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Wise Eagle Bay Margaret River Shiraz 2006

Massena The Eleventh Hour 2007

Dan Standish and Jaysen Collins have produced Barossa shiraz (predominantly Greenock fruit) at its best…

Of previous vintages..... Wine Advocate: “The 2006 Shiraz “Eleventh Hour” comes from 60 to 125-year-old vines that were saved from the bulldozer at the “eleventh hour”. It spent 20 months in used French oak hogsheads. Crimson-colored, it offers an alluring aroma of vanilla, coconut, smoked meat, and wild blueberry. Medium to full-bodied, this ripe, tasty Shiraz is remarkably light on its feet. There is enough soft tannin to safely cellar this wine for 2-3 years and drink it through 2020.” 90-92 points .
Jay Millar, Parker’s right hand man International Wine Cellar: “Saturated red. Compelling bouquet of blueberry, cherry compote, violet and Asian spices. Sappy dark berry flavors are velvety and round, with peppery spice adding nerve. Gains sweetness and power with air, finishing with outstanding clarity and thrust. Deeply flavored but not heavy, this deftly combines richness with energy.” Josh Raynolds who works with Steve Tanzer -92 Pts.
RRP $40 - Clearance Special 1 cases remaining

Price: $32.99

$Bird in Hand \"Two in the Bush\" Shiraz 2007$

Special / Sale Price - Ravensworth Shiraz Viognier 2007

94 POINTS - 5 RED STAR RATING - James Halliday's 2011 Aust Wine Companion.

“A most attractive wine, with lifted red fruit contribution from the viognier component; the tannins are fine, and the oak perfectly balanced and integrated. All in all elegance. Retasted at Winewise '09 (from whence this note originates), top gold in its class. Rating 94.” James Halliday.

Winemaker, Bryan Martin has a day job working at Clonakilla as Tim Kirk’s right hand man. Ravensworth is his own label and I love this shiraz because it has it all!..juicy rich fruit, savoury depth and freshness…It is the continental climate of Murrumbateman ( hot days followed by cold nights and mornings) which means the shiraz ripens fully producing natural raspberry freshnesss with a savoury licorice, tarriness and spice. It is a bit like the wines from Cote Rotie in France…Top Gold in Winewise Wine show and Hallidays pick as shiraz of the show. They write: "“... A spicy, complex Canberra district shiraz with vibrant red fruits aromas and flavours. Everything about this wine reflects exceptional viticulture and winemaking. The oak and tannin management are exemplary. This wine will grow in bottle. GOLD”

A recent review from Gary Walsh of Winorama to back up my humble thoughts….
“Perfumed aromas of dark fruit, cherry, licorice, spice, jasmine and creamy vanilla oak. Initially plenty of apricot and florals but given time the flamboyant viogner influence retreats discreetly into the background. On the palate medium bodied with a mix of red and black fruits, spice, vanilla cream and some meaty savoury flavours. Beautiful smooth fine grained tannins. It feels lively and well balanced with a supple texture. Long spicy stonefruit finish. Lots of charm and complexity” 93/100 Can't go wrong with this!
RRP: $36.00

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A couple of reviews about their 06:

"Vigorous, juicy, quality wine, full of galloping flavour. It races through the mouth and sucks you back for more (I swear officer, it was the wine's fault). Lots of spice, lots of aniseed-like flavour, flashes of lavender and vanilla and racy, lacy tannins. A complete wine, and a lovely wine." 92/100 Campbell Mattinson The Big Red Wine Book

Price: $36.00
Price: $27.99

Torzi Matthews Frost Dodger Eden Valley Shiraz 2008

Special / Sale Price - Groom Barossa Shiraz 2006

Concentrated layers of flavour in this shiraz of rich dark fruits, plum, liquorice, spice: Great length and seamless texture of fine tannins, balanced American oak and velvet. All fruit sourced from their low yielding Kalimna vineyard
next door to Penfolds Grange mother source
vineyard. Decant this wine for a few hours or cellar for 5 or 10
years. This wine has it all -depth of fruit, intensity and balance.
Halliday 96/100. Limited stock. Every cellar needs a case of this fine stuff.

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Daryl Groom was the Penfolds winemaker for years and has spent the last decade as chief winemaker at Geyser peak in the Napa. His sister and brother-in-law David look after their vineyards in Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills and Kalimna in the Barossa. Daryl comes home regularly to make the wines. His wines are rich and elegant -he does not do jammy, tannic or oaky wines. Another Halliday 5 Stars! Intensity and balance is what his wines are about and they are the Best of the Barossa!

Price: $62.00
Price: $53.99

Radford Dale Shiraz 2005

Eden valley shiraz at it's best. 500 metres altitude gives cooler nights and mornings and produces shiraz with great aromatics and acidity with raspberry kick. One of my favourite red wines at the "Artisans of the Barossa" tasting. concentrated dark berry, raspberry, hints of mocha, aniseed, gentle use of savoury French oak. Only 600 cases of this handcrafted wine.
*Very limited stock*
RRP: $ 36.00

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Ben Radford, current winemaker at Rockford, has spent close to a decade making wine in South Africa, Burgundy and Canada. Ben and his wife Gill have the oldest riesling vineyard in beautiful Eden Valley planted in 1930. Ben & Gill are making spectacular wines in miniscule quantities...5 star rating from Halliday and listed as one of the 10 best new wineries. Their Riesling and shiraz are a must-a balance of intensity and delicacy. Do not miss out.

Price: $32.99

Juniper Estate Margaret River Shiraz 2003

$Clonakilla O\'Riada Shiraz 2007$

Radford Shiraz 2006

Eden valley shiraz at it's best. 500 metres altitude gives cooler nights and mornings and produces shiraz with great aromatics and acidity with raspberry kick. One of my favourite red wines at the "Artisans of the Barossa" tasting. Concentrated dark berry, raspberry, hints of mocha, aniseed, gentle use of savoury French oak. Still slightly closed but let it breathe and it will open up and it will reward!

Other reviews... The Canberra Times "Like drinking velvet and licorice with layers of bright red fruits, this is a superb modern Eden Valley shiraz that I found hard to resist sampling again and again. 5 stars"
Nick Stock from WBM rates it Top 100 August 09 "Distinctive Eden Valley spice and fragrance with enough power to place this at the front of the new-wave pack. Dark fruits and dark spices, some pepper and fragrant cedary oak all settling nicely into place; the palate moves to red fruits amid find tannins and fresh, bright acid crunch. Terrific structure and balance” 93 pts Halliday

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Ben Radford, current winemaker at Rockford, has spent close to a decade making wine in South Africa, Burgundy and Canada. Ben and his wife Gill have the oldest riesling vineyard in beautiful Eden Valley planted in 1930. Ben & Gill are making spectacular wines in miniscule quantities...5 star rating from Halliday and listed as one of the 10 best new wineries. Their Riesling and shiraz are a must-a balance of intensity and delicacy. Do not miss out.

Price: $32.99

Harewood Shiraz 2007

94 POINTS - 5 RED STAR RATING - James Halliday's 2011 Aust Wine Companion.

“Has won top awards (in several lesser wine shows) and it's not hard to see why; crimson-purple, it weaves red and black fruits, French oak and silky tannins into a picture-perfect tapestry. Rating 94.” James Halliday.

Frankland River produces some of the best shiraz in Australia and James Kellie has sourced the fruit from the region's best low yielding vineyards. I love this wine because it is so damn complex .. ripe plum, ripe blackberry, dark chocolate and tarry/ liquorice flavours (reminiscent of the Rhone Valley). All this thanks to the regions warm days and cool nights, low rainfall and "mean" gravely soils. Rich complex red with fine grained tannins and layers of complexity. This wine needs decanting or some time (5-10 years) in the cellar.
"Has won top awards (in several lesser wine shows) and it's not hard to see why: crimson-purple, it weaves red and black fruits, French oak and silky tannins into a picture-perfect tapestry. 94 points." James Halliday.

RRP $34

Price: $27.99

Teusner The Albert Shiraz 2006

What an intense shiraz! -fruit sourced from two low yielding unirrigated 45 and 90 yr old vineyards in Barossa's Gommersal & Ebenezer district.

Smokey and tarry notes complement the rich black fruits with hint of aniseed. Full bodied with round opulent flavours of ripe blackberries and plums. The finish is long and luscious with beautifully balanced tannin, acidity and oak (24 mths in French oak). Cellar for up to 10 years. Decanting this wine is a must!

Some Reviews:

Halliday 95 points : “ palate reveals a layered …complex & powerful array of flavours & texture, plenty of fine tannin and all of the elements indicate a long and fruitful existence.”

Gary Walsh from Winorama said "This is pretty much how I like my Barossa Shiraz and it’s a magnificent example of the style"

Campbell Mattinson's reviewed this wine in Winefront Monthly "Monumentally good. Wish I had tasted this when I was doing the TOP 101 REDS - this would have bolted it in. I adore it. It tastes of meat and pepper, rich dark fruits and mint-shot cedar. It carries the style beautifully. There is even a hit of gunpowder-like flavour in there (and I have sucked on a few guns in my time, believe you me - the average winemaker is NOT averse to sticking a gun to my head). Just a great Barossan red - with personality to burn. Drink 2008-2018. 95 points."

RRP: $52

Price: $43.99

Teusner Astral Series FG Riebke shiraz 2006

Blewitt Springs Adelaide Plains Shiraz 2000

Special / Sale Price - Merlin Saint Joseph Rouge 2007

François Merlin, a shy, modest man worked for René Rostaing (one of the great names of Côte Rôtie) as Chef de Viticulture for over 10 years where he gained his understanding of terroir. In 1987 he planted his first vines and was also able to buy some existing vines. The wines remain a bit of a secret but Merlin is often one of the first cited by other top producers when asked their favourite local producer..

Produced from vineyards in the north of Saint Joseph, France in 2007 (a great vintage), this wine has more in common with its near neighbour of Cote Rotie. 100% Syrah with old vine intensity (50% vines planted 1968) with perfume and elegance. His red Saint Joseph looks rather like a little Cote Rotie and comes from 2 parcels aged 18 and 40 years old located in the north of the appellation. His goal is to make fresh long complex wines rather than unctuous ones without losing the fruit purity of the vineyard. Superb Saint Joseph with depth, intensity and freshness …this wine needs some time in the cellar alternatively double decant and drink on day 2.
Limited Stock.

Price: $72.99
Price: $59.99

Coates Organically Grown McLaren Vale Syrah 2006

Duane Coates is one of the quiet achievers of the Australian Wine Scene ( Masters in Oenology and an MBA from Adelaide University & soon to become a Master of Wine). His winemaking philosophy is simple: the highest quality fruit from sustainable vineyards ( some organic), harvest when properly ripe and a natural winemaking approach (minimal intervention - wild yeasts, unfined, no additions of tannin, enzyme and acid). Huon Hooke said: “ Every wine I’ve tasted of McLaren Vale’s Duane Coates has been excellent…” Highly impressive wines – a style that bridges the gap between fruit driven Australian style and savoury complex wines of old world Europe.

A rich, profoundly complex wine made in a traditional, Old World style.
RRP: $36

Price: $30.00

Coates Consonance Syrah 2007

Duane Coates is one of the quiet achievers of the Australian Wine Scene ( Masters in Oenology and an MBA from Adelaide University & soon to become a Master of Wine). His winemaking philosophy is simple: the highest quality fruit from sustainable vineyards ( some organic), harvest when properly ripe and a natural winemaking approach (minimal intervention - wild yeasts, unfined, no additions of tannin, enzyme and acid).

Huon Hooke said: “ Every wine I’ve tasted of McLaren Vale’s Duane Coates has been excellent…” Highly impressive wines – a style that bridges the gap between fruit driven Australian style and savoury complex wines of old world Europe.

This McLaren Vale/Langhorne Creek blend matured in French and American oak has the goods. RRP: $25

Price: $19.99

Fools Bay Beached Shiraz Cabernet 2008

Fools Bay is the second label of premium Barossa vineyard, Hentley Farm ( located on the banks of Greenock Creek, Seppeltsfield which is home to a number of Grange vineyards, hailed by many winemakers as the best sub region for shiraz in the Barossa – it has won awards galore in its 13 yrs including prestigious 5 star winery rating from Halliday).
What a red! The blend comprises of 86% shiraz 16% cabernet sauvignon followed by some maturation in old French oak. All shiraz fruit is estate grown from Hentley Farm. The cabernet provides some herbaceous characters and fine grained tannins. Don’t be “fooled” by the label or the price! This is seriously smart wine with its juicy blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, spice and ripe tannins. Staggering quality and value in this opulent red. Previous Gold Medal Winner at Barossa Valley Wine show. RRP $19

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Fools Bay is named after the Hentschke Family’s (Hentley Farm owners) sandy South Australian Mallee farming property. You think you are at the beach but you are fooled as there is no water to be seen, though plenty lies beneath the sand. Rossy Reeves a co-owner of the property and popular artist painted the picture of a “Barry” the lazy viticulture worker who is useful as “teats on a bull” and is off to the beach – loosely based on a former employee. Adding to this each label includes a light-hearted, far-fetched story about the farm.

Price: $14.99

Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2008

The 2008 was a glorious vintage in Murrumbateman without the heatwave that struck South Australia. It included 6% co-fermented Viognier.....Thrilling wine-one for the cellar. Many glowing reviews below

“As expected the wine is young and buoyant, with a highly fragrant perfume of red fruit, fresh blackberry, violets, roast meat and a little tar; the palate reveals the true potential of this superb wine, with a cascading array of flavours and thrillingly silky tannin, poised acidity and a peacock’s tail on the very long and precise palate. " 97 points James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010

“Building towards a crescendo of richness and strength, this is a stellar wine of rare balance, poise and elegance. Its floral, musky and spicy bouquet of pristine black and red berries, ground pepper and cedar/vanilla oak precede a silky-smooth, supple and seamless palate whose piercingly intense berry/plum flavours, briary undertones and seasoned oak deliver exceptional length and harmony. Precisely focused, it finishes quite savoury and spicy, with emphatic depth and presence. 97 points 2020-2028+”
- Jeremy Oliver, June 11, 2009

95 pts Campbell Mattinson

SOLD OUT

Price: $76.99

Spinifex Esprit 2007

A blend of Shiraz (36%), Grenache (26%), Mataro (25%), Carignan (7%) and Cinsault (6%). Complex aromatics of red currents, sour cherry, pomegranate and hints of freshly roasted coffee. Medium to full bodied, fresh dry palate with layers of intense red fruit, dried herbs and spice flavours. Lingering finish with a firm tight structure. At our recent tasting, Pete Schell, winemaker, declared that if he could only ever make one wine again, this would be it, he’d “die a happy man”. Like the name says, it has truely captured his “spirit”.

Campbell Mattinson awarded the 07 Esprit as Red Blend of the Year in the Big Red wine Book 2009 -2010: “Last year’s release was super, and this just edges it out – for quality. The value is striking, too. As both a mouth-filling hit of flavour and a thrilling example of how complex a young red can be, it can’t be beaten....Brilliant wine.”

James Halliday said in his 2010 Wine Companion said: "..clearly defined raspberry fruit is backed seamlessly by spicy shiraz, and meaty mataro; palate is lively, and exhibits pronounced perfume; tightly focused and very inviting on the juicy finish. 94 points. 5 Red Star Winery".
RRP: $38 Last 3 cases.

Price: $28.50

David Hook Old Vines Shiraz 2007

Winemaker, David Hook planted the original Pothana chardonnay vineyard 27 yrs ago in Belford, in the north of the Lower Hunter Valley on his family’s grazing property. He “cut his teeth” along side Murray Tyrrell, worked at Lakes Folly and widely as a flying winemaker in France and Spain. With 25 years experience, he makes exceptional wines with regional and varietal character to reflect the place of origin.

Sourced from the original Belford Vineyard planted 27 years ago (low yields less than 2 t/acre). Rigorous fruit selection ( best fruit from original block). Handpicked fruit (fruit quality was great from 2007) and fermented in open fermenters, hand plunged and basket pressed. 12 mths maturation in French oak. This full bodied red is blessed with concentrated layers of flavour of blackberries, blueberries, hints of meatiness, pepper and spice. Great length of flavour and ripe more-ish tannins. Bring on the roast! Decant this or cellar for up to 8 years. RRP $45

Price: $36.99

Spinifex Bete Noir 2008

94 POINTS - James Halliday's 2011 Australian Wine Companion.

“Bright purple-crimson; a particularly expressive and fragrant bouquet with spicy black fruits, the medium- to full-bodied palate with licorice and more warm spice notes. Rating 94” James Halliday.

100% Shiraz from the Barossa and Eden Valleys Top shelf shiraz - balanced shiraz with extraordinary depth of fruit and spice, meatiness, licquorice and a very long finish. Winemaker Pete Schell had long resisted making a single varietal wine, something which was synonymous with the Barrossa and with which most people were familiar. It was hanging over him... it was his “Bete Noir”. Glad he gave into it because this wine is superb. Needs decanting (at least 4 hours - watch how the flavours evolve!) or time on the cellar. Limited.
RRP: $49

Price: $36.50

Sons of Eden Zephyrus Shiraz Viognier 2007

Torzi Matthews Schist Rock Shiraz 2009

Domenic Torzi, artisan producer from Eden Valley named this wine after the clay covered shaley schist rock bed their vineyard sits upon.
-This shiraz got us all excited! Got the critics into a buzz of excitement last year too and sold out within months of release and no doubt this will too.

Campbell Mattinson from The Wine Front is very enthusiastic: "... has become a keen favourite in recent years. Almost wait for it to come in nowadays. Sweet-fruited, supple, generous and delicious. Easy to see why it’s rapidly gained such a fan base – and why this release should too. Blueberry and blackberry fruit flavours. Maybe a minimal amount of spicy, toasty, musky oak – though the fruit quickly takes over. Modest tannin but what’s there is ripe and fine. Floral nuances. Lovely. 91 Points” .

Other reviews:
.."it certainly delivers an incredible mouthful for this minuscule price...If this came from Verona in a posh Italian bottle it would cost you $80 - $90" Phillip White, The Independent Weekly.

"Inky purple. Candied black fruits, licorice, black pepper and cocoa powder on the nose and palate, lifted by a violet nuance. Seamless and fruit-driven, with a silky texture and no obvious tannins." Stephen Tanzer (Renowned US wine writer) RRP $21

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Domenic Torzi (from an Italian family that settled in Adelaide Plains in the 1950s) has got Jancis Robinson’s attention. She said: "….Domenic Torzi is typical of the new generation of Australian wine artisans, hand-making wine from a small patch of vines, taking an extraordinary risk by planting vines in a frost pocket on the gentle slopes of Mt McKenzie in the Eden Valley because he and his partner Tracy Matthews were convinced that the naturally low yields on the poor soils here and the particular flavours were worth risking the frosts that had driven those who originally planted vines here in the early 20th century away. Their ten hectares of vines went into the ground in 1996 …… the beautiful Eden Valley, its unpaved roads lined with gums, is often overlooked….. “
100% estate grown fruit, wild yeasts. Top shelf Eden valley producer with 5 star winery rating from James Halliday.

Price: $16.99

Longhop Shiraz 2009

Longhop is a winemaking venture between 2 high school friends, Tim Freeland and Dominic Torzi (of leading Eden Valley winery, Torzi Matthews) and these guys have been shaking things up as far as the quality to price wine ratio goes…this wine (sourced from 3 Adelaide Plains vineyards) is extraordinary for the price.

”easily one of the best-value reds on the market... it’s a gorgeous mix of cedary oak and minty, blackberry, smoky fruit flavour. 92 Points.” Campbell Mattison, The Wine Front. Halliday rated the '08 vintage 94 points.

We ask how do they produce this sort of quality for the price? 3 days after opening this wine the flavours continued to open out...Do not miss out on a case of this fine red! Decanting is recommended
RRP $19

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Some more reviews for the 2009:
“...full-bodied and fills the mouth with intense flavours of plums, fruitcake, blackberry and a hint of olive ...I’m not sure how, or why, this is so cheap." Ben Thomas Weekly Review Melbourne.

“Full powered shiraz ... Lip smaking juiciness ...allround goodness ...a terrific value blockbuster style. 4 stars". Tony Love, The Adelaide Advertiser.

“It has the thick texture which makes the amarone dried fruit styles distinctive, but counterpoints that with beautiful acidity and the sort of terroir-sourced schist rock/sandstone tannins which cannot fail to make the drinker yearn for warm antipasto or tapas.” Philip White, Adelaide Review.

Price: $15.99

Harewood Estate Shiraz Cabernet 2008

Harewood has had extraordinary success in just 5 years - awarded the elusive 5 red star rating, the highest recognition possible from James Halliday, (awarded to top 6.5% of wineries).

Rich Frankland River Shiraz ( 60% ) has been blended with selected parcels of Cabernet Sauvignon (40%) from Mount Barker. Rich, powerful red - black cherry, licquorice and tarriness (thanks to the Franklin River shiraz) complemented by more elegant Cabernet flavours of blackcurrant, chocolate and mint (cabernet provides aroma, structure, acid and tannin) . Gorgeous full bodied red from WA!
"Elements of leafy cabernet and spicy shiraz combine with great effect; juicy red fruits on entry, with slightly stricter dark fruits coming through on the finish; lots of energy and life in this wine. 92 points" James Halliday.
(07 won - 3 Golds (Hobart, Small Winemakers Show, 2 silver medals. 92 pts Halliday)
RRP: $24

Price: $18.99

Teusner The Independent Shiraz Mataro 2008

“The irony of independence - you rarely achieve it standing alone” ... so the slogan says on this fine blend of Barossa Shiraz (60%) and Mataro (40%) - a reference to the grape growers who have helped Teusner achieve greatness.

Halliday says: "Essency aromas of blackberry.....the palate is warm, unctuous and fleshy and finishes with an ironstone minerality thanks in no small part to the work of the mataro:chewy and lipsmacking to conclude. Drink to 2018 "93 pts

Campbell Mattinson from The Wine Front says: "Very easy to sip on and enjoy. It’s all about the fruit - plums and aniseed and leather. Has a good dollop of fruit sweetness but flashes of savoury spice too......so deliciously drinkable. Dry, understated tannin is a nice feature."
RRP: $25

Price: $18.99

David Hook The Gorge Shiraz 2007 ( 12 pack)

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