Squealing Pig Pinot Noir Rosé
This is a classic from the Marlborough. On the nose, it's filled with confected strawberry and apricot aromas. With a drop like this, you'll be as happy as a pig in mud on a summer's day.
Dominique Portet Fontaine Rosé
Dominique Portet Fontaine Rosé is a lovely dry wine from the Yarra Valley. Full of juicy succulent and savoury flavour the palate is fresh vibrant and delicious. Serve well chilled for a great warm weather style.
Château Ducluzeau Bordeaux
Chateau Ducluzeau is owned by Bruno Borie, owner of the iconic Second Growth Ducru Beaucaillou in St Julien. The 10ha vineyard in Listrac being planted to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (the highest percentage of Merlot in the entire appellation). Classic Bordeaux through and through - with beautiful notes of liquorice, rose, plum and blackberry.
Pagos de Tahola Rioja Reserva
Everyone loves good Rioja. Now take a step up to Reserva level. This is from the 2012 vintage, officially classified as ‘very good’. It was aged for at least a year in barrel and two in bottle to produce a Rioja of perfect balance and depth. Pagos de Tahola comes from the Chavarri family – Francisco and daughter Ruth form a winning partnership with winemaker Miguel Lopez Nuñez. Their exemplary wines are based on exuberant fruit harvested from mature vines in some of Rioja’s highest vineyards then infused with the signature fragrance of quality French and US oak. Rich aromas of dried berries and vanilla, hallmark red berry and sweet spice flavours and silky texture – impressively smooth. Serve with Spanish style rice dishes or grilled meats.
Craggy Range Te Kahu Merlot Blend
Te Kahu is a wine of richness, with lovely black fruit flavours, hints of spice and long, fine graceful finish. From gravelly soil, it is made very much in the image of good Bordeaux.
Gerard Betrand Côtes des Roses Rosé
Côtes des Roses Rosé displays a warm blush colour. It has aromas of summer fruits, cassis and floral notes on the nose. The palate is full and fresh with great balance of fruits and acidity. A great summer drink to enjoy over a Sunday picnic or brunch.
Castagna Allegro Syrah Rosé
The bouquet is of savoury dried herbs formed around a core of red cherry fruit with a hint of honey, quite lifted with some earthy notes which move in and out of the bouquet. The palate is perfectly balanced, it speaks of red cherry and anise - ripe and textural with just a hint of tannin, leaving you with a satisfying sensation of refreshing summer fruit infused with spices and herbs. A wine to be enjoyed year round, not just in summer.
Contentious Character Rose
A full bodied Rose with raspberry and citrus characters. A refreshing touch of sweetness lifts the wines character and rounds the mouthfeel; while the bright, crisp acidity gives balance and length to the finish.
The Waxed Bat Reserve
"Big and gold, lots of chocolaty plum fruit, cassis, tobacco, liquorice. An extremely polished effort" (Decanter World Wine Awards). The legendary Opi Sadler has triumphed again! His Waxed Bat Reserve edition had taken Gold and Platinum medals, then Best in Show Trophy at the highly prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards. That was beating 17,000 other wines from around the world. Perhaps it should be of no surprise when we know it has so much intense ripe black fruit and creamy oak. It clearly shows that Malbec and Cabernet from Argentina's high altitude Mendoza region is a match made in heaven. Even better when the wines are aged in barrel, too. It's a sumptuous mouthfilling red, smooth enough to drink solo but at its very best with garlic studded roast lamb, a juicy steak or a warming casserole. Decant early if you can.
Pikes Wilfred's Block Clare Valley Cabernet Shiraz
The Pike brothers established Pikes winery in the Polish Hill sub-region of the Clare Valley in 1984, renovating an old stone shearing shed to house their winery and cellar door. Neil is the veteran winemaker (he’s done 38 vintages in Clare); Andrew the seasoned viticulturist (he spent 22 years working for big names like Wynn’s Coonawarra and Southcorp before establishing Pikes). Together they turn out formidable wines that earn plenty of show medals and critical acclaim. Their richly textured 2017 'Wilfred's Block' really is magnificent. A definitive Australian blend of inky, slatey Cabernet and sumptuous, spicy Shiraz, it’s a contemplative wine – the layers of flavour will reveal themselves slowly – and perfect for winter sipping. It will cellar well until 2032, but is still drinking beautifully now. Decant, pour into big glasses, and savour with good food and good friends.