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This wine is regularly one of the best Shiraz to come out of McLaren Vale, the 2015 vintage awarded best in show at the prestigious 2018 Decanter World Wine Awards. Produced from a blend of two great McLaren Vale Shiraz vineyards; Piebald Gully and Gateway. Piebald Gully is situated in the coolest sub-region of McLaren Vale, bordering the Adelaide Hills. It’s planted in deep sand over at the base of Willunga foothills and is virtually dry grown. Gateway Vineyard, so called as it stands just at the entrance to McLaren Vale, is located in the subregion of Seaview. The vines grow on top of a rather unusual amount of limestone rock and has views of the Gulf of St Vincent and the Adelaide Hills. Components from both vineyards were fermented in traditional open fermenters, and following pressing, finished their fermentation in oak of which approximately 80% was French and the balance American, 35% of which was new oak. The maturation time was 18 months.

A sublime Shiraz from the maestro of McLaren Vale.

Impenetrable black as night core with a very deep dark red black hue. Potent ripe blackberry and liquorice aromas soar from the glass trailed by dark plum and dark chocolate nuances. Toasty vanillin oak, light earth and spice also chime in to add further complexity. Intensely concentrated, decadently rich and possessing an opulent textural feel, ripe blackberry, liquorice and dark plum flavours explode across the palate saturating every inch of the mouth. Subtle dark chocolate, vanillin oak and spice then move in on the back palate. Despite the very plush feel a sturdy structure lurks beneath, the tannins seamlessly integrated and silky smooth. Great fruit purity with an exceptionally powerful finish that’s loaded with lavish black fruits, a touch of dark chocolate, vanillin oak, light earth and spice.
Drink this rich seductive beauty over the next 10 years.
Alc. 15%

The initials RP stand for Robyn Pamela, Nick Farr’s mum and matriarch of the Farr family. The fruit for this wine is sourced from the Côte Vineyard, it’s a close-planted parcel on an exposed slope, with hillsides facing north, northeast and east comprising of the most suitable clones, rootstocks, trellising and management you’ll find on the Farr’s landscape. Fruit is handpicked and sorted in the vineyard, then fermented in an open-top fermenter. Between 40 to 50% of the fruit will be destemmed and then cold soaked for four days. Maturation takes place in 50 to 60% new Allier French oak barrels for 18 months.

Smooth, powerful and epically long this is a magnificent Pinot Noir that on a comparative basis to Burgundy makes it a relative bargain.

Deep dark red core with a slight tinge of black to the edgings and a dark red hue. An alluring perfume of violets, red to dark cherries, ripe strawberries and a gentle whiff of anise flows through the nostrils with great intensity. Adding layers of complexity are smoky vanillin cedar, game, forest floor, light clove and spicy dried herbs. Reminiscent of a great Burgundy, the rich yet graceful palate sees sumptuous flavours of dark cherries, strawberries, forest floor, game, light clove, smoky cedar and spicy dried herbs expanding across the palate like a peacocks tail. Light on its feet yet epically powerful with a supple mouthfeel and beautifully integrated silky smooth tannins it finishes exceptionally long and savoury.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Delicious, long and powerful, this is a superb Central Otago Pinot Noir.

Aged for 13 months in French oak of which 22% was new. Great depth of colour displaying a deep dark red core with black tinged edges and a dark red hue. Beautifully scented the highly aromatic nose features perfumed notes of violets, hints of lavender, ripe red and dark cherries as well as plums laced with anise followed by traces of incense, spicy cedar and fresh herbs. Richly fruited with a supple elegance to the textural feel, this outstanding Pinot possesses a power wave of flavour that stretches long onto the finish. Deliciously moreish ripe dark cherry, spicy dark plum and anise flavours flood the mouth with an undercard of well integrated spicy cedar, subtle incense infusions and fresh herb elements. Finishes with great freshness and seamlessly integrated, polished tannins. Exceptionally long aftertaste of spicy ripe dark cherries, plum, anise, spicy cedar and fresh herbs.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Other Reviews….
Elegant, fresh and vibrant, this red starts off wonderfully perfumed, with lavender, white pepper and green tea notes that accentuate the purity of the cherry and raspberry flavors. Polished tannins still provide some grip on the finish, where white truffle and forest floor details linger. Drink now through 2032.
96 points
Wine Spectator

An exceptional Bollinger La Grande Annee that manages a fine balance between richness, power and freshness.

Sourced solely from Grand Cru (91%) and Premier Cru (9%) vineyards the wine was entirely fermented in small oak barrels in which oxidation can be carefully controlled. The final blend comprised of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Pours well with a frothy white mousse sitting over a straw pale coloured base. Exceptionally fine and very profuse bead. Heady aromas of yeast lees, toast, honeyed characters and roasted nuts waft out of the glass with pear and citrus notes also evident. A rich, textured core is detailed with complex flavours of yeast lees, baked bread, oily toast and dried honey flavours set over a back drop of cashews and roasted almonds. Finishes dry with some refreshing crisp, citrus infused acidity. Long creamy aftertaste of baked bread, yeast lees, toast, citrus and honey coated roasted nuts. Rich, toasty and creamy but fresh.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12%

Other Reviews….
Disgorged November ’17, 70% pinot noir, 30% chardonnay. 100% barrel fermentation has long been Bollinger practice, and style trademark. The complex bouquet of multi-spice and brioche aromas drape the barrel ferment influenced structure, emphasised by over eight years on lees and a dosage of 7g/l.
97 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion

Established in 1982 Scotchmans Hill are one of Bellarine Peninsula’s top estates. The fruit for this excellent Pinot Noir was de-stemmed to small fermenters with the inclusion of 15% whole bunches. Maturation took place in new to 4 year old French barriques for 12 months.

A ripe, seductive Pinot Noir.

Deep dark red colour with black tinged edges and a light red hue. Very fragrant almost perfumed like scents of violets, dark cherries and spicy anise blossom out of the glass with earthy forest floor, lightly toasted cedar and faint clove also evident. Rich and powerful, the delicious palate is decorated with ripe dark cherry, plum and strawberry flavours which are interwoven with anise, smoky cedar, forest floor and spice. Generous supple mouthfeel with velvety tannins, well integrated acidity and a long finish.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Best’s consistently produce outstanding Rieslings which are flavoursome, elegantly structured, spectacularly age-worthy and rated as one of the country’s best. Their Riesling vines were first planted as part of Henry Best’s ‘Nursery Block’ vineyard in the 1860’s with subsequent plantings in 1944 and 1978.

Brilliant water like core with a distinctive tinge of green around the outskirts. The nose offers up elevated lime, red apple and faint honeysuckle aromas followed by hints of citrus and orange blossom. The elegant palate has a fine thread of mineral laced acidity running through the flavours of citrus, granny smith apples and lime juice. Dry laser like finish with a long lime juice, green apple, lemon and flinty mineral aftertaste.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 11%

Other Reviews….
Pale straw-green; the bouquet is enticing, but it's the palate that sends all the senses into overdrive. Intense lime juice intersects with shiny bright acidity. This takes mouthwatering flavours onto new levels. Great length inevitably follows, promising a very long life. The Great Western subregion deserves far greater recognition for its rieslings. Drink by 2032.
96 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion

Great Western Riesling. If we’ve said it once …
Bit of a treat. Scintillating style, juiciness and length. Meyer lemon, lime, red apple and slate. Unencumbered lines. Pleasure and pain, in a good way. Oh the acidity. Drink 2018-2028.
94 points
Campbell Mattinson – The Wine Front

Brilliant water like colour with greenish tinged edges. Intense gooseberry, passionfruit and lime scents jump out of the glass promptly followed by green apple, asparagus and herbaceous grassy notes. Zesty fresh gooseberry, citrus and light passionfruit flavours meld into herbaceous grassy characters with traces of mineral on the dry crunchy finish. Long gooseberry, citrus, passionfruit and herbaceous grassy character aftertaste.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 13%

Finely structured, beautifully balanced and blessed with richness this is a superb Margaret River Cabernet.

Sourced from a vineyard in the Wilyabrup region of Margaret River that was planted in 1971 this wine was matured for 18 months in 21 barriques French oak, 28% of them new. Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red black tinged hue. Drifting from the glass are elevated aromatics of blackcurrant and ripe mulberry which carry excellent intensity. Further complexing notes of cedary tobacco characters, light dusty earth, dried herbs and spicy bay leaf follow on. Within its medium to full bodied framework there’s tremendous richness, concentrated blackcurrant, mulberry and tobacco flavours decorating the palate with grace and style. Cigar box, earthy dried herbs, subtle infusions of bay leaf and spice all chime in on the finish. Very polished, perfectly integrated tannins provide the structure. Excellent depth and power with a long savoury aftertaste that lingers on.
Drink over the next 8-10 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Certified organic Clarry’s is a blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro, with all grapes coming from Kalleske’s organic farm. To preserve the fresh fruit flavours, the wines were only aged in very old oak hogsheads for a limited time of four months. Opaque dark purple black core with a dark purple hue. Alluring scents of dark raspberry, plum and liquorice flow from the glass with subtle vanillin confectionary, light earth and spicy dried herbs also evident. Bursting with richness and freshness, juicy dark raspberry, ripe plum and liquorice flavours are underpinned by vanillin confectionary. Concludes spicy with bright fresh acidity and polished tannins. Long succulent aftertaste of lightly spiced dark fruits.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 14.5%

With the current trend of pushing wines out into the market earlier and earlier (there are already 2018 reds for sale) it’s a rarity to find anything with any real bottle age that’s in its peak drinking window. For it to be only $20 and from a great vintage is even more remarkable.

With all the cellaring done for you, this rich, velvety Shiraz is a joy to drink now.

Totally opaque black dark red core with a deep dark red hue. Pronounced aromatics of liquorice, aniseed and spicy ripe dark plums fill the nostrils over a back drop of toasty vanillin cedar, earth and blackpepper. Rich, gutsy and plush, the full bodied palate has a juicy core of dark fruits which boast serious depth and volume. Rich, silky textured flavours of liquorice, ripe black cherries and dark plum fill the mouth underpinned by vanillin cedar, scorched earth and plenty of spice. Round opulent feel with velvet smooth tannins. Excellent power with a long savoury conclusion of liquorice, ripe black cherries, dark plums, smoky vanillin cedar, earth and spicy pepper. A very polished effort that’s drinking superbly now.
Drink over the next 2-3 years.
Alc. 14.5%