Antonio Galloni/Vinous – ‘Brilliant ruby-red. Spice-accented dark berry, cherry pit and succulent flowers on the perfumed nose. Fleshy and
broad in the mouth but lively as well, offering sappy black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter
with air. Closes gently tannic, with very good energy and persistence, leaving a spicecake note behind. Drink 2018-
2022.’
The Wine Front – Grown mostly on the Rayner vineyard in McLaren Vale. 43 year old grenache vines; 65 year old shiraz vines; mataro from nearby. Some whole bunches, mostly with the mataro. All old oak. Bottled unfined/unfiltered. Another fantastic release from Bondar. Just the right mix of structure, flavour and interest. This is a savoury, sinewy wine first and foremost though flavours of graphite, woodsmoke, black cherry and fennel mean that there’s plenty else going on. Those strains of spicy tannin though; those fistfuls of smoked twigs and spices; they really set the scene. It twirls and twists through the mouth like it’s mapping out genes. A light-but-exquisite red wine. 93 points, Campbell Mattinson, winefront.com.au
World Wine – "Leading off the three Châteauneuf Du Papes, the 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Trois Sources comes from more sandy soils just across the road from the estate. It always shares more stylistic similarities with the Réserve and is more opulent, sexy, and fruit loaded compared to the Hauts-Lieux cuvée. This 2017 is spectacular, offering loads of black fruits, black licorice, ground herbs, violets, and some obvious loamy soil and mineral-like aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, expansive, and multi-dimensional, this is another singular wine from Jean-Paul Daumen that tastes like the essence of this stunning terroir." 95 points Jeb Dunnuck
The Wine Front – Gary Walsh - 94 Points - So purple. So good. It’s spicy, floral, liquorice, dark fruits and boysenberry, with a bloody ‘mineral’ character from the Mataro. Light grip of open-weave tannin, freshness and vigour, and a long shapely finish. Wonderful expression of Barossa here.
Wine Enthusiast – This wine is dark and earthy at first, but opens with airing to reveal bold notes of blueberry, mocha and peppery spice. This 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah is full bodied, richly textured and finishes long.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – It offers fabulous black cherry, licorice, wet gravel and ample crushed rock like minerality. Medium to full-bodied, nicely textured, elegant and polished.
Wine Spectator – This pumps ripe raspberry, plum and blackberry pâte de fruit flavors through, with anise, fruitcake and Christmas pudding notes adding range and detail along the way. Flash of bay on the finish. A not-shy wine. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Best from 2022 through 2032.
Wine Enthusiast – Ripe, luminous wild strawberries and black cherry flavors explode from nose to finish in this hedonistic, intensely fruity blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. It's gorgeously primary in youth with a zesty mineral undertone, but is concentrated enough to improve, gaining earthier complexities through 2030 and likely further.
James Suckling – A very vibrant array of ripe raspberry, red-plum and berry-pastry aromas with mulberries, too. Very fresh. There’s a very rich and ripe, dark-fruit core here with a wealth of super plush and languid tannins that are dense yet soft. This is a hallmark of the vintage. A blend of 45% grenache, 30% syrah, 15% mourvedre and ten additional varieties. Drink over the next decade and more.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – The 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape features gentle herb shadings, ripe stone fruit and berry flavors, and a long, clean finish. It's full-bodied but somewhat delicate and silky in feel. I'd opt for drinking this blend of 35% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault over the next 7-8 years.
Wine Spectator – Ripe but understated style, with a mix of Damson plum, black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors mixed with wood spice and black tea notes. Stylish, pure finish. Drink now through 2033.
Wine Spectator – A beautifully crafted version, with both a bright, high-toned profile and a dense core of flavor and power. Offers melted red licorice, raspberry puree and warm baking spice upheld by chalky mineral, smoked sandalwood and salty, fresh acidity. Seamlessly integrated and elegant, this is just beginning to see its potential. Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2030. 888 cases made, 100 cases imported.
James Suckling – Black fruit coulis, intense spice aromas and some smoke on the nose. Powerful and robust in the best possible way, the tannins are remarkably polished for a Rhone red with stacks of mourvedre in it. Very compact core, but also excellent energy on the full-bodied palate. Bold and very structured, but there's a wonderfully delicate sweetness, too. A cuvee of 50% mourvedre and 50% grenache from old vines on the high plain of Gigondas. 75% whole bunch. Matured in a combination of Stockinger oak foudre and clay amphora. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold.
Decanter – Strong Mourvèdre profile here, with heavy aromas like a dense fug. Soft, gently unctuous fruit including blackberry and black cherry. Fresh with bold, muscular tannins and a long finish. This wine is well balanced this year, definitely one to buy. Planted at the foot of the Cône around their house.
Decanter – A 70% Syrah-Grenache blend that offers a lot of wine for the price. Peppery bramble fruits, wild herbs and liquorice adorn the supple palate which has grippy fruit tannins and a lifted violet perfume. Vibrant, with balanced alcohol.
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – The 2017 Minervois la Liviniere La Touge is an approachable, medium-bodied blend. It's more red-fruited and friendly than the other Maris wines in 2017, showcasing silky tannins and mixed cherries and blueberries, without any obvious oak influence.
James Halliday – It took me a while to reach a conclusion on this wine. It's big and ripe and concentrated with a mass of cedar, spice, dried red fruit, tobacco and black plum. And there's big grainy tannins that coat the mouth from the middle back, but under it all is a core of succulent fruit, waiting. Patience the key here. - 2020 Vintage Review
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – Rose petal and tea leaves add nuance to the oodles of blueberries and cherries that form this wine's core, while the dense, rich palate carries those flavors on a velvety blanket of ripe tannins. - 2020 Vintage Review
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – Gorgeous as well, with pure blackberry, cassis, licorice, charred earth and crushed flower aromas and flavors, the Châteauneuf du Pape La Reine des Bois (roughly 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and the rest Syrah, Vaccarese and Counoise) is medium to full-bodied, pure and layered. One of the more approachable examples of this cuvee I've tasted, it should be relatively civilized on release, yet evolve gracefully given its overall balance and freshness. Drink 2017-2027. 93-95+
The Wine Front – This wine shows the adaptability of Grenache over Shiraz, to warm climates. 60 year old vines from the Noto vineyard. Ripe raspberry, biscuit spice, aniseed and dried mint, a stony ferrous thing happening. It’s rich and plush, a flood of sweet raspberry and baking spices, supple grainy tannin, dried roses and potpourri, some ‘mineral’ character, and a long slightly tarry finish. Fleshy, distinctive, and very good. Drink 2022-2029. - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.
James Halliday – Hailing from one of the last remaining old vine sites in the Adelaide Plains, a region now awash with industrial fruit stalls and McMansions. Harking to the 1950s, these vignes are treated right: hand picked and basket pressed. The barrique ageing works surprisingly well, too, imparting tannic fibre as much as cocoa and coffee grind to a fleshy palate with a core of molten raspberry bonbon. Anise and dried herb stain the finish. Sumptuous, weighty and immensely characterful. - Ned Goodwin MW
Red wine, with its deep hues and multifaceted flavors, has been a cornerstone of many cultures for centuries. Made primarily from black grapes, the range of tastes and aromas these wines can exhibit is truly astounding, all thanks to varying grape varieties, fermentation processes, and aging techniques.
One of the most celebrated aspects of red wine is its ability to evolve in the bottle. Over time, flavors meld and mature, transforming a young, fruit-forward wine into a more nuanced, complex delight. This aging process, whether it takes place in oak barrels or in the bottle itself, gives enthusiasts the thrill of experiencing a wine's evolution.
Regions play a crucial role in defining the characteristics of red wines. The temperate climate of Bordeaux produces structured wines like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, while the sun-baked vineyards of Tuscany yield the Sangiovese grape, forming the backbone of the renowned Chianti.
Tannins, those compounds that can lend a puckering sensation to the mouth, are another signature feature of red wines. These natural preservatives are what allow some wines to be cellared for decades, emerging more refined and harmonious with age.
Beyond just being a beverage, red wine is a journey, a reflection of the land and climate, the grape variety, and the vision of the winemaker. It's a testament to nature's bounty and human innovation intertwined in every bottle.
Red wine is a type of wine made primarily from dark-colored (red or black) grape varieties. The actual color of the wine can range from intense violet, for young wines, to brick red for mature wines, and even brown for older red wines. The juice from most purple and red grapes is greenish-white; the red color comes from anthocyanin pigments present in the grape skins. The winemaking process involves fermenting grape juice in contact with its skins, allowing the liquid to extract color, flavors, and tannins from them. Red wines typically offer flavors of dark fruits like cherries, blackberries, and plums, often accompanied by notes of tobacco, leather, and spices, influenced by grape variety and aging techniques.
Red wine is produced globally, but certain regions have earned accolades for their signature reds. Bordeaux in France is renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends. Burgundy, another French region, is celebrated for its world-class Pinot Noir. Italy's Tuscany region produces iconic wines like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino, primarily from the Sangiovese grape. Napa Valley in California is famed for its robust Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Spain's Rioja offers superb Tempranillo-based wines, and Australia's Barossa Valley is known for its bold Shiraz.
The world of red wine has several stars. Cabernet Sauvignon, known for its deep color and complexity, is globally recognized. Pinot Noir, with its delicate flavors and versatility, has a vast following. Merlot, Shiraz (or Syrah, depending on the region), and Zinfandel also hold significant positions in the market. Popular brands range from Bordeaux's Château Margaux, Burgundy's Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, to Napa's Opus One and Australia's Penfolds.
For those seeking excellent value, regions like Chile's Central Valley and Spain's La Mancha offer top-quality red wines at very accessible prices. Malbec from Argentina, particularly from the Mendoza region, consistently over-delivers in terms of quality to price ratio. South Africa's Western Cape and parts of southern Italy, like Puglia, are also treasure troves for value-driven, quality red wines.
Red wines, with their robust flavors and tannic structure, pair wonderfully with red meats. Think of a juicy steak with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or lamb chops with a Shiraz. Pinot Noir, being more delicate, pairs brilliantly with dishes like roasted chicken, duck, or salmon. Spaghetti Bolognese and other tomato-based pasta dishes go hand in hand with Italian reds like Chianti. For spicy barbecued dishes, a fruity Zinfandel or Grenache can be a match made in heaven. The key is to match the wine's intensity and flavors with those of the dish for a harmonious pairing.
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
Delivery Times
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Quality Guarantee
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
Sending a Gift
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.
We aim to have all wines be vintage specific. In the case the listed vintage is out of stock and you note you would like that particular vintage, we will inform you via email for approval to go ahead.
To be able to supply such a unique & extensive range of boutique wines, we don't hold much of the inventory. So with us, there is the added step of receiving the wine from our local suppliers before it is dispatched to you. Most orders are dispatched within 3-6 working days.
Replacement or refund offered if bottles are faulty or damaged. All our deliveries are insured against loss, however you must notify us in a reasonable amount of time.
If you would like to include a gift message with your order, please enter that in the order instructions section. We'll print your message in a lovely font on A5 paper. We also won't include the invoice. Tracking will be sent to the email on file.