95 Campbell Mattinson, 95 Nick Stock…”a killer wine”

Here’s another syrah from the Yarra Valley. There’s a link between this and the Mayer syrah. In 2015, Timo Mayer was working at Gembrook Hill jointly with Andrew Marks (of The Wanderer) where they shared Gembrook Hill’s winemaking roles. Buy one of each (Mayer and The Wanderer) and see what you think of the individual winemaking styles.

95 Jane Faulkner, 94 Mike Bennie…”so excellent to drink”

This is the latest release shiraz from Craiglee. I’ve spoken enough about the winery over the last few emails, so I’ll let the raters do the talking on the wine.

I’ve got 7 BOTTLES in MELBOURNE

You might also like to try the 2016 vintage – $80 – 10 btls in SG – 95+ Mike Bennie

96 Huon Hooke, 96 Jeni Port, 93 Mike Bennie…”a quite stunning shiraz”

This is the latest release ‘Mast’ from Mount Langi Ghiran’s famous Grampians vineyards. I’ve probably driven past the actual Mount Langi Ghiran well over a hundred times in my lifetime, travelling from Adelaide to Melbourne or vice-versa, plus quite a few trips to the Grampians (now also known by its Aboriginal name Gariwerd) but I’ve never diverted to the national park nor to the winery. Time to rectify that when travel restrictions are lifted. The ‘Mast’, together with Mount Langi Ghiran’s other premium shiraz ‘Talus’ and ‘Langi’ are exclusive to Tiger Wines in Singapore. The 2019 Talus will not be released until 2022.

24 BOTTLES in MELBOURNE

You might also like to try the 2017 vintage – $98 – 24 btls in AU – 96 Jane Faulkner (Halliday)

93 Huon Hooke…”deliciously fruity’

Best known for its ‘Kelly’s Reserve’ Pinot Noir, Home Hill’s ‘Kelly’s Reserve’ Chardonnay is often overlooked but it’s a decent drink too. But take note…this is on the leaner end of the chardonnay spectrum. Only exports to Tiger Wines in Singapore.

93 Nick Stock, 89 Huon Hooke…”elegant and nicely detailed”

This used to be known as the “Tasmania” pinot noir to indicate that it did not come from Chatto’s own vineyard in Glaziers Bay. The name’s been changed to Lutruwita to reflect the agreed Palawa kani (indigenous Tasmanian) name for Tasmania. It’s a blend of four sites in the north of Tasmania, namely Piper’s River (Bird), West Tamar (Glengarry), Tamar Valley (Marion’s) and East Coast (Maclean Bay). It’s also a blend of 5 differnt clones being114, 155, MV6, d5V12 and ‘unknown’.

From my own experience, Jim Chatto’s wines do not show well if drunk too early or straight from the botttle. If you do, that reductiveness that Huon Hooke refers to can be confronting, but give it some more time in the bottle and plenty of air after opening and you’ll start to see what the fuss over Chatto wines is about. Looks like it’s sold out at retail in Australia and as far as I am aware, it didn’t appear on Chatto’s website such was the low volume produced. Released at A$45 but I saw it offered at A$56 in Sydney. Probably the only chance to buy in Singapore.

8 BOTTLES in MELBOURNE.

Not rated

I bought this back in November 2018 so it’s had nearly 3 years of bottle ageing in my coolroom storage. It’s got its followers for sure. Previously listed at S$59, I’ve dropped the price to S$55 to better reflect slight, very slight improvements in freight rates and exchange rates.

14 BOTTLES in MELBOURNE

96 James Halliday, 81 Huon Hooke…”a glorious wine”

If you’ve visited Home Hill’s wonderful winery, you’ll know that there is indeed evidence of a small landslide above one section of the vineyard.

So, what’s going on here then? Halliday 96, Hooke 81. I can’t answer that, I can only add that I’ve had a couple of the 2018 Landslide and whilst I didn’t take notes and my memory is not the greatest, I’d recall if the wine was as bad as Huon’s review, and probably pulled it from sale. Some of you have probably also tried it as it was released by me in Singapore in January 2020 so if you’ve any feedback it would be much appreciated. If you buy it, and it’s not up to scratch, then I’ll refund.

Currently listed at S$59, I’ve dropped it to S$49 to tempt you to try.

I’ve got 10 BOTTLES in MELBOURNE

You might also like to try:

2017 – $53 – 5 btls in AU – JH95
2020 – $58 – 20 btls in SG – not rated.

98 James Halliday, 95 Campbell Mattinson, 94 Huon Hooke…”gorgeous flavour”

Still the current release although the 2019s are not far away.

Exclusive to Tiger Wines in Singapore.

97 Huon Hooke, 96 Jeni Port, 94 Mike Bennie…”a spectacular shiraz”

Exclusive to Tiger Wines in Singapore. Mount Langi Ghiran’s flagship wine that retails downunder for A$200 but it’s listed here at S$189. That’s the Singapore alcohol tax (S$9.77 for this bottle) working for you against the wine tax in Australia of around A$24. I’d give it at least a couple of years before “popping the cork” so to speak (it’s under screwcap).

24 BOTTLES in MELBOURNE

You might also like to try the 2018 vintage – $187 – 24 btls in MEL (but on their way to SG as we speak) – JH99, HH97

95+ Gary Walsh (The Wine Front); 91 Huon Hooke…”what a drink!”

I bought way too much of this a little over 4 years ago, if there’s such a thing as way too much Luke Lambert. His wines are typically gone within days of allocation. A quick look on WineSearcherPro revealed none for sale anywhere else at the moment and the last sale in Australia (2018) was at A$64, which is quite a tick up from its release price of A$34. Luke does have his following.

I’m down to my last bottles now so this might be the “last chance to see” as Douglas Adams would say.

I’ve got 5 BOTTLES in MELBOURNE, they can be here mid-May if ordered. No minimum purchase.

You might also like to try the 2014 vintage…S$57, 9 btls in Melbourne, Gary Walsh 95.