Elegant Reds & Whites – Curated 6 Bottle Selection

Discover the art of winemaking with this sophisticated collection of premium red and white wines. Featuring six hand-selected bottles from renowned vineyards, this set offers a harmonious balance of bold reds and refreshing whites. Perfect for intimate dinners, celebratory occasions, or thoughtful gifting, each bottle showcases exceptional craftsmanship and flavor. Elevate your wine experience with this versatile selection, designed to please a wide range of palates and complement any occasion.

1 x Rocca delle Macie Tenuta Fizzano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019 - Chianti Classico, Italy

95/100 Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critic
93/100 James Suckling
92/100 Wine Spectator
91/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
91/100 Michaela Morris, Decanter
95/100 Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critics (2018 vintage)
95/100 James Suckling (2018 vintage)
95/100 Daniele Cernilli, Guida Essenziale
93/100 Wine Spectator (2018 vintage)
92/100 Ernesto Gentili
91/100 Michaela Morris, Decanter (2018 vintage)
90/100 Falstaff (2018 vintage)

Gold - Mundus Vini
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2018 vintage)

3 Bicchieri - Gambero Rosso (2018 vintage)

Organic - currently undergoing certification

Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critic "Full body, well-smoothed soft tannins and a warm and enveloping finish that everyone likes for its volume and power...Open and very vibrant in the sensory profile, it offers notes of currants, raspberries, ripe strawberries and wet flowers. "

James Suckling "Composed and traditional.....Sweet cranberries, plums and some savory cinnamon, seaweed and white pepper, extending to a medium-bodied palate that unleashes juicy and savory berry fruit with firm, polished tannins."

Wine Spectator "A fluid red, featuring a mix of plum, cherry, leather, iron and sanguine flavors. Tips to the dry side in the balance, remaining long and savory in the end. Sangiovese and Colorino."

Decanter "The nose is rather shy, hinting at flint and pepper; but the palate is more giving: plump red cherry is punctuated by pretty violets and sage, remaining juicy throughout. Tannins appear quite fine at first, then stick assertively to the finish."

Raffaele Vecchione, Wine Critic "Solid and centred showing energy and character in the fruity profile, rich with black plums, wild myrtle, cumin, white pepper and hot crumbled stone. In the background the slight riduction is well integrated and will go away with time but also protects the matrix from oxygen. Full bodied.perfectly polymerized fine grain tannins in the matrix and an authoritative finale, rich in gustatory beauty." (2018 vintage)

James Suckling "Fresh and vivid with black-cherry and violet aromas. Full-bodied with firm, lively tannins and a fresh, linear finish. Very fine and polished." (2018 vintage)

Wine Spectator "Savory and fruity combine in this dense red, whose wild rosemary, eucalyptus and woodsy notes meet cherry, plum and floral flavors. Firms up, so decant now or cellar a few more years." (2018 vintage)

Decanter "It leads with aromas of warm, dry earth, baked stone and hints of green herbs. Robust and packed with fruit, the palate demonstrates the region’s generosity. Plush, plump plum is accented by cinnamon, clove and sundried tomato, with flinty mineral notes underneath. The tannins are chalky and dry, but cushy acidity lends accessibility." (2018 vintage)

Falstaff "Dark shining ruby red. In the nose of fresh cherries, blood oranges, strawberry yoghurt, also delicately of sealing wax. Red berries on the palate with slightly vegetal fruit, juicy and finely structured, but widens in the rear area and dries out, narrow." (2018 vintage)

Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973, when film producer Italo Zingarelli – of Ettore Scola’s “We All Loved Each Other So Much” fame, and also the wildly popular series of films featuring comedy duo Bud Spencer and Terence Hill (including “They Call Me Trinity” and “Trinity Is Still My Name”) – decided to realize his lifelong dream by acquiring the “Le Macìe” estate – extending across 93 hectares (230 acres) in all, of which only two were under vine – in order to create a winery in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone.

The estate now extends to more than 500 hectares (1250 acres) with, in total, more than 200 (500 acres) used as vineyards and 22 (54 acres) as olive groves, subdivided across the company’s six estates: Le Macìe, Sant’Alfonso, Fizzano e le Tavolelle in the Chianti Classico Area, in addition to the Campomaccione and Casa Maria estates in the Morellino di Scansano Area (Maremma).

The Chianti region in Italy's Tuscany wine growing region is split between Chianti and Chianti Classico with the highest quality being the Chianti Classico Gran Selezione. This relatively new premium level for the wines of Chianti Classico DOCG being the Gran Selezione (Great Selection) — and is officially part of the Chianti Classico portfolio since 2014. Gran Selezione is a classification above Riserva, made using grapes harvested only from the winery’s own vineyards, with upgraded requirements for alcohol, extract, and aging for at least 30 months.

Basically two separate DOCG designations apply to wines from the Chianti region: the Chianti Classico DOCG for the heartland of Chianti, and Chianti DOCG for all other Chianti regions. (In 1984, the Chianti region was promoted from DOC to DOCG - Italy’s highest classification - and in 1996, Chianti Classico - the historic heartland of the region - DOCG was created, which gave autonomy to that region. In the last 20 years, a consortium of Chianti Classico producers have researched new Sangiovese clones, replanted vineyards, updated cellar practices and generally made Chianti Classico DOCG a world-class appellation. Chianti Classico must contain a minimum of 80% Sangiovese. In the 2014 edition of its annual compendium of wine ratings, Gambero Rosso noted that Chianti Classico DOCG wines were noteworthy for their “significant return to a more defined style, true to tradition.” The typical Chianti Classico wine is a ruby-red, Sangiovese-based wine with aromas of violets and cherries and a hint of earthy spice.

The Chianti DOCG designation covers wines from six Chianti sub-zones (Colli Pisane, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colli Aretini, Montalbano and Rufina) as well as all other Chianti wines. The Chianti Classico DOCG is located in the very center of Tuscany, between Florence and Sienna.

Tuscany is Italy's third most planted region (behind Sicily and Apulia) but it is eighth in terms of output, reflecting both the poor soil of Tuscany and deliberate efforts to limit yields and increase the quality in the wine. After Piedmont and the Veneto, Tuscany produces the third-highest volume of DOC/DOCG wines. More than 80% of the regions' production is in red wine, with the Sangiovese grape being Tuscany's' most prominent grape. Trebbiano is the leading white variety of the region.

The history of viticulture in Tuscany dates back to the Etruscans in the 8th century BC. From the fall of the Roman Empire and throughout the Middle Ages, monasteries were the main purveyors of wines in the region. As the aristocratic and merchant classes emerged, they inherited the share-cropping system of agriculture known as mezzadria. Many Tuscan landowners would turn their half of the grape harvest into wine that would be sold to merchants in Florence. Following the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Tuscany returned to the rule of the Habsburgs. Chianti, Chianti Classico, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Super Tuscan are Tuscany’s best known wines.

Sangiovese (or Nielluccio in Corsica), a dark-berried vine, is the most widely planted grape variety in Italy. Virtually synonymous with the red wines of Tuscany, and all the romanticism that goes with the territory, Sangiovese is the core constituent in some of the great names in Italian wine. Italy's love affair with Sangiovese – and indeed the world's – is generations old, though recent grapevine research suggests the variety is not as ancient as once thought.

1 x Château Maucoil Châteauneuf-du-Pape Trésor White (Organic) 2014 - Rhône Valley, France

90/100 Wine Spectator
90/100 Wine Enthusiast
90/100 Robert Parker

30% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 30% Bourboulenc and 10% Roussanne

Wine Enthusiast "This is a rich, toasty white Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Notes of honey, melon and pineapple mark the nose and palate, while the finish is warm and long, with lingering hints of popcorn and roasted nuts."

Jeb Dunnuck "More tropical in character with plenty of pineapple, peach and subtle brioche, the 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc Tresor des Papes is medium-bodied, beautifully textured, and lengthy with a dry finish. This shows a touch more class and purity than the traditional cuvée and should have a longer drink window as well."

The history of Château Maucoil began several centuries ago. Ancient documents state that its first occupants were Romans who set up a base for Caesar’s legions. Later, Joseph de La Pise, Lord of Maucoil and archivist of the House of Orange-Nassau, the Dutch royal family, inherited the estate and the castle which was built in 1624. From then on, winegrowing became an intrinsic part of the history of Château Maucoil.

The 45 hectares of vines in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation have been organic agriculture since 2011. Château Maucoil uses ancient methods such as furrowing, forming mounds and ploughing to tend the vineyard.

Originally from Bordeaux, the Lavau family who now own Château Maucoil, have been involved with winemaking for generations, and have had vineyards ranging from Bordeaux to Tunisia. In 1964 they were seduced by the richness and quality of the Provencal soil and settled down to make wine in the Rhone Valley.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a historic village between the towns of Orange and Avignon, in France's southern Rhône Valley. It is famous for powerful, full-bodied red wines made predominantly from the classic southern Rhône grape trio: Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. These three varieties are behind the vast majority of the appellation's red wines, although a total of eighteen are approved for use – a mix of red and white grape varieties.

Southern Rhone White Blend is a blanket term used to describe the various combinations of white wine grapes used in the southern half of the Rhone Valley. The principal varieties involved in a white wine from the southern Rhone are any combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Ugni Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Picpoul.

1 x Chateau L'Enclos Carbonnieux Pessac Blanc 2019 - Leognan, France

93/100 Tasting Book
92/100 Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider
94/100 Wine Spectator (2018 Vintage)

Jeff Leve "Already soft and silky, and showing good freshness to the sweet red fruits. The wine is medium-bodied with nice length and a good persistency of flavor. You can drink this young or age it for more aromatic complexity."

Wine Spectator " A brisk lemon pith note flanks a core of lemon curd, honeysuckle, tarragon, oyster shell and salted butter notes, with a hint of warm, herbed focaccia on the finish adding range and contrast. Delicious. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Drink now through 2026. 10,835 cases made. —JM" (2018 Vintage)

Château Carbonnieux is a Grand Cru Classé de Graves chateaux and is one of the most ancient wine growing estates in Bordeaux and has made wine uninterrupted since the 13th Century. The Chateau is based in the Pessac-Léognan region of Bordeaux, where it produces both white and red wines. 

The white wines of Château Carbonnieux were seen as some of the top wines of Graves. Historically it was known that there were two original leaders in terms of winemaking in Pessac-Léognan – Château Carbonnieux for white wines and Châteaux Haut-Brion for red wines.

In 1953, 14 châteaux from the Graves region were honoured with the title of “Crus Classés” (Classified Growths), either for their white wines or red wines or both. Château Carbonnieux was renowned for both it’s red and white wines. There are only 6 Châteaux (Bouscaut, Chevalier, Latour-Martillac, Malartic-Lagravière, Olivier and Carbonnieux) among the 9000 wineries from the Bordeaux region that have a classification for both their red and white wines. The 14 “Crus Classés” from the Graves region have been in the Pessac-Léognan AOC since it was created in 1987.

Pessac-Leognan is a prestigious appellation for wines produced in a particular area of the Bordeaux region of south-western France. A relatively new appellation, it was carved out of the Graves sub-region in 1987 – recognized in its own right on the merits of its high-quality red and white wines. This was a significant change, as many of the chateaux in what is now Pessac-Leognan were the best performers in the Graves Classification of 1959.

Sauvignon Blanc – Semillon is a classic Bordeaux white wine blend. It is most widely produced in France, most notably Bordeaux's Graves district, where both Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are well-established varieties. It also has more recently caught on in Australia, particularly Margaret River. The versatile blend is typically made into crisp, dry wines, but it is also the blend of choice for the world's most prestigious sweet wine style, Sauternes.

The blend is endowed with vibrant acidity and grassy aromas by Sauvignon Blanc, and its structure and mouthfeel from Semillon. This blend is a modern, simplified version of the classic White Bordeaux Blend, in which Muscadelle, Sauvignon Gris, Ugni Blanc, Colombard and Merlot Blanc may be added to the mix.

The typical Bordeaux varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are also planted in the vineyards. Château Carbonnieux strives to practice organic and sustainable farming throughout the vineyards.

1 x Jasper Hill Occams Razor Shiraz 2013 ~ Heathcote, Victoria, Australia

94/100 Wine Spectator
91/100 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
90/100 Wine & Spirits Magazine (2007 vintage)
93/100 Wine & Spirits Magazine (2005 vintage)
92/100 Wine & Spirits Magazine (2004 vintage)
92/100 CellarTracker (2005 vintage)
92/100 Stephen Tanzer (2008 vintage)

5 Stars Winery - James Halliday

Organic 

The Winemaker "Deep purple crimson with red currants, ripe plums, raspberries and aromatic tobacco notes. The plentiful tannins are countered with more than adequate natural acidity. Sourced from an organic single vineyard in Mia Mia, 20km south of Heathcote"

Wine Advocate “Deep garnet-purple colored, the Occam's Razor 2013 Shiraz is scented of baked blackberries, cherry coulis and cassis with nuances of eucalyptus, black pepper and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with expressive black berry preserves and peppery flavors supported by firm yet approachable tannins and finishing long with a menthol lift."

Wine Spectator "Focused and expressive, with an overlay of about a dozen different kinds of pepper adding interest and depth to the cherry and floral flavors, focusing into a compact beam as the finish lingers amid lightly prickly tannins"

The Wandering Palette "Loyal followers of Jasper Hill in Australia will know that their wines sell out on release in August each year with the cellar door only open the final weekend of that month."

Curtis Marsh "Jasper Hill makes profound wines of the greatest integrity that reflect the very special vineyard sites and unique rare soils; ancient Cambrian soils 500/600 million years old on undulating hillsides of rusty red gravely loams....all of their wines should be considered ‘must-have’ including their joint venture wine with Michel Chapoutier, La Pleiade Heathcote Shiraz and Agly Brothers Cotes du Roussillon, France"

Organic wines are made from grapes grown without pesticides, following strict organic standards. Organic wines are produced in vineyards that do not use synthetic chemicals.

Jasper Hill is a winery of iconic status and considered of benchmark status in the Heathcote region of Victoria, Australia. The first vineyards were planted in 1975 and the first vintage was in 1982. Jasper Hill is best known for producing concentrated Shiraz from ungrafted vines planted deep into ancient basaltic rock soils. The estate has a total of 24 hectares (60 acres) of vineyard land split between three properties – Emily's Paddock, Georgia's Paddock and Cornella Vineyard. These are planted to a range of varieties, including Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Nebbiolo, Semillon, Viognier, and Grenache. The vineyards are farmed organically, biodynamically, and with no irrigation.

Heathcote is a prestigious wine region in Central Victoria, an hour and a half's drive from the state capital, Melbourne. Shiraz is the unchallenged king of Heathcote wines, making world-class, award-winning wines characterized by their rich and deep aroma profile, a dark, almost inky color, ripe, velvety tannins and an amazingly long finish.
The region is sandwiched between Bendigo to the west and Goulburn Valley to the east, with the state border with New South Wales a little way to the north. Vineyards lie in a narrow strip on the sides of the Mount Camel hills, where elevation plays a big part in the climate, as do cool winds from the south. Heathcote summers are comparatively mild, resulting in an extended growing season. The ripening of the grapes is slow and steady, allowing an almost optimum phenolic development – one of the reasons why Heathcote produces such high-quality wines.

Shiraz is the name given to the dark-skinned Syrah grape when grown in Australia and selected pockets of the New World. Though genetically identical, the stylistic differences between Shiraz and Syrah are usually pronounced. Shiraz is so important to Australian viticulture that it is the most planted grape variety in the majority of Australian vineyards and has become virtually synonymous with the country's wine regions, and in particular the Barossa Valley.

1 x Giant Steps "Applejack Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2022 ~ Yarra Valley, Australia

98/100 Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion
97/100 Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
96/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review
94/100 James Suckling
98/100 Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion (2021 vintage)
96/100 James Suckling (2021 vintage)
95/100 Robert Parker Wine Advocate (2021 vintage)
95/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review (2021 vintage)
95/100 The Wine Front (2021 vintage)
90/100 CellarTracker (2021 vintage)
93/100 Wine Enthusiast (2021 vintage)
96/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2020 vintage)
96/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review (2020 vintage)
95/100 Wine Enthusiast (2020 vintage)

5 Stars - James Halliday

2024 Top Rated Pinot Noir of the Year, Halliday Wine Companion

Gold - Australian Pinot Noir Challenge
Gold - Decanter World Wine Awards (2021 vintage)
Gold - Melbourne Royal Show (2020 vintage)

Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion "Like a Mahler symphony, all of the elements of this wine are in perfect harmony. Aromas of crushed rose petals, red and black cherries, satsuma plums and subtle hints of sandalwood and fennel fronds. There's a little charcuterie and a discreet touch of wet stone. On the palate, this is the most concentrated, structured and saline Applejack I can remember, yet you barely notice the tannins due to the core of pure raspberry and cherry fruit. There's a gentle sappiness on the long, lingering finish. Simply irresistible."

Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front "What a wine this is. It’s a bloom of fruit, it’s wild with herbs, there are sweet-sour nuances and there’s a controlled run to the finish. Winemaker Mel Chester says: ‘everything you love about pinot noir, is in this wine.’ A reductive savouriness, particularly noticeable on the finish, is the icing. This is a stunning wine. Stunning fruit, and stunning structure, and stunning length."

Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Medium-full red with a purple rim, the bouquet red and darker cherries, dusty dried-herb notes, a trace of nutty oak, a hint of liqueured cherry as it aired. There is excellent intensity and volume of flavour, allied with good structure thanks to well shaped tannins, the finish long and the flavour and structure finish right out. Superb pinot noir."

James Suckling "Really delicious....The semi-carbonic approach exudes floral perfumes, red to blue pastille, red apple skin and rosewater. Mid-weighted, sappy, nicely crunchy and joyous. An earlier drinking wine in the context of the site."

Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion "A deep, bright, crimson purple. Maraschino cherry into plum, there's an exotic and riotous amalgam of Asian five-spice and a gentle savoury, umami character. What elevates this vintage is the concentration, along with Applejack's trademark perfume and spice. Just so vibrant and fresh on the palate, the tannins are both silky and plentiful." (2021 vintage)

James Suckling "Brashly spicy and complex, this has aromas of espresso, blueberries, toasted spices and grilled bread, as well as forest wood and violets. The palate delivers alluring depth and a round, fleshy build. Acidity explodes on the finish, releasing fresh red-cherry and blueberry fruit flavors. Wonderfully layered and complete." (2021 vintage)

Robert Parker Wine Advocate "This shows wonderful clarity and poise—it is precise and layered with energy and life. The acid pulses through the phenolic texture in the mouth. It was originally a sparkling vineyard, down the hill from Wombat Creek, situated in an eastern-facing bowl that captures the morning sunlight. Mel Chester (head of winemaking and viticulture) talks about the smell of the tea trees in the vineyard, explaining that "there's always a couple of Wedgetail eagles circling, it's a magic place." The evocative description of the vineyard carries through into the wine, which shows a satisfying, delicious resolution of plump ripe fruit and beautifully resolved tannin." (2021 vintage)

Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Mid-light purple-red colour, bright and youthful, with aromas of mixed spices, raspberry, smoky oak and charcuterie, gentle palate texture and pleasingly drying tannins at the end. Excellent intensity. A nice touch of fruit sweetness at the heart of it, then a drying flush of fine tannin moves in. Delicious pinot. " (2021 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "From the highest elevation of this winery's single vineyards, this vintage of Applejack is rounder and creamier than Giant Step's other Pinots. Succulent cranberry and strawberry fruit is accompanied by white pepper, florals, umami and savory spice. With a mouthcoating texture, the savory tannins tug gently on the pure, fresh red fruit." (2021 vintage)

Decanter World Wine Awards "Quite complex and perfumed bouquet of lovely woody notes, ripe raspberry fruit and hints of smoky bacon. Silky and precise, with gentle tannins." (2021 vintage)

Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "Pinot purity right here, folks. There’s a certain precision and definition too. A delightful combo of joy and complexity: rhubarb and freshly grated beetroot, sweet red cherries, florals and warm spices, with the oak neatly tucked in. Superfine tannins, laser-like acidity and terrific length seal the deal." (2020 vintage)

Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Bright, medium to full red/purple colour with a sweetly raspberry-like aroma, a lovely fragrant perfume. Rose petals and pot-pourri. Light to medium-weighted, with a fine sheen of tannins contributing a nicely tailored firmness to the structure. A wine of real finesse." (2020 vintage)

Wine Enthusiast "Grown on clay-loam soils, with tough ironstone rocks running through, this wine is the most savory and brambly of Giant Steps's single-vineyard Pinots. A thicket of red and blueberry fruit entwines with white pepper and other savory spices, dried roses and meaty bass notes. In the mouth, fleshy fruit is again met with lovely spice, cinched by fine tannins. " (2020 vintage)

Peter Forrestal "Steve Flamsteed is a man of many talents with a finely tuned palate, an instinctive flair for winemaking and fastidious attention to detail. This shows particularly in the stunning single-vineyard chardonnays and pinots of Giant Steps: distinctive wines that reflect their sites and glow with impeccable finesse” (2016 vintage)

Giant Steps is a privately owned, estate based, Yarra Valley grower and winemaker. Giant Steps has forged a reputation for delivering some of Australia’s most consistent, over-performing, varietal wines. These wines have received global acclaim and established a strong reputation in restaurants and fine wine stores around the world. Since 2003 Giant Steps wines have collectively been awarded 19 trophies and over 50 gold medals at major international and domestic wine shows and have been named one of the Top 100 Wineries in the World by Wine & Spirits Magazine, US for each of the last three years.

Owner Phil Sexton came to wine via beer. He started Little Creatures, a favourite of Aussie hopheads, in Perth (Western Australia). Yarra Valley is a region with a cool climate, best known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Yarra Valley is an hour’s drive east of Melbourne. Applejack Vineyard was planted in 1997 by highly respected viticulturist Ray Guerin Today it is meticulously managed by his son Mark.

Applejack Vineyard is situated in the Upper Yarra Valley, to the south-east of the traditional valley floor. The higher altitudes result in cooler growing conditions - ideal for Pinot Noir. Applejack Vineyard is located on a dramatic, north-east-facing slope with close-planted vines. This vineyard was purchased by Phil Sexton in 2013.

Pinot Noir is the dominant red wine grape of Burgundy, now produced in wine regions all over the world, including western Germany, northern Italy, Chile, South Africa, Australia and, perhaps most notably, California, Oregon and New Zealand.

The essence of Pinot Noir wine is its aroma of strawberry and cherry (fresh red cherries in lighter wines and stewed black cherries in weightier examples), underpinned in the most complex examples by hints of forest floor. Well-built Pinot Noirs, particularly from warmer harvests, also exhibit notes of leather and violets, sometimes approaching the flavor spectrum of Syrah."

1 x McHenry Hohnen Calgardup Brook Vineyard Chardonnay (Organic) 2022 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia

96/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
95/100 The Wine Front
95/100 Decanter
95/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
93/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review
93/100 Vinous
96/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2021 vintage)
96/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2021 vintage)
96/100 James Suckling (2021 vintage)
94+/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (2021 vintage)
97/100 Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (2020 vintage)
96/100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (2020 vintage)
95/100 The Wine Front (2020 vintage)
94/100 James Suckling (2020 vintage)
93/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review (2020 vintage)

Bronze - Melbourne Royal Show (2020 vintage)

5 Stars Winery - Halliday Wine Companion
Top Chardonnay Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
Halliday's Wine Companion Awards 2023 - Top Wineries of 2022 & 2023

Organic

Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "For whatever reason, this just has the edge compared with its two other chardonnay siblings, which are both excellent. This just seems more high-toned, flinty, racy and linear. Yet it has texture, depth and super length. All the flavours come together seamlessly, the oak a mere seasoning, and moreish acidity ensures this is delicious now and will age well."

Decanter "One of the first Chardonnays I tasted when I moved to Margaret River, and I distinctly remember being wowed by the freshness, salinity and crunchy tension. This has all of that, plus grapefruit pith, lemon curd, mandarin zest, saltbush and a lick of flint. Pure, concentrated fruit offers a lacy acid pop among textural layers that give the wine a delightful pace."

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "...is tight and fine; it curls in tendrils through the long finish and litters the palate with dehydrated lemon peel, clove buds, white pepper, freshly grated nutmeg, brine and saltbush. It is coastal and fresh, mineral and fine. The vineyard is north-facing and planted on coastal limestone loam, established in 1997. I love the precision and delicacy of this wine. While others may overtake it for my preference in the future, within this release, this is one of the top wines for 2022."

Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Light yellow colour with a reserved, restrained bouquet of beeswax, grapefruit pith, malt, honey, restrained nuttiness and a hint of snuffed candle. In the mouth, it's reserved for this region, with good intensity, tightly focused, linear and long. A more European style chardonnay with restraint, structure, savouriness and subtle complexities of a more worked (as opposed to simple fruit) style of chardonnay. Long follow-through with energising acidity. This could reward cellaring."

Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "Precision, definition and length. Chardonnay from McHenry Hohnen has been a bit of rock ’n’ roll of late, and Calgardup Brook just pips the others with a chartbuster. There’s the usual citrus theme going on here, the pink grapefruit and pith, zest and juicy acidity. There’s also the flintiness, the seamless integration of oak, the attention to detail throughout and mostly, the energy and drive. Complex and complete." (2021 vintage)

Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Bright, fresh and lively in the glass. Complex and lifted aromas of nougat, grilled nuts, grapefruit pith, green melon, white flowers and wet stone. Mouth-filling, textured and really layered on the palate. There’s a drive of just-ripe stone fruit along with citrus pith and tangy, punchy acidity. There’s a nutty oak framework sitting nicely amongst the fruit and a pure, mineral acid cut. Long, sophisticated and a very complete chardonnay." (2021 vintage)

James Suckling "One of a trio of single-site iterations of chardonnay. Sand and limestone. The most dynamic in terms of fruit intensity and formidable length. Glazed quince, truffle, cashew and a hint of brulee. Nothing overwrought. The mid-palate, similarly weighted and densely packed, unraveling along a skein of sea-spray freshness with classy oak directives, nicely embedded. Palate-staining, such is the torque and intensity. Yet as with most Aussie exemplars, sophistication is bundled into a package of poise and effortless drinkability. Exceptional stuff. From biodynamically grown grapes."(2021 vintage)

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "...is sumptuous and juicy on the palate. The wine is more approachable, briny and floral than the Burnside tasted alongside, and it is moving down a nutty path of toasted cashews, hazelnuts and green almonds. Plumper and broader than the Burnside, the length of flavor however remains long and spooling. This is very impressive, but it will be even better in time." (2021 vintage)

Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion "Fruit from the Calgardup Brook vineyard (planted 1997) on coastal limestone loam. All single-vineyard chardonnays are made in the same way here, highlighting the differences in terroir: Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed, full solids, wild ferment in barrel (25% new) and 4 months' maturation, partial mlf, fortnightly bâtonnage. Where the Burnside is granitic, mineral and fine, this is pithy, saline and expansive, with layers of cheesecloth and lanolin amongst the ripe stone fruit. More volume and density of flavour than the Burnside (neither here nor there qualitatively, simply an observation), this is sensational. Utterly." (2020 vintage)

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate "The wines are distinct: the whites (Chardonnays in particular) are possessed of an effortless opulence with retained acidity, while the reds are singularly structural (many quite tannic) and lushly fruited. So, this 2020 Calgardup Brook Vineyard Chardonnay before me falls into that vintage stereotype: it is plush and cushioned in the mouth, with depth and breadth in the mid-palate. There’s enough acidity here to tighten up the profile through the finish while savory spice and exotic pan-roasted nuts adorn the fruit—salted peach and preserved lemon are the lingering characters. It has good, tight yellow grapefruit acid." (2020 vintage)

James Suckling "Aromas of flint stones, dried lemons, buttered toast, green apples and dried pineapples. Sharp and focused with a medium body. Builds and opens up to sea shells and minerals. Serious chardonnay." (2020 vintage)

Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Intense grapefruit aroma leads, backed by some chopped herb notes, creamy lees and nougat notes too, the palate light-medium weighted and firmed by some grippy tannins. Excellent wine in a generous, full-bodied style, and has room to grow." (2020 vintage)

Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970’s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focusses on crafting site-expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.

Margaret River is one of the best-known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined Cabernet Sauvignon and intensely citrusy Chardonnay varieties, the region now produces Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends and Shiraz.

Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.