Australia & NZ
These far-flung wine regions may be referred to ‘new’ when compared against the historic European wine regions, but they have a long winemaking history. Spared from Phylloxera, Australia in particular has world's highest concentration of venerable vines and legendary producers such as Penfolds, Henschke and Tyrell’s have been around for over 150 years. Though for many years piggybacking on Europe’s successes, branding their own wines as ‘Chablis’, ‘Hermitage’ etc., Australia now have created a real identity of their own, making inimitable styles like Coonawarra Cabernet or Hunter Valley Semillon.
New Zealand doesn’t quite have as an extensive history but has established itself in an astonishingly short amount of time as a reliable source of whistle clean, distinctive examples of varietals like Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
Read More
Australia & NZ
Photo
AI Chat
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
South Australia | 2 | 95 (WA) | $469.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95)Deep garnet-black in color, the 2008 Hoffman Vineyard Shiraz has a seductive nose of prunes, dried mulberries, chocolate box and licorice with hints of sandalwood, incense, and cinnamon stick. The palate is bold and buxom, with a generously endowed full body and 17.5%-declared alcohol, with robust flavors to match and velvety tannins, finishing just a little warm. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 97 (WA) | $2,190.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)"2013 was a dream year," Chris said. This 2013 Hoffmann Vineyard Shiraz is exceptional. It's monumentally big, but it shows finesse and detail in the mouth that transcends the alcohol and the omnipresent tannin. The tannins... they are ultra fine and totally marbled through the fruit. They drag the flavor out across the tongue—I can still taste it two minutes later. It's extraordinary. "We were in no hurry to pick the fruit—we were just waiting for structure and shape," Chris explained. This is kaleidoscopic and provides a 360-degree view of the wine in the mouth. The wine was matured for just under five years in wood. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | - | $3,195.00 | |||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 98 | $256.00 | |||||
|
This is sensational with blackberries, blueberries and mineral. Extremely floral, too. Full-bodied but so seamless and refined with polished tannins that just melts into the wine. Goes on for minutes. A subtle and glorious wine that will be a new classic for Napa Valley. An emotional red that touches your soul. Energy. 46% cabernet sauvignon, 31% cabernet franc, 17% petit verdot, and 6% merlot. Very approachable now but better in 2022.
More Info
|
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | - | $920.00 | |||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 99 (WA) | $1,325.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (99)The 2001 Syrah Astralis Vineyard may be just as compelling as the 2002. Tighter because of being in the bottle, it is an extraordinary effort that offers the essence of graphite, blackberry liqueur, espresso, and acacia flowers, all combining into an olfactory smorgasbord for the senses. Sensationally concentrated, with sweet tannin, but neither weighty nor over the top as might be expected for a wine of such extreme richness, it is an extraordinarily well-delineated Syrah that should hit its prime in 10-12 years, and last for 30-40. Hail Caesar ... I mean Roman! |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 2 | 99 (WA) | $1,475.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (99)The 2002 Syrah Astralis Vineyard rivals the greatest wines Roman Bratasiuk has made in his 15-year career. This compelling, black/blue-hued offering from 75-year-old Syrah vines tastes like blood of the vine. An extraordinary perfume of flowers, creme de cassis, blackberries, roasted meat, new saddle leather, and earth is followed by a wine with sweet tannin, sensational concentration, full body, an unctuous texture, and a full-throttle, tannic finish. Yet it reveals unbelievable elegance and finesse. Too many Euro-centric elitists argue that Australian wines are too rich and over the top, but all of these offerings have been made by someone with great talent and vision who takes the extraordinary ripeness and purity of fruit available from these old vine vineyards and crafts them into wines that are quite European in style ... just richer and denser. The 2002 Astralis is a tour de force. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025+. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 98 (WE) | $1,235.00 | |||||
Wine Enthusiast (98)The flagship of the Clarendon Hills line, this comes from a patch of 80-year-old vines that winemaker Bratasiuk claims routinely provides his best fruit. The 2004 is a stunner, yielding up scents of flowers and spice, framed by hints of vanillin oak. It's dense and amply textured in the mouth, packed with wonderfully expressive blackberry and blueberry fruit, then shows layers of rich tannins on the finish that leave no doubt this needs time in the cellar to show its best. This is a tour de force of Australian winemaking that should be consumed 2010-2025. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 99 (WA) | $1,065.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (99)At the top of the pyramid is the 2005 Syrah Astralis Vineyard. It is sourced from a vineyard planted in 1920 and is one of the Syrah cuvees in which 100% new oak is utilized (along with Brookman, Hickinbotham, and Piggott Range). It delivers an ethereal bouquet of smoky oak, violets, espresso, black pepper, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. Densely packed and tightly wound, all it needs is time. The wine is totally harmonious, impeccably balanced, and exceptionally long. When it fully unwinds, even my high rating will appear conservative. Its only competition comes from the likes of Guigal, Chapoutier, Chave, Krankl, and Ringland. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 97 (WA) | $1,050.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2009 Astralis presents a very fruity, floral nose with lifted notes of blueberries. The palate is concentrated with a slight prune character and has very crisp acidity. At this stage the phenolics are showing a little chewy before finishing long. Drink it now to 2027+. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 100 (WA) | $1,150.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (100)Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2010 Astralis is still quite primary eliciting aromas of black plums, blueberry compote and blackcurrant liqueur with a savory and baking spice undercurrent plus a fragrant whiff of violets. Very structured, fine and complex in the medium to full-bodied mouth, this wine is revealing much more than when I first tasted it a year ago and is now showing layer upon layer of black fruit preserves, mocha, toast and spices before finishing with great length. Extraordinary wine. Approachable now, it should cellar to 2030+. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 96+ (WA) | $958.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96+)The deep garnet-purple 2011 Astralis offers a nose redolent of Christmas pudding, allspice, mocha and anise along with a lovely core of prunes, black cherry preserves and dusty earth. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with elegant, effortless fruit, with a medium level of finely grained tannins, just enough acidity, and a long and multi-layered finish. Drink it 2015 to 2030+. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 100 (WA) | $1,605.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (100)The fitting capstone to what was a terrific vintage for Clarendon Hills, the 2015 Astralis Syrah is destined to become a McLaren Vale legend. Remarkably precise, complex and pristine aromas of anise, pepper, mint and blueberries lead the way. They're followed by a full-bodied yet impeccably ripe palate that's dense and concentrated yet supple, leading into a velvety, nearly endless finish. Wow. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 98 (JS) | $1,410.00 | |||||
James Suckling (98)East-facing, sandy clay and rocky at the bottom. This is a very intense, layered style of wine with complex, rich, suave and sophisticated style. Intense aromas of dark plums, blackberries and spice with brown-pepper and grilled-meat notes. The palate has such dense, supple and long tannins and delivers blackberry, plum and licorice flavors in regal and impressive mode. The power is delivered so smoothly with full commitment to flavor. Try from 2024. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 98 (WA) | $1,620.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (98)If you could drink this 2018 Astralis Syrah all day, by god you would. I mean, I would. The oak feels imperceptible, which I discover is adapted depending on the concentration of the year. This 2018 was matured in 40% new oak, and you wouldn’t know it. The tannins are chewy and pliable, and the fruit that resides within it is striking. A wine of poise. Clarity. Delicacy. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 92 (VN) | $203.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)Full ruby. Deep, smoky aromas of blackcurrant, dried rose and cracked pepper, with a slow-building herbal quality. At once juicy and smooth, with intense red fruit compote flavors over a firm mineral underpinning. Finishes spicy and long, with supple tannins arriving late and adding gentle grip. Drinking well right now but this should be even better with a couple more years of bottle age. This was aged in 85% new French oak. |
|||||||||
|
|
South Australia | 1 | 98 (WA) | $511.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (98)The exquisite 2006 Syrah Piggott Range is more structured yet. Thick, dense, and tightly wound, all the components are there for future greatness. Only patience is required. |
|||||||||
|
|
New South Wales | 3 | 98 (HWC) | $608.00 | |||||
Halliday Wine Companion (98)The perfumed, spicy bouquet with red flowers and fruits doesn't prepare you for the intensity and piercing length of its beautifully balanced medium-bodied palate. This is a truly glorious wine that draws you back again and again to explore the wealth of red fruit flavours, and the majesty of its texture and structure. |
|||||||||
|
|
New South Wales | 2 | 98 (DC) | $519.00 | |||||
Decanter (98)Quiet, controlled with a spellbinding timbre. Neverending, and phenomenal in terms of its quality. |
|||||||||
