The best

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

deals in Australia

Chateau Pontet Canet is a large Pauillac estate that can trace its origins back to 1725, when Jean-François Pontet gave his name to the estate he had acquired. The wine was not château-bottled until 1972 and in 1975 the property was sold to Guy Tesseron, who also owns Château Lafon-Rochet in St-Estephe. Today it is owned and run by Alfred and Michel Tesseron. Pontet-Canet's 78 hectares of vineyards adjoin those of Mouton Rothschild and are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (63%), Merlot (32%) and Cabernet Franc (5%). The Tesserons have vastly improved the quality of the Pontet-Canet wines which are now full-bodied and packed with ripe, chewy, black fruits and finely integrated tannins. The wines have great ageing potential. Pontet-Canet is classified as a 5ème Cru Classé.. It was the first major Bordeaux wine producer to earn official organic certification, and its biodynamic production is a hallmark of its current operations.

Château Pavie Decesse is a St. Emilion Grand Cru Classé property in the Côtes sub-district, considered the equal of its illustrious neighbour, Chateau Pavie. The origins of both can be traced back to ancient Roman times. The 3.5ha vineyard, on chalky, limestone and clay soils and contiguous with Pavie, is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Following cold maceration, the Chateau wine is vinified in temperature-controlled oak vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak barrels. The wine is aged in 80% new oak for between 18 and 24 months, depending on vintage character. Production is small, around 650 dozen each year. The hedonistic Pavie Decesse style combines opulent, rich, sensuous textures with minerality, freshness and concentration. Due to its lush style Pavie Decesse drinks well young, yet does develop additional complexity with time in the cellar. Wine quality has been consistently excellent under the ownership, since 1997, of Gerard and Chantal Perse.

The second wine of Chateau Margaux came about partly due to misfortune - when an attack of phylloxera decimated the vineyards, necessitating a replanting of the majority of their vineyards. The lack of grapes eliminated the possibility of a First Growth Quality wine and led to the production of their second wine - the Pavillon Rouge de Chateau Margaux, the first official vintage of which was released in 1906. Renowned as a sterling example of a second wine, the 2016 has been hailed as a particularly superb vintage. Medium-bodied, silky, intense and tannic, it continues its impressive trajectory year upon year.

Dating back over 800 years in the Bordeaux region, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is owned today by Daniel and Florence Cathiard. The estate also features a world class spa, which specialises in Vinotherapie - using grape extracts in many of their treatments. Up until the year 2000, the estate was not known for producing top quality wines, however in the capable hands of the Cathiard family and after over a decade of hard work and reinvention, the wines truly began to come into their own. It has been, in the words of Andrew Caillard, an astonishing ascendancy in the past 15 years, and given the sterling reviews the 2016 vintage has received, its trajectory seems set to continue its meteoric rise.

2021 Maison Blue , Barossa Valley Shiraz Vintage Conditions The region received good early rains in autumn 2020 to replenish some moisture in the profiles, coming off some driest back to back seasons ever experienced. Winter rains were average and those vineyards that supplemented with irrigation to get moisture to depth set the vines up for spring growth and Spring rains were above average. Temperatures in November were above average without any significant weather events paving the way for a fantastic fruit set. January 24th was the only day Barossa Valley experienced temperature above 40ºC, not surprisingly, the subsequent mild conditions meant bunch and berry size remained average, achieving a great balance between quality and quantity. A vintage that can be described as almost “perfect”, not only ideal sugar ripeness but also physiological ripeness for quality wine production. Vineyard Selection This fruit is sourced from a single vineyard located the heart of Marananga on the renowned western ridge of the Barossa Valley, where the soils are predominantly red-brown loams over red clay, amidst shattered ironstone and quartz. The Shiraz from this vineyard has made Penfolds Grange seven times. Winemaking Daily sampling and tasting of the Shiraz grapes ensured that they were picked at optimal flavour ripeness. The Grapes were hand harvested and were destemmed and crushed into a single 5 tonne open top fermenter where twice daily pump overs were conducted to ensure maximum extraction of colour, flavour and tannins from the grape skins. At the conclusion of fermentation, the wine was pressed to a combination of 100% new American oak hogshead barrels for 19 months. Tasting Evaluation Colour: Brilliant, dense, purple core with a crimson rim. Aroma: Intense aromas of plum, blueberry, blackcurrant, and juniper berry interwoven with wafts of coconut, vanilla bean, liquorice and mocha chocolate. Palate: Fruit flavours of black plum, black cherries and raspberry coat the surfaces of the mouth with density and length. Complex notes of graphite and lead pencil add further complexity. Fruit core is framed by spicy, savoury oak playing a support role. A wine that will only get better with age. Enjoy now over the next 25 years.

Château Figeac is a wine estate that had a very long history. It was once part of the Cheval Blanc estate, whichs soils was well known to be two-thirds of gravel, allowing Cab Sauv, Cab Franc and Merlot to grow flourishingly in the area. The 2010 Figeac, had a beautiful complexity to enjoy now or the longevity to cellar for those who prefers. Wine will benefit from decanting.

As often happens with Calvert, the nose when young is slightly muted and more direct than exotic; pure and fine aromas, not bold and lush. The palate follows on accordingly, with clarity of fruit, roses and florals. Focussed, concentrated yet pure in the mid-palate, with its hallmark mineral texture, its firm but ultimately juicy on the finish. The vines are growing up and were seeing the puppy-fat turn to muscle.