Unbeatable Value Aussie Wines

Made in a semidried, Vin Santo style where the grapes are handpicked at optimum ripeness and acid balance, they are then placed on racks and dried before crushing and fermenting. This wine has no botrytis or fortification. Sublimely sweet and rich, bursting with pure pear, pineapple and cream aromas and flavours. A refined acid structure balances the sweetness to give a lingering, velvety finish.

** Special 12 bottle case price - Bottle Price £8.75 **

92-94 Points - Robert Parker 

A fruit-driven, exotic, in-your-face cuvee, the 2003 Shiraz Stonehorse (which spends time in old oak) does not possess the structure found in the Old Vine The Hammer. It offers lovely black cherry and blackberry fruit as well as medium to full body, but not as much espresso roast, vanilla, or tannin as the 2002 Old Vine. This richly fruity offering sells for a song. It is a great introduction to the more seriously structured, denser Kaesler style. 

94 Points - James Halliday

Deep crimson-purple; quite lifted and focused red fruits on the bouquet; full-bodied, the palate is full of rich, bright fruits and is surprisingly long.

Hobbs of Barossa Ranges is the high-profile, if somewhat challenging, venture of Greg and Allison Hobbs. All the wines, made in collaboration with Peter Schell (at Spinifex), push the boundaries. The only conventionally made wine is the Shiraz Viognier, with a production of 130 dozen, and the world-famous dessert wines (one made from Grenache and one Semillon) come from vineyards planted in the 1960s.

Produced from semi-dried fruit, very much in the Amarone style. Sweet ripe berry fruit nose, with some raspberry and blackcurrant character. The palate shows pure and vivid fruit with lovely sweetness. Perfect with chocolate based desserts.

James Halliday "Blackcurrant, blackberry, plum and dark chocolate in a medium- to full-bodied frame; built-in tannins and moderate length." 

** Special 12 bottle case price - Bottle Price £8.75 **

94 points Magda Sienkiewicz "Although Stonehorse Shiraz is an ‘introduction’ to Keasler’s range before Old Vine, The Bogan and the flagship Old Bastard, this is by no means an entry-level wine. Deep plum in appearance with a beautifully fragrant nose of Asian plum, soy, sea kelp, leather, pen ink, cloves and star anise. The palate has a flattering sweet entry with the fruit flowing effortlessly across my palate. There is nothing cooked or overdone with the ’04. After spending over a decade in a bottle, the unquestionable power of Barossa Shiraz has softened into a smooth, well-rounded and generous elixir. The palate follows suit with soy, leather and an obvious nod towards complex Asian flavours, which is so pleasurable. Very impressive, super-long – the flavours carry on for minutes. Everything is just-right. Secondary fruit flavours have matured nicely, levels of acidity and filigree tannins are on-point. Clearly, superb value”.

Peter Robinson "A complex nose that starts quite earthy but with a little aeration opens to reveal aromas of blackberry, damson and plum with a little stewed red current and fig in the background and a wonderful, chocolatey warmth. The palate offers more black fruits with fig and chocolate becoming more prominent. The texture is supple but the acidity remains supportive, there is a little alcohol heat but the overall balance and texture of this wine is almost soothing." Tasted 29th Jan 2019

Made in a semidried, Vin Santo style where the grapes are handpicked at optimum ripeness and acid balance, they are then placed on racks and dried before crushing and fermenting. This wine has no botrytis or fortification. Sublimely sweet and rich, bursting with pure pear, pineapple and cream aromas and flavours. A refined acid structure balances the sweetness to give a lingering, velvety finish.

** Special 6-pack price - equivalent to £12.50 per bottle **

91-93 Points - Jay S Miller (erobertparker.com)

The 2005 Shiraz 1928 is opaque purple-coloured with an expressive bouquet of cedar, pencil lead, mineral, violets, tar, blueberry, and blackberry. This is followed by a medium-to full-bodied wine with gobs of ripe fruit, spicy black fruit flavors already exhibiting complexity, a harmonious personality, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish.

90+ Points - Robert Parker

Produced from 34-year-old vines, the dense ruby/purple-tinged 2004 Shiraz Amery offers up dusty, loamy earth, black fruit, spicy oak, and roasted meat and herb-like aromas.