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Louis Roederer Collection 245 Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$99. 99Bottle$1199.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkA refined, airy Champagne with crisp acidity and a long, dry, chalk tinged finish.
Collection 245 is the 5th release of the new multi-vintage cuvée which replaces the Brut Premier. The Collection 245 shares the same philosophy as the Jacquesson 7 series and Krug’s Edition wines, which are based on a younger vintage blended with some older reserve wines.
Pours with an enthusiastically buoyant mousse which slowly dissipates into a pale straw coloured base that has an exceptionally fine bead flowing through it. Pear, baked bread and brioche like aromas sail through the nostrils with some citrus and yeast lees notes also evident. Stimulating pear, citrus and yeast lees flavours decorate the mouth with some baked bread and faint cashew in the background. Refined, airy feel with crisp acidity and a long, dry, chalk tinged finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
Part of a new collection that’s just reaching the market now, the NV Champagne Collection 245 is based on the 2020 vintage. (The trilogy of vintages in the collection are from the early ripening 2018, which is lighter and fruitier, the 2019, which is richer and more powerful, and the 2020, which is somewhere in between the other two.) The blend of the 245 is 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and the rest Meunier. It has a reflective straw hue and offers notes of fresh almond, bread dough, and fresh flowers. Medium-bodied on the palate, with a fruity nature, it’s crunchy and fresh in the glass, with a lovely chalky texture, good refinement, a note of fresh nectarine, and a clean finish. Dry, but with a delicate rounded feel and some depth throughout, it opens to show more of its salinity and the delicate reductive smoke that frames the wine with oyster shell-like umami character. It’s approachable now but will age with ease.
93 Points
Audrey Frick – JebDunnuck.comThe NV Collection 245 is another stellar Champagne from Roederer. Apricot, white flowers, spice, white pepper and tangerine oil all open in the glass. This is a more open-knit style from Roederer. The blend is 41% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 24% Meunier based in 2020, but with 35% reserve wines from a perpetual reserve of previous editions and 10% reserve wines in oak, meaning the base vintage is not particularly evident. Dosage is 7 grams per liter, but it feels a bit higher than that. Drink 2024-2034.
92 Points
Antonio Galloni – VinousRestrained green apple, lemon bush and lime, plus light brioche and chalk. Medium to full body with fine, nicely persistent bubbles and good substance on the mid-palate. Almost biting yet polished at the end, with long, refreshing acidity. Lacks a bit of complexity at the moment, but fresh. Best from 2025.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- Nick's Import
2009 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Fettercairn 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$179. 99Bottle$2159.88 DozenYou wouldn't believe it, but worldwide demand for ex-bourbon barrels far outstrips current supply, meaning a cherished style of single malt is under threat. Thankfully, Rattray have a few more of these Fetters' in the pipeline, as the honeyed sweetness from first-fill bourbon is just the perfect match for its distinctive tropical fruit flavours. Cask 1098 yielded 283 bottles at 57.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Rich gold. Nose: Ripe mango, red apple peel and ginger oil. Palate: Clotted cream fudge, crystallised papaya and soft liquorice. Finish: Decadent dark chocolate mousse with a dusting of ground hazelnut.
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- Nick's Import
2012 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Glenburgie 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 53%Particularly revered in Japan, in recent years, more effort has gone into marketing Glenburgie as a single malt and sales have increased significantly. Ex-bourbon wood is the perfect platform for this characterful Speyside spirit. The traits which make Glenburgie so highly-prized for blenders - aromatic and grassy, with orchard fruits, a cereal sweetness and oily mouthfeel – are all in abundance in this edition. No wonder it’s such a vital component of Ballantine’s, the world’s second biggest selling Scotch! Rattray's outturn was 308 bottles at 53% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Colour: Shortbread gold. Nose: White peach, San Francisco sourdough and forced rhubarb. Palate: Golden linseed muesli, candied grapefruit and cantaloupe à la mode. Finish: Lemongrass and lime with a crisp white pepper pizzazz. -
- Nick's Import
2009 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Blair Athol 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$159. 99Bottle$1919.88 DozenABV: 54.9%Always an important contributor to the Bells blend, as a single we like Blair Athol with a bit of sherry, and in this case, the bottlers seem to feel likewise. In the interests of openness and transparency, Rattray aim to be as precise as possible on their labels, noting here a second maturation in 1st fill Oloroso for 34 months. What they couldn’t fit in is that the premium quality European oak finishing cask was seasoned for three years prior to filling. Dried fruits and a sweet nutty character are prevalent in this dram with 260 bottles making it to market. 54.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Autumn leaf. Nose: Cherry and marzipan cake, sultana and raspberry coulis. Palate: Spiced bramble, dark chocolate and fresh Javan coffee. Finish: Rich, sticky date and raisin pudding, with a demerara caramel glaze.
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- Nick's Import
2011 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Deanston 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$169. 99Bottle$2039.88 DozenABV: 59.9%We can no longer claim Deanston as 'under the radar' as it's now well-established as a favourite among the hardcore in the Scotch whisky community. Their best whiskies almost defy categorisation, and the myriad of flavours encountered in this refill barrel make it suitably challenging to pin down. Rattray sum it up as "cereal and herbal". Bourbon barrel 800049 filled 208 bottles at 59.9% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Soft gold. Nose: Torn sourdough, pink grapefruit and camphor oil. Palate: Barley sugar, green cardamom and crushed lemongrass. Finish: A complex medley of cereal, fruit, mineral, herbs and spices.
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- Nick's Import
1986 A.D. Rattray Vintage Cask Collection Glenrothes 36 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$1199. 00Bottle$14388.00 DozenABV: 42.1%Glenrothes is at its very best when it comes out of Bourbon wood with a massive age statement. In this case it was a refill hogshead. Given the steady rise in prices for malts of this ilk and category, Rattray's offering remains very reasonable. The maturation encompasses Diego Maradona’s magic in Mexico 1986 and Lionel Messi’s majesty in Qatar 2022. The whisky is elegant, bold, full of flair and "velvety signature of ultimate maturity." A celebratory dram befitting the most special occasions. The cask yielded 220 bottles. 42.1 Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Sunset gold. Nose: Brazil nut, elderflower, mango and saffron. Palate: Juniper, bergamot oil, cacao nib and liquorice. Finish: Orange blossom honey and the unmistakable, velvety signature of ultimate maturity.
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- Nick's Import
2009 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Knockdhu 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 52.4%Knockdhu is better known as AnCnoc. Its dainty, fruity spirit spent 13 months of secondary maturation in a Moscatel wine barrique. Expect subtle orchard fruit notes from the original Bourbon wood maturation, and something a little sweet and tropical from the latter. 322 bottles were produced. 52.4% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
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- Nick's Import
2011 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Balblair 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 57.4%Balblair is a characterful make that’s rarely in the spotlight. Here's a bit of a twist on one from an indie: Finished in a two year-seasoned, first-fill Oloroso sherry European oak butt for one year, following maturation in a refill sherry butt for over eleven years, this Balbalir is defined by dried fruit notes. European oak typically imparts a greater spice and depth of character than soft, sweet American oak. Combined with a high strength expression, you can expect a big'un! 604 bottles produced. 57.4% Alc./Vol. Non-chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Warm copper. Nose: Sticky raisin, may rose and morello cherry. Palate: Dried cranberry, bergamot and sugared almond. Finish: Exotic Turkish delight with pistachio and date.
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- Nick's Import
2015 A.D. Rattray Cask Collection Dalmunach 8 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 65.9%Built in 2014 on the site of the old Imperial distillery, Dalmunach is a new Pernod-Ricard backed project at the forefront of the latest wave of new Scottish distilleries. Filled less than a year after the first spirit flowed from the stills, this refill hogshead provides the perfect stage to showcase this newcomer’s flavours of cereal and orchard fruit. Drawn from a single bourbon hogshead at an intense ABV of 65.9%, cask 4191 filled 300 bottles. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Colour: Sun-blushed gold. Nose: Grapefruit oil, toasted multigrain bread and spiced chive butter. Palate: Grilled peach, rolled oat granola and damson jam. Finish: Mouthwatering orchard fruit and citrus liven the charred oak base.
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Dead Reckoning 9 Year Old Bourbon Cask Single Blended Australian Rum (700ml)Queensland, AUSTRALIA$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 55%Aged for four years in tropical North Queensland before being sold on to a European rum broker where it has enjoyed a further five years of continental ageing. It was then chosen by Australian, Justin Boseley to be bottled as part of his Dead Reckoning line up. The aromas open slight and savoury until dried pineapple, hints of banana bread, cinnamon and light molasses pick up momentum in an appealing way. Starts grassy, natural; the mid palate quickly develops intensity and heat including flavours of butter menthol cough lozenges, vanilla, dried mango and pistachios. Finishes with a kick of alcohol, pleasantly bittersweet, medium-long and relatively elegant for all the mid palate power. Some minor rough edges, but overall feels confident, natural and unsweetened. 55% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered. 430 bottles produced.
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2023 Jean Foillard Morgon Cote du PyBeaujolais, FRANCE$110. 00Bottle$1320.00 DozenABV: 13.5%Closure: CorkSince legendary US importer Kermit Lynch dubbed them the Gang of Four in the 1980's, wine collectors the world over have been searching for the precious few bottles of Beaujolais from Jean Foillard, Marcel Lapierre, Guy Breton, and Jean-Paul Thévenet. Each of these producers were inspired by the natural wine growing and wine making methods of local hero Jules Chauvet. Their aim is to help the unique Beaujolais terroir express itself with minimal intervention, harnessing old vines farmed with organic practices, fermentation with natural yeasts, along with limited use of sulphur. Together they have raised not only the profile of the region, but demonstrated that Beaujolais is more than just 'Nouveau' and can indeed produce meaningful, complex and wonderful wines.
Along with his son Alex, Jean Foillard farms nearly fourteen hectares of vines planted mainly on the famed slopes of the Côte du Py in Morgon. As probably the most dependable of the Gang of Four, the wines of Jean Foillard are deep, structured, and complex, with a velvety lushness that makes them irresistible when young despite their aging potential. The wines are raised in older barrels sourced from top estates in Burgundy, including those from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, with the resulting efforts perhaps showing more in common with Chambolle-Musigny than what we've come to expect from 'regular' Beaujolais.
Other Reviews....
The 2023 Morgon Côte du Py comes from several parcels of granite and schistous soils with many centurion vines. This has a wonderful, very complex bouquet with exquisite delineation: crushed stone filters through dark berry fruit alongside hints of ash and light stony scents. The sapid and vivacious palate has filigree tannins, a silver thread of acidity, and a touch of cracked black pepper towards the long finish. This is one of the best Morgons you can buy…but that's old news. Drink 2026-2040.
94 points
Neal Martin - Vinous -
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2023 Wonderground ChardonnayAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12.6%Closure: StelvinA vibrant, elegant Chardonnay with zingy acidity.
Matured for 10 months in seasoned French oak barrels. Brilliant pale straw colour with distinct highlights of green skirting the edges and a watery hue. Pear and nectarine aromas drift from the glass followed by hints of honeysuckle and lemon butter. Vibrant and fresh, the palate features grapefruit, citrus and lime zest flavours. Zingy acidity with some subtle lemon butter and spice scattered across the back half. Finishes lively and elegant.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12.6%Other Reviews…..
Light straw in the glass with aromas of white peach, nectarine and citrus fruits with a distinct blast of musky fruits and, going out on a limb here, possibly some clone 76 or 809 in play? Regardless, I like it. Hints of clotted cream, soft spice, crushed stone, nougat, marzipan and meadow flowers. Mouth-filling and expressive with a touch of oatmeal and an almost chablis-esque feel to the palate shape as it trails away, hints of mountain herbs coming in at the tail. Drink by 2030.
92 Points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
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2018 Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine ShirazBarossa, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$160. 00Bottle$1920.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 10 Years (2025-2035)ABV: 14.5%Closure: CorkA refined, well fleshed Barossa Shiraz with admirable structure.
Pitch black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Aromas of dark plum and liquorice mix with vanillin cedar, earth, fennel and subtle peppered leather notes. Rich blackberry, liquorice and dark plum fruits carry a refined, well fleshed feel across the medium to full bodied palate. Spicy vanillin cedar, earthy fennel and pepper elements extend across the back half. Polished yet sturdily built tannin structure with a long, finessed conclusion.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 14.5%Other Reviews….
Yalumba's flagship offering is made from shiraz split across vineyards in the Barossa and Eden Valleys with an average age of 80 years. A portion is matured for 23 months in 30% new French oak barriques and hogsheads and the balance in one-year-old (and older) American octaves, French barriques and hogsheads. Deep crimson with ripe blackberry, black cherry, satsuma plum and blueberry fruits cut with baking spices, vanillin oak, cedar, licorice, dark chocolate, clove and violets. The fruit glistens on the palate, beautifully weighted and graceful in its shape, with ripe tannins melting into the wine and a shimmering acidity that provides cadence and shines a light on the pristine fruit. This will cellar beautifully, but my goodness it is lovely to drink at the moment. Another epic Octavius release. Drink by 2038.
97 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine CompanionThe first bottle of 2018 The Octavius was corked. I have opened the second bottle for review. Coffee grounds, dark chocolate, mulberry compote and black olive tapenade lead the charge for this irrepressibly Australian Shiraz. Big bold forest berry flavors are effusive and almost gushing, held in check by the firm hand of tannic structure. Woodsy spices—sandalwood, particularly—punctuate the black cherry and salted licorice characters. This is really good, satisfying, mouthfilling, delicious. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.
96+ Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateA famous wine which, fortunately, does not receive quite the extended oak treatment it once did. From Barossa vines dating back to 1854, maturation is in Yalumba-coopered oak octaves – 21 months in a mix of 25% new French barriques and hogsheads and the remainder in one-year and older French octaves (which are 100-litre oak barrels), barriques and hogsheads. It is now one of the few wines to be available through the La Place de Bordeaux system, reserved for the world’s finest. Black cherry hue. This is still very young and needs a good four to six years before it is likely to come into its own. Then it should offer fifteen to twenty years of pleasure, for the patient. There is still plenty of oak evident at this early stage, but it is integrating well, if slowly, showing good concentration, power and intensity. At this early stage, it is still a bit of a bruiser but a finely balanced one and a wine which shows every sign that the transformation, when it comes, will be very exciting. Seamless and with fine tannins, there is excellent length and it unfurls blackcurrants, raspberries, cranberries, mocha, hot chocolate, beefstock and floral notes on the palate. Drink 2023-2043.
96 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.comFragranced and aromatically complex on the nose - beguiling and totally captivating red berries, clove, vanilla, liquorice and wild herbs. This has an inky density to it, weighty and fully textured but with amazing purity of fruit. Bright and piercing acidity adds to the overall expression with tannins that are refined yet carry a sense of opulence and seduction. Clean and sleek, wide, full and mouthwatering with liquorice, cherry blossom and strawberry fruit all the way through. Delicious.
97 Points
Decanter.com - The Lark Distillery Dark Lark 2025 Release Single Malt Australian Whisky (500ml)Tasmania, AUSTRALIA$250. 00Bottle$3000.00 DozenABV: 43%
Crafted at the Bothwell Distillery, this ultra-smooth Tassie dram is made for broad appeal. The latest iteration in the Dark Lark series was awarded Gold at the 2025 World Spirits Competition in San Francisco, one of the most respected and competitive global stages for spirits worldwide. 43% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the producers... NOSE: Ripe papaya and maple-glazed almonds, with espresso gelato, vibrant golden peach jam balanced by subtle lemon peel. PALATE: Juicy berry compote and shortbread biscuits, deepened by coconut macaroons and emerging rich sticky fig pudding. FINISH: Lingering warmth of mulled stone fruit and meringue, rounded by spice-poached pear and a hint of toasted marzipan.
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2024 Bannockburn ChardonnayGeelong, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$64. 99Bottle$779.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinAmply concentrated and texturally full yet energetic and complex.
The fruit was pressed as whole bunches and fermented naturally in a mixture of French hogsheads and puncheons (25% new). This year, 100% of the blend went through malolactic fermentation, and the wine spent 10 months maturing on lees with no stirring.
Brilliant pale straw coloured core with highlights of green around the edges and a watery hue. Elevated white peach and nectarine aromas carry a roasted nut like overlay with smoky gun flint and faint dried honey accents also evident. Rich, fleshy white peach and nectarine fruits are counterpointed by brisk acidity which lends a fresh feel. Dried honey, roasted almond, nougat and infusions of gun flint extend across the back half. Amply concentrated it finishes long and texturally full yet energetic.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews……
This is a hard yes. It’s both flavoursome and frisky, it’s long through the finish, it has texture but it keeps up the momentum. Stonefruit, flint, nashi pear, a umami note and flashes of nougat and cedar. Everything here is in alignment and in harmony. It’s another beautiful chardonnay from Bannockburn. Drink 2026-2034.
95 Points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front -
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2023 Stonier Pinot NoirMornington Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$37. 99Bottle$455.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinGorgeous nose with the delicious palate carrying a fresh, supple feel.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a light red hue. Gorgeous nose with perfumed aromas of violets, dark cherries, strawberries and anise streaming through the olfactory senses with plenty of intensity. Some fresh herb, forest floor and delicate spicy cedar notes are also evident. Delicious red to dark cherry, strawberry and anise flavours unfold across the palate with a fresh, supple feel. Infusions of fresh herbs, gentle forest floor and spicy cedar elements extend across the back half. Polished fine grained tannins finishing long and elegant.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13% -
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2024 Bosward SemillonBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinZippy lime juice and Granny Smith apple flavours with a long electric finish.
Brilliant pale straw colour with a faint greenish tinge around the outskirts and a watery hue. Lime juice and green apple skin aromas are trailed by pear juice and citrusy bees wax like notes. Zippy lime juice and Granny Smith apple flavours are underscored by mandarin, wet steel and flinty mineral elements. Crunchy acidity imparting a tangy feel onto the long electric finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews…..
Winemaker Reid Bosward knows a thing or two about Barossa semillon and I'm loving the rendition he's putting out under his nascent Bosward wine label. Crisp, tautly stretched, it's a textural, lemony ride with hints of fresh lime, citrus zest, green apple, white flowers, clover, crushed rock and cut fennel. Crisp, lightly slinky and full of energy. Drink by 2038.
93 Points
Dave Brookes – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion - 2010 Depaz Rhum Agricole Rum (700ml)MARTINIQUE$220. 00Bottle$2640.00 DozenABV: 45%
Depaz agricultural rhums are produced exclusively from super-fresh canes selected for their capacity to provide a rich, fruity aroma. Harvest starts in February when the cane fields are covered in white “feathers” (the cane sugar flowers, known as “flech’kann”, indicating that the plant is perfectly ripe and saturated with sugar). Freshness is fundamental. As one creole expression goes: “the cane should have it’s feet in the fields and it’s head in the mill”. In other words, once cut, the cane should be ground immediately to capture the most expressive juice. That freshness can be preserved even when the rums are oak-aged. This vintage-dated bottling combines eleven carefully selected barrels containing rums from the 2010 harvest. First matured for more than 10 years in American oak, a secondary maturation followed in 350 litre French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months. The rum ends up with a warming overlay of almond paste and mandarin confit aromas and flavours. These styles can take a while to open up, so it's recommended served after five or minutes of air contact. 45% Alc./Vol.
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2023 Tash SangioveseAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinA juicy, yet simple quaffing Sangiovese.
Dark red core with black toned edges and a red to dark red hue. Ripe red currant and red liquorice aromas are intertwined with mint and delicate earth notes. Juicy red currant and red liquorice fruits carry medium body weight with infusions of mint and subtle earth sitting underneath. Fine grained tannins with a simple fruit driven finish that has a dash of spice to it.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 13.5% -
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2022 Gibson The Dirtman ShirazBarossa, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $32.99$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA velvety and seductive Barossa Shiraz.
Rob Gibson’s story began in the early 1980s when Penfolds Chief winemaker formulated a project to identify the very best quality Shiraz grapes for Grange Hermitage. This ground breaking work developed new assessments about the production of the best Shiraz and connected vineyard block characteristics at version and again prior to harvest with the resultant wine characters and wine value. Gibson led the project until he left to start 'Gibson Barossavale Wines' in 1997. He earned the nickname ‘Dirtman’ because of his obsession about vine growth which led him to dig deep pits in between vines in order to discover the secret workings of the root system and whether there is any correlation between soils, minerals and the ultimate quality of the wine.
Midnight black heart with a deep dark red black hue. Wafting through the nostrils are heady dark plum, liquorice and ripe black cherry scents which are complimented by toasty vanillin oak, earthy mocha and spice notes. Rich, plush and weighty, the palate is awash with succulent dark plum, liquorice and black cherry fruits. Subtlety toasted vanillin oak, earthy mocha and pepper elements ensue. Excellent power and silky smooth tannins finishing long and opulent.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
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2022 Nicks Secret GEN MalbecLanghorne Creek, South Australia, AUSTRALIAReduced from $26.99$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2024-2030)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinWithout a doubt this estate is one of the leading exponents of Malbec in Australia. Having been growing it since the late 1800’s they first produced Malbec as a table wine in 1961. The fruit for this wine was sourced from three estate vineyard blocks and two specialist growers with maturation taking place in a mix of new (10%) and seasoned French oak puncheons for a period of 12 months.
Rich, blue fruit driven and fleshy textured yet elegant, this is a textbook Malbec with accolades galore.
Pitch black in colour with a deep dark purple black tinged hue. Pronounced ripe blueberry, plum and dark cherry aromas intermingle with hints of liquorice, dried herbs, earth, subtle vanillin cedar and spice. Rich and fleshy textured yet elegant, blueberry, dark plum and red liquorice fruits are layered across the mid weighted palate. Charming the back half are dried herb, dusty earth and spicy cedar characters. Slightly dryish fine grained tannins provide an excellent framework. Driven by blue fruit it finishes fresh, refined and long. Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Winner of 3 trophies and numerous gold medals.
· Trophy - Red Varietal - National Wine Show of Australia 2024
· Trophy - Champion Wine of Show - Langhorne Creek Wine Show 2024
· Trophy - Best Malbec - Langhorne Creek Wine Show 2024
Alc. 13.5%Other Reviews....
The fruit comes from three estate blocks and two specialist growers; open fermented with 20% whole berries; on skins eight to 12 days; matured for 12 months in French puncheons (10% new). Deeply coloured, the bouquet and palate hunt as one, with intense aromas of black fruits and clove spice joined by plums on the unexpectedly elegant palate. **** is the king of Malbec. Drink by 2040.
96 Points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion -
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2024 Saracco Moscato d’Asti (750ml)Piedmont, ITALY$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 5.5%Closure: StelvinLusciously fruited and spritzy with a light, airy feel.
Described by Vinous Media wine critic Ian D'Agata as the 'DRC of Moscato d'Asti', this is a captivating example of Moscato. A frisky spritz flows through the water coloured base that has a faint greenish tinge around the edges. Fragrant scents of grape juice, pineapple, rosewater and musk leap out of the glass with whiffs of orange blossom also evident. Luscious sultana grape, tropical fruit and musk flavours dance across the energized palate with a light airy feel. Some juicy mango fruits also chime in. Refreshing acidity with a long effervescent finish.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 5.5%
Other Reviews…..
A benchmark Moscato d'Asti that perfectly balances luxurious richness with brilliant acidity. The wine captures pure sunshine, exhibiting pristine floral aromas and fresh stone fruit that flow seamlessly into a palate of remarkable clarity and definition. The effervescence carries the sweetness with grace and precision, demonstrating why this variety finds its highest expression in Asti. A masterclass in what makes Moscato d'Asti special, showing both power and delicacy in perfect harmony.
93 points
Wine Enthusiast - Delord Floc de Gascogne Blanc (700ml)Armagnac, FRANCE$44. 99Bottle$539.88 DozenABV: 17%
This is the bright gold coloured, slightly fresher, lighter alternative to Delord's Rouge Floc de Gascogne. Made in a similar fashion by blending partially fermented grape juice with one third Delord Armagnac, for the Blanc, grape varieties like Sauvignon, Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Gros Manseng are used. The blend is then matured for around three to nine months - depending on your source.
Other reviews... Aromas of white grapes, dried fruit, acacia honey, buttery chamois leather and a faint hint of shoe polish (in a good way). The taste is honeyed with dried fruits and a hint of liquorice. 4.5 stars - diffordsguide.com
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2023 Torbreck Woodcutter's ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 15%Closure: StelvinThe Woodcutter’s Shiraz is sourced from Torbreck’s younger vineyards located in the prime Barossa sub regions of Marananga, Greenock, Seppeltsfield, Gomersal, Moppa, Lyndoch and Ebenezer.
Fruit is hand harvested and fermented in a mixture of cement, wooden and stainless steel vats for 6-7 days. It is then basket pressed to well-seasoned hogsheads and French oak foudres where it’s matured for 12 months.A sumptuous and youthfully energetic offering from Torbreck that’s bursting with rich, succulent fruit.
Magnificent depth of colour featuring an impenetrable inky black heart and a deep dark red black tinged hue. Wafting through the nostrils are aromas of dark plum, liquorice, freshly crushed blackberries and ripe blueberry followed by some delicately smoked vanillin cedar and peppered fennel notes. Rich, bold and sumptuous, the weighty palate is awash with succulent dark plum, liquorice, blackberry and blueberry fruits. Opulently textured yet youthfully fresh, notions of spicy vanillin cedar, fennel and peppered earth also chime in. Velvety tannins with a long flamboyant finish bursting with vibrant juicy fruit.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 15%Other Reviews….
A refined yet savory nose of blackcurrants, wild blackberries, mocha and iodine. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of mulberry bush, olive tapenade and ferric earth. Very chewy and structured with an underlying freshness. Delicious. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
94 Points
JamesSuckling.com -
- 94
2022 Yalumba Hand Picked Shiraz ViognierEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinRich and plush with a graphite like tannins and a meaty feel to the long peppery, dried clove laced finish.
Co-fermented with 2% Voignier and including 40% whole bunch Shiraz fruit, this blend was matured for 15 months in French oak puncheons and hogsheads. Midnight black heart with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Spicy plum and dried clove aromas mix with liquorice, smoked meat and peppered earth notes. Rich and plush with dark plum and liquorice fruits to the fore, the full bodied palate is more open for business than the nose. Dried clove, scorched earth and peppered meat nuances sit underneath. Graphite like tannin structure with a meaty feel to the long peppery, dried clove laced finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 95
2024 Pauletts Clare Valley RieslingClare Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 12%Closure: StelvinIntense, textural and powerful with a long scrumptious finish.
Brilliant water like core with greenish tinged edges. Lime and citrus scents jump out of the glass trailed by some orange rind, talc and chalky mineral notes. Showing admirable intensity, textural volume and power, mouth watering lime, citrus and orange flavours drive the palate. Dispersed across the back half are chalky talc and mineral elements. Crunchy acidity with a long scrumptious finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 94
- 94
- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Rippon Sauvignon BlancCentral Otago, NEW ZEALAND$59. 99Bottle$719.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA zippy, energised Sauvignon Blanc with a tangy feel.
Fifty percent fermented in old French barrels. Brilliant pale straw colour with a watery hue. Nosing offers up a mix of guava, grapefruit and citrus aromas followed by some wet stone and grassy notes. Zippy guava, grapefruit and mandarin flavours carry a tangy feel across the palate. Subtle grassy and flinty mineral elements lie underneath. Crisp acidity energising the tangy finish.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews…..
The vines were planted from 1987 to 1993 on their own roots, unirrigated and biodynamically farmed. The fruit is handpicked, foot-stomped and soaked on skins for up to two days, then pressed to fifty/fifty neutral oak and tank. It goes through wild, ambient ferments, no adjustments, then it sits on lees, unsulfured, for three months prior to bottling.
The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc leads with tatami mat and straw, torched lemongrass and brine. In the mouth, the wine is textural and concentrated—it has a cloth-y aspect, which is evident on the nose, but it sits very well in the mouth. This is savory, throaty and full and kept fresh through the finish by a splay of soft green leaf. There’s beeswax, lemon sherbet and a hint of juniper. 13% alcohol, sealed under Diam. Drink 2023-2032.
94 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateHigh lees, old oak.
Here’s a very different expression of NZ Sauvignon. It’s intense and powerful, gooseberry, passionfruit Crème Brûlée, jalapeño, grapefruit and a wild, well funky is maybe a vague term, but something of that nature. It’s spicy and saline, like a lime margarita, distinct sweet passionfruit and cumquat, with firm chalky texture and sizzling grapefruit acid bite, with a salty finish of mouth-watering intensity and fine length. Quite a ride. Drink 2026-2030+
94 Points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front -
- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 All Saints Grenache Shiraz MourvedreRutherglen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, spicy black fruits framed by ripe chewy tannins.
A blend of 47% Grenache, 29% Shiraz, 17% Mourvedre and 7% Cinsault matured in seasoned French oak for a period of 11 months. Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Elevated black raspberry, liquorice and black cherry aromas evolve from the glass followed by some dark plum, spicy vanillin oak and subtle scorched earth notes. Rich and spicy with juicy black raspberry, liquorice and black cherry fruits framed by ripe chewy tannins. Scorched earth and spicy vanilla characters ensue. Fleshy yet slightly robust in its feel with a long deeply fruited finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 95
- 95
2024 Vickery Eden Valley RieslingEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$21. 99Bottle$263.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 11%Closure: StelvinFresh, crunchy and concentrated with precise laser like acidity and a long zesty finish.
John Vickery was a legend of the Australian wine industry and is widely acknowledged as the old master of Riesling. His illustrious career spanned over 50 years at the likes of Leo Buring and Richmond Grove during which time he amassed more than 50 Trophies and over 400 gold medals. He was also responsible for the re-introduction of screw caps with his 1998 Richmond Grove Watervale Riesling.
Brilliant water like core with greenish tinged edges. Lemon, lime and green apple aromas jump out of the glass trailed by some wet steel and chalky mineral notes. Fresh and crunchy, the palate is both focused and concentrated with lemon, lime, Granny Smith apple and orange rind fruits reigning over a steely back drop of chalk and flinty mineral elements. Precise laser like acidity with a long zesty finish that has a tense feel to it.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 11%
Other Reviews......
Although the great John Vickery has left us, his legacy lives on in the wines that bear his name. This is a cracker. A high-tensile, limey ride; a wine that is bone-dry, vivid and possesses all the velocity and verve that you expect. Pristine lime and green apple notes, subtle jasmine and Christmas lily with hints of crushed quartz and distant herbs, but it's all about that minerally cadence and precision. Super drinking. Drink by 2038.
95 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 91
Mobius The Company You Keep Citrus and Black Cardamom Gin (700ml)New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenABV: 44%The alter ego to Mobius Distlling's Signature Gin employs a different recipe. This citrus-forward style comes with a creamier nose feel offering notes of orange spice cake and moderate juniper, the cardamom ever-lingering in the background. There's noticeably more citrus on the palate too (think orange rind or mandarine) contributing a tongue coating oiliness as hints of cardamom emerge through the zesty, warming finish. A nice marriage of flavours with a richer mouthfeel, you'll appreciate its nuances most when enjoyed neat or over ice. 44% Alc./Vol.
GOLD MEDAL - San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Silver Medal at the 2022 Australian Distilled Spirits Awards
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- 91
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Undivided ChardonnayFRANCE$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinRich, full and round in its feel with a concentrated flavour profile.
Bright pale straw to straw colour with a watery hue. Aromas of ripe peach, pear and subtle honeycomb mix with vanilla and spice notes. Rich, full and round in its feel, the palate is decorated with fleshy ripe peach, pear, honeycomb, crème brulee and spice flavours. Excellent concentration with relatively soft acidity and an extended finish that carries plenty of textural volume.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 95
- 95
2024 Rob Hall Yarra Valley CabernetsYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA very elegant red fruited Cabernet that shows plenty of finesse.
Growing up in Healesville, a young Rob Hall did some summer work in the vineyards during the early to mid nineties before taking up full time work at Yarra Ridge then Punt Road. From 2002 to 2011 he was the winemaker at Mount Mary, it wasn’t until 2014 that he took the leap and began his own operation.
A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 2% Malbec sourced from 3 different vineyards. Midnight black core with a dark red black tinged hue. Elevated red to black currant and mulberry aromas gently infused with violets and bay leaf are trailed by some dusty vanillin cedar, tobacco and subtle spicy black olive notes. The elegant mid weighted palate features red currant, red liquorice and mulberry fruits over cedary tobacco, subtle dusty earth, black olive and bay leaf elements. Youthful and fresh, it has a cool toned feel and fine grained tannins. Concludes long and finessed with a red fruited aftertaste.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews…..
A blend of 55/43/2% cabernet sauvignon/merlot/malbec. 16–20 days on skins and matured in seasoned hogsheads. A bright, medium crimson red. Another very well-made, ridiculously priced cabernet blend from Rob Hall. Aromas of cassis, cedar and a touch of violets lead onto the medium-bodied, well-balanced and already delicious palate. Drink by 2031.
95 Points
Philip Rich – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
- 95
2023 Vasse Felix SyrahMargaret River, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$34. 99Bottle$419.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA bright, fleshy mid weighted Syrah.
Matured in older French oak barriques for a period of 11 months with 39% whole bunch fruit included in the ferment. Totally opaque black dark purple colour with a dark purple red hue. Fragrant plum and liquorice scents gently infused with clove evolve out of the glass. Smoky vanillin cedar and peppered meat notes then follow. The bright, fleshy medium bodied palate features juicy plum and liquorice fruits over a spicy vanillin cedar, smoked meat and peppered dried herb back drop. Fresh acidity and polished tannins with a refined yet generously fruited, pepper laced conclusion.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%Other Reviews….
This is as good as any syrah yet from Vasse Felix. It is thoroughly delicious and appealing from the first take on the nose through to the soft and plush palate delivered with medium body. Interesting techniques have captured the best from the fruit. It was wild yeast fermented, with a portion of whole bunches and a little carbonic maceration to bring it all to life. Powerful cherry and spicy plum aromas lead to a medium-weight palate that is so exquisitely smooth and seamless, yet with a fine minerality to define and sustain. Outstanding.
95 Points
RayJordanWine.com.au
Such a delight to drink shiraz or syrah from Margaret River these days because it’s up there as an excellent drink, as this one attests. While heady aromatics of florals, pepper and spice lure you in, this is very much in a savoury spectrum. All black olives, ferrous and brown spices infusing some dark fruit. Mid-weighted with beautifully shaped tannins and fine acidity to close. Drink by 2033.
95 points
Jane Faulkner - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 92
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2023 Lino Ramble Ludo FianoMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now (2025)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA full and texturally shapely Fiano.
Brilliant pale straw to straw colour with green toned edges and a watery hue. Lime, pear and green apple aromas are formed by the nose with hints of almond also evident. Full and texturally rounded in its feel, flavours of pear and red apple are featured over lime and stony mineral elements. Excellent concentration with softened acidity and a shapely finish.
Drink now.
Alc. 12.5% -
- 94
Dead Reckoning Port Broadside Single Blended Barbados Rum (700ml)BARBADOS$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 52%Another in a series of 'Port Broadsides', this single cask, triple matured rum is no less than ten and a half years old. Blended at birth from Foursquare's pot and column stills and tropically aged in Barbados for eight years in ex-bourbon before being moved to Adelaide from some "Australian dry ageing." Once there it was filled into sixty year old Seppeltsfield ex-Tawny cask for eight months before being transferred a third time to a high-char ex-bourbon barrel for another twenty two months. Seppeltsfield makes one of the world's great dessert wines and here, the intense porty character is mellowed by the sweet soft ex-bourbon finish. Fat and buttery aromas and flavours extend to rich oak and ripe plums; A full bodied, viscous development of poached fruits laced with pepper and cinnamon are followed by dry molasses. Ends nicely balanced and deceptively long. Despite being rummy, this also leaves the impression of a port matured single malt. 52% Alc./Vol.
Notes from the bottlers... Nose: Lots of dark fruits – sultanas, berries, plumbs… plus vanilla and mixed peel. All draped with a wispy web of oak Palate: Big mouthfeel powered by a lovely all over medium spiced which then gives way to caramel a-plenty. The tawny cask is pretty identifiable here –with the stewed fruits and biscuit spices. There’s also a pastry note there too, so the accumulative effect is like a Spicy Fruit Roll biscuit in a glass! Finish: Nice and bold. Easily long enough to chat about it with your drinking buddy. Lots of stewed fruit, caramel, vanilla and a lingering spice that really warms.
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- 90
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2022 Undivided Pinot NoirFRANCE$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 12.5%Closure: StelvinA ripe, spicy Pinot that carries medium bodied weight and a supple feel.
Dark red in colour with black toned edges and a dark red hue. Ripe black cherry, dark plum and anise aromas mix with spicy vanillin oak and earthy dried herb notes. Fleshy black cherry and anise flavours carry good weight across the palate with vanillin spice and earth accents lying underneath. Supple mouthfeel with polished tannins and a ripe, spicy finish of medium length.
Drink over the next 1-2 years,
Alc. 12.5% -
- 94
Kurio by Lark Distilling Crimson Jam Blended Australian Malt Whisky (700ml)Tasmania, AUSTRALIA$109. 99Bottle$1319.88 DozenABV: 40%A whisky for the curious by the curious. Kurio Crimson Jam blends Tasmanian Single Malts, uniquely finished in Tasmanian cherry and sparkling wine-seasoned casks. Vibrant, full-flavoured and versatile, it offers a balance of jammy sweetness and smooth apple-wood smoke. Expect flavours of honeyed apricot, a hint of nutmeg, black forest cake and a luscious medley of cherry jam, custard and velvety mocha through the finish. Serve neat or over ice, or go it in a High Ball or Old Fashioned. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... The latest project from Lark Distilling Co. is Kurio, a blended malt whisky, finished in 'cherry and sparkling wine seasoned casks.' Lark has a long history of finishing their whiskies in interesting ways, and it’s nice to see one of these in a 700ml format for a reasonable price. Tasmania produces both excellent cherries and sparkling wine, so there’s some synergy there, too. The nose on this whisky is cask-forward yet soft, with plenty of rich red fruitiness. There’s really good integration and no rough edges, although with cherries and sparkling wine the headlines on the label, a bit more brightness and fun might be nice. Sweet and easy drinking with a lot less oak on the palate than the nose would suggest, this is a really well-made and enjoyable whisky without being particularly complex. Still, I doubt this bottle will last long on my shelf. 94 points - Fred Siggins, James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion
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- 95
2024 Ironcloud Rock of Solitude ChardonnayFerguson Valley, Western Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.8%Closure: StelvinRich, concentrated and voluminous with ripe fleshy fruits.
Matured in French oak barriques for 9 months. Brilliant pale straw colour with green tinted edges and a watery hue. Pronounced pear and ripe nectarine aromas jump out of the glass followed by hints of dried honey, cashew, melon, biscuity nougat and spice notes. Rich, full and voluminous, ripe juicy pear, peach and nectarine fruits are to the fore. Spicy nougat, crème brulee, subtle cashew and dried honey elements linger across the back half. Excellent concentration finishing long, full and round with enough acidity to keep it on the fresh side.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.8% -
- 94
2023 Tellurian Evo ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinA rich, vibrant Heathcote Shiraz that finishes long and succulent.
Dense inky black heart with a dark purple hue. Expressive plum, liquorice and blueberry scents are intertwined with smoky fennel like notes, vanillin cedar and hints of pepper. Rich, juicy and vibrant, the medium to full bodied palate is flush with spicy dark plum, liquorice and blueberry fruits. Subtle vanillin cedar, peppered earth and fennel elements ensue. Showing excellent fruit intensity and purity, it has velvety tannins and a long succulent finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
- 92
2024 Oakridge Yarra Valley Pinot NoirYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinLight, fresh and supple with a savoury finish.
Semi translucent bright red to dark red colour with a light red hue. Fragrant red cherry, violet and strawberry scents are complimented by hints of dried herbs, rhubarb, forest floor and spice. Light in body, the palate is both fresh and supple in its feel featuring red cherry and winter strawberry fruits over a delicate rhubarb, forest floor and spicy dried herb background. Good energy with elegant, fine grained tannins. Finishes fresh and savoury.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 93
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 Varney Wines FianoLanghorne Creek, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 1 Years (2025-2026)ABV: 12.2%Closure: StelvinZesty lime and green apple fruits with a racy feel.
Brilliant pale straw colour with highlights of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Intense lime and green apple skin aromas infused with fresh herbs jump out of the glass followed by hints of guava and stony mineral notes. Zesty lime and green apple fruits have a racy feel across the palate with infusions of fresh herbs and stony mineral characteristics lining the back half. Crisp acidity with a crunchy saline and mineral laced conclusion.
Drink over the next year.
Alc. 12.2%Other Reviews…..
The fruit came off the Bremerton vineyard in Langhorne Creek, with 72 hours on skins before pressing to neutral Burgundy barrels; lees stirring was frequent. This is a coolly-fruited expression of the grape, with lifted herbal notes of pea tendril and mint, along with sugar snaps, lime, green apple, cool stone fruit and a gravelly, mineral-like note. There’s an appealing Irpinia via Sancerre quality this vintage, but a little time in bottle is needed to swell out the flavour and texture. Drink by 2028.
93 Points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion - Atlantico Reserva Solera Rum (700ml)DOMINICAN REPUBLIC$79. 99Bottle$959.88 DozenABV: 40%
A brand created in Florida by two entrepreneurs, Brandon Lieb and Aleco Azqueta, and sponsored by Enrique Iglesias, the popular Spanish singer. Instead of being a distillery, Atlantico rum is produced by an independent bottler - Oliver & Oliver using the solera technique that includes rums up to ten years old. However the recipe begins with both molasses-based rums and rums made with fresh cane juice, separately aged for 2-3 years before blending and resting for another two years. The solera follows, and just prior to bottling a small amount of unaged Aguardiente is added for a finishing touch. 40% Alc./Vol.
Other reviews... Starts sweet and fruity with pronounced vanila ice cream and caramel. More sublte boiled sweets, apricot jam, cinnamon and hot pepper spice. 4.5 stars - diffordsguide.com
Atlantico Reserva offers a rich, buttery nose, with popcorn and a creamy toffee. In the background is a faint grassiness. The palate is drier and oaky, with a lighter take on those buttery notes, and an earthy, mineral layer. Some of that original creaminess comes back on a smooth, warm finish with a touch of caramel and vanilla. 83 points - distiller.com
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- 97
- 98
2023 Standish The Relic Shiraz ViognierBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenABV: 14.9%Closure: CorkThe Standish Wine Company, founded in 1999 by sixth-generation Barossa vigneron Dan Standish, produces ultra-limited, single-vineyard Shiraz from dry-grown, old-vine sites across sub-regions like Greenock, Marananga, Krondorf, and Eden Valley. Using wild fermentation, whole-bunch inclusion, foot treading, basket pressing, and aging in French oak, Standish crafts powerful yet refined wines that express purity, intensity, and a strong sense of place. Highly sought-after and released in tiny quantities, each bottling captures the essence of its vineyard with precision and flair.
By all reports, the 2023 vintage in the Barossa was shaped by a cold, wet winter and spring, followed by a cool, dry summer and a notably late harvest. It was a challenging season in the vineyard, yet early impressions suggest the resulting wines are remarkably poised and pure. Standish’s 2023 releases, in particular, are said to show extraordinary finesse and aromatic detail, with the usual power and depth intact. Careful adjustments to whole bunch use and shorter élevage have delivered wines that are intense yet fresh—an impressive result from a difficult year.
Known for its exotic perfume and silken texture, The Relic is plush and opulent. Co-fermented with a small portion of Viognier, it combines expressive aromatics with deep, brooding Barossa fruit.
Alc. 14.9%Other Reviews....
The 2023 The Relic Shiraz-Viognier is texturally velvety and smooth; that may sound like a base observation to make, and perhaps it is, but the experience is overwhelmingly silky/ethereal this year. Apricot blossoms, sweet roasted bone marrow, hung deli meat, crushed rocks, licorice, anise and raspberry mingle in the glass, while the palate gives us these characters tenfold, bolstered and grounded by savory tannins. What more is there to say about this, other than that it is sensational? I find this to be an incredibly consistent wine year after year, with my scores rarely deviating too much from "excellent." This is among the very best Shiraz Viognier's in this country; it's a treasure. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax. Drink 2025 - 2043.
98 Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Relic, 98.5/1.5% shiraz/viognier is sourced from the Hongell Family vineyard in Krondorf and immediately presents itself beautifully with dark and red plum, dark cherry and indeed, a stone fruit component that sits obliquely to the deeper fruit on display. A smaller percentage of whole bunch this year but an exotically spiced trail is still apparent in the wine, like fading footsteps in wet sand. There's a char siu meaty aspect in the mix, too, with dried meadow flowers and a real sense of place; the tannins are like powdered sand and there is a sapidness apparent in its cadence. There's only a handful of producers in the region that produce wines with this level of intricacy. It's like bonsai winemaking, capturing nature and all its harvest-borne detail with a sense of balance and proportion. Tremendous drinking. Drink by 2042.
97 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 98
- 98
2023 Standish The Schubert Theorem ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenABV: 14.9%Closure: CorkThe Standish Wine Company, founded in 1999 by sixth-generation Barossa vigneron Dan Standish, produces ultra-limited, single-vineyard Shiraz from dry-grown, old-vine sites across sub-regions like Greenock, Marananga, Krondorf, and Eden Valley. Using wild fermentation, whole-bunch inclusion, foot treading, basket pressing, and aging in French oak, Standish crafts powerful yet refined wines that express purity, intensity, and a strong sense of place. Highly sought-after and released in tiny quantities, each bottling captures the essence of its vineyard with precision and flair.
By all reports, the 2023 vintage in the Barossa was shaped by a cold, wet winter and spring, followed by a cool, dry summer and a notably late harvest. It was a challenging season in the vineyard, yet early impressions suggest the resulting wines are remarkably poised and pure. Standish’s 2023 releases, in particular, are said to show extraordinary finesse and aromatic detail, with the usual power and depth intact. Careful adjustments to whole bunch use and shorter élevage have delivered wines that are intense yet fresh—an impressive result from a difficult year.
Known for its bold structure and brooding intensity, The Schubert Theorem hails from Marananga's red soils. It’s often the darkest and most muscular of the four, with deep spice and gravelly power.
Alc. 14.9%Other Reviews....
The 2023 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz is a gorgeous wine. It is silky, inky, pure, black as the ace of spades and long through the finish. The use of concrete egg in the fermentation/maturation stages lends the wine a sense of purity and finesse. It supports a core of crystalline fruit that is wrapped in earthy, grainy tannin and woven together with threads of saline acidity. It has rose petals, detail and delicacy, power and precision. Standish performs somewhat like a Burgundian producer—he works with one grape (I suppose two, if you count the small inclusion of Viognier in the Relic) to express different vineyard sites, soil types and elevations. There's no "declassified" fruit in these wines, no flow-on opportunities to other cuvées, just "make or break" viticulture and winemaking. The ancient terroir of the Barossa is writ large in these wines. It is striking. This 2023 Schubert, despite the cool and wet conditions, is a testament to Standish's clarity of vision. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork. Drink 2025 - 2045.
98 Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The '23 release of the Schubert Theorem is just gorgeous. It's kinetic. The purest of plum, black cherry and blueberry fruits stretch impossibly long on the palate, with impressive density and a real sense of grace to its travel. The edges are smooth and round here and there is a calmness as it glides across the palate, the tannins more in the powdery spectrum (and I'm sure this comes from the portion that spends its gestation in a concrete Nomblot egg). Bunch (50% or thereabouts) is bang on here, lending a golden ratio of spice, sinew and texture. But man, that pure rolling swell of fruit is the star; this is a wonderfully composed wine. Drink by 2040.
98 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 97
- 98
2023 Standish Lamella ShirazBarossa Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$150. 00Bottle$1800.00 DozenABV: 14.9%Closure: CorkThe Standish Wine Company, founded in 1999 by sixth-generation Barossa vigneron Dan Standish, produces ultra-limited, single-vineyard Shiraz from dry-grown, old-vine sites across sub-regions like Greenock, Marananga, Krondorf, and Eden Valley. Using wild fermentation, whole-bunch inclusion, foot treading, basket pressing, and aging in French oak, Standish crafts powerful yet refined wines that express purity, intensity, and a strong sense of place. Highly sought-after and released in tiny quantities, each bottling captures the essence of its vineyard with precision and flair.
By all reports, the 2023 vintage in the Barossa was shaped by a cold, wet winter and spring, followed by a cool, dry summer and a notably late harvest. It was a challenging season in the vineyard, yet early impressions suggest the resulting wines are remarkably poised and pure. Standish’s 2023 releases, in particular, are said to show extraordinary finesse and aromatic detail, with the usual power and depth intact. Careful adjustments to whole bunch use and shorter élevage have delivered wines that are intense yet fresh—an impressive result from a difficult year.
Known for its lifted aromatics, precision, and finesse, Lamella is a strikingly pure and detailed Shiraz. Typically sourced from high-altitude sites, it’s the most ethereal and finely structured wine in the Standish range.
Alc. 14.9%Other Reviews....
Following on from the perfect 2022 release, I find myself opening this wine with a fair bit of excitement. I called Dan Standish one day in early May 2023 (I think to ask my questions about the wines I was tasting), and he was in the vineyard up in Eden Valley, picking the Lamella fruit for this wine. 2023 was a wet, cool season, so much so that the fruit for this cuvée was picked in May. Still, aromatically, the 2023 Lamella Shiraz leads with sumac and orange peel, fresh raspberry, black cherry, licorice, petrichor, wet asphalt and river stones. Sandalwood and rose petals follow through the finish. This is velvety and grainy, supple and pliable. The tannins are dry and silky, and they perfectly balance the intensity of sweet/spicy fruit in the mouth. This wine is a clear example of why you must back a producer over a vintage, because a good producer will triumph no matter the conditions. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax. Drink 2025 - 2045.
98+ Points
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This year's Lamella, an Eden Valley wine, sees the majority of the shiraz sourced from the epic Stonegarden vineyard down near Springton, with a smaller proportion of fruit from Hutton Vale. Last year it was the other way around, but vintages are like that. The fruit, again at its core pure dark plum and blue fruits, has some redder shades in play, with plenty of exotic spice, meadow herbs, purple floral tones and that Eden Valley sage thing going on and the thinest wisp of spearmint rising from the depths. I love this wine's powdered granitic heft and mineral cadence, the wink of Campari and bunchy nuance done just right and its composed 'Eden Valleyness'. It's lovely. Drink by 2042.
97 points
Dave Brookes - James Halliday's Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
- 94
2024 Dune TirariMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$22. 99Bottle$275.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 12.8%Closure: StelvinAn intriguing mid weighted blend that’s succulent and vibrant yet savoury.
A blend of Negramaro, Touriga Nacional and Mataro. Deep black dark red colour with a dark red purple hue. Fragrant red plum, liquorice and blueberry scents infused with a mix of dried herbs, scorched earth and pepper sail through the nostrils. Juicy blueberry, liquorice and ripe plum fruits carry an energetic feel across the fresh, mid weighted palate. Notions of dried herbs, scorched earth, infusions of incense and spice lend further interest. Slinky tannins finishing long, succulent and vibrant yet savoury.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12.8%Other Reviews…..
40/30/30% negroamaro/mataro/touriga nacional; harvested on the same day and co-fermented; matured in seasoned French oak for six months. Savoury and spicy, with preserved black cherry, dried olive, black plum skin, panforte spicing, chinotto, star anise, umeboshi. Modest of weight, and from varieties that can be fulsome and gruff, this is elegant and food friendly, with a fine line of tannin and a fanning of cherry-scented fruitfulness marking the finish. This is also excellent chilled. Lovely.
94 Points
Marcus Ellis – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 94
2024 Osicka Selection Heathcote ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.8%Closure: StelvinRich, bright and fleshy with a long succulent finish laced with peppered clove elements.
Deep dark red black tinged colour with a red to dark red hue. Lifted red liquorice and plum scents infused with a mix of mint and clove are trailed by some brambly earth and spice like notes. Rich juicy red liquorice and red plum fruits infused with mint overlay an earthy dried clove and spicy pepper back drop. Bright, fleshy mouth feel with polished yet sturdy tannins and a long succulent finish laced with peppered clove elements.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.8% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 All Saints Estate Sangiovese CabernetRutherglen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA ripe, fleshy Sangiovese blend that has a spice laden finish.
Dark red core with black tinged edges and a dark red hue. Aromas of ripe red currant intermix with cherry and red liquorice followed by hints of dried herbs, faint cedary tobacco and spice notes. Ripe and fleshy, the mid weighted palate features generous red currant and cherry flavours over red liquorice, dried herb, delicate tobacco and spicy earth characters. Polished tannins with a juicy conclusion that’s laden with spice.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14%