Availability:
What's New
We boast Australia's fastest growing online selection of wines, spirits and liqueurs added to weekly. If you can't find what you're looking for, call us on 1800 069 295 and we'll try to track it down.
- Daylesford Spirit The Hedonist Gin (700ml)Victoria, AUSTRALIA$86. 99Bottle$1043.88 DozenABV: 37%
Made using local botanicals and pristine Mount Franklin water, this craft gin features a rich blend of cacao and vibrant blood orange. Expect layers of velvety chocolate, candied citrus and warming spice, underpinned by classic juniper for structure and depth. Perfect for pairing with anything chocolate! 37% Alc./Vol.
-
- 94
- 93
- Reduced
2021 d’Arenberg d’Arry’s Original Grenache ShirazMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $19.99$16. 99Bottle$203.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2026-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinFirst released in 1993, this wine was renamed d'Arry's Original in honour of third generation family member Francis d'Arenberg Osborn, universally known as d'Arry, to honour his lifelong services to the wine industry.
Decked out with succulent black fruits, this is a rich, concentrated and chewy textured blend that delivers terrific value.
A blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Shiraz matured in a mixture of new and used French oak barriques for a period of approximately 20 months. Deep midnight black heart with a dark red black tinged hue. Black cherry, black raspberry and liquorice aromas emerge from the glass complimented by vanillin oak, whiffs of scorched earth and peppered fennel notes. Rich, concentrated and opulent, the weighty palate is flush with succulent black raspberry, black cherry and liquorice flavours which are backed by a robust tannin structure that’s somewhat concealed by the volume of fruit. Vanillin cedar, scorched earth and blackpepper elements lurk underneath. Finishes long and juicy with a chewy mouth feel.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
A mighty good year is perfectly reflected in this famous wine, a tribute over many years to one of the real characters of the wine industry. It’s a tried-and-true blend from McLaren Vale offering generous plush red fruit flavours with a slightly dusty dried herb influence offsetting. There is plenty of density in the middle palate which carries effortlessly to a sustained finish. Drink 2024-2033.
93 Points
Ray Jordan – WinePilot.com -
- 96
2025 Freycinet Vineyard RieslingTasmania, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinConcentrated, powerful and textural with a zingy feel across the long scrumptious finish.
Established in 1979 by Geoff and Susan Bull, Freycinet was the first commercial winery on the East Coast of Tasmania. Today daughter Lindy and partner Claudio Radenti who both have extensive winemaking experience from their travels around the world carry on the tradition.
Brilliant water like core with distinct highlights of green around the outskirts. Intense lime, citrus and red apple scents bound out of the glass followed by some orange rind, floral and chalky mineral notes. Racy lime, citrus and orange rind fruits engulf the palate. Subtle green apple, chalky talc and flinty mineral elements underscore the fruit. Excellent concentration, power and textural volume with crisp acidity lending a zingy feel across the long scrumptious finish. Trophy winner at the Tasmanian Wine Show for Best Riesling.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 94
2025 Vasse Felix Classic Dry White Semillon Sauvignon BlancMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$18. 99Bottle$227.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2026-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA scrumptious dry white blend that shows impressive intensity of flavour.
A blend of 66% Semillon and 34% Sauvignon Blanc. Brilliant pale straw colour with green highlighted edges and a watery hue. Leaping out of the glass are herbaceous gooseberry, lime and green apple scents followed by some grass and flinty mineral notes. Scrumptious lime, passionfruit and gooseberry flavours are delivered with impressive intensity whilst subtle herbaceous grassy and mineral elements sit underneath. Crisp acidity with a long mouth watering finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5% - Bertrand Uberach Franchis Single Cask 9 Year Old Single Malt French Whisky (500ml)Alsace, FRANCE$199. 99Bottle$2399.88 DozenABV: 49.9%
A little French bomb bottled near 50% ABV! Nine years in a 1973 Grosperrin Petite Champagne Cognac barrel will have infused extra fruit and spice. Limited run of 324 bottles. Non-chill filtered.
-
- 93
- 94
- 93
2024 Praeter Strange Fog NebbioloPyrenees, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinJuicy morello cherry and liquorice fruits with slightly chewy tannins and vibrant acidity.
Dark red core with black shaded edges and a red tinged hue. Nosing offers up aromas of rose petals, dried cherry, morello cherry and red liquorice in conjunction with some dried herb, earthy leather and spice notes. Juicy morello cherry and liquorice fruits carry medium body weight with notions of dried herbs, earth and spice lying in the background. Fleshy mid palate feel with slightly chewy tannins and vibrant acidity. Some gentle tobacco characters lingering across the savoury finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
From the Malakoff vineyard, sees skins for 22 days before maturation in old French oak puncheon. An opportunity to hear Matt Large wax lyrical about nebbiolo, region and clone, is a masterpiece in and of itself. '24 saw a return to warmer growing conditions, resulting in a classic and pure expression of nebbiolo. Rose petal, orange rind, red cherry and raspberry with earthy savoury notes, leather, terracotta and bay. The tannins are spectacular, chewy and long, providing a nice framework in conjunction with bright acidity and fruit. It's a beauty. Drink by 2038.
94 Points
Katrina Butler - James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionExcellent fruit, excellent structure, beautiful wine to drink. Flavours of sweet cherries and pomegranate, twiggy herbs, strawberries, orange peel and assorted spices. Ultra fine-grained tannin. Fresh-feeling. Both mouth-watering and finessed through the finish. Feels crafted in the best of ways. Drink 2026-2031.
93 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front -
- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Hamelin Bay Cabernet SauvignonMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA rich, generous Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon that concludes long and refined.
Dense pitch black heart with a deep dark red purple hue. Elevated aromas of freshly crushed blackcurrant and liquorice mix with cedary tobacco, subtle earth and bay leaf notes. Rich blackcurrant and ripe mulberry fruits are dispersed across the palate with impressive generosity. Cedary tobacco, earth and bay leaf characters sit in the background. Juicy mouth feel with fresh underlying acidity and fine grained tannins. Concludes long and refined yet well endowed.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
From a warm season in Margaret River, this cooler region allowed nice ripeness, producing an impressive cabernet. Aromas of blackcurrant leaf, chocolate and blackberry lift from the glass. The medium-bodied palate offers plush, supple fruit, supported by a firm core of tannin and oak. It will continue to evolve and is best enjoyed in the medium term.
93 Points
RayJordanWine.com.au -
- 92
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2025 Provenance Henty RieslingHenty, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinTexturally rounded with brisk acidity and a dry, gently tangy finish.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a subtle green tone around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of pear, lime and red apple skin are trailed by whiffs of honeysuckle and orange blossom. Pear, red apple and lime fruits are texturally rounded in their feel with notions of quince and spice lying underneath. Brisk acidity with a dry, gently tangy finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
Highly aromatic both on the nose and in the mouth. Assorted blossoms, lime and mandarin among them. The palate is slatey and dry with a fair bit of grip through the finish, though it too is amply supplied with tonic, citrus, and chamomile characters. Very good wine. Distinctive. Drink 2026-2031.
93 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
- Organic
2020 Domaine Olivier Morin Bourgogne Chitry ConstanceBurgundy, FRANCE$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2026-2029)ABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkA savoury Pinot Noir with a very strong whole bunch influence.
Red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a light red hue. Very bunchy nose with aromas of dried clove and spicy bramble dominating over sour to red cherry, earth and rhubarb notes. Savoury sour to red cherry and rhubarb flavours intermix with prominent dried clove, bramble, forest floor and spicy dried herb characters. Supple mouth feel with fine grained tannins and a very spicy aftertaste of clove and dried herbs.
Drink over the next 2-3 years
Alc. 13% -
- 97
- 99
- 96
- 98
2019 Penfolds St. Henri ShirazSouth Australia, AUSTRALIA$125. 00Bottle$1500.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 15 Years (2026-2041)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, powerful and expansive with opulent fruit backed by a muscular structure.
Impenetrable inky black heart with a near equally deep dark red black hue. Displaying impressive lift out of the glass are liquorice, blackberry and dark plum aromas which are joined by vanillin cedar, subtle whiffs of mocha and spicy earth. Rich, expansive and densely layered in its flow across the palate, opulent blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits are backed by a muscular tannin structure. Spicy vanillin cedar, subtle mocha, earth, leather and pepper elements sit in the background. Outstanding power and depth with a very long firm, robust yet lush finish.
Drink over the next 10-15 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews…..
A great St. Henri and, although multi-regional, this is very much a wine that speaks of the Barossa Valley, with aromas of ripe blackberries and red plums that are so fresh, together with tobacco, young-leather, earth, chocolate, coal-smoke and tarry accents. Effortless depth on the palate with summer berries, framed in fine, alabaster-like tannins that are underscored with discreet power. So long and captivating. A blend of Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills. Drink over the next decade or more. Screw cap.
99 Points
JamesSuckling.comThis can only ever be a stylistic expression of the shiraz variety, as sourcing from six SA districts eliminates regionality. (For the record, The Peninsulas is a defined GI region, this fruit coming from the outskirts of Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula). The wine’s point of difference within the Penfolds range is that it has no new oak maturation and spends only 12 months in large format seasoned vats. The result is a sophisticated, dark, almost mysterious shiraz, a wine with secrets within that one suspects will reveal great joys over the next 20 to 30 years, as its forebears have proved for more than half a century. For now, in and around the black fruits there are flint, mushroom, licorice and roast meat notes. Plenty to unpack. A serious SA shiraz that remains a really enticing proposition.
98 Points
Tony Love – WinePilot.comThe St Henri Shiraz is often one of my favorite reds in the Penfolds Collection, due to the ability of the fruit to shine through the fine sheath of oak that encases it. At this stage, and I know you will hear this often, the wine still represents good value. The 2019 St Henri Shiraz is elegantly structured, with the 2019 vintage showing the warmth and intensity without overstepping balance or line. Texturally, this will only increase in its silky shape, which comes with the gentle suggestion to decant this if you insist on drinking it within five years from harvest (i.e., anytime from now to 2024). This 2019 is shaped by abundant red and purple fruit (and a splash of blue), charry spice and fine tannins. Gorgeous. Drink 2022-2042.
96+ Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate -
- 95
- 95
- 95
2024 Nocturne Yallingup SR CabernetsMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$37. 99Bottle$455.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2026-2036)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA refined, mid weighted Cabernets lined with a chorus of red fruit.
A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 10% Malbec. Impenetrable pitch black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Elevated red to dark currant, violet and ripe mulberry scents are dished up by the nose followed by some vanillin cedar, subtle earthy tobacco and fresh bay leaf notes. Mid weighted the palate is lined with a chorus of red currant and mulberry fruits which are quite juicy in their feel. Fresh underlying acidity and grainy, structured tannins lend tension. Spicy cedar, dusty earth, subtle tobacco and infusions of bay leaf the undercard. Finishes long and refined.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
The final blend ended up 80% cabernet sauvignon (from the Sheoak vineyard), 12% malbec and 8% merlot sourced from two other vineyards; it’s a good combo, plus brilliantly priced so it’s affordable. A dark red hue. Laden with excellent ripe fruit all spiced up with fennel, tobacco, cedary oak and some toasted nori. The palate is fuller-bodied, expanded by plentiful cocoa tannins. While very good today with food, this will garner more complexity in time. Drink by 2040.
95 Points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion
From the Sheoak vineyard in Yallingup and apparently picked on the same date as the 2023, which is interesting given the hot dry vintage. 25% new oak here. I tasted this about a month ago, and again now, so I’ve probably got a handle on it. Also, the bottle is way too heavy, although I get that plenty of love has gone on to the bottle.
Blueberry and black fruit, ground spice, shag tobacco, violet, chocolate and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, kind of rustic in its presentation of tannin, though they feel deep and nutritious in a way, and vaguely Italianate, with a sort of Sagrantino thickness. It’s also fresh and quite juicy, a Marasca cherry sourness, blackcurrant, again lots of tannin and chew with an earthy thunder closing out a finish of excellent length. It’s a toss up between 94+ and 95 points, but you know, there’s a certain charismatic charm here that gets me over the line. Drink 2027-2038+
95 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front - 2015 Cooper's Choice The Golden Cut Collection Tamdhu 9 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 50%
Another delicious looking malt from Cooper's Choice new 'Golden Cut' collection that is reported to be "...perfectly balanced at its age". The outturn was 396 bottles after a finishing spell in a Marsala fortified wine cask. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... The fact is that we know Marsala can work just as well as sherry, it is simply a matter of knowing which type of Marsala was involved. Colour: deep gold. Nose: oh lovely! Mirabelles and apricots, both tinned and in jam form, coated in caramel and honey and followed by a few very juicy sultanas. With water: finger biscuits and little sponge cakes filled with orange and mandarin jam (Marsala, Sicily, get it?) Mouth (neat): very good, on walnut cake and bitter orange, preserved lemon, earthy vegetal notes… With water: we could almost believe we are in Marsala, right at the far western tip of the southern coast. A wonderful place, I warmly recommend it. Finish: long, fresh, with a slightly tangy edge that perfectly balances the whole. Comments: excellent and therefore perfectly balanced, at this age and with this treatment. 86 points - whiskyfun.com
-
- 89
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2025 De Bortoli 17 Trees Pinot GrigioRiverina, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$13. 99Bottle$167.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2026-2027)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA dry, refreshing Pinot Grigio with zippy acidity.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Aromas of Granny Smith apple and lime juice mix with some green pear and mineral notes. Lime, green apple skin and pear flavours are underpinned by zippy acidity. Fleshy mid palate feel with some zingy mineral elements extending across the dry refreshing finish.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Serodes & Kovac Tacherons ChardonnayPays d'Oc, FRANCE$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2026-2029)ABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkGenerously flavoured and beautifully shaped with a stony mineral laden finish.
Brilliant pale straw to straw colour with a watery hue. Aromas of pear, lime and green apple drift through the nostrils trailed by some wet stone notes. Generously flavoured and beautifully shaped with pear, lime and green apple fruits carrying a silken flow across the palate. Wet stone and mineral elements extend across the back half underscored by refreshing acidity. Long refined, stony mineral laden finish. Quite Chablis like.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 94
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Woodlands Woodlands Brook Vineyard ChardonnayMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinFresh and vibrant with a fleshy mid palate feel and an elegant finish.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with a subtle green tint around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of nectarine, pear and subtle grapefruit sail through the nostrils with some biscuity oak, gun flint and mineral notes also chiming in. Fresh and vibrant, the palate is glistening with nectarine, pear and grapefruit flavours which meld into a gun flint infused back drop of roasted almond, biscuity nougat and mineral elements. Fleshy mid palate feel with lively acidity leaning into the brisk, elegant finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
At first, the sweet, cedary oak struts its stuff, muffling the fruit within. It did settle with some air, allowing the citrus and white stone fruit to appear alongside the spice, especially fennel, and nutty, creamy, nougat-like lees. Although, it’s tightly wound, with acidity leading, and while the palate is layered with flavour, this will improve with some bottle age. Drink by 2030.
93 Points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion - 2015 Cooper's Choice The Golden Cut Collection Aberfeldy 9 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 50%
Sweet wine finishes dominate the latest outturn from Cooper's Choice 'Golden Cut' series. Aberfeldy continue that trend with a youngster finished in Moscatel casks, elevating the distillery's naturally honeyed Highland profile, adding vibrant floral notes and a rich, grape-driven sweetness. 282 bottles produced. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
-
- 93
2025 Deep Woods Estate ChardonnayMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA generously fleshed, fruit driven style of Chardonnay.
Brilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. White peach, nectarine, citrus and melon aromas fill the nostrils with some delicate biscuity nougat and gun flint notes also chiming in. Generous peach, nectarine and grapefruit flavours carry ample flesh with notions of dried honey, biscuity nougat and subtle spice sitting in the background. Fresh acidity with a long, textural, fruit driven finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 95
2024 Kate Hill Four Winds Estate ChardonnayTasmania, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 12.8%Closure: StelvinNicely fleshed and concentrated with lively acidity lending freshness.
Matured for 9 months in French oak barrels. Brilliant pale straw colour with gleaming green tinted edges and a watery hue. Pronounced grapefruit and nectarine aromas combine with biscuit, bees wax, roasted almond and gun flint notes. Nectarine, pear and grapefruit flavours are nicely fleshed and concentrated in their flow. Biscuity oak, almond, subtle bees wax and infusions of gun flint echo across the back half. Lively acidity lends freshness to the long, shapely finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.8% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Poppies Pinot NoirMartinborough, NEW ZEALAND$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinLight in weight and possessing lively acidity yet quite fleshy with a spicy finish.
Deep dark red black tinged core with a vibrant red purple tinged hue. Intense anise, dark cherry, violet and red plum scents carry a clove overlay followed by some earthy graphite, bramble and spice notes. Light in weight with lively acidity yet quite fleshy, the palate features spicy dark cherry, strawberry and anise flavours over an earthy graphite, clove and bramble back drop. Showing medium power it has fine grainy tannins and a fresh, spicy finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 94
- 92
2023 First Drop Wines Mother’s Milk ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, plump fruit backed by a sturdily built tannin structure.
Midnight black heart with a dark red hue. Elevated dark plum, liquorice and ripe black cherry scents make their way out of the glass followed by some vanillin oak, scorched earth and subtle spicy leather notes. Rich and plump, the full bodied palate is swamped with opulent dark plum, liquorice and black cherry fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, earthy fennel and pepper elements the undercard. Ripe sturdily built tannin structure with a long, sumptuous finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
Deep crimson with a plethora of ripe satsuma plum, blueberry and cherry fruits, plenty of appealing five-spice and hints of licorice, purple floral high tones, dark chocolate, olive tapenade and earth. There's a sweep of sour cherry on the palate, with ripe plum and berry fruits, fine-grained tannins and plenty of bright energy on the finish. Drink by 2034.
92 Points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 93
2025 Dromana Estate Tuerong Park Pinot NoirMornington Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 13.8%Closure: StelvinA delicious, supplely textured Mornington Peninsula Pinot with a sleek mid length finish.
Established in 1982, Dromana Estate was one of the early pioneers to recognise the potential of the Mornington Peninsula. Their Tuerong Park label are single vineyard wines produced from selected parcels of fruit and offer great bang for your buck.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a red to dark red tinged hue. Delightful nose with aromas of dark cherry, violet, ripe strawberry and anise intermingling with brambly dried herb, rhubarb, delicate forest floor and spice notes. Delicious dark cherry and strawberry fruits are supplely layered across the palate with notions of rhubarb, subtle anise, bramble and spicy dried herb characteristics on the back palate. Polished tannins with a sleek mid length finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.8% -
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Marie & Sylvie Courselle Les Copinnes Le Petit CourselleFRANCE$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2026-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkIntensely flavoured with good textural shape and some saline mineral elements lingering across the finish.
Made from a blend of 40% Sauvignon, 40% Semillon and 20% Chardonnay. Bright pale straw colour with a watery hue. The nose is a mix of gooseberry, lime, green apple and peach aromas with subtle stony mineral notes also evident. Showing splendid intensity are fleshy pear, Jonathan apple, lime and herbaceous gooseberry flavours. Good textural shape with brisk acidity. Some wet stone and saline mineral like elements lingering across the finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- ABV may vary
- Batch may vary
Bertrand Uberach Jaune Paien Single Cask Single Malt French Whisky (500ml)Alsace, FRANCE$179. 99Bottle$2159.88 DozenABV: 49.2%Bertrand has built a reputation for high-quality fruit-based eau-de-vies. Since 2012, the owners have also been preoccupied with single malts using their Holstein still (a pot and column combo). French oak is a feature of the project. Former 'Vin Jaune' barrels are amongst the preferred selections. Known as "France's answer to sherry," these casks previously held dry white wine from Jura in eastern France, made from late-harvest Savagnin grapes. These finishes are becoming more common in French whisky, so they obviously work in a complementary fashion. Think yellow stone fruit flavours and hints of citrus. Bertrand's limited edition is produced in batches of around 400 bottles. 49.2% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
-
- 93
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
- Organic
2022 Querceto di Castellina L’Aura Chianti ClassicoTuscany, ITALY$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2026-2029)ABV: 14%Closure: CorkAn energetic and quite juicy red fruited Chianti with a long, savoury finish.
Deep dark red black tinged core with a dark red hue. Red to black currant and red cherry scents intermix with earth, tobacco and spicy dried herb notes. Energetic and quite juicy, red to dark currant, red cherry and red liquorice fruits carry medium body weight supported by undertones of earth, dried herbs and spicy tobacco. Grainy, slightly chalky tannins with fresh underlying acidity and a long savoury finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
Ripe cherries and strawberries with hints of chocolate nibs and spices on the nose. Dried flowers, too. Medium-bodied with tense, juicy acidity and dusty tannins. Smooth and textured. From organically grown grapes. Drink now or hold.
91 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 90
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
- Biodynamic
- Organic
2024 Domaine Ogereau Anjou En CheninAnjou, Loire Valley, FRANCE$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkA light, energetic Chenin Blanc with a dry, zingy finish.
An organic certified and biodynamic Chenin Blanc. Brilliant pale straw colour with green tinged edges and a watery hue. Pear, honeysuckle and baked apple aromas emerge from the glass followed by some quince and delicate ginger spice notes. Light and energetic, the palate has an elegant flavour profile of green apple, lemon and quince over a slatey mineral back drop. Frisky acidity with a dry, zingy finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 93
2025 Chaffey Bros. Not Your Grandma’s RieslingEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2026-2030)ABV: 12.3%Closure: StelvinA juicy, off dry style of Riesling that carries good textural volume.
Brilliant water like core with green highlights around the edges. Intense lime, red apple and orange blossom aromas are followed by whiffs of honeysuckle and mineral. Juicy red apple, lime and orange fruits meld into an off dry finish of honeysuckle and gentle spice. Crisp acidity with a fruity conclusion of good textural volume.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12.3% - 2014 Cooper's Choice The Golden Cut Collection Campbeltown 11 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Campbeltown, SCOTLAND$169. 99Bottle$2039.88 DozenABV: 50%
Part of Cooper's Choice new 'Golden Cut' series, into which only the most characterful casks make the cut. This should bring a smile to the face of those partial to Campbeltown styles - regardless of presumed origin - and there is speculation that it's a tea-spooned Springbank (which is why it's classified as a blended malt rather than a single). Comes finished in an x-Martinique Rum cask with a yield of 318 bottles at high strength. Be quick! 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... An extremely pleasant 50% ABV; there's absolutely no harshness here. Initially, a hint of caramel reminiscent of Glengyle, but the taste quickly moves away from this impression and towards what it already impressed with on the nose: delicious fresh apricots and peaches, along with mandarin orange blossom and mirabelle plums, damp pebbles, a touch of salt and pepper, and eventually, dry wood. Finish: Medium-length, almost creamy finish, maritime, mineral, fruity, fresh. - whiskybase.com
-
- 95
- 95
2025 Weaver Single Vineyard Sauvignon BlancAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2026-2028)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA zesty Sauvignon Blanc that shows plenty of punch and impressive concentration.
Brilliant water like core with a subtle greenish tinge around the outskirts. Intense green apple and tropical fruit scents mix with lime, fresh herb and subtle mineral notes. Zesty lime, green apple and tropical fruit flavours are delivered with plenty of punch and show impressive concentration. Elements of fresh herbs, wet stone and mineral lie underneath. Superb textural volume and drive with crisp acidity imparting tense, zippy feel across the long mouth watering finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
There's something so effortless and good about this wine. Pure. Drives with energy. Tart with its freshness. Deep in the flow of varietal character. Citrus on just-ripe stone fruits, a lick of cut grass and dill herbal nuance, cucumber in tonic water and light passionfruit and gin 'n' tonic characters. Utterly delicious, fine boned, sleek and long lived in flavours. It finds such a great balance of things. Drink by 2029.
95 Points
Mike Bennie - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 93
2024 De Bortoli The Estate Vineyard ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2026-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA nicely fleshed, mid weighted Yarra Valley Chardonnay.
Brilliant pale straw colour with green tinged edges and a watery hue. Attractive white peach, ripe nectarine and dried honey scents drift from the glass trailed by some biscuity nougat, delicate crème brulee and spice notes. Mid weighted, the palate carries a nicely fleshed feel with white peach and nectarine fruits to the fore. Subtle dried honey, biscuity nougat and spice elements sit beneath. Good freshness with a shapely medium length finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13% - 2013 Cooper's Choice The Golden Cut Collection Tomatin 11 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$169. 99Bottle$2039.88 DozenABV: 50%
After a primary maturation in an x-Bourbon barrel, this youthful Tomatin was transferred to an Oloroso sherry cask to develop a deep, nutty, and spicy character that also brings fruit cake, poached orchard fruits and nut brittle to the table. Judging by the fantastic colour, it should be a text book example of Highland malt successfully married with traditional Spanish oak. Limited to 342 bottles. 50% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
-
- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 De Bortoli Woodfired Heathcote GrenacheHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$17. 99Bottle$215.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2026-2029)ABV: 14.2%Closure: StelvinA light to mid weighted Grenache with slightly muscular tannins, fresh acidity and a bright red fruited finish.
Dark red heart with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Pronounced ripe dark raspberry, liquorice and black cherry scents evolve out of the glass followed by some vanillin confectionary and spice notes. Juicy raspberry, cherry and red liquorice fruits bounce across the light to mid weighted palate with subtle notions of earth, vanillin spice and pepper lying underneath. Slightly muscular tannins and fresh acidity with a bright red fruited finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14.2% -
- 94
2024 Gunderloch Fritz’s Riesling DryRheinhessen, GERMANY$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA zingy, entry level German Riesling.
Fritz's Riesling grows in a very small and special part of Rheinhessen called the Roter Hang, a name meaning “red hill“ due to its red-slate soils. The combination of the red slate soil, its proximity to the Rhine river, exposure to the sun and the steepness of the vineyards are perfect for producing wines with wonderful ripeness.
Brilliant water like core with green toned edges. Lime and red apple aromas lead the way followed by hints of mandarin, wet slate and flinty mineral notes. Zesty lime, red apple and mandarin fruits intermingle with delicate honeysuckle, wet slate and a flinty mineral under current. Crisp acidity imparting a zingy feel across the long, mouth watering finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 92
- 95
- 93
2022 Protero Gumeracha NebbioloAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: 4 - 5 Years (2030-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinJuicy red fruits shaped by fresh, energetic acidity and a muscular tannin framework.
Red to dark red coloured core with black tinged edges and a light red hue. Spicy red cherry and red currant aromas intermingle with earthy graphite and dried herb notes. Juicy red cherry, red currant and red liquorice fruits are underscored by fresh, energetic acidity. Muscular tannin framework with earth, tobacco and spicy dried herb elements lurking across the back half. Chalky feel finishing sculptured and grippy.
Cellar 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
It does both speeds of lightweight and serious with fine tannin profile. Lots of perfume, too, and a dark cherry, brambly herbal focus for descriptors. In all that, it nails the brief of proper nebbiolo, with succulence to texture, great volume of perfume, restraint in fruit character and yet finesse. Elegance personified. And beautiful drinking. Drink by 2040.
95 Points
Mike Bennie - James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionPerfumed and lifted, with aromas of dark cherries, dried herbs, tobacco leaves and orange peel. The palate is medium-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of mulberries, Damson plums and leather. Well balanced with an underlying tension. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 94
2025 Reillys Watervale RieslingClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$17. 99Bottle$215.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 11%Closure: StelvinA mouth watering Watervale Riesling that has a long racy finish.
Brilliant water like core with a subtle tinge of green to the surrounds. Lime, citrus and orange scents jump out of the glass with impressive intensity. Talc and chalky mineral notes also chime in. Mouth watering lime and citrus fruits combine with some green apple, orange rind and chalky mineral elements. Crisp invigorating acidity with a long racy finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 11% -
- 93
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Donne Fittipaldi BolgheriTuscany, ITALY$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2026-2034)ABV: 14%Closure: Diam CorkA rich, generously endowed Tuscan red with assertive tannins.
Dense pitch black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Pronounced ripe blackcurrant and liquorice aromas lead the way followed by some Mediterranean herb, spicy cedar, red cherry and earthy graphite notes. Rich blackcurrant and liquorice fruits are framed by assertive tannins which impart a chewy mouth feel. Bright acidity with earth, fresh herb and spicy cedar elements the undercard. Generously endowed with fruit it finishes with a firm grippy feel.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews…..
A round and crunchy red with black-cherry, dark-chocolate and currant character. Medium body, firm tannins and a savory finish. Hints of cedar and stone here. Drink or hold.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 92
2024 Quarisa Johnny Q ChardonnaySouth Australia, AUSTRALIA$13. 99Bottle$167.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2026-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA rich, creamy textured, fruit driven style of Chardonnay.
Brilliant pale straw to straw colour with glimpses of green around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of ripe peach and tropical fruit mix with subtle toast, crème brulee and spice notes. Rich, creamy textured flavours of peach, tropical fruit, crème brulee, delicate bacon fat and spicy nougat are draped across the palate. Relatively mild acidity with a well rounded, fruit driven conclusion.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 96
- 96
- 98
2022 Catena Zapata Birth of Cabernet Cabernet SauvignonMendoza, ARGENTINA$185. 00Bottle$2220.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2026-2036)ABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkA wonderfully finessed Cabernet that concludes long and juicy yet elegant.
A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Dense inky black heart with a deep dark purple red hue. Wonderfully perfumed, the nose offers up alluring scents of violet, red to black currant, liquorice and blueberry followed by some spicy vanillin cedar, earth and fresh herb notes. A sustained wave of rich red to black currant, red liquorice and blueberry fruits swamp the refined medium bodied palate. Showing impressive concentration and finesse, notions of spicy vanillin cedar, dried herbs, subtle tobacco and earthy dark chocolate form the undercurrent. Delightful freshness with polished yet structured tannins and a long, juicy yet elegant conclusion.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
The 2022 Birth of Cabernet continues the greatness quest of the 2021, blending a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon with 100% whole-cluster fermentation on the smaller 10% amount of Cabernet Franc only. Medium-bodied, it holds a wealth of complex aromas and flavors within its folds, from fresh tobacco to dark chocolate. Hints of pencil shavings and dried herb beckon as well along a continuum of cassis-laden tannins and spiced oak. Drink 2030-2042.
98 Points
Virginie Boone – JebDunnuck.comThis has a very elegant nose of cassis and fresh, tight fruit. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, juicy, incisive and saline, with a fresh side. This comes from a 17-year-old vineyard planted in Agrelo. Drink now.
96 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 93
- Organic
2024 Carpineta Fontalpino Chianti Colli SenesiTuscany, ITALY$44. 99Bottle$539.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkJuicy and vibrant with mildly chalky tannins and a long, elegant red fruited finish.
Since the 1960’s, the Cresti family has been running this estate located in Castelnuovo Berardenga in the southern part of the Chianti Classico region. This 80 hectare property, of which 23 are dedicated to wine, produces a traditional style of Chianti Classico with a modern edge to it.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a bright red hue. The nose expels aromas of red currants, Mediterranean herbs and red liquorice followed by hints of earth, tobacco and spice. Delicious red currant and red liquorice fruits are both juicy and vibrant in their flow across the medium weighted palate. Some red cherry, earth, dried herbs and spice form the underbelly. Energetic acidity and mildly chalky tannins with a long, elegant red fruited finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13% - 2015 Cooper's Choice The Golden Cut Collection Teaninich 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 50%
Looking for something a little controversial for your next tasting event? This could be it. A bottling that has intrigued more than a few. It's not your typical Ruby Port profile, rather capturing an unusual earthy character. The expected red fruits remain present though not exactly popping out. Lots of oak spice, too. The outturn equates to 360 bottles 50% Alc.Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... I'm giving this whisky a STRONG 88, but only for one reason: This whisky has an aroma, both on the nose and on the palate, that I can barely identify. I've tasted quite a few whiskies in my life, but I've never encountered a bottle with such a "strange" flavor profile. I wouldn't call it delicious... but it's highly intriguing! A brief update after the second glass: I would say the taste is most similar to damp earth. This note is already slightly present in the nose, but then quite pronounced in the taste. - whiskybase.com
-
- 94
2023 JJ Hahn Western Ridge ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2026-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinRich, succulent and silky smooth.
Matured in a combination of French (15% new) and American oak barrels for a period of 16 months. Dense inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Wafting out of the glass are dark plum, dark chocolate and liquorice aromas which are complimented by vanillin oak, earthy mocha and subtle spicy dried herb notes. Rich succulent dark plum, dark cherry, liquorice and dark chocolate flavours flow across the palate with a polished feel. Spicy vanillin cedar, dried herb and subtle scorched earth elements lurk underneath. Silky smooth tannins with a long velvety finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 93
- Reduced
2024 Le Pezze Pinot GrigioVeneto, ITALYReduced from $24.99$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2026-2028)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA tasty, intensely flavoured Pinot Grigio that carries excellent textural shape.
Sourced from various vineyard sites across the foothills and upper hilly areas of the Val d'Alpone, this is a highly flavoursome and textured Pinot Grigio that delivers great value. Brilliant pale straw colour with a subtle green tinge around the outskirts and a watery hue. Elevated pear, lime and green apple aromas mix with delicate fresh herb and wet slate notes. Tasty pear, lime and green apple fruits make a shapely entrance on to the palate and carry with them excellent intensity. Infusions of fresh herbs and stony mineral elements lie underneath. Brisk acidity with a long refreshing finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 94
- 93
- Organic
2023 Ponce La Xara GarnachaManchuela, SPAIN$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkTucked away in Manchuela, roughly two and a half hours south of Madrid, Juan Antonio Ponce is quietly producing some the best value Spanish wines. After honing his craft under Telmo Rodriguez and spending a formative stint in Beaujolais, Juan Antonio returned to his family's 80-year-old vineyards in Iniesta to prove that the often-maligned Bobal grape could be a vehicle for world-class elegance rather than just rustic bulk wine. By farming 70 hectares of high-altitude, dry-grown vines with incredibly low density, he maintains a meagre average yield of just 2 tonnes per hectare, resulting in a modest annual production of 170,000 bottles that prioritise concentration and freshness. His signature move is a 100% whole-cluster fermentation for all his reds, a technique that, combined with the region's nutrient-rich soils and 800m+ elevation, produces wines that are remarkably fragrant, poised, and powerful.
Other Reviews...
Their pure Garnacha 2023 La Xara shows finesse and elegance and is fresh and Mediterranean. It matured in an 11,000-liter oak vat and 600-liter barrels. It has 13.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and 5.5 grams of acidity per liter of wine. None of their wines are fined, filtered or cold stabilized. It has a bright ruby color and a serious and complex nose beyond what the price might suggest. It has a combination of red and black fruit, Mediterranean herbs, a medium-bodied palate, with bones, freshness and juicy fruit. It's still very young and tender, but it will grow in bottle and gain in complexity. 13,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2024. Drink 2025-2027.
93 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThis is so tangy, peppery and bright, with grilled grapefruit, white pepper and touches of botanicals, ginseng, tile and minerals. The palate is full of energy even without the support of high acidity. Instead, this is supple and really firm. Amazing value for the money, with superb drinkability. You could really down this easily, but that doesn’t mean it’s not serious. Enjoy now.
94 points
Zekun Shuai - JamesSuckling.com -
- 94
- 96
- 93
- Organic
2024 Ponce P.F BobalManchuela, SPAIN$49. 99Bottle$599.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkTucked away in Manchuela, roughly two and a half hours south of Madrid, Juan Antonio Ponce is quietly producing some the best value Spanish wines. After honing his craft under Telmo Rodriguez and spending a formative stint in Beaujolais, Juan Antonio returned to his family's 80-year-old vineyards in Iniesta to prove that the often-maligned Bobal grape could be a vehicle for world-class elegance rather than just rustic bulk wine. By farming 70 hectares of high-altitude, dry-grown vines with incredibly low density, he maintains a meagre average yield of just 2 tonnes per hectare, resulting in a modest annual production of 170,000 bottles that prioritise concentration and freshness. His signature move is a 100% whole-cluster fermentation for all his reds, a technique that, combined with the region's nutrient-rich soils and 800m+ elevation, produces wines that are remarkably fragrant, poised, and powerful.
Other Reviews...
The 2024 P.F. is ungrafted Bobal ("P.F." stands for "pie franco" in the Spanish language and means "ungrafted") that fermented with full clusters in 4,500-liter oak vats, where it matured for 10 months. It comes in at 13.5% alcohol, with a pH of 3.63 and 5.5 grams of acidity. This is somehow earthier and darker in character, complex and nuanced, serious, a little closed, showing the more austere profile of the year and the soils. This has nuance, complexity, depth and purity of flavors, with very good precision. This has the juiciness but with the concentration from the smaller bunches delivered by the ungrafted vines, with fine-grained, polished tannins. This is going to improve with time in bottle, which I think will be more in the direction of a Northern Rhône than a Burgundy. 12,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2025. Drink 2027-2035.
96 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateDeep yet very fresh nose, with a stemmy, herbal note to its complex melange of bramble and wild cherry fruit. Round, fleshy and full-bodied, with tight but melted tannins slowly making themselves felt on the palate. Chewy, powerful finish, with savory herbs and dark cherries. From organically grown grapes. Drink from 2026.
94 points
Zekun Shuai - JamesSuckling.comPF for Pie Franco, indicating that the vines are still on their own roots. Around eighty years old for the parcel. Rugged bush vines of waist to chest height.
A very savoury number, dark cherry, salted plums, bitter herbs, bloody game meat characters, ferrous, turned earth notes, white pepper and some Autumn leaf notes. Quite gravelly and grippy in texture, a thick, plodding palate too. Rusticity found here, so too lift and crunch through the finish, but yes, a charm in the bric a brac feel to the wine. Traditional, per se. Drink 2026-2029.
93 points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front -
- 94
- 98
- 94
- Organic
2024 Ponce La Estrecha BobalManchuela, SPAIN$69. 99Bottle$839.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkTucked away in Manchuela, roughly two and a half hours south of Madrid, Juan Antonio Ponce is quietly producing some the best value Spanish wines. After honing his craft under Telmo Rodriguez and spending a formative stint in Beaujolais, Juan Antonio returned to his family's 80-year-old vineyards in Iniesta to prove that the often-maligned Bobal grape could be a vehicle for world-class elegance rather than just rustic bulk wine. By farming 70 hectares of high-altitude, dry-grown vines with incredibly low density, he maintains a meagre average yield of just 2 tonnes per hectare, resulting in a modest annual production of 170,000 bottles that prioritise concentration and freshness. His signature move is a 100% whole-cluster fermentation for all his reds, a technique that, combined with the region's nutrient-rich soils and 800m+ elevation, produces wines that are remarkably fragrant, poised, and powerful.
Other Reviews...
The 2024 La Estrecha comes from a plot that tends to deliver finesse, a floral character and complexity. It shows freshness and approachability, but it can also age. It fermented with full clusters in 4,500-liter oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in a 5,000-liter oak vat until right before the next harvest. It's an old Bobal vineyard on granite soils that has some 10% other varieties. It comes in at 12.2% alcohol (12.5% on the label), a pH of 3.5 and 5.7 grams of acidity. It started a little shy but with nuance and detail and then becomes insinuating and serious. This is always one of my favorite wines here, irrespective of the price. Here, the varietal blend and possibly the soils make it very elegant, complex and complete, with very fine chalky tannins and less grippy than those from the Pino. This could very well be the highlight from the 2024 vintage. 5,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2025. Drink 2026-2036.
98 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateWild fruit, sour raspberries with flowers, chalky mineral and grapefruit give this a refreshing herbal lift. It’s a delicate and elegant bobal, with firm, chalky tannins and a pure, tensioned finish, long, juicy and pristine. A unique expression of bobal that’s more stony and ethereal than fleshy and structured. From organically grown grapes. Delicious now, but can hold.
94 points
Zekun Shuai - JamesSuckling.comOld bush vines spaced at quite the distance, planted on very sandy, ferrous looking soils. Rugged country.
Brooding, dark fruited, so sloshy and come hither in its jolly, jubey, inky way. Some sour elements too, a touch of dark vermouth character complete with botanical lift, white pepper, aniseed. Such a joyful and lush red, not heavy, just lots of character and an ease of drinking. Pleasure zones hit. Drink 2026-2030.
94 points
Mike Bennie - The Wine Front -
- 95
- 98
- Organic
2022 Ponce BobalManchuela, SPAIN$115. 00Bottle$1380.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkTucked away in Manchuela, roughly two and a half hours south of Madrid, Juan Antonio Ponce is quietly producing some the best value Spanish wines. After honing his craft under Telmo Rodriguez and spending a formative stint in Beaujolais, Juan Antonio returned to his family's 80-year-old vineyards in Iniesta to prove that the often-maligned Bobal grape could be a vehicle for world-class elegance rather than just rustic bulk wine. By farming 70 hectares of high-altitude, dry-grown vines with incredibly low density, he maintains a meagre average yield of just 2 tonnes per hectare, resulting in a modest annual production of 170,000 bottles that prioritise concentration and freshness. His signature move is a 100% whole-cluster fermentation for all his reds, a technique that, combined with the region's nutrient-rich soils and 800m+ elevation, produces wines that are remarkably fragrant, poised, and powerful.
Other Reviews...
The eponymous red 2022 Ponce was produced with 80% Bobal from granite soils and 20% Moravia Agria from limestone and clay. It fermented with 100% full clusters in open-top 4,500-liter oak vats and finished fermenting and aging in a single 7,000-liter oak vat for 11 months. It has 13% alcohol and a pH of 3.6 with 5.7 grams of acidity. This has something in common with the La Estrecha from this same vintage, with a more ethereal profile, both with changes in the élevage toward larger volumes that give the wines more relaxed, less tight personalities. Complete, balanced and harmonious from very early on, this is a great vintage for this wine. 7,000 bottles were filled in September 2023. Drink 2024-2032.
98 points
Luis Gutiérrez - Robert Parker's Wine AdvocateThis is a much better bottle than the one I had last year, which was riper and fruitier. This one is quite different, with attractive white pepper, minerals, red sour berries, citrus and iron. Very firm and linear, with chalky tannins and a long, streamlined finish. Medium-bodied and very fine-boned. Drink now or hold.
95 points
Zekun Shuai - JamesSuckling.com - Blanton's Original Private Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey (700ml) - 2011 BottlingKentucky, UNITED STATES$350. 00Bottle$4200.00 DozenABV: 46.5%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
Blanton’s has its place in history as being the first Single Barrel Bourbon, setting the standard for others to follow by creating a new 'super-premium' bourbon category. Quite simply, the product is aged in one barrel, and unlike most others, never blended with other bourbon. The principle behind the concept is that each barrel of Bourbon varies, and the whiskey in it acquires a slightly different flavour profile. Furthermore, where barrels are stored in a warehouse, the immediate environment can make a considerable impact on how the whiskey matures. The master distiller periodically samples the whiskey in barrels, especially those barrels in the best part of the warehouse. (Usually this is the very center of the warehouse, called 'the heart' of the warehouse. ) Those barrels that are discovered to contain unusually fine whiskey are recorded and tracked with care. There is no margin for error because there is no way to compensate for flavour by mixing the spirit with any other liquid at a later period. At considerable expense to the distillery, the selected barrels are allowed to mature in years far beyond the average age of Bourbon. When they are at their peak of perfection, they are taken from the warehouse -- one by one -- and bottled one barrel at a time and then packaged by hand. In this way the cream of the crop, so to speak, becomes single barrel Bourbon. The intended result is a new classic every time: unfiltered, uncut - Bourbon of a most individual expression. As a consequence, each bottling can vary in style and flavour.
Blanton's first Single Barrel release was in 1984. It was named after Colonel Albert Bacon Blanton, who in 1901 at the age of twenty became superintendent of the distillery. It was reportedly a labor of love for Blanton who led the enterprise as the only working distillery in Kentucky during Prohibition (1920 to 1933) and had the distillery back and running within 24 hours of the floodwaters subsiding following the great flood of 1937. Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee, Member of the Master Distiller's Hall of Fame, oversaw the introduction of single barrel bourbons. Current Master Distiller, Gary Gayheart, carries on the tradition. All Blanton's Bourbons are superbly packaged in a jewel-like decanter. The tiny horse and jockey on the bottle stoppers have become a trademark of Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon. Blanton's have produced a collectors edition set of eight different stoppers, with horse and jockey in different strides and poses. Each stopper is marked with a single letter that spells Blanton’s when the set has been completed.
Other reviews... Copper hue. Sweet vanilla, caramel, and dried fruit, aromas are appealing. Supple on the palate with rich toffee, allspice, and pepper notes. Has a great balance between dryness and fruity sweetness that tapers to a smooth finish.
International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal
RATED: 90 points (Exceptional) - www.tastings.com - Laphroaig Select Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Older BottlingIslay, SCOTLAND$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product not pictured.
Considered "the easy-going one" in the Laphroaig line-up, the repackaged Oak Select is created from selected casks from each of the distillery's key styles (Quarter Cask, PX, Triple Wood, and 10 year old) with one exception - the heart of the spirit is reportedly sourced from a final maturation in virgin American oak. Seasoned whisky drinkers will be aware that new wood is rarely used in Scotch Whisky maturation. Instead, almost all whisky is put into casks that have previously held other beverages, usually Bourbon or Sherry. New wood tends to stamp its inherent flavours into the whisky in a definitive way. Can we expect this to be a battle between peat reek and coconut?Other reviews... Missed by a trick by not being unfiltered and 46% 89 points - Jim Murrays Whisky Bible 2018
...The nose is reminiscent of freshly-treated decking, before some classic iodine creeps in. Water brings out geranium, pollen, and damp leather. The palate is simple, clean, and mild (and smoky), with bay leaf, light dried fruit, and that oily wood. Undoubtedly there's a lot going on, but it’s not married, and 40% means it lacks the necessary wallop.
82 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Dave Broom (Fall 2014) -
- 96
- 95
- 97
- Reduced
2024 Oakridge Vineyard Series Hazeldene ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $39.99$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2026-2032)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA graceful and beautifully fleshed Yarra Valley Chardonnay.
Matured in 500 litre French oak puncheons for a period of 16 months on lees. Brilliant very pale straw colour with a distinct greenish tint to the surrounding edges and a watery hue. Wonderfully refined yet intense nose with alluring scents of white peach, nectarine, dried honey and delicate cashew captivating the olfactory senses. Biscuity nougat and subtle gun flint notes ensue. Medium weight and graceful in its flow, the beautifully fleshed palate features rich white peach, nectarine and citrus fruits over a dried honey, biscuity nougat, spicy cashew and gun flint back drop. Fresh underlying acidity with a long generously textured finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews….
Oakridge’s Hazeldene Chardonnay is a perennial favourite and this 2024 is another ripper. This wine is flush with fruit and long through the finish, and while its complexity more or less looks after itself there’s plenty going on beneath the bonnet. Nuts, yellow stone fruits, cooked apples, sweet meal and cracked wheat are all washed through with citrus, cedar and grapefruit. There’s a delicate aspect to the texture, in the best of ways. We are absolutely on song here. Drink 2027-2032+
95 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front
This wine is part of the Oakridge Vineyard Series. It should be noted at the outset that the Vineyard Series sits, at least in theory, below their prestige range known as ‘864’. To be honest, particularly with this Chardonnay, I think they might have a little trouble as it is very hard to imagine that even any of their wonderful 864 Chardonnays will be able to top this wine. This is an absolute cracker and while it may not be priced for daily drinking, it is ridiculously undervalued. For this money, good luck finding anything in Burgundy which comes within cooee. The Hazeldene Vineyard is in the Gladysdale sub-region. The wine was made by whole bunch pressing directly into 500-litre French oak puncheons, with a natural fermentation, and then fourteen months maturation. A shimmering pale lemon hue, the complexity and quality in this wine is immediately evident. The nose reveals notes of hazelnuts, stone fruits, citrus, grilled cashews, peaches, nectarines, melon and a touch of jasmine. The wine of exquisite balance, finesse and power, there is extraordinary length here. The intensity is maintained for the entire journey. A brilliant Chardonnay which will easily handle the next twelve years. Wow! Drink 2026-2038.
97 points
Ken Gargett - WinePilot.com
















































