Availability:
What's New
We boast Australia's fastest growing online selection of wines, spirits and liqueurs added to weekly. If you can't find what you're looking for, call us on 1800 069 295 and we'll try to track it down.
- 2018 InchDairnie Distillery RyeLaw Single Grain Scotch Whisky (700ml)Fife, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 46.3%
Made from a mash bill of 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley, the second vintage of RyeLaw comes matured in x-Bourbon casks sourced from the Appalachian Mountains. The result is a whisky defined by rich wood and pronounced rye spice. While it follows the production rules of its American cousin, RyeLaw is shaped by modern Scotch whisky-making techniques and remains the only whisky in the world made from malted rye and distilled in a custom-designed Lomond Hill still. Distilled in 2018 and bottled in 2015. 46.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the producers... Colour: Rich golden. Aroma: A robust mix of rye spice and oak, balanced by hints of vanilla and caramel sweetness. Flavour: Bold peppery rye leads the palate, followed by drying oak and a smooth, lingering finish of delicate toffee.
-
- 96
- 95
- 94
2024 Fighting Gully Road ChardonnayBeechworth, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$52. 99Bottle$635.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinConcentrated yet refined with fresh acidity counterpointing a cream tinged mouth feel.
Produced predominantly from Smith’s vineyard which was planted back in 1978, the vines are tended by leading viticulturalist Mark Walpole who was responsible for introducing a number of emerging Italian varietals to Brown Brothers North East Victorian vineyards during the 1990’s. Together with winemaker Adrian Rodda, one of Beechworth’s emerging stars, they make a formidable team.
Brilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Fleshy white peach, ripe nectarine, dried honey and biscuity nougat scents permeate the nostrils trailed by some cashew, crème brulee and subtle gun flint notes. Concentrated yet refined, the palate features white peach, pear, nectarine and dried honey flavours over biscuity nougat, faint crème brulee, delicate cashew and infusions of gun flint. Fresh acidity counterpoints a cream tinged mouth feel. Finishes long and finessed.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews….
Twelve months in 300L French Tronçais barrels followed by three months on lees in tank before bottling. Chardonnay, the undoubted strength of Beechworth, was one of the first fruits picked in the '24 vintage at FGR, retaining sensational, energised acidity while keeping a pretty tight flavour profile. Spring blossom aromatics mingle with tangy citrus and white peach, grilled nuts and almond nougat with a peach custard-like texture. Clean as a whistle and bright; it moves in a linear line of brisk acidity, going long and dispensing some tart grapefruit pithiness on the finish. It's early days for this little beauty. Drink by 2031.
95 points
Jeni Port - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion
Here’s a Chardonnay with plenty of flavour, though it also keeps itself tight and tidy. Peach, pink grapefruit, cedar, spice, a vanilla creaminess and honey florals, aniseed, with a minor amount of struck match. There’s a juiciness to the wine, balanced acidity, a light chalky texture, an oatmeal savoury element, with a flavoursome finish of excellent length. Such a lovely wine to drink. Drink 2026-2032+
94+ Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front -
- 97
- 95
2021 Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards HJ ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2025-2035)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, concentrated and super plush.
First produced in the year 2000, this is the twentieth release of Oliver’s HJ Shiraz. Fruit is sourced from the very best parcels of fruit on the Old Block vineyard planted in 1948 by HJ Oliver. Maturation took place in French oak (35% new) for a period of 18 months.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Intoxicating dark plum, liquorice, dark chocolate, blackberry and spicy vanillin oak aromas waft from the glass complimented by some earthy mocha like notes. Rich, concentrated and super plush, waves of dark plum, blackberry, liquorice and dark chocolate cast a voluptuous textural feel across the seductive palate. Vanillin oak, mocha and spicy earth elements linger across the back half. Deep and powerful it has silky smooth tannins and a long lavish finish.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
From 1948-planted estate vines, indigenous ferment, matured in French oak (35% new). This has classic stylings, richly supple fruit, dusty, earthy scents and dark spices, but the house refinement is also on show. It’s like an old snapshot, artfully colourised. Black and blue fruits, Christmas spices, crème de mure, coffee crema and dark cocoa. There’s richness and a supple flex to the palate, oak suitably matched, tannins cleansingly savoury. It’s a very smart release. Drink by 2034.
95 Points
Marcus Ellis - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
- 95
2023 Bleasdale Generations ShirazLanghorne Creek, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinRich and fleshy textured with medium body weight and a fresh, refined finish.
Matured for 12 months in 15% new French oak puncheons. Pitch black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Elevated dark plum and liquorice scents intermix with whiffs of ripe blueberry, earth, vanillin cedar and pepper. Rich, fleshy textured dark plum and liquorice fruits carry medium body weight with notions of spicy vanillin cedar, blueberry, earth and pepper extending across the back half. Polished tannins with a fresh, refined finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
For the price, for the quality, hard to beat. A gorgeous dark purple hue. Fruit the same colour – all plums and currants, which come lightly spiced with licorice, mint and some cedary oak. Nothing out of place, the tannins ripe and supple, the acidity cleansing, the palate assured and just medium bodied. Langhorne Creek and shiraz, they are simpatico. Drink by 2035.
95 Points
Jane Faulkner – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 95
- 93
2022 Amisfield Pinot NoirCentral Otago, NEW ZEALAND$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA ripe, fleshy medium bodied Central Otago Pinot.
Includes approximately 15% whole bunch fruit with maturation taking place in French barriques for a period of 15 months. Dark red core with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Intense dark cherry, anise, strawberry and violet scents engulf the olfactory senses trailed by some spicy vanillin cedar, earth and dried herb notes. Ripe and fleshy, the medium bodied palate is layered with spicy dark cherry, anise, dark plum and strawberry flavours. Vanillin cedar, scorched earth and dried herb elements lie underneath. Polished yet sturdy tannin structure with a long spicy finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews……
Aromas of dark cherries, dried strawberries, iodine, potpourri and river stones. The medium-bodied palate has finely integrated tannins and bright acidity. Tightly wound with a powerful undertone that will unravel nicely in bottle. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 93
- 93
2025 De Bortoli The Estate Vineyard GamayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinJuicy, vibrant and fruity.
Dark purple red core with black toned edges and a bright purple red hue. Fragrant ripe cherry and strawberry aromas infused with incense blossom out of the glass followed by some fresh herb, earth and spice notes. Juicy cherry, strawberry and anise flavours show boundless energy across the palate with infusions of incense, fresh herbs and subtle spicy earth also chiming in. Polished tannins and lively acidity with a vibrant, fruity finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5%
Other Reviews.....
A nouveau style with some serious attention to detail, offering an unusual depth of flavour and length. Dark crimson-purple hues. Scents embrace redcurrants, cherry, wild strawberries, intriguing florals, aromatic herbs and Aussie bush and soil. There's an inviting textural warmth across the middle palate, velvety smooth and flavour expressive, before it finishes long with a brisk flourish of acidity and a lasting herbal intensity. All of this for $25 a bottle! That's one heck of a bargain. Drink by 2029.
93 points
Jeni Port - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 96
- 95
2023 Greywacke ChardonnayMarlborough, NEW ZEALAND$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinRich, full and creamy textured with an energized feel to the long enveloping conclusion.
Fermented in French oak barrels using wild yeast then matured for 11 months. Brilliant pale straw colour with gleaming green tinged edges and a watery hue. Intense nectarine, grapefruit and bees wax scents flood the nostrils followed by some lemon butter, roasted almond and gun flint notes. Rich and full, layered across the palate with a creamy textural feel are nectarine, ripe pear and dried honey flavours which meld into a roasted almond and lemon butter back drop. Fresh, gun flint infused acidity lending an energized feel to the long enveloping conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14%
Other Reviews......
Toasted coconut, baked peaches and lemon curd. A wine of dazzling flinty aromatics, bee pollen, halva and candied almonds. There is a persistence of driving acidity, uplifted moments of yuzu and buttered bread. Oak spices show in cinnamon and nutmeg but have settled into the body of the wine. A powerful chardonnay, with every aspect singing in harmony. Flavours echo for long moments. A wine you’ll remember and wish you bought more of. Drink by 2032.
95 points
Shanteh Wale - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 91
2023 Clos Cibonne Tradition Tibouren RoseCotes de Provence, FRANCE$82. 99Bottle$995.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkClos Cibonne is one of the most original domaines in Provence, celebrated for its dedication to the rare Tibouren grape and its unique style of age-worthy rosé. The estate, a Cru Classé of Côtes de Provence, lies just 800 metres from the Mediterranean, with vineyards framed by the Maures mountains and cooled by sea breezes and steady mistral winds, conditions perfectly suited to Tibouren’s thin skins and need for ventilation. Fifth-generation winemaker Olivier Deforges now oversees the 15-hectare, organically farmed estate.
Clos Cibonne’s flagship Cuvée Tradition is made from 90% Tibouren and 10% Grenache, harvested from organically farmed 30-plus-year-old vines, goblet-trained on clay-limestone soils. After fermentation with native yeasts, the wine is aged for a year in the estate’s large, century-old foudres, protected by a delicate veil of fleurette (thin layer of flor-yeast). This process gives Tradition its hallmark depth and savoury complexity, balanced by freshness, with the capacity to evolve gracefully for many years in bottle.
Other Reviews....
Not your typical Côtes de Provence rosé. Weighty and phenolic, with real structure behind its notes of creamed melon and blood orange. A bitter mineral spine brings form. Substantial in weight and complexity, with warm spices and sun tea on the smoky finish alongside a tug of earthiness. Tibouren and Grenache. Drink now through 2027.
91 points
Kristen Bieler - Wine Spectator -
- 93
- 93
2023 Clos Cibonne Speciale des Vignettes Tibouren RoseCotes de Provence, FRANCE$110. 00Bottle$1320.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkClos Cibonne is one of the most original domaines in Provence, celebrated for its dedication to the rare Tibouren grape and its unique style of age-worthy rosé. The estate, a Cru Classé of Côtes de Provence, lies just 800 metres from the Mediterranean, with vineyards framed by the Maures mountains and cooled by sea breezes and steady mistral winds, conditions perfectly suited to Tibouren’s thin skins and need for ventilation. Fifth-generation winemaker Olivier Deforges now oversees the 15-hectare, organically farmed estate.
The Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes is Clos Cibonne’s limited production rosé, crafted from the estate’s oldest Tibouren vines (60+ years, on schist soils) with a small addition of Grenache. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for a year under fleurette (thin layer of flor-yeast) in the domaine’s historic foudres, Vignettes shows greater concentration, structure, and ageing potential than Tradition, often rewarding more than a decade of cellar time. It is considered the pinnacle expression of Clos Cibonne’s distinctive style.
Other Reviews....
Pale copper with restrained aromas of thyme flowers and wild fennel. On the palate, this restraint opens up to an explosion of ripe stone fruit, bruised peaches and apricots, some raspberry fruit and a hint of rhubarb acidity. Pomegranates and rosehips appear on the mid-palate, with barely there tannic grip and a gentle, almost gravelly acidity. The finish is long, intense, and lightly peachy with a subtle salinity. Very classy, moreish, and delivering classic Provence with an upmarket twist. Drink 2025-2035.
93 points
Elizabeth Gabay MW - DecanterThis is rosé in a different dimension. Weighty, dark and complex, with concentration to the juicy, dense notes of kumquat, tangerine and melon. Salt, tobacco and toasted sandalwood add savory tones to the round, rich palate, and red tea tannins make for a structured frame. Delicious now, but a few years in the cellar will bring even more complexity. Tibouren and Grenache. Drink now through 2028.
93 points
Kristen Bieler - Wine Spectator -
- 96
- 96
- 95
2022 Luis Seabra Xisto CruDouro Valley, PORTUGAL$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkRich, concentrated and shapely with a long, seductively glazed finish.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Elevated pear and green apple aromas are followed by some delicate honeysuckle and stony mineral notes. Rich, concentrated and shapely, delicious fleshy pear, apricot, honeysuckle, lime and green apple flavours power across what is a mouth filling palate. Lively acidity lends energy with some delicate cashew and stony mineral elements flaying off into the distance. Long, seductively glazed finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
A stony and minerally white with chamomille and hints of pears. The palate is concentrated and flavorful with fresh acidity. It’s layered and textured, with the inherent austerity that characterizes this type of wine in its youth. From a 90-year-old single vineyard planted mostly with rabigato in Douro Superior. Delicious already, but will improve with bottle age. Drink or hold.
96 Points
JamesSuckling.comVines are over 80 years old. Tasted from a fairly small pour, and I’d have liked to have got to know it a bit better, but here we are.
Sea spray, lemon and green apple, aniseed and herb perfume, a little spice and nutty character. It’s tight and zesty, distinctly saline, but also has some nutty and creamy characters to offset, there’s some fine chalky grip, and a lively finish of excellent length. Distinctive. Such a great wine. A white Burgundy brother from another mother kind of thing happening here. Drink 2025-2033.
95 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front -
- 89
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Bel Colle Langhe NebbioloPiedmont, ITALY$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: Diam CorkJuicy and vibrant with a straightforward flavour profile, lively acidity and mildly chalky tannins.
Translucent cherry red in colour with a light crimson hue. Fragrant aromas of red raspberry, red liquorice and red cherry blossom from the glass followed by some earth, faint rose petal and dried herb notes. Juicy and vibrant with a straightforward flavour profile of raspberry jube, red liquorice and red cherry fruits. Subtle dried herb and earth elements sit in the background. Lively acidity and mildly chalky tannins with a fresh fruity finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 95
- 95
- 95
- 95
2020 Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkRich and fleshy yet solid in it’s structure with a long, deeply fruited yet quite robust conclusion.
Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red black tinged hue. Intense blackcurrant and liquorice aromas are melded to vanillin cedar, earthy tobacco, subtle black olive and bay leaf notes. Rich and fleshy yet solid in it’s structure, the medium to full bodied palate is decorated with ripe blackcurrant and liquorice fruits. Unfolding across the back half are vanillin cedar, tobacco, earthy black olive and bay leaf accents. A firm, sturdy tannin structure imparts a gentle chewiness onto the mouth feel. Concludes long and deeply fruited yet quite robust.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
The 2020 The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon is incredibly perfumed. The wine has been made from this vineyard in Coonawarra since 1987, and in 1993 Yalumba purchased the land. From 1993, Yalumba reworked and replanted much of the Cabernet Sauvignon, with more purpose and intention for their purposes going forward. This included changes to viticulture, clones, irrigation... the whole lot. The wine today is showing incredible aromatics: purple berries, pressed flowers, graphite, cold tea and tapenade. The tannins on the palate are shaped by Yalumba coopered oak, utilizing French oak for this cuvée; they're smooth, chewy and fine yet pervasive and shapely. This is a lovely wine, with dried mint, sage leaf and brine, just super. The 2020 vintage in Coonawarra was typified by low yields, small berries and a cool ripening period. Balance is the name of the game here, and the future is bright for this wine. Drink 2025-2045.
95 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateIt's immediate that The Menzies vineyard makes wine of robust pedigree. Sapote fruit, blackberry jam and crushed cocoa nibs. There is a mesh of grainy tannins that begins to unfurl and takes a long moment 'til it subsides. Along the way the coils of pomegranate fruit shine through with sweet tobacco and clove studs. The fresh acidity climbs in time with the notes of spice. Hazelnut skin and mocha make appearances. It's a very detailed wine that takes you on a journey from foraging for berries, to coffee roasting plant and roasted nut stall. Drink by 2034.
95 Points
Shanteh Wale – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionFamously named after our longest serving Prime Minister, who expressed his admiration for a previous incarnation, the Menzies Vineyard, planted in 1975, sits on terra rossa soil at the heart of Coonawarra. The usual plan is for the wine to spend a year and a half maturing in a mix of French and Hungarian oak, hogsheads and barriques, with a small percentage new. Under cork. A deep red/ maroon colour here, the nose is utterly gorgeous and will delight Cabernet fans immensely. We have cassis, tobacco leaves, a touch of leather and animal skins, mulberries, woodsmoke, chocolate, florals, blackberries and aniseed. This is seamless, has excellent oak integration and good intensity, with a very long finish. Well structured, the balance, intensity and finesse never waver. Satiny tannins are found on the persistent finish. Twelve to twenty years. This is one of the best Menzies I have seen. Drink 2025-2045.
95 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com -
- 92
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Holm Oak Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13.7%Closure: StelvinLight & fresh with an energetic feel and a supple red fruited finish.
Semi translucent bright red colour with a light red hue. Aromas of cherry, raspberry and strawberry mix with whiffs of fresh herbs, forest floor and spicy cedar. Light and fresh, the palate features bright red cherry and strawberry fruits over faint inflections of fresh herbs, forest floor and spice. Lively acidity lends an energetic feel. Fine grained, polished tannins with a supple red fruited finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.7%Other Reviews…..
A mix of a number of pinot noir clones (MV6, 115, D4V2, 777, Abel, 667 and 521) off the Holm Oak estate, destemmed, wild ferment, matured for nine months in French oak, 25% new. Characters of dark cherry, wild strawberry and raspberry with hints of dried shiitake, pomegranate, five-spice, tobacco, iced tea, leaf litter, dried wildflowers and earth. Lots of detail, plenty of briny drive and a fan of raspberry and spice on the exit. Drink by 2035.
93 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Helen & Joey Estate Re’em SyrahYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$76. 99Bottle$923.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 12.4%Closure: StelvinElegant and supple with a savoury red fruited finish.
Bright dark red core with black toned edges and a red hue. Expressive red to dark cherry, red plum and liquorice aromas meld with spicy vanillin cedar, gentle clove and peppered meat notes. Elegant and supple in its flow across the mid weighted palate are red fruits of cherry, liquorice and plum. Vanillin cedar, subtle clove and peppered earth elements sit in the background. Fine grained tannins with a polished feel to the savoury finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.4%Other Reviews….
Bright crimson purple. A pretty and elegant wine with its red-fruited bouquet that also features aromas of spices and lightly crushed violets. The palate is similarly elegant and persistent. Finishes well and this finely-tuned and structured wine can be enjoyed now and over the next 4–6 years. Drink by 2030.
93 Points
Philip Rich – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
- Organic
- Biodynamic
2018 Poggio Landi Brunello di MontalcinoTuscany, ITALY$140. 00Bottle$1680.00 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: 5 - 6 Years (2030-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkFresh energetic red fruits with firm, muscular tannins leading into a rustic finish.
Dark red in colour with black toned edges and a brick red hue. Pronounced red to black currant and red liquorice scents intermix with dried herb, earth, subtle tobacco and spicy leather notes. Red currant and red cherry fruits line the mid weighted palate which possesses a fresh energetic feel. Earthy leather, subtle tobacco, dried herb and spicy leather characters then unfold across the back half. Tense feel with firm, muscular tannins leading into a rustic finish.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
The organic Poggio Landi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino does a great job at putting bright fruit in the spotlight, and this is not something that you can always say of its peers, especially in this challenging vintage. Red cherry, raspberry and blackcurrant sit at the core of this wine. Those tones are neatly framed by light spice, pressed rose and candied orange peel. This wine stand outs out in a crowd thanks to its lively primary intensity and its transparent Sangiovese characteristics. The close is lean and streamlined. This wine sees 38 months in large casks made with French oak. Production is an ample 90,000 bottles, making this wine easy to locate. Drink 2024-2038.
94 Points
Monica Larner – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate -
- 97
- 96
- 96
- 96
2009 Jim Barry The Armagh Shiraz Museum ReleaseClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$495. 00Bottle$5940.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.8%Closure: CorkRich, opulent and silky smooth with a long, luxurious conclusion.
Impenetrable pitch black heart with a deep, very dark red black tinged hue. Wafting through the nostrils with great intensity are heady scents of dark plum, liquorice and blackberry which are complexed by notions of toasty vanillin oak, hints of choc mint, earth, leather and pepper.
Rich, opulent and silky smooth in it’s flow, the palate features plush dark plum, liquorice and blackberry fruits which meld into a spicy vanillin cedar, earthy fennel, dark chocolate, mint and leather background. Beautifully shaped, it has cashmere like tannins and ample power. Long, luxurious conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.8%Other Reviews….
The 2009 Shiraz The Armagh is sealed under cork and leads with a meat/pastrami, pink peppercorn character. It’s almost old school—there’s so much tannin and so much fruit, but it’s so good. Awesome. It is dense and palate staining, really excellent, with notes of chocolate, clove bud and cocoa nib—all the good things. It has 14.8% alcohol and was matured for 18 months in 50% French and 50% American oak barriques (225 liters). Drink 2023-2037.
96 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateThe vineyard was planted in 1968, a drought year requiring each vine to be hand watered by the family from drums on the back of a tractor, an investment in blood, sweat and tears that has been handsomely repaid. Elegance is not a word usually associated with wines having the dimension of Armagh, but it applies here, yet without betraying the birthright of a wine with exceptional depth to its fusion of dark berries, spices and toasty oak, the latter in the manner of Grange, obvious yet integrated and balanced. Drink by 2049.
96 Points
James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionA rich, ripe and intense vintage with very deep, plush and seamless blackberries, delivered in such rich, concentrated mode with a smooth, glossy tannin texture. The shape is round and plush and delivers such bold, ripe dark berries and red plums on the finish. Seamless. Lots to come. Drink or hold.
96 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 90
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 De Bortoli Chill No Chill Pinot Noir SyrahYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$17. 99Bottle$215.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA savoury red fruited blend with a spice and dried herb laden finish.
Semi translucent dark red colour with black toned edges and a red hue. Spicy dark cherry and red liquorice aromas mix with earth and stalky dried herb notes. Savoury cherry and spicy red liquorice fruits meld into a back drop of earth and dried herbs. Fine grained tannins with a spice and dried herb laden finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews…..
Pinot from the Abbey vineyard and syrah from the estate vineyard; some whole bunches used in both components. A light, bright crimson. Like last year's version, this well-priced, fragrant, red-fruited and spicy wine has the right balance of silky tannins and bright acidity that makes this work as both a lightly chilled red and one served a little warmer. Drink by 2028.
91 Points
Philip Rich – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 90
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Water Wheel Vineyards GrenacheBendigo, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12.6%Closure: StelvinLight, fresh and savoury with juicy raspberry and cherry fruits.
Aged in new to 1 year old French oak barrels. Dark red core with a light red hue. Spicy raspberry and cherry scents mix with clove, liquorice and earth notes. Light in body, the palate features juicy raspberry and cherry fruits over a red liquorice, clove and spicy earth back drop. Faintly chalky tannins finishing fresh and savoury.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12.6% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
- Organic
2024 Solum Wines RosePyrenees, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 12.7%Closure: StelvinTangy blood orange, citrus and cherry fruits with tingly acidity and an energetic yet nicely shaped conclusion.
Made from Shiraz grapes and matured for 6 months in French oak. Vibrant blood orange tinged colour. Spicy cherry and blood orange scents are trailed by some nectarine and subtle wet slate notes. Tangy blood orange, citrus and cherry fruits are underscored by tingly acidity with some amaro and wet slate elements lurking in the background. Finishes dry with a brisk feel and energetic yet nicely shaped conclusion.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12.7% - Shizuoka Prologue W Single Malt Japanese Whisky (700ml)JAPAN$599. 00Bottle$7188.00 DozenABV: 55.5%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product shown.
The Shizuoka Prologue W was born from the distillery’s pioneering use of its wood-fired Pot Still “W.” Fuelled by locally sourced firewood from the forests surrounding Shizuoka, this unique still imparts a distinctive depth to the spirit. Crafted from a mix of Japanese, Scottish, and German malts—both peated and unpeated—and matured for three years in a combination of first-fill bourbon barrels, quarter casks, and virgin American oak, Prologue W was released in December 2020 with a limited outturn of 5,000 bottles. The result is a vibrant whisky of honeyed malt, bright citrus, oak spice and subtle smoke, embodying the distillery’s innovative spirit and deep connection to its environment. 55.5% Alc./Vol. -
- 94
2021 Ad Hoc Avant Gardening Cabernet Sauvignon MalbecFrankland River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA rich, deeply fruited Cabernet with a bright robust feel and long finish.
Sourced from The Riversdale vineyard planted in 1997, this excellent blend was matured for a period of 10 months in a combination of new and 1-2 year old French oak barrels.
Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Elevated scents of blackcurrant, plum and red liquorice fill the nostrils complimented by spicy vanillin cedar, earthy tobacco and dried herb notes. Rich blackcurrant, fleshy plum and ripe mulberry fruits are delivered with excellent intensity across the mid weighted palate. Some red liquorice, cedary tobacco, earthy dried herb and spice elements also chime in. Sturdy tannin structure with a long deeply fruited finish that has a bright robust feel to it.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%
Other Reviews….
This is such a pretty wine. The cooler vintage has contributed to its elegance and charm. Opens with a perfumed African violet and red berry combination on the nose. And then the palate provides such an exquisitely integrated, balanced mix of bright and lively red fruits with the support of fine, silky tannins and perfectly weighted oak.
92 points
RayJordanWine.com.au -
- 94
2025 Ad Hoc Nitty Gritty Pinot GrigioPemberton, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinAn uber delicious Pinot Grigio that boasts outstanding concentration and textural volume.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Pear, red apple and lime scents jump out of the glass followed by some subtle musk and delicate honeysuckle notes. Boasting outstanding concentration and textural volume, this uber delicious Pinot Grigio is engulfed with fleshy pear and red apple fruits. Subtle lime, musk and wet stone elements sit in the background. Finishes dry with a lick of crisp acidity cutting through the very long, generously endowed conclusion.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 94
2024 Ad Hoc Hen & Chicken ChardonnayPemberton, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinWinemaker Larry Cherubino has fashioned a generously flavoured Chardonnay from the favourable 2024 vintage in Pemberton. Aged in a combination of new and two year old French oak barrels, it has a level of concentration and depth that’s hard to match at this price.
A rich, beautifully shaped Chardonnay that delivers outstanding value.
Brilliant pale straw colour with flashes of green to the edges and a watery hue. Flowing through the nostrils with impressive intensity are attractive white peach, nectarine and dried honey scents followed by some nougat, cashew and spice notes. Rich and concentrated, fleshy white peach, nectarine and dried honey flavours carry beautiful shape across the mid weighted palate. Notions of citrusy nougat, cashew and spice lend further interest. Good underlying freshness with a creamy textural feel building across the long finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 89
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 First Drop Wines Endless Summer Pinot GrigioAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinTense and racy with a dry, refreshing finish.
Brilliant water like colour with a faint greenish tinge around the outskirts. Lime and green apple scents mix with some citrus and stony mineral notes. Tense, racy feel with lime and green apple fruits underpinned by crisp acidity. Some citrusy mineral characters lingering through the dry, refreshing finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 93
2022 Coppabella Single Vineyard Pinot NoirTumbarumba, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinNicely fleshed finishing savoury and spicy.
Dark red core with a light brick red tinged hue. Cherry, rhubarb and dried herb scents drift from the glass followed by some brambly earth and spice notes. Spicy dark cherry, strawberry and rhubarb fruits are nicely fleshed in their flow across the palate. Bramble, dried herb and earthy cedar elements lie underneath. Polished tannins with a lick of fresh acidity extending onto the savoury and spicy conclusion.
Drink over the next 1-2 years
Alc. 13% -
- 94
2023 Yalumba Samuel’s Collection Cabernet Sauvignon ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA generously fruited blend that carries ample flesh.
A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Shiraz matured for 10 months in 12% new French and Hungarian oak hogsheads. Dense inky black heart with a deep dark purple hue. Inky blackcurrant, liquorice and dark plum aromas fill the nostrils complimented by some cedary tobacco and subtle bay leaf notes. Rich blackcurrant, plum and mulberry fruits carry ample flesh with some liquorice, cedary tobacco and earthy bay leaf characters highlighted across the back half. Polished yet slightly inky feel with fine grained tannins and a long generously fruited finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 91
- 95
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
- Organic
2023 See Saw Invergo Organic Pinot NoirOrange, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinFresh, savoury and red fruited.
Semi translucent red to dark red colour with a light vibrant red hue. Fragrant red cherry, violet and red raspberry aromas emanate from the glass trailed by some fresh herb, forest floor and spice notes. Juicy red cherry and strawberry fruits meld into a delicate earth, fresh herb and spice infused back drop. Polished tannins with a fresh, savoury red fruited finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
Satsuma plum, rolls of cherry roulade and Assam tea leaf. Some bay leaf, juniper spice and salted licorice. The flow across the palate shows a deft hand at crafting tannins intertwined with bunch work and juicy, ethereal acidity. This is a wine for consideration and hours of pleasure, as it opens more across a couple of hours. Serve in big burgundy glasses and with some gamey meat – this is the date night wine you've been hoping for. Drink by 2030.
95 Points
Shanteh Wale - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 91
- Organic
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Fattoria Majnoni Guilliardini ChiantiTuscany, ITALY$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkEarthy red fruits, fresh energetic acidity, slightly chalky tannins and a rustic finish.
Deep dark red black tinged core with a dark red hue. Red currant and red cherry aromas mix with earth, dried herb and spice notes. Medium bodied the palate features earthy red currant and red cherry fruits over a spicy dried herb and delicate tobacco background. Fresh energetic acidity and slightly chalky tannins with a rustic feel to the finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 92
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2025 Holm Oak The Protege Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinLight, bouncy and energetic with a fresh, fruity finish.
Semi translucent bright ruby red colour with a light crimson red tinged hue. Fragrant red cherry, red raspberry and red liquorice aromas are trailed by some subtle fresh herb and forest floor notes. Juicy raspberry and cherry fruits overlay a red liquorice, fresh herb and delicate earth back drop. Light, bouncy and energetic, it has lively acidity and polished tannins. Finishes youthfully fresh and fruity.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 91
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 First Drop Moderno BarberaAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinJuicy with elegant, polished tannins, fresh acidity and a fruit driven finish.
Deep dark red core with black toned edges and a dark red hue. Aromas of red and morello cherries as well as red liquorice and infusions of fresh herbs drift through the nostrils followed by some subtle earthy graphite like notes. Juicy ripe cherry, red plum and red liquorice fruits are intermeshed with dried herbs, crushed rock and spice elements. Elegant, polished tannins and fresh acidity with a fruit driven finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews……
Fresh and vibrant, with aromas of red currants, dark cherries, citrus peel and raspberry bush. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy tannins and focused acidity that lead into a juicy, red-fruited finish. Delicious. Drink now. Screw cap.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 94
- 93
- Reduced
2022 Nicks Secret HHH Barossa Valley ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $22.99$12. 99Bottle$155.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinMade from 90% Shiraz and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Barossa Valley sub districts of Bethany, Greenock, Nuriootpa & Krondorf with an average vine age of 30 years. Matured in French oak, 10% new.
Rich, opulently fruited and velvety textured, this delivers exceptional everyday drinking.
Dense inky black heart with a dark red black tinged hue. Elevated dark plum, blackberry and liquorice aromas fill the nostrils followed by some vanillin cedar, dark chocolate and spicy earth notes. Rich and plump, the amply weighted palate is swamped with opulent dark plum, blackberry and chocolate bullet flavours. Vanillin oak and spicy earth elements extend through the back half. Silky smooth tannins with a long plush finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14%
Other Reviews……
Ridiculous value! Can I leave the review at that? I had to do a double take when I saw the RRP - wow! An articulate and expressive wine, this **** take on the classic Australian claret blend is a showstopper. It's a wine you just want to hang out with, such is its approachability and plentiful fruit. The consistency across the range of **** Wines I have seen of late speaks highly of its producer - bravo. And this super blend possesses that Scott Boland line and length reliability and magic.
Dark plums, black currants and a touch of mint from the small addition of Cabernet lie in the shadow of dark berries, plums and chocolate nibs. It's not a showy wine, yet it walks with charisma and a calming presence. A smattering of dried herbs and fine tannins adds a moreish factor on close coupled with that persistent finish. Great stuff and well played. Run to this.
Drink to five years+
93 points
QWineReviews.com
The old Barossa reds were not the blockbuster monsters which are so popular today but rather, sought out a path of drinkability, while never sacrificing flavour. This is a welcome return to the past. There is 15% Cabernet Sauvignon included in the blend, which underwent a two week ferment with wild yeasts. Maturation was in a range of formats with 10% being new French oak. The fruit came from a range of Barossa sub-regions – Bethany, Greenock, Nuriootpa and Krondorf. 1,000 cases. Mauve/magenta in colour, the nose offers notes of blackberries, herbs, plums, mulberries, chocolate, coffee beans and mocha. A lingering finish with sleek tannins ties things together. Good focus here, and fine balance. This is indeed a more elegant style, but it lacks absolutely nothing in flavour. Apparently, Alex must have recently won Gold Lotto. Otherwise, why on earth would he be giving this away at such an amazingly cheap price.
93 points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com -
- 92
- Nick's Import
Laphroaig The Cask Legacy Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 48%"...a sherry butt away from one of the best new whiskies of the year.” - Jim Murray
Initiated by Distillery manager, John Campbell as a tribute to the managers who preceded him, this Travel Retail Exclusive Laphroaig was left to rest in first-fill, over-charred ex-bourbon barrels before further maturing in large, new European oak hogsheads, never before used by the distillery. The latter provide a slower maturation than traditional casks. The signature peat smoke combined with soft oak results in a whisky of great depth. 48% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews… almost Laphroaig in concentrated form. The saltiness has receded but is there enough to raise the flavour profiles when need be… a sherry butt away from one of the best new whiskies of the year.” 92.5 points - Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2018
-
- 92
- 92
- Packaging may vary
- Nick's Import
- Reduced
The GlenAllachie 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLANDReduced from $179.99$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 46%Billy Walker's attempt to create "the essence of Speyside" is realised in this heavily sherried expression. The first batch quickly sold out in the UK. The current version features a packaging update that debuted around 2024. All the barrels were sourced from Miguel Martin. Slightly more than half were PX puncheons and butts with the remainder being ex-Oloroso. There's also a small addition of 200 litre medium toast virgin oak in the mix, plus some red wine casks. The result is another whisky where the appearance alone will get your appetite going, especially if you're into sherried malts. It pours a fabulous, deep polished mahogany colour and follows through with aromas of orange zest, raisin cake and fruit’n'nut dark chocolate while offering a decent attack at just 46%. Revealing more zesty freshness, gingery warmth and less of the over-the-top opulence of many recent Glenallachies, the flavour ledger tilts towards oloroso here with an almost tart, peel character competing with the PX. Dates, raisins, roasted nuts and an interesting twist of liquorice carry the aftertaste. All up, a solid sherried addition to the distillery’s ever-expanding stable that fares best after 5-10 minutes air contact. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Lashed with rich sherry aromas of baked orange, cherry, currants, chopped peel, ground cinnamon, and cocoa powder; it’s rich and intense, and pulsing with bold sherry cask character. Dark chocolate and Seville orange marmalade kick off the palate, with Nutella, black pepper, oak, cola, sultana, and some ground coffee flavors. A warming finish with dark chocolate and citrus notes. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...almost five years after it was first introduced, it can certainly compete with comparable single malts – such as the Tamdhu 15 Years, or the aforementioned GlenDronach 15... It's not subtle, but occasionally that's okay. I wouldn't soon call the GlenAllachie 15 Years an easy sipper. No, it's too intense for that. But sometimes intense is good. In moderation. As always. - wordsofwhisky.com
Notes from the producers... NOSE: Overflowing with raisins, butterscotch and sweet spices. TASTE: The rainbow of sweet spices, raisins and butterscotch develops to banana, orange peel and dark chocolate.
Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
-
- Nick's Import
Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Madeira Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$84. 99Bottle$1019.88 DozenABV: 40%"Madeira is Aberfeldy's best friend." – Stephanie Macleod – Malt Master.
Aberfeldy is known for being eminently approachable, possessing some of the same notes that Madeira wine is famed for. It's logical then that Madeira casks make for a complementary finishing, adding an extra layer of complexity and spiciness to the malt. The result is a step up from the standard 12 year old, and at this direct import price, it's cheaper than Duty Free! Expect a lighter style dram where the Madeira casks impart hints of honey and nuts. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... One might imagine that, at the very least, travel retail finishes would be tailored to airports. Here, for instance, Funchal, naturally, or perhaps Lisbon, Faro or… er, Porto. No, forget it… Colour: gold. Nose: a few slightly dirty touches of mustard and aged walnuts—not unpleasant, in fact—dried raisins and toasted almonds, a hint of paprika, then some earthy notes. Quite pleasant. Mouth: pepper, mustard, walnut wine, a touch of burnt caramel and bitter chocolate, with a relatively powerful attack despite the low ABV. However, it quickly becomes rather prickly on the nose and turns increasingly drying, with hints of mushroom. A pity, as the combination is interesting. Finish: rather short, heavily on the Madeira, with Worcestershire sauce at this stage. Comments: one could almost use it in cooking, perhaps in a Madeira sauce. But of course! The 40% ABV is pretty low, that’s for sure, but it’s a nice drop in the end. 80 points - whiskyfun.com
- Glendronach 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - New PackagingHighlands, SCOTLAND$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenABV: 48%
Replacing the 'Parliament' in elegant new packaging, Glendonrach's 21YO continues to embody the distillery’s hallmark style of sherried richness. Matured for over two decades in a balance of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, the profile delivers layers of treacle, bramble fruits, honeyed oak, and warming spices, all carried by the distillery's signature sweetness.
Refined inside and out! 48% Alc./Vol.
-
- 92
- 93
2023 San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti ClassicoTuscany, ITALY$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenClosure: CorkSan Giusto a Rentennano, originally a monastery fortified in 1204 by the Florentines as their boundary with Siena, today uses the underground vaults built as part of the fortification as their cellars. For centuries it was owned by the Ricasoli family of neighbouring Brolio, passing to the Martini di Cigala family in 1957. This beautiful 160 hectare estate, with 30 of vineyards, is run by brothers and sister team of Francesco, Luca and Elisabetta. The vineyards enjoy exceptional exposure with considerable day and night temperature differences and the terrain is composed of various soils rich in minerals. San Giusto’s wines are renowned for their elegance, balancing rich fruit and beautiful aromatics with superb freshness.
Other Reviews....
The San Giusto a Rentennano 2023 Chianti Classico is 95% Sangiovese with 5% Canaiolo in a supporting role. This organic wine is punchy and bright with blueberry, blue flower and iris. It offers pretty freshness over a mid-weight palate and remains approachable for near-term drinking. If you are looking for a Chianti Classico at this price point, this is an ideal choice. It ages in a mix of large oak cask, tonneaux and barrique for 10 months. Production is 44,532 bottles. Drink 2025-2032.
93 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Chianti Classico is terrific. In fact, it is one of the most complete wines of the year. Dark cherry fruit, leather, cedar, menthol and lavender all take shape in the glass. The 2023 is dense but not heavy. Even so, I would give it a few years to shed some baby fat. It's an impeccable wine in a challenging year. Drink 2025-2038.
92 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous -
- 92
2025 Mr Brightside RoseFleurieu Peninsula, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinSlippery textured with fresh, tangy acidity and a dry savoury finish.
Made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Shiraz. Pale salmon pink tinged colour. Fragrant peach, strawberry and pomegranate aromas mix with hints of musk and wet stone. Ripe peach, strawberry and melon fruits carry a slippery textural feel over a blood orange back drop. Fresh tangy acidity with a dry savoury finish.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 13% -
- 95
- Organic
- Biodynamic
2024 Kalleske Moppa ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinThe fruit for this Shiraz is sourced from Kalleske’s certified organic Moppa vineyard with grapes coming from ten different blocks, the oldest of which was planted in 1961. Troy Kalleske reports that the 2024 growing season was near-perfect delivering average yields and superb quality fruit.
Small dollops of Petit Verdot and Viognier were included in the blend to provide added complexity and give the wine a contemporary edge. Maturation took place in a combination of approximately 20% new French, American and Hungarian oak hogsheads for 12 months.Rich, dense and luxuriously silky in its flow, this is Barossa Shiraz at its seductive best.
Super saturated inky black heart with an equally deep black dark purple hue. Dark plum, liquorice and fresh ripe blackberry scents show terrific aromatic intensity out of the glass with some vanillin cedar, earthy mocha and spicy blueberry notes also chiming in. Rich and sumptuous, layered across the full bodied palate is a luxurious flow of opulent dark plum, blackberry and liquorice fruits. Vanillin oak, earthy dark chocolate and spicy fennel elements extend across the back half. Dense and plush yet fresh it boasts terrific power and concentration. Velvety tannins with a long lavish finish that’s pure seduction.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 97
- 96
- 95
2024 Chatto Intrigue Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIA$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 13.3%Closure: StelvinEstablished in 2000 by Jim and Daisy Chatto, Chatto Wines is dedicated exclusively to Pinot Noir. With over two decades of experience and numerous accolades—including Gourmet Traveller Wine’s Winemaker of the Year—Jim Chatto crafts small-batch, site-expressive wines. The home vineyard in the Huon Valley is planted to eight Pinot clones, producing elegant, intensely flavoured wines in tiny quantities. The 2024 vintage followed Tasmania’s driest summer on record, delivering clean, concentrated fruit. These are structured, expressive Pinots with immediate appeal and excellent cellaring potential.
Sourced from their Estate Isle Vineyard in Glaziers Bay, Intrigue is a blend of all eight Pinot clones grown on this remarkable site. Naturally low yields (~1kg per vine) deliver concentration at modest sugar levels, ensuring vibrancy and poise. Whole-bunch elements are seamlessly embedded, adding subtle complexity to a wine that captures the vineyard’s cool-climate energy.
Alc. 13.3%Other Reviews....
The 2024 Intrigue Pinot Noir is a blend of eight clones from the Isle vineyard, and the wine is picked and handled as individual parcels, then blended for the final wine. In the glass, the wine is reductive and exotic, with licorice, curry leaf, clove, sage and bay leaf as well. The wine is silky and pliable, and the length through the finish is impressive. This is a complex, layered wine, imbued with and shaped by fine tannins that linger through the long finish. While winemaker Jim Chatto describes this wine as a "show off," I would counter that by saying the wine is svelte and polished, although it has flashy attributes. It's an excellent wine. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2026-2036.
96 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateI muttered an audible 'Oof!' when I popped this wine to my nose. I'm a sucker for that flint-struck reduction in a pinot noir, especially when it so comfortably melds with a fruit array this pure. First up, the colour is a deeper ruby here, and the fruit tone's a little darker – wild strawberry, dark cherry and dried cranberry with underlying hints of souk-like spice, pomegranate, sour cherries, amaro, wildflowers, pastis, Chinese barbecue shop, crushed stone, sous bois, nicely judged, toasty oak and earth. The palate is high fidelity and the pure fruit unfurls with detail and a stony composure. The tannins are kinetic, silty and fine and there's a minerally cadence that sails the wine along truly. Very impressive stuff. Drink by 2040.
97 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionReduction sweeps in and has a keen influence here, to the most positive of effect. This wine is a clear step up; it’s a beauty. Smoke, sweet and sour cherries, herbs, spices, minerals and leaves. It’s all going on and it’s all pulling together. Tannin is intrinsic. Intrigue is in-built. beautiful Pinot Noir. As charming as it is enchanting. Drink 2025-2032+
95 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine FrontDeep-ish, youthful purple colour; smoky reduction is the first aroma, the palate very intense, medium bodied and attractively flavoured with dark cherry, anise/spice flavours and a big finish of licorice and black cherry. A powerhouse of a pinot. Concentration and poise aplenty. Impressive wine.
97 Points
Huon Hooke - The Real Review - White Horse Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml) - 1980s BottlingSCOTLAND$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 Dozen
Note: This has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Note: Alc./Vol. unknown. Expected to be 40% Alc./Vol.
White Horse was first introduced to the world in 1890 by Peter Mackie and takes its name from the White Horse Cellar Inn in Edinburgh, near where the Mackie family lived. The composition included Lagavulin and whiskies from the Glenlivet district in Speyside. - Haig Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml) - 1980s BottlingSCOTLAND$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 Dozen
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Note: Alc./Vol. unknown. Expected to be sub 40% Alc./Vol.
Reliable and consistent, as well as one of the oldest of Scotch whisky brands, this antique Haig stems from the 1980s and was bottled in Australia. A practice outlawed in 2009 to protect the "Scotch" brand from potential counterfeits. Aparently knowledge of the Alc./Vol. wasn't all that necessary back then. One only to sell. - Stewarts Special Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky (26 Fl. Oz.) - 1970s BottlingSCOTLAND$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 Dozen
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Note: Alc./Vol. unknown. Expected to be 75 proof.
Another relic from the 70s and 80s, Stewarts attempted to crack the export market for Scottish Whisky before the boom in demand crashed in the 1980s, ultimately falling at the last. We could find little to no information on the producer or the blend. Hopefully, someone out there has been pining for one of these for the last 40 years, having remembered it sitting in their parents' liquor cabinet. Or someone just looking for a taste of the past. - Royal Bruce Rare Old De Luxe Belnded Scotch Whisky (750ml)SCOTLAND$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenABV: 43%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
This is a bit of an uncommon one. We could find little to no information on this particular bottle, nor its producer, Bruce Keville & Co. On appearances, it seems to be one of many attempts to crack the export market for Blended Scotch Whisky, and not one of the successful ones. Zero information on which distilleries have contributed to the blend. By appearances, a bottling from the 1980s. Would be an ideal present for any of you with a Bruce in their life who has some royal ambitions or maybe just an over-inflated opinion of themselves. 43% Alc./Vol. - Hedges & Butler Royal Malt Vatted Highland Malt Whisky (750ml) - 1980s BottlingHighlands, SCOTLAND$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Hedges & Butler is a London merchant house founded in 1667, with whisky production coming later as part of its wider spirits business. By the early 20th century, it was producing its own blended Scotch whiskies, and its name carried a strong association with royal warrants and long-established trade. They produced a traditional malt-led Scotch expression that reflected the old-style blending practices of the era. Made entirely from malt whiskies rather than grain whisky, it carried the vatted malt character that was common before the term blended malt became more widely used. - The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml) - 1980s BottlingSCOTLAND$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 37.2%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
An Australian bottled release, at an unconventional 37.2%. A result of catering to the tastes (read: taxes!) of the time.
Blended by the Gloag family, whose business was founded in 1800. The Famous Grouse is testimony to the unsurpassed blending experience of six generations of this family, which accounts for the consistent quality and smooth character of the blend. Like so many early whisky companies, Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd., has its origins in the early 19th century, when the founder established himself as a grocer and wine merchant in Perth. Matthew Gloag bought malt whiskies from distilleries around Scotland and built up a reputation for his cellars.Finest malt whiskies, such as The Macallan and Highland Park, are married with exceptional grain whiskies for an unusually long period in fully seasoned oak casks to create the Famous Grouse blend. The product takes its name from the Red Grouse, a native wild game bird of Scotland.
- Black & White Buchanan's Choice Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml) - 1980s BottlingSCOTLAND$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 Dozen
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such may have some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Note: Alc./Vol. unknown. Expected to be 40% Alc./Vol.
After falling interest from the local market in the 70s, James Buchanan geared the Black & White label towards export. As the laws around the packaging of alcohol were still in development during the 70s and 80s, the majority of bottlers didn't bother providing an ABV. Their blend is generally fruit forward and gentle, with mild spice character. - Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Rare Release (Barrel 2148) Cask Strength 12 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)Kentucky, UNITED STATES$999. 00Bottle$11988.00 DozenABV: 60%
The latest single barrel of Willett available for Australia demonstrates how these whiskeys continue to appreciate. At 12 years old, it is one of the oldest to be offered by the official importer under the distillery's sought-after Family Estate label. Barrel No. 2148 yielded just 114 bottles at 60% Alc./Vol. Collectable.
Willett Family Estate releases used to be commonplace at liquor stores across America. Nowadays, they're a rare sight. Most gets purchased directly at the distillery. Australia is lucky to receive anything at all. The remarkably high standard and limited nature of official Willetts means they will be on collector's radars more than ever before. Followers of this brand know that Willett are more than a little fanatical about wood selection, so you can be sure the barrels used here have been selected by a producer at the very top of their game. The only downside is that prices have gone up in the last few years and we expect they'll continue to increase.
-
- 95
- 97
1998 Chateau Mouton RothschildPauillac, Bordeaux, FRANCE$1299. 00Bottle$15588.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkChateau Mouton Rothschild holds a unique place in the history of Bordeaux, being the only property to have its ranking changed since the introduction of the 1855 Classification. Originally listed as a Second Growth, through the tireless efforts of Baron Philippe Rothschild to make a wine he truly believed could match the best in the world, the property was upgraded to First Growth in June 1973. Known as the most flamboyant of the First Growth wines, Mouton Rothschild shows the rich and exotic side of Pauillac. Plantings on the 75 hectare property are a mix of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot.
Other Reviews....
Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 1998 Mouton Rothschild is deep garnet-brick in color with lovely crème de cassis, dried roses, hoisin and baking spice notes with underlying notions of dried cherries and mulberries plus touches of wood smoke, incense and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied and packed with rich fruit framed by firm, chewy tannins, it is stacked with complex, evolving flavors and finishes with incredibly long-lasting perfumed notes. According to winemaker Philippe Dhalluin, this needs about three hours of decanting at this stage. I simply love the place this wine is in right now, possessing plenty of mature, tertiary characters yet still sporting bags of fruit. It won’t be fading anytime soon either and should cellar nicely for 20-25+ more years. Drink 2018-2043.
97 points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (June 2018)A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 1998 Château Mouton Rothschild comes from a vintage that saw beautiful early season weather but rain in September and October that made the vintage more complicated for the Médoc and Graves region. A more medium to full-bodied effort, it has terrific complexity in its red and black currant fruits as well as smoked tobacco, loamy earth, spice box, and chocolate. Balanced, elegant, and silky on the palate, its oak is perfectly integrated, it has fine tannins, and it’s smack in the middle of its prime drinking window.
95 points
Jeb Dunnuck (May 2023)















































