Nick Spencer Gundagai Light Dry Red
Pinot Noir 60%, Sangiovese 28%, Shiraz 12% All the individual varieties were fermented separately in small 2 tonne parcels. The fruit was 100% destemmed and pressed after 18 days on skins. The Pinot Noir and Sangiovese were blended together immediately after pressing and the Shiraz shortly after to ensure a longer period of time for the varieties to integrate. Nick Spencer Wines is a small Canberra based wine company dedicated to producing exceptional, hand crafted wines that honour their local landscape. Producing stunning, award winning wines for nearly two decades, Nick's passion and remarkable talent for considered, quality wines is evident in every bottle. Awarded a degree in oenology at the University of Adelaide in 2000, Nick has worked for notable producers across the industry including Rosemount, Coldstream Hills, Madew Wines, Tertini Wines, and most recently, proudly lead the team at Eden Road for almost a decade. Nick has received extensive industry recognition, winning the 2009 Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy, the National Wineshow Trophy for Best Shiraz in 2011; as a Len Evans tutorial scholar in 2011, as a finalist in the Young Gun of Wine Award in 2011 and a finalist in the Gourmet Traveler Winemaker of the Year in 2014. Nick made wine in Khakheti in Georgia for several years, has toured extensively through France, New Zealand and Californian wine regions and is a regular judge at many regional and national wine shows including in Sydney and Queensland. Nick lives in Canberra with his wife Sarah and their two young children.
Carpineto Spolverino
Carpineto Spolverino (Feather Duster) is an exciting Sangiovese blend from Chianti that pokes a little fun at the traditional Italian wine laws which prohibit a wine being labelled 'Chianti Classico' being bottled under screw-cap. As we love our wines to be fresh and vibrant in Australia, this brilliant (and affordable!) Chianti, closed with a Stelvin Lux, has enticing red cherry aromas blended with a touch of tobacco leaf and spice. Wonderfully medium-bodied, the palate is rich and generous, although supported by that typical Tuscan structure of zippy acid and soft, powdery tannin. Saluté!
The Waxed Bat
Sun, clear air, cool elevated vineyards and great winemaking skills give Argentina all the ingredients for world class wines. Joanna Simon says: "As a wine country, Argentina has everything going for it" (The Sunday Times). The Waxed Bat is a triumphant creation from our good friend Opi Sadler, winner of two international Trophies to date, and winemaker at Andean Vineyards. The wine's name was inspired by memories of his grandfather's cellar - wine bottles sealed with heavy red wax and an occasional bat fluttering in the lamp light. Spicy, liquorice scented Shiraz, cassis laden Cabernet and dense Malbec create power and complexity. Smooth enough to drink on its own and terrific with spare ribs, steak or kebabs. Decant an hour in advance.
Thorn Clarke Shotfire Barossa Quartage
The 2015 Shotfire Quartage is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot. These are the classic grapes of France’s Bordeaux region, but this is definitely a Barossa wine – there’s no mistaking those intense, ripe fruit flavours. The fruit comes from three of Thorn Clarke's prime Barossa vineyards: St Kitts in the northern part of the Barossa, Kabininge on the Barossa floor near Tanunda, and Milton Park in the Barossa’s elevated Eden Valley. It's rich and full-flavoured, a lavish melange of ripe red and black fruits, delicious spice and creamy, toasty oak on a long, luscious finish.
The Waxed Bat Reserve
"Big and gold, lots of chocolaty plum fruit, cassis, tobacco, liquorice. An extremely polished effort" (Decanter World Wine Awards). The legendary Opi Sadler has triumphed again! His Waxed Bat Reserve edition had taken Gold and Platinum medals, then Best in Show Trophy at the highly prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards. That was beating 17,000 other wines from around the world. Perhaps it should be of no surprise when we know it has so much intense ripe black fruit and creamy oak. It clearly shows that Malbec and Cabernet from Argentina's high altitude Mendoza region is a match made in heaven. Even better when the wines are aged in barrel, too. It's a sumptuous mouthfilling red, smooth enough to drink solo but at its very best with garlic studded roast lamb, a juicy steak or a warming casserole. Decant early if you can.
RedHeads R'dotto Royale
RedHeads is an exclusive winemaking studio home to dynamic winemakers . Here, they’re able to craft their own wines their own way – where the only bottom line is top quality in the glass! This gorgeous, rich red is named after Venice's 18th century gambling house, R'dotto. It's RedHeads' biggest gamble to date! Five Italian stars grown by top growers combine in this seductive, velvety wine that will win you over, hands down.
RedHeads The Red Sedan Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz
A South Australian blend of spicy Shiraz and fruity Cabernet that pays homage to a much-loved classic car. A consistent source of driving (and now drinking) pleasure.
Pikes Wilfred's Block Clare Valley Cabernet Shiraz
The Pike brothers established Pikes winery in the Polish Hill sub-region of the Clare Valley in 1984, renovating an old stone shearing shed to house their winery and cellar door. Neil is the veteran winemaker (he’s done 38 vintages in Clare); Andrew the seasoned viticulturist (he spent 22 years working for big names like Wynn’s Coonawarra and Southcorp before establishing Pikes). Together they turn out formidable wines that earn plenty of show medals and critical acclaim. Their richly textured 2017 'Wilfred's Block' really is magnificent. A definitive Australian blend of inky, slatey Cabernet and sumptuous, spicy Shiraz, it’s a contemplative wine – the layers of flavour will reveal themselves slowly – and perfect for winter sipping. It will cellar well until 2032, but is still drinking beautifully now. Decant, pour into big glasses, and savour with good food and good friends.
La Cantera Reserva
Rex Mundi Cuvée Cathare
Deep, dark and dangerously easily to drink, Rex Mundi Special Edition is a beguiling black beauty. It was created by Parker rated winemaker Hervé Sabardeil, whose lavish elixirs have been enchanting us for over a decade. It is a Carignan-Grenache blend made from grapes taken from the very oldest vines – some over 100 years in age – grown on the finest slate soils of Maury in the Roussillon. As you might imagine yields are minute, which accounts for the depth of colour and intensity of flavour. Hervé aged half the wine in oak cask for six months to lend a luxurious layer of complexity. This is a powerful red, beautifully balanced and terrifically long with herbal spice nuances. Slips down nicely on its own, or with rich game pie.