Chateau Haut-Bailly Grand cru classe
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. From some of the oldest vines in the region, the 2016 has been lauded as one of the Chateaus best, with Neal Martin hailing it as perhaps the best that I have tasted in almost 20 years of tasting at this estate.
Wendouree Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark garnet in colour with pronounced dark fruits, mint and oak on the nose. Another classic from the winery that showcase the regions true character. Full bodied mouth-fill with similar quality from the nose, a hint of metallic aftertaste on the palate. Gracefully lengthy finish.
Krondorf The Honorary Cabernet Sauvignon
KRONDORF The Honorary Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley
Pierro Chardonnay
Margaret River is a world renowned Chardonnay producing region and Pierro can rightfully stake a claim as to why. Incredibly complex, it is a tangle of fine-boned acid, lees complexity, pristine fruit and the most detailed use of good quality oak. Extremely enjoyable now, but will benefit from short to medium term cellaring.
Caels Gate Handpicked Cabernet Sauvignon
On the palate, dark, rich berries with olive and mild pepper can be noted, accompanied with a balanced structure and supple tannins. Full-bodied with an aromatic display of clove, nutmeg, and smoky oak. Aromas of sweet redcurrants lovely rich palate, which has drying wood tannins and some lovely soft acid.
Hardys Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon
This brilliant wine is made in honour of Hardy's founding father, Thomas Hardy. He arrived in the Barossa in 1850 and since then, Hardy's have strived to produce wines of the highest quality. This represents the pinnacle of their winemaking and viticulture. a truly spectacular wine of power and finesse.
Taylors The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon
This Cabernet Sauvignon gives pronounced flavours of chocolate, red berries and black cherry skins with echoes of light tobacco and bramble on the finish.
Chateau Roc de Cambes
Chateau Talbot 4me cru classe
Classified as one of ten 4me crus in 1855, Chateau Talbot, in the Saint-Julien appellation, has a distinguished history. Throughout the years, it has been owned by the Governor of Aquitane, the Earl of Shrewsbury and the Marquis of Aux before being acquired by the Cordier family, the fourth generation of which are still in ownership today. Their 2016 Grand Cru is a wine of exceptional personality and charisma, already impressing critics with its silky sweetness and subtle edge. Balanced, crisp, and full of complexity, it is loaded with ageing potential, promising to become something even more prodigious just a few short years from now.
Chateau Lynch-Bages 5me cru classe
Lynch-Bages is an iconic fifth growth of Pauillac and has the distinction of having produced the only wine that has ever been sent into space. Established in the early 1700s, the wine was labelled Chateau Jurine Bages at the time of the 1855 classification, later renamed in recognition of earlier owners the Lynch family. Jean-Charles Cazes purchased the property in the 1930s, later passing the management of the estate to his grandson Jean-Michel Cazes who modernised the winery and was a prolific spruiker of not just his own wines, but those of all Bordeaux throughout the 70s and beyond. Now managed by the next generation, (another Jean-Charles) Lynch-Bages continues to produce Cabernet Sauvignon-led wines of great concentration, offering ripe cassis and enviable cellaring potential.