Halliday Wine Companion (95)

Grown on limestone and sand-loam soils close to the ocean. The coolest of the single vineyard chardonnay sites. Aromas of cashew and oatmeal mingle with white-fleshed stone fruit and a suggestion of salty sea breezes. Tight and precise on the palate, green apple and citrus curd flavours run into a long, textural, minerally finish. Drink by 2027

Wine Advocate (91-93+)

The 2019 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Cuvée des Alouettes opens in the glass with notes of plums, cherries, raw cocoa, cinnamon and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and fleshy, it's layered and elegantly gourmand, with lively acids and a precise, mineral finish. As usual, this hails entirely from the Clos de Monts Luisants, but the domaine opts not to mention the lieu-dit on the label to avoid confusion with their emblematic white wine from the same vineyard.

Experience the exquisite allure of the Rene Bouvier Morey-Saint-Denis En la Rue de Vergy 2019. This distinguished Burgundian wine represents the expertise of vintner René Bouvier, renowned for his philosophy of respect for the terroir and diligent vineyard practices. Harvested from vines averaging 55 years old, the wine utters the eloquent language of Pinot Noir with its symphony of aromas — highlighting cherry, forest floor, and black fruits.

This distinguished tipple unfurls complexity and depth through its intense, yet smoothly integrated tannins and remarkable freshness. Grown on a steep, high-altitude vineyard in the village of Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy, the wine is capable of aging gracefully, promising a continual evolution of flavours over years. Each bottle of Rene Bouvier Morey-Saint-Denis En la Rue de Vergy 2019 showcases Dedication to sustainable viticulture and biodynamic practices, offering each sip a profound sense of the revered terroir. Indulge in the finesse and timeless elegance this illustrious wine provides.

Vinous (93-95)

The 2020 Morey-Saint-Denis La Riotte 1er Cru is expressive on the nose with dark berry fruit, sous-bois, just a touch of tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet entry, ripe red cherry mixed with allspice and white pepper, segueing into a quite a concentrated finish with a long spicy after that might deceive you into think there are stems here. One of my picks from Taupenot-Merme this year.

Halliday Wine Companion (96)

90/8/2% cabernet sauvignon/petit verdot/malbec. Wild ferment, matured in French oak (44% new) for 18 months. Not enough can be said in favour of the 2018 vintage, producing wines just like this. Powerfully ripe and dense, with epic length of flavour. This is a structural and concentrated cabernet capable of decades of graceful evolution in the cellar. Wild raspberry, salted licorice, aniseed, pomegranate, ferrous and kelp. Saline acid. It comes in at under $50, and long may that continue, for it is one of the great-value premium wines of the region.

Halliday Wine Companion (96)

Bright crimson-purple; this has provenance written large across its visage, likewise purity. Restructuring of the Vasse Felix offers to the market has lifted, not compromised, this dark, fruit-filled cabernet.

Vinous (91)

Deep ruby. Vibrant, spice-accented red and blue fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of cigar box and candied flowers. In a juicy, energetic style, showing very good clarity to the bitter cherry and cassis flavors. Turns sweeter with air and finishes long and smooth, with just a hint of fine-grained tannins.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

One of the most renowned Chardonnays in Australia, the latest release is a knockout. A cool vintage allowed for gorgeous natural acidity and bright fruit to shine. Being the most cellarworthy of the Vasse Chards, Heytesbury is always structuredand more oak driven when young. It opens with heady aromas of toasted nuts, flint, seashell, vanilla pod and a seaweed-like umami note amid melon and lemon curd. The palate is fabulously fresh with textural complexity, and lingering nut, saline and citrusnotes on the lengthy finish.

The Real Review (98)

Deep red/purple colour with a very fresh, nuanced, aromatic bouquet loaded with blue and red fruits, cedar and high-toned flowers, violets to the fore. A totally gorgeous bouquet, very fresh and primary but also complex and detailed. Very fine tannins; extremely long carry. A supremely elegant, sublime wine that finishes right out with impressive extension. Clearly, the best Tom Cullity to date. (17% malbec; 1% petit verdot)

Wine Advocate (99)

The 2018 vintage can comfortably be described as being one of the greatest, if not the greatest vintage in Margaret River's 55-year modern history (i.e., since 1967). When this 2018 Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec was released, it was both satisfying and terrifying. The former, because it confirmed everything I had suspected/hoped prior to its release. The latter because it would force me to put my neck on the line and give it the score I believe it deserves. Having seen it blind a number of times in esteemed international company, I am comfortable that this wine more than stands up alongside its counterparts from Bordeaux and Napa in the 2018 vintage. It is a marvelous example of Margaret River Cabernet, in that it offers us red raspberry, pomegranate, cassis and red licorice, alongside pink peppercorns, nori, sun-dried kelp, hints of iodine and earth, and all of it framed by ferrous tannins. It is fresh, it is structured, it is incredibly long. It will live forever.

Vinous (93)

Opaque, bright-rimmed magenta. A highly perfumed, spice-accented bouquet displays kirsch, black currant, vanilla and pipe tobacco qualities and a smoky mineral topnote. Youthfully chewy and energetic on the palate, offering sharply focused dark berry, bitter cherry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen slowly and become sweeter with aeration. Quite lively for its depth, with building florality that carries through a long, spicy finish given shape by fine-grained tannins. 40% new French oak.

The Xanadu The Wine Society Special Selection Margaret River 2022 is a tantalisingly complex eau-de-vie, crafted meticulously in Australia's prestigious Margaret River wine region. Xanadu, a critically acclaimed winery, boasts a reputation for creating exquisite wines that reflect the purity and uniqueness of the terroir. This special selection depicts the result of a seamless union of impeccable viticulture and innovative winemaking.

The wine portrays a captivating curation of Cabernet Sauvignon, the crown jewel of this region. This indulgent wine is aged in French oak barrels, endowing it with complex layers and a layered, textured palate. Its evolving flavour profile offers a delightful journey through dark berries, mocha, and subtle traces of oak.

In essence, the Xanadu The Wine Society Special Selection Margaret River 2022 is a hallmark of fertile soils, divine climates, and artisan touch, leaving no stone unturned in the pursuit of perfection. This wine is a testament to Xanadu's dedication to creating world-class wines that resonate with their essence of origin.