. Mouth (neat): powerful, cutting, extremely sharp, all on lemon and soluble aspirin tablets. Lemon-flavoured tablets, for example. This minimalist side is very lovely indeed, we sometimes call these babies ‘Bauhaus’ whiskies. With water: it becomes very chalky. As luck would have it, we do like that. Finish: very long, ultra-precise, dominated by a maritime lemon. Perhaps there are lemon trees in Wick? There are some on the other side, near Ullapool… Comments: a superb creature, taut as a competition bow (and the first to mention Agincourt/Azincourt again will answer to me). 87 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the bottlers... the maritime character of this malt shines through... The distillate is a heavy bodied spirit with spicy and fruity notes of lemon sherbet, salt and black pepper and liquorice.
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2018 Ayala A/18 Le Blanc de Blancs ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkAiry, expansive and highly finessed with a satiny feel to the long stimulating finish.
Buoyant fluffy white mousse with a pale straw coloured base that has a fine persistent bead coursing through it. Wonderfully refined nose with aromas of baked bread, citrus, yeast lees, pear, delicate honeyed cashew and chalk flowing through the nostrils with plenty of intensity. Airy and expansive across the palate, highly finessed flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and citrus are featured over subtle cashew, pear and chalky characters. Crisp sculpturing acidity with a satiny feel to the long stimulating finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews….
Always coming from the Grand Crus of Côte de Blancs, the 2018 Champagne Le Blanc De Blancs A/18 Extra Brut includes fruit from the Montagne de Reims. This was Julien Gout's first vintage with Ayala as Chef de Cave, and he added the extra fruit to give the wine a bit more depth. On the nose, it’s delicate and floral with its notes of white flowers, baby powder, fresh pear, and lemon candies. Medium-bodied, it has more intensity but remains all about finesse and elegance, with a delicate, rounded mid-palate, a pillowy, fresh mousse, a delicate structure that frames the wine, and a clean, stony finish, closing with a hint of spice. It’s another step in the right direction for this estate and very nicely done. Drink over the coming 10-15 years. Drink 2024-2040.
93+ Points
Audrey Frick – JebDunnuck.comLemony and pristine with aspirin-like tension. Light-bodied, showing superzesty tangerine flavors with bright fruit definition and good length. It might lack complexity at the moment but is poised to develop lots of energy, elegance and nerviness. Drinkable now but best in two or three years.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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- Nick's Import
1998 Lady of the Glen Ben Nevis Single Cask #176 26 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$499. 00Bottle$5988.00 DozenABV: 43.2%Rare to find nowadays and especially from this vintage: Unpeated Ben Nevis in distinctive form. Soft and winey, like Pinot Gris. Pears, apples, and a low-key spent candle wax note to the nose, hovering below sweet citrus blossoms. Chewy yet rounded, the flavours skew towards a playful tropical-fruit side of Nevis; Nectarine, passionfruit, subtle elderflower and a succulence that's pure joy. Add 5ml of water and those notes persist. Perhaps the only distillery that routinely matches this for grace and style is decades-old Jura. At a naturally low ABV, savour it straight or with no more than a single ice cube or you're probably wasting your money. 276 bottles from a refill hogshead. 43.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... An interesting bottling strength, which might hint at a more complex and tertiary profile than some other releases from the same vintage… Colour: white wine. Nose: oh yes, this is spot on – clearer than expected but also more precise, on beeswax, lemon, seawater and a few hints of dill, before shifting into the realm of top-tier Burgundian chardonnays, with that distinctly chalky terroir. Though perhaps the robe of the malt already pointed us in that direction. Mouth: a little more fragile on the palate, with a more pronounced herbal infusion side, but I still find it excellent. Perfect salinity and lovely, mildly sweet pepper. Finish: not especially long, but the waxiness returns, and that’s always welcome. Very ripe banana and pear. Comments: one of its lesser qualities is that you could sip it in outrageous quantities without blinking. Not that we’re recommending that, naturally. 89 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the bottlers... a combination of sweet, spicy and tropical notes. The taste revealed - pineapple, beignets and passion fruit tart.
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2024 Hahndorf Hill Gru Gruner VeltlinerAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinConcentrated and textural yet mouth watering Gruner Veltliner.
The benchmark for Gruner Veltliner in Australia. Brilliant very pale straw colour with highlights of green around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of pear, green apple and lime flood the nostrils followed by whiffs of guava, fresh herbs and wet stone. Concentrated and textural yet mouth watering, the palate is awash with pear, guava, lime and green apple fruits. Crunchy acidity with some fresh herb and stony mineral infusions also apparent. Ample in it’s volume it finishes long and scrumptious. Dual Trophy winner.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12.5%
Other Reviews……
Generous aromas of white peaches, yellow apples, white pepper, fresh herbs, guavas, Asian pears, slate and spices. The palate is plush and rounded, with a slight phenolic grip, fresh acidity and a mineral-edged and well-balanced finish. Nicely constructed, with lovely purity. Drink now. Screw cap.
93 points
JamesSuckling.com -
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- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
- Organic
2024 Stefano Zoli Verdicchio di Matelica DOCMarche, ITALY$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinConcentrated and textural yet zingy in its feel with a long saline infused finish.
Verdicchio has historical roots dating back to well before the 7th century, putting this grape amongst a handful of truly indigenous Italian grape varieties. The mineral-rich ancient clay-based limestone soils that are unique to Le Marche’s territory are a key factor that enables Verdicchio to thrive. The vineyard climate is influenced heavily by the Apennines Mountain ranges, there is more of a protected continental climate here resulting in large temperature variations between day and night that maintain acidity and freshness in the grape -a perfect place for long time Italian enologist Stefano Zolito grow his pure, crystalline Verdicchio.
Brilliant pale straw to straw colour with delicate flashes of green around the edges and a watery hue. Pear and red apple skin aromas mix with hints of mango, faint honeysuckle and slatey mineral notes. Concentrated and textural yet zingy in its feel, the palate is bristling with lime, green to red apple and mandarin fruits which are underscored by tangy acidity. Slate and flinty mineral elements sit in the background. The long, zippy finish infused with a saline like minerality.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14% -
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2023 Ox Hardy GrenacheMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA juicy, energetic red fruited Grenache.
Matured for 6 months in old French oak with 10% whole bunch fermentation. Semi translucent red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a vibrant red hue. Red to dark raspberry, cherry and red liquorice scents intermix with vanillin spice and peppered earth notes. Bouncing across the light to medium bodied palate with plenty of energy are juicy red raspberry, red liquorice and cherry fruits. Crushed rock and delicate infusions of pepper sit in the background. Polished tannins with a fresh, white pepper laced, red fruited finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews….
From old vines in Blewitt Springs and McLaren Flat; 10% whole bunch; six months in older French oak. Pale in the glass, generous of feel. Cranberry jelly, redcurrant, ripe raspberry, kirsch, Bing cherry, rosy florals, freshly ground cinnamon and white pepper. This is silky and supple, refreshed with a fine seam of acidity and gentle but efficient tannins. It’s a charming thing, with immediate pure appeal underpinned by quality fruit and gentle handling. Drink by 2030.
93 Points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionJuicy and lively, showing berries, bay leaves and baking spices. Medium-bodied and playful, this has a bright character on the palate. Silky tannins and a succulent, energetic finish. Drink now. Screw cap.
92 Points
JamesSucking.com -
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2023 Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block (375ml)Swartland, SOUTH AFRICA$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 94%Closure: CorkA nicely fleshed, medium bodied blend with a savoury blue to dark fruited finish.
The Boekenhoutskloof vineyard, named after the original property set up in 1776, was founded in 1993 in the Franschhoek Valley, when it was planted with Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Semillon, and Viognier. Today, under the helm of the winemaker Mark Kent, they produce a range of iconic wines including the Boekenhoutskloof Estate Wines, The Wolftrap, Porcupine Ridge, The Chocolate Block, and the Porseleinberg from the Swartland.
The 2023 Chocolate Block (the 22nd vintage of this wine) is a blend of 74% Syrah, 11% Grenache, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cinsault and 1% Viognier. The wine is matured in a combination of seasoned 2,500L French oak foudres, 225L barriques, and seasoned 600L demi-muids for a period of 14 months.
Deep dark red black core with a dark red hue. Fragrant aromas of dark plum, liquorice and dark raspberry are trailed by whiffs of dark chocolate, spicy vanillin cedar and peppered dried herb notes. Nicely fleshed, the medium bodied palate features dark plum, liquorice, blueberry and dark raspberry fruits over vanillin cedar, subtle earthy dark chocolate and spicy dried herb characters. Supple and refined in it’s feel with polished tannins and a long savoury blue to dark fruited finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
This is wonderfully fragrant, with attractive notes of olive, mulberry and peppercorn. It’s juicy, medium- to full-bodied and very bright, with fine-grained tannins and a lively finish. 74% syrah, 11% grenache, 8% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cinsault and 1% viognier. Delicious already. Drink now.
92 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2025 Torbreck Cuvee Juveniles BlancBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA nicely shaped Rhone style blend that shows ample intensity and an energetic feel.
A blend of 40% Marsanne, 32% Roussanne, 17% Grenache Blanc, 10% Clairette and 1% Viognier matured in a combination of stainless steel and seasoned barriques.
Brilliant water like colour with highlights of green around the outskirts. Fresh lime and green apple scents lead the way with whiffs of apricot, honeysuckle and stony mineral notes also chiming in. Nicely shaped with ample intensity and an energetic feel, pear, lime and green apple fruits overlay a delicate peach and stony mineral back drop. Crisp acidity with a long refreshing finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
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- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Mornington Estate Pinot NoirMornington Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.1%Closure: StelvinA savoury, red fruited Pinot Noir.
Semi translucent red to dark red core with black toned edges and a vibrant red hue. Fragrant red cherry and winter strawberry aromas are complimented by hints of anise, fresh herb, forest floor and delicate spicy cedar notes. Delicious red cherry and strawberry fruits have a supple flow across the palate with notions of red liquorice, subtle spicy dried clove, forest floor and brambly cedar elements extending across the back half. Polished fine grained tannins with a fresh red fruited finish that’s quite savoury.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.1% -
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- Organic
2022 COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria ClassicoSicily, ITALY$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkA moreish red fruited Sicilian red.
Azienda Agricola COS was founded in 1980 in the town of Vittoria, located in the southeast of Sicily. Championing indigenous grape varietals since their inception, today they are one of the finest producers on the island. Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico is a blend of 40% Frappato and 60% Nero d'Avola produced from 25-year-old vines thriving in red, limestone-rich soil. The wines undergo wild fermentation on skins and are matured in Slavonian barrels for at least 18 months. This blend combines the lighter, fruitier character of Frappato with the robust power and structure of Nero d'Avola.
Red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a red hue. Delightful red currant and red cherry aromas flow through the nostrils followed by a faint whiff of red liquorice, earth, Mediterranean herb and spice notes. Juicy red currant, red liquorice and red cherry fruits flood the mouth with savoury tones of earth, infusions of Mediterranean herbs and spice lying underneath. Beautifully refined and balanced with polished tannins, this mid weight expression finishes long, fresh and supple.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews....
A blend of 60% Nero d'Avola and 40% Frappato, the organic COS 2022 Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico sees cement only to achieve a silky, mid-weight texture. Kicked off with a spontaneous fermentation, it reveals fresh aromas of wild strawberry, raspberry, almond, wild herb and crushed stone. The vineyards are characterized by sandy limestone soils that are unique to this part of Sicily. Drink 2024-2029.
92 Points
Monica Larner – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - La Gioiosa Treviso Prosecco Piccolo (200ml)Treviso, ITALY$9. 99Bottle$119.88 DozenABV: 11%Closure: Cork
La Gioiosa is one of Italy’s leading Prosecco producers based in Treviso. These 200ml bottles are ideal when you’re having just one glass. Very pale straw and a fine, persistent bead. The aroma is fruity with hints of ripe golden apple and small mountain flowers. The dry, fresh and flavoursome sensation on the palate is followed by a fruity and harmonious aftertaste.
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2022 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet SauvignonMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 12 Years (2025-2037)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA wonderfully fragrant, mid weighted Cabernet that shows great finesse.
A blend of 99% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Malbec matured in French oak (50% new) for a period of 22 months. Dense midnight black colour with a dark red black tinged hue. Wonderfully intense, the nose is brimming with fresh black currant, mulberry and violet scents which are complimented by cedary tobacco, dusty earth, black olive and bay leaf notes. The refined mid weighted palate is layered with red to black currant and mulberry fruits which are underscored by spicy vanillin cedar, tobacco, earth and bay leaf characters. Fine grained yet sturdy tannin structure that imparts a mild firmness across the long, finessed finish.
Drink over the next 10-12 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
The 2022 Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon hails from a warm and dry vintage in Margaret River, one that is showing to be a very high-quality Cabernet vintage. The palate shows a pure core of raspberry and blood orange, nori and raw cocoa, even chinotto-esque in its leanings, with bramble and forest floor, graphite and cracked fennel seed. This is a velvety, tightly controlled, compact and excellent wine. The oak shows ever so slightly on the nose, in the form of malt biscuit and aniseed. This will be quickly subsumed by the fruit in a short time. Drink 2025-2042.
97+ points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateThis is yet another release that shows the continual transformation of Leeuwin cabernets into now some of the very best in the region. It was a terrific year for producing fruit of exceptional varietal expression and intensity, and real balance. This is largely cabernet but again, a tiny percentage of malbec plays an important role. It's had about 50% new French oak for nine months, and overall spends about 22 months in oak. It retains an elegance and poise, yet at the same time, it's powerful and intense. Blackcurrant, a little leaf, a touch of oyster shell, and even a fragrant lift of violet on the nose. It's seamlessly integrated with fine chalky tannins and fine oak. This is as good as any cabernet released yet from Leeuwin. Cellar 20 years.
97 points
RayJordanWine.com.auThere is debate in the Margaret River region as to whether 2022 or 2023 is the better vintage. It is a line ball decision – both were wonderful, so consumers simply can’t lose – but I’d probably opt for the younger year by a whisker. All that means is that fans of this wine just might have something even more exciting down the track. The initial maturation for this wine was in French oak, 50% of which were new. The parcels were then blended and further maturation, a total of 22 months, took place in ‘French Bordelaise coopered barriques’. A vibrant maroon hue, the nose exhibits aromas of tobacco leaves, licorice, blackberries, truffles, graphite, cigar boxes and mulberries, with deftly handled oak, providing a flick of vanilla which sits comfortably. Balanced and lingering, with underlying intensity and juicy acidity, this has a seductive texture and will continue to improve for many years. Enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Leeuwin’s Art Series Cab now sits among the very best from the region. Drink 2025-2040.
96 points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.comOne of the most elegant Art Series wines to date, yet it still has plenty of detail and power, it just feels more composed. A whorl of mulberries and blackberries all spiced up with cedary oak and cinnamon, licorice root and nori. The more mid-weighted palate is very even, with beautifully judged cocoa powder-like tannins. The invigorating acidity lengthens out the finish. It’s singing now yet will age gracefully. Bravo.
96 points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 96
Billecart-Salmon Le Blanc de Blancs Champagne Grand CruChampagne, FRANCE$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkExquisitely balanced yet powerful with a weightless, airy like feel to its flow.
A 100% Chardonnay cuvee sourced from the Grand Crus of Cotes des Blancs - Avize, Chouilly, Cramant and Mesnil-sur-Oger. It’s aged on lees for 5 years and includes anywhere from 20% to 50% reserve wines in the final blend.
Carries a satiny mousse which gradually fades into a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold tinged edges and an exceptionally fine bead. Delightful pear, citrus, brioche and yeast lees aromas fill the nostrils with whiffs of roasted cashew and dried honey also evident. Refined with a weightless, airy like feel to its flow, mouth filling flavours of pear, yeast lees and baked bread are layered across the palate. Exquisitely balanced yet powerful, it has a back drop of citrus and roasted cashew, crisp acidity and a long, gently creamed finish.
Alc. 12% -
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2022 Nicks Secret BFD Reserve Barossa ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $150.00$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 15%Closure: CorkThis bold Barossa Shiraz was one of Robert Parker’s darling wines in the early 2000’s meriting scores of up to 99 points. Produced from a selection of only the best barrels utilising the estate’s oldest blocks of Shiraz, this formidable wine is only released in the great vintages and whilst not widely distributed on Australian shores it can be found selling for $150.00 per bottle on the winery's website. Maturation takes place in a mix of new French and American hogsheads for a period of 30 months. Bolder, richer and deeper than the 2021 vintage, this is a super impressive follow up release that will not disappoint.
A plush, power packed Barossa Shiraz that makes a rich, decadent entrance and culminates with a dramatically long finish.
Impenetrable inky black heart with an equally deep black dark red hue. Heady aromatics of dark plum, liquorice, mocha and vanillin oak engulf the nostrils followed by whiffs of earthy dark chocolate and spicy fennel. Rich, lavish and possessing fabulous density, the ultra-seductive palate is drenched in a tidal wave of dark plum, blackberry and liquorice fruits which meld into a dark chocolate, spicy vanillin oak, subtle earthy mocha and fennel back drop. Plush in texture and powered by a high impact V8 engine, it possesses a velvety yet underlying sturdy tannin structure, concluding exceptionally long and sumptuous.
Drink over the next 6-8 years
Alc. 15%Other Reviews….
Under cork, this wine is a barrel selection from the estate's oldest blocks of Shiraz. It is restricted to those vintages considered worthy. Maturation is for two and a half years in a mix of new French and American oak hogsheads. An inky opaque maroon, the nose reveals notes of blackberries, plums, mocha, soy, cedar, tobacco leaves, truffles, cassis and chocolate. The oak integration has been deftly handled and the wine has superb balance and great length. Intensity runs for the full journey, along with a line of bright acidity, finishing with the silkiest of tannins. Stunning stuff.
97 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.comA sumptuous offering with sophistication and refinement, the seductive bouquet shows dark fruit intensity, warm spice, charcuterie, toasty oak, and mocha characters. The palate is opulent and plush with outstanding depth and richness, wonderfully complemented by layers of chalky tannins, making it firmly structured with an impressively long, graceful finish. At its best: now to 2042.
97 Points
Sam Kim – Wine Orbit
A barrel selection of the best shiraz from the vintage off the Draycott vineyard, matured 30 months in French and American oak. Deep crimson with classically framed regional aromas of blackberry, damson plum and black cherry fruits, a decent dose of oak and wood spice, Cherry Ripe, baking spices, blackforest cake, clove, dark chocolate, olive tapenade, espresso, earth and roasting meats. Full bodied with an elegant display of black fruits, wood spice and dark and milk chocolate tones, fine-grained tannins and a long draw of flavour on the finish. Drink by 2046.
95+ points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
- 94
2024 Fulcro a Pedreira AlbarinoRias Baixas, SPAIN$46. 99Bottle$563.88 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkBodega Fulcro began as a small garage project in Val do Salnés, where Manuel "Chicho" Moldes quietly built a reputation for thoughtful, site-driven Albariño. He now works a collection of tiny, old vine parcels, many on the granitic sand soils that define the area, farming organically and harvesting by hand to keep each plot separate from the outset. Fermentation is handled with a light touch in the cellar, relying on indigenous yeasts, used wood and no malolactic conversion to preserve the clarity of each site. The result is a style that reflects both the coastal setting and the underlying granite, and it has quickly placed Fulcro among the region's most respected small producers.
Pedreira is assembled from parcels in Meaño, Padrenda and Sanxenxo, all planted on classic granitic soils near the Atlantic. The wine is fermented and aged across a mix of barrels and foudres, and it represents Fulcro's multi-site expression of Albariño drawn from some of their more coastal old vine holdings.
Other Reviews....
The young 2024 A Pedreira is serious and austere, subtle, still a tad reductive but following the house style of whites that are clean, elegant and very tasty and with a subtle salty twist in the finish. It was produced with grapes from very white sandy soils in Meaño, Padrenda and Sanxenxo and fermented in oak (barrels and foudres) and 30% in stainless steel, where it matured for four to six months. I think this will be even better with a couple of years in bottle. The work with oak is unnoticeable in the flavors or aromas, but it gives the wine nuance and complexity. It comes in at 13% alcohol, with a pH of 3.32 and 8.1 grams of acidity. 65,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2025. Drink 2026-2032.
94+ points
Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThis has austere aromas of wet stones and restrained ripeness. The tense, incisive and mouthwatering palate is precise, with a lovely texture. This comes from a single parcel and ages for around 11 months in used barrels. A good value. Drink now.
94 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
- 96
2023 Fulcro o Equilibrio AlbarinoRias Baixas, SPAIN$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkBodega Fulcro began as a small garage project in Val do Salnés, where Manuel "Chicho" Moldes quietly built a reputation for thoughtful, site-driven Albariño. He now works a collection of tiny, old vine parcels, many on the granitic sand soils that define the area, farming organically and harvesting by hand to keep each plot separate from the outset. Fermentation is handled with a light touch in the cellar, relying on indigenous yeasts, used wood and no malolactic conversion to preserve the clarity of each site. The result is a style that reflects both the coastal setting and the underlying granite, and it has quickly placed Fulcro among the region's most respected small producers.
O Equilibrio is the original Fulcro bottling, sourced mainly from the Xesteriura vineyard with its schist-granite profile, complemented by two small parcels in Arra. Fermentation and ageing take place entirely in old French oak, giving this cuvée a more focused, vineyard-specific identity within the range.
Other Reviews....
The wine that started it all goes even one step further in nuance, complexity and even balance. I'm taking about the superb 2023 O Equilibrio, cropped from a very balanced year with good ripeness and very good freshness. It's precise, multifaceted, subtle and elegant, with incredible detail, focused and precise like a laser cut. The word is balance, which is what the wine's name means. They aim for more complexity and structure than A Pedreira, produced mostly with grapes from the Xesteira vineyard on schist soils and two small plots on sandy soils in Arra. It fermented and matured in used 400- to 700-liter French oak barrels for 11 months. It has the following parameters: 13% alcohol, 3.26 pH and 7.9 grams of acidity. At this price, the quality is unbelievable. It should age beautifully. 12,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2024. Drink 2025-2033.
96+ points
Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThis is herbal, with austere aromas of fennel, wet slate and ocean shore. The palate is saline, medium- to full-bodied and tense, with a subtle phenolic grip and lingering salinity. Aged in neutral barrels of different sizes. Drink now or hold.
95 points
JamesSuckling.com - 1974 Dalmore 32 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$10999. 00Bottle$131988.00 DozenABV: 52%
"An excellent, punchy and rather heavily sherried Dalmore for long winter evenings." - whiskyfun.com
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product shown.
A natural strength Dalmore distilled over 50 years ago! Originally limited to 780 bottles of pure enjoyment and exclusive to the French retailer, LMDW (La Maison du Whisky). Obviously now very rare. 52 % Alc./Vol. Non-chill-filtered.
Other reviews... Colour: deep amber. Nose: ah, this is a ‘different’ kind of sherry it seems. Lots of notes of old wine (not just sherry, also burgundy), walnut liqueur, orange liqueur, cigar tobacco, shoe polish… And then Irish coffee, old books, both old attic and wine cellar… Quite some smoke at that, cloves, nutmeg, hints of Chinese anise… And something like lovage, soy sauce, mocha… Now the more classical old rum and raisins, old cognac, whiffs of menthol, old leather… Quite stunning, with a very long development and something really ‘old fashioned’, like an Agatha Christie novel. Mouth: bold, oily, creamy and maybe a tad drying and tannic at first sip. Whether that comes from the sherry or from the wood, I don’t know. The first descriptor I can come up with is over infused rosehip tea (err…) Okay, let’s make that strong black tea. Then lots of raisins (rather Smyrna or Corinth than sultanas), bitter chocolate, coffee, liquorice, Chinese sweet and sour sauce, blackcurrant liqueur, kumquats… Rather simpler than on the nose I’d say but still very good. Gets quite spicy after that (pepper, cloves, dried ginger), especially at the rather long, slightly drying but otherwise fairly balanced finish. An excellent, punchy and rather heavily sherried Dalmore for long winter evenings. 89 points - whiskyfun.com
Other reviews... Very dignified, long aftertaste, everything fits. Sweet orange jam on fresh nut cake determines the finish, before the malt becomes drier with a fine hint of aromatic smoke and some lime and then gradually fades away. Barely noticeable oak bitterness. Great, very classic original bottling... - whiskybase.com
- Pintail Girvan 17 Year Old Cask Strength Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)Lowlands, SCOTLAND$260. 00Bottle$3120.00 DozenABV: 53.7%
For whisky lovers who think they've tried it all, here we have a middle-aged grain with a twist: Aged for around 16 years, nearing its peak, it then spent a full year in an ex-Fine Bretagne barrel, bestowing lots of juicy apple and a creamy texture. 'Fine Bretagne' (also known as ‘Lambig’) is an apple brandy made from distilled cider in the Brittany region, similar to Calvados (produced in neighbouring Normandy). The outturn was 256 bottles at a natural strength of 53.7% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Creamy and delicate with hints of vanilla custard, apple juice, pear drops, Galia melon, shortbread, marzipan. Palate: Warm apple tarte tatin, lemon sherbet, jasmine blossom. Finish: A warming note of white pepper with lasting almond oil and sweet apple butter pastries.
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- Organic
2015 Domaine Berthet-Bondet Chateau-ChalonJura, FRANCE$270. 00Bottle$3240.00 DozenABV: 15.5%Closure: CorkDomaine Berthet-Bondet was created in 1984 when Jean and Chantal Berthet-Bondet revived an old, long-dormant estate in Château-Chalon, drawing on Jean's early experience at Domaine Macle to guide the rebuild. Their holdings have since expanded to 11 hectares, largely Savagnin and Chardonnay, including 4 hectares in key south and south-east facing sites across Château-Chalon and neighbouring Menétru, now certified organic after decades of careful farming. The domaine quickly became known for its meticulous approach to both sous-voile and ouillé styles, a reflection of Jean's measured, thoughtful character and his influence within the appellation. Today his daughter Hélène leads the estate, refining the topped-up wines and further developing the range while demand continues to climb.
Chateau Chalon is no doubt the greatest site in the Jura for making Vin Jaune, the Grand Cru if you will, and produces wines with a touch more finesse than the other single site Vin Jaune.
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- 96
- Organic
2020 Guillaume Gilles CornasCornas, Northern Rhone, FRANCE$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkGuillaume Gilles is part of the new generation reshaping Cornas, drawing on formative years with Robert Michel and a period working at Domaine Jean-Louis Chave before establishing his own domaine around parcels inherited from Michel, including key holdings in Chaillot. He now farms 2 hectares on the south and south-east facing terraces of this site along with smaller plots in Les Grands Murs, Les Terrasses, Les Mazards and Les Saveaux, working manually and with organic principles. Winemaking follows the traditional approach he learned under Michel, relying on whole bunches, natural ferments, long macerations and extended aging in old demi-muids without racking, fining or filtration. The result is a style that combines purity and balance with the structure expected of Cornas, and it has positioned Guillaume as one of the appellation's most compelling contemporary voices.
Other Reviews....
Vivid purple. Deeply pitched cherry, dark berry preserve and licorice aromas pick up smoky mineral, olive and floral notes with air. Chewy and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated, mineral-drenched bitter cherry, blackberry, fruitcake and floral pastille flavors that spread out steadily and turn sweeter with air. Shows solid grip and resonating minerality on a wonderfully long, smoky finish that echoes the dark berry and licorice notes. This is all Chaillot fruit, Gilles told me. Drink 2028-2038.
96 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous -
- 95
- Organic
2021 Franck Balthazar Cornas ChaillotCornas, Northern Rhone, FRANCE$285. 00Bottle$3420.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkThe Balthazar family has worked the steep granite slopes of Cornas since 1931, and the estate is now led by Franck, who left his engineering career in 2002 to take over from his father René and continue the traditional methods established across three generations. The domaine farms just over 4 hectares, centered on old Sérine vines in Mazards, La Côte and a notable 1914 planting in Chaillot, with further terraces developed on the high, rugged slopes of Lègre and Les Prés. Viticulture is fully organic and worked largely by hand, with a strong commitment to historic practices in the vineyard and cellar, including whole-cluster, native-yeast fermentations in concrete and élevage in old demi-muids without fining or filtration. These elements, together with the quality of the sites, have positioned Balthazar as one of Cornas' most respected traditional producers and a significant contributor to the appellation's modern revival.
Other Reviews....
Opaque magenta. Intensely perfumed, mineral-tinged aromas of fresh black and blue fruits, licorice, bacon fat and olive paste, along with a suave floral overtone that builds as the wine opens up. Stains the palate with deeply concentrated but vibrant blackberry, boysenberry, violet pastille and exotic spice flavors, plus a smoky mineral flourish that gains strength through the back half. Chewy tannins shape an extremely long, mineral- and floral-driven finish that shows superb clarity and spicy drive.
95-97 points
Josh Raynolds - Vinous -
- 94
- 95
- Organic
2021 Franck Balthazar Cornas Sans Soufre AjouteCornas, Northern Rhone, FRANCE$285. 00Bottle$3420.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkThe Balthazar family has worked the steep granite slopes of Cornas since 1931, and the estate is now led by Franck, who left his engineering career in 2002 to take over from his father René and continue the traditional methods established across three generations. The domaine farms just over 4 hectares, centered on old Sérine vines in Mazards, La Côte and a notable 1914 planting in Chaillot, with further terraces developed on the high, rugged slopes of Lègre and Les Prés. Viticulture is fully organic and worked largely by hand, with a strong commitment to historic practices in the vineyard and cellar, including whole-cluster, native-yeast fermentations in concrete and élevage in old demi-muids without fining or filtration. These elements, together with the quality of the sites, have positioned Balthazar as one of Cornas' most respected traditional producers and a significant contributor to the appellation's modern revival.
Other Reviews....
Cassis, cherry pit, candied licorice and smoked meat aromas are complemented by suggestions of black tea and potpourri. Appealing sweet and focused on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit, exotic spice and candied violet flavors and a touch of smokiness. Finishes extremely long and youthfully tannic, with the blue fruit, spice and smoke notes repeating.
94-96 points
Josh Raynolds - VinousStunning depth of wild blackberry fruit with notes of white pepper and violets. Great fruit is wrapped around a core of fine tannins. Real finesse in the rugged context of this appellation. Very long, velvety finish with so much berry fruit and so many violets. 100% whole-cluster fermented and matured in demi muid oak casks. Drink or hold.
95 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com - Wakatsuru Distillery Sun Shine 20 Year Old Single Malt Japanese Whisky (720ml)JAPAN$999. 00Bottle$11988.00 DozenABV: 50%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Being a primarily Sake distillery, Wakatsuru have dipped their toes several times into the malted side of spirits production. After the initial release of 20 bottles, they followed up with a batch of 500 bottles in 2013, which makes this a very limited product. A true Japanese single malt with, reportedly, high amounts of wood influence and a fresh finish. 50% Alc./Vol.
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- 93
2025 De Bortoli ROSE RoseKing Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$14. 99Bottle$179.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinJuicy peach, raspberry and strawberry fruits with a supple textural feel and refreshing acidity.
Pale damask pink tinged colour. Attractive raspberry, pomegranate and musk aromas greet the nostrils with ample intensity followed by whiffs of Turkish delight and spice. Juicy peach, raspberry and strawberry fruits slip across the palate with a supple textural feel. Pomegranate and musk nuances also make an appearance. Refreshing acidity with a long delicious finish.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 13% -
- 93
- 95
2024 Sanguine Estate Progeny ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.8%Closure: StelvinA youthful, amply fruited medium to full bodied Heathcote Shiraz.
Over the last decade or two Sanguine Estate have steadily built a reputation as one of Heathcote’s top producers making rich, intensely flavoured wines that have brought a loyal following. Their entry level Shiraz ‘Progeny’ is consistently one of the districts best buys. Ben Riggs continues to consult the Hunter family in their endeavours. Maturation takes place in predominately French oak barriques, approximately 15% new, for a period of 12 months.
Impenetrable pitch black heart with a deep dark red black hue. Pronounced liquorice and black cherry scents fill the nostrils followed by some blackberry juice, vanillin cedar and subtle peppered earth notes. Rich juicy blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits carry medium to full body weight with spicy vanillin cedar, earth and peppered fennel elements lining the back half. Slightly grainy tannins and fresh underlying acidity with a youthful, amply fruited, mid length conclusion.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.8%
Other Reviews......
A strikingly deep purple in the glass surrounded by a swathe of dark spices, dark fruits and oh-so bright and lasting drinking pleasure. Progeny is one of the most consistent, well-priced Heathcote shiraz wines going, year in, year out. The '24 doesn't disappoint with its engaging fragrant perfume, generosity of Heathcote black fruits, spice, light savoury nuance, beautifully balanced tannins and just its overall joie de vivre. Puts a smile on the dial. Drink by 2031.
95 points
Jeni Port - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 95
- 95
2021 Angove Warboys Vineyard Shiraz GrenacheMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$46. 99Bottle$563.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, lush and velvety with a long sweeping finish.
Matured in French oak puncheons. Dense midnight black heart with a deep dark red hue. Pronounced aromas of dark raspberry and liquorice mix with scorched earth, vanillin spice and peppered fennel notes. Rich, lush black raspberry, liquorice and ripe black cherry fruits flood the mouth with an opulent feel. Lurking underneath are vanillin spice, scorched earth and pepper elements. Velvety tannins with a long sweeping finish that’s loaded with succulent fruit.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews…..
From 50-year-old vines, with the shiraz hand picked and chilled for a week prior to the grenache, then co-fermented as crushed berries; additionally, there was a portion of grenache fermented with some whole bunches. This is an excellent expression, gifted elegance from a cooler year, and with varieties interlocking seamlessly, an appealing scrubby herbal note permeating the wild blackberry, tart boysenberry, ripe cranberry and dried cherry fruit notes, bay leaf, white pepper and iron accenting. The balance is impeccable, the feel both inviting and savoury. Drink by 2032.
95 Points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 93
2024 Balgownie Black Label ChardonnayVictoria, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA rich, fleshy mid weighted Chardonnay that has good freshness and a glossy feel to the finish.
Brilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Attractive white peach, nectarine and subtle dried honey aromas mix with citrusy nougat and spice notes. Rich, fleshy textured flavours of white peach, nectarine and citrusy dried honey caress the mid weighted palate. Subtle spicy nougat elements sit underneath. Good freshness with a glossy feel to the finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 94
- 95
- 96
2025 O’Leary Walker Watervale RieslingClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 11%Closure: StelvinTense with a dry, chalky feel and long steely mineral infused finish.
Brilliant water like core with distinct highlights of green around the edges. Lime zest, lemon and orange rind scents leap out of the glass followed by some Granny Smith apple, chalky talc and flinty mineral notes. Tense and tightly coiled, the palate has a zippy feel with racy lime, lemon and Granny Smith apple fruits underpinned by a laser beam of ultra crisp mineral infused acidity. Chalky talc and steely mineral element extending through the focused, snappy finish.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 11%Other Reviews…..
Pretty classic stuff here, albeit you'd say this release is quite concentrated and potent in its fruit characteristics. Lemon-lime, sweet and tart at the same time, green apple, distinct blackcurrant notes, a little lemon oil and dashes of mandarin marmalade. Lots of talc here, too – powdery, lavender-like, and with a little bit of grip in texture. Nice one. Quietly complex. This should be singing with another year and onwards – and do wait if you can. Drink by 2035.
95 Points
Mike Bennie – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionIf Polish Hill River represents the power of Clare Valley Riesling, Watervale represents the finesse, the purity. Nowhere is this better exhibited than in the 2025 vintage. While it was a challenging vintage, by all accounts, Riesling shone. It shows. Bright, lime green hues. Classic Watervale scents, arrestingly aromatic and delicate in jasmine, wildflowers, bath salts, fresh lime and citrus skin and apple. An intensity of lime flavour lies at the wine’s core, a Watervale trait, in sync with florals. It’s a vibrant, alive palate with an easy textural flow in lime, green apple, pear skin, touch of rosemary, Thai basil and wet slate minerality. Finely textured with powdery fine acidity. Purity plus. This beauty will still be looking good in 10-15 years. Drink 2025-2040.
96 Points
Jeni Port – WinePilot.com -
- 94
2024 Colle Marianna SoaveSoave, ITALY$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinDelicious pear, green apple and lime fruits with a river stone like feel to the long engaging finish.
Coming from the commune of Ronca in the heart of Garganega country, Monte Ronca is a creation of local specialist, Antonio Fattori, an acknowledged Soave-master. Most the fruit for wines comes from the hills to the north of this commune, a specific site called Monte Calvarino, which peaks at 680 m (the inactive volcano from which the wine takes its name). At this altitude, this beautiful cool site provides a perfect environment for a higher grade, single site Soave. The hills around Monte Calvarino (in comparative terms to the region in general) are particularly steep, and from a viticultural perspective, pose some challenges. But to Antonio, this is critical to capture depth of flavour and structure, as the best expressions of Soave are never found on the valley floor where it gets too warm. Here, the ancient volcanic soils impart a flinty minerality to the hand-harvested fruit, while in the cellar, lees stirring and subtle oak ageing and varying levels of appassimento add a rich texture and further complexity to the wine.
Brilliant very pale straw almost water like core with highlights of green around the edges. Aromas of pear, red apple skin and lime intermingle with fresh Mediterranean herb and wet stone notes. Delicious fleshy pear fruit is intermeshed with green apple, lime, infusions of fresh herbs and stony mineral elements. Crisp acidity with a river stone like feel to the long engaging finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 94
- 94
- 95
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2015 Paracombe Somerville ShirazAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$76. 99Bottle$923.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 15%Closure: StelvinRich and full bodied with a sturdy structure and long finish.
Pitch black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Pronounced aniseed and liquorice aromas mix with dark plum, black cherry, vanillin cedar, earth, subtle leather and pepper notes. The rich, full bodied palate is engulfed with liquorice, ripe black cherry and dark plum fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, scorched earth, leather and pepper elements lie underneath. A ripe, sturdy tannin structure imparts a firmish feel across the long opulent finish which shows some heat.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 15%Other Reviews….
The name of this wine is a tribute to James Somerville, an early Paracombe pioneer who first planted vines in the region in 1903. The family is now the custodian of those vines. The wine spent three years maturing in new French oak. 312 cases made. Fabulous to see a wine with ten years already under its belt before release. Those who don’t have their own cellaring facilities or who want to explore just what an older wine can offer, should definitely be chasing this gem. The colour is a dark maroon with a magenta rim. The nose exhibits notes of chocolate, licorice, mocha, coffee grinds and dried herbs. There is good oak integration throughout and the palate sees the flavours move more to the dark plums and blackberries spectrum. Complexity is most definitely evident and there is good intensity through to the juicy finish. A wine of direction with sleek tannins and impressive length, this has at least another decade ahead of it. Drink 2025-2035.
95 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.comThe vines are over 100 years old and were transplanted in '97 to the Paracombe Vineyard site from the historical Somerville Vineyard. The wine is released mature. This is a bombastic, ultra-lush and rich red, with decadent tones of ripe plum, dark chocolate, espresso, ageing leather, toasted hazelnuts, mint and mixed dried peel and raisin. There's a touch of port-like character, but it fits the bill for the alcohol level and maturity on hand. It's concentrated and squishy in texture, a touch of bitter, smoky wood peeking through, some lemony tones to acidity, but overall, a wine that feels composed and relatively graceful, and, geez, the potency of the fruit and spice, secondary characters and oak, and carriage and mesh of that, are impressive. Drink by 2029.
94 Points
Mike Bennie – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- Nick's Import
2010 House of MacDuff The Golden Cask Aultmore 10 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$129. 99Bottle$1559.88 DozenABV: 57.3%This is the only bottling from the House of Macduff that came with an alternative presentation - a cardboard outer rather than a canister, so it appears to have been bottled from an earlier outturn. No tasting sample was received, but like the rest of the shipment, it aims to capture the distillery character (floral and honeyed), enhanced rather than obscured by vanilla sweetness from its stint in an x-Bourbon cask. 216 bottles produced at 57.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
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- 90
2023 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin ChablisChablis, FRANCE$125. 00Bottle$1500.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Mineral reduction and citrus dominate the more complex and slightly freshy nose at present. There is equally good freshness and energy to the delicious, rich and sappy medium weight flavors that possess better depth and persistence on the balanced finale. This should drink well young as well as with 2 to 4 years of keeping. Drink through 2027+.
88 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundAromas of apples, peach, toasted nuts and iodine introduce the 2023 Chablis Village, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and suave wine that's round and seamless, concluding with a sapid finish. Drink 2025-2035.
90 points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - 2023 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Vaucoupin Chablis Premier CruChablis, FRANCE$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: Cork
Other Reviews....
A more elegant and slightly cooler nose freely reveals its aromas of shellfish, white flower and mineral reduction. The sleeker and more intense medium-bodied flavors flash evident minerality on the nicely punchy finish where a touch of lemon zest-tinged acidity helps keep the proper balance. This does though need better depth so a few years of keeping are recommended. Drink through 2028+.
88-91 points
Allen Meadows - Burghound -
- 91
2023 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Montmains Chablis Premier CruChablis, FRANCE$190. 00Bottle$2280.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Here too there is a discreet application of wood in evidence on the fresh, bright and decidedly floral-suffused nose of citrus and sea breeze. The delicious and relatively refined medium weight flavors possess slightly better energy and particularly so on the stony, refreshing and sneaky long finale. This should be lovely after only 4 to 6 years of cellaring. Drink through 2029+.
91 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundOffering up aromas of apple, citrus oil and white flowers, the 2023 Chablis 1er Cru Montmains is medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with a long, saline finish. Drink 2025-2040.
91 points|
William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
- 94
2023 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Valmur Chablis Grand CruChablis, FRANCE$330. 00Bottle$3960.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Here the wood treatment is again quite subtle though not imperceptible on the cool aromas of sea breeze, citrus, wet stone and quinine. As one would expect, there is notably more size, weight, volume and power, if decidedly less refinement, to the big-bodied flavors that also possess a sappy mouthfeel that carries over to the sneaky long and balanced finale. This opulent effort could be approached young if desired but a few years of bottle aging should help develop better overall depth. Drink through 2031+.
92 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur is lovely, unfurling in the glass with notes of green orchard fruit, citrus zest, wet stones and oyster shell. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and racy, it's deep and saline, with as usual a quintessentially Chablisien profile. Drink 2027-2043.
94 points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
- 93
2023 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Vaudesir Chablis Grand CruChablis, FRANCE$330. 00Bottle$3960.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Once again there is just enough wood to merit pointing out serving as a relatively neutral backdrop to the vaguely exotic aromas of white peach, passion fruit and quinine. The super-sleek and refined, even delicate, middle weight flavors possess fine punch along with a fine bead of minerality that adds a sense of lift to the balanced and sneaky long finish. Once again, this would benefit from developing more depth but it's extremely stylish. Drink through 2031+.
92 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundExhibiting notes of sweet white peach, spring flowers, hazelnuts and pastry cream, Droin's 2023 Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir is medium to full-bodied satiny and suave, with a quintessentially elegant, textural profile. It's even more expressive and aromatic than the 2022, despite its more recent bottling. Drink 2025-2043.
93 points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
- Nick's Import
2013 Edradour Bourbon Cask Matured 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 60%These unusual ‘deluxe’ all-natural bottlings are now considered 'quintessential' distillery expressions by many, instantly identifiable by the heavy Ibisco decanters they come in. Drawn from a batch of American oak ex-bourbon barrels, this one marks a point of difference to the frequently heavily masked sherried styles. Instead, the distillate is on show, which has been compared in weight and richness to Mortlach. Serge Valentin at whiskyfun.com describes similar releases as "lovely, thick yet bright spirit." (The days when the quality of Edradour was a gamble are definitely over!) Expect notes of coconut, tea biscuits, green apples, nutmeg, cream and honeycomb. The outturn was 1997 bottles at 60% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... The aroma is intense, typical for aging in ex-bourbon. Notes of peaches and vanilla. The flavor is bright, powerful, and intense, with a strong retronasal effect. The finish is quite long but light, with honey-fruity notes and a touch of spice. The aroma can and should be savoured, but drinking it is even more enjoyable. Watch out, 60ABV is not a joke. But i still did drink it stright and with out water. - whiskybase.com
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2025 O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River RieslingClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 11%Closure: StelvinConcentrated with a tense, chalky feel, searing acidity and a long, energised finish.
Brilliant water like core with greenish tinged edges. Intense lime, citrus and orange rind aromas flood the nostrils followed by some chalky talc and mineral notes. Concentrated lime and lemon fruits backed by searing acidity drive the mouth watering palate. Crunchy green apple, subtle orange, talc and steely mineral elements extend across the back half. Tense and chalky in its feel, it has a long, energised finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 11%Other Reviews…….
Coming from vines planted back in the 1970s, the OLW Polish Hill River Riesling tends to be the formal, and perhaps slightly austere of the pair. Always elegant, it offers even greater ageing potential. The colour is a near invisible shadow of yellow, as pale as one could imagine. A powerful style with a minerally backing, there are notes of citrus, grapefruit pith, a touch of river stones and oystershells, lemon curd, spices and florals. A steely line of acidity runs the length. The wine has focus and energy and a very long future. A stunning Riesling which will easily provide pleasure for the next twenty years. Drink 2025-2045.
96 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.comThis puts on a powerhouse display. Rocks, limes, hay, plenty of texture, some grip, a keen juiciness through the finish, lots of goodness. Whispers of fennel and more-than-whispers of wet slate in the aftertaste. Dry in a good way. Like this a lot. Drink 2025-2031.
94 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front - 2023 Pedres Blanques (Rie et Hirofumi Shoji)Cotes des Catalanes, FRANCE$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: Cork
Rié and Hiro are Japanese but they met at the wine school in Beaune. She went on to work for Fred Mugnier, among others; he, for five years at Domaine de Chassorney. They are passionate about vineyard work. So, when it came time to make their own wine, they had to look outside Burgundy for affordable vineyards. They tried with no luck in the north. Eventually, they found Collioure, and a retiring vigneron who sold them his vines.
The name of their domaine is Pedres Blanques, “White Rocks” in Catalan. In Collioure, the vines are “on” the sea. With their incredible steepness and thousands of terraces, they are some the most spectacular French vineyards we have seen. Rié and Hiro’s 3.5 hectares are in the most remote part of the appellation and at the top of the world. The view is stunning, the energy is amazing, but the climate often violent. The Tramontane wind is fierce and the place is arid. There is a flip side: no frost and almost no disease. Because of this, Rié and Hiro farm organically and do not need to use copper. The couple’s first wine is a Grenache grown on schist. It is vinified and aged in Banyuls in a facility they share with 9 other winemakers.
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2024 Kusuda RieslingMartinborough, NEW ZEALAND$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 12%Closure: StelvinHiro Kusuda was born in Tokyo where he worked as a lawyer before a stint in Australia. Along the way his love affair with wine and winemaking grew, and eventually he set off to complete his studies at Geisenheim in Germany before moving to Martinborough in New Zealand to make hand crafted Pinot Noir. Kusuda is known for attention to detail, to the point that each berry is picked individually at harvest by his Japanese friends that fly out each year to assist. Naturally this precision comes at a cost, in particular the miniscule volumes produced, and as such stocks are extremely limited.
Other Reviews....
The aromatic quality is fantastic here, with lemon blossoms, clementine skin and melons, ever so refined. Medium-bodied, it shows lots of energy and sophistication. There’s a lovely acidity and crispness to the precise fruit, a light flintiness adding to the complexity. Tangy at the end. Pure. Drink now. Screw cap.
96 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 98
- Limit One per customer
2022 Kusuda SyrahMartinborough, NEW ZEALAND$170. 00Bottle$2040.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkHiro Kusuda was born in Tokyo where he worked as a lawyer before a stint in Australia. Along the way his love affair with wine and winemaking grew, and eventually he set off to complete his studies at Geisenheim in Germany before moving to Martinborough in New Zealand to make hand crafted Pinot Noir. Kusuda is known for attention to detail, to the point that each berry is picked individually at harvest by his Japanese friends that fly out each year to assist. Naturally this precision comes at a cost, in particular the miniscule volumes produced, and as such stocks are extremely limited.
Limit 1 bottle per person.
Other Reviews....
This is a benchmark syrah for New Zealand. While others continue to be fruit-driven and heavy, this shows the complexity and focus of France’s great Hermitage wines from bygone years of the 1980s and 1990s. The superbly complex aromas of black and white pepper, dried meat, raspberries and blueberries follow through to a medium body with beautifully curated fine tannins, agility and acidity. So much freshness. Handmade. Sold mostly in Japan. Drink or hold.
98 points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2023 Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate BlockSwartland, SOUTH AFRICA$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkA nicely fleshed, medium bodied blend with a savoury blue to dark fruited finish.
The Boekenhoutskloof vineyard, named after the original property set up in 1776, was founded in 1993 in the Franschhoek Valley, when it was planted with Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Semillon, and Viognier. Today, under the helm of the winemaker Mark Kent, they produce a range of iconic wines including the Boekenhoutskloof Estate Wines, The Wolftrap, Porcupine Ridge, The Chocolate Block, and the Porseleinberg from the Swartland.
The 2023 Chocolate Block (the 22nd vintage of this wine) is a blend of 74% Syrah, 11% Grenache, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cinsault and 1% Viognier. The wine is matured in a combination of seasoned 2,500L French oak foudres, 225L barriques, and seasoned 600L demi-muids for a period of 14 months.
Deep dark red black core with a dark red hue. Fragrant aromas of dark plum, liquorice and dark raspberry are trailed by whiffs of dark chocolate, spicy vanillin cedar and peppered dried herb notes. Nicely fleshed, the medium bodied palate features dark plum, liquorice, blueberry and dark raspberry fruits over vanillin cedar, subtle earthy dark chocolate and spicy dried herb characters. Supple and refined in it’s feel with polished tannins and a long savoury blue to dark fruited finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
This is wonderfully fragrant, with attractive notes of olive, mulberry and peppercorn. It’s juicy, medium- to full-bodied and very bright, with fine-grained tannins and a lively finish. 74% syrah, 11% grenache, 8% cabernet sauvignon, 6% cinsault and 1% viognier. Delicious already. Drink now.
92 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Soul Growers Persistence GrenacheBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$46. 99Bottle$563.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkRich, succulent and powerful with a silky smooth texture and long, super juicy finish.
Semi translucent red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a light red hue. Wafting from the glass are dark raspberry, liquorice and ripe cherry scents followed by vanillin spice and subtle peppered earth notes. Rich and succulent, the mid weighted palate is awash with dark raspberry, liquorice and dark cherry fruits. Delicate scorched earth, dried herb, vanillin spice and pepper elements linger across the back half. Boasting outstanding power, a silky smooth texture and cashmere like tannins, it finishes long and super juicy.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14%
















































