A fine claret that most years wins Gold – certainly for a vintage as good as the ripe 2019. Vieux Château Guibeau was the first property Tony Laithwaite ever bought from, so it has a special place in his heart. The wine was the 1966, purchased from the estate’s founder, Henri Bourlon, and we’ve bought over 50 vintages since. In those early days, Henri (well ahead of his time) was the first to show Tony that a wine’s quality was as much to do with the passion and skill of the winemaker as the quality of the soil. Tony has remained great friends with the family and today buys wine from Henri’s granddaughter Brigitte. Old vines, meticulous winemaking, this ageworthy claret makes a fine partner to beef. Decant a few hours in advance or cellar.

"A super example of Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s from Clarendon, an area consistently producing some of the finest red wines in the region. This has everything – poise, power, elegance and style – all delivered with a smooth deft touch. 95pts"(Wine Pilot). It has a dash of Shiraz, which adds to the complexity and spends a full 24 months in oak lending it "vanillin oak, cake spice and cigar characters on the nose" and making it "Flavoursome and highly enjoyable" (Sam Kim, Wine Orbit).

A single vineyard Coonawarra treat with FIVE Golds including a rare Great Gold, a Double, and multiple scores of 94-97 pts. "This is a compelling rendition, showing crème de cassis, Black Doris plum, violet and cigar box aromas on the nose, leading to a sumptuous palate that's both powerful and sophisticated. Multi-layered, immensely complex and properly structured with a great line and length" (Sam Kim, Wine Orbit). Stuart Knox in The Real Review remarks how its "big and rich lift of cassis, cola, and dark chocolate jumps from the glass. A big and dense wine, lashings of black fruit, layered with vanilla and cola spices".

"The world simply cannot have too many small, quality wine producers in the Barossa Valley and Pontifex is another to fit the bill" (Ken Gargett, Winepilot). Pontifex is owned and run by Sam and Helen Clarke. Sam's parents are two of the founders of another great Barossa winery called Thorn-Clarke. Indeed, Pontifex and Thorn-Clarke share a winemaker in the talented Peter Kelly. With their stunning 93pt GSM, youthful primary fruit of dark cherry, plum, raspberry with brambly spice notes filling out the expressive nose. A mid-weight palate is bright with generous rich fruits of dark cherry, plum and raspberry with dry dusty tannins on the finish. Hints of French oak cedar and spice round out the palate. "60/30/10% grenache/shiraz/mourvèdre, from Krondorf, Lyndoch and Ebenezer vineyards. Some whole bunches in shiraz; matured 20 months in seasoned French oak barrels. Sweet and sour. Tart berry fruits and green herbs contrast sweet fruit and sour acidity. Fine, supple tannins" (Tyson Stelzer, Halliday Wine Companion).