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2018 Domaine Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les PoyeuxSaumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$599. 00Bottle$7188.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2018 Les Poyeux offers up a rich, sweet, black-fruited style, which may be more of a reflection of the vintage than the site. It's a lengthy expression, with ripe plum, black cherry a dash of black olive and vanillin signatures of oak maturation. While Les Poyeux tends to be an elegant, delicate style, this is a mouthful, with lots of structure and a long-scented tea-leaf and plum-like finish. While this will be released in early 2024, I would suggest waiting for another two to three years before approaching. Drink 2025-2038.
93 points
Rebecca Gibb MW - VinousSubtle minerality on the nose, and like Le Clos this is showing roasted meat characters segueing into animal, but fainter than Le Clos. The palate has an even greater sense of purity and clarity of Cabernet Franc expression, with some hints of tobacco coming out in the glass followed by a sense of chocolate to the texture. There’s a greater sense of fine tannins in the background, partly due to oak (one-year-old barriques as opposed to old barriques used for Le Clos). It's less approachable than Le Clos and will need longer to express itself. Drink 2028 - 2040.
93 points
Benjamin Lewin MW - Decanter -
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2018 Domaine Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le BourgSaumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$799. 00Bottle$9588.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2018 Le Bourg is a mouth-filling, full expression that's robust and powerful, offering up rich flavors of smoked bacon, tapenade and mint. This is not a wine for opening any time soon; it has chunky tannins and a sense of dryness, alongside herbs and Elastoplast which suggest there may be some Brett here. This is quite lengthy and would be designed for the long-haul if there were no microbiological activity going on. Drink 2026-2040.
93 points
Rebecca Gibb MW - VinousThis wine is barrel-aged for a rather long time in 75% new oak. Although going through a reductive stage now, it expresses smoky blackcurrant fruit with a touch of vanilla. It's a dense, seamless wine that has more depth than Les Poyeux but also more austerity, with a liquorice-infused finish. Should be magnificent in 15 to 20 years. Drink 2030 - 2040.
97 points
Yohan Castaing - Decanter -
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2018 Domaine Clos Rougeard Saumur Blanc BrezeSaumur, Loire Valley, FRANCE$699. 00Bottle$8388.00 DozenClosure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2018 Brézé is a clay-ey site, giving richness to the wine. It is round, silky and succulent, reflecting this sunny, warm vintage. It is at a beautiful stage in its evolution: developing almond characters alongside white peach. There’s fine acid rather than a racy profile but with a gourmand texture. Pastry, peach, and almond linger on the long finish. Drink 2023-2028.
91 points
Rebecca Gibb MW - VinousSofter impression to the nose than the 2019, but overlaid with a sense of minerality following through to the palate. This vintage is a halfway house between the old style (very flavourful and full-bodied), and the new style (fresher with more sense of tension). It shows a perfect balance between fruity and savoury, with some light lactic impressions at the end. ‘This is Clos Rougeard with all the complexity from citrus to exotic fruits,’ says winemaker Jacques-Antoine Toublanc. Drink 2022 - 2032.
93 points
Benjamin Lewin MW - Decanter -
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2023 A. Rodda Willow Lake Vineyard ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$57. 99Bottle$695.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinAdrian Rodda started making wine in 1998, where he worked at Oakridge Wines in the Yarra Valley for over a decade. In 2010, Adrian moved to Beechworth in Northeast Victoria to make Chardonnay from the Smiths Vineyard, the oldest vineyard in modern Beechworth. In 2012, he started the "Chardonnay Project," where he sources grapes from the Willow Lake Vineyard in the Yarra Valley and makes wine alongside the Smiths Vineyard Chardonnay. In 2017, a third Chardonnay was added from the Baxendale Vineyard at Whitlands in the cool upper reaches of Northeast Victoria.
A section of Willowlake Vineyard’s Parkinsons Road block, planted in 1979 at 270m elevation, features brown gradational soils over clay and a southerly aspect with a steady gradient. Hand-picked fruit was pressed into 500L French oak puncheons (35% new) for fermentation without clarification. After fermentation, the wine was sulphured to retain freshness and rested on lees for 12 months, followed by 3 months in tank before bottling.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
I’ve just noticed that Rodda uses Willow Lake on the front label, rather than the usual Willowlake. For the purposes of database integrity, which is one of my things, I will continue with Willowlake. Anyway, no Beechworth Smiths Vineyard produced in 2023. Also, it’s a rare day when a King Valley (Whitlands) Chardonnay trumps Yarra Valley. Well, that’s what I think anyway.
White peach, grapefruit, almond friand (I love them), a little struck match and sweet spice. It’s a glossy wine, has some ginger and quinine bite, lime zest, cool but balanced acidity, and also, offers something of a nutty umami and green olive in brine character. There’s some white pepper tannin grip, and a cool spicy finish of good length. It’s maybe a little washy but it’s full of character and interest. Drink 2024 - 2032+
93+ Points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front -
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2022 Santadi Onilos Cannonau di SardegnaSardinia, ITALY$33. 99Bottle$407.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2024-2027)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinFounded in 1960 as a co-operative and regarded as one of the beacons of co-op wineries in Italy, Santadi now has 200 dedicated growers covering 600 hectares of vineyards in the southwestern coastal area known as Sulcis. Santadi produces a full suite of Sardinian wines, from Vermentino to Nuragus for whites to Monica, Cannonau and Carignano for reds.
Dark red core with a brick red tinged hue. Lifted morello and dried cherry aromas greet the nostrils followed by hints of liquorice, scorched earth, dried herbs and spice. Juicy morello and black cherry fruits mix with liquorice, dried herb, scorched earth and cinnamon spice elements. Slightly chewy tannins impart some gentle grip onto the long rustic and spicy finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14% - 2009 Gordon & Macphail Connoisseurs Choice Aultmore 13 Year Old St Joseph Cask Finished Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenABV: 45%
Aultmore's fruity and spicy spirit gets a makeover, G&M style. Initially matured in refill Bourbon barrels, it was then transferred for a three-year finish in St. Joseph red wine casks, a renowned region in France's Northern Rhone Valley. Handsomely packaged under the “Wood Finished – Connoisseurs Choice” range, 2034 bottles are available globally, naturally coloured and un-chill filtered. Tasting notes on the front label describe aromas and flavours of raspberries and red currants with lashings of milk chocolate, spice and vanilla fudge develop with apple, blackcurrant and lingering spice. 45% Alc./Vol.
- Ugly Sustainable Australian Vodka (700ml)Victoria, AUSTRALIA$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenABV: 40%
A vodka made from apples, five-times distilled and passed through an activated coconut carbon filter for a smooth, crisp and versatile vodka experience. The concept is that every bottle saves apples from going to landfill, reducing food waste and greenhouse gas emissions. Locally produced in Melbourne, Victoria. 40% Alc./Vol.
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2003 Gordon & Macphail Speymalt from Macallan 20 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$999. 00Bottle$11988.00 DozenABV: 57.7%Gordon & Macphail announced several years ago that their 'Speymalt from Macallan' series will continue to be bottled occasionally, however, they'll only be released in 'selected' worldwide markets. Australia doesn't seem to be one of those, and we suspect the whisky in question was scheduled for the US. Twenty years old, single cask, cask strength and sourced from one of Scotland's most prestigious independents, good things have been said about some of these early 2000 G&M Macallans - no doubt partly because the bottler continues a practice of filling and maturing in their own casks rather than buying 'ready made' malts and then finishing them off for a year or two. This way, G&M maintain as much quality control as is possible for an indie. Judging by the colour alone, this looks to have been very active on the sherry front and has all the hallmarks of a strong distillery expression. Presumably non-chill filtered, but not stated on the label, cask #13603609 yielded 298 bottles at 57.7% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the bottlers... Sweet stewed fruit aromas with cinnamon and ginger spice. The palate has forest fruits, toasted hazelnuts and black pepper. The finish has charred oak and citrus peel.
- Inspirited Bitters Convict Hellfire Chilli Bitters (250ml)AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenABV: 46%
Born from a father-son weekend ritual and a passion for new bold flavours, Hellfire Chilli Bitters brings a fiery smoky twist to the world of artisanal bitters. Each batch, meticulously crafted in Sydney, undergoes a precise extraction process to capture the heat and depth of the native Australian Broome Chilli and smoked habanero, setting it apart from other chilli bitters. The result is a versatile, punchy blend that adds an exciting kick to both classic and contemporary cocktails without overpowering them. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Hellfire is a game-changer. It’s got just the right balance of heat and smoke that elevates any drink – from Margaritas to even a Spicy Old Fashioned. My customers rave about it, and I love being able to support an Aussie product that's so well-crafted. - Bartender.
- Experimental de Christian Drouin Springbank Cask Finish 19 Year Old Calvados (700ml)Normandy, FRANCE$240. 00Bottle$2880.00 DozenABV: 50.4%
Christian Drouin's relationship with Springbank is not new. Nearly twenty years ago the Campeltown distillery used their calvados casks for aging a parcel of whisky. Drouin are now returning the compliment in this unique collaboration that marks five years of the Experimental range. The challenge was to harmonize Calvados' rich apple flavours with the slightly peaty notes of Springbank. After five months finishing in eight barrels, the brandy has achieved a unique and complex profile, seducing with its subtle balance of roasted apple sweetness and West Highland smoke. Guillaume Drouin adds, "Springbank is one of the most esteemed distilleries among connoisseurs. For us it was a great emotion to work with their barrels.” Lovers of single malt may find a satisfying 'malternative' in this genuine limited edition - just 2,130 bottles are available globally. 50.4% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the producers... The nose opens with deep notes of toasted apples with smoky aromas. It evolves then on aromas of plum and clafouti with slightly earthy accents. On the palate it is rich, opulent, structured, marked by toasted notes. The peat expresses itself in the finish. A majestic calvados of strength and power.
- Benromach Contrasts Virgin American Oak Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 46%
Another flavour variation in a series that focuses on 'contrasts' is this 2024 limited-edition matured in Virgin American oak - an emerging trend in European whisky. While not for everyone, virgin oak casks impart wood-forward flavours that beckon to fans of American whiskey. Aged for ten years, expect notes of dried banana, Seville orange and butterscotch. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Quite light to begin with, doesn’t jump out from the glass, making it hard to nail down. Vanilla custard, strawberry laces, a hint of warm hay. Palate: Buttery and pleasant with a bit of banana. A slight note of flamed orange and toasted malt as the sip progresses. Finish: Well rounded, with a sugary note. Comment: Perfectly pleasant and easygoing, a gentle weekday dram. - whiskymag.com
...the new oak isn’t overdone and the end result is simply a very quaffable whisky. - whiskynotes.be
- 2010 Gordon & Macphail Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila 12 Year Old Sassicaia Cask Finished Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$260. 00Bottle$3120.00 DozenABV: 45%
From the entry-level to the top end, Caol Ila is invariably included in Gordon & MacPhail's offerings. This particular release seems to be something of a tradition. Part of the Wood Finished sub-series in the Connoisseurs Choice range, after 11 years in refill Bourbon casks it spent one year in some particularly active x-Sassicaia casks (one of Tuscany's most prestigious red wines). It's then bottled without chill-filtration or colouring, culminating in a whisky filled with notes of cured meats, cranberries and spices, with zesty citrus, bonfire embers and the signature smoke of Caol Ila. In July 2023, the final outturn was 3900 bottles at 45% Alc./Vol.
- 2010 Gordon & Macphail Discovery Tomatin Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 43%
The perfect introduction to independent bottler, Gordon & MacPhail’s impressive collection of whiskeys, the Discovery Range comes in three main flavour profiles: sherry, bourbon and smokey. Although Tomatin's production is mainly intended for blends, it's also appreciated as a standalone malt, noted for its delicate, fruity profile (think tropical fruits, green apples and honeydew melon). Filled into barrel in 2010 and entirely matured in first-fill bourbon barrels to highlight its fruity character, this promises a classic, pure Highland expression devoid of embellishment, the oak contributing coconut and light toast. 43% Alc./Vol.
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2019 Le Ragnaie Brunello di MontalcinoTuscany, ITALY$180. 00Bottle$2160.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkLe Ragnaie is one of the most exciting names in Brunello today, known for their elegant, high-altitude expressions of Sangiovese. Based at one of the highest vineyard sites in Montalcino, the estate crafts wines that balance power with finesse, showcasing the bright acidity and aromatic complexity that come from cooler, slower-ripening conditions. Winemaker Riccardo Campinoti works with a mix of old vines and newer plantings, and winemaking employed is traditional with the emphasis on delicate handling and extended macerations. Everything here is long, slow, and deliberate, and the resultant wines are pure and energetic symbols of contemporary Brunello.
Other Reviews....
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino shows delicate aromas of blue flower, redcurrant, cranberry and potting soils. It has all the basic components of a classic Sangiovese. Fruit is sourced from across the estate vineyard holdings ranging from 200 to 600 meters above sea level, or the ceiling of the appellation. Baking spice is delivered to the palate with silky, almost glossy tannins. The mouthfeel is extremely fine. This is a very Burgundian Brunello, with 38,500 bottles made. Drink 2025-2043.
95 points
Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 15, 2023)The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens slowly in the glass, dusty and floral, with depths of dark red fruit and exotic spice. This is silky smooth with medium-bodied textures and vibrant acidity that propels its tart wild berry fruits and mineral tones as rosy inner florals race across the palate. It tapers off with admirable length and concentration. Crunchy tannins frame the experience without slowing its momentum. The 2019 is a gorgeous blend of vintage and house style. Don't miss it. Drink 2025-2035.
93 points
Eric Guido - VinousA beautiful cologne lifts from the glass of the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino, which pours a red/orange-tinged color. Aromas of wild cherries, truffles, bittersweet chocolate, and dried orange peel are followed by a medium to full-bodied red with fine, coiled tannins, a linear feel, and refreshing lift all the way through the finish. I love the tertiary notes that come through, and this wine will only improve and gain in complexity over time. Drink 2025-2040.
95 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.comRiccardo Campinoti’s estate Brunello is as much a panorama of the Montalcino zone as it is a demonstration of his approach. The sum of fruit from diverse plots in both cooler and warmer corners, it sports Le Ragnaie’s signature tautness. Delicately fragrant, the nose hints at game meat then transitions to brushwood, rosehip and alpine blossoms. Decidedly midweight, the cranberry and redcurrant core is all cinched in. Bright acidity and firm, crisp tannins provide a solid framework. This needs another year in bottle to reveal its depths. Drink 2025 - 2033.
92 points
Michaela Morris - Decanter -
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2019 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino Passo del Lume SpentoTuscany, ITALY$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkLe Ragnaie is one of the most exciting names in Brunello today, known for their elegant, high-altitude expressions of Sangiovese. Based at one of the highest vineyard sites in Montalcino, the estate crafts wines that balance power with finesse, showcasing the bright acidity and aromatic complexity that come from cooler, slower-ripening conditions. Winemaker Riccardo Campinoti works with a mix of old vines and newer plantings, and winemaking employed is traditional with the emphasis on delicate handling and extended macerations. Everything here is long, slow, and deliberate, and the resultant wines are pure and energetic symbols of contemporary Brunello.
Other Reviews....
This wine kisses the sky with fruit from bush-trained vines planted in 2012 at the highest point of the appellation (above 600 meters in elevation). This is a wine to watch in the future, especially as these vines grow older. The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Passo del Lume Spento has a fine and direct bouquet with vibrant red fruit, cranberry, pressed rose and rosemary blossom. Fruit and floral components run very strong, and you don't get as much of the earthiness that we find in the other wines. Instead, it feels mineral and salty. Crunchy fruit and powdery tannins fuel a very long and polished finish with a contained 13.5% alcohol content. This wine is fluid and more of a shape-shifter. Only 4,400 bottles were made. Drink 2028-2050.
98 points
Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 15, 2023)The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Passo del Lume Spento opens with a mentholated freshness, as crushed stone and minty herbs complicate dusty dried strawberries. This is juicy in character and wickedly fresh, showing its minerality up front as a tart wave of wild berries descends upon the palate. It finishes with cheek-puckering tension, potent and primary, along with a coating of fine-grained tannins, all balanced by a bump of residual acidity. This is a spice bomb, yet it has the energy to balance. The Passo del Lume Spento hails from bush-trained vines planted in 2012 at 621 meters. Drink 2025-2033.
94 points
Eric Guido - VinousTo close out the single vineyard wines, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Passo Del Lume Spento takes a youthful red/garnet-tinged color and, as with the rest of the wines of this vintage from Le Ragnaie, has a signature stamp of incredible perfume lifting from the glass out of the gate, with notes fresh Mediterranean herbs, ripe cherries, anise, and crushed rose petals. Ripe citrus-toned fruit fills the palate of this medium-bodied Brunello, which has great mouthwatering acidity that floats through the sides of the palate, angular tannins, and a mineral-toned finish. It’s packed with tension, though, and is deserving of another year or two of cellaring before drinking 2025-2045.
97 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.comCampinoti’s highest altitude single-vineyard bottling comes from a one-hectare plot planted in 2011 at a lofty 621 metres. The third release as a Brunello, it hits its stride with the 2019 vintage. While still reserved in aromas, this sings with inner mouth perfumes of white blossom and rose against a backdrop of sour red cherry and pomegranate. The mouth-cleansing tannins are linear, and brisk acidity whisks the wine across the palate. Slender but not bony, this has sufficient flesh to harmonise the structure. Really quite thrilling in its sinewy, chiselled personality. Drink 2025-2035.
94 points
Michaela Morris - Decanter -
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2019 Le Ragnaie Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina di MontosoliTuscany, ITALY$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkLe Ragnaie is one of the most exciting names in Brunello today, known for their elegant, high-altitude expressions of Sangiovese. Based at one of the highest vineyard sites in Montalcino, the estate crafts wines that balance power with finesse, showcasing the bright acidity and aromatic complexity that come from cooler, slower-ripening conditions. Winemaker Riccardo Campinoti works with a mix of old vines and newer plantings, and winemaking employed is traditional with the emphasis on delicate handling and extended macerations. Everything here is long, slow, and deliberate, and the resultant wines are pure and energetic symbols of contemporary Brunello.
Other Reviews....
The Le Ragnaie 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli has medium-plus concentration and pretty aromas of cherry fruit, redcurrant, crushed mineral, watercolor paint and a generally riper bouquet, certainly when compared to the Passo del Lume Spento. These vines sit at 300 meters in elevation with mixed clay soils (and higher pH) next door to Baricci. It delivers more of a punch, and there is a savory component with leather or mild tobacco that changes with time, eventually transitioning to a point of sweetness. Structurally, this is a very beautiful wine (with 3,800 bottles released). Drink 2026-2048.
97 points
Monica Larner - Wine Advocate (Dec 15, 2023)The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli tempts the imagination, blending savory herbs with fresh mint, dusty black cherry and camphor. This is pure elegance on the palate, silky-smooth and supple with cool-toned red fruits complicated by saline minerals as clove mingles with orange nuances toward the close. It finishes surprisingly fresh yet youthfully poised. Edgy tannins add a crunchy sensation, leaving subtle traces of rose petals and an air of worn leather. This harmonious beauty will provide decades of pleasurable drink, yet patience will be required. Drink 2026-2040.
97 points
Eric Guido - VinousDisplaying a slightly darker ruby color than the Petroso, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli takes on more depth and opens to notes of wild raspberries, fresh roses, orange peel, and anise. Medium-bodied, it also takes on more structure, with elegant concentration, ripe tannins, and seamless acidity. Long on the palate, with notes of gravelly earth and Mirabelle plum on the finish, this gorgeous wine demands another year or two in cellar. Drink 2026-2046.
97 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.comFrom a prime, east-facing parcel on Montosoli’s limestone rich, slatey soil, Casanovina was planted in 1999 and acquired by Le Ragnaie in 2014. Innate breeding oozes from the 2019: gracious and becoming, if not overt. Lifted violet and lavender blossom scents slowly emerge before a trace of sweet damp earth lends a grounding character. This expands over the palate with a generosity of fruit hemmed in by powdery tannins. While imposing at first, they yield supplely. Finishes with succulent, stony minerals. Exciting. Drink 2026-2041.
97 points
Michaela Morris - Decanter -
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2022 M. Chapoutier Belleruche Cotes du RhoneCotes du Rhone, Southern Rhone, FRANCE$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2024-2028)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinProduced from mainly Grenache and Syrah with maturation taking place in concrete vats and stainless steel tanks for 6 months.
Deep dark red black tinged colour with a dark red hue. Raspberry, liquorice and red plum aromas escape the glass followed by some provincial herb and earthy incense like notes. Juicy dark cherry, raspberry and liquorice fruits have a fleshy feel over an earthy incense and peppered herb back drop. Slightly chewy tannins and good underlying freshness with a peppery, fruit loaded finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
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2022 Coriole Sparta ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinDense inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Elevated black cherry and liquorice aromas are followed by some blackberry, vanillin cedar, scorched earth and peppered fennel notes. Rich, concentrated and plush the full bodied palate is awash with blackberry, liquorice and black cherry fruits which overlay a vanillin cedar, scorched earth and blackpepper back drop. Sturdy tannin structure with a peppery medium to long finish that has a juicy yet slightly muscular feel to it.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
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2022 Yangarra Estate Vineyard Blewitt Springs ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: 6 - 8 Years (2030-2032)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinPitch black heart with a deep dark purple black tinged hue. Pronounced spicy dark plum, liquorice, blueberry and graphite laced aromas intermingle with some dried clove, scorched earth and peppered meat notes. Rich plum, liquorice and blueberry fruits line the mid weighted palate with some dried clove, earth and peppered meat characters lying underneath. Fresh and juicy it has fine bony tannins which impart some subtle grip onto the savoury mid length finish.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
From six estate blocks, split between ironstone and sand, destemmed with half left as whole berries; élevage in French puncheons, with 25% new and the remainder 1–3-year-old oak. This is remarkably pretty upfront, bursting with red berries and cherries, underneath a bedrock of ferrous minerality – the split of soils writ large – along with baking spices and rosy florals. Trademark Yangarra tannins kick in swiftly and carry the flavours long through a savoury finish. This is charming, but it’s also built for food. Seems like a very fine year for shiraz at this address. Drink by 2030.
95 Points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionCombines the generosity of Shiraz with a slightly rustic dried herb character that seems a part of the Blewitt Springs DNA. The fruit was carefully massaged through older French oak and foudre to allow its essential characters to emerge without compromise. Bright and lively with a typical energy. Drink by: 2024-2034.
93 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com - Baileys Belgian Chocolate Irish Cream Liqueur (700ml)IRELAND$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenABV: 15.7%
Since its inception in 1974, Baileys redefined the liqueur world by seamlessly blending Irish whiskey with rich cream to create a drink that's both decadent and versatile. Here we have a new addition that brings together two beloved treats, Baileys and chocolate. What's more, it's made with real Belgian chocolate for a velvety-smooth and delicious treat. Shake, pour, and enjoy in a chocolate martini, neat on ice, or drizzled over desserts. 15.7% Alc./Vol.
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2024 Yalumba GEN Organic Pinot GrigioSouth Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2024-2025)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinBrilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Elevated aromas of pear and lime greet the nostrils followed by some green apple and subtle stony mineral notes. Nicely shaped across the palate with pear and red apple fruits to the fore. Some lime and zingy mineral elements linger across the back half. Finishes dry with crisp acidity and an intensely flavoured conclusion that has an energised feel to it.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12.5% -
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2022 Hentley Farm The Beast ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 15.2%Closure: CorkRobust and well-structured with bold dark fruit, cedar, and vanilla, framed by soft, grippy tannins.
Selected from a single block high on the estate peak, where the soils are shallow and exposure to sunlight is long, the Beast embodies all the classic Barossa attributes of power, concentration, richness and structure. Maturation took place in French oak (60% new and 40% seasoned) for a period of 22 months. A robust and well-structured wine with soft, grippy tannins and enticing complexity. Bold flavors of black raspberry, cedar, blackberry, and vanilla bean are complemented by integrated oak, creating a balanced and expressive profile.
Alc. 15.2%Other Reviews....
This 2022 Shiraz The Beast is the iron fist in a velvet glove. It delivers an intense core of licorice, blackberry and crushed rocks with a lining of mineral spice. Tight and firm to start, it slowly unwinds with a dense mix of fruit and tannins fleshing out on the finish. Still young, this is best enjoyed with some time in bottle. Drink 2027 - 2035.
93 Points
Angus Hughson - Antonio Galloni's VinousSporting an awesome magenta-splashed crimson hue in the glass, this smells Barossa through and through. Deep, deep blackberry and satsuma fruits, studded with ironstone and hints of fruitcake spice, grilled figs, Old Gold chocolate, turned earth and roasting meats. Weighty and full-bodied, there's plenty of latent power here, balanced despite the heady 15.2% alc with fine, sedimentary tannins, leaving no doubt that it will cellar admirably. Drink 2024 - 2038.
95 Points
Dave Brookes - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionThis is pretty full-on but it nails the style. Tar, coffee, blackberry and plum characters roll into cedarwood, woodsmoke, peppercorn and vanilla. There’s a sizeable bloom of fruit and a wide spread of tannin; drinking this is like stepping face-first into a wave. It’s entirely convincing. It shows its oak and its warmth but then, it shows its everything. Drink 2025 - 2035.
94 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front -
- 97
2016 Wendouree Cabernet MalbecClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenABV: 13.6%Closure: Screw CapOther Reviews….
This is consistently the best Wendouree wine for me, and perhaps the most distinctive. People flock to the Shiraz, though I’m not sure why that is, at risk of repeating myself. This is 32% Malbec and comes from 1975 Central, 1920 Eastern, and 1989 Western vineyards.Exemplary release here. It’s dense and chewy, but light on its feet. The churn of graphite tannin is something to behold. Some rose and musk perfume, plum, red and black fruits, a little mint adds to the general fragrance and charm. Ferrous feel, clean acidity tinkles like spring rain on a window, and there’s flavour and fruit sweetness, yet not too much. It’s all just so. The finish pulses with energy and tannin. Well, OK then.
97 Points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front (July 2018) -
- 93
2014 Wendouree ShirazClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: Screw CapOther Reviews….
A blend of Shiraz (80%) and Malbec from 1919 and 1920 Eastern vineyards. It’s good Malbec in 2014, for sure, by any normal standards, but I think it struggled a bit to get over the line this year at Wendouree.Redcurrant and plums, pretty dried rose Malbec perfume, dried herbs, fresh mint and camphor chest. Medium bodied, quite strict with a hardness to the tannin, brisk acidity, redcurrant and fresh raspberry, and a pretty good finish with a dusting of chalky tannin. I’d leave this alone for a few years to let it settle into its skin. Good wine. Vivacious, but kind of stern too.
93+ Points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front (Aug 2016) - 2018 Wendouree Shiraz MalbecClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 13.6%Closure: Screw Cap
Other Reviews….
Wonderful perfume, blueberry, raspberry, medium-bodied, with plenty of cranberry crunch, cool mineral feel, lovely carriage of flavour, fresh and long, a touch of gum leaf as it goes, and some graphite stuff. It does feel a bit unformed as at now, but the freshness and fragrance here is very appealing.
94 Points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front (Aug 2020) -
- 95
2022 Domaine William Fevre ChablisChablis, FRANCE$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkFounded by William Fevre in 1957 the domaine has grown to now become one of the biggest land owners in Chablis with 78 hectares of prestigious vineyards, of which 15.9 hectares are classified as Premiers Crus and 15.2 as Grand Crus.
This is consistently one of the best value Chablis on the market and a benchmark of a vintages quality.
Brilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Intense lime, pear and green apple scents infused with a mix of fresh herbs, wet slate and minerals filter through the nostrils. Concentrated flavours of pear and lime carry a beautiful river stone like feel across the palate. Wet stones, subtle green apple, infusions of fresh herbs and mineral the back drop. Finishes dry with brisk acidity and a long stony mineral laced conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 92
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Tahbilk Grenache Shiraz MourvedreNagambie Lakes, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2024-2028)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinDeep dark red core with black shaded edges and a dark red hue. Elevated ripe dark raspberry, liquorice and dark plum scents flood the olfactory senses followed by some subtle scorched earth and cinnamon notes. Rich and plump yet not heavy, dark raspberry, liquorice and ripe plum fruits are featured over scorched earth and vanillin spice characters. Fleshy mouth feel with polished tannins and a juicy conclusion.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2020 Terrazze Dell’Etna Rose BrutSicily, ITALY$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkMade from Pinot Nero and Nerello Mascalese grapes. A buoyant mousse holds well, slowly subsiding to reveal a pale salmon pink coloured base that has a nibble stream of bubbles coursing through it. The nose is filled with strawberry and blood orange aromas which intermingle with some yeast lees, citrus and subtle bready notes. Caressing the palate with an airy feel are delicious peach, strawberry and blood orange fruits. Subtle bready yeast lees characters linger underneath. Refreshingly dry with crisp acidity and a long flavour filled finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 92
- 92
2020 Taltarni Sparkling ShirazVictoria, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 15%Closure: Diam CorkFluffy purple tinged mousse with a black dark red core that has a very fine bead flowing through it. Wafting through the nostrils are ripe blackberry, dark plum and chocolate bullet scents which are married to toasty vanillin oak and earthy mocha notes. Rich, full and concentrated, decadent dark plum, blackberry and liquorice fruits have a lush feel across the palate. Toasty vanillin oak and earthy mocha elements lie underneath. The bold, opulent finish showing some heat.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 15%Other Reviews….
A dark-fruited, intensely flavoured wine with dark cherry and mulberry fruit accented by a touch of mixed spice and pepper. The bead is fine, and the sweetness is compatible with the fruit's intensity, acidity and papery tannin frame. It is a beautifully made wine that typifies this much-loved Australian style. Drink by 2026.
92 Points
Toni Paterson – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
2023 TarraWarra Estate ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$33. 99Bottle$407.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinBrilliant pale straw colour with hints of green around the edges and a watery hue. Rising through the nostrils are scents of white peach, nectarine and subtle dried honey which are trailed by hints of cashew and citrus. Mouth filling white peach, dried honey and cashew flavours cast a gentle creamy feel across the mid weighted palate with some citrusy nougat and subtle crème brulee characters sitting underneath. Finishes with a dash of spice on the textured yet energetic conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 92
Cantina Castelnuovo Del Garda ProseccoVeneto, ITALY$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenABV: 11.5%Closure: Diam CorkAn exuberant mousse folds into a pale straw coloured base that has a generous stream of fine bubbles flowing through it. Ripe pear and baked apple aromas mix with some quince and citrusy lees like notes. The palate delivers a concentrated flavour profile of ripe pear, baked apple and quince over a honeysuckle and lees back drop. Creamy mid palate feel with crisp acidity and a thirst quenching finish that shows good length.
Alc. 11.5% -
- 93
2023 Estandon Heritage RoseProvence, FRANCE$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2024-2025)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinProduced from a blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah grapes, this delicious Rose is sourced from some of the best terroirs in the Cotes de Provence. Pale salmon tinged colour. Alluring scents of peach, strawberry and pomegranate rise through the nostrils complimented by some wet stone and faint mineral notes. Delicious peach, strawberry and melon fruits cast a silken feel across the palate with subtle blood orange and stony mineral elements lying underneath. Finishes dry with ample freshness and a long beautifully fleshed conclusion.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 92
2024 Bella Luna ProseccoVictoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenABV: 11%Closure: Diam CorkPours with a fluffy head that overlays a pale straw coloured base that has a fine bead flowing through it. Lifted pear and apple scents are trailed by some sherbet, subtle lees and citrus notes. Light, refreshing and airy across the palate, pear and apple fruits are featured over subtle chalk and lemon sherbet elements. Finishes dry, crisp and flavoursome.
Alc. 11% -
- 93
2023 M. Chapoutier Belleruche Cotes du Rhone BlancCotes du Rhone, Southern Rhone, FRANCE$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2024-2026)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinBrilliant pale straw colour with a subtle greenish tinge to the edges and a watery hue. Lifted peach, red apple skin and apricot aromas mix with hints of honeysuckle and wet stone. Delicious fleshy peach, ripe pear and apricot fruits are delivered with excellent intensity and textural volume. Delicate infusions of honeysuckle and wets stone lie underneath. Brisk integrated acidity with a long gorgeously rounded finish that has a dash of ginger spice to it.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 91
2024 Ross Hill Maya ChardonnayOrange, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2024-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinBrilliant very pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Aromas of peach, melon and citrus are followed by some gentle spice notes. Pear, melon and citrus flavours carry a nicely rounded feel with some spicy peach characteristics in the distance. Brisk integrated acidity with a mid length finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 94
- 92
- 91
- Biodynamic
2021 Domaine Du Bouchot Pouilly-Fume Terres BlanchesPouilly Fume, Loire Valley, FRANCE$77. 99Bottle$935.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2024-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkFormed in 1966, Domaine du Bouchet is now owned by Antoine Gouffier who purchased the 10 hectare estate in 2019. Antoine is a native of Saint Andelain, though he spent years abroad gaining experience in the USA, New Zealand, Middle East, Argentina and notably in South Africa. Upon returning to France, he purchased the estate from Pascal Kerbiquet, a local figure who had made a name for himself working organically and with biodynamic farming. In very short time Antoine has risen to prominence, and in 2022 was named “Discovery of the Year 2022” by the French wine magazine La Revue du Vin de France.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Herbaceous gooseberry and lime scents have a subtle smoky mineral like overlay followed by some grassy asparagus and green capsicum notes. Intense lime, green apple and ripe gooseberry flavours show good textural volume with some herbaceous asparagus, delicate smoky mineral and cut grass elements lying underneath. Brisk acidity finishing dry and lengthy.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews....
The 2021 Terres Blanches is round and silky with a fine chalky texture that provides a fine, appetizing texture on the finish. It is satisfying with a delightful thread of acidity that keeps it together and your mouth watering. There's an appealing elderflower character with a subtle creamy background, likely due to malo and time on lees, but there's plenty of precision here. The finish is like a triangle - ting! Drink 2023-2026.
92 points
Rebecca Gibb MW - VinousApple and fresh hay on the nose. Medium body with more citrusy and stony flavors and a touch of dry-mineral grip at the end. A tidy white with lots of mineral influence that gives a harder feel to it this year. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Unfiltered. Drink now.
91 points
James Suckling -
- 95
- 92
- 92
- Biodynamic
2021 Domaine Du Bouchot Pouilly-Fume CaillottesPouilly Fume, Loire Valley, FRANCE$86. 99Bottle$1043.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2024-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkFormed in 1966, Domaine du Bouchet is now owned by Antoine Gouffier who purchased the 10 hectare estate in 2019. Antoine is a native of Saint Andelain, though he spent years abroad gaining experience in the USA, New Zealand, Middle East, Argentina and notably in South Africa. Upon returning to France, he purchased the estate from Pascal Kerbiquet, a local figure who had made a name for himself working organically and with biodynamic farming. In very short time Antoine has risen to prominence, and in 2022 was named “Discovery of the Year 2022” by the French wine magazine La Revue du Vin de France.
Brilliant pale straw to straw colour with a watery hue. Intense aromas of slightly herbaceous gooseberries, pear and smoky oyster shell like notes mix with asparagus, hints of dried honey and minerally saline like notes. Amply textured in the mouth, the palate features pear, subtle dried honey and herbaceous gooseberry flavours. Grassy asparagus and smoky oyster shell characters linger underneath. Chalky acidity finishing dry, long and nicely shaped.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews....
The richly fragrant 2021 Caillottes offers dill, fennel and elderflower at this early stage. Having undergone full malo and remained on lees for 12 months, it has a round and creamy texture while retaining the natural freshness of the vintage with an appealing line of acidity and chalky, almost tannic grip. If I'm nitpicking, a little less creaminess would make it even better. Drink 2023-2026.
92 points
Rebecca Gibb MW - VinousFresh nose of citrus and green grass, together with hints of blossoms and minerals. Medium-bodied with a silky, almost creamy mouth-feel to counter the vibrant acidity. Long finish with lemon sorbet and minerals. Delicious. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Unfiltered. Drink now.
92 points
James Suckling -
- 96
- 93
- 95
- Biodynamic
2020 Domaine Du Bouchot Pouilly-Fume MCMLVPouilly Fume, Loire Valley, FRANCE$96. 99Bottle$1163.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 13.5%Closure: Diam CorkFormed in 1966, Domaine du Bouchet is now owned by Antoine Gouffier who purchased the 10 hectare estate in 2019. Antoine is a native of Saint Andelain, though he spent years abroad gaining experience in the USA, New Zealand, Middle East, Argentina and notably in South Africa. Upon returning to France, he purchased the estate from Pascal Kerbiquet, a local figure who had made a name for himself working organically and with biodynamic farming. In very short time Antoine has risen to prominence, and in 2022 was named “Discovery of the Year 2022” by the French wine magazine La Revue du Vin de France.
MCMLV hails from the oldest vines on the property which were planted in 1955.
Bright pale straw core with straw tinged edges and a watery hue. Aromas of ripe pear, gooseberry and tropical fruit fills the nostrils followed by some delicately smoked herbaceous notes, citrus and wet stone. Rich, mouth coating and silken in its feel, ripe pear, dried honey and gooseberry flavours are delivered with great concentration and textural volume. Some smoky herbaceous characters, lime and stony mineral accents lie underneath. Terrific power with energetic acidity underpinning the long, full finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
The 2020 Pouilly Fumé MCMLV hails from Domaine du Bouchot's oldest plot of vines dating back to 1955 hence the name MCMLV. Bottled just four weeks before I tasted it in June 2022, it had undergone an unusual winemaking process: half of the wine underwent skin contact for several days while the rest was pressed directly into old (8 to 10-year-old) 500-liter barrels. This wine shows lots of thiol-related flavors: tropical fruit, gooseberry as well as a hint of green. It is wine with lots of texture, a sense of roundness and completeness with a sense of satisfying grip that clasps the palate on the finish. There's lovely acidity, but it's nicely balanced. Drink 2022-2034.
93 points
Rebecca Gibb MW - VinousSeems at first like a subtle expression of sauvignon, with initial aromas of lavender and light lemony citrus fruit. But on the palate you discover a deep-set, complex array of citrus and yellow fruit, together with a whole heap of terroir-driven nuances, from wet gray clay to sand and gravel. Full-bodied and super-silky with calm persistence. Long, mineral finish with some phenolic tightening. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Old vines. Drink or hold.
95 points
James Suckling -
- 92
- 92
- Biodynamic
2021 Domaine Du Bouchot Orange BioLoire Valley, FRANCE$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkFormed in 1966, Domaine du Bouchet is now owned by Antoine Gouffier who purchased the 10 hectare estate in 2019. Antoine is a native of Saint Andelain, though he spent years abroad gaining experience in the USA, New Zealand, Middle East, Argentina and notably in South Africa. Upon returning to France, he purchased the estate from Pascal Kerbiquet, a local figure who had made a name for himself working organically and with biodynamic farming. In very short time Antoine has risen to prominence, and in 2022 was named “Discovery of the Year 2022” by the French wine magazine La Revue du Vin de France.
While only displaying a slight blush of colour, Orange is very much the textural and complex delight these skin contact wines are famed for. Six months on skins has lent a generous degree of pithy bitter fruit notes with hints of spice and Campari to close. A very good example of the style.
Other Reviews....
If you like Campari or Negroni, you will love the 2021 Orange with its herbal character reminiscent of fennel and dill, plus a bitter twist thanks to six months of skin contact. It's fresh and firm with a phenolic grip, white pepper sprinkle and elderflower-like character on the pure finish. The 2021 is balanced and clean. Drink 2023-2026.
92 points
Rebecca Gibb MW - VinousFrom the “normal white” color in the glass, you might not guess that this was an orange wine, but once you start on it you’ll get it. Concentrated bead of red-peach and spicy flavors and plenty of drive though the medium-bodied palate. Structured and slightly tannic, as befits the category. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Lots of character. Hard not to like this. Enjoy now.
92 points
James Suckling -
- 89
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Miss Zilm Sevenhill Pinot GrisClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2024-2025)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinBrilliant pale straw colour with a subtle green tint around the outskirts and a watery hue. Lifted pear, red apple and honeysuckle aromas mix with hints of rosewater. Relatively light weight and fresh, the palate is tending more to a Pinot Grigio style, featuring pear and red apple fruits over traces of honeysuckle and musk. Finishes dry with crisp acidity and an aftertaste of moderate length.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Spikey Bridge Broad Arrow Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinSemi translucent vibrant red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a light crimson red hue. Lifted red cherry, strawberry and anise aromas intermix with fresh herb, delicate forest floor and spice notes. Delicious juicy red cherry and strawberry fruits carry a supple feel across the palate with some fresh herb and forest floor characters lingering underneath. Polished tannins with a fresh red fruited finish that shows ample length.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 91
- 96
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Provenance Geelong Pinot NoirGeelong, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 13.4%Closure: StelvinSemi translucent dark red colour with black tinged edges and a dark red hue. Nosing offers up ripe strawberry, plum and cherry aromas followed by some vanillin spice and dried herb notes. Juicy plum and strawberry fruits overlay a dried herb, rhubarb and vanillin spice back drop. Polished tannins finishing ripe, well fleshed and spicy.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.4%Other Reviews….
A single-vineyard wine from Moorabool; 90% whole berries with a small portion of whole bunches, matured in barriques (25% new). A deep-ish bright crimson. Brooding with aromas of red cherries, ripe strawberries, black tea and a gentle meatiness. This is the richer and more structured than Provenance's Ballarat and Henty pinots. While not quite as approachable now, my gut feeling is this will become the most complex in time. They are all worth seeking out! Drink by 2031.
96 Points
Philip Rich – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Hugo Family Estate Cabernet SauvignonMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2024-2032)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinSourced predominantly from a block planted in 1991 with aging taking place in mostly French oak hogsheads and larger format French oak (15% new) for a period of 16 months.
Midnight black heart with a dark red black tinged hue. Pronounced aromas of blackcurrant infused with tobacco and black olive are trailed by mulberry, vanillin cedar and spicy dried herb notes. Mid weighted the palate features blackcurrant and mulberry flavours which are interwoven with cedary tobacco, black olive and spicy dried herb characters. Slightly dryish fine grained tannins impart some grip onto the refined mid length finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Kris Pinot GrigioVenezie, ITALY$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2024-2025)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinKris is selected from the three regions that make up the delle Venezie, encompassing Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the Veneto. Brilliant pale straw to straw colour with a watery hue. Elevated pear and red apple scents mix with dried honey, hints of musk and delicate spice. Delicious pear and red apple fruits carry a supple feel across the palate with some citrus, quince and faint dried honey elements also evident. Finishes dry with a lick of brisk acidity lending a fresh feel to the medium length conclusion.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 94
2022 Grampians Estate Woolclasser’s GSTGrampians, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Shiraz and 10% Tempranillo matured in old French and American oak barrels for 10 months. Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Pronounced dark to black raspberry, liquorice and dark plum aromas mix with scorched earth and peppered dried herb notes. Juicy dark raspberry, plum and liquorice fruits have a plump feel with notions of scorched earth, dried herbs and pepper lying underneath. Ripe, slightly chewy tannins concluding long and succulent.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Bass River 1835 Pinot NoirGippsland, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2024-2027)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinIncludes 15% whole bunch with maturation taking place in French oak (10% new) for a period of 10 months. Semi translucent ruby red colour with a light red tinged hue. Spicy red cherry, rhubarb and dried clove aromas intermingle with forest floor and brambly cedar notes. Delicious red to dark cherry and spicy rhubarb flavours are layered across the palate with a supple feel. Dried herb, forest floor and brambly cedar characters ensue. Good underlying freshness with polished tannins and a savoury finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2021 Mt. Wines Heathcote ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)ABV: 15%Closure: StelvinAged for 10 months in 10% new Hungarian oak. Dense inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Intense ripe blackberry, liquorice and black cherry aromas intermix with vanillin oak, scorched earth and peppered dried herb notes. Rich blackberry juice, liquorice and dark plum flavours engulf the full bodied palate providing it with a juicy feel. Spicy vanillin cedar and peppered earth elements linger in the background. Slightly chewy but otherwise velvety tannins with fresh acidity and a bright succulent conclusion.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 15% -
- 90
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Pasqua Montepulciano d’AbruzzoMontepulciano D'Abruzzo, ITALY$13. 99Bottle$167.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2024-2026)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinDeep dark red black core with a dark red hue. Lifted morello cherry and liquorice aromas mix with dried herbs, earth and spice. Mid weighted the palate features juicy dark and morello cherry fruits over subtle liquorice, earthy incense infusions and dried herb characters. Fine grained tannins with a dash of spice to the savoury mid length conclusion.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5%