

Punxsutawney Phil has stuck his little head out, smelt the air, peered around at the outside world, saw his shadow, and scampered back inside. We should follow suit. And with that, he's predicted a little more winter to come. Boo!
Well, all is not lost with a great pack of winter-warming wines to keep us going through what seems to be a bitter and cold winter. We normally hit with this cracking little pack in June but I think we all knew this might be a long one so held off for August.
Given the chill in the air, we've skewed this towards lush and warming reds that are perfect to warm you from the inside out. Plush malbec from Mendoza is the go along with aglianico's warm embrace and a kiss of much needed Mediterranean warmth from Italy's south. Some Tassie Pinot, beautiful Barossa shiraz and sangiovese from the Adelaide Hills will do the trick too.
Of course, we didn't want to leave you white drinkers high and dry do have made to ensure include lush and textural whites the ultimate winter fair. From plush southern Rhone and some wonderful chardonnay from southwest France to a very cool blend from closer to here at home there is plenty to like.
Whether it's fireside sitting or Netflix at home with mates, we have got you covered for some cooler days ahead.
Spinifex Vermentino 2023


Grown in the Koonunga Hill sub-region, i.e. a warmer, more northerly part of the Barossa. A good place for vermentino, you’d estimate.
This throws a bloom of scent and flavour. It’s unreasonably delicious. Bunches of flowers, custard powder, citrus, brine and stonefruit. Texture that seems to lift right out from the fruit. As they say in the classics: yes plus. CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front
Villa Wolf Pinot Gris 2022


It's 20-odd years since Ernst Loosen decided to broaden his winemaking palette by taking on the JL Wolf estate in the village of Wachenheim in the Pfalz. The protective influence of the mountains makes this one of the warmer, drier areas of Germany. In actual fact, this is a wonderful place to grow ripe, healthy grapes and the team at Villa Wolf - with winemaker Patrick Möllendorf at the helm - take full advantage.
Typically, wines from the Pfalz are weightier and drier than their Mosel counterparts and have a style that's rounder and more earthy and the pinot gris is one of the most consistent in the range and a regular on the shelves.
Pear and yellow stone fruit, a little quartz spice and a lovely mellow nose that's so enticing. Plump and plush it rolls out layers of tree and orchard fruit with a sprinkle of sweet spices here and there. A cracking winter white with it's a little extra fat on its bones to satisfy in those cooler nights. A delight!
Elm Bomba Bianco 2023


Emerging winemaker Madeleine Marson has launched her first wines under the ELM label. ELM wines pay tribute to the upbringing Madeleine and her two sisters, Emily and Laura (together ELM), had in the Yarra Valley and Heathcote, where winemaking and the traditions of the Italian family table were strongly held. A long (official and unofficial) apprenticeship under the instruction of her father, Mario Marson, followed, and together they now run Vinea Marson in Heathcote. There, Madeleine got her hands on some parcels of fruit from Heathcote and the Alpine Valleys and crafted these playful takes on Italian family favourites.
The 'Bomba Bianco' is inspired by Friulian white blends, designed to be enjoyed at the table with good food and in the company of family and friends. ELM 'Bomba Bianco' is made from white varieties typical of north-eastern Italy's where blended wines are popular to create food-friendly, dry white wines. With a delightful nose of meadow flowers, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg, the wine's rich and complex palate is complemented by typical phenolic diversity and good length. Damn! This is good!
Mas des Bressades Costieres de Nimes Tradition Blanc 2023


The wines of Mas de Bressandes have always been good but the last couple of years they have been real winners. Savvy shoppers may recognize these from a small offer we did a while ago and this is one of the new vintages.
Rhone whites are the perfect winter pairing if you ask us. A little extra depth and richness. A little more round and plush on the palate. A kind of chardonnay exuberance but wearing different clothes. A real lovely all round and this is one of the best.
Roussanne takes the lead on the sultry white Rhone, while grenache blanc, viognier and marsanne are the backup singers. Lovely nectarine fruit, preservered lemon and a plenty of pear and a touch of apricot which takes the lead. Slippery and lush but with plenty of zap to keep thing fresh. A little finish of grapefruit phenolics add a pleasing bitter punctuation while the impression as a whole is a warm cuddle of goodness.
P & A Vin de France Chardonnay 2021


The P & V wines are from our friend and Burgundy madman Nicolas Potel. These are the wines that epitomise the term vin-de-soif. These are absolutely gluggable, definitely chillable and straight-up delicious fair from the southern reached of France where Nicolas, via is network of winemaking legends sources fruit from top growers.
Nectarines, grapefruits and lemon curd hint towards ripeness on the nose. The palate is a delicious mix of citrus and crisp orchard fruits threaded with a minerally inflections and ginger spice. It's balanced and deliciously ripe. Gee there's a lot to like here for the price - chardonnay lovers unite, this is beauty! GABRIELLE POY
Wellington & Wolfe Wolfe at the Door Tamar Valley Pinot Noir 2023


A lightly funky Tamar Valley pinot noir fermented with 15% whole bunches before three months in oak and bottling with minimal SO2. A light, airy ruby in the glass with aromas of bright red cherry and red plum with hints of leaf litter, spice, light amaro herbs, raspberry flan, citrus blossom and light gamey notes. Spacious, savoury and stony with plenty of interest. DAVE BROOKES, James Halliday
Coulter C2 Sangiovese 2023


Chris Coulter has done it again. Every time he swings by with a swag of his wines we are always thoroughly impressed and his last visit did not disappoint. The wines are modern renditions of classic varieties that deliver with beautiful pure, sweet fruit but don’t skimp on those textural and framing elements which make them a cut above many playing the same game.
Here we have his Adelaide Hills Sangiovese which Chris has used a bit of carbonic maceration, and 10% whole bunch ferment to create this Highly aromatic, bright, juby & savoury number that was an instant hit with the tasting panel. Sweet and sour cherry, white pepper, a hint of sweet ground spice and singing in the galls. Pon the palate it explodes with red berry fruits and a touch of earthy and scorched rocks with a powder tannin structure that reminds us this is Sangiovese not some weak-ass plonk. A beautiful take on an Italian classic.
Artuke Tempranillo 2022


"Arturo de Miguel of Artuke ... has already cemented his position as one of the best winemakers in Spain" Tim Atkin
Rioja at this price does not got much better than this. Composed of 95% Tempranillo and a touch of Viura for aromatic lift, all estate grown from around the town of Baños de Ebro.
Marcelo Pelleriti Signature Malbec 2020


The 2020 Signature Malbec was cropped from a warm year and was produced with grapes from an old vineyard in La Consulta in the Valle de Uco planted 10 years ago. In this case, 80% of the volume matured in French oak barrels for 12 months, and the rest was kept in stainless steel. 2020 produced a dark wine that is ripe, reflecting the warm year, and it has notes of blackberries and black rather than red fruit in general. It's medium to full-bodied, with very integrated oak (the wines are not marked by the oak anymore) and ripe, round tannins. This is quite traditional and very good at it. It's getting better and better by the year... 70,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2022. LUIS GUTIERREZ, The Wine Advocate
Another hit from a recent tasting panel here at Prince. We tried about 10 Malbecs that day and while all were tasty (well, maybe not every one) this stood out for its extra richness and depth. As is often the case its all delivered in a super affordable package that is sure to impress. BBQ wine of the week baby!
Fontareche Corbieres Rouge Vieilles Vignes 2022


The Fontarèche property, at the heart of Corbiere in Languedoc-Roussillon, has a long, illustrious and noble history dating back to 1201. Current proprietor, Jacques de Lamy took over from his father, Count Edouard de Lamy in 1957 where the de Lamy family has been in charge of the property since 1682. The estate works with 17 grape varieties, but Carignan is their jewel in the crown. The vines are planted to the semi-desert Mediterranean climate trapped between the Atlantic and Mediterranean. The Atlantic breezes funnel through the mountain ranges that form the backdrop of the region and help to temper the summer heat in the vineyards retaining freshness and vibrancy in the wines.
Wonderfully lifted notes of violets, mulberry and blue fruits all underlined with gentle minerality. The palate is brimming with a core of dark fruits that come together nicely with a focused and energetic finish. It really is surprising the level of subtle complexity at this price point that remains so easy to drink at the same time
Petilia Le Sepaie Irpinia Aglianico 2018


100% Aglianico from clay and limestone soil in the Taurasi and Paternopoli production zones of southern Italy. The wine is aged in barriques and tonneaux for 12 months.
A complex nose of great depth, intensity and persistent flavours. There are hints of violet, cherry and wild strawberry. The palate shows great structure with enveloping warmth and smooth intense aromas of red fruit with delicate spicy notes.
Teusner The Wark Family Shiraz 2022


Shiraz from the 1995-planted Wark family vineyard in Stone Well. Deep magenta in the glass with characters of ripe blood plum and blackberry fruit with plenty of compact spicy, licorice and dark chocolate notes. Like last year's release there is a sense of 'compression' that I often see with the wines of this subregion, tight sandy tannin with super-ripe dark plum and spice notes on the finish. DAVE BROOKES, Halliday Wine Companinon