RED WINE

100% Grenache, Seppeltsfield, Barossa 

Agathist Alchemy is a label from Barossa Valley guru, Craig Isbel who is also one of the people behind Izway Wines. Here he produces two wines from a single vineyard located across the road from his family home. It is owned & farmed organically by vigneron Nick Radford. The wines are produced in small batches of no larger than 500 kilo - wild ferments. The use of sulphur is minimal with tiny amounts used just after malo and at bottling. Other than this no other additions are used whatsoever. These are compact, elegant and character driven wines from a Barossa valley expert.

This is a cracker… A wild perfume of red berries, briar, fennel, undergrowth, old campfire. Really quite compelling. Just on medium weight, serious ‘pinosity’, if that’s a thing, light, fine, silken flow, slender grip of tannin dips into savouriness and yet the wine finds succulence in pure, red berry and rose water fruit character. Sheesh, this is fine grenache.’ MIKE BENNIE, The Wine Front

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The flagship 2018 Galatrona, 100% Merlot, is very beautiful. Silky tannins wrap around a core of Merlot fruit. I am struck by how elegant the 2018 is, as Galatrona is so often a wine of impact. Black cherry, chocolate, game, leather, licorice and spice give the 2018 a good bit of nuance. This is an especially understated, refined edition of Galatrona. (96) ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous

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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.

Inky magenta. Candied cherry, blackcurrant, exotic spices, violet oil and a hint of olive on the powerfully scented nose. Velvety, seamless and alluringly sweet, offering palate-staining, mineral-laced black/blue fruit preserve, floral pastille, smoky bacon and spicecake flavors that open up steadily on the back half. Displays sharp delineation and a resonating floral note on a strikingly long finish that's framed by plush, rounded tannins. (97) JOSH RAYNOLDS

The 2016 Cote Rôtie Lads Turque is another amazing wine. This early in its élévage, it’s showing hints of vanilla and pencil shavings, but those underscore sexy, seductive notes of raspberries and spice, then add darker notes of grilled beef and espresso. This silky, immensely attractive wine could challenge the potentially perfect 2015 in another year or two. (97 -99) JOE CZERWINSKI

Saturated ruby. Heady, oak-spiced dark berry, cherry cola and floral pastille scents show outstanding clarity and pick up a smoky mineral nuance with air. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, offering intense bitter cherry, blueberry and mocha flavors that are given spine and lift by a core of juicy acidity. Finishes sweet, broad and extremely long, with an echo of candied violet and smooth, well-knit tannins. 100% new oak. JOSH RAYNOLDS, Vinous

Kooyong, owned by Giorgio and Dianne Gjergja, released its first wines in 2001. The vineyard is planted to pinot noir (20ha), chardonnay (10.4ha) and, more recently, pinot gris (3ha). In July '15, following the departure of Sandro Mosele, his assistant of six years, Glen Hayley, was appointed to take his place. The Kooyong wines are made at the state-of-the-art winery of Port Phillip Estate, also owned by the Gjergjas. JAMES HALLIDAY

The estate Pinot Noir from one of the Mornington Peninsula’s flag bearers.

It’s a wine defined by its shape. It angles towards the finish and then pushes on out; the pulleys are in place from the beginning. Twiggy spice, a general woody/savouriness, dark cherry and a light coating of cedar. I wouldn’t call it taut but I would call it firm and indeed strict. It’s as though the wine’s flavour run on converging rails. It’ll be a better drink in a year or more. CAMPBELL MATTINSON

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

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Held on skins for 4 weeks after fermentation before 18 months maturation in French oak. Bright crimson-purple, it is an elegant cabernet that has flourished in the warm vintage - the Upper Yarra sometimes poses challenges, but not here. The tannins are savoury and fine, adding to the quality of the wine. JAMES HALLIDAY

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The Geremia, Rocca di Montegrossi's Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is outrageously beautiful in 2015. Racy and pliant, with soft curves, Geremia captures all of the radiant beauty of the vintage. Sweet red cherry, plum, mint, mocha and sweet spice are all fused together. At the moment, there is a touch of new oak that still needs to integrate, but a few more years in bottle should do the trick. Time in the glass brings out attractive floral notes and red-toned fruit character that lend freshness and lift to play off the wine’s more extroverted leanings. The 2015 is a gorgeous Geremia. (96) ANTONIO GALLONI

An enticing nose of prune, walnut, eucalyptus and something like onion seed. Medium-to full-bodied with a layered texture of fruit and mild, spicy flavors that coat the still lightly firm but melting tannins, creating a very long, flavorful finish, where all the elements find common ground. Delicious. So tempting now, but will continue to improve. Best from 2023. JAMES SUCKLING

Steve Webber is a man of many talents and passions. One of his is Grenache from upper Heathcote. He loves it so much he has established a brand around promoting the variety in the region. This is the 3rd vintage and of the wines and we are thoroughly convinced, not just because Steve stands behind, but because the wine is that good. The future is bright and so is this wine. PWS

This red delight reflects the name with definitely some magic in its makeup, dark cherry aromatics to start, with ripe but not jammy flavours as you sip in medium to fuller-bodied juicy fruits offsetting a fine, sandy tannin feel. There’s a lot going on for the price – look out for specials and keep an eye on it as the styling unfolds over the next few years. HALLIDAY MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020

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

Very ripe yet reasonably fresh aromas slowly reveal nuances of cassis, red cherry and a whiff of wood. The earthy and vibrant medium weight flavors possess excellent density, indeed even opulence, while managing to remain relatively refined on the ever-so-slightly warm and austere finale. Lovely and firm enough to reward 12 to 15 years of cellaring.
Sweet Spot Outstanding. BURGHOUND, www.burghound.com

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

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With a staggering 18+ tre biccherie awards to their name, Fattoria di Felsina is not only one of the greatest producers of Chianti Classico in the zone, but can also lay claim to being one of the greatest estates in Italy.

Located on the southern boundary of the Chianti Classico zone at Beradegna, Felsina is run by the thoughtful, Giuseppe Mazzocolin, and together with consultant oenologist Franco Bernabei, he has guided the estate masterfully through the massive changes that have taken place in Tuscany in the last 30 years, always mindful of only making changes he thought would further the quality of the wines without obliterating the regional nuance.

The 2018 Chianti Classico Berardenga is endowed with so much class. In 2018, the Classico is a bit more restrained than it can be. That mid-weight sense of structure, though, gives the wine quite a bit of early appeal. Even so, I would cellar the 2018 for a few years, as all the elements haven't fully come together just yet. Dark cherry, game, smoke, licorice and earthy notes are a reminder we are in Castelnuovo Berardenga, even if the 2018 has less weight and overt power than Fèlsina fans are used to seeing. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous.com

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

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91/100 & "Buy of the Week" (Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review Jan 2021)
Lake Hayes Pinot Noir is named after the namesake lake at the foot of Queenstown's Wakatipu basin. One of the most photographed lakes in the country and a striking place to make wine. Made by the crew at Amisfield, just down the road, so you know it will over-deliver and it does.

Forward and plush in style but with of that Otago grunt that kicks along into the more serious side of thing. Damson plums and purple berry fruits with velvety tannins that ultimately deliver and immediately enjoyable wine. PWS

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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!

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!

1 BOTTLE AVAILABLE

Antonio Galloni                                  97
The 2018 Haut-Bailly soars out of the glass, showing magnificent poise that only grows with time. Sweet, perfumed aromatics, silky tannins and mid-weight structure add to its considerable allure. Ripe red berry fruit, spice, blood orange, licorice, cedar, tobacco and menthol are all woven together in an effortless, classy Haut-Bailly that delivers the goods. I suppose the 2018 doesn't quite have the explosive energy of the very best years, but it more than makes up for that with its sensual, seductive personality.

James Suckling                                   97-98
Incredible depth of fruit to this with a center palate that shows superb character and texture. I love the hazelnut and coffee-bean undertones to the beautiful fruit, which shows great finesse. Full-bodied yet compact and tight, giving a sense of agility and flight to the wine. Extremely tight and polished tannins.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown            96-98
Deep purple-black in color, it opens slowly with profound notions of Black Forest cake, crème de cassis, roasted nuts and black olives, unfurling to reveal notions of menthol, crushed rocks, molten licorice and chargrilled meat plus a hint of lilacs. Full-bodied, rich and densely laden with layer upon layer of vibrant black fruits and mineral nuances, it has a solid backbone of firm, velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long with compelling restraint and exciting energy.

Andrew Caillard, MW                                     97
Deep colour. Perfect claret style with intense blackcurrant plum graphite aromas with some savoury notes, fine graphite grainy tannins and underlying vanilla oak. Tannins are plentiful but perfectly ripe with some al dente notes and plenty of thrust. Elemental but voluminous needing time to meld. Sine inky mineral notes at the finish.

 

Perhaps the least known of the Saint Julien Chateaux, Saint Pierre is one of the most underestimated classified growths of Bordeaux.  Located right behind the township, the wine scored consistently well, releasing at a justifiable higher prices this vintage that still lets consumers put the lack of recognition to use.  -Tom Portet
The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Saint-Pierre displays shy scents of rose hip tea, dried mint, crushed rocks and lavender to begin, opening out to a growing core of warm blackcurrants, baked blackberries and Morello cherries plus wafts of garrigue and wild sage. Full-bodied and absolutely laden with black fruits and provocative mineral sparks, it has a firm texture of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and savory.Lisa Perotti Brown 94-96
A powerful, virile wine, the 2018 Saint-Pierre is also one of the highlights of the vintage. Black cherry, graphite, smoke, leather, menthol, violet and spice meld together in a brooding, tannic Saint-Julien that is going to need a bit of time to truly come into its own. Saint-Pierre is muscular, massively tannic and forbidding, and yet there is a ton of fruit behind all of that structure. Cabernet Sauvignon features heavily in the blend, and that comes through in the wine's flavor profile and overall feel. Readers will have to be patient. I can't wait to taste it from bottle. The 2018 is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot. Antonio Galloni 92-95

 

With south easterly neighbours of Lafleur and Petrus, Le Gay remains at an exceptional price considering the quality of its terroir. Galloni particularly taken by its quality this year (read below). The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with just 1,500 cases produced.  -Tom Portet

James Suckling                             97-98
A tight and dense red with depth of fruit and polished tannins that really impress at this stage. It's naturally refined and complex with so much dark-berry, chocolate, cedar and hazelnut character. Great wine.

Antonio Galloni                 94-97
One of the highlights of the vintage, the 2018 Le Gay is fabulous. Crème de cassis, new leather, tobacco, minty and dried flowers all race out of the glass, but what impresses most is the wine's combination of fruit richness and vertical explosiveness. Black cherry, coffee, dried flowers, mint and lavender all soar. Le Gay is rich and concentrated in feel, and yet all the elements are wonderfully fused together. Tasted two times.

Jeff Leve                 96-98
Chris Kissack                 97-99

The estate's efforts across the respective grenache cuvees are almost as venerable as those across the very fine expressions of viognier. This, a thirst-slaking red, is worth celebrating for its youthful primary fruit: cranberry, cumquat and cherry bonbon. Yet, most impressive are the saline, slaty tannins that been massaged into the fray with aplomb, helping to imbue poise while curtailing the ripeness of fruit. NED GOODWIN MW, James Halliday's Wine Companion

Sourced from very old bush vines (some dating back to 1929) which add both depth of fruit and phenolic impact, lending the wine some subtle gravitas. Lovely, so primary it's almost juicy, lifted with elements of spice that slides in to grilled meats. Beautifully textured, vibrant and inviting. Lovely, did I say that already? There is structure and heft here too but it only adds to the overall sensuality of the wine. We all tasted this and asked how much. When we heard the price we jumped on it. Yalumba are masters at the craft and this is ludicrously good for the money. The ideal mid-week wine with so much going for it that it embarrasses a lot of other wines in a similar price range. ROSCOE

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Aromas of woodland berry, Mediterranean scrub, camphor and oak-driven spice shape the nose on this fragrant red. On the tight palate, firm acidity accompanies raspberry jam, orange zest, vanilla and licorice. Firm, grainy tannins leave a puckering, drying close. Give the tannins a few years more years to relax a bit then drink. KERIN O’KEEFE, Wine Enthusiast

Aromas of rose, exotic spice and wild berry shape the nose on this fragrant red, along with whiffs of moist earth and leather. The linear, vibrant palate features Marasca cherry, licorice and a hint of espresso alongside racy acidity and close-grained tannins that leave a drying finish. Drink 2022–2028. KERIN O’KEEFE, Wine Enthusiast

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Meaty and spicy, oyster shells, nuts and dried herb, blue and black fruit. It’s intense, but light, with an almost bloody flavour, but plenty of energy and fruit too. Really pops. Pumice stone tannin is a highlight, as is the freshness and grip on a long cool finish. You might say it’s all Syrah on the nose, but with a sort of Beaujolais lightness and crunch in the mouth. A delight. GARY WALSH

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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!

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 Top of the tree Frankland Estate wine.

Soft, gentle, detailed red of spice, savouriness and very pure feeling and unadorned fruit character. Has some pretty sweetness balanced nicely by fresh acidity, a good deal of fruit concentration, and a general sense of elegance comes to mind. Bright finish, a little crunchy, says hold off drinking for a year or so. Excellent wine. MIKE BENNIE, The Wine Front

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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!

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!

Very minerally and salty with lots of dried fruit, currant and floral aromas and flavors. Full body, silky tannins and a fresh finish. Excellent second wine. JAMES SUCKLING