Vintages Release: August 21, 2021

• The following 2017 Sidewood ‘Stablemate’ Shiraz was meticulously chosen from estate vines with fruit deemed to be organoleptically ripe. A portion was fermented as whole berries by carbonic maceration. It was then pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation, then racked off its lees and back to French oak barrels for 16 months maturation with approximately 25% being new French oak.

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Sidewood ‘Stablemate’ Shiraz 2017
Adelaide Hills, South Australia $16.95 (12846) 14.5% alcohol
Fresh, lively aromas abound with red cherry, red berry and sprigs of savoury herbs among them. Sweet, ripe berry fruit—cherry clafoutie and Ribena © flavours dominate the palate and persist through the finish and aftertaste. This is light on its feet with no rough edges and just enough tang to balance it off. It’s a match made in heaven when served with grilled and smoked back ribs mopped with spicy barbecue sauce. (Vic Harradine)

Vintages Release: TBD

• The following 2019 Domaine Du Bicheron ‘Mâcon-Péron’ is 100% Chardonnay, It was harvested by machine early morning and taken directly to the winery for gentle pressing by pneumatic press before undergoing alcoholic fermentation then malolactic fermentation. After racking, the wine was matured 12 months in stainless steel vats before bottling in spring, 2020.

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Domaine Du Bicheron ‘Mâcon-Péron’ 2019
AOP Mâcon-Péron, Burgundy, France $19.95 (14960) 13.8% alcohol
Alluring aromas of lemon-lime, floral notes and green apple abound. It blankets the palate creamy- smooth and chockful of delicious flavours with lemon-meringue pie, tangy Granny Smith apple and notions of minerality to the fore. This showcases deft balance, persistent purity of fruit and a crisp refreshing finish and aftertaste. The price-quality balance tips well in your favour—don’t hesitate to pick up a few, if and when the opportunity presents. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 California Republic Cabernet Sauvignon was selected from various wine regions throughout California and was aged in French oak barrels for 18 months with 33% new.

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California Republic Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
California, U.S.A. $19.95 13.9% alcohol
There are aromas of cooked berry fruit compote and hints of vanilla and licorice on the nose. It streams over the palate with a gusher of ripe black fruit—currant, cherry and plum—decorated with vanilla bean and hints of blueberry. It’s medium-full bodied with good mouthfeel and plenty of sweet fruit flavours throughout. Give this a go with pulled-pork sandwiches laced with spicy barbeque sauce. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Carson Scott Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from cabernet sauvignon vines selected from various wine region in California and was aged in French oak barrels.

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Carson Scott Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
California, U.S.A. $19.95 13.7% alcohol
Aromas of dark berry fruit and mocha precede a wash of sweet, ripe flavours with blueberry pie, dark corn syrup and black cherry among them. There’s good balance on the finish with plenty of tang and pizzazz to the rescue. It’s medium-bodied with good texture and a lingering finish and aftertaste. Pour alongside fried chicken wings brushed with spicy barbecue sauce. (Vic Harradine)

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Terroirs Du Soleil ‘Cru des Côtes du Rhône - Cairanne - Patrick Gallant’ 2019
AOP Cairanne, France $16.95 14.5% alcohol
Delicate aromas of floral and berry fruit make way for a medium-bodied, perfectly balanced river of delectable palate flavours with chewy red cherry and ripe passionfruit riding a wave of ripe fruit flavours intertwined with excellent tang and pizzazz. This is a crowd-friendly red blend of grenache/syrah/mourvèdre showcasing good depth, purity of fruit, balance and plenty of flavour on the palate, finish and aftertaste. Pour now and on to 2027 with barbecued burgers or steak, or pasta in Bolognese sauce. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Cave de Pazac ‘Grand Vins – Le Pigeonnier’ is a red blend—60% syrah/15% carignan/15% marsalan/10% grenache—with three of the grapes being mainstream and one being somewhat obscure. The obscure marselan grape is a recent, 1961, crossing of cabernet sauvignon and grenache and is now planted in France, California and China along with small experimental plantings in other wine regions and countries.

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Cave de Pazac ‘Grand Vins – Le Pigeonnier’ 2018
AOP Costières de Nîmes, Rhone, France $16.95 14.5% alcohol
Sandalwood, exotic spice and dark cherry/berry fruit aromas dominate the nose. A medium-plus bodied, nicely textured wash of palate flavours capture the palate with black Bing cherry, bramble berry and tangy red currant making their way through mid and back palate and replaying through the lingering, lip-smacking finish and aftertaste. This is mellow and smooth throughout with plenty of delicious fruit flavour, good depth, balanced on a pin and with no rough edges. The price suggests a multiple purchase. What’s not to like. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2017 André Brunel ‘Cuvée Sabrine’ is a red blend of the holy trinity of the top-notch Rhône red grape blend with all of the following grapes hand harvested from vines with an average age of 60 years old—70% grenache/20% syrah/ 10% mourvèdre—a.k.a. ‘GSM’.

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André Brunel ‘Cuvée Sabrine’ 2017
AOC Côtes Du Rhône Villages - Sabrine, France $17.95 (538496) 14.5% alcohol
Shy aromas of dark berry fruit, black plum and notes of vanilla bean can be coaxed from the glass. A gorgeous mouthful of palate flavours follow with black juicy plum and cherry melding with tangy red fruit—cranberry and passionfruit—providing a perfectly balanced experience with plenty of pizzazz and versatility at the table. Pour with lamb tagine, grilled-rare skirt steak, grilled gourmet sausage or meat-laden pizza. (Vic Harradine)

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Domaine Courtois ‘La Source’ Côtes-du-Rhône 2019

AOC Côtes-du-Rhône $16.95 (526640) 14.5% alcohol

This is another very good vintage for this stainless-steel fermented, purple-shaded blend of 85% grenache/15% syrah. A few months of bottle maturation has developed black tea and forest floor aromas on top of ripe black fruit. It’s a delicious, silky textured cocktail treating the palate to mixed berry and plum compote flavours, switching to a nice chewy mouthfeel with briny notes and graphite minerality. Medium-full bodied with excellent alcohol integration and a very dry finish, it’s good to go now with braised beef and carrot roast or rare-grilled steak. It will continue to evolve with careful cellaring. Aerate/decant two hours before meal time. (Louise Boutin)

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Domaine Jaume Côtes-du-Rhône 2019

AOC Côtes-du-Rhône $15.95 (14.0% alcohol)

There was no oak contact in this 70% grenache/20% syrah/10% mourvèdre blend. It fills the air with aromas of black plum, dark cherry and a hint of clove and cinnamon. Soft and cool on the palate, it flows easily with delicious flavours consistent with the aromas profile, followed with a nice grip of fine-grained tannin, a note of candied orange zest and a comforting warm, fruit-forward dry finish. This medium-full bodied red is nicely balanced and offers exceptional value. Aerate/decant an hour or two then enjoy with tourtière or ratatouille. (Louise Boutin)

• The following 2015 Il Faggeto ‘Pietra del Diavolo’ is a blend of manually picked 90% prugnolo gentile aka sangiovese/5% canaiolo/5% mammolo sourced at 400 m asl. It matured for 24 months in 3000 L barrels then rested an additional six in bottle before release.

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Il Faggeto ‘Pietra del Diavolo’ 2015

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano $24.95 14.0% alcohol

Expect a delectable complex nose—milk chocolate-covered black cherry, star anise, clove, leather and truffle—with this noble red irresistible to taste. This is full-bodied with evolved harmonious flavours of dry cherry, prune, roasted hazelnut and cocoa powder, all framed in noticeable yet ripe tannin. This is expertly balanced with a nice lingering finish pointing to dry fruit and savoury herb, the perfect combination to pair with aged cheese or grilled rack of lamb. (Louise Boutin)