Arnaldo Rivera Barolo DOCG Bussia 2018
Shiny garnet, it emerges with a fruity and Mediterranean presence, including almonds, carobs, red apple, cumin and strawberry jam. Correspondence on the palate, with smooth tannins and the appearance of notes reminiscent of fresh and macerated flowers. Very energetic and with excellent persistence.
"Quite dense and loamy on the nose with hints of dried red fruit and spice. Medium to full body and firm, fruit-coated tannins. Lots of energy and drive on the palate, giving a long, long finish. Give this plenty of time to unravel. Best from 2024." - 93 points, James Suckling
Contador 2018
Contador 2018 has a red cherry color with very high intensity and brightness.
In the nose, there are red and black fruits very mature, and appear the aromatic herbs (thyme, rosemary, lavender and fennel). It also shows a marked mineral character with fine wood notes.
The palate is very fine and powerful, also very bulky. It shows a great balance between fruit and oak. Final aftertaste is long and intense. It’s very ripe and tasty. It has high deepness and a great balance. Endless.
100% Tempranillo
Contador 2015
The red flagship 2015 Contador was selected from vines over 60 years of age, and it fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in new French oak barrels for 20 months. It feels like a great vintage for the top bottling, as it has enough ripeness and concentration but is also terribly elegant, floral and nuanced. 2015 was a warm and dry year with the risk of excessive wines, but this Contador is beautifully balanced and has a rare combination of concentration and lightness. There is a nice core of freshness that lifts the wine up and gives it length. 6,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2017.
100% Tempranillo
La Cueva Del Contador 2018
La Cueva del Contador 2018 is bright and very dense red-violet color. The nose is deep and with a great volume. Highlight the red and black compote fruit with spicy, mineral and balsamic notes, also a touch of toasted. The wood is fine, present and it has to be integrated. Good
evolution. In the mouth it is powerful and well balanced in terms of maturity and freshness. Final is long and fresh. It is elegant. It promises long life.
100% Tempranillo
First Drop The Cream Barossa Shiraz 2015
The Cream is blended at the optimum time from the best barrels from First Drop’s most prized vineyards to create the ultimate expression of Barossa Shiraz from the vintage. A rich, textured, seamless wine that combines power and elegance. It’s seductive, with a pedigree that will see it mature for a further 10 to 15 years. Indulge now or reward yourself later.
Single Vineyard Location:
35% Ebenezer
35% Greenock
30% Seppeltsfield
Colour: Black
Nose: Lifted black fruit aromas with hints of smoke, tar, leather, orals and Indian spices
Palate: Rich kirsch and black fruits, dark chocolate and licorice, balanced with textured, lingeringly seamless tannins
"The aromas to this are deep — in the form of blackberries, blueberry compote and just a hint of eucalyptus and vanilla. The palate is very well structured, showing layers of ripe but balanced fruit and a long. Character-driven finish." - 94 points, James Suckling
First Drop Fat of the Land Barossa Shiraz – Seppeltsfield (Single Vineyard) 2016
The Barossa is an amazing place with a diverse history from which a great community has grown living o- the Fat of the Land. Famed for its Shiraz vineyards, some dating back to the 19th century, the wines from this small, but proud region are as unique and divergent as its history and community. One can make such varied expressions of Shiraz, due to the different meso-climates of each subregion, the elevation range, and the myriad of soil types that are to be found throughout the Barossa. The Fat of the Land series seeks to showcase the sub regions of the Barossa, and the contrasting styles of Shiraz that can be made here. Shiraz from a single vineyard in Seppeltsfield.
Colour : Dark kirsch
Nose : Lifted dark cherry aromas with notes of licorice and dark chocolate
Palate : Flavour packed with kirsch, prunes, dark chocolate and liquorice. Rich and muscular, like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
"Another very ripe shiraz that remains attractive and delicious. So much blackberries that it’s almost hard to fathom. Dark cherry liqueur and dark plum cake and infusion, too. Sweetly scented milk chocolate throughout. Although restrained wouldn’t be the right word, this is actually quite elegant considering the fruit and how it manages to trade in floral territory between layers of ripe, lithe tannins. A chewy finish. Drink in 2022." - 94 points, James Suckling