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

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

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast. In the southernmost part of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, the 392 hectares (969 acres) of Santenay’s vines take root on the first slopes of the Mont de Sene hill. The name of this appellation refers to Roman times when the village was renowned for its thermal baths and its natural spring, "Santinae aquae", meaning "healing water" in Latin. Notes  of white flowers (acacia) and opens on lemon and candied pineapple. The palate is rich and mineral with a nice salinity, whi

90 Points - VertdeVin. 'A thousand Roses'. Named after his mothers love for roses, Owner David Faure has aimed to create aromatic, rich and smooth wines, just like roses. An intense and deep purple colour, the nose is fresh, carrying floral notes and light notes of vanilla, with a subtle hint of strawberries. The palate is very fresh, lively and reveals a medium to concentrated structure. Located in the Southern Médoc with prestigious Grand Crus Classé neighbours, this Château is 100% Organic an

92 Points - Guía Peñín. From the highly regarded Bodegas Sierra Cantabria, comes this stunning Rioja Reserva from 30+ year old vines has a beautiful balance of ripe fruit, silky tannins and toasty oak. 18 months in Bordelaise barrels of 50 % French and 50 % American oak. This is Rioja at its very best. Vivino Rating: 4.1 (July 2024) About the Producer Rated well over 90 points a number of times by Robert Parker - Bodega Sierra Cantabria is located in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, a village with a

"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

91 Points - Falstaff. Deep, dark and tempting, and seriously seductive, Papale Oro has aromas of kirsch, plum and spicy oak, and flavours of rich dark chocolate, ripe cherries and spice. This is Puglian wine at its best, with great character and warmth, and a 'friendliness' sometimes lacking from its northern Italian cousins. It has delicious spiciness, complexity and pure fruit intensity, with ultra-plush, velvety texture. There are layers of ripe black cherry and blueberry fruit, and everythin

96 Points - New Zealand Wine Rater. A wonderful Burgundian style Chardonnay from a producer who carefully select fruit from Marlborough's top organic single vineyards to produce wines of great elegance and complexity. A polished, complex nose that leaps from the glass. Bursting with appealing grapefruit and peach aromas with complex notes of toasted sourdough, popcorn and white pepper lees influence. The most impressive thing about this wine is the poise, balance and restraint on the palate. It'

Owner Jose Sanfins is also the Director at the 3rd growth Château Cantenac Brown. 100% aged in Oak Barrels, this beautifully complex wine with a velvety finish is made from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and can be aged for up to 20 years. This wine is a beautiful deep ruby colour. Richness and density are both apparent in a wine that will eventually turn into bold ripe black fruits. A wine for both the present and the future. "Well-delivered slice of Médoc with clear, dark cassis fruits from an estate

91 Points / Gold Medal - Tastings.com. Owner Jose Sanfins is also the Director at the 3rd growth Château Cantenac Brown. 100% aged in oak barrels, this beautifully complex wine with a velvety finish is made from 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and can be aged for up to 20 years. This wine is a beautiful deep ruby colour. Richness and density are both apparent in a wine that will eventually turn into bold ripe black fruits. A wine for both the present and the future. "Well-delivered slice of Médoc with cl

A luxurious, approachable and expressive version of Burgundy, not only because of its price but also because it’s ready to enjoy now. The wine is partially fermented and matured in French oak barrels for 8 months. The result is captivating, elegant and buttery. This wine features a lively, aromatic nose with predominant notes of white fruit and spices, underpinned by a subtle touch of oak and vanilla. Mineral on the palate with a good balance between acidity and roundness. A gem and exceptional

FINALIST : PEOPLES CHOICE AWARDS 2019: This traditional, bottle-fermented, vintage sparkling wine is made from the traditional Champagne grape varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. This beautiful sparkling has appealing floral aromas of apple blossom interlaced with ripe melon and constance pear plus a delicate thread of minerality. On the palate the fine mousse marries citrus flavours of grapefruit and Sicilian lemon with a crystalline structure and zesty acidity. The autolytic

94 Points - The Wine Independent. Bolgheri is a relatively young yet prestigious Italian appellation located on the Tuscan coast just to the south of Livorno, home to exceptional wines. It is known mainly for deeply coloured, supple yet age worthy red wines, usually based on the Bordeaux grape varieties, which this wine is no different (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec). A classic, elegant Bordeaux style blend with round and silky tannins that

91 Points - Wine Enthusiast. 'A thousand Roses'. Named after his mothers love for roses, Owner David Faure has aimed to create aromatic, rich and smooth wines, just like roses. An intense and deep purple colour, the nose is fresh, carrying floral notes and light notes of vanilla, with a subtle hint of strawberries. The palate is very fresh, lively and reveals a medium to concentrated structure. Located in the Southern Médoc with prestigious Grand Crus Classé neighbours, this Château is 100% Orga

90 Points - vwWine. The vines of Lamothe-Bouscaut thrive in the vicinity of the Garonne River, where they have flourished for an average of 35 years, rooted in deep clay soils with a limestone base. Nestled 200 meters above sea level, these vineyards boast a composition of 20% Semillon and 80% Sauvignon Blanc. Exhibiting a pale gold hue, the wine offers a fragrant bouquet that combines notes of asparagus, acacia, lemon, and toast. On the palate, it unfolds with opulent richness and a creamy text

The Viré-Clessé appellation, located between Tournus and Mâcon, is the most recent of the Mâconnais region’s village appellations (1999), exclusively made from Chardonnay grapes. The vineyards, for the most part, are planted on hillsides, where a local type of soil derived from white limestone called “cray” can be found. This delicious Vire-Clesse is from one of Burgundy's finest. Predominant aromas of fine intense fruit, the nose reveals a touch of lemon, mango and subtle floral notes. The pala

At the end of 2011, Peter Kwok (Owner of Chateau Haut Brisson and Enclos de Viaud) acquired Château Tour Saint Christophe with his daughter Karen and La Croix Saint Christophe is the second label of the Château. Traditional farming, Guyot pruning with natural grass between the rows combined with working the soil under the vine, de-budding, leaf removal and green harvest if necessary to maintain the environmental balance. 40-year-old vines, and 15 months in French Oak Barrels (60% new). A beautif

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 - Patricio Tapia - Descorchados. The Caballo Loco Grand Cru Sagrada Familia is an exciting wine made by Valdivieso in their Sagrada Familia vineyard in Chile’s prestigious Curicó Valley. The Curicó Valley enjoys a Mediterranean climate and its volcanic and limestone allow for the production of exceptional quality noble grapes such as Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. These are at the heart of the Caballo Loco Grand Cru Sagrada Familia 2021 with Carmenere adding freshness and juiciness. Aft

Made in the 16th Century old property, the Planeta Cometa is made from some of the most beautiful southern Italian grapes, comparable with the great white wines of the world and the initial project of Planeta. Cometa is the very best expression in a unique and original way of the characteristics of this extraordinary vine. Intense and fruity aromas, its great structure and minerality today make it one of the most important white wines of southern Italy. Delicate aromas of camomile, hay, mango an

The Chateau de Gourdon Terrasse a L'Ombre is made under the relatively rarely seen Côtes du Rhône Village "Suze-la-Rousse”. A blend of old vine Grenache and Syrah, each plot is harvested individually and several ‘tries’ may be attempted to ensure only perfectly ripe grapes are picked. To ensure the wines reflect the character of the vine and vineyard, they are fermented in stainless steel using natural yeasts. Taste With its wonderfully deep, saturated colour and bold bouquet of crushed plums, b

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

96 Points - New Zealand Wine Rater. A wonderful Burgundian style Pinot Noir from a producer who carefully select fruit from Marlborough's top organic single vineyards to produce wines of great elegance and complexity. An aromatic, savoury nose with notes of damson plum, dark berry, forest floor, nori, peppercorns, salami and salted, black liquorice. Medium-bodied, with plush fruit but still a seriously structured wine with layered tannins. Wine Press Ratings 96 Points - New Zealand Wine Rater (2

The Planeta Chardonnay has become an illustration of the changes in Sicilian wine. It was created from a wish to compete in the world production of this noble and widespread variety. After a long process beginning in 1985, today Planeta’s Chardonnay is an icon for the whole of Sicily. A rich light gold colour, deep but transparent, the pleasing contrast of creaminess and crunchiness. A soft white wine supported by a refreshing note of acidity, with a slight mineral touch which harmoniously combi