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Teusner Joshua Grenache Mataro Shiraz 2012

Kym Teusner still goes strong with their 10th vintage of Joshua.

2012 was a wonderful vintage for Barossa reds....quality of fruit as good as they could remember. The 70 year old Grenache (63%) grown in the sandy soils of the Riebke vineyard in Northern Barossa provides the back bone for this wine. Mataro (23%) is sourced from the harder red dirt around Williamstown in the south and Stockwell in the North and the blend is rounded out with about 14% Shiraz from the Koonunga sub district.

Wow one juicy wine that displays copious amounts of fresh red berry fruits (grenache) and dusty tobacco leaf, without the intrusion of oak influence. A splash of mataro adds to the earthy complexity, whilst a little shiraz is used for structure and weight. Decant this wine.. RRP $30 a bottle

Price: $23.99

Teusner Avatar 2008

Leading Barossa vintner, Kym Teusner has produced extraordinary wine here!! A classic Rhone blend 60% grenache 20% shiraz 20% mataro. The grenache and mataro fruit is all sourced from low yielding dry grown 70 to 85 yr old vineyards.

Dark cherries, kirsch, red berry grenache fruit with layers of spice, some earthy, leathery and roast meat characters beautifully integrated on the palate (16 mths maturation in old French oak has brought out the earthy, savoury characters in the grenache) with long fine persistent tannins. Kissed by some bottle age, enjoy this classic Barossa GSM.

"Great colour; has greater structure, complexity and density than the deliciously juicy ’09 Joshua; there is an array of licorice, poached blood plum, spice and polished leather on the bouquet and perfectly balanced palate; finishes with ripe, soft tannins.Grenache/Mourvedre/Shiraz. Drink by 2023 " 95 points James Halliday Wine Companion tasted: 30/8/2010
RRP $40

Price: $29.99

Special / Sale Price - Sons of Eden Kennedy 2010

Sons of Eden co-owners, Corey Ryan ("cut his teeth" as winemaker at Henschke for 10 yrs) winemaker and Simon Cowham ( ex-viticulturist Yalumba) have come up trumps again!

This wine is so damn good it reminds me why I love the wine business! A superb example of Barossa Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre blend, 16 mths in old French oak. Concentrated dark cherry fruit, spice, tarry depth, silky tannins. Decant/drink with balsamic marinated roast lamb. 2010 was another terrific vintage - long season without any adverse weather.

5 Stars Australian Wine Vintages 2009 Edition

Last few cases of this 2010...

* GOLD at 2012 Royal Adelaide Wine Show *
* TROPHY at 2012 Winewise Small Vignerons Awards *

Sons of Eden also won Trophy for most successful exhibitor at the Winewise show in 2011.

Price: $25.00
Price: $19.99

Zema Merlot 2004 - LAST REMAINING BOTTLES!

Kilikanoon Prodigal Grenache 2009 - LAST BOTTLES.

92 points The Wine Front .. "Extra points here for texture and finish. It feels beautiful in your mouth, all velvety cherry and raspberry and dried, woody spice. Fine, massaged tannin plays a key role and while it leaves your mouth with a fair amount of alcohol warmth, the weight of fruit carries it. Highly polished wine."

92 points from James Halliday .. "a vibrant and lively grenache, with the accent on red berry fruit, not Turkish delight, and the medium-bodied palate has good structure and length."

Here's a bit of what Englishman Matthew Jukes wrote about the 2006.... My enthusiasm is the same.

"Strap yourself in for a roller coaster ride, because this spectacular wine is a white knuckle treat.... This dense, dark brooding red is made from the woefully underrated red grape Grenache.... Grenache forms the engine room of Chateauneuf du Papes, and it is this complex flavour spectrum and inert power that Prodigal Grenache has in spades..... You must decant it because there is a lot of energy in this wine that needs to be organised, ordered and aligned in a decanter before you dive in...... I tasted it last week and went back to it over the next 3 days and it kept opening up and revealing more and more layers of crushed plum and spice... Staggering value for money, this is a wine that is drinking beautifully now, but has five or more years ahead of it to perform wonders for you."

Price: $26.99

Bird in Hand Two in the Bush Merlot Cabernet 2010 - LAST BOTTLES

Spinifex Indigene 2008 - LAST BOTTLES LEFT!

“Much deeper colour than Esprit; a profound wine in every way, obviously made from older, lower-yielding vines; here black fruits and licorice take centre stage, with a velvety texture and very long finish. Rating 96.” BEST OF THE BEST - SHIRAZ BLEND" James Halliday's 2011 Australian Wine Companion.

A blend of 53% Shiraz, 37% mataro, grenache 10% sourced from old vineyards in Barossa and Eden Valley. Handpicked fruit, wild yeasts, open fermenters, french oak. Striking aromatic complexity-dark plums, cherries, licorice, meaty, tar and earth. Rich palate with superb balance and structure...Peter Schell winemaker has done incredibly well here. This is a baby and needs cellaring 5 yrs for the layers of flavour to unfold. Decant for the afternoon before drinking. Recommend careful cellaring up to 10 years..Top Shelf. Limited

"Indigene is Spinifex’s top-level blend of shiraz, mataro and grenache. It’s a pearler. It tastes minerally and funky at first but given air, it’s a wash with delicious flavours of cedarwood, cloves, dark cherries, five-spice and probably a good many other things. It’s complex, smooth, and persistent. It has out-and-out sex appeal too. It’s very easy to review, because it’s very obviously excellent. 94 points". Campbell Mattinson The Wine Front

Price: $58.99

Spinifex Papillon 2011 - SPECIAL STRIAGHT DOZEN PRICE!

A terrific value Rhone styled red made of a blend of lightly oaked Grenache and Cinsault Lifted (like a “papillon” – butterfly) and fragrant with aromas of crushed raspberries and spice, peppercorns, sandalwood and roses and a medium bodied personality in the mouth. This is bright and lively medium bodied red at its best. Winemaker, Pete Schell says .. "Bright and ruby hued. Very aromatic and lively, red cherry, raspberry, cassis and rose hip fruit aromatics and deeper spice and herbal notes - tarragon, aloe, sandle-wood, mace, pink pepper corn and musk. Fresh mid weight palate with a bright raspberry and bay leaf flavors on attack that turn darker and herbier on the finish – pomegranate, curry leaf, slate. Pulpy, snappy, fine chalky tannin. More-ish."

92 points James Halliday "Light but bright colour; how much the wine owes to winemaker Peter Schell's skills and how much to the (old) vines doesn't matter, for the wine has great vibrancy and energy to the red berry fruits of its grenache/cinsaut blend."

RRP: $30
Our price $24.50 when you buy as a straight dozen

Price: $294.00

David Hook Reserve Barbera 2011

Winemaker, David Hook “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.

* Trophy for Best Red from Italian or Spanish Varietal at 2012 NSW Small Winemakers Show *

This native grape of piedmont in Italy, was grown in a vineyard in the foothills of Mount Canobolas (near Orange). The cool climate and ancient volcanic soils combined produce high quality grapes with good intensity of flavour and high natural acidity. 2011 was a great season..the Hunter and Orange were spared the rain that came down in south australia and victoria. Classic varietal characters of dark cherry, prune and spice. This medium to full bodied red has good structure with firm velvety tannins balanced by good acidity (barbera and sangiovese retain more acidity than shiraz and cabernet). This drinks beautifully - bring on the pasta and pizza. Salute! RRP $32

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Review by Chris Shanahan, Australian wine judge and writer, November 2012 ... ".. easily the best Australian expression of the style that I've tasted. The fleshy but not plump palate, and smooth, silky tannins make this a more complete, satisfying red without abandoning the varietal character."

Price: $26.99

Spinifex Taureau 2009 - SPECIAL STRAIGHT DOZEN PRICE!

An exotic blend of “Espana” : 55% Tempranillo, 17% Carignan, 14% Cabernet and 14% Graciano. Sweet aromatics followed by complex, layered palate with dark cherries, stewed plums and savoury, almost beefy flavours. Beautiful structure and a long, refreshing finish. Drinking well now or cellar for 5 years. Winemaker Pete Schell says he wanted to make a wine that was – big, gutsy and upfront... hence “Taureau” – The Bull was born!

94 Points James Halliday "...the colour is bright purple-red, with the bright red cherry fruit of the tempranillo occupying first place on the starting grid, but also stretching its zesty influence all the way through to the finish and aftertaste. This is Spain, not the south of France, speaking."

94 Points, Nick Stock, 2013 Good Wine Guide "Another very convincing Taureau, led again by tempranillo (45%), with cabernet (28%), graciano (22%) and carignan (5%) all seamlessly stitched together. It's a wine that smells first of all like the Barossa, painted in tempranillo's cherry-red hues, some tar, cassis, liquorice and violets. The palate's smoothly coated in ripe tannins and delivers ample but elegant structure to carry darker blue- and purple-berry flavour; some plum too. Finishes satisfyingly smooth and supple. Sensational value!"
Our Price $27 a bottle when you buy as a Straight Dozen.

Price: $324.00

Torzi Matthews Vigna Cantina Sangiovese 2010

Eden Valley producer Domenic Torzi with italian heritage has done well here..delicious dark cherry fruit, pot pourri, leather, fresh herbs and spice. Brunello, Piccillo and Grosso sangiovese clones were used. Good length, grip and structure. The gods particularly jupiter are celebrating....

Mike Bennie The Winefront May 2012 .. "No living in the shadows with the bouquet – pippy red cherry characters with sandalwood oak, herbal piquancy and some lavender floral elements. Rich and pretty entry. To drink, sweet upfront, but it’s a quick segue into twiggy, oak-framed red fruit flavours. There is a plush, unctuous feel throughout – it will appeal to many but speaks of sangiovese with a more modern tongue. Still, savouriness finishes the wine, as does an appealing lick of the same dried green herbs of the bouquet and throughout are flat, feathery tannins ... Very likeable."

Huon Hooke ..."Bright berry aromas, some violets, some mint. Sweet-fruit entry, ripe and lush, lots of charm here. Has grace and balance."

RRP $25

Price: $18.99

Teusner The Independent Shiraz Mataro 2011

“The irony of independence - you rarely achieve it standing alone” ... so the slogan says on this fine blend of Barossa Shiraz (50%) and Mataro (50%) - a reference to the grape growers who have helped Teusner achieve greatness. The fruit was sourced from low yielding, ancient vines in the Northern Barossa – Ebenezer, Kalimna and Moppa. Kym Teusner says “As always the winemaking is hands off and we let the fruit tell its own story. The result is a brooding, complex wine that sings of the earth from where it came and the toil of our growers that tend the vines....two things that we at Teusner are very proud of.” We are impressed with the quality here following a challenging vintage in 2011...no doubt rigorous fruit selection did the trick and quality came up trumps.... Gold Medal Adelaide Wine show is testament to this.

92 Points – “A sensational young and bright red that marries together two classic red varietals that shine bright in the Barossa; blue fruits, red berries and lovely dark-purple floral lift too, really alluring wine. The palate is beautifully fresh and bright, lively and modern”. Nick Stock, Good wine Guide 2013

RRP: $25

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Gary Walsh from The Wine Front on the 2010: 94 Points. "... if you have a taste for terrific Barossa Shiraz and Mataro at under $20, then do yourself a favour.
It’s a slinky devil all coated in warm choc-licorice and ripe blackberry, seasoned back to into shape with the dried herb and earthiness of Mataro Magic. Medium to full in weight with fine silky silty tannin and an effortless flow of sweet and savoury black fruit filling ... And all this satisfaction delivered for under $20?"

2009 Voted "Best value red wine for 2011" by The Age/SMH Good Wine Guide 2011 by Nick Stock ..."...The palate’s formidably structured and carries plenty of rich fruit flesh, with sturdy tannins, long and true. Very dense, and packs in as much flavour as you could ever hope for, with enough balance to hold it all together. TALK ABOUT OVER DELIVER!” 94 points

Price: $17.99

McHenry Hohnen Tiger Country Tempranillo 2005 - LAST REMAINING STOCK!

$Remondo \'La Montesa\' Rioja 2008$

Remondo 'La Montesa' Rioja 2008

Alvaro Palacios is one of the "rock stars" of modern Spanish wine making best known for his work in revitalising the region of Priorat and his ultra-pricey "Grand Cru", L'Ermita. This though is from his family property in Rioja, where he has worked his magic in reinvigorating the old vineyards and bringing the winemaking up to the state of the art. The results are exemplified with La Montesa- His blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo from great old vines is aged in old French oak. Think intense blood plum, dark cherries, blackberries, wild thyme thru' to wood spice, tobacco and earth balanced by a lick of raspberry freshness. My favourite red of our Spanish tasting - elegant, savoury, long and beautifully stylish. Do not miss out on this spectacular Rioja!

RRP: $49

Price: $39.99

Balnaves of Coonawarra The Blend 2010

2010 was a terrific season in the Coonawarra– blend comprises Merlot (53%) , Cabernet Sauvignon (37%) and Cabernet Franc (10%) from our Gumtree vineyard. Maturation was for 16 months in seasoned french oak. This is a classy Coonawarra cabernet blend which benefits from air.

“Fine, elegant, dusty and cedary, this polished and complete young red show true style and class. Backed by fresh cedar/vanilla oak, its minty fragrance of cassis, blackberries, dark plums and cherries reveals a hint of menthol. Long and dusty, with a chalky spine beneath its bright expression of dark berries, plums and cherries, it’s sensitively oaked and fresh to finish. Great value!” Jermey Oliver.
95 Point rating James Halliday Top 100 RRP $24 Our price $18.99

5 Red Star Winery from James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2011 ... "The wines are invariably excellent, often outstanding, notable for their supple mouthfeel, varietal integrity, balance and length; the tannins are always fine and ripe, the oak subtle and perfectly integrated. Coonawarra at its best."
RRP$24

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Balnaves are a small family owned wine company in the heart of the famous Coonawarra Terra Rossa strip. First started in 1976, the vineyard has grown steadily and now covers a total of 56 hectares of Coonawarra Terra Rossa soil - the principal variety planted is Cabernet Sauvignon, which accounts for 70% with the remainder taken up by Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Chardonnay. The vineyard is divided into small blocks of between one and two hectares, which take into account depth of soil, trellis design, vine clone and row direction. The quality of wine produced from these small blocks is evaluated each year and recorded. This practice proves the validity of the French concept of "terrior" or the effect that microclimate; geological features and other factors have on the quality of the wine produced. Such effects are clearly seen in the small Balnaves vineyard at Coonawarra.

Price: $18.99

Dal Zotto Sangiovese/Cabernet 2011- Straight Dozen Buy

Catena Zapata Malbec 2010 - STRAIGHT DOZEN SPECIAL

The Catena family arrived in Argentina, (“the promised land”) in 1898 and the family has had 4 generations of winemaking. Nicolas Catena is regarded as the godfather of modern winemaking (experimenting with clones) and in the 1980’s pioneered viticulture at high altitude - the key making premium wine in Mendoza .

Rich and polished, abounding in pure cassis and blackberry fruit on the palate with fragrance of spice and floral notes. Terrific length and supple fine grained tannins. Decant this fine malbec so it can open out….

"Such sophistication and class! Such a contrast to more souped-up examples. Lovely fluidity and freshness. Fully ripe, glossy fruit but not artifically sweet, nor aggresively potent. I know I have already recommended other vintages of this wine in the past but quality just cannont be ignored." Jancis Robinson, MW

"This may be the best mid-priced Malbec yet from Argentina's leading producer. It's perfumed and stylish, with notes of violets and fresh plums on the nose, followed by ripe, but not over-ripe blackberry fruit, subtle vanilla oak, textured, grainy tannins and refreshing minerality and zip. The oak is better integrated than in previous releases and there's welcome finesse here. Great now, but will develop in the bottle for another three to five years." 91 Points Tim Atkins MW.

"... notes of blackberry, strawberry cheescake, a touch of cassis and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins on the entry. The acidity is crisp and lends tautness towards the succulent finish, which bestows blackberry, black olive and loganberry fruit. This is a finely crafted, feminine Malbec. 91 Points, Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com

RRP: $32

Price: $294.00

Jed Limited Release Malbec 2009 - STRAIGHT CASE BUY

Bodegas Exopto Bozeto Rioja 2010

Bodegas Exopto is one of the new wave of modern winegrowers and quality wine makers in Rioja - Outstanding, well tended, cool vineyards on rocky soils, very old vines and low yields (the total opposite to the trend of mass produced, American oaked wine of the region).

Passionate artisan winemaker, Tom Puyaubert (in fact a Frenchman who married an Espanola!) is fanatical in his focus on their vineyard: 50-100 year old Tempranillo and 70 year old Garnacha vineyard located in Rioja Alavesa (600 metres altitude and the coolest in Rioja). He uses French oak and is producing small quantities of top quality vino (3000 cases – miniscule production for Rioja). Robert Parker’s right hand man, Jay Millar from Wine Advocate is a fan: “Exopto Cellars three new releases are all outstanding”. No doubt about it Exopto is a Riojan star in the making!

Formerly known as “b.b” (short for big bang) the wine has been renamed Bozeto (sketch) due to a copyright issue in Spain. He has produced a beautifully balanced medium bodied red blend ( 50% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo, 20% Graciano) plush with raspberry, blackberry, cedar, spice. leather and tar.

Love this gorgeous rioja and the knockout price!

RRP: $25

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Jay Millar from Internationally renowned The Wine Advocate rated it 90+ and said "...Aromas of crushed pepper, balsam wood,violets, cinnamon, and blackberry inform the nose of a sweetly-fruited, vibrant, well-balanced Rioja. It can be approached now but has the stuffing to fill out for another 1-2 years. This outstanding value will deliver plenty of enjoyment through 2018+."

Price: $19.99

$Remondo \'La Montesa\' Rioja 2005 - LAST BOTTLES REMAINING!$

Remondo 'La Montesa' Rioja 2005 - LAST BOTTLES REMAINING!

Alvaro Palacios is one of the "rock stars" of modern Spanish wine making best known for his work in revitalising the region of Priorat and his ultra-pricey "Grand Cru", L'Ermita. This though is from his family property in Rioja, where he has worked his magic in reinvigorating the old vineyards and bringing the winemaking up to the state of the art. The results are exemplified with La Montesa- His blend of Garnacha, Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo from great old vines is aged in old French oak. Think intense blood plum, dark cherries, blackberries, wild thyme thru' to wood spice, tobacco and earth balanced by a lick of raspberry freshness. My favourite red of our Spanish tasting - elegant, savoury, long and beautifully stylish. Do not miss out on this spectacular Rioja!

RRP: $49

Price: $43.99

Roda Sela 2009

Often referred to as “the Grand Cru of Rioja”, Bodega Roda is a landmark in the old Riojan city of Haro. From the underground drives to the dedicated, floor-heated malolactic cellar, everything Roda does speaks of precision and fastidious attention to detail. Fruit from each of its 17 vineyards is vinified separately and only after a year in barrel are decisions taken about the wines' ultimate designation. Irrespective of this though, Roda's ground-breaking R&D work on the phenolic maturity of Tempranillo means that all their wines are famed for their ethereal balance, elegance and finesse. From Sela through to their flagship Cirsion, the wines progress from the red-fruit spectrum to the black, all the while increasing in concentration and complexity, while retaining that signature finesse and balance.

Fruit is from vineyards in excess of 30 years (some up to 80 years old), grown organically, aged in French barrels, neither filtered nor fined. Each vintage is made "on its merits" to reflect style of the vintage (rather than an application of a recipe).

Silky smooth, medium bodied, very fresh and well textured. The oak is hardly evident, with round, well integrated tannins, giving way to a lingering finish of seasoned red fruits that make it light and fresh. It showcases perfectly the quality of the 2009 vintage, in this case adding youth and freshness to the depth and ripeness of the seasoned fruit so prevalent in this vintage. 89% Tempranillo, 11% Graciano from vineyards up to 30 years grown organically, aged in French barrels, neither filtered nor fined. Do not miss out on this spectacular Rioja!

RRP: $68 Our SPECIAL price $44.99

Price: $44.99

Don David Reserve Tannat 2009 - SPECIAL STRAIGHT DOZEN PRICE

Vineyard located high in the northern region of Salta (approx 3000 metres altitude). Lovely rich ripe fruit (Made with some carbonic maceration which gives the wine aromatic lift) fined grained tannins and a more-ish savoury tarriness with a hint of licorice. Gorgeous purity of fruit and length of flavour. Very different in style to a French madiran (south west France) where the tannat variety is traditionally made in a more tannic, astringent fashion. My favourite red from our recent Argentine tasting.

The '08 vintage was recently awarded BEST RED WINE IN THE WORLD in the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2010 among nearly 7000 wines from 49 different countries. The 2009 release is a terrific follow up- the growing seasons are very consistent in Salta thanks to the Andes ( create a rain shadow so no rain during harvest) RRP $33

Straight Dozen Price $336

Price: $336.00

Jed Malbec 2012

Each year, Jed’s three young Australian winemakers travel to the Uco Valley in Argentina to craft wines that express the unique characters of this acclaimed alpine region. They were hugely impressed with the Uco Valley in Mendoza (450 year history of winemaking) as a unique place to make wine with its fresh snowmelt water (from the Andes), crisp mountain air, high altitude (1250 m) and pure UV light.

Mendoza is famous for producing the world’s finest Malbec but it is the cooler sites of Uco Valley that have recently been discovered as the best. This pristine environment produces naturally balanced wines which require minimal intervention in both the vineyard and winery. The cooler climate fosters the development of the bright cherry flavours in this wine and provides a fine tannin structure. Jed Malbec is made in a traditional medium bodied style. 70% aged in 2nd/3rd use French/American oak to showcase the trademark fine/ripe tannins of Mendoza Malbec.
This beautifully fragrant “vino tinto” has cascading flavours of bright cherries, wild blackberries and chocolate. Love the intensity of fruit on the palate and fine grained silky tannins. Beautiful balance in this fine medium bodied red. Sip on this and you will hear the accordion and feel the intensity and style of tango! Bargain.
RRP $26

Price: $17.50

Bruno Giacosa Falletto Barbaresco 2005 - VERY LIMITED

Bruno Giacosa is arguably the greatest producer in Piedmont.

“The Giacosa tradition is that of a commerciante on the highest level” Nicolas Belfrage, Barolo to Valpolicella.

“His genius lies in selecting the finest grapes, a talent learnt from his grandfather Carlo.” Garner & Merritt, ‘Tar and Roses’.

Bruno Giacosa’s keen eye and age old relationships helped him to consistently source from a number of great vineyard sites around Barbaresco. Most of these are 4 decades and older and make many wines which are now quite famous for their owners. Fruit comes from prestigious Asili and Rabaja vineyards. This is a powerful 05, with the full range of Giacosa Barbaresco aromas of cedar, violets, raspberry, chocolate and truffle, layers of flavour. Enchanting balance, elegance and finesse here...Reminiscent of a grand cru burgundy Superb…Very limited RRP $250

Price: $199.99

Palacios Remondo La Vendimia 2011

Alvaro Palacios is one of the "rock stars" of modern Spanish wine making best known for his work in revitalising the region of Priorat and his ultra-pricey "Grand Cru", L'Ermita. This though is from his family property in Rioja, where he has worked his magic in reinvigorating the old vineyards and bringing the winemaking up to the state of the art.

Unfiltered, biodynamic Rioja with Garnacha predominant, mid-weight, utterly complete, ravishingly spiced and with great harmony of tannin, acid and perfume. Alvaro’s precise-yet-barely-tutored wines always speak gently but unfailingly of the earth in which they grow, and this hallmark’s in spades here. Red-black fruits in red dirt bespeak this, the jewel vineyard of Rioja Baja. Awesome, softly gloving fruit tannin is the heart from which ever-so-pleasant fruit radiates a warm glow. Gentle, earthily-fruited, classy,more-ish, delicious. RRP $33

STRAIGHT DOZEN Special available at $306 (ie that's $25.50 per bottle)

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This is the family estate of Alvaro Palacios. It’s the star property of Rioja Baja, quite high up, devoted to Garnacha-led blends and all about the smell, taste and texture of the red clay dirt and local herb influence. Predominantly Garnacha, then Tempranillo with Graciano and Mazuelo.

Price: $27.99

Spinifex Indigene 2009 - LAST BOTTLES REMAINING

97 POINTS James Halliday 2012 Australian Wine Companion TOP RATED SHIRAZ BLEND in BEST OF THE BEST!

"Deep purple-crimson; there is a bottomless well of ripe black fruits on the bouquet and velvety rich, medium- to full-bodied palate, and no hint of elevated alcohol or dead fruit; wonderful complexity and length, and tantalising glimpses of what the wine will offer over coming decades." 97 points James Halliday.

"This is something akin to a top-end Châteauneuf-du-Pape - very approachable and keenly balanced." 93 points. Nick Stock, Good Wine Guide, 2012.

"Back to its Shiraz Mataro duel in 2009, Indigene is a yardstick wine for Spinifex; its shape and flavours pave a very original path ... Bold, seductive aromas that run from Indian spice to red berries to briar and back to herbs. It’s complex and heady, yet inviting, with plumes of scent evoking the character of the wine from afar. One of those you can whiff from the table. The palate is firm yet layered, with a textural feel that moves in an ovoid fashion – it opens with blueberry and mulberry, plumes into a soft yet dense pouch of fruit and spice, then finishes lithe and earthy, yet lingers with a very fine trail of sweet raspberry. The tickle of sweetness so very pretty. More right hook then left jab. Bring tha Mataro; a great wine." The Wine Front.
RRP $70 Our price $59.99

Price: $59.99

Palacios Remondo â��La Vendimiaâ�� Garnacha-Tempranillo 2011 - STRAIGHT DOZEN BUY

Palacios Remondo ‘La Vendimia’ Garnacha-Tempranillo 2011 - STRAIGHT DOZEN BUY

Alvaro Palacios is one of the "rock stars" of modern Spanish wine making best known for his work in revitalising the region of Priorat and his ultra-pricey "Grand Cru", L'Ermita. This though is from his family property in Rioja, where he has worked his magic in reinvigorating the old vineyards and bringing the winemaking up to the state of the art.

Unfiltered, biodynamic Rioja with Garnacha predominant, mid-weight, utterly complete, ravishingly spiced and with great harmony of tannin, acid and perfume. Alvaro’s precise-yet-barely-tutored wines always speak gently but unfailingly of the earth in which they grow, and this hallmark’s in spades here. Red-black fruits in red dirt bespeak this, the jewel vineyard of Rioja Baja. Awesome, softly gloving fruit tannin is the heart from which ever-so-pleasant fruit radiates a warm glow. Gentle, earthily-fruited, classy, more-ish, delicious. Salud to Spain !
RRP $33

Dozen Special 12 bottle buy $306 ie $25.50 a bottle

More Details
This is the family estate of Alvaro Palacios. It’s the star property of Rioja Baja, quite high up, devoted to Garnacha-led blends and all about the smell, taste and texture of the red clay dirt and local herb influence. Predominantly Garnacha, then Tempranillo with Graciano and Mazuelo.

Price: $306.00

Tiefenbrunner Castel Turmhof Lagrein 2009

$Giacomo Conterno \'Cascina Francia\' Barolo 2006$

Giacomo Conterno 'Cascina Francia' Barolo 2006

There is no greater traditional Barolo producer than Giacomo Conterno!

"As with so many 2006 Barolos, time is going to be an essential ingredient as these youthful wines are tight, muscular, super tannic and powerful. Only time mellows all that ...Lurking beneath its imposing structure and weighty tannins, is Cascina Francia's tell-tale spice notes - anise, loicorice, tar and roses melded with cleansing acidity, savoury too with a persistent, long finish. Still sleeping so give this time ad consider it a cellar addition for up to 20 plus years. And if there is a Barolo that can sway people to the beauty and majesty of nebbiolo, (this) is it." Jane Faulkner Oct 2010.

Huon Hooke - 18.5 points..."Very fragrant and complex bouquet. Very tight tannin palate. Lean, angular, finely structured, with superb pure-fruit flavour and structure .. firm and yet supple tannins. Very rich and complex; no need for barriques to build more complexity into this wine. Great line and length; superb vino."

RRP: $350

Price: $249.99

Stella Bella Skuttlebutt Shiraz Cabernet 2008

Spinifex Tabor 2009

“Wow what an impressive newcomer this is, owned by New Zealand-born Peter Schell and French-born wife Magali Gely. After graduation from Roseworthy they worked for four vintages in the south of France, and when they established Spinifex, it was only natural to focus on Mourvèdre, Grenache, Shiraz and Cinsault. Great wine and immaculate packaging is a heady mixture... So far as I am concerned Spinifex out-Torbrecks Torbreck.” James Halliday

"2009 sees the return of Tabor. Sounds like an Arnie film circa Conan. Anyway, this is the 100% Mataro from winemaker Pete Schell. Meaty, gamey, feral aromatics, with a little ironstone and something earthy. The palate feels, lively and light, surprising for the inherent concentration; a welcome anomaly. Fresh red berries follow with hot spice and bitter herbs, then forest berries - it flows. It has a formed, slippery feel but there is chiaroscuro of fruit, spice and acidity throughout the wine. Savoury, then tobacco and earthy notes finish the wine with a sprinkle of pepper for good measure. Throws interesting shapes, drinks superbly, will live for a while too."

94 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

A single-site Mataro that is a very grounded and composed young wine: dark plums, some cassis, orange zest, dry loamy, earthly aromas and wild herbs too. The palate's nicely laced up with a core or red- and purple-berry fruits - very smooth - and lazy tannins, laid-back, soft and even, and gently nutty through the finish. Plenty of charm and concentration here. 96 points. Nick Stock, Good Wine Guide, 2012.

Price: $94.99

Chateau Mont-Redon Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2008 - STRAIGHT CASE BUY

Chateau Mont Redon Chateauneuf-du-Pape 08

Château Mont-Redon will be familiar to those who know and love Châteauneuf-du-Pape being well recognized as the owners of some of the most highly regarded vineyard sites in the appellation. The superb quality of its vineyards ( 100 hectares) has been recognized throughout history and prior to the change of the appellation controlee system it was one of the few “Grand cru’s” in the region (together with Chateau Rayas).

65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 5% Mourvedre and 5% Counoise, Muscardin and Vaccarese aged half in Barrique and half in vats.
A fabulous debut in the first vintage produced by the new winemaker Pierre Fabre ( in a difficult vintage). This seamless wine shows depth and classic Chateauneuf character in abundance. Love the ethereal elegance, structure, impeccable balance and fine tannins. A magnificent medium bodied libation...Vive la France!
RRP: $64

Price: $47.99

Chateau Mont Redon Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2007

Malenchini Chianti Colli Fiorentini 2011

Girlan Lagrein 2010

Lagrein is generally the most impressive red grape of the Alto Adige region in the far north of Italy when yields are controlled (which they are at Girlan). This variety is deeply coloured and can have fruit character reminiscent of dark cherries.

Thanks to careful vineyard selection, low yields and subtle oak handling, Girlan producers a dark, richly aromatic red with fine tannins and real freshness. Stylistically, it is perhaps most comparable to the medium bodied red wines of Savoie, made from the Mondeuse variety. On the other hand this wine is unique in an almost pinoesque kind of way! Girlan’s 2010 has a really vibrant personality to match its intense purple colour. This wine is full of life.. it’s bright and crunchy with perfumed cherry, fresh tobacco, wild berry aromas and flavours. Decant this so it can open out.
RRP $31

Price: $27.99

Chateau Mont-Redon Cotes due Rhone Rouge 2007

Spinifex Esprit 2010 - STRAIGHT DOZEN BUY!

A blend of Mataro, Grenache, Shiraz, Carignan and Cinsault. 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 a previous 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”.

Mike Bennie from The Wine Front .. “Pete Schell is a hell of a solid winemaker, one of the more exciting to step out of the ‘new gen’ of producers who source widely, seeking verity from older, finer sites. More purity and finesse in these wines than many many from other Barossa producers."

95 points James Halliday "A blend of mataro, shiraz, grenache and cinsaut that joyously reflects the '10 vintage with its cascade of red cherry, raspberry, strawberry - plus any other berry you care to name - and a long finish that is at once silky and savoury."

94 Points Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front "Cracking wine, this 2010. Beautifully well managed. Tastes fresh and lively and yet has leathery, earthen notes – to complement the wine’s bursts of cherried, plummy, smoky fruit. As with all the 2010 Spinifex reds, it benefits from a stint in the decanter. It’s a little reductive and ferrous and some of these aspects blow off with air, but thankfully not all of them. Ripe, integrated, meticulous tannin. A ripping wine in its style."

94 Points Nick Stock 2013 Good Wine Guide. "A beautiful vintage for this reliable, modern classic of blended Barossa red wine. This delivers beautiful and precise fruit purity across a spectrum of red and dark berry characters, showing verve and freshness, and tarry, savoury notes at the edge. The palate is beautifully struck, with focus and concentration both a feature; dark and red berry flavours run amid some chocolate and spice, lovely drive and freshness - superb."

94 Points Tyson Stelzer - “There’s not a ripple or crease to delineate each of the varieties in this consummately crafted blend of mataro, shiraz, grenache and cinsault. The florals and spices on display here are exotic and captivating: dried flowers, red cherries, greengage plums, mixed spice and pepper. The delight of the bouquet flows all the way through the palate, carried by a finely structured, silky backbone of carefully textured tannins.

Our Price $30 a bottle when you buy as a straight dozen!

Price: $360.00

Teusner Avatar 2011 - STRAIGHT DOZEN BUY!

Kym Teusner was crowned king by Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine as Young Winemaker of the Year in 07. He has produced extraordinary wine here!! Often referred to as the big brother to their un-oaked Joshua GMS, the 2011 Avatar release has a little more Shiraz in the blend than other recent vintages and Teusner consider it their stand out wine of the vintage. Grenache still dominates the blend with spice and red-fruited lift and Mataro adds earthiness and some resounding bass notes. This classic Rhone blend consists of Grenache 49%, Shiraz 30% Mataro 21% - the grenache and mataro fruit is all sourced from low yielding dry grown 70 to 85 yr old vineyards.

91 Points – “This rolls out with a darker colour and shows plenty of shiraz impact, with blackberry fruits and gently earthy spice, some lifted peppery notes too. The palate’s ripe and dense, with solid black and blue fruit flavours, ripe tannins and a slightly resiny oak streak”. Nick Stock, Good Wine Guide 2013.
RRP $39

Only $27 a bottle when you buy a straight dozen.

Price: $324.00

Vissoux Cuvee Traditionelle Vieilles Vignes Beaujolais Villages 2010

“Pierre Chermette has become one of the beacons of Beaujolais quality..”
The Chermette family were the first to embrace sustainable agricultural practices in Beaujolais. Cru beaujolais is a remarkable medium bodied red made from the Gamay grape, fragrant and juicy with succulence, depth and savoury length. Vissoux is the top rated Beaujolais producer in leading french guide, "Les Meilleurs Vins de France".

Fruit for this fine cuvee hails from 70 year old vines planted behind the Chermette's family home in St Vérand on dark, granite soil. Made in the traditional beaujolais style- handpicked fruit, wild yeasts,no chaptalisation, 6 day carbonic maceration, followed by maturation in old oak tuns. Concentrated purity of fruit from raspberry to pomegranate thru' to black fruits- plump and silky with power that leads into more-ish smoked meat and tar characters ( thanks to granitic soils). This is magic and my favourite wine for quality and value in the Vissoux line up. 90 pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.
RRP $32

Price: $26.99

Vissoux Moulin a Vent Les Trois Roches 2010

“Pierre Chermette has become one of the beacons of Beaujolais quality..”
The Chermette family were the first to embrace sustainable agricultural practices in Beaujolais. Cru beaujolais is a remarkable medium bodied red made from the Gamay grape, fragrant and juicy with succulence, depth and savoury length. Vissoux is the top rated Beaujolais producer in leading french guide, "Les Meilleurs Vins de France".

Moulin a Vent is the Cru renowned for brooding, fuller bodied reds with power- more reminiscent of the northern Rhone. This is Vissoux top cuvee - it's concentrated, profound and deep with more-ish ripples of smokey tariness. Fruit sourced from 3 plots: Rochegres for finesse;Roche Noire for fruit and Rochelle for power. Enjoy this wildly attractive rouge now but recommend decanting to reveal nuances and layers or cellar for up to 10 years. This top shelf bargain will not dissappoint !

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate got excited: ".. dark cherry and cassis with saliva-inducing salinity, pan-scraping meatiness, and fine-grained tannic chew in an expansive yet sharply-defined, tenaciously persistent, downright vibratory palate performance. This will intrigue and invigorate for at least half a dozen years." 91 points, The Wine Advocate.
RRP: $50

Price: $38.99

Vissoux Fleurie Poncie 2010

“Pierre Chermette has become one of the beacons of Beaujolais quality..”
The Chermette family were the first to embrace sustainable agricultural practices in Beaujolais. Cru beaujolais is a remarkable medium bodied red made from the Gamay grape, fragrant and juicy with succulence, depth and savoury length. Vissoux is the top rated Beaujolais producer in leading french guide, "Les Meilleurs Vins de France".

Fleurie is the cru renowned for its ethereal, fragrant character and silkiness in the mouth...45 year old vineyard with some altitude on pink granite soils (rich in quartz & mica) has produced a ravishing medium bodied rouge with both intensity and a light heartedness at the same time- raspberry, blackberry and hints of roast meat. Wow this is a delight to drink! Popular in Paris and in England.

"Bright, focused, and energetic .. Sour cherry; red and black raspberry; pungent herbs; and salted meat stock combine for a mouthwatering and tenaciously persistent performance.." 90 points, The Wine Advocate.
RRP $45

Price: $35.99

Chateau Lamothe-Vincent Intense Rouge 2009 - LIMITED STOCK.

Chateau Lemothe-Vincent lies in the gentle rolling hills of the pretty Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux. Inspired by their namesake St Vincent (patron saint of wine growers), 4 generations of the Vincent family have been producing wine since 1873 and today the estate is run by brothers Christophe and Fabien. From what is regarded as the best vintage in Bordeaux for over 50 years comes this medium bodied rouge - round, fleshy with plenty of black cherry, cassis, fine grained tannins and good length. Distintictively more-ish Bordeaux with some generous new world approachability. Jancis Robinson said of Lemothe-Vincent .. "This is where the real value in Bordeaux lies, in the little, best-tended corners, run with dedication .. excellent value .. What a steal this wine is!" Gold Medal Paris Wine Competion 2010; Winner 2009 Bordeaux Red Oscars; "Powerful though elegant. 2 stars - remarkable wine." Guide Hachette 2012.
Screwcap.
RRP $26

Price: $19.99

Elio Grasso Langhe Nebbiolo Gavarini 2011

Honest expressions of the terroir of Monforte d'Alba, which generally produces a bigger, more tannic style of Barolo than those from La Morra or Barolo itself. Without doubt, Elio & Gianluca Grasso are one of the great producers of Piedmont. Their style is somewhere between classic traditional and modern expressions of Barolo. Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker’s right hand man writes a little about them: “Elio Grasso’s wines are made in a unique, crisply articulated style that highlights balance and harmony over sheer power … The Barolos are fermented using the traditional submerged cap method and see a full month of maceration on the skins … Despite all of their success, Elio, Marina, Gianluca and Francesca Grasso, along with their cellarmaster Enrico Marchisio, remain some of the most unassuming, humble and classy people readers will meet in Piedmont.”

From younger vines (1.2 Ha) within Gavarini. Made in a modern style with partial whole-bunch ferment and some micro-oxygenation, to produce a plush, earlier drinking expression of Nebbiolo. Matured in stainless steel. Very smart offering -do not be put off by the fact this is young, a 2011 vintage…This a beautifully juicy offering with plenty of allure and character
RRP $56

Price: $44.99

Elio Grasso Barolo RÃ¼ncot 2006 - LIMITED STOCK

Elio Grasso Barolo Rüncot 2006 - LIMITED STOCK

Honest expressions of the terroir of Monforte d'Alba, which generally produces a bigger, more tannic style of Barolo than those from La Morra or Barolo itself. Without doubt, Elio & Gianluca Grasso are one of the great producers of Piedmont. Their style is somewhere between classic traditional and modern expressions of Barolo. Antonio Galloni, Robert Parker’s right hand man writes a little about them: “Elio Grasso’s wines are made in a unique, crisply articulated style that highlights balance and harmony over sheer power … The Barolos are fermented using the traditional submerged cap method and see a full month of maceration on the skins … Despite all of their success, Elio, Marina, Gianluca and Francesca Grasso, along with their cellarmaster Enrico Marchisio, remain some of the most unassuming, humble and classy people readers will meet in Piedmont.”

100% Nebbiolo from the Rüncot site in Montforte d’Alba within the Cru of Gavarini. 35-40 days on skins followed by 40 months in 100% new French oak barriques…A powerhouse/ blockbuster of a wine-that needs time !

Reviews: “The 2006 Barolo Rüncot is a huge, structured wine bursting at the seams with fruit. The French oak (100% new) is beautifully integrated. Today the wine is understandably quite reticent but its pedigree is hard to miss. Flowers, licorice and minerals linger on the finish. The 2006 Runcot needs time, most likely lots of it. Let me just say I can’t wait to taste this powerhouse once it has had more time in bottle. It is a dazzling effort. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2031.” 96+ points, Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Nov/Oct 11
(this spent 45 days on its skins, and was then aged entirely in new French barriques for 40 months with minimal racking; Grasso's other two Barolos are aged in 25-liter Slavonian oak casks): Good deep red. Expressive aromas of cherry, redcurrant, raspberry, violet, mocha and spicy oak, with savory and leathery nuances. Broad, dense and very dry, with lovely inner-palate minerality. There's excellent ripeness here but today the finish of this uncompromisingly dry, classic Barolo is cut off by its big, dusty tannins. "This vintage was second-best to 2008," noted Gianluca Grasso, "with 96% phenolic maturity." 94(+?) points
RRP $235

Price: $199.00

Achaval Ferrer Malbec 2010

Achaval Ferrer sits ‘at the summit of Argentina wine producers’, to quote Jay Miller, Robert Parker’s right hand man. A group of friends from Argentina and Italy, Santiago Achaval Becu and Manuel Ferrer joined forces in 1998 with Italian winemakers Roberto Cipresso and Tiziano Siviero to explore the terroirs and old vineyards of Mendoza. Starting at Finca Altamira, an 87 year-old vineyard about one hour’s drive to the south in the Uco Valley at La Consulta, the 102 year-old vines of Finca Bella Vista at Perdriel were added in 2002. Malbec is of course the star here and Archaval Ferrer’s wines are all about finesse and balance not the big, tannic styles widely seen. Their hallmark is their silky mouthfeel and seamless palate Old vines produce miniscule yields of intense, perfumed, complex fruit balanced with the use of new oak.

Take Jay Miller’s advice ... “the best way to discover the pleasures of Achaval Ferrer are through the entry-level Malbec” Sourced from 3 vineyards, this is the benchmark regional expression of Mendoza Malbec. Dark fruit and spice, mouthfilling, elegant and long. Wine Advocate: “The 2010 Malbec was sourced from three vineyards, two of which are 66 and 86 years of age, with the wine aged for 9 months in French oak. It is a super-fragrant offering featuring racy red fruits, spice box, incense, and floral notes. Pure, sweetly-fruited, and elegant in the glass, this intense, lengthy Malbec can be approached now and over the next 6-8 years.” Score: 91. —December 2011. Very smart wine from a good vintage 2010 (beware the rain also fell in Argentina in 2011 !) RRP $50

Price: $42.99

Bodegas y Vinedos Arnaldo â��PSIâ�� 2009 -VERY LIMITED

Bodegas y Vinedos Arnaldo ‘PSI’ 2009 -VERY LIMITED

PSI is the brainchild of Peter Sisseck, founder of Dominio de Pingus- arguably Spain most famous wine

The idea is to utilise some neglected, but potentially great old assets, human and vinous, of Ribera del Deuro. In short, they are the old bush-vine holdings ( 80 years old) of the senior citizens ( some octagenarians amongst them!) of Ribera del Duero, old peasant guys in the main, who have been growing fruit to sell off for decades.

In the main, despite the great age and quality of the vineyards, the resultant material and commercially realised wines have been uninspiring. In conjunction with Pablo Rubio (winemaker at Dominio de Pingus), Peter has re-fashioned the viticulture of these old vines, and rejuvenated the old guys’ relationship with their beloved gnarled old plots. PSI is organic and biodynamic Tinto del Pais (local clone Tempranillo) from old bush-vine plots at around 900m altitude in the valleys of Gromejón and Perales, from 4 principal locations: Pedrosa de Duero, La Aguilera, Gumiel de Izan and Peñaranda de Duero. This is similar territory to Cillar de Silos, to the north of Aranda del Deuro in the central zone of RdD.
First vintage, 2007. ‘Arnaldo’ is a lovely tract of land near Peter’s home, and mere namesake of the project, not its location. PSI is the 23rd letter of the Greek Alphabet (and also the initials P and Si of the maker, señor Sisseck).

Smoky purple fruits, lifted red cola over meat glaze and deep woodily-wizened aromas of old vines. Beautifully earthy to smell and taste, full and bright, laden with dark cherry fruit. A fine, elegant and polished Ribera.

Smoky purple fruits in a meat’n’beet register, lifted red cola over meat glaze, with a pink peppercorn lift and the deep woodily-wizened smell of old, gnarly vines. Gently, beautifully earthy to smell and taste, densely fruited, it’s full and bright, not heavy, laden with dark cherry fruit - a fine, elegant and polished Ribera. Stylistically straddling Burgundy and Barolo - soft and juicy at front leading into wonderful old-vine fruit tannin, with gentle acid/spice closure at palate’s end. Beautiful deep, subtle palate, with wonderful fruit tannin, spice and the expression of vine age. 2009 is a warm vintage of great quality; in the sensitive hands of someone like Peter Sisseck we get wines combining power, complexity and deftness. Dry and hot from July on, September rains cooled and slowed things, and then the fruit was left to hang and harmonise quite late, being harvested in mid-to-late October. To obtain a softer extraction, the grapes of ‘PSI’ are vinified in large traditional concrete vats. The wine then spends a further 17 months ageing in a combination of concrete and wooden vats and oak barriques, all of which nurture and gently extract the wine’s complexity and natural aromas. Winemaking (to the extent it’s discernible) is incredibly dab-handed, judicious, beautiful. Old vine material overly handled gets too dry and abstract, but this has been lightly handled and retains juicy deftness along with the old vine depth, extract and character. Stylish indeed, the palate is self-assured, composed, deeply-rooted in its sense of place. This is top shelf RRP $100

Price: $84.99

Dominio de Tares Baltos Mencia 2009

This super-value "Baltos", a 100% old-vine Mencía (forty years old) which is aged for six months in barriques. Having achieved "Top 100" status with the inaugural 2001 bottling, the current incarnation is a more mature and naturally assured offering. The vines are located in Cabanelas near the village of Valtuille de Abajo(in the region of Bierzo, Spain just north of Portugal) , whose smooth hillsides face south at an altitude of 500 metres above sea level and where clay and calcareous soils with small fragments of ferric slates produce extremely low yields. This 2009 release is an excellent, potent and individual Bierzo that revels in a nose of earth, mineral, pencil lead, and red and black cherry. The palate is ripe, balanced, spicy, and wonderfully textured and long. It has a powerful and concentrated style and it's easy to see why Mencia was once thought to be an ancient clone of Cabernet Franc (an impression which has been dispelled with DNA profiling); its density, structure and blue fruit/pencil shaving aromas evokes something of a fine right bank Bordeaux. Benefits from some air! RRP $31

Price: $25.99

Benjamin Leroux Savigny-Les Beaune 2010 - VERY LIMITED

“You may remember that when I asked Allen Meadows, aka Burghound, on this video who he thought might be a natural heir to the late great Henri Jayer of Burgundy, one of the two people he cited was young Benjamin Leroux of Domaine Comte Armand.” Jancis Robinson, Jan 2009, www.jancisrobinson.com

“Leroux’s passion, ambition and sheer talent have already resulted in a number of stunning, beautiful wines, but my sense is that the best is yet to come.” Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 194 May 2011

“Benjamin Leroux is quiet and unassuming, but his wines more than speak for themselves. I tasted a wide range of 2010s, but was only able to revisit a handful of 2009’s as production is just a barrel or two for most wines. These are some of the most interesting wines being made in Burgundy today.” Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate

As the Jancis Robinson/Burghound quote above makes clear, Leroux is considered one of the most gifted and knowledgeable wine growers in the whole Cote d’Or. You just have to ask any serious Bourgogne producer about Leroux to understand the respect he has garnered amongst his colleagues in the region. He was always considered a prodigy, studying at the Lycée Viticole in Beaune from the age of 13 and taking the reins at the esteemed Domaine Comte Armand when he was only 26. Leroux’s success with the Domaine’s wines over the last decade has well justified the decision to appoint such a young man to run the show. He will continue to manage Comte Armand despite now having his own range of wines (another sign of how well respected he is). The range is fine tuned – several grand cru wines are now in barrel for example – and new vineyard acquisitions will add to the offering, however Leroux is determined only to work with vineyards that have been well managed and produce outstanding fruit, regardless of whether or not they have famous names. He actually champions lesser known regions in Burgundy which is refreshing. This makes sense, Leroux’s knowledge of Burgundy is encyclopedic and producers like him are waking up the wine world to the fact that the reputation of many Cote d’Or vineyards has as much to do with the producers who work them than any intrinsic qualities of the sites themselves.

Attended his masterclass in Sydney recently and the cat is well and truly out of the bag, Benjamin Leroux’s 2010 wines were highly impressive. I was very impressed with his Savigny-les beaune - he sees lots of potential in Savigny and relishes it as a region as it has no pretension! (Preferred these over his Gevrey Chambertin!)

This is a blinder of a Savigny village, bursting with red berries and fresh cherry fruit, hints of forest floor and tangy sappy finish. What a great drink! In 2010 this is entirely made form declassified 1re Cru fruit! Fine powdery tannins, wonderful depth of fruit and vibrancy here.

"The 2010 Savigny-les-Beaune ( from tank) shows remarkable intensity and depth at this level. Layers of dark red fruit flow though to the textured, inviting finish. This is all declassified 1re Cru fruit.” (87-88) points, Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate #199
RRP $73

Price: $62.99

Roda Reserva Tempranillo Graciano Rioja 2007

Often referred to as “the Grand Cru of Rioja”, Bodega Roda is a landmark in the old Riojan city of Haro. From the underground drives to the dedicated, floor-heated malolactic cellar, everything Roda does speaks of precision and fastidious attention to detail. Fruit from each of its 17 vineyards is vinified separately and only after a year in barrel are decisions taken about the wines' ultimate designation. Irrespective of this though, Roda's ground-breaking R&D work on the phenolic maturity of Tempranillo means that all their wines are famed for their ethereal balance, elegance and finesse. From Sela through to their flagship Cirsion, the wines progress from the red-fruit spectrum to the black, all the while increasing in concentration and complexity, while retaining that signature finesse and balance.

Fruit is from vineyards in excess of 30 years (some up to 80 years old), grown organically, aged in French barrels, neither filtered nor fined. Each vintage is made "on its merits" to reflect style of the vintage (rather than an application of a recipe). ...Aromatic, fresh red berry thru' to black fruit, some dark chocolate and tar/roast meat underneath with fine silky tannins. Ooodles of class and sophistication in their fine reds.

The team at Roda are not merely dedicated, they are detail-obsessed. Perhaps the most impressive (mahogany-scented) winery you will ever see; everything is about the production and retention of grape quality - the modern approach to wine through viticulture is nowhere given more commitment. All of the fruit is off vineyards in excess of 30 years (some up to 80 years old), grown organically. Fermentation in foudre, and aged in French barrels, with a minimum of oxidative handling, and neither filtered nor fined. Significantly, each vintage is made "on its merits" - work levels, style, etc are responses to vintage realities - not applications of a recipe.

The red+black fruits palate continues with amazing freshness and balance….forest floor, roast meat, tobacco, violets, … a nice sense of crispness works into the back stretch where fine oak, natural acid, a long mineral flourish, Roda's trademark amazing velvet fruit tannins and a boof of purple florals all feature in a quiet riot. Composed, sensual and taut, packed with complex flavour and textures, it's a supremely delicate and deft wine with depth concentration and more pronounced oak influence. 97% Tempranillo and a little Graciano from 35-80 yr old vineyards. All class and sophistication in this fine wine.
RRP $115 Our SPECIAL Price $89.99

Price: $89.99

Bruno Giacosa Falletto Barolo 2005 - VERY LIMITED

Chateau Beaucastel chateauneuf du Pape Rouge 2006 - Limited.

95 POINTS ... Robert Parker’s review from the Wine Advocate ..
“ As I stated last year, there is no hommage a Jacques Perrin in 2006, but Beaucastel’s 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape is performing even better from bottle than it did last year. Its dense plum/ruby/purple color is followed by a big, sweet perfume of black truffles, camphor, earth, incense, new saddle leather, and loads of peppery, blackberry, and herb-infused, meaty, black cherry fruit. Deep, full-bodied, and dense, with sweet tannin, this explosively rich Chateauneuf is a stronger effort than the 2005, 2004, or 2003. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2028."

Review by Gary Walsh from Winefront ..
“Beaucastel are big believers in Mourvedre and I am too – it’s the X-Factor grape. Dark, brooding and savoury – a wine of rugged mystery and complexity. Dark chocolate, earth, orange peel, blackberry with some raspberry, earth, licorice and pepper are the flavours – though possibly I’ve listed too many – it’s the ‘idea’ of it that’s important. Full bodied and dense, not fruity, but with plenty of weight and flavour…and it’s clean too. Some dried herb on the long and admirably sweet finish. Looked fresher and more vibrant after being open for a day. A wine of charisma and character. “
RRP $190

More Details
Robert Parker .... "Beaucastel and its subsidiary wines marketed under the Perrin et Fils moniker are consistently among the bright shining stars of France. I have been visiting this estate for nearly thirty years, and over that time I have seen all the elements of what makes wines great – an incredible respect for the vineyards, a conscientious, uncompromising work ethic, and extraordinary passion for gentle handling of fruit from their sites. Brothers Jean-Pierre and Francois Perrin seem to be gradually inching closer to retirement as their sons take more and more of a front row seat in the running of this outstanding estate. This is a marvelous portfolio of wines, from the extraordinary values, to the top-end world classics. While one could say this is as traditionally run estate as can be found in western Europe, the Perrins are remarkably flexible if they sense that quality can be improved. Quality rises dramatically with the Perrin et Fils cuvees. The Cotes du Rhone Reserve wines are produced primarily from the estate vineyards at Grand Prebois and Vinsobres, with some purchased fruit from such Cotes du Rhone appellations as St.-Gervais. Marc Perrin, who is responsible for winemaking at Perrin et Fils, seems to go from strength to strength with this line of wines, which includes negociant bottlings as well as some from estate vineyards in Vinsobres.”

Price: $159.99

Ernesto Catena Siesta Malbec 2009

Ernesto Catena is the eldest son of Nicolás Catena of Catena Zapata, Argentina’s largest and most respected winemaking families. Considered a ”bit of a rockstar” of modern Argentinian winemaking. His access to the finest old vine material ( thanks to the catena empire has produced the goods), Siesta wines are a tribute to the ancient Inca civilization and their respect for the land. The Incas would often bury offerings to the land so that it would remain healthy and fertile. Following this ancient tradition, every year they bury in the Vistaflores vineyard a few bottles of their best wines, hoping that while sleeping their endless “Siesta”, they will protect the vines, people and harvest.

Malbec fruit for this powerful, robust wine is sourced from several prime vineyards (high altitude vineyards at 40 yrs of age). Maturation 100% French Oak (25% new) to add a savoury dimension.

“Rich but very well-focused, with Kenya AA coffee framing the roasted fig, hoisin sauce and plum pudding notes, which glide through the graphite-supported finish.” Wine Spectator.

I can understand why the best restaurants in Buenos Aires apparently clamour to list his wines! This is rich powerful wine but yet balanced by savoury tar & licorice characters. Si senor- this absolutely over delivers quality for the price. RRP $40

Price: $31.99

Noemia A Lisa 2010

This leading Patagonia winery is located in Rio Negro Valley, 620 miles south of Buenos Aires in the middle of the desert of Patagonia. The climate is bone dry with just seven inches of rain each year. The dry climate with a maximum humidity of 30% keeps the area free of disease; the atmosphere is pristine, pure and unpolluted. Winemaker, Hans Vinding-Diers ( Danish, Bordeaux-trained, cousin of Peter Sisseck of Pingus fame in Espana) is fanatical as far as attention to detail goes- biodynamic viticulture, hand harvesting and gravity driven vinification. He joined forces with italiana Noemi Marone- Cinzano (part of the Cinzano family) in this exciting venture. The hallmark of this bodega is "elegancia" , a seamless palate and balance- not big tannic blockbusters often typical of Mendoza.

Fruit is sourced from three different vineyards all 50 yrs of age. This red blend comprises 90% Malbec, 9% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot and was matured 10 months in second year French oak. Deep purple colour with aromas of spice, currants and a hint of violets. Full-bodied and signature elegance in this wine- more savoury fruit spectrum than malbec from mendoza with lots of blackberry and dark cherry fruit and silky fine grained tannins and a lick of raspberry. Do not miss out on this gorgeous wine...

Decanter 5 stars 19/20 points .. "Dark berry fruit - fresh and young with spicy notes. Bright and juicy palate, ripe yet elegantly structured tannins. The 1% Petit Verdot adds green peppery notes. Great cellaring potential." RRP $58

Price: $45.99

David Hook Reserve Barbera 2011 - STRAIGHT DOZEN SPECIAL!

Winemaker, David Hook “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.

* Trophy for Best Red from Italian or Spanish Varietal at 2012 NSW Small Winemakers Show *

This native grape of piedmont in Italy, was grown in a vineyard in the foothills of Mount Canobolas (near Orange). The cool climate and ancient volcanic soils combined produce high quality grapes with good intensity of flavour and high natural acidity. Classic varietal characters of dark cherry, prune and spice. 2011 was a great season..the Hunter and Orange were spared the rain that came down in south australia and victoria. This medium to full bodied red has good structure with firm velvety tannins balanced by good acidity (barbera and sangiovese retain more acidity than shiraz and cabernet).
This drinks beautifully -Bring on the pasta and pizza. Salute!

ONLY $25 a bottle WHEN YOU BUY AS A STRAIGHT DOZEN !

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Review by Chris Shanahan, Australian wine judge and writer, November 2012 ... ".. easily the best Australian expression of the style that I've tasted. The fleshy but not plump palate, and smooth, silky tannins make this a more complete, satisfying red without abandoning the varietal character."

Price: $300.00

Hewitson Miss Harry GSM 2010

Leading Barossa vigneron, Dean Hewitson has had a wealth of winemaking experience - he cut his teeth for 10 years at Petulama, followed by several vintages in France and Oregon. He has done his time to earn the coveted 5 red star winery James Halliday rating reserved for top 3% of Australia's best wineries.

He has done well with this Barossa GSM sourced from historic, dry-grown vineyards dating back to the 1800s. What a delightful medium bodied blend of Grenache, Shiraz, Morvedre, Carignan and Cinsault... juicy ripe summer berries, spice, dried lavender and herbs. Good concentration of fruit balanced by refreshing acidity. Yum! RRP $27

94 points James Halliday "... sourced from 25 separate vineyard plots, five over 100 years old, half of the remainder over 50 years old. Medium-bodied, there is wonderful tension between the array of predominantly black fruits and the savoury tannins on the finish. The only question is why it is so underpriced."

RRP $27

Price: $18.99

This product has sold out.

Jed Malbec 2012 - STRAIGHT DOZEN SPECIAL!

Each year, Jed’s three young Australian winemakers travel to the Uco Valley in Argentina to craft wines that express the unique characters of this acclaimed alpine region. They were hugely impressed with the Uco Valley in Mendoza (450 year history of winemaking) as a unique place to make wine with its fresh snowmelt water (from the Andes), crisp mountain air, high altitude (1250 m) and pure UV light.

Mendoza is famous for producing the world’s finest Malbec but it is the cooler sites of Uco Valley that have recently been discovered as the best. This pristine environment produces naturally balanced wines which require minimal intervention in both the vineyard and winery. The cooler climate fosters the development of the bright cherry flavours in this wine and provides a fine tannin structure. Jed Malbec is made in a traditional medium bodied style. 70% aged in 2nd/3rd use French/American oak to showcase the trademark fine/ripe tannins of Mendoza Malbec.
This beautifully fragrant “vino tinto” has cascading flavours of bright cherries, wild blackberries and chocolate. Love the intensity of fruit on the palate and fine grained silky tannins. Beautiful balance in this fine medium bodied red. Sip on this and you will hear the accordion and feel the intensity and style of tango! Bargain.

Price: $191.88

Spinifex Le Chemin 2009

‘Le Chemin’ meaning ‘The Path’ or ‘The Way’ – is a co-fermented blend of Grenache, Mataro, Shiraz, Carignan and Cinsault fruit exclusively sourced from very old vineyards. The fruit quality in 2009 vintage was so good it provided an opportunity for a rare bottling: to co-ferment these varieties together in a single tank as the mild and long season presented a window where all five varieties were at an optimal and appropriate maturity to generate such a blend.

Following fermentation the wine was matured in a single large old French oak cask or “foudre” (2500ltrs) for 20 months. A wine of refinement and purity. Aromatically complex, perfumed with high-toned spice, red fruits and ethereal dried flower, herb, earth and gamey complexity. A clear demonstration of the magic and innate complexity of old vine fruit, it is startling in its clarity, purity and restraint. Pure and fresh with herb laced red fruits on attack that evolve into earthier dried and woody spices. Has a supple and open front palate that gains focus, freshness and line as fine, firm tannin and ripe acids draw the palate out. Fine, dry, lingering finish" Very Limited

Price: $83.99

Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Vielles Vignes 2010

The Saurel Family have run this biodynamic vineyard for 4 generations (since 1821) - Joel & Aime now run the Domaine - 42 acres including 30 acres in Gigondas. Prime focus on terroir & organic vineyard practices thanks to Joel's father Clovis Saurel and his passion for the land. Since star chateauneuf winemaker consultant, Philippe Cambie came on board in 1998 wine quality has soared - meaning much deserved attention from the international wine crits and paparazzi!

Average age of 50 years old low yielding vines in Gigondas. Incredibly complex geology/soils translates to terrific results.
This beautiful full bodied wine is a gorgeous offering! Comprises 80% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre from Gigondas (the lower terraced vineyards, stony, sedimentary soils, 40 years old vines, minuscule yields providing depth and power, 12 months in oak (foudre). Richness and complexity abound with moreish savoury tar. Gigondas at it's best ... Bargain here for "chateau neuf" quality. Decant this wine or cellar for 10 years.

“The most concentrated effort of the vintage is the 2010 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes ... it offers up aromas and flavors of graphite, ink, incense, blueberry liqueur, black fruits and figs. This super concentrated, rich, full bodied, unctuously textured Gigondas should drink well for a decade.” Robert Parker—The Wine Advocate

Price: $42.99

The Wendouree 2001 Museum Release 6 Pack - LIMITED STOCK!!

Domaine Saint Damien Cotes du Rhone Vielles Vignes 2011

The Saurel Family have run this biodynamic vineyard for 4 generations (since 1821) - Joel & Aime now run the Domaine - 42 acres including 30 acres in Gigondas. Prime focus on terroir & organic vineyard practices thanks to Joel's father Clovis Saurel and his passion for the land. Since star chateauneuf winemaker consultant, Philippe Cambie came on board in 1998 wine quality has soared - meaning much deserved attention from the international wine crits and paparazzi!

Average age of 50 years old low yielding vines in Gigondas. Incredibly complex geology/soils translates to terrific results.

Comprises of 80% Grenache, 15% Carignan and 5% Mourvèdre. Fruit is sourced from the lower terraced parcels of the Plan de Dieu lieu?dit, in the commune of Violès. Grenache and Carignan vines are over 60 years old and the Mourvèdre 30 years. Delightful concentration and multilayered Cotes du Rhone thanks to depth of fruit from the old vine material. A winner!
Special Dozen Buy also avaialble $312 ie $26 a bottle

Price: $27.99

$Agnes de Cervera \'La Petite Agnes\' Priorat Garnacha 2011$

Agnes de Cervera 'La Petite Agnes' Priorat Garnacha 2011

Agnes de Cervera is a family-owned property in the centre of Priorat, famed Spanish wine region just outside Barcelona. The Cervera family have spent the last decade acquiring and planting over 250 acres of land in several villages, of which about 90 acres are vineyard. The project is named after Agnès, granddaughter of owner, Miguel Jimènez de Cervera who dedicated this project to Agnès to show her his love. She’s ten years old and grows up around the vineyards, sharing with all her family a great passion for wine!

This is delicious (typical Priorat) medium bodied comprises 85% Garnacha and 15% Samsó spanish name for carignan followed by a brief maturation in French barriques). Juicy red wine brimming with purity of fruit…plush black cherries, plums, framed by classic refreshing raspberry and characteristic terroir mineral tariness ( thanks to the schist rock known as ‘licorella’ soil in the area). Terrific value here- Viva Espana!

RRP $34 Special price $25.99

Price: $25.99

Teusner Avatar GSM 2011

Kym Teusner was crowned king by Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine as Young Winemaker of the Year in 07. He has produced extraordinary wine here!! Often referred to as the big brother to their un-oaked Joshua GMS, the 2011 Avatar release has a little more Shiraz in the blend than other recent vintages and Teusner consider it their stand out wine of the vintage. Grenache still dominates the blend with spice and red-fruited lift and Mataro adds earthiness and some resounding bass notes. This classic Rhone blend consists of Grenache 49%, Shiraz 30% Mataro 21% - the grenache and mataro fruit is all sourced from low yielding dry grown 70 to 85 yr old vineyards.

91 Points – “This rolls out with a darker colour and shows plenty of shiraz impact, with blackberry fruits and gently earthy spice, some lifted peppery notes too. The palate’s ripe and dense, with solid black and blue fruit flavours, ripe tannins and a slightly resiny oak streak”. Nick Stock, Good Wine Guide 2013.
RRP $39 (see also Straight Dozen buy)

Price: $27.99

Galah Clare Valley Cabernet Malbec 2002

Stephen George wears 3 winemakers’ hats, one for his Ashton Hills wines coming from his estate vineyard high in the Adelaide Hills, one for Galah wines and the other for the iconic Wendouree in Clare.

Prized fruit for this wine was sourced from the Wendouree vineyard (mostly from the “newer” 1911 plantings – now 99 years old!).

Stephen George said:” Wendouree vineyard is an incredible piece of dirt- even in severe drought the vineyard is green when the rest of Clare is irrigating madly – the dry grown vineyard roots have burrowed down so deep over the years to find water and all the trace elements needed……This impeccable source indicates the wines’ promise:- big and chewy without being syrupy, sweet, woody and alcoholic, and with years ahead of them…..the 02 Galah table wines could easily cellar for another 15 years ” Stephen George calls this his favourite of the Galah Wines.

“This classic blend has exciting cassis and eucalypt aromas, with marmitey and leather characters now developing over an under-layer of great soft tannin and acidity, suggesting it can handle more time in the cellar. Other vintages also provide plenty of adventure.” 94 points Tony Love, The Advertiser April 09.

Decant this wine for at least 2-3 hours (this is still tight on opening) or cellar carefully up to 2020. Serve with hearty meat dishes. Limited.

RRP: $39

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94 points Tyson Steltzer 2012 ... "Stephen George must have exercised Jedi self control to hold back for a full decade the signature blend of the Clare Valley, from one of the most legendary vineyards of the region, sourced primarily from the "newer" Wendouree plantings of 1911. Such a pedigree promises great things, but even this does nothing to prepare you for the youthful vibrancy that this wine emanates from every pore. At a full ten years of age almost to the day, it still has a perfume of violets, and cabernet's classic signature of redcurrants and capsicum. There's Clare mint and leaf in spades, and a slowly building bottle complexity of roast capsicum. Wendouree's telltale, firm, finely structured, mineral tannins hold forth, and will continue to do so for at least five years yet. An effortless wine of medium body and low alcohol. For all it represents, it's ridiculously underpriced."

Price: $32.99

San Giusto A Rentennano Chianti Classico Riserva â��Le Baroncoleâ�� 2009

San Giusto A Rentennano Chianti Classico Riserva ‘Le Baroncole’ 2009

San Giusto A Rentannano are up there with Italy’s top growers -they are all about purity of sangiovese fruit, elegance ( almost feminine for super Tuscan), beautiful aromatics, and superb freshness …Percalo a selection of Sangiovese from six cru vineyards that form the best expression of the terroir of San Giusto multilayered, firm tannins and beautifully integrated French oak but they do not over do the oak. Powerful wine- cellars well up to 20 yrs They certified organic in 2008 vintage

Set in the far south of the Chianti Classico zone, San Giusto a Rentennano started out as a medieval Cistercian monastery and currently owns about 40 hectares of vineyards – a small landholding compared to some of big Tuscan names and a feature that means they produce small quantities of wine.

Accolades galore from the wine scribes like Parker, Tanzer, Wine Spectator etc… A couple of quotes

"I can’t think of too many growers who would show the humility to say “I could have done better” when talking about one of his highly acclaimed wines from a few years ago. It is precisely that quiet drive to continue to improve which makes Luca Martini di Cigala and San Giusto a Rentennano one of Italy’s top producers." -- The Wine Advocate, June 2008

“…enjoy yourself with one of the greatest Super-Tuscans of them all, the 100%-sangiovese Percarlo, made from a selection of the best grapes of the property, and the 100%-merlot La Ricolma, a cult wine that is now back in top form…” – International Wine Cellar, Jul/Aug 07

“San Giusto a Rentennano is one of Italy’s leading estates. Brothers Luca and Francesco Martini di Cigala are quiet and unassuming. They prefer to let the wines speak for themselves, which they do with great eloquence...From top to bottom, these remain some of the most reasonably priced wines in the world considering the pure quality of what goes into the bottle.” Antonio Galloni

Terrific fruit selection / depth of fruit- powerful strident wine but needs time. Again oak is not overdone ( a lot of Riservas can be over oaked) 92 pts Galloni "...caresses the palate with layers of sweet red berries, flowers, mint and spices. As is often the case when the Baroncole is young, the French oak is just a bit intrusive. That should be less of an issue as the wine ages. I don’t see the 2009 being a long-term wine, but then again, I have often been surprised by the ageability of these Chiantis. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2021."

RRP $95

Price: $81.99

Kilikanoon Prodigal Grenance 2006 - LAST REMAINING BOTTLES!

Here's a bit of what Englishman Matthew Jukes wrote about this incredible wine .... My enthusiasm is the same.

"Strap yourself in for a roller coaster ride, because this spectacular wine is a white knuckle treat.... This dense, dark brooding red is made from the woefully underrated red grape Grenache.... Grenache forms the engine room of Chateauneuf du Papes, and it is this complex flavour spectrum and inert power that Prodigal Grenache has in spades..... You must decant it because there is a lot of energy in this wine that needs to be organised, ordered and aligned in a decanter before you dive in...... I tasted it last week and went back to it over the next 3 days and it kept opening up and revealing more and more layers of crushed plum and spice... Staggering value for money, this is a wine that is drinking beautifully now, but has five or more years ahead of it to perform wonders for you."

Silver BEST IN CLASS 2009 International Wine & Spirit Competition. Tasting notes from the judges at IWSC ... “Dark magenta colour with an earthern red edge. Old vine complexity on the nose, graphite, ironstone, roasting spices, currants and voluptuous framboise. This is a very beautiful, complex and generous Grenache, fleshy and sweet, dusty tannins and a long earthy herbal peppery finish. A very serious wine which is deliciously approachable.” Clearance special $28.99

Price: $28.99

San Giusto A Rentannano Percarlo 2007 - VERY LIMITED

San Giusto A Rentannano are up there with Italy’s top growers -they are all about purity of sangiovese fruit, elegance, almost feminine for super Tuscan), beautiful aromatics, and superb freshness …Percalo a selection of Sangiovese from six cru vineyards that form the best expression of the terroir of San Giusto multilayered, firm tannins and beautifully integrated French oak but they do not over do the oak. Powerful wine- cellars well up to 20 yrs They became certified organic in 2008 vintage

Set in the far south of the Chianti Classico zone, San Giusto a Rentennano started out as a medieval Cistercian monastery and currently owns about 40 hectares of vineyards – a small landholding compared to some of big Tuscan names and a feature that means they produce small quantities of wine.

Their Percarlo is made from 100% estate Sangiovese, organically grown from the finest vineyards. Yields are exceptionally low – around 1kg of grapes per vine – and the vines sit on a complex combination of mineral rich soils, imbuing the grapes with exceptional acidity and fruit purity. A near perfect microclimate offers cool nights which slows the ripening process and increases complexity, and long warm days which allows the Sangiovese to reach complete ripeness. They are then hand picked and rigorously sorted (up to 50% of grapes can be discarded if they don’t reach stringent quality standards) as late as possible. Combined with a use of natural yeasts and unfiltered bottling, this is a truly unique and memorable expression of Sangiovese.

Accolades galore from the wine scribes like Parker, Tanzer, Wine Spectator etc… A couple of quotes:

"I can’t think of too many growers who would show the humility to say “I could have done better” when talking about one of his highly acclaimed wines from a few years ago. It is precisely that quiet drive to continue to improve which makes Luca Martini di Cigala and San Giusto a Rentennano one of Italy’s top producers." -- The Wine Advocate, June 2008

“…enjoy yourself with one of the greatest Super-Tuscans of them all, the 100%-sangiovese Percarlo, made from a selection of the best grapes of the property, and the 100%-merlot La Ricolma, a cult wine that is now back in top form…” – International Wine Cellar, Jul/Aug 07

“San Giusto a Rentennano is one of Italy’s leading estates. Brothers Luca and Francesco Martini di Cigala are quiet and unassuming. They prefer to let the wines speak for themselves, which they do with great eloquence...From top to bottom, these remain some of the most reasonably priced wines in the world considering the pure quality of what goes into the bottle.” Antonio Galloni

Still needs a little more time – a touch warmer vintage so a touch bigger a bit like their 05 … Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso, 96 pts Galloni
RRP $155

Price: $129.99

Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Rouge 2010 - VERY LIMITED

“You may remember that when I asked Allen Meadows, aka Burghound, on this video who he thought might be a natural heir to the late great Henri Jayer of Burgundy, one of the two people he cited was young Benjamin Leroux of Domaine Comte Armand.” Jancis Robinson, Jan 2009, www.jancisrobinson.com
“Leroux’s passion, ambition and sheer talent have already resulted in a number of stunning, beautiful wines, but my sense is that the best is yet to come.” Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 194 May 2011
“Benjamin Leroux is quiet and unassuming, but his wines more than speak for themselves. I tasted a wide range of 2010s, but was only able to revisit a handful of 2009’s as production is just a barrel or two for most wines. These are some of the most interesting wines being made in Burgundy today.” Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate

As the Jancis Robinson/Burghound quote above makes clear, Leroux is considered one of the most gifted and knowledgeable wine growers in the whole Cote d’Or. You just have to ask any serious Bourgogne producer about Leroux to understand the respect he has garnered amongst his colleagues in the region. He was always considered a prodigy, studying at the Lycée Viticole in Beaune from the age of 13 and taking the reins at the esteemed Domaine Comte Armand when he was only 26. Leroux’s success with the Domaine’s wines over the last decade has well justified the decision to appoint such a young man to run the show. He will continue to manage Comte Armand despite now having his own range of wines (another sign of how well respected he is). The range is fine tuned – several grand cru wines are now in barrel for example – and new vineyard acquisitions will add to the offering, however Leroux is determined only to work with vineyards that have been well managed and produce outstanding fruit, regardless of whether or not they have famous names. He actually champions lesser known regions in Burgundy which is refreshing. This makes sense, Leroux’s knowledge of Burgundy is encyclopedic and producers like him are waking up the wine world to the fact that the reputation of many Cote d’Or vineyards has as much to do with the producers who work them than any intrinsic qualities of the sites themselves.

"Once again Leroux's amuse-bouche red is a blend of declassified Santenay Villages and 1er cru la Comme. Leroux declassifies these wines because otherwise he would have no Bourgogne to sell! The origin of the wines and the startling quality, make it an absolute steal, punching well above its generic level. Fleshy and deep with dark cherry and floral-scented fruit along with powdery tannins that show that the wine will clearly age. Wonderful depth and character, it is a ripe, powerful, Côte de Beaune rouge and simply too good for the Bourgogne appellation it misleadingly wears on its label. "The 2010 Bourgogne Rouge (from tank) is a fleshy, supple wine laced with floral red fruits, best suited for drinking over the next few years. Leroux’s Bourgogne is made from declassified fruit from the Santenay 1er Cru La Comme and a 1er Cru fruit from St. Aubin." (87-88) points, Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate #199
RRP $53

Price: $43.99

Turners Crossing Shiraz Viognier 2007

Turners Crossing, planted by Paul Jenkins in 1999 and named after the local farmers crossing at Loddon River in Victoria's Bendigo in the late 1800s. Much celebrated and zealous winemaker, Sergio Carlei was so impressed with the consistent quality and balance of fruit produced on the vineyard (warm days to ripen fruit and cool nights impart vibrancy/freshness and savoury more-ish leather/tarriness in the flavour spectrum) that he was quick to strike up a business partnership with Paul to create Turners Crossing wines. The vineyard's unique red sandy clay soils over limestone (like the Coonawarra) provide great drainage and high ph ideal for vines to access all the trace elements and minerals needed in the soils which translates to consistency of quality. Low yields and much care and attention - use of organic fertilisers and dry mediteranean summers means minimal disease pressure and no need for chemical sprays in the vineyard.

Sergio employs long maceration, wild yeast co-fermentation of 95% shiraz and 5% viognier followed by 24 months maturation in French oak. 2007 was a drought year (yields were down 40%) producing concentrated, muscular/structured wine that needed time. After 6 years bottle age in the wineries cellar ... Eureka! This fine wine has come into its own!

Gorgeous synergy of rich black fruits, spice, complexity, finesse with great power/length, firm, silky tannins balanced by raspberry freshness on the finish. This back vintage beauty is drinking magnificently now with another 3 or 5 years cellaring potential. We tasted this alongside their newly released 2010 (96 points and listed in Best of Best in Halliday's latest book) and preferred this 2007. Yum and joy to bottle age! This bargain is our quality and value wine of the year! Do not miss out here!

Halliday rated this 94 points: "Incredibly ripe redcurrant and blackberry bouquet with a suggestion of bay leaf in the background; very warm on entry, there is a generous quality to the fruit; the tannins sit apart at this stage, but given the dimensions of the wine, time will be of great assistance." March 2009.
RRP $24

Price: $18.99

Colome Estate Malbec 2010

Established is 1831, Bodega Colome is one of Argentina’s most esteemed and oldest producers located in Argentina's region of Salta in the Upper Calchaqui Valley, home to the highest vineyards in the world at altitudes of 2300-3311 metres. Semi arid climate with warm days and cold nights is ideal for viticulture. Intense UV light with altitude results in thick skin development to protect against sun.

100% biodynamic vineyard from high in the mountains of Salta (vineyards are between 2400 and 2700 metres above sea level) bulk of fruit comes from estate vineyard (150 yrs of age-trunks of vines remind me of olive trees! at 2400 metres …

Delicious malbec 85% with a splash of tannat, cabernet sauvignon, syrah & petit verdot. 15 mths maturation in french oak with depth of fruit, and beautifully ripe tannins. You can taste the mountain alpine freshness in this delicious vibrant malbec which is almost burgundy- esque in style....

Price: $44.99

Turners Crossing Shiraz Viognier 2007 - STRAIGHT DOZEN SPECIAL!

Turners Crossing, planted by Paul Jenkins in 1999 and named after the local farmers crossing at Loddon River in Victoria's Bendigo in the late 1800s. Much celebrated and zealous winemaker, Sergio Carlei was so impressed with the consistent quality and balance of fruit produced on the vineyard (warm days to ripen fruit and cool nights impart vibrancy/freshness and savoury more-ish leather/tarriness in the flavour spectrum) that he was quick to strike up a business partnership with Paul to create Turners Crossing wines. The vineyard's unique red sandy clay soils over limestone (like the Coonawarra) provide great drainage and high ph ideal for vines to access all the trace elements and minerals needed in the soils which translates to consistency of quality. Low yields and much care and attention - use of organic fertilisers and dry mediteranean summers means minimal disease pressure and no need for chemical sprays in the vineyard.

Sergio employs long maceration, wild yeast co-fermentation of 95% shiraz and 5% viognier followed by 24 months maturation in French oak. 2007 was a drought year (yields were down 40%) producing concentrated, muscular/structured wine that needed time. After 6 years bottle age in the wineries cellar ... Eureka! This fine wine has come into its own!

Gorgeous synergy of rich black fruits, spice, complexity, finesse with great power/length, firm, silky tannins balanced by raspberry freshness on the finish. This back vintage beauty is drinking magnificently now with another 3 or 5 years cellaring potential. We tasted this alongside their newly released 2010 (96 points and listed in Best of Best in Halliday's latest book) and preferred this 2007. Yum and joy to bottle age! This bargain is our quality and value wine of the year! Do not miss out here!

Halliday rated this 94 points: "Incredibly ripe redcurrant and blackberry bouquet with a suggestion of bay leaf in the background; very warm on entry, there is a generous quality to the fruit; the tannins sit apart at this stage, but given the dimensions of the wine, time will be of great assistance." March 2009.
RRP $24
Our Special Straight Dozen Price is $17.99 a bottle.

Price: $215.88

Spinifex Miette Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2010

Second label from Barossan cult producer, Spinifex. Known for their attention to detail, hands on winemaking and precision for blending their wines are all about finesse and complexity. Made from the same parcels of fruit that go into the Spinifex wines, Miette is made in a more forward, open style meaning they are approachable right now! As winemaker Pete Schell says .. "the wines are all about freshness, purity and balance. Wines made for food, family and friends.”

The fruit for this wine is 100% Barossa, handpicked from old, dry-grown sites. Winemaker Pete Schell .... "A spicy, fragrant and full-flavoured red. Alluring aromatics of warm, exotic spice and red fruits. Fresh mid weight palate with strong cherry, leather and cocoa and dried herb flavours – bright and alive on the palate –fine drying tannins." Incredible value here.
RRP $25

Price: $19.99

Spinifex Miette Mataro 2010

Second label from Barossan cult producer, Spinifex. Known for their attention to detail, hands on winemaking and precision for blending their wines are all about finesse and complexity. Made from the same parcels of fruit that go into the Spinifex wines, Miette is made in a more forward, open style meaning they are approachable right now! As winemaker Pete Schell says .. "the wines are all about freshness, purity and balance. Wines made for food, family and friends.”

Mataro - aka Mourvèdre - has to be the most underrated black grape grown in Australia but with its thick skins, naturally balanced acidity and late ripening characteristics, the variety is ideally suited to Australian conditions, particularly to the warm chocolaty rich soils of the Barossa Valley. The inaugural Miette Mataro showcases the more elegant side of this variety. Fruit for this comes from select old vines in Kalimna and Tabor, east of Tanunda and is used in Spinifex's flag ship Mataro, Tabor. Lovely savoury notes here .. . aniseed and red fruits. Deliciously smooth and vibrant sweet/savoury cherry and plum fruit, and long finish. Delivers so much for the price.
RRP $25

Price: $19.99

Teusner Avatar GSM 2012 - STRAIGHT DOZEN BUY

Kym Teusner was crowned king by Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine as Young Winemaker of the Year in 07. He has produced extraordinary wine here!! Often referred to as the big brother to their un-oaked Joshua GMS. The 2012 Avatar has a little more Shiraz in the blend than other recent vintages and is considered to be their stand out wine of the vintage. Grenache still dominates the blend with spice and red-fruited lift and Mataro adds earthiness and some resounding bass notes ... 40% Grenache, 30% Shiraz, 30% Mataro.

95 points Gary Walsh, The Wine Front - "..Well if the 2012 Joshua was the best they’ve yet made, then I reckon this might be too ... This may well be about as good as Barossa GSM gets? Strong colour leads into a deliciously aromatic and tasty wine. Hazelnut, floral notes, iron, boysenberry, cherry pips and a hard-to-describe-sensibly sensation of what might best be called ‘stony’. Medium bodied with bell clear fine acidity and equally fine tannin. Serious length. And for all those serious bits, still just so irresistibly yum. You’re having your cake and eating it here."
RRP $
Only $27.50 when you buy as a Straight Dozen!

Price: $330.00

Spinifex Indigene 2010 - SPECIAL STRAIGHT DOZEN BUY!

60% Mataro and 40% Shiraz - a very tight selection of the finest barrels to generate a blend of rare synergy - sourced exclusively from old vineyards, ranging from between 60 and 100 years of age.
Balance is the keynote of this wine - certainly the most finely structured Indigene yet released and quite possibly the most cellar-worthy.

94 points, Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front .."You can unscrew the cap and hook into this mataro shiraz blend immediately – and it will shine. But give it time to breathe, and you’re in for a mesmerising treat. Spinifex: fully credentialled “new Barossa”. If I was in the mood for a Barossa red – I can’t think of too many I’d reach for ahead of this. Drinkability and class in a well structured framework. Ground spice, mixed berries, chicory and licorice. There’s a dry, chocolatey element here but it seasons the wine only – it doesn’t seem to add sweetness. This wine feels fine on the tongue but it doesn’t lack fruit. Beautifully well balanced. Complex. And long. Gold medal standard."

96 points Nick Stock 2013 Good Wine Guide .."This blend of mataro and shiraz is an established star of the Barossa Valley, and this 2010 vintage wine makes a clear statement of prowess and power. Dark fruits, graphite, plum, tar and chocolate, plenty of spice and some bracken here too; there s an alluringly fragrant side too. The palate is built on lithe and juicy tannin that has muscular appeal without any aggressive edges; terrific density and depth here, long dark berry flavour, and toasty oak slides across the finish. Brilliant."

95 Points Tyson Stelzer - “I go to great lengths to give red wines of greatness every chance to reveal themselves: double decanting, an assessment on the spot, a retaste half a day later and again the following day. On opening, this mataro shiraz blend showcased polished black fruits within a rustic, brittle tannin exoskeleton of firm, mouth-filling, earthy mataro tannins. Half a day later, little had changed, and it was not until the next day that its true personality finally began to unravel: deep, alluring and well-defined black cherry and sweet black plum and blackberry fruits, nuanced with cola, liquorice and high cocoa dark chocolate.”

Our Price $54 a bottle when you buy in a Straight Dozen.

Price: $648.00

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