Hewitson 66 Barossa Valley Shiraz
A special release from winemaker Dean Hewitson, the titled “66” referring to his winery address on the fabled Seppeltsfield Road, For Tony Love it's a "...a supremely finessed, singular expression where the fruit and oak marriage is everything, just a glimpse of smoky bacon, just a faint whiff of eucalypt, all expertly woven and expressed with a contemporary vitality in the palate, seasoned generously with a black pepper spice character, concluding in an elite wrapping of gastronomic Amaro-like bitterness." (Toy Love, WinePilot). For Ken gargett "This is a class effort. The palate sees the emergence of notes of soy, cloves and blackberries. There is fine balance, impressive length and the finest of tannins. Wonderful stuff, which will surely drink beautifully for the next ten to twenty years. Barossa at its best.96pts" (Ken Gargett, WinePilot). Sam Kim, Wine Orbit scores it a whopping 98pts "Immensely complex and perfumed, the bouquet presents black and blueberry, violet, tapenade, star anise, and stylish oak characters. The concentrated palate exhibits exceptional depth and weight, wonderfully framed by velvety texture and finely infused tannins. It is opulent and substantial, yet refined and harmonious, with a persistent and gratifying finish. Gorgeously proportioned and balanced, ensuring its gracious development."
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle
Warm, complex, earthy spice tones with a lovely richness. Powerful yet elegant and ageing beautifully.
Paul Jaboulet Aine La Chapelle Hermitage
Dark purple. A heady, expansive bouquet evokes candied black and blue fruits, incense, violet and smoky minerals. Lush, palate-staining cassis and blueberry flavors show excellent clarity and vivacity for their power thanks to juicy acidity and a touch of peppery spices. Closes sweet, sappy, broad and extremely long, with smooth tannins coming on late.
Château l'Evangile Pomerol
Gravel soils make up the primary soil type at Château l'Evangile which is consistent with most of Bordeaux's right bank region of Pomerol. Merlot is the variety of choice in the blend with Cabernet Sauvignon to create a wine full of plushness, vibrant aromatics and smooth, lingering finish. The 2009 vintage was wonderfully kind of all of Bordeaux and Pomerol was no exception with the l'Evangile producing a wine of plushness and warmth as well as one of concentration and power. A classic Pomerol.
Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe
Cos d'Estournel remains today one of the true icons of Bordeaux, and the trademark of Saint Estèphe. With it's pagoda like house (as it's one of the rare Bordeaux's without a Château) it is a must visit for all travelling along the route des châteaux. Always of great reputation, the wines soared in esteem throughout the tenure of Bruno Prats through 1971 to 1998 and continue to this day with their Cabernet Sauvignon based wines of extreme purity and elegance. The 2009 vintage will be highly sought after with the conditions in the left bank region at their very best. Showing a more riper, plump fruit nature than the usual masculine, long-lived trademark, this years Cos will be quick out the door.
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou St-Julien
Reputed to be the leading star of the ''Super Seconds'' of Bordeuax, Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou is set over 50 hectares of vineyards in the south of St-Julien. The wine is composed from predominately Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with lesser influence from Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot and spends around 18 months in half new and half seasoned oak barriques. The 2010 vintage has conspired to produce what could arguably called one of the greatest releases of this wine, resplendent with fine, firm tannin, subtle oak, quiet power and a capacity to cellar for another half century.
Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Rioja
Castillo Ygay Tempranillo from the famed Rioja region in Spain was one of the stars of the show at the recent Dan Murphy's Wines of the World Expo! Complex roasted chestnut/mocha/dark berry/leather fruit with superb richness, underlying savoury nuances and ripe chocolaty tannins. Although matured for 31 months in American oak, the oak and fruit integration is sublime.
Les Forts de Latour Pauillac
Les Forts de Latour is the wonderful second label of the famous Château Latour of Pauillac. Les Forts lacks none of the legendary power and concentration of its elder brother although it is approachable at a much earlier age. Rich Cabernet influence dominates this wine that comes from Latour fruit that doesn't make the grand vin as well as the younger vine material. The 2009 is considered one of the truly great vintages in living memory and it is in these years that secondary wines like this Forst de Latour really shine. Value and pedigree all wrapped in one package!
Henschke Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon
Henschke's flagship Cabernet is named after the late Cyril Henschke who purchased the Eden Valley property in the 1960s. Stephen and Prue Henschke then established the vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines which produces this intensely perfumed Cabernet. Matured in 100% new French oak for 18 months, this exceptional wine shows blackcurrant and cedar characters balanced with superb fine grained tannin.
St Hallett Planted Shiraz
St Hallett Planted 1919 Shiraz Eden Valley St Halletts Planted 1919 is a new premium flagship wine for the heritage Barossa label. Made from vines over 100 years old, it honours the Centenarian vines of the Barossa and the growers who have tended them. The debut release of this cuvée is the 2015 Shiraz, dedicated to the Noack family, sixth-generation Barossa farmers who have cared for these vines for 30 years. Planted 1919 is striking in its intensity, surprising in its freshness, and utterly memorable. Its ageing potential knows no bounds. Fruit for this wine is hand-harvested and fermented as a single parcel, with skin contact for 10 days. It is matured for 18 months in 100% French oak (34% new), and then left to age for two further years in bottle. The result is a medium-to-full bodied Barossa red, rich with dense black fruits, dried herbs, white pepper and florals, leading to a lingering finish.
