The Art of Blending

95 Points - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front) "It’s much like last year’s release with just a bit more weight. It’s a better wine as a result. This is a powerful, sturdy red, built Tonka Tuff, with blackcurrant, black olive and bay/gum leaf notes rumbling throughout. In flavour terms it’s almost into gravel territory, and indeed almost into coffee grounds/bitter chocolate. Ropes of muscular tannin pull assuredly through the fruit,. This will be a 25 year+ wine. It is excellent."

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97-98 Points - Stuart McCloskey “Ethereal is a good place to begin and certainly one of the best bottles of Pinot Noir I have drunk sub fifty-pounds. You would be mistaken to believe this wine has a decade of aging behind it due to the tawny rim. The bouquet is astonishing, and again would deliver a verdict of a mature wine; dried rose petals, cherry, warm minerals and a lovely savoury undercurrent. Close your eyes and think autumn with a splash of wild strawberry. The palate is fresh, medium-bodied, precise, with acidity judged to perfection. The wine fans-out with a lovely garden savouriness with bay leaf, cedar and finishes with dried, blood orange. As with many wines, I am drawn to the wines texture and this is ultimately blessed. It’s simply effortless, harmonic and will fill you and your glass with serenity”. Served in a Zalto Burgundy glass

Jay Miller - "The 2006 John Speke GSM is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Shiraz, and 20% Mourvedre sourced from vines over 60 years of age. Dark ruby-coloured, it has an enticing nose of spice box, scorched earth, forest floor, cherry, and blueberry. Velvety-textured and elegantly-styled, this savoury blend conceals beautiful silky tannins."

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97 Points - Bob Campbell "A delicious example of Bendigo pinot noir in an almost opulent style with plump, dark-fleshed plum, dark berries with floral and spice notes. A beautifully layered, powerful wine that's accessible now but has a promising future."

97 Points - Sam Kim (Wine Orbit) "This is flatteringly classy; the gloriously perfumed bouquet shows Black Doris plum, spiced cherry, vanilla, cedar and dark mushroom characters, leading to a sumptuous palate that is silky and mouth-filling. Richly fruited and delectably textured, this charismatic pinot offers both refinement and opulence, promising to evolve splendidly. At its best: 2019 to 2027."

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck "A wine that always seems to deliver, the 2016 Shiraz Bella's Garden comes from the Barossa Valley and saw a touch of whole clusters and 18 months in roughly 20% new French oak. Blueberries, black raspberries, vanilla bean, spice, and toasted bread notes all flow to a full-bodied, ripe, opulent Shiraz that has sweet tannin, a balanced, clean profile, and a great finish. It’s a knockout bottle of wine to enjoy over the coming 5-7 years."

This is a sumptuous wine, defined by its aromatic complexity and finesse. Predominately grown in the Red/Brown earth of the Barossa’s western ranges, the soil profile creates masculine tannins and richness through the palate. Lower yield limiting soils provide a large fruit concentration. This label’s colour reflects the red soils of the Barossa’s western ranges where all the best Two Hands vineyards are located.

Barossa Super 100 Classification – Wines over $100

With over 100 wines featured in the Classification the list represents the depth of collectable wines of distinction being made in Australia’s most famous wine region.

96 Points - James Halliday

Made in the same way as Clos Otto other than 9 days on skins and maturation in American oak (50% new). The American oak is much more assertive than French, its signal soaring on the first whiff, likewise the first sip. It works well here, tipping its hat to Grange, the flavours coating every corner of the mouth, yet doesn't overstay its welcome. And it pays no attention whatsoever to its alcohol.

95 Points - James Halliday "D654 McLaren Vale Clare Valley Frankland River. Open-fermented, basket-pressed. McLaren Vale dark chocolate and black fruit richness, the Clare Valley providing some mint and fine, firm tannins, Frankland the pepper, violets and soft black fruit finish. The sum of the parts is greater than the whole, brought together and bonded on the full-bodied palate by persistent, ripe tannins that also add texture."

Pale yellow with a chartreuse tint, the wine opens with bright aromatics of lime zest, lemon, green apple and a touch of honey. The entry is refreshing with ripe pineapple and grapefruit, framed by a nervy backbone of satiating acidity. A mid-palate of white peach and a hint of pith melds seamlessly into a long, energetic finish of wet stone and key lime.

92 Points – Antonio Galloni "The 2014 Chardonnay Holly's Cuvée is a blend of the three Chardonnays made under the Varner label. Candied lemon peel, orange, mint and honeyed notes give the Holly's its rich, luscious personality. Drink this open-knit, generous Chardonnay over the next handful of years. The 2014 is a blend of 75% Bee Block, 20% Amphitheater Block and 5% Block."

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Sam Kim (Wine Orbit) "Engaging and complex, the inviting bouquet shows red/black cherry, fragrant spice, thyme, nutmeg and floral characters. The palate is wonderfully weighted and rounded, delivering sweet berry flavours and silky texture, magnificently complemented by spicy nuances and fine tannins. Elegant, stylish and delicious. At its best: now to 2025."

Winemaker "Light garnet hue with fruit aromas of wild strawberry, sweet cherry, and plum married with sage, wild thyme and a touch of cedar. The vibrant fruit, savoury notes and intriguing spice, layer wonderfully with the silky fine tannins and creamy texture highlighted by a fresh acidity that gives the wine tremendous energy. The cooler growing season saw a late April/early May harvest resulting in a beautifully fragrant wine with delicate fine tannins and exciting aromatics that are a true reflection of the Waitaki. A wine that is a touch exotic, lithe and exceptionally enjoyable upon release and will benefit from up to 8 years in the cellar. A real gem for those who love Waitaki Pinots!"