Best of down under our Aussie & New Zealand Premium Mixed 6 Pack. This carefully curated collection brings together six outstanding wines, showcasing the diverse and vibrant wine regions of Australia and New Zealand. From bold reds to crisp whites, each bottle reflects the unique terroirs and winemaking excellence of these two countries. Whether you're a seasoned wine lover or exploring these regions for the first time, this premium selection offers a delightful journey through the rich flavors and distinctive styles that make Australian and New Zealand wines globally renowned.
1 x TarraWarra Estate Chardonnay 2019 - Yarra Valley, Australia
Bronze, International Wine Challenge 2019 93/100 Halliday Wine Companion 5-star Winery – Halliday Wine Companion 91/100 Jeremy Oliver (2016 vintage) 92/100 Jeremy Oliiver (2015 vintage) 90/100 Tye Wine Front (2014 vintage)
Australia's Top 52 Wineries of 2020 - N#28 - Sydney Morning Herald
A wine only released in exceptional vintages
Sunday Telegraph “For long one of the Yarra Valley's [Australia] signature chardonnays, the style continues to be tweaked by winemaker Clare Halloran to ensure its continued rousing mouthfeel, freshness and subtle marriage of oak. Very much a fruit-driven explosion of chardonnay's finest attributes, all moulded with great balance and care.”
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion “A racy, fresh and drink-now style that's lightly spiced, citrussy with some complexing sulphides and creamy lees. Lithe and long with a fine line of natural acidity. A good drink.”
Wine Companion "There's really fine, tangy acidity throughout and nothing is out of place....an amalgam of flavours, but is more citrus-toned and spiced with ginger."
Huan Hooke, The Real Review "Light to very light straw colour, looks and smells backward. Shaved almond and floral nuances."
International Wine Challenge “Attractive struck match nose with an easy-drinking creamy stone fruit palate.”
The Winemaker “The wine has grapefruit and lemon zest aromas with underlying notes of cashew nuts. The tight palate reflects the season, with texture derived from 10 months on lees and a lovely drive with the persistence of flavour. With oak and tank maturation, the wine shows an elegant complexity with appealing freshness.”
TarraWarra Estate has some of the Yarra Valley's oldest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, and is considered one of the region's foremost wineries. Located in one of Australia's best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir growing regions, Tarrawarra Estate is estate is rated by top Australian wine critic, James Halliday as “one of the top-tier wineries in the Yarra Valley”. It is best known for its exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Conde Naste Traveller "Make a stop here to taste the best of the region. The cellar door sits on a thousand acres of prime Yarra Valley farmland and vineyards. There are 28 blocks planted with cool-climate grapes, including chardonnay and pinot noir—this region’s stars—as well as shiraz, merlot, and more."
In addition to the beautiful TarraWarra Estate in the Yarra Valley, owners Marc Besen and wife Eva Besen are the custodians of the most significant privately held collection of modern Australian art in the country, now exhibited for much of the year at the TarraWarra Museum of Art.
The Yarra Valley is a well-respected Australian wine region which occupies the eastern half of the Port Phillip viticultural zone in the diminutive state of Victoria. At complete odds with the usual, hot and dry Shiraz-growing image of Australia, Yarra Valley is best known for its bright, complex wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grapes, Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean, to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak. Bolder, richer, full-bodied and buttery Chardonnays are made using oak and are produced in California, Burgundy, and Australia. Unoaked chardonnays such as Chablis and those produced in Chile, New Zealand, and other parts of France are leaner and often crisp and mineraly, with delicate flavors. By law, if a label says “Chablis,” it must be Chardonnay.
1 x Patrick of Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2015 ~ Coonawarra, South Australia
93/100 - The Real Review 91/100 - Qwine (2014 vintage) 95/100 - Wine Showcase Magazine (2013 vintage) 90/100 'Top Value' Huon Hooke (2013 vintage) GOLD - Wine Showcase Magazine (2013 vintage) BRONZE - Limestone Coast Wine Show (2013 vintage) BRONZE - Melbourne International Wine Show (2013 vintage) BRONZE - Cairns Wine Show (2013 vintage) BRONZE - Great Australia Shiraz Challenge (2013 vintage) BRONZE - Rutherglen Wine Show (2013 vintage) 4 STARS - Winestate Magazine (2013 vintage) Recommended - the Real Review (2013 vintage)
The Real Review "Deep garnet-red colour with crimson edges. Classic, still fresh Coonawarra notes of tobacco leaf, roasted nuts (oak), soy and spiced blackcurrants. The soft whisper of bottle-age complexity. Fruit is pristine and showing secondary charms. Oak-derived vanilla and nuts just blurring it a little. Sensational value for a wine of this age and quality"
QWine "...this is a Shiraz with great depth and presence... sure to please. Terrific value it must be said. Released with six years of bottle age already under its belt, blue and dark fruits, earthy feels and dark chocolate make a statement early. Add cloves and well handled oak (a mix of American and French for 24 months) and it's a very tidy drink. Fine spices shimmer on a long and dense finish. Steak night please". (2014 Vintage)
Huon Hooke “It's full-bodied and drinking well now. A serious glass of red......Deep red colour with a tint of purple, and a shy, reserved bouquet, which suggests fumey red fruits, older wood and some forward-development. The palate is drying, savoury and well-coated with supple tannin, the structure is in balance with the flavour and indicates it still has a cellaring future.” (2014 Vintage)
The Winemaker "The palate is soft & youthful with great length. This wine has great longevity & will reward cellaring for 5-10 years. This wine was matured in a combination of new American & second use French oak, giving rise to the intense mocha & hints of licorice. This is complemented with the rich mulberry fruit & touch of fruitcake spice." (2014 Vintage)
Patrick's of Coonawarra was founded by Patrick Tocaciu; one of Australia's leading wine (and AFL football) figures. Patrick's reputation for producing exceptional wine earned him many international accolades for the major labels he worked as Chief Winemaker, including; Tollana, Penfolds, and Hollick Wines. Patrick's distinguished reputation continued with the establishment of his own Patrick of Coonawarra Estate label. The wines are built on the solid foundation of extensive estate vineyards: 36 hectares in Coonawarra and 42 hectares in Wrattonbully. The Wrattonbully plantings contain shiraz, sauvignon blanc, and some of the riesling. All of the cabernets are grown in Coonawarra. The Estate is now managed by his eonologist son, Luke who continues the tradition of producing wines of varietal and regional excellence.
Coonawarra is the most important wine region within South Australia, credited with producing some of the best red wines in the entire country, and often described as Australia's most famous terroir...
1 x McHenry Hohnen Apiary Block Chardonnay (Natural) 2023 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
95/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2022 vintage) 91/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2022 vintage) 94/100 Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (2021 vintage) Bronze - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2021 vintage)
5 Star Winery - James Halliday "Halliday Wine Companion - Australian Winery of the Year 2022 & 2023"
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "A ‘natural’ chardonnay that's mighty good. Cloudy with a lovely straw hue, dare I say it has a minerally character with flavour aplenty ranging from citrus, lime jelly and ginger spice to lemon curd. It’s long and pure with texture, depth and fine-acid structure. It’s ultra-refreshing and so damn drinkable. Deceptive, because it’s not a simple wine. It has detail and layers. I could drink this all day. Or night." (2022 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Aromas of grapefruit, yeast, white flowers and a skinsy lift. Fleshy and textured on the palate: white stone fruit and mealy, with bright acidity and there's a grippy phenolic finish. " (2022 vinttage)
Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion "Fruit from the Apiary Block (within Hazel's Vineyard) where they keep beehives. Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed to a concrete egg (sans sulphur). Wild ferment and full mlf, left on lees for 10 months. Moved only once in the winery a few days prior to bottling; unfined, unfiltered, sans sulphur. This is exactly as you'd expect: creamy and rounded (all edges obliterated) from the mlf and concrete, the fruit is nutty and briny and there is a dehydrated orange-zest character that runs through the heart of it. It is textural, slightly chewy, but ultimately soft and pleasurable. A beautiful wine and a completely different take on Margaret River chardonnay." (2021 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Fresh and nutty aromas, just-ripe nectarine, green melon and nettles. A very fruit-driven palate, white stone fruit, grapefruit, a touch of grilled nuts and vanilla. The acidity is high toned, fresh and crunchy" (2021 vintage)
Winemaker "A ‘natural wine’, this is a pure and raw expression of place free from winemaking manipulation and artefact."
100% Chardonnay Alcohol: 12.8%
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.
1 x Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris 2022 - Marlborough, New Zealand
93/100 Bob Campbell (2021 vintage) 93/100 Sam Kim (2021 vintage) 92//100 Bob Campbell (2020 vintage) Bronze - Decanter World wine Awards (2019 vintage) Bronze - Bob Campbell (2019 vintage) 92/100 Huon Hooke (2017 vintage) Bronze - The Wine Front (2017 vintage) 90/100 The Wine Front (2014 vintage) 90/100 The Wine Front (2013 vintage) Bronze - Bob campbell (2013 vintage)
This acclaimed vineyard has won many awards for this wine.
Commended - International Wine Challenge (2021 vintage) Blue-Gold - Sydney International Wine Competition (2016 vintage) Bronze - New Zealand Wine of the Year (2016 vintage) Pure Gold - New Zealand Wine of the Year (2015 Vintage) Bronze - International Wine & Spirit Competition (2015 vintage) Silver - International Wine Challenge (2014 vintage) Pure Bronze - New Zealand Wine of the Year (2014 vintage)
Matt Ward "With lifted floral notes of elderflower, pear, cinnamon and custard. The palate is generous, where ripe fruit and texture create richness, yet balance with very fine minerality and a touch of residual sugar to bring the wine to a memorable finish."
Bob Campbell "Attractive pinot gris that's been made with a light touch with poached pear, apple, ginger and nutty yeast lees characters. A dry wine with appealing purity and an ethereal texture" (2021 vintage)
Sam Kim "Elegant and delightfully inviting, the bouquet shows white flesh peach, Nashi pear, floral and lemon peel aromas. The palate displays excellent fruit purity and focus, combined with refined texture and bright acidity, finishing long and delicate. At its best: now to 2025."
Bob Campbell "Dry, fruity pinot gris with ripe pear, stewed apple, ginger and star anise flavours. An initial suggestion of sweetness is quickly balanced by fruity acidity giving a dry finish and adding a little tension to the wine" (2020 vintage)
Bob Campbell "Off-dry pinot gris with green pear, apple and fresh baked bread yeasty characters. Crisp and slightly hard acidity balance subtle sweetness and leave a drying finish." (2019 vintage)
Huon Hooke "The colour is very light, bright yellow and the aroma is fresh and clean, tasting quite sweet and fresh, grapy and stone-fruity, with a nectarine-like flavour that is very appealing. An easy drinking and charming gris." (2017 vintage)
Since the release of Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris, the vineyard has been consistently awarded.
The Real Review. Bob Campbell & Huan Hooke "Top 2016 Pinot Gris"
Winestate Magazine 2016 Vintage "Attractively scented, with mouth filling body and strong, ripe peach and pear-like flavours. Fresh and finely textured, with slightly mealy notes."
Malborough based award winning winery, Catalina Sounds is known for wines which harness the purity and vibrancy of Marlborough’s climate and landscape. The name Catalina Sounds evolved from the majestic Catalina flying boats that played a vital role across the South pacific during and after World War II.
Marlborough is by far New Zealand's most important wine region. Situated at the north-eastern tip of the South Island, this dry, sunny region produces around three-quarters of all New Zealand wine. It is particularly famous for its pungent, zesty Sauvignon Blanc - widely considered by critics to be the best Sauvignon currently produced anywhere on the planet. Commercial scale viticulture began in Marlborough the 1970s – it conquered the world within 25 years!
Pinot Grigio is more than just the Italian name for Pinot Gris. Although the two names refer to a single grape variety, the wine styles they represent are clearly distinct from one another.
The more refreshing Pinot Grigio style has enjoyed great success in various countries, most recently the United States, (where it is fondly nicknamed ""Greej"") and Australia. The most common descriptors of the style are ""light"", ""crisp"" and ""dry"". These characteristics are complemented by aroma notes citing lemon, green apple and blossoms.
The Grigio style is achieved by harvesting the grapes relatively early, in an attempt to retain as much fresh acidity as possible; the variety is naturally quite low in acidity. To retain freshness and ""zing"", fermentation and storage typically take place in stainless-steel tanks.
1 x Te Mata Estate Vineyard Cabernet Merlot 2020 - Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
93/100 James Suckling 93/100 James Suckling (2018 vintage) 91/100 Tom Cannavan (2018 vintage) 90/100 Decanter (2018 vintage) 91/100 Decanter (2016 vintage) 90/100 Bob Campbell, The Real Review (2016 vintage)
James Suckling "I like the distinct pencil lead and graphite character here, with dark plums, bramble, dried herbs and black tea. Medium-bodied with a fine tannin frame. Linear.... excellent varietal expression. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc."
James Suckling "There’s a very attractive, cedary edge to this with red cherries, redcurrants and blueberries, as well as darker plum and cocoa notes. The palate is so composed and fresh and has a vivid, detailed and neatly layered feel." (2018 vintage)
Tom Cannavan "Bold crimson, lithe and cherryish, moving into cassis, but bright, bold and perfumed. Lovely dry palate, the medium-bodied black and red fruits against firm but silky and sandy tannins and well-judge acidity, finishes long on sweet fruit and acidity." (2018 vintage)
Decanter "Te Mata is one of the great names of Hawke's Bay, which is a region well-known for its Bordeaux blends. This blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc with Merlot is still a baby, with the potential to age for at least another four or five years. Cedary, toasty oak, cocoa, blackcurrant and forest fruits. This is a big and structured mouthful which would appeal to anyone looking for a New World alternative to claret." (2018 vintage)
Decanter "Leafy notes, with dark berries on the palate. Great acidity and a tannic framework." (2016 vintage)
Bob Campbell, The Real Review "Aged in French oak, 10% new. Elegant, supple red with sweet berry-fruit flavours together supported by fresh herb and spicy oak flavours. An accessible well-made red that's worth drinking now" (2016 vintage)
45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc Alcohol: 13.5%
World of Fine Wine 'Getting to know a legend' "A visit to one of the world’s greatest fine-wine estates should be an integral part of any tour of New Zealand. On the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island is the independently owned, family-run, Te Mata Estate. Owners and staff still work on vineyards that began growing Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir back in the 1890s, making it the country’s oldest wine estate. Since 1905, this winery has been winning gold medals globally, which led to these sites becoming the country’s first to be protected by law due to their viticultural history....Te Mata Estate wines are currently available in 45 countries and have been presented at some of the world’s top tables— including to President Barrack Obama, President Xi Jinping, and Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee."
Raymond Chan "Te Mata Estate was the standard by which every other wine producer could be judged against, as the full range of styles has always been impeccable. In the earlier days, Hawke’s Bay was the scene of New Zealand’s quality wine, so it was very apt to have Te Mata Estate as the point of reference. Even when other regions developed, and Marlborough grew larger, and other varietals such as Pinot Noir became important, one could understand the state of the New Zealand wine industry by how Te Mata Estate behaved or reacted to influences, whether internal, or international."
Te Mata Estate is regarded as one of New Zealand’s most important wine producers. It is New Zealand's oldest winery, oldest wine estate and has the oldest winery cellars in the country - in continuous operation since 1895. Coleraine is Te Mata's most acclaimed wine and is often regarded as New Zealand's best red wine.
Hawke's Bay is located on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island in and around the cities of Napier, Hastings and Havelock North. This historic region has New Zealand's second-largest wine industry (after Marlborough) and is highly regarded for its red Bordeaux Blend wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay are all planted widely across the region. Over the years, the region has won international acclaim for its very high-quality Bordeaux-style reds and full-bodied Chardonnays. Syrah, produced in a classic European style with strong black-pepper flavors, is another grape variety thought to have great potential here.
1 x Greenhough Pinot Noir (Organic) 2016 ~ Nelson, New Zealand
Winestate Magazine, 5 stars
Organic
Yvonne Lorkin “....notes abound in this plush, strapping pinot from their vineyards in Nelson’s Hope sub-region......Rosehip and rooibos tea merge with cocoa, cherry and soft leathery.”
Winestate Magazine “.....Excellent concentration and length..... wild raspberry and red berry fruit notes”
The Winemaker "Attractively aromatic. Summer berry-fruits, citrusy, floral notes and a lightly spiced, herbal fragrance. Suggestive of the outdoors. Earth, mushroom notes evolve as the wine opens in the glass. The palate is vibrant and brightly red-fruited with a light spicy savouriness and supple structure of well-bound tannins. There is a depth in the exotic guava and quince which have a secondary, preserve-like richness. A refreshing plum-skin tanginess and chalky, minerality balance these ripper flavours." (2016 Vintage)
Greenhough is a family-owned certified organic vineyard and winery established in 1991. Located at Hope, near Nelson at the top of the South Island, the home vineyard is planted in free-draining, clay-rich soils beneath the foothills of the Richmond Ranges. A combination of machine and hand-harvested fruit from the Home and Morison Vineyards Vineyard, both managed organically.
The Greenhough Hope Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002 topped a tasting in the UK’s Decanter magazine of New Zealand Pinot Noirs earning it 5 stars and the Decanter Award.
Nelson is a small, little-known wine region at the northern end of New Zealand's South Island. Surrounded on three sides by mountains, it enjoys a unique mesoclimate that is perfect for aromatic grape varieties. Established in 1841, Nelson was the South Island's first city. Early settlers planted vines, but the modern viticultural industry didn't begin to blossom until the 1970s. Nelson is now home to about 25 wineries, most small, boutique operations producing premium wines.
Though Nelson’s wine scene lacks the international recognition of neighbouring Marlborough, the region is practically swimming in award-winning vineyards. In fact, if you consider awards won per acre of vines, Nelson is the most acclaimed wine region in New Zealand. Nelson has a cool, maritime climate that is ideal for Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Noirs, and Rieslings. It is protected on three sides by mountain ranges, which protect the vines against extreme weather.
A combination of machine and hand harvested fruit from the Home and Morison Vineyards Vineyard, both managed organically.
Though Nelson’s wine scene lacks the international recognition of neighbouring Marlborough, the region is practically swimming in award-winning vineyards. In fact, if you consider awards won per acre of vines, Nelson is the most acclaimed wine region in New Zealand. Nelson has a cool, maritime climate that is ideal for Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Noirs, and Rieslings. It is protected on three sides by mountain ranges, which protect the vines against extreme weather.
Best of down under our Aussie & New Zealand Premium Mixed 6 Pack. This carefully curated collection brings together six outstanding wines, showcasing the diverse and vibrant wine regions of Australia and New Zealand. From bold reds to crisp whites, each bottle reflects the unique terroirs and winemaking excellence of these two countries. Whether you're a seasoned wine lover or exploring these regions for the first time, this premium selection offers a delightful journey through the rich flavors and distinctive styles that make Australian and New Zealand wines globally renowned.
1 x TarraWarra Estate Chardonnay 2019 - Yarra Valley, Australia
Bronze, International Wine Challenge 2019 93/100 Halliday Wine Companion 5-star Winery – Halliday Wine Companion 91/100 Jeremy Oliver (2016 vintage) 92/100 Jeremy Oliiver (2015 vintage) 90/100 Tye Wine Front (2014 vintage)
Australia's Top 52 Wineries of 2020 - N#28 - Sydney Morning Herald
A wine only released in exceptional vintages
Sunday Telegraph “For long one of the Yarra Valley's [Australia] signature chardonnays, the style continues to be tweaked by winemaker Clare Halloran to ensure its continued rousing mouthfeel, freshness and subtle marriage of oak. Very much a fruit-driven explosion of chardonnay's finest attributes, all moulded with great balance and care.”
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion “A racy, fresh and drink-now style that's lightly spiced, citrussy with some complexing sulphides and creamy lees. Lithe and long with a fine line of natural acidity. A good drink.”
Wine Companion "There's really fine, tangy acidity throughout and nothing is out of place....an amalgam of flavours, but is more citrus-toned and spiced with ginger."
Huan Hooke, The Real Review "Light to very light straw colour, looks and smells backward. Shaved almond and floral nuances."
International Wine Challenge “Attractive struck match nose with an easy-drinking creamy stone fruit palate.”
The Winemaker “The wine has grapefruit and lemon zest aromas with underlying notes of cashew nuts. The tight palate reflects the season, with texture derived from 10 months on lees and a lovely drive with the persistence of flavour. With oak and tank maturation, the wine shows an elegant complexity with appealing freshness.”
TarraWarra Estate has some of the Yarra Valley's oldest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, and is considered one of the region's foremost wineries. Located in one of Australia's best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir growing regions, Tarrawarra Estate is estate is rated by top Australian wine critic, James Halliday as “one of the top-tier wineries in the Yarra Valley”. It is best known for its exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Conde Naste Traveller "Make a stop here to taste the best of the region. The cellar door sits on a thousand acres of prime Yarra Valley farmland and vineyards. There are 28 blocks planted with cool-climate grapes, including chardonnay and pinot noir—this region’s stars—as well as shiraz, merlot, and more."
In addition to the beautiful TarraWarra Estate in the Yarra Valley, owners Marc Besen and wife Eva Besen are the custodians of the most significant privately held collection of modern Australian art in the country, now exhibited for much of the year at the TarraWarra Museum of Art.
The Yarra Valley is a well-respected Australian wine region which occupies the eastern half of the Port Phillip viticultural zone in the diminutive state of Victoria. At complete odds with the usual, hot and dry Shiraz-growing image of Australia, Yarra Valley is best known for its bright, complex wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular grapes, Chardonnay is made in a wide range of styles from lean, to rich, creamy white wines aged in oak. Bolder, richer, full-bodied and buttery Chardonnays are made using oak and are produced in California, Burgundy, and Australia. Unoaked chardonnays such as Chablis and those produced in Chile, New Zealand, and other parts of France are leaner and often crisp and mineraly, with delicate flavors. By law, if a label says “Chablis,” it must be Chardonnay.
1 x Patrick of Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2015 ~ Coonawarra, South Australia
93/100 - The Real Review 91/100 - Qwine (2014 vintage) 95/100 - Wine Showcase Magazine (2013 vintage) 90/100 'Top Value' Huon Hooke (2013 vintage) GOLD - Wine Showcase Magazine (2013 vintage) BRONZE - Limestone Coast Wine Show (2013 vintage) BRONZE - Melbourne International Wine Show (2013 vintage) BRONZE - Cairns Wine Show (2013 vintage) BRONZE - Great Australia Shiraz Challenge (2013 vintage) BRONZE - Rutherglen Wine Show (2013 vintage) 4 STARS - Winestate Magazine (2013 vintage) Recommended - the Real Review (2013 vintage)
The Real Review "Deep garnet-red colour with crimson edges. Classic, still fresh Coonawarra notes of tobacco leaf, roasted nuts (oak), soy and spiced blackcurrants. The soft whisper of bottle-age complexity. Fruit is pristine and showing secondary charms. Oak-derived vanilla and nuts just blurring it a little. Sensational value for a wine of this age and quality"
QWine "...this is a Shiraz with great depth and presence... sure to please. Terrific value it must be said. Released with six years of bottle age already under its belt, blue and dark fruits, earthy feels and dark chocolate make a statement early. Add cloves and well handled oak (a mix of American and French for 24 months) and it's a very tidy drink. Fine spices shimmer on a long and dense finish. Steak night please". (2014 Vintage)
Huon Hooke “It's full-bodied and drinking well now. A serious glass of red......Deep red colour with a tint of purple, and a shy, reserved bouquet, which suggests fumey red fruits, older wood and some forward-development. The palate is drying, savoury and well-coated with supple tannin, the structure is in balance with the flavour and indicates it still has a cellaring future.” (2014 Vintage)
The Winemaker "The palate is soft & youthful with great length. This wine has great longevity & will reward cellaring for 5-10 years. This wine was matured in a combination of new American & second use French oak, giving rise to the intense mocha & hints of licorice. This is complemented with the rich mulberry fruit & touch of fruitcake spice." (2014 Vintage)
Patrick's of Coonawarra was founded by Patrick Tocaciu; one of Australia's leading wine (and AFL football) figures. Patrick's reputation for producing exceptional wine earned him many international accolades for the major labels he worked as Chief Winemaker, including; Tollana, Penfolds, and Hollick Wines. Patrick's distinguished reputation continued with the establishment of his own Patrick of Coonawarra Estate label. The wines are built on the solid foundation of extensive estate vineyards: 36 hectares in Coonawarra and 42 hectares in Wrattonbully. The Wrattonbully plantings contain shiraz, sauvignon blanc, and some of the riesling. All of the cabernets are grown in Coonawarra. The Estate is now managed by his eonologist son, Luke who continues the tradition of producing wines of varietal and regional excellence.
Coonawarra is the most important wine region within South Australia, credited with producing some of the best red wines in the entire country, and often described as Australia's most famous terroir...
1 x McHenry Hohnen Apiary Block Chardonnay (Natural) 2023 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia
95/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2022 vintage) 91/100 Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2022 vintage) 94/100 Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion (2021 vintage) Bronze - Aaron Brasher, The Real Review (2021 vintage)
5 Star Winery - James Halliday "Halliday Wine Companion - Australian Winery of the Year 2022 & 2023"
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "A ‘natural’ chardonnay that's mighty good. Cloudy with a lovely straw hue, dare I say it has a minerally character with flavour aplenty ranging from citrus, lime jelly and ginger spice to lemon curd. It’s long and pure with texture, depth and fine-acid structure. It’s ultra-refreshing and so damn drinkable. Deceptive, because it’s not a simple wine. It has detail and layers. I could drink this all day. Or night." (2022 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Aromas of grapefruit, yeast, white flowers and a skinsy lift. Fleshy and textured on the palate: white stone fruit and mealy, with bright acidity and there's a grippy phenolic finish. " (2022 vinttage)
Erin Larkin, Halliday Wine Companion "Fruit from the Apiary Block (within Hazel's Vineyard) where they keep beehives. Hand picked, whole-bunch pressed to a concrete egg (sans sulphur). Wild ferment and full mlf, left on lees for 10 months. Moved only once in the winery a few days prior to bottling; unfined, unfiltered, sans sulphur. This is exactly as you'd expect: creamy and rounded (all edges obliterated) from the mlf and concrete, the fruit is nutty and briny and there is a dehydrated orange-zest character that runs through the heart of it. It is textural, slightly chewy, but ultimately soft and pleasurable. A beautiful wine and a completely different take on Margaret River chardonnay." (2021 vintage)
Aaron Brasher, The Real Review "Fresh and nutty aromas, just-ripe nectarine, green melon and nettles. A very fruit-driven palate, white stone fruit, grapefruit, a touch of grilled nuts and vanilla. The acidity is high toned, fresh and crunchy" (2021 vintage)
Winemaker "A ‘natural wine’, this is a pure and raw expression of place free from winemaking manipulation and artefact."
100% Chardonnay Alcohol: 12.8%
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.
1 x Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris 2022 - Marlborough, New Zealand
93/100 Bob Campbell (2021 vintage) 93/100 Sam Kim (2021 vintage) 92//100 Bob Campbell (2020 vintage) Bronze - Decanter World wine Awards (2019 vintage) Bronze - Bob Campbell (2019 vintage) 92/100 Huon Hooke (2017 vintage) Bronze - The Wine Front (2017 vintage) 90/100 The Wine Front (2014 vintage) 90/100 The Wine Front (2013 vintage) Bronze - Bob campbell (2013 vintage)
This acclaimed vineyard has won many awards for this wine.
Commended - International Wine Challenge (2021 vintage) Blue-Gold - Sydney International Wine Competition (2016 vintage) Bronze - New Zealand Wine of the Year (2016 vintage) Pure Gold - New Zealand Wine of the Year (2015 Vintage) Bronze - International Wine & Spirit Competition (2015 vintage) Silver - International Wine Challenge (2014 vintage) Pure Bronze - New Zealand Wine of the Year (2014 vintage)
Matt Ward "With lifted floral notes of elderflower, pear, cinnamon and custard. The palate is generous, where ripe fruit and texture create richness, yet balance with very fine minerality and a touch of residual sugar to bring the wine to a memorable finish."
Bob Campbell "Attractive pinot gris that's been made with a light touch with poached pear, apple, ginger and nutty yeast lees characters. A dry wine with appealing purity and an ethereal texture" (2021 vintage)
Sam Kim "Elegant and delightfully inviting, the bouquet shows white flesh peach, Nashi pear, floral and lemon peel aromas. The palate displays excellent fruit purity and focus, combined with refined texture and bright acidity, finishing long and delicate. At its best: now to 2025."
Bob Campbell "Dry, fruity pinot gris with ripe pear, stewed apple, ginger and star anise flavours. An initial suggestion of sweetness is quickly balanced by fruity acidity giving a dry finish and adding a little tension to the wine" (2020 vintage)
Bob Campbell "Off-dry pinot gris with green pear, apple and fresh baked bread yeasty characters. Crisp and slightly hard acidity balance subtle sweetness and leave a drying finish." (2019 vintage)
Huon Hooke "The colour is very light, bright yellow and the aroma is fresh and clean, tasting quite sweet and fresh, grapy and stone-fruity, with a nectarine-like flavour that is very appealing. An easy drinking and charming gris." (2017 vintage)
Since the release of Catalina Sounds Pinot Gris, the vineyard has been consistently awarded.
The Real Review. Bob Campbell & Huan Hooke "Top 2016 Pinot Gris"
Winestate Magazine 2016 Vintage "Attractively scented, with mouth filling body and strong, ripe peach and pear-like flavours. Fresh and finely textured, with slightly mealy notes."
Malborough based award winning winery, Catalina Sounds is known for wines which harness the purity and vibrancy of Marlborough’s climate and landscape. The name Catalina Sounds evolved from the majestic Catalina flying boats that played a vital role across the South pacific during and after World War II.
Marlborough is by far New Zealand's most important wine region. Situated at the north-eastern tip of the South Island, this dry, sunny region produces around three-quarters of all New Zealand wine. It is particularly famous for its pungent, zesty Sauvignon Blanc - widely considered by critics to be the best Sauvignon currently produced anywhere on the planet. Commercial scale viticulture began in Marlborough the 1970s – it conquered the world within 25 years!
Pinot Grigio is more than just the Italian name for Pinot Gris. Although the two names refer to a single grape variety, the wine styles they represent are clearly distinct from one another.
The more refreshing Pinot Grigio style has enjoyed great success in various countries, most recently the United States, (where it is fondly nicknamed ""Greej"") and Australia. The most common descriptors of the style are ""light"", ""crisp"" and ""dry"". These characteristics are complemented by aroma notes citing lemon, green apple and blossoms.
The Grigio style is achieved by harvesting the grapes relatively early, in an attempt to retain as much fresh acidity as possible; the variety is naturally quite low in acidity. To retain freshness and ""zing"", fermentation and storage typically take place in stainless-steel tanks.
1 x Te Mata Estate Vineyard Cabernet Merlot 2020 - Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
93/100 James Suckling 93/100 James Suckling (2018 vintage) 91/100 Tom Cannavan (2018 vintage) 90/100 Decanter (2018 vintage) 91/100 Decanter (2016 vintage) 90/100 Bob Campbell, The Real Review (2016 vintage)
James Suckling "I like the distinct pencil lead and graphite character here, with dark plums, bramble, dried herbs and black tea. Medium-bodied with a fine tannin frame. Linear.... excellent varietal expression. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc."
James Suckling "There’s a very attractive, cedary edge to this with red cherries, redcurrants and blueberries, as well as darker plum and cocoa notes. The palate is so composed and fresh and has a vivid, detailed and neatly layered feel." (2018 vintage)
Tom Cannavan "Bold crimson, lithe and cherryish, moving into cassis, but bright, bold and perfumed. Lovely dry palate, the medium-bodied black and red fruits against firm but silky and sandy tannins and well-judge acidity, finishes long on sweet fruit and acidity." (2018 vintage)
Decanter "Te Mata is one of the great names of Hawke's Bay, which is a region well-known for its Bordeaux blends. This blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc with Merlot is still a baby, with the potential to age for at least another four or five years. Cedary, toasty oak, cocoa, blackcurrant and forest fruits. This is a big and structured mouthful which would appeal to anyone looking for a New World alternative to claret." (2018 vintage)
Decanter "Leafy notes, with dark berries on the palate. Great acidity and a tannic framework." (2016 vintage)
Bob Campbell, The Real Review "Aged in French oak, 10% new. Elegant, supple red with sweet berry-fruit flavours together supported by fresh herb and spicy oak flavours. An accessible well-made red that's worth drinking now" (2016 vintage)
45% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc Alcohol: 13.5%
World of Fine Wine 'Getting to know a legend' "A visit to one of the world’s greatest fine-wine estates should be an integral part of any tour of New Zealand. On the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island is the independently owned, family-run, Te Mata Estate. Owners and staff still work on vineyards that began growing Cabernet, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir back in the 1890s, making it the country’s oldest wine estate. Since 1905, this winery has been winning gold medals globally, which led to these sites becoming the country’s first to be protected by law due to their viticultural history....Te Mata Estate wines are currently available in 45 countries and have been presented at some of the world’s top tables— including to President Barrack Obama, President Xi Jinping, and Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee."
Raymond Chan "Te Mata Estate was the standard by which every other wine producer could be judged against, as the full range of styles has always been impeccable. In the earlier days, Hawke’s Bay was the scene of New Zealand’s quality wine, so it was very apt to have Te Mata Estate as the point of reference. Even when other regions developed, and Marlborough grew larger, and other varietals such as Pinot Noir became important, one could understand the state of the New Zealand wine industry by how Te Mata Estate behaved or reacted to influences, whether internal, or international."
Te Mata Estate is regarded as one of New Zealand’s most important wine producers. It is New Zealand's oldest winery, oldest wine estate and has the oldest winery cellars in the country - in continuous operation since 1895. Coleraine is Te Mata's most acclaimed wine and is often regarded as New Zealand's best red wine.
Hawke's Bay is located on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island in and around the cities of Napier, Hastings and Havelock North. This historic region has New Zealand's second-largest wine industry (after Marlborough) and is highly regarded for its red Bordeaux Blend wines. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Chardonnay are all planted widely across the region. Over the years, the region has won international acclaim for its very high-quality Bordeaux-style reds and full-bodied Chardonnays. Syrah, produced in a classic European style with strong black-pepper flavors, is another grape variety thought to have great potential here.
1 x Greenhough Pinot Noir (Organic) 2016 ~ Nelson, New Zealand
Winestate Magazine, 5 stars
Organic
Yvonne Lorkin “....notes abound in this plush, strapping pinot from their vineyards in Nelson’s Hope sub-region......Rosehip and rooibos tea merge with cocoa, cherry and soft leathery.”
Winestate Magazine “.....Excellent concentration and length..... wild raspberry and red berry fruit notes”
The Winemaker "Attractively aromatic. Summer berry-fruits, citrusy, floral notes and a lightly spiced, herbal fragrance. Suggestive of the outdoors. Earth, mushroom notes evolve as the wine opens in the glass. The palate is vibrant and brightly red-fruited with a light spicy savouriness and supple structure of well-bound tannins. There is a depth in the exotic guava and quince which have a secondary, preserve-like richness. A refreshing plum-skin tanginess and chalky, minerality balance these ripper flavours." (2016 Vintage)
Greenhough is a family-owned certified organic vineyard and winery established in 1991. Located at Hope, near Nelson at the top of the South Island, the home vineyard is planted in free-draining, clay-rich soils beneath the foothills of the Richmond Ranges. A combination of machine and hand-harvested fruit from the Home and Morison Vineyards Vineyard, both managed organically.
The Greenhough Hope Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002 topped a tasting in the UK’s Decanter magazine of New Zealand Pinot Noirs earning it 5 stars and the Decanter Award.
Nelson is a small, little-known wine region at the northern end of New Zealand's South Island. Surrounded on three sides by mountains, it enjoys a unique mesoclimate that is perfect for aromatic grape varieties. Established in 1841, Nelson was the South Island's first city. Early settlers planted vines, but the modern viticultural industry didn't begin to blossom until the 1970s. Nelson is now home to about 25 wineries, most small, boutique operations producing premium wines.
Though Nelson’s wine scene lacks the international recognition of neighbouring Marlborough, the region is practically swimming in award-winning vineyards. In fact, if you consider awards won per acre of vines, Nelson is the most acclaimed wine region in New Zealand. Nelson has a cool, maritime climate that is ideal for Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Noirs, and Rieslings. It is protected on three sides by mountain ranges, which protect the vines against extreme weather.
A combination of machine and hand harvested fruit from the Home and Morison Vineyards Vineyard, both managed organically.
Though Nelson’s wine scene lacks the international recognition of neighbouring Marlborough, the region is practically swimming in award-winning vineyards. In fact, if you consider awards won per acre of vines, Nelson is the most acclaimed wine region in New Zealand. Nelson has a cool, maritime climate that is ideal for Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Noirs, and Rieslings. It is protected on three sides by mountain ranges, which protect the vines against extreme weather.
