James Halliday – "A 52/48% blend of Hunter Valley and McLaren Vale (Blewitt Springs) fruit. The two components are separately fermented but blended soon after the end of fermentation; matured for 16 months in French hogsheads. A fascinating blend, with major synergy, as each component takes centre stage, but the dusty/chocolate/fine/savoury notes prevail. This is a mighty $25 wine." - James Halliday (Halliday Wine Companion)
James Halliday – “Taut. Playful. Fruit-focused and bright. A wine for Friday night pasta and Sunday barbecues. Wild cherries. Classical tones." - Toni Paterson, The Wine Companion
The Wine Front – “Mostly dark fruit with pepper and dark chocolate. Just a hint of vanilla, sage, peppermint and a sweet note of a ripe raspberry. There’s something simple and pure about this wine, it just hits the spot. It’s energetic with bright acidity and a distinctly bitter finish. Bitter like fruit skin and ground coffee. The good bitter. There’s a fair bit of drying powdery tannin, too. Even though it could use a bit more time in bottle, it’s cohesive and entirely pleasant now.” - Kasia Sobiesiak, The Wine Front
James Halliday – “Any red wine of the 2021 vintage is by definition better than any offering from ’20, it with no more than a handful of Hunter Valley shiraz wines that dared to make the point. This is a wine with a 20-plus year future, firm, earthy black fruits not requiring a 'thank god' finish.” - James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 202
The Wine Front – “It’s meaty and fragrant. Wow, the taste, the mouthfeel is impressive. It’s full in flavour but subtle and it builds it up towards the end. Raspberries, blood, rosemary, sage, dark chocolate with caramel bits and salt flakes. The structure is complete with the front perfume, mid-palate weight and a long finale, it has velvety tannins, firm acidity and plush, fleshy body. So very well made, pure fruit and poise.” - Kasia Sobiesiak, The Wine Front
James Halliday – "A single-vineyard shiraz made from the fruit of 53-year-old vines; hand-picked and cold soaked for 48 hours, spending a further 9 days on skins, matured for 16 months in French hogsheads (25% new). Release May ’23 after further maturation in bottle. Lovely hue and depth, the bouquet full of plum and blackberry verging on outright perfume, the palate taking no prisoners with its power and purity, the aftertaste long lasting. Sheer class, and not afraid to flaunt its wares."
- James Halliday, Halliday Wine Companion 2024
James Halliday – "From old vines on the Pokolbin Estate vineyard, the Kiss label is the flagship of Thomas Wines, made simply to focus on the quality of the grapes, albeit with some new oak support. Many of the '17 Hunter Valley shirazes have 'closed, call back later' signs plastered on them - not this wine, it welcomes you to taste it, lips generously open." - James Halliday, Winecompanion.com.au
The Wine Front – “Smells serious. Layers of oak spice, elegant, balancing on savoury and sweet. Violets and cherry blossoms, plums and blackberries. Velvety rose petals. The texture is velvety too with fine building tannins and a bitter fold right after subtle, succulent sweetness. Fresh black pepper spice comes at the end and tingles in the front palate. Very elegant expression that will cellar well and merge all the nuances smoothly with more time.” - Kasia Sobiesiak, The Wine Front
James Halliday – “A blend of Kiss and Sweetwater Shiraz taken from selected barrels of each wine, and matured in French hogsheads (35% new). Excellent colour, with a savoury/spicy edge to the fruit. Its palate drives the core of the wine, with purple and black fruits before a return of some savoury notes to the finish. Decades of life for a very high-quality wine. Aspires to and achieves elegance.” - James Halliday, winecompanion.com.au
James Suckling – “A very complex shiraz with sweet green tobacco, green olives and plums on both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit, fine tannins and bright acidity. Vivid and focused. Very Cote-Rotie inspired here. Fine and vivid. Drink or hold.”- James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
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.