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- Rhum J.M. Epices Creoles Agricole Rum (700ml)MARTINIQUE$124. 99Bottle$1499.88 DozenABV: 46%
Debuting in 2024 and crafted by Master Blender, Karine Lassalle, Épices Créoles is aged for a minimum of 3 years in French and American oak barrels of varying sizes and char levels. The process of toasting the barrels results in a rum that's intensely spicy, but not spiced! 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The nose is full of scintillating spice notes—particularly clove, allspice, and powdered ginger, with a bit of sweet nutmeg and other baking spices—and toasted oak. Tart, floral tropical fruit (mango, papyaya) comes in at the palate, mixed with herbal notes of sage and rosemary. Though it's decidedly fruity, the finish veers toward umami/earthy tones, with a balanced dryness, light to medium richness, and spark of spicy heat. 91 points - distiller.com
"Really nice agricole. Pepper and spice with a good heat." - rumratings.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: Delicate on the vanilla pod, honey and warm woody notes. After agitation, subtle notes of gingerbread with cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and ginger appear. Powerful and harmonious, the nose suggests a mouth with a bold character. Palate: The attack on the palate is powerful on spicy notes: cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, pepper, almost hot pepper… spicy heat gradually gives way to toasted, roasted and almost smoky notes of oak wood. Finish: Captivating the smoky notes with a persistent spicy feel left on the upper lips.
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- Nick's Import
1999 Signatory Vintage Auchentoshan 24 Year Old Symington's Choice Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Lowlands, SCOTLAND$450. 00Bottle$5400.00 DozenABV: 55.6%Mr. Symington clearly likes his malts matured in First Fill Oloroso butts. Given Auchentoshan's slightly lighter triple distilled spirit, we reckon this will be a 'cask driven' malt (read sherry bomb). Cask No.4 had an outturn of 689 bottles at 55.6% Alc./.Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews.... All about the sherry and none about the distillate. That’s ok, it’s well done. More umami on this one. Tomato vine, empty soup can, plums for sure. Red berries, but not tart or sour. It’s very good! A little pepper on the back end and a little drying. - whiskybase.com
- Kinglake Distillery Goodbye Popeye Single Malt Australian Whisky (500ml)Victoria, AUSTRALIA$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 50%
Three years back, Kinglake released American Werewolf in Paris—a single cask whisky built around the best of both French and American oak. It kicked off their French Connection series. Then came L’Americain. Now, two years on, they’re continuing the trilogy with Goodbye Popeye. It starts with a rest in American oak, enough time to let the spirit soften, sweeten and settle into itself. They then move it into something else special. For Goodbye Popeye, that meant 17 months in a 100L Rye cask straight out of an organic distillery in the US—still fragrant, still full of that hay spice and sweetness. After that, it spent another 18 months in a small-format Rutherglen Tawny cask. This Victorian fortified wine is a bold Australian interpretation of European port: sticky, dark, and rich with dried fruit and old wood. And you can taste it here. This one’s big. Full of jammy fruit, Easter chocolate, and flashes of burnt orange and smoke. The French side of the connection pulls a little stronger this time. It will appeal to those who enjoy a port-finish but equally fans who have always loved the bold, unapologetic character of Sam and Chantal’s Kinglake Single Malt. 50% Alc./Vol.
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- Nick's Import
1997 Signatory Vintage Macallan 25 Year Old Symington's Choice Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$2999. 00Bottle$35988.00 DozenABV: 54.8%Signatory’s founder, Andrew Symington was working at the prestigious Prestonfield House Hotel when he bought his first cask of whisky: a 1968 Glenlivet. Today, his good taste has transpired as a series in itself, highlighting his favourite casks from the vast selection housed in the enormous warehouses at Edradour in Pitlochry. The first Symington’s Choice selections were released in 2023 with a focus on heavily sherried single casks aged between 20-35 years old. It's these whiskies that (mostly) make up the current shipment. Subsequent releases will be a little younger, generally 15-20 years old, though still predominantly from first fill sherry casks. Apart from the expected quality, there is a 'wow factor' to the prices that makes each and every one worthy of consideration.
Obviously matured in a first-fill Oloroso sherry butt, you'd have to go back to the 1980s to discover Macallans as deep and dark as this. We have a small number of bottles from cask 12/3. Serge Valentin from whiskyfun tasted sister cask 12/4 and was impressed. Expections would be similar here. 649 bottles produced. 54.8% Alc./vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from a sister cask 12/4... The whisky is almost as dark as the label! Here is a brand new range from Signatory, very high-end, with some pretty extraordinary names like Laphroaig, Bowmore, and indeed, Macallan. The prices seem high, but I'm sure it's worth it and not just marketing hype. At least it's not another NAS with a fancy name and story, straight from ChatGPT or Wikipedia. Colour: coffee. Nose: a pretty wonderful dry sherry, full of Havana tobacco, prunes, dried dates, old walnuts, and hoisin sauce, with an extraordinary fermentary and even slightly acetic side (old balsamic vinegar). We're a bit in the territory of a very old Ténarèze, or of the best of the Macallan 'Gran Reserva' from back in the day. With water: it becomes rather more elegant, almost slightly austere, with a very "grand chocolate from a great house" side. I always find it amusing to hear my Swiss, Belgian, Italian, Spanish or French friends claim that they make the best chocolates in the world. What if it were the Scots, perhaps even Scots from Pitlochry? Mouth (neat): creamy, goes down easily! Well, almost, there's still a lot of thickness, a syrupy texture, liquorice and pipe tobacco, a bit of tar, lots of dried prunes, Corinth raisins, precious molasses (if it existed), then peppermint and very chocolatey toffee... With water: it peacocks and goes fractal, with lots of spices, dried fruits, organic matter, and various old liqueurs. Alright, let's finish it, we don't have all day... Finish: long as a day without bread and indeed, rather on very damp pumpernickel, chocolate, and competition fruitcake (we have the winner). Comments: a real hit, after Signatory's sublime range of '30th Anniversary Bottlings' of three or five years ago. Come on, let's store it in its bottle for twenty more years to try to reach 95/100, then we'll talk about it again. What's sure is that this is Macallan as in 'Macallan', that is to say In compliance with what is written on the label of the bottle that follows... 93 points - whiskyfun.com
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2019 De Iuliis Single Vineyard SemillonHunter Valley, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 10.8%Closure: StelvinWith six years bottle age behind it the palate remains remarkably sharp and focused.
Brilliant water like core with gleaming green tinged edges. Pronounced lime, Granny Smith apple and lemon butter aromas mix with some waxy notes, oily steel and toast. With six years bottle age behind it the palate remains remarkably sharp and focused with lemon, lime and Granny Smith apple fruits interplaying with steely mineral, faint oily toast and subtle waxy elements. Crisp acidity guiding the long, racy, mineral infused finish with laser like precision.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 10.8%Other Reviews....
The lines are taut, the flavour is pristine. This bristles through the palate in excellent style, its lemon and lemongrass flavours strung in precise place. It goes without saying that an excellent future is in store.
96 Points
Campbell Mattinson – James Halliday’s Wine CompanionWell, I think I got the full name right here. From the Murphy vineyard I believe, on Wilderness Road.
Lime and lemongrass, a honey toast thing, bright and juicy, excellent flavour with a gentle chalky grip, has weight but it’s nicely balanced and the finish is very long. This is excellent. Right in the slot, though no hurry. Drink 2024-2034+
95 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine FrontOnly five years young, that extra time has certainly done its thing. A superb wine, I had the luxury of tasting this De Iuliis Aged Release Single Vineyard Semillon alongside its newly released 2024 sibling and it was quite the treat to see where things are at. Go here.
There is still plenty of energy within and the slight toasty character expected with age is starting to show its hand. Honey tones are seeping through too, with lemons and limes not far from the action, albeit not as vibrant but there is still some zip. A sip slow and consider type of wine, match this with the textural splendour of scallops and heaven awaits. This will live comfortably for at least another decade. Superb stuff indeed. Drink to 2034+
95 Points
QwineReviews.com -
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling KabinettMosel, GERMANY$130. 00Bottle$1560.00 DozenABV: 9%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett is pure, intense and elegant on the complex and substantial nose with stony and lemony notes. This Riesling is rich and mouth-filling and provided with ripe and sustainable mineral acidity and intense fruit. This is an expressive and terroir-driven Riesling with a seriously mineral expression. 9% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in January 2025. Drink 2025-2060.
93 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett initially presents a reductive funk that takes time to dissipate, allowing only brief glimpses of green apple to peep through. However, the palate is superbly sprightly, vividly light and lemony fresh, skipping along light-heartedly without a care in the world. It airily and charmingly spreads its lemony perfume and charm. A quintessential, elfin Kabinett. Drink 2026-2056.
93 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThis Mosel riesling kabinett is a miniature masterpiece of delicacy. I love the aromas of wildflowers and herbs that are married to a wealth of mineral nuances on the light- to medium-bodied palate. Although a hint of sweetness is perceptible, this has quite a firm core, yet is very filigreed at the long, pristine finish. Drink or hold.
95 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 94
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling KabinettMosel, GERMANY$140. 00Bottle$1680.00 DozenABV: 8.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett is deep, pure, fresh and slatey on the precise, coolish and also floral nose. Mouth-filling, rich and dense on the palate, this is a round and juicy, very mineral, stimulating, savory and saline wine with fine, stimulating grip and an aromatic, well-structured and relatively dry finish. This is excellent and stylish in its terroir expression. 8.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in January 2025. Drink 2030-2065.
94 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett opens with some reduction, but the yeastiness blends with lemon. The palate is sleek and contoured, vividly fine, with cool, salty slate. Its blue, cool aspect shines with yellow lemon, creating a gorgeous complementary accord that accentuates absolute elegance. Drink 2026-2056.
94 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousSuper elegant and super filigreed, with ravishing aromas of honeysuckle, white peaches and Asian pears, this is a very sophisticated and polished wine for this category. Incredibly refreshing, but also incredibly silky on the light-bodied palate. Then comes the extremely long and precise finish in which floral and wet-stone elements are almost perfectly interwoven. Drink or hold.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Magnum (1500ml)Mosel, GERMANY$340. 00Bottle$4080.00 DozenABV: 8.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett is deep, pure, fresh and slatey on the precise, coolish and also floral nose. Mouth-filling, rich and dense on the palate, this is a round and juicy, very mineral, stimulating, savory and saline wine with fine, stimulating grip and an aromatic, well-structured and relatively dry finish. This is excellent and stylish in its terroir expression. 8.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in January 2025. Drink 2030-2065.
94 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett opens with some reduction, but the yeastiness blends with lemon. The palate is sleek and contoured, vividly fine, with cool, salty slate. Its blue, cool aspect shines with yellow lemon, creating a gorgeous complementary accord that accentuates absolute elegance. Drink 2026-2056.
94 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousSuper elegant and super filigreed, with ravishing aromas of honeysuckle, white peaches and Asian pears, this is a very sophisticated and polished wine for this category. Incredibly refreshing, but also incredibly silky on the light-bodied palate. Then comes the extremely long and precise finish in which floral and wet-stone elements are almost perfectly interwoven. Drink or hold.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling SpatleseMosel, GERMANY$120. 00Bottle$1440.00 DozenABV: 8%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Bernkasteler Badstube Spätlese is deep, intense and quite open on the deep and floral as well as stony nose. Dense and savory on the palate, this is a sustainable yet also delicate and savory Spätlese with a salivating and grippy finish with refreshing lemon flavors. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 06 24 in January 2025. Drink 2025-2065.
93 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Bernkasteler Badstube Spätlese exudes a mossy green charm with lemon balm tinged in slight citric sweetness. The palate reveals this sweetness as Reine Claude plum compote, accompanied by lemon balm and wonderful brightness and lightness, with no baby fat at all. An utter charm bomb with serene sweetness and a delightful tinkle of lemon. Drink 2026-2056.
94 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousA very cool and elegant Mosel riesling spatlese with aromas of white flowers dripping after a summer storm. Brimming with sliced pear fruit but barely off-dry on the palate, this is so easy to enjoy, with its deep well of finesse. The interplay of racy acidity, wet-stone character and fruit in the finish is stunningly beautiful. Drink or hold.
95 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling SpatleseMosel, GERMANY$135. 00Bottle$1620.00 DozenABV: 7%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spätlese opens with a highly delicate bouquet of finely crushed or weathered slate into which the fruit is bedded like a princess so that the terroir and Riesling fruit are already perfectly interwoven at this early stage. Round and juicy as well as saline and with mineral grip on the palate, this is a dense and stimulating saline and frisky Spätlese from one of the finest Mosel terroirs. It is endlessly saline and salivating on the crystalline, super clear and vivacious finish. This is a great, highly stimulating and finessed Spätlese indeed! 7% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 09 24 in January 2025. Drink 2025-2070.
96 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spätlese is still a little reductive. A slight dried herbal frisson plays around tender yellow plum notes on the shy nose. The palate is beautifully light and vividly citric with gentle lemon candy sweetness and luminous freshness. A tingling, balanced, vivid finish accentuates the lightness. Drink 2026-2060.
95 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousStill quite closed and tightly wound, this firmly structured Mosel riesling spatlese needs some time for the fruit aromas to unfurl. Excellent concentration and delicacy of flavor in a more forthrightly mineral direction than the spring-like classics from the neighboring Wehlener Sonnenuhr. A long-distance runner that demands some patience. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.
94 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 95
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling SpatleseMosel, GERMANY$145. 00Bottle$1740.00 DozenABV: 8%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese is very intense and open on the complex and saline nose that is reminiscent of crushed slate rocks as well as ripe and intense, dense citrus fruit intermingled with lemon aromas. Round and refined on the palate, this is a lively and savory Riesling with a firm, mineral structure and floral flavors on the complex and youthful finish. This is a Spätlese to be aged for at least 5+ years. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 07 24 in January 2025. Drink 2030-2070.
95 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese offers a yeasty aroma with a hint of flint and a slight touch of mint. The palate showcases pure Mirabelle and gentle sweetness, with exquisite delineation and a supple sweetness highlighted by an exquisitely pure lemon tone. Drink 2026-2060.
95 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThis great Spatlese from the Graacher Himmelreich has everything we hope for from this famous site: excellent concentration and delicacy on the barely medium-bodied palate, terrific slatey character and a broad spectrum of aromas that range from white flowers and peaches to blackcurrants. Super-stony and precise finish. All of this has a wonderful spring-like freshness that makes it irresistible. Drink or hold.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese Magnum (1500ml)Mosel, GERMANY$345. 00Bottle$4140.00 DozenABV: 8%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese is very intense and open on the complex and saline nose that is reminiscent of crushed slate rocks as well as ripe and intense, dense citrus fruit intermingled with lemon aromas. Round and refined on the palate, this is a lively and savory Riesling with a firm, mineral structure and floral flavors on the complex and youthful finish. This is a Spätlese to be aged for at least 5+ years. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 07 24 in January 2025. Drink 2030-2070.
95 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese offers a yeasty aroma with a hint of flint and a slight touch of mint. The palate showcases pure Mirabelle and gentle sweetness, with exquisite delineation and a supple sweetness highlighted by an exquisitely pure lemon tone. Drink 2026-2060.
95 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThis great Spatlese from the Graacher Himmelreich has everything we hope for from this famous site: excellent concentration and delicacy on the barely medium-bodied palate, terrific slatey character and a broad spectrum of aromas that range from white flowers and peaches to blackcurrants. Super-stony and precise finish. All of this has a wonderful spring-like freshness that makes it irresistible. Drink or hold.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling SpatleseMosel, GERMANY$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenABV: 8%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese is concentrated and very intense on the fruit-driven, deep and spicy nose. The wine is very elegant and refined on the dense and seriously structured, salivating palate that is a promise for the future and endlessly salty in the present. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 08 24 in January 2025. Drink 2030-2070.
95+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese opens with a serene, stony, salty slaty breeze. The palate is exquisitely fine and very bright, luminous even, soaring upward as it reaches down into the slate, embodying the total elegance of the site. Slenderness and serenity are exemplary. Drink 2028-2060.
96 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThe sensuous curves of Art Nouveau design and joyful flourishes of rococo both give an idea of what Mosel riesling elegance means, but in a masterpiece like this it takes on a totally distinctive feeling unlike anything else on Planet Wine. The white peach fruit, white flower aromas and slatey minerality all tingle on your palate, then flicker on and on in a totally fascinating manner in the nearly endless finish. The touch of sweetness is already beautifully integrated, although the wine just began a decades-long life. Drink or hold.
97 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 96
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese Magnum (1500ml)Mosel, GERMANY$375. 00Bottle$4500.00 DozenABV: 8%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese is concentrated and very intense on the fruit-driven, deep and spicy nose. The wine is very elegant and refined on the dense and seriously structured, salivating palate that is a promise for the future and endlessly salty in the present. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 08 24 in January 2025. Drink 2030-2070.
95+ points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese opens with a serene, stony, salty slaty breeze. The palate is exquisitely fine and very bright, luminous even, soaring upward as it reaches down into the slate, embodying the total elegance of the site. Slenderness and serenity are exemplary. Drink 2028-2060.
96 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThe sensuous curves of Art Nouveau design and joyful flourishes of rococo both give an idea of what Mosel riesling elegance means, but in a masterpiece like this it takes on a totally distinctive feeling unlike anything else on Planet Wine. The white peach fruit, white flower aromas and slatey minerality all tingle on your palate, then flicker on and on in a totally fascinating manner in the nearly endless finish. The touch of sweetness is already beautifully integrated, although the wine just began a decades-long life. Drink or hold.
97 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 96
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling AusleseMosel, GERMANY$165. 00Bottle$1980.00 DozenABV: 8%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese is clear, deep, intense and fresh on the complex and still reductive nose. Rich and lush on the concentrated palate, this is a dense and savory, textured and rich Auslese with saline grip and good tension, but it's currently pretty closed and not really singing, even with a certain astringency (from a second bottle). 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 10 24 in January 2025. Drink 2030-2070.
94+? points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThis fabulous Auslese lays out a whole basket of exotic fruit before you. The almost supernatural freshness is no less exciting. Terrific tension between the two, the acidity giving this great brilliance on the extremely precise, medium-bodied palate. The finish almost perfectly balances the restrained richness and intense wet-stone minerality. Limited production. Still very youthful, but how can you resist the beauty? Drink or hold.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 96
- 97
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling AusleseMosel, GERMANY$170. 00Bottle$2040.00 DozenABV: 8%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese is very clear and precise on the elegant and delicate nose that reveals mango and other tropical as well as ripe peach aromas. Savory and crystalline on the palate, this Himmelreich Auslese is highly stimulating in all its finessed juiciness, grip and salivating salinity. The finish is long, playful and irresistible. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 11 24 in January 2025. Drink 2026-2075.
96 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese, made virtually without botrytis from fully ripe grapes, offers a shy tone of stone and yeast. The palate features Mirabelle jelly with lovely overtones of lemon balm and fern, wonderfully cut by freshness with a pithy, zesty edge of lime and mainly pale lemon. The finish resembles lemon and yellow plum sorbet, exquisitely fresh and palate-cleansing, yet with exquisite sweetness. Incredibly fine, slender and so balanced. Drink 2028-2060.
96 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThis youthful Mosel riesling Auslese has a vibrancy and precision that is often missing in these wines, blanketed by thick botrytis richness. I love the mint and chamomile freshness that pulls you into this juicy and concentrated wine and also make it very filigreed on the medium-bodied palate. Incredible precision and subtlety in the super-long finish. Try to be patient, because this is a marathon runner. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.
97 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 96
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese (375ml)Mosel, GERMANY$110. 00Bottle$1320.00 DozenABV: 8%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Intense tropical fruit aromas such as fully ripe mangoes but also baby pineapples open the 2023 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese that reveals a savory slate spice. On the palate, this is a rich yet savory and persistently saline, juicy and structured Auslese with a long and still mouth-filling finish. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 12 24 in January 2025. Drink 2030-2075.
96 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese, made with virtually no botrytis from ripe grapes, offers equal notes of grapefruit peel, juicy peach and lemon. The extreme finesse of the Prüm style meets the site's elegance, with stony lemon running like a central vein through the linear, elongated body. Such finesse, lightness and filigree nature, yet so much depth. Simply astonishing and a paradigm of site and style. Drink 2028-2060.
96 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThis great Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese shows exactly the combination of white flower and white peach aromas with silky succulence and extraordinary freshness that made these wines legendary. There’s a healthy amount of unfermented grape sweetness, but the interplay of this with the myriad other components is so complex and fascinating. Super-graceful finish that feels like stroking satin. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.
97 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 96
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling AusleseMosel, GERMANY$185. 00Bottle$2220.00 DozenABV: 8%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Intense tropical fruit aromas such as fully ripe mangoes but also baby pineapples open the 2023 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese that reveals a savory slate spice. On the palate, this is a rich yet savory and persistently saline, juicy and structured Auslese with a long and still mouth-filling finish. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 12 24 in January 2025. Drink 2030-2075.
96 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese, made with virtually no botrytis from ripe grapes, offers equal notes of grapefruit peel, juicy peach and lemon. The extreme finesse of the Prüm style meets the site's elegance, with stony lemon running like a central vein through the linear, elongated body. Such finesse, lightness and filigree nature, yet so much depth. Simply astonishing and a paradigm of site and style. Drink 2028-2060.
96 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThis great Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese shows exactly the combination of white flower and white peach aromas with silky succulence and extraordinary freshness that made these wines legendary. There’s a healthy amount of unfermented grape sweetness, but the interplay of this with the myriad other components is so complex and fascinating. Super-graceful finish that feels like stroking satin. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.
97 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 96
- 97
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2023 Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Magnum (1500ml)Mosel, GERMANY$435. 00Bottle$5220.00 DozenABV: 8%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Intense tropical fruit aromas such as fully ripe mangoes but also baby pineapples open the 2023 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese that reveals a savory slate spice. On the palate, this is a rich yet savory and persistently saline, juicy and structured Auslese with a long and still mouth-filling finish. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 12 24 in January 2025. Drink 2030-2075.
96 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese, made with virtually no botrytis from ripe grapes, offers equal notes of grapefruit peel, juicy peach and lemon. The extreme finesse of the Prüm style meets the site's elegance, with stony lemon running like a central vein through the linear, elongated body. Such finesse, lightness and filigree nature, yet so much depth. Simply astonishing and a paradigm of site and style. Drink 2028-2060.
96 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThis great Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese shows exactly the combination of white flower and white peach aromas with silky succulence and extraordinary freshness that made these wines legendary. There’s a healthy amount of unfermented grape sweetness, but the interplay of this with the myriad other components is so complex and fascinating. Super-graceful finish that feels like stroking satin. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.
97 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 95
- 98
- 98
2023 Joh Jos Prum Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Auslese GoldkapselMosel, GERMANY$330. 00Bottle$3960.00 DozenABV: 8%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Bernkasteler Lay Auslese (Gold Capsule) is deep, fresh and savory on the crunchy, lemon-scented and honeyed nose that combines reductive with coolish wet stone and saline notes. Very refined and elegant on the palate, this is a playful, crystalline and weightless yet also rich and sweet but stimulating crystalline Auslese with lush yet finessed fruit and a long, well-balanced and very elegant finish. It's highly salivating and irresistible even at this young stage. 8% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine from AP 14 24 in January 2025. Drink 2025-2080.
98 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Bernkasteler Lay Auslese Goldkapsel, with about a third of botrytis-affected fruit, offers an intense aroma of dandelion blossom and ripe peach, complemented by a hint of smokiness. The concentrated palate features intense sweetness framed by a gorgeous spice of candied grapefruit. This intensity seems to delve deeper into the stone, enticing you to take another salty-sweet sip. Drink 2026-2060.
95 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousWelcome to the peak of Mosel filigree in a category where most consumers only expect honeyed richness. Pure silk on the medium-bodied palate, where the great concentration slowly creeps up on you, building to a fantastic crescendo with a pink grapefruit freshness that’s unique in this category. You can drink it now, but then you will miss some of the greatness that’s still locked inside this treasure chest. Drink or hold.
98 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 97
- 99
2023 Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese GoldkapselMosel, GERMANY$415. 00Bottle$4980.00 DozenABV: 7.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Riesling Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkapsel opens with a fleeting touch of mint oil before revealing a world of peachy suppleness and concentration, countered by lemon and tender, light-footed elegance. It unfolds with exquisite aromatic finesse. Yes, this is a Goldkapsel, but its lightness and purity are exquisite. So fine and bright with a lastingly zesty finish. Drink 2024-2070.
97 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousOne of the great Mosel Auslese masterpieces of modern times, this has all the floral splendor of the Wehlener Sonnenuhr vineyard site on the medium-bodied palate, through which an extremely delicate thread of floral honey flows. Then the exotic fruit aromas cascade over you at the extremely long and precise finish. Perfect balance makes this seem much less sweet than it really is. Limited production. Drink or hold.
99 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com -
- 92
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Artigiano PrimitivoPuglia, ITALY$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinRich and raisiny with a vanillin spice and cinnamon background.
Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Rising out of the glass are black plum, raisin and liquorice aromas followed by some scorched earth and spicy cinnamon notes. Rich black plum, raisin cake and liquorice flavours meld into a vanillin spice and cinnamon background. Fleshy mouth feel with faintly chewy tannins and a spicy mid length finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 88
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 The Gathering Pinot NoirVictoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13.2%Closure: StelvinLight and supple with a savoury cherry dominated finish.
Semi translucent dark red core with black shaded edges and a light red hue. Nosing offers up ripe morello cherry and strawberry aromas followed by hints of anise and spicy vanillin cedar. Light in body with cherry, plum and strawberry fruits to the fore and some vanillin spice and dried herbs in the background. Supple feel with polished tannins and a savoury cherry dominated finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.2% -
- 94
- 92
2022 Jericho GSMMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA plump and juicy GSM blend.
A blend of 77% Grenache, 19% Shiraz and 4% Mourvedre. Dark red core with black shaded edges and a red hue. Black raspberry, liquorice and dark cherry aromas leap out of the glass followed by some scorched earth and peppered dried herb notes. Rich and juicy, the mid weighted palate is awash with black raspberry, liquorice and ripe dark cherry fruits. Opulently textured, it sees notions of scorched earth, subtle dried herbs and pepper unfold across the back half. Slightly chewy tannins lead into a long plump finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
The pale hue in the glass hints at the grenache dominance (77%), which came off 40-year-old vines on the home Bracken vineyard in Blewitt Springs, with the shiraz (19%) and mataro (4%) from the Wait vineyard. Those smaller components structure and add a little brood and dried herb, but they are backup singers to the redcurrant, cherry, wild raspberry, rose petal and cranberry of the main act. It’s a good arrangement, with upfront appeal and a mineral-inflected structure on a medium-framed but impactful wine. Drink by 2028.
92 Points
Marcus Ellis - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
- 95
2024 Coriole NeroMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.2%Closure: StelvinA bright, juicy Nero d’Avola with vibrant acidity and slightly chalky tannins.
Totally opaque black dark red colour with a vibrant dark red hue. The wonderfully fragrant nose is blessed with gorgeous dark raspberry, violet, red plum, red liquorice, dried herb, earth and delicate spicy incense like aromas. Bright and juicy, the delicious mid weighted palate is decorated with dark raspberry, red liquorice and blueberry fruits. Earthy incense like infusions and spice add further interest. Vibrant acidity and slightly chalky tannins lead into a long energetic finish that has a light tang to it.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.2%
Other Reviews.....
Fermented with 15% whole bunches, with seven days total on skins; six months in seasoned oak. Fragrant and supple, with sour black cherry, wild raspberry, goji, pressed flowers and hardy Mediterranean herbs, this is an excellent expression of the grape. Hitting mid-weight and savoury, absent any confection, which can sometimes dog the variety, this is so adroitly made, picked at the right time and avoiding any showiness by using winemaking tools to frame, not control, with the line of fine and ripe, sandy tannins underlining its class. Nailed it. Drink by 2030.
95 points
Marcus Ellis - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 96
- 95
- 95
- 95
2022 Mount Langi Ghiran Talus ShirazGrampians, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenCellar: 6 - 8 Years (2031-2033)ABV: 14.8%Closure: StelvinRich, dense and concentrated yet sculptured and fresh.
Pitch black core with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Intense black cherry, blackberry and liquorice aromas infused with blackpepper sail out of the glass followed by some toasty cedar, earth and meaty clove like notes. Rich, dense and concentrated a tidal wave of blackberry, liquorice and black cherry fruits engulf the mouth. Scorched earth, vanillin cedar and peppered dried meat elements ensue. Counterpointing the opulence of fruit is a youthful freshness. A polished yet sculptured tannin structure imparts some firmness onto the long deeply fruited conclusion.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.8%Other Reviews……
Sourced from blocks planted by Trevor Mast in the 1990s. Maturation in French barriques (40% new) for 15 months. It is a constant that Talus is immediately understated, elegant and yet it builds and builds in the glass. Lifted florals, acacia, sage, black pepper mix with dark berries and woodsy scented oak. The pepper factor, while supple and fresh, runs long and lingering. Ditto fine tannins. Very MLG. Drink by 2036.
95 Points
Jeni Port – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionVividly fragrant, featuring notes of black pepper and crushed dark fruit. It has a more pronounced tannin structure than is characteristic of Langi’s single vineyards. Tightly wound, it displays subtle blue fruit character and an austere, compact finish. While drinkable now, it will become significantly more expressive with some bottle age. Drink from 2025. Screw cap.
95 Points
JamesSuckling.comA brilliant and bright Shiraz shows the elegance and sleek style of this region. Spicy cherry and plummy characters emerge on the nose with just a little black pepper character. The super fine and elegantly structured palate is the highlight. The spicy fruits with their lightly dried herb and bright berry characters are immediately captivating. Fine chalky tannins and oak, of which 40% was new, strike a perfect supporting balance. Terrific wine. Drink 2024-2037.
95 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com -
- 88
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Rocca ChiantiTuscany, ITALY$14. 99Bottle$179.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA dry, rustic Chianti with a leathery overtone.
Deep dark red black core with a dark red hue. Aromas of blackcurrant, scorched earth and black olive are followed by some spicy leather notes. Fleshy red to black currant fruits meld into a scorched earth, dried herb, black olive and spice back drop. Chalky tannins and lively acidity with a dry, rustic finish that has a leathery overtone.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 97
- 97
- 96
2024 Ansted Osicka Balgownie 1970 Block Cabernet SauvignonBendigo, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$52. 99Bottle$635.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 12 Years (2025-2037)ABV: 13.7%Closure: StelvinA gorgeously finessed and beautifully structured Cabernet that finishes long and eloquent.
A joint venture between Heathcote winemakers and friends, Tobias Ansted and Simon Osicka, this Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the original Balgownie plantings at Maiden Gully, Bendigo planted in 1970. Maturation taking place in tight grained French Oak (about 25% new).
Totally opaque black dark red core with a dark red hue. Wonderfully refined nose with red to black currant and mulberry scents show ample intensity out of the glass followed by some cedary tobacco, dark chocolate, subtle earthy black olive and bay leaf notes. Rich yet gorgeously finessed, the mid weighted palate is graced with red to black currant and mulberry fruits. Spicy cedar, tobacco, dusty earth, traces of dark chocolate and bay leaf elements lend further complexity. Seamlessly integrated tannin structure with no shortage of power and freshness to the long eloquent finish.
Drink over the next 10-12 years.
Alc. 13.7%Other Reviews…..
Sadly now destined for development, the original Balgownie vineyard planted by Stuart Anderson in '70 made another stunning wine in '24 in the hands of Heathcote winemakers Tobias Ansted, former Balgownie winemaker, and Simon Osicka. Gives Bendigo cabernet some TLC which sets it soaring. Revels in the kind of complexity that old vines bring with deep, concentrated black fruits with a full spectrum of cabernet characters: cassis, blackberry, loganberry, dark olive, tilled earth, leaf, clove and herbs balanced perfectly in fine tannins laid out against a gentle cedary oak background. Gets the pulse racing, it's that good. A wine for posterity. Drink by 2040.
97 Points
Jeni Port – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionDoes what the label says. What an awesome opportunity to see this significant site through another lens. And such a worthy one. This is a complete schooling in cabernet.
It’s quite the feat to do depth of flavour, concentration, and then silky drawl, freshness, finesse and persistence. A coolness to this wine and then the onslaught of dark cherry, ripe plum, fig and date, brambles and dried leaves, choc mint and dried herbs, all with the volume up, and then vacuum pack it all into a svelte, muscular and fine frame. Silky texture, a firmness and pliancy here – this feel is superb above so much on show here. This is a wine for hearty drinking, huge enjoyment, and yet there’s so much contemplation to lean into here. My word. Drink 2025-2040.
96 Points
Mike Bennie – The Wine Front -
- Nick's Import
Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia Colleccion Extra Anejo 100% Agave Tequila (700ml) - 38%Jalisco, MEXICO$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 38%First released in 1995 to celebrate the company's 200th birthday, José Cuervo Reserva de la Familia pioneered the category of extended age Tequila. Matured for a minimum of two years in a combination of American and French oak barrels, some of the reserve components are up to thirty years old. The tequila itself which has been described as "rich and brandy-like" doesn't change much from year to year. And just as consistency has become its hallmark, so too has been its high praise. What does change annually is the packaging, with a different Mexican artist making each release a collector’s item.
In 2023 the box has been designed by artists Rolando Flores and Gabriel Cázares of the Mexico-based Tercerunquinto Collective. The custom art titled “Structuring a Landscape”, features a geometric abstraction of the landscape of Jalisco.
[2017 edition tasted from a 20ml sample] Pale copper gold. The bouquet combines blanco-like vibrancy with the kind of depth you'd expect from XO cognac - brine, charred capsicum, smoldering eucalyptus, beeswax, vanilla and menthol... with air contact, it also presents a drier, woody aspect including cigar box, cedar and white pepper. Likewise the silky delivery matches sappy agave and butter menthol lozenge-like flavours against drying astringency. It's delicate and somewhat fleeting through the finish, trailing off with black tea, potpourri, white pepper, hints of grilled pineapple, vanilla and trace beeswax. The overall effect strikes a fine balance between young and old. [40% Alc./Vol. tasted]
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- 93
2024 Antonio Soave DOCVeneto, ITALY$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinRefreshing, texturally appealing Soave.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with a watery hue. Pear and red apple scents sail out of the glass followed by whiffs of light musk and wet stone. Delicious pear and red apple fruits are layered across the palate with a river stone like feel. Delicate infusions of musk and stony mineral elements lie underneath. Brisk acidity with a long refreshing finish.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 95
2023 Mollydooker The Boxer ShirazSouth Australia, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, voluptuously textured and flamboyant.
Sourced from McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek the flamboyant Boxer Shiraz is famed for it’s massive fruit weight, voluptuous texture and decadent richness. Maturation took place in 100% American oak of which 40% was new and the rest one year old.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Heady liquorice and dark plum scents engulf the nostrils followed by trailing notes of dark chocolate, vanillin oak and spicy fennel. The rich, voluptuously textured palate is flooded with plush dark plum, liquorice and blackberry fruits which are interwoven with toasty vanillin oak, dark chocolate and spicy fennel characters. Boasting outstanding power it has silky smooth tannins and a long plump finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 95
2021 Craiglee ShirazSunbury, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenCellar: 8 - 10 Years (2033-2035)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA rich, fleshy mid weighted cool climate Shiraz that has a peppery finish.
Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Elevating their way out of the glass are spicy red to dark plum and liquorice aromas which are interwoven with hints of clove, vanillin cedar and peppered earth notes. Rich and well fleshed, the mid weighted palate is decorated with red to dark plum and liquorice fruits which meld into a spicy back drop of scorched earth, vanillin cedar and peppered clove elements. A firm yet integrated tannin structure imparts a slightly muscular feel across the long, refined, peppery finish.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2018 Abtole Reserva Rioja TempranilloRioja, SPAIN$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkRich black fruits carry an opulent feel across the mid weighted palate with some prominent vanillin oak in the background.
Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Heady black raspberry, liquorice and dark cherry aromas are followed by some prominent vanillin oak, earthy mocha and spice notes. Rich black raspberry and liquorice fruits carry an opulent feel across the mid weighted palate. Vanillin oak, earthy mocha and spicy mint elements hold court across the back half. Polished yet sturdy tannin structure with a long vanillin oak, earth and spice laden finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 93
2023 Chateau de Fuisse-Vincent Macon-VillagesBurgundy, FRANCE$52. 99Bottle$635.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 13.5%Closure: Diam CorkAn amply concentrated Chardonnay that’s fresh yet textural.
The Chateau de Fuisse is rich in history with the house dating back to the mid-15th century having been run by the Vincent family since 1882. The estate owns 32 hectares of vines, two-thirds within the Pouilly-Fuisse appellation with other holdings in St-Veran and the Mâcon. Vinified in stainless steel. Brilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Elevated pear and lime aromas are intertwined with hints of dried honey, wet stone and minerals. Delicious pear, white peach and lime fruits are delivered with ample concentration and carry a river stone like feel across the palate. Notions of wet slate and citrusy mineral like elements lurk underneath. Brisk acidity with a fresh yet textural finish of good length.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 92
- 94
2023 Mr Riggs Montepulciano d’AdelaideAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRichly fruited with a sturdy tannin structure finishing fresh, gently chewy and savoury.
Dense inky black heart with a dark red black tinged hue. A mix of dark and morello cherry aromas greet the nostrils with some liquorice, earthy incense, dried herb and spice notes also evident. Rich dark cherry and liquorice fruits are backed by a sturdy tannin structure. Mint, subtle earth and spicy dried herb elements lie in the background. Finishes fresh, gently chewy and savoury.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%
Other Reviews....
The quirky name has some context to it, the wine sourced from two vineyards in different regions, one in Kersbrook (Adelaide Hills) and the other in Blewitt Springs (McLaren Vale), both of which sit under a larger official appellation known as the Adelaide zone. The name also refers to winemaker Ben Riggs’s love of the Montepulciano in Italy’s Abruzzo region, and his desire to create a worthy South Australian reflection. That he has – a vibrant wine nose to tail, of sun-kissed violet flowers with an underlayer of dusty cellars, toast and blackberry conserve, the palate echoing its aromatics, rich yet balanced, an exotic spicy feel threaded within the flavour profile. A fruit-forward style in a modern frame – tasty to the hilt.
94 points
Tony Love - WinePilot.com -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 On The Wing ShirazClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, lush and sturdy with distinct choc mint characters.
On the Wing is the entry level wine from Tim McNeil that takes its name from Tim's hey days in the late 1980’s as a young footballer sporting a blonde mullet, playing on the wing for the mighty Norwood Redlegs.
Super saturated pitch black heart with an equally deep dark purple black hue. Potent ripe black cherry, liquorice and blackberry liqueur like scents waft from the glass followed by some choc mint, vanillin cedar and spice notes. Rich, lush blackberry, liquorice and choc mint flavours are layered across the full bodied palate with an opulent feel. Spicy vanillin cedar elements lie underneath. Ripe sturdy tannin structure with a long, lavish finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 89
- 91
2021 Thousand Candles Gathering Field Red BlendYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA juicy Bordeaux styled blend that lacks varietal character.
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Ripe plum and liquorice scents mix with some morello cherry, dried herb, subtle tobacco and spice notes. Juicy ripe plum and blackcurrant fruits meld into a mulberry, dried herb, tobacco and spice back drop. Fine grained tannins with a mid length finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
A 45/25/25/5% merlot/cabernet franc/cabernet sauvignon/malbec blend. Made using open top fermenters and matured in older French oak. A light–medium bright crimson red. Smells appealing from the get-go with its lifted aromas of cherries and raspberries, some floral notes and a little fragrant tomato leaf. Medium bodied with some gently grippy and persistent tannins. My advice is to drink with food now, or wait another six to 12 months for the wine to open up and soften a little. Drink by 2028.
91 Points
Philip Rich – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 91
- Biodynamic
2023 Chateau de la Chaize Bourgogne Gamay NoirBeaujolais, FRANCE$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkLight and supple with crunchy underlying acidity and an elegant finish.
Dark red core with black shaded edges and a bright red hue. Fragrant sour and red cherry aromas infused with fresh herbs drift through the nostrils. Some cranberry, winter strawberry, stalky earth and spice notes are also apparent. Light in body and carrying a supple flow across the palate are sour to red cherry, cranberry and winter strawberry fruits which are underpinned by crunchy acidity. Lingering through the back half are some earth, dried herb and spice characters. Fine tannins finishing fresh and elegant.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 93
- 93
2024 Tellurian MarsanneHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinRich, expansive and possessing a glycerol like texture.
Brilliant pale straw colour with green tinted edges and a watery hue. Peach, apricot and honeysuckle aromas drift through the nostrils with whiffs of ginger spice also evident. Rich, expansive and possessing a glycerol like texture peach, apricot and honeycomb flavours coat the palate. Some nougat and ginger spice like characters linger in the back end. Nicely integrated acidity buoys the long, lush and enveloping finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews…..
Aged on lees; barrel fermentation in seasoned French oak. Varietally true and expressive from that first whiff of honeysuckle, citrus and white peach. Offers a ripe, deep dive into marsanne where citrus and stone fruit flavours are tied nicely to subtle nougat, almond and textural beeswax leesy notes. Well defined in its youth, it can only improve with age. Drink by 2031.
93 Points
Jeni Port – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Franz Haas Pinot GrigioAlto Adige, ITALY$42. 99Bottle$515.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinIntensely flavoured and mouth filling with a long shapely finish.
Fermented off skins in 70% stainless steel with the balance in old barriques and aged on lees for a few months to build texture.
Bright pale straw to straw colour with a watery hue. Pear, red apple skin and rosewater like aromas sail through the nostrils followed by some quince notes. Rich, juicy ripe pear, red apple and quince fruits are delivered with intensity and a beautifully rounded feel across the mouth filling palate. Subtle musk and wet stone elements are also evident. Brisk acidity with a long shapely finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 90
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Kooyonga Creek Heathcote ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 15.4%Closure: StelvinRich and oaky with a strong toasty vanillin oak component overwhelming the finish.
Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months with 5% Tempranillo included in the blend. Impenetrable inky black heart with a very deep dark red black hue. Ripe black cherry and liquorice aromas fill the nostrils followed by some blackberry, vanillin cedar and peppered fennel notes. Rich and oaky, opulent blackberry and liquorice fruits are pitted against a strong toasty vanillin oak component which overwhelms the back half and finish. Some earthy dark chocolate and peppered fennel characters are also evident. Ripe sturdy tannin structure with toasty vanillin oak dominating the aftertaste.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 15.4% -
- 92
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Re’ Em Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$76. 99Bottle$923.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 12.6%Closure: StelvinLight in body with a vibrant juicy feel and savoury finish.
Semi translucent red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a bright red hue. Fragrant scents of violet, red cherry and strawberry blossom out of the glass trailed by some forest floor, delicate rhubarb and dried herb notes. Light in body, the palate has a vibrant juicy feel with red cherry, strawberry and rhubarb flavours to the fore. Subtle forest floor and spicy cedar elements the undercard. Fine grained tannins with a fresh, savoury finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12.6% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Cloudbreak Nouveau ChardonnayAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$21. 99Bottle$263.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinGently fleshed with a brisk, elegant finish.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a greenish tint to the edges and a watery hue. Pear, nectarine and dried honey aromas drift from the glass followed by hints of biscuity nougat and spice. Gently fleshed pear, nectarine and citrus fruits glide across the palate with subtle biscuity oak and flint elements sitting underneath. Fresh acidity with a brisk, elegant finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 96
2024 Rob Hall Harriet's Vineyard Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$42. 99Bottle$515.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinRich and texturally supple, showcasing Pinot Noir’s trademark power without weight quality.
Harriet’s vineyard, planted in 1996 and named after Rob Hall’s mother, is managed in sections with each one picked individually to create separate batches which undergo a variety of fermentation techniques in order to promote greater complexity. Includes 15% whole bunches with maturation taking place in a 50/50 mix of 1-year-old puncheons and seasoned hogsheads.
Semi translucent red colour with black toned edges and a light red hue. Displaying a perfumed like intensity the nose feature violet, dark cherry, strawberry, anise and rhubarb aromas over brambly cedar, forest floor and subtle fresh herb notes. Rich and texturally supple across the palate it has Pinot Noir’s trademark power without weight quality. Unfolding like a peacocks tail are expansive red to dark cherry, strawberry, rhubarb and subtle anise flavours. Delicate spicy vanillin cedar, forest floor, dried herb and bramble elements sit underneath. Silky smooth tannins with a long, moreish finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 94
2024 Hill-Smith Estate Eden Valley ChardonnayEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinRich and well fleshed with a refined, mid weighted palate.
Wild fermented and matured in fine grained French oak barrels for a period of 6 months. Brilliant very pale straw colour with a distinct tint of green to the edges and a watery hue. Nosing offers up white peach and nectarine scents which mix with biscuity nougat, faint cashew and whiffs of gun flint. Fleshy white peach and nectarine fruits are delivered with plenty of richness across the refined, mid weighted palate. Notions of dried honey, biscuity nougat, delicate cashew and infusions of gun flint lend further interest across the back half. Nicely shaped it finishes long and fresh.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 95
2024 Rob Hall Full Moon Vineyard ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$42. 99Bottle$515.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinRich and textured with a persistent finish that carries a beautifully rounded feel.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with highlights of green around the edges and a watery hue. Elevated pear and ripe nectarine scents drift through the nostrils followed by some baked apple, dried honey, biscuity nougat, light cashew and spice notes. Rich creamy textured flavours of peach, pear and dried honey are layered across the mid weighted palate. Biscuity nougat, cashew and spice elements are dispersed across the back half. Nicely balanced acidity with a persistent finish that carries a beautifully rounded feel.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2021 Fowles Farm to Table ShirazVictoria, AUSTRALIA$17. 99Bottle$215.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 14.3%Closure: StelvinA richly fruited yet savoury Shiraz.
Opaque black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Spicy dark cherry and liquorice aromas mix with dried herb, earth and pepper notes. Rich dark to black cherry and liquorice fruits meld into an earthy dried herb and peppered smoked meat back drop. Slightly grainy tannins with a savoury mid length conclusion.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14.3% -
- 92
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 BC Wines Pinot GrisVictoria, AUSTRALIA$21. 99Bottle$263.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinLusciously fruited and texturally full.
Pale salmon tinged colour with a watery hue. Aromas of ripe pear, quince and baked apple are followed by some spice notes. Luscious pear and red apple fruits are texturally full in their flow across the mouth filling palate. Notions of quince and spicy musk lie underneath. Brisk acidity with a long dry yet juicy finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14.5%