Nose: Toasted notes, revealing hints of white and citrus flowers upon aeration. Eye: Pale golden robe.Palate: Full-textured on the palate with a long finish.

Over 170 years of experience have assisted in the making of this creamy, berry rich Champagne. It's the work of 5th generation winemaker Julian Fourrier, whose father, Philippe, created this special cuvée in honour of his wife, Brigitte. Her maiden name was Delmotte. The grapes are 100% Pinot Noir taken from vineyards first planted by Philippe and Brigitte – that's romance for you. All the family's 18 hectares of vines lie within Champagne's little known, southerly region, La Côte des Bars. The wine for this fine fizz was gently fermented and aged three years on its lees (twice as long as legally required) to enhance the rich toasty notes of the fizz. Chill down and serve at your next celebration. Or don't wait for an excuse and enjoy!

The nose displays aromas of raspberry and herbs with an attractive earthiness. The palate shows red berries, pomegranate and some lovely forest floor characters. A fine tannin profile and bright natural acid lift provide great depth and structure to the plate. The beautiful acidity suggests this.

Bright, medium red. Exotic dark fruits, spice and flowers. Sweet grilled meats, ample flavours, tautly structural, good dimension, fine tannins. Located at Woori Yallock in the upper reaches of the Yarra Valley. Extraordinary north facing De Bortoli family owned vineyard. Planted in 1985, close vine spacing, lots of manual work in the vines, deep red basalt soils. Typically produces fine, aromatic and charming Pinot Noir.Hand picked and sorted to ensure perfect fruit reaches the fermenter. A combination of whole berry fermentation and whole bunches. Pressed after 16 days on skins. Matured on fine lees in new and used casks for 8 months. Gravity at all stages. Bottled in January, 2019. One of Australia's more dynamic family wine businesses, De Bortoli wines is now in it's third generation, having been first established by Vittorio and Giuseppina De Bortoli in 1928 with the business then driven by their son Deen De Bortoli and now third generation Darren De Bortoli alongside his sister Leanne and her husband, De Bortoli Chief Winemaker Steve Webber. De Bortoli wines has been historically based at Bilbul (near Griffith) in the NSW Riverina, but more recently they have expanded into the Yarra Valley (where Leanne and Steve Webber are based), the Hunter Valley and also into Victoria's King Valley. The emphasis in all of the vineyards has always been upon innovation, with De Bortoli credited with the creation of Australia's most famous dessert wine, the Noble One. The De Bortoli winemaking philosophy is that great wine begins in the vineyard. Their belief is that sustainable vineyard practices will deliver exceptional fruit quality to the winery as well as real environmental benefits. With a focus on careful site selection, vine maturity, high input viticulture and a move towards biological farming principles, De Bortoli Wines are also focusing more and more on single vineyard wines and the expression of specific terroir through their wine. In the winery, minimal (more...)

Spice, pepper, cloves and liquorice, are mixed with cherry, fruit of the forest, Bram berry compote and floral notes. A smooth and elegant entrance is followed by a silken soft texture building towards the back, where the tannins interact playfully with the acidity. This creates a linear and straight palate shape. More powerful fruit, such as plum and cassis carry a considerable weight. Each wine component contributes to this new personality. Elegance and grace from Pinot Noir, weight and liveliness from the Tempranillo, complemented by the seriousness and tenacity of the Syrah. In the Wairarapa in 1979 Dry River quickly established a reputation as one of the finest producers in the country producing Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Syrah and Pinot Noir. McCallum retired in 2011 and the winemaking duties have been taken over by Wilco Lam with Robet Willis and his team tending the vines. The vision of Neil McCallum is in good hands and Dry River continues to be one of New Zealand's most sought after wines.

An enticing wine that will awaken your senses from the very first encounter. Leather, boysenberry and sweet spices combine. The supple palate with its transparent flavours of red fruit and earthy textures leads to a finish that is both balanced and intriguing.