95 Points – Tim Atkin MW. Only 9,000 bottles of this experimental Malbec were made by the Durigutti Brothers, Hector and Pablo. It is made from five different parcels of vines, defined according to the soil profile: deep clay loam, silt loam, rocky loam, sandy loam and boulder loam. Each parcel is vinified separately in 'concrete eggs' before the final blend is created. The vineyard is at an altitude of 1,050 meters, ensuring good levels of acidity, vital in the production for high quality Malbe

94 Points - Descorchados. The El Enemigo Cabernet Franc 2019 is a wonderfully exuberant wine that demonstrates how fine Argentinean Cabernet Franc can be. The brainchild of Adrianna Catena and soils engineer Alejandro Vigil, the winery is in Argentina’s wine capital, Mendoza. The El Enemigo wines are made from the grapes cultivated in the region from the vineyards of Tupungato on deep calcareous and rocky soils. To preserve the grape’s vital character, only natural yeasts are used in fermentatio

92 Points - Tim Atkin MW. The El Enemigo Malbec 2020 is the product of one of Mendoza’s finest estates in a superb vintage. Crafted from Malbec with a little Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot adding further colour, it’s shaping up to be a classic Argentinean Malbec. Quite reserved – it contains a relatively modest 13.5% alcohol – it’s a wine with a real taste of place, with dusty minerals reinforcing its structure. Given 92/100 from both James Suckling and Robert Parker, this limited release wine

Nikela is a “Cape Blend” of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz & Roobernet. The word “Nikela” (pronounced “Ni-care-la”) is a Nguni (Xhosa/Zulu) word meaning “to offer a gift of dedication, respect or a tribute to one’s ancestors” - this wine being a tribute to winemaker Jeremy Walker’s late parents, Eddie and Betty, who contributed greatly to the establishment of Grangehurst, which was named after their childhood homes - “The Grange” and “Hurst Close” - in England. Wine Press Ratings 91 Po

A blend of 89% Pinotage and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon selected from prime, cool vineyard sites in Firgrove, Helderberg and Simonsberg, the Grangehurst 2012 is one of the best they have ever produced. To gain the perfect balance between extraction and refinement, the crushed grapes were left on their skins for 7 days. Hand-punching down was practised which goes some way to accounting for the exceptional colour, rounded tannins and amazing array of flavours. Following a temperature-controlled ferment

100% Cabernet franc and the only single block wine in the HPF portfolio. Swartskaap (Black Sheep) is recognised as one of South Africa’s best in what is considered a challenging cultivar. European in style and offering nuances of black olive, generous fruit and fynbos spice finishing with finesse & complexity.  Vivino Score: 4.3 (Sept 2024) Taste Violet to ruby red, aromas of black olive, fynbos, spice, on the palate minerality, elegance, finesse & complexity. Maturation: New and 2nd fil

96 Points - Tim Atkin MW. Keet Wines epitomises viticulturist and oenologist Christopher Keet’s philosophy that the art of viticulture and winemaking lies in the focus, attention to detail and precision nurturing of vine and wine. The grapes are sourced from some of the finest vineyards in the Stellenbosch area including the slopes of the Helderberg, Stellenbosch Mountain, Simonsberg and the Polkadraai area. An understanding of this special terroir, meticulous site selection and attention to det

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

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

95 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit. Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro (SGM) is an Australian wine classic, and the Lou Miranda Estate Fierce III SGM is one of the very best. 2019 was an outstanding year for the Barossa Valley and the family made the most of the conditions to produce a truly beautiful Australian red wine. The Shiraz gives it its wonderfully deep colour and black berry fruit, the Grenache adds plump, overripe cherries and the Mataro provides the backbone. It was aged for 15 months in seasoned

95 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit. Hailing from the exceptional 2019 Barossa Valley vintage, the Lou Miranda Estate Fierce III Shiraz is an outstanding example of super-premium Australian Shiraz. Grown on the family’s vineyards at Rowland Flat and Lyndoch in the southern Barossa Valley on single wire trellises, the grapes ripened to perfection, harmoniously balancing fruit, tannin, and acidity. Following a careful fermentation with regular pumping over to maximise extraction, it was matured in Ame

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

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

93 Points - James Suckling. Named for its iron rich, red volcanic soils, Monte Rosso has produced grapes of unmistakable character for more than a century. Three generations of the Martini family have made wine from this iconic vineyard and it continues to inspire their winemaking team on a deeply profound level. Monte Rosso remains the source of some of the most coveted bottles in the Louis M. Martini portfolio. Full bodied and concentrated the textured mouthfeel is plush, finishing long. Vibra

95 Points - Robert Parker. Named for its iron rich, red volcanic soils, Monte Rosso has produced grapes of unmistakable character for more than a century. Three generations of the Martini family have made wine from this iconic vineyard and it continues to inspire their winemaking team on a deeply profound level. Monte Rosso remains the source of some of the most coveted bottles in the Louis M. Martini portfolio. Full bodied and concentrated the textured mouthfeel is plush, finishing long. Vibran

92 Points - The Wine Independent. The best grapes make the best wine" is the philosophy applied by the Winery's founder, Louis M. Martini. Implemented at the estate since its creation in 1938, this exacting philosophy has enabled the winery to become one of the leading names in Californian wines. With its vineyards in the sumptuous Sonoma and Napa Valleys and its many award-winning wines, the estate is now world-renowned for its great Cabernet Sauvignons. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Dec 2024) Wine Press

92 Points- Andreas Larsson. The Batuta Tinto is one of Portugal’s greatest red wines. The brainchild of Dirk Niepoort, it's predominantly a blend of Malvasía, Rufete, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Roriz, and Touriga Francesa produced from vineyards that are between 70 and 100 years old. Grapes are painstakingly vinified to give a wine that is full of red berry flavours, yet is refined and elegant, before 22 months in oak adds even greater complexity and depth. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (May 2024) Wine Press Rat

94 Points - Decanter. After an enforced eight-year break in the early 2010s, where they were prohibited from making Zinfandel, Orin Swift Cellars delved into various grape varieties in California to great success. The 2021 vintage of Eight Years in the Desert is the fifth instalment of a rare and cherished wine. This exceptional Zinfandel boasts a deep maroon core and opens with captivating aromas of wild blackberry, pepper, oatmeal raisin cookie, forest floor, bay leaf, and spices. The taste is

Orin Swift Abstract is a meticulously crafted red wine known for its rich and complex character. It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Petite Sirah, creating a harmonious symphony of flavours. The wine exhibits a deep, visually striking hue and a captivating aroma profile that ranges from fruity to floral, with subtle notes of dark chocolate and spice. On the palate, it offers a full-bodied experience with robust tannins and a bold, fruit-forward taste. The finish is long and satisfying, leaving

Orin Swift Machete, an iconic Californian red, artfully blends Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Grenache from Napa and Sonoma, aged for 10 months in French oak for vanilla-spiced depth; and layer upon layer of complexity. A full-bodied lover's delight with dominant dark fruit aromas, raspberry-plum-chocolate flavours, medium tannins, and a smooth, lasting finish—perfectly paired with grilled meats, cheese, and charcuterie. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Jul 2024) Tasting Note A dark mauve core with a neon purple r