The best

• red wine
• white wine
• champagne
• rosé
• whisky
• spirits
• beer

deals in Australia

Yarra Yering Carrodus Cabernet, Yarra Valley The Carrodus range wines from Yarra Yering are part of very limited special reserve group. As reserve wines, they are only made in exceptional years and are named for Dr Bailey Carrodus, who founded of Yarra Yering in 1969. I take small parcels from specific sections of the vineyard, the original 1969 plantings and make a barrel or two of a single variety. - Sarah Crowe An initiative from chief winemaker Sarah Crowe, who takes small parcels from specific sections of the vineyards. These reserve wines aren't bottled every year and cover single variety bottlings of Viognier, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Dr Carrodus was respected for his blending ability so I take grapes he would have blended and bottle them as single varieties The wines need to be exceptional, I want to produce the most ethereal wines I can for these small bottlings. - Sarah Crowe The Carrodus wines are made gently, with moderate use of oak, with the aim of highlighting the varietal expression of the very best grapes that Yarra Yering can produce. Essential for Yarra Valley collectors, these wines will live long in the cellar.

Chiles answer to first growth Bordeaux, Viña Seña is one of the countrys most sought after wines. In his reviews and commentary on the wine, James Suckling has played a significant role in highlighting Viña Señas credentials as world-class. While comparisons to Mouton Rothschild or Harlan can and have (again, Suckling) been made, one of the more interesting features of this wine is how well it drinks when young. For a Cabernet-based blend in this class, Viña Seña leaps out of the gate showing cassis and fresh blueberries. This is altogether very gratifying but theres so much more in store. The length, depth and breadth make this a great working example of what we mean when we talk about three-dimensionality. High-wire act acidity and strong-man fruit, this circus of sensory pleasure is even more appealing considering that for the price of one Bordeaux first growth, youll have six of these. Hedonists take note.

DOMINIQUE PORTET Andre Cabernet Sauvignon, Yarra Valley

Paul Avril Clos des Papes is a wine producer in the Rhône Valley, making one of the most sought-after wines in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC. The estate is made up of 24 small plots throughout the appellation totalling 32 hectares (79 acres). All of the 13 permitted grape varieties are grown in these vineyards, although Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah are the most important in terms of production. Picking is spread out to ensure maximum quality, and green harvests and strict berry selection ensures a low yield. Clos des Papes takes its name from one of its plots located near the ruins of the 14th Century Papal castle. There are two main wines associated with Clos des Papes: a red and a white wine. The red accounts for 90 percent of production and typically contains 65 percent Grenache, 20 percent Mourvedre and 10 percent Syrah, with the remainder made up of the other permitted Châteauneuf-du-Pape varieties. The wine is known for its finesse and elegance, and is one of the most important wines in the AOC. The white Châteauneuf-du-Pape is made up of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Picpoul, and is aged in stainless steel. Clos des Papes makes around 100,000 bottles a year, most of which is exported.

Quintet is a classically proportioned style based on five classic Bordeaux varieties; Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. The wine exhibits a purity of fruit, poise, elegance and structure found in few Australian Cabernets with cedar and blackcurrant "small fruit" aromas, fine-grained savoury tannins, superb vinosity and flavour length. Naturally balanced, well-concentrated and classically proportioned, the wine has a great reputation for longevity.