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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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2024 Saracco Moscato d’Asti (750ml)Piedmont, ITALY$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenClosure: StelvinDescribed by Vinous Media wine critic Ian D'Agata as the 'DRC of Moscato d'Asti', this is a captivating example of Moscato.
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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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% -
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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% -
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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 -
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2023 All Saints Grenache Shiraz MourvedreRutherglen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 14.5%Closure: StelvinRich, spicy black fruits framed by ripe chewy tannins.
A blend of 47% Grenache, 29% Shiraz, 17% Mourvedre and 7% Cinsault matured in seasoned French oak for a period of 11 months. Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Elevated black raspberry, liquorice and black cherry aromas evolve from the glass followed by some dark plum, spicy vanillin oak and subtle scorched earth notes. Rich and spicy with juicy black raspberry, liquorice and black cherry fruits framed by ripe chewy tannins. Scorched earth and spicy vanilla characters ensue. Fleshy yet slightly robust in its feel with a long deeply fruited finish.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5% -
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2024 Vickery Eden Valley RieslingEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$21. 99Bottle$263.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 11%Closure: StelvinFresh, crunchy and concentrated with precise laser like acidity and a long zesty finish.
John Vickery was a legend of the Australian wine industry and is widely acknowledged as the old master of Riesling. His illustrious career spanned over 50 years at the likes of Leo Buring and Richmond Grove during which time he amassed more than 50 Trophies and over 400 gold medals. He was also responsible for the re-introduction of screw caps with his 1998 Richmond Grove Watervale Riesling.
Brilliant water like core with greenish tinged edges. Lemon, lime and green apple aromas jump out of the glass trailed by some wet steel and chalky mineral notes. Fresh and crunchy, the palate is both focused and concentrated with lemon, lime, Granny Smith apple and orange rind fruits reigning over a steely back drop of chalk and flinty mineral elements. Precise laser like acidity with a long zesty finish that has a tense feel to it.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 11% -
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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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2023 Undivided ChardonnayFRANCE$23. 99Bottle$287.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinRich, full and round in its feel with a concentrated flavour profile.
Bright pale straw to straw colour with a watery hue. Aromas of ripe peach, pear and subtle honeycomb mix with vanilla and spice notes. Rich, full and round in its feel, the palate is decorated with fleshy ripe peach, pear, honeycomb, crème brulee and spice flavours. Excellent concentration with relatively soft acidity and an extended finish that carries plenty of textural volume.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14% -
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2024 Praeter Yellow Flower PecorinoAdelaide Hills, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$33. 99Bottle$407.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 2 Years (2025-2027)ABV: 13.5%Closure: StelvinConcentrated and textural finishing very dry with lively acidity.
Fermented in seasoned French oak and matured on lees for 9 months. Brilliant pale straw colour with highlights of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Fresh apricot and peach aromas mix with hints of lemon butter and spice. Good textural volume and concentration with fleshy lime, pear and green apple skin flavours melding into a delicate saline and almond like back drop. Finishes very dry with lively acidity. Notions of wet stone, subtle almond and saline linger through the aftertaste.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13.5% -
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2024 Rob Hall Yarra Valley CabernetsYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA very elegant red fruited Cabernet that shows plenty of finesse.
Growing up in Healesville, a young Rob Hall did some summer work in the vineyards during the early to mid nineties before taking up full time work at Yarra Ridge then Punt Road. From 2002 to 2011 he was the winemaker at Mount Mary, it wasn’t until 2014 that he took the leap and began his own operation.
A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and 2% Malbec sourced from 3 different vineyards. Midnight black core with a dark red black tinged hue. Elevated red to black currant and mulberry aromas gently infused with violets and bay leaf are trailed by some dusty vanillin cedar, tobacco and subtle spicy black olive notes. The elegant mid weighted palate features red currant, red liquorice and mulberry fruits over cedary tobacco, subtle dusty earth, black olive and bay leaf elements. Youthful and fresh, it has a cool toned feel and fine grained tannins. Concludes long and finessed with a red fruited aftertaste.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13%Other Reviews…..
A blend of 55/43/2% cabernet sauvignon/merlot/malbec. 16–20 days on skins and matured in seasoned hogsheads. A bright, medium crimson red. Another very well-made, ridiculously priced cabernet blend from Rob Hall. Aromas of cassis, cedar and a touch of violets lead onto the medium-bodied, well-balanced and already delicious palate. Drink by 2031.
95 Points
Philip Rich – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
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2022 De Bortoli The Estate Vineyard ChardonnayYarra Valley, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$19. 99Bottle$239.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2025-2029)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinNicely shaped yet fresh in its feel across the palate with lively acidity engaging the energetic finish.
Matured in new and used French oak casks. Brilliant pale straw colour with green tinged edges and a watery hue. Expressive white peach, pear and dried honey scents drift through the nostrils followed by some citrus and flint notes. Mid weighted fleshy white peach and pear fruits sit over a delicate citrusy dried honey and flint back drop. Nicely shaped yet fresh in its feel across the palate with lively acidity engaging the energetic finish.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13% -
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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 -
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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% - 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. 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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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% - 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.
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- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2020 Marcel Amance Bourgogne Chardonnay-EleganceBurgundy, FRANCE$44. 99Bottle$539.88 DozenMinimum 6 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkElegant with a river stone like mouth feel finishing dry and fresh.
Bright straw colour with a watery hue. Ripe peach, lime and dried honey scents fill the nostrils followed by hints of almond and wet stone. Lighter and more elegant than expected, pear and lime fruits overlay delicate dried honey, almond and stony mineral accents. River stone like mouth feel finishing dry and fresh.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 12% -
- 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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- 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 -
- Nick's Import
2013 Watt Whisky Glen Elgin 11 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Speyside, Highlands, SCOTLAND$144. 99Bottle$1739.88 DozenABV: 55.3%Glen Elgin tends to have a consistently fruity profile. This one was drawn from a hogshead yielding 270 bottles and should get you as close to the natural distillate as possible. Apart from its signature tropical fruits, it's also said to capture some of that sought-after beeswax character, often associated with better bottlings of Clynelish. 55.3% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the bottlers... Tropical fruits, waxy, peaches, mango, apricots and lemon meringue pie with faint ginger.
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- 94
2024 Osicka Selection Heathcote ShirazHeathcote, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$29. 99Bottle$359.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.8%Closure: StelvinRich, bright and fleshy with a long succulent finish laced with peppered clove elements.
Deep dark red black tinged colour with a red to dark red hue. Lifted red liquorice and plum scents infused with a mix of mint and clove are trailed by some brambly earth and spice like notes. Rich juicy red liquorice and red plum fruits infused with mint overlay an earthy dried clove and spicy pepper back drop. Bright, fleshy mouth feel with polished yet sturdy tannins and a long succulent finish laced with peppered clove elements.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.8% -
- 93
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
2024 All Saints Estate Sangiovese CabernetRutherglen, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenMinimum 12 bottlesCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA ripe, fleshy Sangiovese blend that has a spice laden finish.
Dark red core with black tinged edges and a dark red hue. Aromas of ripe red currant intermix with cherry and red liquorice followed by hints of dried herbs, faint cedary tobacco and spice notes. Ripe and fleshy, the mid weighted palate features generous red currant and cherry flavours over red liquorice, dried herb, delicate tobacco and spicy earth characters. Polished tannins with a juicy conclusion that’s laden with spice.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14% -
- 93
2023 Mountadam Five-Fifty ChardonnayEden Valley, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$17. 99Bottle$215.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA nicely fleshed mid weighted Chardonnay that finishes fresh and gently creamy.
Brilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Aromas of white peach and nectarine mix with hints of dried honey and gun flint. Fleshy white peach and nectarine fruits decorate the mid weighted palate with notions of dried honey, citrusy nougat and faint infusions of gun flint lingering across the back half. Good length finishing fresh and gently creamy in it’s feel.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 13% -
- 94
2024 Marnong Estate Pinot NoirSunbury, Victoria, AUSTRALIA$24. 99Bottle$299.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 12.7%Closure: StelvinDelicious, fresh and juicy.
Semi translucent red to dark red colour with black toned edges and a vibrant light red hue. Fragrant violet, red cherry, strawberry and anise aromas sail through the nostrils followed by some dried herb and delicate forest floor notes. Delicious red cherry and strawberry fruits are layered across the palate with a supple feel. Spicy vanillin cedar, subtle anise and dried herb elements flow across the back half. Velvet smooth tannins finishing long, fresh and juicy.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.7% -
- 95
2006 Bladnoch Single Cask No.440 15 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Lowlands, SCOTLAND$299. 00Bottle$3588.00 DozenABV: 50.8%Bladnoch is part of a quartet of Lowlanders, the others being Glenkinchie, Auchentoshan and the legendary Rosebank. This single sherry butt bottling marks a departure from their NAS and red wine matured selections. Not quite multi-layered nor effusive, but not far off in its exquisite mingling of barley and spiced raisins on the nose, underscored by creamy cocoas. On the palate, the dried fruits are almost palpable and it's a bit like two whiskies in one: At cask strength, there's a chewy sensation of barley and aged fruit cake punctuated by ginger snaps and sweet spices. Add an ice cube or a splash of water and you have a more creamy, succulent serve of the same, further detailed with a vaguely nutty, leathery old school charm. The way the cinnamon and fruits cascade in a choreographed flurry really purrs. The length is impressive. The balance is impeccable as the profile continues to evolve with air contact. A whisky to keep you up at night. If you buy sherried styles and pass on this, you're missing out on something quite distinctive and special, as first class as its luxe presentation. 660 bottles produced. 50.8% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Notes from the producers... Matured in a Sherry butt #440, carriying notes of dates, caramelized sugar with a sticky sweet and slightly warming finish. It was distilled in December 2006 and bottled at cask strength and natural colour.
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- Nick's Import
2017 Watt Whisky Campbeltown 7 Year Old Cask Strength Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Campbeltown, SCOTLAND$139. 99Bottle$1679.88 DozenABV: 57.1%"...absolutely lovely! Bravo! " - whiskyfun.com
If you didn't already know, Watt Whisky are Campeltown based, so it's appropriate that they chose a local blend to commemorate their 100th cask. They've pumped up an already very good malt with more than a teaspoon of something quite special (we're informed that it's a Glen Scotia that's had a good “ladling” of 28-year-old Springbank). Fun, different and apparently, it doesn't taste immature. The yield was 246 bottles at 57.1% Alc./Vol. Non chill filtered.
Other reviews... Attention, this was the 100th bottling from Watt Whisky aka Campbeltown Whisky Company Ltd.! That’s worth celebrating! As usual, we’re a bit late to the party, but bravo Kate and Mark! Colour: light gold. Nose: well now, this is more engaging – there’s a touch of engine oil, linseed oil, amaretti, pumpernickel spread with fresh butter, even a few tiny oysters, all layered atop the classic apple and pear base. With water: a brand-new Harris Tweed jacket. I swear. Mouth (neat): we’re back on oil, oyster shells, a few drops of petrol, a dab of light peat, and even hints of diesel and acetone, Jamaican style. Truly. With water: right, at heart it’s still apple, beer and barley. Finish: same again – apple, beer and barley – though there’s a persistent saline tang hanging in the background. Comments: absolutely lovely! Bravo! 87 points - whiskyfun.com
...You sense the youth, but this offers a good mix of Campbeltown funk, subtle peat and enough roundness to keep it accessible. Hard to fault if you’re looking for a glu-glu whisky from Watt’s home town. - whiskynotes.be
Notes from the bottlers... Creamy and funky, faint peat, pebble beaches, custard tarts, olive oil and apricots.
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- 98
- 96
- 96
2020 Bekkers SyrahMcLaren Vale, South Australia, AUSTRALIA$120. 00Bottle$1440.00 DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 14.2%Closure: StelvinRich, complex and layered with a Northern Rhone like meatiness.
Impenetrable inky black core with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Strong blackberry, liquorice and dark plum aromas infused with a mix of clove and smoked meats engulf the nostrils. Some spicy vanillin cedar, fennel and peppered earth notes ensue. Rich and layered with a Northern Rhone like meatiness, the long savoury palate is decorated with succulent dark plum, liquorice and black cherry fruits. Smoked meat, infusions of clove, fennel, spicy vanillin cedar and peppered earth elements lend further complexity. Concentrated and powerful it has fine grained tannins which possess underlying muscle. Concludes super long and sophisticated with smoked meat and pepper characters lingering through the finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.2%Other Reviews….
The 2020 Syrah is elegant and spicy—the whole-bunch component lends a spice and a skeleton (I always mean to say rachis, yet I censor myself to skeleton each time) and a structure that is most attractive. The wine is concentrated and silken, with a flow and ebb in the mouth that speaks volumes to the pedigree of fruit resource and clever handling in the winery. At this stage, the oak is still obvious in the glass, however having tasted the 2019 alongside, I can confirm that it recedes into the fruit like the ocean over sand with time. In my opinion, the best McLaren Vale Shirazes/Syrahs display a balance of sweet fruit and meat; it's a challenge to foster both parts of the grape in the bottle, but when it's done, it is a marvel. As this is. Drink 2022-2032.
96 Points
Erin Larkin – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateClarendon and Seaview sourcing, harvested across staggered windows to impart textural detail and freshness. Fermented wild with gentle pumpovers. 50% bunches in the mix. Basket pressed to 500L French wood (55% new). The end result, as with all wines here, is one of consummate class and refinement. While the grenache is the leading light, this sits comfortably in 2nd place. Carnal spice, pepper grind, salami and blue to darker fruits are strung across bow of saline tannic tension, rolled into a firm gristly knot. Superlative grape tannins, mind you, extracted with a confident aplomb. The oak, a mere echo. This glimpses the finest crus of the northern Rhône through the lens of the Vale. Exciting. Exceptional. Rewarding. Drink by 2030.
96 Points
Ned Goodwin – James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion -
- 95
- 93
- Reduced
2024 Kooyong Clonale ChardonnayMornington Peninsula, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $34.99$32. 99Bottle$395.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13%Closure: StelvinA beautifully fleshed and concentrated Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay.
The Clonale Chardonnay is sourced from Kooyong’s Tuerong and Balnarring vineyards and is matured in a mixture of French oak barriques and puncheons (12% new) for a period of 9 months. Brilliant very pale straw colour with gleaming green tinged edges and a watery hue. Aromas of white peach, pear and nectarine evolve out of the glass with ample intensity trailed by hints of biscuity oak, dried honey, citrusy nougat and spice. Fleshy white peach, nectarine and pear flavours are layered across the mid weighted palate with subtle notions of cashew, biscuity nougat, dried honey and spice lying underneath. Excellent concentration and textural volume finishing long and fresh with a gentle creamy feel.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13%
Other Reviews…..
Peach, melon, mint, vanilla, a sour yoghourt thing. Nutty, tangy, lemon and grapefruit, a bit spicy, some chalky grip, with a lively and sappy finish of excellent length. Lovely wine. Plenty of energy and drinks so well. Touch and go for 94 points. Drink 2025-2030+
93 points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front -
- 95
- Reduced
2024 Muto Beechworth ChardonnayBeechworth, Victoria, AUSTRALIAReduced from $29.99$27. 99Bottle$335.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2025-2030)ABV: 13.3%Closure: StelvinWinemaker Waldo Smit sourced fruit for this Chardonnay from 20-year-old vines grown in the Beechworth township of Baarmutha by the Iwanuch family. Hand-picked fruit was gently pressed to 500 litre French oak barrels (15% being new) for fermentation, followed by 10 months maturation. Regular lees stirring took place and full malolactic conversion was encouraged to build textural qualities.
A sub $30 Beechworth Chardonnay that delivers the goods.
A brilliant pale straw core is surrounded by green tinted edges with a watery hue. Drifting through the olfactory senses are white peach, nectarine and subtle dried honey scents complimented by some biscuity nougat, hints of ginger and delicate flint notes. Rich and full in the mouth but far from heavy handed, the expansive palate is layered with fleshy white peach and nectarine fruits. Notions of dried honey, biscuit, nougat, spicy ginger and flint lend further interest. Offering Beechworth’s trademark depth and drive it has a shapely textural feel that’s nicely counterpointed by fresh acidity. Finishes long and gently spiced.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13.3% -
- 93
2022 30 Mile Cabernet SauvignonSouth Eastern Australia, AUSTRALIA$10. 99Bottle$131.88 DozenCellar: Drink now - 3 Years (2025-2028)ABV: 14%Closure: StelvinA great value entry level Cabernet Sauvignon that shows surprising concentration.
Impressive colour featuring a dense inky black heart alongside a deep dark red black tinged hue. Pronounced ripe blackcurrant and liquorice aromas mix with some cedary tobacco and spicy dried herb notes. Rich blackcurrant fruits are layered across the medium to full bodied palate with surprising concentration. Ripe mulberry, cedary tobacco and spicy dried herb elements lie underneath. Firm grainy tannins lead into a long amply endowed finish. Great Value.
Drink over the next 2-3 years
Alc. 14% -
- 93
- Australian Exclusive
Old Forester 100 Proof Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) - Whiskey Hunt Australia 3rd ReleaseKentucky, UNITED STATES$179. 99Bottle$2159.88 DozenABV: 50%Whiskey Hunt Australia's third and final Old Forester single barrel pick.
Back in 2019 Whiskey Hunt Australia did what few outside the US could — secure three Old Forester Single Barrels, handpicked from their legendary Louisville, Kentucky warehouses. Because the volumes were so small they only made it to a handful of retailers. Old Forester subsequently changed their international barrel pick policies and slammed the brakes on future single barrel selections. WHA only just managed to sneak this one through. So for the time being, it's the last of its kind, or to be more precise, the only single barrel officially bottled outside the US since 2021 (the distillery will instead be offering a 100 proof and an unfiltered, straight from the cask barrel strength option). We're told Old Forester use heat cycling in their rickhouses to maintain consistency, so if you enjoyed WHA's previous selections, they should be pretty close to what we’ve sampled here. Ripe peaches, soft rye and banana bread feature on the nose with a hints of bubble gum. For all of its high proof, this is remarkably easy-going with supple peach and light vanilla flavours framed by sweet cinnamon and peppery wood spices. The balance is so good, you don't really need water. It's uncomplicated, affable, heart warming Bourbon that's certainly above average, and with enough body, depth and oiliness to set on repeat without losing interest. Alternatively, add minimal ice for maximum easy-drinking. 204 bottles imported. Distilled from a mash bill of 72% Corn, 18% Rye and10% Malted Barley. 50% Alc./Vol. Collectable.
Notes from the bottlers... That classic Old Forester sweet banana on the nose. Palate hits with peanut brittle, caramel, and a balanced mid-level sweetness. Not overloaded with vanilla — instead, there’s a subtle touch of toasted oak. The finish is that classic oak-driven with a satisfying lift of spice. Super easy drinking.
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- 91
Mobius The Company You Keep Signature Gin (700ml)New South Wales, AUSTRALIA$39. 99Bottle$479.88 DozenABV: 43%Getting the botanical balance right in a 'classic' gin can be tricky. Too many ingredients and it can lose direction and lack style. Too few and the gin can taste one dimensional. Mobius Distlling have succeeded in creating a signature expression defined by juniper (like a London Dry should be) with a hint of citrus in reserve. The aroma is soft and pure, infused with notes of crushed pine buds exuding a peel-like freshness, later joined by hints of cardamom and white pepper. The taste is silky, creamy, smooth and lemony with bright juniper and warming peppers finished by a gentle peel tang. Relaxed and refreshing on its own, this middle-weighter makes a lovely G&T, but go easy with the mixing as it can be quickly overwhelmed. The distiller's recommend a light tonic, garnished with a lime wedge. 43% Alc./Vol.
Silver medal 2023 London Spirits Competition
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- Organic
Nc'nean Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)Highlands, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 46%Founded in 2017 by Annabel Thomas, Nc’nean is located within the Drimnin Estate on a remote west Highland peninsula with spectacular views over Mull and Tobermory. The name is an abbreviation of 'Neachneohain', which translates as 'Queen of Spirits' from Gaelic. Like Ardnamurchan, an innovative and eco-friendly approach is at the heart of the distillery and its team. 2021 may well be one of the most significant in its early history: It was the year Nc'nean became the UK’s first distillery to gain Net Zero status with carbon dioxide emissions as close to zero as possible - twenty years ahead of the Scotch industry target. They're certified organic, powered by 100% renewable energy and recycle 99.97% of their waste. The whisky is also bottled in 100% recycled glass and is vegan friendly. Batches of around 5000 units are bottled at 46% and are both non chill-filtered and natural in colour.
Other reviews... [Batch 18 tasted / circa 2022] Right, bad luck, it's 2/3 ex-STRised red wine, now STR doesn't obligatorily make the whiskies winey, it often doesn't in my experience, so there is hope… Colour: straw. Nose: indeed, no obvious wine, but there are berries, probably rather elder, also peach syrup and orange blossom honey. Some Californian IPA. Well, a style of beer that was to be found in California back in the days, but the whole world seems to be making this style today. Then a little sweet bread and some vanilla. Fine, soft, fruity, with also quite some hay. Mouth: very sweet, clearly 'flavoured'. Szechuan pepper, tangerine, oranges, hay wine, the usual cinnamon and ginger, some herbal teas (rooibos, peach leaves), vanilla and zests... Finish: medium, sweet, with more citrus, which always works, I think. Comments: clearly fruitier than the only earlier batch I've tried, which was #7. Pretty 'modern world', very cask-driven, certainly well made. 82 points - whiskyfun.com
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- Limit Two per customer
Glengyle Distillery Kilkerran Heavily Peated Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) - Batch 11Campbeltown, SCOTLAND$149. 99Bottle$1799.88 DozenABV: 57.9%Even though this is a NAS release, you can expect Glengyle's whisky-making team are refining their blending skills and introducing older material into each batch. So it makes sense that some tasters are describing this as one of the best, if not the best batch in the series to date. Drawn from 90% Bourbon casks with the remainder out of Sherry, complexity will be a strong point. The Kilkerran style we've come to know and love includes notes of key lime pie, toasted rye bread and peat smoke, toasted marshmallows and campfire embers with hints of vanilla and custard - and of course, that Campbeltown smokiness carrying through to the finish, along with a mineral note to round things off. Even after dilution, these natural strength expressions can remain beautifully fresh. If you're partial to the uber-peaty, invigorating coastal blast that comes with Longrow at its finest, this will be for you. In line with previous releases, Batch 11 weighs in at 57.9% Alc./Vol and comes bottled non-chill filtered.
Other reviews... A true experience for the senses – powerfully peppery, with a comforting sweetness and the unmistakable Campbeltown DNA. The combination of intense glow, fruity freshness, and creamy depth makes this a whisky that shows character without being overpowering. Those who love strong smoke but also appreciate subtle nuances will find this a reliable companion in their glass. - whiskybase.com
Another great batch from this series! They are always top quality, but this one is one of the better ones! - whiskybase.com
...Both batch 9 (WF 86) and batch 10 (WF 85) were excellent, though perhaps ever so slightly immature, a tad on the rough side for my taste, but let’s admit it, we were nitpicking. Colour: straw. Nose: it’s the 16-year-old, only younger, livelier, and above all far more medicinal. With gallons of iodine tincture and mercurochrome, sea water and a splash of lemon balm infusion, one could almost use this as a balm, an anaesthetic or indeed as a repellent against mosquitoes and, more crucially, midges. Well, no guarantees there. We like it. With water: well now, it rounds out and softens completely, but also brings seaweed and, above all, plenty of sage and tarragon. Worth trying in a béarnaise sauce. Mouth (neat): this slaps you twice across the face, a proper one-two. Brimming with salt, ashes, camphor, iodine tincture, lime, oysters and smoked fish. With water: a more classical peater, though still immensely salty, with notes of machine oil and even penetrating oil. Could come in handy. Finish: very long, with salt, lemon and bitter almonds. Black pepper in the aftertaste. Comments: hey, we’re moving forward! A fine beast, really. We should set up a blind tasting, twelve young Longrows versus twelve young Kilkerrans. Who do you reckon would win? - 87 points - whiskyfun.com