Reviewed at our "Rum Pool on the Basin" tastings July 2011 by 50 tasters, by average rating it Score 8.16 Came Second. NOSE: Bananas, classic rum, brown sugar, Scotch, playdough, butterscotch, linseed, Xmas pudding, sultanas, mint, menthol, pistacio nuts, ironing, charr, caramel, plastic, luscious. PALATE: Brown sugar, builds, nice feel, rich, burnt caramel, metals, chewey, wood, alcohol, anaesthetic kava, dark chocolate, good width FINISH: Burnt orange, nice with beer, bourbony, sweet, then goes bitter chocolatey, spicey, toffee apple, very sweet, medium. ;RWS/DMM

Sang des Cailloux Vacqueryas is a labour of love and tastes like it. It's a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and Cinsault and named after the daughters of Serge Férigoule: Floureto, Doucinello, and Azalaïs. 

All grapes are hand harvested and fermented with natural yeasts in cement cuves with daily pumpovers then moved into 450 litre barrels for 12 months' maturation before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. 

This is a delicious, full bodied dry red from one of the great appellations of the Southern Rhone Valley in France. 

Gouden Carolus Cuvée van de Keizer Imperial Dark was enriched by an infusion of Gouden Carolus Single Malt whisky. The result is a unique beer: powerful and full-bodied, with subtle touches of vanilla, oak and chocolate. An imperial brew to cherish and enjoy in moderation.

11.7% ABV.

Best Before: 2028/01/08

This is a beautifully balanced wine that offers aromas of cherry, dark plum and fragrant plum blossom on the nose. The palate is velvet textured with flavours of blackberry, plum, complex spice and white pepper, balanced by fine grained tannins, and a hint of smoky oak.

Food matches include wild pork, red meats and game dishes.

It’s complex, full-bodied and surprisingly smooth with a delicate, long finish that’s unbelievably mellow. Drink straight up or on the rocks. 

NOSE:  Dried spice, pear, cocoa, vanilla & maple syrup.
PALATE:  Hints of ripe plum & cherries, robust, full body, mellow.
FINISH:  Smooth & delicately long.

Fruity with a taste of fresh apple and grape. A warm and supple Armagnac that can be used in cocktails or for cooking.

Section 94 is one of New Zealand great white wines, made from a small portion of vineyard land that was named Section 94 on the country's original lands and survey map. It's the brainchild of the highly experienced viticulturist-winemaking duo, Ivan Sutherland (one time Olympic medal winning rower) and James Healy, the grapes are 100% barrel fermented in new French oak followed by aging in oak. Complex, great and long lived maverick wine.

Layers of depth with nutty aromas and full bodied with dry flavours. Drinks well on release and can also age, as this example shows. It is 100% Sauvignon Blanc but is not labelled with the varietal as Sutherland and Healy want to highlight what's possible from the land first and foremost.

Amrut Fusion X (ten), a special, limited-edition single malt whisky was launched on the November 25 in honour of the 10th anniversary of Amrut Distilleries. Amrut whiskies are a connoisseur’s delight. Especially for the discerning patron is the Amrut Fusion X. The Fusion whisky has been matured in sherry casks imported from Spain, for four years. While the base remains the familiar Fusion, its treatment gives whisky lovers a whole new flavour profile to enjoy. On the first sip, the whisky gives you marzipan, vanilla, and citrus on the palate, followed by peat that comes through and lingers on. I sampled it neat and a little later with a cube of ice and enjoyed the lingering peat flavours. 

Amrut Fusion X is a collectable. It is a very limited bottling of 1010 bottles released internationally.

Clear amber, shiny, clean and transparent with a soft and balanced aroma. Flavours of light ageing, with slight sweetness. Notes of sugarcane combined with woody notes, along with almonds, vanilla, grapes and dried plums.

The Cover Drive is named after the Penola cricket ground on the southern boundary of Coonawarra in South Australia. This famous cricket ground was retired in 1996 and Jim Barry bought the land to plant with grapes. This full bodied, dark and smooth red wine is the result. It's earthy, smooth and has complex flavours of black olives, dried herbs and bold blackcurrant notes. It drinks well when young and can also age for four to five years, evolving interesting savoury notes as it does. 

Hans and Therese Herzog winery established their winery in Marlborough in 1994 and have since gone on to produce some of the region's most diverse, high quality, small volume wines, including this blend of 50% Viognier, 30% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne, which were fully fermented to dryness in this spicy, peachy, full bodied white. This wine is modelled on the great whites of the northern Rhone in France and the wine takes its name for that region's famous Mistral wind which blows through the valley. 

Extended skin contact and cold maceration provide the colour intensity and flavour in this wine. The Marsanne and Roussanne were fermented together with wild yeasts in 500 litre puncheons then blended with the Viognier and aged in 500 litre French oak puncheons for 18 months. 

The finished wine was bottled without fining or filtration, so is vegan friendly.

Grapes: Monastrell (Mourvèdre), Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah

93/100 Wine Spectator

“Bright cherry, berry and currant flavours mingle with liquorice, black tea and mineral notes, giving way to a floral and minerally finish. The firm tannins are well-integrated and juicy acidity keeps this lively.” 

Tasting Note: Intense cherry-red colour with violet shades. Delicate black fruit aroma with high roast and smoky features. Structured, subtle and smart palate, ripe appetising and a sweet tannins marked by elegance.

Winemaking Notes: This wine is the result of a rigorous selection process, choosing only the best grapes from the Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon variety. The grapes were harvested in the third week of October at their optimum ripening point in 15 kg boxes. The selected fruit was chosen by the same wise hands that did it the previous year. The grapes corresponding to each variety were macerated in contact with the skin and fermented for 20/30 days at a controlled temperature of 28oC. It has spent 12 months in new french and american oak barrels.

This elegant red (100% Tannat) comes from 30 year old vines in the Madiran appellation, south-west France. The Chateau Aydie red is fine, elegant and complex on the nose, with a blend of black fruit and coffee aromas. A very rich attack is followed by a quite mature consistency and silky tannins. This is an exceptional Madiran, powerful and complex, with good ageing potential.

Black Barn's most awarded wine. With aromas of stone fruit and citrus, layered with toast and spice from 100% barrel fermentation and extended barrel ageing.