James Halliday – Estate-grown, made at Yering Station, matured in French oak for 11 months. This is quite an entry point shiraz, the bouquet immediately grabbing attention with its black fruits, pepper, licorice, spice and cedary oak, every bit of which comes through in 3D on the medium-bodied palate. The line, length and balance are perfect.
The Wine Front – “It’s spicy, fine-fingered and refreshing but it doesn’t lack flavour or indeed weight. This is all red cherry and plum with swoops cedar, black pepper and clove. It feels neat. It feels polished. There’s a bunchy garden herb aspect but it’s tucked well within. Fineness of the tannin is of note too. You’d imagine that this will blossom in time.” - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
The Wine Front – “Intense small black berries, graphite, a little smoke and plenty of spice, roast beef and aniseed. It’s medium-bodied, cool and fine, graphite tannin, meaty and peppery, but with sweet blackcurrant and blackberry flavour. Finish is long and spicy, savoury and pinched with fresh bramble berry acidity, perfume and stony coolness. It’s an excellent wine. Succulent, yet fine boned.” - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
James Halliday – "Fermented with 100% whole bunches, 3 weeks on skins before being pressed to French hogsheads for 10 months. So finely tuned and rather beautiful. While there are flashes of fruit, this is savoury. Juniper, aniseed balls, ironstone, a woodland of herbs and nori in the mix. It has definition and power but works off a medium-bodied palate finishing with sandy tannins and great persistence. Bravo." - Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
James Suckling – "Very attractive, spiced blueberries and blackberries, as well as redder, raspberry notes, as well as chocolate and graphite. Sappy and lively, the palate is impressively cast in long, glossy ripe tannins, delivering dark-berry and chocolate flavors into the long, juicy finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap."- Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com
Robert Parker/Wine Advocate – "The fruit for this 2020 E Block Pinot Noir was wild fermented with 80% whole berries and 20% whole bunches in the mix. It matured for nine months in French oak (20% new). This is spicy and exotic, with layers of red apple skins, star anise, a whiff of chutney and orange blossom. In the mouth, the wine is finely textured, fresh and supple." - Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
$92.64
or $88.01 in any mix of 12 bottles.
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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.