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While the estate known as Chateau Haut-Bailly dates back to 1461, its wine production began in 1530, falling into the hands of the de Leuvarde and Le Bailly families in 1630. It was purchased in 1998 by Robert G Wilmers, a Harvard-educated banker, and his French wife Elisabeth and under their care, the estate has begun producing some of the best wines in its history. The cellars and production procedures were renovated and modernised and this year, the Chateau itself was awarded government recognition of its cultural and vinious heritage.

Colour is deep red. The nose shows aniseed, tar, FruChocs and spicy oak. The fine palate entry has mulberry, cranberry, aniseed and liquorice flowing delicately with Rhone-like spicy, chewy, savoury tannins.

Te Matas Hawkes Bay estate is a prestigious winery with a rich history, producing some of New Zealands most celebrated wines. If the Langtons Classification crossed the Tasman, Te Mata Coleraine would sit alongside Grange at its very pinnacle. Established, esteemed, outstanding vintage after vintage, the glowing adjectives come thick and fast.

The 2017 vintage provided an exceptionally ideal cool and elongated growing season akin to winding the clock back to the classic Yarra Valley conditions of yore. Conditions were perfect for sourcing grapes with the intention of creating a classic style of cool-climate Shiraz reminiscent of the pioneering wines that forged the Yarra Valleys enviable reputation. Showing volume and weight with finesse and restraint, this perfumed, brooding and enticingly refined medium-bodied Shiraz is the result of an assemblage of three individual vineyard sites, all targeted for their individual defining strengths and characters that would play a role in constructing a complete wine. Fruit was sourced from individually selected sites across the Yarra Valley. Leading with an intensity of white pepper and char, the complex, slowly-evolving nose offers a mélange of mulberry, dried figs, cloves, cardamom and fruit mince pies. The palate delivers a grace and presence with the weight pushing through to a slow-building resonance of flavour and tannin. The density of black fruits is wound tight and integrated so that no one element stands above the others. This wine is suitable for vegans. Decanting is highly recommended.

APPEARANCE: Opaque dark ruby describes the color of this Rutherford wine. AROMA: Black currant and Boysenberry notes dominate the aroma, with dark chocolate truffle, cocoa powder, crimini mushrooms and forest floor adding to the complexity. PALATE: The wine has great depth of black fruit flavor, with a strong expression of sweet black cherry. This full bodied cabernet sauvignon has resolved tannins yet firm structure, with good acidity. Lovely long finsh.

The French component of this wine was made at two of the Dourthe-owned wineries. Australian components of this wine were made at Penfolds Nuriootpa Winery in South Australia. Both components were blended and bottled in South Australia for a truly one-of-a-kind release.