First Drop 2% Barossa Shiraz 2019
Our reserve Shiraz is sourced from vineyards in Greenock (35%), Ebenezer (35%), Seppeltseld (30%). Dense dark berry fruits, with hints of tobacco and cocoa are further enhanced by subtle use of oak. This wine has been matured in 28% new French oak hogsheads and the balance in 3 and 4 year old French oak hogsheads and American oak barriques for 17 months sur lie, resulting in a sexy, textured palate. And who’s 2%? Moscatel! A splash of funk that supports the base line fruit, and puts the ‘ph’ in fat.
Colour: Dark plum
Nose: Lifted black fruit aromas with a hints of earth and spice
Palate: Rich, phat, dark berry fruits, with hints of dark chocolate and Indian ink, supported by a dense core of tannins.
"That’s two percent muscadelle for those playing at home, the rest is shiraz sourced from Ebenezer, Seppeltsfield and Greenock and aged in French oak (50% new). The split is roughly one-third each. The nose has a deeply spicy edge and aromas of ripe dark plums, blackberries and black cherries, as well as dark chocolate and currants. The palate has a wealth of rich black fruit and flavors of salted licorice, cocoa, blood plums and blackberries. Very concentrated. Drink over the next decade. Screw cap." - 94 points, James Suckling
Waipara West N Block Chardonnay 2020
2020 vintage was the earliest in our 30 years at Waipara West. We had a warm, dry September and cool October were followed by our hottest November on record, this set up very favourable conditions for f lowering. Summer started with dry, slightly warmer conditions than normal for both December and January, followed by a dry, much warmer than average February, this put much of the east coast of New Zealand, including North Canterbury into drought. March brought a break in the heat and some much needed rain that slowed the ripening of beautiful clean fruit, the first blocks were picked on the 16th of March. April, returned to dry weather, with above-average temperatures which was ideal for the bulk of our harvest.
The grapes were hand harvested from the upper terrace from a combination of various clones. Clones are picked and vinified separately until blending for aging.
Colour: A clear pale lemon core with a gold hue and flecks of green and silver.
Aroma: The aroma of the wine is truly multi-layered. It shows fresh lime and lemon, white stone fruit and fragrant almond blossom mixed with malt biscuit and underlying mineral notes.
Palate: Ripe peach and nectarine with key lime and yuzu drive the palate. A luscious full-bodied mouthfeel from aging on fine lees gives flavours of malty cheesecake crust combined with a crunchy mineral finish and hints of salted caramel
Food Pairing: Pork, Rich fish (salmon, tuna, etc...), Vegetarian, Poultry
pH: 3.45
Acidity: 5.3
Residual sugar: 0.54g/L
Chateau Beychevelle 2018
Beychevelle 2018 can be characterized by two words: Harmony and Concentration. This vintage presents a balance rarely achieved at this stage. A bouquet of well-ripened red and black fruit invites us to sample the intense, harmonious palate. Very silky tannins accompanied by fruit bursting with freshness and concentration. 2018 will join the list of Château Beychevelle’s truly exceptional vintages.
Varietals: Merlot 50%, Cabernet Sauvignon 41%, Petit Verdot 6%, Cabernet Franc 3%
"Violet and warm cassis aromas and flavors lead the way, melding with applewood, ganache, açaí and blueberry reduction notes along the way. Almost lush in the end, but there's a buried tarry streak giving it just a bit of grippy texture for contrast. Serious juice. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc." - 95 points, James Molesworth, Senior Editor and Special Projects Director at Wine Spectator
"Currants and blackberries with crushed stone and fresh herbs. Some flower stem, too. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and linear with firm, driven tannins. This needs four or five years of bottle age to open and come together. " - 94 points, James Suckling
Amuse Bouche Napa Valley Red Blend 2019
For the 2019 vintage of Amuse Bouche, it features the artwork by one the most prominent artists of our time. Françoise Gilot, born in 1921, is a decorated French painter perhaps best known for her long, stormy relationship with Pablo Picasso, with whom she had two children, Claude and Paloma. Gilot is highly regarded as an international artist of the second half of the twentieth century. She has exhibited her work for more than 50 years in the major art centers of Europe, Asia, and North America. She was awarded the French Order of Arts and Letters with rank of Commander in 1988, the French Legion of Honor with rank of Chevalier in 1990, and the rank of Officer in the National Order of Merit by the president of France in 1996.
Amuse Bouche 2019 is crafted in the Pomerol-style, is a blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc from our vineyards in the east Rutherford Hills of Napa Valley.
"The 2019 Amuse Bouche, a Right Bank-inspired Merlot/Cabernet Franc blend is superb. Expansive, sweet aromatics are immediately seductive. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plum fruit, sweet tobacco, chocolate, spice and leather. This wonderfully expressive, elegant Napa Valley red hits all the right notes in a mid-weight, nuanced style that is all class." - Antonio Galloni, January 2022
"This is a beautiful, juicy, merlot-based red with melted-chocolate and berry aromas and flavors. It’s full and creamy with lovely balance and attractive character, showing freshness and layers of fruit. Violets and berries at the end. Merlot and cabernet franc. Gorgeous. Drink or hold." - 95 points, James Suckling
Beronia Verdejo Rueda 2021
Colour: Bright, pale yellow colour with hints of green
Aroma: Intensely aromatic, the wine displays notes of citrus and white fruit, together with herbaceous aromas such as fennel.
Palate: Crisp and fresh, a chilled glass of our Verdejo is always a great choice. Elegantly textured with ripe, white peach and melon with threads of fresh, fennel herbs.
Varietals: 100% Verdejo
Food Pairing: Fish, White Meat, Pasta, Rice Dishes, Cheese
"Attractive white almonds, lemon zest and chalky stones on the nose, followed by a fresh, bone-dry palate with some stony lemon fruit in a chalky texture. A very well-made verdejo that will have gastronomic appeal. Vegan. Chill it and drink now. Screw cap." - 91 points, James Suckling 
Starward Fortis Miniature
Fortis meaning ‘brave, bold’, is a full bodied, full flavoured whisky that celebrates local Australian ingredients. Bottled at a higher ABV of 50% and non-chill filtered, this whisky
is fully matured in 100% American oak red wine barrels, predominately sourced from the Barossa Valley.
These barrels, which previously held big Australian bold reds like cabernet and shiraz, offer a fuller and richer mouthfeel to this single malt whisky. Starward Fortis is blended in batches, meaning each batch will be unique but will maintain the core flavour profile and intensity.
Nose: Very forward aromas of Madagascan vanilla pods, rich toasted American oak, blackberry jam, raisins, caramelised fig, raw sugar and over ripe plums.
Palate: Rich and full bodied, upfront vanillin, quince paste, Muscadelle raisins, chocolate ganache, cinnamon and baked banana bread.
Finish: Viscous and long. It really captures the whole palate and balances well with a finish of baking spices from the oak and ripe figs and raisins.
Starward Nova Miniature
Our signature single malt.
Exceptional length thanks to the red wine barrels. Bright aromatic notes of red berries, orchard fruits, vanilla, caramel and soft oak spice. Smooth and complex when sipped neat. Shines in classic cocktails. Works exceptionally well with food.
Nova borrows from tradition but breaks away from it too.
Nova is matured exclusively in red wine barrels from wineries making great Australian shiraz, cabernets and pinot noirs. This whisky reflects Melbourne in every sip. From the vibrant foodie scene to the wild weather to the world-class, cool climate wine.
Nose: Like we took bright flavours of red berries and orchard fruit and coated them in soft oak spice.
Palate: Imagine a rich red berry pudding covered in vanilla, caramel and spice.
Finish: Balanced and long. The sweetness fades and the delicious flavour goes on.
Opus One 2019
Opus One was founded by Baron Philippe de Rothschild, legendary proprietor of Château Mouton Rothschild, and renowned Napa Valley vintner Robert Mondavi. By combining the great winemaking traditions and innovations of both families, the founders’ singular goal was to create an exceptional wine in the heart of Napa Valley. Opus One, like any great work, arose out of passion. Dedicated to uncompromised quality, Opus One’s sole purpose is to express this vision and passionate spirit for generations to come.
VINTAGE 2o19
Abundant spring rains, nearly double the annual average, saturated the soil and provided ample water for the growing season. The first signs of budbreak were observed in the vineyard on March 27th; a full 15 days later than usual. This delay led to later bloom and veraison. However, warmer temperatures toward the end of summer accelerated the fruit’s development and maturity. Picking began on September 10th, a couple of days earlier than average. The harvest lasted four weeks, and activity in the cellar proceeded at a calm and steady pace.
The Opus One 2019 has intense aromas of black plum, blueberry, black currant, and dried rose petals, accentuated by mineral undertones. The creamy, satiny texture is framed by finegrained tannins. The freshness and soft glow of acidity create a subtle tension with dark fruit flavors, savory herbs, espresso, and cocoa. A delicate dark chocolate bitterness lingers on the finish.
VARIETALS
Cabernet Sauvignon 78%, Merlot 8%, Petit Verdot 6%, Cabernet Franc 6%, and Malbec 2%
SKIN CONTACT
22 days
BARREL AGING
19 months in new French oak
Benriach The Smoky Ten Miniature
SUBLIMELY SMOOTH INTRODUCTION TO BENRIACH SWEET SMOKE
“Intense smoked applewood flavour with honeyed sugar maple, all woven together with rich layers of smoke.”
- Rachel Barrie, Master Blender
The Smoky Ten is distilled using malted barley smoked with Highland peat. This wood rich Highland peat imparts distinctly sweet and smoky notes into Benriach peated whiskies. Enriched with three cask maturation using bourbon barrels, toasted virgin oak and Jamaican rum casks for layers of sunripe fruit, aromatic smoky sweetness and toasted oak spice. The Smoky Ten is an ideal introduction for explorers wanting to try a different style of peated whisky to the more traditional Islay malts.
Benriach The Twelve Miniature
SHERRY RICH MATURATION FOR DEPTH AND SMOOTHNESS
“Sherry rich maturation and layers of dark berry fruit encapture the flavours of Benriach in the autumn.”
- Rachel Barrie, Master Blender
The Twelve is a rich and smooth expression of Benriach Single Malt. Matured in a sherry rich profile with the addition of bourbon and port casks, this intriguing malt has layers of baked fruit, maple honey sweetness and lingering oak spice.
Benriach The Smoky Twelve Miniature
CREAMY SMOOTHNESS WITH AROMATIC LAYERS OF SMOKE
“For me it’s baked orange in a wonderful cake, fired over an open fire, with dark chocolate flavour.”
- Rachel Barrie, Master Blender
The Smoky Twelve is the perfect marriage of fruit, malt, oak and rich layers of smoke. Three cask matured in an unconventional mix of bourbon, sherry and Marsala this creamy and smooth single malt is multi-layered with flavours of ripened fruit, aromatic smoky sweetness and warming oak spice.