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2025 Babich Sauvignon BlancMarlborough, NEW ZEALAND$14. 99Bottle$179.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinFull flavoured Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that delivers unbeatable value.
A classically styled Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that regularly vies for New Zealand’s best value Sauvvy B. Brilliant very pale straw almost water like colour with greenish tinged edges. Pungent aromas of passionfruit, gooseberry and green apple flood the nostrils trailed by some herbaceous grassy notes and hints of citrusy minerals. Mouth watering passionfruit, gooseberry, green apple and citrus flavours are delivered with impressive intensity over a herbaceous grassy and mineral back drop. Crisp acidity with a long, scrumptious finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
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2024 Home Hill Estate Landslide Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIAReduced from $37.99$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.1%Closure: StelvinHome Hill is one of your classic Australian vineyard retreats that functions as both a serious winery and a charming getaway with restaurant included. The focus here is primarily on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sylvaner and Sparkling wine, but their track record really shines with Pinot. Over recent years they have clearly established themselves as one of Tasmania’s best and most consistent producers of the varietal, culminating in their 2014 Home Hill Reserve Pinot Noir taking out the Jimmy Watson Trophy.
A wonderfully fragrant and expansive Tassie Pinot that boasts a superb power wave of flavour.
The Landslide Pinot Noir is sourced from newer plantings and is fermented and raised in mostly old French barriques for 9 months. Dark red core with black toned edges and a bright purple red hue. Wonderfully fragrant, the nose offers up intense aromatics of violet, dark cherry, strawberry and anise followed by some fresh herb, forest floor and delicate spicy cedar notes. Flooding the mouth with a superb power wave of flavour are rich dark cherry, red plum and strawberry fruits. Notions of anise, spicy cedar, forest floor and dried herbs the undercard. Supple textural feel with velvety yet structural tannins and a long expansive finish that shows plenty of spice.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.1% - Bruichladdich Octomore 16.3 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$360. 00Bottle$4320.00 DozenABV: 61.6%
Other reviews... As always, 100% Octomore Farm-grown barley, aged 5 years full term in a mix of bourbon, Sauternes, and Pedro Ximénez casks. 189.5 ppm (last year’s 15.3 was 307.2ppm for comparison). Compared to many other “.3” Octomore releases, this one’s a real softy, and the lower peat level (while still extreme) is immediately noticeable; that’s not a bad thing, as last year’s 15.3 was overwhelming. The whisky makes room for lots more beyond peat, and again that’s great, as some “.3” releases can be ashy and sullen. An immediate pop of dark chocolate and orange marmalade, wrapped in baking spice, gives the whisky a holiday vibe on the nose. The palate sees the same elements at first, plus a bold raisin character driven by that PX influence. As it develops, the peat melds with the lemony-buttery elements to create a surprisingly rich and creamy experience, almost like pastry dough left by the fireplace for a few hours. The finish evokes notes of coconut and sesame cakes, with a vein of saline. My favorite of the collection this year. 123.2 proof. - drinkhacker.com
...A classic Octomore from the .3 series – massive smoke, great balance, and a pleasantly integrated alcohol content. A long, satisfying finish – a must for peat lovers. - whiskybase.com
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2025 Sons of Eden Freya RieslingEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 11.5%Closure: StelvinZesty lime, lemon and Granny Smith apple fruits with a crisp, snappy feel.
Two vineyards made contributions to the 2025 Freya Riesling. The Cranes Range vineyard and the Roesler vineyard both situated in the cooler Craneford section of Eden Valley have vine ages between 45 to 60 years old.
Brilliant water like core with a faint greenish tinge around the outskirts. Leaping out of the glass are lime juice, lemon and orange rind aromas followed by some green apple, talc and chalky mineral notes. Zesty lime, lemon and Granny Smith apple fruits carry a crisp, snappy feel across the palate with wet steel, orange rind, chalky talc and flinty mineral elements lying underneath. Displaying excellent intensity, it has a tense feel, tingly acidity and a long steely finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 11.5%
Other Reviews.....
The Sons of Eden crew does riesling well. It's a dry, limey singularity, impressively focused with a stony, composed air as it sails true on the palate. All the things you'd expect from an Eden Valley riesling are here: those Christmas lily and citrus blossom top notes, a splosh of Bickford's lime cordial, that umami that presents like the slow ache of a flake of sea salt melting on the tongue, the freshly squeezed lime juice and the surprising rate it disappears from the glass. It's great, refreshing drinking – of that there is no doubt. Drink by 2040.
95 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
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2024 Cantina Tollo Rocca Ventosa Montepulciano d’AbruzzoMontepulciano D'Abruzzo, ITALY$11. 99Bottle$143.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA youthful, slightly chewy Montepulciano with juicy morello cherry and ripe plum fruits.
Deep midnight black core with a vibrant dark red hue. Ripe morello cherry, plum and liquorice aromas show good aromatic lift out of the glass with some earthy incense and spice notes also chiming in. Juicy morello cherry and ripe plum fruits are to the fore with subtle earthy incense, dried herb and spice elements lurking in the background. Nicely fleshed yet youthful feel with slightly chewy tannins, fresh acidity and a gentle inkiness to the medium length finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13% -
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2025 Ad Hoc Wallflower RieslingGreat Southern, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 11.5%Closure: StelvinA light, zippy Riesling with a dry, refreshing finish.
Brilliant water like colour with a faint tinge of green around the outskirts. Lifted aromas of pear juice and red apple mix with lime, honeysuckle, orange blossom and stony notes. Light, vivid and zippy, pear, red apple and lime fruits are accompanied by infusions of orange blossom and flinty mineral elements. Crisp acidity with a dry, zesty finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 11.5% -
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- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Inkwell Gravity’s Gone GrenacheMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA juicy fruit driven Grenache with lively acidity.
Dark red in colour with black toned edges and a dark red hue. Fragrant red raspberry, red liquorice and ripe cherry scents leap from the glass trailed by dried herb and peppered earth notes. Juicy ripe raspberry, red liquorice and cherry fruits meld into a vanillin confectionary, dried herb and peppered earth back drop. Lively acidity and fine grained tannins with a fresh, fruit driven mid length conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% - Kinglake Distillery Weird Science Cask Strength Single Malt Australian Whisky (500ml)Victoria, AUSTRALIA$154. 99Bottle$1859.88 DozenABV: 60%
340 bottles make up the newest special release from Kinglake, born in ex-bourbon, "finished in madness". After a spell in American oak, it was transferred to a cask that held Tallboy and Moose’s lunatic Eisbock, a beer so unhinged it was quintuple ice-distilled to 20% before being aged to a final, brain-melting 30% ABV. Kinglake wet-filled that barrel with one-year-old spirit and let the mountain humidity work its twisted alchemy for another three years. The result comes out of nowhere, a delicate, nuanced single malt that belies its cask strength. A perfect springtime, single-malt solution. 60% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Aromas of Riesling and river pebbles softening into something warmer: crisp green apple peel, honeyed malt, and the faintest suggestion of sun-dried hops. The texture is silken but nervy, Riesling crossed with pale ale and raised by whisky. Lemongrass, wild honey, and mineral salt with faint echoes of that Eisbock past -, roasted grain, and a ghost of toffee. It’s crisp yet creamy. The finish doesn’t so much fade as evolve. A burst of lemon sorbet and malted milk, chased by a cooling minerality that recalls slate, cold air, and curiosity. - Alex Woods – timeandtide.info
- Bruichladdich Octomore 16.1 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$270. 00Bottle$3240.00 DozenABV: 59.3%
Other reviews... 5 years old, as noted, bourbon-barreled in 100% first-fill barrels; peated to 101.4 ppm of phenols — quite low for the series. 100% Scottish Concerto barley. This is one of the most immediately engaging “.1” Octomore releases I’ve encountered in a while, and it hits the nose with a freshness that can be lacking in the bourbon-exclusive version of Octomore. Sweet and fruity, there’s a strong tropical bent on the nose that makes for a nice companion to the lacing of peat smoke, ringed with tobacco-adjacent greenery notes. The palate keeps the theme going, here the fruit veering more to apricot and peach notes, later segueing into almond and honey. The peat is fairly light-handed here but always waiting in the wings. When the fruity sweetness fades a bit, it roars to life with a gravelly punch evoking turned earth more than beach bonfire this year, which ultimately threatens to overpower the milk chocolate notes that arrive on the finish. 118.6 proof. - drinkhacker.com
...I expected a mediocre whisky for a lot of money, which doesn't match the quality, but instead I received a very decent whisky, traditionally with plenty of smoke, sweet yellow fruit in the form of apples, apricots, and juicy peaches. The finish is very pleasant, with a campfire and a hint of chocolate and fresh mint. If I find it at a good price somewhere, I'll gladly buy it. - whiskybase.com
101.4ppm peat, which is almost nothing really. I mean, for Octomore’s malt, which can apparently reach 300ppm or so. The barley itself was harvested in 2018, then distilled in 2019. Never forget the dormancy period of barley, during which freshly harvested grains don’t germinate straight away, it can last several months. Naturally, no germination means no malting. Colour: straw. Nose: precisely the feeling of burying one’s nose in a full ashtray at an open-air nightclub on the Côte d’Azur, around four in the morning. Then the smell of a spent fireplace in which mostly coniferous wood had been burnt. In the background, just a faint whiff of slightly sour beer. With water: apples and almond milk emerge, accompanied by a touch of brine. Mouth (neat): very powerful, it does burn a fair bit, but it also recalls high-ester Hampden, something like <DOK. One of these days we ought to do a proper and methodical comparison. With water: someone seems to have smoked brine and added sour apple juice. Finish: very long, very nervous, with a kind of ultra-concentrated fino sherry character. Ashes and black pepper rule the aftertaste. Comments: a bit like sea water after a phantom Russian tanker has passed by, feels rather more extreme than last year’s ‘15.1’. 87 points - whiskyfun.com
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Glendronach Ode To The Embers Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 48.4%Other reviews... Part of a trio of whiskies celebrating Glendronach’s use of sherry casks, Ode to the Embers is a peated malt that leaps out of the glass with smoke and cinders, the dense peat melding with the sherry cask influence to create a meaty impression with barbecue spices and charred aromas. The palate dials back the peat and lets the cask influence shine: Ripe berries, apples, and heather honey blend into a slightly smoky, very fruity finish. 94 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...Apparently, the smoke genuinely comes from the distillate itself, not from any sort of finishing in an ex-cask of… let’s say Laphroaig, as many tend to do. Colour: gold. Nose: a light smoke, nicely integrated into the sherry, with no clash. A faint whiff of exhaust fumes, which we rather enjoy, then some myrtle and cherries, pleasant touches of natural rubber, a hint of smoked meat (some kind of smoked beef jerky), followed by barbecue smoke and pine needles. Mouth: it’s a touch more dissonant for me, on rubber, pepper, bitter zest, sour cherries, and a faint note of prosecco, even Aperol Spritz. Finish: medium length and still rather marked by the Aperol. Aperol, that’s not owned by Brown-Forman, is it? Comments: I find it quite pleasant as well, with a few modern flavours and a slight cocktail edge. One must move with the times, I suppose. 82 points - whiskyfun.com
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Highland Park 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Circa 2008 BottlingOrkney Islands, SCOTLAND$6999. 00Bottle$83988.00 DozenABV: 48.3%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks, including, but not limited to, a loose paper neck collar, the embossed logo on the bottle has started to lift from the glass and there is a small chip to the wooden case on the upper left corner. Actual product pictured.
Other reviews... It’s the first time that we write our own proper (so to speak) tasting notes for the recent 40yo; it was about time. Colour: amber. Nose: it’s rather amazing that quite the same resinous and mentholated notes as in the 1959 do show up here. It’s really all on old armoire that hasn’t been opened since… well, WWII and fir tree honey and camphor. It gets then rather fruitier, on dried pears and bananas, and finally very maritime and smoky like a very old Islayer. The secondary notes are gunflints, struck matches, crystallised quinces and heather (trademark). Superb. Mouth: it’s having a bit of a hard time after the 1959 I must say, being rather drier and more vegetal, but it does unfold after a little time. More dry sherry than on the nose, more resinous and ‘green’ notes (chlorophyll again) but also superb notes of sultanas, blood oranges (a fruitiness that’s well here, only a little slow to show up) and fresh almonds. The oak is very present. Finish: very long and more ‘oriental’, with touches of orange blossom water and something slightly Campari-esque. Comments: maybe this beautiful 40 is no absolute fireworks, nor the arrival of the Grand Moghul but it’s a bl**dy good dram, very complex. Just a tiny tad too oaky for my taste. 91 points - whiskyfun.com
...The nose exhibits intense fruity aromas, underlined with the typical heathery/peat character that makes this distillery so distinctive. Light creosote, liquorice, apples, pears flavours, heather, honey, raisins and sherry notes all fight together to reveal some stunning character. The palate is more peaty than the 25yo or 30yo official release. It feels almost medicinal/organic and definitely maritime, very long and powerful (amazing strength for a 40yo!). The sherry influence is great. Some light sulphurs bring some gunflint flavours. Of course there is also some oak on the finish, but it feels nicely integrated. I would call this whisky a masterpiece and can only salute the work of the team at Highland Park that crafted this bottling. Perhaps there are a couple of 'emotional' points included in my 96 points rating, but there is nothing I would add or take away from this whisky.- Olivier Humbrecht, whiskyfun.com
...Antique copper color, with some streaks of gold. A complex array of dried fruit on the nose, peppered with dried spice, orange marmalade, dark chocolate, and wood shavings. On the palate, the immediate impact is once again marmalade, followed briefly by bramble before drier notes of dark chocolate, wood shavings, anise, and subtle smoke emerge. Dry and spicy on the finish, but never austere. A delicious, contemplative 40 year old Highland Park that has aged gracefully. 93 points - whiskyadvocate.com
- Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the Pig Australia Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky (1000ml)SCOTLAND$699. 00Bottle$8388.00 DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
One of the Chinese New Year releases from Diageo in 2019. The Year of the Pig, in Chinese astrology, symbolises prosperity, generosity and abundance. As usual, there’s a unique design on the bottle illustrating the animal bringing good fortune as it rejoices in the arrival of the New Year.
From the annual commemorative Lunar New Year Limited Edition Blue Label Design series, this will be the perfect gift for the collector or anyone you wish a year of unbridled happiness and prosperity! 40% Alc./Vol.
- Connacht Spirit of the Atlantic Single Malt Irish Whiskey (700ml)IRELAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 44.8%
This represents Connacht Distillery’s own stock and is the first whiskey to be distilled in Co. Mayo in over 150 years. Batch No.1 debuted in 2021 with high acclaim, including a San Francisco Spirits Competition Double Gold, gold from the Irish Whiskey Awards, a rare 95 point rating from the New York Spirits Competition and 'Best in Class’ at the American Distilling Institute – all at just over 4 years old. Since then, the company have announced their first core release, a minimum 4-year-old single malt matured in ex Bourbon and ex Oloroso Sherry casks. Sub-labelled "Spirit of the Atlantic" it's bottled at 44.8% Alc./Vol. and comes non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... Delicate and youthful but never hot or harsh. Lemon and lime with a soft vanilla touch and more of those esters such as pear drops and pineapple chunks. Finish A soft touch of Bourbon oak, black pepper and ginger... What I love about this is that it lets the distillate shine, the oak influence is low but takes away any harshness in the spirit. It seems there is a lot to look forward to at Connacht and this first release bodes very well. - Irish Whiskey Magazine
- Drumshanbo Sausage Tree Irish Vodka (700ml)IRELAND$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 43%
A grain-based vodka notable for being infused with the fruit of the African sausage tree and wild Irish nettle. It's a lightly fruity style with subtle herbal notes. The bottle's vivid colour is inspired by the sausage tree's flowers, while the label features the honey badger as a mascot. 43% Alc./Vol.
- Archie Rose Fundamental Spirits White Cane Spirit (700ml)Sydney, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$63. 99Bottle$767.88 DozenABV: 40%
Inspired by Australia’s long and storied rum history, White Cane is a local reimagining of a spirit known to the rest of the world as white rum. It features high-test NSW molasses, cold distilled using a one-of-a-kind copper vacuum still to capture the delicate, delicious flavours of locally sourced sugarcane, resulting in a spirit that is pillowy soft with a refreshing finish. 40% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the producers... Nose: A fragrant and vibrant nose of roasted marshmallow, golden syrup and pineapple. With a moment to unfold, it reveals the luscious aromas of ripe bananas, persimmon, and caraway seeds. Palate: Luxurious and creamy, with mango, coconut flesh and liquorice allsorts offering a palate that balances power and vigour with finesse. Finish: A lingering, pillow-soft finish with bursts of raspberries, poached pear, and a subtle hint of spearmint.
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2007 Signatory Vintage Glen Spey 17 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$169. 99Bottle$2039.88 DozenABV: 57.3%Obscurity features here, Glen Spey's relatively modest production was always intended for blends, with the first semi-official bottling only released in 2001. Yet, ironically, the distillery is located in the heartland of Scotland's whisky industry. Signatory keep the fire burning with a natural strength edition from a first-fill oloroso butt. 646 bottles 57.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Pungent, spicy, relatively full, the impression is spoiled by the acidity of the fruit (orchard) grapes, chocolate, relatively dry, vanilla, woodiness, melon compote and pineapple, the alcohol is felt quite strongly compared to the other samples from the set, but not disturbingly. Nice fruity-sour dram. - whiskybase.com
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Boatrocker Citrus Aperitivo (700ml)Victoria, AUSTRALIA$52. 99Bottle$635.88 DozenABV: 15%Created for a perfect Spritz, three different citrus peels contribute to this aperitif's aroma and flavour, with ingredients like gentian helping balance the sugars. On its own, it's a soft, semi-sweet style with a very gentle bitterness that's almost indiscernible at the finish, lacking the zest and spirit that traditionalists may expect. 15% Alc./Vol.
- Chivas Regal 12 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky (1140ml) - Older BottlingSCOTLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 43%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
The name 'Schivas' is derived from the old Gaelic 'seimh as', meaning 'the narrow place.' It perfectly describes the spot where a medieval castle once stood, at a narrow stretch of the River Ythan, in Aberdeenshire in the North East of Scotland. In 1950, Chivas Brothers began the search for a secure supply of fine malt whisky. Strathisla Distillery in Keith, the oldest and most beautiful distillery in the Highlands, was the obvious choice. The distillery was purchased and now the highly praised Strathisla Single Malt Scotch Whisky lies at the heart of the Chivas Regal blend. Aged for a minimum of 12 years, Chivas is distinguished by its light, lingering aroma, full, smooth, balanced palate with a hint of smoke - very subtle and complex. 'A good whisky blender knows intimately the character of all the whiskies he uses,' says Chivas's Master Blender Colin Scott. 'They are as unique as people. Some are subtle, some are bolder. My job is to produce a distinctive blend of whisky of the highest possible quality which is consistent in flavor and bouquet from year to year. I would describe Chivas Regal as smooth, with a honeyed richness, round and full-bodied, slightly smoky with a long, lingering finish. The classic, premium Scotch whisky.'Other reviews... Nose: Distinct marshmallow. Peach blossom. Faint cocoa. Palate: Light hazelnuts. Cream. Buttercups. Violets. Lavender. Herbal. Finish: A little snappy and aggressive. Comment: The flavours tail off, as though the whisky is going to sleep. Smooth and easy, but lacks livliness. Springtime never quite blossoms into summer.. Rating: 75 - Michael Jackson, www.whiskymag.com
Brilliant golden amber color. A somewhat closed nose of light caramel, toast, and vapor. A soft, buoyant entry leads to a off-dry, somewhat thin light-to medium-bodied palate with sweet toasty malt, peppery spice, and a brush of grain alcohol. Finishes dryly with a quick, hot fade. International Review of Spirits Award: Bronze Medal 83 points (Recommended) - tastings.com
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2024 Elanto Vineyard Pinot Noir Magnum (1500ml)Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$195. 00Bottle$2340.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkRich, supple and expansive with a long peacock’s tail like finish.
Elanto Vineyard is fast becoming one of the most compelling projects on the Mornington Peninsula. Established in 2018 by Elizabeth and Tony Todaro with Sandro Mosele at the helm, the 10.6-hectare Balnarring site is planted at an extraordinary density over 11,000 vines per hectare, four times the regional norm. Yields are kept to just 300-500g per vine, resulting in small, concentrated bunches that carry the depth and power Sandro has long championed. Volcanic red soils, southeast exposure, and the cooling influence of Western Port Bay provide the setting, while meticulous organic farming and uncompromising vineyard detail push the wines into rare territory.
The five Pinot Noir vineyards, Vertex, Ironstone, Chicory, Kilnside, and Basalt, span 6.7 hectares on the upper slopes with basalt-rich soils. The red volcanic soils transition to shallower, stonier terrain mid-slope, producing lower yields, concentrated flavors, and a distinct tannin profile. Each vineyard was harvested and vinified separately, with chilled, destemmed fruit (3-5% whole bunches) undergoing cold soak and natural fermentation in concrete vats. After 25-30 days on skins, the wine was pressed and aged in a mix of new and older French oak barriques for 11 months before blending and bottling.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Perfumed aromas of violet, dark cherry, strawberry and anise soar from the glass trailed by some spicy cedar, forest floor, subtle dried herb and brambly rhubarb like notes. Rich, supplely textured dark cherry, strawberry and anise flavours expand across the palate with a peacock’s tail like power wave. Spicy cedar, rhubarb, forest floor, delicate infusions of dried herbs and bramble are spread across the back half. Seamlessly integrated, velvet smooth tannins and fresh underlying acidity. Finishes super seductive and very long.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews……
What a beguiling wine – only the second release and showing complexity far beyond its years. It’s certainly youthful and pretty with heady aromas of florals and autumn leaves with flavours of wild strawberries, dark cherries and pips, chinotto, Middle Eastern spices and some poached rhubarb, too. The medium-bodied palate is evenly poised, laden with filigree tannins (lots of them) and energising acidity; oak (25% new) completely integrated. This has depth, some grip, a little amaro bitterness on the finish and, of utmost importance, it will age but it’s oh-so pleasing to drink today. Drink by 2036.
97 points
Jane Faulkner – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThe intensity of fruit here is fantastic, as is the length of the finish, as is the tannin profile. This wine is out of the ordinary on these matters alone. It tastes of stewed red and black cherries, peppercorns, cedar and undergrowth, the dry crackle of the finish – yet sluiced with fruit – one for the ages. The slightest degree of warmth is my only hesitation; in all other respects this is superb. Drink 2026-2033+
95 points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine FrontThe 2024 Balnarring Pinot Noir is perfumed and fragrant and quite different in character compared to the 2023 tasted alongside. Where the former was powerful, structural and condensed, this is floral, perfumed and fresh. I love the way this wine performs. There is levity here and minerality too. The tannins are structural and chalky through the long finish. This is very good. It doesn't break stride at any point. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2039.
96 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate -
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2023 Samuel Billaud Petit ChablisChablis, FRANCE$86. 99Bottle$1043.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkWhile the origins of this domaine date back to Charles-Louis-Noel Billaud in 1815, it's the current generation winemaker Samuel Billaud that has made waves with the exceptional quality of his wines produced since the creation of this project in 2009. Following the sale of the family business Domaine Billaud-Simon to Faiveley in 2014, Samuel received further prized parcels of land and now makes wines from five of the grand cru vineyards, and five of the top premier cru vineyards. The wines are vinified in a mixture of stainless steel and large old wood barrels, the latter mainly for the premier and grand cru wines.
Other Reviews....
Lively and pure, the Petit Chablis from Samuel Billaud is reminiscent of more focused wines from Kimmeridgian soils. The aromas range from gooseberry to lemon peel and white peaches; there is a distinct flinty mineral note. The texture is not heavy, but the finish has surprising persistence. The grapes are from a parcel of 0.60ha planted by his father in 1976 on the Portlandian plateau at the top of the grand cru slope of Sur Les Clos. Drink 2024-2030.
92 points
Charles Curtis MW - DecanterA smoky nose of mineral reduction, essence of pear, green apple and a touch of iodine precede racy, intense and chiseled middle weight flavors that exude evident minerality on the balanced and lingering finale. This agreeably dry effort could use better depth so 2 to 3 years of keeping should be helpful. Drink through 2027+.
87 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundSamuel Billaud’s 2023 Petit Chablis derives from 40-year-old vines in Sur les Clos, based on Portlandian limestone. It wafts from the glass with aromas of lemon zest, oyster shell, acacia and a hint of youthful reduction. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and taut and more mineral-driven than fruity, a considerable performance for the appellation. Drink 2025-2034.
88 points
Kristaps Karklins - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Petit Chablis Sur Les Clos comes from Billaud's fathers vines planted in 1976. It has a bright nose like the Bourgogne d'Or with yellow plum and light flinty aromas. The palate is quite sharp on the entry with good weight, perhaps not quite the length of the 2022, but there is tension throughout. Fine. Drink 2025-2029.
88 points
Neal Martin - VinousTo bottle before the harvest. Vines from 1976 on 41B rootstock, a windy site with some kimmeridgian soil. Pale lemon. A fine classy dry fruit on the nose. Delicious salinity, one of the best examples. Drink from 2025-2027.
89 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
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2023 Samuel Billaud Sechet Vieilles Vignes Chablis Premier CruChablis, FRANCE$215. 00Bottle$2580.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkWhile the origins of this domaine date back to Charles-Louis-Noel Billaud in 1815, it's the current generation winemaker Samuel Billaud that has made waves with the exceptional quality of his wines produced since the creation of this project in 2009. Following the sale of the family business Domaine Billaud-Simon to Faiveley in 2014, Samuel received further prized parcels of land and now makes wines from five of the grand cru vineyards, and five of the top premier cru vineyards. The wines are vinified in a mixture of stainless steel and large old wood barrels, the latter mainly for the premier and grand cru wines.
Other Reviews....
Restrained aromas of citrus confit, iodine, spice and apple give way to strikingly textured and slightly denser medium-bodied flavors that flash evident power that builds on the bitter lemon-inflected finish that is markedly dry, sleek and balanced. The Billaud Séchet is virtually always excellent and the 2023 vintage should be no exception. Drink through 2031+.
93 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundAnother brilliant wine from Samuel Billaud, and one of the most classically Chablisien in character, the 2023 Chablis 1er Cru Séchet Vieilles Vignes derives from 90-year-old vines, the oldest of the domaine, and is aged entirely in steel for 18 months. Opening in the glass to reveal a bouquet of lemon zest, oyster shell, white flowers and crushed chalk, it’s compact and chiseled, with extraordinary purity, a bright, incisive line of acidity and a strikingly sapid, mouthwatering finish. Chablis purists will want to seek this out urgently, as it ranks among Billaud’s finest premiers crus this year.
93-94 points
Kristaps Karklins - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Chablis Les Séchets 1er Cru has a detailed and mineral-driven bouquet that evokes images of the dark and stormy sea. This has wonderful salinity—it really benefits from no wood contact. The palate is old-school Chablis, with green apple and pear scents. It's a little strict, yet there is real depth and grip here. The 2023 is very complex and long on the finish, but it’s 100% Chablis in style. Outstanding. Drink 2026-2042.
94 points
Neal Martin - VinousPlanted by Samuel’s grandmother in the 1930s, yielding 40/45 hl/ha in 2023, the Séchets will be kept on lees in stainless steel for a full 18 months. Marvellous intensity right across the palate, once again a truly brilliant wine from Samuel. Beautifully dry finish to a wine that is so full of fruit. Drink from 2028-2035.
92-95 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 90
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Millebuis Bourgogne Cote Chalonnaise Pinot NoirBurgundy, FRANCE$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.5%Closure: Diam CorkA light, savoury Pinot that shows good freshness.
Red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a light red hue. Sour to red cherry and fresh herb scents drift from the glass trailed by some stalk and spice notes. Juicy red cherry fruits meld into a back drop of red liquorice, dusty earth, fresh herbs and spice. Slightly chalky tannins with the savoury finish showing good freshness.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Anti Heroes Coola Road Pinot NoirMt Gambier, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinLight and supple with a savoury finish that shows plenty of spice.
Fermented with a small proportion of whole bunches and matured in French oak (10% new). Semi translucent red to dark red colour with a light red hue. Top notes of spicy dried clove are joined by red to dark cherry, winter strawberry, rhubarb and subtle graphite like notes. Light and supple upon entry with red to dark cherry and strawberry fruits to the fore. Rhubarb, brambly cedar and spicy dried clove elements sit in the background. Polished tannins with a savoury finish that shows plenty of spice.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 96
2022 Maude Mohawk Hill Pinot NoirCentral Otago, NEW ZEALAND$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinExpansive, concentrated and powerful Central Otago Pinot.
Mohawk Hiil is a single vineyard wine sourced from Maude’s Lowburn vineyard planted in 2008. It is only produced in great years.
Semi translucent red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a light red hue. Fragrant red to dark cherry, strawberry and violet scents engulf the olfactory senses with some trailing anise, forest floor, fresh herb and spice notes. Delicious red to dark cherry, strawberry and rhubarb fruits are expansive, concentrated and powerful in their flow across the palate. Brambly cedar, forest floor and spicy fresh herb infusions ensue. Supple mouth feel with bright acidity, velvety tannins and a long energetic red to dark fruited conclusion.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 95
- Organic
2020 Inkwell Perfect Day ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.3%Closure: StelvinA rich, concentrated McLaren Shiraz that shows some muscularity across the long expansive finish.
Matured in French oak barrels. Inky black heart with a deep very dark red black tinged hue. Pronounced aromas of ripe blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fill the nostrils followed by some smoky vanillin cedar, dark chocolate and peppered dried meat notes. Rich and concentrated with ripe blackberry, liquorice, dark plum and black cherry fruits making a plush entry. Earthy mocha, vanillin oak and peppered fennel elements also make an appearance. A sturdy tannin structure lends some muscularity across the long seductive and expansive finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.3% -
- 94
2023 Grampians Estate Woolclasser’s GSTGrampians, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 13.6%Closure: StelvinA rich, succulent mid weighted Grenache blend.
A blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Shiraz and 10% Tempranillo. Dark red core with black shaded edges and a red to dark red hue. Fragrant dark raspberry, liquorice and dark cherry scents flood the nostrils followed by some vanillin confectionary and subtle peppered earth notes. Rich and juicy, dark raspberry, liquorice and ripe dark cherry fruits dominate the mid weighted palate with some subtle scorched earth, vanillin spice and pepper elements sitting underneath. Plush mouth feel with velvet smooth tannins and a long succulent finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13.6% -
- 90
2024 Yalumba Samuel’s Collection ChardonnayEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA fresh, fleshy textured, fruit driven style of Chardonnay.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with green tinted edges and a watery hue. Delicate aromas of white peach, citrus and melon are trailed by whiffs of biscuit and mineral. The fleshy textured palate features white peach, melon and citrus fruits over a subtle stony mineral back drop. Fresh acidity enlivening the fruit driven finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 93
2024 Warramunda Liv Zak Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinElegant, supplely textured and savoury.
Semi translucent red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a light red hue. Fragrant red cherry and rhubarb scents mix with bramble, dried herb, forest floor and spice notes. Making a supple entrance onto the palate are delicious red cherry, strawberry and rhubarb fruits which are welded to a savoury back drop of forest floor, dried herbs and spicy cedar. Polished tannins with a long, elegant conclusion.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 94
2022 West Cape Howe Hanna’s Hill Cabernet MalbecFrankland River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA sturdy, deeply fruited Cabernet blend.
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Malbec. Dense midnight black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Pronounced ripe blackcurrant, liquorice and black cherry aromas are complemented by vanillin cedar, earthy tobacco and subtle bay leaf notes. Rich blackcurrant, dark plum and liquorice fruits engulf the medium to full bodied palate. Earthy bay leaf like elements, vanillin cedar and spice the undercard. Excellent fruit intensity and depth with a sturdy tannin structure. Concludes long, deeply fruited and spicy.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 92
- Organic
2022 Frank Cornelissen Munjebel BiancoSicily, ITALY$115. 00Bottle$1380.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: ArdeasealOther Reviews....
Wildly spicy, the 2022 Bianco MunJebel bursts from the glass with an array of fermented ginger, fennel, crushed stones and dried apricots. More like nectar than wine, this smooths over the palate then finds a beautiful lift through a bump of zesty acidity. Crisp orchard fruits cascade throughout. The 2022 tapers off with outstanding length and freshness, finishing with a perfumed floral resonance, hints of tropical melon and an air of almond custard. Drink 2024-2028.
92 points
Eric Guido - Vinous -
- 92
- Organic
2022 Frank Cornelissen Munjebel RossoSicily, ITALY$110. 00Bottle$1320.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: ArdeasealOther Reviews....
The 2022 Rosso MunJebel is wickedly spicy and fresh, bursting with a bouquet of crushed raspberries, sage and wet stones. It opens with a lovely inner sweetness, compounded by ripe red berry fruit juiciness as a core of zesty acidity adds an abundance of energy throughout. Tapering off with a resonance of hard candies, it finishes medium-long and clean, leaving behind rosy inner florals and a bitter tinge of clove. The 2022 is dangerously easy to drink. Drink 2024-2028.
92 points
Eric Guido - VinousThe 2022 Munjebel Rosso Classico is made from Nerello Mascalese hailing from different vineyard sites on the northern slopes. It's fresh and delicious, delivering mouthfuls of succulent red-skinned fruit, cherry tart, baking spice and star anise before closing on a note of blood orange. Chalky tannins provide seamless support and texture. Drink through 2030.
93 points
Kerin O'Keefe - Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt 21 Year Old Blended Malt Japanese Whisky (700ml) - Cardboard BoxHokkaido, JAPAN$1199. 00Bottle$14388.00 DozenABV: 43%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
DISCONTINUED.
Following Suntory's lead, Nikka has discontinued its lines of extra-aged whiskies, with some reports that the shortage could last up to a decade before the taps are turned back on.
Nikka's range of blended, pure malt and single malt whiskies will be exciting new discoveries for any Whisky enthusiast. This 21 Year Old bottling is dedicated to the Father of the Japanese Whisky Industry, Masataka Taketsuru.
The tale of Masataka Taketsuru's life is of the same fabric legends are made of. Sent in 1918 as a young apprentice to Scotland by his Japanese employers to crack the secrets of whisky, he not only came back with that knowledge but also with Rita Taketsuru (nee Cowan), who went on playing a decisive role in the development of the Japanese Whisky industry. Thanks to her connection to Japanese high society, Masataka was able to finance the company that is now known as Nikka Whisky.This blend of malts is from the two Nikka distilleries, Yoichi and Miyagikyo.
Other reviews... A much more civilised and gracious offering than the 17 year old...Serious whisky for the serious whisky drinker. 88 points- Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2014
World's Best Blended Malt Whisky at the 2010 World Whiskies Awards.
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Storytellers Distillery Volume 3 Tickled Pink Strawberry Gin (500ml)South Australia, AUSTRALIA$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 41%Originally a once-off experiment, Tickled Pink starts with Storytellers Australian Dry and ends with a punnet-and-a-half of ripe strawberries steeped in every bottle. The fruit infuses the spirit with a luminous blush, semi-ripe, fresh-picked aromatics, and just enough natural berry sweetness to keep the finish crisp and light. A very 'ginny' alternative to more liqueur-like Sloes, try it neat, over ice with sparkling water or shake it into a Tom Collins. 41% Alc./Vol. Vegan, celiac and nut-allergy friendly.
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- 96
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2022 Wirra Wirra RSW ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2025-2035)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, plush McLaren Vale Shiraz at it’s finest.
Wirra Wirra’s RSW is crafted from exceptional McLaren Vale Shiraz vineyards. The 2022 release consists of fruit from four blocks, three of which are from Wirra Wirra’s biodynamic Sandhill Vineyard. The fourth component is sourced from a Blewitt Springs vineyard planted in 1969. Maturation took place in French oak barriques (33% new) for a period of 18 months.
Super saturated inky black heart with a deep dark purple black tinged hue. Wafting through the nostrils are aromas of ripe blackberry, liquorice, dark plum and dark chocolate followed by some vanillin oak, earthy mocha and spice notes. Rich and plush, the palate is flooded with opulent blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits. Vanillin oak, earthy mocha and spice elements extend across the back half. Velvet smooth, seamlessly integrated tannins with a long seductively refined finish.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 14.5%
Other Reviews…..
A mild season, again, and an elegant RSW, though still bristling with dark berries and plum, with some blue fruit echoes. Black tea, dried violet, some dried olive, dark panforte and amaro, licorice powder, old leather and tar. There’s an appealing savouriness to this, and a weight that sits below the fuller side of things, the detail clearly rendered, the tannic architecture resolute but not strident. It’s a very good release. Drink by 2038.
96 points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion
The fruit for this outstanding Shiraz comes from four blocks, three of which are Wirra’s biodynamic Sandhill Vineyard. The fourth comes from Blewitt Springs, adding an important element from this great Shiraz sub-region. All blocks were treated separately, open fermented with some whole bunch use, and left for extended time on skins, contributing to the seamless integration of the wine. It shows a high degree of elegance within its stylish frame, with deeply concentrated red fruits, subtle peppery notes, and beautifully integrated tannins completing an impressive wine. Drink 2025-2040.
96 points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com
The 2022 Shiraz RSW is a sturdy rendition of this label, packed tight with dense fruit and surprising structure. It offers tight, brooding and focused aromas of dark earth, blackberry, spice and dried herbs. That savory theme continues thanks to a firm meaty core of flavor and robust gravelly tannins. The 2022 is impressive and built to last. Drink 2030-2044.
95 points
Angus Hughson - Vinous -
- 96
- Reduced
2021 Nicks Secret MST Gomersal ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $59.99$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinAn outstanding follow up release of this luxurious yet refined Barossa Valley Shiraz from what many describe as unicorn vintage where both healthy yields and exceptional quality was achieved. Presented in a striking package with a generously sized bottle that features a wax seal and laser-etched label, it’s crafted from premium parcels of fruit sourced from the winery's Gomersal Vineyard, utilising only the finest barrels. Typically retailing for $59.99 it’s available for just $24.99 as a Nick's Secret.
Rich, velvety and plush, this irresistible elixir embodies both opulence and refinement.
Matured in French oak puncheons and hogsheads, with 18% new oak, for a period of 13 months. Dense midnight black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Wafting from the glass with great authority are dark plum, liquorice and dark chocolate aromas which are interwoven with some vanillin cedar, earthy mocha and spice notes. Rich, silky and plush, unfolding across the expansive medium to full bodied palate are dark plum, liquorice, blackberry and dark chocolate flavours. Vanillin cedar, subtle earthy mocha and spice characters seamlessly integrate into the background. Understated in its power and opulently textured, it has velvet smooth tannins and a long classy finish that shows great refinement and polish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
It's perfumed on the nose, showing blackberry, game, pepper spice, vanilla and assorted nut aromas. The palate delivers terrific weight and fleshy texture, superbly supported by fine, polished tannins, finishing robust yet silky with refinement and harmony. At its best: now to 2036.
96 Points
Sam Kim – Wine Orbit -
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- Reduced
2023 Wantirna Estate Lily Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $110.00$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 13.6%Closure: Stelvin2025 marks 62 years since the first vines were planted at Wantirna Estate, established in 1963 on an east-facing slope in Melbourne's southeastern outskirts. Once a mix of orchards, bush, and grasslands, the vineyard thrives today under the care of Maryann, Reg's daughter, though Reg remains actively involved. The wines, named after his four grandchildren, feature labels illustrated by Michael Leunig, reflecting each grandchild's personality, a heartfelt touch to this family-run estate.
The vineyard's three distinct Pinot Noir blocks, covering just ten acres, are hand-harvested separately, often with up to two weeks between harvest dates. The mature block, with vines from the early 1970s, contributes savory tones and fine tannins. The Front block adds spice, while the Fruit Tree block offers generous fruitiness. Blended together, these components create the complex Pinot Noir style Wantirna Estate is renowned for.
Other Reviews....
A deep and brightly coloured crimson purple. Both to look at and smell, this is a concentrated and complex Wantirna pinot that's going to need some time. Aromas of black cherry, damson plum and dried red rose petals lead onto the palate, which is densely packed, structured and very long. Have it with food now, for sure, but those who still have some five to ten years from now will be very well rewarded. Drink 2026-2035.
96+ points
Philip Rich - James Halliday's Wine CompanionI visited Wantirna Estate around this time last year, and didn’t taste any wine, rather we had tea and biscuits on the porch. Lovely. It’s a vineyard as a garden, if you take my meaning, The place has a sense of intimacy and it’s a world away from many larger producers. 130 dozen produced using very light weight bottles at that. Yay!
Raspberry, red cherry, mint, cedar, pencils and spice, something of a potpourri perfume too. It’s medium-bodied, all red fruits, a little spicy and autumnal, fresh raspberry crunch to acidity, with a firmness to tannin that offers grainy grip, finishing a little sappy with lively acidity, savoury flavours, and excellent length. Oak still shows a little too much as at now, but this is a strong release, and I like the ‘mineral’ character it offers too. Drink 2027-2034+.
95 points
Gary Walsh - The Wine FrontThe 2023 Lily Pinot Noir leads with cherry and cranberry, moss and tobacco, with layers of damp earth and exotic spice. This is beautiful. In the mouth, the wine is silky, with fine, pliable tannins that shape the course of the fruit across the tongue. The acidity is woven gently throughout and offers a delicacy and laciness that I find highly attractive. This is such a gorgeous wine. 13.6% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2038.
96 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
- 93
- Organic
2024 Cantine Pra Classico Otto SoaveVeneto, ITALY$37. 99Bottle$455.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinAn invigorating Soave that combines an intense flavour profile with a river stone like mouth feel.
Located in the heart of the Soave Classico DOC near Verona, Cantine Pra is run by brothers Sergio and Graziano Pra, the former tending the estates 25 hectares of vineyards and the latter in charge of the cantine. The Pra range of wines are considered to be one of the benchmarks for the region.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with green tinted edges and a watery hue. Attractive pear, lime and red apple aromas carry a distinct wet stone overlay with some fresh herb notes also evident. Delicious pear, red apple and lime fruits are layered across the scrumptious palate with impressive intensity. River stone like mouth feel and crisp acidity. Lingering through the long invigorating finish are infusions of slatey minerals and fresh herbs.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Montresor Primo Pinot NeroITALY$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkA light, energetic Pinot with juicy red fruit.
Red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a bright red hue. Delightful red cherry, winter strawberry and red liquorice scents flow from the glass trailed by some fresh herb and subtle earth notes. Delicious red cherry, strawberry and red liquorice fruits carry a juicy and agile feel across the lighter bodied palate. Earth and infusions of fresh herbs sit in the background. Fine grained tannins with an energetic red fruited finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 93
Storytellers Distillery Fwah Grass Australian Lemon Scented Grass Gin (500ml)South Australia, AUSTRALIA$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 43%This is the world’s first gin built around native Lemon-Scented Grass (Cymbopogon ambiguus). The process involves an overnight steep, pot distillation, vapour infusion and a final post-distillation maceration. Lemongrass, citrus and fresh ginny notes are evident on the first sniff, then more pronounced on the palate where crushed pine buds and lemongrass fill the middle stages; Pickled ginger and wasabi warmth lifting the finish. A vibrant Asian-styled take on the distillery's Original Australian Dry. The fun presentation extends to each bottle containing a single blade of the grass. 43% Alc./Vol.
- 2024 Giuseppe Quintarelli Bianco SeccoVeneto, ITALY$125. 00Bottle$1500.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Giuseppe Quintarelli was known as ‘the Master of the Veneto’, and is the name behind one of the most renowned estates in Italy. Sadly, Giuseppe passed away in early 2012 and he leaves behind a legacy of producing remarkable wines with an outstanding philosophy, to his eldest daughter who continues to carry on the tradition of this great estate. With their easily recognisable hand scripted labels, these wines offer at glimpse into one of the world’s most faithful artisanal winemakers who was an ultimate believer in letting nature do her thing and in order for wines to reach their ultimate potential these wines were only released when he deemed them to be ready.
Bianco Secco is Quintarelli’s dry white from Garganega, Trebbiano, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and the local variety Saorin. Unlike the estate’s long-aged reds, this wine is fermented and matured on fine lees shortly after harvest with minimal time in oak, allowing freshness and structural balance to shine alongside Quintarelli’s traditional craftsmanship. Though often overlooked next to the legendary reds, Bianco Secco is quietly serious and capable of rewarding short- to medium-term cellaring, embodying the estate’s meticulous approach across styles.
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2023 Giuseppe Quintarelli PrimofioreVeneto, ITALY$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkGiuseppe Quintarelli was known as ‘the Master of the Veneto’, and is the name behind one of the most renowned estates in Italy. Sadly, Giuseppe passed away in early 2012 and he leaves behind a legacy of producing remarkable wines with an outstanding philosophy, to his eldest daughter who continues to carry on the tradition of this great estate. With their easily recognisable hand scripted labels, these wines offer at glimpse into one of the world’s most faithful artisanal winemakers who was an ultimate believer in letting nature do her thing and in order for wines to reach their ultimate potential these wines were only released when he deemed them to be ready.
Translated to “first flower”, Primofiore is the youngest of the wines of Quintarelli released each year. The mix here is Corvinone, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc where most of the grapes are directly pressed except for the Cabernet which undergoes air drying for around five weeks. A hallmark of Primofiore is its freshness and vibrant nature, and this highly aromatic wine is the perfect introduction to the charms of Quintarelli.
Other Reviews....
The 2023 Primofiore is more savory than sweet, opening with dusty rose tones, a beguiling whiff of tangerine, wild strawberries and stone dust. It is round and energetic in style, perfumed with violet and lavender tones as ripe blackberry fruits swirl throughout. The finish is classically dry and long, yet remarkably fresh, leaving a subtle tannic crunch and a hint of wild blueberry to linger. Drink 2025-2030.
93 points
Eric Guido - Vinous -
- 94
2018 Giuseppe Quintarelli Valpolicella Classico SuperioreVeneto, ITALY$285. 00Bottle$3420.00 DozenABV: 15%Closure: CorkGiuseppe Quintarelli was known as ‘the Master of the Veneto’, and is the name behind one of the most renowned estates in Italy. Sadly, Giuseppe passed away in early 2012 and he leaves behind a legacy of producing remarkable wines with an outstanding philosophy, to his eldest daughter who continues to carry on the tradition of this great estate. With their easily recognisable hand scripted labels, these wines offer at glimpse into one of the world’s most faithful artisanal winemakers who was an ultimate believer in letting nature do her thing and in order for wines to reach their ultimate potential these wines were only released when he deemed them to be ready.
Valpolicella Classico Superiore from Quintarelli is no ordinary Valpolicella and is released much later than most from the region after around seven years of ageing. Half of grapes are pressed after a 3-4 day maceration, while the other half is air dried for approximately two months. The wine then undergoes a second fermentation in contact with the lees of Quintarelli’s Amarone, in the Italian tradition of Ripasso, thereby utilising by-products of the legendary latter to add a layer of complexity to the already high-quality base wine. Quintarelli's Valpolicella shows outstanding depth and complexity, and would put many other producers' Amarone bottling to shame.
Other Reviews....
The 2018 Valpolicella Classico Superiore pulls the taster close to the glass with a darkly alluring blend of dried roses, violets, crushed stone, clove and blood orange. It washes across the palate with silken textures, lifted and finessed in the style of the vintage, as ripe wildberry fruits swirl beneath an air of sweet lavender. The word ethereal comes to mind as the 2018 tapers off with sweet tannins that provide a lovely framework to perfumed inner florals and hints of blackberry that resonate. Drink 2025-2032.
94 points
Eric Guido - Vinous -
- 97
2018 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella ClassicoVeneto, ITALY$750. 00Bottle$9000.00 DozenABV: 16.5%Closure: CorkGiuseppe Quintarelli was known as ‘the Master of the Veneto’, and is the name behind one of the most renowned estates in Italy. Sadly, Giuseppe passed away in early 2012 and he leaves behind a legacy of producing remarkable wines with an outstanding philosophy, to his eldest daughter who continues to carry on the tradition of this great estate. With their easily recognisable hand scripted labels, these wines offer at glimpse into one of the world’s most faithful artisanal winemakers who was an ultimate believer in letting nature do her thing and in order for wines to reach their ultimate potential these wines were only released when he deemed them to be ready.
Only produced in exceptional years, Amarone from Quintarelli is one of the great wines of the world and one every wine lover should experience at least once in their lifetime. Attention to detail is critical during the drying process ensuring a natural and even result. The wine is aged for around seven years, and alcoholic fermentation occurs during this time to produce a dry wine at the end. Despite the elevated alcohol levels, this Amarone is light and lively on the palate, and displays an incredibly complex array of flavours even as a young wine.
Other Reviews....
The 2018 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico slowly evolves with a whimsical mix of dusty dried violets, cedar box, cardamom, stone dust and dried black cherries. It displays textures of pure silk, lifted and feminine in nature, as bright red berry fruits wash across the palate, leaving a tactile staining of minerals and sweet tannins. The 2018 shows incredible length and poise, leaving blue and purple inner florals over notes of licorice and clove through the lightly structured and completely harmonious finale. Bury this radiant beauty deep in the cellar. Drink 2027-2040.
97 points
Eric Guido - Vinous -
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2019 Pascal Agrapart Pinot Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature Champagne Premier CruChampagne, FRANCE$330. 00Bottle$3960.00 DozenClosure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
The newest cuvee in the Agrapart range, Pinot is the domaine's first Blanc de Noirs and comes from the family's small parcel of Champ Saint-Bernard in Avenay-Val-d'Or, a historic Pinot village north of Aÿ. The vines, now 40 to 50 years old, sit mid-slope on deep, clay-rich soils over chalk with a southeast exposure. The wine was fermented in demi-muids with native yeast and full malolactic, then matured under cork. Disgorged in June 2025, it marks a distinctive extension of the Agrapart style, drawing on the site's structure and darker spice-leaning character while maintaining the estate's hallmark finesse and balance.
Other Reviews....
The 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs Le Champ Saint-Bernard is 100% Pinot Noir from the Agrapart family's vineyards in Avenay-Val-d'Or that also inform the Terroirs bottling. Creamy and layered, the Champ Saint-Bernard offers lovely textural resonance. Kirsch, dried flowers, ginger and spice are all seamless in the glass. This is a strong debut. Bottled with no dosage. Disgorged: May 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year. Drink 2025-2034.
94 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousA complex, fruity wine that shows aromas of green apples, chalk and strawberries. Medium-bodied and powerful, with medium-size bubbles, a creamy texture, crisp acidity, a lot of tension and a chalky and toasty finish. A wine full of personality. A pinot noir brut nature. Drink or hold.
95 points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2019 Pascal Agrapart Mineral Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand CruChampagne, FRANCE$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenClosure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
Mineral is blended from two adjacent vieilles vignes plots (50-plus years old) on the border between Avize and Cramant, where the vine roots plunge straight into the chalky bedrock. The fruit from Le Champ Bouton in Avize fermented in tank, while the component from Les Bionnes in Cramant was vinified in 600-litre oak casks. The 2019 spent just over five years on lees and was dosed at 3.5g/L.
Other Reviews....
The 2019 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Minéral Grand Cru is fabulous. All it needs is time to unwind. Readers should be in no rush. Bright and packed with energy, the 2019 is so classy right out of the gate. Vibrant and intensely mineral, the 2019 is very closed in on itself. That won't be a problem in a few years' time, but for now, the Minéral is a wine for the cellar. Extended saline-inflected notes punctuate the sculpted finish, adding to the wine's alluring personality. Minéral, a blend of old-vine sites in Avize and Cramant, is slow to emerge, but it's a Champagne that rewards cellaring. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Disgorged: June 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year. Drink 2027-2039.
96 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousA minerally Champagne with aromas of chalk, citrus, lemon pith, oyster shells, iodine and linden tree. Vertical on the palate, with floral flavors and a fine mousse. Very intense and persistent, with a medium body and long, zesty, lingering mineral acidity. 3 g/L dosage. Drink or hold.
97 points
JamesSuckling.com -
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2019 Pascal Agrapart Mineral Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru Magnum (1500ml)Champagne, FRANCE$799. 00Bottle$9588.00 DozenClosure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
Mineral is blended from two adjacent vieilles vignes plots (50-plus years old) on the border between Avize and Cramant, where the vine roots plunge straight into the chalky bedrock. The fruit from Le Champ Bouton in Avize fermented in tank, while the component from Les Bionnes in Cramant was vinified in 600-litre oak casks. The 2019 spent just over five years on lees and was dosed at 3.5g/L.
Other Reviews....
The 2019 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Minéral Grand Cru is fabulous. All it needs is time to unwind. Readers should be in no rush. Bright and packed with energy, the 2019 is so classy right out of the gate. Vibrant and intensely mineral, the 2019 is very closed in on itself. That won't be a problem in a few years' time, but for now, the Minéral is a wine for the cellar. Extended saline-inflected notes punctuate the sculpted finish, adding to the wine's alluring personality. Minéral, a blend of old-vine sites in Avize and Cramant, is slow to emerge, but it's a Champagne that rewards cellaring. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Disgorged: June 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year. Drink 2027-2039.
96 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousA minerally Champagne with aromas of chalk, citrus, lemon pith, oyster shells, iodine and linden tree. Vertical on the palate, with floral flavors and a fine mousse. Very intense and persistent, with a medium body and long, zesty, lingering mineral acidity. 3 g/L dosage. Drink or hold.
97 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 97
- 97
2019 Pascal Agrapart Avizoise Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand CruChampagne, FRANCE$499. 00Bottle$5988.00 DozenClosure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
Avizoise is sourced from old vines of around 50 to 60 years of age, situated in the clay-rich (argilo-calcaire) Coteaux d’Avize vineyards of Les Robarts and Les Gros Yeux. The richer soils and altitude of these neighbouring sites bring more exotic fruit and roundness. The wine aged entirely in 600-litre demi-muid, and bottle fermentation took place under cork rather than crown seal. The 2019 spent just over five years on lees and was bottled without dosage.
Other Reviews....
The 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs L’Avizoise Grand Cru is dialed up to the maximum. Ample and broad on the palate, the Avizoise is seriously impressive right out of the gate. So expressive today, the 2019 will only improve over time. Even in the early going, it soars with tremendous textural resonance and body. The natural gravitas of these sites (Champboutons and Bionnes) in Avize comes through loud and clear. The Avizoise is the most dense and potent of these Champagnes from Agrapart. It is bottled with no dosage but does have 3 grams of natural residual sugar. Disgorged: June 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year. Drink 2027-2039.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousAn austere nose of lime zest, chalk and lemon leaves. It needs time in the glass to become gentler, with lemon curd and apple flavors, pinprick bubbles, a medium body and very good concentration that’s typical of the vintage. A restrained wine with zesty, integrated acidity and a super tight-knit texture. Drink or hold.
97 points
JamesSuckling.com -
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- 95
2019 Pascal Agrapart Venus Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Champagne Grand CruChampagne, FRANCE$775. 00Bottle$9300.00 DozenClosure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
Venus is a very special wine from a very special plot. It comes from one-third of a hectare of vines in the renowned Avize vineyard plot, La Fosse aux Pourceaux. This 0.3-hectare section of La Fosse lies on the chalkiest portion of the slope near the village (contrasting with the more clay-rich soils of the Avizoise cuvée). The vines were planted in 1959 and so are extremely old by Champagne standards. This single parcel cuvée is therefore made in only tiny quantities each year. The wine is named after the Boulonnais mare, Vénus, that first ploughed the vineyard. Venus has more depth, grip and phenolic power than Avizoise, yet it offers plenty of finesse and mineral intensity to match the wine’s power and complexity.
Other Reviews....
The 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Vénus Grand Cru is another striking wine in this range. Seamless and layered in the glass, the Vénus has so much to offer. All the elements are so well balanced, so totally put together. White pepper, chalk, mint and crushed rocks are all finely delineated. This tiny parcel in Avize, planted in 1959, consistently turns out pedigreed Champagnes. Magnificent. Bottled with no dosage. Disgorged: June 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year. Drink 2027-2039.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousAromas of minerals, nuts, subtle pastry, lemon pulp and orange blossoms. Medium- to full-bodied with zesty lemony acidity and tingling fine bubbles extending to the finish. Drink or hold.
95 points
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