Decanter Award Winners Premium Mixed - 6 Pack Value
$392
$491
This is Great……and Here’s Why!
Decanter is considered one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the world, judged by the world's leading wine critics. We've selected 3 beautiful reds and 3 mesmerising whites - all Decanter Award winners premium wines. Exclusively from Pop Up Wine.1 x Atticus Chardonnay 2010 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
95/100 James Halliday
94/100 James Halliday (2011 vintage)
96/100 James Halliday (2013 vintage)
96/100 James Halliday (2014 vintage)
96/100 James Halliday (2016 vintage)
95/100 James Halliday (2006 vintage)
95/100 Huon Hooke (2006 vintage)
Silver - International Wine Challenge
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards
Bronze - Royal Sydney Wine Show
Australian Wine Companion - Best Margaret River Wineries of the Regions 2020
5/5 Stars - Winestate Chardonnay Tasting
Decanter Magazine - 'Recommended'
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2009 vintage)
Silver - International Wine Challenge (2009 vintage)
Since the release of the Chapman Grove range in 2006, Chapman Grove wines have been awarded 4 Trophies, 3 Top Gold, 3 Gold, 8 Silver and 39 Bronze Medals.
James Halliday - "Vibrant green hue; nectarine, grapefruit and lots of attractive oak from judicious oak handling; the zesty acidity provides a lively palate that is direct and long, powerful and precise; a complex and heady blend of power and finesse the west is becoming famous for."
Winestate "Lovely deep golden-green chardonnay showing toasty nutty aromas and rich, full-bodied, fleshy palate, with attractive layers of varietal fruit intensity."
Decanter - "Elegant and restrained with very nice notes of white peaches and nectarines. Medium-bodied, creamy and crisp with long stone fruit after taste."
Roger Jones - "Lush, rich and lingering, full-on texture and multi-layered lingering fruit and developing well."
Alessandro Marchesan "Elegant and restrained with very nice notes of white peaches and nectarines. Medium-bodied, creamy and crisp with long stone fruit after taste."
James Halliday "A very successful venture under the control of CEO Ron Fraser. The wines come from the estate vineyards planted to chardonnay, Semillon, sauvignon blanc, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot.....[The winery's] ultra-premium wines are under the Atticus label."
Atticus is owned by Chapman Grove Wines; a small winery focussed on making limited edition fine wines from Margaret River, Western Australia. Described by Australia's N#1 wine critic, James Halliday as "a very successful venture", the winery is known for its highly rated wines and was established in 2005 by an esteemed veteran of the industry, Ron Fraser. Pop Up Wine has secured back vintages of a collection of its highly rated wines.
1 x Chateau Malescot 'La Dame de Malescot' 2016 ~ Bordeaux, France
90/100 Falstaff
92/100 Falstaff (2018 vintage)
89/100 Decanter (2018 vintage)
87/100 Wine Spectator (2016 vintage)
92/100 Falstaff (2014 vintage)
90/100 Decanter (2012 vintage)
90/100 Falstaff (2011 vintage)
89/100 Decanter (2011 vintage)
91/100 Falstaff (2010 vintage)
Peter, Moser, Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges. Red berry confit underlaid with delicate herbs and spices, fine tobacco nuances. Medium body, also red berries on the palate, delicate tannins, salty and mineral notes, lemony finish, uncomplicated food accompaniment."
Falstaff "Strong ruby garnet, delicate ocher reflections, broader edge brightening. Nuances of pickled cherries, fine forest berry confit, floral touch, very delicate wood spice. Medium complexity, heart cherries, pleasant sweetness, round tannins, freshly structured, mineral and persistent, a versatile food accompaniment." (2018 Vintage)
Decanter "Needing time to open, this starts off well with firm redcurrant and raspberry fruits, but finishes a little abruptly with touches of oak. (2018 Vintage)
Wine Spectator "Light-bodied, offering an herb-infused profile of cherry and pomegranate fruit flavors, with tangy cedar hints. Drink now through 2023. 5,333 cases made. — JM" (2016 Vintage)
Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges, attractive dark berry fruit, delicate notes of cassis and liquorice, black cherries, tobacco nuances. Full-bodied, fine blackberry confit, fruity sweetness, well-integrated tannins, sticks, a pleasant, silky food wine with aging potential." (2014 Vintage)
Decanter "A great second wine for drinking now, this has lashings of damson fruit to back up the acidity. The tannins are not as intense as they would be in a great vintage but it's good quality, with polish and real appeal. (2012 Vintage)
Falstaff "Deep dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, delicate lightening of the edges, attractive cherry fruit, fine wild berry aromas, a hint of cedar, blackberries and chocolate, inviting bouquet. Juicy, powerful, present, still a bit too edgy tannins, sweet extract on the finish, chocolaty finish, a promising food accompaniment." (2011 Vintage)
Decanter "This works well as a second wine: it has approachability but is still serious. It shows good rich fruit on the nose, and although it's a little subdued right now, closing down through the mid-palate, the edges are starting to soften and the dark fruits are well defined. (2011 Vintage)
Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, delicate rim lightening. In the nose, dark berry confit with delicate leaves, delicate nougat and herbal spices. Juicy, good complexity, fine plum fruit, well-integrated tannins, touch of chocolate on the finish, good potential for development." (2010 Vintage)
Made by one of France's 'Top 10' winemakers, famous for his 1855 classified "Grand Cru" Bordeaux. This wine is that wine's sought after brother!
Winemaker, Jean-Luc Zuger has been praised by wine media as "miraculous".
Winestyle "...elegant, full-bodied, harmonious, with hints of ripe cherry, black currant and blackberry, spicy notes, pleasant acidity, soft woody nuances and dry long finish"
Le Point magazine "Candied cherry, beautiful expressive nose, soft palate, velvety tannins, fresh, good finesse, a finish that will give you a surprise, superb fruit … all the power of a Cabernet." (French translation)
The Wine Cellar Insider "Winemaker, Jean-Luc Zuger is on fire at Chateau Malescot St. Exupery. The wines being made at the property today are stunning!"
1 x Man O' War Dreadnought Syrah 2018 ~ Waiheke Island, New Zealand
93/100 Bob Campbell MW
93/100 CamDouglas MS
17.5/20 Jancis Robinson
95/100 Cam Douglas MS (2017 vintage)
95/100 Bob Campbell MW (2017 vintage)
93/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage)
93/100 Falstaff (2017 vintage)
92/100 Tom Cannavan (2017 vintage)
91/100 CellarTracker (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Wine Enthusiast (2017 vintage)
92/100 Robert Parker (2016 vintage)
16.5/20 Jancis Robinson (2016 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2017 vintage)
Bob Campbell MW "Rich, intense and classy syrah with plum, dark berry, five-spice, chocolate-mocha and nutty oak flavours. A robust yet stylish wine, with a solid backbone of ripe tannins suggesting good cellaring potential."
CamDouglas MS "A developing bouquet showcasing aromas of fresh and dried red currants, raspberry and tart plums. A violet and leather quality alongside some toatsy barrel spices, anise and clove layer in complexity and depth. Delicious on the palate, reflrecting all the bouquet has to offer, firm tannins and a backbone of acidity. The dry finish highlights the tannins, but the fruit flavours and violet anise combination also leave an impression on the finish. "
Jancis Robinson "Tank sample.Meaty and peppery with rich plummy fruit on the nose. Relatively light in body. Delicately structured with a long, spicy, leathery finish. Refined and sophisticated with moderate length and a lovely savoury tone. It's so non-fruit centric! Lots of goût de terroir."
Rebecca Gibb MW "...consistently encapsulates everything that is good in New Zealand Syrah - dark fruit, black pepper spice and smoked-meat flavours wrapped up in an elegant, medium-weight parcel with bags of freshness on the finish."
Bob Campbell "Deep, dense Syrah that's jam-packed with many flavours including plum, dark berry, black pepper, a suggestion of violet, liquorice, leather and tar characters." (2017 vintage)
Cam Douglas "Immediately recognisable and seductive bouquet with aromas of blackberry and raspberry, dark plums and black pepper. The aromas expand to include clove and cocoa, toasty wood and dark dry rocky soil impressions. On the palate - dry, weighty, firm textures from tannins, warming alcohol and an abundance of acidity. Fruit flavours reflect the palate led by dark raspberry and black cherry. Persistent and engaging throughout the palate, well made and ready." (2017 vintage)
James Suckling "This has a very rich, ripe-blackberry and dark-plum nose with plenty of dark, toasted spice and black pepper. The palate is concentrated and smooth-honed with dense, fine tannins that carry a very plush, juicy and succulently long finish. Impressive purity here." (2017 vintage)
Falstaff "Dark ruby, purple reflections, faint brightening on the rim. Subtle tobacco on the nose with black cherry, red peppercorn, a hint of vanilla and cardamom in the background. Elegant, juicy palate, fine red berry fruit, pleasant, well integrated tannins and mineral with a lively structure. Delicately salty and already well developed." (2017 vintage)
Tom Cannavan " Two years older than the previous wine and a softer colour, and there's a meatiness here, briarwood, game and a little smokiness, the fruit still in the red spectrum and there's cedar too in a very classic style. In the mouth there's great sweetness and ripeness, a fleshiness to the fruit, plum flesh and a bite of cherry pits and a little stemmy wood note that fits really nicely in the picture. Rhône-ish in style for me and very good." (2017 vintage)
Wine Enthusiast "This Waiheke Island Syrah gives off a strong sulfuric, reductive aroma when first poured. But don't let that put you off. After a few minutes of swirling or decanting, it opens into something quite pretty and varietal. Juicy berry fruit mingles with bay leaf and more savory, earthy spice, with mineral and graphite brushstrokes. In the mouth, savory, granular tannins provide support to the fleshy fruit, and a roasted meat flavor pops up. There's a slightly bitter oak note to the finish, but overall this is a solid regional and varietal expression. " (2017 vintage)
Robert Parker "...continues this cuvée's run of successes. Violets, peppery spices and mulberry notes appear on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate adds flavors of raspberries, espresso and chocolate. Silky and immediately approachable, it doesn't have the richness or concentration of the best vintages." (2016 vintage)
Man O'War Vineyards is a leading New Zealand wine producer on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. It is known for its consistently high-quality range of wines made from grape varieties like Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each small parcel of vines is carefully tended and harvested by hand, then vinified separately, fusing classic Old World techniques with innovative New World ideas.
1 x Man O' War Valhalla Chardonnay 2020 ~ Waiheke Island, New Zealand
95/100 Cam Douglas MS
94/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell
94/100 James Suckling
93/100 The Real Review, Stephen Wong
93/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell
95/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell (2019 vintage)
94/100 Cam Douglas MS (2019 vintage)
95/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell (2018 vintage)
92/100 James Suckling (2018 vintage)
90/100 Cam Douglas MS (2018 vintage)
17.5/20 Jancis Robinson (2018 vintage)
Ranked #4 of New Zealand Chardonnays - Wine 360
5 Star Rated by Bob Campbell
Cam Douglas MS "A full-bodied, nutty, rich and powerful wine with a core of roasted stone fruit and toasty cashew-nut oak flavours, fine textured tannins and a brazil-nut butter texture. Baked peaches and lemon, nectarine skin and grapefruit. There’s vanilla and nut, warming alcohol and medium+ acidity. A wine that ticks all the boxes of weight and intensity, richness and power, flavour and deliciousness. "
The Real Review, Bob Campbell "Big, rich and creamy chardonnay with layers of tree fruit, citrus fruit, mineral and oak flavours. Complex, satisfying and generously proportioned, with a solid backbone of tangy acid and peppery tannins. An heroic chardonnay with development potential."
James Suckling "A crisp and very lively chardonnay with sliced lemon, green apple and a hint of nougat. Medium-bodied with excellent energy and a minerally finish. Salty."
The Real Review, Stephen Wong "Tight, flinty sulfide/smoke nose, young, closed. Very high-toned citrus and herb notes - in the reductive, mineral style. Concentrated fruit, sulfites dominating at present, will this integrate over time? Very modern style, quite lean. Just lacking the fruit weight and depth to stand up the level of reduction here; still very good, but shy of great"
The Real Review, Bob Campbell "Light, slightly phenolic (in a good way) with grapefruit, sizzled butter, and oyster shell flavours. A bit simple at first but opened up as it sat in the glass."
The Real Review, Bob Campbell "Rich, complex chardonnay with grapefruit, nectarine, green apple, mint and a saline-mineral character.A lively, high-energy wine that promises to age very well indeed." (2019 vintage)
Cam Douglas MS "A rich and captivating bouquet with aromas of vanilla and roasted peach, baked apple and cashew nut, sour cream and burnt butter, nectarine and baking spice. There's no mistaking the power, the oak and the variety. Full-bodied and creamy textured on the palate with stone fruit and grapefruit flavours, vanilla and rw sugar with baking spice and smoke flavours of oak, fine tannins and mediumacidity. This is a big wine, but very well made, quite serious , rich, bold, nutty and ready." (2019 vintage)
Bob Campbell "Rich, weighty, creamy-textured chardonnay with toast, sizzled butter, peach, melon, spice and citrus flavours (among others). A satisfyingly complex and textural wine that demonstrate impressive viticultural and winemaking skills" (2018 vintage)
James Suckling "Sweetly floral and offering a wealth of fresh melon and peaches with orange blossom, too. The palate has a rich, fleshy and quite succulent feel with plenty of flavor, following the peach and lemon vein. Grilled nuts to close." (2018 vintage)
Cam Douglas "There’s no mistaking the power and impact from this wine with aromas of cashew nut and whipped cream, roasted peaches and vanilla, smoky wood and brown baking spices. On the palate - full-bodied with a creamy texture, fruity reflecting the aromas from the bouquet. With the presented level of bottle-development, this wine is ready to enjoy from today and through 2021." (2018 vintage)
Jancis Robinson "...this is proper premier cru stuff, with all the sophistication and minerality (whatever that might be!) of great Chardonnay." (2018 vintage)
The Winemaker "The palate is concentrated with waves of harmonious flavours of ripe citrus, flinty lees characters and nutty, toasty flavours. The acidity is well-matched with the weight and concentration of the wine, rich enough not to be distracted by any malo or heavy lees work."
Raymond Chan "The nose is softly full and voluminous with generous and up-front aromas of ripe yellow stonefruits along with nuances of citrus and tropical fruit melded with well-packed complexing aromas of gunflint reduction, creamy barrel-ferment and nutty oak. This has depth and power. Medium-full bodied, the palate has rich and mouth-filling flavours of ripe yellow stonefruits with hints of citrus and tropical fruit, integrated with a fine, complex amalgam of nutty oak and flinty reduction. There is a suggestion of richness and creaminess from the barrel-ferment, which is balanced by bright, refreshing acidity. The wine carries with power and drives along a fine-textured line, leading to a long and sustained finish. This is a rich, mouth-filling and concentrated, complex Chardonnay with stonefruit, nutty oak and gunflint interest on a powerful palate. Match with poultry, pork and veal dishes over the next 5-6+ years. A selection of the finest barrels. Fruit from the volcanic hillsides WBP, and fruit from the sheltered hillsides foot-stomped, then fully indigenous yeast barrel-fermented with full solids to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 11 months in 36% new French oak puncheons.." (2017 vintage)
Robert Parker The Wine Advocate "Man O’ War is without a doubt one of New Zealand’s greatest wineries in the making and one to watch."
Jancis Robinson “Waiheke Island, home to one of the country’s best Syrah producers Man O’ War…New Zealand is second only to the Rhône in the consistency of quality it achieves.”
Raymond Chan "Man O’ War is arguably Waiheke Island’s most significant wine producer.."
Man O'War Vineyards is a leading New Zealand wine producer on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. It is known for its consistently high-quality range of wines made from grape varieties like Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each small parcel of vines is carefully tended and harvested by hand, then vinified separately, fusing classic Old World techniques with innovative New World ideas.
1 x Chateau Roc de Segur 2018 - Bordeaux, France
Bronze - Roger, Voss Wine Enthusiast
Bronze - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (2015 vintage)
Silver - Concours General Agricole Paris
8% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec, 26% Cabernet-sauvignon, 58% Merlot
Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "Well balanced and ready to drink, this wine offers generous black fruits and acidity. Its light structure gives the wine shape."
Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "This structured wine comes from a chateau in the the eastern Entre-deux-Mers. Firm tannins and acidity combine well with juicy black-currant flavors. A dry core indicates that the wine will age." (2015 vintage)
Wine Library "Tasting prifile includes currant, black cherry, plum, bell pepper, olive, oak, smoke, toast, tar, blackberry, cherry, asparagus, spice, ginger and vanilla."
The House of Ségur is an old French winery dating back to the 9th century. The Marquis de Ségur, Nicholas Alexandre (1697 – 1755) was the largest owner of vineyards in Bordeaux (owning three First Growths: Latour, Lafite and Mouton) which earned him the nickname “Prince of Vines” from King Louis XV. Under the Marquis' influence, the wines of Chateau Lafite became firmly established in the London market. British Prime Minister Robert Walpole was a frequent customer, purchasing a barrel every three months.
1 x Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 - Victoria, Australia
93/100 The Wine Front
92/100 Halliday Wine Companion
90/100 The Real Review
91/100 Toni Paterson MW (2018 vintage)
91/100 Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine (2018 vintage)
96/100 GOLD James Halliday (2017 vintage)
95/200 Jeremy Oliver (2017 vintage)
92/100 The Wine Front (2017 vintage)
Four Stars - Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine (2018 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2010 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2008 vintage)
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2009 vintage)
James Halliday 5 Star Winery
The Wine Front "Very Nice Chardonnay....Refreshing for sure. Good detail.... It does struck match and flint, it does citrus and green apple, some spicy oak there, it does a slightly rubbery tightness and a milky haze in texture through glass shard cuts. It’s a wine that feels primped and preened into its style of racy, leaner, taut, rather than reflecting inherent fruit character, but in that way hits its markers and will delight an audience of appreciative drinkers...."
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "No single-block wines this vintage, with all fruit allocated to the single-vineyard wines across the range. This has morphed into a more savoury wine with almost a complete absence of fruit flavours, except for a flutter of citrus. It has the sulphide stamp, the restraint yet even tighter with acidity leading. A hint of beeswax, just the finest creamy leesy flavour....don't chill it down too much."
The Real Review "palate is restrained, lean and high-tensioned. Enjoy with food."
The Winemaker "Defined by its fresh, citrus blossom aromatic lift and precise long, lingering finish. Characteristic pure and intense aroma. The palate is poised and complex, with layered fruit flavours. Tightly wound together with a precise minerality, the wine has beautiful line and length."
Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine “Elegant and beautifully balanced.....Opens with spicy cracked black pepper and bright notes of freshly picked blackberries. Plush and open with lovely freshness and vibrancy offering attractive fruit purity and peppery complexity....combines black cherry aromas with oak spices and a subtle touch of whole-bunch fragrance. There’s supple flesh on the palate with plenty of balanced tannin.” (2018 vintage)
The Winemaker "A perfumed and spicy Syrah, medium-bodied in style. The palate is concentrated and silky, with finely structured tannins, bright fruit characters, wonderful elegance and depth. Aged for 11 months in French oak. Stored carefully, this wine will age gracefully for ten years. " (2018 vintage)
Australian Wine Companion "This is another fantastic release under this label. Garden herbs, nuts, twigs and spice notes blend seamlessly with red and black cherries, licorice and wood smoke. Flamboyance is its middle name, but it has the discipline to make the most of it." (2017 vintage)
Yabby Lake Vineyard was established by the Kirby family in 1998 and over the past decade, Yabby Lake has built a reputation for single-vineyard Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of great purity and character.
James Halliday "This high-profile wine business was established by Robert and Mem Kirby (of Village Roadshow), who had been landowners in the Mornington Peninsula for decades. In 1998 they established Yabby Lake Vineyard, under the direction of vineyard manager Keith Harris; the vineyard is on a north-facing slope, capturing maximum sunshine while also receiving sea breezes. The main focus is the 25ha of pinot noir, 14ha of chardonnay and 8ha of pinot gris; 3h of shiraz, merlot and sauvignon blanc take a back seat. The arrival of the hugely talented Tom Carson as Group Winemaker has added lustre to the winery and its wines, making the first Jimmy Watson Trophy-winning Pinot Noir in 2014, and continuing to blitz the Australian wine show circuit with Single Block Pinots."
Led by Tom Carson "one of Australia's most lauded winemakers" so cites Huon Hooke of the Real Review. Under Carson's direction, Yabby Lake's philosophy is to craft wines representative of their site and their season in which they were grown. Yabby Lake believe it’s this attention and care in the vineyard that is most critical to allowing this expression.
Huon Hooke "One of Carson’s biggest moments was winning the Jimmy Watson Trophy [Australia's most prestigious winemaker accolade] with his 2012 Block 1 Pinot Noir – the first pinot ever to win this coveted award.
Decanter is considered one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the world, judged by the world's leading wine critics. We've selected 3 beautiful reds and 3 mesmerising whites - all Decanter Award winners premium wines. Exclusively from Pop Up Wine.
1 x Atticus Chardonnay 2010 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
95/100 James Halliday
94/100 James Halliday (2011 vintage)
96/100 James Halliday (2013 vintage)
96/100 James Halliday (2014 vintage)
96/100 James Halliday (2016 vintage)
95/100 James Halliday (2006 vintage)
95/100 Huon Hooke (2006 vintage)
Silver - International Wine Challenge
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards
Bronze - Royal Sydney Wine Show
Australian Wine Companion - Best Margaret River Wineries of the Regions 2020
5/5 Stars - Winestate Chardonnay Tasting
Decanter Magazine - 'Recommended'
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2009 vintage)
Silver - International Wine Challenge (2009 vintage)
Since the release of the Chapman Grove range in 2006, Chapman Grove wines have been awarded 4 Trophies, 3 Top Gold, 3 Gold, 8 Silver and 39 Bronze Medals.
James Halliday - "Vibrant green hue; nectarine, grapefruit and lots of attractive oak from judicious oak handling; the zesty acidity provides a lively palate that is direct and long, powerful and precise; a complex and heady blend of power and finesse the west is becoming famous for."
Winestate "Lovely deep golden-green chardonnay showing toasty nutty aromas and rich, full-bodied, fleshy palate, with attractive layers of varietal fruit intensity."
Decanter - "Elegant and restrained with very nice notes of white peaches and nectarines. Medium-bodied, creamy and crisp with long stone fruit after taste."
Roger Jones - "Lush, rich and lingering, full-on texture and multi-layered lingering fruit and developing well."
Alessandro Marchesan "Elegant and restrained with very nice notes of white peaches and nectarines. Medium-bodied, creamy and crisp with long stone fruit after taste."
James Halliday "A very successful venture under the control of CEO Ron Fraser. The wines come from the estate vineyards planted to chardonnay, Semillon, sauvignon blanc, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot.....[The winery's] ultra-premium wines are under the Atticus label."
Atticus is owned by Chapman Grove Wines; a small winery focussed on making limited edition fine wines from Margaret River, Western Australia. Described by Australia's N#1 wine critic, James Halliday as "a very successful venture", the winery is known for its highly rated wines and was established in 2005 by an esteemed veteran of the industry, Ron Fraser. Pop Up Wine has secured back vintages of a collection of its highly rated wines.
1 x Chateau Malescot 'La Dame de Malescot' 2016 ~ Bordeaux, France
90/100 Falstaff
92/100 Falstaff (2018 vintage)
89/100 Decanter (2018 vintage)
87/100 Wine Spectator (2016 vintage)
92/100 Falstaff (2014 vintage)
90/100 Decanter (2012 vintage)
90/100 Falstaff (2011 vintage)
89/100 Decanter (2011 vintage)
91/100 Falstaff (2010 vintage)
Peter, Moser, Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges. Red berry confit underlaid with delicate herbs and spices, fine tobacco nuances. Medium body, also red berries on the palate, delicate tannins, salty and mineral notes, lemony finish, uncomplicated food accompaniment."
Falstaff "Strong ruby garnet, delicate ocher reflections, broader edge brightening. Nuances of pickled cherries, fine forest berry confit, floral touch, very delicate wood spice. Medium complexity, heart cherries, pleasant sweetness, round tannins, freshly structured, mineral and persistent, a versatile food accompaniment." (2018 Vintage)
Decanter "Needing time to open, this starts off well with firm redcurrant and raspberry fruits, but finishes a little abruptly with touches of oak. (2018 Vintage)
Wine Spectator "Light-bodied, offering an herb-infused profile of cherry and pomegranate fruit flavors, with tangy cedar hints. Drink now through 2023. 5,333 cases made. — JM" (2016 Vintage)
Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges, attractive dark berry fruit, delicate notes of cassis and liquorice, black cherries, tobacco nuances. Full-bodied, fine blackberry confit, fruity sweetness, well-integrated tannins, sticks, a pleasant, silky food wine with aging potential." (2014 Vintage)
Decanter "A great second wine for drinking now, this has lashings of damson fruit to back up the acidity. The tannins are not as intense as they would be in a great vintage but it's good quality, with polish and real appeal. (2012 Vintage)
Falstaff "Deep dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, delicate lightening of the edges, attractive cherry fruit, fine wild berry aromas, a hint of cedar, blackberries and chocolate, inviting bouquet. Juicy, powerful, present, still a bit too edgy tannins, sweet extract on the finish, chocolaty finish, a promising food accompaniment." (2011 Vintage)
Decanter "This works well as a second wine: it has approachability but is still serious. It shows good rich fruit on the nose, and although it's a little subdued right now, closing down through the mid-palate, the edges are starting to soften and the dark fruits are well defined. (2011 Vintage)
Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, delicate rim lightening. In the nose, dark berry confit with delicate leaves, delicate nougat and herbal spices. Juicy, good complexity, fine plum fruit, well-integrated tannins, touch of chocolate on the finish, good potential for development." (2010 Vintage)
Made by one of France's 'Top 10' winemakers, famous for his 1855 classified "Grand Cru" Bordeaux. This wine is that wine's sought after brother!
Winemaker, Jean-Luc Zuger has been praised by wine media as "miraculous".
Winestyle "...elegant, full-bodied, harmonious, with hints of ripe cherry, black currant and blackberry, spicy notes, pleasant acidity, soft woody nuances and dry long finish"
Le Point magazine "Candied cherry, beautiful expressive nose, soft palate, velvety tannins, fresh, good finesse, a finish that will give you a surprise, superb fruit … all the power of a Cabernet." (French translation)
The Wine Cellar Insider "Winemaker, Jean-Luc Zuger is on fire at Chateau Malescot St. Exupery. The wines being made at the property today are stunning!"
1 x Man O' War Dreadnought Syrah 2018 ~ Waiheke Island, New Zealand
93/100 Bob Campbell MW
93/100 CamDouglas MS
17.5/20 Jancis Robinson
95/100 Cam Douglas MS (2017 vintage)
95/100 Bob Campbell MW (2017 vintage)
93/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage)
93/100 Falstaff (2017 vintage)
92/100 Tom Cannavan (2017 vintage)
91/100 CellarTracker (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Wine Enthusiast (2017 vintage)
92/100 Robert Parker (2016 vintage)
16.5/20 Jancis Robinson (2016 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2017 vintage)
Bob Campbell MW "Rich, intense and classy syrah with plum, dark berry, five-spice, chocolate-mocha and nutty oak flavours. A robust yet stylish wine, with a solid backbone of ripe tannins suggesting good cellaring potential."
CamDouglas MS "A developing bouquet showcasing aromas of fresh and dried red currants, raspberry and tart plums. A violet and leather quality alongside some toatsy barrel spices, anise and clove layer in complexity and depth. Delicious on the palate, reflrecting all the bouquet has to offer, firm tannins and a backbone of acidity. The dry finish highlights the tannins, but the fruit flavours and violet anise combination also leave an impression on the finish. "
Jancis Robinson "Tank sample.Meaty and peppery with rich plummy fruit on the nose. Relatively light in body. Delicately structured with a long, spicy, leathery finish. Refined and sophisticated with moderate length and a lovely savoury tone. It's so non-fruit centric! Lots of goût de terroir."
Rebecca Gibb MW "...consistently encapsulates everything that is good in New Zealand Syrah - dark fruit, black pepper spice and smoked-meat flavours wrapped up in an elegant, medium-weight parcel with bags of freshness on the finish."
Bob Campbell "Deep, dense Syrah that's jam-packed with many flavours including plum, dark berry, black pepper, a suggestion of violet, liquorice, leather and tar characters." (2017 vintage)
Cam Douglas "Immediately recognisable and seductive bouquet with aromas of blackberry and raspberry, dark plums and black pepper. The aromas expand to include clove and cocoa, toasty wood and dark dry rocky soil impressions. On the palate - dry, weighty, firm textures from tannins, warming alcohol and an abundance of acidity. Fruit flavours reflect the palate led by dark raspberry and black cherry. Persistent and engaging throughout the palate, well made and ready." (2017 vintage)
James Suckling "This has a very rich, ripe-blackberry and dark-plum nose with plenty of dark, toasted spice and black pepper. The palate is concentrated and smooth-honed with dense, fine tannins that carry a very plush, juicy and succulently long finish. Impressive purity here." (2017 vintage)
Falstaff "Dark ruby, purple reflections, faint brightening on the rim. Subtle tobacco on the nose with black cherry, red peppercorn, a hint of vanilla and cardamom in the background. Elegant, juicy palate, fine red berry fruit, pleasant, well integrated tannins and mineral with a lively structure. Delicately salty and already well developed." (2017 vintage)
Tom Cannavan " Two years older than the previous wine and a softer colour, and there's a meatiness here, briarwood, game and a little smokiness, the fruit still in the red spectrum and there's cedar too in a very classic style. In the mouth there's great sweetness and ripeness, a fleshiness to the fruit, plum flesh and a bite of cherry pits and a little stemmy wood note that fits really nicely in the picture. Rhône-ish in style for me and very good." (2017 vintage)
Wine Enthusiast "This Waiheke Island Syrah gives off a strong sulfuric, reductive aroma when first poured. But don't let that put you off. After a few minutes of swirling or decanting, it opens into something quite pretty and varietal. Juicy berry fruit mingles with bay leaf and more savory, earthy spice, with mineral and graphite brushstrokes. In the mouth, savory, granular tannins provide support to the fleshy fruit, and a roasted meat flavor pops up. There's a slightly bitter oak note to the finish, but overall this is a solid regional and varietal expression. " (2017 vintage)
Robert Parker "...continues this cuvée's run of successes. Violets, peppery spices and mulberry notes appear on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate adds flavors of raspberries, espresso and chocolate. Silky and immediately approachable, it doesn't have the richness or concentration of the best vintages." (2016 vintage)
Man O'War Vineyards is a leading New Zealand wine producer on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. It is known for its consistently high-quality range of wines made from grape varieties like Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each small parcel of vines is carefully tended and harvested by hand, then vinified separately, fusing classic Old World techniques with innovative New World ideas.
1 x Man O' War Valhalla Chardonnay 2020 ~ Waiheke Island, New Zealand
95/100 Cam Douglas MS
94/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell
94/100 James Suckling
93/100 The Real Review, Stephen Wong
93/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell
95/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell (2019 vintage)
94/100 Cam Douglas MS (2019 vintage)
95/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell (2018 vintage)
92/100 James Suckling (2018 vintage)
90/100 Cam Douglas MS (2018 vintage)
17.5/20 Jancis Robinson (2018 vintage)
Ranked #4 of New Zealand Chardonnays - Wine 360
5 Star Rated by Bob Campbell
Cam Douglas MS "A full-bodied, nutty, rich and powerful wine with a core of roasted stone fruit and toasty cashew-nut oak flavours, fine textured tannins and a brazil-nut butter texture. Baked peaches and lemon, nectarine skin and grapefruit. There’s vanilla and nut, warming alcohol and medium+ acidity. A wine that ticks all the boxes of weight and intensity, richness and power, flavour and deliciousness. "
The Real Review, Bob Campbell "Big, rich and creamy chardonnay with layers of tree fruit, citrus fruit, mineral and oak flavours. Complex, satisfying and generously proportioned, with a solid backbone of tangy acid and peppery tannins. An heroic chardonnay with development potential."
James Suckling "A crisp and very lively chardonnay with sliced lemon, green apple and a hint of nougat. Medium-bodied with excellent energy and a minerally finish. Salty."
The Real Review, Stephen Wong "Tight, flinty sulfide/smoke nose, young, closed. Very high-toned citrus and herb notes - in the reductive, mineral style. Concentrated fruit, sulfites dominating at present, will this integrate over time? Very modern style, quite lean. Just lacking the fruit weight and depth to stand up the level of reduction here; still very good, but shy of great"
The Real Review, Bob Campbell "Light, slightly phenolic (in a good way) with grapefruit, sizzled butter, and oyster shell flavours. A bit simple at first but opened up as it sat in the glass."
The Real Review, Bob Campbell "Rich, complex chardonnay with grapefruit, nectarine, green apple, mint and a saline-mineral character.A lively, high-energy wine that promises to age very well indeed." (2019 vintage)
Cam Douglas MS "A rich and captivating bouquet with aromas of vanilla and roasted peach, baked apple and cashew nut, sour cream and burnt butter, nectarine and baking spice. There's no mistaking the power, the oak and the variety. Full-bodied and creamy textured on the palate with stone fruit and grapefruit flavours, vanilla and rw sugar with baking spice and smoke flavours of oak, fine tannins and mediumacidity. This is a big wine, but very well made, quite serious , rich, bold, nutty and ready." (2019 vintage)
Bob Campbell "Rich, weighty, creamy-textured chardonnay with toast, sizzled butter, peach, melon, spice and citrus flavours (among others). A satisfyingly complex and textural wine that demonstrate impressive viticultural and winemaking skills" (2018 vintage)
James Suckling "Sweetly floral and offering a wealth of fresh melon and peaches with orange blossom, too. The palate has a rich, fleshy and quite succulent feel with plenty of flavor, following the peach and lemon vein. Grilled nuts to close." (2018 vintage)
Cam Douglas "There’s no mistaking the power and impact from this wine with aromas of cashew nut and whipped cream, roasted peaches and vanilla, smoky wood and brown baking spices. On the palate - full-bodied with a creamy texture, fruity reflecting the aromas from the bouquet. With the presented level of bottle-development, this wine is ready to enjoy from today and through 2021." (2018 vintage)
Jancis Robinson "...this is proper premier cru stuff, with all the sophistication and minerality (whatever that might be!) of great Chardonnay." (2018 vintage)
The Winemaker "The palate is concentrated with waves of harmonious flavours of ripe citrus, flinty lees characters and nutty, toasty flavours. The acidity is well-matched with the weight and concentration of the wine, rich enough not to be distracted by any malo or heavy lees work."
Raymond Chan "The nose is softly full and voluminous with generous and up-front aromas of ripe yellow stonefruits along with nuances of citrus and tropical fruit melded with well-packed complexing aromas of gunflint reduction, creamy barrel-ferment and nutty oak. This has depth and power. Medium-full bodied, the palate has rich and mouth-filling flavours of ripe yellow stonefruits with hints of citrus and tropical fruit, integrated with a fine, complex amalgam of nutty oak and flinty reduction. There is a suggestion of richness and creaminess from the barrel-ferment, which is balanced by bright, refreshing acidity. The wine carries with power and drives along a fine-textured line, leading to a long and sustained finish. This is a rich, mouth-filling and concentrated, complex Chardonnay with stonefruit, nutty oak and gunflint interest on a powerful palate. Match with poultry, pork and veal dishes over the next 5-6+ years. A selection of the finest barrels. Fruit from the volcanic hillsides WBP, and fruit from the sheltered hillsides foot-stomped, then fully indigenous yeast barrel-fermented with full solids to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 11 months in 36% new French oak puncheons.." (2017 vintage)
Robert Parker The Wine Advocate "Man O’ War is without a doubt one of New Zealand’s greatest wineries in the making and one to watch."
Jancis Robinson “Waiheke Island, home to one of the country’s best Syrah producers Man O’ War…New Zealand is second only to the Rhône in the consistency of quality it achieves.”
Raymond Chan "Man O’ War is arguably Waiheke Island’s most significant wine producer.."
Man O'War Vineyards is a leading New Zealand wine producer on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. It is known for its consistently high-quality range of wines made from grape varieties like Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each small parcel of vines is carefully tended and harvested by hand, then vinified separately, fusing classic Old World techniques with innovative New World ideas.
1 x Chateau Roc de Segur 2018 - Bordeaux, France
Bronze - Roger, Voss Wine Enthusiast
Bronze - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (2015 vintage)
Silver - Concours General Agricole Paris
8% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec, 26% Cabernet-sauvignon, 58% Merlot
Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "Well balanced and ready to drink, this wine offers generous black fruits and acidity. Its light structure gives the wine shape."
Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "This structured wine comes from a chateau in the the eastern Entre-deux-Mers. Firm tannins and acidity combine well with juicy black-currant flavors. A dry core indicates that the wine will age." (2015 vintage)
Wine Library "Tasting prifile includes currant, black cherry, plum, bell pepper, olive, oak, smoke, toast, tar, blackberry, cherry, asparagus, spice, ginger and vanilla."
The House of Ségur is an old French winery dating back to the 9th century. The Marquis de Ségur, Nicholas Alexandre (1697 – 1755) was the largest owner of vineyards in Bordeaux (owning three First Growths: Latour, Lafite and Mouton) which earned him the nickname “Prince of Vines” from King Louis XV. Under the Marquis' influence, the wines of Chateau Lafite became firmly established in the London market. British Prime Minister Robert Walpole was a frequent customer, purchasing a barrel every three months.
1 x Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 - Victoria, Australia
93/100 The Wine Front
92/100 Halliday Wine Companion
90/100 The Real Review
91/100 Toni Paterson MW (2018 vintage)
91/100 Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine (2018 vintage)
96/100 GOLD James Halliday (2017 vintage)
95/200 Jeremy Oliver (2017 vintage)
92/100 The Wine Front (2017 vintage)
Four Stars - Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine (2018 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2010 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2008 vintage)
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2009 vintage)
James Halliday 5 Star Winery
The Wine Front "Very Nice Chardonnay....Refreshing for sure. Good detail.... It does struck match and flint, it does citrus and green apple, some spicy oak there, it does a slightly rubbery tightness and a milky haze in texture through glass shard cuts. It’s a wine that feels primped and preened into its style of racy, leaner, taut, rather than reflecting inherent fruit character, but in that way hits its markers and will delight an audience of appreciative drinkers...."
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "No single-block wines this vintage, with all fruit allocated to the single-vineyard wines across the range. This has morphed into a more savoury wine with almost a complete absence of fruit flavours, except for a flutter of citrus. It has the sulphide stamp, the restraint yet even tighter with acidity leading. A hint of beeswax, just the finest creamy leesy flavour....don't chill it down too much."
The Real Review "palate is restrained, lean and high-tensioned. Enjoy with food."
The Winemaker "Defined by its fresh, citrus blossom aromatic lift and precise long, lingering finish. Characteristic pure and intense aroma. The palate is poised and complex, with layered fruit flavours. Tightly wound together with a precise minerality, the wine has beautiful line and length."
Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine “Elegant and beautifully balanced.....Opens with spicy cracked black pepper and bright notes of freshly picked blackberries. Plush and open with lovely freshness and vibrancy offering attractive fruit purity and peppery complexity....combines black cherry aromas with oak spices and a subtle touch of whole-bunch fragrance. There’s supple flesh on the palate with plenty of balanced tannin.” (2018 vintage)
The Winemaker "A perfumed and spicy Syrah, medium-bodied in style. The palate is concentrated and silky, with finely structured tannins, bright fruit characters, wonderful elegance and depth. Aged for 11 months in French oak. Stored carefully, this wine will age gracefully for ten years. " (2018 vintage)
Australian Wine Companion "This is another fantastic release under this label. Garden herbs, nuts, twigs and spice notes blend seamlessly with red and black cherries, licorice and wood smoke. Flamboyance is its middle name, but it has the discipline to make the most of it." (2017 vintage)
Yabby Lake Vineyard was established by the Kirby family in 1998 and over the past decade, Yabby Lake has built a reputation for single-vineyard Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of great purity and character.
James Halliday "This high-profile wine business was established by Robert and Mem Kirby (of Village Roadshow), who had been landowners in the Mornington Peninsula for decades. In 1998 they established Yabby Lake Vineyard, under the direction of vineyard manager Keith Harris; the vineyard is on a north-facing slope, capturing maximum sunshine while also receiving sea breezes. The main focus is the 25ha of pinot noir, 14ha of chardonnay and 8ha of pinot gris; 3h of shiraz, merlot and sauvignon blanc take a back seat. The arrival of the hugely talented Tom Carson as Group Winemaker has added lustre to the winery and its wines, making the first Jimmy Watson Trophy-winning Pinot Noir in 2014, and continuing to blitz the Australian wine show circuit with Single Block Pinots."
Led by Tom Carson "one of Australia's most lauded winemakers" so cites Huon Hooke of the Real Review. Under Carson's direction, Yabby Lake's philosophy is to craft wines representative of their site and their season in which they were grown. Yabby Lake believe it’s this attention and care in the vineyard that is most critical to allowing this expression.
Huon Hooke "One of Carson’s biggest moments was winning the Jimmy Watson Trophy [Australia's most prestigious winemaker accolade] with his 2012 Block 1 Pinot Noir – the first pinot ever to win this coveted award.
1 x Atticus Chardonnay 2010 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
95/100 James Halliday
94/100 James Halliday (2011 vintage)
96/100 James Halliday (2013 vintage)
96/100 James Halliday (2014 vintage)
96/100 James Halliday (2016 vintage)
95/100 James Halliday (2006 vintage)
95/100 Huon Hooke (2006 vintage)
Silver - International Wine Challenge
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards
Bronze - Royal Sydney Wine Show
Australian Wine Companion - Best Margaret River Wineries of the Regions 2020
5/5 Stars - Winestate Chardonnay Tasting
Decanter Magazine - 'Recommended'
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2009 vintage)
Silver - International Wine Challenge (2009 vintage)
Since the release of the Chapman Grove range in 2006, Chapman Grove wines have been awarded 4 Trophies, 3 Top Gold, 3 Gold, 8 Silver and 39 Bronze Medals.
James Halliday - "Vibrant green hue; nectarine, grapefruit and lots of attractive oak from judicious oak handling; the zesty acidity provides a lively palate that is direct and long, powerful and precise; a complex and heady blend of power and finesse the west is becoming famous for."
Winestate "Lovely deep golden-green chardonnay showing toasty nutty aromas and rich, full-bodied, fleshy palate, with attractive layers of varietal fruit intensity."
Decanter - "Elegant and restrained with very nice notes of white peaches and nectarines. Medium-bodied, creamy and crisp with long stone fruit after taste."
Roger Jones - "Lush, rich and lingering, full-on texture and multi-layered lingering fruit and developing well."
Alessandro Marchesan "Elegant and restrained with very nice notes of white peaches and nectarines. Medium-bodied, creamy and crisp with long stone fruit after taste."
James Halliday "A very successful venture under the control of CEO Ron Fraser. The wines come from the estate vineyards planted to chardonnay, Semillon, sauvignon blanc, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot.....[The winery's] ultra-premium wines are under the Atticus label."
Atticus is owned by Chapman Grove Wines; a small winery focussed on making limited edition fine wines from Margaret River, Western Australia. Described by Australia's N#1 wine critic, James Halliday as "a very successful venture", the winery is known for its highly rated wines and was established in 2005 by an esteemed veteran of the industry, Ron Fraser. Pop Up Wine has secured back vintages of a collection of its highly rated wines.
1 x Chateau Malescot 'La Dame de Malescot' 2016 ~ Bordeaux, France
90/100 Falstaff
92/100 Falstaff (2018 vintage)
89/100 Decanter (2018 vintage)
87/100 Wine Spectator (2016 vintage)
92/100 Falstaff (2014 vintage)
90/100 Decanter (2012 vintage)
90/100 Falstaff (2011 vintage)
89/100 Decanter (2011 vintage)
91/100 Falstaff (2010 vintage)
Peter, Moser, Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges. Red berry confit underlaid with delicate herbs and spices, fine tobacco nuances. Medium body, also red berries on the palate, delicate tannins, salty and mineral notes, lemony finish, uncomplicated food accompaniment."
Falstaff "Strong ruby garnet, delicate ocher reflections, broader edge brightening. Nuances of pickled cherries, fine forest berry confit, floral touch, very delicate wood spice. Medium complexity, heart cherries, pleasant sweetness, round tannins, freshly structured, mineral and persistent, a versatile food accompaniment." (2018 Vintage)
Decanter "Needing time to open, this starts off well with firm redcurrant and raspberry fruits, but finishes a little abruptly with touches of oak. (2018 Vintage)
Wine Spectator "Light-bodied, offering an herb-infused profile of cherry and pomegranate fruit flavors, with tangy cedar hints. Drink now through 2023. 5,333 cases made. — JM" (2016 Vintage)
Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges, attractive dark berry fruit, delicate notes of cassis and liquorice, black cherries, tobacco nuances. Full-bodied, fine blackberry confit, fruity sweetness, well-integrated tannins, sticks, a pleasant, silky food wine with aging potential." (2014 Vintage)
Decanter "A great second wine for drinking now, this has lashings of damson fruit to back up the acidity. The tannins are not as intense as they would be in a great vintage but it's good quality, with polish and real appeal. (2012 Vintage)
Falstaff "Deep dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, delicate lightening of the edges, attractive cherry fruit, fine wild berry aromas, a hint of cedar, blackberries and chocolate, inviting bouquet. Juicy, powerful, present, still a bit too edgy tannins, sweet extract on the finish, chocolaty finish, a promising food accompaniment." (2011 Vintage)
Decanter "This works well as a second wine: it has approachability but is still serious. It shows good rich fruit on the nose, and although it's a little subdued right now, closing down through the mid-palate, the edges are starting to soften and the dark fruits are well defined. (2011 Vintage)
Falstaff "Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, delicate rim lightening. In the nose, dark berry confit with delicate leaves, delicate nougat and herbal spices. Juicy, good complexity, fine plum fruit, well-integrated tannins, touch of chocolate on the finish, good potential for development." (2010 Vintage)
Made by one of France's 'Top 10' winemakers, famous for his 1855 classified "Grand Cru" Bordeaux. This wine is that wine's sought after brother!
Winemaker, Jean-Luc Zuger has been praised by wine media as "miraculous".
Winestyle "...elegant, full-bodied, harmonious, with hints of ripe cherry, black currant and blackberry, spicy notes, pleasant acidity, soft woody nuances and dry long finish"
Le Point magazine "Candied cherry, beautiful expressive nose, soft palate, velvety tannins, fresh, good finesse, a finish that will give you a surprise, superb fruit … all the power of a Cabernet." (French translation)
The Wine Cellar Insider "Winemaker, Jean-Luc Zuger is on fire at Chateau Malescot St. Exupery. The wines being made at the property today are stunning!"
1 x Man O' War Dreadnought Syrah 2018 ~ Waiheke Island, New Zealand
93/100 Bob Campbell MW
93/100 CamDouglas MS
17.5/20 Jancis Robinson
95/100 Cam Douglas MS (2017 vintage)
95/100 Bob Campbell MW (2017 vintage)
93/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage)
93/100 Falstaff (2017 vintage)
92/100 Tom Cannavan (2017 vintage)
91/100 CellarTracker (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Wine Enthusiast (2017 vintage)
92/100 Robert Parker (2016 vintage)
16.5/20 Jancis Robinson (2016 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2017 vintage)
Bob Campbell MW "Rich, intense and classy syrah with plum, dark berry, five-spice, chocolate-mocha and nutty oak flavours. A robust yet stylish wine, with a solid backbone of ripe tannins suggesting good cellaring potential."
CamDouglas MS "A developing bouquet showcasing aromas of fresh and dried red currants, raspberry and tart plums. A violet and leather quality alongside some toatsy barrel spices, anise and clove layer in complexity and depth. Delicious on the palate, reflrecting all the bouquet has to offer, firm tannins and a backbone of acidity. The dry finish highlights the tannins, but the fruit flavours and violet anise combination also leave an impression on the finish. "
Jancis Robinson "Tank sample.Meaty and peppery with rich plummy fruit on the nose. Relatively light in body. Delicately structured with a long, spicy, leathery finish. Refined and sophisticated with moderate length and a lovely savoury tone. It's so non-fruit centric! Lots of goût de terroir."
Rebecca Gibb MW "...consistently encapsulates everything that is good in New Zealand Syrah - dark fruit, black pepper spice and smoked-meat flavours wrapped up in an elegant, medium-weight parcel with bags of freshness on the finish."
Bob Campbell "Deep, dense Syrah that's jam-packed with many flavours including plum, dark berry, black pepper, a suggestion of violet, liquorice, leather and tar characters." (2017 vintage)
Cam Douglas "Immediately recognisable and seductive bouquet with aromas of blackberry and raspberry, dark plums and black pepper. The aromas expand to include clove and cocoa, toasty wood and dark dry rocky soil impressions. On the palate - dry, weighty, firm textures from tannins, warming alcohol and an abundance of acidity. Fruit flavours reflect the palate led by dark raspberry and black cherry. Persistent and engaging throughout the palate, well made and ready." (2017 vintage)
James Suckling "This has a very rich, ripe-blackberry and dark-plum nose with plenty of dark, toasted spice and black pepper. The palate is concentrated and smooth-honed with dense, fine tannins that carry a very plush, juicy and succulently long finish. Impressive purity here." (2017 vintage)
Falstaff "Dark ruby, purple reflections, faint brightening on the rim. Subtle tobacco on the nose with black cherry, red peppercorn, a hint of vanilla and cardamom in the background. Elegant, juicy palate, fine red berry fruit, pleasant, well integrated tannins and mineral with a lively structure. Delicately salty and already well developed." (2017 vintage)
Tom Cannavan " Two years older than the previous wine and a softer colour, and there's a meatiness here, briarwood, game and a little smokiness, the fruit still in the red spectrum and there's cedar too in a very classic style. In the mouth there's great sweetness and ripeness, a fleshiness to the fruit, plum flesh and a bite of cherry pits and a little stemmy wood note that fits really nicely in the picture. Rhône-ish in style for me and very good." (2017 vintage)
Wine Enthusiast "This Waiheke Island Syrah gives off a strong sulfuric, reductive aroma when first poured. But don't let that put you off. After a few minutes of swirling or decanting, it opens into something quite pretty and varietal. Juicy berry fruit mingles with bay leaf and more savory, earthy spice, with mineral and graphite brushstrokes. In the mouth, savory, granular tannins provide support to the fleshy fruit, and a roasted meat flavor pops up. There's a slightly bitter oak note to the finish, but overall this is a solid regional and varietal expression. " (2017 vintage)
Robert Parker "...continues this cuvée's run of successes. Violets, peppery spices and mulberry notes appear on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate adds flavors of raspberries, espresso and chocolate. Silky and immediately approachable, it doesn't have the richness or concentration of the best vintages." (2016 vintage)
Man O'War Vineyards is a leading New Zealand wine producer on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. It is known for its consistently high-quality range of wines made from grape varieties like Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each small parcel of vines is carefully tended and harvested by hand, then vinified separately, fusing classic Old World techniques with innovative New World ideas.
1 x Man O' War Valhalla Chardonnay 2020 ~ Waiheke Island, New Zealand
95/100 Cam Douglas MS
94/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell
94/100 James Suckling
93/100 The Real Review, Stephen Wong
93/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell
95/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell (2019 vintage)
94/100 Cam Douglas MS (2019 vintage)
95/100 The Real Review, Bob Campbell (2018 vintage)
92/100 James Suckling (2018 vintage)
90/100 Cam Douglas MS (2018 vintage)
17.5/20 Jancis Robinson (2018 vintage)
Ranked #4 of New Zealand Chardonnays - Wine 360
5 Star Rated by Bob Campbell
Cam Douglas MS "A full-bodied, nutty, rich and powerful wine with a core of roasted stone fruit and toasty cashew-nut oak flavours, fine textured tannins and a brazil-nut butter texture. Baked peaches and lemon, nectarine skin and grapefruit. There’s vanilla and nut, warming alcohol and medium+ acidity. A wine that ticks all the boxes of weight and intensity, richness and power, flavour and deliciousness. "
The Real Review, Bob Campbell "Big, rich and creamy chardonnay with layers of tree fruit, citrus fruit, mineral and oak flavours. Complex, satisfying and generously proportioned, with a solid backbone of tangy acid and peppery tannins. An heroic chardonnay with development potential."
James Suckling "A crisp and very lively chardonnay with sliced lemon, green apple and a hint of nougat. Medium-bodied with excellent energy and a minerally finish. Salty."
The Real Review, Stephen Wong "Tight, flinty sulfide/smoke nose, young, closed. Very high-toned citrus and herb notes - in the reductive, mineral style. Concentrated fruit, sulfites dominating at present, will this integrate over time? Very modern style, quite lean. Just lacking the fruit weight and depth to stand up the level of reduction here; still very good, but shy of great"
The Real Review, Bob Campbell "Light, slightly phenolic (in a good way) with grapefruit, sizzled butter, and oyster shell flavours. A bit simple at first but opened up as it sat in the glass."
The Real Review, Bob Campbell "Rich, complex chardonnay with grapefruit, nectarine, green apple, mint and a saline-mineral character.A lively, high-energy wine that promises to age very well indeed." (2019 vintage)
Cam Douglas MS "A rich and captivating bouquet with aromas of vanilla and roasted peach, baked apple and cashew nut, sour cream and burnt butter, nectarine and baking spice. There's no mistaking the power, the oak and the variety. Full-bodied and creamy textured on the palate with stone fruit and grapefruit flavours, vanilla and rw sugar with baking spice and smoke flavours of oak, fine tannins and mediumacidity. This is a big wine, but very well made, quite serious , rich, bold, nutty and ready." (2019 vintage)
Bob Campbell "Rich, weighty, creamy-textured chardonnay with toast, sizzled butter, peach, melon, spice and citrus flavours (among others). A satisfyingly complex and textural wine that demonstrate impressive viticultural and winemaking skills" (2018 vintage)
James Suckling "Sweetly floral and offering a wealth of fresh melon and peaches with orange blossom, too. The palate has a rich, fleshy and quite succulent feel with plenty of flavor, following the peach and lemon vein. Grilled nuts to close." (2018 vintage)
Cam Douglas "There’s no mistaking the power and impact from this wine with aromas of cashew nut and whipped cream, roasted peaches and vanilla, smoky wood and brown baking spices. On the palate - full-bodied with a creamy texture, fruity reflecting the aromas from the bouquet. With the presented level of bottle-development, this wine is ready to enjoy from today and through 2021." (2018 vintage)
Jancis Robinson "...this is proper premier cru stuff, with all the sophistication and minerality (whatever that might be!) of great Chardonnay." (2018 vintage)
The Winemaker "The palate is concentrated with waves of harmonious flavours of ripe citrus, flinty lees characters and nutty, toasty flavours. The acidity is well-matched with the weight and concentration of the wine, rich enough not to be distracted by any malo or heavy lees work."
Raymond Chan "The nose is softly full and voluminous with generous and up-front aromas of ripe yellow stonefruits along with nuances of citrus and tropical fruit melded with well-packed complexing aromas of gunflint reduction, creamy barrel-ferment and nutty oak. This has depth and power. Medium-full bodied, the palate has rich and mouth-filling flavours of ripe yellow stonefruits with hints of citrus and tropical fruit, integrated with a fine, complex amalgam of nutty oak and flinty reduction. There is a suggestion of richness and creaminess from the barrel-ferment, which is balanced by bright, refreshing acidity. The wine carries with power and drives along a fine-textured line, leading to a long and sustained finish. This is a rich, mouth-filling and concentrated, complex Chardonnay with stonefruit, nutty oak and gunflint interest on a powerful palate. Match with poultry, pork and veal dishes over the next 5-6+ years. A selection of the finest barrels. Fruit from the volcanic hillsides WBP, and fruit from the sheltered hillsides foot-stomped, then fully indigenous yeast barrel-fermented with full solids to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 11 months in 36% new French oak puncheons.." (2017 vintage)
Robert Parker The Wine Advocate "Man O’ War is without a doubt one of New Zealand’s greatest wineries in the making and one to watch."
Jancis Robinson “Waiheke Island, home to one of the country’s best Syrah producers Man O’ War…New Zealand is second only to the Rhône in the consistency of quality it achieves.”
Raymond Chan "Man O’ War is arguably Waiheke Island’s most significant wine producer.."
Man O'War Vineyards is a leading New Zealand wine producer on Waiheke Island in the Hauraki Gulf. It is known for its consistently high-quality range of wines made from grape varieties like Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each small parcel of vines is carefully tended and harvested by hand, then vinified separately, fusing classic Old World techniques with innovative New World ideas.
1 x Chateau Roc de Segur 2018 - Bordeaux, France
Bronze - Roger, Voss Wine Enthusiast
Bronze - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (2015 vintage)
Silver - Concours General Agricole Paris
8% Petit Verdot, 8% Malbec, 26% Cabernet-sauvignon, 58% Merlot
Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "Well balanced and ready to drink, this wine offers generous black fruits and acidity. Its light structure gives the wine shape."
Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "This structured wine comes from a chateau in the the eastern Entre-deux-Mers. Firm tannins and acidity combine well with juicy black-currant flavors. A dry core indicates that the wine will age." (2015 vintage)
Wine Library "Tasting prifile includes currant, black cherry, plum, bell pepper, olive, oak, smoke, toast, tar, blackberry, cherry, asparagus, spice, ginger and vanilla."
The House of Ségur is an old French winery dating back to the 9th century. The Marquis de Ségur, Nicholas Alexandre (1697 – 1755) was the largest owner of vineyards in Bordeaux (owning three First Growths: Latour, Lafite and Mouton) which earned him the nickname “Prince of Vines” from King Louis XV. Under the Marquis' influence, the wines of Chateau Lafite became firmly established in the London market. British Prime Minister Robert Walpole was a frequent customer, purchasing a barrel every three months.
1 x Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 - Victoria, Australia
93/100 The Wine Front
92/100 Halliday Wine Companion
90/100 The Real Review
91/100 Toni Paterson MW (2018 vintage)
91/100 Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine (2018 vintage)
96/100 GOLD James Halliday (2017 vintage)
95/200 Jeremy Oliver (2017 vintage)
92/100 The Wine Front (2017 vintage)
Four Stars - Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine (2018 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2010 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2008 vintage)
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2009 vintage)
James Halliday 5 Star Winery
The Wine Front "Very Nice Chardonnay....Refreshing for sure. Good detail.... It does struck match and flint, it does citrus and green apple, some spicy oak there, it does a slightly rubbery tightness and a milky haze in texture through glass shard cuts. It’s a wine that feels primped and preened into its style of racy, leaner, taut, rather than reflecting inherent fruit character, but in that way hits its markers and will delight an audience of appreciative drinkers...."
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "No single-block wines this vintage, with all fruit allocated to the single-vineyard wines across the range. This has morphed into a more savoury wine with almost a complete absence of fruit flavours, except for a flutter of citrus. It has the sulphide stamp, the restraint yet even tighter with acidity leading. A hint of beeswax, just the finest creamy leesy flavour....don't chill it down too much."
The Real Review "palate is restrained, lean and high-tensioned. Enjoy with food."
The Winemaker "Defined by its fresh, citrus blossom aromatic lift and precise long, lingering finish. Characteristic pure and intense aroma. The palate is poised and complex, with layered fruit flavours. Tightly wound together with a precise minerality, the wine has beautiful line and length."
Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine “Elegant and beautifully balanced.....Opens with spicy cracked black pepper and bright notes of freshly picked blackberries. Plush and open with lovely freshness and vibrancy offering attractive fruit purity and peppery complexity....combines black cherry aromas with oak spices and a subtle touch of whole-bunch fragrance. There’s supple flesh on the palate with plenty of balanced tannin.” (2018 vintage)
The Winemaker "A perfumed and spicy Syrah, medium-bodied in style. The palate is concentrated and silky, with finely structured tannins, bright fruit characters, wonderful elegance and depth. Aged for 11 months in French oak. Stored carefully, this wine will age gracefully for ten years. " (2018 vintage)
Australian Wine Companion "This is another fantastic release under this label. Garden herbs, nuts, twigs and spice notes blend seamlessly with red and black cherries, licorice and wood smoke. Flamboyance is its middle name, but it has the discipline to make the most of it." (2017 vintage)
Yabby Lake Vineyard was established by the Kirby family in 1998 and over the past decade, Yabby Lake has built a reputation for single-vineyard Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay and Pinot Noir of great purity and character.
James Halliday "This high-profile wine business was established by Robert and Mem Kirby (of Village Roadshow), who had been landowners in the Mornington Peninsula for decades. In 1998 they established Yabby Lake Vineyard, under the direction of vineyard manager Keith Harris; the vineyard is on a north-facing slope, capturing maximum sunshine while also receiving sea breezes. The main focus is the 25ha of pinot noir, 14ha of chardonnay and 8ha of pinot gris; 3h of shiraz, merlot and sauvignon blanc take a back seat. The arrival of the hugely talented Tom Carson as Group Winemaker has added lustre to the winery and its wines, making the first Jimmy Watson Trophy-winning Pinot Noir in 2014, and continuing to blitz the Australian wine show circuit with Single Block Pinots."
Led by Tom Carson "one of Australia's most lauded winemakers" so cites Huon Hooke of the Real Review. Under Carson's direction, Yabby Lake's philosophy is to craft wines representative of their site and their season in which they were grown. Yabby Lake believe it’s this attention and care in the vineyard that is most critical to allowing this expression.
Huon Hooke "One of Carson’s biggest moments was winning the Jimmy Watson Trophy [Australia's most prestigious winemaker accolade] with his 2012 Block 1 Pinot Noir – the first pinot ever to win this coveted award.