Cape Mentelle Shiraz
Margaret River is an under appreciated region for Australian Shiraz, and it's hard to see why with Cape Mentelle's Shiraz showing a vibrant core of blueberry, mulberry and hints of raspberry. It is well balanced with cocoa and savoury oak. The palate yet, is fine, elegant and focussed, finishing with chalky and structural tannins.
Stefano Lubiana Pinot Noir
A great example of Tasmanian Pinot Noir, there is an exciting nose bursting with cherries. The palate is medium bodied and elegant, just as it should be.
Illuminati Pieluni Riserva
With a home on the central east coast of Italy, the Abruzzo region is home to the Montepulciano grape (not to be confused with the region of Montepulciano in Tuscany!). It is here that the variety really thrives and Illuminati's Pieluni Riserva shows wonderful deep, brooding and intense aromas and flavours of ripe plums, tobacco and blackcurrant. Delectable chocolate tannins round out a truly decadent wine.
Henschke Tappa Pass Shiraz
Henschke have in recent years begun to identify and single out great quality parcels of Shiraz fruit that deserves to be bottled seperately and released as part of their Vineyard Selection. The Tappa Pass Shiraz is sourced from old low yielding Barossa vineyards that shows amazing depth and concentration. Rich, lush and intense it will develop further complexity with bottle age.
Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz
Torbreck's Woodcutter's Shiraz is produced from hand-tended low-yielding vines. Bold and hearty it shows ripe sweet fruit flavours with supple tannins. Has quickly become a firm favourite of all the full-bodied Barossa red wine lovers out there.
Wills Domain Cuvée d' Élevage Shiraz
Dense aromas of plum pudding, dried apricots and eastern spice introduce a voluptuous palate, boasting silky tannin, delicate hints of fresh summer berries and earthier tones of toasted oak and freshly cracked allspice. The wine has a clean, persistent acid line, with lingering red berries, white pepper and vanilla pod. Ray Jordans Best Shiraz in his 2016 Wine guide.
Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Voyager Estate has quickly earned itself a seat at the head of the table in Australia when it comes to elegant, and classic Cabernet. Appealing aromas of ripe blackcurrant chocolate and that distinctive Margaret River forest floor character. The palate is powerful yet balanced with concentrated red berry fruits. The Voyager Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is a magnificent wine to lay down for a decade or more and will repay the patient in spades.
Woodlands Margaret Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Woodlands were one of the 'first wave' of wineries to set up in the Margaret River in the early 1970s and today that heritage is in the capable hands of Andrew and Stuart Watson, sons of the pioneering David. The Margaret Cabernet Merlot displays aromas of rosemary, leather and spice winding through blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. The palate is a reflection of the nose, and is bolstered by eucalypt, bay leaf and cranberry flavours.
Wills Domain Cuvee d' Elevage Cabernet
The 2014 Cuvee d'Elevage Cabernet is an outstanding expression of a northern Margaret River Cabernet. Only the best fruit parcels combined with finest French oak lead to a perfumed bouquet of Cassis, ripe berries and cedar. The complex palate shows ripe and silky tannins, pure fruit intensity with red berries and cassis. Its finely structured with long lasting finish of cigar box and vanilla. Drink now or until 2028.
Atticus Grande Reserve Chardonnay
As ever a distinguished wine, with a particular texture engendered by its citrussy acidity: the heavy lifting is provided by the immaculate white peach and pink grapefruit of a palate that is intense yet delicate, delicacy stemming from the way the wine flows through the mouthfeel and long finish.