Arnaldo Rivera Barolo DOCG Ravera 2018
The nose is intensely smoky, with raspberry and strawberry aromas. The calcareous white soils produce beautiful fruit aromatics, whilst the due-south sun-facing aspect add considerable depth to the fruit and ripeness to the firm tannins. Directness of fruit is also brought forward by a degree less oak than their other Cru wines, with some smaller format wood -- but none of it new. It's sleek and stylish, a lifted wine that's taut and spicy with fine-grained tannins. There's tension and persistence here, with a long and elegant finish. A long and profound Barolo to approach now or cellar a good while, the Ravera is a classic.
"Quite a spicy nose, together with plum, red-tile and deeper, earthy notes. Medium-bodied with firm tannins that feel a little dry, at least for now. But there’s very good concentration of fruit. The tannins should sink better into the wine with time. Structured. Try from 2024." - 93 points, James Suckling
Arnaldo Rivera Langhe DOC Nascetta del Comune di Novello 2020
Pale straw yellow in colour, it has a floral and fruity bouquet, with intense aromatic notes in its youth capable of evolving into more complex aromas after a few years in the bottle. Good structure, contained acidity, excellent sapidity and persistence on the palate. It goes well with semi-mature cheeses, first courses and white meats.
Serving temperature 12° – 14°.
First Drop Mother’s Milk Barossa Shiraz 2022
Not a sledgehammer style, this Barossa Shiraz is made for drinking! Soft, slurpy and textured it is balanced with good acidity, which refreshes the palate and makes you go back for a second / third glass. Sourced from 3 unique vineyards, it is fruit laden, savoury and dangerously easy to drink! It is matured for 12 months in French oak hogsheads to allow the fruit to express itself.
Colour: Garnet red with purple hues
Nose: A complex nose of dark cherry and blackberry aromas with a hint of forest floor and spice
Palate: Vibrant dark cherry and blackberry with a hint of ‘wombat rolled in all spice’ balanced with an even, textural palate with soft, supple tannins
Tenuta Sant’Antonio Valpolicella Ripasso Monti Garbi 2019
The vineyards of Tenuta Sant’Antonio lie on the Monti Garbi: harsh and impervious soil, but generous with great wines. Like this splendid combination of Valpolicella Giovane and Amarone skins. Produced from the municipality of Mezzane di Sotto - Monti Garbi District (Verona).
- Colour: ruby red.
- Nose: red fruit and cherry.
- Palate: semi-dry, soft, caressing, fresh, savoury and fairly tannic with a spicy aftertaste.
- Corvina and Corvinone 70% - Rondinella 20% - Croatina and Oseleta 10%.
BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Los Arboles, a terroir with very stony soil from the surface with intermixed layers of loose, high-draining sand.
It is an outstanding wine with lingering flavours of currant, cassis and plum combined with a hint of spice and juicy acidity. Good structure, firm tannins and a persistent finish.
BenMarco Cabernet Sauvignon is perfect with red meat, pasta with mushroom-based sauce or Bolognese.
"Blackcurrant, blackberry, bark and iodine on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Juicy and creamy. Drink now." - James Suckling
Gralyn Estate Reserve Shiraz 2015
A fragrant medium bodied dry red wine vintaged from old vine Shiraz, co-fermented with 5% Viognier. Dense purple, crimson with a ‘heady’ bouquet of ripe black fruits, pepper, violets and exotic spice. The beautifully balanced palate is rich and spicy with a core of sweet fruit. Fine silky tannins and supple oak support a long, persistent finish.
Matured in French oak barriques for 12 months.
Gralyn Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
The highly regarded flagship wine from Gralyn Estate, rich, full-bodied and elegant. Vintaged from unirrigated, organically grown Cabernet Sauvignon vines planted in 1975. Dense, dark crimson in colour, perfumed with blackcurrant, violets, cedar and spice. The palate is well balanced, intense and powerful, with a core of sweet fruit and finely textured tannins supporting a long persistent finish.
Matured in French oak barriques for 18 months.
“Remarkably solid for a wine at this age. Cassis and fresh blackcurrant still at the fore with subtle notes of undergrowth. Still lots of energy.” - Gold Medal 95 points Decanter World Wine Awards 2021
"A very settled and integrated cabernet that has an array of blackcurrant and tobacco, some blueberry, chocolate and lightly spicy cedary oak, as well as darker licorice and tarry notes. The palate has succulent depth and rich blueberries and dark cherries with chocolate and anise to close. Impressive. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - 95 points, James Suckling
Yangarra Shiraz 2019
There are 87 hectares of vineyards at Yangarra, of which 47 are Shiraz made up of thirteen individual blocks. Each block is defined by different aspects and subtle variations of the sand and Ironstone soils that overlie the ancient North Maslin Sands geological formation. Spread amongst an extra 70 hectares of creeks, native vegetation, and native corridors. Our estate has twelve individual blocks of Shiraz.
Kept on lees in 20% new French oak, 80% older French oak for 10 months.
VARIETY: 100% Shiraz
"Straight down the barrel of generous and hearty shiraz with dark berries and plums, framed in cedary oak and spice. The palate is boldly mouth-filling, saturated with ripe blackberry and dark-plum flavors. Drink now. Screw cap." - 91 points, James Suckling
Yangarra Blanc 2021
Blanc is the result of years of research and quarantine of the best white varieties found amongst the ancient north-west Mediterranean vine types. The fact that these Châteauneuf varieties have been successfully blended for so many years, inspired the estate to pursue Châteauneuf’s top whites on the southern coast. The Blanc is produced using the simplest winemaking techniques to showcase the fresh and crunchy style these varieties provide.
VARIETY: 49% Grenache Blanc, 13% Roussanne, 15% Clairette, 18% Picpoul, 5% Bourboulenc
"Fresh and attractive fruit, in the pear and apple spectrum, with some light, pastry-like notes, too. The palate delivers a smooth, crisp impression with a gently chalky finish. I like the restraint here. A blend of 49% grenache blanc, 18% picpoul, 15% Claudette, 13% roussanne and 5% bourboulenc. Drink now. Screw cap." - 92 points, James Suckling
Louis M. Martini Monte Rosso Gnarly Vine Zinfandel 2015
Our 2015 Gnarly Vine Zinfandel is a big, full bodied wine with rich blackberry and pepper aromas that lead to a sweep of dark fruit flavors, including blackberry reduction, plum and black currant. The intense fruit blends with layers of spice notes ranging from fresh peppercorns to clove and baking spices. The vibrant and robust wine is balanced by velvety tannins and the spice and minerality characteristic of Monte Rosso’s iron rich volcanic soils. The extraordinarily long, luxurious finish includes hints of vanilla, pepper and molasses.
Varietal: 98% Zinfandel, 2% Petite Sirah
"Zesty and supple, with easygoing plum, orange zest and sweet anise flavors that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2023. 1,250 cases made." - 90 points, Wine Spectator
Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia 2018
Poggio alle Gazze dell'Ornellaia 2018 has a classic straw-yellow colour. The nose presents intense aromas of white-fleshed fruits, accompanied by delicate notes of vanilla. On the palate it is initially ample and soft; the wine reveals a great richness and marked tanginess that lead to a fresh and persistent finish.
"A bright, fruity white with fennel, lemon-peel and sliced green-apple character. It’s full-bodied with lovely fruit and a crisp finish. Refreshingly fruity. Drink now." - 92 points, James Suckling
La Cueva Del Contador 2016
La Cueva del Contador 2016 grapes were selected from 35-55 years old vineyards, where a yield around a kilo of grapes per vine is produced to get the fruit and tannin concentration wished.
La Cueva del Contador 2016 is bright and dense red-violet in colour. The nose is deep and wraparound. 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. In the mouth it is powerful and well balanced in terms of maturity and freshness. Final is long and fresh. It is elegant.
100% Tempranillo