The Torbreck Les Amis Grenache is aged for 18 months in new oak and is a remarkably fragrant wine that shows abundant aromas of spice, cherry and wild raspberry. Textured and plush on the palate, it evolves into layers of blackberry and red currants with firm, ripe tannins. David Powell continues to lead this formidable Barossa wine estate to truly remarkable heights.

Rock Angel is made from grapes primarily from the Vineyards of Chateau d’Esclans in addition to the most choice Vineyards in the vicinity of the Esclans Valley and nearby in the Cotes de Provence region. Harvesting is conducted in the morning for Estate cultivated grapes and during the night time for sourced grapes. Rich and racy on the palate. The use of partial oak aging adds a creamy feel and texture to this wine, and the flinty minerality embues it with another layer of complexity. Delicate red berry aromas with mineral notes, along with floral hints and a subtle spice. Powerful and elegant. Firm acidity with a long and silky finish.

Domaine Saint-Damien is run by Joel and Amie Saurel whose family has been tending vineyards for four generations, dating back to 1821. Until relatively recently they sold all of their grapes to negociants. In 1998 they brought on consulting winemaker Philippe Cambie and haven’t looked back. Of the estates 42 acres of vineyards, 30 acres are in Gigondas with vines that have an average age of 50 years. A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Mourvedre matured in large old foudres for a period of 12 months. Deep black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Heady black raspberry, liquorice and black cherry aromas fill the nostrils with scorched earth, herb du Provence, subtle dried meat and pepper notes also chiming in. Rich, concentrated black cherry, black raspberry and liquorice fruits overlay, scorched earth, peppered dried meat characters and spicy dried herbs. Ripe muscular tannins provide robust structure. Excellent power with a long succulent spicy pepper infused aftertaste that carries a chewy feel. Drink over the next 6-8 years. Alc. 15%

Domaine Pierre Usseglio et Fils is located in the village of Châteauneuf du Pape, has built a solid reputation over the years as producing rich, ripe red wines, so it's interesting to see that Thierry Usseglio and his son, Gregory, are experimenting with the use of whole bunches and an entirely new wine style that combines a large proportion of white grapes and use of amphorae. 80% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault, hand harvested from Les Esqueirrons, La Bigote, Maucoil, Les Serres, Grand-Pierre, Valori, La Crau and Guigasse. 60-70% destemmed with a 3 week traditional fermentation before being aged in a mix of concrete vat and various sized barrels for 12 months.

Brave Souls is the creation of young winemaker Julia Weirich, in collaboration with Simon Cowham and Corey Ryan of Sons of Eden. German in heritage but gypsy at heart, she has worked all over the world, honing her skills in wineries including Bass Phillip in Australia, Yealands in New Zealand, Le Grappin in Burgundy and Mulderbosch in South Africa. Upon her return to Australia, Julia set upon a plan to make wine for herself. Having known her for some time, Simon & Corey, the well-known dynamic team behind Sons of Eden, stepped in to help Julia realise this great adventure in the Barossa Valley. The name, Brave Souls, is inspired by the story of the famous Admella shipwreck of 1859 and spotlights the remarkable accounts of those characters who risked their lives to help the survivors. Iconic Australian artist Bruce Goold generously agreed to visualise the tales of these Brave Souls for the project’s labels. The Grenache is sourced from two, 90+ year-old vineyards in the Barossa Valley. Both are positioned in the Southern Barossa Valley between Lyndoch and Rowland Flat in the foothills of the Barossa Ranges. Ideally positioned in full sunlight during the day and benefiting from cooling gully winds in the late afternoon, the vineyards consistently produce exceptional fruit, with the 2022 vintage classed as outstanding. The Grenache was handpicked and predominantly destemmed, with 15% of whole bunch contribution. After a brief cold-soak period, the fruit was allowed to warm naturally to start fermentation. Hand plunged daily, helped to manage the temperature exchange and the gentle extraction of the tannins . After 20-days on skins the fermenters were pressed to large seasoned oak barrels for a 12-month maturation. Post maturation the wine was racked to blend, naturally clarified and then bottled. Bright ruby in colour, with a vibrant bouquet of mixed wild berries, red-liquorice spice and a hint of confectionary. The palate displays a fresh vibrancy and richness with seamless supporting tannins, and finishes with excellent balance and length.

This Domaine Paul Jaboulet Côtes du Rhône takes its name from the 45th North parallel which runs two kilometres from the cellars of Maison Paul Jaboulet. Their wine has had this name since the beginning of the 1950s. Elegant and aromatic Grenache blend, with red fruits blended with spices. Well-structured on rounded tannins, with a final spicy note.

The wines hallmark is its freshness due to no oak ageing and as the name describes it is a wine best drunk in its youth, poured by the glass at your favourite restaurant.

Chateau d’Esclans is situated in the heart of Provence, northeast of St. Tropez. With his acquisition of the Château in 2006, Sacha Lichine’s vision was to create the greatest rosés in the world, igniting the “Rosé Renaissance”. Château d’Esclans is home to Whispering Angel which is made from grapes sourced from amongst the most choice Vineyards in the vicinity of the Esclans Valley and nearby in the Cotes de Provence region. Harvesting is only conducted during at night time to avoid the heat of the day & to keep the crop of grapes fresh. Upon arriving in the Cellars, grapes are sorted for both health and quality ensuring that the selected grapes are assessed accurately in terms of overall quality. The harvest takes place each September, where grapes, at their ripest, are selected, picked and carefully placed in small crates, chosen in order to avoid too many grapes at the top crushing grapes at the bottom. Once the grapes arrive to the cellars all grapes which go into vinification are de-stemmed and resemble each of the physical characteristics dictated by the wine maker including shape, size, colour and condition. This is verified by an optical eye camera which is programmed to detect whether grapes correspond to the established criteria. The grapes are then sent through a soft crush mechanism which punctures them in order for the juice inside to flow followed by their entering a heat exchange system which reduces their temperature from what can be as high as 29 degrees celsius down to 7-8 degrees. Temperature reduction ensures that freshness and vivacity are locked in which is key to ensure consistent temperature control making the grapes ready for closed circuit (nitrogen) pressing ensues which produces 3 grades of what is primarily free run juice. Nitrogen pressing ensures no oxidation is taking place during the pressing process known as an accumulation of details that is carefully planned and monitored. Depending on which grade of juice the press produces, the wine makers determine which will be used to make barrel fermented (aged) wine or stainless steel fermented wine. The different grades of juice differ in terms of skin contact which pertains exclusively to the first press while the next two have no skin contact and increase in intensity from one to the next. The overall affect is a clear, clean tannin free juice which gives the wines an agreeable characteristic and taste profile while ensuring that the colour is quite pale. As the individual juices from corresponding Barrels and Vats are selected and placed into half bottles, the technical team will taste through these unique juices and they will start to form opinions for which wines they should be used to make the new vintage. The information which comes from this step in the process is noted for referential purposes related to the next step, the assemblage. The last step is the assemblage or blending for Chateau d’Esclans and Caves d’Esclans wines. While there is little variation vintage to vintage, percentage of different grape varieties that will make up the ultimate blend will differ with each new vintage, however the taste profile remains the same. Made from Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle (Vermentino) grapes, its pale colour is pleasing to the eye and draws one in. The rewarding taste profile is full and lush while being bone dry with a smooth finish. A blend of the best free run juices and press juices, fermented and aged in stainless steel with temperature control. A beautifully pale pink, which is pleasing to the eye and draws one in. Flavours of fresh red berry fruit characteristics with floral notes and a ripe and fleshy feel on the palate. This popular rosé wine has great concentration, a smooth and round finish and no astringent aftertaste.