Stocktake Sale 2025

Tasting note Burghound 91:  A slightly cooler though still notably ripe nose features notes of black raspberry, dark cherry, violet and soft spice wisps. There is excellent richness and volume for the appellation as the succulent and round flavors possess a caressing mid-palate that contrasts somewhat with the mildly austere and well-balanced if decidedly firm finish where a touch of wood gradually emerges. This too is quite good.

Burghound 90-92 points. This 1.27-hectare vineyard (3 acres) is located at the bottom of the slope. It enjoys a soil composed mainly of clay and loams. Pottery fragments found in this vineyard show that this was a farming settlement in Gallo-Roman times. After the farm disappeared, the site remained without vines for a long time before being planted again. “Sanvignes” [vineless] then changed to “Cent-Vignes” [hundred vines] – since a plot with vines cannot be “Vineless”! These reds are remarkable for their colour and the delicacy of their aromas. In the mouth, they combine complexity with mellowness.

The Ànima Negra winery is a relatively new winery, which was founded in 1994 with the idea of making quality wines yet remaining faithful to the character of the island by using local varieties in their processes. Ànima Negra is a purely Mallorcan blend, consisting of  Callet, Mantonegro and Fogoneu varieties , along with a small percentage of  Syrah .  AN/2  is aged for 13 months in barrels of French and American oak.   #ANIMA    

Brambly blackcurrant leaf and cassis vie with a heady violet perfume for prominence on the bouquet. The palate is effortlessly sleek and suave with understated elegance being the watchword. Perfectly ripe fruitcake flavour can be found, along with cassis and brambles, cedar spice and delicious subtle succulence contributing to the warm, comforting texture. Harmony of fruit and wood is superb. Layered, textured, complex and refined, it lingers long on the palate. Undoubtedly a wine for the ages, which will mature with distinction.  #2017D

James Suckling 98 points. Blackberry, blackcurrant and mint with some sage and crushed-stone undertones. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are in-check and nicely polished. Smoke, toasted oak and bark at the end, complementing the fresh yet ripe fruit. Drink after 2024. JS Antonio Galloni 98 points. The 2018 Georges de Latour is the best young vintage of the flagship wine I have ever tasted. AG. For more than 100 years, Beaulieu Vineyard has set the benchmark for rich, classic Napa Valley wines. The Napa Valley region enjoyed a stunning, near picture-perfect 2018 growing season. The resulting 2018 Cabernets are of very high quality, for a...

100% Ansonica, from the Island of Giglio - just off the Tuscan coast. “Testamatta 2021 is a pure expression of the Ansonica on Giglio Island. It delivers perfumes of sliced apple, peach and lemon peel while the 12 months of aging provide final hints of toasted spices. Testamatta 2021 encompasses the power of the vintage with a bright acidity and minerality given by the granitic soil. It’s so energetic and vivid, it’s like walking on Giglio ‘slopes!” Bibi Graetz.    

This new project from the granite soils in the northern end of the Macedon Ranges at 460m above sea level is an exciting addition to our activities. The vineyard was established in 1995 and the fruit has ostensibly been “lost” interstate until new Victorian owners took over in spring 2021. The new regime has quickly invested in the infrastructure and fine-tuned activities and several top producers are sourcing fruit from this excellent site. The Riesling was harvested in mid April and wild yeast fermented in old French oak then matured for six months on fine yeast lees. In the winemaking mind it was important to preserve/respect...

3 glasses Gambero Rosso. Doctor Wine 94 points. Luca Maroni 93 points. Schiava is an ancient grape variety native to the region. It was almost lost forever but a small group of dedicated wineries, including Cantina Tramin and Cantina Kaltern, have rescued it from oblivion. TASTING NOTES – brilliant, cherry red hue – flowery and fruity tones, violets and red berries – very juicy and full, round soft finish with a dubdued undertone of bitter almonds RECOMMENDATION This wine is ideal as an aperitif, an accompaniment to appetizers, or to typical Tyrolean fare such as speck and sausage, but also to lighter meats and mild...

Tuscany is a land of excellence for Merlot. Castellare merlot, thanks to the special location of the vineyard, has a rare personality. Since the first vintage it was defined as a monument to wine excellence. The colour is deep and vibrant purple, clear, brilliant and beautiful texture. The nose is complex and the black fruit (blackberry and blueberry in particular) prevails in a clear manner. Raspberry, cherry and plum, followed by roasted notes of cocoa, vanilla and coffee. The mouth is soft and enveloping, with fine and elegant tannins. Warm, soft and very balanced. The finish is long and harmonious with a marked fruity aftertaste....

Wine Spectator 93 points. Luca Maroni 92 points. Veronelli 3 Stars. WA 91. Here's a sassy and spicy expression of Merlot. The 2014 Poggio Ai Merli is a tight and slightly nervous wine from a cool vintage. The otherwise mellow Merlot grape shows tart aromas of red fruit and cherry with spice, tobacco and white chocolate. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged in new French barrique. Only 3,000 bottles are produced. Poggio ai Merli performs very well in cooler vintages (2013 is a case point). But the 2014 vintage offers a lower textural threshold and moderate persistence. ML Dec 2016.   #CAST

95-96 Points, James Suckling: "Plenty of blueberry and chocolate aromas and flavors. It's full and chewy with a powerful finish. Tar and graphite at the end. Solid core of fruit and tannin here. One of the most structured I have had from here. Cazes family making the difference." 6/20 Wine Advocate 93-95 points. Displaying a deep garnet-purple color, the 2019 Haut-Batailley opens with fragrant notes of blackcurrant cordial, blackberry preserves and redcurrant jelly, leading to suggestions of fragrant soil, dried mint, woodsmoke and Sichuan pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers impactful, vibrant black fruit flavors with a...

St Emilion Rated 96 by Wine Enthusiast Barrel Sample. This estate is producing some exceptional wines. The latest vintage is solidly structured and dense in black fruits. Bright acidity gives it that fine spark of freshness and balances the power of the wine. It shows good aging potential. WS95 Rated 95 by Wine Spectator Drips with warmed raspberry confiture, plum sauce and blackberry pâte de fruit flavors, delivering light anise, apple wood, sweet bay leaf and black tea notes along the way. The seamless, lengthy finish has very fine detail despite its heft. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. JD95 Rated 95 by Jeb Dunnuck A...

93-95 points Vinous  The 2021 Sansonnet is once again a stand out. Blackberry jam, crème de cassis, chocolate, new leather, licorice and espresso give this large-scaled Saint-Émilion tons of depth. As always, Sansonnet is an extrovert, but in 2021 it benefits from a kick of acidity that balances things out nicely. It was impressive both times I tasted it. (AG)   (5/2022)  92-95 points Jeb Dunnuck  Tasted on numerous occasions, the 2021 Château Sansonnet is another beauty, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it come in close to the 2017 in terms of quality. A blend of 91% Merlot, 6%...

WA 100. The very deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Maya is shy and restrained to begin. With swirling, it begins to reveal beguiling notes of fragrant earth, lavender, garrigue and Sichuan pepper, giving way to a core of wild blueberries, boysenberries, black raspberries and black currants plus a hint of iron ore. The palate is full-bodied, revealing itself in slow-releasing layers of black and blue fruits with exhilarating earth and mineral sparks, framed by firm, beautifully ripe tannins and bold freshness, finishing on a persistent ferrous note. As cerebral as it is downright hedonic, this Maya is simply jaw-dropping. LPB Jan 2021. #100...

James Halliday 97 points. “Deep purple-crimson, not just any eagle, but one with the grace and power of the wedgetail eagle, Australia’s foremost avian symbol (emus don’t fly). Juicy blackberry, anise and a mix of spice and pepper are wonderfully fresh and mouthwatering thanks to the controlled alcohol and mouthwatering acidity.” 97 Points. WINERY NOTES: colour Very dark purple-black, clear and shiny. aroma The initial impression is of dark small berries freshly picked from the vine. Delve deeper and you get sandalwood, vanilla pod and black peppercorns. palate The wine is medium-bodied but in saying that it has an...

Platter 4.5 Stars. Double Gold Medal Veritas 2020. Trophy, KWV Best Fortified 2021. 44% Tinta Barocca and 56% Touriga Nacional VINIFICATION Directly after picking, the grapes were cooled to 5°C, crushed and cold-soaked for five days. Thereafter, the grapes underwent a cycle of gentle punch downs six times per day and were then fortified with a combination of wine and un-aged brandy spirits when the desired sugar levels were reached. The wine was matured in 20-year old oak barrels for 12 months and was released only after a further 12 months of bottle maturation. TASTING NOTES Uplifting and beautifully weighted. Polished red berry fruit...

A wine of the night! Also for apéritif and pairing with food. A superb Rosé, perfectly crafted, extremely balanced between fruit and structure. - 60% Meunier - 40% Pinot Noir. - 40% fût. - Brut – 9 g/l.   #ROSE

Made in France from Fairtrade and Organic Certified Botanicals, this is a joint partnership between Central Asian co-operative farmers and and growers in Cognac, France. The Juniper berries, which form the baseline of flavour profile are sourced from a nature reserve in Uzbekistan and spices sourced from the Kerala region of South West India. Its formed with juniper berries. cardamon, coriander, calamus roots, angelica roots and Grains of paradise. Its primarily soft and delicate with fresh energetic overtones of juniper.

Vinous Media 92 points. The estate's 2000 Barolo Riserva reveals open, super-ripe aromatics and a soft core of dark fruit interwoven with sweet toasted oak. The wine is still fresh, even as it has started to develop more complex nuances in the bottle. This accessible, irresistible modern-styled wine offers a notable length and an engaging personality..

Wine Advocate 91-93 points.   "The huge, 240-acre estate of Fontanafredda has suddenly won a new lease on life after lying almost dormant for several years. This is the second vintage produced under new management, and the style is open and accessible, but still powerful. There is pure ripe fruit on the nose, flavors of black figs and wild strawberries and dry tannins, which still do not dominate the fruit." -  90/100 ,  Wine Enthusiast.

93 points Sam Kim "Delightfully fruited and inviting, the bouquet shows dark cherry, raspberry, thyme, toasted nut and subtle mushroom characters. The palate is equally satisfying with excellent weight and roundness, wonderfully supported by silky texture and fine-grained tannins, finishing persistent and very tasty." (4/2020) 91 points Bob Campbell MW "Supple, savoury Pinot Noir with dried herb, floral, violet, spice, cherry and raspberry flavours. An appealing wine in a medium-bodied style, with a backbone of bright acidity." (8/2020)

97 Points Bob Campbell MW. "Flagship pinot noir only produced in outstanding vintages. From vines on the steepest and most exposed part of the Greystone vineyard. Intense, inky, firmly-structured pinot noir with dark berry, red-fleshed plum, liquorice and new leather flavours. A big wine that deserves decanting and will certainly repay cellaring." .. Organic Single Block Reserve People thought we were crazy planting on the top of a steep limestone hill in North Canterbury. We got told the yields would be too low ( they were right ), the steep access would make it difficult and expensive to work ( right again ), the wind would...

James Halliday Wine Companion 92 points. No details other than a touch of nero d'Avola in the mix, and there's certainly a lovely black cherry-jubey-cola lift among the more meaty-reductive-savoury notes. While more medium-bodied, the tannins are firm and there seems to be a lot of charry oak drying and clipping the finish. 92 points. Jane Faulkner Published 01 August 2020.

Wine Advocate 94+. The single-vineyard red 2020 A Ponte comes from vines planted in 2010 replicating the old varietal mix, going back to ancestral times with 30% Mencía and then equal parts of Caíño Redondo and Caíño Longo, Sousón, Brancellao and Merenzao. The soils are slate with iron, quartz and mica, and this plot has a southeast exposition. The vines are getting older, which shows in the structure, and the mix of varieties always gives it a different nose. There is good freshness, and the wine is expressive and open. It has fine-grained tannins. 4,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February...

Wine Advocate 92 points. One of the new wines this time was the 2019 Pedra, a blend of 80% Mencía and 20% other varieties. It matured in a granite egg that they feel opens the wines up quite a lot and 30% in oak to give it structure. It's fruit-driven, fresh and light with 13% alcohol from a very good vintage in the zone, not terribly complex and with a medium body and polished tannins. Ready. 1,000 bottles were filled in May 2023. LG Nov 2023.

It's the first Indian craft gin from Radico Khaitan - the folks behind Rampur whisky. Jaisalmer is named after the eponymous city, and the tipple pays homage to imperial age of Maharajas and Maharanis. It's produced using copper pot stills at dustillery based in the foothills of the Himalayas. 11 botanicals are used to create the gin, seven of which come from India, including coriander and vetiver, orange and lemon peel, cubeb pepper berries, lemongrass and Darjeeling green tea leaves.

95 POINTS, TYSON STELZER, HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION 2023 There's something mighty compelling about the texture and perfume of 100% pinot noir sparkling rosé in Tasmania, seldom achieved outside of the A-list of Piper's River. For Lowestoft to attain it in southern Tasmania is a staggering achievement in itself, to do it on their first attempt is monumental. No surprise that Natalie Fryar is in the wings! Delightful, spicy, lively berry fruits deliver crunch and tang, impeccably framed by the creamy texture of lees age. Outstanding line, length and sheer bountiful joy.   #FOGG

Wine Advocate 97 points. Total production 208 dozen. The 2019 Stonegarden Grenache is made with fruit from the Stonegarden Vineyard (bush vines planted circa 1858) in the Eden Valley. This is so good. It shows all of the mineralogy and graphite tannins that are so commonly found in the Eden Valley—part of what makes it such a special place. I was there recently, and driving up Mengler's Hill not only affords you a most epic view back over the Barossa Valley floor, but I find it the best place to understand the rocks in the earth that rise up out of the ground there. This wine has such endurance of flavor in the mouth that I can...

Nestled in Damery, just a few kilometres from Épernay, Maison Maurice Choppin has been working the unique terroirs of the Marne Valley for more than 7 generations. Proud of his family heritage and his humble approach to living things, Benjamin Choppin makes natural and distinctive wines that are powerful, well rounded and balanced. Inspired by the "Belle Champagne", he values its exceptional heritage and shines the light on the work of the winemaker. Producer    Champagne Maurice Choppin - Benjamin Choppin.   Origin  Damery, Vallee de la Marne, Champagne, France Grapes  85% Pinot Meunier, 10% ...

Nestled in Damery, just a few kilometres from Épernay, Maison Maurice Choppin has been working the unique terroirs of the Marne Valley for more than 7 generations. Proud of his family heritage and his humble approach to living things, Benjamin Choppin makes natural and distinctive wines that are powerful, well rounded and balanced. Inspired by the "Belle Champagne", he values its exceptional heritage and shines the light on the work of the winemaker.   #ROSE

James Suckling 94 points. The Mazzei family has been making wine since 1435. The Concerto wine was first produced in 1981. It is a blend of 90% old vine sangiovese and !0% cabernet sauvignon, with the vines dating back to the 1930's. A splendid blend with perfect balance. Wine Advocate (93-95) points. I tasted this 80-20 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon as a barrel sample. The Mazzei 2018 Concerto di Fonterutoli offers an authentic Tuscan character with the robust personality and fruit weight to pair with a classic T-bone bistecca alla Fiorentina. Concerto is fleshy and succulent with black cherry, plum, cardamom spice and...

From our vineyards in Rioja Alta (500 metres). Intense ruby red colour, with terracotta tones at the rim, due to having been in the barrel. Aromas of ripe fruit, good varietal and subtle expression toasted to fine oak standing out for its elegance, fineness, complexity and long finish . Its flavour is smooth and rounded on entry with very pleasant, velvety sensations. Its tannic structure is elegant and very well constituted, its aftertaste is noteworthy for its lasting finish. 12 months in 70% French and 30% American barrels. VARIETY: 90% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo. SOIL: Middle zone. Sandy loam soils with...

“Intense pinot noir with a mix of fruit and savoury characters including raspberry, dark cherry, dried herb, grape stem, hedgerow and nutty oak flavours. Accessible now but with potential to gain even more complexity with bottle age. 95 Points, Five Stars.”  Bob Campbell  MW, NZ.   Organically Certified BioGro 56438 | Moutere Clay Gravels | Single Vineyard | Low Cropping | Hand Harvested | Wild Ferment | Natural Spring Malo | Barrel Matured | Unfined | Unfiltered | Vegan | Lightweight Glass Bottle | Solar Powered Winery Nelson lends itself to sophisticated, savoury Pinot Noir. Pinot for cool nights and...

Noon Eclipse is predominantly Grenache (80%+) with smaller proportions of Shiraz and Graciano. The grapes come from the three Noon ‘home’ vineyards in McLaren Vale. The grapes are hand-picked and fermented in small, open vats with hand-plunging to help extract colour and tannins.