Vintage - 2017

The 2017 Carbonnieux Blanc is absolutely lovely. Lemon confit, white flowers and green orchard fruit open up first, followed by a range of bright citrus and floral notes that add brilliance to a very pretty upper register. ANTONIO GALLONI

…This is one of the most sophisticated white Carbonnieux that I have encountered at this stage with wonderful mineralité and veins of ginger furnishing the finish that convey brio and confidence. This should evolve into an outstanding Pessac-Léognan. NEAL MARTIN, vinous.com

Right off the bat this has richness and concentration, with peachy creaminess through the mid-palate but without sacrificing tension and lift. It's a fine example of what 2017 can deliver in the best whites, and should age very well. JANE ANSON, decanter.com

Notes of lemon curd, citrus rind and hints of crushed rock define the 2017 Château Carbonnieux, which is medium-bodied, pure, and elegant on the palate. It's another great white from the Pessac-Léognan region in 2017. JEB DUNNUCK

Pomerol - LIMITED
2 BOTTLES reamin at timne of offer
The 2017 L'Évangile, 100% Merlot for this first time, is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. Dark, sumptuous and wonderfully inviting, the 2017 has so much to offer. Dark fruit, spice, mocha, leather and licorice infuse the 2017 with notable depth. Time in the glass brings out lovely aromatic top notes that add freshness. A rapturously beautiful wine, L'Évangile is stellar. Frost wiped out half of the potential crop, including all of the Cabernet Franc, which means the Grand Vin is 100% Merlot. Technical Director Jean Pascal Vazart opted for gentle pumpovers and longer extractions than normal. (97) ANTONIO GALLONI

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 
7 BOTTLES remin at time of offer
Nicolas Audebert and his team have done it again. The 2017 Canon is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Rich and vertical in construction, the 2017 possesses off-the-charts richness and intensity in all of its dimensions. In the glass, the 2017 is sumptuous and layered, with superb detail and tons of sheer pedigree. In 20 years, readers will have a fabulous time tasting the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 together and debating their respective merits. Dark plum fruit, striking Franc aromatics and the clean, focused energy of Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau make for a ravishing, exquisite wine of the highest level. In a word: breathtaking. (97) ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2017 Canon was bottled on 15 May, 2019. This needs time to settle in the glass, the oak rather vocal at this early stage and overshadowing the blackberry and briary aromas. It only takes a couple of minutes for this Saint-Émilion to settle and reveal more limestone-infused fruit that really shows its terroir. The palate is very well defined with crunchy black fruit. I appreciate the chalky texture and freshness of this Canon, almost brittle, with blackberry and brine-like notes on the finish. Whilst not up there with the superlative 2016, the follow-up is still very fine. Note that over multiple tasting this Canon improved between September and December. (95) NEAL MARTIN

Saint-Estèphe 2ème Cru Classé 
13 BOTTLE remain at time of offer

Extremely aromatic with currant, wild-herb and fresh-violet aromas. This is regal cabernet sauvignon at its finest. The palate has unwaveringly long and defined tannins that carry such fresh, piercingly pure, redcurrant and cassis flavors. A twin to the superb 2015? A blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.(97) JAMES SUCKLING

The 2017 Montrose is a very pretty, polished wine that speaks much more to finesse than power. Expressive floral and spices notes add an attractive inner sweetness to a Montrose that in 2017 leans more into the red fruit spectrum. Gracious yet deep, with terrific overall balance, the 2017 Montrose is a total winner. What impresses most about the 2017 is its freshness and sophistication. I won't be surprised if Montrose turns out to be even better than this note suggests further down the road. Graphite, licorice, menthol and sage lead to a finish with real grip and freshness. The 2017 is such a classy and promising wine. (95+) ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2017 Montrose was so impressive from barrel and now, bottled since July, it continues to put in a strong case for being one of the best Left Bank wines. It has a very pure and intoxicating bouquet with intense blackberry, light cassis, juniper and violet aromas, almost Margaux-like in terms of personality. Although there is a patina of new oak after bottling, it is in sync with the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip on the entry. Tightly wound at the moment but supremely well focused, this is a classic Montrose, "cool" and reserved, demonstrating impressive tension and precision towards the finish. It will require less time in bottle than the 2016 for example, so broach this superb Saint-Estèphe after five or six years and then it will give 25 to 30 years of drinking pleasure, and knowing Montrose, probably longer. Tasted twice with consistent notes. (95) NEAL MARTIN

Pomerol

Just as it was en primeur, the 2017 Vieux Château Certan is regal and soaring right out of the glass. Inky blue and purplish fruit, chocolate, licorice, lavender, spice and mint come together in a dense, dark and powerful Pomerol. The 2017 is an explosive, vivid wine of monastic beauty. In this vintage, VCC is especially dark and somber, which adds to a real feeling of mysterious beauty. It is a towering achievement from Alexandre and Guillaume Thienpont.. (98) ANTONIO GALLONI

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Proprietor Sam Bilbro has spent virtually a lifetime around wine. His family owns Marietta, while brothers Jake and Scot are behind the reborn Limerick Lane. At Idlewild, Sam Bilbro focuses on Italian and other less well-known varieties. In addition to these wines, I also tasted the, Arneis Fox Hill Vineyard, Vin Gris Dry Creek Valley and Grenache Gris Gibson Ranch. The best wines in this range are compelling, and point to a bright future. ANTONIO GALLONI, www.vinousmedia.com

Having had a relationship with the Bilbro family as importers of the Marietta wines some years ago we were delighted to find youngest son, Sam, was behind this new venture, Idlewild. In many ways the wines are the anitpathy of what so many believe Californian wines are supposed to be. Hunting out heritage stands of Italian and Rhone varietals (mostly in Mendocino County) Bilbro makes extremely interesting wines characterised by texture, savouriness and subtlety. Skin contact is a part of the wines as is a relatively non-interventionist approach; both indicative of the preferences of the younger brigade of Calfornia producers. PWS

The 2017 White The Bee Flora & Fauna, is a classy, polished wine to drink now and over the next few years. Green pear, mint, white flowers and light tropical overtones all grace this very pretty, expressive wine. The Muscat in particular adds an attractive aromatic flair. ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2017 Arneis Fox Hill Vineyard is very pretty. Aromatic and pliant, with lovely orchard fruit, chamomile, almond and dried flower notes, the 2017 has a lot to offer. There is a lovely element of softness that emerges with time in the glass and adds quite a bit of character. ANTONIO GALLONI

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

2 BOTTLES AVAILABLE
Saint-Estèphe 2ème Cru Classé 
Extremely aromatic with currant, wild-herb and fresh-violet aromas. This is regal cabernet sauvignon at its finest. The palate has unwaveringly long and defined tannins that carry such fresh, piercingly pure, redcurrant and cassis flavors. A twin to the superb 2015? A blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.(97) JAMES SUCKLING

The 2017 Montrose is a very pretty, polished wine that speaks much more to finesse than power. Expressive floral and spices notes add an attractive inner sweetness to a Montrose that in 2017 leans more into the red fruit spectrum. Gracious yet deep, with terrific overall balance, the 2017 Montrose is a total winner. What impresses most about the 2017 is its freshness and sophistication. I won't be surprised if Montrose turns out to be even better than this note suggests further down the road. Graphite, licorice, menthol and sage lead to a finish with real grip and freshness. The 2017 is such a classy and promising wine. (95+) ANTONIO GALLONI

The 2017 Montrose was so impressive from barrel and now, bottled since July, it continues to put in a strong case for being one of the best Left Bank wines. It has a very pure and intoxicating bouquet with intense blackberry, light cassis, juniper and violet aromas, almost Margaux-like in terms of personality. Although there is a patina of new oak after bottling, it is in sync with the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip on the entry. Tightly wound at the moment but supremely well focused, this is a classic Montrose, "cool" and reserved, demonstrating impressive tension and precision towards the finish. It will require less time in bottle than the 2016 for example, so broach this superb Saint-Estèphe after five or six years and then it will give 25 to 30 years of drinking pleasure, and knowing Montrose, probably longer. Tasted twice with consistent notes. (95) NEAL MARTIN

Rich straw colour. Orange peel, crystallised ginger and spices, exquisite acid and sugar combination. Superbly lengthy and probably indestructible. Waves of flavour in almost relentless force. RICHARD HEMMING MW, jancisrobinson.com

The NV Conegliano Valdobbiadene Così È is a fun Pet-Nat style Prosecco, having undergone a secondary fermentation in bottle. Notes of sour lemon, pineapple, granny smith and crushed stone can all be found in the glass. It’s soft in texture yet bone dry, with stimulating acids and minerals which work to completely cleanse the palate between each sip. Flavors of dried apricot and pear linger along with a twang of mouthwatering citrus. Although a bit funky, this is a pleasure to taste. (92) ERIC GUIDO, www.vinousmedia.com

Here the secondary fermentation in bottle is encouraged by the addition of unfermented must (juice) of the same wine. The wine does not undergo disgorgment and so retains the natural yeast sediment which, if disturbed, gives the wine a slightly hazy appearance. This is a nod to the traditional styles of the region enjoyed by the Cosmo family in the days of their parents and grandparents. It presents with a slightly softer profile and more subtlety of character than some of the other cuvees. For me it is the kind of wine that you want to pop at the start of a long lunch or dinner with friends, it is eminently digestible and provides serious ease for consumption. ROSCOE

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Red berries, dried mint and aniseed, baking spice, roses. It's silty and slinky, with pumice stone tannin, a sort of volcanic feel, squishy strawberry and spice, juicy acidity, and a long finish, orange peel and perfume to close. Has a bit of an Etna rosso character to it, or so I think. Strange, but true. Such a good drink.GARY WALSH,  www.winefront.com.au

M. Antonio de la Riva (by Willy Peréz and Ramiro Ibañez)
Manuel Antonio de la Riva founded his Jerez bodega in 1858. Located on the famous Arcos Street in Jerez, La Riva enjoyed great success with wines sourced from Manuel's vineyards in Pago Marcharnudo. More than a century later (after Manuel's death), it was bought by Domecq, who added La Riva to some of their best wines. With the decline and devaluation of Jerez after the 1960s, Domecq slowly began eliminating brands and La Riva ceased to exist; the brand names were sold to Beam International.

Before the end of La Riva, young winemaker Luis Pérez (who later founded Bodegas Luis Pérez) had started working as a winemaker in several of the Domecq subsidiaries: Blázquez, Florido, Hermanos y Sancho and … La Riva! Luis learned the vineyards, practices and wines of the La Riva brands just before they were deleted. With the historical knowledge of Luis to guide them, next generation winemakers Willy Pérez (son of Luis) and Ramiro Ibáñez decided to recuperate the brand and its historical wines before they became entirely forgotten. Willy and Ramiro bought back the rights to the La Riva brands in 2017, and have since negotiated access to some of the famous plots from which they were sourced (and which had since become anonymous fruit sources for un-aspirational Sherries), in Balbaina Alta, and particularly Macharnudo.

M.ANTONIO de la RIVA Macharnudo Palomino de Flor con asoleado

La Riva Macharnudo Blanco recuperates a great wine based in the 'el Majuelo' vineyard (specifically in the tiny sub-vineyard parcela, el notario) within Pago Macharnudo[1]; a historical wine of el Marco de Jerez which disappeared under Domecq in the 1980s. 'El Notario' faces north (just under el Castillo de Majuelo, a castle crowning the pago) at 115m altitude, 18km in from the Atlantic, in a mixed poniente-levante setting. The soils are Tosca cerrada and barajuelas with a high level of diatomaceous fossils promoting great freshness. The fruit (Palomino 84) is hand-picked, with individual bunches selected in repeated passes over 2 months, which gain a degree or so of alcohol from an 8 hour soleo. It's then whole bunch pressed (only half the juice is taken). An ambient spontaneous fermentation in 600l  bota precedes 20 months ageing under a film of flor. 1,500 bottles were filled in May 2019 at 14% abv, 5.5 ta, and neither filtered nor fined. It faithfully reflects the origin and style of the structured white wine elaborated under this brand in the past. THE SPANISH ACQUISTION

Full shimmering ruby. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe boysenberry, Chambord and Asian spices, and a sexy floral nuance gains strength with air. Sweet and seamless on the palate, displaying a suave blend of power and delicacy to the concentrated red and blue fruit, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors. Shows impressive energy and a mineral quality on the gently tannic, penetrating finish, which hangs on with strong, floral-driven tenacity. JOSH RAYNOLDS

Immediately a sense of darker fruit in this vintage. The nose has closed up a little since tasting in barrel. It has some reserved, sanguine notes and an essence-like raspberry core. Some stones and chalk here, too. Very long and focused palate. The grenache is singing here. Dense but soft and supple tannins, the product of thick, healthy skins. Best from 2025. JAMES SUCKLING

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

This is a brilliant joint venture between Dennis Roman, importer and sommelier and friend, third generation Bordelais winemaker Julien Mingo. Their aim to make a kick-ass Malbec that was awesome value and delicious - nailed it!

The Rendez-Vous Malbec is full of up-front fruit and boysenberry goodness. It's soft and supple with a core of sweet blackberry and plum fruit with a spray of fine, powdery tannins. There is a touch of savoury herb and a wonderful sweet-spice finish that lingers. It's all put together nicely and a little bottle age gives it a little extra dimension that you do not often see at this price.

Rose, violet and perfumed berry aromas lead the nose followed by whiffs of camphor and culinary spice. Full bodied, supremely elegant and surprisingly fresh for the hot vintage, the savory palate delivers ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and crushed mint alongside taut, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it impeccably balanced. Drink 2022–2032. (95) KERRIN O'KEEFE, www.wineentusiast.com

The south-facing Nervo vineyard is located at an altitude of over 300 metres, which may account for its elegance. Ernesto Dellapiana and his son Enrico produce wines with a light touch, and their Nervo is aged in concrete tanks as well as casks. The red-fruit nose is intense and pure, and the attack supple and silky. There's a taut structure here, and fine acidity that keeps it lively and peppery. This wine is marked by energy, stylishness, and persistence. STEPHEN BROOK, Decanter

Very bright with candied-fruit and cola character. Medium body. Short. Still, it’s bright and cheerful. Drink now. JAMES SUCKLING

The 420 is a special plot that sits in the highly regarded Chianche sub-zone. The vines are on the round of a hill, so have multiple expositions and sit at 650 metres above the local woodlands that leave it exposed to the warm weather. PWS

Forman's 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is fabulous. Rich and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2017 has gorgeous depth and a touch of exoticism that is so appealing. Ripe red berry fruit, floral overtones and a touch of spice are all laced together. Just bottled, the 2017 is super impressive, even in the early going. This is an especially racy style for Ric Forman, and yet he clearly got every ounce of potential out of the year. 95 + ANTONIO GALLONI

This is 100% merlot from a 1.5 hectare vineyard located in Montravel, a sub-region of Bergerac.
The grapes are hand harvested in small lug boxes, in the cellar the bunches are destemmed and the fruits selected one by one by hand. The must is then macerated in micro oxygenated tanks, pump over every six hours, alcoholic and malolactic fermentations done in temperature controlled tanks. Aged for fourteen months on fine lees in 1/3 new and 2/3 one year old oak barrels.

This is terrific Merlot - there is even greater vibrancy and verve to the 2017 then the 2016. the fruit is pure and ripe with fresh picked plum and red cherry fruit. Some classy oak wraps gently around some pretty and lifted violet notes. and red fruits. This has plenty of fleshy fruit but in a compact and vibrant frame. There aint much merlo like this in Aus. PWS

7 BOTTLE AVAILABLE

The 2017 Barolo EnPiasì is such a pleasure to taste. A whole range of floral and savory nuances open first, suggesting the presence of whole clusters, even though the wine is made entirely from grapes that have been destemmed by hand. Silky, nuanced and beautifully persistent in the glass, the 2017 is a Barolo of pure and total finesse. I would prefer to drink it over the next 10-15 years, a bit of youthful Nebbiolo tannin notwithstanding, as it would be a shame to miss out on the extraordinary purity of fruit that is present at this stage. ANTONIO GALLONI

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

It's a battle royal of North vs South for our second premium pack where the only winner is going to be you! From the warm southern coast to the rolling hills of the verdant north, Italy's multitude of breathtaking terroir and incredible indigenous varieties is one to impress.

This is an exciting little pack, something a little different with some cracking little wines brand new to the country, some Prince Wine Store classics and a couple of wines, we know, you will be happily and wonderfully surprised by.

From the north we start with one of the best new wines we have seen in a while. The Battiselle le Battiselle Soave is such a beautiful Soave. This is the second vintage of this to hit our shores and we missed the tiny allocation last time but certainly won't this time. You are in for a treat as we think this is one of best Soave's, if not, best white wine from Italy in some time.

Next up is the La Dama Vini Superiore. A nuanced and pretty style Valpolicella from a modern and thoughtful producer. Also relatively new to the country this see's the skins of the Amarone ferment added to the Valpolicella to add an extra depth and richness that you do not normally see from the Classico versions. 

Last is the king of red wine in Italy and the Mauro Veglio Barolo Gattera. Both the vineyard and the vintage favour this release with so much immediate appeal straight our of the gate. Veglio is turning back the use of oak and we are reaping the benefits for the change in tack. All the generosity is still there of the house style but with even more clarity and verve.

From the south we start with the Petila Greco di Tufo. This is another family estate that has only relatively recently started to bottle under their own label. This come from an elevated plot of old vines and see's some extended ageing and subtle barrel work. The zingy greco grape keeps it liveliness while the extra time in bottle has built and layered the wine.

We would be hard pressed not to include an Etna Rosso in the pack and we are so lucky that our choices here in Aus are so exceptional.  Giuseppe Tornatore spent much of the early 2000s sourcing some of the regions best plots which has proved to be an insightful move with, now some of the most highly sought after vineyards in his holding and what seems like an unstoppable thirst for his wines.

The last wine of the list is a real treat and was such a surprise for us in a recent tasting. This hails from foothills of Mt Vesuvias and in fact the vineyards overlook the famous ruins of Pompei. Unsurprisingly the wine reflects in origins and is an intriguing blend of piedirosso and aglianico that greets you with its smokey and charred fruit overlayed with dried and broody fruits.

Black Friday Special - Limited stocks

Here the secondary fermentation in bottle is encouraged by the addition of unfermented must (juice) of the same wine. The wine does not undergo disgorgment and so retains the natural yeast sediment which, if disturbed, gives the wine a slightly hazy appearance. This is a nod to the traditional styles of the region enjoyed by the Cosmo family in the days of their parents and grandparents. It presents with a slightly softer profile and more subtlety of character than some of the other cuvees. For me it is the kind of wine that you want to pop at the start of a long lunch or dinner with friends, it is eminently digestible and provides serious ease for consumption. ROSCOE

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

The 2017 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is a dark, mysterious wine. Black cherry, menthol, tobacco, licorice, spice, new leather and pine meld together in a super-classic expression of Ginestra. Deep, rich and enveloping, the 2017 is so impressive in the early going. Here, too, the finesse of the tannins is remarkable. ANTONIO GALLONI, www.vinousmedia.com

Mauro Veglio's property in Paiagallo is at mid-altitude in what is called Vigna San Sebastiano, bordering Terlo, to which it is closer in style than the opposite side of the MGA. Garnet in colour, it has notes of watermelon, earthy strawberry and lemon leaf. Elegance and freshness prevail over the powerful palate. Nevertheless, it is full bodied, well extracted and with sweet tannins. Citrus notes and liquorice emerge on the finish. ALDO FIORDELLI, www.decanter.com

The 2017 Barolo Paiagallo is the most open and racy of Veglio's 2017. Ripe red cherry, kirsch, dried flowers, orange peel and cinnamon all develop as the 2017 opens in the glass. This is an especially ripe, forward Barolo, but it also has a bit better balance in its tannins. ANTONIO GALLONI

In this wine you glimpse the future of the estate. The lack of smaller oak here reveals a more open profile of red fruits, florals and fruit tannins (not oak tannins) which give life and an entirely different shape to the structural profile. The tannins are saturated and enlivening. I simply love this wine and it occurs to me it's the kind of wine which is the reason you drink Barolo. MICHAEL MCNAMARA, PWS

Vietti's 2017 Barolo Lazzarito is absolutely gorgeous. Whatever the challenges of the growing season, they appear to have been no problem here. More than anything else, the Lazzarito impresses with its magnificent depth and stature. Super-ripe red fruit, white pepper, mint, tobacco, cured meat, spice and rose petal open gradually with time in the glass. I would not be in a rush to open bottles anytime soon. The Lazzarito has been one of the most improved wines at Vietti for a number of years. The 2017 is so captivating. ANTONIO GALLONI, www.vinousmedia.com

The 2017 Barolo Ravera is a powerhouse. My impression is that the 2017 is going to develop into something truly special. It has all the energy that makes this site so distinctive, but with an extra kick of fruit density and a whole range of exotic aromatics that make for a truly drop dead gorgeous wine. Bright red/purplish fruit, rose petal, chalk and white pepper build into a finish laced with searing intensity. This is such and impressive wine. ANTONIO GALLONI, www.vinousmedia.com

It's been a while but it's time again for one of the sport world's most gruelling events - The Tour de France. We have in years past done this as a mixed dozen but this year we have got a cracking 6-pack that you can follow along with as the tour progresses from the comfort of your living room couch. If we can't be there in person then we can at least be there in spirit!

This year we are starting in the Loire Valley with a quick stop in Burgundy before heading off to tackle the long climb and final ascent to the Val Claret. After that we make our way south to the warm reaches of the Rhone valley where we continue west into the Midi and through some of France most rustic and picturesque country. And lastly, on to Bordeaux!

Stage 7,  Vierzon to Le Creusot - 248k
Domaine de Bellene St Romain Blanc 2019, Burgundy
A brand-new climb, never use by the TDF and the longest stage of all the stages. A good white Burgundy to celebrate seems like the way to go.

Stage 6, Tours to Chateaxroux - 144k
Caves de Pouilly  Les Tuileries Sur Loire Rouge 2018, Coteaux du Giennois
Flat and suited to sprinters weaving through the vineyards of the Loire - how appropriate indeed!

Stage 10, Albertville to Valence - 191k
Berthollier Roussette de Savoie Altesse 2019, Savoie
The doorway to the Alps and at the footstep of the Savoie resorts. Kick back and relax in the beautiful Albertville watching the riders fly by while you sip your crispy glass of white.

Stage 11, Sorgues to Malaucene - 199k
Charvin Cotes du Rhone Le Poutet 2019
Two ascents of Mont Ventoux! Yikes! First the easy way then the steep. One for the climbers. Well, when in Rome, or in this case Rhone, then drink one of the tastiest Rhones around - wa la!

Stage 17, Muret to Saint-Lary-Soulan Col du Portet - 178k
Cosse Maisonneuve Cahors La Fage 2016, Cahor
A tough day that finishes with 3 obstacles in a row - the Col du Peyresourder, the Col de Val Louron-Azet and last the Col du Portet. Rustic and striking just like this beautiful Cahor.

Stage 20, Libourne to Saint Emilion - 31k
Chateaux Montravel Rouge, Montravel
Another rip through the vineyards with individual time trials. One of the funnest and fastest of the Tour. What do you drink? Merlot, 100%, all the way - and you haven't had merlot like this! Delic!

This crystalline, fleshy Godello comes from a terraced vineyard that has been painstakingly restored by Algueira's Fernando González. This vineyard lies on the cooler, north facing Orense bank of the River Sil, the opposite side to most of Algueira's holdings. Here the 30 to 80 year old vines are rooted in the losa (schist) soils of the Amandi gorge. The name of the wine pays tribute to the Celtic ancestry of the region by the way (Brandan was a Celtic warlord who originally settled the area). Fermented with natural yeasts only and aged entirely without oak. BIBENDUM

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

Lusatia Park is in the Upper Yarra, and the cooler climate - coupled with the modest alcohol - led to the decision to take the wine through mlf. It certainly hasn't stripped the elegance or fresh, juicy/limey acidity of this lovely chardonnay. The Yarra Valley length of flavour is on full display, oak (obviously) simply a means to an end. JAMES HALLIDAY, winecompanion.com

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

It’s from such an unusual/cold/late season that shiraz was picked four weeks later than average.

It’s a peppery, twiggy, bunchy shiraz. It smells, feels and tastes like the result of a cool season. This wine will split drinkers down the middle. It’s smoky, herbal, berried, smooth-skinned and stringy at once. It both walks the tightrope and is one. There are menthol, alpine herb, walnut and peppercorn characters here in abundance. There are also substantial ropes of well-placed tannin. It’s a medium-bodied wine with a great deal to say. CAMMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front

What can we say about this wonderful producer? Nothing that hasn't already been said. The consistency and quality is really quite astonishing and with Adama Wadawitz at the winemaking helm this a trend that will continue its upward trajectory. Their secret has been to continually improve and tweak the operations and that shows in every bottle. One of Australia's great estates. PWS

More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!

The 2017 Barolo Margheria is a compelling, multi-faceted Barolo loaded with personality. Sage, mint, lavender, spice, iron and red/purplish berry fruit grace this firm, classically built Barolo. This translucent, taut Barolo has so much to offer, but it also needs time to soften. Readers will find a terrific example of Margheria. ANTONIO GALLONI

36/23/21/20% pinot noir/tempranillo/merlot/trollinger. Hand-picked fruit, gently crushed. Free-run juice fermented in stainless steel with cultured yeasts. Delicate is the middle name of this breezy, summery rosé with its dusty strawberry scent, honeydew melon and mandarin skin aromas. Walks a fine, straight line of soft, juicy acidity across the palate. JENI PORT, The Wine Companion

This wine is very good. Seldom made, it is a reflection of select, high-performing plots preening in top vintages such as this. The intensity and compelling persistence of flavour careens along a track of pungent mineral and transparent acidity. The fruit, stone fruit all, comes a distant second to the wine's structural pedigree. There is plenty of oak slung across its frame, too. However, it nestles effortlessly into the wine's weight and precision, channelling it toward a long life NED GOODWIN MW, James Halliday's Wine Companion

If the 2012 was a Toorak tractor then this is a Bentley. A stately and sophisticated wine that makes a statement but isn't flashy or overt, rather it relies on the sheer class of its fruit and sophistication of winemaking to say everything that needs to be said. I think, at some stage, the wood was probably quite evident here but now it just provides a very subtle background note of spice and smoke. It's so confident and well executed that it's easy to overlook the inherent power that it, deftly, holds, the intensity of fruit and impressive volume seem to come together with ease and fill your mouth without being overbearing, rather it's quite an enticing character that brings you back for more. Seamless, the overall sense is one of zen like harmony. I only had a small taste, I will be buying some bottles for myself. ROSCOE

1 BOTTLE AVAILABLE
Saturated ruby. Ripe black raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by suggestions of cracked pepper, allspice and pungent flowers. Supple, appealingly sweet red and blue fruit preserve flavors gain energy with air, and a bright mineral element adds back-end lift. Supple tannins add shape to a persistent, floral-accented finish, which leaves cherry and spice notes behind. JOSH RAYNOLDS, Vinous

Black cherry and berry aromas with some flowers, such as lavender, follow through to a full body with firm, racy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. The quality of the tannins is fantastic in this 2017. Drink after 2023. (96) JAMES SUCKLING

70%Cab. Sav. 30% Sangiovese.The 2017 Camartina is going to need a few years to open. That will be helpful as the wine ages, but it also means the Camartina does not have the opulence readers are likely to expect in this warm, dry year. Time in the glass brings out brighter tonalities of fruit and floral overtones that give a good idea to where the 2017 is heading. Readers should be in no rush here. ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.com

The Siro Pacenti 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli is a robust and powerful expression with dark fruit nuances that transition to a dense core and a tightly woven inner fabric with more enriched black fruit and spice. Pelagrilli has a beautifully soft and open-knit character, and the tannins are well managed to show no rough edges or bitterness. What stands out best in this wine is the sheer density. Built like a tank, it will embrace long cellar aging. 25,000 bottles were produced. MONICA LARNER, Wine Advocate