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Brilliant very pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. A bouquet of fresh limes and green apples greets the nostrils followed by hints of unripe passionfruit and light herbaceous citrus notes. Fruiter and more tropical than the nose, the palate has intense flavours of ripe tropical fruits, limes and subtle green apple. Clean dry finish with crisp acidity and a medium length aftertaste.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 14%

Totally opaque dark red black core with a very dark brick red hue. The nose dispels aromas of blackcurrant laced with a combination of bay leaf and black olive followed by cigar box, earth and spice. Rich blackcurrant flavours dominate the front half of the full bodied palate with elements of black olive, earthy cigar box, faint bay leaf and spice then moving in. Sturdy tannins provide a solid framework. Medium to long aftertaste.
Cellar 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Superb colour displaying a saturated inky black core and a very deep dark red black hue. There’s some barnyard like characters on the nose which overlay ripe dark plum, blackberry, liquorice, leather and spicy pepper notes. Rich textured palate with a touch more purity to the fruit than the nose yet there is still evidence of that barnyard character which acts as a distraction. Firmish, slightly chewy tannins provide plenty of structure. Good power with a long peppery blackberry, liquorice, leather, spice and earthy barnyard tainted aftertaste.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.9%

Produced from Sangiovese grapes. Salmon pink colour with a watery hue. Elevated spicy ripe cherries intermix with strawberries, a hint of musk and Turkish delight. Fresh lightly textured flavours of cherries, cranberries and subtle musk. Finishes dry with a burst of spice. Crisp crunchy like acidity with a moderate aftertaste.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12%

Pasquet's L'Organic 10 is a superb XO standard that's certified totally organic (Agriculture Biologique FR BIO10). Made solely from eaux-de-vie from the premier cru of the region - Grande Champagne, it's another very natural and thoughtfully crafted Cognac that breaks from the formulaic style of many big brands. In short, just what you'd expect from an artisan producer like Jean Luc.

Tasting note: Brilliant deep amber-gold. Opening aroma is perfumed, floral-soft (orange blossom, vanilla) with another dimension of dried fruits developing (figs, raisins, apricots, prunes). 3-4 minutes air contact dries the nose-feel evoking cedar, oak shavings, new leather as well as hints of cinnamon and white pepper. A fabulous sniff. Shows more depth than your average XO, with none of the ‘over-sweetness’ found in many big-house bottlings. Flavours of peach, quince, trace orange liqueur and cigar box with the finish driven by salivating fruit/oak balance, light pepper, cocoa, salted caramel and whisps of passion fruit rounding off a never-ending aftertaste. A stellar value that draws comparisons with Delamain’s 'Pale and Dry'. 40% Alc./Vol.

Matured in French oak, 10% new, for a period of 7 months. Brilliant pale straw colour with flecks of green around the edges and a watery hue. The nose has aromas of white peaches, subtle dried honey, biscuity nougat like characters, citrus and light cashew. Fleshy white peach and nectarine flavours dominate the medium weighted palate which has an elegant, lightly creamed feel to it. Good richness on the back palate with subtlety honeyed nougat, biscuit and spicy cashew moving in. Finishes dry and balanced with a citrus freshness and a medium to long aftertaste.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13%

Other Reviews….
This is, and always has been, a multi-vineyard blend. “Early, drinking deliciousness”, says Steve Flamsteed, “these aren’t for cellars… I like freshness and energy. Not so much the essence of any vineyard, but a showcase of Yarra Valley. They’re wines to really, really drink”. Winemaking goes hand-picked, chill overnight, pressed, free run gets a work over and into barrel, then some oxidative winemaking in leaving some ullage space, lending extra character. Clever, clever.
It’s a ripper drink. Shows pedigree of the top Giant Steps wines but delivers a wickedly drinkable, tangy, lemon-drizzled-apple-crunch of yummo chardonnay with enough pep and vigour (and faint salted nutty savouriness) to blast off on those warm, baking summer days. That aside, there’s spring to texture, light juiciness, a pucker followed by mouth-watering refreshment to close. No brainer for quality, bright, quietly complex but wholly guzzle-worthy chardonnay. Drink 2018-2025.
93 points
Mike Bennie – The Wine Front

Fruit for the Valley Floor Shiraz was sourced from the Barossa (92%) and Eden (8%) Valleys with vines aged between 9 to 100 years old and yields of 1.5 to 3 tonnes per acre. Maturation took place in a combination of 14% new American oak and 86% seasoned American and French oak hogsheads for a period of 24 months.

Rich, seductive and powerful with a sumptuous yet fresh finish.

Impenetrable black as night core with a deep dark red black hue. Intense liquorice, dark plum and black cherry aromatics sail out of the glass over vanillin cedar, fennel and spice. Rich seductive flavours of liquorice, dark plum, black cherries and blackberries saturate the mouth with underlying spicy vanillin cedar, traces of fennel and pepper. There’s an opulent feel to the fruit yet it finishes fresh and balanced. Silky smooth tannins provide the framework. Very sumptuous and long with a powerful aftertaste of liquorice, black cherries, dark plums, spicy vanillin cedar, fennel and pepper.
Cellar 5-6 years plus.
Alc. 14.5%

This blend of 51% Tempranillo, 44% Touriga Nacional and 5% Grenache was matured in 500 litre oak puncheons (10% new) for 10 months.

Impressive inky black purple colour with a bright dark purple hue. Incense laced scents of dark cherries, plum and liquorice are followed by some spicy herb notes. Rich black cherry, ripe blueberry and liquorice flavours decorate the medium bodied palate with an undercard of inky earth characters, subtle infusions of incense and spice. Finishes dry with plenty of fresh bright acidity and finely grained tannins. Juicy yet slightly chalky mouthfeel with a vibrant medium to long aftertaste.
Cellar 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Nick Glaetzer began his winemaking journey with his family in the Barossa Valley, following with vintages in the Languedoc, the Pfalz, Margaret River, the Riverland, Sunraysia, the Hunter Valley and Burgundy. In 2005 Nick landed in Tasmania, searching for cool-climate, super-premium vineyards; perfect for crafting Pinot Noir, Riesling and savoury Shiraz. The concept behind his Avance Pinot came from Nick’s experience working and travelling through many winemaking regions on the European Continent which gave him an insight into the lighter wine styles, keenly sought after by the local village people for their fresh fruit driven flavours.

A delicious fruit loaded Pinot with power to burn.

Semi translucent dark red colour with black tinged edges and a crimson purple hue. Very fragrant, the nose expels violet top notes over ripe cherry and strawberry aromas with subtle anise and fresh herbs ensuing. Rich, fruit loaded and expansive, ripe dark cherry, plum and strawberry flavours create a silken feel across the palate with elements of lightly smoked anise, subtle forest floor and spice also present. Terrific power, velvet smooth tannins and good vibrant acidity concluding with a deliciously long aftertaste of dark fruits, anise, subtle forest floor and spicy herbs.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13.5%

An intensely flavoured Riesling with a zingy, mouthwatering finish.

Certified organic. Brilliant very pale straw almost water like core with greenish tinged edges. Potent lime and citrus aromas leap out of the glass with orange rind, talc, green apple and light mineral notes also present. Showing terrific intensity are mouth watering flavours of lime and citrus with an undercurrent of orange rind, green apple and a chalky minerality. Dry zingy finish with fresh crunchy acidity. Superb length with a very long lime, citrus, orange rind, subtle green apple and flinty mineral aftertaste. Sublime drinking now but will also cellar a further 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5%