SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $63.99 EACH

PRODUCER

HARTFORD COURT

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

White

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, United States

GRAPE

Chardonnay

Winemaker Notes

The Hartford Court Russian River Valley Chardonnay offers subtle aromas of jasmine flower, citrus oil, green apple, and pear. The elegant aromatics are complemented by fresh kiwi, lemon drop, and green apple flavors. The fruit-focused mid-palate is followed by subtle mineral notes and a hint of crystallized ginger in the finish.

92 Points, Wine Enthusiast

With a big, rich opening of toasted oak, this crowd-pleasing wine delivers tropical richness and intensity around a spicy complement of baking spice and vanilla. It is well made and balanced within a full-bodied style.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $146.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Heitz Cellar 

VINTAGE

2018

COLOUR

Red

REGION, COUNTRY

Napa Valley, United States

GRAPE

ZINFANDEL, CABERNET SAUVIGNON

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $224.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Heitz Cellar

VINTAGE

2019

COLOUR

Red

REGION, COUNTRY

Napa Valley, United States

GRAPE

Cabernet Sauvignon

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $ 459.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Henri et Gilles Buisson

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

RED

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

CORTON, Burgundy, France

GRAPE

PINOT NOIR

Winemaker Notes

This plot, nestled 270 meters on the hill of Corton, faces the rising sun. The 70-year-old vines take root in poor calcareous soil, with light and very draining soil. This climate and its demanding terroir pushes the plant to its limits and encourages it to give the best of itself: a wine that offers a real presence, a beautiful intensity while retaining its finesse and elegance. When young, Rognet-et-Corton exudes notes of spicy fruit, blackcurrant and kirsch. As it ages, it develops aromas of undergrowth, truffles and leather. It is what one expects from the excellence of a red Grand Cru from Burgundy: the incarnation of the seductive Pinot Noir. This great charmer likes to be desired and is best enjoyed between 4 and 15 years.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $31.80 EACH 

PRODUCER

Bachelder

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY 

Niagara, Ontario, canada

GRAPE

gamay

Winemaker Notes

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $87.99 EACH

PRODUCER

TravaglinI

VINTAGE

2017

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Gattinara, Piedmont, Italy

GRAPE

Nebbiolo

Winemaker Notes

Great complexity and concentration, dominated by liquorice spices and juniper berries, balsamic sandalwood and abundant toasting. This is followed by a fruity flavour reminiscent of fruit preserved in spirits, strawberry and blackberry jam, finished off with hints of wilting flowers.

SIZE

12 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $31.99 EACH

PRODUCER

MASUT

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

EAGLE PEAK, MENDOCINO County, United States

GRAPE

Pinot Noir

SIZE

1 PACK, 700ml BOTTLES, $204.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Hunter Laing

AGED

14 years old

COUNTRY

SCOTLAND

Producer Notes

Distilled at Jura Distillery, this Island Region is a bottling from The Old Malt Cask range at Hunter Laing & Co. The marvellous expression was aged for 14 years in a single hogshead cask and this is one of only 304 bottles. Bottled at 50% abv and free from chill filtration with natural colour.

Expect leafy, sweet and fresh aromas, followed by a palate full of orange pulp and a touch of fennel. The finish is long and grassy, with a hint of ginger.

Named for the island just 7 iron away from Islay.  Expect ocean influence, lack of peat smoke. The distillery offerings are often gimmicky, finishes and different cask types, however major changes throughout the last decade, especially since 2018. Streamlining 200 years of history into a clean fruit driven style with saltiness and oak compliments.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $374.99 EACH

PRODUCER

BURGRESS CELLARS

VINTAGE

2014

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

NAPA VALLEY, California, USA

GRAPE

Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes

The reserve wines for Burgess are produced with grapes from the oldest vines on our Sorenson Vineyard, planted in 1979. Aromas and flavors of just ripened blue and red fruit are accentuated by the savory herbal aromatics of rosemary and thyme. There is a touch of mint as well as intense earthy graphite aromas.

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 2.5% Malbec, 2.5% Merlot

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $112.99 EACH

PRODUCER

tolpuddle

VINTAGE

2022

COLOUR

White

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

COAL RIVER VALLey, tasmania, Australia

GRAPE

pinot Noir 

A very strong year for Pinot Noir at Tolpuddle. There is complexity and power, balanced by pure fruit notes and cool season spice. It shows powerful fruit, with ripe red cherry, smoked meat, and olive notes, framed by fine but firm tannins. Great length of flavour. An exciting vintage. 

95 Points, James Suckling

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $46.99 EACH [ON SALE" WAS $52.99]

PRODUCER

Château de Caraguilhes

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

WHITE

REGION, COUNTRY 

CORBIERES, France

GRAPE

GRENACHE BLANC, ROuSSANNE

Winemaker Notes

A pale yellow wine, bright and clear, showing freshness and elegance.

The white Grenache has a unique character and an elegant complexity, with seductive aromas of lemon and grapefruit. After aeration, it is the minerality which comes to the fore, with subtle notes of white flowers and redcurrants.  As the Solus gains power, it reveals a certain distinctive purity through notes of fresh almonds and toasted bread. Rounded and vibrant, with a long mineral finish, a perfect expression of the Boutenac terroir.

Pair with rock lobster in aspic, coquilles St Jacques, sole with wild mushrooms, foie gras with quince jelly… or our favourite, turbot en croûte with herb butter.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $39.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Staete Landt Winery

VINTAGE

2017

COLOUR

White

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

GRAPE

VIOGNIER

Winemaker Notes

The wine has attractive intense lifted aromas of lilies and sweet nectarines. The complex palate shows mandarins, orange peel and pink grapefruit being accompanied with subtle spices of cinnamon and nutmeg. The very subtle oak gives fantastic weight and a superb balance of flavours with minerality fresh acidity providing a long clean finish.

SIZE

12 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $44.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Staete Landt Winery

VINTAGE

2020

COLOUR

White

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand

GRAPE

Sauvignon Blanc

Winemaker Notes

This new and unique wild style Staete Landt Sauvignon Blanc is a wonderfully rich an complex Sauvignon Blanc with layers of nutty, yeasty savoury characters that contrast with red capsicum and exotic fruit such as pawpaw, passion fruit. On the palate the wine is full bodied, well-balanced with great complexity and big texture. This rich and voluptuous wine has attractive mineral characters and European style elegance.

SIZE

12 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $43.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Staete Landt Winery

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

Red

REGION, COUNTRY

Marlborough, New Zealand

GRAPE

Pinot Noir

Winemaker Notes

This Pinot Noir has a bright cherry colour that is complimented by a lifted and complex aroma. Wild violets, dark cherries, pencil shavings and earthy notes bust out of the glass. The palate is deep with blackcurrants and spice being balanced by gentle tannins and clean acidity. Given time in the glass it develops more savoury notes and a softer texture showing the layers to the wine. It is drinking very well now but will continue to develop over the next 10 years.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $38.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Benjamin Bridge

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

Sparkling

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Gaspereau Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada

GRAPE

GEISENHEIM, GAMAY

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $76.99 EACH  [ON SALE: WAS $86.99]

PRODUCER

DOmAINE MUCYN

VINTAGE

2020

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

CORNAS, Rhône Valley, France

GRAPE

SYRAH

Winemaker Notes

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $51.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $57.99]

PRODUCER

ERNEST Vineyards

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

WHitE

REGION, COUNTRY

SONOMA, California, United States

GRAPE

CHARDONNAY

Winemaker Notes

Two new vineyard sources are at the core of this blend. From alluvial soils slightly further inland than our West Sonoma Coast Estate, young vine Old Wente and old vine Clone 4 combine to capture the essence of how we, at Ernest, view Chardonnay. Ripening earlier in the season, these grapes are picked with the acid still very intact but with full physiological ripeness. The old vines giving us full pear and ripe apples notes while the Old Wente drives the palate with minerality and verve. Native fermentations in 228L French Oak barrels, 25% of which are new, this wine was bottled after 10 months on the lees, and a light filtration.

A bright canary yellow wine with clear and luscious golden hues. The fruit notes are reminiscent of Asian pears and loquats with hints of sour unripe pineapples. The minerality is also up-front with nuances of ocean air, wet sands, and oyster shells. For Burgundy lovers, this Chardonnay has the subtlety of flavors and exuberance of acidity and terroir. This is without a doubt a “wine of place” our newest AVA - the maritime-influenced 'West Sonoma Coast'.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $46.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $52.99]

PRODUCER

Dominique Cornin

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

White

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Mâconnais, Burgundy, France

GRAPE

Chardonnay

93 Points, Decanter

This leading domain is run by Dominique and his son Romain; their vineyards are certified organic, and biodynamic principles are applied. A very fine Mâcon-Fuissé with plenty to like on both nose and palate. Lots of complexity of flavor, from the leesy, biscuity notes to ripeness and concentration of fruit, allied to the crisp, vibrant acidity. A classy and great-value wine with the potential to age well for several years. Drink 2023-2025.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $99.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $112.99]

PRODUCER

staglin family vineyard

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

WHITE

REGION, COUNTRY

Napa Valley, United States

GRAPE

CHARDONNAY

Winemaker Notes

SIZE

12 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $32.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $36.99]

PRODUCER

PODERI DAL NESPOLI

VINTAGE

2018

COLOUR

Red

REGION, COUNTRY

Emilia-Romagna, Italy

GRAPE

Sangiovese, CABERNET, MERLOT

Winemaker Notes

SIZE

12 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $36.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Don & Sons

VINTAGE

2019

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

NORTH COAST, California, USA

GRAPE

Cabernet Sauvignon, PETIT SYRAH, MERLOT, CABERNET FRANC

Winemaker Notes

The B Side Cabernet Sauvignon is a deeply concentrated and expressive wine. Aromas of boysenberry, blackberry, currants, Kalamata olive, and dried lavender are pronounced on the nose. This is a full-bodied wine with juicy layers of dark fruit, jam, baked pie, and hints of cinnamon flavor. The brooding fruit is quintessential Napa and Sonoma and with ripe, powdery tannins the wine is soft and easy to enjoy in its youth. The wine is aged for 12 months in predominately French oak barrels (Francois Frere & Radoux) with a small portion seeing time in American Oak. The toasty French oak frames the wine and the addition of a small amount of American oak gives a pleasing, sweet coconut lift. This overall wine is deep, well-structured, and intensely flavored with soft tannins and a lengthy finish.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $49.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $54.99]

PRODUCER

Boschendal Estate

VINTAGE

2020

COLOUR

WHITE

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

ELGIN, Western Cape, South Africa

GRAPE

CHARDONNAY

Winemaker Notes

A  generous  palate  that  is  powerful  yet  intricate.  Pronounced  citrus  fruit  purity is layered with hints of oak and signature minerality. Finishes with remarkable intensity and length. Enjoy now, or allow this wine to allure you with its elegance for a further eight to 10 years.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $136.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $154.99]

PRODUCER

ALEXANDRE BONNET

VINTAGE

2018

COLOUR

Sparkling

REGION, COUNTRY

Champagne, France

GRAPE

Pinot Noir, CHARDONNAY, PINOT MEUNIER ++

Winemaker Notes

A unique cuvee of the seven traditional Champagne varieties grown in the same area, La Géande is a kaleidoscope of textures and flavours.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $228.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $258.99]

PRODUCER

Poggio al Tesoro

VINTAGE

2017

COLOUR

red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

GRAPE

cabernet franc

Marilisa and Franco Allegrini dedicated this single-varietal Cabernet Franc from their own vineyards on Via Bolgherese to their eldest brother Walter, who died in 2003. The 2015 vintage marked the beginning of an even more radical focus on the terroir and the quality of the grapes. Since then, a third fewer bottles have been filled each year, and the result is now a Bolgheri Superiore from their own grapes from the core zone of Bolgheri, which can hardly be surpassed in elegance and character. Compact and elegant Cabernet Franc with fine tobacco notes, ripe blackcurrant aromas, some pepper and eucalyptus, plus slightly earthy tones. Dense fruit and polished tannin on the palate, clear, rich final.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $63.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $71.99] 

PRODUCER

Domaine Weinbach

VINTAGE

2020

COLOUR

White

REGION, COUNTRY

Alsace, France

GRAPE

Gewürztraminer

17/20 Points, Jancis Robinson

Short-pruned 40-50 year old vines from the "Wolfreben" lieu-dit in the Kaysersberg valley between the Clos des Capucins and the village of Kaysersberg. The soil is sand-silt on granite pebbles. The grapes growing on this terroir ripen early and produce wines with powerful concentration. Aged in large, old oak vats for 8–10 months. RS 11.6 g/l, TA 3.6 g/l, pH 3.7.
Seductive, pungent, rich nose suggestive of both cream and lychees. Luscious mid palate but finishes dry. Surprisingly appetising and contained – and characteristically varietal. Satin-smooth on the palate and, I would imagine, very versatile at the table. 

SIZE

3 PACK, 1500ml BOTTLES, $367.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Bruno Paillard

VINTAGE

2012 

COLOUR

Sparkling

REGION, COUNTRY

Champagne, France

GRAPE

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

94 Points, Jamie Goode

12% alcohol. A blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%) from eight crus. 20% fermented in used French oak barrels. Eight years on lees followed by 16 months post-disgorgement aging (something Bruno insists on). Disgorged in March 2020 with a typically low dosage of 4.5g/litre. This has a beguiling aromatic nose with some honey, marzipan, nut and toast, but leaving room for the vibrant fruity notes of cherry, apple and lemon. There’s lovely acidity on the palate that isn’t obscured by too much dosage, and it breathes life into the cherry, table grape and lemony fruit, with some orange peel and almond nuts, as well as a tapering lemony finish with a hint of seaweed and oyster shell. Complex, covering lots of different layers of the flavour spectrum, finishing assertive and bright. A serious effort.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $178.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Bruno Paillard

VINTAGE

2012

COLOUR 

Sparkling

REGION, COUNTRY

Champagne, France

GRAPE

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

94 Points, Jamie Goode

12% alcohol. A blend of Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%) from eight crus. 20% fermented in used French oak barrels. Eight years on lees followed by 16 months post-disgorgement aging (something Bruno insists on). Disgorged in March 2020 with a typically low dosage of 4.5g/litre. This has a beguiling aromatic nose with some honey, marzipan, nut and toast, but leaving room for the vibrant fruity notes of cherry, apple and lemon. There’s lovely acidity on the palate that isn’t obscured by too much dosage, and it breathes life into the cherry, table grape and lemony fruit, with some orange peel and almond nuts, as well as a tapering lemony finish with a hint of seaweed and oyster shell. Complex, covering lots of different layers of the flavour spectrum, finishing assertive and bright. A serious effort.

SIZE

1 PACK, 12000ml BOTTLES, $1,999.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Tenuta Il Poggione

VINTAGE

2016

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

GRAPE

Sangiovese

Winemaker Notes

Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is produced only in the best vintages and in limited quantity. This wine comes exclusively from "I Paganelli" vineyard, the oldest one in the estate, planted in 1964. Its vines, used as a clonal reference when planting new vineyards, produce high quality grapes which are picked by the individual selection of the best and ripest bunches. After the manual harvest, the must ferments at controlled temperature. Subsequently the wine spends a long time in large French oak casks and it is then aged in the bottle.

96 Points, Wine Advocate

This is the top-shelf wine from Il Poggione, and it's a must-have bottle for those who collect wines from this celebrated estate. From an icon vintage, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is a beauty. It stands at the intersection of intensity, elegance and power. The fruit is shapely and dense with plenty of blackberry and black cherry, and you also get savory touches of campfire ash, tar, licorice, ferrous earth and balsam herb. Honestly, you get it all, including that distinctive Brunello power and abundance that is not easily achieved with such careful balance. The finish is structured, fresh and long, and with more time in the glass, the leathery or savory aromas become more pronounced (as does the alcohol). 

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $179.99 EACH PRODUCER SADIE Family Wines

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

White

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Swartland, Western Cape, South Africa

GRAPE

Chenin Blanc BLEND

Winemaker Notes

The 2020 Palladius displays for the first time in many years a cordial lime, citrus and zesty entry point on the aromas that follow through and then develop into mineral/salty qualities that spill over into some secondary white stone fruit aromas. For the f irst time, these stone fruit aromas made their appearance in the 2019 bottling. The wine has a firmly textured structure, the tannin is exceptionally compact, and the volume seems to be suspended in its weight. The colour of this 2020 Palladius is maybe the most striking in that it is perhaps the brightest and freshest it has been in years, especially for a wine that has been in a 24-month aging cycle in concrete, amphora and cask.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $77.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $87.99]

PRODUCER

Domaine Weinbach

VINTAGE

2020

COLOUR

WHITE

REGION, COUNTRY

Alsace, France

GRAPE

Riesling

 
Winemaking Notes

Winemaker Catherine Fuller is a master of biodynamics, growing her vines sustainably and gracefully to produce wines of prestige and elegance. Domaine Weinbach's "RB0" (Riesling de la Butte de Calvaire) represents one of the estate's forays into crafting natural wines with zero alterations, preservatives or additions in the winery.

Like the other wines in the '0' series, this drop is made from grapes grown in vineyards more recently acquired by the estate and in conversion to biodynamics. This particular parcel is located on the southern tip of the famed Mamburg Grand Cru site, producing outstanding fruit.

SIZE

12 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $25.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $28.99] 

PRODUCER

Viña Echeverria

VINTAGE

2022

COLOUR

White

REGION, COUNTRY

CuricÓ Valley, Chile

GRAPE

chardonnay

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $79.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Kooyong

VINTAGE

2019

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Mornington peninsula, victoria, Australia

GRAPE

pinot noir 

Winemaker Notes

This single-block wine is sourced from a 0.75 ha plot that is, as the name suggests, the most sheltered of Kooyong’s vineyards. The lack of exposure to strong winds allows the vines to keep a rich green canopy until comparatively late in the ripening period. Haven Pinot usually enters more of a purplish fruit spectrum that is rich and lush, yet with a firm underlying tannic structure.

The 2019 Haven’s brooding, fruit-driven nose speaks strongly of the Northern growing areas of the Mornington Peninsula. Bright fruit notes of red and black cherry together with plummier tones transform into diverse aromas of dry rosemary, cooling mint, and dried spices such as cardamom and anise. Fresh, supple fruits run through the core of the palate, cajoled by fine and chewy tannins into length and drive. Dense flavours of citrus and sour cherry contribute to a powerful finish, a hallmark of Haven. While the wine feels assured now, it will develop over time as the tannins release their grip on the palate.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $70.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $79.99]

PRODUCER

Kooyong

VINTAGE

2019

COLOUR

Red

SUB-REGION, REGION, COUNTRY

Mornington peninsula, victoria, Australia

GRAPE

pinot noir 

Winemaker Notes

The Meres Pinot comes from a 0.6 ha block on a gentle north-facing slope. The vines are the most exposed of all Kooyong’s Pinot plantings, leading to low vigour and low yields. The combination of the soils (less loamy topsoil and more clay subsoil than the other blocks), exposure and low vigour produce highly aromatic and perfumed red fruited Pinot Noir with a structure that, as the vines age, is becoming more robust and serious. Meres uses a portion of whole bunches in the fermentation and is the most aromatic of Kooyong’s Pinots.

Red cherry, raspberry and cranberry are present on the silky, mid-weighted palate. Energy and brightness are key, but not at the expense of length and depth. Lively acidity and dusty tannins from the whole bunch inclusion offer grip on the pithy orange peel accented finish. The acid and tannin provide the wine with freshness and the foundation for future development.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $54.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Drift Estate

VINTAGE

2016

COLOUR

sparkling rose

REGION, COUNTRY

Overberg Highlands, South Africa

GRAPE

Malbec

90 Points, James Suckling

A bright orange-pink sparkling with aromas of grapefruit peel, cherries, dried strawberries and biscuits. Saline undertones. Medium-bodied with sharp acidity and medium bubbles. Dry and savory. Drink now.

Winemaker Notes

The sun hesitated and hung above the western mountains, reluctant to lose sight of the valley. This caused earth to suddenly stop its wobbly spin and everything went flying. Cows and sheep and hay bales and trucks went hurtling overhead – flying off over the horizon.

But I was expecting this, because it had happened before. In fact, it happened a lot during spring when the valley was at its most beautiful. I had tied myself to a thick vineyard pole and fastened an ice bucket to my leg with some scrap trellis wire. Carefully placed in the ice bucket was a bottle of Penelope. A champagne flute was strapped to my hand with stretchy, white, electrical tape (because the only other colour I had in the toolbox was yellow and that was obviously going to clash with the colour of the wine). Now I know exactly what you are thinking… “when everything was flying around, how the hell did he keep the bottle in the ice bucket?”

Aha, great question! With an elastic rope tied around the neck, of course. It almost snapped and broke free when earth stopped. My plan would have been dashed had I not also cable-tied the bottle to the ice bucket handle!

Call me OCD, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Now the recent yoga practice came in handy as I bent down, loosened the wire with my spare hand and watched the cork fly out, followed by the wine. I was ready! I managed to catch about half a glass of the torrent, the rest spraying over the vineyard.

And I watched the sun sit there in the amazed sky and it watched me back. At that moment we both knew how beautiful the valley was, but the sun knew I could also taste it.

This wine is a great accompaniment to our Overberg Highland sunsets and as an aperitif before dinner. It is fresh, creamy, with soft red fruit flavours on the palate and aromas of mangosteen and strawberry. It also pairs brilliantly with seafood like sustainably-farmed oysters and abalone.

We pick the vines early to retain the lively natural acidity which will keep the eventual wine fresh for decades. After traditional whole-bunch basket-pressing, we allow the wine to ferment in old barrels. This allows us to build creamy mouthfeel without imparting any wood flavour to the wine. After a few months’ maturation in barrel, the wine is transferred to their bottles for the secondary fermentation, where the CO2 bubbles are entrapped into the wine in the traditional Champagne method.

SIZE

12 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $15.99 EACH

PRODUCER

Viña Echeverria

VINTAGE

2022

COLOUR

Red

REGION, COUNTRY

Central Valley, Chile

GRAPE

merlot 

Winemaker Notes

100% Merlot grapes, from ungrafted selected clones of pre-phylloxera French rootstock. Smooth and tasty, strawberries and blueberry confiture blend nicely, leaving a round and pleasant finish.

SIZE

3 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $157.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $169.99]

PRODUCER

Ramos Pinto

VINTAGE

2019

COLOUR

Red

REGION, COUNTRY

Douro, Portugal

GRAPE

Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca

Winemaker Notes

Small, carefully selected plots were chosen and hand-harvested for DOC Douro Quinta de Ervamoira to best convey and represent the unique terroir. It underwent gentle foot treading and fermentation in traditional granite lagares before spending 18 months in French oak (a third in small oak vats, a third in new barrels and a third in one-year-old barrels) followed by a year of bottle ageing. Just 4,370 bottles produced.

SIZE

6 PACK, 750ml BOTTLES, $63.99 EACH [ON SALE: WAS $71.99]

PRODUCER

Domaine Weinbach

VINTAGE

2021

COLOUR

Orange

REGION, COUNTRY

Alsace, France

GRAPE

Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris

Review by Vineyard Brands

Seducing floral nose with touches of grapefruit and roses. Offers a firm yet gentle mouth feel, generously medium-bodied, built on the backbone of a mild acidity and soft tannins. Ending on a persistent and pleasant bitterness.

Vogelgarten (the “birds’ garden”): marl and limestone, south-east facing soil located between Grand Cru Furstentum and Grand Cru Mambourg. The steep slope optimises exposure to the sun. It produces opulent Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris with great aromatic complexity, elegant structure and good ageing potential.