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2022 Wirra Wirra Church Block Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz MerlotMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich red to black fruits seamlessly integrated within a refined medium bodied structure.
The 2022 vintage marks 50 years of Wirra Wirra Church Block, the first vintage being produced back in 1972. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Shiraz and 7% Merlot matured for 12 months in a combination of new and seasoned French and American oak barrels.
Midnight black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Blossoming from the glass are attractive scents of red to black currant, mulberry and red liquorice which are trailed by some vanillin cedar, earth and spice notes. Rich red to black currant, red liquorice and mulberry fruits meld into a vanillin cedar, earth, dried herb and spice back drop. Boasting excellent intensity and a seamlessly integrated fine grained tannin structure it finishes long and refined. One of the best Church Block’s for quite some time.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews…..
A vintage that marks an incoming winemaker and a culling of lesser quality fruit. Cabernet and shiraz, the Aussie archetype. Consummate, medium-bodied and savory, with better tannin management than what I recall of past vintages. Bay leaves, currants and iodine, with licorice tannins serving as gentle directives to good, supple length. An everyday claret for the sophisticate, with a strong maritime feel. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
93 points
JamesSuckling.comCabernet Sauvignon (51%) Shiraz (42%) Merlot (7%).
This release of Wirra Wirra Church Block is on song and in form. It has plenty of flesh and fruit but it’s also firm and dry. It tastes of boysenberry, redcurrant, saltbush and dried herbs, with a gently ferrous-like element running throughout. It’s lovely to drink; solid but supple. Drink 2024-2029+
92 points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front -
- 95
2023 Buckshot Vineyard Heathcote ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14.3%Closure: StelvinRich, succulent Heathcote Shiraz that carries a plush yet vibrant feel.
Established in 1999 by Rob and Meegan Peebles, this small Heathcote vineyard consists of 5 acre planting of Shiraz and 1 acre plot of Zinfandel that are grown on Heathcote’s famed Cambrian quartz and ironstone soils. Small, low yielding crops of 2 to 2.5 tons per acre ensure great flavour intensity.
Midnight black heart with a deep dark purple hue. Freshly crushed blackberry, liquorice, dark plum and ripe blueberry scents elevate their way out of the glass with plenty of intensity. Some spicy vanillin cedar and peppered earth notes are also evident. Rich and succulent the palate is awash with blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits. Opulent yet fresh, it’s both intense and powerful. Spicy vanillin oak, blueberry, earth and peppered fennel characters are layered across the back half. Polished tannins with a long plush yet vibrant finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.3% - Johnnie Walker Blue Label Alfred Dunhill Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky (700ml)SCOTLAND$599. 00Bottle$7188.00 DozenABV: 40%
Note: Product has come from a private collection and as such has some minor scuffing/scratches/handling marks. Actual product pictured.
A collaborative bottling from two of the UK's most respected luxury brands, this is definitely one of Walker's most distinctive limited editions to date. The striking carton interior shows Dunhill’s famous Chassis design evoking the rolling hills of Scotland. Or is it a contemporary urban landscape? Designed for the travel retail market, the one litre bottle features a map design, which also decorates the interior and exterior of the pack. As always, made with rare whiskies from the most prized Johnnie Walker reserves. Extremely limited stocks. -
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- Nick's Import
- ABV may vary
Blue Spot 7 Year Old Cask Strength Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (700ml)IRELAND$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenABV: 58.7%"...A cracking addition to the Spot range, my favourite so far in fact" - dramface.com
Blue Spot is one of Ireland’s heritage whiskies, produced originally by Mitchell & Son in Dublin using whiskey from the John Jameson & Sons Distillery. Its revival brings back the entire 'Spot range' of Green, Yellow, Red, and Blue for the first time since the 1960s. Blue Spot debuted in 2020 and since then it's been an annual limited release with the ABV varying from batch to batch. The whiskey is a precocious 7-year-old cask-strength offering matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon, Sherry and Madeira wine casks – a nod to the Mitchell family’s history as wine merchants, known for importing Madeira wine from Portugal. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Spot whiskeys inhabit a flavor profile between Redbreast's fruitiness and Powers' muscularity, and this feisty newcomer completes the family with its nose of baked apple, spiced nuts, toffee, very crisp spices, and cool mint. The creamy palate of melted toffee and condensed milk layers on tangy citrus, bitter peels, baked lemon, apple, dried cherry, and walnut, with peppery pot still spices running amok at full strength. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...A cracking addition to the Spot range, my favourite so far in fact… yes, it’s even better than the Whisky Exchange 26 year old which is basically just Marsala and wood. This however has plenty going on. It’s thick and oily texture wise with a great flavour development and time just seems to give more and more aromas and nuanced flavours with the Madeira element very well judged. In fact I was very fortunate to try the Madeira element on its own and it wasn’t particularly stunning or interesting but added into the mix here, it really imbued its citrus and walnut notes without overpowering proceedings. Don’t let that 7 year old age statement put you off either, like it potentially did a customer in my local off-licence. He loved the 12 and 15 year old Spots but couldn’t see how a 7 year old, even at cask strength, could offer value or a better experience compared to the higher age statements. I let him know the youngest whiskey may well indeed be 7 years old but there were older whiskies in the vatting with the Madeira component actually being 20 years old. Age statement situation cleared up, he duly bought a bottle. - dramface.com
...The nose has a tropical tartness with touches of lime, pineapple, and a hint of banana balanced by subtle spices and nuttiness with a touch of apple pie. The taste is spicy, oaky, and nutty with a very complex balance of baking spices, black pepper, touches of tropical fruits, and a hint of hazelnut. The finish is amazingly long and complex with a nice tropical character. Outstanding! (November, 2020) 95 points - whiskycast.com
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The Singleton of Glen Ord 15 Year Old (Special Release 2022) Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - NO GIFT BOXHighlands, SCOTLANDReduced from $199.99$189. 99Bottle$2279.88 DozenABV: 54.2%Other reviews... Red apple, cranberry, damson, and ground pepper on first sniff, this showcases a beautifully layered bouquet of wood spices, caramel, cream, and more overt vinous aromas. The palate begins with warm baked fruits, watermelon, crystalized sugar, clove, pepper, Red Vines, red apple, taffy, and fruity red wine before a spicy finish. The cautious addition of a little water opens it up fully. 91 points - whiskyadvocate.com
...Lovely bottle with some kind of mermaid, would go well for suntan lotion too. No, really. I hope the wood treatment remained kind of moderate, because I think I have noticed that they've been cranking them up with last year's SRs. For example, this is ex-bourbon (good) and wine (bad) casks. Wine casks, wazzat? What is 'a wine cask'? Could we remain focused on the whiskies? Colour: gold. Nose: cask-driven. Vanilla, cakes, Nutella, macchiato. Starbucks whisky. With water: more Nutella. I just hope no orang-outangs have been harmed along the process. Mouth (neat): good for sure but indeed, there is a lot of Nescafé and Nutella. With water: roasted hazelnut and more Nescafé. Finish: medium, very dry, pretty oaky. Comments: I can't quite see how and why this would be 'Rare and Exceptional', but indeed it is rather 'Fair and Okay'. Now I've heard they'll soon launch new expressions of Ord that will be much closer to the Distillery's brilliant own character, in the vein of the magical official 28 and 30 of old. Unless I've been dreaming once more… … … 82 points - whiskyfun.com
- 2022 Samuel Billaud Mont de Milieu Chablis Premier CruChablis, FRANCE$195. 00Bottle$2340.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: Cork
While the origins of this domaine date back to Charles-Louis-Noel Billaud in 1815, it's the current generation winemaker Samuel Billaud that has made waves with the exceptional quality of his wines produced since the creation of this project in 2009. Following the sale of the family business Domaine Billaud-Simon to Faiveley in 2014, Samuel received further prized parcels of land and now makes wines from five of the grand cru vineyards, and five of the top premier cru vineyards. The wines are vinified in a mixture of stainless steel and large old wood barrels, the latter mainly for the premier and grand cru wines.
Other Reviews....
As one would expect in a vintage like 2022, there is a suggestion of the exotic lurking in the background of the ripe nose of white-fleshed fruit, wet stone and shellfish scents. The rich, full-bodied and overtly powerful medium weight plus flavors coat the palate with sappy dry extract while delivering fine length on the balanced finale. This does however need to develop more depth though that should reasonably occur if allowed at least a few years of bottle aging. Worth checking out. Drink through 2030+.
92 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundBottled in May after 18 months. Clear pale colour with a little light lime touch. This stands back, suggesting that it really needs to be kept. Samuel Billaud has moved to DIAM 30 with that in mind. Exceptional density, based around the dry extract, a little lick of oak, this has barely begun to touch its full potential. Drink from 2027-2034.
94 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
- 93
2022 Samuel Billaud Montee de Tonnerre Chablis Premier CruChablis, FRANCE$199. 00Bottle$2388.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkWhile the origins of this domaine date back to Charles-Louis-Noel Billaud in 1815, it's the current generation winemaker Samuel Billaud that has made waves with the exceptional quality of his wines produced since the creation of this project in 2009. Following the sale of the family business Domaine Billaud-Simon to Faiveley in 2014, Samuel received further prized parcels of land and now makes wines from five of the grand cru vineyards, and five of the top premier cru vineyards. The wines are vinified in a mixture of stainless steel and large old wood barrels, the latter mainly for the premier and grand cru wines.
Other Reviews....
An elegant, pure and beautifully airy nose presents ripe but wonderfully fresh aromas of mineral reduction, acacia blossom and oyster shell trimmed in enough wood to merit mentioning. The racy and borderline painfully intense middleweight flavors exude a bracing minerality that adds a sense of lift to the detailed, focused and lingering finale that is neither especially dry nor austere. Other than a trace of backend warmth, this is a classic MdT though one that could use better depth, so a few years of patience will be necessary. Drink through 2030+.
92 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2022 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru has a very impressive bouquet with wonderful marine-inflected malic scents, quite strict and focused, leaning more to traditional old school Chablis. The palate is very well balanced with a sapid entry, linear and strict with a twist of sour lemon on the finish. Excellent. Drink 2025-2042.
93 points
Neal Martin - VinousFresh mid lemon. Very classy on the nose, with the extra fruit-driven intensity. A brilliant core with the extra fruit from this sunny site making it more accessible. A tropical take on grapefruit promotes a lovely aftertaste Drink from 2027-2035.
93 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
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2022 Samuel Billaud Blanchot Chablis Grand CruChablis, FRANCE$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenABV: 13%Closure: CorkWhile the origins of this domaine date back to Charles-Louis-Noel Billaud in 1815, it's the current generation winemaker Samuel Billaud that has made waves with the exceptional quality of his wines produced since the creation of this project in 2009. Following the sale of the family business Domaine Billaud-Simon to Faiveley in 2014, Samuel received further prized parcels of land and now makes wines from five of the grand cru vineyards, and five of the top premier cru vineyards. The wines are vinified in a mixture of stainless steel and large old wood barrels, the latter mainly for the premier and grand cru wines.
Other Reviews....
This is aromatically quite similar to the Bougros with ample wood if a bit more floral and citrus elements in play. The sleeker and finer medium-bodied flavors also possess excellent volume as well as more evident minerality that adds lift to the attractively textured and sneaky long back. Once again, better depth would be a major plus so a few years of bottle aging are in order. Drink through 2030+.
92 points
Allen Meadows - BurghoundThe 2022 Chablis Blanchot Grand Cru, located mid-slope from 30-35-year-old vines, has a very complex bouquet: Granny Smiths, struck flint, hints of oyster shell and seaweed developing with time in the glass. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, a little more weight than the Bougros but maybe not quite the same ethereal degree of mineralité. Nevertheless, this will age beautifully in bottle. Drink 2027-2048.
94 points
Neal Martin - VinousAged for 12 months in wood, then 6 in tank on the lees, which is the standard for all the grands crus. Light lemon yellow, a little oaky on the nose. Coconut too on the palate, but these aspects are just some top notes on top of a wealth of fruit with an excellent crystalline acidity. Very persistent. Drink from 2028-2038.
93 points
Jasper Morris MW - Inside Burgundy -
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2023 Willem Kurt Beechworth ChardonnayBeechworth, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$44. 99Bottle$539.88 DozenABV: 12.8%Closure: StelvinWillem Kurt wines begun its life as a garage project initially purchasing fruit and making wine from its rented winery space. It wasn’t until 2017 that a paddock of land was purchased, and vines planted. Winemaker Daniel Balzer employs simple winemaking techniques in order to emphasis the fruit, barrel fermentation and maturation in French oak (25% new) with only select barrels undergoing lees stirring and malolactic fermentation.
Other Reviews....
Another stylish and complex chardonnay for this label. Embraces a chalky, savoury, citrus flintiness that is so convincingly good, convincingly Beechworth in personality. Nectarine, white peach, preserved lemon, gun flint backed by baked bread, toasted almond and spice. Acidity is a feature here, bringing a tensile quality. Mouth-watering grapefruit pithy finish. Drink 2024 - 2033.
95 Points
Jeni Port - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionThe world is crazy for Beechworth chardonnay and why the heck wouldn’t it be.
There’s an inherent complexity to this chardonnay. It pushes hay into peach, smoked bacon into grapefruit, and oatmeal into citrus, and while it has semblances of slippery smoothness – or richness, even – it feels energetic throughout, and ultimately lengthy. The way flavour sweeps through the finish is particularly enjoyable, and of particular note. This is another winner under the Willem Kurt label. Drink 2025 - 2031+
94 Points
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front -
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- Nick's Import
Appleton Estate Rare Cask 12 Year Old Rum (1000ml)JAMAICA$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 43%"Top notch rum here... hard to put down — and so beautiful it’s a perfect candidate for straight sipping." - drinkhacker.com
For those who may not remember, this 2015 presentation replaced Appleton 'Extra'. While little blending information is offered, the recipe is said to have remained the same. We do know that it employs both column and pot still rums aged for a minimum of 12 years and reportedly contains liquid up to 18 years old. Appleton 'Rare Casks' ranks among a handful of readily available bottlings we'd recommend to anyone breaking into serious rum connoisseurship. Leading with powerful aromas of spiced apple, lean molasses and buttered fruit toast, developing banana confectionary, rancio and nutty, grilled corn-like notes, it also boasts ideal sweet/dry balance with spicy, fruity, brown sugar flavours countered by hints of banana cake and fine astringency. There are traces of walnut fudge, oaky vanilla and understated molasses at the last. Jamaican rums are known to be overtly fruity and funky, but Appleton’s style here is much tamer, instead offering a clinic on poise in the mid-tier rum category that's almost too good to mix. 43% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews.... The first nosing passes find tight notes of molasses and walnut; aeration time releases bigger scents of nutmeg and spiced apple. The palate entry is wonderfully warm and spicy; at midpalate the taste turns cocoa- and vanilla-like, creamy and honeyed. Concludes creamy and delicious. 98 points - wineenthusiast.com
...This is top notch rum here, and easily the best of the bunch. Refined tropical notes — banana, coconut, brown sugar, vanilla-fueled barrel char — it’s all there, right on the nose. The body takes on a fruitier character, with chocolate lacing and more of a flame-kissed/charred fruit note, giving the rum a distinctly sweet, dessert-friendly character, yet it offers a little extra oomph thanks to the slightly higher proof. This one’s hard to put down — and so beautiful it’s a perfect candidate for straight sipping. - drinkhacker.com
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Highland Park Viking Honour 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Plus Bonus Cask Strength 50ml MiniatureOrkney Islands, SCOTLAND$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 40%Comes with a bonus 50ml miniature bottle of the high-octane Cask Strength Release No.3.
Ranked alongside the classic malts, revered as a spectacular after-dinner drink and without doubt '...a malt to challenge any Cognac or Armagnac', Highland Park's house style is fragrant and floral with a smooth, honeyed character over hints of citrus and smoke. The phenol content of their proprietary malt is 30-40ppm but the remainder which is imported from Simpson's is unpeated. Employing roughly 20% first-fill sherry casks, the distillery is serious about quality oak, spending $20 million a year on wood alone, more than any other Scotch distillery - despite having a fraction of the output of some of the larger brands.
First released in 1979, the 12 year old remains the best introduction to the Orkney legend. A name change and packaging update took place in 2017. It's now called 'Viking Honour', adding to what seems like a never-ending series of Nordic themed labels. This special gift pack edition will please bargain hunters. It comes with a 50ml cask strength HP - a massive, extra smokey limited release bottled at a whopping 64.1% Alc./Vol!
12YO Retasted 2019 ...Surprisingly full at 40% ABV but loses vitality and flattens out towards the finish. Otherwise, mostly unchanged from our first tasting back in 2012. Subtle nashi-pear fruitiness combines with a judicious slap of peat and a spicy flourish. More peaty than some previous bottlings with drying brine, spice and smoke lingering. Closer to the HP style of 15 years ago.
Other reviews... "The sweet aroma is very inviting and draws you in closer to inspect the dram. The honey'd and vanilla fragrance takes a turn on the palate replaced by grass and pineapple. A lemon twist or two comes next with the peat smoke just teasing your senses." 91 points - drinkhacker.com
...This amber spirit has a light, briny vanilla scent and a silky feel. A veil of smoke rises through the Scotch (but fades out fast), leaving behind a sweet nutty, vanilla finish. 93 points - wineenthusiast.com
More Viking paraphernalia… Could we at least have Lagertha? Colour: gold. Nose: not my preferred style of HP either, but this is fresher, fruitier, more lively, even if the core is kind of similar. Bitter oranges, marmalade, ginger, ale, whiffs of pumpernickel bread, oak spices, a little leather and tobacco… Indeed I like this nose better. Mouth: no questions, this is more refreshing despite the ‘seasoning’ that’s a little too apparent to me. Pepper, oak spices, black tea, grass smoke… Nice earthy honey beyond these bitterish spices. Finish: medium, spicy, with an obvious tannicity. Comments: they seem to have used active seasoned wood too here, but the spices and the leather were better controlled in my opinion. But indeed I much prefer the brighter, distillate-driven HPs. Because what a distillate it is indeed! 83 points - whiskyfun.com
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- Nick's Import
Springbank 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - 2024 BottlingCampbeltown, SCOTLAND$399. 00Bottle$4788.00 DozenABV: 46%Why has Springbank been so hard to get of late? Quite simply, the distillery has always had a relatively low output. Patchy supply has been an issue for quite a number of years, but that's slowly changing. Production has increased marginally, but it will be quite some time before there's sufficient age stated stock is available to meet year-round global demand. In the meantime, allocations from the official Australian importer remain negligible. Just landed is another tiny instalment of the 15 year old, this time matured in Oloroso sherry casks. 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... The issue for me remains the same: it’s nearly impossible to beat the 10-year-old, even more so in terms of quality/price ratio. In short, the 15 is sold at twice the price of the 10. This is the 2024 release in our glass—I imagine the 2025 version is already in the pipeline. Colour: gold. Nose: a restrained sherry greets us, with the distillate in full command of itself, brimming with Springbankness. Damp plaster, fresh concrete, low tide, paint pot, lemon, menthol, old ointments, and not the slightest trace of sulphur this time. We found a bit in an earlier version, but that was back in 2017. Mouth: less luminous than the 10 OB, with more leather and simply more sherry (old walnuts) as well as tobacco, yet the brininess is spot-on, before things shift more towards bitter oranges rather than lemons. Finish: long, oily, with a touch of curry and very peppery olive oil. Comments: excellent, as expected, but as the old ad used to say, I wouldn’t trade two bottles of the 15 for one of the 10. Well, there we are… 88 points - whiskyfun.com
Notes from the producers... Nose: Hints of dried fruits, oak, and a subtle maritime influence. Taste: Layers of toffee, vanilla, and a touch of peat. Finish: Long and warm.
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2022 A-Mano Imprint FalanghinaPuglia, ITALY$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 13%Closure: Diam CorkA fruity, saline laced white that carries gorgeous textural shape.
Bright straw colour with a watery hue. Aromas of pear, lime and green apple fill the nostrils followed by some Mediterranean herb infusions and stony mineral notes that have a saline like edge. Delicious pear and green to red apple fruits carry gorgeous textural shape across the palate. Traces of lime, tangerine, wet slate and a saline like minerality lie underneath. Crisp acidity with a long fruity, saline laced finish.
Drink over the next year.
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2023 Mac Forbes Yarra Junction ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$54. 99Bottle$659.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 11%Closure: StelvinLight, tense, energetic Chardonnay.
Brilliant pale straw colour with subtle flecks of green to the edges and a watery hue. Delicate citrus and green apple aromas are trailed by some lime juice, faint orange blossom and stony mineral notes. The light, energetic palate features frisky lime juice and green apple fruits which have a back bone of crisp acidity. Some subtle stony mineral elements are also evident. Tense racy feel with a very focused finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 11%Other Reviews…..
From a single site. A few hours of skin contact before fermentation and maturation in seasoned barriques. A brilliant green gold. Restrained with aromas of just-ripened orchard fruits, yellow plum, orange blossom and grilled hazelnuts. Really persistent, balanced, tensile and long. A lovely wine destined to blossom over the next, at least, seven to 10 years. Drink by 2030.
97 Points
Philip Rich – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThe boundaries are being pushed – it’s 11% alcohol – but there’s good flavour here, not to mention style, not to mention an extra kick of flavour through the finish. Indeed there’s more than a little x-factor to this wine. Lactose, grapefruit, pear, green apple and fennel flavours come with a light coating of custard powder and woodsmoke. It all sails so beautifully along. There’s a floral element here too; if ever a wine benefited from being decanted, it’s this one. Every time I returned to my glass it had something else to say. Drink 2026-2033+
95 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front -
- 95
2021 DCB Wine Woori Yallock Single Vineyard Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$37. 99Bottle$455.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13.2%Closure: StelvinSavoury red to dark fruits with a supple feel and long, elegant finish.
Semi translucent red to dark red colour with a light red hue. Perfumed aromas of violets, red to dark cherries, wild strawberries and subtle anise sail through the nostrils followed by some dried herb, spicy cedar and forest floor notes. The savoury palate is layered with red to dark cherry, strawberry, anise and delicate rhubarb flavours. Dried herb, forest floor and spicy cedar elements lie underneath. Supple in its feel it has refined yet neatly structured tannins and fresh underlying acidity. Concludes long and elegant with spicy red to dark fruits.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.2% -
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2022 Linke Cabernet SauvignonBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$17. 99Bottle$215.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRipe and plump a with stewed fruit finish that has a slightly chewy feel.
Pitch black heart with a very dark red black tinged hue. Lifted black plum, blackcurrant and liquorice aromas intermingle with some toasty oak, tobacco and spicy dried herb notes. Rich and plump, black plum and blackcurrant fruits meld into an earthy tobacco, vanillin cedar and spicy dried herb back drop. Ripe sturdy tannin structure with a stewed fruit finish that has a slightly chewy feel.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14.5% - Cadenheads Original Collection Inchgower 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$179. 99Bottle$2159.88 DozenABV: 46%
Bottled in 2024, this middle-ager takes Inchgower on a novel tangent - it's been matured in refill casks that previously held the richest and sweetest sherry of them all, Pedro Ximenez. 'PX' for short, is sweet, luscious, gooey and packed with flavours of dried fruits, dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Before that, the malt spent its first 12 years in ex Springbank casks. Curious? We certainly are! 46% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... “Salted caramel, wine gums, brine, coastal. Cola syrup, honey roasted cashews.”
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2023 Paralian Marmont Vineyard Grenache - Last StocksMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$42. 99Bottle$515.88 DozenCellar: 5 - 6 Years (2030-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinJuicy and vibrant with a sculptured feel and long, tense finish.
Deep dark red heart with black shaded edges and a dark red hue. Fragrant red to dark raspberry and red liquorice scents sail through the nostrils followed by some red cherry, crushed rock, vanillin spice and peppery fresh herb like scents. Juicy and vibrant the mid weighted palate features red raspberry, red liquorice and red cherry fruits which are underscored by fresh acidity. Vanillin spice, crushed rock and pepper elements ensue. Slightly chalky tannins impart a muscular feel onto what is a tense but long finish.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews……
Blewitt Springs grenache planted to Holocene sand in 1960; fermented in 135-year-old wax-lined concrete fermenters with 20% whole bunches; about 18 days on skins; matured in a 2500L 17-year-old French oak vat for 10 months. Newly bottled, this is just so engagingly present at this early stage, though the architecture is there for a long life. Cranberry, pink peppercorn, freeze-dried raspberry, rosehip, raspberry leaf tea, sumac, cinnamon, white pepper and ground dried orange peel. It’s got grip and tension, so natural of feel, with a savoury line that connects to fruit, both bundled together seamlessly. This is stunning. Drink by 2032.
96 Points
Marcus Ellis - James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionFrom the Marmont vineyard, Blewitt Springs, planted in 1960.
Steely, iron filings, ozone, cherry, raspberry, floral and spicy, honey glazed ham and mint. Medium-bodied, fine emery board tannin, dried herbs and almond, lots of cranberry crunch and energy, with very good length. Lovely wine. Fine Grenache. Picked on the right side of ripeness, with some tangy blood orange flavour in the aftertaste. It’ll do well with a few more years on it. Drink 2024-2033+
95 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine FrontThe 2023 Grenache is aromatic and light in the glass, with notes of perfumed roses, blood orange, petrichor/wet asphalt, star anise, raspberry seed and licorice. On the palate, the wine is representative of the season that birthed it—it is cool and fine-boned, and the large oak vats that the wine matured in works to elevate the aromatics and protects an ethereal core of the wine. It is gossamer like in its shape and flow, really good. Made with 20% whole bunches, it fermented in old concrete fermenters (the same age as the Ryecroft winery that they belong to—137 years old this year). Post ferment, the fruit was pressed and put into large old vats (purchased from Tyrrell's). The tannins here are the highlight for me, aside from the fruit of course, in that they are chalky and infused into the wine rather than encasing it. This is glorious. The fruit is from Marmont vineyard in Blewitt Springs. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Drink 2024-2038.
94+ Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate -
- 96
2022 Glaetzer Bishop ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: 6 - 8 Years (2031-2033)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinThe distinctive labels of the Glaetzer portfolio hold special significance when you view this stunning collection of wines as a family affair. The entry level Bishop Shiraz is named in honour of Ben's mother, Judith (Bishop being her maiden name). The label bears the sign of Venus, which has come to represent women and feminine energy. Glaetzer sources fruit for the Bishop from the Ebenezer district of the Barossa valley from low yielding 35 year old to 120 year-old vines. He finds the fruit from younger vines contributes freshness & vibrancy, while Shiraz from the older blocks provides structure and depth. Maturation took place in 100% French oak for a period of 16 months of which 40% was new oak.
A superb union of richness, power, structure and energy.
Dense inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Wafting through the nostrils are blackberry, liquorice and dark plum aromatics followed by some crushed blackpepper, subtle fennel, vanillin cedar and faint graphite like notes. Rich and opulent yet possessing great definition, the full bodied palate is awash with concentrated blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits which are framed by fine grained tannins that have a muscular edge. Superb depth & length with spicy vanillin cedar, fennel and peppered earth elements also chiming in. Showing an abundance of power and an energetic vibrancy, it has a long, structured yet slightly tense finish. Give this a few more years to settle in and it should turn into something special.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 93
- 95
2023 Soumah U. Ngumby Vineyard Chardonnay - Last StocksYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$42. 99Bottle$515.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.1%Closure: StelvinRefined and elegant with a delicately creamed mid length conclusion.
Brilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Attractive white peach, pear and dried honey aromas intermix with subtle citrusy nougat, biscuit and gun flint notes. Refined in it’s feel the elegant mid weighted palate features white peach, pear and subtle dried honey flavours over biscuity nougat and delicate spicy cashew characters. Fresh acidity with a delicately creamed mid length conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.1%Other Reviews…..
From a single 25-year-old vineyard planted in Yarra Glen. Fermented and matured in 20% new French oak. A light, bright green gold. A restrained and elegant nose featuring gentle white peach and apricot aromas together with a little acacia honey and some struck match. Gently waxy, saline and balanced on the palate with a fine vein of acidity coursing through the wine. This should cellar well for at least the next five to seven years. Drink by 2029.
95 Points
Philip Rich – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 91
2023 Torres Sangre de Toro BlancoPenedes, SPAIN$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA vibrant dry white with a smooth mid palate feel and zingy acidity.
A blend of Parellada and White Grenache grapes. Brilliant very pale straw colour with a subtle glimmer of green around the edges and a watery hue. Spicy pear and red apple skin aromas mix with citrus and quince like notes. Vibrant fleshy pear and red apple fruits are underpinned by zingy acidity with some quince and spice characters also chiming in. Smooth river stone like mid palate feel finishing dry with a gentle tang.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12% -
- 93
2023 Primo Estate Il Briccone Shiraz SangioveseMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA marriage of rich plush shiraz fruit and Sangiovese’s muscular tannins and bright acidity.
A blend of 85% Shiraz and 15% Sangiovese matured for 12 months in older oak barrels.
Dense midnight black in colour with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Aromas of liquorice and red currant combine with some dusty earth, tobacco, dried herb and blackpepper notes. Rich liquorice and blackberry fruits are to the fore with notions of ripe plum, earthy tobacco, spicy Mediterranean herbs and pepper tailing off through the back half. The fleshy fruit counterpointed by muscular tannins and bright acidity. Excellent concentration with a plush yet chalky dry finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 89
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Chalk Hill ChardonnayAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA light, elegant Chardonnay with lively acidity.
Brilliant pale straw colour with highlights of green around the edges and a watery hue. Aromas of pear, nectarine and citrus mix with hints of honeysuckle and flinty mineral notes. Relatively light weight and elegant, pear, citrus and nectarine fruits are featured over a melon and flinty mineral back drop. Lively acidity with a dry, energetic finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 91
2024 Te Mata Gamay NoirHawkes Bay, NEW ZEALAND$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA light energetic red that has a bright savoury finish.
Maceration carbonique fermentation, which enhances the fruit and floral aromas of the wine, was used for 70% of the grapes. The other 30% received a traditional, warm, red wine fermentation. The resulting wines completed their malolactic fermentation and were matured for eight weeks in seasoned French oak barrels, before blending and bottling.
Semi translucent red colour with black toned edges and a vibrant light red hue. Fragrant violet, red cherry and strawberry scents gently infused with clove, earth and spice drift through the olfactory senses. Light, energetic and elegant, the palate features sour to red cherry and winter strawberry fruits over infusions of clove and spicy earth. Vibrant acidity and fine grained tannins with a finish that’s bright and savoury.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 90
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Five Geese Volpachiotto RoseMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA dry, agile Rose with a texturally supple entry and energetic finish.
Made from a blend of Grenache, Mataro and a splash of Cinsault. Pale salmon tinged colour with alluring peach and strawberry scents trailed by some raspberry and delicate Turkish delight notes. Texturally supple, the dry agile palate features fresh peach, pomegranate and raspberry fruits over a musk, wet stone back drop. Lively acidity lending an energetic feel to the elegant mid length conclusion.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 90
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Mt. Yarra Valley ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$36. 99Bottle$443.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2024-2027)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA fresh, elegant Chardonnay with lively acidity and a mid length finish.
Aged on lees for a period of 10 months in mature French oak barrels. Brilliant pale straw colour with a glimmer of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Nectarine and pear aromas mix with hints of honeysuckle, citrus, biscuit and spice. Nectarine and citrus fruits are underpinned by lively acidity on the fresh, elegant palate. Subtle bees wax, pear and biscuity spice elements ensue. Nicely rounded in it’s feel, it has a mid length finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 93
- 93
2023 Langmeil Three Gardens Grenache Shiraz MataroBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA juicy, medium bodied GSM blend.
Dark red core with black tinged surrounds and a dark red hue. Attractive dark raspberry, cherry and red liquorice scents emanate out of the glass trailed by some scorched earth and peppered dried herb notes. Juicy dark raspberry, ripe cherry and liquorice fruits decorate the medium bodied palate with some scorched earth, vanillin spice and pepper elements lying underneath. Polished tannins with ample freshness to the mid length finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews…..
34.2/32.7/28.4/1.6/1.6/1.5% grenache/shiraz/mataro/carignan/counoise/cinsault – a right old "fruit salad" blend this year. I really hope that adds up to one hundred. Pretty sure it does. You don't need all those numbers in your head, though. You only need to know this is a crunchy, very easy to drink, contemporary red blend; mid-weighted, pure and lively with raspberry top notes and a lot to like. Super value here. Drink by 2030.
93 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Pllana Clementine Watervale RieslingClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2024-2029)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA crisp, tense Riesling that’s beginning to show some tertiary development.
Brilliant water like core with highlights of green around the edges. Lime and lemon aromas are to the fore with some ensuing oily steel like, orange rind and flinty mineral notes. Crunchy lime and lemon fruits meld into a back drop of subtle oily kerosene characters, wet steel and minerals. Finishes dry with crisp acidity and a tense conclusion.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 88
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Mornington Estate Pinot GrisMornington Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2024-2025)ABV: 12.7%Closure: StelvinA moderately concentrated Pinot Gris that finishes very dry with average length.
Bright straw colour with a watery hue. Dried pear and apple skin aromas are followed by some quince and spice notes. Fleshy pear, baked apple and quince flavours have a spicy back drop. Brisk acidity finishing very dry with modest length to the aftertaste.
Drink now.
Alc. 12.7% -
- 90
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Soul Growers Vine Vale Grenache BlancBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2024-2025)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinA fresh dry white with a tangy feel.
Bright straw colour with a watery hue. Pear skin, ripe apple and honeysuckle aromas greet the nostrils followed by some faint quince and spice notes. Flavours of pear skin, green apple and quince are underpinned by fresh acidity with some mandarin and spice elements lingering across the back palate. Finishes dry and tangy.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Rocky Road by McHenry Hohnen Cabernet SauvignonMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA mid weighted Cabernet that’s both elegant and savoury.
Matured in 1-2 year old French oak barriques for a period of 14 months. Midnight black core with a dark red black tinged hue. Sailing from the glass are a mix of blackcurrant, mulberry, cedary tobacco, black olive, earthy bay leaf and spice aromas. Mid weighted the palate features blackcurrant and mulberry fruits over dusty cedar, black olive, tobacco and spicy bay leaf elements. Fine grained tannins with an elegant, savoury finish that shows ample depth.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
- 93
- 95
2024 Oates End Tempranillo RoseMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA delicious, supplely textured Rose that finishes long and savoury.
Salmon pink colour with aromas of cherry, raspberry and pomegranate streaming through the nostrils trailed by some subtle musk and wet stone notes. Delicious cherry, raspberry and strawberry fruits move supplely across the palate with some tangy blood orange and stony mineral elements the undercard. Finishes very dry with lively acidity and a river stone like feel. Long savoury aftertaste.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews….
Well if you are looking for a proper Rosé for this Spring and Summer then look no further than this super, bone dry style which you can enjoy by the gallon. Pale onion skin pink but not pale in style as it delivers elegant yet piercing aromas of warm watermelon and cranberry with powdery dusted spice complexity – fennel seed with touches of paprika. The best part is the palate with excellent volume of flavour which it holds and holds and holds with subtle complexity over an extended finish with a little twist of tannins adding depth. Most Bandol Rosé wishes it was this good. Drink 2024-2026.
95 Points
Angus Hughson – WinePilot.com - 2022 Francois Mikulski Volnay Santenots du Milieu Premier CruBurgundy, FRANCE$390. 00Bottle$4680.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: Cork
François Mikulski has quietly earned a place among Meursault’s most respected producers, known for wines that prioritise purity, energy, and mineral precision. His focus is on clarity and freshness across the board — whether it’s Aligoté or Premier Cru — with élevage and viticulture carefully tuned to preserve site and structure. Stylistically, the wines lean toward the racy, tensile end of the Meursault spectrum, in the vein of Roulot or Carillon. They’re built to age, but always with a drink-now brightness that keeps you coming back for another glass.
Other Reviews....
Here the more restrained nose is both riper and spicier with its aromas of poached plum, violet and liqueur-like dark pinot fruit scents. The rich, succulent and sappy medium weight flavors possess a seductive mouthfeel before culminating in a dusty, youthfully austere and solidly powerful finale. This could use more depth but like all competent examples of Santenots, this should easily repay 10+ years of keeping during which more depth should develop. Drink through 2032+.
92 points
Allen Meadows - Burghound -
- 94
2018 Royal Tokaji Blue Label 5 Puttonyos Aszu (500ml)Tokaji, HUNGARY$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenABV: 11.5%Closure: CorkTokaji Aszú is a noble sweet wine made by blending dried and noble rotten berries to a dry base wine. Taste and quality of the Aszú mainly depend on the number of hods (puttonyos) filled with dry berries (25 kilograms each), which are added to a cask (Gönc type, 136 liters) of dry base wine. Consequently, the proportion between aszú berries and dry base wine is about 1:1 for a 6 puttonyos Aszú. Aszú Eszencia is made with the same process, and is a classification above 6 puttonyos where the ratio of noble dry berries to wine is more akin to 7-10 puttonyos. This is not to be confused with Tokaji Essencia which is a fermentation of just the free run juice of the dried noble berries as they rest in the vat.
Other Reviews....
Attractive nose of dried apricots, candied plums and hints of tea leaves and vanilla. Medium- to full-bodied with vivid acidity and a dense, creamy texture. It shows chocolate bitterness at the end. Very long and textural, with a lot of delicious fruit upfront. Drink or hold.
94 points
James Suckling -
- Reduced
2003 Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah Magnum (1500ml) - LOW FILLClarendon, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $1,200.00$750. 00Bottle$9000.00 DozenABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkNote: Very mild evidence of leakage.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of Australia’s greatest Shiraz in magnum format at a bargain basement price with over 20 years of bottle age behind it. Priced at or below most vintages of Penfolds Grange in 750ml format, this is a once off offer that can never be repeated."Frankly, along with Penfold's Grange, this may be the greatest Shiraz being made in Australia." - Robert Parker
Impenetrable pitch black heart with a very dark red hue. Hedonistically scented, sent wafting from the glass are dark plum, liquorice and blackberry aromas which are complimented by leather, vanillin cedar, earthy dark chocolate and spice notes. Rich, silky and super intense, the seductive palate is saturated with voluptuous waves of aniseed, blackberry and dark plum which gradually evolve into a leather, dusty vanillin cedar, black olive and pepper back drop. Exceptionally powerful and expansive it possesses cashmere like tannins and finishes tremendously long and plush. Tasted from a 750ml bottle we expect the magnums to look even more impressive and show less development.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews……
It’s hard to believe the 2003 Syrah Astralis Vineyard could be better, but it offers riveting richness, intensity, purity, and equilibrium. Structurally, it is similar to the Piggott Range, revealing abundant amounts of sweet, ripe tannin, and huge extract, richness, and depth. Meant for true connoisseurs who are willing to forget it for 5-8 years, it represents what Roman Bratasiuk and Clarendon Hills do so well ... show respect for the great traditions of France, but recognize the extraordinary raw materials that emerge from old vines planted in McLaren Vale. This fabulous wine offers both power and elegance, and showcases the extraordinary talent of Roman Bratasiuk. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030.
99 points
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate -
- 95
- 94
2021 Grace Koshu Toriibira Vineyard Private ReserveYamanashi, JAPAN$89. 99Bottle$1079.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkGrace Wine is one of Japan’s leading producers of Koshu, a delicate, dry white wine variety native to the Yamanashi region. Low in alcohol and softly aromatic, Koshu offers a clean, mineral profile that makes it an excellent alternative to other crisp whites like Albarino, Chablis, or dry Riesling.
A light, elegant yet texturally pleasing dry white that has a bone dry finish.
Brilliant water like core with a subtle greenish tinge around the outskirts. Lifted pear and apple skin aromas mix with spicy quince, hints of gun flint and stony mineral notes. Light and elegant yet texturally pleasing with a river stone like feel, flavours of pear skin, spicy quince and lime overlay a wet slate and smoky mineral back drop. Brisk acidity finishing bone dry with a long mineral drenched aftertaste that has a savoury edge to it.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
Fermentation in old French oak barrels, maturation in stainless steel tank. All the other whites, aside the Chardonnay, don’t get to see any oak.
White peach, stony, fennel, a little spice, coconut milk. Fine, tight, fine chalk dust/crushed rock texture, subdued and closed in to an extent, cinnamon and stonefruit, with a long cool finish. Needs a bit of air or another year in bottle. Excellent. Drink 2023-2028.
94+ Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front -
- 93
- 96
2023 Brokenwood Indigo Vineyard Beechworth ChardonnayBeechworth, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$84. 99Bottle$1019.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinAn elegant, delicately fleshed and energetic Chardonnay.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Nectarine, grapefruit and citrus aromas infused with gun flint are followed by some delicate biscuit and mineral notes. Light, fresh and elegant the palate features nectarine and grapefruit flavours over a flinty back drop of subtle biscuit, green apple and slatey mineral elements. Possessing a delicately fleshed texture it has energetic acidity and a refined conclusion.
Drink over the next 5-6 years
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews…..
Planted in '99, the Indigo Vineyard, in the foothills of the Victorian Alps, has a reputation for fine chardonnay. This is a lovely example, lemon-scented and intense with refined pomelo and white peach flavours. The wine is defined by an acid line, which gives focus, freshness and length. Winemaking artefact has been seamlessly integrated to give the wine an extra dimension rather than a counter melody. Whole-bunch-pressed grapes with natural fermentation in French oak (100% new). Drink by 2028.
96 Points
Toni Paterson – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Oates Ends ChardonnayMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA vibrant and refined mid weighted Chardonnay.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a greenish glimmer to the edges and a watery hue. Nectarine and grapefruit aromas fill the nostrils followed by some citrus, gun flint and subtle roasted almond notes. Mid weighted, the palate features nectarine, citrus and grapefruit flavours over a roasted almond, biscuit and gun flint infused back drop. Fresh acidity lending a vibrant feel to the refined conclusion.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews…..
Some wines just make you stop worrying to enjoy what’s at hand, which is this lovely chardonnay. It has richness and depth, full of stone fruit and grapefruit with ginger spice and honeycomb. Plus, layering on the full palate from cashew-like lees and a general creaminess with oak playing its part yet neatly integrated. The tangy acidity keeps this even and refreshing all the way through. Drink by 2033.
93 Points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
- 93
2023 Soumah Hexham Vineyard SyrahYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$37. 99Bottle$455.88 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinFragrant with juicy red to blue fruits that carry a silken feel through to the long finish that’s both savoury and fresh.
Midnight black heart with a dark red black tinged hue. Fragrant dark plum, liquorice and dried herb scents sail through the nostrils followed by some smoked meat and peppered earth notes. Juicy plum, red liquorice and ripe blueberry fruits are cast across the palate with a silken feel. Dried herb, smoked meat, fennel and peppered earth elements lend further nuance. Polished, seamlessly integrated tannins with the long savoury finish showing plenty of underlying freshness. An excellent cool climate Syrah.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
Fermented with a mix of whole bunches and whole berries, matured in 25% new 500L puncheons. A medium bright crimson purple. Fragrant aromas of dark cherries, potpourri, star anise and cracked pepper. An elegant and energetic wine, the tannins are persistent and discreet and by the time this is released in September, it should just be starting to hit its straps. Drink by 2030.
93 Points
Philip Rich – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 89
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Nomads Garden Glenmore Springs Vineyard Pinot NoirKing Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesABV: 13.4%Closure: StelvinAn uncomplicated, light juicy Pinot that has a vibrant feel.
Semi translucent ruby red colour with a light red hue. Expressive red cherry and raspberry scents are trailed by some fresh herb, delicate forest floor and spice notes. Light and vibrant in its feel across the palate, juicy red cherry and red raspberry fruits overlay a fresh herb infused earthy mineral and spice background. Bright acidity and fine grained tannins with a fresh red fruited finish that has plenty of energy.
Alc. 13.4% -
- 94
2021 Skye Ridge Coonawarra Cabernet SauvignonCoonawarra, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$26. 99Bottle$323.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA medium bodied, refined Cabernet that’s generously layered with ripe fruit.
Matured for 20 months in French oak barriques of which 27% were new. Dense inky black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. The nose leads with pronounced ripe blackcurrant aromas followed by some mulberry, vanillin cedar, earthy tobacco and spicy bay leaf notes. The medium bodied palate is generously layered with ripe blackcurrant, liquorice and mulberry fruits. Vanillin cedar, earthy tobacco and infusions of bay leaf lie beneath. Fine grained yet sturdy tannin structure with a refined conclusion that’s medium to long.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 90
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Oates End TempranilloMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2024-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA refined, mid weighted Tempranillo that features red to dark cherry, plum and liquorice fruits, fresh acidity and a savoury finish.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a dark red hue. Red plum and spicy cherry scents mix with some red liquorice, dried herb and subtle spicy earth notes. The refined, mid weighted palate features red to dark cherry and plum fruits alongside some liquorice, earthy dried herb and spice characters. Fresh acidity and fine grained tannins with a subtle juiciness to the savoury mid length finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews……
Cath Oates is chuffed with her ’22 tempranillo. Understandable – it’s delicious. An alluring dark purple-red hue with cherries of the same colour all spiced up with a touch of menthol and licorice. A little earthy and savoury, and the medium-bodied palate is alive with juicy acidity and svelte tannins with a texture of raw silk. And not a technical term but 'yum'. Drink by 2027.
93 Points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 96
- 94
2023 Brave Souls The Whaler ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$21. 99Bottle$263.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinThe Whaler is a blend of Barossa Valley (49%) and Eden Valley (51%) fruit. The Barossa Valley vineyard is situated on the heavy red soils of the warm northern sub-region of Moppa. Grapes from the cooler Eden Valley are sourced from two vineyards situated at either end of the valley, in Moculta and Craneford.
The Barossa Valley component providing fleshy dark berry fruit characters and density, while the Eden Valley component contributes elegance and bright wild berry fruited aromatic lift. A small percentage of whole bunch fruit was included in the ferment with maturation taking place in a mix of new and seasoned hogsheads for a period of 14 months.
Rich, seductive and plump, this is a whaler of a Shiraz.
Midnight black heart with a dark purple black tinged hue. Captivating scents of dark plum, liquorice and blackberry show plenty of intensity out of the glass and are followed by faintly smoked vanillin cedar, fennel, blueberry and peppered earth notes. Rich seductive and plump, the full bodied palate is saturated with gorgeously fleshed dark plum, liquorice and blackberry fruits. Spicy vanillin cedar, fennel and subtle peppered earth elements the undercard. Possessing silky smooth tannins and excellent power, it finishes long, plush and sumptuous.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%
Other Reviews.....
Bright magenta-splashed crimson with aromas of juicy plum, blueberry and boysenberry fruits with hints of baking spices, violets, citrus blossom, ironstone, licorice and earth. The tannins are powdery fine, filtering down through the pure dark and black fruits. I really enjoyed the last release of this wine and it's more of the same this year. Super value again. Drink by 2037.
94 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 97
- 94
- 94
2022 Yeringberg Marsanne RoussanneYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 13%Closure: StelvinSavoury and floral, with quince and sandalwood, this Rhône-style blend is lively and textured.
Yeringberg is a historic Yarra Valley estate, first established in 1863 and now under the stewardship of the fifth generation of the de Pury family. Once one of the region’s most celebrated vineyards, production ceased in 1921 before being revived by Guill and Katherine de Pury in 1969. Today, winemaker Sandra de Pury leads the winery, working alongside her brother David who manages the vineyard. With some of the oldest vines in the Yarra Valley, Yeringberg continues to produce elegant, age-worthy wines that reflect both heritage and thoughtful custodianship.
Yeringberg’s 2022 Marsanne Roussanne is a beautifully composed white blend of 61% Marsanne and 39% Roussanne, sourced from old vines planted in 1973 and 1983 respectively. A low-yielding vintage yielded small volumes of intensely flavoured fruit, handpicked and co-fermented before ageing in old oak to preserve purity and freshness. The result is a wine of quiet complexity and savoury elegance, with lifted aromas of honeysuckle, jasmine and orange blossom layered over quince, pear skin and sandalwood. The palate is finely textured, lively and food-friendly, with the hallmark breadth and power of this classic Rhône-inspired blend.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews....
A blend of 60/40% marsanne/roussanne, picked three days apart, fermented together in tank, then aged in old barrels for 10 months. A bright green gold. Aromas of ripe pears and apricots sit alongside some lemon conserve, pink grapefruit and orange blossom scents. It's a compelling mix that flows through onto the palate, which is gently textured, saline, and very well structured. I really like the touch of the grip on the finish too, and as good as this is now, this will age gracefully over the next five to seven years at least. Drink 2024 - 2028.
97 Points
Philip Rich - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionComplex aromas of lemon confit, beeswax, apricots and peaches. The palate is medium-bodied with wonderful viscosity supported by bright acidity and a slight phenolic edge, giving notes of honeysuckle, red apples and quince. Textural and rich with underlying freshness. Made from 61% marsanne and 39% roussanne. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
94 Points
JamesSuckling.comA 60/40 blend. “Vines planted 1973-85. The 2 varieties were picked 3 days apart but fermented and aged together. Both crushed and destemmed, some skin contact time. Fermented in tank then 10 months in old oak on light lees. No new oak, no MLF. Blend determined by vineyard not winemaker each year.”
A complex golden wine that’s nutty and saline, and often puts me in mind of Cornflakes, though maybe that’s just me. I’m quite fond of them too, especially with some good honey on top. There’s pear and apple, fresh apricot, some flowers and spice, maybe some aniseed, fine chalk dust texture with a pithy grip, kind of waxy, but balanced in acidity with some citrus tones, and a firm finish of excellent length. Nice. Drink 2024 - 2031+.
94 Points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front -
- 93
- 96
2022 Yeringberg ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$74. 99Bottle$899.88 DozenABV: 13%Closure: StelvinFinely balanced and poised, with nectarine, flint and white peach over a rich, layered palate.
Yeringberg is a historic Yarra Valley estate, first established in 1863 and now under the stewardship of the fifth generation of the de Pury family. Once one of the region’s most celebrated vineyards, production ceased in 1921 before being revived by Guill and Katherine de Pury in 1969. Today, winemaker Sandra de Pury leads the winery, working alongside her brother David who manages the vineyard. With some of the oldest vines in the Yarra Valley, Yeringberg continues to produce elegant, age-worthy wines that reflect both heritage and thoughtful custodianship.
Yeringberg’s Chardonnay comes from low-yielding, mature vines planted in 1974 and 1981, producing a wine of precision and power. Handpicked fruit was pressed and fermented in French oak (25% new), with partial malolactic fermentation and extended lees contact to build texture and complexity. The result is a finely balanced Chardonnay with restrained aromas of nectarine, citrus blossom and flint, opening into layers of white peach, honey and roasted nuts. The palate is poised and layered, offering both richness and drive in equal measure.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews....
A combination of natural and inoculated ferments, then racked to 25% new oak with 25% mlf. A bright green gold. Attractive scents of ripe stone fruits, lemon confiture, honey and hazelnuts that are echoed on the flavourful, silky, gently viscous and long palate. At the more hedonistic end of the Yarra chardonnay spectrum and a delicious wine to drink now and over the next three to five years. Drink 2024 - 2028.
93 Points
Philip Rich - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionComplex aromas of lemon peel, phosphorous, honeysuckle and orange blossoms. The palate is medium-bodied with a refined texture and bright acidity, giving notes of grapefruit, beeswax, lanolin and river stones. Very finely constructed, with a slight phenolic edge adding to the tactile finish. Excellent. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
96 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 98
- 97
- 94
2022 Yeringberg CabernetsYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$110. 00Bottle$1320.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinThe de Pury family have been farming in the Yarra Valley since 1863. Once a famed vineyard in the 19th century, the demise of fine table wines saw production cease in 1921. Guill & Katherine de Pury decided to replant the vineyard in 1969, gradually starting to rebuild the reputation of this historic estate. Today it is helmed by Sandra de Pury, becoming the fourth-generation winemaker at Yeringberg, with her brother David who manages the vineyard. Produced from some of the oldest vines in the Yarra Valley, the low-yielding vines result in wines of great age-ability and finesse.
The 2022 Yeringberg Red, the 49th release from the estate’s old vines, is a standout vintage and a Wine Companion Top 100 selection. This field blend—determined by the vineyard and vintage—comprises 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Yields were low and fruit quality exceptional. Fermented in small open-top tanks and aged for 21 months in French oak (40% new), the result is a mid-weight yet deeply complex wine. Expect aromas of blackcurrant, violet, and liquorice layered with Christmas cake, olive tapenade, and graphite. The palate is elegant, pure, and finely structured, with a generous, lingering finish.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
A blend of 63/16/10/7/4% cabernet sauvignon/merlot/petit verdot/malbec/cabernet franc. That's two great back-to-back vintages for this Yarra Valley and Australian classic. Bright crimson purple. A wonderful bouquet of perfectly ripened black cherries, blackcurrants, cedar (from the already integrated oak) and lavender. With its core of dark fruits and impeccably balanced, fully ripe yet silky tannins, this complex and harmonious wine is destined to join the ranks of the very best Yeringbergs. Drink 2024 - 2035.
98 Points
Philip Rich - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionDeeply brooding and refined aromas of blackcurrants, graphite, bay leaves, licorice and dried herbs. The palate is full-bodied with seamless tannins, giving notes of blackberries, blueberry bush, mocha, violets and cedar. A very polished and pure Bordeaux-inspired blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, petit verdot, malbec and cabernet franc. Excellent. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
97 Points
JamesSuckling.comBlack fruit, cedar, dried herbs and flowers, the smell of damp earth and petrichor. It’s all blackberry, tobacco and dried herb, quite some chew to grainy tannin, ripe tomato acidity, a fair clip of cedar oak, and a finish of good length. This is very tightly coiled as at now, and needs some time to unfurl. It’s savoury and quite meaty, but does have plenty of potential. Drink 2027 - 2036+
94+ Points
Gary Walsh - The Wine Front -
- 92
- 93
2023 Yeringberg Babyberg White BlendYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinGolden and expressive, with floral aromatics and a textured, tea-like palate driven by extended skin contact.
Yeringberg is a historic Yarra Valley estate, first established in 1863 and now under the stewardship of the fifth generation of the de Pury family. Once one of the region’s most celebrated vineyards, production ceased in 1921 before being revived by Guill and Katherine de Pury in 1969. Today, winemaker Sandra de Pury leads the winery, working alongside her brother David who manages the vineyard. With some of the oldest vines in the Yarra Valley, Yeringberg continues to produce elegant, age-worthy wines that reflect both heritage and thoughtful custodianship. To secure the future of Yeringberg, the team has spent the past three years planting new vines on phylloxera-resistant rootstock and reorienting vineyard blocks to better adapt to a changing climate. The Babyberg range will showcase wines from these young plantings (2020–2025), offering an experimental and diverse take on Yeringberg’s evolving story.
The first Babyberg release is a fresh and playful take on Yeringberg’s classic Marsanne Roussanne blend. Comprising around 80% Marsanne fermented on skins for up to 21 days and 20% whole-bunch pressed Roussanne, the wine was matured in old oak for 10 months before bottling in February 2024. Golden in hue, it opens with aromas of honeysuckle, orange blossom and apricot. The palate is lively and textured, with a spicy, nutty richness and distinctive phenolics—thanks to the extended skin contact—that recall fine black tea. A vibrant and expressive new chapter for Yeringberg.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews....
80/20% marsanne/roussanne and a new wine made from young vines. Bright gold with green tinges. An opulent and attractive melange of apricot, peach and orange blossom. The medium-bodied palate is fleshy and flavoursome, balanced by soft acidity and a refreshing touch of grip on the finish. Drink 2025 - 2027.
92 Points
Philip Rich - Halliday's Australian Wine CompanionWonderfully aromatic and floral, giving notes of apricots, lavender, peaches and chamomile tea. The palate is full-bodied with a really phenolic and textural mouthfeel from 10 days of skin contact, showing notes of nectarines and honeysuckle. Unique and very interesting wine made from a young-vine blend of 80% marsanne and 20% roussanne. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 95
- 95
2024 William Downie Mornington Peninsula Pinot NoirMornington Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13.5%Closure: Diam CorkLight and energetic with delicious red fruits and a long, elegant finish.
William Downie is a pioneer of minimal-intervention, site-driven Pinot Noir in Australia. Based at Guendulain Farm in Yarragon, where he and wife Rachel Needoba planted a high-density 2-hectare vineyard in 2007, he also leases top sites like Bull Swamp and Camp Hill. Downie is known for his meticulous vineyard work and dedication to expressing place through Pinot Noir.
Fruit for the Mornington Pinot Noir is sourced from two sites planted in 1998: Mrs Nicks Vineyard in Balnarring, with MV6 on south-facing sandy loam, and Rivendel in Merricks North, home to D5V12 and Pommard clones on grey loam.Slightly cloudy red to dark red colour with a vibrant red hue. Fragrant violet, sour to red cherry and strawberry scents delicately infused with clove flourish through the nostrils trailed by some fresh herb, earth and spice notes. Delicious red cherry, bright red raspberry and winter strawberry fruits are underscored by lively acidity. Infusions of fresh herbs, light earth and spicy clove are also apparent. Light on its feet and energetic in its feel, it possesses excellent power and polished tannins. Finishes long, fresh and elegant.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
One thing appealing with the pinots from Bill Downie is that they are immediately drinkable and deliciously so. Another difficult vintage on the Peninsula but this has a balance of aromas, flavours and texture. Dark red cherries, blood orange and zest with sumac and brown spices plus fresh herbs and a pinch of Italian bitter herbs, too. It’s a savoury wine. Tannins and acidity work in tandem to add definition across the mid-weighted palate. Drink by 2035.
95 Points
Jane Faulkner – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion
















































