It’s a bold claim to say a wine – especially a Shiraz – is unlike anything you have ever tasted, but in the case of the De Toren Black Lion Shiraz, it happens to be true. As De Toren puts it, ‘The Black Lion wine is the heirloom of years of winemaking in De Toren’s continuous quest for perfection’. Planted on ancient soils with specially selected vines and nurtured by hand manicuring and individual attention, nothing is left to chance. Irrigation is kept to a minimum and the vines are treated or

Nothing is left to chance with the De Toren Private Cellar Patronus Malbec. Taking its name from the Latin for ‘patron’, this is a wine where winemaking is turned not just into an art form, but into an obsession. The tiny harvest goes through an incredibly stringent selection process with only the finest old Malbec vines on the property being considered for use. Once chosen, individual bunches are selected at harvest and then, post-destemming, individual grapes. Following a long, yet cool, ferme

95 Points - Robert Parker. The Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino 2020 is one of the jewels in Argentina’s wine crown. It’s produced from vines that are up to 90 years old from the Catena Zapata Family Vineyards, Nicasia and Angélica vineyards, which lie at between 920m and 1095 metres above sea level. With their mix of gravel, loam and clay, these sites provide a wonderfully vivid and varied palate from which the winemakers can work. Such is the diversity that several weeks can pass between harvest

90 Points - Tim Atkin MW. We are very proud to bring you the Alma La Rad Rioja DOCa which is Bodegas Casa La Rad's flagship wine with a very limited production of only 2000 bottles. Casa La Rad Alma is a 50/50 blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha, grown at an altitude of 500 meters and fermented in large French oak barrels. The Alma is a super complex wine with stunning presentation, from a forward looking winery dedicated to the environment to sustain and improve its vitality and biodiversity. Bea

No South African wine is as revered or acclaimed as the Book 17 of De Toren Private Cellar. This Western Cape wine is produced from a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The vines are planted on poor, free-draining soils which force them to dig deep into the sand and granite soils in search of nutrients, reducing the vines’ vigour and imparting complexity. Once they have reach optimum ripeness, the grapes are hand-harvested and rushed to the press house. Here

94 Points - Tim Atkin MW.  The Cuentaviñas Alomado 2021 is another wonderful wine from of this extraordinary Rioja bodega. Produced from a single vineyard which is home to vines that are over 60 years old, it marries tradition with innovation to startling effect. It’s planted with a mixture of Tempranillo grapes alongside the white varieties of Viura, Malvasía Riojana and Calagraño in what’s now known as a ‘field blend’. Innovation continues in the winery where the wine is barrel fermented in sm

95 Points - Tim Atkin MW. The El Anejon 2018 is another multi-award-winning wine from Bodega Pago de Carraovejas, one of the Ribera del Duero’s superstar wineries. Meticulously produced from a steeply sloping single vineyard close the Duero River, it’s an exotic blend of organically farmed Tinto Fino (81%), Cabernet Sauvignon (7%) and Merlot (12%)­. Only produced in exceptional vintages such as 2018, it receives the same regal treatment that the rest of Bodega Pago de Carraovejas’ wines. Grapes

95 Points - Guia Penin. Capitel 2019 is the flagship wine from the magnificent Ossian Vides y Vinos, arguably Spain’s greatest white wine producer. The Capitel is made from the estate’s oldest vines, some of which are believed to be 200 years old, from a tiny, organically farmed plot at Peña Aguda, in Nieva.  Over the years, the roots have penetrated the slate sheets beneath the surface and extracted a rich mineral strength from them.  This packs the tiny berries with concentration and complexit

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast. Ossian is one of Spain’s greatest white wines.  Remarkably, it is made from pre-phylloxera vines that are between 100 and 200 years old, and its levels of concentration and complexity have made many a wine lover and critic revise their opinions of Spanish white wines.  Having been hand-picked, the tiny, organically farmed grapes are transported to the state-of-the-art winery for fermentation.  The wine is then matured in oak vats in the coolness of the old Monastery

97 Points - Guia Penin. Pago de Carraovejas Cuesta de Las Liebres 2018 is one of the greatest wines of the Ribera del Duero. The 2018 scored 94 from Robert Parker, cementing its reputation as a wine to be compared with the likes of Vega Sicilia and Pingus. Made exclusively from Tinto Fino, the local name for Tempranillo, from a single high-altitude (850m above sea level) vineyard in only great years, since its release in 1991 it has become one of the most sought-after wines in all of Spain. Prod

Orin Swift Palermo, a captivating blend with a core of Cabernet Sauvignon that mirrors Napa Valley's spirit, unfolding intense aromas of dark fruit and blackberry pie, leading to a velvety palate of black cherry, vanilla, and spice, all embraced by seamlessly integrated tannins, delivering a gratifying finish - making it your ideal companion for hearty delights like grilled steak or braised beef, sure to leave a lasting impression on your wine journey. Vivino Rating: 4.5 (Oct 2024) Tasting Note

92 Points - Decanter. 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 a

Clement Fayat set up his construction business in the 1950’s. Having grown it to the 4th largest in its sector (just behind Bouygues – owners of Chateau Montrose) he decided to follow his passion and began to invest in properties in Bordeaux. A lover of Pomerol, he purchased Prieurs de la Commanderie in 1984 and has begun to achieve the potential quality that rough diamond always promised. Dusty garnet colour. Aromas and flavours of mocha, toasty pistachio, and berry tart with a supple, bright,

93 Points - VertdeVin. The 2,5 hectare parcel producing just 10,000 bottles of this confidential wine stand in a mythical triangle of vines surrounded by Château Palmer, Rauzan Segla and Cantenac Brown, just the finest terroir one could hope for in the appellation. "Generous nose showing fruits in brandy, dried fruits and fine oakiness. Warm, expressive attack echoing the nose beautifully. The mid-palate and finish are firmer and bolder in this characterful wine."  The wine is the epitome of the

93 Points - Revista Adega. The Fonseca 20 Year Old Tawny Port is a traditional blend of grapes including Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cao, Touriga Nacional, and Tinta Francesca. Under the expert guidance of David Guimaraens, a sixth-generation winemaker, nothing is left to chance. Grapes are gathered from the best vineyards in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior regions and are made in the traditional way with fortification with grape spirit halting the fermentation to leave some residual sugar in the wine.

96 points - Ned Goodwin. The Definitus is a special bottling from The Foggy Hill Vineyard. Foggy Hill is typical of the spectacular, steep, cool climate sites that have helped revolutionise Australian fine wine in recent years. Laying at 350m above sea level on the ancient soils of the Fleurieu Peninsula and cooled by the waters of Victor Harbor and Cape Jervis, it is the perfect spot for producing world-class Pinot Noir. Grapes are hand-harvested with each clone being brought in separately. Chi

93 points / Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards. If you like your Australian red wine to combine power with finesse, then the Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2017 is the perfect wine for you. Produced on the famed terra rossa soils, arguably Australia’s greatest, in the warm Wrattonbully region, it gets its name from the remains of a 37-million-year-old whale that were found here. Made from old, low-yielding vines, the quantity of fruit produced here is tiny, but the quality i

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

94 Points - The Wine Journal. The Lou Miranda Estate Centenarian 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 meets the exa

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

A wonderfully complex Blanc de Blancs champagne from the outstanding 2017 vintage. Michel Genet and his team are 'manufacteurs de Grands Crus' and their MG BB Vintage offers aromas of pastries with fragrances of fresh nuts and candied fruits, followed by tobacco, menthol anise and eucalyptus. This has a rich aromatic palette and powerful finish. Vivino Rating: 4.1 (Jan 2025) About the Producer “Manufacteurs de Grands Crus”. Michel Genet like to call themselves “manufacteurs” (“artisans”) from th