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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(6x75cl) 2017Vinous (93)
Deep, shimmering ruby. Aromas of ripe blackberry, blueberry, cherry-cola and espresso, along with building floral, spice and cola notes. Offers concentrated, spice-tinged dark fruit preserve and violet pastille flavors that show impressive energy for their heft. Round, well-judged tannins add shape to a very long, smoky finish that repeats the blue fruit and floral notes.Inc. VAT£281.09 -
Wine Advocate (97)
For the 2018 Anaperenna Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, Glaetzer blended in 18% Cabernet Sauvignon to give the wine increased fragrance and length. The nose is smoky, slightly herbal and marked by sweet cedar- and vanilla-tinged oak, but it also offers great cassis and blackberry fruit. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the flavors are kept nicely in check by fine-grained tannins. This wine has it all: terrific intensity, complexity, length and texture.Inc. VAT£443.98 -
Matthew Jukes (20+)
2016 The Eye of Ra is a 100% Shiraz, using 100% French oak and all of the fruit comes from Ebenezer. This wine is made from the finest parcel of fruit that Ben has ever seen in his vineyard. Outstanding aromatics lead the way and the palate is nothing short of spellbinding. The finish has epic freshness and the tannins are like nothing I have encountered before from the great Glaetzer portfolio. The Eye of Ra is all about power countered with impeccable restraint and I can still recall all of its flavours several weeks later. It is one of a number of wines that I have seen lately which signal a new and fascinating epoch for Barossa Shiraz. I followed this wine over three hours that evening and it never stopped evolving in the glass. This celestial wine made a huge impression on me and it is hard for me to see how this wine can be bettered and so I am overjoyed to give it a perfect score.Inc. VAT£912.40 -
(6x75cl) 2007The Glenguin Aristea Shiraz 2007 is an exemplary representation of Australian winemaking finesse. This handcrafted single vineyard Shiraz, cultivated in the esteemed Hunter Valley, epitomises the distinct identity of the Glenguin estate. The visionary proprietor, Phil Jones, an esteemed Master of Wine, has ensured the meticulous care and organic certification of this boutique vineyard, hence inculcating every bottle with a distinct, exquisite character.
Steeped in rich crimson hues, Glenguin Aristea Shiraz 2007 unfolds a perfectly balanced symbiosis of blackberry, plum, and gentle spice. Maturation in French oak enriches it with subtle nuances of vanilla and toasted almond. The triumph of this wine is its masterful structure - robust tannins and vibrant acidity culminate in a splendidly elegant, persistent finish. Only a limited number of these complex and opulent wines are produced each year, affirming their exclusivity and allure. The Glenguin Aristea Shiraz 2007, therefore, upholds its prestigious stature in the realm of fine wines.
Inc. VAT£625.62 -
Andrew Caillard MW (98)
Deep crimson. Beautiful classic Barossa Shiraz with intense dark plum, praline, paneforte aromas and roasted chestnut, wax polish, chinotto notes. Richly concentrated and vigorous with abundant dark plum, blackberry, mulberry fruits, fine plentiful chocolaty/ grainy textures and mocha, espresso oak complexity. Finishes chocolatey firm with persistent tannins and integrated mineral acidity. Superb barrel work.Inc. VAT£437.98 -
(12x75cl) 2005Wine Advocate (96)
The 2005 Alice’s Shiraz spent 28 months in seasoned American oak hogsheads. Aromas of smoke, asphalt, meat, game, truffle, and blueberry soar from the glass. On the palate this full-bodied Shiraz is velvety-textured, layered, spicy, and richly fruity. While not quite as riveting as the 2004 edition, it has enough structure to evolve for several years and should drink well through 2025.Inc. VAT£581.87 -
(12x75cl) 2005Wine Advocate (95)
The 2005 Apricot Block Shiraz received the same upbringing as the Alice’s and is a similar glass-coating, opaque purple. An enticing perfume of cedar, scorched earth, pepper, violets, bacon, and blueberry leaps from the glass. A bit more restrained (a mere 15.0% alcohol) than its siblings, it is nevertheless a silky, layered, intensely flavored Shiraz with gobs of fruit and a 60-second finish. It should provide much pleasure from 2012 to 2025.Inc. VAT£899.18 -
(12x75cl) 2004Wine Advocate (99)
The 2004 Shiraz “Creek Block” is near otherworldly. It was sourced from a 66-year-old vineyard with yields of 1.0 tons per acre and aged for 28 months in used American oak. It delivers a super-fragrant nose of smoked meat, bacon, violets, an earthy/truffle element, blackberry, and blueberry muffin. This leads to a full-bodied, voluptuous wine with gobs of spicy, complex blue and black fruit flavors, great balance, and a finish that just won’t quit. This loaded wine can be enjoyed now but will drink well for another 15-20 years.Inc. VAT£1,298.98 -
(1x75cl) 2002Wine Advocate (100)
The two Roennfeldt Road cuvees, from one of Barossa’s most esteemed addresses, appear to be the finest since the legendary 1998s The 2002 Roennfeldt Road Shiraz was aged in new French oak. Aromas of pain grille, truffle, mineral, violets, blackberry, and blueberry compote are ethereal and lead to a voluptuous, densely layered, succulent, complex Shiraz with 10-15 years of aging potential, This extraordinary effort should drink well through 2040.Inc. VAT£479.33 -
(1x75cl) 2007An exquisite exemplar of Australian viticulture, the Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 2007 is a distinguished offering from the revered Barossa Valley. Impeccably developed by Greenock Creek vineyard, this distinguished winery is celebrated for its uncompromising commitment to the techniques of traditional winemaking. The revered terroir of Roennfeldt Road in Marananga is hallowed ground for Shiraz grapes. This vintage was matured in American oak hogsheads, enhancing its lavish notes of luscious blackberry, chocolate and spice. Acclaimed by wine critics, this Shiraz boasts an unparalleled richness and intensity, illustrative of Australia's finest. Limited in production and inimitable in quality, the Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 2007 is a collector's dream and a connoisseur's delight. Savour this gem's crescendo of temporal complexity as this exceptional Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 2007 evolves in the glass and on the palate.
Inc. VAT£346.13 -
The Real Review (99)
The very dry season produced a tiny crop of grapes in the Gaia vineyard barely half a kilogram per vine. The 2021 is a blend of 95% cabernet sauvignon with 5% cabernet franc. This is the best Gaia I can recall ever tasting. The colour is a profound and very bright purple-red and it has a bell-clear, ultra-youthful mulberry/blueberry aroma which is fruit driven, the 45% new oak input barely noticeable as the fruit is so powerful and vibrant. An absolutely gorgeous wine, the clarity and power of its flavour is gobsmacking. Concentration is at a very high level but so are balance, harmony and elegance. A blinder of a wine. (Screwcap)Inc. VAT£361.24 -
Halliday Wine Companion (96)
There's a lot happening here, all of it good. 80% is sourced from the Eden Valley, 20% the Barossa Valley, co-fermented on skins for 14 days, matured in French oak (10% new), the barrel size ranging from 225l to 2250l. There's a poultice of red and black fruits and ribbons of fine, ripe tannins. You can't deny a wine like this.Inc. VAT£190.78 -
Vinous (94)
Finally, the 2015 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 18 months in 20% new oak, has a knockout bouquet that does not hold back with its irresistible, pure black cherries, menthol, cassis and just a very slight touch of boot polish, all beautifully defined. The medium-bodied palate offers white pepper and bay-leaf-tinged red fruit, lithe tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Compared to the nose, it feels quite understated, but it delivers an engaging pepperiness toward the finish. This is only just starting to open.Inc. VAT£193.73 -
Halliday Wine Companion (97)
Some of the vines were planted by Cyril Henschke in the ‘60s. Matured in French hogsheads (35% new) for 18 months. Deep but brightly coloured, this is a no holds barred, full-bodied Eden Valley cabernet sauvignon that will live for decades, blessed by a screwcap. Blackcurrant fruit, touches of cedary oak, black olive, bay leaf and earthy tannins are all on parade.Inc. VAT£186.53 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2006 Hill of Grace has some oak poking through the red and blue fruit aromas, with underlying toast, marmite and sage hints. Medium to full-bodied, it is a very tight knit and youthful wine with crisp acid, medium to firm, finely grained tannins and a long finish. Drink it 2014 to 2030+.Inc. VAT£2,846.39 -
Jancis Robinson (20)
Deep shaded dark ruby. Wonderfully intense and complex nose. This wine just wraps itself around you! (And I haven't even tasted it yet.) Intense cocktail of prunes and something floral. Really rich. Luscious palate of gorgeously ripe fruit, just the right level of refreshing acidity with mineral top notes. Extremely rewarding with many layers. Very long indeed.Inc. VAT£1,736.39 -
(3x75cl) 2009Wine Spectator (98)
This sings like a chorus that never runs out of breath. Layers of currant and dark plum fruit harmonize with black walnut, licorice, smoke and coffee notes, weaving through the long and immensely expressive finish. Has depth and great presence. Shiraz.Inc. VAT£1,707.59 -
Halliday Wine Companion (99)
The colour shows no sign of age, the bouquet and palate reminiscent of a Beethoven symphony, throbbing with power, its black fruits in a web of fine, ripe tannins, building inexorably to the last movement, constantly revisiting and rephrasing all that has gone before.Inc. VAT£1,586.39 -
James Suckling (99)
Amazing aromas of wet aged beef, spices, crushed elderberries, peppercorns and bay leaf. Evolves in the glass all the time. Dynamic wine. Full body and polished, fully integrated tannin to the fruit. Finishes very fresh and vivid. Gorgeous to drink now, but will age wonderfully.Inc. VAT£2,211.59 -
Falstaff (100)
Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, faint brightening on the rim. Notes of dried herbs, suede and sage mixed with blackberry confit, candied violet and a hint of dark pesto. Powerful, juicy, pronounced fruit component, fleshy without being opulent, silky, sustainable tannins, has enormous length, mineral, fine savoury nuances of anise, a hint of nougat, black forest berry fruit on the finish, despite its youth already seductive.Inc. VAT£1,511.99 -
James Suckling (100)
This has a very complex nose, offering so many facets of spices and fragrance with florals and orange peel, as well as crushed stones, ripe black cherries, blackberries and dark cherries, earth, chocolate and more. The intensity and power here is very tightly held and it has a build of such precise tannins, which carry very intense and assertively ripe blackberries, dark cherries, ripe plums and blueberries. So much on offer here. This has a very bold, intense feel. Exceptional vintage. One of their finest. Try from 2028. Screw cap.Inc. VAT£654.40 -
James Suckling (100)
This has a very complex nose, offering so many facets of spices and fragrance with florals and orange peel, as well as crushed stones, ripe black cherries, blackberries and dark cherries, earth, chocolate and more. The intensity and power here is very tightly held and it has a build of such precise tannins, which carry very intense and assertively ripe blackberries, dark cherries, ripe plums and blueberries. So much on offer here. This has a very bold, intense feel. Exceptional vintage. One of their finest. Try from 2028. Screw cap.Inc. VAT£1,735.19 -
Halliday Wine Companion (99)
Australia's finest single-vineyard site? I think so. With its core of gnarled shiraz vines planted circa 1860 and its picture-perfect location alongside the Gnadenberg church, it is a much adored and discussed vineyard which has been producing stellar wines since the first single-vineyard Hill of Grace was released in 1958. Today, those original vines are bolstered with its 'young' 100+ and 35+yo kinfolk and aged in 83/17% French/American oak hogsheads (29% new) for 18 months. Grace by name, grace by nature; it's a perfectly framed, elegant snapshot of pristine fruit, site and season. Precisely ripened berry fruits are underscored with notes of Chinese five-spice, sage, jasmine, licorice, mocha, blackberry pastille, charcuterie, wild flowers and cherry clafoutis. Pitch-perfect and elegant on the palate, the tannin-acid architecture tuned and sympatico with the pristine ancestor-vine fruit and a very long, silken finish that resonates with style and place. My goodness it's lovely.Inc. VAT£1,508.39 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)
Inky plum colour, the deepest of the Henschke single vineyard lineup for this iconic wine. Hang out with the aromatics before even heading in for a sip, because they are beautiful, with a hit of star anise, fennel and white pepper. On the palate, you get rosebud, peony, blackberry, redcurrant and slate, all revving up and lifting off. This just tingles with fine tannins and keeps you fully engaged - if you think Australia can't do cool-climate-style lusciously finessed wine, prepare to be blown away. 100% Shiraz from ungrafted pre-Phylloxera material brought from Europe in the mid 1800s. Organic and biodynamic farming. 20% new oak, largely French with a touch of American. Winemaker Stephen Henschke.Inc. VAT£1,651.19 -
Jancis Robinson (19.5)
Richly shaded, lustrous garnet. Rich, camphor nose with many layers. Real sweetness, with saltiness, on palate entry and waves of subsequent impact on the palate that has one of the longest finishes one might encounter. This remarkably small crop, thanks to hail and extreme heat in summer, shows no sign of dried fruit. There is quite enough juice and interest right through the tasting experience. Amazingly, you could enjoy drinking this now, even though the Henschkes suggest a life of 30 years from 2019. If I had a sore throat and a fairy godmother, this is what she would administer.Inc. VAT£2,107.19 -
James Suckling (97)
Such a luxuriant, elegant and complex young wine, this is the younger-vine material from Hill of Grace Vineyard (27-year-old vines in 2015). Multidimensional with brown spices, such as cloves and allspice, dried sage, orange peel, red berries, camphor wood and roses. A succulent palate with elegance and focus, offering blue plums and a very fine core of tannin to support such intense, vibrant fruit. Light, espresso-washed chocolate flavors lie across the fine, long and polished tannins that shape the fresh, balanced finish. A great wine that shows the DNA of the Hill of Grace terroir in a humbler mode. Beautiful now, but this will age for more than two decades. Glass-stopper closure.Inc. VAT£979.19 -
Halliday Wine Companion (98)
The vines were 26yo in '16, too young for inclusion in Hill of Grace, notwithstanding its undoubted quality, matured for 14 months in French hogsheads (30% new). There's not a single hair out of place in a perfectly framed, medium-bodied shiraz. Bred in the purple.Inc. VAT£1,027.19 -
James Suckling (98)
So much forest-flower character to this on the nose, together with bark, mushroom, tile, and blackberries. Dried plums, too. Full-bodied, yet so tight and composed, with a compact palate. Fresh five spice. Pepper and clove at the finish. Fantastic. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Glass stopper.Inc. VAT£785.14 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2018 Hill of Roses Shiraz is sourced from a block within the Hill of Grace vineyard that was planted in 1989 with the intention of being a nursery bloc. The planting there is known as the Post Office Block. While the vines are, at this stage, too young to be considered for inclusion in the Hill of Grace, the wine is considered special and warranting its own bottling. Personally, I feel the young vines lend an energy and vigor to the wine, and I like the red fruited clarity that it shows each year. It matured in a combination of new (25%) and seasoned (75%) French oak hogsheads for 18 months prior to release. The nose and the palate are totally aligned: red licorice, raspberries, crushed rocks, red velvet, sage, squid ink, aniseed/anise, quartz and brine. There's the telltale black tea and minerality of the Eden on show, too. This is a sensational wine. This is texturally svelte and seamless (the nod to red velvet above is a textural observation). I love it. If ever I was going to fall for this wine, it would be here, in this clear-spoken, gracefully enunciated 2018 vintage.Inc. VAT£1,192.79 -
(12x75cl) 2004Inc. VAT£1,223.38
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(6x75cl) 2017Vinous (93)
Deep, shimmering ruby. Aromas of ripe blackberry, blueberry, cherry-cola and espresso, along with building floral, spice and cola notes. Offers concentrated, spice-tinged dark fruit preserve and violet pastille flavors that show impressive energy for their heft. Round, well-judged tannins add shape to a very long, smoky finish that repeats the blue fruit and floral notes.In Bond£215.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
For the 2018 Anaperenna Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, Glaetzer blended in 18% Cabernet Sauvignon to give the wine increased fragrance and length. The nose is smoky, slightly herbal and marked by sweet cedar- and vanilla-tinged oak, but it also offers great cassis and blackberry fruit. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, the flavors are kept nicely in check by fine-grained tannins. This wine has it all: terrific intensity, complexity, length and texture.In Bond£350.00 -
Matthew Jukes (20+)
2016 The Eye of Ra is a 100% Shiraz, using 100% French oak and all of the fruit comes from Ebenezer. This wine is made from the finest parcel of fruit that Ben has ever seen in his vineyard. Outstanding aromatics lead the way and the palate is nothing short of spellbinding. The finish has epic freshness and the tannins are like nothing I have encountered before from the great Glaetzer portfolio. The Eye of Ra is all about power countered with impeccable restraint and I can still recall all of its flavours several weeks later. It is one of a number of wines that I have seen lately which signal a new and fascinating epoch for Barossa Shiraz. I followed this wine over three hours that evening and it never stopped evolving in the glass. This celestial wine made a huge impression on me and it is hard for me to see how this wine can be bettered and so I am overjoyed to give it a perfect score.In Bond£750.00 -
(6x75cl) 2007The Glenguin Aristea Shiraz 2007 is an exemplary representation of Australian winemaking finesse. This handcrafted single vineyard Shiraz, cultivated in the esteemed Hunter Valley, epitomises the distinct identity of the Glenguin estate. The visionary proprietor, Phil Jones, an esteemed Master of Wine, has ensured the meticulous care and organic certification of this boutique vineyard, hence inculcating every bottle with a distinct, exquisite character.
Steeped in rich crimson hues, Glenguin Aristea Shiraz 2007 unfolds a perfectly balanced symbiosis of blackberry, plum, and gentle spice. Maturation in French oak enriches it with subtle nuances of vanilla and toasted almond. The triumph of this wine is its masterful structure - robust tannins and vibrant acidity culminate in a splendidly elegant, persistent finish. Only a limited number of these complex and opulent wines are produced each year, affirming their exclusivity and allure. The Glenguin Aristea Shiraz 2007, therefore, upholds its prestigious stature in the realm of fine wines.
In Bond£502.06 -
Andrew Caillard MW (98)
Deep crimson. Beautiful classic Barossa Shiraz with intense dark plum, praline, paneforte aromas and roasted chestnut, wax polish, chinotto notes. Richly concentrated and vigorous with abundant dark plum, blackberry, mulberry fruits, fine plentiful chocolaty/ grainy textures and mocha, espresso oak complexity. Finishes chocolatey firm with persistent tannins and integrated mineral acidity. Superb barrel work.In Bond£345.00 -
(12x75cl) 2005Wine Advocate (96)
The 2005 Alice’s Shiraz spent 28 months in seasoned American oak hogsheads. Aromas of smoke, asphalt, meat, game, truffle, and blueberry soar from the glass. On the palate this full-bodied Shiraz is velvety-textured, layered, spicy, and richly fruity. While not quite as riveting as the 2004 edition, it has enough structure to evolve for several years and should drink well through 2025.In Bond£440.00 -
(12x75cl) 2005Wine Advocate (95)
The 2005 Apricot Block Shiraz received the same upbringing as the Alice’s and is a similar glass-coating, opaque purple. An enticing perfume of cedar, scorched earth, pepper, violets, bacon, and blueberry leaps from the glass. A bit more restrained (a mere 15.0% alcohol) than its siblings, it is nevertheless a silky, layered, intensely flavored Shiraz with gobs of fruit and a 60-second finish. It should provide much pleasure from 2012 to 2025.In Bond£707.00 -
(12x75cl) 2004Wine Advocate (99)
The 2004 Shiraz “Creek Block” is near otherworldly. It was sourced from a 66-year-old vineyard with yields of 1.0 tons per acre and aged for 28 months in used American oak. It delivers a super-fragrant nose of smoked meat, bacon, violets, an earthy/truffle element, blackberry, and blueberry muffin. This leads to a full-bodied, voluptuous wine with gobs of spicy, complex blue and black fruit flavors, great balance, and a finish that just won’t quit. This loaded wine can be enjoyed now but will drink well for another 15-20 years.In Bond£1,044.00 -
(1x75cl) 2002Wine Advocate (100)
The two Roennfeldt Road cuvees, from one of Barossa’s most esteemed addresses, appear to be the finest since the legendary 1998s The 2002 Roennfeldt Road Shiraz was aged in new French oak. Aromas of pain grille, truffle, mineral, violets, blackberry, and blueberry compote are ethereal and lead to a voluptuous, densely layered, succulent, complex Shiraz with 10-15 years of aging potential, This extraordinary effort should drink well through 2040.In Bond£396.00 -
(1x75cl) 2007An exquisite exemplar of Australian viticulture, the Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 2007 is a distinguished offering from the revered Barossa Valley. Impeccably developed by Greenock Creek vineyard, this distinguished winery is celebrated for its uncompromising commitment to the techniques of traditional winemaking. The revered terroir of Roennfeldt Road in Marananga is hallowed ground for Shiraz grapes. This vintage was matured in American oak hogsheads, enhancing its lavish notes of luscious blackberry, chocolate and spice. Acclaimed by wine critics, this Shiraz boasts an unparalleled richness and intensity, illustrative of Australia's finest. Limited in production and inimitable in quality, the Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 2007 is a collector's dream and a connoisseur's delight. Savour this gem's crescendo of temporal complexity as this exceptional Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 2007 evolves in the glass and on the palate.
In Bond£285.00 -
The Real Review (99)
The very dry season produced a tiny crop of grapes in the Gaia vineyard barely half a kilogram per vine. The 2021 is a blend of 95% cabernet sauvignon with 5% cabernet franc. This is the best Gaia I can recall ever tasting. The colour is a profound and very bright purple-red and it has a bell-clear, ultra-youthful mulberry/blueberry aroma which is fruit driven, the 45% new oak input barely noticeable as the fruit is so powerful and vibrant. An absolutely gorgeous wine, the clarity and power of its flavour is gobsmacking. Concentration is at a very high level but so are balance, harmony and elegance. A blinder of a wine. (Screwcap)In Bond£285.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (96)
There's a lot happening here, all of it good. 80% is sourced from the Eden Valley, 20% the Barossa Valley, co-fermented on skins for 14 days, matured in French oak (10% new), the barrel size ranging from 225l to 2250l. There's a poultice of red and black fruits and ribbons of fine, ripe tannins. You can't deny a wine like this.In Bond£139.00 -
Vinous (94)
Finally, the 2015 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon, aged for 18 months in 20% new oak, has a knockout bouquet that does not hold back with its irresistible, pure black cherries, menthol, cassis and just a very slight touch of boot polish, all beautifully defined. The medium-bodied palate offers white pepper and bay-leaf-tinged red fruit, lithe tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Compared to the nose, it feels quite understated, but it delivers an engaging pepperiness toward the finish. This is only just starting to open.In Bond£158.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (97)
Some of the vines were planted by Cyril Henschke in the ‘60s. Matured in French hogsheads (35% new) for 18 months. Deep but brightly coloured, this is a no holds barred, full-bodied Eden Valley cabernet sauvignon that will live for decades, blessed by a screwcap. Blackcurrant fruit, touches of cedary oak, black olive, bay leaf and earthy tannins are all on parade.In Bond£152.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2006 Hill of Grace has some oak poking through the red and blue fruit aromas, with underlying toast, marmite and sage hints. Medium to full-bodied, it is a very tight knit and youthful wine with crisp acid, medium to firm, finely grained tannins and a long finish. Drink it 2014 to 2030+.In Bond£2,362.00 -
Jancis Robinson (20)
Deep shaded dark ruby. Wonderfully intense and complex nose. This wine just wraps itself around you! (And I haven't even tasted it yet.) Intense cocktail of prunes and something floral. Really rich. Luscious palate of gorgeously ripe fruit, just the right level of refreshing acidity with mineral top notes. Extremely rewarding with many layers. Very long indeed.In Bond£1,437.00 -
(3x75cl) 2009Wine Spectator (98)
This sings like a chorus that never runs out of breath. Layers of currant and dark plum fruit harmonize with black walnut, licorice, smoke and coffee notes, weaving through the long and immensely expressive finish. Has depth and great presence. Shiraz.In Bond£1,413.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (99)
The colour shows no sign of age, the bouquet and palate reminiscent of a Beethoven symphony, throbbing with power, its black fruits in a web of fine, ripe tannins, building inexorably to the last movement, constantly revisiting and rephrasing all that has gone before.In Bond£1,312.00 -
James Suckling (99)
Amazing aromas of wet aged beef, spices, crushed elderberries, peppercorns and bay leaf. Evolves in the glass all the time. Dynamic wine. Full body and polished, fully integrated tannin to the fruit. Finishes very fresh and vivid. Gorgeous to drink now, but will age wonderfully.In Bond£1,833.00 -
Falstaff (100)
Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, faint brightening on the rim. Notes of dried herbs, suede and sage mixed with blackberry confit, candied violet and a hint of dark pesto. Powerful, juicy, pronounced fruit component, fleshy without being opulent, silky, sustainable tannins, has enormous length, mineral, fine savoury nuances of anise, a hint of nougat, black forest berry fruit on the finish, despite its youth already seductive.In Bond£1,250.00 -
James Suckling (100)
This has a very complex nose, offering so many facets of spices and fragrance with florals and orange peel, as well as crushed stones, ripe black cherries, blackberries and dark cherries, earth, chocolate and more. The intensity and power here is very tightly held and it has a build of such precise tannins, which carry very intense and assertively ripe blackberries, dark cherries, ripe plums and blueberries. So much on offer here. This has a very bold, intense feel. Exceptional vintage. One of their finest. Try from 2028. Screw cap.In Bond£542.00 -
James Suckling (100)
This has a very complex nose, offering so many facets of spices and fragrance with florals and orange peel, as well as crushed stones, ripe black cherries, blackberries and dark cherries, earth, chocolate and more. The intensity and power here is very tightly held and it has a build of such precise tannins, which carry very intense and assertively ripe blackberries, dark cherries, ripe plums and blueberries. So much on offer here. This has a very bold, intense feel. Exceptional vintage. One of their finest. Try from 2028. Screw cap.In Bond£1,436.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (99)
Australia's finest single-vineyard site? I think so. With its core of gnarled shiraz vines planted circa 1860 and its picture-perfect location alongside the Gnadenberg church, it is a much adored and discussed vineyard which has been producing stellar wines since the first single-vineyard Hill of Grace was released in 1958. Today, those original vines are bolstered with its 'young' 100+ and 35+yo kinfolk and aged in 83/17% French/American oak hogsheads (29% new) for 18 months. Grace by name, grace by nature; it's a perfectly framed, elegant snapshot of pristine fruit, site and season. Precisely ripened berry fruits are underscored with notes of Chinese five-spice, sage, jasmine, licorice, mocha, blackberry pastille, charcuterie, wild flowers and cherry clafoutis. Pitch-perfect and elegant on the palate, the tannin-acid architecture tuned and sympatico with the pristine ancestor-vine fruit and a very long, silken finish that resonates with style and place. My goodness it's lovely.In Bond£1,247.00 -
Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (100)
Inky plum colour, the deepest of the Henschke single vineyard lineup for this iconic wine. Hang out with the aromatics before even heading in for a sip, because they are beautiful, with a hit of star anise, fennel and white pepper. On the palate, you get rosebud, peony, blackberry, redcurrant and slate, all revving up and lifting off. This just tingles with fine tannins and keeps you fully engaged - if you think Australia can't do cool-climate-style lusciously finessed wine, prepare to be blown away. 100% Shiraz from ungrafted pre-Phylloxera material brought from Europe in the mid 1800s. Organic and biodynamic farming. 20% new oak, largely French with a touch of American. Winemaker Stephen Henschke.In Bond£1,366.00 -
Jancis Robinson (19.5)
Richly shaded, lustrous garnet. Rich, camphor nose with many layers. Real sweetness, with saltiness, on palate entry and waves of subsequent impact on the palate that has one of the longest finishes one might encounter. This remarkably small crop, thanks to hail and extreme heat in summer, shows no sign of dried fruit. There is quite enough juice and interest right through the tasting experience. Amazingly, you could enjoy drinking this now, even though the Henschkes suggest a life of 30 years from 2019. If I had a sore throat and a fairy godmother, this is what she would administer.In Bond£1,746.00 -
James Suckling (97)
Such a luxuriant, elegant and complex young wine, this is the younger-vine material from Hill of Grace Vineyard (27-year-old vines in 2015). Multidimensional with brown spices, such as cloves and allspice, dried sage, orange peel, red berries, camphor wood and roses. A succulent palate with elegance and focus, offering blue plums and a very fine core of tannin to support such intense, vibrant fruit. Light, espresso-washed chocolate flavors lie across the fine, long and polished tannins that shape the fresh, balanced finish. A great wine that shows the DNA of the Hill of Grace terroir in a humbler mode. Beautiful now, but this will age for more than two decades. Glass-stopper closure.In Bond£806.00 -
Halliday Wine Companion (98)
The vines were 26yo in '16, too young for inclusion in Hill of Grace, notwithstanding its undoubted quality, matured for 14 months in French hogsheads (30% new). There's not a single hair out of place in a perfectly framed, medium-bodied shiraz. Bred in the purple.In Bond£846.00 -
James Suckling (98)
So much forest-flower character to this on the nose, together with bark, mushroom, tile, and blackberries. Dried plums, too. Full-bodied, yet so tight and composed, with a compact palate. Fresh five spice. Pepper and clove at the finish. Fantastic. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Glass stopper.In Bond£644.29 -
Wine Advocate (98)
The 2018 Hill of Roses Shiraz is sourced from a block within the Hill of Grace vineyard that was planted in 1989 with the intention of being a nursery bloc. The planting there is known as the Post Office Block. While the vines are, at this stage, too young to be considered for inclusion in the Hill of Grace, the wine is considered special and warranting its own bottling. Personally, I feel the young vines lend an energy and vigor to the wine, and I like the red fruited clarity that it shows each year. It matured in a combination of new (25%) and seasoned (75%) French oak hogsheads for 18 months prior to release. The nose and the palate are totally aligned: red licorice, raspberries, crushed rocks, red velvet, sage, squid ink, aniseed/anise, quartz and brine. There's the telltale black tea and minerality of the Eden on show, too. This is a sensational wine. This is texturally svelte and seamless (the nod to red velvet above is a textural observation). I love it. If ever I was going to fall for this wine, it would be here, in this clear-spoken, gracefully enunciated 2018 vintage.In Bond£984.00 -
(12x75cl) 2004In Bond£981.00

