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 | | Made from a blend of classic Bordeaux varieties, in which Cabernet Sauvignon predominates, Almaviva is the result of a felicitous encounter between two cultures.
Chile offers its soil, its climate and its vineyards, while France contributes its winemaking savoir-faire and traditions.
The result is an exceptionally elegant and complex wine. Its launch was a major milestone in the development of Chilean wines, both in Chile itself and in the international market.
Intense, opaque ruby red. The nose is incredibly profound, densely concentrated and complex, filled with black currants and layers of smoky tobacco, spices and mineral notes. The attack is powerful and full-bodied as the evolution leaves an impression of balance and harmony. Blackberries, plums, grilled orange zests, lavender, and cigar smoke accompany amber, minerals and hints of frankincense. An excellent wine from an exceptional vintage.
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 | | Solaia, which means the 'sunny one' in Italian, is a 10 hectares (25 acres) southwest-facing vineyard planted 351-396 metres (1,150-1,300 feet) above sea-level on stony calcareous soil of marl and friable albarese rock. It is located at Santa Cristina, contiguous to the Tignanello vineyard, which is on the same property, in the Mercatale Val di Pesa zone of Chianti Classico. Antinori first produced a single-vineyard wine from these vines with the 1978 vintage (which was a limited release only in Italy); the initial blend was 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, which was repeated in 1979. During following vintages, 20% Sangiovese was introduced and small adjustments were made (according to vintage) to the proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc used, to arrive at today's blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 20% Sangiovese.
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 | | With Cabernet of this quality, Ed believes in taking a minimalist approach to winemaking. Vinifying the fruit from each vineyard separately, Ed and his long-time winemaking partner Laurie Hook used tailored pump-over techniques for optimal extraction, and then aged the wines in hand-selected, custom-toasted barrels of new French Nevers oak from coopers with whom they have long-established relationships. The winemakers put the wines through 100-percent malolactic fermentation for added complexity and softness, and aged them just over two years before Ed selected the blend that he felt layers the personalities of the vineyards into a harmonious whole. The final blend showcases aromas of black berries, toasty oak, mint, white pepper and cocoa. Black fruit, cassis, caramel, vanilla, brown spices and hints of rose petals coat the palate as ripe supple tannins extend throughout the long finish.
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 | | Planted in the early 1930's, the vineyard is about 70 years old. This vineyard is planted with the old clones of Syrah (low yielding) on their own roots, dry grown and yields about two tonnes to the acre.
The soils here are mainly clay, ironstone and gravel facing due east and fairly steep. The vineyard usually ripens early due to the low yields and extensive root systems of these old vines.
The grapes are handpicked and fermented with natural yeasts in open stainless steel tanks at temperatures up to 32 degree Celsius. All the pressings are returned to the 100% new French oak barriques and the maturation lasts for 18 months before bottling without fining or filtration.
This is always the most beautiful wine in the cellar and is the flagship of the Clarendon Hills Syrah Range.
Due to minimal intervention in the winemaking process this wine expresses the vineyard characters as it develops in the bottle for up to 30 years.
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 | | This vineyard was planted in 1925 in the conventional bush vine manner with no trellising.
The vineyard is very steep and faces due east, the soils contain high levels of ironstone, rock and quartz.
This is the highest part of the Blewitt Springs Vineyard and also the lowest yielding, about one tonne to the acre. The grapes are handpicked, usually quite early in the season, due to very low crops and the ability of Old Grenache to ripen.
The wine is made like all Clarendon Hills Wines, with natural yeasts and minimal intervention but sees no new oak barrels, usually 2-3 year old barrels of seasoned French barriques.
The resultant wine has a most exotic element to it reminiscent of Naomi Campbell in high heels wearing pink lipstick – wow!
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 | | This old vineyard consistently produces very attractive, well balanced wine with no rough edges, just perfume style and elegance. Ages very well. Aristocratic!
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 | | Planted in the Onkaparinga Valley in the Clarendon Hills area, this wine is always very peppery and spicy with nuances of Leather and minerals. A most individual wine - always very deeply coloured and with abundant tannin.
Hickinbotham Shiraz Vineyard planted in 1965 on hard clay and ironstone soil facing north into the Onkaparinga Valley.
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 | | A very consistent vineyard, which always has very dark colour and black plum fruit with a gamey, leathery background. This has more to do with Cornas or Hermitage.
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 | | A very consistent vineyard, which always has very dark colour and black plum fruit with a gamey, leathery background. This has more to do with Cornas or Hermitage.
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 | | Situated in a natural ampitheatre with 360 degree aspects, this vineyard is dry grown and produces small crops of deeply concentrated Syrah with high tannin levels.
The yield here rarely exceeds two tonnes/acre and is often much lower.
This old gone ungrafted Syrah vineyard has a unique character which I describe as 'the full meal followed by the cigar'!
This wine is made in the same manner as all the Syrah vineyards and shows it's individuality purely due to vineyard influences.
This wine develops slowly and positively for a most complete tasting experience.
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 | | Dominus 2005 is dark red, almost deep crimson in color. The nose is dense and compact, filled with dark berries, blond tobacco, black cherries and cacao. The entry is both powerful and supple, spherical in quality. Perfectly ripe, the enveloped tannins are firm, round and elegant. Black fruit and licorice linger throughout the evolution in mouth, well-balanced and harmonious. A superb vintage.
The 2005 blend consists of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. No Merlot was used in the blend this year. This wine clearly has tremendous aging potential. It is recommended decanting the wine prior to serving, to allow it to develop its full potential. This is especially important when serving young Dominus wines.
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 | | Lovely, enticing nose, with maturing coffee. This finesse is carried through onto the palate, which has great balance, with a soft, rounded, creamy structure. Some nice concentration here. Coffee-biscuit notes, reflecting the dominant Chardonnay portion. This has excellent style now, but will continue to improve.
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 | | Finca Allende, the estate created by Brother and sister team Mercedes and Miguel Angel de Gregorio, is located in the hill town of Briones in the Rioja Alta. 'Allende' can be roughly translated as 'further'; its philosophy is to go further and further towards creating the perfect Rioja. This has been done by marrying the old and the new, by embracing the traditional grape varieties but then treating them to new French oak. A further distinguishing characteristic, apart from their ripeness and structure, is that Allende's best wines are vineyard-based, with focus on the expression of Rioja's varied terroir.
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 | | This is one of Italy's great red wines and the historic flagship of the Gaja family. Produced from Nebbiolo grapes, the wine takes its name from the village of its origin.
The color is deep garnet.
The nose is almost sensual in its complexity, with aromas of forest fruits, plums, licorice, mineral and coffee scents.
The taste is long, complex finish with fine, silk-like tannins and good acidity; dense structure, full of super-ripe fruit.
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 | | This vineyard lies a few steps from Sori Tildin. Purchased by the Gaja family in 1967, it derives its name from the term "costa," the side of the hill that faces the sun, and "Russi," the nickname of the former owner.
The color is dark ruby/purple.
It has a captivating aroma and refined nose with well-integrated aromas of blackberries, violets and roasted coffee beans.
Elegance and crystal purity characterize this extremely complex and densely woven wine with an aging potential of decades.
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 | | The wine from Mount Veeder is built to last and this wine is no exception. Powerful blueberry, violet, mineral and coffee characters in the nose and on the palate combine with concentrated tannins and acid to give any wine enthusiast a true flavor experience.
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 | | The G.A.M. Shiraz comes from the Chinese Block vineyard which is located in the Willunga district at the southern end of McLaren Vale. The soils, which are heavy grey loam soils over sandstone, intermixed with black Biscay clay, combined with a maritime climate, contribute to an even ripening period and the development of rich fruit flavours and ripe tannins.
Keeping well within the tradition of the GAM style the nose displays masses of ripe plums, spicy aromatic herbs and lifted freshness. The palate is slightly tighter than the previous vintages, reflective of the slow and evening growing season.
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 | | This full bodied chardonnay displays fine underlying acidity and a long finish, with hints of cardamom, anise and hazelnut which add interest to the fundamental lemon-mineral flavors. Of all Mount Eden’s estate-grown wines, their chardonnay is most in need of further bottle aging at time of release, requiring an additional two to four years to fully reveal its true character. Many vintages are still fresh and enjoyable after fifteen years; this wine is considered one of the longest-lived white wines produced in California.
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 | | A classic wine made for a long life. Togni believes in wines from low yields, indigenous yeasts fermentations, malolactic in barrel and other straightforward approaches to pure winemaking.
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 | | Fortified Muscat is one of the truly world class Australian wine styles. Nowhere else in the world can you find wines of such complexzity with unique raisiny sweetness which is a hallmark of the style.
Colour/appearance: Mid reddish brown shows amber hues.
Aroma/bouquet: Perfumed raisin-fruit bouquet.
Palate: Initial sweetness and raisiny flavours linger to reveal hints of toffee. Underlying structure of tannn and well integrated spirit. Finish is long and the raisin flavours return and linger in the mouth.
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 | | The wines which make up this traditional blend are the result of many years of experience. The older material in the blend provides weight and depth of flavour -–the younger wine adds freshness and lightness.
Colour/appearance: Amber with orange-brown tints.
Aroma/bouquet: Sweet toffee and malt aromas.
Palate: Smooth textured with toffee, malt and caramel sweetness. Hints of butterscotch and orange peel. Good length and weight. Warming spirit finish.
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 | | Torbreck's flagship wine, RunRig is structured and muscular with a phenomenal density, a dry vintage port-like concentration, and magnificent notes of smoke, blackberries, cassis, leather and coffee. A hint of viognier's sweet marmalade character comes through as the wine sits in the glass. A true 'Vin de Garde' to reward those with the patience to cellar it. From vines up to 140 years old grown at the Marananga, Moppa, Gomersal, Greenock and Kalimna vineyards in the Barossa. Dry grown Old Shiraz is blended with Viognier, compounding the wine's epic dimensions.
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 | | Each small parcel of Shiraz was vinified separately and matured in French oak barrels. The result is a firmly structured, elegant Shiraz, with lifted ‘primary‘fruit aromas of red current and plum and ‘secondary aromas’ of dark bitter chocolate, black pepper, aniseed and suede.
The full-bodied palate has flavours of plums, red fruits and cedar, which will improve with careful cellaring of up to 10 years.
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 | | A blend comprised primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon that is articulate and powerful, La Joie expresses the richness and depth of a Pauillac-style wine. It begins with a deep, dense purple color, offering up aromas of black currants, coffee, caramel, spicebox, herbs, and smoke. This is a full-bodied, complex and multi-layered wine with vanilla, chocolate, cassis and black fruits on the mid-palate followed by coffee bean flavors and youthful tannins on an exceptionally long finish.
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 | | Benjamin Romeo has devoted his life to making great wine in Rioja. At this moment he owns 20 plots, with the age of his vines between 45-100 years old. He is currently using about 85% of his own grapes, and the rest he buys from other reputable growers. His goal is to use 100% of his own grapes. Benjamin Romeo maintains very low yields and carries out “green harvest”. Grapes are picked manually, choosing only the best matured ones, but not over matured. The grapes are sorted also by hand, then they are put in small open barriques for fermentation.
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