Wine Enthusiast Mixed Pack – Under $55
A beautifully curated selection for the true wine enthusiast, featuring six distinctive wines from some of France, Italy and Australia’s most exciting wine regions. Perfect for win e enthusiasts who enjoy exploring different grape varieties, regions and styles, this collection is all about variety, character and the joy of discovering your next favourite bottle. 1 x Domaine Jean Descombes Morgon Cote du Py 2020 - Burgundy, France 90/100 Wine Enthusiast (2019 vintage)92/100 James Suckling (2017 Vintage)91/100 James Suckling (2016 Vintage)James Suckling "One of the best ever. Drink now. Pretty aromas of strawberries, flowers and hints of dust follow through to a full body that is compact and tight with very vibrant acidity. Flavorful finish."Decanter "Very good now and with the legs to improve.Textured and bullish, with layers of black fruits, raspberries and blueberries bound in grippy tannins."Wine & Spirits "Best Buy!"Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "Named after a family that has been in Morgon since the French Revolution, this wine shows powerful tannins and rich black fruits. It offers spice, layers of fruit and acidity, with a dry core that shows aging potential. Drink from 2021."Wine & Spirits "Descombes was the first grower Georges Duboeuf worked with when he started his firm in 1968. This domaine is now run by Descombes’s daughter, Nicole Descombes Savoye, who produces this wine for Duboeuf from close to 30 acres with a southeast-facing exposition, the vines ranging in age from 50 to 100 years old. Made with destemmed grapes in a partial carbonic maceration, the wine is all raspberry, meadow flowers and iron-edged tannins. And it’s the tannins that last, detailed in their mineral expression, suiting the wine to long aging."Nicole Descombes Savoye is known as “the Queen of Beaujolais”. Her family has been in the famous Morgon winemaking region since the French Revolution. Nicole’s father - the great and late Jean Ernst - which this wine is named after - is considered one of the great winemakers of the Morgon.Les Vins Georges Duboeuf is one of the largest wine producers in France founded by the late Georges Duboeuf who was affectionately known as 'le roi du Beaujolais' (the King of Beaujolais) or sometimes pape du Beaujolais (Pope of Beaujolais). Les Vins Georges Duboeuf produces a staggering 3 million cases of wine annually. The company is most well-known for its popularization and production of Beaujolais wines. In 2018 Georges’ passed control of his company to his son Franck Duboeuf, who is considered to be one of the key specialists in Beaujolais, its terroir and its wine, and has shifted production to focus more on Beaujolais Nouveau. The second largest of the 10 Crus of Beaujolais in Greater Burgundy, Morgon is comprised of six climate all with slightly different styles. Their unifying feature is the decomposed schist soil called roches pourries or “rotted rocks” and locals believe this contributes to the ripe cherry aromas found in all the wines. These are wines meant to age 5–10 years (at least). The young, fleshy palate of peach, apricot, cherry, and plum will develop into a more earthy wine reminiscent of Burgundian Pinot Noir. Of the 10 crus of Beaujolais, this is the closest to Moulin-a-Vent in terms of weight and structure, and it can age nearly as well. It has a firm minerality, thanks chiefly to its granitic soils, and a fruit profile that shades towards orange.Beaujolais is an important wine region of eastern France in the southern part of "Greater Burgundy". It is famous for its vibrant, fruity red wines made from Gamay. The widespread plantings of Gamay here make Beaujolais one of the few regions of the world to be so focused on a single grape variety. Cru Beaujolais is the highest and most-esteemed classification in the region. There are 10 crus within the Beaujolais classification, each referring to a winemaking region, rather than an individual vineyard, as in nearby Burgundy. Crus range in style, from lighter-bodied and younger-drinking to fuller, age-worthy wines. The 10 Beaujolais crus are: Brouilly, Chénas, Chiroubles, Côte de Brouilly, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Régnié, and Saint-Amour. 1 x Domaine du Pourpre Moulin-a-Vent 2020 ~ Beaujolais, France 93/100 James Suckling 91/100 Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast94-95/100 James Suckling (2019 vintage) Bronze - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (2018 vintage) Silver - Les VinaliesJames Suckling "This is very velvety and deep with loads of fruit, highlighted by hints of vanilla and cedar. The palate is full-bodied and shows lots of structured, velvety tannins that give the wine verve and depth. This is always excellent." Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "Spicy and perfumed, this wine offers good structure as well as ripe black fruits. A touch of vanilla highlights the tannins and solid texture."Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "This fifth-generation estate is well placed in the heart of Moulin-à-Vent. The structure and dense black fruits speak to this wine's potential and richness." (2019 vintage)Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast "This wine has structure as well as vibrant black fruits. Its juicy, fruity character contrasts with the open, perfumed flavors." (2018 vintage) Winemaker "Purple color. Intense and complex nose with floral scents (rose, peony), aromas of black fruits, kirsch notes, enhanced by scents of sweet spices and pepper. The palate is ample, rich, full-bodied with good fat. It offers mentholated, silky and racy tannins which give it a good structure. Good persistence in the finish."100% GamayDecanter "Moulin-à-Vent is considered the ‘king’ of the ten Beaujolais crus for the power, concentration, structure and ageability of its wines."Domaine du Pourpre is a family-run estate in the commune of Chénas. The Meziat family has been running it for 5 generations. Vines are more than 50 years old.This wine is produced by Les Vins Georges Duboeuf which is one of the largest wine producers in France founded by the late Georges Duboeuf who was affectionately known as 'le roi du Beaujolais' (the king of Beaujolais) or sometimes pape du Beaujolais (Pope of Beaujolais). Les Vins Georges Duboeuf produces a staggering 3 million cases of wine annually. The company is most well-known for its popularization and production of Beaujolais wines. In 2018 Georges’ passed control of his company to his son Franck Duboeuf, who is considered to be one of the key specialists in Beaujolais, its terroir and its wine, and has shifted production to focus more on Beaujolais Nouveau.Moulin-à-Vent is situated in the north of the Beaujolais region in France. It is one of the most famous crus and named after the local windmill – the literal translation of the name. It is a historic appellation with a vine-growing history dating back hundreds of years. It was officially granted appellation status in 1936 – one of the first in the country.Beaujolais is an important wine region of eastern France in the southern part of Burgundy, famous for its vibrant, fruity red wines made from Gamay. It is located immediately south of Burgundy, of which it is sometimes considered to be a part, despite being within the Rhone administrative region. The widespread plantings of Gamay here make Beaujolais one of the few regions of the world to be so focused on a single grape variety. In some vintages, Beaujolais produces more wine than the Burgundy wine regions of Chablis, Côte d'Or, Côte Chalonnaise and Mâconnais put together.Gamay is a grape variety that is most famous for producing the light, fruit-driven red wines of Beaujolais. While the variety offers fresh, red-fruit and candied aromas, it typically delivers little in the way of flavor concentration and body weight, giving light, simple wines. 1 x Campo Maccione Vermentino 2023 - Tuscany, Italy 90/100 James Suckling90/100 Wine EnthusiastBronze - Vinum Bronze - Raffaele Vecchione - Wines CriticBronze - Rober Parker, Wine Advocate (2021 vintage)Gold - Mundus ViniOrganic - currently undergoing certificationJames Suckling "A delicious, fruity and subtle vermentino with aromas of pears, ripe peaches and wild herbs on the nose, following through to a medium body with fresh acidity. Seductive and minerally at the center, with a delicious core of crunchy fruit in the crisp finish" Wine Enthusiast "The nose is fresh and clean, with aromas of lemon, lime, ocean air and bike tire. On the palate, a backbone of hazelnuts and almonds creates a savory feel, although green and yellow apple flavors and more citrus preserve a piercing quality. Tannins are present, even within a river of acid." Raffaele Vecchione - Wines Critic "In its sensory profile, it reveals notes of magnolia, gardenia, jasmine, acacia, lemon peel, and white pepper. Full-bodied, with a "fat" mouthfeel, it finishes warm and enveloping. Sweet on the finish."Wine Enthusiast "A nose that's heady and sweet in an indulgent way, with grapefruit candy, green apple, almond and honey, opens for a palate that reiterates these flavors." (2022 vintage)Wine Enthusiast "Fresh grass, stone, citrus and the peppery herbaceousness of new olive oil show on the nose of this Vermentino. The wine remains savory on the palate with brine and stones but also toasted nuts, tahini and shortbread. These contrast with the bright acidic pop of lemon juice alongside rich lemon curd." (2021 vintage)100% Vermentino Alcohol: 13%Rocca delle Macìe was established in 1973, when film producer Italo Zingarelli – of Ettore Scola’s “We All Loved Each Other So Much” fame, and also the wildly popular series of films featuring comedy duo Bud Spencer and Terence Hill (including “They Call Me Trinity” and “Trinity Is Still My Name”) – decided to realize his lifelong dream by acquiring the “Le Macìe” estate – extending across 93 hectares (230 acres) in all, of which only two were under vine – in order to create a winery in the heart of the Chianti Classico zone.Enjoy this wine made on the Zingarelli family’s Maremma estates. Morellino di Scansano takes center-stage but has been complemented over the years by white and rosé wines bearing the recently created Maremma DOC denomination, along with Typical Geographical Indication (IGT) wines in a more modern style that nevertheless respects the Tuscan tradition.Vermentino (“vur-men-teeno”) is a light-bodied white wine that grows mostly in Italy on the island of Sardinia. What’s exciting about Vermentino is it can be deliciously complex in taste in similar style to Sauvignon Blanc; One style is richer and creamier and the other is lighter, more floral and zestier. Because Vermentino is so unknown, you can find high quality wines for a great value. Wines with similar body and taste profile include Albariño, Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Soave and Verdejo.Despite the typical light-bodied character of Vermentino, it’s actually quite complex to taste. A glass of classic Sardinia Vermentino will offer up lively aromas of pear, white peach, lime and pink grapefruit with subtle notes of crushed rocks and citrus zest. On the palate, Vermentino is almost always dry and somewhat oily with flavors of grapefruit and citrus, with a crushed rocky minerality and saltiness. On the finish, it can be a bit snappy with bitterness similar to the taste of grapefruit pith or, if it’s on the riper side, fresh almond.In Provence, Vermentino is called Rolle (“roll”). It’s the secret ingredient to the region’s top-rated Rosé.The Chianti region in Italy's Tuscany wine growing region is split between Chianti and Chianti Classico. Accordingly, two separate DOCG designations apply to wines from the Chianti region: the Chianti Classico DOCG for the heartland of Chianti, and Chianti DOCG for all other Chianti regions. (In 1984, the Chianti region was promoted from DOC to DOCG - Italy’s highest classification - and in 1996, Chianti Classico - the historic heartland of the region - DOCG was created, which gave autonomy to that region. In the last 20 years, a consortium of Chianti Classico producers have researched new Sangiovese clones, replanted vineyards, updated cellar practices and generally made Chianti Classico DOCG a world-class appellation. Chianti Classico must contain a minimum of 75% Sangiovese. In the 2014 edition of its annual compendium of wine ratings, Gambero Rosso noted that Chianti Classico DOCG wines were noteworthy for their “significant return to a more defined style, true to tradition.” The typical Chianti Classico wine is a ruby-red, Sangiovese-based wine with aromas of violets and cherries and a hint of earthy spice.The Chianti DOCG designation covers wines from six Chianti sub-zones (Colli Pisane, Colli Fiorentini, Colli Senesi, Colli Aretini, Montalbano and Rufina) as well as all other Chianti wines. The Chianti Classico DOCG is located in the very center of Tuscany, between Florence and Sienna. 1 x La Lacroix Martillac Blanc 2019 ~ Bordeaux, France 92/100 Wine Spectator 91/100 Wine Enthusiast Second label of the famous Grand Cru Château Latour-MartillacWine Spectator "Pure and refined, with an alluring mouthfeel as gooseberry gelée, white peach, verbena and wet straw notes glide through, all while being supported by embedded fleur de sel and savory threads through the finish. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon."Wine Enthusiast "Half-and-half Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, this wine is spicy, fruity with herbal and warmer apple flavors. Over the next few months, it will soften and fill out to give a ripe, lightly structured wine." The winemaker "A wine with very nice length and great finesse. A bright gold colour, with lively and explosive notes of fresh citrus and exotic fruits on the nose. On the palate, the richness of the white grapes and the acid tension supply a superb sophistication. Pure and authentic mineral notes."Vinous "Bordeaux enjoyed its strongest vintage in a number of years in 2015. The warm, dry summer yielded opulent wines built on intense fruit and voluptuous textures. At their best, the 2015s are spectacularly rich, racy wines loaded with personality." (2015 vintage( 58% Sauvignon Blanc, 42%SémillonThis wine comes from the vineyards of the well-known Grand Cru Bordeaux property of Château Latour-Martillac, owned by the Kressman family. The wines of Château Latour-Martillac gained widespread attention in 1934, when the red vintage was selected by the Wine and Spirit Benevolent Society of London for the celebration of the coronation of His Majesty King George the VI, King of England in December 1936.The 6 children of the original owner, Jean Kressmann own the domain and continue with the family tradition of wine-making, assisted by the leading wine consultants in Bordeaux. In the 1980’s, they increased the area planted in Sauvignon Blanc to compliment the Semillon, the historical grape variety of the property.Pessac-Leognan is a prestigious appellation for wines produced in a particular area of the Bordeaux region of south-western France. A relatively new appellation, it was carved out of the Graves sub-region in 1987 – recognized in its own right on the merits of its high-quality red and white wines. This was a significant change, as many of the chateaux in what is now Pessac-Leognan were the best performers in the Graves Classification of 1959.Pessac-Leognan’s white wines are made predominantly from Sauvignon Blanc (a required minimum of 25%) and Semillon grapes, and are often matured in oak for greater complexity. These white varieties thrive on the sandier soils of the appellation and produce more age-worthy wines than any other part of the world.Elsewhere, blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are best consumed within two years of harvest; in contrast, the best white wines of Pessac-Leognan can develop in bottle for well over a decade. 1 x Pikes Hills & Valleys Riesling 2025 - Clare Valley, Australia 93/100 Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion 90/100 Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion (2024 vintage) 90/100 Wine Spectator (2022 vintage)Bronze - Wine Enthusiast (2022 vintage)5 Stars - Halliday Wine CompanionPeople Choice Award 2023Gold - San Francisco International Wine Competition (2019 vintage)VeganMike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion "A pleasing, straightforward expression that delivers on its promise of 'classic Clare'. Guava, lemon sorbet, some orange sherbet characters, a dash of green apple. It has a little sweetness in there with a good counterbalance of frisky acidity, and the sherbety sizzle works well in that mesh, too. Delicious wine; easy to guzzle."Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion "A medium-dry style of riesling, which means a little slipperiness in texture, a lick of wild honey in bright, lime and lemon citrus fruit characters, some sugared almond notes, a touch of sea spray and jasmine tea lift. Well balanced in its sweeter profile with a chalky, limey finish doing refreshment factor well. Elementary in its way, but great as an easy drink." (2024 vintage)Wine Enthusiast "Citrus peel, peach and pineapple open this fresh, somewhat austere Riesling. Hints of florals and flint are there, too. The palate is mostly dry with a green edge and a shriek of acidity." (2022 vintage)This is a partnership between the Pike family (of Clare Valley fame) and the Joyce family, related to Andrew Pike’s wife, Cathy.The winery is situated in Lenswood, which is a subregion of the Adelaide Hills. The Adelaide Hills region is well-known for its cool climate, high-altitude vineyards, and diverse range of premium cool-climate wines.The Joyce family have been orchardists at Lenswood for over 100 years and also have extensive operations in the Riverland. Together with Andrew they have established this vineyard site, which was previously apple and pear orchards, is characterized by steep North and East facing slopes and possesses fantastic gravelly clay and loam soils which are ideally suited to the classic cool climate varieties that have been planted – Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. to sauvignon blanc (5.9ha), pinot noir (5.73ha), pinot gris (3.22ha), chardonnay (3.18ha) and semillon (0.47ha). The wines are made at the Pikes’ Clare Valley winery and exported around the world.The vineyard is all hand pruned and handpicked with the fruit being chilled overnight in the Joyce cool rooms. Traditional old world techniques as well as modern Australian winemaking are incorporated to produce a style which reflects the variety and region."Pike & Joyce owns and operates vineyards covering around 32 hectares in the Lenswood area of Adelaide Hills. The vineyards are planted at varying altitudes, providing an excellent opportunity to grow a variety of grape varieties that thrive in the cool climate. 1 x McHenry Hohnen Hazel's Vineyard BDX 2020 ~ Margaret River, Western Australia 94/100 The Wine Front93/100 Erin Larkin (Halliday's Wine Companion)93/100 Stuart Knox (The Real Review)92/100 Decanter World Wine Awards91/100 Wine Enthusiast5 Star Winery - James HallidayHalliday's Wine Companion Awards 2023 - Top Wineries of 2022 & 202353/37/10% malbec/cabernet sauvignon/petit verdotHalliday Wine Companion, Erin Larkin "The malbec brings the purple fruit and the spice, the cabernet is responsible for the structure in the mouth, the supple tannins and the flash of pure cassis in the mouth. The petit verdot brings the violet, the depth and the darkness. All of it coming together in magnificent fashion in the glass. Very smart."The Real Review, Stuart Knox "Almost opaque at the core, moving into a deep ruby-red at the rim. Mulberry, cedar wood and mint aromatics. Dark fruits fill the palate, then tangential lines of choc-mint and bresaola bring contrast and savoury complexity to the experience. It sits bold with equally drying tannins, making you take notice of its presence."Founded by one of the pioneers of the Margaret River winemaking region, David Hohnen, and his brother in law, Murray McHenry, an accomplished fine wine retailer. Both have been making wine in Margaret River since the early 1970s. McHenry Hohnen vineyards are 100% biodynamic. Their three unique vineyards (Burnside, Calgardup and Hazel’s) produce wines that are a reflection of the land. McHenry Hohnen focus on crafting site expressive wines and are known for producing some of the region's best wines.Margaret River is one of the best known wine regions in Australia, recognized internationally for the quality of its wines and the natural beauty of the region. Although originally renowned for its unusually refined cabernet sauvignon and intensely citrusy chardonnay varieties, the region now produces high quality Semillon-Sauvignon blends and Shiraz.Located in the south-western corner of Western Australia, it is famous for having a more 'European' wine style than its counterparts across Australia, owing to the regions temperate, coastal location which is very similar to that of Bordeaux.A Bordeaux Blend is any combination of those grape varieties typically used to make the red wines of Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon is widely accepted as a compulsory component of any Bordeaux Blend along with Merlot. In fact, the majority of Bordeaux Blend wines are often made exclusively from a blend of these two varieties. The remaining components are Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.
