Red Wines
- Carlos Serres Crianza Rioja 2020$50.00
Carlos Serres is a bit of an OG - one of the few Rioja producers with a century of winemaking behind them. Carlos was actually named Charles, a French Winemaker who left Bordeaux, fed up with dealing with phylloxera riddled vineyards, landing in Spain. He founded the first winery in Rioja with export certification and applied French winemaking techniques to Rioja fruit. Pretty soon, there was a demand for Rioja in the rest of Europe and the US.
Carlos Serres Crianza is 100% Tempranillo and spends 14 months in a combo of French and American oak. Being 'Crianza', the wine has spent a year in barrel, and another on bottle prior to release. Typically aged in older oak, Crianza can have quite assertive tannins and fruit which is intense whilst retaining great freshness. This is a particularly good example, packed with red fruits, cherries, spice, oak and nervy acidity.
Learn More - Carlos Serres Crianza Rioja 2021$55.00
Carlos Serres is a bit of an OG - one of the few Rioja producers with a century of winemaking behind them. Carlos was actually named Charles, a French Winemaker who left Bordeaux, fed up with dealing with phylloxera riddled vineyards, landing in Spain. He founded the first winery in Rioja with export certification and applied French winemaking techniques to Rioja fruit. Pretty soon, there was a demand for Rioja in the rest of Europe and the US.
Carlos Serres Crianza is 100% Tempranillo and spends 14 months in a combo of French and American oak. Being 'Crianza', the wine has spent a year in barrel, and another on bottle prior to release. Typically aged in older oak, Crianza can have quite assertive tannins and fruit which is intense whilst retaining great freshness. This is a particularly good example, packed with red fruits, cherries, spice, oak and nervy acidity.
Learn More - Carlos Serres Gran Reserva Rioja 2016$80.00
The most refined and profound of the Carlos Serres wines - a blend of Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo, entirely sourced from the Finca El Estanque vineyard. Only 2% of Rioja wines are released as Gran Reserva, with the best fruit treated to at least a couple of years in oak, generally more, before being bottled at anywhere between 5 and 10 years of age. Carlos Serres choose to release the wine when it is ready to drink.... and this, the 2016 vintage is excellent, offering mature and ripe black fruits, cinnamon, minerality and more. The palate is rich and smooth, tannins plentiful but resolving, the finish long and satisfying. Beautiful now and will cellar for another 5+ as well.
Learn More - Carlos Serres Organic Rioja Tempranillo 2022$50.00
Carlos Serres is a bit of an OG - one of the few Rioja producers with a century of winemaking behind them. Carlos, actually named Charles, was a French Winemaker who, fed up with dealing with phylloxera riddled vineyards, left Bordeaux and wound up in Spain. He founded the first winery in Rioja with export certification and applied French winemaking techniques to Rioja fruit. Pretty soon there was a demand for Rioja in the rest of Europe and the US.
Young and fresh but nonetheless intense, owing to the very low yields from the 2022 vintage. Fresh red and black fruits here, along with liquorice and a hint of vanilla. Zippy fruit and relatively high tannins make this a great match for protein. Learn More - Carlos Serres Reserva Rioja 2018$65.00A stunning Reserve Rioja from Carlos Serres, one of the few century old Rioja producers. This is a blend of 90% Tempranillo with 10% Graciano sourced from the winery's 'Finca El Estanque' vineyard and aged for 2 years in French and American Oak. There is vivid freshness here, in spite of the wines age, and flavours of blackcurrant blackberries, shaved truffle, chocolate, cola, spice and lavender. Delicious by itself or with a plate or nine of Tapas. Brilliant with crispy pork belly too, or a cone of Jamon Iberico, or... Learn More
- Ca’ Botta Costa Rossa Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC 2018Special Price $100.00 Regular Price $120.00The word ‘Superiore’ on the label means this wine is produced from the winery's highest grade of fruit. ‘Ripasso’ means repassed... a process whereby the fermented wine made from air dried grapes has pressed skins from their Tenuta Cajo Amarone added to it. This kicks off a second fermentation and softens tannins while adding body, fruit intensity, complexity and richness. This wine is a seriously mean mutha, packed with thyme, rosemary, black pepper, plums, blackberries, smoke, graphite, smoked meats, charcoal, star anise and plenty more. A gorgeous savoury mouthful of complexity and satiation. Approx 1.8 kg of fruit are required to make each bottle! Learn More
- Ca’ de Lion Barbera d'Asti L'Altera DOCG 2022Special Price $50.00 Regular Price $60.00Expressive and fruit driven, this Barbera from Asti in Piedmont is deep, juicy and intense, stopping just short of being rich, though that will come with age. Fruit comes from estate vines grown in the Piedmont sub region of Asti, perhaps the best place in the world to grow Barbera. Specifically, the vines are on the slopes of the San Marzano hills. This wine is made in tiny quantities and is of exceptional quality. After a quick decant wonderful red fruits, violets, cherries, florals, earth, coffee and other goodies emerge. Wonderful now (though needs decanting, and will age beautifully. Learn More
- Ca’ de Lion Monteluna Langhe Nebbiolo DOC 2022Special Price $65.00 Regular Price $70.00Produced in Piedmont, specifically in the famed Langhe Hills, this beautifully structured Nebbiolo is aged for 12 months in a combination of large format French oak and stainless steel. This is more approachable than an equivalent Nebb from Barolo, the tannins, whilst noticeable and an important part of the wines structure, being less strident than you'll find in most wines from nearby Barolo or Barbaresco. Lots going on here from violet and red fruit aromatics, fresh straw, vanilla, liquorice and spice through truffles, which will continue to develop as the wine ages, plus tobacco and dark chocolate. A stunner after decanting and will cellar magnificently. Learn More
- Chaffey Bros. Wine Co. Omnia Nova Old Vine Syrah 2022$32.00A modern style of shiraz with ripe fruit and well apportioned. high quality oak given just enough opportunity to make its point without dominating the argument. The fruit here is old vine blues and blacks, with suggestions of herbs, liquorice and cedar. It is finished with beautifully fine tannins. Stunning. Learn More
- Claymore Dark Side of the Moon Shiraz 2021$25.00Offering mouthfuls of dark plum, juicy blackberries and a touch of dark cherry pie, this is a seductive classic Clare Shiraz. Delve into aromas of spiced plums, dark chocolate, and smooth oak. This powerful yet elegant drop is sure to please with smooth, fine tannins. Given some time in the glass, it will really open up. Grab a bottle, pour a glass (or two!), and warm your bones beside the fire of this Shiraz/Dark Side of the Moon. Enjoy! Learn More
- Curator Wine Co Single Barrel Grenache 2020Special Price $80.00 Regular Price $125.00We only got 96 bottles sadly, but then only 500 were made so I guess we should consider ourselves lucky! From a tiny. 100 yo vineyard, cool ferment, foot stomped into old French oak for just over a year. Satsuma plum fruits with raspberry and Chinese 5 spice, licorice, ginger, and more. Learn More
- Curtis 38 Year Old TawnySpecial Price $70.00 Regular Price $100.00This Tawny has spent over 38 years in barrel slowly oxidizing and becoming aldehydic in the process. It is amber and brown in colour and packed with nuttiness and raisins. There is enough sweetness to make the palate lush and plenty of acid too which provides balance and a dry finish. A stunning fortified wine. Learn More