This is the latest release of the flagship wine of the Jackson Family Wines owned Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard.

Retails in Australia at A$175, but the Singapore tax model works in your favour at this price level, so only S$152 here.

Have a look at the ratings in the attachment…98 from Huon Hooke “a wonderful glass of red wine”, 96 from Halliday “its best days are ahead of it” and 96 from James Suckling “blended to perfection, a brilliant wine”. Campbell Mattinson of The Wine Front also writes:

“…it would want to be [the peak] given the asking price but the quality here is quite superb. It’s an accountant’s dream; strong in volume, balanced in nature, its forward estimates bright. Cloves, tar, blackcurrant/red currant and choc-mint, a swoosh of smoky oak. It displays both presence and decorum. You can bank on this maturing well. Drink 2024-2035+, 95 points.”

Back in the mid 1990s, Henschke Hill of Grace 1990 (and later 1991) was on sale at our local Harry Heaths in Glen Waverley at A$49 a bottle, limit of two per customer. That was lot of money for an Australian wine then. I’d go back every day and buy 2 bottles and now 20+ years later I’ve still got some and I’ve never regretted maxxing the credit card to get those HoGs. Now, I’m not saying that The Peake will perform like Hill of Grace (and who should care) but I do think you’ll look back in 20+ years time and recognise this as a real bargain. I don’t have to worry much as by then I’ll be pushing 90!

In stock and ready for delivery, this vintage is under cork.

You might also like to try these vintages of The Peake:

2012 – $155 – Halliday 97
2013 – $155 – Halliday 98
2014 – $155 – Huon Hooke 97
2015 – $159 – Robert Parker 97

Enjoy!

David Boxall

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NEW ARRIVALS IN MELBOURNE

MEADOWBANK VINEYARD
Derwent Valley, Tasmania

2018 Riesling – $50 – NYR (not yet rated)
2017 Chardonnay – $66 – Halliday 95
2018 Gamay – $64 – NYR
2017 Pinot Noir – $70 – Halliday 97

PRESSING MATTERS
Coal River Valley, Tasmania

2014 Pinot Noir – $66 – Gold Royal Hobart Wine Show
2015 Pinot Noir – $66 – Halliday 93
2017 “R0” Riesling – $51 – Halliday 95
2016 “R9” Riesling – $50 – Halliday 92
2016 “R69” Riesling – $49 – Halliday 96
2016 “R139” Riesling – $39 – Halliday 94

Another cracker from Stuart Dudine who delivers Rhone style wines from the Yarra Valley and beyond.

Here’s what Mike Bennie (of The Wine Front) had to say, writing for Wine Business Magazine:

“Alkimi is a relatively new producer for me but the wines are speaking my language. I like the dried herb and pepper overtones in this wine, and the more medium weight and savouriness to taste. It’s lively, vibrant shiraz (syrah!) with cranberry accented fruit character. Get amongst it,” – 93 points.

Stuart suggests matching this wine with protein rich dishes such as warm Cassoulet or a T-bone beef steak (Stuart’s obviously used to beef prices in Australia) and reckons “the wine is built to go the distance and will continue to drink well for 15 or more years”.

Enjoy.

David Boxall

The 2016 Syrah from the Warramunda Vineyard is also available although it’s not yet been rated – $52

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LAST CHANCE FOR DELIVERIES – 16 DAYS TO GO
I’ll be heading downunder from 15th December to 6th January inclusive to spend time with friends and relatives over the festive season. I’ll still be checking emails and orders can be placed but there will be no deliveries in Singapore during this period. Thanks for your understanding!

Well, here’s another wine that I bought some time ago (September 2015), stuck it away in my coolroom, and promptly forgot about it. This is the first time I’ve done an email on it. Patience has been rewarded though as it’s only a little over a year into its drinking window of 2017-2025+.

Gary Walsh describes it as “painting with watercolours rather than housepaint”. I don’t know about you, but I reckon in my younger days I had some wines that tasted pretty close to housepaint.

Luke’s Syrahs are some of my favourite wines. I was introduced via the 2010 Reserve Syrah which was a stunner. “Fine bones” is an apt description.

In Melbourne, and can come up w/b 19 November if ordered, no minimum, 6 bottles to go.

Why not try a vertical? Here’s what I’ve got of Luke’s in addition to the 2014 Syrah:

2015 Syrah – 10 btls – S$56 – Gary Walsh 95
2016 Syrah – 7 btls – S$59 – Gary Walsh 95
2017 Syrah – 8 btls – S$58 – Gary Walsh 96, Jeremy Oliver 94 – NEW RELEASE

Enjoy!

David Boxall

Timo Mayer has retired from being joint winemaker at Gembrook Hill and is now focussing solely on his own vineyard at “Bloody Hill”, his family’s property on the slopes of Mt Toolebewong near Healesville.

I brought this wine up in the second half of 2016 but I’m only now getting around to promoting it. I guess the advantage of that is that it sits in my cellars in Singapore getting some nice age on it rather than cluttering up space in your wine fridge. It’s now smack bang in the middle of its drinking window.

Other Mayer Chardonnay’s to try: (both in Melbourne)

2014 S$71 – Gary Walsh (The Wine Front) 95
2017 S$73 – not yet rated

Cheers!

David Boxall

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NEW ARRIVALS IN MELBOURNE

CRAIGLEE, Sunbury:
2014 Shiraz – 10 bottles – S$70 – Gary Walsh (TWF) 95

KATE HILL, Tasmania:
2014 Pinot Noir – 9 bottles – S$55 – Halliday 94

POONAWATTA, Eden Valley:
2018 “The Eden” Riesling – 11 bottles – S$47 – not yet rated

ROB HALL, Yarra Valley:
2017 Cabernets – 9 bottles – S$46 – Halliday 96
2017 Pinot Noir – 10 bottles – S$47 – Halliday 95
2017 “Harriet’s Vineyard” Pinot Noir – 9 bottles – S$57 – Halliday 96