97 Points - Sam King, Wine Orbit. The Lou Miranda Estate in the southern Barossa Valley is blessed with a small block of Mataro (France’s Mourvèdre) that was planted in 1898. These ancient, exceptionally low-yielding vines produce a tiny amount of wine – a yield that was reduced even further in the heat of the brilliant 2018 vintage. The little that was made was blended with Shiraz to create one of the best premium Australian red wines. Post-fermentation it was given three years ageing in season

Recently purchased by the Tinazzi family, Pian del Gallo is located in Greve, one of the eight communes that form the Chianti Classico DOCG. Certified Organic for over 20 years, 2022 marked the first vintage from Pian del Gallo under the Tinazzi stewardship, making it one of Tinazzi's flagship names. Their Merlot Toscana is a wine with great fruit structure, fine tannins and a complex aromatic profile full of black fruits; the wines of Pian del Gallo are ones to follow. Taste A Merlot Toscana wi

The most elegant wines of the Domaine, imbued with the terroir of the Saint Tropez peninsula, Cuvee Bastide Blanche Rosé is a stunning Cru Classé with a beautiful pale pink colour. It presents a delicate nose combining aromas of rose and apricot. On the palate, freshness is accompanied by hints of peach and strawberry, with finesse and roundness culminating in a saline finish. Cru Classé Provence Rosé at its finest. Vivino Score: 4.1 (Sept 2024) Taste A beautiful pale pink colour, this wine pres

The Barossa’s tiny 2020 vintage – yields were 50% lower than the ten-year average – tested the winemaking mettle of all producers. The Lou Miranda team routinely take a fanatical approach to vineyard care, but in 2020 daily assessments were undertaken to ensure grapes were picked at the optimum moment. This turned out to be up to three weeks earlier than usual. The tiny harvest was sorted, pressed and fermented in stainless steel for nine days. The team watched fermentation like Goshawks to ensu

Recently purchased by the Tinazzi family, Pian del Gallo is located in Greve, one of the eight communes that form the Chianti Classico DOCG. Certified Organic for over 20 years, 2022 marked the first vintage from Pian del Gallo under the Tinazzi stewardship, making it one of Tinazzi's flagship names. With fine tannins and a complex aromatic profile full of red fruits, the wines of Pian del Gallo are ones to follow. Taste A Chianti with great freshness, finesse and elegance, there are fine tannin

Halliday 5 Red Star Winery. Referencing Briar Ridge's over 50 year history of winemaking, this is a blend of Shiraz from two of their oldest family-owned vineyards in the Hunter Valley (40 years) & Wrattonbully, SA (25 years). Hints of white pepper and lifted violet notes leading into a palate of rich, juicy red fruits with bright crunchy acidity. Fine grained, silky tannins provide great structure and length supported by clove and aniseed oak spice notes. Awards Halliday 5 Red Star Winery "

93 Points - The Wine Front.  Sally and Tom Belford are pioneers in the natural wine movement and their third release of Bobar Cabaret, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from their Nenagh Park vineyard. Undergoing carbonic maceration (the same process used in Beaujolais) this is a fresh, complex and delicate Cabernet Sauvignon, nothing like you may have tasted before. Medium pink and impossibly pale with a sweet smelling nose of crystalline purity. Red currants, barely ripe satsuma plums, berry leaves,

A blend of 85% Yarra Valley Pinot Noir from the silt loam soils of Nenagh Park and 15% Syrah grown on the gravel loams of the nearby Highbow Hill. The development of power and richness with great restraint results from the vast easterly aspects of these two sites and their protection from the north and west. Wines from these spectacular vineyards are flavoursome and poised. Tasting Notes An eye-catching wine, glittering deep pink with purple edges. A generous bouquet of fleshy red fruits, cherri

Viandante is the boldest creation of Viandante del Cielo, a wine of structure and poise modelled on the great vintages of Bordeaux, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with an important Merlot supporting act. The varieties may be international, but the lakeside terroir exerts a strong influence and makes this a distinctly Umbrian variation on the theme.  Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Apr 2024) Taste Dark ruby with violet tinge, complex and lifted nose of cigar box, blackcurrant leaf and crunchy morello cherry

Made in a great village in the Côte de Beaune, this wine is produced in a unique environment - in that they only produce red wines. From the very beginnings of vine growing in Burgundy, Pommard was reputed and already qualified as the “flower of Beaune” during the Middle Ages. The vineyards extend across ancient and well-drained alluvial soils, where the concentration of iron oxide reddens the earth. This wine is a deep red colour with a very expressive nose. It offers an aromatic palate of well

"Francesco Montresor left a legal profession to take over the family estate, converting it from mixed agriculture to viticulture. The property, one of the oldest in Lugana, has 95ha in various plots in the Veronese part of the DOC, including vineyards directly overlooking Lake Garda. Creete is a toothsome late-picked, single-vineyard selection with a hint of tropical fruits and candied peel on the nose then a rich palate sustained by succulent acidity and a long, dry finish." Le Creete has aroma

94 Points - The Wine Journal. The Lou Miranda Estate Heritage Series 1907 Old Vine Shiraz is a piece of Australian wine history. It is produced in minuscule quantities from fruit from their Church block which was established in 1907. These precious old vines are planted on their original rootstocks, not grafted onto American ones as is the norm today, and are afforded royal treatment. Dry grown rather than irrigated, and hand-tended at every stage of their development to ensure each vintage meet

The Barossa’s tiny 2020 vintage – yields were 50% lower than the ten-year average – tested the winemaking mettle of all producers. The Lou Miranda team routinely take a fanatical approach to vineyard care, but in 2020 daily assessments were undertaken to ensure grapes were picked at the optimum moment. This turned out to be up to three weeks earlier than usual. The rarely seen Sagrantino grapes loved the hot, dry conditions and performed spectacularly well. The tiny harvest was sorted, pressed a

Damaged Label Stock. The vineyard is situated on some of the finest terroir of Saint-Estephe, on the hallowed gravel plateau shared among parcels from Chateau Montrose, Cos d‚'Estournel and Haut Marbuzet. The wine is transferred into oak barrels for 12 months of ageing. This enhances the fruit in this wine and there are no hard tannins, rusticity or dryness. On the palate, fine grained tannins are in balance, and with the hints of cherry skin and tobacco spice with a touch of torrefaction to the

Halliday 5 Red Star Winery. The Squire Vineyard was the original name of Briar Ridge's estate in Mount View, Hunter Valley. Chardonnay was the first planted white variety on the grounds, and this wine pays homage to the crucial role that this grape has in Briar Ridge's history, as well as the history of the region.A traditional style Chardonnay, rich & opulent packed with notes of peach & melon. Subtle influence of oak provides structure & spice notes, with a natural nectarine like a

92 points - Falstaff. The Tapanappa Piccadilly Valley 2020 Chardonnay is a wonderful example of the new wave of cool-climate Australian wines. Produced in the Piccadilly Valley, a sub-region of Adelaide Hills, it’s made from thirty-year-old vines that enjoy a long, slow ripening period on poor, rain-leached sandy loam soils. Once ripe the grapes were harvested by hand and chilled to 2oC before pressing to preserve the aromas and freshness. Using innovative air-bag presses, the juice was fermente

The Domaine de La Croix vineyard, the largest of the Crus Classés Côtes de Provence, and 1 of only 18, enjoys a geographical location by the sea with an exceptional microclimate. Cuvee Éloge has a beautiful maturity in its aromas of blueberries, blackcurrants, and a hint of spice. On the palate, the tannins express themselves with elegance, accompanied by notes of pepper and black olive. The finish is long and persistent, capturing the origin and beauty of its terroir. Blend: Syrah 85% | Mourvèd

Damaged Label Stock. From the fabulous 2019 Bordeaux vintage, this lovely wine from the Blaye-Côtes de Bordeaux appellation is on the eastern side of the Gironde estuary on the opposite bank to the prestigious appellations of Margaux & St Julien. Benefiting from the cool sea breezes and river minerals from the Gironde, this superb Merlot-dominated wine is beautifully fresh with layers of exotic spices. A real gem from an under-valued appellation and fantastic vintage. Although the label is e

Damaged Label Stock. This wine is from 30 year old vines which are situated on Garonne gravel soils forcing the vines to dig deep for their nutrients. These growing conditions, combined with the stellar 2020 vintage, you get a wine full of balanced fruit, spice, power and poise. A deep violet colour. Notes of black cherry fruit with spice box and forest floor are expressive on the nose. On the palate the wine is fine and elegant with a full body and a long finish. Although the label is either s

91 Points - The Wine Front. Grown at the base of the Christmas Hills on the western of Yarra Glen, the Homestead vineyard has an expansive easterly exposure with a degree of protection from the westerly heat and hot northerly winds. This little subregion grows wine with the full and rich expression of the Yarra Valley floor with a restraint that the more exposed hillsides don’t afford. Pale straw yellow with a restrained youthful nose, quietly complex. Poached pear, freshly cut quince, jasmine b

Pristinvm, Latin for ‘ancient, original, traditional’ is a rich, lively, aromatic blend of great finesse in which native the variety Ciliegliolo is complemented by three other red varieties that have long been planted in the area. Full bodied with an intense dark fruited nose with black pepper from Ciliegiolo. Velvety yet definite tannins are enveloped in toasty oak that would release additional layers of complexity over time.  Taste Full bodied red with intense dark fruited nose, black pepper f