Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz
Although this wine is plush, dense and rich, it possesses a compelling percussion and balance. Right up there with Grange and Hill Of Grace as one of Australia's best Shiraz, and from one of the greatest vintages too!
Château Léoville-Poyferré Saint-Julien
The times ahead for Château Léoville-Poyferré are very exciting indeed. After many years of changing ownership, the fortunes of the vineyard have also ebbed and flowed. With the younger generation of the Cuvelier's now at the helm, the results speak for themselves. No more so than the quite exuberant 2009 Léoville-Poyferré which has seen the estate produce what is possibly the greatest wine to have been produced there. Close to perfection in so many ways, the layer upon layer of complex flavours is something to behold. Blackcurrant, graphite, espresso, mocha, menthol, blueberry to name but a few. A modern Bordeaux classic in the makings.
Chateau Pavie-Decesse Grand cru classe
Château Pavie Decesse is a St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé property in the Côtes sub-district, considered the equal of its illustrious neighbour, Chateau Pavie. The origins of both can be traced back to ancient Roman times. The 3.5ha vineyard, on chalky, limestone and clay soils and contiguous with Pavie, is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Following cold maceration, the Chateau wine is vinified in temperature-controlled oak vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak barrels. The wine is aged in 80% new oak for between 18 and 24 months, depending on vintage character. Production is small, around 650 dozen each year. The hedonistic Pavie Decesse style combines opulent, rich, sensuous textures with minerality, freshness and concentration. Due to its lush style Pavie Decesse drinks well young, yet does develop additional complexity with time in the cellar. Wine quality has been consistently excellent under the ownership, since 1997, of Gerard and Chantal Perse.
Chateau Petit-Village
Vieux-Chateau-Certan
Chateau Trottevieille 1er grand cru classe (B)
Château Trotte Vielle 1er grand cru classe (B), St-Emilion The name literally translates to ‘trotting old lady’ and origin of this name somewhat contested. Some say it is a reference to an 18th-century lady who ‘trotted’ about the village in search of gossip while the winery says they can produce written evidence of the name some few hundred years before that. We can concern ourselves less with the origins of the name and more on what to expect from the wine. The Left Bank winery has been owned by the négociant house Borie-Manoux (who also own Château Batailley in Pauillac and Château Beau Site in St-Estèphe) since 1949. Located east of St-Émilion, the walled vineyard is planted to (almost) half and half 95% Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with the former slight edging in the number of vines. The balance of the vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon. Form the 10-hectare walled vineyard, the grapes are harvested by hand, fermented in concrete vats before the wine is wine is matured in majority new oak, French of course.
Chateau Troplong-Mondot 1er grand cru classe (B)
Chateau Clinet
Mount Mary Pinot Noir
Mount Mary Pinot Noir is extremely rare and hard to find. Don't miss any opportunity to buy this rare Pinot Noir from one of the Australia's premier cool climate producers. The Pinot Noir is supple and fresh with strong tannins which need more time to develop but will blossom into a magnicent example of the style.
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau
For this Grenache blend, grapes are hand-picked, with double sorting at the vine, followed by a third sorting at the winery. Gentle crushing and selective destemming, followed by 25-40 days' traditional fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel and wooden vats. Pneumatic pressing, then systematic malolactic fermentation. A classic red Châteauneuf-du-Pape by Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe, very fine and elegant. The best vintages will age for 25 years and more.
