Torbreck The Forebear
Maker: Torbreck is a winery on a mission to become one of the world's great wine brands. Since 1994, they have remained committed to creating exceptional Rhone-style red and white wines that reflect the very best vineyards in Australia's famous Barossa region. Provenance is everything to them, and they believe that the Barossa is the most exciting place to make wine in the world. With a European sense of tradition, Torbreck pays tribute to the vineyards with minimal intervention, creating wines of richness, structure and length that age gracefully. The multi-generational growers, whose descendants arrived here nearly two centuries ago, are the backbone of Torbreck's winemaking aspirations. They work in partnership with the people of the Barossa who grow their fruit, always aiming to get the very best out of their vineyard sites. At Torbreck, they constantly seek to understand the difference between all of these special places in the Barossa and how this combination of soil, climate and farming experience is reflected in unique grape flavours. They are simply custodians, enhancing the innate expressiveness of the wines and enabling them to reveal over time their individual origins and personality. Torbreck is actually named after the forest near Inverness, Scotland where the winery's founder, David Powell worked as a lumberjack after completing university studies. Vineyard: The growing season was defined by a continuously warm to hot summer with no effective rainfall, wind and hail at flowering, and followed with three major frosts - resulting in an earlier and much smaller harvest than average. These tough conditions produced smaller clusters of intensely dark berries with thick fleshy skins contrasted against brown mature stalks. Whilst yields were down, once these vineyards were fermenting in our cellar the concentration of colour, tannin and aroma of the 2019 vintage was revealed. Wine style/Cuvee: Chief Winemaker, Ian Hongell, explains "we chose the name 'The Forebear' to honour the pioneering spirit of the Springbetts and other pioneering families and their role in establishing the Barossa as of the great winegrowing regions of the world. This wine is our tribute to those who came before us." The vines are from an ancient Heritage clone originally brought from Europe as cuttings and planted before the discovery of Phylloxera. These ancestor vines (125+ years old) are embedded in soils of sand over deep loam and red clay. The Forebear is crafted from the original 12 rows of ancient Shiraz vines planted by the Springbett family (1849) which represent an irreplaceable link to the early history of the Barossa as a viticultural treasure from the first generation of European settlers. They are Torbreck’s oldest collection of vines from any single plot. The cooler evening breezes that flow through the southern end of the Barossa produce an elegant style of Shiraz that is regarded for its distinctive aromatic, lifted floral notes and red fruit flavours, across a medium weight line intertwined with subtle rounded tannins. The core of red berry fruit and texture derived from these very old and gnarly vines produce an unmistakable degree of finesse and complexity that was calling out to bottled as a single site expression, and a reflection of place. Torbreck chief winemaker Ian Hongell and viticulturist Nigel Blieschke, who have driven this project since 2014, were firm in their belief that this vineyard had a rightful place in Torbreck’s pursuit of single-site wines of significance and pedigree. Shiraz comes from the Hillside Vineyard, planted c.1850. It undergoes 24 months in new French oak barriques (Troncais). Deep crimson with brilliant hue. A wine of poise and nobility from some of the world’s oldest living Shiraz vines. A complex nose of mostly red berry fruits such as red currant, red cherry and cassis fill the bouquet, complimented by savoury notes of wild thyme, garrigue, graphite, and sandalwood. The palate carries a wonderful textural mouthfeel with enveloping soft, round tannins and cleansing acidity that balance the wines modern Barossa elegance with the power of the harvest from extremely low yielding vines. A wine that pays homage to its forebears and their vision for grape growing and dry farming from the 19th century. Enjoy from 2026 and cellar to 2050+. Tasting: Aroma - Complex, Redcurrant, Ironstone Predominately red berry fruits, then cassis and savoury garrigue, wild thyme and sandalwood. Palate - Blood plum, Mulberry, Sumac Typical Barossan feel, ample but fresh. Baking spice, awash with dark fruits, a lick of aniseed, and forest accents. Finish - Chewy, Exotic Spices, Peppercorns Superb finish, long and with plenty of chewy tannin and flavour to sink your teeth into.
Anakota Helena Dakota Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Henschke Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon
Henschke's flagship Cabernet is named after the late Cyril Henschke who purchased the Eden Valley property in the 1960s. Stephen and Prue Henschke then established the vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines which produces this intensely perfumed Cabernet. Matured in 100% new French oak for 18 months, this exceptional wine shows blackcurrant and cedar characters balanced with superb fine grained tannin.
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou 2me cru classe
Taking its name from its uniquely rocky terroir (beau caillou translates as beautiful stones), and Bertrand Ducru who purchased the estate in 1795, what we know today as Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou as a wine producing estate, has history stretches back to the 13th century. Owned today by The Borie family (who have long-standing roots of their own in Bordeaux), the Chateau is, according to many, producing the best wines in their history at this very moment. The 2016 vintage has already been hailed as yet another monumental success for the winery with Antonio Galloni praising it as simply magnificent.
Abreu Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon
ABREU Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
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Henschke The Wheelwright Shiraz Collector's Edition Wooden Box 6-Pack
Product Description The Wheelwright Shiraz is one of the most expressive wines in Henschke’s portfolio, offering a perfect blend of bold flavours and refined structure. The 2021 vintage stands out with its dynamic balance of ripe fruit, rich spice, and elegant tannins. This wine showcases the depth of flavour that the Eden Valley terroir provides, with layers of blackberries, dark chocolate, and spice, all underpinned by a subtle smokiness from the oak. The Wheelwright Shiraz is a wine that combines power with sophistication, offering both immediate drinkability and the potential for further development. Its length and complexity make it an ideal choice for collectors seeking a wine that embodies both boldness and finesse. Maker: Henschke is one of Australia's most prestigious and historic wineries, with over 153 years and six generations of family ownership. Located in Keyneton, South Australia, within the renowned Eden Valley wine region, Henschke has built a legacy of crafting premium wines, including its iconic single-vineyard wines, Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone. Since 1862, the Henschke family has cultivated exceptional vineyards in the Eden Valley, Barossa Valley, and Adelaide Hills, with a focus on quality, sustainability, and innovation. Stephen and Prue Henschke, the fifth-generation winemaker and viticulturist team, have led the winery since 1979, restoring native vegetation and adopting organic and biodynamic vineyard practices. The sixth generation, led by Johann Henschke, continues to honour the traditions of the past while embracing modern winemaking techniques to ensure Henschke remains a leader in fine wine production. Henschke's commitment to sustainability and excellence has garnered numerous accolades, including the Wine Enthusiast's New World Winery of the Year (2021) and the Halliday Wine Companion's Winery of the Year. The winery has also been recognised with the Robert Parker Wine Advocate Green Emblem, highlighting its dedication to environmentally conscious practices. Philosophy Henschke’s philosophy is deeply rooted in the belief that great wines are made in the vineyard. The winery has embraced organic and biodynamic farming practices, ensuring the health of the vines and the land for future generations. By working with nature rather than against it, they produce wines that are not only reflective of the place but also allow the true expression of the fruit to come through. The family’s attention to detail, commitment to quality, and respect for the environment have resulted in a portfolio of wines that have gained worldwide recognition for their excellence. Tasting Notes: NOSE Spicy and Fruity Aromas of ripe blackberries, dark plums, and black pepper with undertones of vanilla and toasty oak, balanced by hints of earthy spice. PALATE Bold and Lush A full-bodied palate with rich flavours of dark fruits, dark chocolate, and a blend of spices. The tannins are firm and velvety, providing a smooth texture that supports the bold fruit profile. FINISH Lingering and Complex The finish is long and persistent, with dark fruit flavours and spice lingering, leaving a refined and smooth aftertaste. "This is ultimately a spicy, red-fruited expression...It is fresh and beautiful and slinky, in its way." - Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate - 95 Points “Such projection, finesse and immaculate balance. … The sleekest of tannins here, this is a wine which lingers with intent.” - Kent Gargett, Quill and Pad - 97 Points “… Smells briney and herbal with a top note of liquorice. Nicely married aromas. Tastes salty too with a firm, dry finish though the tannins are clearly ripe and well worked. … Despite its 14.5% alcohol, there's not a jot of alcoholic heat on the long finish, which is so clean and pure it's almost bracing.” - Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20
Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
A wine of elevated elegance, sourced from high-elevation vineyards and delivering rich flavours of black cherry, cassis, and dark chocolate with velvety tannins and a long finish. This iconic Napa Valley offering, with a history dating back to 1967, epitomizes the pinnacle of winemaking excellence, earning accolades and acclaim world wide. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged for 22 months in 100 percent new French oak.
Te Mata Estate Coleraine Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc
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Opus One Cabernet Blend
Opus One is the coming together of two of the world's supreme wine figures, Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. Opus One began its life in 1979 when Château Mouton Rothschild winemaker Lucien Sionneau and Robert Mondavi's son, Timothy made the partnership's first vintage. Their goal was to create a wine of unparalleled quality that reflected the traditions of both houses. The wine is French in style, but Californian in substance, Opus One is produced with the utmost attention to detail. The 2006 Opus One is a traditional Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. The wine shows saturated black fruit concentration with flecks of purple in the glass. The nose is one of dark chocolate, blackberry, smallgoods and rose petal. In the mouth, flavours of cassis and coffee with robust plum and cherry are only a small taste of how great this wine will become with careful cellaring.</p>