Award-Winning Gems – 6 Pack Showcase
A curated collection of exceptional wines, each boasting accolades from renowned competitions and critics. This 6-pack showcase features a harmonious blend of reds and whites, offering unparalleled quality and depth. Whether you're hosting a gathering, gifting a wine lover, or treating yourself, these award-winning selections promise to impress. From bold, structured reds to vibrant, elegant whites, discover the brilliance of wines celebrated for their excellence.
1 x Swinney Frankland River Syrah 2019 - Great Southern, Frankland River, Western Australia
94/100 Halliday Wine Companion, Erin Larkin
94/100 The Wine Front, Gary Walsh
93/100 The Real Review, Stuart Knox
96/100 The Real Review, Huon Hooke (2018 vintage)
Young Gun of Wine - Australian Vineyard of The Year 2020
Five Star Halliday Rating (2016 vintage)
James Halliday Top Ten ~ Best New Wineries 2015 (2016 vintage)
#6 Top Wineries of Australia 2020 ~ The Real Review
Halliday Wine Companion, Erin Larkin "Quite reductive initially, but it blows off. This is consistently an elegant and supple wine, with very fine structure and saturating density of flavour. The length of flavour endures long past the final sip, showing the pedigree of fruit and the care and attention in both the vineyard and winery."
The Wine Front, Gary Walsh "All the cracked pepper and blackberry, the hint of wetsuit neoprene reduction, ground spices, char-grilled sausages on the BBQ. Medium-bodied, blueberry and blackberry, husky wheatgerm flavour and tannin, sweetness chopped back with thyme and black olive, clean acidity, boysenberry pie and a dry nutty finish of excellent length. Excellent. Savoury. Regional. Quite the looker."
The Real Review, Stuart Knox "Intense ruby and deep purple colours. A bright nose of blackberries, crushed-shells and dry herbs. A medium-weight red with well-concentrated fruits, all layered with broken stone and morcilla savoury notes. Quite firm and ripe tannins grip the mouth, but release into the finish leaving a pleasing fan of softness."
Waters Wine "Shiraz/Syrah and Australia. It just works. The 2021 is quiet different from previous releases; rounder in shape, ample with finer, lacier tannins. Not so sleek or linear and a dialling back of the mouth puckering mineral acidity. Blueberry, sweet cherry, violets, raspberry and delicate spice. Plush, without any sense of heaviness, a triumph of a full body in perfect proportions. As charming as it is powerful, finishing with very fine tannins. I think this will surprise in the cellar, despite the gentle grip, for at least two decades."
The Real Review, Huon Hooke "Deep, bright red/purple colour with a sweet, ripe blueberry to blackberry aroma. Traces of ironstone. A superb array of spices and berry fruits, pepper among them. Great elegance and persistence; a very stylish modern Aussie shiraz which justifies the syrah name." (2018 vintage)
Young Gun of Wine, Australian Vineyard of The Year 2020 "The Swinney vineyard represents modern viticulture interwoven with Old-World techniques, executed with precision through a combination of exhaustive manual work and state-of-the-art technology, and all underpinned by an environmental focus...and the quality of the resulting wines, is truly extraordinary and inspiring.”
Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine ~ Wines to Watch ~ Nick Ryan "...an impressive suite of wines that provide compelling evidence of real understanding of site and dedication to capturing what makes it special."
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. Certified organic wines in Australia.
The Swinneys are a pair of brother-and-sister winemakers who are one of the rare new Australian wineries to have two of their wines invited onto the esteemed wine lists of The Ivy and Savoy Grill (Gordon Ramsay) restaurants in London. Swinney Vineyards made its debut in Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion 2015 with a five-star rating and were ranked in the top ten of best new wineries.
Swinney Vineyards made its debut in Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion 2015 with a five-star rating and were ranked in the top ten of best new wineries.
Frankland River is a key Australian wine sub-region the south of Western Australia. It is located just inland from the Southern Ocean coast, 115 miles east of Margaret River. Frankland River is the coldest wine region in continental Australia. Riesling is the area's specialty, with its crisp, fresh style standing out from the more diesel–kerosene notes found in the warmer regions further north.
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.
Waiheke Island is a wine-producing region just 18km east of Auckland city. This hilly island is home to a healthy population of hippies and artists, as well as some of Auckland's most famous vineyards. Waiheke Island's specialty is elegant Bordeaux Blend wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but Syrah and Chardonnay are also important grape varieties planted here.
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 Tar & Roses 'The Rose' Shiraz 2019 - Heathcote, Australia
95/100 Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion
90/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review
95/100 Jeni Port, Wine Companion (2018 vintage)
91/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review (2018 vintage)
90/100 Wine Spectator (2018 vintage)
95/100 James Halliday, Wine Companion (2016 vintage)
96/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2014 vintage)
95/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review (2014 vintage)
93/100 The Wine Front (2014 vintage)
Best in Show by Varietal - USA Wine Ratings
Gold - USA Wine Ratings
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards
Bronze - London Wine Competition
Silver - Sakura Awards (2018 vintage)
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2018 vintage)
Bronze - International Wine Challenge (2014 vintage)
Jeni Port, Wine Companion 'Crushed and destemmed. Racked off gross lees and into barrel for mlf and maturation in French barriques (28% new). Contains a powerful fruit component from ancient Cambrian soil, which helps explain the generosity, energy and textural intrigue in this wine. Packed with blackberry, dark chocolate and dried herbs. Rolls out across the palate with an earthy warmth and fine tannic edge."
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Deep red colour with a strong purple tint, youthful and bright to regard. The bouquet is restrained but has an interesting spiciness, cloves, nutmeg; the palate full-bodied, soft-textured and mellow. Fleshy mouth-feel. There are lots of supple tannins that should see it age well, but the wine is also very approachable now. "
Jeni Port, Wine Companion "Poised yet powerful, The Rose goes for minimalist labelling, letting the wine do the talking. It speaks of the Heathcote soil, of blackberry concentrate but also of Central Victorian warmth and generosity. Dense and bold, sweet-fruited but with a dried herb, Aussie bush character - and just a smidge eucalypt - it sings with a strong voice." (2018 vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Deepish red/purple colour with an earthy, plummy aroma with some herbal nuances and the tannins are a bit grippy and sappy. A slight sulfide overtone. The aftertaste is quite bitter. Twenty-four hours later, the wine was transformed: not as bitter, only faintly sulfidic, deep flavoured, concentrated and powerful, with spice, black-fruit and a hint of bitumen among the aromas. Full-bodied, firm and cellarworthy" (2018 vintage)
James Halliday, Wine Companion "The icon release from Tar & Roses. Deep, bright colour; the dark fruits (black cherry, blackberry, plum, etc) have a delicate step when you were expecting something more, but finesse can provide length and intensity, all translating into elegance, which is what you get here." (2016 vintage)
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "Beautiful tannin and structure with this full-bodied shiraz, all the regional flavours at play - dark fruits, satsuma plums, blueberries, bay leaves and graphite/ironstone/the smell of Heathcote soil. There's plenty of spice and oak, but it's stitched well into the fabric of this impressive wine." (2014 vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Very deep, bright, youthful red/purple colour with again a fresh, vigorous bouquet which is loaded with fresh, spicy, plummy shiraz aromas and flavours. Blackberry on the palate, too. It’s rich and full-bodied, softly-textured and accessible, with fine supple tannins and loads of charm. A stand-out shiraz. It still has a bright and long future if cellared." (2014 vintage)
The Winemaker "Classic central Victorian Shiraz blend, replete with sweet black cherry, blood plum and liquorice characters. As with previous vintages, the grapes come from two main vineyards, one off the deep red Cambrian soil, the other from the tougher more gravelly ground. The first gives us rich, chocolatey and earthy flavours whilst the other has more highly fragrant notes with good acid and sweet fruit. The wine that results is our take on Heathcote shiraz."
The original Tar & Roses team of famed Don Lewis and Narelle King began their winemaking journey in Priorat, Spain, immersing themselves within the classic Mediterranean wine regions and varietals. This sparked an interest in how these varietals could be grown and made back home in their native regions of Central Victoria, Australia. Don, now passed was one of Australia's legendary winemakers earning the highest honour of winemaking in Australia, the prestigious Jimmy Watson award.
James Halliday "Tar & Roses produces wines inspired by the classic Mediterranean varietals and was named after the signature characteristics of Nebbiolo. The name also ties back to the winemaking team behind the venture, the legendary Don Lewis and his winemaking partner Narelle King. Narelle is carrying on the Tar & Roses tradition after Don's passing in 2017"
Tar & Roses style of wines reflects the multi-region of Spain, Italy and Australia, as well as traditional winemaking alongside the new. All Tar & Roses wines are made using fruit grown in Heathcote, Strathbogie Ranges, Alpine Valley, King Valley and Priorat, Spain.
Heathcote is a prestigious wine region in Central Victoria. 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 colour, ripe, velvety tannins and an amazingly long finish.
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 Chateau des Capitans Julienas 2022 - Beaujolais, Burgundy France
94/100 Bettane et Desseauve
93/100 James Suckling
Bronze - Vinous
92/100 James Suckling (2021 vintage)
93/100 Rebecca Murphy, Wine Review Online (2020 vintage)
92/100 James Suckling (2020 vintage)
91/100 Wine Roger Voss, Enthusiast (2020 vintage)
Gold - International du Gamay
Bronze - Korea Wine Challenge
Gold - Concours des Grands Vins de France Macon (2021 vintage)
Silver - Concours des Grands Vins du Beaujolais (2021 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2021 vintage)
Gold - Concours des Grands Vins du Beaujolais (2020 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2020 vintage)
James Suckling "This Julienas has a very appealing interplay of restrained tannins and red fruit character with a lot of subtle spicy and earthy nuances. Juicy on the front and middle of the medium-bodied palate, then the tannins build nicely at the long, moderately dry and lively finish."
James Suckling "A delicious Juliénas..Racy red and blue berry fruit to the nose with an alluring lift of red flowers, slate and a white pepper tang. Juicy and uptight with structured tannins in a bright, medium-bodied palate. Firm, crunchy and mouthwatering finish." (2021 vintage)
Decanter World Wine Awards "Lifted aromas of blueberry, baked plum and cloves with a hint of herbal notes." (2021 vintage)
Rebecca Murphy, Wine Review Online "This is one very serious Beaujolais, with a dark ruby color, ripe raspberry, cherry and woody spices. It is medium-bodied with bright acidity and moderate tannins that will pair well with roast chicken, steak tartare or grilled salmon. " (2020 vintage)
James Suckling "A solid and compressed Beaujolais with cherry and ripe-strawberry character, firm tannins and a medium finish. It’s reserved now, but will open nicely with bottle age." (2020 vintage)
Wine Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "The chateau, named after the Capitans who controlled Juliénas, has one of the patterned tile roofs often found in Burgundy. This partially wood-aged wine from the 30-acre vineyard is richly structured, with some firm tannins as well as juicy black fruits." (2020 vintage)
Decanter World Wine Awards "Elegant and restrained aromas of wild strawberry lead to a palate of red fruit and green leaf." (2020 vintage)
Drinks International "One of the “Ten Most Admired Wine Brands” in the world."
Wine Advocate “Georges Duboeuf is the #1 selling brand of Beaujolais in the world”
Château des Capitans is owned by the Duboeuf family. Grapes for this wine come from a single, undivided, vineyard. Vines are all over 50 years of age.
One of the oldest producing areas within the ten Beaujolais Cru appellations, Julienas is named after the Roman emperor Julius Caesar, the area has a 2000 year history of grape production. Its varied soil composition of sedimentary alluvial soils near the Saone River and the sandy granite of the sloping vineyards on the Beaujolais hills make for wines can range from light and fruity, to densely concentrated and powerful. The appellation has a continental climate with cool nights and warm days, and an extended ripening season thanks to the long summers providing optimum conditions for growing quality fruit. Typically Julienas wines are earthy and weighty, with a deep ruby-red colour and strawberry, violet, cinnamon, redcurrant and peony aromas. The wines can be powerful, and flavours of vanilla and spices can also emerge
This wine is produced by Les Vins Georges Duboeuf which is one of the largest wine producers in France founded by the late Georges Duboeuf who was affectionately known as 'le roi du Beaujolais' (the king of Beaujolais) or sometimes pape du Beaujolais (Pope of Beaujolais). Les Vins Georges Duboeuf produces a staggering 3 million cases of wine annually. The company is most well-known for its popularization and production of Beaujolais wines. In 2018 Georges’ passed control of his company to his son Franck Duboeuf, who is considered to be one of the key specialists in Beaujolais, its terroir and its wine, and has shifted production to focus more on Beaujolais Nouveau.
Beaujolais is an important wine region of eastern France in the southern part of Burgundy, famous for its vibrant, fruity red wines made from Gamay. The widespread plantings of Gamay here make Beaujolais one of the few regions of the world to be so focused on a single grape variety.
In some vintages, Beaujolais produces more wine than the Burgundy wine regions of Chablis, Côte d'Or, Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais put together.
Gamay is a grape variety that is most famous for producing the light, fruit-driven red wines of Beaujolais. While the variety offers fresh, red-fruit and candied aromas, it typically delivers little in the way of flavor concentration and body weight, giving light, simple wines.
1 x Chateau Larose-Trintaudon Cru Bourgeois Superieur 2018 - Bordeaux, France
92/100 Andreas Larsson
91/100 James Suckling
91/100 Wine Enthusiast
91/100 Falstaff
90/100 Decanter
90/100 VertdeVin
Bronze - Wine Spectator
Bronze - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
91/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage)
90/100 Wine Enthusiast (2017 vintage)
Bronze - VertdeVin (2017 vintage)
Bronze - CellarTracker (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Wine Spectator (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Andreas Larsson (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2017 vintage)
Commended - Jean- Marc Quarin (2017 vintage)
Grand Gold - Frankfurt International Trophy
Silver - Lyon International Wine Competition
Bronze - Concours General Agricole Paris
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2017 vintage)
Commeded - International Wine Challenge (2017 vintage)
Andreas Larsson "Bright dark purple colour. Fragrant dark fruit like cassis, plum, cherry, fine oak and mild spices. Ample palate with good proportions, ripe tannin, fresh acidity and digest dark fruit flavours, crushed berries, tobacco and mild oak notes followed by a long a finish."
James Suckling "A fine, linear red with currants, blackberries and some chocolate and hazelnuts. Medium to full body. Medium round tannins. Pretty finish."
Wine Enthusiast "From one of the largest estates in the Médoc, this wine is packed with black-currant fruits and elegant tannins. Initially it seems light, but a core of structure and classic poise between fruit and tannin make the wine a candidate for aging."
Falstaff "Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate bright rim. Fresh dark forest berry fruit, a hint of liquorice, delicate orange zest. Juicy, elegant and balanced, pleasant fruit expression, ripe plums, integrated tannins, juicy finish, good food wine, great price-performance ratio."
Decanter "The really impressive thing about this estate is that it manages to deliver consistent good quality over a sizeable production (up to 800,000 bottles). Located directly opposite Larose Perganson on complex gravel, sandy-gravel and clay-limestone soils, this gives you Médoc character with cassis and bilberry, and a eucalyptus wash through the finish. Plenty to enjoy and no need to wait too long to do so."
VertdeVin "The nose is fruity and offers a small concentration as well as a fine richness. It reveals notes of pulpy raspberry, crushed strawberry and small notes of crushed cassis associated with touches of violet, small fresh/pulpy red fruits as well as a hint of small blue fruits, liquorice, cardamom and a very discreet hint of vanilla. The palate is fresh, fruity and offers minerality, juiciness, gourmandize as well as a fine acidulous frame, a fine richness and sapidity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright cassis, pulpy/juicy cherry and small notes of crushed raspberry associated with touches of violet, lilac, vanilla as well as very discreet hints of liquorice and chocolate. Good length. Tannins are fine and precise."
Wine Spectator "Succulent cherry and black currant preserve flavors have good energy, picking up sweet tobacco, cedar and iron hints along the way."
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider "Medium-bodied, soft, forward, early drinking charmer with no hard edges, just plenty of ripe, sweet, red fruits from start to finish."
James Suckling "Aromas and flavors of blueberries, violets and lemon rind follow through to a medium body, firm tannins and a fruity and salty, medium finish. Well done for the vintage." (2017 vintage)
Wine Enthusiast "The massive 550-acre property is situated right next to Pauillac's vineyards. This wine's ripe texture and generous berry fruits are balanced by a fresh edge typical of the vintage. With a base of tannins, the wine will age well." (2017 vintage)
VertdeVin "The nose is aromatic and offers a small concentration and a fine freshness. It reveals notes of fleshy raspberry, vanilla and small notes of toasted almond associated with a touch of cherry as well as fine hints of blackberry and a very discreet hint of cardamom. The mouth is fruity and offers an acidulous frame, juiciness and a fine grain. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy/fresh raspberry, fleshy/fresh cherry as well as fine hints of racy minerality and a subtle hint of nutmeg. Good length." (2017 vintage)
Andreas Larsson "Rather dark colour with a purple hue. Youthful aromas of wood and new oak, fresh cassis and red berries with some dry spices and tobacco. Rather full palate, still in a youthful phase with pronounced tannin, but balanced in an age worthy classic style, generous fruit, balanced oak and rather good length." (2017 vintage)
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider "Fruity, forward and fresh, this medium-bodied, red pit fruit-filled wine is ready to go for near term, soft textured, easy-drinking pleasure." (2017 vintage)
45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot
Chateau Larose Trintaudon's vineyards were first planted in 1838. The beautiful chateau was built in 1870 by the owner at the time, Comte Ernest de Lahens. During the late 1800’s, the property was even larger than it is today as Ernest de Lahens was able to increase the size of their vineyards to 345 hectares of vines.
The Haut-Médoc is a sub-appellation within the larger Médoc appellation on the left bank of Bordeaux. Situated between the Gironde estuary that runs down to the city of Bordeaux and the Atlantic coast, this is the home of some of Bordeaux’s famous chateaux. The six famous communes of the Médoc are contained within its boundaries: Margaux, Moulis, Listrac, St Julien, Pauillac and St Estèphe. The vineyard land that lies outside of these communes is classified as the Haut-Médoc; the result being that you can often find well-known Cru Bourgeois chateaux alongside the Cru Classé chateaux in the same appellation.
A Bordeaux Blend is any combination of those grape varieties typically used to make the red wines of Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon is widely accepted as a compulsory component of any Bordeaux Blend along with Merlot. In fact, the majority of Bordeaux Blend wines are often made exclusively from a blend of these two varieties. The remaining components are Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
1 x Catalina Sounds Sound of White Chardonnay 2020 - Marlborough, New Zealand
90/100 James Suckling
Bronze - New Zealand Wine Rater
93/100 New Zealand Wine Rater (2019 vintage)
92/100 Bob Campbell, The Real Review (2019 vintage)
Double Gold - New Zealand International Wine Show
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards
Bronze - International Wine Challenge
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2019 vintage)
James Suckling "A creamy and buttery chardonnay with aromas of apricots, green apples, salted butter and praline. Hints of nougat. Medium-bodied and creamy throughout, with tangy acidity."
New Zealand Wine Rater "Pale in hue and clearly very youthful, restrained and reductive on the nose right now. Showing lemon citrus notes with aromas of chive flowers and some earthy, lees characters. Fresh and lively on the palate with distinctive, crisp acidity. A wine that clearly needs more time to show its best."
Decanter World Wine Awards "Restrained nose displaying gentle aromas of melon, peach, lemon and smoky notes. Finely rendered fruit, quite concentrated, silky and fresh."
Bob Campbell, The Real Review "From Catalina's Sounds of White vineyard in the Waihopai Valley. Tangy, fruit-focused chardonnay with green apple, lime, subtle toast and gingery yeast lees characters. A fresh, crisp wine that promises to age well." (2019 vintage)
New Zealand Wine Rater "A vibrant, youthful, funky wine on the bouquet. Th ere are intense aromas of grapefruit, salted lemon, toast/vanilla oak, with hints of gun-flint, and struck match. The wine is dry, and fleshy with plenty of drive, a grainy, salty texture nicely balanced with salivating acidity, and a strong barrel influence. All bodes well for the wine to further integrate with time." (2019 vintage)
Decanter World Wine Awards "Flinty aromatics suggests a reductive style with pure apple fruit underneath. Lovely silken texture with tangy acidity and decent length." (20019 vintage)
Marlborough 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!
The aim for our Chardonnay from Sound of White is always quality. Meticulously well managed, clone 95 Chardonnay is grown on clay-loam soils at our Sound of White vineyard in the Waihopai Valley (part of the sought-after Southern Valleys). Shoot-thinning and leafplucking keep the canopy open and fruit hanging freely. Yields are purposely kept low around 6-7 T/Ha to ensure ripe concentration and balance.
A curated collection of exceptional wines, each boasting accolades from renowned competitions and critics. This 6-pack showcase features a harmonious blend of reds and whites, offering unparalleled quality and depth. Whether you're hosting a gathering, gifting a wine lover, or treating yourself, these award-winning selections promise to impress. From bold, structured reds to vibrant, elegant whites, discover the brilliance of wines celebrated for their excellence.
1 x Swinney Frankland River Syrah 2019 - Great Southern, Frankland River, Western Australia
94/100 Halliday Wine Companion, Erin Larkin
94/100 The Wine Front, Gary Walsh
93/100 The Real Review, Stuart Knox
96/100 The Real Review, Huon Hooke (2018 vintage)
Young Gun of Wine - Australian Vineyard of The Year 2020
Five Star Halliday Rating (2016 vintage)
James Halliday Top Ten ~ Best New Wineries 2015 (2016 vintage)
#6 Top Wineries of Australia 2020 ~ The Real Review
Halliday Wine Companion, Erin Larkin "Quite reductive initially, but it blows off. This is consistently an elegant and supple wine, with very fine structure and saturating density of flavour. The length of flavour endures long past the final sip, showing the pedigree of fruit and the care and attention in both the vineyard and winery."
The Wine Front, Gary Walsh "All the cracked pepper and blackberry, the hint of wetsuit neoprene reduction, ground spices, char-grilled sausages on the BBQ. Medium-bodied, blueberry and blackberry, husky wheatgerm flavour and tannin, sweetness chopped back with thyme and black olive, clean acidity, boysenberry pie and a dry nutty finish of excellent length. Excellent. Savoury. Regional. Quite the looker."
The Real Review, Stuart Knox "Intense ruby and deep purple colours. A bright nose of blackberries, crushed-shells and dry herbs. A medium-weight red with well-concentrated fruits, all layered with broken stone and morcilla savoury notes. Quite firm and ripe tannins grip the mouth, but release into the finish leaving a pleasing fan of softness."
Waters Wine "Shiraz/Syrah and Australia. It just works. The 2021 is quiet different from previous releases; rounder in shape, ample with finer, lacier tannins. Not so sleek or linear and a dialling back of the mouth puckering mineral acidity. Blueberry, sweet cherry, violets, raspberry and delicate spice. Plush, without any sense of heaviness, a triumph of a full body in perfect proportions. As charming as it is powerful, finishing with very fine tannins. I think this will surprise in the cellar, despite the gentle grip, for at least two decades."
The Real Review, Huon Hooke "Deep, bright red/purple colour with a sweet, ripe blueberry to blackberry aroma. Traces of ironstone. A superb array of spices and berry fruits, pepper among them. Great elegance and persistence; a very stylish modern Aussie shiraz which justifies the syrah name." (2018 vintage)
Young Gun of Wine, Australian Vineyard of The Year 2020 "The Swinney vineyard represents modern viticulture interwoven with Old-World techniques, executed with precision through a combination of exhaustive manual work and state-of-the-art technology, and all underpinned by an environmental focus...and the quality of the resulting wines, is truly extraordinary and inspiring.”
Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine ~ Wines to Watch ~ Nick Ryan "...an impressive suite of wines that provide compelling evidence of real understanding of site and dedication to capturing what makes it special."
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. Certified organic wines in Australia.
The Swinneys are a pair of brother-and-sister winemakers who are one of the rare new Australian wineries to have two of their wines invited onto the esteemed wine lists of The Ivy and Savoy Grill (Gordon Ramsay) restaurants in London. Swinney Vineyards made its debut in Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion 2015 with a five-star rating and were ranked in the top ten of best new wineries.
Swinney Vineyards made its debut in Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion 2015 with a five-star rating and were ranked in the top ten of best new wineries.
Frankland River is a key Australian wine sub-region the south of Western Australia. It is located just inland from the Southern Ocean coast, 115 miles east of Margaret River. Frankland River is the coldest wine region in continental Australia. Riesling is the area's specialty, with its crisp, fresh style standing out from the more diesel–kerosene notes found in the warmer regions further north.
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.
Waiheke Island is a wine-producing region just 18km east of Auckland city. This hilly island is home to a healthy population of hippies and artists, as well as some of Auckland's most famous vineyards. Waiheke Island's specialty is elegant Bordeaux Blend wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but Syrah and Chardonnay are also important grape varieties planted here.
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 Tar & Roses 'The Rose' Shiraz 2019 - Heathcote, Australia
95/100 Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion
90/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review
95/100 Jeni Port, Wine Companion (2018 vintage)
91/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review (2018 vintage)
90/100 Wine Spectator (2018 vintage)
95/100 James Halliday, Wine Companion (2016 vintage)
96/100 Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion (2014 vintage)
95/100 Huon Hooke, The Real Review (2014 vintage)
93/100 The Wine Front (2014 vintage)
Best in Show by Varietal - USA Wine Ratings
Gold - USA Wine Ratings
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards
Bronze - London Wine Competition
Silver - Sakura Awards (2018 vintage)
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2018 vintage)
Bronze - International Wine Challenge (2014 vintage)
Jeni Port, Wine Companion 'Crushed and destemmed. Racked off gross lees and into barrel for mlf and maturation in French barriques (28% new). Contains a powerful fruit component from ancient Cambrian soil, which helps explain the generosity, energy and textural intrigue in this wine. Packed with blackberry, dark chocolate and dried herbs. Rolls out across the palate with an earthy warmth and fine tannic edge."
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Deep red colour with a strong purple tint, youthful and bright to regard. The bouquet is restrained but has an interesting spiciness, cloves, nutmeg; the palate full-bodied, soft-textured and mellow. Fleshy mouth-feel. There are lots of supple tannins that should see it age well, but the wine is also very approachable now. "
Jeni Port, Wine Companion "Poised yet powerful, The Rose goes for minimalist labelling, letting the wine do the talking. It speaks of the Heathcote soil, of blackberry concentrate but also of Central Victorian warmth and generosity. Dense and bold, sweet-fruited but with a dried herb, Aussie bush character - and just a smidge eucalypt - it sings with a strong voice." (2018 vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Deepish red/purple colour with an earthy, plummy aroma with some herbal nuances and the tannins are a bit grippy and sappy. A slight sulfide overtone. The aftertaste is quite bitter. Twenty-four hours later, the wine was transformed: not as bitter, only faintly sulfidic, deep flavoured, concentrated and powerful, with spice, black-fruit and a hint of bitumen among the aromas. Full-bodied, firm and cellarworthy" (2018 vintage)
James Halliday, Wine Companion "The icon release from Tar & Roses. Deep, bright colour; the dark fruits (black cherry, blackberry, plum, etc) have a delicate step when you were expecting something more, but finesse can provide length and intensity, all translating into elegance, which is what you get here." (2016 vintage)
Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion "Beautiful tannin and structure with this full-bodied shiraz, all the regional flavours at play - dark fruits, satsuma plums, blueberries, bay leaves and graphite/ironstone/the smell of Heathcote soil. There's plenty of spice and oak, but it's stitched well into the fabric of this impressive wine." (2014 vintage)
Huon Hooke, The Real Review "Very deep, bright, youthful red/purple colour with again a fresh, vigorous bouquet which is loaded with fresh, spicy, plummy shiraz aromas and flavours. Blackberry on the palate, too. It’s rich and full-bodied, softly-textured and accessible, with fine supple tannins and loads of charm. A stand-out shiraz. It still has a bright and long future if cellared." (2014 vintage)
The Winemaker "Classic central Victorian Shiraz blend, replete with sweet black cherry, blood plum and liquorice characters. As with previous vintages, the grapes come from two main vineyards, one off the deep red Cambrian soil, the other from the tougher more gravelly ground. The first gives us rich, chocolatey and earthy flavours whilst the other has more highly fragrant notes with good acid and sweet fruit. The wine that results is our take on Heathcote shiraz."
The original Tar & Roses team of famed Don Lewis and Narelle King began their winemaking journey in Priorat, Spain, immersing themselves within the classic Mediterranean wine regions and varietals. This sparked an interest in how these varietals could be grown and made back home in their native regions of Central Victoria, Australia. Don, now passed was one of Australia's legendary winemakers earning the highest honour of winemaking in Australia, the prestigious Jimmy Watson award.
James Halliday "Tar & Roses produces wines inspired by the classic Mediterranean varietals and was named after the signature characteristics of Nebbiolo. The name also ties back to the winemaking team behind the venture, the legendary Don Lewis and his winemaking partner Narelle King. Narelle is carrying on the Tar & Roses tradition after Don's passing in 2017"
Tar & Roses style of wines reflects the multi-region of Spain, Italy and Australia, as well as traditional winemaking alongside the new. All Tar & Roses wines are made using fruit grown in Heathcote, Strathbogie Ranges, Alpine Valley, King Valley and Priorat, Spain.
Heathcote is a prestigious wine region in Central Victoria. 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 colour, ripe, velvety tannins and an amazingly long finish.
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 Chateau des Capitans Julienas 2022 - Beaujolais, Burgundy France
94/100 Bettane et Desseauve
93/100 James Suckling
Bronze - Vinous
92/100 James Suckling (2021 vintage)
93/100 Rebecca Murphy, Wine Review Online (2020 vintage)
92/100 James Suckling (2020 vintage)
91/100 Wine Roger Voss, Enthusiast (2020 vintage)
Gold - International du Gamay
Bronze - Korea Wine Challenge
Gold - Concours des Grands Vins de France Macon (2021 vintage)
Silver - Concours des Grands Vins du Beaujolais (2021 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2021 vintage)
Gold - Concours des Grands Vins du Beaujolais (2020 vintage)
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2020 vintage)
James Suckling "This Julienas has a very appealing interplay of restrained tannins and red fruit character with a lot of subtle spicy and earthy nuances. Juicy on the front and middle of the medium-bodied palate, then the tannins build nicely at the long, moderately dry and lively finish."
James Suckling "A delicious Juliénas..Racy red and blue berry fruit to the nose with an alluring lift of red flowers, slate and a white pepper tang. Juicy and uptight with structured tannins in a bright, medium-bodied palate. Firm, crunchy and mouthwatering finish." (2021 vintage)
Decanter World Wine Awards "Lifted aromas of blueberry, baked plum and cloves with a hint of herbal notes." (2021 vintage)
Rebecca Murphy, Wine Review Online "This is one very serious Beaujolais, with a dark ruby color, ripe raspberry, cherry and woody spices. It is medium-bodied with bright acidity and moderate tannins that will pair well with roast chicken, steak tartare or grilled salmon. " (2020 vintage)
James Suckling "A solid and compressed Beaujolais with cherry and ripe-strawberry character, firm tannins and a medium finish. It’s reserved now, but will open nicely with bottle age." (2020 vintage)
Wine Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "The chateau, named after the Capitans who controlled Juliénas, has one of the patterned tile roofs often found in Burgundy. This partially wood-aged wine from the 30-acre vineyard is richly structured, with some firm tannins as well as juicy black fruits." (2020 vintage)
Decanter World Wine Awards "Elegant and restrained aromas of wild strawberry lead to a palate of red fruit and green leaf." (2020 vintage)
Drinks International "One of the “Ten Most Admired Wine Brands” in the world."
Wine Advocate “Georges Duboeuf is the #1 selling brand of Beaujolais in the world”
Château des Capitans is owned by the Duboeuf family. Grapes for this wine come from a single, undivided, vineyard. Vines are all over 50 years of age.
One of the oldest producing areas within the ten Beaujolais Cru appellations, Julienas is named after the Roman emperor Julius Caesar, the area has a 2000 year history of grape production. Its varied soil composition of sedimentary alluvial soils near the Saone River and the sandy granite of the sloping vineyards on the Beaujolais hills make for wines can range from light and fruity, to densely concentrated and powerful. The appellation has a continental climate with cool nights and warm days, and an extended ripening season thanks to the long summers providing optimum conditions for growing quality fruit. Typically Julienas wines are earthy and weighty, with a deep ruby-red colour and strawberry, violet, cinnamon, redcurrant and peony aromas. The wines can be powerful, and flavours of vanilla and spices can also emerge
This wine is produced by Les Vins Georges Duboeuf which is one of the largest wine producers in France founded by the late Georges Duboeuf who was affectionately known as 'le roi du Beaujolais' (the king of Beaujolais) or sometimes pape du Beaujolais (Pope of Beaujolais). Les Vins Georges Duboeuf produces a staggering 3 million cases of wine annually. The company is most well-known for its popularization and production of Beaujolais wines. In 2018 Georges’ passed control of his company to his son Franck Duboeuf, who is considered to be one of the key specialists in Beaujolais, its terroir and its wine, and has shifted production to focus more on Beaujolais Nouveau.
Beaujolais is an important wine region of eastern France in the southern part of Burgundy, famous for its vibrant, fruity red wines made from Gamay. The widespread plantings of Gamay here make Beaujolais one of the few regions of the world to be so focused on a single grape variety.
In some vintages, Beaujolais produces more wine than the Burgundy wine regions of Chablis, Côte d'Or, Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais put together.
Gamay is a grape variety that is most famous for producing the light, fruit-driven red wines of Beaujolais. While the variety offers fresh, red-fruit and candied aromas, it typically delivers little in the way of flavor concentration and body weight, giving light, simple wines.
1 x Chateau Larose-Trintaudon Cru Bourgeois Superieur 2018 - Bordeaux, France
92/100 Andreas Larsson
91/100 James Suckling
91/100 Wine Enthusiast
91/100 Falstaff
90/100 Decanter
90/100 VertdeVin
Bronze - Wine Spectator
Bronze - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
91/100 James Suckling (2017 vintage)
90/100 Wine Enthusiast (2017 vintage)
Bronze - VertdeVin (2017 vintage)
Bronze - CellarTracker (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Wine Spectator (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Andreas Larsson (2017 vintage)
Bronze - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider (2017 vintage)
Commended - Jean- Marc Quarin (2017 vintage)
Grand Gold - Frankfurt International Trophy
Silver - Lyon International Wine Competition
Bronze - Concours General Agricole Paris
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards (2017 vintage)
Commeded - International Wine Challenge (2017 vintage)
Andreas Larsson "Bright dark purple colour. Fragrant dark fruit like cassis, plum, cherry, fine oak and mild spices. Ample palate with good proportions, ripe tannin, fresh acidity and digest dark fruit flavours, crushed berries, tobacco and mild oak notes followed by a long a finish."
James Suckling "A fine, linear red with currants, blackberries and some chocolate and hazelnuts. Medium to full body. Medium round tannins. Pretty finish."
Wine Enthusiast "From one of the largest estates in the Médoc, this wine is packed with black-currant fruits and elegant tannins. Initially it seems light, but a core of structure and classic poise between fruit and tannin make the wine a candidate for aging."
Falstaff "Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate bright rim. Fresh dark forest berry fruit, a hint of liquorice, delicate orange zest. Juicy, elegant and balanced, pleasant fruit expression, ripe plums, integrated tannins, juicy finish, good food wine, great price-performance ratio."
Decanter "The really impressive thing about this estate is that it manages to deliver consistent good quality over a sizeable production (up to 800,000 bottles). Located directly opposite Larose Perganson on complex gravel, sandy-gravel and clay-limestone soils, this gives you Médoc character with cassis and bilberry, and a eucalyptus wash through the finish. Plenty to enjoy and no need to wait too long to do so."
VertdeVin "The nose is fruity and offers a small concentration as well as a fine richness. It reveals notes of pulpy raspberry, crushed strawberry and small notes of crushed cassis associated with touches of violet, small fresh/pulpy red fruits as well as a hint of small blue fruits, liquorice, cardamom and a very discreet hint of vanilla. The palate is fresh, fruity and offers minerality, juiciness, gourmandize as well as a fine acidulous frame, a fine richness and sapidity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright cassis, pulpy/juicy cherry and small notes of crushed raspberry associated with touches of violet, lilac, vanilla as well as very discreet hints of liquorice and chocolate. Good length. Tannins are fine and precise."
Wine Spectator "Succulent cherry and black currant preserve flavors have good energy, picking up sweet tobacco, cedar and iron hints along the way."
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider "Medium-bodied, soft, forward, early drinking charmer with no hard edges, just plenty of ripe, sweet, red fruits from start to finish."
James Suckling "Aromas and flavors of blueberries, violets and lemon rind follow through to a medium body, firm tannins and a fruity and salty, medium finish. Well done for the vintage." (2017 vintage)
Wine Enthusiast "The massive 550-acre property is situated right next to Pauillac's vineyards. This wine's ripe texture and generous berry fruits are balanced by a fresh edge typical of the vintage. With a base of tannins, the wine will age well." (2017 vintage)
VertdeVin "The nose is aromatic and offers a small concentration and a fine freshness. It reveals notes of fleshy raspberry, vanilla and small notes of toasted almond associated with a touch of cherry as well as fine hints of blackberry and a very discreet hint of cardamom. The mouth is fruity and offers an acidulous frame, juiciness and a fine grain. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of fleshy/fresh raspberry, fleshy/fresh cherry as well as fine hints of racy minerality and a subtle hint of nutmeg. Good length." (2017 vintage)
Andreas Larsson "Rather dark colour with a purple hue. Youthful aromas of wood and new oak, fresh cassis and red berries with some dry spices and tobacco. Rather full palate, still in a youthful phase with pronounced tannin, but balanced in an age worthy classic style, generous fruit, balanced oak and rather good length." (2017 vintage)
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider "Fruity, forward and fresh, this medium-bodied, red pit fruit-filled wine is ready to go for near term, soft textured, easy-drinking pleasure." (2017 vintage)
45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 48% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot
Chateau Larose Trintaudon's vineyards were first planted in 1838. The beautiful chateau was built in 1870 by the owner at the time, Comte Ernest de Lahens. During the late 1800’s, the property was even larger than it is today as Ernest de Lahens was able to increase the size of their vineyards to 345 hectares of vines.
The Haut-Médoc is a sub-appellation within the larger Médoc appellation on the left bank of Bordeaux. Situated between the Gironde estuary that runs down to the city of Bordeaux and the Atlantic coast, this is the home of some of Bordeaux’s famous chateaux. The six famous communes of the Médoc are contained within its boundaries: Margaux, Moulis, Listrac, St Julien, Pauillac and St Estèphe. The vineyard land that lies outside of these communes is classified as the Haut-Médoc; the result being that you can often find well-known Cru Bourgeois chateaux alongside the Cru Classé chateaux in the same appellation.
A Bordeaux Blend is any combination of those grape varieties typically used to make the red wines of Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon is widely accepted as a compulsory component of any Bordeaux Blend along with Merlot. In fact, the majority of Bordeaux Blend wines are often made exclusively from a blend of these two varieties. The remaining components are Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
1 x Catalina Sounds Sound of White Chardonnay 2020 - Marlborough, New Zealand
90/100 James Suckling
Bronze - New Zealand Wine Rater
93/100 New Zealand Wine Rater (2019 vintage)
92/100 Bob Campbell, The Real Review (2019 vintage)
Double Gold - New Zealand International Wine Show
Silver - Decanter World Wine Awards
Bronze - International Wine Challenge
Bronze - Decanter World Wine Awards (2019 vintage)
James Suckling "A creamy and buttery chardonnay with aromas of apricots, green apples, salted butter and praline. Hints of nougat. Medium-bodied and creamy throughout, with tangy acidity."
New Zealand Wine Rater "Pale in hue and clearly very youthful, restrained and reductive on the nose right now. Showing lemon citrus notes with aromas of chive flowers and some earthy, lees characters. Fresh and lively on the palate with distinctive, crisp acidity. A wine that clearly needs more time to show its best."
Decanter World Wine Awards "Restrained nose displaying gentle aromas of melon, peach, lemon and smoky notes. Finely rendered fruit, quite concentrated, silky and fresh."
Bob Campbell, The Real Review "From Catalina's Sounds of White vineyard in the Waihopai Valley. Tangy, fruit-focused chardonnay with green apple, lime, subtle toast and gingery yeast lees characters. A fresh, crisp wine that promises to age well." (2019 vintage)
New Zealand Wine Rater "A vibrant, youthful, funky wine on the bouquet. Th ere are intense aromas of grapefruit, salted lemon, toast/vanilla oak, with hints of gun-flint, and struck match. The wine is dry, and fleshy with plenty of drive, a grainy, salty texture nicely balanced with salivating acidity, and a strong barrel influence. All bodes well for the wine to further integrate with time." (2019 vintage)
Decanter World Wine Awards "Flinty aromatics suggests a reductive style with pure apple fruit underneath. Lovely silken texture with tangy acidity and decent length." (20019 vintage)
Marlborough 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!
The aim for our Chardonnay from Sound of White is always quality. Meticulously well managed, clone 95 Chardonnay is grown on clay-loam soils at our Sound of White vineyard in the Waihopai Valley (part of the sought-after Southern Valleys). Shoot-thinning and leafplucking keep the canopy open and fruit hanging freely. Yields are purposely kept low around 6-7 T/Ha to ensure ripe concentration and balance.