Bouquet: Dark fruits, blackberries and plums. Notes of eucalyptus and menthol. 

Palate: Elegant and complex with ripe plums, blackcurrant and a touch of spice. Hints of clove and anise leading into fine tannins and a long, persistent finish.

Family owned Leeuwin Estate is one of the five founding wineries of the now famous Margaret River district of Western Australia.

 In 1972, legendary Napa Valley winemaker, Robert Mondavi, identified the future site of the Leeuwin vineyard as being ideal for the production of premium wine and provided early mentorship to Denis and Tricia Horgan in the transformation of their cattle farm into Leeuwin Estate. Enjoying its first commercial vintage in 1979, Leeuwin was thrust into the international spotlight when Decanter Magazine gave its highest recommendation to the 1981 “Art Series” Chardonnay. 

This is Shiraz is part of the same art series, from Margaret River in Wetern Australia. This is classic Shiraz with an abundance of bursting blackcurrants, boysenberries and mulberries balanced by sweet, toasted spices.

The vines from this Shiraz are believed to have been planted in 1843. The original plantings still survive and are some of the oldest and rarest vines in the world. This is a rich and complex wine worthy of extended ageing. The nose is intense with notes of plum, coffee and oaky spice. The palate is rich with ripe fruit and sweet spices. Freedom Shiraz is full-bodied with a long and fruity finish.

The Shotfire Quartage is sourced from the older Thorn-Clarke owned plantings in the Barossa, with 'Kabininge' and 'St Kitts' vineyards being the main contributors.

 This wine is primarily a blend of traditional Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec) with Cabernet Sauvignon always being dominant. Whilst the Barossa is famous for Shiraz, Thorn-Clarke is renowned for its Quartage which has collected Trophies for best wine of show and / or class at most major wine shows in Australia over the last 10 years.

Jim Barry's Clare Valley Assyrtiko (pronounced 'As-err-teek-oh') comes from 15 kilometres south of Clare township in the village of Watervale on the Florita Vineyard, best known for fino sherry prior to 1962 and great Riesling ever since. A small block of this elevated vineyard is devoted to the Assyrtiko grape, which originally comes from the volcanic island of Santorini where hot days and cool nights allow it to retain freshness derived from the grape's naturally high acidity. The result is an outstandingly succulent, refreshing dry white. This wine will take you by surprise, in the best possible way. It was Australia's first Assyrtiko, made by Peter Barry, who fell for the grape and wine after a trip to Greece. 

Savitar is one of the great Shirazes from McLaren Vale, made with grapes grown on the Lopresti Vineyard's Chinese Block, located at the south end of McLaren Vale, about four kilometres east of the coastal town of Port Willunga. The vines struggle here, producing low yields of fruit with tiny berries which are full of black fruit flavours with dried herb, black olives and an earthy structure of dark smokiness, making this a power packed wine. 

It's named after a mythological dragon like creature, in homage to this wine's bold flavours and powerful length. It's an impressive wine for now and will undoubtedly age for the long haul - think a decade at least. 

The winemaking

Grapes for Savitar Shiraz are selected by hand from the Lopresti Vineyard in McLaren Vale, a site where they struggle and deliver in small volumes. This is regarded as outstanding raw material. They are fermented and the wine pressed before being transferred to oak barrels where it remains on light lees for 18 months before blending. 

This is a deep-maroon red wine. The nose is refreshing and complex with herb and spice coupled with savoury earthy notes of mushroom, dark chocolate and toasted wood. The palate is concentrated in flavour but well resolved in structure with an excellent silky texture. Dark berry and herb and licorice notes on the palate meet cedar and light smoke, with gentle mouth-coating tannins.

This is an elegant and vibrant Chardonnay from internationally renowned Leeuwin Estate. The Prelude Vineyards wines are made from the most expressive fruit, with the intention that they will drink well soon after release. While being excellent to drink young, they retain great ageing potential. 

The nose is fragrant, with citrus and orchard fruit notes. On the palate, the wine shows ripe stone-fruit and gentle floral notes, with a light touch of vanilla. This is a juicy wine with bright, juicy acidity and a zesty finish. Given time, this wine will build in complexity and texture.

96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Malbec from Margaret River, Western Australia

Generosity, layers and contours surround the palate. Density of dark forest fruits combine with cacao, cracked coffee and anise. Vibrancy and energy is underlined with a mineral and graphite acid line and delicate elegant finish.

Mitolo's Nessus Shiraz is a rich, dark and smooth wine from McLaren Vale, South Australia. This impressive wine is all about rich, ripe, dark fruit flavours held captive in a soft and smooth Shiraz with layers of complex spicy notes and a hint of that characteristic peppery taste we know and love in great Shiraz. 

A bargain at more than this price and exceptional drinking for now or the next two to three years.

Buy at least two bottles. 

If you're a fan of a big red, try this one out for size and you'll soon be back for more. It's made by Australian winemaker Johnny Quarisa, who may have an Italian background but he rocks a definite Argentinian vibe in this deliciously dry, dark and juicy Malbec. It's made from grapes grown in South Australia, a region better known for Shiraz, which also fits the big dark juicy red style. 

This is an outstanding, velvety red which totally over delivers. Long, smooth and delicious.

Aglianico is one of the most commanding red grapes and powerful red wines traditionally found in the south of Italy - and here's an interestingly delicious version made in Australia. This wine was fermented and aged in 800 litre Tuscan hand made amphora for 11 months. The aromas and flavours here span the gamut of blueberries and spice in a full bodied wine with staunch tannins held in great balance with this wine's fresh acidity which cuts through the backbone of the wine, adding tension and length. 

Production was 1333 bottles.

This wine is a deep red with a bright magenta hue. On the nose there are vibrant aromatics of red and black berry fruits, a lift of violet florals, clove spice and mixed garden herbs. The palate is dominated by a lively burst of berry fruits, which are well framed by fine, powdery tannins. Juicy plum and blackberry flavours persist through the finish, with sweet spice to close

Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"Organically grown and made. Vibrant cherry red in colour. Fresh lifted young berries, early season plums, dried herbs and savoury olive characters give a wine of amazing perfume. It’s bold and lush on the palate. Lovely cherry and chocolate characters interact with fine gravelly tannins, salty liquorice flavours and a sweet core of fruit. This leads to a wine of balance with a bright crisp finish. Touriga Nacional as a variety offers good cellaring potential, will be good to see where this goes In a few years.

Fruit was harvested in ideal conditions and fermented in shallow stainless steel open fermenters. The fruit is hand plunged to gently extract the tannin, keep the ferment as even as possible and maintain fruit purity. The wine is pressed off and aged on lees in older 500L French oak puncheons for 10 months. Unfiltered and unfined It goes to bottle."