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2023 Domaine Metrat et Fils Constance ChiroublesBeaujolais, FRANCE$33. 99Bottle$407.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA mid weighted, amply fleshed Beaujolais that finishes fresh, spicy and juicy.
From 60 year old vines. Deep black dark purple heart with a dark purple red hue. A mix of sour to dark cherry, strawberry, earthy incense, Herbs du Provence and spice aromas greet the nostrils with admirable intensity. Rich morello to dark cherry and strawberry fruits infused with earthy incense characters carry a well fleshed feel across the mid weighted palate. Spicy herbs du Provence also chime in. Slightly grainy tannins with the fresh, spicy finish loaded with juicy fruit.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 91
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2023 J. Moreau & Fils Les Coches Pinot NoirVin de France, FRANCE$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA juicy, amply fruited Pinot.
Deep dark red core with black toned edges and a dark red hue. Ripe morello and dried cherry aromas mix with anise, earthy incense and spicy dried herb notes. Juicy morello and dark cherry fruits meld into a ripe strawberry, anise, earthy incense and spicy dried herb back drop. Ripe, gently chewy tannins with a fleshy feel to the amply fruited mid length finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2021 Thierry Laffay Chablis Premier Cru VaillonsChablis, FRANCE$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkLively and sculptured with a dry, tense finish.
Bright yellow straw colour with a watery hue. Captivating the olfactory senses are gorgeous pear, lime, oyster shell and subtle dried honey aromas with some wet stone notes trailing off into the distance. Lime, green pear and Granny Smith apple fruits are sculptured by lemony acidity with some chalky mineral characters lingering across the back half. Lively, it finishes dry and tense.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 94
2024 Sella & Mosca Cala Reale Vermentino di SardegnaSardinia, ITALY$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 13.5%Closure: Diam CorkTerrific concentration and textural shape with zingy fruit lining the palate.
Brilliant pale straw colour with flashes of green to the edges and a watery hue. Delightful lime and green apple aromas infused with fresh herbs jump out of the glass followed by some citrus and stony mineral notes. Terrific concentration and textural shape with zingy lime, green to red apple, guava and pear fruits flooding the mouth. Infusions of fresh herbs and mineral elements lend further interest. Crisp acidity with a long, wonderfully fresh and beautifully fleshed finish. A superb example of Vermentino.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 94
- 95
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Robin Brockett Fenwick Vineyard Pinot NoirBellarine Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinMid weighted and fleshy with a medium to long supplely textured finish.
Aged for 12 months in French oak with the inclusion of whole bunches in the ferment. Dark red core with black toned edges and a red tinged hue. Intense ripe dark cherry, strawberry and anise aromas are complimented by some toasty cedar, dried herb, forest floor and spicy rhubarb notes. Fleshy in its feel, the mid weighted palate features ripe dark cherry, strawberry and plum fruits over an anise, brambly cedar, earth and spicy dried herb back drop. Polished tannins with a medium to long supplely textured finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews….
From a 26-year-old vineyard in Wallington on the Bellarine Peninsula. A bright ruby red. Even more perfumed and lifted than the 2021 release. Aromas of wild strawberry, pomegranate and peony. Silky textured, this medium-bodied wine has excellent mid-palate richness while remaining extremely light on its feet. Another delightful and well-made wine from Robin Brockett. Drink by 2029.
95 Points
Philip Rich – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
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2024 Rivulet Glaziers Bay Pinot NoirTasmania, AUSTRALIA$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinCaptivating aromas with a rich, fleshy textured mid weight palate and long expansive finish.
Deep dark red core with black toned edges and a vibrant red to dark red hue. Captivating aromas of violet, dark cherry, strawberry and anise sail out of the glass with a perfumed like intensity. Forest floor, spicy cedar and dried herb notes ensue. Rich, fleshy textured dark to black cherry, anise and strawberry flavours fan out across the mid weighted palate like a peacocks tail. Smoky cedar, forest floor and spicy dried herb elements are also evident. Excellent power wave with fine grained tannins and a long expansive finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews…..
Pinot noir sourced from the Elsewhere vineyard in the Huon Valley; 20% whole bunch this year, matured for 10 months in French oak (30% new). An uptick in new oak this year for those playing at home, but the balance is bang on once again. Red cherry, raspberry and cranberry notes with medina spice, amaro, char siu, Chinese barbecue joint, twiggy bits and bobs and shiitake. Stony and composed on the palate. This has powdered riverstone tannins, a briny driveline and a stony finish that shows great tension and resolve. Nice one. Drink by 2036.
95 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThis too is dry-grown on the Elsewhere Vineyard in the Huon Valley. 175 dozen were produced. 20% whole bunches and 30% new oak.
This wine is still settling, as if still rehearsing its lines and/or songs, but the set list that it has at its disposal is killer. The depth of fruit here, the inbuilt complexity, the wave of perfectly formed tannin and extension through the finish; every aspect is top notch. It tastes of both black cherries and red plums, cedarwood and cream, but it’s the tobacco and undergrowth characters humming away in the background and that rumble of earth-shot tannin that really draws you in. Be patient. This will be excellent. Drink 2027-2033+
94 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front -
- 94
2024 Gill Estate Rivah TempranilloVictoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinJuicy dark fruits with slightly chewy tannins and a long savoury finish.
Dark red in colour with black tinged edges and a dark red hue. Fragrant dark to black cherry and liquorice scents sail out of the glass followed by some scorched earth, dried herbs and spicy incense like notes. Juicy dark and morello cherry fruits are intermeshed with liquorice, earthy incense and spicy dried herb characters. Slightly chewy tannins with a long savoury finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 89
Ballykeefe Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (700ml)IRELAND$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 46%A 30ml sample yields aromas of cereals and cream tea biscuits leading into a rounded, medium-bodied delivery, mimicking the nose as it glides over the tongue, leaving a residual oily, pot still character. Juicy middle; ends warming, crisp, vaguely fruity (dried apples, pears). Rebounds with a vanilla-wafer flourish. An easy-going personality with typical Irish pot still delicacy. 46% Alc.Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... Medium golden straw color. Aromas and flavors of green apple and lemon, green grains, wet grass, and oatmeal raisin cookies with a silky, lively, dry medium body and a compelling, medium-to-long finish imparting accents of tart green apple, honey, lemon curd on white bread with caraway seeds, and spring meadow. A nice Whiskey with a good future; a solid example of the style. 88 points - tastings.com
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Ballykeefe Single Malt Irish Whiskey (700ml)IRELAND$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenSlightly more expressive than its Pot Still sibling, the aroma conjures frail scents of balsa wood, hay, poached pears in wine, green apples and light vanilla. It's also a more delicately textured whiskey suggesting flavours of sweet cereals and stewed orchard fruits, building succulence, ending crunchy, lipsmacking and gently spiced. Like a lightly fruited Speysider, but of an altogether softer variety. 46% Alc./vol. Non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... Light gold color. Aromas and flavors of partially baked bread dough, birch soda and cherry wood, under ripe musk melon, and black pepper with a satiny, lively, dry medium body and a peppery, interesting, medium-length finish displaying notes of pepper and baking spices in fresh bread dough, tart green fruit, dark honey, and parchment. Very tasty with loads of potential demanding your attention to pick out all of its complexities. 89 points - tastings.com
This single malt opens with a punchy and pungent nose, leading with barnyard, wet hay, and honey. Over time, these aromas drift away and chamomile tea with honey, spearmint, hot pretzels, and wildflowers emerge. The palate is complex, too. Sweet tea, marzipan, and sweet granola stand on the front lines, with black pepper, faint cayenne, and forest floor reinforcement. The finish is long, rich, and floral, fading to hay and cereal grains. 92 points - whiskyadvocate.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: A Gentle nose with notes of Toasted Oak, Citrus and Coconut, resolving to Apple Sponge.Taste: At first Malt and Fruit dominate with Mango and a hint of ripe Banana. Then Toffee Apple fading to Crème Brûlée. Finish: Long finish with notes of Apple Custard and a hint of Cloves.
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- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Gundog Estate Wild SemillonHunter Valley, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 11%Closure: StelvinLight and zippy with a refreshingly fruity finish.
Brilliant water like core with distinct highlights of green around the outskirts. Lime zest and Granny Smith apple scents are followed by whiffs of lemon butter and flinty mineral notes. Light and zippy, lime and green apple skin flavours are featured over delicate orange and mineral elements. Crisp acidity with a refreshingly fruity finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 11% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Snake & Herring Dirty Boots Cabernet SauvignonMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinMid weighted with finely chiselled tannins and a refined, savoury conclusion.
Midnight black core with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Elevated blackcurrant, black olive and mulberry aromas intermingle with cigar box, earth and spicy herb notes. Mid weighted, blackcurrant and mulberry fruits meld into a dried herb, cedary tobacco, earth and spicy black olive back drop. Finely chiselled tannins provide structure. Concludes refined and savoury with a sturdy feel.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 95
- 95
- 96
2024 Paralian Bowyer Ridge Vineyard ChardonnayAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinLong, shapely and refined.
Brilliant pale straw colour with distinct highlights of green skirting the rim and a watery hue. Elevated aromas of white peach, pear and nectarine mix with cashew, dried honey, biscuity nougat and spice notes. Mid weighted, fleshy pear and nectarine fruits intermeshed with cashew, dried honey, biscuity nougat and spice carry a creamy textural feel. There’s an underlying lemony freshness with the finish long, shapely and refined.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews….
Combining intensity with thrilling verve is a bit of a trademark here, with all the winemaking tools that make chardonnay so compelling, but each exercised with due restraint. White nectarine, lemon curd and yellow grapefruit are accented with salted praline, roasted hazelnuts and crystallised ginger, the balance of textural sway, fruit intensity, acid verve and fine pithiness are à point, the quiet power of it impressive. Excellent. Drink by 2032.
95 Points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionWhite peach, grapefruit, almond, cinnamon and vanilla, green olive, with a light clip of struck match. It’s fine and flinty, an almond richness with bright and tangy mixed citrus, a bit of electricity about it, though it’s still cool, calm and collected. The finish has lime and lime rind bite, and heaps good length. A beautiful wine. It’s a toss up between 95 and 96 points for me, though the length, intensity and overall class gets me over the line. Drink 2025-2032+
96 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front -
- 96
2023 Cloudy Bay Te Koko Sauvignon BlancMarlborough, NEW ZEALAND$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinComplex and powerful Sauvignon Blanc.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with green toned edges and a watery hue. Captivating the olfactory senses are passionfruit, gooseberry, lime and spicy green apple scents which move out of the glass with terrific intensity. Lending further complexity are some herbaceous grassy notes, asparagus and delicate flinty mineral aromas. Mouth watering lime, passionfruit, ripe gooseberry and green apple fruits are delivered with outstanding concentration and power. Herbaceous grassy characters, asparagus and delicate spicy pencil shaving elements lie underneath. Complimenting the expansive volume of fruit is crisp acidity. Exceptionally long and moreish finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 93
2022 The Willows Vineyard ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.6%Closure: StelvinRich and plump with bright underlying acidity and velvety tannins.
Seven generations of the Scholz family have been farming The Willows property since 1845. Their estate Shiraz is sourced from 2 to 3 different blocks with the vine age varying from 20 to 55 years old. Maturation took place in 80% French and 20% American oak hogsheads for a period of 24 months.
Magnificent colour featuring a super dense inky black heart and a deep dark red black tinged hue. Ripe dark plum, liquorice and dark chocolate aromas engulf the nostrils followed by some vanillin oak, mocha and spice notes. Rich plump dark plum, liquorice and blackberry fruits are interwoven with spicy vanillin oak and earthy mocha elements. Bright underlying acidity and velvety tannins with a plush finish that’s medium to long.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.6% -
- 83
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Kemosabe Heathcote ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$21. 99Bottle$263.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinEdgy acidity, prominent toasty vanillin oak and firmish, slightly bitter tannins with a short, shrill finish.
Impenetrable inky black in colour with a very deep dark red black hue. Plummy liquorice like aromas are trailed by some vanillin confectionary and spicy oak notes. Bright, edgy acidity with prominent toasty vanillin oak overwhelming the fruit. Firmish, slightly bitter tannins with a short, shrill confectionary like finish. Pass.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 94
2023 Sons of Eden Kennedy Grenache Shiraz MourvedreBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA rich, succulent GSM that shows plenty of torque.
Named as a tribute to the legendary Barossa Vignerons who pioneered the planting of the old treasured vineyards, the Grenache fruit is the ‘soul’ of this blend and is predominately sourced from an exceptionally low yielding 60+ year-old Light Pass Vineyard. It was originally planted by the Kennedy Family, with ownership eventually being passed onto the charismatic Leo ‘Joe’ KENNEDY who nurtured the vines for many years, selling his prized fruit to local winemakers.
A blend of 46% Grenache, 35% Shiraz and 19% Mourvedre sourced from a wide variety of Barossa’s sub districts with the vines aged between 31 to 98 years old. Maturation took place in a mixture of seasoned oak hogsheads and puncheons for a period 12 months.
Deep dark red black colour with a dark red hue. Elevating their way out of the glass with plenty of intensity are aromas of dark raspberry, liquorice and dark plum followed by some vanillin spice, hints of blueberry and subtle earth. Rich, succulent dark raspberry, liquorice, plum and blueberry fruits glide across the palate with a velvety feel. Spicy vanilla, earthy dried herb and pepper elements ensue. Showing plenty of torque it has silky tannins and a long, sumptuous finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
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2023 Heirloom Vineyards McLaren Vale ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, dense and sturdily built with a lush, youthfully inky finish.
Spectacular colour featuring an impenetrable inky black heart along with an equally deep black dark red hue. Dark plum, liquorice and black cherry aromas are intermeshed with smoky vanillin cedar, earthy fennel and pepper notes. Rich, dense and sturdily built, the full bodied palate is engulfed with luscious black cherry, liquorice and dark plum fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, fennel and peppered earth characters sit in the background. Lively acidity with a chewy yet opulent mouth feel and muscular tannin structure. Lush, youthfully inky finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews…..
Aged mainly in third- and fourth-fill American and French oak, with some new barrels, for 16 months. There’s something reassuringly classic about this, about the silky cascade of brambly forest fruits, the inflections of chocolate and humus-rich earth, some iodine and violet, the light sprinkling of warm spices and dried herbs. Yes, it’s familiar, but it’s not old fashioned, with balance à point and oak a present but discreet chaperone. Tradition with a modern lens, and delicious drinking. Drink by 2033.
93 Points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
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2025 Nicks Secret Clare Valley JT RieslingClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $19.99$12. 99Bottle$155.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 11%Closure: StelvinFrom the world renowned Watervale district, this scrumptious Riesling is a blend of three vineyard sites, one planted in the 1930’s and the other two dating back 20 to 30 years. 2025 was one of the driest, warmest, and earliest vintages that the Clare Valley has ever seen resulting in low yields but exceptional fruit quality.
Classic lip-smacking Watervale Riesling at a bargain basement price.
Brilliant water like core with greenish tinged edges. Leaping out of the glass are intense lime, lemon and orange rind aromas which are trailed by some chalky talc and flinty mineral notes. Zesty and crunchy fresh, concentrated lime, lemon and orange rind fruits engulf the mouth watering palate. Chalky talc, subtle green apple and flinty mineral elements underscore the back half. Superb drive with crisp acidity leading into a long lip-smacking finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 11%Other Reviews….
Some of the vines used for this very youthful but delightfully fresh Riesling from the Watervale sub-region date back to the 1930s. Pale lemon in colour, this is beautifully perfumed, with notes of lemon curd, spices, florals and grapefruit. A fine line of minerals and river stones in the background as support. There is fine balance and bright acidity, which runs the full journey. Enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Stunning value. Drink 2025-2040.
94 points
Ken Gargett - WinePilot.com
It's elegant and beautifully scented on the nose, with aromas of green apple, white-fleshed nectarine, fig and lime peel. The palate is concentrated and focused with fine flow, backed by beautifully pitched acidity, making it wonderfully structured and harmonious with a sustained, refined finish.
94 Points
Sam Kim – Wine Orbit -
- 97
2019 Stella di Campalto Brunello di Montalcino BaciaTuscany, ITALY$825. 00Bottle$9900.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Bacia is deep and complex, mixing black cherries with cedar box, autumnal spice, mentholated herbs and a dusting of cocoa. This speaks in bass tones, with dark, saturating red fruit and minerals excited by a core of brisk acidity and a balsamic tinge that defines the close. It finishes with tremendous length, staining and intense, leaving a primary concentration of cranberry and blackberry to mingle with sweet tannins. The 2019 Bacia is a bombshell beauty. Of note, this bottling may be renamed prior to its release in March 2025. Drink 2028-2040.
97-99 points
Eric Guido - Vinous -
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2018 Stella di Campalto Brunello di Montalcino AriaTuscany, ITALY$825. 00Bottle$9900.00 DozenABV: 14%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The sweetly scented 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Aria is an understated beauty, featuring hints of rose petals, wild strawberries, potpourri and cinnamon sticks. It’s lifted and ethereal, with pillowy textures and a pure blend of wild berries that cascade beneath an air of violet pastille. Steely minerality emerges through the long yet fresh finish as vivid nuances of blackberry, plum and licorice linger on. The 2018 Aria is spellbinding, with an energy that is seldom seen these days in Montalcino. Drink 2027-2038.
97 points
Eric Guido - VinousThis wine has not yet been released, but it will hit foreign markets in March or April 2025 and the Italian market in September 2025. The Stella di Campalto 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Podere S. Giuseppe Aria is named after the Italian word for "air." The reason for this choice could be linked to the elegantly open-knit texture of the wine that is amply interspaced with layers of dark fruit, spice and crushed stone. That mineral signature is beautiful. Stella di Campalto says the name pays tribute to the manner in which each of her vineyard plots filters air in its own distinct manner, resulting in a unique ripeness. This wine is bright and weightless with a subtle flurry of redcurrant and iris root. The wine does not have the same tannic structure that you get in the Bosco, and for that reason, it remains feather-light and, yes, airy. Drink 2027-2040.
95 points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - Tomintoul - Glenlivet 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) - Perfume Bottle - 1970/80s BottlingSpeyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenABV: 43%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Having only been founded in 1964, this bottling of Tomintoul was produced after a large expansion of their production capability. Two more stills were added after being purchased by Scottish & Universal Investment Trust in 1973. This expansion also turned their focus towards producing Single Malts as opposed to committing their stocks to blenders.
Other reviews...
...Cake, dried oranges, camomile, grains… - whiskyfun.com - Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky (750ml) - 1970s BottlingSCOTLAND$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 43%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
This one is a little special. Reportedly the last of the fuller-bodied, richer Black Label vintages. It was potentially a prophetic idea to label them as "Extra Special", as the 90s did not hold up the standard, according to enthusiasts. A must on the bucket list of any JW aficionado. 43% Alc./Vol. -
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- 95
2023 Greywacke Wild SauvignonMarlborough, NEW ZEALAND$42. 99Bottle$515.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinConcentrated and textural with mouth filling flavours and refreshing acidity.
Fermented predominately in old oak barrels using wild yeast then matured in the same barrels for around 6 months with occasional lees stirring. Approximately two-thirds underwent malolactic fermentation.
Brilliant pale straw colour with green tinged edges and a watery hue. Intense gooseberry and citrus aromas infused with a mix of herbaceous grassy characters, pencil shavings, asparagus and spice emanating from the glass. Concentrated and texturally voluminous in it’s flow across the palate, mouth filling ripe gooseberry, passionfruit, pear and lime fruits meld into a back drop of herbaceous grassy elements, pencil shavings and spice. Refreshing acidity with a long generously endowed finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13.5%
Other Reviews.....
A wine for pausing and taking it all in. This is alluring with its passionfruit gels, tangerine and lemon myrtle oil. Some frangipani and candle wax. Dried hay and barley crop. The palate extends the robust flavour of grilled nuts and manuka honey, with good skin and oak texture. Some bitter orange on the finish. A wine with lots of detail and complexity. Drink by 2030.
95 points
Shanteh Wale - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 95
2024 Kanta RieslingAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$37. 99Bottle$455.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13.8%Closure: StelvinWonderfully intense and mouth watering with plentiful textural volume counterpointed by shimmering acidity.
Kanta Riesling by Egon Müller is a unique winemaking partnership where German tradition and precision meets the premium, cool climate fruit from the Adelaide Hills. Fruit is sourced from the Argyle Vineyard, a high altitude Adelaide Hills site that sits over 400m above sea level and is flecked with traces of iron stone. Rejuvenated in 1999, the original plantings date back to the 1840’s making them some of the oldest vines in South Australia.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with green tinted edges and a watery hue. Nosing offers up aromas of red apple skin, lime and honeysuckle with some orange blossom and flinty mineral notes also evident. Wonderfully intense the palate features mouth watering lime, red apple, pear and citrus fruits which carry plentiful textural volume. Shimmering acidity with orange and flinty mineral elements the undercard. Superb drive finishing long, dry and scrumptious.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.8% -
- 94
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- 93
- Organic
2023 A. Christmann Olberg-Hart Riesling Grosses GewachsPfalz, GERMANY$230. 00Bottle$2760.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkOther Reviews....
From 34-year-old vines on tertiary limestone soils. the 2023 Ölberg-Hart Königsbach Riesling VDP.Grosse Lage is deep, pure, flinty and particularly smoky on the intense and complex, distinctively mineral nose. The wine is pure, saline and tensioned on the palate yet also reveals ripe and dense as well as juicy fruit with a fine and persistent mineral structure and lingering salinity. This is a young but complex GG from Königsbach. 12% stated alcohol. Diam 30 cork. Tasted at the domaine in January 2024. Drink 2026-2055.
93 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Königsbach Ölberg-Hart Grosses Gewächs comes from the core parcel of the Ölberg on calcareous marl. Yeasty funk on the nose, for now, obscures the fruit. However, the palate is bright, lithe, vivid and citric, with a beautiful concentration and supple, smooth, cooling depth. There is an excellent combination of profound freshness and supple, slender mouthfeel. (Bone-dry) Drink 2028-2050.
94 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousComplex herbal aromas are interwoven with intense Amalfi lemon fruit and a very subtle flinty character that gives this stunning Pfalz riesling GG an electric vitality. The freshness on the extremely focused medium-bodied palate must be experienced to be believed. Incredibly long, precise and stony finish. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.
97 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
- 96
- 99
- 97
- Organic
2023 A. Christmann Idig Riesling Grosses GewachsPfalz, GERMANY$240. 00Bottle$2880.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Idig Königsbach Riesling VDP.Grosse Lage is deep, ripe, pure and intense on the nose that reveals concentrated fruit intermingled with saline notes. Full-bodied, intense and dense in its texture, this is a compact, saline and very mineral, still tight and crunchy yet stimulating Idig with fine tannins and a long, intense and sustainable finish. 12% stated alcohol. Diam 30 cork. Tasted at the domaine in January 2024. Drink 2025-2060.
97 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateFor now, the 2023 Riesling Königsbach Idig Grosses Gewächs is faintly citric on the nose. However, the palate sprays with lemon and fizzes with brightness and vivid juiciness, evoking a rushing brook, running over mossy stones, cooling, pure and rapid. Everything here is alive with citric verve, leaving such a gorgeous, long citrus savor. The 2023 is wonderful and so pure. (Bone-dry) Drink 2028-2060.
96 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousIntensely flinty and expressive on the nose like a young Chablis Grand Cru, this great Pfalz dry riesling very slowly unwinds on the palate. Gigantic power and energy are pressed into a sleek silhouette, with an Amalfi lemon freshness that’s off the scale. How can you not be moved by the almost endless finish of this great masterpiece of minerality? From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.
99 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
- 94
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- 96
- Organic
2023 A. Christmann Vogelsang Riesling Grosses GewachsPfalz, GERMANY$240. 00Bottle$2880.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Vogelsang Neustadt Riesling VDP.Grosse Lage is from pure Muschelkalk soils and opens with a pure yet intense and mineral as well as sur lie-scented nose of very fine Riesling berries. Round and elegant on the palate, this is a full-bodied, pure, saline and crunchy Riesling whose style is clearly aligned with the Pinot Noir. This is based on vines planted in the early 1980s and a very small part of very young vines from 2019. 12% stated alcohol. Diam 30 cork. Tasted at the domaine in January 2024. Drink 2028-2060.
96 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Neustadter Vogelsang Grosses Gewächs is grown on Triassic limestone, rising up to 320 meters and benefiting from cooler winds at night but facing due south. Just a touch of spice, reminiscent of cumin seed, appears on the shy nose. The palate is slender and traces a central spine of citric brightness that is luminous and seems to sink deep into the soil. It is strait-laced, lemony, taut, bright, vivacious, pristine and pure. (Bone-dry) Drink 2028-2050.
94 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThe striking nose of lemon curd pulls you inexorably into this masterpiece of northerly riesling elegance, from a region where warmth and generosity prevail. Excellent concentration without a hint of weight. It is this delicacy that makes the wine so compelling. I love the elegance of the very long and precise finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
- 96
- 93
- Organic
2023 Gunderloch Hipping Riesling Grosses GewachsRheinhessen, GERMANY$130. 00Bottle$1560.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Hipping Nierstein Riesling VDP.GG initially shows a restrained, slightly phenolic nose with a dense, light fruitiness that has some tropical notes, such as lychee. It is juicy and creamy on the palate, with a beautiful fullness combined with elegance. The finish is dense and mineral, quite complex and long, although not as refined as the Pettenthal or Rothenberg wines. Tasted at the Vorpremiere VDP.Grosses Gewächs in Wiesbaden in August 2024. Drink 2025-2040.
93 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Niersteiner Hipping Grosses Gewächs was made with whole berries in the ferment rather than prolonged pre-fermentation skin contact. It opens with stone dust, crushed lemon balm, a touch of flinty reduction and an enticing blend of red apple and juicy tangerine, even with a touch of creaminess. That creaminess is also immediate on the palate, pervaded by fine freshness. There’s real concentration and drive here, tingling with lemon brightness and savory red stone. Beautiful, serene and slender, it has lovely substance and a lasting, salty finish. (Bone-dry) Drink 2028-2060.
95 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousWhat complex and original aromas this excellent dry riesling GG has: all the Mediterranean herbs, also grapefruit peel, pomelo and bergamot. This beautifully balances excellent ripeness that has a slight tropical edge with cool minerality on the medium-bodied palate. Very long, refined finish with a stony intensity that builds and builds. From organically grown grapes with FairChoice certification. Drink or hold.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
- 96
- 94
- Organic
2023 Gunderloch Pettenthal Riesling Grosses GewachsRheinhessen, GERMANY$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Pettenthal Nierstein Riesling VDP.GG shows a bright, clear, finely spicy, mineral and complex nose of broken rock. Very elegant and vital as well as delicate on the palate, it has ripe, dense but elegant fruit and stimulating salty acidity on the finish, which has good length. This will be more brilliant in a year or two. Tasted at the Vorpremiere VDP.Grosses Gewächs in Wiesbaden in August 2024. Drink 2027-2040.
94 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Niersteiner Pettenthal Grosses Gewächs offers creaminess, peppery lemon balm, ripe red apple crunchiness and intense iron-oxide and petrichor savor, all still wrapped in enticing reductive tones. The palate is smooth and streamlined, moving forward with grace, determination and emollience. Everything here is buffered, but at the core, bright citrus tanginess tingles, edged with mouthwatering saltiness. Beautifully coherent, seamless and flowing, this seems to sink deeper into its red stone nature, leaving a spicy, peppery aftertaste that’s as much informed by fine acidity as by veil-like phenolics. (Bone-dry) Drink 2028-2060.
95 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousIntensely flint with stacks of wild herb aromas, this is a powerful dry riesling that is very straight on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Very focused with a compact, stony core, this has excellent concentration and precision in the long, driving finish. From organically grown grapes with FairChoice certification. Drink or hold.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
- 96
- 97
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- Organic
2023 Gunderloch Rothenberg Riesling Grosses GewachsRheinhessen, GERMANY$160. 00Bottle$1920.00 DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
Gunderloch's 2023 Rothenberg Nackenheim Riesling VDP.GG impresses with a deep, very clear and terroir-influenced nose of Rotliegend rock, along with elegant fruit aromas of ripe stone fruit and herbal-spicy notes. Gentle and elegant on the palate, dense and balanced and juicy, carried by elegant, ripe acidity, this Rothenberg develops a concentrated and long-lasting finish that reflects the warm vintage as well as the good water supply. It is persistently salty, with citrusy freshness in the complex aftertaste. Tasted at the Vorpremiere VDP.Grosses Gewächs in Wiesbaden in August 2024. Drink 2025-2050.
94 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Nackenheimer Rothenberg Grosses Gewächs still rings with the finest flinty reduction on the nose. Underneath comes a gorgeous streak of pink grapefruit peel, lifted, serene and almost heady with crushed lemongrass and lemon balm. The palate is buffered but shows a clear vein of agile fluidity and serene, sleek, dynamic movement. Leaving gorgeous traces of stony, irony, savory saltiness and unfolding with Seville orange and tangerine, it’s layered, beautiful, soothing, refreshing and long. Citrus zest lingers on the finish. (Bone-dry) Drink 2028-2060.
96 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThis stunning expression of the great Rothenberg site is still very tightly wound, the flintiness very pronounced in the first moment, the delicate white peach and wild berry fruit expanding like a rosebud slowly opening during a period of cool weather. Underplayed power and concentration on the extremely precise, medium-bodied palate. Tremendous finesse in the very long, filigreed finish. From organically grown grapes with FairChoice certification. Drink or hold.
97 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
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2023 Donnhoff Dellchen Riesling Grosses GewachsNahe, GERMANY$215. 00Bottle$2580.00 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkDonnhoff make the best wines in the Nahe region, and some of the finest anywhere in the world. While it was Helmut Donnhoff that launched this estate to worldwide attention, winemaking duties are now managed by his talented son, Cornelius. There's a deep understanding of the grand wines and grand vineyards that's been handed down through the generations. And given the enormous technical proficiency Cornelius has demonstrated so far, Donnhoff is sure to be at the top of the vinous hierarchy for years to come.
Other Reviews....
At least since the magical 2020 vintage, this grand cru is becoming another Dönnhoff (and Nahe) icon wine next to the estate's Hermannshöhle GG. The 2023 Norheimer Dellchen Riesling trocken GG is bright and clear on the elegant and finely juicy as well as spontaneously inviting nose that indicates perfectly ripe and healthy Riesling fruit that is fully intermingled with the terroir-driven flinty notes. Perfectly round and finessed on the palate, this is a full-bodied, dense and finely juicy, then utterly saline and savory as well as buoyant Dellchen that pairs purity with intensity and a long, complex and promising finish. This is superbly balanced and full of joy. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in August and October 2024. Drink 2028-2055.
96 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Norheimer Dellchen Grosses Gewächs is grown on porphyry with a shale cover. The vines are sheltered and have underground aquifers. A tender lemon zest note holds traces of white summer blossom, wet stone and a touch of chervil—beautifully tender. The slender palate, likewise, is lemon-dominated, bright, sunny and friendly in its citric smile. The 2023 is agile, tingling and slender with a subtle stoniness. This is as wonderfully pervasive, tart and palate-cleansing as lemon sorbet. (Bone-dry) Drink 2028-2060.
95-97 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousThis dry riesling has a hypnotic beauty that leaves no doubt how this wine redefines what peachy means in the context of this grape variety. As it aerates, a wealth of wild berry and flower nuances develop and expand. Given the mind-bending concentration of this wine, it is staggeringly fresh and absolutely precise. Then comes the finish, which is like a prima ballerina dancing on pointe off into the distance. Drink from release.
100 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com -
- 94
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2023 Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Alte Reben Riesling Grosses GewachsMosel, GERMANY$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkOther Reviews....
The 2023 Ürziger Würzgarten GG Alte Reben represents the impressively steep, red-colored, iron-rich cru perfectly well on the fragrant, very elegant, deep, intense and complex nose that is pure, fresh and refined but also tropical, saline and smoky. Round and crystalline on the palate, this is a full-bodied, intense and elegant, deeply structured but also generous and lush, nevertheless precise and saline Würzgarten with class and style. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in December 2024. Drink 2025-2055.
95 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2023 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Alte Reben Grosses Gewächs has a lovely ethereal lift of crushed yarrow. The palate is absolutely pithy, with Navel orange peel and vivid tangerine notes, framed by crushed yarrow savor and mouthwatering stoniness. It's beautifully long and incisive. (Dry) Drink 2026-2060.
94-96 points
Anne Krebiehl MW - VinousSo effusive, this leaps and bounds over your palate with youthful energy. Fantastic concentration and vitality on the medium-bodied palate. Racy and intensely herbal and spicy in the very long, focused finish. Drink from release.
96 points
Stuart Pigott - JamesSuckling.com - 2023 Gibson The Dirtman ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenABV: 14.2%Closure: Stelvin
Gibson Wines was founded in 1996 by Rob Gibson—viticulturist, geologist, and winemaker—whose “prospector’s spirit” continues to shape the family-run estate today. Together with wife Anne and son Adam, Rob champions wines that are proudly Dirtborn, expressive of Barossa’s diverse soils and heritage. The winery’s home is in Light Pass, northern Barossa, where vineyards surround an 1850s blacksmith’s cottage. Here, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Fiano are grown, including parcels trained on the innovative Gibson–Schulz trellis system co-invented by Rob. Light Pass, at 280m elevation, has a long history of viticulture dating back to German settlers of the 1830s and 1840s. The family also farms Burkes Hill in Eden Valley, an old-vine Shiraz and Riesling site, further deepening Gibson’s connection to Barossa and its surrounds.
The 2023 Dirtman Shiraz captures both the generosity of Barossa Valley fruit (78%) and the finesse of cooler Eden Valley sites (22%). Above-average winter rains followed by a mild, even ripening season produced fruit of purity and balance, with deep concentration and fine structure. Named after founder Rob Gibson—geologist, viticulturist, and winemaker—the Dirtman reflects his hands-on approach, walking every vineyard row and making picking decisions vine by vine. The wine delivers layers of ripe plum and blackberry framed by toasty oak, brown spice, and dark chocolate. Plush yet structured, with persistent tannins and a savoury backbone, it is both immediately compelling and built for graceful aging.
Alc. 14.2% -
- 92
2024 Heathcote Winery Cravens Place ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinFleshy textured with medium to full body and a bright juicy finish that carries a slightly chewy feel.
Dense pitch black core with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Dark plum, freshly crushed blackberry and liquorice aromas drift from the glass followed by some toasty vanillin oak and spice notes. Fleshy textured dark plum, blackberry juice and liquorice flavours show good concentration across the medium to full bodied palate. Toasty vanillin oak and spice elements lie underneath. Polished yet sturdily built tannin structure with the bright juicy finish carrying a slightly chewy feel.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- Nicks Import
2012 Old Pulteney Flotilla Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$119. 99Bottle$1439.88 DozenABV: 46%"For a ten-year-old, let's say it's pretty impressive." - whiskyfun.com
'Flotilla' is matured next to the sea in hand-selected first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. The profile promises vanilla sweetness with hints of zesty lemon and green apples, rounded off with a distinct maritime note, typical of Pulteney. 46% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Totally ex-American oak. I found it so good and so balanced, after some previous versions more on sawdust and vanillin, that I placed it among my 'best of show' during the 'masterclass' we did with Dave B. at Whisky Live Paris this year. We always have a good laugh when doing these things with Mr. Broom. Colour: pale white wine. Top. Nose: we are really by the sea, it's not just some vague advertising pitch thrown on labels by marketeers from Wick or London. Sea spray and seaweed thus blend with a very subtle vanilla, which combines perfectly with wet chalk, baker's yeast, unleavened bread, and white beer brewed in town by the last local hipsters. A few notes of smoked fish, followed by some vanilla fudge. Mouth: very fragrant, powerful, smoky, spicy, salty, citrusy... I think that if we start to find more of such Pulteney, we can soon organise a large comparative session between them and Clynelish. It's good to have goals in life. I also really like these notes of dill, watercress, and sorrel in the background, on top of the lemon. Finish: rather long, still slightly fatty but otherwise perfectly centred on oysters and lemon. Some fresh spices in the aftertaste, as well as a few little Easter eggs in sugar. Not very sure about our timing here, ha. Comments: not much to add. For a ten-year-old, let's say it's pretty impressive. 89 points - whiskyfun.com
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- Nicks Import
Tomintoul Pedro Ximenez Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%Master Distiller, Robert Fleming, created this small batch bottling by specially selecting Tomintoul aged in ex-bourbon barrels which are then married & finished in hand-selected Pedro Ximénez sherry butts from Andalucía, Spain. In contrast to Tomintoul's lighter style, the ‘finishing’ creates a richer & more full-flavoured expression. Awarded a Gold Medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2024. 40% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the producers... Nose: Aromas of sweet treacle and dried figs mingled with malt loaf, raisins and baking spices. Palate: Layers of fruit cake and banana bread followed by marzipan stuffed dates, toasted walnuts and sultanas with hints of clove and cinnamon. Finish: Cosy notes of Danish pastries, cocoa powder and syrup sponge cake fading to a warming oak and tobacco linger.
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- 93
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2024 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $94.99$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 13.2%Closure: StelvinFounded in 1997 by Phil Sexton, Giant Steps has become one of Australia’s most celebrated cool-climate producers. With a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the wines are crafted to reflect their individual vineyard sites, from Tarrawarra to Gladysdale. Today, under the guidance of Head of Winemaking Melanie Chester, Giant Steps continues its legacy of expressive, site-driven wines defined by purity, finesse, and a profound sense of place.
Planted in 1997 on the steep north-facing slopes of the Warramate Ranges in Gruyere, Sexton Vineyard sits between 130 - 210m elevation. The shallow gravelly loam over a rocky clay base naturally limits yields, producing concentrated fruit from predominantly Gingin and Mendoza clones. Fruit was 100% handpicked and whole-bunch pressed, with juice transferred by gravity to 500L French oak puncheons. Fermentation occurred with wild yeasts on full lees, followed by a small amount of bâtonnage and 10% malolactic fermentation. The wine matured for nine months in French oak, 15% new and 85% seasoned.
Alc. 13.2%Other Reviews....
The 2024 Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay leads with dried mint and white peach, lemon zest and brine. In the mouth, the wine is tightly coiled and almost austere; certainly, the acidity is like a whip in the mouth, lashing the fruit and trailing out over the finish. It's a mouthwatering wine, salty too. 13.2% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2039.
95 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2024 Chardonnay Sexton is more pithy and open-knit. It delivers generous nectarine and musky peach skin aromas, with subtle flint and nougat-scented French oak. This is a flavorsome style, more expansive, expressive and fleshy than the other single vineyard wines from 2024, which is to its advantage, before softening on the finish. Drink 2026 - 2032.
93 Points
Angus Hughson - Antonio Galloni's VinousA blend of Gingin and Bernard clones planted in '97 between 100 and 200m in Gruyere. 20% new oak and 10% mlf. Another salivating and seductive Sexton Chardonnay with its bouquet of stone fruits, preserved lemons, freshly ground coffee beans and roasted hazelnut. The beautifully balanced and tightly coiled palate is underpinned by its concentration and intensity. Finishes saline and extremely long. It's all here and needs another five to seven years, at least, to reach its zenith. Drink 2025 - 2033.
97 Points
Philip Rich - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionSmallest volume make in some time. Finer than the Tarraford.
Gentle reduction, stonefruit, brine, ginger, river-stones and a dry, almost salty feel on the finish. Gentle infusion of mango skin and citrus but juicy and fine throughout. There’s so much finesse to this release. There’s fantastic intensity to the fruit too; just when you think it’s finished it keeps on throwing punches. The small make has added, it would seem, to both the power and to the length here. This is a sensational Sexton chardonnay. Drink 2026 - 2032+
96 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front -
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- 94
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2024 Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $94.99$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 13.2%Closure: StelvinFounded in 1997 by Phil Sexton, Giant Steps has become one of Australia’s most celebrated cool-climate producers. With a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the wines are crafted to reflect their individual vineyard sites, from Tarrawarra to Gladysdale. Today, under the guidance of Head of Winemaking Melanie Chester, Giant Steps continues its legacy of expressive, site-driven wines defined by purity, finesse, and a profound sense of place.
Planted in 1988, Tarraford Vineyard lies in a protected valley at 100m elevation with grey clay loam soils and a mix of north, south, and east-facing slopes. Despite its warmer subregion, Chardonnay is planted on the cooler aspects, with P58, 548, and 96 clones contributing to the blend. Fruit was 100% handpicked and whole-bunch pressed, with juice transferred by gravity to 500L French oak puncheons on full lees. Fermentation was wild, with 37% malolactic conversion, followed by nine months’ maturation in French oak (10% new, 90% seasoned).
Alc. 13.2%Other Reviews....
The 2024 Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay is creamy and concentrated, with a flow of crushed nuts and notes of custard apple, scraped vanilla pod, freshly grated nutmeg and warm pastry. This is a rounded, powerful wine with less complexity and edge than the 2023 tasted alongside, and it has more bulbous fruit weight and shape. 13.2% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2035.
94 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThe 2024 Chardonnay Tarraford is right in the slot, delivering a powerful yet balanced blend of musky peach and melon aromas, well backed by vanillin oak, buttery nuts and praline barrel ferments. This is full throttle in style for the Yarra, with expansive flavors and underlying strength, while retaining freshness on the finish. Drink 2025 - 2035.
93 Points
Angus Hughson - Antonio Galloni's VinousPlanted on a cool, south-facing slope in Tarrawarra. Barrel fermented and matured in puncheons and barriques (27% new). A bright green gold. Seductive with its bouquet of fuzzy peach skins, apricot, lemon oil and a hint of fresh vanilla bean. Opulent and creamily textured, with a fine vein of acidity running through the wine that gives it both structure and length. Very long and very yum to drink now and in the short to medium term. Drink 2025 - 2030.
96 Points
Philip Rich - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionTarraford is the lowest and theoretically the warmest of Giant Steps single vineyard site. This vineyard is, to quote winemaker Mel Chester, “tucked into a glade in Tarrawarra”.
Straight out of the gate this looked really beautiful. “We’re leaning into the breadth of 2024 with this wine, and into the personality of the vineyard”. Almond, pears, peaches, citrus, flowers and spice but it’s the juicy flow of it, so well seasoned. Umumi savouriness on the finish. Chester used the word opulent and that’s the word. I would jump this now; it wants to roll right now. When I came back to this maybe 45 minutes later all it had done was continue to blossom and pillow. Gorgeous wine. Drink 2025 - 2032+
95 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front -
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2024 Giant Steps Applejack Vineyard Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $105.00$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 13.3%Closure: StelvinFounded in 1997 by Phil Sexton, Giant Steps has become one of Australia’s most celebrated cool-climate producers. With a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the wines are crafted to reflect their individual vineyard sites, from Tarrawarra to Gladysdale. Today, under the guidance of Head of Winemaking Melanie Chester, Giant Steps continues its legacy of expressive, site-driven wines defined by purity, finesse, and a profound sense of place.
Planted in 1997 by Ray Guerin, Applejack Vineyard sits on steep east-facing slopes at 300m in Gladysdale, with grey clay loam over a basalt volcanic base. The cooler upper Yarra climate provides a long growing season, well suited to Pinot Noir. Fruit was hand-picked and fermented in a mix of small oak fermenters and stainless-steel vats, with Pommard parcels whole-bunch fermented and other clones destemmed. The final blend includes 30% whole bunch. Maturation took place over ten months in French oak barriques (20% new, 80% seasoned), before blending and bottling by gravity without fining or filtration.
Alc. 13.3%Other Reviews....
The 2024 Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir leads with its whole-bunch characters: scraped orange skin, chinotto, bitter clove, dark chocolate and star anise. In the mouth, the whole bunches serve to dry out the wine and compound the tannins, but what it does there, it balances by also contributing spice and capaciousness. In the end, this component pales in comparison to the flow of seamless fruit, which makes a significant impact. This is a powerful, lingering wine of great length and complexity. Time will smooth out the bunching tannins through the finish no doubt. 13.3% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2039.
96 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateFrom the Applejack vineyard, planted on grey clay soils at 300m in Gladysdale in '97 by Ray Guerin. 40% whole bunches and 40% less wine in '24. Darkly fruited and more intense than the '23 with aromas of wild blackberry, raspberry, briar, and just a hint of sous bois. On the palate, this is as concentrated and mouth-filling as the bouquet suggests it will be, culminating with succulent, grippy tannins on the long, tapering finish. It's a touch more 'sauvage' and a little less floral than normal but, even in this warmer vintage, one of Australia's most celebrated pinot noirs is in impressive form. Drink 2025 - 2032.
98 Points
Philip Rich - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionThe Applejack Vineyard at Gladysdale in the Yarra Valley is on an east facing slope. There’s a 100 metre drop from the top of the vineyard to the bottom. There’s also significant clonal diversity in this vineyard. It was planted in 1997. The Bastard Hill and Primavera vineyards are red dirt; we’re into caramel-clay soils here at Gladysdale.
When I was a kid in suburban Melbourne various neighbours along my street would, in autumn, sweep up the fallen leaves into brown piles and then burn them, in the gutter, in the street. I’d walk to school and pass intermittent piles of smouldering smoke, which was cinematic, atmospheric, and mind-boggling simultaneously. I mention this here because this release of Applejack Pinot Noir is so inherently autumnal. I picked up the glass, took one sniff and sip, and thought: hello. The smoked herbs, the leaves, the walk through a misty-smoky field of red cherry and plum. The palate puts its foot down, upping the presence, and then fanning out through the finish. It’s a wine of extreme length but it’s the feels, the fleshes and the nuances that motor the enchantment. Drink 2026 - 2034+.
96 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front -
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- Reduced
2024 Giant Steps Primavera Vineyard Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $105.00$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinFounded in 1997 by Phil Sexton, Giant Steps has become one of Australia’s most celebrated cool-climate producers. With a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the wines are crafted to reflect their individual vineyard sites, from Tarrawarra to Gladysdale. Today, under the guidance of Head of Winemaking Melanie Chester, Giant Steps continues its legacy of expressive, site-driven wines defined by purity, finesse, and a profound sense of place.
Planted in 2001 by Lou Primavera, this 12-hectare vineyard in Woori Yallock sits at 240m on north- and north-east-facing slopes of red clay loam. Fruit has been sourced from here since 2006, with MV6 on the north slope and 115 and G-clone on the south. Handpicked in two parcels, fruit was fully destemmed and fermented separately by clone in small seasoned French oak vats. After 10-14 days on skins and completion of malolactic fermentation, parcels matured for ten months in French oak barriques (20% new, 80% seasoned). Bottled by gravity without fining or filtration.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
The 2024 Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir is floral and fine, with a profusion of dried herbs and red fruit. The wine is sedate in its way, gentle and weighted to the back palate with exceptional flow and seamlessness. I like this so much. It has less raw, brute force than the Applejack (a very impressive wine), but it feels no less impactful or long. "Placid," comes to mind. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2039.
95 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateFrom Lou Primavera's '01-planted vineyard at 300m on red volcanic soils in Woori Yallock. 35% whole bunches. A bright crimson red. This always highly seductive and perfumed wine has aromas of raspberries, orange peel and cranberries as well as a little musk stick and rose bush. There's a gentle succulence on the palate that's nicely balanced by the wine's supple tannins and fine-boned acidity. Long, lovely, now and over the next six to eight years. Drink 2025 - 2032.
97 Points
Philip Rich - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionThe Primavera Vineyard sits at 300 metres above sea level.
Oak is more present in this wine. Mahogany, red fruits, lots of herb and flowers, pomegranate and roasted nuts, quite grippy, whole bunch notes evident but tucked in, classic red fruits, rinds, musks and florals but with whispers of mescal. This felt slightly blocky and oaky at first but it came together in the glass and as it did, the wine’s deliciousness went through the roof. The aftertaste has that animal fat, smoky, bacon-like aspect. This is the sleeper in the range; it could be up with the best of them in time. Drink 2026 - 2032+.
95+ Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front -
- 96
- 92
- 94
- Reduced
2024 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $105.00$94. 99Bottle$1139.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinFounded in 1997 by Phil Sexton, Giant Steps has become one of Australia’s most celebrated cool-climate producers. With a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the wines are crafted to reflect their individual vineyard sites, from Tarrawarra to Gladysdale. Today, under the guidance of Head of Winemaking Melanie Chester, Giant Steps continues its legacy of expressive, site-driven wines defined by purity, finesse, and a profound sense of place.
Planted in 1997 on the steep north-facing slopes of the Warramate Ranges in Gruyere, the Sexton Vineyard spans 30 hectares at 130 - 210m elevation. Soils are thin grey clay loam over granite and ironstone, with low yields naturally set by the shallow gravelly loams and tough rocky clay base. Pinot Noir is predominantly G5V15 and MV6 clones, well suited to the warmer conditions and sunlight exposure of this site. Handpicked fruit was fermented in a mix of small oak fermenters and stainless-steel open vats. MV6 parcels were whole-bunch fermented, while the remainder were destemmed and cold-soaked prior to fermentation. The final blend is 20% whole bunch. Maturation took place in French oak barriques (25% new, 75% seasoned) for ten months. Bottled by gravity, unfined and unfiltered.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
The 2024 Sexton Vineyard Pinot Noir is incredibly perfumed, with apples and rose petals, cherry and blood plum. In the mouth, the tannins are quite grippy and firm—still eminently fine but with rigidity. This is quite different from the other Pinot Noirs in this vintage release, more structural and not as complex. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2025-2034.
92 points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateFrom the Sexton vineyard in Gruyere planted in the late '90s. 100% destemmed. A deep crimson ruby. Aromas of ripe dark raspberries, blackcurrant pastilles (these were always my favourite) and even a little kirsch. A touch of rose bush. The palate is juicy and fleshy and the wine's ripe, plush tannins make this, along with the Primavera, the richest, meatiest and most immediate of the four single-vineyard pinots in '24. Having said this, you'd be happy if you found some laying around the cellar in eight or so years. Drink 2025 - 2030.
96 Points
Philip Rich - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionThe Sexton vineyard was planted in 1997. It’s a north-facing, exposed site, at 200 metres above sea level.
Red fruit, aspects of saucy oak, figs and graphite, smoke. Chester described this wine as “grenache adjacent” and that’s as apt a call as you’ll hear. It has that cloves-tucked-into-raspberry-into-smoke-into-iron persona. It feels compact, it tastes delicious, and it has good weight and length, the latter featuring a keen smoked peppercorn aspect. Love the feel and the profile of this. Drink 2026 - 2033+.
94+ Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front -
- 96
- 95
- Organic
2024 Bannockburn Grigsby ChardonnayGeelong, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenABV: 13%Closure: StelvinBannockburn Vineyards was founded in 1974 by Stuart Hooper, who envisioned producing Australian wines to rival the world’s best. Situated in the Moorabool Valley near Geelong, the estate spans 26 vineyard blocks across diverse soils of volcanic debris, ancient seabeds, and limestone. Now among the oldest plantings in the region, Bannockburn is celebrated for its close-planted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other varieties, grown with organic principles and crafted with minimal intervention to reflect purity of site. Remaining family-owned, the estate continues to balance heritage, sustainability, and innovation, producing wines of depth, character, and enduring quality.
The 2024 Grigsby Chardonnay comes from Bannockburn’s close-planted, certified organic block, established in 2007 and named in honour of long-serving viticulturist Lucas Grigsby. Grafted to Bernard 76 in 2019, the 0.87-acre site is densely planted (8,333 vines/ha) on dark clay over weathered basalt and limestone, producing fruit of concentration and precision. Hand-picked parcels were whole-bunch pressed, settled overnight, and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak hogsheads, around 25% new. Natural malolactic fermentation followed, with the wine resting on lees, unstirred, for 10 months before blending and bottling.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews....
From a 0.4ha close-planted vineyard. Barrel fermented and matured in 25% new hogsheads and with 100% mlf. A light, bright green gold. In contrast to the slightly richer and more open Winery Block chardonnay, this is more restrained with its aromas of pink grapefruit, just-ripened stone fruits, oyster shells and almond. The palate is equally restrained and there's a touch of orange pith on the gently spicy, long finale. Will be even better when it opens up over the next two to three years. Tops. Drink 2025-2032.
96+ points
Philip Rich - James Halliday's Wine CompanionGrigsby Chardonnay is grown on the estate’s close-planted (8333 vines per hectare), certified organic vineyard. It’s named after Lucas Grimsby, who has worked in the vineyards at Bannockburn since 1987.
Quite a lot of colour to this wine and powerful fruit up-front, though the finish is then as restrained as it is long. This is a honed wine if ever there was one. Nougat, grilled peach, steel, mineral, orange rind and lemongrass characters put on a powerful display, lemon blossom notes then rising through the finish. Despite its colour this is a wine with yet plenty up its sleeve. The length of the finish here though puts a significant positive emphasis on the quality on offer. Drink 2027 - 2031+
95 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front -
- 94
- 93
2022 Angas & Bremer ShirazLanghorne Creek, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.8%Closure: StelvinPlump and opulent with a long succulent conclusion.
Dense inky black colour with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Liquorice, ripe blackberry and dark chocolate scents waft from the glass followed by vanillin oak, earthy mocha and spice notes. Rich and plush, the full bodied palate is awash with ripe blackberry, liquorice and choc mint flavours. Spicy vanillin oak, subtle earthy mocha and peppered fennel characters sit in the background. Plump and opulent it has velvety tannins and a long succulent conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.8%Other Reviews…..
Langhorne Creek Shiraz – the very mention screams flavour and value and we have both here. Coming from such a good vintage helps, of course. An inky dark maroon, we have rich and ripe chocolate notes as part of a wonderful plushness. Blackberries, mocha, bay leaves, licorice and a hint of blueberries lurking in the background, with a burly earthiness. Serious length here and sleek tannins. This has a ten to fifteen year future. Great buying. Drink 2025-2040.
93 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com -
- 88
1990 Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$999. 00Bottle$11988.00 DozenABV: 46%Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such may have some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
"Bonkers, but I love it: the smokiness is just a suggestion, the warmth from a cigar..." - malt-review.com
Other reviews... An unusual vintage bottling of Old Pulteney, in that maturation occurred in a mix of American bourbon casks and Spanish sherry casks that previously held heavily-peated whisky. The nose opens with a whiff of ozone; then lemon, vanilla, and coconut appear, along with fleeting wood smoke. Intense tropical fruitiness merges with milk chocolate, lemon sorbet, and lively spices on the palate. Spicy milk chocolate with a citric and softly peaty tang in the finish. 88 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...On the nose: funky! Now that’s interesting. Some fantastic dried fruits – cranberries, sultanas, quite sharp too. Also a wonderful Cabernet Sauvignon kind of note, with black fruits, tobacco and black tea. Strawberry jam. Heather honey. Cherries now. Golden syrup sponge cake. In the mouth: Bonkers, but I love it: the smokiness is just a suggestion, the warmth from a cigar; nutmeg, oranges, heather honey, cranberries, blackcurrants. That is outrageous fun. Nicely oily too, and the dried fruits become just a fraction more cloying towards the herbal, honeyed finish. - malt-review.com
-
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2025 Rob Dolan White Label Pinot GrisYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA fresh, lusciously fruited Pinot Gris that shows plenty of textural volume.
Apricot pink tinged colour. Lifted pear and red apple skin aromas mix with whiffs of honeysuckle and quince. Delicious pear and ripe red apple fruits carry wonderful intensity and textural volume across the palate. Honeysuckle, musk and spice elements ensue. Fresh acidity with a lengthy, lusciously fruited finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 93
2024 Harewood Estate ChardonnayDenmark, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA fleshy, fruit driven Chardonnay that shows impressive intensity.
Brilliant pale straw colour with highlights of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Ripe nectarine and peach scents jump out of the glass followed by some dried honey, melon and delicate biscuit notes. Fleshy peach, ripe nectarine and melon fruits are delivered with impressive intensity over a biscuit and vanillin spice back drop. Fresh acidity with a long juicy, fruit driven finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 94
- 96
- 95
- Organic
2021 Tellurian Sommet ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$76. 99Bottle$923.88 DozenCellar: 6 - 8 Years (2031-2033)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich and fleshy with fresh acidity and a muscular tannin structure.
Certified organic. Midnight black in colour with a dark red black tinged hue. Nosing offers up dark plum and liquorice aromas infused with smoky fennel like notes which are trailed by some graphite and peppered earth notes. Rich, fleshy dark plum, liquorice and dark cherry fruits are underpinned by fresh acidity. Juicy blueberry, smoked meat, fennel and peppered earth elements unwind across the back half. Muscular tannin structure with a finish that’s long and succulent yet robust.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
The 0.6ha Sommet block is planted at the high density of 8150 vines per ha. Black and red cherries provide the fruit of this pure and fragrant wine, backed by pepper and spice on a long and perfectly balanced palate sewn with finely stitched tannins. Drink by 2041.
96 Points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion‘The Sommet Shiraz block is a small 0.6ha block, consisting of 35 rows, and 5000 vines. This close planted block was configured with 1.6m row spacings and 0.75m between each vine. This block was planted at the most elevated point of our vineyard, on a steep south/west facing slope below the ridgeline of the Mount Camel range, on deep Cambrian era decomposed greenstone rock formed over 500 million years. Fermented in small open fermenters with 10% fermented as whole bunches. 18 days on skins. Pressed to 1-2 year old 600L demi-muids and barriques. The wine remained in barrel for 8 months prior to bottling.’
This wine is a powerhouse and a superb combination of excellent fruit and expert winemaking. Aromas abound from the glass, sitting almost squarely between the primary and tertiary realms – mulberry, blackberry, wild strawberry, dried red and black fruits, earth, graphite – and just a touch of cedary wood from the relatively short time in oak. On the palate, you’ll be met with plush flavours and a sumptuous, teeth-gripping mouthfeel from the finely integrated tannins, with a length that lingers. “Sommet” is French for “summit”, and this wine is the pinnacle of the Tellurian range, worth every penny and with the potential to deliver the goods for many years to come still. If you’ve ever wondered why Heathcote is so revered for its Shiraz, drinking this wine will well and truly answer that question.
95 Points
Brendan Black – WinePilot.com -
- 95
- 94
- Reduced
2023 Teusner Joshua Grenache Mataro ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $34.99$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinJuicy, easy going and power packed with a long deeply fruited finish.
An unoaked blend of 56% Grenache, 37% Mataro and 7% Shiraz. The Grenache and Mataro fruit is sourced from old vines at Ebenezer, Williamstown, Seppeltsfield and Tanunda with the Shiraz coming from 20 year old vines. Deep dark red black core with a dark red hue. Enticing dark raspberry, liquorice, dark cherry and plum scents sail out of the glass with ample intensity complimented by some earthy incense and subtle peppered fennel notes. Juicy, easy going and power packed, a rich wave of dark raspberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits swamp the mouth. Earthy incense like characters, fennel and pepper lurk underneath. Velvet smooth tannins with a long deeply fruited finish that’s loaded with succulence.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
An unoaked red blend of 56/37/7% grenache/mataro/shiraz that always hits the button for me, bringing back memories of trips to the Barossa and how I was drawn to this easy-drinking style in the early 2000s. Plums, mulberries, charcuterie, spice, dried citrus rind, pressed flowers, crushed stone and earth. Harmonious and savoury, it's just lovely drinking. Drink by 2034.
94 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion
















































