Château Lafleur is a tiny 4.5-hectare Pomerol property located opposite Pétrus and producing wines of comparable quality. It is owned and run by Sylvie and Jacques Guinadeau. While the majority of great Bordeaux châteaux have changed hands over the past several generations, Château Lafleur remains in the same family hands to this day. Its vineyards are situated on the gravel-rich Pomerol plateau and adjoin those of La Fleur-Pétrus. The soils here are particularly deep and are enriched by deposits of potassium and iron. Only natural fertilisers are used and yields are painfully low, even by Pomerol standards. Lafleur's wine is typically a blend of Merlot (50%) and Cabernet Franc (50%). It is aged in small oak barrels (50% new) for 18 months. Wines from Lafleur display a spectacularly intense perfume (partly attributable to the high percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend) and display layers and layers of concentrated, black fruits, minerals, tobacco spices and creamy liquorice on the palate. The best vintages can last for up to 50 years.
Cape Mentelle has a rich history of exceptional quality and consistency with Cabernet Sauvignon, from a pioneering producer in Margaret River in the early 1970s to a benchmark winery today. A full-bodied wine with intense blue and black berry preserves on entry, followed by tobacco, savoury and gamey layers, all framed by firm, ripe tannins creating a complex wine of length.
The Torbreck Descendant has a powerful nose of blackberry and tar complemented by floral lavender and a violet lift. Full-bodied and concentrated with ripe silky tannins and plenty of extract this wine has a great future ahead.
Grenache in all its glory. Red fruits proudly lead the charge: raspberries, cranberries and pomegranate. Fragrant coulis on a summer berry pudding. Ferric notes of steel wool and cordite allude to the iron-rich clay soil upon which the vines prosper in the Barossa Valley. Charcuterie aromas of Jamón ibérico and Mojama dry cured tuna notes add an interesting slightly saline nuance. Rubbed olive leaves, sumac spice and ginger peel aromas round out a very enticing nose. Disclaimer: Product may have a cork or screwcap closure
Josef Chromy Pinot Noir has a richness and wholeness that demands attention. Supple tannins with leather and secondary characters abound. A velvety Burgundian style Pinot Noir, with aromas of red fruits and sweet spice with a full rounded palate of rich dark cherry fruit and a balanced blend of toasty oak.
Bin 707 is a Cabernet Sauvignon reflection of Grange, intensely-flavoured fruit, completion of fermentation and maturation in new oak, expressing a Penfolds understanding of multi-vineyard, multi-region fruit sourcing. Bin 707 was first vintaged in 1964. The wine was not made from 1970 to 1975 when fruit was directed to other wines, nor in 1981, 1995, 2000, 2003 or 2011 (when fruit of the required style and quality was not available). Full bodied and with proven cellaring potential, Bin 707 retains a secure place among the ranks of Australias finest Cabernets.
One of the benchmarks of Barossa Shiraz, Peter Lehmann's Stonewell is a classic example of the rich concentrated old vine style. While bold on the palate, there is always an inherent complexity to the Stonewell that enables it to be compared with all of the great Australian wines produced today.