Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan
An upswing in quality over the past decade or so, has resurrected Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte's position amongst Bordeaux Chateau. New ownership breathed life into exceptionally positioned vineyards, now farmed with less chemicals, with a more sympatico approach in winery. Famed winemaking consultant Michel Rolland is an additional feather in Smith-Haut-Lafitte's cap, enhancing the wines concentration, power and depth, while maintaining a finesse. Though full-bodied, the wine from 2010 will be approachable a little earlier than most other fine Bordeaux, with more moderate tannin - that being said, it's life will stretch several decades too.
Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz
The single-vineyard Magill Estate Shiraz is intrinsically linked to Penfolds beginnings. Sourced from the original Magill vineyard on the edge of Adelaide s eastern suburbs. A beautiful bouquet of chocolate mousse, custard and blackberry give complexity to the savory notes of corned beef and olive. This 2013 vintage is medium to full-bodied palate, flavours akin to white sultana cake, dates and a touch of freshly tanned suede. A hint of French oak on the finish.
Rockford Black Sparkling Shiraz - Disgorged
Barossa Valley legends, Rockford, tend their hand here to producing one of the world's unique wine styles, a sparkling Shiraz. Inspired by a sparkling Burgundy Rocky O'Callaghan found in his father's cellar at Seppelt when he was a child and when working with Colin Preece in Rutherglen, the man who responsible for the grand style. Rockford take this truly Australian wine to a new height with the 2011 discorged Black Shiraz that will live for quite sometime in your cellar and will reward those in spades who have the patience.
Penfolds Bin 389
The Bin 389 style evolved as a result of experiments, by Max Schubert, in the 1950s to develop a highly individual wine using a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz with compatible oak treatment. Bin 389 combines the elegance of Cabernet Sauvignon with the richness of Shiraz and demonstrates the traditional Penfolds' trademark - balance between fruit and oak, giving the wine character and longevity.
Guigal Hermitage
One of the powerhouses of the Rhône and a name synonymous with beautifully crafted wines from some of the regions finest vineyard sites. Deep ruby red in colour with violet tinges. Spices, red berries and delicate oak aromas. A powerful and tannic Shiraz. Aromas of blackcurrant buds and vanilla, liquorice and spicy finish. A racy and seductive wine by Guigal, perfect for putting down.
Dalwhinnie Eagle Shiraz
David and Jenny Jones are making wine with tremendous depth of fruit flavour, reflecting the relatively low-yielding but very well- maintained vineyards in The Pyrenees. Their flagship Dalwhinnie Eagle Shiraz is a perfect example of this. Pristine and fresh with more of everything providing plenty of stuffing, redcurrant, blackberry and sage characters.
Pio Cesare Ornato Barolo
An utterly transcendent and beautiful wine that defines Barolo, yet it comes without the prima-donna price tag. Tar, roasted chestnut, roses along with subtle oak and acidity structure and firm tannins on the palate. Pio Cesare had done a great job in this Ornato Barolo!
Taylors The Pioneer Shiraz
This wine is generous and rounded at first with juicy, deep berry compote fruits then yielding to a tightly woven frame of firm yet generous tannins. There are alluring, coconutty oak and fine dark chocolate characters, with a deep, soft centre of ripe berry fruits. Elegant acids and light, long tannins carry the palate to deliver a lingering finish.
Isole E Olena Cepparello IGT
In the 1950s, the father of current winemaker Paolo di Marchi purchased the adjoining hamlets of Isole and Olena and their estates in the Tuscan commune of Barberino Val d'Elsa. The concept and style of Cepparello was developed by Paolo De Marchi over a period beginning in the mid 1970's. This Sangiovese wine is named after a small stream, Borro Cepparello, originating in the highest point of the vineyards on the Isole e Olena estate.
Bindi Block 5 Pinot Noir
Bindi's Block 5 vineyard is a prized piece of vineyard real estate. Nestled on a north facing, quartz riddled site in Macedon in Victoria, Block 5 is only one half of one hectare in size. This site produces a Pinot Noir that walks the fine line between extreme power and refine elegance with expert ease. Upon release the Block 5 shows more tannin and fruit weight than the fragrant Original vineyard and requires a little more ageing before truly hitting is inevitable and esteemed heights.