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Tria Prima Enchantress Batch #2 Single Malt Australian Whisky (700ml)Mount Barker, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$220. 00Bottle$2640.00 DozenABV: 46%Batch #1 of The Enchantress was a vatting of two 100 litre McWilliam's Apera casks, scraped and given a low char. We assume a similar process was employed for batch #2. The aromas are softer than 'The Shaman' release; On the palate, the sherry quietly spoken, in balance with a general malt'n'chocolate drive. Subtle dried apricot juiciness lifts the finish while warming spirit and buzzing spices bring vibrancy, carrying the aftertaste. An approachable all-rounder where the wine influence never overwhelms the malt. 46% Alc./Vol.
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2022 Neldner Road by Dave Powell Barossa & Eden Valleys ShirazBarossa, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA rich, lavishly textured Barossa Shiraz with prominent toasty vanillin oak and a fleshy mid length finish.
Dense pitch black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. Pronounced dark plum and liquorice aromas intermingle with fennel, vanillin cedar and spice notes. Rich, lavishly textured dark plum and liquorice fruits are accompanied by prominent toasty vanillin oak, fennel and pepper elements. Plush mouth feel with an underlyingly sturdy feel to the tannin structure and bright acidity. Fleshy mid length finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
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2024 Tenuta Marsiliana VermentinoTuscany, ITALY$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkA light, frisky, saline laced Vermentino.
Brilliant pale straw colour with straw tinged edges and a watery hue. Aromas of pear and red apple skin drift through the nostrils followed by whiffs of quince and wet slate. Light and frisky, the palate features fleshy pear, red apple and lime fruits over a saline laced back drop of wet slate. Crisp acidity with a dry laser etched finish infused with saline.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
A layered wine, showing white peaches, fruity vibrancy and stony minerality. It’s very savory and juicy on the palate with medium body and long, crisp acidity. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2025 Garagiste Le Stagiaire GewurztraminerMornington Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinExotic, rich and lusciously textured with a long spicy finish.
Brilliant water like core with gleaming green tinted edges. Rosewater, lychee, Turkish delight, musk and spicy ginger aromas deliver an exotic sniff. Rich, lusciously textured and mouth filling, pear, lychee and Turkish delight flavours engulf the palate. Musk and ginger elements then move across the back half. Brisk acidity with a long finish that’s round, full and spicy.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
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2024 Tenuta La Chiusa BiancoElba, Tuscany, ITALY$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkA Tuscan dry white that’s ripe and quite round in the mouth with a saline like minerality underpinning.
The island of Elba is the largest in the Tuscan archipelago and Italy’s third largest after Sicily and Sardinia. Tenuta La Chiusa overlooks the gulf of Portoferraio and takes its name from the walls which enclose its twenty hectares of vineyards and olive groves. Napoleon Bonaparte, who was twice exiled to the island, stayed at La Chiusa on two separate occasions.
A blend of Vermentino, Procanico (Trebbiano) and Ansonica (inzolia), fermented together and aged on lees in stainless for a few months with no malo. Brilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Pear, green apple skin and lime scents emerge out of the glass followed by some fresh herb and stony mineral notes. Ripe and quite round in the mouth, the palate features fleshy pear, peach and red apple fruits over a wet stone and saline like minerality. Crisp acidity with a long textural finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13% -
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2021 Kooyonga Creek ChardonnayNorth Eastern Victoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13.8%Closure: StelvinA rich, full and toasty style of Chardonnay.
This richly flavoured Chardonnay spent nine months on lees with no added preservatives, and eight months maturation in French oak. The wine was allowed to undergo Malolactic fermentation which has enhanced the wines texture giving it a creamy feel.
Brilliant straw colour with green flecked edges and a watery hue. Intense ripe peach, crème brulee and honeycomb aromas fill the nostrils with hints of bacon fat, butterscotch and spice also evident. Rich and full in the mouth, the creamy textured palate is layered with fleshy ripe peach, crème brulee and honeycomb flavours which are complimented by bacon fat and spicy nougat elements. Balanced acidity finishing long, opulent and viscous.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13.8% -
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La Vieille Ferme Sparkling BlancFRANCE$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA crisp, refreshing commercial Sparkling with a dry, slightly chalky finish.
Made from Chardonnay and Ugni Blanc grapes. A fluffy mousse subsides into a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold tinged edges. Very fine, persistent bead with the nose emitting aromas of pear, apple, subtle lees and citrus notes. Crisp and refreshing, the palate features green apple, peach and citrus fruits over a sherbet back drop. Dry, slightly chalky finish with energetic acidity.
Alc. 12% - The Glencairn Whisky Glass Presentation Box (Set of 2 Glasses)$32. 99Bottle$395.88 Dozen
Champagne, Brandy, Wine... each has its own glass. Yet whisky, arguably the world's most complex spirit can be found served in anything from highball tumblers to Paris goblets. It's a bit like pouring your vintage champagne into a pint tumbler or your XO brandy into a shot glass! It will be news to some, but the perfect glass for whisky has been around for some time. Raymond Davidson conceived it some twenty years ago, but it remained but an idea at the bottom of a filing cabinet. After adequate maturation, his sons Paul and Scott decided to take his design to the people who know best... the master blenders! With their help and support they were able to take the glass around the world and promote it as “the Glass for whisky”, developed by the whisky industry for the whisky industry.
Its roots lie in the traditional nosing glasses used by blenders around the world. The unique and stylish shape has been crafted with eminent care, to enhance the enjoyment of whisky.The tapering mouth allows an ease of drinking not associated with traditional nosing glasses whilst capturing the aromas on the nose. The wide bowl allows for the fullest appreciation of the whisky's colour and the solid base is designed to be easy on the hand. Today the Glencairn Glass can be found at every distillery in Scotland, Ireland, Wales as well as most in the USA. It has won accolades from around the world including the Queen's Award, the highest award for business in the UK. Of it, the late Michael Jackson, whisky author said 'I hope that it becomes a badge of connoisseurship for fine whiskies in general.'
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Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey (1000ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 50.5%"Possibly the most overlooked bottle in Wild Turkey’s lineup, barrels of Kentucky Spirit are consistently good, and sometimes fantastic..." - breakingbourbon.com
When it was released in 1994, Kentucky Spirit was at the forefront of Bourbon, reported to be only the second single barrel bourbon to hit the market after Blanton’s.The 101 proof release is drawn from a single barrel, which means no two will be exactly alike. The challenge is to find single barrels that capture the essence of Wild Turkey, while also maintaining a consistency that gives each taste of Kentucky Spirit a similar flavour from batch to batch. Every bottle is handsomely packaged with a label bearing the barrel number, date and warehouse number. In the context of the entire portfolio, this is the bottling that has the potential to bring out the best of Wild Turkey at what is arguably the distillery’s ideal proof. 50.5% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Kentucky Spirit probably won’t be many bourbon drinkers’ first experience with Wild Turkey, but it should hold a place on every more experienced bourbon drinker’s shelf. Given the right barrel and enough attention to its subtle nuances, Kentucky Spirit can offer a glimpse into some of the best the distillery has to offer. - breakingbourbon.com
...bottled at the proof that Wild Turkey was designed to be. A deeply-woody spiced nose featuring cinnamon and caramel advertises a power punch whiskey, but on the palate there's no punch. Instead, it's lush, round, and affable, with deep caramel and cinnamon co-mingling with peanut. The lush, sweet start is well-balanced by cinnamon spice, which ramps up and drives a long spicy finish. This is delicious whiskey. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com
Beautiful deep amber color. Lavish aromas of a cornucopia of dried fruits, vanilla maple fudge, Demerara sugar, and artisan chocolate toffee with a supple, lightly tannic full body and long,warming anise, toasted grain, and dusty mineral finish. A powerful oak driven, yet elegant bourbon. 94 points (Exceptional)
International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal. - tastings.comNose: The most herbal and spicy of the WT range: wild thyme, sage, fennel, coriander, nutmeg, cumin. Also smokier than the rest with notes of molasses, chestnut honey, crème brûlée. Palate: Complex and very soft. Raisin bread, butter, tupelo honey/maple. Finish. Huge and everlasting. Highly complex.Comment. As sexy as Isaac Hayes' Hot Buttered Soul. One to savour all night. 90 points - David Broom, whiskymag.com
- The Macallan Sherry Oak Cask 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Annual 2025 ReleaseSpeyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$750. 00Bottle$9000.00 DozenABV: 43%
Matured for a minimum of 18 years in predominantly sherry seasoned European oak casks and released annually, the newly presented classic retains its natural mahogany hue while offering notes of ginger, dates and dark chocolate, succulent dried fruits and ginger, with a depth of flavour and wood spice that intensifies. 43% Alc./Vol.
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- Organic
2023 Mount Macleod Pinot NoirGippsland, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12.8%Closure: StelvinLight and spicy with a strong dried clove element, slightly edgy acidity, bitter tannins and a lean finish.
Semi translucent cherry red core with a light, slightly rustic red hue. On the nose prominent spicy dried clove scents are intermeshed with red cherry, winter strawberry, forest floor and graphite like notes. Light and spicy palate with red cherry and rhubarb flavours overtaken by a strong dried clove element on the back half. Some earthy graphite characters also chime in. Slightly edgy acidity and bitter tannins with a lean finish that shows plenty of spice.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.8% -
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2023 Eldorado Road Quasimodo Nero d’Avola Shiraz DurifNorth East Victoria, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13.7%Closure: StelvinAn elegant, mid weighted blend with juicy fruit and an energetic yet slightly chalky feel to the finish.
Matured in French oak. Deep black dark purple heart with a dark purple hue. Aromas of morello cherry, liquorice and red plum have an earthy graphite like overlay with some peppered dried herb notes also chiming in. The elegant mid weighted palate features juicy morello cherry, red plum and red liquorice fruits over an earthy dried herb and pepper back drop. Graphite like tannins and vibrant acidity with an energetic and slightly chalky feel to the finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.7%Other Reviews….
The winemaker uses the term "affable" to describe what he is aiming for. Affable it most certainly is. Nero d'Avola makes the running with its luscious raspberry, cherry fruits and herbs, while shiraz brings the spice and depth. The third player, durif, adds a dark, brooding tannic presence. Together they bring energy and fruit power to a supple, ripe and beautifully composed wine. A unique Aussie blend worth searching out. Drink by 2038.
95 Points
Jeni Port – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
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2023 Matane NegroamaroPuglia, ITALY$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: CorkA generously fruited Negroamaro that’s both juicy and chewy in it’s feel.
Matané sources Negroamaro from various vineyards between the towns of Manduria and Lecce, very close to the heel of the boot on the Salento Peninsula. This southernmost part of Puglia is also Italy’s easternmost area with dark red soils and abundant Mediterranean sunshine. The climate is mild in winter, with adequate rainfall, but it is also very hot in summer with little rainfall. This wine represents the new winemaking approach in Puglia, with more moderate alcohol levels and gentler extractions. Negroamaro loves hot and dry conditions, and it grows particularly well in the calcareous, high-limestone soils of the area.
Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Elevated morello cherry, liquorice and black plum aromas mix with whiffs of vanilla, scorched earth and cinnamon spice. Rich morello cherry, black plum, liquorice and vanilla flavours are both juicy and chewy in their feel. Some earth and cinnamon spice elements linger across the back half. Ripe sturdy tannin structure with a generously fruited mid length finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13% - Punt e Mes Bitter Red Vermouth (750ml)ITALY$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenABV: 16%
Following the successful release of Carpano Antica Formula vermouth, we had customers searching for another of Carpano's creations, Punt e Mes. Like Antica Formula, Punt e Mes is a vermouth of outstanding quality, but features a dramatically different flavour profile. Whilst the two share a similar, sweet luxurious palate entry, Carpano's back palate is sweet, soft and luscious, while the back palate of Punt e Mes offers very bitter flavours similar to Campari. Best consumed in cocktails that require some bitterness and spice to balance sweetness, or with ice and soda before dinner. 16% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Cola brown in color and dense with flavor, the venerable Punt e Mes is pretty much at the end of the line in the world of sweet vermouth. As brand owner Branca puts it, “The story goes that back in 1870 a stock broker, caught up in a debate with a few colleagues at Bottega Carpano, ordered a vermouth laced with half a dose of quina liqueur using a Piedmont dialect expression: ‘Punt e Mes’ (roughly translatable as ‘one and a half’).” ...Punt e Mes blurs the line between a sweet vermouth and an amaro. The nose is intensely bitter, with just a trace of sweetness to it. On the body, bitter orange, cloves, and quinine dominate before giving way to a finish that’s loaded with coffee, cola, and ample prune notes. Hints of cinnamon, some sweeter citrus notes — both lemon and orange — and a touch of gingerbread also emerge from time to time. The finish is just about equally bitter and sweet, which is quite a remarkable feat, actually. Not a vermouth to be trifled with, Punt e Mes is best experienced in moderation in cocktails that demand — or deserve — complexity. - drinkhacker.com
- Isle of Jura Rum Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Isle of Jura, SCOTLAND$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 40%
Considered a perfect introduction to Jura's malts, the rum cask finish is the third edition in the distillery's 'Cask Series'. Following a spell in x-bourbon barrels, it receives its finish in barrels that previously held Caribbean rum. The style is soft and creamy, with suggestions of tropical fruit, sweet citrus and a hint of vanilla spice. 40% Alc./Vol.
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Billecart-Salmon Le Rose Champagne Magnum (1500ml)Champagne, FRANCE$370. 00Bottle$4440.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: 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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2016 Louis Roederer Cristal ChampagneChampagne, FRANCEReduced from $599.00$530. 00Bottle$6360.00 DozenClosure: Diam CorkThe Champagne of Kings, this somewhat mythical Champagne has a cult following amongst pop and rap stars. Despite the hype this brings it never to fails to live up to it’s legendary status with wine critics, who consistently lavish it with high praise.
Other Reviews....
This has wonderfully pure fruit aromas, such as peaches, Asian pears and golden apples, alongside lemon curd, gingerbread, chalk and jasmine. Rock salt and oyster shells follow on the palate, which is so seamless that you scarcely notice the super-fine bubbles. It’s concentrated yet gentle at the same time, with impressive resolution and integration of all components. Salty and creamy at the very-long finish. Fantastic! 58% pinot noir and 42% chardonnay. Drink or hold.
98 points
JamesSuckling.comThe 2016 Cristal is a gracious, elegant Champagne, as it has always been. Floral accents with light tropical overtones distinguish a Cristal that is especially lifted in style. The 2016 is a delicate, restrained Cristal built more on finesse than power. It's a very fine effort in an extremely difficult year. Saline, chalky notes extend the effortless finish. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: July 2024. Drink 2025-2046.
96 points
Antonio Galloni – VinousThe 2016 Champagne Cristal is chalky and pristine, with a crystalline nature and notes of white peach, fresh citrus blossoms, and bright salinity. Tasted for the first time last year, it captures a precise and focused energy that’s unmatched. It boasts the energy and tension of 2002 and the precision of 2008. The wet-stone minerality of fresh chalk texture is profound, opening with medium body, showing pinpoint mousse, and sustaining a weightless energy through the long finish. This is not an obvious wine on opening, but it is by far one of my favorite wines of the year. It is going to require some patience, but it is worth stashing away and should have fantastic longevity. Drink 2027-2050.
100 points
Audrey Frick – JebDunnuck.comThe finest rendition since 2013, the 2016 Cristal has turned out beautifully. A vintage that Lecaillon describes as “difficult in the vineyards but beautiful in the cellar,” it had suffered slightly in reputation due to the gloomy mood during the challenging growing season, but the results are indeed impressive. The fifth edition produced entirely from organically farmed and certified fruit, and heavily based on Pinot Noir, the 2016 represents the contemporary quality of Cristal, combining the concentration of 2002 with the precision and cut of 2013. Disgorged in July 2024 with a dosage of seven grams per liter, it opens in the glass to reveal a bouquet of lemon zest, white flowers and peeled almond, framed by youthful reduction. On the palate, it is bright and electric, with a pure core of fruit, pinpoint mousse and a textural attack, concluding with a long, saline finish. Drink it alongside the 2015, and it will illuminate its clarity and integration. Drink 2027-2056
96+ points
Kristaps Karklins – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateThis leads with pronounced minerality on the nose, but then a bright burst of tangerine, blood orange and Meyer lemon flavors on the palate hold sway, joined by rich hints of crème de cassis, toast point, pastry cream and crystallized honey. Showing beautiful integration and a refined, lacy mousse, this is compact and statuesque, with a sense of restraint and the hint of more to come, while at the same time offering lovely expression in the glass today. Fresh and focused on the persistent finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2044.
96 points
Wine Spectator -
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2025 Jim Barry AssyrtikoClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA crisp, zingy dry white with zesty lime, green apple and pear fruits.
Jim Barry’s love affair with the Assyrtiko began in 2006 whilst on holiday on the Greek Island of Santorini, the birthplace of the variety. Its crisp acidity reminded him of Clare Valley Riesling yet it had a unique flavour profile that he had not experienced before. Intrigued, he began the process of importing cuttings and by 2012 had planted Australia’s first Assyrtiko vineyard.
Brilliant water like core with a greenish tinged outskirts. Jumping out of the glass at the nose are intense pear, red apple and lime scents followed by some fresh herb and subtle stony mineral notes. Zesty lime, green apple and pear fruits race across the mouth watering palate with infusions of fresh herbs, wet stone and minerals the undercard. Crisp acidity with a minerally zing to the long scrumptious finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12%
Other Reviews.....
A shag on a rock for a variety and producer in Australia, but jeez, the incremental excellence year-on-year suggests no resting on laurels. It's a brilliant, textural white wine here, flamboyant with jasmine florals, lime, sea spray, faint cashew nut savouriness, pink grapefruit, a thread of aniseed and dashes of salt bush. Gently chalky texture, good extension of flavour, refreshing, too. Very good. Drink by 2029.
94 points
Mike Bennie - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
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2024 Dalrymple Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIA$37. 99Bottle$455.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinSleek, supple and powerful with a long spicy finish.
Fruit was sourced from Dalrymple’s own vineyards at Pipers River and Coal River Valley along with growers in Swansea and Ouse. Utilising a variety of blocks, different clones and slightly different aspects each of these sites made its own unique contribution to the final blend. The cooler northern maritime location at Pipers River produces Pinot Noir that is focused and structured, while the Coal River Valley in the south adds texture and softness to the mid-palate. Five to twenty five percent whole bunches were included depending on the site and maturation took place in French oak barriques (20% new) for a period of 9 months.
Red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a red hue. Intense red to dark cherry, strawberry and violet aromas flood the nostrils with some rhubarb, brambly cedar, dried herb, forest floor and spice notes lending further complexity. Sleek and supple in it’s flow, the palate is layered with dark cherry, anise and strawberry flavours. Notions of forest floor, subtle brambly cedar, dried herbs and spice lend further complexity. Possessing an excellent power wave, it has velvety tannins and a long spicy finish that’s quite moreish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
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Wolfberger Poire Williams Eau de Vie (700ml)Alsace, FRANCE$129. 99Bottle$1559.88 DozenABV: 45%Wolfberger is one of the biggest players in French winemaking, recognized today whenever one speaks of wine, crémants and eaux-de-vie of Alsace.
Other reviews... A full and heady candied orchard fruit nose with a purity of pear flavour. The palate is long and mouthfilling, delivering real pleasure. 90 points - International Wine & Spirits Competition
This clear eau-de-vie has a warm, malty, rustic aroma, underpinned by a thread of fruit underneath. Most of the pear flavor appears on the long and rather fiery finish. - 84 points - wineenthusiast.com
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Seppelt Original Sparkling ShirazVictoria, AUSTRALIA$21. 99Bottle$263.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: Diam CorkRich, full and generous in the mouth with a long fluffy textured finish.
Seppelt has a rich history dating back to the 1890’s, being a global pioneer of the uniquely Australian wine style, Sparkling Shiraz. Although precise records are scarce, it is believed that Charles Pierlot, working at Hans Irvine’s Cellars (which became Seppelt in 1918), experimented with producing some of Australia’s earliest ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ wines in 1892.
An amply endowed dark red tinged mousse sits atop a midnight black dark red tinged core that has a very fine and nimble stream of bubbles flowing through it. Pronounced aromas of dark plum, liquorice and dark chocolate flood the olfactory senses followed by some vanillin oak and earthy mocha notes. Mouth filling ripe blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits engulf the palate with notions of dark chocolate, vanillin oak and subtle earth extending across the back half. Concentrated and voluminous it has a long fluffy textured finish.
Alc. 13.5% -
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2025 Pikes Traditionale RieslingClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 11%Closure: StelvinZesty and taut with a long laser sharp finish.
Pikes have long produced one of Clare Valley’s benchmark Rieslings, 2025 marking the 41st release, one which was marked by frost and drought, yielding smaller crops but fruit with incredible purity. Fruit is sourced predominately from the Estate’s Polish Hill River vineyard with the balance coming from growers located in the Watervale, Sevenhill, Leasingham and Mintaro districts. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel on lees for 3 months.
Brilliant water like core with green tinted edges. Aromas of lime and citrus leap out of the glass followed by some green apple, orange rind, talc and chalky mineral notes. Concentrated lime, citrus and green apple fruits drive the zesty palate with subtle orange rind, chalky talc and steely mineral elements extending across the back half. Crisp, taut line of acidity with a long, tense, laser sharp finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 11%
Other Reviews……
The test of a good vineyard is often how well it performs in challenging years, and 2025 was certainly a challenging one. Yet the wine has emerged as something of a triumph. It’s a Clare Valley wine and produced with 100% free-run juice, then kept on lees for about three months, introducing a level of texture to the keenly edged palate. The perfumed mix of lemons and lime is evident immediately, and then the palate displays that subtle tension through the acid and a fine minerality that extends through to the finish. It never fails to disappoint, and it’s another excellent example of what Pikes can do. Drink 2025-2035.
94 points
RayJordan – WinePilot.com
One of Australia’s most reliable wines, always good value and always brilliant quality. This is the 41st release of this Clare Valley stalwart. It should be well represented in every serious cellar. The fruit comes from their own estate in the Polish Hill River sub-region and various growers across the Clare. 100% free run juice, which sees three months on lees. Always delicious young, it can be relied on to age and improve for many, many years. The 2025 vintage may be a small one, but it is proving to be of exceptional quality. Lemon/lime in colour, the nose offers a range of aromas including white jasmine, limes, spices, river stones and hints of grapefruit. Medium to good length, this is clean, fresh and well balanced. Expect it to provide fifteen to twenty years of pleasure, if you prefer your Riesling mature. Drink 2025-2045.
94 points
Ken Gargett - WinePilot.com - 2013 Diplomatico Single Vintage Rum (700ml)VENEZUELA$275. 00Bottle$3300.00 DozenABV: 43%
"...a fantastic little rum that merits more contemplation than you might expect." - drinkhacker.com
Distilled in 2013 from a harvest of the same year, this expression marries three types of distillate before maturation instead of afterwards. Master blender Nelson Hernandez selected unaged rums distilled from molasses and cane honey via three still types (column, pot and hybrid), and barreled the blend in a mix of x-bourbon and whisky casks. It was then aged for 10 years, experiencing an average loss of 6–8% angels’ share annually (around 60% of their overall volume to evaporation!) The final release yielded 18,000 bottles globally. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The nose is fairly deep, kicking off with a fragrant, perfumed wood note—not quite oak, but something similar—that is joined by ripe fruits, banana bread, and vanilla extract. The fruitiness carries over to the palate, with mango and cherry, plus leather, tobacco, oak, and vanilla. The finish adds spices, clove, and ground cinnamon. If you’re already familiar with Diplomático’s core range of 2–12 year old Reserva Exclusiva, then this newcomer will be a departure. The Reserva has a very conspicuous clove note on the nose, which is absent in the single vintage. Vanilla reigns supreme on the Reserva’s palate, but it plays more of a background role in Single Vintage, undercut by pleasant oak and fruit notes. 2013 Single Vintage has a drier profile overall, but it offers pleasant depth of flavor. We recommend sipping it neat. - whiskyadvocate.com
...Pretty on the nose, featuring notes of honey, torched orange peel, and green banana before more traditional notes of vanilla and caramel take over. Spice notes eventually dominate: cloves and cola, particularly. On the palate, the rum is immediately a bit tougher and rougher than the classic and very sweet Reserva Exclusiva, making me wonder how much less sugar dosage is used here. That’s a good thing, because it allows more flavor to come through beyond brown sugar and vanilla. (I love those flavors, of course, but great rum is a lot more than sweetness.) Big notes of banana bread, Christmas cake, and dark molasses all dominate, infused throughout with those spice notes present on the nose. Again, cloves and cola are punchy, while ample, toasty oak notes perk up on the finish. Some red fruit, coffee, and baked apple notes complete a holiday vibe on the lengthy, warming finish. All told it’s a fantastic little rum that merits more contemplation than you might expect. - drinkhacker.com
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- 96
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2014 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de BlancsChampagne, FRANCE$465. 00Bottle$5580.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
Occupying a stylistic middle ground between the incisiveness of the 2013 and the fleshier textures of the 2012, Taittinger’s 2014 Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne—disgorged in July 2024 with a dosage of nine grams per liter—has turned out beautifully. It offers aromas of orange peel, peach, pear and brioche mingled with hazelnut and burnt buttered toast. On the palate, it is full-bodied, ample and textural, with a layered yet crisp core of fruit, considerable tension and a long, chalky finish. Harmonious and racy-fresh though it is, this is a marginally richer rendition than the 2013 tasted alongside it, yet both promise excellent longevity and will make for fascinating comparative tastings in the years to come. Drink 2026-2054.
96 points
Kristaps Karklins - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2014 Comtes de Champagne is pristine. In this tasting, it comes across as a mini-2008, similar in its linear personality, with just a touch more mid-palate creaminess. Readers will find a Comtes that plays in the realm of tension and energy. Citrus confit, white flowers, chalk, mint and chamomile are all finely sketched. Light tropical overtones grace the finish. What an absolute delight. The 2014 can be enjoyed now or cellared. Dosage is 9 grams per liter. Drink 2026-2044.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousApricots, hazelnuts, lemons, white flowers, sliced almonds and hints of licorice on the nose. It's creamy and layered, with soft, rounded bubbles that spread across the palate. Lovely balance of breadth, ripeness and freshness, with delicious wildflower honey and nut notes lingering. 100% grand cru chardonnay from Avize, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Cramant and Chouilly. Drink or hold.
97 points
Claire Nesbitt - JamesSuckling.comTaittinger's Comtes de Champagne shines in 2014. It's a vintage that offered crisp yet open and beautifully defined wines from the grand cru Chardonnays of the Côte des Blancs. This is still primary and youthful, its zesty roasted grapefruit, sweet clementine and pineapple flavours meet juicy white peach and gentle ageing flavours of demerara sugar and toasted brioche. It's a little less intense and dynamic than 2013 but equally fine in its restrained, racy energy. With even a short time on cork the classic toasty Comtes richness will start to emerge. Drink 2026-2040.
96 points
Tom Hewson - Decanter - Saison Gold Rum (700ml)Caribbean,$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 37.5%
Blended and finished at the Tessendier Cognac House in France, Saison's slightly older 'Gold' edition sees multi-cask aging in x-bourbon and French oak making for a versatile, lighter bodied Caribbean style that's not overly aggressive. Suitable for beginners and mixoligists. 37.5% Alc./Vol.
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- 93
2024 Villa Wolf GewurztraminerPfalz, GERMANY$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 11.5%Closure: StelvinLuscious yet light and fresh in it’s flow with crisp acidity a fruity finish.
Villa Wolf is the Pfalz estate of Mosel Riesling legend Ernst Loosen. The Pfalz region is in the Rhine river valley in southwest Germany, directly north of France’s Alsace region. The low-lying Haardt mountains protect the area from cold, wet Atlantic weather, making it one of the warmer and drier areas of Germany.
Brilliant very pale straw almost water like core with green highlighted surrounds. Exotic rose water, lychee, musk and Turkish delight aromas enchant the olfactory senses with a whiff of ginger spice also evident. Luscious yet light and fresh in it’s flow, the palate is decorated with lychee, pear and Turkish delight flavours. Infusions of musk and ginger sit in the background. Dry to off dry it has crisp acidity and a long fruity finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 11.5% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Cooter & Cooter Almond Block ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$21. 99Bottle$263.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesABV: 14%Closure: StelvinJuicy plum, liquorice and ripe dark cherry fruits backed by chewy tannins and bright acidity.
Dense inky black heart with a deep dark red black hue. Ripe plummy blackberry and liquorice aromas fill the nostrils followed by some earthy vanilla and peppered fennel notes. Juicy plum, liquorice and ripe dark cherry fruits are backed by chewy tannins and bright acidity. Vanillin earth and peppered fennel elements lie underneath. Finishes slightly chalky yet succulent.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
There’s such a great sense of restraint at this address, all while delivering flavour depth and engaging texture. It’s the sign of confident stewards, knowing their fruit and having a clear idea of use, in tune with the culture, climate and food of the region. From estate vines in Whites Valley, this is terrific value. Such a quietly complex wine, uncluttered with inputs, though also carefully crafted. Powdered spice and crushed violets sit atop dark berries, red plum and wild red fruits, with a heartbeat of mineral definition. Really lovely. Drink by 2033.
93 Points
Marcus Ellis - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 90
Drumshanbo Tawny Port Cask Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (700ml)IRELAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 43%Maturation in Tawny Port casks distinguishes this from Drumshanbo's standard bourbon/sherry release. Triple distilled and based on a unique mash bill including malted barley, unmalted barley and Irish Barra oats, the full-term fortified ageing contributes intense red fruit and caramelized sugar notes, giving it a creamy texture, alongside flavours of cherries, plums, toffee, baking spices (cinnamon/clove) and citrus, balanced by classic pot still spice for a smooth finish. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... With a single pot still recipe that includes barley, malt, and Irish barra oats, this was fully matured in tawny port casks. Red fruits and spice abound on the nose, with red apple, ripe Victoria plum, fresh cherry, florals, ruby grapefruit, and underlying pot still spiciness. Fresh and polished on the palate, with straightforward flavors of red apple, cherry, punchy spices, and cherry soda. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com
The Port dominates the nose with big, sweet notes of raisin, cocktail cherry, and candy apple. The pot still character is more muted compared to the Marsala cask release with only hints of spice and grain darting in and out of the aroma. On the palate, top notes of strawberry jam and cherry lozenges are a bit syrupy and oversweet and the mouthfeel is a touch thin, but a healthy kick of pot still spice on the midpalate helps to temper some of the sweetness, harmonizing somewhat into notes of sugared plums and Linzer cookies on a medium-length finish. An after-dinner dram to be sure. - drinkhacker.com
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- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2025 Seabrook Ping Pinot GrigioAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA shapely Pinot Grigio with traces of saline characters lingering through the finish.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Aromas of pear and red apple skin mix with hints of honeysuckle and quince. Nicely rounded and fleshy in its texture, pear skin and red apple flavours overlay quince and subtle dried nut characters. Gentle acidity with a long, shapely finish that shows traces of salinity.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12% -
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2024 Kooyong Beurrot Pinot GrisMornington Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA light to mid weight Pinot Gris that has a fresh, elegant feel and a dry, energetic finish.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Pear, subtle rosewater, red apple and musk aromas sail out of the glass with hints of ginger and spice also evident. Light to mid weight with a fresh, elegant feel, the palate sports pear and red apple fruits over a delicate quince and spice back drop. Brisk acidity with a dry, energetic finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews….
While there’s texture here, this is a tight, leaner rendition; still pleasing, though. Aromas and flavours are light on with some nashi and barely ripe Packham pears, lemon curd and lemon meringue. There’s a slip of texture and cleansing acidity; best not to chill this down too much. Drink by 2027.
91 Points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 92
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Cockfighter’s Ghost Single Vineyard Cabernet SauvignonMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinMedium bodied with a relatively elegant flavour profile and a slightly dusty feel.
Inky black core with a dark red black tinged hue. Nosing offers up aromas of blackcurrant, liquorice and black olive followed by some cigar box, earth and bay leaf notes. Medium bodied, the palate has a relatively elegant flavour profile of blackcurrant, red liquorice, black olive, cedary tobacco characters and spicy bay leaf infusions. Fine grained tannins with a slightly dusty feel lingering across the mid length finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 89
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
Villa Tinacci ToscanaTuscany, ITALY$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA light to medium weight red with red to dark currant fruits, slightly chalky tannins and a savoury finish.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a dark to brick red tinged hue. Spicy red currant aromas are intermeshed with dried herbs, earth and tobacco notes. Light to medium weight with red to dark currant fruits making a polished entrance. Dryish, slightly chalky tannins with dried herb, spicy tobacco and earth characters unfolding in the background. Savoury mid length finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Nomads Garden Pinot MeunierKing Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13.7%Closure: StelvinLight and savoury with a supple, spicy red fruited conclusion.
Matured for 9 months on lees in seasoned French oak. Semi translucent red to brick red colour with a light brick red tinged hue. Spicy cherry and rhubarb scents intermix with dried herb and brambly earth like notes. Light and savoury, flavours of cherry and rhubarb overlay a forest floor, dried herb and spicy bramble back drop. Polished tannins with a supple, spicy red fruited conclusion.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13.7% -
- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Neldner Road by Dave Powell Steinert RieslingEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinTense and zesty with lime, citrus and orange rind flavours underscored by crisp, laser etched acidity.
Brilliant pale straw colour with flashes of green around the edges and a watery hue. Pronounced lime and citrus aromas mix with orange rind, subtle oily toast like notes and steely mineral elements. Tense and zesty, lime, citrus and orange rind flavours are underscored by crisp, laser etched acidity. Traces of mandarin, wet steel and minerals extend across the long expressive finish that shows plenty of zip.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13% -
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2024 Ministry of Clouds Tempranillo GrenacheMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA rich, juicy mid weighted blend with a gentle chewy feel across the expressive finish.
Deep dark red black tinged heart with a dark red hue. Aromas of dark raspberry, liquorice and dark to black cherry engulf the nostrils followed by some earthy incense and peppered dried herb notes. Rich and juicy the mid weighted palate is awash with dark raspberry, liquorice and black cherry fruits which meld into a savoury back drop of scorched earth, dried herb, spicy incense like infusions and pepper. Grainy tannins impart a gentle chewy feel across what is an expressive finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
This was conceived as a contemporary Vale restaurant red, some 13 vintages ago. Today, the blend has benefitted from new estate-planted clones of tempranillo. As is the way here, this saw an array of nuanced ferments, 17 in total. The grenache came from Clarendon. The refined tension at modest weight is key, with those cola and sarsaparilla notes of the tempranillo (74%) reflected in a savoury key, and the grenache (26%) opening the nose and palate, contributing dried cherry cranberry and orange peel – or that’s how it feels. Aromatic, lighter medium-weighted, savoury and delicious. Drink by 2030.
93 Points
Marcus Ellis - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion - Boatrocker Sloe Gin (500ml)Victoria, AUSTRALIA$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 25%
Made by steeping sloe berries for three months in Boatrocker's original gin. The sloes are naturally very tart so a little bit of cane sugar syrup is added to balance the acidity.
The result offers a wonderfully heady aroma of tart berries and their pips, the palate rich and luxurious with complexity from the gin and berries. Delicious neat on the rocks or with a dash of your favourite mixer. 25% Alc./Vol.
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- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Juniper Three Fields ChardonnayMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinVibrant with lively acidity and a vividly fruited finish.
Brilliant pale straw colour with highlights of green around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of nectarine and citrus are intertwined with hints of grapefruit, buttered toast and spice. The vibrant palate features nectarine, citrus and peach fruits over gun flint and spicy bees wax characters. Lively acidity with a vividly fruited finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
While there seem to be a few tiers across Juniper Estate, there’s no question quality is stamped all the way through. This a case in point. Well priced, deliciously flavoured and satisfying. It’s all white stone fruit, yet plenty of grapefruit and lemon, spicy oak and creamed-honey lees bolstering the palate, which is dictated by acidity at the moment. Wafts of lemon blossom and some flinty/struck-match sulphides add to the pleasure of drinking this. Drink by 2031.
92 Points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 92
High West Bourye Blend of Straight American Whiskeys (750ml)Park City, Utah, UNITED STATES$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 46%'Bourye' hit the market around 2010 as an annually shifting composition that often included old sourced material. Ten years later it almost disappeared becoming a 'distillery exclusive' bottling. That's now changed, and it's back, reportedly as a ten-year-old, still featuring the legendary 'Jackalope' on the label. The final blend is bottled at 46% Alc./Vol. Batches will vary, with reviews below for the 2024 and 2025 releases, respectively.
Other reviews... High West’s bourbon-rye blend that was part of the original core lineup... Vanilla, citrus, and new leather on the nose. The palate offers maple syrup, cinnamon-sprinkled doughnuts, hot chocolate, and aged oak, all balanced by muted spice. Long, smooth, and filled with chocolate and cinnamon spice on the finish, where the flavors really sing. Still a great dram, too bad there isn’t more of it. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...The nose is engulfing, the palate has far more peaks than valleys, and only the finish — nestled firmly into “pretty good” territory — keeps this blend from entering superlative territory. It’s one of the top High West Bouryes I’ve tried, and flat out among the best bourbon+rye blends I’ve sipped in recent memory. - drinkhacker.com
- Saison Pale Rum (700ml)Caribbean,$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 40%
'Saison Pale' marries molasses-based rums and column-distilled sugarcane-based distillates from Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica. The components are blended by Cognac expert, Jerome Tessendier in France. There, the rum is allowed to round off for three months in French oak barrels, adding a smooth hint of oak to the floral, fruity, and elegantly spicy spirit before bottling without added sugar. The result is a light tropical style with a little French-finesse. Enjoyable neat, though perhaps intended less as a sipper, more of a mixer that will add vibrancy to cocktails. 40% Alc./Vol.
- Pintail Teaninich 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$260. 00Bottle$3120.00 DozenABV: 52.7%
A single cask bottling from Keith Bonnington (Keeper of the Quaich) bottled with out chill filtration at natural cask strength. Muscat de Rivesaltes is a fortified wine from Roussillon in Southern France that achieved AOC status 1956. Produced from both Muscat d'Alexandria and Muscat a Petit Grains grapes, the wines are aged in small oak barrels. The size of the cask in question has limited the out-turn of this release to 176 bottles. The wood has imparted a perfectly balanced sweet-yellow fruit character to the fresh and slightly botanical Teaninich distillate. 52.7% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the bottlers... NOSE: Peaches, nectarine, lemon zest, mint tea. PALATE: Mango, honey, dried apricots, yellow sultanas, white pepper and
an herbal freshness. FINISH: Cake spice, yellow stone fruits and a toasty, oaky resinous ending. -
- 96
2024 Bondar Violet Hour ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA sumptuous, medium bodied McLaren Vale Shiraz that features rich, plush blue to black fruits.
Violet Hour is a blend of fruit from 10 blocks in Bondar’s Rayner vineyard, one of McLaren Vale’s better known vineyards. Each block has a different aspect, and soils range from deep sand with ironstone rocks to clay over limestone. The Shiraz vines are some of the oldest on the property, reaching 70 years in some blocks. Whole bunch and destemmed fruit is used, and the juice spends varying times on skins, depending on the block. The wine sees only seasoned oak, usually for a period of around 10 months.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. The wildly fragrant nose features dark plum, liquorice and ripe blueberry scents intermixed with dried herbs, fennel, scorched earth and pepper. Rich, plush liquorice, dark plum and black cherry fruits decorate the medium bodied palate with ripe blueberry, dried herb, earth and peppered fennel elements also chiming in to add further interest. Velvety yet structural tannins with a long, polished finish that makes for sumptuous drinking.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
Andre Bondar and Selina Kelly approach McLaren Vale shiraz like young renovators who’ve just inherited an old mansion from an eccentric old aunt. What was once dark has had the light let in, abundant artifacts and ornate over-stuffing replaced with cleaner lines and more open space. It’s still the beautiful place it always was, but is now more appealing to a contemporary market. If you’ve always loved McLaren Vale shiraz, you’ll still be happy here, and if you didn’t think it was for you, you’ll be surprised by how quickly you feel at home.
96 Points
Nick Ryan – The Weekend Australian’s Top 100 Wines -
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2019 Fermoy Estate Wilyabrup Cabernet SauvignonMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA rich, sturdy mid weighted Cabernet with a long, slightly robust but refined finish.
Matured for 18 months in new and seasoned French oak. Dense midnight black core with a dark red hue. Elevated red to black currant and mulberry aromas are interwoven with cedary tobacco, black olive and earthy bay leaf notes. The rich, mid weighted palate features red to black currant and mulberry fruits over an earthy black olive, cedary tobacco and spicy bay leaf back drop. Fine grained yet sturdy tannin structure with a long, slightly robust but refined finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
100% cabernet sauvignon, Houghton clone. Matured for 18 months in French oak (36% new). You know when you spot Houghton clone from Wilyabrup that you're in for a succulent, red-fruited time. It's a combination of the clone and the dirt, and it's good. While the oak is initially prominent now, the fruit behind it is precisely as expected – singing. This may need a little more time for the oak to recede, however the fruit is bang-on, and the tannins are a highlight. Gorgeous. Drink by 2036.
95 Points
Erin Larkin - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion - Green Fairy Absinth (Absinthe) 500ml - 60%CZECH REPUBLIC$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 60%
Green Fairy was the first legal absinth containing thujone (from wormwood) to become available after the ban on absinth was lifted in Australia in 2013. Produced and bottled in the Czech Republic, flavours range from sweet to bitter, spicy to mellow with a strong aniseed keynote. 60% Alc./Vol.
- Sortilege 3 Year Old Canadian Rye Whisky (700ml)CANADA$84. 99Bottle$1019.88 DozenABV: 40%
From a brand renowned for its Maple liqueurs comes Sortilège Rye Whisky. This differs from other Sortilege products because it's not a liqueur and has no added maple syrup. Instead, it's a classic three year old Canadian rye that undergoes an aging process enriched by a toasted maple wood finish, which brings a subtle smoky complexity to the grains. 40% Alc./Vol.
- 2024 Ninth Island Pinot GrigioTasmania, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: Stelvin
Nicely shaped, fresh and fruit driven.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with a watery hue. Pear, citrus and green apple scents intermingle with some musk and stony mineral notes. More open and inviting than the nose, the palate features fleshy pear and Jonathan apple fruits with some delicate musk and wet stone elements lurking in the background. Fresh acidity with a nicely shaped, fruit driven finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5% - Pintail Blair Athol 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 46.9%
Marsala is the famous fortified wine from the isle of Sicily (Italy) that has held DOC status since 1969. Aged in a Solera-style system, the wines deliver complex flavours of carmelised brown sugars and a nutty-sweetness. This Pintail edition had a nine-month finish in an ex-Solera casks adding notes of demerara sugar, candied walnuts, dates and apricot-y flavours. 272 bottles at 46.9% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... A pleasant dram where the cask has an obvious effect on the spirit - there is a sweetness, but more herbal or fruit driven rather than honeyed or sugary. The alcohol provides a nice balance - interesting, but unlikely to blow your socks off. - whiskybase.com
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2024 Ninth Island Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA light, fresh Pinot with a savoury finish.
Red to dark red core with black toned edges and a light red hue. Nosing reveals aromas of red cherry, rhubarb and graphite which mix with dried herb and spice notes. Light in body the palate features spicy red cherry and rhubarb fruits which meld into a strawberry, dried herb and delicate earthy graphite back drop. Fine grained tannins finishing savoury and fresh.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 91
Rivani Prosecco Extra DryVeneto, ITALY$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenABV: 11%Closure: StelvinA fruity Prosecco with an airy flow and mouth watering acidity.
Pours with an exuberant mousse that gradually subsides into a very pale straw coloured base that has a fine stream of bubbles flowing through it. Aromas of pear and baked apple mix with quince and lemon sherbet notes. Amply fruited the palate features pear, baked apple and quince flavours over a lemon sherbet back drop. Airy flow with mouth watering acidity leading into a refreshing finish.
Alc. 11%
















































