Australia & NZ
These far-flung wine regions may be referred to ‘new’ when compared against the historic European wine regions, but they have a long winemaking history. Spared from Phylloxera, Australia in particular has world's highest concentration of venerable vines and legendary producers such as Penfolds, Henschke and Tyrell’s have been around for over 150 years. Though for many years piggybacking on Europe’s successes, branding their own wines as ‘Chablis’, ‘Hermitage’ etc., Australia now have created a real identity of their own, making inimitable styles like Coonawarra Cabernet or Hunter Valley Semillon.
New Zealand doesn’t quite have as an extensive history but has established itself in an astonishingly short amount of time as a reliable source of whistle clean, distinctive examples of varietals like Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
Australia & NZ
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Halliday Wine Companion (96)
A beautiful grenache, clarity its watchword: colour, aroma, varietal expression and aftertaste. Perfumed red berries of every description flow through the light to medium-bodied palate where pomegranate is foremost in shaping mouthfeel and flavour. Irresistible now or in 10 years hence.Inc. TAX€307.98 -
Halliday Wine Companion (99)
A block regenerated by the Pannells since they purchased it in '12, it produces small berries in small bunches of intensely flavoured grapes. Hand-picked, 10 days on skins, pressed to French puncheons for 19 months maturation. It is the only unblended wine so far made and sold under the Koomilya banner, 4560 bottles made. It is a wine of beauty, with effortless poise and flawless fruit that is medium to full-bodied at most. How long will it live? Try 40 years.Inc. TAX€735.18 -
James Suckling (97)
An outstanding grenache from old bush vines in the Smart Vineyard, perched up on the Clarendon ridge line. This has an edge of white pepper and pomegranate with notes of bright raspberries and fresh leaves. This wine fuses elegance and power with a sleekly defined palate that carries real intensity in 2018. The structure is keenly tailored. Long and taut, red-fruit finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.Inc. TAX€273.18 -
Halliday Wine Companion (90)
Super-ripe fruit, yet vibrant, with plenty of richness across the palate.Inc. TAX€756.26 -
Decanter (95)
Seifried was established in Nelson in 1973 by Austrian-born Hermann Seifriedand his New Zealand wife Agnes, and their Aotea series represents specially selected, single- vineyard wines. The fruit for the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc comes from the stony, free-draining soils of the Brightwater Vineyard, just 15km from the coast. It was de-stemmed and pressed immediately after harvest, before undergoing cool fermentation in stainless steel.
Roger Jones: Savoury, with herbaceous notes and textured spice. Some age coming through to give it legs. Clean and focused, this will impress people, especially when served with food.
Melanie Brown: Tropical hints on the nose, with subtle floral nuances flowing across the palate. Poised and elegant, with fresh and lively acidity that feels balanced.
Rebecca Palmer: This has a light, delicate aromatic profile with some lime/lime leaf characters. Drink 2022-2025 Alc 13%Inc. TAX€162.78 -
Bob Campbell MW (97)
Seresin’s flagship pinot noir deserves its exalted status. It offers a seductive sweet and silken first impression revealing a structure of ripe, sappy tannins on its lingering finish. Layers of ripe fruit interspersed with subtle floral and herb characters demonstrate real complexity. Approachable now, this wine deserves at least another 4-5 years careful cellaring to reveal its true colours. 2/3/2017 Drink 2017 to 2024Inc. TAX€537.18 -
Halliday Wine Companion (98)
Sourced from 3 vineyards in Piccadilly, Lobethal and the estate’s high-elevation Lenswood block. Whole-bunch pressed, fermented and matured on lees in French barriques and puncheons. The first thing that strikes you is an elegance that is so fundamental to the style and respectful to the elite fruit within. The faintest of oak lifts adds a complexity to start, but the energy and concentration of the fruit become the prime focus on the palate. It's all about chardonnay's finest flavours and a vibrant acidity to drive it long into the future.Inc. TAX€304.38 -
Wine Advocate (98)
If you were to assess a wine based solely on its length of flavor, then this 2016 Autumnus Shiraz would do nothing but stun you. The rivulets of velvety, plush fruit rolls across the palate and undulate through the long, lingering finish. What a wine! Wow. As to the flavors, there's Christmas cake spice, black cherries, aniseed and licorice, dark chocolate, raspberries, mulberries, a few damsons, blood plums, beetroot, pastrami and pink peppercorns. A symphonic display. But, for me, more than the flavor and more than the length (both formidable elements in their own rights), the texture is the real highlight. The tannins are so smooth, so shapely and so streamlined that it barely beggars belief. This is what I will remember about this wine in the future: the tannins. Awesome.Inc. TAX€605.28 -
Allow us to introduce the spectacular Spee Wah Murray Darling Crooked Mick Viognier 2015, a splendid expression of exquisite Australian viticulture. Produced in the sprawling Murray Darling region, this charming white wine bears the signature of renowned winemakers, Spee Wah. Celebrated for their dedication to sustainable wine production, this Spee Wah offering is crafted from Viognier grapes, carefully nurtured to maturity.
Upon uncorking, this 2015 vintage bestows a striking aromatic profile blending rich apricot and lush floral notes. Abounding with a vibrant palate, it showcases layers of ripe stone fruit flavours harmoniously offset by a deft minerality and a subtle spice undertone. The finish is languidly persistent, affirming the Spee Wah Murray Darling Crooked Mick Viognier 2015 as a wine of superb structure and enchanting complexity.
Incredible solo or with Asian-inspired dishes, it's a testament to the masterful craft of Spee Wah, carrying the indelible imprint of its sun-kissed Australian terroir with unmistakable elegance.
Inc. TAX€242.03 -
Embark on a sensory adventure with the exceptional Spy Valley Envoy Johnson Sauvignon Blanc 2013. From the acclaimed climes of Marlborough, New Zealand, this celebrated vintage is a perfect representation of the producer's meticulous precision and craftsmanship. Spy Valley is known, globally, for their intuitive use of both traditional and innovative winemaking techniques, yielding a broad and luscious palette of wines.
The Envoy Johnson Sauvignon Blanc 2013 is an exceptional product of their craft. Blended exclusively from small batches, the wine is fermented using native yeasts in seasoned French Oak barrels. This marriage of Old World tradition and New World innovation begets a wine of intense character and complexity, featuring an intoxicating bouquet of tropical fruit, structured by a keen mineral edge.
Unravel layers of flavour with each sip of the Spy Valley Envoy Johnson Sauvignon Blanc 2013, a wine that truly tests the boundaries of what New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc can accomplish.
Inc. TAX€119.69 -
Wine Advocate (100)
The 2022 Lamella Shiraz has a little secret held within, and it's one not noted on the label. Within this cuvée, is just two barrels of fruit from the Stonegarden Vineyard, the original Lamella Vineyard, before the current Huttonvale Farm. Stonegarden was planted in the Eden Valley in the middle 1800s and is a historic site. The wine rises with Chinotto and blood orange, black tea and pressed flowers. It is, in its quiet way, kaleidoscopic and mottled ... it does not stay still, it gently moves across the palate like sunlight over the course of a day. The long finish speaks of raspberry pip and sandalwood, pomegranate, Boscobel rose and even the softest suggestion of scraped vanilla pod. If you have the benefit of time, I would recommend tasting this on both day one and day two. As I see it, day two has all of the complexity of day one, with the added seamlessness and silk that only time can bring. This is the most alluring Lamella I can recall ever tasting on release, despite many previous releases' flirtation with perfection. 100% whole bunch.Inc. TAX€740.81 -
Wine Advocate (96-98)
Mint, sage and thyme accent blackberry and black cherry fruit in the 2018 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz. Full-bodied and rich without being heavy, it finishes tremendously long, with silky, cocoa-powder-like tannins. It should drink well for a couple of decades.Inc. TAX€834.29 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2020 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz was made with fruit from the Roennfeldt Road vineyard in Marananga, with 70% whole bunches in the ferment. This is the only cuvée in the collection that sees any inclusion of a different maturation vessel: the northeastern corner of the vineyard goes into concrete, because it retains the pure blue fruit characters that so define the wine. When one considers the dirt that is in this vineyard (and I ask you, without dirt, just where would we all be?), when one sees its black, shaley sparkle, one can get a sense of what to expect in the wine. It is always the black, brooding beast of the pack, but there is always—and I repeat, ALWAYS—a core of very pure fruit at its heart. This year is no different, and it is encased in fine but structuring tannin. It soars long across the palate, and yet within it, this wine is elegant and pliable. If the Lamella is the intriguing, pretty wine, and The Standish is the savory powerhouse, then The Relic is the iron fist–velvet glove... which makes this the enigma. I cannot overstate how attracted I am to the prowling, slinking nature of it. The tannins here—of all the wines—have a blueberry skin gravel to them; they are chalky and fine and a little bit gritty… excellent. This is a sensation, in every respect. A hot contender for best wine in the release this year.Inc. TAX€625.49 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
The 2018 The Standish Shiraz (a sample blend from barrel) is a bit stalky (it's about 50% whole cluster), but it's gorgeously perfumed, with hints of herbal tea, raspberries, blackberries and licorice. It just exudes complexity, while also being full-bodied, plush and creamy, with a long, elegant finish. This seamless beauty is a candidate for perfection.Inc. TAX€810.78 -
James Suckling (98)
Such concentrated blueberry and cherry aromas, as well as violets and fresh-earth aromas. This delivers an immediate sense of richness with chocolate in the mix, too. Very pure. The palate has a very resolved feel with deep, essence-like fruit flavors that hold a rich, plum and blackberry line that drives long and very even. This is really something. Drink over the next decade.Inc. TAX€573.89 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2020 The Standish Shiraz was made with fruit from the Laycock family vineyard, in Greenock. The first vintage was 1999. This vintage saw 30% whole bunches in the ferment. It offers notes of red dirt, a bit of blood, salted heirloom tomato and satsuma plum. This is concentrated, compacted, plush, dense and muscular, with notes of ras el’hanout, allspice, torched cinnamon and salted Dutch licorice. This wine is like playing "Magic Eye." There’s a lot going on, but if you relax, a pattern emerges and the detail becomes obvious for all to see. Within the fine but plushly tannic frame, there is saltbush and bay leaf, exotic spice and cascading layers of berry fruits. The dirt in which the roots are entangled similarly shows its colors—and these are red, ochre, earth and dust. At first glance, the foolish and the rash will overlook this for being singularly muscular and full-bodied, but like all the best IYKYK (if you know, you know—wink wink) scenarios, there is far more than meets the palate here. Another blockbuster Standish.Inc. TAX€674.69 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2022 The Standish Shiraz is again providing me with the opportunity to assess bottles two days apart, and how different they are. The freshly opened bottle, as we would all experience upon our first opening, is tight and fresh, with cracked fennel seed, black peppercorns, cumin and ras el'hanout, then dried blueberries and licorice, hints of arnica and raspberry. It's cool and mineral, with a graphite finish. I cannot overstate how much better the wine tastes after two days. All of the edges smooth out, and it is composed and complete ... what a wine. Balance and harmony in a single swoop. It's savory, though. Super.Inc. TAX€674.81 -
Wine Advocate (99)
The 2020 The Relic Shiraz-Viognier is made with fruit from the Hongell family vineyard in Krondorf, with 15% to 20% whole bunches in the ferment and 1% Viognier skins co-fermented. This is the best I’ve seen it. There’s something about the combination of the hot year and the diminished yields—it has recoiled and recompressed the Viognier on top of and into the Shiraz and brought them into balance/harmony. Beneath its floral and stone fruit guiles is a pool of savory, muscular, red-dirt Shiraz. There is bacon fat and pure berry fruit and spice for days… I’ve recently looked at a previous vintage of this wine alongside an older but immaculate Chateau d’Ampuis, and while their origins were clear in the glass, the Relic proved an Australian perspective more than relevant. The balance between the varieties—and the classic push/pull of sweet and savory—is more harmonious this year than in any I can remember, and the only thing I am more excited about when I consider this wine is what I will say next year, through the lens of an excellent, cool and elegant year. What a fine pair they will make.Inc. TAX€625.49 -
Wine Advocate (98+)
The 2022 The Relic Shiraz-Viognier contains 2% Viognier skins, and this addition presents in this vintage as a core of raspberry and pomegranate. It is pure fruited and powerfully aromatic, as this cuvee always is. Interestingly, I am tasting this wine from two different glasses: one opened two days ago, one opened this morning. They are quite different, telling us once again that oxygen really is a friend to this producer, especially if choosing to drink these wines young. While the bottle opened two days ago is complete, balanced and utterly refined, it speaks more of its florals and fruit than it does its savory register of spice and complexity. However, the wine opened today has nuances of bacon fat and exotic spice. It is tightly coiled and springy and nowhere near as giving as the former. So, choose your own path. This vintage is a prettier, finer but no less long or coiled version of itself, and it will prove to be one of the greats in the cellar. The tannins certainly are a highlight for me. Built for age but also, in the framework of this beautiful season, absolutely available to you right now. An effortless beauty, here.Inc. TAX€739.61 -
Experience the distinct southern Margaret River terroir with the sublime Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2002. This fine wine is a product of Stella Bella, renowned for their dedication to creating world-class expressions of classic grape varietals. Made through rigorous selection of only the finest fruit, the Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes were fermented separately with indigenous yeasts to preserve their unique characters before blending.
The result is a complex and layered wine, boasting a vibrant acidity highlighted by a luscious texture. A nose of lemon zest and freshly cut grass gives way to intricately woven palate notes of blackcurrant leaf, cardamom spice and subtly integrated French oak. The Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2002 stands as a testament to the meticulous winemaking process, carrying an expression of its territory that is both unique and extraordinary.
Inc. TAX€348.73 -
Hailing from the esteemed wine region of Margaret River in Western Australia, the Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2004 is the epitome of fine winemaking. A true manifestation of meticulous viticulture and innovative vinification, it's crafted by Stella Bella, known for their commitment to producing small quantities of world-class wines. This complex yet elegant ensemble of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, hand-picked from low-yielding old vines, undergoes fermentation in new French oak barrels, offering it an illustrious depth of flavour. Expect delightful hints of fig, citrus and underlying minerality, adorned with a tantalising, long finish. Aged for 10 months on lees, this opulent wine reflects the perfect harmony of power and finesse. Hailed by critics, the Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2004 resonates with the subtle sophistication you'd expect from an age-worthy white. A must-have addition to any fine wine collection.
Inc. TAX€533.63 -
The Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007 truly stands out as an exemplar of Margaret River's subtlety and sophistication. Crafted by the acclaimed winemaker, Stella Bella, the wine hails from the southernmost vineyard in the region, sourcing only the finest Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. This vintage, barrel-fermented and matured for ten months, exudes a delightful complexity and textured palate. Vivid notes of citrus and tropical fruits are balanced with an underpinning minerality and crisp acidity, leading to an enduring finish. Stella Bella's commitment to traditional winemaking methods helps fashion this exquisite blend, resulting in a wine that deftly integrates depth, intensity, and finesse. The Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007 expertly encapsulates the mastery of its terrain and terroir with its nuanced flavours and poised elegance, providing a sublime experience for the most discerning of palates.
Inc. TAX€533.63 -
Experience the refined elegance of Stonyridge Larose 2008, a quintessential expression of the world-class viticulture in Waiheke Island, New Zealand. This prestigious Bordeaux-style red blend is the magnum opus of Stonyridge Vineyard, revered internationally for its adherence to traditional winemaking techniques and organic cultivation principles. Stonyridge Larose 2008, meticulously crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, graces the palate with a symphony of blackcurrant, dark plum, spices, and exquisite tannins. Its aged perfection is a testament to Stonyridge's commitment to limited production, ensuring superior quality and intensity. Each grape is hand-selected and basket pressed; the wine is aged in French oak, encapsulating a harmonious balance between power and elegance. Stonyridge Larose 2008—a nectar matured to perfection, bestowing a divine, cellar-worthy experience. Discover its magic today.
Inc. TAX€327.73 -
Delight in the exquisite experience of Stonyridge Larose 2020, a testament to the mastery of Stonyridge Vineyard. Internationally acclaimed for crafting some of the world's finest Cabernet-blend wines, the New Zealand vineyard situated on the tranquil valley of Waiheke Island adheres to traditional techniques to yield this unrivalled vintage.
Produced with exceptional attention to detail, Stonyridge Larose 2020 is a blend of five Bordeaux varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Its intricate creation process includes organic practices, hand harvesting, and meticulous sorting to ensure only exemplary grapes contribute to the grandeur.
This 2020 expression displays an opulent, full-bodied palate, emphasising rich dark fruit notes, well-integrated tannins, and a lasting finish, beautifully reflecting the unique microclimate and volcanic soil of its birthplace. Unveiling sophistication sip by sip, discover the enchantment of Stonyridge Larose 2020, a world-class wine of unrivalled excellence.
Inc. TAX€1,163.62 -
The Western Australian (98)
This is a remarkable wine that captures the essence of this variety in a way not seen before in Australia. It’s a medium-bodied wine yet the palate delivers deep and complex flavours through to an exceptional finish. Has a European gravelly, grainy mouthfeel that carries plenty of intensity albeit delivered with such poise and almost shy coyness.Inc. TAX€597.83 -
Ray Jordan (98)
Winemaker Brian Croser is pretty excited about this wine, and a quick sniff and extended sip, and I think I know why. Like the rest of Australia, it was a very small crop resulting in a wine of deep fruit concentration. Once again, the wine spent an extended time until February this year on full lees, allowing pick up of further complexity and textural mouth feel. The striking feature is the palate power and length. I have tasted many of these wines but I don’t think I have tasted better.Inc. TAX€351.18 -
Wine Advocate (97+)
This 2021 Chardonnay Tiers Vineyard is a sensational wine. Let me tell you about the vineyard, and then we'll come back to the glass. The Tiers vineyard was planted in the Picadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills by the Croser family in 1979. The vineyard lays at an elevation of around 450 meters (1,477 feet) above sea level at its highest point, and the wine was made by Brian Croser, an important name in Australian wine. The 2021 vintage was a goodie in South Australia. The start to the season (spring and around) was the recipient of a good level of rainfall and no ill-timed events, meaning fruit set and yields were decent, and the growing season itself was without heat events or challenges, meaning the picking windows were chosen based on the fruit, with no forced hands. So, to the wine. This is powerful, concentrated and shapely, with a core of pure citrus acidity (it's zesty and pithy). The fruit speaks of yellow peach and preserved lemon and a hint of white tea. The wine undulates across the tongue and shows line and poise that elevate it to the very top of the Chardonnay tree in Australia. One of the greats. I daresay it'll be even better in 2025.Inc. TAX€315.18 -
Wine Advocate (97+)
The Tapanappa 2022 Chardonnay Tiers Vineyard is one of Australia's great Chardonnays, and that has never been more apparent than in this 2022 vintage. A superstar wine of grand proportions, the fruit has startling intensity in the mouth. The juicy acidity that weaves all elements of the wine together shows the pedigree of the site up in Piccadilly Valley (planted 1979). The phenolics are finely milled, lithe and ductile. What a wine. It's streamlined, seamless, toasty, so persistent and long, sapid and just so classy. With raw power and open-weave at the back of the palate, drink it now (so many will, and so many will love it). But equally, time will allow this wine to grow and open, and I believe it will be better, even in just a few years. 13.8% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.Inc. TAX€533.39 -
Wine Orbit (96)
Revealing elegance and sophistication, the engaging bouquet shows Black Doris plum, dark cherry, warm spice and toasted nut characters with nuances of truffle and floral. The palate displays outstanding concentration and focus, while offering rich texture and expansive mouthfeel, superbly framed by loads of fine, polished tannins. Multi-layered and magnificently flowing to an impressively long silky finish. The wine is gloriously composed and expressed, promising to evolve gracefully. The wine exhibits classic Te Mata elegance, freshness and refinement within a perfectly formed structure.Inc. TAX€437.58 -
Wine Front (94)
Violet, bay leaf, black fruit, almost liquorice, mocha, baking spices and cedar. Medium bodied, black fruit laced with liquorice and tobacco, a fleshy mass of tannin and dark chocolate, cool clean acidity, and very long fi nish, all black tea and perfume in the aftertaste. Chewy satisfaction and a little fl amboyance in every mouthful. Love this.Inc. TAX€248.87
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Halliday Wine Companion (96)
A beautiful grenache, clarity its watchword: colour, aroma, varietal expression and aftertaste. Perfumed red berries of every description flow through the light to medium-bodied palate where pomegranate is foremost in shaping mouthfeel and flavour. Irresistible now or in 10 years hence.In Bond€238.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (99)
A block regenerated by the Pannells since they purchased it in '12, it produces small berries in small bunches of intensely flavoured grapes. Hand-picked, 10 days on skins, pressed to French puncheons for 19 months maturation. It is the only unblended wine so far made and sold under the Koomilya banner, 4560 bottles made. It is a wine of beauty, with effortless poise and flawless fruit that is medium to full-bodied at most. How long will it live? Try 40 years.In Bond€594.00 -
James Suckling (97)
An outstanding grenache from old bush vines in the Smart Vineyard, perched up on the Clarendon ridge line. This has an edge of white pepper and pomegranate with notes of bright raspberries and fresh leaves. This wine fuses elegance and power with a sleekly defined palate that carries real intensity in 2018. The structure is keenly tailored. Long and taut, red-fruit finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.In Bond€209.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (90)
Super-ripe fruit, yet vibrant, with plenty of richness across the palate.In Bond€585.00 -
Decanter (95)
Seifried was established in Nelson in 1973 by Austrian-born Hermann Seifriedand his New Zealand wife Agnes, and their Aotea series represents specially selected, single- vineyard wines. The fruit for the 2020 Sauvignon Blanc comes from the stony, free-draining soils of the Brightwater Vineyard, just 15km from the coast. It was de-stemmed and pressed immediately after harvest, before undergoing cool fermentation in stainless steel.
Roger Jones: Savoury, with herbaceous notes and textured spice. Some age coming through to give it legs. Clean and focused, this will impress people, especially when served with food.
Melanie Brown: Tropical hints on the nose, with subtle floral nuances flowing across the palate. Poised and elegant, with fresh and lively acidity that feels balanced.
Rebecca Palmer: This has a light, delicate aromatic profile with some lime/lime leaf characters. Drink 2022-2025 Alc 13%In Bond€117.00 -
Bob Campbell MW (97)
Seresin’s flagship pinot noir deserves its exalted status. It offers a seductive sweet and silken first impression revealing a structure of ripe, sappy tannins on its lingering finish. Layers of ripe fruit interspersed with subtle floral and herb characters demonstrate real complexity. Approachable now, this wine deserves at least another 4-5 years careful cellaring to reveal its true colours. 2/3/2017 Drink 2017 to 2024In Bond€429.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (98)
Sourced from 3 vineyards in Piccadilly, Lobethal and the estate’s high-elevation Lenswood block. Whole-bunch pressed, fermented and matured on lees in French barriques and puncheons. The first thing that strikes you is an elegance that is so fundamental to the style and respectful to the elite fruit within. The faintest of oak lifts adds a complexity to start, but the energy and concentration of the fruit become the prime focus on the palate. It's all about chardonnay's finest flavours and a vibrant acidity to drive it long into the future.In Bond€235.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
If you were to assess a wine based solely on its length of flavor, then this 2016 Autumnus Shiraz would do nothing but stun you. The rivulets of velvety, plush fruit rolls across the palate and undulate through the long, lingering finish. What a wine! Wow. As to the flavors, there's Christmas cake spice, black cherries, aniseed and licorice, dark chocolate, raspberries, mulberries, a few damsons, blood plums, beetroot, pastrami and pink peppercorns. A symphonic display. But, for me, more than the flavor and more than the length (both formidable elements in their own rights), the texture is the real highlight. The tannins are so smooth, so shapely and so streamlined that it barely beggars belief. This is what I will remember about this wine in the future: the tannins. Awesome.In Bond€495.00 -
Allow us to introduce the spectacular Spee Wah Murray Darling Crooked Mick Viognier 2015, a splendid expression of exquisite Australian viticulture. Produced in the sprawling Murray Darling region, this charming white wine bears the signature of renowned winemakers, Spee Wah. Celebrated for their dedication to sustainable wine production, this Spee Wah offering is crafted from Viognier grapes, carefully nurtured to maturity.
Upon uncorking, this 2015 vintage bestows a striking aromatic profile blending rich apricot and lush floral notes. Abounding with a vibrant palate, it showcases layers of ripe stone fruit flavours harmoniously offset by a deft minerality and a subtle spice undertone. The finish is languidly persistent, affirming the Spee Wah Murray Darling Crooked Mick Viognier 2015 as a wine of superb structure and enchanting complexity.
Incredible solo or with Asian-inspired dishes, it's a testament to the masterful craft of Spee Wah, carrying the indelible imprint of its sun-kissed Australian terroir with unmistakable elegance.
In Bond€183.00 -
Embark on a sensory adventure with the exceptional Spy Valley Envoy Johnson Sauvignon Blanc 2013. From the acclaimed climes of Marlborough, New Zealand, this celebrated vintage is a perfect representation of the producer's meticulous precision and craftsmanship. Spy Valley is known, globally, for their intuitive use of both traditional and innovative winemaking techniques, yielding a broad and luscious palette of wines.
The Envoy Johnson Sauvignon Blanc 2013 is an exceptional product of their craft. Blended exclusively from small batches, the wine is fermented using native yeasts in seasoned French Oak barrels. This marriage of Old World tradition and New World innovation begets a wine of intense character and complexity, featuring an intoxicating bouquet of tropical fruit, structured by a keen mineral edge.
Unravel layers of flavour with each sip of the Spy Valley Envoy Johnson Sauvignon Blanc 2013, a wine that truly tests the boundaries of what New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc can accomplish.
In Bond€96.00 -
Wine Advocate (100)
The 2022 Lamella Shiraz has a little secret held within, and it's one not noted on the label. Within this cuvée, is just two barrels of fruit from the Stonegarden Vineyard, the original Lamella Vineyard, before the current Huttonvale Farm. Stonegarden was planted in the Eden Valley in the middle 1800s and is a historic site. The wine rises with Chinotto and blood orange, black tea and pressed flowers. It is, in its quiet way, kaleidoscopic and mottled ... it does not stay still, it gently moves across the palate like sunlight over the course of a day. The long finish speaks of raspberry pip and sandalwood, pomegranate, Boscobel rose and even the softest suggestion of scraped vanilla pod. If you have the benefit of time, I would recommend tasting this on both day one and day two. As I see it, day two has all of the complexity of day one, with the added seamlessness and silk that only time can bring. This is the most alluring Lamella I can recall ever tasting on release, despite many previous releases' flirtation with perfection. 100% whole bunch.In Bond€595.00 -
Wine Advocate (96-98)
Mint, sage and thyme accent blackberry and black cherry fruit in the 2018 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz. Full-bodied and rich without being heavy, it finishes tremendously long, with silky, cocoa-powder-like tannins. It should drink well for a couple of decades.In Bond€673.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2020 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz was made with fruit from the Roennfeldt Road vineyard in Marananga, with 70% whole bunches in the ferment. This is the only cuvée in the collection that sees any inclusion of a different maturation vessel: the northeastern corner of the vineyard goes into concrete, because it retains the pure blue fruit characters that so define the wine. When one considers the dirt that is in this vineyard (and I ask you, without dirt, just where would we all be?), when one sees its black, shaley sparkle, one can get a sense of what to expect in the wine. It is always the black, brooding beast of the pack, but there is always—and I repeat, ALWAYS—a core of very pure fruit at its heart. This year is no different, and it is encased in fine but structuring tannin. It soars long across the palate, and yet within it, this wine is elegant and pliable. If the Lamella is the intriguing, pretty wine, and The Standish is the savory powerhouse, then The Relic is the iron fist–velvet glove... which makes this the enigma. I cannot overstate how attracted I am to the prowling, slinking nature of it. The tannins here—of all the wines—have a blueberry skin gravel to them; they are chalky and fine and a little bit gritty… excellent. This is a sensation, in every respect. A hot contender for best wine in the release this year.In Bond€499.00 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
The 2018 The Standish Shiraz (a sample blend from barrel) is a bit stalky (it's about 50% whole cluster), but it's gorgeously perfumed, with hints of herbal tea, raspberries, blackberries and licorice. It just exudes complexity, while also being full-bodied, plush and creamy, with a long, elegant finish. This seamless beauty is a candidate for perfection.In Bond€657.00 -
James Suckling (98)
Such concentrated blueberry and cherry aromas, as well as violets and fresh-earth aromas. This delivers an immediate sense of richness with chocolate in the mix, too. Very pure. The palate has a very resolved feel with deep, essence-like fruit flavors that hold a rich, plum and blackberry line that drives long and very even. This is really something. Drink over the next decade.In Bond€456.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2020 The Standish Shiraz was made with fruit from the Laycock family vineyard, in Greenock. The first vintage was 1999. This vintage saw 30% whole bunches in the ferment. It offers notes of red dirt, a bit of blood, salted heirloom tomato and satsuma plum. This is concentrated, compacted, plush, dense and muscular, with notes of ras el’hanout, allspice, torched cinnamon and salted Dutch licorice. This wine is like playing "Magic Eye." There’s a lot going on, but if you relax, a pattern emerges and the detail becomes obvious for all to see. Within the fine but plushly tannic frame, there is saltbush and bay leaf, exotic spice and cascading layers of berry fruits. The dirt in which the roots are entangled similarly shows its colors—and these are red, ochre, earth and dust. At first glance, the foolish and the rash will overlook this for being singularly muscular and full-bodied, but like all the best IYKYK (if you know, you know—wink wink) scenarios, there is far more than meets the palate here. Another blockbuster Standish.In Bond€540.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2022 The Standish Shiraz is again providing me with the opportunity to assess bottles two days apart, and how different they are. The freshly opened bottle, as we would all experience upon our first opening, is tight and fresh, with cracked fennel seed, black peppercorns, cumin and ras el'hanout, then dried blueberries and licorice, hints of arnica and raspberry. It's cool and mineral, with a graphite finish. I cannot overstate how much better the wine tastes after two days. All of the edges smooth out, and it is composed and complete ... what a wine. Balance and harmony in a single swoop. It's savory, though. Super.In Bond€540.00 -
Wine Advocate (99)
The 2020 The Relic Shiraz-Viognier is made with fruit from the Hongell family vineyard in Krondorf, with 15% to 20% whole bunches in the ferment and 1% Viognier skins co-fermented. This is the best I’ve seen it. There’s something about the combination of the hot year and the diminished yields—it has recoiled and recompressed the Viognier on top of and into the Shiraz and brought them into balance/harmony. Beneath its floral and stone fruit guiles is a pool of savory, muscular, red-dirt Shiraz. There is bacon fat and pure berry fruit and spice for days… I’ve recently looked at a previous vintage of this wine alongside an older but immaculate Chateau d’Ampuis, and while their origins were clear in the glass, the Relic proved an Australian perspective more than relevant. The balance between the varieties—and the classic push/pull of sweet and savory—is more harmonious this year than in any I can remember, and the only thing I am more excited about when I consider this wine is what I will say next year, through the lens of an excellent, cool and elegant year. What a fine pair they will make.In Bond€499.00 -
Wine Advocate (98+)
The 2022 The Relic Shiraz-Viognier contains 2% Viognier skins, and this addition presents in this vintage as a core of raspberry and pomegranate. It is pure fruited and powerfully aromatic, as this cuvee always is. Interestingly, I am tasting this wine from two different glasses: one opened two days ago, one opened this morning. They are quite different, telling us once again that oxygen really is a friend to this producer, especially if choosing to drink these wines young. While the bottle opened two days ago is complete, balanced and utterly refined, it speaks more of its florals and fruit than it does its savory register of spice and complexity. However, the wine opened today has nuances of bacon fat and exotic spice. It is tightly coiled and springy and nowhere near as giving as the former. So, choose your own path. This vintage is a prettier, finer but no less long or coiled version of itself, and it will prove to be one of the greats in the cellar. The tannins certainly are a highlight for me. Built for age but also, in the framework of this beautiful season, absolutely available to you right now. An effortless beauty, here.In Bond€594.00 -
Experience the distinct southern Margaret River terroir with the sublime Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2002. This fine wine is a product of Stella Bella, renowned for their dedication to creating world-class expressions of classic grape varietals. Made through rigorous selection of only the finest fruit, the Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes were fermented separately with indigenous yeasts to preserve their unique characters before blending.
The result is a complex and layered wine, boasting a vibrant acidity highlighted by a luscious texture. A nose of lemon zest and freshly cut grass gives way to intricately woven palate notes of blackcurrant leaf, cardamom spice and subtly integrated French oak. The Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2002 stands as a testament to the meticulous winemaking process, carrying an expression of its territory that is both unique and extraordinary.
In Bond€268.00 -
Hailing from the esteemed wine region of Margaret River in Western Australia, the Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2004 is the epitome of fine winemaking. A true manifestation of meticulous viticulture and innovative vinification, it's crafted by Stella Bella, known for their commitment to producing small quantities of world-class wines. This complex yet elegant ensemble of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, hand-picked from low-yielding old vines, undergoes fermentation in new French oak barrels, offering it an illustrious depth of flavour. Expect delightful hints of fig, citrus and underlying minerality, adorned with a tantalising, long finish. Aged for 10 months on lees, this opulent wine reflects the perfect harmony of power and finesse. Hailed by critics, the Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2004 resonates with the subtle sophistication you'd expect from an age-worthy white. A must-have addition to any fine wine collection.
In Bond€426.00 -
The Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007 truly stands out as an exemplar of Margaret River's subtlety and sophistication. Crafted by the acclaimed winemaker, Stella Bella, the wine hails from the southernmost vineyard in the region, sourcing only the finest Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. This vintage, barrel-fermented and matured for ten months, exudes a delightful complexity and textured palate. Vivid notes of citrus and tropical fruits are balanced with an underpinning minerality and crisp acidity, leading to an enduring finish. Stella Bella's commitment to traditional winemaking methods helps fashion this exquisite blend, resulting in a wine that deftly integrates depth, intensity, and finesse. The Stella Bella Suckfizzle Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007 expertly encapsulates the mastery of its terrain and terroir with its nuanced flavours and poised elegance, providing a sublime experience for the most discerning of palates.
In Bond€426.00 -
Experience the refined elegance of Stonyridge Larose 2008, a quintessential expression of the world-class viticulture in Waiheke Island, New Zealand. This prestigious Bordeaux-style red blend is the magnum opus of Stonyridge Vineyard, revered internationally for its adherence to traditional winemaking techniques and organic cultivation principles. Stonyridge Larose 2008, meticulously crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, graces the palate with a symphony of blackcurrant, dark plum, spices, and exquisite tannins. Its aged perfection is a testament to Stonyridge's commitment to limited production, ensuring superior quality and intensity. Each grape is hand-selected and basket pressed; the wine is aged in French oak, encapsulating a harmonious balance between power and elegance. Stonyridge Larose 2008—a nectar matured to perfection, bestowing a divine, cellar-worthy experience. Discover its magic today.
In Bond€270.00 -
Delight in the exquisite experience of Stonyridge Larose 2020, a testament to the mastery of Stonyridge Vineyard. Internationally acclaimed for crafting some of the world's finest Cabernet-blend wines, the New Zealand vineyard situated on the tranquil valley of Waiheke Island adheres to traditional techniques to yield this unrivalled vintage.
Produced with exceptional attention to detail, Stonyridge Larose 2020 is a blend of five Bordeaux varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. Its intricate creation process includes organic practices, hand harvesting, and meticulous sorting to ensure only exemplary grapes contribute to the grandeur.
This 2020 expression displays an opulent, full-bodied palate, emphasising rich dark fruit notes, well-integrated tannins, and a lasting finish, beautifully reflecting the unique microclimate and volcanic soil of its birthplace. Unveiling sophistication sip by sip, discover the enchantment of Stonyridge Larose 2020, a world-class wine of unrivalled excellence.
In Bond€951.00 -
The Western Australian (98)
This is a remarkable wine that captures the essence of this variety in a way not seen before in Australia. It’s a medium-bodied wine yet the palate delivers deep and complex flavours through to an exceptional finish. Has a European gravelly, grainy mouthfeel that carries plenty of intensity albeit delivered with such poise and almost shy coyness.In Bond€476.00 -
Ray Jordan (98)
Winemaker Brian Croser is pretty excited about this wine, and a quick sniff and extended sip, and I think I know why. Like the rest of Australia, it was a very small crop resulting in a wine of deep fruit concentration. Once again, the wine spent an extended time until February this year on full lees, allowing pick up of further complexity and textural mouth feel. The striking feature is the palate power and length. I have tasted many of these wines but I don’t think I have tasted better.In Bond€274.00 -
Wine Advocate (97+)
This 2021 Chardonnay Tiers Vineyard is a sensational wine. Let me tell you about the vineyard, and then we'll come back to the glass. The Tiers vineyard was planted in the Picadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills by the Croser family in 1979. The vineyard lays at an elevation of around 450 meters (1,477 feet) above sea level at its highest point, and the wine was made by Brian Croser, an important name in Australian wine. The 2021 vintage was a goodie in South Australia. The start to the season (spring and around) was the recipient of a good level of rainfall and no ill-timed events, meaning fruit set and yields were decent, and the growing season itself was without heat events or challenges, meaning the picking windows were chosen based on the fruit, with no forced hands. So, to the wine. This is powerful, concentrated and shapely, with a core of pure citrus acidity (it's zesty and pithy). The fruit speaks of yellow peach and preserved lemon and a hint of white tea. The wine undulates across the tongue and shows line and poise that elevate it to the very top of the Chardonnay tree in Australia. One of the greats. I daresay it'll be even better in 2025.In Bond€244.00 -
Wine Advocate (97+)
The Tapanappa 2022 Chardonnay Tiers Vineyard is one of Australia's great Chardonnays, and that has never been more apparent than in this 2022 vintage. A superstar wine of grand proportions, the fruit has startling intensity in the mouth. The juicy acidity that weaves all elements of the wine together shows the pedigree of the site up in Piccadilly Valley (planted 1979). The phenolics are finely milled, lithe and ductile. What a wine. It's streamlined, seamless, toasty, so persistent and long, sapid and just so classy. With raw power and open-weave at the back of the palate, drink it now (so many will, and so many will love it). But equally, time will allow this wine to grow and open, and I believe it will be better, even in just a few years. 13.8% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.In Bond€426.00 -
Wine Orbit (96)
Revealing elegance and sophistication, the engaging bouquet shows Black Doris plum, dark cherry, warm spice and toasted nut characters with nuances of truffle and floral. The palate displays outstanding concentration and focus, while offering rich texture and expansive mouthfeel, superbly framed by loads of fine, polished tannins. Multi-layered and magnificently flowing to an impressively long silky finish. The wine is gloriously composed and expressed, promising to evolve gracefully. The wine exhibits classic Te Mata elegance, freshness and refinement within a perfectly formed structure.In Bond€346.00 -
Wine Front (94)
Violet, bay leaf, black fruit, almost liquorice, mocha, baking spices and cedar. Medium bodied, black fruit laced with liquorice and tobacco, a fleshy mass of tannin and dark chocolate, cool clean acidity, and very long fi nish, all black tea and perfume in the aftertaste. Chewy satisfaction and a little fl amboyance in every mouthful. Love this.In Bond€185.00
