Red
Australia and New Zealand are renowned for producing exceptional red wines, known for their bold fruit flavors, firm tannins, and complex character.
One of the most famous vineyards in Australia for red wine is the Penfolds Winery, located in Barossa Valley, which produces a range of high-quality red wines, including the Grange Shiraz, the Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz, and the RWT Shiraz. The estate is committed to sustainable farming practices and is known for its focus on traditional winemaking techniques.
Another well-known vineyard in Australia for red wine is the Henschke Estate, located in Eden Valley, which produces a range of exceptional red wines, including the Hill of Grace Shiraz, the Mount Edelstone Shiraz, and the Keyneton Euphonium. The estate is dedicated to sustainable farming practices and uses traditional winemaking techniques to produce wines that showcase the unique terroir of the region.
In New Zealand, one of the most famous vineyards for red wine is the Craggy Range Winery, located in Hawke's Bay, which produces a range of high-quality red wines, including the Te Kahu Merlot Cabernet, the Gimblett Gravels Syrah, and the Le Sol Syrah. The estate is committed to sustainable farming practices and uses traditional winemaking techniques to produce wines that reflect the unique character of the region.
Another well-known vineyard in New Zealand for red wine is the Felton Road Winery, located in Central Otago, which produces a range of exceptional red wines, including the Pinot Noir, the Bannockburn Pinot Noir, and the Block 5 Pinot Noir. The estate is known for its focus on sustainable farming practices and minimal intervention winemaking techniques.
Australia and New Zealand are renowned for producing exceptional red wines, with famous vineyards such as the Penfolds Winery, Henschke Estate, Craggy Range Winery, and Felton Road Winery. With a focus on sustainable farming practices and traditional winemaking techniques, red wines from these regions are gaining increasing recognition and popularity among wine enthusiasts worldwide.
Red
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(12x75cl) 2016Inc. VAT£722.81 -
(6x75cl) 2008Halliday Wine Companion (95)
Strong red-purple; right in the mainstream of the Rockford Basket Press style, with blackberry, plum and a hint of mocha driving the bouquet, and the smooth, supple palate; you absolutely know the wine is idling along, unused power under the bonnet; perfect balance and structure.Inc. VAT£1,024.78 -
(6x75cl) 2009
Crafted in the Barossa Valley, the Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2009 exemplifies Australia's quintessential wine-making prowess. Its grapes are harvested from old, dry-grown Barossa vineyards and, going beyond the norm, hand-picked by local growers. The heritage technique of basket pressing employed in producing this vintage is a painstaking Rockford tradition, yielding a refined intensity that distinguishes it from its contemporaries.
A favourable 2009 vintage lent it a profound depth and complexity, with a mature nose of plum, blackberry, and spice interlaced with hints of mocha and vanilla. Bedecked in brooding purple, this Shiraz stands out for its sensuous mouthfeel, presenting a symphony of dark fruit notes expertly balanced with nuances of oak and a delightfully long finish.
Aged to perfection, this liquid treasure by Rockford, an iconic boutique winery, encapsulates their commitment to maintaining the integrity of regional and varietal characters. A treat for the discerning oenophile, the Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2009 is a delectable testament to traditional winemaking at its finest.
Inc. VAT£975.20 -
Delighting the palate with elegance and class, the Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 exudes craftsmanship only found in esteemed Australian wineries. This superb wine is meticulously produced in the Barossa Valley, an internationally recognised region celebrated for creating exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon. Rockford, the producer, is renowned for preserving traditional winemaking methods, established over generations.
The 2019 vintage is a masterful blend of intensity and refinement. Its captivating bouquet carries the alluring scent of blackberries, complemented by a delicate hint of forest floor. The palate is rewarded with a rich, complex array of ripe fruit flavours, underscored with subtle oak. A meticulous balance of tannins ushers in a persistent finish, meriting the expert craftsmanship that defines Rockford wines.
For connoisseurs in search of genuine quality and authenticity, look no further than the Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, a tribute to the timeless art of winemaking.
Inc. VAT£102.53 -
The Rockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet 2019 is an exquisite blend, hailing from the esteemed Rockford winery nestled in South Australia's iconic Barossa Valley. This remarkable wine showcases the perfect marriage of Shiraz's hearty spice with the strength and structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. Produced through traditional basket pressing, the Rockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet 2019 highlights the winemakers' commitment to preserving artisan winemaking methods. Its luscious palate exhibits abundant ripe blackcurrant, plum, and hints of chocolate with an elegantly spiced finish, revealing layer after layer of intense, complex flavours. Rockford’s dedication to quality and respect for time-honoured techniques results in an exemplary wine, reflective of its authentic Barossa roots – making the Rockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet 2019 a must-have for any serious collector or those seeking the decadent indulgence of a truly premium South Australian wine.
Inc. VAT£104.93 -
(12x75cl) 2005Wine Advocate (96)
The 2005 Shiraz “Heysen” is a blend of three vineyards. It was aged in 40% new French oak, 20% new American oak, and the balance neutral French. The nose reveals wood smoke, toast, game, bacon, blueberry, and blackberry. This leads to an opulent, complex, and intensely flavored wine which merits 6-8 years in the cellar. This lengthy wine will drink well through 2025.Inc. VAT£573.67 -
James Suckling (95)
This has very attractive, ripe-blackberry and dark-plum aromas with blueberry and earthy, spicy notes, too. There’s composure and concentration on the palate, showing very even-paced tannin and fruit. Full-bodied, yet balanced. Long, blackberry and blueberry flavors. The tannins hold long and smooth. Drink or hold. Screw cap.Inc. VAT£241.55 -
Halliday Wine Companion (96)
A beautiful grenache, clarity its watchword: colour, aroma, varietal expression and aftertaste. Perfumed red berries of every description flow through the light to medium-bodied palate where pomegranate is foremost in shaping mouthfeel and flavour. Irresistible now or in 10 years hence.Inc. VAT£263.98 -
(6x75cl) 2021James Suckling (99)
A gloriously detailed, focused and concentrated rendition of grenache, this has a punchy and energetically youthful stance. The nose has such fresh and vivid raspberries and boysenberries, together with some red plums, floral bursts and a gently sappy edge. Such pure fruit here. The palate has a smooth outer layer that glazes compact, fine and layered tannins seamlessly. Super-fresh finish with bright acidity. The fruit power here is supercharged. Drink or hold. Screw cap.Inc. VAT£247.24 -
Halliday Wine Companion (99)
A block regenerated by the Pannells since they purchased it in '12, it produces small berries in small bunches of intensely flavoured grapes. Hand-picked, 10 days on skins, pressed to French puncheons for 19 months maturation. It is the only unblended wine so far made and sold under the Koomilya banner, 4560 bottles made. It is a wine of beauty, with effortless poise and flawless fruit that is medium to full-bodied at most. How long will it live? Try 40 years.Inc. VAT£621.95 -
James Suckling (97)
An outstanding grenache from old bush vines in the Smart Vineyard, perched up on the Clarendon ridge line. This has an edge of white pepper and pomegranate with notes of bright raspberries and fresh leaves. This wine fuses elegance and power with a sleekly defined palate that carries real intensity in 2018. The structure is keenly tailored. Long and taut, red-fruit finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.Inc. VAT£233.98 -
Halliday Wine Companion (90)
Super-ripe fruit, yet vibrant, with plenty of richness across the palate.Inc. VAT£482.81 -
(1x75cl) 2010Vinous (92)
(like all of the Seresin pinots, this was fermented with wild yeasts; 17 months in French oak): Good full, deep red. Sexy nose offers subtle scents of raspberry, mocha and earth. Broad, deep and sweet, showing a slightly decadent quality but good energy to the fresh raspberry, spice and earth flavors. The biggest and silkiest of this set of pinot releases, offering a lovely Burgundian combination of earthy complexity and primary red berry character. Finishes long, sweet and delineated, with a suave dusting of tannins, tangy spices and a hint of minerality.Inc. VAT£95.05 -
Bob Campbell MW (97)
Seresin’s flagship pinot noir deserves its exalted status. It offers a seductive sweet and silken first impression revealing a structure of ripe, sappy tannins on its lingering finish. Layers of ripe fruit interspersed with subtle floral and herb characters demonstrate real complexity. Approachable now, this wine deserves at least another 4-5 years careful cellaring to reveal its true colours. 2/3/2017 Drink 2017 to 2024Inc. VAT£111.72 -
(6x75cl) 2013Bob Campbell MW (97)
Seresin’s flagship pinot noir deserves its exalted status. It offers a seductive sweet and silken first impression revealing a structure of ripe, sappy tannins on its lingering finish. Layers of ripe fruit interspersed with subtle floral and herb characters demonstrate real complexity. Approachable now, this wine deserves at least another 4-5 years careful cellaring to reveal its true colours. 2/3/2017 Drink 2017 to 2024Inc. VAT£451.24 -
Vinous (91)
Despite being more than six years old, this structured offering is still a tough nut to crack, remaining resolute and firm. While the gentle midpalate is filled with unadulterated plum, herbal and spice flavors, there is a firm tannic structure, which is emphasized by firm acidity, leaving a rather upright conclusion. This will require patience and a love of acidity. Tea leaves and festive spices linger on the long finish. Unfined and unfiltered, so expect it is to be slightly hazy in color.Inc. VAT£104.52 -
(1x75cl) 2021Inc. VAT£102.53 -
(3x75cl) 2016Wine Advocate (98)
If you were to assess a wine based solely on its length of flavor, then this 2016 Autumnus Shiraz would do nothing but stun you. The rivulets of velvety, plush fruit rolls across the palate and undulate through the long, lingering finish. What a wine! Wow. As to the flavors, there's Christmas cake spice, black cherries, aniseed and licorice, dark chocolate, raspberries, mulberries, a few damsons, blood plums, beetroot, pastrami and pink peppercorns. A symphonic display. But, for me, more than the flavor and more than the length (both formidable elements in their own rights), the texture is the real highlight. The tannins are so smooth, so shapely and so streamlined that it barely beggars belief. This is what I will remember about this wine in the future: the tannins. Awesome.Inc. VAT£405.62 -
(6x75cl) 2004Vinous (92+)
(64% mataro and 36% old-vines shiraz) Dense ruby. Explosive bouquet of spiced cherry, plum, blackberry, creme de cassis, roasted coffee and cured meat. Mouthfilling, dense and verging on sweet, but with impressive structure and youthful tannins. Sexy oak spices add sweetness to the finish. A deeply concentrated, weighty wine that's wound-up right now and needs at least three years of cellaring.Inc. VAT£358.40 -
James Suckling (98)
The Eden Valley fruit gives a unique cool fruit character of blue fruits, iron and white pepper. Granite. Medium to full body, with tight and integrated skin tannins and a gunpowder undertone. Fantastic length. A little closed now. Drink after 2025.Inc. VAT£567.73 -
Wine Advocate (96-98)
Mint, sage and thyme accent blackberry and black cherry fruit in the 2018 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz. Full-bodied and rich without being heavy, it finishes tremendously long, with silky, cocoa-powder-like tannins. It should drink well for a couple of decades.Inc. VAT£576.64 -
James Suckling (99)
Unbelievable! Another insane wine. The length of this is endless. The blue fruits and Asian spices are mind-blowing. It’s medium- to full-bodied with a mouth full of polished and refined, creamy tannins. It goes on for minutes. Endless. Seamless and gorgeous. Leave this for years ahead if you can keep your hands off it. Better after 2025.Inc. VAT£496.24 -
Wine Advocate (98+)
I'm excited to taste this, as it was my favorite cuvée last year. It usually changes year to year, given the seasons, and I like that. It's usually the only cuvée to enjoy the benefits of an alternate vessel—a concrete egg—and this year, the 2022 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz joins the Relic and the Standish as well. The impact of the egg in this wine is one of refinement, or so I see it; it retains a purity of fruit at the core, which speaks to the chalky tannins that spool through the finish. They're chewy and seductive and really great. It's a beautiful release—not shimmering like the 2021, but textural and fine and elongated in its way. It's a beguiling wine, a thinking wine. And, as with the other wines tasted alongside, the bottle that has been open for two days is infinitely more complete; however, it must be noted that this review is built on the freshly opened bottle.Inc. VAT£629.93 -
(6x75cl) 2001Vinous (90)
(aged for 30 months in three-year-old French oak; this fruit at one point was allegedly purchased by Penfolds for its Grange bottling) Full ruby. Porty, superripe aromas of black cherry, crushed blackberry and gunflint. Fat, sweet, superripe and highly concentrated, with liqueur-like flavors of black fruits, dark chocolate and nuts. Not quite thick but its port-like ripeness will be a bit extreme for some tasters. Fans of this style will love it. (Epicurean Wines, Seattle WAInc. VAT£526.40 -
(3x150cl) 2006Wine Advocate (95)
The 2006 Shiraz was sourced from a single parcel of 98 year old vines yielding a minuscule 0.5 tons of fruit per acre. It was aged for 36 months in seasoned French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it offers up a superb, room-filling bouquet of cigar box, baking spices, smoked meat, lavender, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. On the palate this harmonious, velvety-textured effort is voluptuous, full-flavored, succulent, and exceptionally long. It has enough structure to evolve for 4-6 years but will be hard to resist early on. Its prime drinking window will extend from 2014 to 2026.Inc. VAT£815.98 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
The 2018 The Standish Shiraz (a sample blend from barrel) is a bit stalky (it's about 50% whole cluster), but it's gorgeously perfumed, with hints of herbal tea, raspberries, blackberries and licorice. It just exudes complexity, while also being full-bodied, plush and creamy, with a long, elegant finish. This seamless beauty is a candidate for perfection.Inc. VAT£131.06 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
The 2018 The Standish Shiraz (a sample blend from barrel) is a bit stalky (it's about 50% whole cluster), but it's gorgeously perfumed, with hints of herbal tea, raspberries, blackberries and licorice. It just exudes complexity, while also being full-bodied, plush and creamy, with a long, elegant finish. This seamless beauty is a candidate for perfection.Inc. VAT£587.15 -
James Suckling (98)
Such concentrated blueberry and cherry aromas, as well as violets and fresh-earth aromas. This delivers an immediate sense of richness with chocolate in the mix, too. Very pure. The palate has a very resolved feel with deep, essence-like fruit flavors that hold a rich, plum and blackberry line that drives long and very even. This is really something. Drink over the next decade.Inc. VAT£492.64 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2020 The Standish Shiraz was made with fruit from the Laycock family vineyard, in Greenock. The first vintage was 1999. This vintage saw 30% whole bunches in the ferment. It offers notes of red dirt, a bit of blood, salted heirloom tomato and satsuma plum. This is concentrated, compacted, plush, dense and muscular, with notes of ras el’hanout, allspice, torched cinnamon and salted Dutch licorice. This wine is like playing "Magic Eye." There’s a lot going on, but if you relax, a pattern emerges and the detail becomes obvious for all to see. Within the fine but plushly tannic frame, there is saltbush and bay leaf, exotic spice and cascading layers of berry fruits. The dirt in which the roots are entangled similarly shows its colors—and these are red, ochre, earth and dust. At first glance, the foolish and the rash will overlook this for being singularly muscular and full-bodied, but like all the best IYKYK (if you know, you know—wink wink) scenarios, there is far more than meets the palate here. Another blockbuster Standish.Inc. VAT£496.24 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2022 The Standish Shiraz is again providing me with the opportunity to assess bottles two days apart, and how different they are. The freshly opened bottle, as we would all experience upon our first opening, is tight and fresh, with cracked fennel seed, black peppercorns, cumin and ras el'hanout, then dried blueberries and licorice, hints of arnica and raspberry. It's cool and mineral, with a graphite finish. I cannot overstate how much better the wine tastes after two days. All of the edges smooth out, and it is composed and complete ... what a wine. Balance and harmony in a single swoop. It's savory, though. Super.Inc. VAT£628.93
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(12x75cl) 2016In Bond£561.00
-
(6x75cl) 2008
Halliday Wine Companion (95)
Strong red-purple; right in the mainstream of the Rockford Basket Press style, with blackberry, plum and a hint of mocha driving the bouquet, and the smooth, supple palate; you absolutely know the wine is idling along, unused power under the bonnet; perfect balance and structure.In Bond£834.00 -
(6x75cl) 2009
Crafted in the Barossa Valley, the Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2009 exemplifies Australia's quintessential wine-making prowess. Its grapes are harvested from old, dry-grown Barossa vineyards and, going beyond the norm, hand-picked by local growers. The heritage technique of basket pressing employed in producing this vintage is a painstaking Rockford tradition, yielding a refined intensity that distinguishes it from its contemporaries.
A favourable 2009 vintage lent it a profound depth and complexity, with a mature nose of plum, blackberry, and spice interlaced with hints of mocha and vanilla. Bedecked in brooding purple, this Shiraz stands out for its sensuous mouthfeel, presenting a symphony of dark fruit notes expertly balanced with nuances of oak and a delightfully long finish.
Aged to perfection, this liquid treasure by Rockford, an iconic boutique winery, encapsulates their commitment to maintaining the integrity of regional and varietal characters. A treat for the discerning oenophile, the Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2009 is a delectable testament to traditional winemaking at its finest.
In Bond£792.00 -
Delighting the palate with elegance and class, the Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 exudes craftsmanship only found in esteemed Australian wineries. This superb wine is meticulously produced in the Barossa Valley, an internationally recognised region celebrated for creating exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon. Rockford, the producer, is renowned for preserving traditional winemaking methods, established over generations.
The 2019 vintage is a masterful blend of intensity and refinement. Its captivating bouquet carries the alluring scent of blackberries, complemented by a delicate hint of forest floor. The palate is rewarded with a rich, complex array of ripe fruit flavours, underscored with subtle oak. A meticulous balance of tannins ushers in a persistent finish, meriting the expert craftsmanship that defines Rockford wines.
For connoisseurs in search of genuine quality and authenticity, look no further than the Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, a tribute to the timeless art of winemaking.
In Bond£82.00 -
The Rockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet 2019 is an exquisite blend, hailing from the esteemed Rockford winery nestled in South Australia's iconic Barossa Valley. This remarkable wine showcases the perfect marriage of Shiraz's hearty spice with the strength and structure of Cabernet Sauvignon. Produced through traditional basket pressing, the Rockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet 2019 highlights the winemakers' commitment to preserving artisan winemaking methods. Its luscious palate exhibits abundant ripe blackcurrant, plum, and hints of chocolate with an elegantly spiced finish, revealing layer after layer of intense, complex flavours. Rockford’s dedication to quality and respect for time-honoured techniques results in an exemplary wine, reflective of its authentic Barossa roots – making the Rockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet 2019 a must-have for any serious collector or those seeking the decadent indulgence of a truly premium South Australian wine.
In Bond£84.00 -
(12x75cl) 2005
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2005 Shiraz “Heysen” is a blend of three vineyards. It was aged in 40% new French oak, 20% new American oak, and the balance neutral French. The nose reveals wood smoke, toast, game, bacon, blueberry, and blackberry. This leads to an opulent, complex, and intensely flavored wine which merits 6-8 years in the cellar. This lengthy wine will drink well through 2025.In Bond£446.00 -
James Suckling (95)
This has very attractive, ripe-blackberry and dark-plum aromas with blueberry and earthy, spicy notes, too. There’s composure and concentration on the palate, showing very even-paced tannin and fruit. Full-bodied, yet balanced. Long, blackberry and blueberry flavors. The tannins hold long and smooth. Drink or hold. Screw cap.In Bond£182.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (96)
A beautiful grenache, clarity its watchword: colour, aroma, varietal expression and aftertaste. Perfumed red berries of every description flow through the light to medium-bodied palate where pomegranate is foremost in shaping mouthfeel and flavour. Irresistible now or in 10 years hence.In Bond£200.00 -
(6x75cl) 2021
James Suckling (99)
A gloriously detailed, focused and concentrated rendition of grenache, this has a punchy and energetically youthful stance. The nose has such fresh and vivid raspberries and boysenberries, together with some red plums, floral bursts and a gently sappy edge. Such pure fruit here. The palate has a smooth outer layer that glazes compact, fine and layered tannins seamlessly. Super-fresh finish with bright acidity. The fruit power here is supercharged. Drink or hold. Screw cap.In Bond£190.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (99)
A block regenerated by the Pannells since they purchased it in '12, it produces small berries in small bunches of intensely flavoured grapes. Hand-picked, 10 days on skins, pressed to French puncheons for 19 months maturation. It is the only unblended wine so far made and sold under the Koomilya banner, 4560 bottles made. It is a wine of beauty, with effortless poise and flawless fruit that is medium to full-bodied at most. How long will it live? Try 40 years.In Bond£499.00 -
James Suckling (97)
An outstanding grenache from old bush vines in the Smart Vineyard, perched up on the Clarendon ridge line. This has an edge of white pepper and pomegranate with notes of bright raspberries and fresh leaves. This wine fuses elegance and power with a sleekly defined palate that carries real intensity in 2018. The structure is keenly tailored. Long and taut, red-fruit finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.In Bond£175.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (90)
Super-ripe fruit, yet vibrant, with plenty of richness across the palate.In Bond£361.00 -
(1x75cl) 2010
Vinous (92)
(like all of the Seresin pinots, this was fermented with wild yeasts; 17 months in French oak): Good full, deep red. Sexy nose offers subtle scents of raspberry, mocha and earth. Broad, deep and sweet, showing a slightly decadent quality but good energy to the fresh raspberry, spice and earth flavors. The biggest and silkiest of this set of pinot releases, offering a lovely Burgundian combination of earthy complexity and primary red berry character. Finishes long, sweet and delineated, with a suave dusting of tannins, tangy spices and a hint of minerality.In Bond£76.00 -
Bob Campbell MW (97)
Seresin’s flagship pinot noir deserves its exalted status. It offers a seductive sweet and silken first impression revealing a structure of ripe, sappy tannins on its lingering finish. Layers of ripe fruit interspersed with subtle floral and herb characters demonstrate real complexity. Approachable now, this wine deserves at least another 4-5 years careful cellaring to reveal its true colours. 2/3/2017 Drink 2017 to 2024In Bond£90.00 -
(6x75cl) 2013
Bob Campbell MW (97)
Seresin’s flagship pinot noir deserves its exalted status. It offers a seductive sweet and silken first impression revealing a structure of ripe, sappy tannins on its lingering finish. Layers of ripe fruit interspersed with subtle floral and herb characters demonstrate real complexity. Approachable now, this wine deserves at least another 4-5 years careful cellaring to reveal its true colours. 2/3/2017 Drink 2017 to 2024In Bond£360.00 -
Vinous (91)
Despite being more than six years old, this structured offering is still a tough nut to crack, remaining resolute and firm. While the gentle midpalate is filled with unadulterated plum, herbal and spice flavors, there is a firm tannic structure, which is emphasized by firm acidity, leaving a rather upright conclusion. This will require patience and a love of acidity. Tea leaves and festive spices linger on the long finish. Unfined and unfiltered, so expect it is to be slightly hazy in color.In Bond£84.00 -
(1x75cl) 2021In Bond£82.00
-
(3x75cl) 2016
Wine Advocate (98)
If you were to assess a wine based solely on its length of flavor, then this 2016 Autumnus Shiraz would do nothing but stun you. The rivulets of velvety, plush fruit rolls across the palate and undulate through the long, lingering finish. What a wine! Wow. As to the flavors, there's Christmas cake spice, black cherries, aniseed and licorice, dark chocolate, raspberries, mulberries, a few damsons, blood plums, beetroot, pastrami and pink peppercorns. A symphonic display. But, for me, more than the flavor and more than the length (both formidable elements in their own rights), the texture is the real highlight. The tannins are so smooth, so shapely and so streamlined that it barely beggars belief. This is what I will remember about this wine in the future: the tannins. Awesome.In Bond£330.00 -
(6x75cl) 2004
Vinous (92+)
(64% mataro and 36% old-vines shiraz) Dense ruby. Explosive bouquet of spiced cherry, plum, blackberry, creme de cassis, roasted coffee and cured meat. Mouthfilling, dense and verging on sweet, but with impressive structure and youthful tannins. Sexy oak spices add sweetness to the finish. A deeply concentrated, weighty wine that's wound-up right now and needs at least three years of cellaring.In Bond£278.00 -
James Suckling (98)
The Eden Valley fruit gives a unique cool fruit character of blue fruits, iron and white pepper. Granite. Medium to full body, with tight and integrated skin tannins and a gunpowder undertone. Fantastic length. A little closed now. Drink after 2025.In Bond£454.00 -
Wine Advocate (96-98)
Mint, sage and thyme accent blackberry and black cherry fruit in the 2018 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz. Full-bodied and rich without being heavy, it finishes tremendously long, with silky, cocoa-powder-like tannins. It should drink well for a couple of decades.In Bond£460.00 -
James Suckling (99)
Unbelievable! Another insane wine. The length of this is endless. The blue fruits and Asian spices are mind-blowing. It’s medium- to full-bodied with a mouth full of polished and refined, creamy tannins. It goes on for minutes. Endless. Seamless and gorgeous. Leave this for years ahead if you can keep your hands off it. Better after 2025.In Bond£393.00 -
Wine Advocate (98+)
I'm excited to taste this, as it was my favorite cuvée last year. It usually changes year to year, given the seasons, and I like that. It's usually the only cuvée to enjoy the benefits of an alternate vessel—a concrete egg—and this year, the 2022 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz joins the Relic and the Standish as well. The impact of the egg in this wine is one of refinement, or so I see it; it retains a purity of fruit at the core, which speaks to the chalky tannins that spool through the finish. They're chewy and seductive and really great. It's a beautiful release—not shimmering like the 2021, but textural and fine and elongated in its way. It's a beguiling wine, a thinking wine. And, as with the other wines tasted alongside, the bottle that has been open for two days is infinitely more complete; however, it must be noted that this review is built on the freshly opened bottle.In Bond£505.00 -
(6x75cl) 2001
Vinous (90)
(aged for 30 months in three-year-old French oak; this fruit at one point was allegedly purchased by Penfolds for its Grange bottling) Full ruby. Porty, superripe aromas of black cherry, crushed blackberry and gunflint. Fat, sweet, superripe and highly concentrated, with liqueur-like flavors of black fruits, dark chocolate and nuts. Not quite thick but its port-like ripeness will be a bit extreme for some tasters. Fans of this style will love it. (Epicurean Wines, Seattle WAIn Bond£418.00 -
(3x150cl) 2006
Wine Advocate (95)
The 2006 Shiraz was sourced from a single parcel of 98 year old vines yielding a minuscule 0.5 tons of fruit per acre. It was aged for 36 months in seasoned French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it offers up a superb, room-filling bouquet of cigar box, baking spices, smoked meat, lavender, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. On the palate this harmonious, velvety-textured effort is voluptuous, full-flavored, succulent, and exceptionally long. It has enough structure to evolve for 4-6 years but will be hard to resist early on. Its prime drinking window will extend from 2014 to 2026.In Bond£660.00 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
The 2018 The Standish Shiraz (a sample blend from barrel) is a bit stalky (it's about 50% whole cluster), but it's gorgeously perfumed, with hints of herbal tea, raspberries, blackberries and licorice. It just exudes complexity, while also being full-bodied, plush and creamy, with a long, elegant finish. This seamless beauty is a candidate for perfection.In Bond£106.00 -
Wine Advocate (98-100)
The 2018 The Standish Shiraz (a sample blend from barrel) is a bit stalky (it's about 50% whole cluster), but it's gorgeously perfumed, with hints of herbal tea, raspberries, blackberries and licorice. It just exudes complexity, while also being full-bodied, plush and creamy, with a long, elegant finish. This seamless beauty is a candidate for perfection.In Bond£470.00 -
James Suckling (98)
Such concentrated blueberry and cherry aromas, as well as violets and fresh-earth aromas. This delivers an immediate sense of richness with chocolate in the mix, too. Very pure. The palate has a very resolved feel with deep, essence-like fruit flavors that hold a rich, plum and blackberry line that drives long and very even. This is really something. Drink over the next decade.In Bond£390.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The 2020 The Standish Shiraz was made with fruit from the Laycock family vineyard, in Greenock. The first vintage was 1999. This vintage saw 30% whole bunches in the ferment. It offers notes of red dirt, a bit of blood, salted heirloom tomato and satsuma plum. This is concentrated, compacted, plush, dense and muscular, with notes of ras el’hanout, allspice, torched cinnamon and salted Dutch licorice. This wine is like playing "Magic Eye." There’s a lot going on, but if you relax, a pattern emerges and the detail becomes obvious for all to see. Within the fine but plushly tannic frame, there is saltbush and bay leaf, exotic spice and cascading layers of berry fruits. The dirt in which the roots are entangled similarly shows its colors—and these are red, ochre, earth and dust. At first glance, the foolish and the rash will overlook this for being singularly muscular and full-bodied, but like all the best IYKYK (if you know, you know—wink wink) scenarios, there is far more than meets the palate here. Another blockbuster Standish.In Bond£393.00 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2022 The Standish Shiraz is again providing me with the opportunity to assess bottles two days apart, and how different they are. The freshly opened bottle, as we would all experience upon our first opening, is tight and fresh, with cracked fennel seed, black peppercorns, cumin and ras el'hanout, then dried blueberries and licorice, hints of arnica and raspberry. It's cool and mineral, with a graphite finish. I cannot overstate how much better the wine tastes after two days. All of the edges smooth out, and it is composed and complete ... what a wine. Balance and harmony in a single swoop. It's savory, though. Super.In Bond£505.00
