Teusner Righteous FG Shiraz
Righteous to be called a true Barossa Shiraz; Teusner FG Shiraz is bold, packed with intense black fruits, mocha and sweet spices on the nose. Great balance in oak use, giving the wine structured tannins and extra vanilla oak flavour as the back bone on the palate. Hand picked grapes from one of the oldest vines in Barossa. This is certainly one of those wines that could impress!
Château l'Eglise-Clinet Pomerol
Château l'Eglise-Clinet is a much sought after Domaine within the right bank district of Bordeaux and can be hard to come by. A majority blend of Merlot to Cabernet delivers a wine of subtlety and plushness and due to the properties long planted vines, the ageability is second to none in the region. After not pulling out vines after the 1956 frost, this Château can boast some of the oldest vine material in Pomerol and that evidence can be found in the 2003 bottle of l'Eglise-Clinet which is still ageing gracefully in the bottle even after a difficult vintage due to heat.
Chateau Figeac 1er grand cru classe
While a fair share of Bordeaux vineyards can claim significant historical pedigree, few would be able to touch Chateau Figeac - it is one of a select few St Emilion vineyards to have been continuously occupied for over 2,000 years! The estate dates back to the second century when even the ancient Romans who occupied the area were aware of its outstanding terroir. One figure dominates the Chateaus modern era, and that is Thierry Manoncourt who ran the property from 1947 until his death in 2010, just shy of his 93rd birthday. Under his leadership, the Chateau was the first major Right Bank estate to embrace modern techniques such as temperature controlled, stainless steel vats. The traditional-styled Bordeaux has, understandably, gone through a wide range of iterations in its 2,000-plus year history - yet it still manages to surprise and delight. The 2016 earned rave reviews from critics, with Jancis Robinson hailing it as a wine of which ...the Manoncourt family should be very proud.
Vieux-Château-Certan Pomerol
The 2012 Cos dEstournel is a classic expression of St.-Estèphe, with notes of graphite, crushed rock, blackberry, blackcurrant fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, structured, but well-integrated tannins and a long finish of 35 seconds or more. This is a beauty and an undeniable top success in the Médoc for 2012. Give it 4-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades or more. The final blend, which achieved 13.8% alcohol, is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot - Rober Parker Jr
Les Pensees de Lafleur, Second wine of Chateau Lafleur
LES PENSEES DE LAFLEUR, Second wine of Chateau Lafleur, Pomerol
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz (6 )
Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz is dubbed the 'Baby Grange' for good reason, in part because components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. The near perfect conditions of 2022 allowed even flowering and fruit-set, leading to uniform veraison for robust grape flavours, tannins, and colour. The wine boasts volumes of Cabernet character, showcasing cool fruits that are well lifted and vibrant. The 2022 is comprised of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Shiraz and is aged for 12 months in American oak hogsheads 36% of which was new. This bottle comes gift boxed. Bin 389 was first made in 1960 by the legendary Max Schubert and helped forge Penfolds reputation with red wine drinkers by combining the structure of cabernet sauvignon with the richness of shiraz. The judicious balance of fruit and oak in this wine exemplifies the generous mid-palate that Penfolds is known for. The use of high-quality fruit and the winery's attention to detail in the winemaking process have resulted in a wine that is both rich and complex. Bin 389 is a testament to Penfolds' commitment to creating wines that are both elegant and bold. Maker: Penfolds has been a pioneer in the world of winemaking since its establishment in 1844 by Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold. The company's success has been driven by a lineage of visionary winemakers who have pushed the development of the company to extraordinary, bold new heights. Mary Penfold's reign at the helm of Penfolds saw years of determination and endeavour, experimenting with new methods in wine production. In 1948, Max Schubert became the company's first Chief Winemaker and he propelled Penfolds onto the global stage with his experimentation of long-lasting wines - the creation of Penfolds Grange in the 1950s. Soon, the medals began flowing, and Grange quickly became one of the most revered wines around the world. In 2012, Penfolds released its most innovative project to date - 12 handcrafted ampoules of the rare 2004 Kalimna Block Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, Penfolds continues to hold dear the philosophies and legends that have driven the company's success since its establishment in 1844. Vineyards: In the 2022 season, McLaren Vale temperatures rarely soared above 35°C – significantly lower than in the previous vintage. This coolness contributed to a delayed but unhurried harvest, allowing Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon fruit to be picked at an ideal time for quality. Coonawarra experienced its own cold spells with nine days dipping below 2°C during spring. The lowest point was recorded early in September at -0.3°C. Frost fans played a critical role in protecting the vines from damage. Warmer weather returning late November to December provided perfect conditions for flowering and fruit-set, leading to uniform veraison with robust grape flavours, tannins, and colour. The Barossa Valley told a story of resilience under cool conditions with spring storms bringing winds and heavy rains including hail; nevertheless, yields exceeded early predictions. A dry but cool December extended the fruit-set period; however, this did not hinder sugar accumulation or phenolic maturity thanks to healthy canopies that retained acid well into the growing season. Nose - Bay Leaf, Blackcurrant, Ripe Plums Bay, blackcurrant, vanilla, licorice and sweet, plump plums create a deep, rich impression. Palate - Chocolaty, Plums, Licorice Volumes of Cabernet character, showcasing lifted and vibrant cool fruits. Rustic sourdough notes complement the lush plum fruits, blackberry, mulberry and distinctly tart morello cherries. Finish - Coffee Grounds, Cocoa, Crushed Herbs On the finish a hint of coffee grounds, cocoa brings a lifted spark with an added hint of crushed herbs 2022 Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz lives up to its reputation as the second wine to Grange. The wine is superbly refined, generous and chocolaty and will cellar for years to come. In may respects it is the quintessential Penfolds wine offering drinkers the best of craftsmanship, multi-regional sourcing and style. - Andrew Caillard MW, 98 Points. We have seen Bin 389 shine brightly in fab years, but it is in years like 2022 when the weather Gods run amok and are unpredictable, that Bin 389 is tested. It comes through, as ever, comfortably, assuredly, warmly, like settling back into an old comfy leather chair. Evocative aromas of earth, old leather, woodsy spices galore, black fruits and signature American oak pencil shavings, cigar box, the oak being a little more evident than usual. Mellow, full flavoured, Bin 389 ’22 returns to that kind of down-home or unpretentious character that we love; it has nothing to prove, everything to gain as it impresses with the essence of South Australian Cabernet (51%) and Shiraz (49%) from five regions lead by McLaren Vale, Coonawarra and the Barossa Valley. Defined by a density of black fruits, liquorice, spice, underlined by fine, confident oak tannins and supported by bright acidity. A kiss of coffee grounds, cocoa brings a lifted spark with an added hint of crushed herbs. Another strong Bin 389, classic in definition and execution. - Jeni Port, Wine Pilot, 95 Points. This is a commanding Bin 389. It’s svelte and smooth but the penetration of the finish, meshed with tannin as it is, is right up there. Bay, blackcurrant, vanilla, licorice and sweet, plump plums create a deep, rich impression, though it all comes with sinew and it all comes with bone. It’s a familiar flavour profile but this 2022 release is really well formed, and executed. There’s flavour, there’s flex, there’s class. - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, 95 Points.
Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore
Bolgheri Superiore is the Italian winery, Ornellaia's flagship wine which gives rich fruit on the nose and crispy oak. The palate is lively and powerful which full, concentrated fruit flavours and impressive silky, smooth tannins leading to an elegant yet spicy, long finish.
Château Montrose
France's Bordeaux, is the spiritual home of the Cabernet family of grapes, which extends beyond Sauvignon and Franc to Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. If you love Margaret River Cabernet blends, or indeed the Merlot dominant reds of Hawkes Bay, NZ, then you must look at the wines upon which many of them have been modelled. This wine is Cabernet and Merlot, deep and rich, cassis and earthy cedar, structure and uncommon length - all hallmarks of Grand Cru Bordeaux.