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2023 Cullen Wines Diana MadelineMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$155. 00Bottle$1860.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinCertified organic and biodynamic this vintage is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, with the balance Malbec and Petit Verdot. Maturation was for a period of 14 months in French oak, 40% of it new.
Other Reviews....
Put bluntly, this is perhaps the finest young Australian Cabernet I can recall seeing. It is simply brilliant. The blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot, with that last one percent a mix of Malbec and Petit Verdot. The maturation was for fourteen months in French oak, with 40% of it new. An inky dark maroon colour, this is concentrated and seamless. We have aromas of dark, rich chocolate, cocoa beans, plums, beef stock, graphite, mulberries, cloves and blackberries. Elegance and refinement here, this is all class and there is wonderful length, with the wine finishing with the silkiest tannins. There is immaculate balance and amazing intensity and yet the wine dances with freshness and energy. The image that keeps appearing here is Muhammed Ali at his peak, dancing with grace. The more time in the glass or in an open bottle you can give it, the more reward will come. Surely one of the greatest Cabernets made in this country, perhaps Vanya’s best ever, and it confirms that 2023 in Margaret River – a region of seemingly endless fine vintages – is truly special. Why not 100? I do feel it deserves it, but I simply do not trust Vanya not to come up with something even better next vintage.
99 points
Ken Gargett - WinePilot.comThe 2023 Diana Madeline is an exciting wine. The 2023 season was mild, dry and quite spectacular. There was some rain at the very end of the red harvest, and this was a very site-specific thing, not widespread over the region. Aromatically, the wine is intensely perfumed: graphite and pressed lavender, wet rose petals, raspberry pip, licorice, concrete and summer rain. This gives everything that I could hope for in an early-release Cabernet: dark fruit and exotic spice, mineral detail and more. The chalky and fine tannins shape the palate and spool out long over the finish. Is this the finest and best Diana Madeline made to date? Perhaps! What a wine. Highly recommended. It's the perfect example of great Australian Cabernet: power without weight. Look no further. 13.7% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2055.
Here, the fruit was handpicked over seven dates, starting middle of March and culminating on a moon opposite the Saturn astral event in early April. The blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, with the 1% balance comprising Malbec and Petit Verdot.
98 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateSo much purity and precision, showing aromas of blackcurrants, graphite, violets, cedar and licorice with a core of black fruit intertwined with undertones of spices, bitter chocolate and iron. The wonderfully poised palate has firm yet refined tannins and a plush, midweight mouthfeel. Mouthwatering granitic finish. The structure and tension will develop for decades. Made from 94% cabernet sauvignon, 2% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and touches of malbec and petit verdot. Excellent. Screw cap. Drink or hold.
98 points
James Suckling2023 was a perfect vintage in Margaret River, and the dry-grown fruit for this wine was hand-harvested over seven picks, before wild fermentation. This is in its absolute infancy, and while the fragrant oak might be the first guest to the party right now, the fruit is undoubtedly the life of it. Pretty dried rose petals, crushed graphite, rose hip, fennel seed, a pinch of oriental spice and salted raspberries hint at what lies ahead. Tight-grained oak tannins link arms with fine fruit tannins, and well-paced natural acidity hums along with lilting rhythm. At its core, there is a purity of bright fruit. A wine of understated elegance and immense power behind its poise. The slight ocean brine on the finish calls you back, like a sea siren. Don’t rush – give this a few years before opening and you’ll be rewarded. Drink 2026-2045.
97 points
Cassandra Charlick - DecanterThis Diana Madeline delights as soon as it's poured. A deep, dark purple-red and so vibrant. Ah the aromas next – all cedar wood, oak spices and warm earth with fresh mulberries and blackberry essence. It has concentrated, fabulous fruit on the fuller-bodied palate yet there’s a fineness, too, with supple tannins enmeshed in lively acidity. It’s a gorgeous drink. Too young now as it’s still showing off its youthful exuberance. Give this a few more years in the cellar to build more complexity and detail; it's guaranteed to age beautifully for another two or so decades. Drink 2025-2045.
97 points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday's Wine CompanionThe quality of tannins is part of the great experience, suede, refreshing, persistent, but you can see the pedigree of the wine in detail of dark berry fruits, espresso, mocha, chocolate and liquorice then bay leaf, brine and sea spray, salt bush and mahogany; all this delivers so much to the experience in its layers and layers. It sets out at medium weight and glides, an elegance, a confidence in balance and the harmony on hand. That it is generally just outrageously delicious is the wine’s ace in the hole. Nota bene the dark roast coffee/mocha is noted here and lends a little piquant bitterness and gummy elements in the finish. Quality writ large is the mainstay; top flight stuff. Drink 2027-2045.
96+ points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front -
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2022 Lino Ramble Treadlie ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12.6%Closure: StelvinFleshy dark to black fruits with a savoury mid length finish.
Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Lifted black cherry and liquorice aromas intermix with scorched earth, fennel and blackpepper. Fleshy dark to black cherry, plum and liquorice fruits meld into a scorched earth, clove and pepper back drop. Slightly grainy tannins have a sturdy underbelly. Savoury mid length finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
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2022 Terrazas de Los Andes Reserva Cabernet SauvignonMendoza, ARGENTINA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: Diam CorkA fresh, elegant Cabernet with a capsicum edge.
Totally opaque black dark red colour with a deep dark red hue. Red to black currant aromas mix with spicy capsicum, black olive and earth notes. Refined red to black currant fruits are featured over spicy dried herb, earth, black olive and green tobacco elements. Fine grained tannins carry a sturdy structure. Concludes fresh and elegant with a capsicum edge.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
A savory and fine-tannined cab with blackcurrant, dark chocolate and spice flavors. Medium-bodied, soft and open grained with a savory note at the end. Drink now.
92 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- Nicks Import
1996 A.D. Rattray Vintage Cask Collection Bowmore 26 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Islay, SCOTLAND$1299. 00Bottle$15588.00 DozenABV: 42.8%Stepping up one tier from the "Cask Collection", Rattray's Vintage Cask Collection represents the oldest and rarest Scotch whiskies in their portfolio. Single casks are selected from what they consider Scotland's most prestigious distilleries. Each comes suitably presented to match the contents. Thanks to the Morrison family, the stories of A. D. Rattray and Bowmore will be forever entwined. This selection promises an enchanting Islay from the mid 1990s, whisking you away to the shores of Loch Indaal for a blissfully long summer evening. We've sourced a handful of the 235 bottles produced. 42.8% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Burnt orange. Nose: Warm lavender, blackcurrant, fennel seed and birch wood smoke. Palate: Roast chestnut, pork crackling, tangerine and pine. Finish: Tangy peat oil coats the tongue, bringing waves of sea salt and lime.
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2023 Bosward ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinRich, concentrated and opulent with a subtle chewy feel across the long, sumptuous finish.
Dense inky black colour with a dark purple black tinged hue. Intense liquorice and ripe black cherry aromas are complimented by some blueberry, plum, vanillin cedar, scorched earth and peppered fennel like notes. Rich and concentrated, the palate is swamped with juicy dark plum, liquorice and blackberry fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, scorched earth and peppered fennel elements are carried across the back half which is enlivened by a lick of blueberry freshness. Opulently textured it has slightly inky tannins which impart a subtle chewy feel across the long sumptuous finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
Reid Bosward has some solid winemaking chops. This we know to be true. Knows how to craft a lovely Barossan shiraz too – case in point here, with grapes sourced from the Hobbs, Marschall and Bultawilta vineyards. Deeply coloured and pure of fruit with a core of velvety plum and blueberry, abundant spice, flecks of jasmine, ironstone, cocoa powder, licorice and earth with chocolatey tannins and an extended draw on the finish. Drink by 2032.
94 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- Nicks Import
2012 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Balmenach 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 56.7%Although situated within the Speyside region, traditional methods of production at Balmenach yield a spirit more classically Highland in nature. Rattray's consider it demonstrative of the kind of reliable, cereal-rich and full-bodied malt, unblemished in a refill bourbon hogshead, upon which the global reputation of Single Malt Scotch Whisky is built. 229 bottles were filled at 56.7% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Sparkling gold. Nose: Rustic rye sourdough, nut brown ale and banana chip. Palate: Fine-milled oatcake, greengage plum and ground allspice. Finish: Gooseberry, elderflower and aniseed decorate a robust malt biscuit base.
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2009 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Fettercairn 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$184. 99Bottle$2219.88 DozenABV: 57.3%You wouldn't believe it, but worldwide demand for ex-bourbon barrels far outstrips current supply, meaning a cherished style of single malt is under threat. Thankfully, Rattray have a few more of these Fetters' in the pipeline, as the honeyed sweetness from first-fill bourbon is just the perfect match for its distinctive tropical fruit flavours. Cask 1098 yielded 283 bottles at 57.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Rich gold. Nose: Ripe mango, red apple peel and ginger oil. Palate: Clotted cream fudge, crystallised papaya and soft liquorice. Finish: Decadent dark chocolate mousse with a dusting of ground hazelnut.
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2009 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Knockdhu 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 52.4%Knockdhu is better known as AnCnoc. In this example, its dainty, fruity spirit spent 13 months of secondary maturation in a Moscatel wine barrique. The honeyed note from the moscatel jumps forward amid cereals, milk chocolate and light cinnamon. A gorgeously effective wine finishing, again with the floral-bush-honey and citrus blossom character coming through on the palate with a keen balance and tolerable heat. Overall, feminine-styled, the delicacy of the wine input skillfully infused. 322 bottles were produced. 52.4% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
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2011 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Balblair 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$154. 99Bottle$1859.88 DozenABV: 57.4%Balblair is a characterful make that’s rarely in the spotlight. Here's a bit of a twist on one from an indie: Finished in a two year-seasoned, first-fill Oloroso sherry European oak butt for one year, following maturation in a refill sherry butt for over eleven years, this Balblair is defined by dried fruit notes. European oak typically imparts a greater spice and depth of character than soft, sweet American oak. The result is a deep, full-bodied Balblair that's rounded and relatively soft given the strength. Malt-forward flavours feature with a bitter chocolate edge and moderate heat and tannin at the last. Expect a big'un. 604 bottles produced. 57.4% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered. Tasted from a 20ml sample.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Warm copper. Nose: Sticky raisin, may rose and morello cherry. Palate: Dried cranberry, bergamot and sugared almond. Finish: Exotic Turkish delight with pistachio and date.
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2018 Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine ShirazBarossa, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$160. 00Bottle$1920.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2025-2035)ABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkA refined, well fleshed Barossa Shiraz with admirable structure.
Pitch black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Aromas of dark plum and liquorice mix with vanillin cedar, earth, fennel and subtle peppered leather notes. Rich blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits carry a refined, well fleshed feel across the medium to full bodied palate. Spicy vanillin cedar, earthy fennel and pepper elements extend across the back half. Polished yet sturdily built tannin structure with a long, finessed conclusion.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
Yalumba's flagship offering is made from shiraz split across vineyards in the Barossa and Eden Valleys with an average age of 80 years. A portion is matured for 23 months in 30% new French oak barriques and hogsheads and the balance in one-year-old (and older) American octaves, French barriques and hogsheads. Deep crimson with ripe blackberry, black cherry, satsuma plum and blueberry fruits cut with baking spices, vanillin oak, cedar, licorice, dark chocolate, clove and violets. The fruit glistens on the palate, beautifully weighted and graceful in its shape, with ripe tannins melting into the wine and a shimmering acidity that provides cadence and shines a light on the pristine fruit. This will cellar beautifully, but my goodness it is lovely to drink at the moment. Another epic Octavius release. Drink by 2038.
97 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThe first bottle of 2018 The Octavius was corked. I have opened the second bottle for review. Coffee grounds, dark chocolate, mulberry compote and black olive tapenade lead the charge for this irrepressibly Australian Shiraz. Big bold forest berry flavors are effusive and almost gushing, held in check by the firm hand of tannic structure. Woodsy spices—sandalwood, particularly—punctuate the black cherry and salted licorice characters. This is really good, satisfying, mouthfilling, delicious. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.
96+ Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateA famous wine which, fortunately, does not receive quite the extended oak treatment it once did. From Barossa vines dating back to 1854, maturation is in Yalumba-coopered oak octaves – 21 months in a mix of 25% new French barriques and hogsheads and the remainder in one-year and older French octaves (which are 100-litre oak barrels), barriques and hogsheads. It is now one of the few wines to be available through the La Place de Bordeaux system, reserved for the world’s finest. Black cherry hue. This is still very young and needs a good four to six years before it is likely to come into its own. Then it should offer fifteen to twenty years of pleasure, for the patient. There is still plenty of oak evident at this early stage, but it is integrating well, if slowly, showing good concentration, power and intensity. At this early stage, it is still a bit of a bruiser but a finely balanced one and a wine which shows every sign that the transformation, when it comes, will be very exciting. Seamless and with fine tannins, there is excellent length and it unfurls blackcurrants, raspberries, cranberries, mocha, hot chocolate, beefstock and floral notes on the palate. Drink 2023-2043.
96 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.comFragranced and aromatically complex on the nose - beguiling and totally captivating red berries, clove, vanilla, liquorice and wild herbs. This has an inky density to it, weighty and fully textured but with amazing purity of fruit. Bright and piercing acidity adds to the overall expression with tannins that are refined yet carry a sense of opulence and seduction. Clean and sleek, wide, full and mouthwatering with liquorice, cherry blossom and strawberry fruit all the way through. Delicious.
97 Points
Decanter.com -
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2024 Bosward SemillonBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinZippy lime juice and Granny Smith apple flavours with a long electric finish.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a faint greenish tinge around the outskirts and a watery hue. Lime juice and green apple skin aromas are trailed by pear juice and citrusy bees wax like notes. Zippy lime juice and Granny Smith apple flavours are underscored by mandarin, wet steel and flinty mineral elements. Crunchy acidity imparting a tangy feel onto the long electric finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews…..
Winemaker Reid Bosward knows a thing or two about Barossa semillon and I'm loving the rendition he's putting out under his nascent Bosward wine label. Crisp, tautly stretched, it's a textural, lemony ride with hints of fresh lime, citrus zest, green apple, white flowers, clover, crushed rock and cut fennel. Crisp, lightly slinky and full of energy. Drink by 2038.
93 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
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2010 Depaz Rhum Agricole Rum (700ml)MARTINIQUE$220. 00Bottle$2640.00 DozenABV: 45%Depaz agricultural rhums are produced exclusively from super-fresh canes selected for their capacity to provide a rich, fruity aroma. Harvest starts in February when the cane fields are covered in white “feathers” (the cane sugar flowers, known as “flech’kann”, indicating that the plant is perfectly ripe and saturated with sugar). Freshness is fundamental. As one creole expression goes: “the cane should have it’s feet in the fields and it’s head in the mill”. In other words, once cut, the cane should be ground immediately to capture the most expressive juice. That freshness can be preserved even when the rums are oak-aged. This vintage-dated bottling combines eleven carefully selected barrels containing rums from the 2010 harvest. First matured for more than 10 years in American oak, a secondary maturation followed in 350 litre French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months. The rum ends up with a warming overlay of almond paste and mandarin confit aromas and flavours. Perhaps bottled not a month too late, it has a dry, natural feel, good freshness, and an oak-fruit balance that's similar to many Armagnacs. These styles can take a while to open up, so it's recommended served after five or minutes of air contact. 45% Alc./Vol.
- Delord Floc de Gascogne Blanc (700ml)Armagnac, FRANCE$44. 99Bottle$539.88 DozenABV: 17%
This is the bright gold coloured, slightly fresher, lighter alternative to Delord's Rouge Floc de Gascogne. Made in a similar fashion by blending partially fermented grape juice with one third Delord Armagnac, for the Blanc, grape varieties like Sauvignon, Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Gros Manseng are used. The blend is then matured for around three to nine months - depending on your source.
Other reviews... Aromas of white grapes, dried fruit, acacia honey, buttery chamois leather and a faint hint of shoe polish (in a good way). The taste is honeyed with dried fruits and a hint of liquorice. 4.5 stars - diffordsguide.com
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Glenkinchie 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - NO GIFT BOXLowlands, SCOTLANDReduced from $250.00$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 43%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
The 10 year old Glenkinchie was superseded by the 12 Year Old. This one was on the market through the 1990s. Now discontinued.The lowlands whiskies of Scotland in many respects reflect the landscape they are produced in. The countryside is certainly not without natural beauty, however it lacks the dramatic and rugged contrasts of the Highland and Island regions. Lowland whiskies consequently are generally used as background material for blends and have historically been unappreciated (or at least largely neglected) by malt enthusiasts.
Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to belittle the Lowlands. Their whiskies offer a refreshing contrast to the heavier, peatier malts of the north. Indeed, whiskies such as the twelve year old from the Glenkinchie distillery possess unique qualities of their own which repay due attention. Located near the village of Pencaitland and first founded in the 1830's, the Glenkinchie distillery has since been renovated and today includes a small museum.
Tasting note: This tasty, refreshing malt is typical of the character of lowland whiskies. Soft, smokey and sweetly aromatic. The palate reveals a grassy sweetness balanced with a warming, slightly spicy, drying finish. Exceptionally smooth. These qualities of Glenkinchie make it an excellent pre-dinner drink. 43% alc./vol.
"This is the smokiest of all Lowland malts. Some drink this pale, slightly dry, 10-year-old as an alternative to sherry." - Fiona Ennys, Liverpool Echo, 26 January 1996.
"Lowland malts are generally accessible...Glenkinchie being dry and complex." Andrew Barr, Sunday Times, 14 January 1996.
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2023 All Saints Grenache Shiraz MourvedreRutherglen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, spicy black fruits framed by ripe chewy tannins.
A blend of 47% Grenache, 29% Shiraz, 17% Mourvedre and 7% Cinsault matured in seasoned French oak for a period of 11 months. Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Elevated black raspberry, liquorice and black cherry aromas evolve from the glass followed by some dark plum, spicy vanillin oak and subtle scorched earth notes. Rich and spicy with juicy black raspberry, liquorice and black cherry fruits framed by ripe chewy tannins. Scorched earth and spicy vanilla characters ensue. Fleshy yet slightly robust in its feel with a long deeply fruited finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
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2024 Vickery Eden Valley RieslingEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$21. 99Bottle$263.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 11%Closure: StelvinFresh, crunchy and concentrated with precise laser like acidity and a long zesty finish.
John Vickery was a legend of the Australian wine industry and is widely acknowledged as the old master of Riesling. His illustrious career spanned over 50 years at the likes of Leo Buring and Richmond Grove during which time he amassed more than 50 Trophies and over 400 gold medals. He was also responsible for the re-introduction of screw caps with his 1998 Richmond Grove Watervale Riesling.
Brilliant water like core with greenish tinged edges. Lemon, lime and green apple aromas jump out of the glass trailed by some wet steel and chalky mineral notes. Fresh and crunchy, the palate is both focused and concentrated with lemon, lime, Granny Smith apple and orange rind fruits reigning over a steely back drop of chalk and flinty mineral elements. Precise laser like acidity with a long zesty finish that has a tense feel to it.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 11%
Other Reviews......
Although the great John Vickery has left us, his legacy lives on in the wines that bear his name. This is a cracker. A high-tensile, limey ride; a wine that is bone-dry, vivid and possesses all the velocity and verve that you expect. Pristine lime and green apple notes, subtle jasmine and Christmas lily with hints of crushed quartz and distant herbs, but it's all about that minerally cadence and precision. Super drinking. Drink by 2038.
95 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
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2023 Undivided ChardonnayFRANCE$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinRich, full and round in its feel with a concentrated flavour profile.
Bright pale straw to straw colour with a watery hue. Aromas of ripe peach, pear and subtle honeycomb mix with vanilla and spice notes. Rich, full and round in its feel, the palate is decorated with fleshy ripe peach, pear, honeycomb, crème brulee and spice flavours. Excellent concentration with relatively soft acidity and an extended finish that carries plenty of textural volume.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14% -
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2024 Rob Hall Yarra Valley CabernetsYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA very elegant red fruited Cabernet that shows plenty of finesse.
Growing up in Healesville, a young Rob Hall did some summer work in the vineyards during the early to mid nineties before taking up full time work at Yarra Ridge then Punt Road. From 2002 to 2011 he was the winemaker at Mount Mary, it wasn’t until 2014 that he took the leap and began his own operation.
A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 2% Malbec sourced from 3 different vineyards. Midnight black core with a dark red black tinged hue. Elevated red to black currant and mulberry aromas gently infused with violets and bay leaf are trailed by some dusty vanillin cedar, tobacco and subtle spicy black olive notes. The elegant mid weighted palate features red currant, red liquorice and mulberry fruits over cedary tobacco, subtle dusty earth, black olive and bay leaf elements. Youthful and fresh, it has a cool toned feel and fine grained tannins. Concludes long and finessed with a red fruited aftertaste.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews…..
A blend of 55/43/2% cabernet sauvignon/merlot/malbec. 16–20 days on skins and matured in seasoned hogsheads. A bright, medium crimson red. Another very well-made, ridiculously priced cabernet blend from Rob Hall. Aromas of cassis, cedar and a touch of violets lead onto the medium-bodied, well-balanced and already delicious palate. Drink by 2031.
95 Points
Philip Rich – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
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2023 Tellurian Evo ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA rich, vibrant Heathcote Shiraz that finishes long and succulent.
Dense inky black heart with a dark purple hue. Expressive plum, liquorice and blueberry scents are intertwined with smoky fennel like notes, vanillin cedar and hints of pepper. Rich, juicy and vibrant, the medium to full bodied palate is flush with spicy dark plum, liquorice and blueberry fruits. Subtle vanillin cedar, peppered earth and fennel elements ensue. Showing excellent fruit intensity and purity, it has velvety tannins and a long succulent finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
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2024 Oakridge Yarra Valley Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinLight, fresh and supple with a savoury finish.
Semi translucent bright red to dark red colour with a light red hue. Fragrant red cherry, violet and strawberry scents are complimented by hints of dried herbs, rhubarb, forest floor and spice. Light in body, the palate is both fresh and supple in its feel featuring red cherry and winter strawberry fruits over a delicate rhubarb, forest floor and spicy dried herb background. Good energy with elegant, fine grained tannins. Finishes fresh and savoury.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
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2024 Chatto Killara Farm Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIA$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinPowerful, juicy textured and expansive with a long, fresh youthfully exuberant finish.
Established 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.
The most brooding and structured of the grower releases, the Killara Farm Pinot Noir offers impressive depth and drive. Deep dark red core with black shaded edges and a vibrant red purple tinged hue. Alluring scents of violet, red to dark cherry, strawberry and anise show a perfumed like intensity. Fresh herb, delicate forest floor and spicy cedar notes ensue. Powerful and juicy textured, moreish red to dark cherry, strawberry and anise flavours are layered across the expansive palate. Infusions of fresh herbs, forest floor and delicate spicy cedar elements are scattered across the back half. Still very youthful and bright it has polished tannins and a long, fresh youthfully exuberant finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
The 2024 Killara Farm Pinot Noir is darker-fruited than both the Bird and the Seven Inch tasted alongside, and the fruit here is from Brinktop vineyard. MV6, 115 and Pommard clones comprise the cépage of this wine. This is rich and full, with layers of tannin and dark fruit, and the spice register lingers through the finish. It's really good. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2026-2036.
94 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateSourced from Gill Christian and Todd Goebel's vineyard on Brinktop Road in the Coal River Valley. Mid-ruby with aromas of dark cherry and red plum fruits, with some wild strawberry and raspberry top notes. There's flickers of citrus blossom and clover along with hints of medina spice, forest floor, dried cranberry, negroni, dried herbs, char siu and a murmur of toasty oak. There's a depth here, while still retaining a lovely sense of space with taut, powdered riverstone tannins and a sapidity and clarity to its line that stretches the wine's travel on the finish. Very cool drinking. Drink 2025-2040.
94 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionThis starts off easy-going and fruit-driven and then turns savoury and structured as it draws towards its close. It will no doubt cellar but I wouldn’t have any hesitation even now. Darker berry flavours, integrated herb notes, whispers of smoky oak, tobacco and a long, cool finish. Everything in alignment and in a good placer. Beneath the fruit there are undergrowth characters, and they’re most beguiling. Drink 2025 - 2030+.
93 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front -
- 96
- 95
- 96
- 94
2024 Chatto Seven Inch Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIA$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13.8%Closure: StelvinFresh and juicy, with moreish red fruits, energetic acidity and slightly chiselled tannins.
Established 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.
The 2024 Seven Inch Pinot Noir marks a decade of collaboration with growers Max and Sue Kitchell in the Huon Valley. Semi translucent bright red to dark red core with a light purple red tinged hue. Pretty violet, red cherry, raspberry and anise scents sail through the olfactory senses with hints of fresh herbs, forest floor and delicate spicy cedar also evident. Fresh and juicy, a moreish mix of red cherry, strawberry, raspberry and red liquorice fruits burst across the palate with terrific power and intensity. Savoury back drop with elements of forest floor, subtle dried herbs and spicy cedar making an appearance. Velvet smooth flow with a slightly chiselled feel to the tannins. Energetic acidity lending vibrancy to the long, delectable finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.8%Other Reviews....
The 2024 Seven Inch Pinot Noir is from a vineyard just down on Seven Inch Beach around the corner from the Isle vineyard in Glazier's Bay. Aromatically, the fruit is succulent, supple and concentrated, with cherry, pomegranate and dried herbs (sage and bay in the main), and the tannins are firm but shapely to close. The vineyard has 1000 vines, approximately just one and a half tonnes, and makes 1,350 bottles. The wine is mouth-filling and satiating, with loads of flavor but fresh and pliable too. 13.8% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2026-2036.
96 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateSourced from the vineyard of Max and Sue Kitchell, neighbours of Jim and Daisy Chatto in Glaziers Bay in the Huon Valley. A little deeper ruby in the glass compared to other Chatto releases, the Seven Inch leads with a struck-flint reduction that cascades through ripe dark cherry, wild strawberry and raspberry fruit tones. The spice is a little deeper here and there are hints of smoked meats, dried herbs, negroni, meadow flowers, pomegranate and Chinese barbecue shop. These characters transpose over to the palate, which shows great fruit purity and depth. Just the right amount of sinewy tannin as it finishes long and true. Drink by 2040.
95 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionIt’s fascinating going through these Chatto releases. They’re all peas in a pod, and yet they all have slight differences.
Seven Inch is like Chatto’s Bird release in that the emphasis is just in favour of structure; Killara Farm goes fruit/flavour and then structure. Here we have an elegant wine of muscle and flex, its spice notes tending towards mescal, its smoke notes lending a certain meatiness. The long lines of tannin here, the tripod-leg extension of the finish, and the way each flavour feels selected and arranged has this wine heading straight into elite territory. Drink 2026 - 2032+.
94+ Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine FrontLight-medium depth purple-red in the glass, the bouquet smoky meaty reductive at first while the palate is fine and firm with a trace of bitter herb/Campari and tautly sculpted tannins. A suggestion of eucalypt forest floor later, as it aired in the glass. The flavour is quite complex already but the tannins are quite persuasive, suggesting it really needs food if broached early. (Huon Valley)
95 Points
Huon Hooke - The Real Review -
- 95
- 95
2024 Chatto Franklinii Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIA$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinEnergetic and juicy with a long, deeply fruited finish.
Established 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.The Franklinii Pinot Noir is a seamless blend of two Huon Valley sites, capturing the region’s signature elegance and poise. Dark red core with black toned edges and a bright purple red tinged hue. Streaming through the nostrils are alluring scents of violet, red to dark cherry, strawberry and whiffs of anise. Forest floor, fresh herb and spice notes ensue. Delicious red to dark cherry and strawberry fruits power across the enticing palate with notions of anise, forest floor, infusions of fresh herbs and delicate spicy cedar extending across the back half. Energetic and juicy it has polished, fine grained tannins and a long, fresh, deeply fruited finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
The 2024 Franklinii Pinot Noir is a regional wine from the Huon Valley in Tasmania. The fruit is from two vineyards: Elsewhere Vineyard and Frankcomb (the first vintage featured fruit just from this vineyard). As it happens, the Franklinii name is the scientific name of the Huon pine, endemic to this area. They're magical trees and ancient too. This Pinot is eminently darker-fruited than the Yarraensis tasted alongside. Here, this is spicy and capacious, with exotic spices and dark fruit, with an airiness to the tannins that carries the flavor through the long finish. It's excellent. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2026-2036.
95 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate -
- 97
- 99
- 97
2023 Standish The Standish ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenABV: 14.9%Closure: CorkThe Standish Wine Company, founded in 1999 by sixth-generation Barossa vigneron Dan Standish, produces ultra-limited, single-vineyard Shiraz from dry-grown, old-vine sites across sub-regions like Greenock, Marananga, Krondorf, and Eden Valley. Using wild fermentation, whole-bunch inclusion, foot treading, basket pressing, and aging in French oak, Standish crafts powerful yet refined wines that express purity, intensity, and a strong sense of place. Highly sought-after and released in tiny quantities, each bottling captures the essence of its vineyard with precision and flair.
By all reports, the 2023 vintage in the Barossa was shaped by a cold, wet winter and spring, followed by a cool, dry summer and a notably late harvest. It was a challenging season in the vineyard, yet early impressions suggest the resulting wines are remarkably poised and pure. Standish’s 2023 releases, in particular, are said to show extraordinary finesse and aromatic detail, with the usual power and depth intact. Careful adjustments to whole bunch use and shorter élevage have delivered wines that are intense yet fresh—an impressive result from a difficult year.
Sourced from the Laycock family vineyard in Greenock, The Standish is a quintessential expression of Barossa Shiraz—known for it's intense, powerful, and deeply layered character, with a classic core of dark fruit and gravelly tannin.
Alc. 14.9%Other Reviews....
The 2023 The Standish Shiraz is the most "Barossan" of all the Standish cuvées. It exudes earthy brick dust tannins and layers sumac and exotic spices with roasted game and sweet marrow. There are notes of black cherry, dried rose petals, sandalwood, hung deli meat and licorice, all of it strapped to rails of grounded tannin. It's chewy, substantial and of the earth, in its way. The fruit is sourced from the Laycock family vineyard in Greenock, as always, and it expresses the red clay and loam soils there in its splay of tannic fortitude and density. This is very impressive. It is fresh yet meaty/rocky—both attractive qualities in Shiraz/Syrah. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork. Drink 2025 - 2043.
97 Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe long, extended '23 vintage manifests itself beautifully in the glass with this release. It could be from nowhere else but the Barossa – the Laycock vineyard in Greenock to be precise. Fruit purity is a leitmotif of the Standish wines and, again, it's peaking the meter in '23, with deep black cherry and satsuma plum fruits at its core. There's fruit density and power here but finesse and detail are close at hand. Tendrils of exotic bunchy spice move through the wine, with glimpses of sandalwood, dried purple flowers, charcuterie, tapenade and the ferruginous stamp of place. What I love about this release is the tension between fruit weight, fine tannin heft and mineral cadence. There is precision and power and that is a very attractive thing indeed. Drink by 2046.
97 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion
This is all about perfume, with integrated blue and black fruit that shows polish and refinement, plus undertones of mulberry bush, cocoa, crushed stones, fresh herbs and violets. The palate is plush and rounded with no hard edges, showing a silken, creamy texture that flows across the palate for minutes, supported by almost melting tannins. In near perfect balance, with all the hallmarks of a cool-vintage syrah. Pretty, textural and aromatic. Excellent. Drink or hold.
99 points
JamesSuckling.com -
- Nicks Import
2013 Watt Whisky Glen Elgin 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$144. 99Bottle$1739.88 DozenABV: 55.3%Glen Elgin tends to have a consistently fruity profile. This one was drawn from a hogshead yielding 270 bottles and should get you as close to the natural distillate as possible. Apart from its signature tropical fruits, it's also said to capture some of that sought-after beeswax character, often associated with better bottlings of Clynelish. 55.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Tropical fruits, waxy, peaches, mango, apricots and lemon meringue pie with faint ginger.
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- 94
2024 Osicka Selection Heathcote ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.8%Closure: StelvinRich, bright and fleshy with a long succulent finish laced with peppered clove elements.
Deep dark red black tinged colour with a red to dark red hue. Lifted red liquorice and plum scents infused with a mix of mint and clove are trailed by some brambly earth and spice like notes. Rich juicy red liquorice and red plum fruits infused with mint overlay an earthy dried clove and spicy pepper back drop. Bright, fleshy mouth feel with polished yet sturdy tannins and a long succulent finish laced with peppered clove elements.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.8% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 All Saints Estate Sangiovese CabernetRutherglen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA ripe, fleshy Sangiovese blend that has a spice laden finish.
Dark red core with black tinged edges and a dark red hue. Aromas of ripe red currant intermix with cherry and red liquorice followed by hints of dried herbs, faint cedary tobacco and spice notes. Ripe and fleshy, the mid weighted palate features generous red currant and cherry flavours over red liquorice, dried herb, delicate tobacco and spicy earth characters. Polished tannins with a juicy conclusion that’s laden with spice.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14% - 2022 Caroline Morey Santenay Les Corniers BlancBurgundy, FRANCE$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenClosure: Cork
Caroline Morey comes from a long line of vignerons based in the Cotes de Beaune and is also married to Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey. In 2014 Caroline took her share of some family vineyards from her father Jean-Marc and created her own domaine based in Chassagne-Montrachet, working out of brand new cellars built for Caroline and her husband.
For her first vintage in 2014 she had small holdings in Chassagne-Montrachet for both red and white together with small holdings in Santenay and Hautes Cotes de Beaune totaling just 2.4 hectares. With more vineyards added both from family and acquisitions in the last few years, the total is now 7 hectares in total for Caroline with roughly half for red and half for whites.
Other Reviews....
Pale lemon and lime. The bouquet is quite elegant with a little generosity of fruit behind. This is perfectly balanced, not trying to be what it isn’t, with a lovely energy of fruit behind. There is a light reductive nose which Mathis finds typical of this vineyard. Drink from 2025-2028.
89-91 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 86
2022 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Monthelie BlancBurgundy, FRANCE$175. 00Bottle$2100.00 DozenClosure: CorkAfter leaving his family domaine in 2005, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey has established himself as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. Pierre-Yves has built a strong reputation for crafting exquisite white Burgundy that display energy and vitality. The white wines are whole bunch pressed, fermented with natural yeasts, aged on lees for up to 18 months in mostly in 350 litre barrels with no lees stirring and no filtration. The corks used come from one tiny supplier and are extra long and extra wide (55mm x 25mm) for the village, 1er cru and Grand cru wines and are untreated with no paraffin and the bottles are then sealed with soft wax to ensure no problems with premature oxidation. The resulting wines are built to age classically up to 10 years or more.
Other Reviews....
The 2022 Monthélie Village, taken from barrel, has a delightful bouquet with fresh dew-speckled apples, orange rind and light wet limestone aromas. Almost Puligny-like. The palate is well-balanced with good depth, maybe missing a bit of tension towards the finish, but there is weight and persistence here. Drink 2024-2031.
86-88 points
Neal Martin - Vinous -
- 90
- 89
2022 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne Montrachet Vieilles VignesBurgundy, FRANCE$310. 00Bottle$3720.00 DozenClosure: CorkAfter leaving his family domaine in 2005, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey has established himself as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. Pierre-Yves has built a strong reputation for crafting exquisite white Burgundy that display energy and vitality. The white wines are whole bunch pressed, fermented with natural yeasts, aged on lees for up to 18 months in mostly in 350 litre barrels with no lees stirring and no filtration. The corks used come from one tiny supplier and are extra long and extra wide (55mm x 25mm) for the village, 1er cru and Grand cru wines and are untreated with no paraffin and the bottles are then sealed with soft wax to ensure no problems with premature oxidation. The resulting wines are built to age classically up to 10 years or more.
Other Reviews....
Pungent aromas of moderate reduction and wood toast lead to rich, full-bodied and tension-filled flavors that brim with sappy dry extract while exhibiting outstanding length on the palate soaking and youthfully austere finale. Like several wines in the range, this needs to develop better depth but it's clear that more is on the way if given a chance. Recommended. Drink through 2029+.
89-92 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundFrom holdings on the northern side of the appellation, at the exit of the combe (valley), the 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes delivers aromas of pear, buttered toast, hazelnuts and white flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, taut and layered palate that's underpinned by chalky structure.
89-91 points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet Vieilles Vignes has a very attractive bouquet that really translates the terroir. You can smell the limestone soils, a touch of shucked oyster shell coming through with time, punching through the light veil of reduction. The palate is well-balanced, with good concentration on the entry. There’s impressive weight, notes of orange pith and tangerine and a smear of marmalade, dovetailing into a lively, peppery finish. It will deserve three or four years in bottle, but this is a Chassagne of fine breeding. Drink 2026-2042.
90-92 points
Neal Martin - Vinous - 2022 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne Montrachet Morgeot-"Les Fairendes" Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$490. 00Bottle$5880.00 DozenClosure: Cork
After leaving his family domaine in 2005, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey has established himself as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. Pierre-Yves has built a strong reputation for crafting exquisite white Burgundy that display energy and vitality. The white wines are whole bunch pressed, fermented with natural yeasts, aged on lees for up to 18 months in mostly in 350 litre barrels with no lees stirring and no filtration. The corks used come from one tiny supplier and are extra long and extra wide (55mm x 25mm) for the village, 1er cru and Grand cru wines and are untreated with no paraffin and the bottles are then sealed with soft wax to ensure no problems with premature oxidation. The resulting wines are built to age classically up to 10 years or more.
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- 96
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2022 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne Montrachet Les Caillerets Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$699. 00Bottle$8388.00 DozenClosure: CorkAfter leaving his family domaine in 2005, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey has established himself as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. Pierre-Yves has built a strong reputation for crafting exquisite white Burgundy that display energy and vitality. The white wines are whole bunch pressed, fermented with natural yeasts, aged on lees for up to 18 months in mostly in 350 litre barrels with no lees stirring and no filtration. The corks used come from one tiny supplier and are extra long and extra wide (55mm x 25mm) for the village, 1er cru and Grand cru wines and are untreated with no paraffin and the bottles are then sealed with soft wax to ensure no problems with premature oxidation. The resulting wines are built to age classically up to 10 years or more.
Other Reviews....
A vague whiff of exotic character lurks in the background of the aromas of citrus confit, white peach, spice and discreet flora scents. There is excellent volume to the caressing and seductive yet tension-filled flavors that deliver very fine length on the overtly stony, firm and built-to-age finale. This balanced effort could be approached young with pleasure but the upside development potential is evident. Drink through 2030+.
91-93 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Caillerets is concentrated and mineral, offering up aromas of pear, orange zest, hazelnut, white flowers and buttered toast, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered palate built around a racy spine of acidity and concluding with a mineral finish.
92-94 points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Caillerets 1er Cru comes from a parcel that contains young and old vines (though, in fact, the former are 25 years "young" now). The very attractive bouquet offers enticing scents of almond, quince and wild mint, gaining intensity with each swirl of the glass. The palate is very well-balanced with a sapid entry. Plenty of substance, but does it have the flair of the Abbaye de Morgeot? At the moment, it’s strict on the finish, but it does deliver in terms of persistence. Excellent. Drink 2026-2046.
91-93 points
Neal Martin - VinousThe Caillerets is often among my favourite premier crus in this cellar, and 2022 is no exception, with its expressive lemon peel and green apple fruit aromas and hints of acacia flowers, flint and spice. The texture is lively, with great tension despite the heat of the year and enough extract to ensure a lingering finish. The grapes are from the 0.17-hectare domaine parcel at the top of the slope. The thin soil just covering the limestone gives a firm mineral underpinning to this wine that sets it apart from the other climats. Drink 2030-2060.
96 points
Charles Curtis MW - DecanterPierre-Yves vines are just in the upper part. Picked the same day as Caroline Morey’s grapes. Another green inflected colour, Less bouquet than hers at the moment. More aquiline with a forceful density in the middle of the palate, less nuanced but equally as intense. Some lime and grapefruit at the finish, chiselled but perhaps less fine? Drink from 2028-2035.
92-94 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 96
- 91
- 94
2022 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Corton Charlemagne Grand CruBurgundy, FRANCE$1480. 00Bottle$17760.00 DozenClosure: CorkAfter leaving his family domaine in 2005, Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey has established himself as one of the rising stars of Burgundy. Pierre-Yves has built a strong reputation for crafting exquisite white Burgundy that display energy and vitality. The white wines are whole bunch pressed, fermented with natural yeasts, aged on lees for up to 18 months in mostly in 350 litre barrels with no lees stirring and no filtration. The corks used come from one tiny supplier and are extra long and extra wide (55mm x 25mm) for the village, 1er cru and Grand cru wines and are untreated with no paraffin and the bottles are then sealed with soft wax to ensure no problems with premature oxidation. The resulting wines are built to age classically up to 10 years or more.
Other Reviews....
Generous wood stops short of fighting with the prominent petrol-scented nose of acacia blossom, soft citrus and a pretty array of spice nuances. The medium weight plus flavors are rich to the point of opulence though with no lack of power and minerality to the palate soaking finish. This is not an elegant rendition of the appellation but it doesn't lack for character or upside development potential. Drink through 2032+.
92-94 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundColin's 2022 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru shows considerable promise, wafting from the glass with aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, freshly baked bread, confit citrus, beeswax and hazelnuts. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, with good depth at the core, racy acids and a taut, electric profile, it's built for the cellar.
94-95 points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2022 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru comes from several plots, a mixture of contracted fruit and others given after just a handshake many years ago. It has a beautifully defined bouquet, fresher than many Corton-Charlemagne, with hints of lemon thyme and orange pith. The palate is lightly spiced, quite sapid in the mouth, with touches of sour lemon. Maybe a little curt on the finish compared to the 2021 that had an edge over this vintage. Drink 2026-2045.
91-93 points
Neal Martin - VinousThis exquisite version of Corton Charlemagne boasts quince and grapefruit aromas adorned with hints of acacia flowers, butter, and spice. The texture is full-bodied and rich but not heavy, with a freshness and concentration that lift it to the next level. The grapes are sourced from two parcels on the hill of Corton: one site in En Charlemagne facing west (for freshness), and one in Languettes facing south (for richness). Colin opines that the Charlemagne vines are much better than 30 years ago. He tries to pick both at the same time for balance. Drink 2027-2055.
96 points
Charles Curtis MW - DecanterMost of the grapes come from the north-west facing part of En Charlemagne, a choice to avoid too much exuberance. Clear pale colour, a little oak showing at the moment, but even so a touch of exotic fruit alongside the minerals. Quite a weight of white flesh here, a sturdy wine which needs long ageing. Drink from 2029-2036.
92-95 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 93
2022 30 Mile Cabernet SauvignonSouth Eastern Australia, AUSTRALIA$10. 99Bottle$131.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA great value entry level Cabernet Sauvignon that shows surprising concentration.
Impressive colour featuring a dense inky black heart alongside a deep dark red black tinged hue. Pronounced ripe blackcurrant and liquorice aromas mix with some cedary tobacco and spicy dried herb notes. Rich blackcurrant fruits are layered across the medium to full bodied palate with surprising concentration. Ripe mulberry, cedary tobacco and spicy dried herb elements lie underneath. Firm grainy tannins lead into a long amply endowed finish. Great Value.
Drink over the next 2-3 years
Alc. 14% -
- 95
2024 Bindi Wines Dhillon Glenhope Vineyard ChardonnayMacedon Ranges, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinRich, concentrated and shapely yet brimming with freshness.
Sourced from 25-year-old vines in the granite-rich soils of northern Macedon Ranges, this Chardonnay highlights both place and precision. Wild yeast fermentation and ten months on solids and lees (with 30% new oak) mirror the approach used for the Bindi Chardonnays.
Brilliant pale straw colour with straw green tinged edges and a watery hue. Pronounced nectarine, peach and grapefruit scents evolve out of the glass complimented by whiffs of dried honey, biscuity oak and gun flint. Rich, concentrated and shapely yet brimming with freshness, the palate is decorated with fleshy peach, nectarine and grapefruit flavours. Infusions of gun flint, subtle dried honey and biscuity oak the undercard. Amply powered it finishes long and textural yet energetic.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 91
2023 Pyrette Heathcote ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: Diam CorkFrom Colbinabbin’s highest block on the Mount Camel Range in Heathcote, Pyrette is produced with the same gentle, detailed approach as Bindi’s Pinots, though here with around 20% whole bunch fermentation. Matured for a year in French oak, the 2023 shows lifted violet, dark plum, earth, and chocolate notes. Expect a supple, medium-weight palate framed by silky tannins and excellent length—equally rewarding now or with eight years in the cellar.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
An exuberant, dark red-purple; a powerful wine with charry oak dominating in this youthful stage, but underneath, a core of dark fruit spiced to the max, infused with cedar and a more exotic sandalwood note. Full bodied, with ripe, powerful tannins and some charcuterie-like reduction, appealing but clips the finish. Give this more time in the cellar to amalgamate. Drink 2025-2035.
91 Points
Jane Faulkner - Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 96
- 97
- 96
2020 Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico Riserva BarbarescoPiedmont, ITALY$190. 00Bottle$2280.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkFrom a not widely known vineyard, Montefico sits half way between Ovello and Montestefano and it is often compared to the latter because of their similar soil (high calcium) and their close proximity. Its warm - full south - exposure is mitigated by the cooler northern wind that occasionally funnels into the narrow valley between the villages of Barbaresco and Neive. First released in 1970, it produces classic Barbaresco wines that could be seen as austere when young but with incredible complexity behind the tannins.
Other Reviews...
Two standouts from the 2020 vintage are Montefico and Asili. The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico comes from a site that is distant from the warm air that travels through the Tanaro River Valley and is closed within an amphitheater. This is a beautiful vineyard that looks toward the village of Neive and has active limestone soils. The wine is especially compact in texture and has a distinctly herbal note, with dried rosemary and lavender, that gives it a Mediterranean or botanical feel. The palate delivers a brief moment of softness, but otherwise the wine is structured and rich. Drink 2026-2050.
96+ points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateA complex, beautifully layered wine, the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico expresses so many of the attributes that make the wines from this vintage and site so intriguing. The bouquet alone is wonderfully complex. Dried herbs, mint, pine, tobacco and cedar open first, leading to a core of chiseled dark-toned fruit. A vertical, structured Barbaresco, the Montefico is superb. Drink 2025-2035.
96 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThe 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is a deep red color, and the nose opens to notes of crushed rosemary, darker crushed stones, and black cherries. The palate is rich in sapidity, saturating the senses with ripe tannins, even acidity, and a long finish. It feels like a more profound and compelling wine in the range for this vintage. Bravo. Drink 2027-2047.
97 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
- 97
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2020 Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva BarbarescoPiedmont, ITALY$190. 00Bottle$2280.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkMontestefano is one of the vineyards with higher concentrations of calcium in the soil; this gives the wine a powerful tannic structure. The extra warmth of the South facing slope is responsible for the full body and meaty texture, resulting in a deep flavoured wine with ripe fruit and tannins. In a wetter season it is usually the last to be picked among the Barbaresco vineyards. This is probably the Barbaresco that reminds more of Barolo where flavours of tar and roses prevail. A truly wonderful Barbaresco, never too heavy on the palate with a classy finish that lingers without overwhelming the senses.
Other Reviews...
Normally, Produttori del Barbaresco President Aldo Vacca puts Montefico, Rabajà, Muncagota and Montestefano at the end of his flight of Riservas. But in this year's presentation, he put the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano fourth to last instead of last. This wine is usually the darkest and the most austere in the series. However, the 2020 does not live up to its usual flavor profile. The aromas are quite ripe, even overripe, with prune and raisin. The tannins are soft, leading to a succulent and chewy mouthfeel. My recommendation is to give this wine a shorter drinking window. Drink 2025-2045.
93 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is one of the most elegant, polished wines in this range. Bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, spice, mint and cedar are beautifully lifted. The tannins are remarkably polished for a young, recently bottled Riserva. I admire its poise and elegance. This is an especially refined edition of the Montestefano. In 2020, the mix of vineyards is a bit younger than in the past, as one of the blocks of older vineyards was replanted and not used. If I could have only one of the Riservas in 2020, this would be it! Drink 2025-2035.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousIn this year and at this stage, the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is not as full as the Montefico, which is the reverse of most years. A deep ruby/red color, it reveals notes of black raspberries, toasted spice, crushed flowers, and sweet earth. The palate is lush and inviting, with a refined and approachable feel. It has a lot more approachability at this stage than you’d expect, with velvety tannins and a long, floating finish. While the palate has less weight, it has an underlying nervous tension, with mouthwatering notes of sanguine, iron-rich mineral accents. Drink 2025-2045.
95+ points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
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2020 Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Riserva BarbarescoPiedmont, ITALY$190. 00Bottle$2280.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkThe Muncagota vineyard looks South/East - facing cooler morning sunshine instead of the warmer afternoon sun. Because of this, it tends to show beautiful floral characteristics and often a specific mint character on the nose. Calcareous soil and a low level of sand gives to the wines of Muncagota extremely focused fruit and firm, stylish tannin. A perfect example of the elegant and intense qualities that make Barbaresco one of the most interesting and unique wines of the world.
Other Reviews...
The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is quite powerful and ample but not fully integrated as of yet. This vineyard site is located in a warm growing area, and you do feel the heat of the vintage in terms of the ripeness of the bouquet and the softness of the tannins. This wine paints with broad brush strokes, offering blackberry, plum and spice. It needs another year or two to find better focus. Drink 2026-2048.
94 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota comes across as somewhat austere today, which is pretty atypical. Floral, mint and white pepper lend notable aromatic brilliance. Deceptively medium in body, the 2020 offers plenty of drive. Floral, savory and mineral notes extend the intense, saline finish. I am curious to taste this again with more time in bottle. Drink 2025-2035.
94 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousComing from a southeast-facing exposure with a cooler climate, the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is a bit lighter by comparison and has more lift aromatically as well, with notes of rosemary, mint, redcurrants, and dried earth. It has a more linear feel and captures a wonderful, refreshing energy, with finer but defined tannins and ripe citrus and apricot on the long finish. I think this is going to be one to watch and could potentially exceed the rest of the wines in the range thus far. Drink 2027-2057.
96+ points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
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2020 Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello Riserva BarbarescoPiedmont, ITALY$190. 00Bottle$2280.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkOvello is the northernmost vineyard in the village of Barbaresco and among the first 5 single-vineyards produced back in 1967. Soils are calcareous and rich in clay: these characterics combined with the cooler microclimate shape its exuberant fruit profile and its fuller body. Due to its powerful structure, some years of bottle ageing are usually required to balance that out.
Other Reviews...
The Ovello vineyard has some northern exposures and generally represents a cooler growing site. You can expect intense fruit flavors and more prominent tannins as a result. The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello fits the bill. Vine growth starts much later and usually lasts longer to produce dark intensity and bold aromas in the wines. In the cold years, the tannins can be aggressive, but in the hot years like 2020, they show better balance. This wine offers ferrous notes of iron and rusty nail followed by cherry-driven sweetness. Drink 2026-2050.
95 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is a massive, packed wine. Graphite, crushed rocks, dried herbs and cedar open first. Ovello tends to produce a more linear style of Barbaresco, and that is very much the case here as well. However, the 2020 also possesses notable depth and layers in the mid-palate. It's a gorgeous wine in the making. Drink 2025-2035.
95 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThe nose of the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello offers a more woodsy profile, with aromas of pine, leather, black raspberries, sweet floral perfume, and licorice candies. The palate is compact and nervous, with dark mineral accents, refreshing, ripe acidity, and a long finish. It is going to benefit from another couple of years and show its best over the following 10, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see it evolve for 15-20 years either. There were 19,425 bottles and 1,954 magnums produced. Drink 2027-2037.
95+ points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
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2020 Produttori del Barbaresco Paje Riserva BarbarescoPiedmont, ITALY$190. 00Bottle$2280.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkPajè is in a small bowl facing South/West and it lies between the village itself and the famous Asili vineyard. The vineyard is slightly lower in altitude and more open to the Tanaro River influence, resulting in a cooler microclimate. The soil is limestone with a high calcium level and as a result the wine combines elegance and complexity with intense tannins; it is never shy in acidity. Pajè appears sharper and brighter in its first years, with lovely youthful fruit and flowery notes, almost minty in cooler vintages and is particularly attractive after some ageing, when the wine still retains a fruitful and fresh palate.
Other Reviews...
The Pajè vineyard faces the Tanaro River and is tucked at back of a narrow theater of vines. The site is often characterized by a floral note of rose and violet that comes thought nicely in the Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè. With those sweet floral notes comes an open-knit mouthfeel and a more immediate drinking style with soft, silky tannins. In fact, this was the second of nine wines served in a flight that started with the lightest Riservas and ended with the most powerful wines. Drink 2025-2045.
93 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is a classic wine from this site. Deeply spiced and balsamic notes meld into a core of dark, sepia-toned Nebbiolo fruit. A Barbaresco of real presence and substance, the Pajè makes itself felt. It's one of my early dark horse favorites in this range from Produttori del Barbaresco. Drink 2025-2035.
95 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThe 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Paje' pours a deeper red hue and is polished on the nose with aromas of black cherries, candied berries, polished leather, sweet herbs, and balsamic herbs. Usually, this site has a brighter, more floral character, but here it has a bit more richness, with an outstanding balance of savoriness, velvety textured tannins, and dark, stony underpinnings seamlessly weaving together through the long finish. It’s an exceptional wine in this vintage and should have a wide window for enjoyment over the coming 20 years. Drink 2025-2045.
96+ points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
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2020 Produttori del Barbaresco Pora Riserva BarbarescoPiedmont, ITALY$190. 00Bottle$2280.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkProximity to the Tanaro River creates a unique microclimate for the Pora, as well as a relative warmth in the early morning hours due to its proximity to the valley floor. The slightly higher soil fertility here gives to the wine a smoother character, with soft tannins and aromas that usually tend to open up in the early years of life. Pora is also one of the most historical vineyards in Barbaresco, as it was part of the property of Domizio Cavazza.
Other Reviews...
This is the first wine served in a flight of nine that increase in intensity and power moving forward. The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pora opens to a medium-light color with garnet highlights. Aromas include wild cherry, cassis and blue flower. You also get hints of crushed limestone. The Pora vineyard is near the Tanaro River Valley, where warm air accumulates, and the vines are planted in fertile soils. The extra heat and humidity of the area makes for accessible wines that are ready to drink and are less complex overall. Drink 2025-2045.
93 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is aromatic, effusive and quite charming. Crushed flowers, spice, leather, tobacco and cedar lend notable inner sweetness. Medium in body and gracious, the Pora is pretty approachable today, although it will be better with a few years in bottle. This is a very beautiful, vivid Pora and a fine introduction to the Riservas. Drink 2025-2035.
93 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThe 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Poracome from a cru that lies closer to the Tanaro River, with more fertile soils, which lends it the slightly more open and easygoing feel that’s typical of this site. It sports a youthful red color in the glass and opens to notes of preserved cranberry, mossy forest floor, dried spice, and pressed flowers. Medium-bodied, it floats on the palate with a medium frame, fine tannins, and a weightless feel. It’s more open and approachable at this stage but will drink well over the coming 12-15 years. There were 20,000 bottles produced. Drink 2025-2040.
94 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
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2020 Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja Riserva BarbarescoPiedmont, ITALY$190. 00Bottle$2280.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkRabajà produces a quintessential Barbaresco, one of the most complete and balanced of the single vineyards. The vineyard lies between the two main ridges that form the Barbaresco village, one starting at Rabajà and going West towards the Tanaro River and the other one that goes from Rabajà to Ovello, South to North. The meeting of these two different soils give Rabajà its incredible complexity. Bordering both Asili and Muncagota it combines the personality of those two great vineyards with and extra richness due to the South/West warm exposure.
Other Reviews...
In this vintage, the Rabajà was served last in a series of nine Riservas; that's because it shows the most structure and power over a very defined and sharp mouthfeel. The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is streamlined and tight and a wine of enormous energy. The fruit is crunchy and tight with cassis and blackberry. A pretty mineral note defines Rabajà, giving it a chalky or powdery sensations on the close. Drink 2026-2050.
95 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is another stellar wine in this range. Dark and explosive, the 2021 possesses notable richness to match its dark, brooding personality. Black cherry, plum, leather, cloves, menthol, licorice and gravel explode onto the palate. The 2020 will require a measure of patience, but it has a ton of potential. Drink 2025-2035.
97 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousBoasting a deep youthful red color and a very complete nose at this early tasting, the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja is brooding with dark aromas of ripe cherry, espresso crema, and leather, balanced with brighter highlights of red flowers, dusty earth, and fresh mint. The palate has a good deal of focus on the palate, with ripe and precise acidity, refined tannins, and a long finish. It is an impressive wine that I would encourage readers to seek out. Drink 2025-2050.
98 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com -
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2020 Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Riserva BarbarescoPiedmont, ITALY$190. 00Bottle$2280.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkNot far from the Tanaro River lies Rio Sordo, in the southern part of the Barbaresco village. The light limestone soil with relatively low calcium content (compared to other areas of Barbaresco) produces wines where tannins are never dominant, instead they show a silky quality on the palate that makes them extremely attractive and seductive, never imposing and always elegant. Behind the smooth elegance however, lies a core of powerful structure and very well balanced tannins that give to the Rio Sordo its complexity and longevity.
Other Reviews...
The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo comes from an area that is further removed from the Tanaro River and has southwestern exposures. It shows a typical profile for Nebbiolo with rich fruit, a velvety mouthfeel and textural volume that is delivered with ample blackberry, blackcurrant and spice. The character of this wine is generous and rich. There is plenty of meat on these bones. Drink 2026-2050.
94 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is pretty closed today, which is probably a very good sign for its aging prospects, as this site tends to produce wines that are more open than this. Dark cherry, plum, leather, incense and tobacco offer a decidedly somber expression of Rio Sordo. The 2020 clearly needs time. Drink 2025-2035.
94 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThe nose of the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is quite expressive and spiced, showing very nicely with ripe aromas of wild raspberries, cherries, fresh herbs, and blood orange spice. The palate gains in intensity, with good energy and a mineral drive. A very successful wine in this vintage, it’s going to have plenty of life over the next 15-20 years. 13,333 bottles were produced. Drink 2025-2045.
96 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com - The GlenAllachie Meikle Tòir The Sherry One 5 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$124. 99Bottle$1499.88 DozenABV: 48%
"For a 5 year-old this is complex and rewarding. My favourite so far. " - whiskynotes.be
Producing peated whiskies was always in the pipeline for Master Distiller, Billy Walker. The dream is now a reality. His new series named 'Meikle Tor' (which means "Big pursuit") is a first for The GlenAllachie and has had a staggered release in Australia. Finally, most of the range is here, (mostly) differentiated by cask type, including The Original One, The Chinquapin One and now The Sherry One - the latter considered a high point for value. Some say it even beats Lagavulin 16 year old. Initially aged in American oak followed by PX and Oloroso Sherry puncheons for three years, the spirit is peated to 35 PPM. Walker employs a remarkably long 160-hour fermentation and uses mainland peat from St. Fergus (think Ardmore), imbuing a sweet and smoky profile. Production takes place for around six weeks per year. The whisky is bottled at 48% and is non-chill filtered, further enhancing the bang for your buck.
Other reviews... It’s that warming, soothing smoke acting as a through line for all these whiskies so far. The Sherry One is enhanced by the ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximénez puncheons. Punching above its weight. - wordsofwhisky.com
...Overall the Oloroso and PX puncheons are quite balanced and the peat is big enough to keep the upper hand. For a 5 year-old this is complex and rewarding. My favourite so far. - whiskynotes.be
Aged in a mix of oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheons. The nose is dusty and dark with baking cocoa and fresh brewed coffee. A lift of citrus – blood orange and eventually sticky marmalade – arrives with time in the glass, but it never gets much beyond those dark roasted notes, all of which are accentuated by smoldering smoke and mild incense. The palate starts out lush with dark berries and treacle but dries out a little on the midpalate with notes of char and walnut skins before settling into a warm balance on a generous finish of fig jam, silky milk chocolate, and candied orange peel. - drinkhacker.com
- Marionette Amaretto Liqueur (500ml)AUSTRALIA$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenABV: 25%
Almonds from the Keen family's lush biodynamic orchards on the Murray, macerated with a lick of golden syrup and a dash of salt are at the heart of Marionette's Amaretto. A marzipan character from Goulburn Valley apricot kernels, held over from Marionette Apricot Brandy and Muscat from Australia's fortified-wine heartland of Rutherglen round out this cocktail staple. Unflocked and only lightly filtered, creating a hazy liqueur packed full of natural flavour, this Amaretto is rich and nutty with a touch of marzipan, bolstered by varietal raisin notes from the Muscat. Enjoy it in a Mai Tai, Godfather, or Amaretto Sour, or try using it as a substitute for orgeat in cocktails. 25% Alc./Vol.
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2022 Nicks Secret AC Blewitt Springs SyrahMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $54.99$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinFrom a renown McLaren Vale winery, this is one of their flagship cuvees which is only released in top years. Sitting at an altitude of 200 metres the Blewitt Springs sub region normally ripens 1-2 weeks later than most other areas in McLaren Vale producing refined wines that have a silken feel and gorgeous layers of rich blue to black fruit.
Sleek and glossy textured this is a gorgeous marriage of opulence and finesse.
Midnight black heart with a dark purple black tinged hue. Wafting out of the glass are seductive aromas of blackberry, liquorice and dark plum which are complimented by spicy vanillin cedar, traces of dark chocolate, earth and peppered fennel notes. A rich, silky flow of dark plum, liquorice and blackberry fruits caress the full bodied yet wonderfully refined and polished palate. Vanillin cedar, subtle earthy dark chocolate and peppered fennel accents line the back half. Outstanding in it’s power and depth, it possesses velvety tannins and a long glossy textured finish that marries opulence with finesse.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
From three sandy sites, two planted in the '70s and one the late '90s; 14% whole bunch in the final blend; matured in French barrels (12% new) and a 2600L foudre. This is the most aromatic and lifted of the triad of single-site syrah in this range, which is unsurprising given the sandy soils. It doesn’t lack for depth and intensity though, the fruits simply more red, blurring a little into black, the structure tautly tensioned, the finale pleasingly brisk. Sour plum and cherry, tart blackberry, clove and pepper, struck rock, iron and black tea. It’s a lovely expression, just starting to suggest some tertiary perfume, which promises to build appealingly. It’s very good. Drink by 2035.
96 Points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionAn impressive nose of blackberries, dried kelp, violets and licorice. The structure is a taut coil, like a spring contracting and expanding across gritty, detailed tannins melded to saline acidity. Iodine reduction, nicely handled. Full-weighted but detailed and classy. Drinkable now, but best from 2027. Screw cap.
95 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
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Kitajima Strawberry Yuzushu (720ml)Shiga, JAPAN$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenABV: 7%Closure: Screw CapA new twist in the yuzushu space this time sees Shiga brewers Kitajima mix Shizuoka's famous Beni Hoppe strawberries with sake and fresh yuzu juice. Lush and viscous in the glass, the fresh strawberry notes are delicate, layered with guava, watermelon, and meringue. Strawberries and cream dominate the initial tasting, leading to tropical guava juice, while the deft yuzu citrus lift at the finish works wonders to keep this bright and refreshing. A moreish aperitif chilled on its own, it would also excel in strawberry cocktails or even topped with prosecco for a gorgeous pink toned spritz. 7% Alc./Vol. Refrigerate after opening.
















































