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Erin Larkin (RobertParker.com) has released her tasting notes for the 2022 Standish collection and scored Lamella a perfect 100 points... Watch Erin taste the collection...  Congratulations to Dan and Nicole Standish who received 100-points for their 2022 Lamella from Robert Parker’s Aussie reviewer, Erin Larkin. Of course, any wine which receives 100-points, and particularly those relative bargains, receive enormous attention from both the trade and private customers. Within hours, we were inundated (as were the Standishes) with requests for the newly crowned 100-pointer. Admittedly, Erin has only been with the Parker.com reviewer team since April ’22 however, she’s been impactful, certainly busy and has shone an honest light on Australian wines, with regularity, which is great. Erin has posted 5,300 tasting notes since joining RP.com which is an excellent rate. How many of those received 100-points? Just two… 2022 Lamella and the 2021 Giaconda Estate Vineyard Chardonnay. How many scored 99-points? Six to be precise which included 2020 Standish The Relic and ’21 Schubert Theorem. Eight wines received 98+ which included ’22 Schubert Theorem, ’22 The Relic and ’21 Lamella. A quick add-up on my calculator – Only 16 wines have scored 98+ and higher with Standish taking six of those spots. Now, that’s blooming impressive numbers, but it comes as no surprise as we’ve been banging the Standish drum since 2017, and our reports / tasting notes are always released ahead of any global critic. I’ve been around the wine block a few times - 25-years I believe. I’ve tasted the best and learnt from the best too. Accordingly, I believe I know my onions and I am very happy to put my palate and reputation on the chopping block, which I did when I returned from Bordeaux (2006) after sampling the ’05 wines in barrel. The lowly fifth-growth, Château Pontet Canet was on fire and one of the highlights out of some 500 wines. I pre-agreed allocations with the various négociants I worked with and informed my clients to ‘pile-in’ as soon as it was released. I paid 43 Euro per bottle and purchased several thousand bottles. Scores were released from the leading critics and ‘boom’ – you nailed it, McCloskey. Robert Parker, “Absolutely spectacular, Pontet-Canet’s 2005 receives the full attention of dedicated proprietor Alfred Tesseron. The first vintage vinified in tiny cement cuves with pigeage for some lots, this wine will have 40-50 years of longevity, and should turn out to be the greatest Pontet-Canet since such ancient classics as 1961, 1945, and 1929.” Moreover, I secured an almost like-for-like allocation for every vintage to come, which was important when we came to the ’08 ’09 and ’10 vintages – both the ’09 and ’10 later receiving 100-points. Save to say, my clients made a killing on their investments, and I made a very tidy profit as my allocations were huge… Australia does not attract the same ‘investor’ market as the likes of Bordeaux, Burgundy et cetera… Qualitatively speaking, Australia is producing wine (across all major varietals) on-par with all chief wine growing countries and now competes with scores and prices, but it’s becoming daft. I now find the concept of adding a number to a bottle wholly detrimental, which is rather two-faced as I have often added a score to my tasting notes. Where would the wine market be without scores? Do we even need critics? It’s an enormous subject and one left for another day however, I will say that some merchants would cease from trading as they have never written a tasting note in their lives – they simply scour the market for high-scoring wines and pedal them-on. Bordeaux would be knackered as they’ve aligned a score with a price since Parker first came to the scene. Wine investment would no longer exist as it requires some form of numerical barometer to attract investors. So, and for the foreseeable future, scores will rule the roost however, they are seriously damaging the wider market. Furthermore, far too many producers have not got a clue regarding the wider impact of their scores and prices. Insular naivety, as I call it… This quote sums it up perfectly - written by a longstanding and respected member of the UK wine press, “In the past, you’d have to make a decent wine to score 85. Now, if you piss in a bucket you’d probably get 85 from some critics. And 90 scores used to be a cause of celebration for a winemaker, whereas now it feels a bit like a fail. 95 is the new 90, some are saying.” A flawless and succinct assessment of the wine market today, which has created untold damage that is not going away… Recently, I received an email from one of our Aussie producers which started with, “We have harvested a few OUTSTANDING reviews of James Suckling 97 Points, Halliday Wine Companion 96 Points and Wine Front 96 Points. Please find attached the PR flyer on all the wines reviewed in the past few months. The release was on 1st of March, and my question is whether you are intending to place an order for the new vintages?” Save for the obligatory, “I hope you are well” this is an incredibly lazy email from an overly proud sales manager who failed to do any homework prior to his direct pitch. For example – “Stu – how is business at The Vinorium? I note you are sitting on large, discounted stocks of the 97-point 2018. By way of support, is there anything we can offer you to move these along toot-sweet, and hopefully make room for the 2021?” I quite admire a confident pitch however, at least have the decency to turn-up prepared. My response was succinct and brusque. Essentially, and based on export prices and subsequent RRPs, the scores are very average at best, and specific to the current state of the wine market ‘don’t be so blooming naïve,’ which was received with as much dignity as my original response. How is 97-points average? On the face of it – it’s a congratulatory mark however, not today and not since 2021 / 2022. I have a wine that received 97-points and a Platinum Award from Decanter which limps out the door at £17.00 per bottle. If you want to shout about it – go back and produce a wine that receives 99-to-100 points as, and certainly in this market, they are the two figures that provide sales. Going back to my opening three paragraphs – 2022 Relic and Schubert Theorem received 98+ and The Standish 98-points. We received ‘zero’ enquiries for these three wines. Erin also reviewed the 2022 collection from Clarendon Hills. Top score (97-points) went to the $450 per bottle Astralis. Is that really going to sell? Save for diehard collectors and perhaps now China has opened their doors again – not a bloody chance. What about the new collection from Torbreck. 98+ for RunRig ($250 per bottle) or their new wine, The Laird at $700 per bottle (96+ points). Different critics provide different scores, but for the point of consistency, we stick with the one reviewer… In many ways, Australia is going down the same willy-swinging state of play that we’ve endured from Bordeaux and Burgundy. Actually, across all of Europe and the USA. Simply put, what ninny believes their wine is worth much, much more than wines of equal or better quality? For example, let's take the new releases from Henschke (I am a huge fan, but…). ’19 Hill of Grace received 97-points from Erin and will be retailed around $975 per bottle, 2019 Mount Edelstone 96-points ($260 per bottle) and 93-points for the Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon ($180 per bottle). The 2023 Bordeaux En-Primeur releases are, as predicted, having a seriously tough time. I spoke with an old-friend in Bordeaux who I have known and worked with for 15-years. He said, “Primeurs is a bit of a nightmare – it feels like the end of what was once a good system. Something needs to change but it’s sure that in this market, customers are not finding value in the wines. I feel like I have a McCloskey shaped devil sitting on my shoulder whispering in my ear.” William Kelley, Erin’s colleague at RP.com focuses on Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne. We are all human and one person’s truffle is another’s stinky mushroom (if you get my drift). Yet, RP.com scoring must align from one reviewer to another… 2023 Mouton Rothchild was released on Monday 6 May @ £2,034 per six-pack. Mr Kelley awards 94-96 points only! Lafite Rothschild was released at £2,460 and received 97-99 points. £831 per case of six for the ’23 Leoville Las Cases with 94-96 points and Lynch Bages (£435 per six) with a score from Kelley of 93-95, which and re-quote the press member, “95 is the new 90, some are saying.” What dipstick is going to spend £435.00 on six bottles that received a very average score? Wake-up to the global economics, I say. I have been saying it for years – The Standish Wine Co. is seriously undervalued. I have also been preaching the fact that, in my humble opinion, Standish is consistently the best producer in Australia and deserves every accolade and dollar they receive. I have also warned that prices will and have increased, yet they continue to present unrivaled value. What did I learn from Erin’s video, which is a very worthwhile watch? Respectfully, to Erin, nothing that I didn’t declare a month beforehand (our full release can be read here). That said, I was not aware that the ’22 Lamella included two barrels from the famous and ancient Stonegarden vineyard which was originally planted in 1858, with some replants in the 1920s and 1970s. Of course, Dan knows the vineyard intimately as he (along with Jaysen Collins) produced Massena’s Shiraz from this hallowed land… I do appreciate Erin’s infectious enthusiasm for Australian wine and more specifically, our mutual love of the Standish Wine Co… I equally appreciate that some customers find comfort in several assessments, which is savvy, but you will always run the risk of either missing out or paying more. Out of respect to first-time buyers of the 2022 Standish wines – we provided them with an opportunity to purchase more Lamella. We also provided last year’s trade customers with an allocation of all four wines. Lamella was tied on a 1:1 basis with The Relic, Schubert Theorem and The Standish. Over 50-cases were sold in 48-hours. Now, we provide Vinorium customers who didn’t take the plunge first-time round. Stocks are severely limited, and we still have new trade enquiries to take care of. Accordingly, this offer remains on-line until 9:00am Monday 20 May after which point, all 2022 wines will be removed and sold into the trade. We must wrap-up the campaign quickly as Dan and Nicole require time to stick an importer label on each and every bottle. Once complete, we will be shipping Standish, 2022 Utopos and Common Ground together… Wishing you all a fabulous weekend and fingers crossed that Man City lose and Arsenal win... Cheers, "Sheer power which is counterbalanced by a deftly touch of lacelike brilliance. Utter harmony. It really takes perfection in its stride and deserves its legendary status."  Hutton Vale Farm, Eden Valley  100 Points - Erin Larkin "The 2022 Lamella Shiraz has a little secret held within, and it's one not noted on the label. Within this cuvée, is just two barrels of fruit from the Stonegarden Vineyard, the original Lamella Vineyard, before the current Huttonvale Farm. Stonegarden was planted in the Eden Valley in the middle 1800s and is a historic site. The wine rises with Chinotto and blood orange, black tea and pressed flowers. It is, in its quiet way, kaleidoscopic and mottled ... it does not stay still, it gently moves across the palate like sunlight over the course of a day. The long finish speaks of raspberry pip and sandalwood, pomegranate, Boscobel rose and even the softest suggestion of scraped vanilla pod. If you have the benefit of time, I would recommend tasting this on both day one and day two. As I see it, day two has all of the complexity of day one, with the added seamlessness and silk that only time can bring. This is the most alluring Lamella I can recall ever tasting on release, despite many previous releases' flirtation with perfection. 100% whole bunch. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax." Stuart McCloskey “Every Standish collector wants the ‘Lamella’ however, good luck as it is rarely seen upon release, let alone years down the line. You wouldn’t believe how many cases we have shipped back to Australian customers. Accordingly, pile in and buy the most lauded wine in the quartet. As per The Relic sample, two bottles were opened with bottle two showing much better (1-hour decanting opposed to many hours and days which has been customary with previous releases). I found Lamella the most interesting sample to assess. For one, it certainly shows the longer hangtime in the vineyard, which translates from vine to glass. Denser, more structured, and quintessentially Standish. The tannins are more pronounced and provide the perfect frame for the concentrated fruit… I am getting ahead of myself – back to the bouquet which is drop dead gorgeous and certainly the ‘deeper’ and ‘denser’ of the ’22 releases. Bottomless nori, layers of coal / graphite – it’s off the charts in terms of concentration and depth. Dark black and blue fruits which are laced with sweet, exotic spice. White pepper, sous-bois and glorious blood orange. The puppy fat palate is kept in-check by cooling freshness and firm but silken tannins. This is the archetypical ‘iron fist in a velvet glove.’ I love the interplay of elements which make-up this masterpiece. Sheer power which is counterbalanced by a deftly touch of lacelike brilliance. Utter harmony. It really takes perfection in its stride and deserves its legendary status. By my favourite Lamella to date. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware. Drink now to 2050 and I hope it brings as much joy to you as it did for me…”  ONLY available as a duo  "For Relic fans - this delivers everything you could ever hope for… Simply, a beautiful, sensual release which has left me struggling to find the right words. Perhaps ‘it delivers the complete package’ will do?"  Hongell Family Vineyard, Krondorf 98+ Points - Erin Larkin "The 2022 The Relic Shiraz-Viognier contains 2% Viognier skins, and this addition presents in this vintage as a core of raspberry and pomegranate. It is pure fruited and powerfully aromatic, as this cuvee always is. Interestingly, I am tasting this wine from two different glasses: one opened two days ago, one opened this morning. They are quite different, telling us once again that oxygen really is a friend to this producer, especially if choosing to drink these wines young. While the bottle opened two days ago is complete, balanced and utterly refined, it speaks more of its florals and fruit than it does its savory register of spice and complexity. However, the wine opened today has nuances of bacon fat and exotic spice. It is tightly coiled and springy and nowhere near as giving as the former. So, choose your own path. This vintage is a prettier, finer but no less long or coiled version of itself, and it will prove to be one of the greats in the cellar. The tannins certainly are a highlight for me. Built for age but also, in the framework of this beautiful season, absolutely available to you right now. An effortless beauty, here. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork." Stuart McCloskey “Two bottles were opened with bottle two showing better (this sample was served with less aeration / decanting time (1-hour in this case) which is the theme for the ’22 collection. Less delivers more…). The aromatics bowl you over with the sheer intensity, crystalline purity and drips with succulence. Graphite, Indian ink, iodine along with anise meld with plum compote, raspberry, blackcurrant, espresso, vanilla, mint, bay leaf, pretty florals and cedar (Mocha follows with more aeration). The palate is mindboggling and unlike any other Relic vintage I have sampled (certainly upon release). Such accessibility, so graceful, so pure, and impeccable balanced – a silken Shiraz in its finest incarnation. I suggest those seeking brutal tannins move on as these gently ripple across the palate. Akin to the bouquet, the palate is saturated with black and blue fruits. The satiny texture is heavenly and feels top-class in any language. This is a dignified release, it’s certainly pretty and executed with finesse. For Relic fans - this delivers everything you could ever hope for… Simply, a beautiful, sensual release which has left me struggling to find the right words. Perhaps ‘it delivers the complete package’ will do? Easily my favourite Relic to date. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware. Drink now to 2050+. Sampled 27 March 2024.” "A bona fide giant on the world stage of wine… Simply beautiful and epic. Quite incredible that a wine can make such an immediate impact. By far my favourite Schubert Theorem to date."  Roennfeldt Road, Marananga 98+ Points - Erin Larkin "I'm excited to taste this, as it was my favorite cuvée last year. It usually changes year to year, given the seasons, and I like that. It's usually the only cuvée to enjoy the benefits of an alternate vessel—a concrete egg—and this year, the 2022 The Schubert Theorem Shiraz joins the Relic and the Standish as well. The impact of the egg in this wine is one of refinement, or so I see it; it retains a purity of fruit at the core, which speaks to the chalky tannins that spool through the finish. They're chewy and seductive and really great. It's a beautiful release—not shimmering like the 2021, but textural and fine and elongated in its way. It's a beguiling wine, a thinking wine. And, as with the other wines tasted alongside, the bottle that has been open for two days is infinitely more complete; however, it must be noted that this review is built on the freshly opened bottle. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and wax." Stuart McCloskey “The bouquet is simply irresistible – you can smell the succulence, which draws you in and keeps you hooked. I love a wine that provides a perfume that is so profound, there isn’t a need to taste. First-up is the unmissable marine influence – salt, iodine and seaweed, which pervades with graphite. A harmonious and adult introduction. Fruit elements provide an intoxicating and heady mix of dark pastille fruits, crème de mûre and cassis. A further layer of savouriness is delivered by way of liquorice, black olive tapenade and star anise. Wonderfully exotic and then I am transported back to the seaside… Professionally, I have been sampling wines for 25-years and some of the very best too, yet I am not sure if I have ever come across a newly released wine (an infant in the bottle) that delivers such immediate pleasure and almost perfect mouthfeel. The balance is immaculate and personifies ‘seamlessness’. As odd as it sounds, it flows to a cool climate tune and a warm one at once. There’s a little warm climate attitude yet, the palate feel is otherworldly. So gracious, bewitched by beauty – the tannins are super-fine and super-long. The fruit is intensely sweet, dark, brooding and wholesome in their respective exoticness. Cerebral winemaking at its very best. Purity personified and delivers a sheath of coolness which I have never witnessed from a Barossa Shiraz. This genuinely has captured all my senses. Furthermore, and before I commence chapter two, there is no doubt in my mind that the 2022 Schubert Theorem is a bona fide giant on the world stage of wine… Simply beautiful and epic. Quite incredible that a wine can make such an immediate impact. By far my favourite Schubert Theorem to date. Drink now to 2050+. Served using Zalto Burgundy (better than the Bordeaux glass). Sampled 26 March 2024.” "This wine is a perfect marriage of the Barossa and the great wines of Hermitage, Rhône."  Laycock Family Vineyard, Greenock 98 Points - Erin Larkin "The 2022 The Standish Shiraz is again providing me with the opportunity to assess bottles two days apart, and how different they are. The freshly opened bottle, as we would all experience upon our first opening, is tight and fresh, with cracked fennel seed, black peppercorns, cumin and ras el'hanout, then dried blueberries and licorice, hints of arnica and raspberry. It's cool and mineral, with a graphite finish. I cannot overstate how much better the wine tastes after two days. All of the edges smooth out, and it is composed and complete ... what a wine. Balance and harmony in a single swoop. It's savory, though. Super. 14.9% alcohol, sealed under natural cork and foil." Stuart McCloskey “Customarily, the most muscular wine of the quartet and one that always speaks accurately of its terroir. Also, the one that requires more time and understanding as it sadly, doesn’t always offer the same kerb appeal as the others. I decanted all four wines back-to-back. I resisted sampling, but I took a deep inhale, and this was the most exciting wine straight out of the bottle, which is another first as it’s often the most reticent. The bouquet is turbo-charged – Schubert Theorem dialled up a notch or two. Beauty and the beast if you like. Marine influences are at play – this time there’s a ‘warmed’ element to their respective fragrance. Perhaps a deeper fragrance of iodine, sea kelp and sea salt would be a better description. The fruit is mineral and spice-driven, black and blue with pastille goodness along with violets and fresh pencil shavings. Wonderfully floral too. A brooding, exotic behemoth being an accurate summary. In time, you’ll see… This wine is a perfect marriage of the Barossa and the great wines of Hermitage, Rhône. The palate is distinctly powerful, but and unlike previous releases, the magical 2022 wand has cast a degree of charm. Spiced fruit cake, cocoa and coffee add yin and yang to the palate staining black and blue fruits, which are infused with the most expensive, exotic spices. The ‘spice’ notes are heightened with more aeration. At first, the tannins feel almost hidden, but when you go looking, they do provide some serious grip and add lovely shape and feel to the wine. The palate feel is generous and certainly the most appealing example we have seen, yet it is too young to broach. I recommend 8-10 years, but it is worth opening one bottle just to quell one’s curiosity. Another triumph and the most enjoyable ‘The Standish’ we have experienced. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware. Drink 2030+ to 2050+. Sampled 26 March 2024.”  Also available as a duty paid 4 pack Back in stock: A wonderful Pinot Noir which sold out in a week... We've hoovered up every single bottle available in the UK   "A brooding beauty of immaculate balance. As my glass empties, I am genuinely left with a sad feeling. Such a wonderful Pinot Noir. One to marry and to cherish…" Pyramid Valley Pinot Noir 2019 Stuart McCloskey "What a perfume – you’re hooked after the first sniff. Where to start? Sour cherry, red currant, cranberry, pomegranate, plum, mint, cola, rose hip, clove, orange, along with evolving beef consommé and mushroom notes, which will take more control over the coming years. Equally, the palate is a cornucopia of flavour. Such succulence and brims with vitality yet feels ethereal. Mountain herbs and rosemary tumble into ripe, hedgerow fruits which are tinged with minerality. There’s a hint of bergamot tea which adds a subtle bite whilst lifting the palate… This is rich and juicy – moreish and everything feels like it’s wrapped in a cooling, silk handkerchief. A brooding beauty of immaculate balance. As my glass empties, I am genuinely left with a sad feeling. Such a wonderful Pinot Noir. One to marry and to cherish… Drink now to 2028+. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware." Only 81 bottles remain in the UK RRP £31.95 Special Price - £28.95 per bottle Our last 38 bottles of Pyramid Valley Chardonnay  "Wonderfully seductive, which draws you in and keeps you sniffing for an age… It’s bold, full-flavoured and as seductive as Chardonnay comes." Pyramid Valley Chardonnay 2018 Stuart McCloskey "This is the first Chardonnay that Pyramid Valley has made from Waipara rather than its Waikari home site. Hand-picked and fermented with natural vineyard yeasts and aged in 20% new French oak barrels for 12 months before settling in stainless steel on light less for a further 4 months. Bottled unfined, unfiltered and reason for the slight haze. It’s the kind of Chardonnay that you need to be in the mood for as it demands your attention. The bouquet fascinates and unfurls at a glacial pace. Almost ‘Jura’ expression, packed with stone fruits, saline, honey, nuts, nougat, jasmine and finishes with brown butter – it feels rather grown-up and serious. Wonderfully seductive, which draws you in and keeps you sniffing for an age… The palate tips towards the ‘fuller’ side. It’s bold, full-flavoured and as seductive as Chardonnay comes (without being clumsy or overworked, which and given their winemaking principles, is as natural as it comes). Complexity keeps you hooked as does its personality and presence. You will struggle to find many wines of this ilk. Flavours lean towards the savoury along with oatmeal and unmissable saline. What an engaging wine this is. This is my style of Chardonnay and a great talking point as it’s packed with detail. Epic length. Such a treat and so unique. Bravo to nature as you have served something so, so beautiful… Drink now to 2028. Served using Zalto Burgundy glassware." RRP £29.95 Special Price - £25.50 per bottle LAST CHANCE Offer closes 9.00am Monday 20 May  COMMON Sourced from the Utopos vineyard by Kym Teusner As always we thank you for your generous orders. Now it's time to wrap up the Common Ground campaign which comes to an end at 9.00am Monday 20 May. We plan to ship limited stocks however, and given the sheer quality, the prices will rise considerably upon arrival, and rightly so… A trio of new wines that will make as much impact as the day we first released the 2017 / 2018 Utopos wines. These offer unrivaled value and are launched when the world desperately requires quality without parting with too many bucks… I thoroughly enjoyed all three of these new wines and thoroughly recommend these. There is a marked difference between the ’21 and ’22 Utopos wines versus the new, Common Ground releases. Utopos are charged with layer-upon-layer of concentration and will reward cellaring. These beauties are crafted for the ‘now’ but will age gracefully, as you will see from my cellaring notes. The wines All wines are available as 3x75cl cases. (minimum purchase per varietal) Duty paid for home delivery. To qualify for free delivery: • Orders for Common Ground wines will be combined with your • Standalone Common Ground orders exceeding £100 Shipping / Delivery dates: We plan to ship June / July with an ETA into the UK of September / October 2024. As ever, we will provide firmer dates closer to the time… “This really gets my juices flowing... Here, Kym presents a wine that (at this price level) has no equal. I am left astounded…”  Common Ground by Utopos Shiraz 2021 Stuart McCloskey "I could sniff for a living and often find as much (sometimes more) pleasure in a wines bouquet than I do by tasting the liquid. I would love to see this in a blind tasting. Better still, presented with an RRP of circa £35+ per bottle and watch the professional nods of approval. The aromatics are bottomless and super sophisticated – it’s like diving into a blackhole of sea kelp, saline, wonderfully ‘marine’ which gets me very excited. Equally, I love the charcoal, the spice, the black and blue fruits, the lift from dried orange zest, the spice and rosehip syrup. The palate is flooded with ripe black and blue fruits – there’s sweetness, but that’s down to the quality of the fruit rather than being overdone / forced. This is very dense, chewable, bloody and alive with freshness. I love the grip, too… And who doesn’t love blood orange effervescence – this really gets my juices flowing. We live in a world of inflation versus a dip in quality. Here, Kym presents a wine that (at this price level) has no equal (again!). I am left astounded… Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware. Decant for 1-2 hours. Drink now to 2030+ but I suggest you enjoy the youth and exuberance sooner rather than later. A killer of a wine!" Kym Teusner “An exceptionally bright and truly pretty wine on the nose with lovely bright creamy sweet red fruits framed with long tannin lines on the palate. Matured for 18 months in seasoned French oak hogsheads. Flavour intensity is a given when you’re making wine from these grounds. To attempt to restrain what nature delivers effortlessly is ultimately a futile exercise. I want to celebrate what makes Barossa Valley Shiraz truly remarkable, but I want to do so in a manner that promotes purity of fruit expression rather than simply dialling up the palate volume to 11. Nary a hint or suggestion of being overripe, this is truly an uplifting wine of exceptional deliciousness as you’d expect from the region and the variety.” “Gosh, this is so delicious. This has shape, form and, despite the price, is a wine of high quality.”  Common Ground by Utopos Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Stuart McCloskey "I could sniff for a living and often find as much (sometimes more) pleasure in a wines bouquet than I do by tasting the liquid. I would love to see this in a blind tasting. Better still, presented with an RRP of circa £35+ per bottle and watch the professional nods of approval. The aromatics are bottomless and super sophisticated – it’s like diving into a blackhole of sea kelp, saline, wonderfully ‘marine’ which gets me very excited. Equally, I love the charcoal, the spice, the black and blue fruits, the lift from dried orange zest, the spice and rosehip syrup. The palate is flooded with ripe black and blue fruits – there’s sweetness, but that’s down to the quality of the fruit rather than being overdone / forced. This is very dense, chewable, bloody and alive with freshness. I love the grip, too… And who doesn’t love blood orange effervescence – this really gets my juices flowing. We live in a world of inflation versus a dip in quality. Here, Kym presents a wine that (at this price level) has no equal (again!). I am left astounded… Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware. Decant for 1-2 hours. Drink now to 2030+ but I suggest you enjoy the youth and exuberance sooner rather than later. A killer of a wine!" Kym Teusner “An exceptionally bright and truly pretty wine on the nose with lovely bright creamy sweet red fruits framed with long tannin lines on the palate. Matured for 18 months in seasoned French oak hogsheads. Flavour intensity is a given when you’re making wine from these grounds. To attempt to restrain what nature delivers effortlessly is ultimately a futile exercise. I want to celebrate what makes Barossa Valley Shiraz truly remarkable, but I want to do so in a manner that promotes purity of fruit expression rather than simply dialling up the palate volume to 11. Nary a hint or suggestion of being overripe, this is truly an uplifting wine of exceptional deliciousness as you’d expect from the region and the variety.” “Wonderfully fresh and immensely satisfying. Just, very, very sexy, and wonderfully moreish… Heroic stuff (given the price).”  Common Ground by Utopos Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2021 Stuart McCloskey "This took me by surprise – I wasn’t expecting such concentration and wallop (no offence, Kym). The bouquet is fabulously deep, uber-spicy and filled with ripe raspberry, kirsch, blueberry compote, licorice, white pepper and warm earth – lots of vim and vigour. This really gallops out of the glass. The palate borders medium-to-full-bodied and doesn’t hold back either. The fruit is flamboyant and laced with sweet spice. She feels generous, modern, ripe and lavish. The tannins are fine-grained, and the acidity is pitch perfect. Wonderfully fresh and immensely satisfying. Just, very, very sexy, and wonderfully moreish… Heroic stuff (given the price). Stop with the superlatives, McCloskey and end now! Drink now (decant for an hour or two) and through to 2030… Served using Zalto Bordeaux glassware." Kym Teusner “A blend of Grenache (43%), Shiraz (32%) and Mataro (25%) matured for 18 months in seasoned French hogsheads. The right approach to maturation for wines that aim to deliver purity of vineyard and varietal expression. This is a rich and voluptuous wine with the requisite structure and freshness that inhibits any risk of presenting as over ripe or jammy. There is great fruit weight complexed by nice savoury spice elements and long lines of fine tannin. The mid palate is creamy, rich and satisfying – meeting the brief for immediate drinkability whilst not compromising the cellaring potential of these wines.” |
