Red Wines

Clean and bright; ruby red with violet tones. On the nose this wine shows medium intensity, complex aromas combining ripe fruit notes with spices and balsamic hints from its aging. The palate is well structured, harmonic with tannins from the oak and a long lasting aftertaste.

This is a dedication to the favourite Barossa blend of the old guns, from their proud sons. The classic Barossa ‘Claret’ is the marrying of our region’s great varietals, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. From an early age we learnt to appreciate and respect this traditional Barossa wine style as a true example of varietal harmony. The fruit is handpicked at optimum ripeness and flavour profile ensuring overall balance before being gently destemmed to keep as many whole berries and then open fermented for a minimum of five days with the juice being pumped over the skins twice daily to maximize oxygenation and purity of fermentation. Once the wine is dry it is then gently basket pressed minimizing the extraction of harsh extractive tannins. Matured for 12 months in seasoned French oak barriques.

This wine is made in the Passe-Tour-Grains style and was the result of many years experimenting with whole bunch ferments and lighter style wines that have complex flavours.  Now 65% whole bunch fermented, we pick the Pinot Noir five days earlier than the Gamay.  The Pinot is cold soaked for four days and ferments begin together.  Half the Gamay is fermented for an extended period of four days to add variation and complexity.  The wine is aged for six months in old French and Hungarian oak before being bottled early.   A vibrant wine with bouquet of violet and cloves. Cherry, wild strawberry and raspberry flavours linger on the palate, finishing with fine chalk tannins.

A wondrous display of fragrance with stewed fruits, liquorice and charred wood and subtle spice characters. The palate offers great intensity with red currants, sour raspberry and white pepper. The oak and tannin integrate seamlessly into a silky finish.

A wild riot of fruit and fun here - fragrant aromatics of crushed raspberries, sour cherry, cardamom, basil, blood orange and grapefruit zest! There is also a subtle clove spice element, with some tangy mineral acidity, and chiseled tannins. Feathery yet structured, with persistent juicy fruit on the finish.

From vines aged more than 60 years old facing full south on sandy granitic soil. This vineyard is located higher on the slope than the Fleurie holdings of Metrat and vinification is made all in cement tanks with indigenous yeasts. Rich cherry and red fruit aromas with a touch of aniseed and exotic spices. Fresh full and deep palate backed by fine silky tannins. Showing beautifully already, this cuvee always displays excellent freshness with bright balanced acidity as a result of its higher cooler vineyard site.

Bright crimson colour, powerful floral bouquet of violet and rose, rounded off with a red berry finish.  Initial weight on the front palate creeps up on you to end with surprising length.  Cherries, aniseed and charred oak.  Soft subtle tannins allow this Nebbiolo to be consumed early; it will be exciting to see how it evolves over time. 

The Metrat family home and winery are to be found in the midst of the very highly regarded sector of Fleurie called “La Roilette”. La Roilette lies towards the bottom of the slope close to the border of Moulin a Vent and here the soil has a base of clay underneath the decomposed pink granite that is so typical of this area. This makes for wines that have a little more depth and structure than most other Fleuries. ‘A good Fleurie is a wine of medium weight which has an ample flavour absolutely crammed full with this fruit and is overwhelmingly seductive. Some Fleuries can be delicious as early as the spring after the vintage. Others need keeping for another 6 months.’ Clive Coates MW. The Fleuries from the Metrat family fall into this latter category and these wines are now showing very well with the old vines cuvee having a little more dimension and finesse than the traditional cuvee. The winemaking by the Metrat family is traditional with fermentation in cement and no artificial yeasts used, crop levels are kept low and hand harvested. The wines show great purity of fruit with ample perfume and silky texture. The extraction of tannins is gentle and although these wines are generally drunk young these wines from the Metrat family can confidently be enjoyed over 5 or 10 years if you can manage to keep your hands off them! From vines planted after 1945 this cuvee consists of the ‘younger vines’ mostly 40-60 years old planted in the heart of this outstanding lieu-dit La Roilette. This is also vinified in large cement vats with very gentle vinification of gently submerging the cap of the ferments giving very fine tannins. Each year we taste the different cuvees with Bernard we agonise about which cuvee of La Roilette to buy and for the tiny difference in price we usually opt for the vieilles vignes cuvee although in warmer years it is often the classic La Roilette cuvee which shows best in the first few years. This cuvee always has excellent depth and character right after bottling so in 2019 we have selected this cuvee - so you don't need to wait to enjoy this cuvee right now.

Adelaide Hills. Hand-picked in Lenswood. North-east facing slope. 30% whole bunch. Wild fermented.  Matured in French oak for 9 months, 20% new. Pinot noir grapes were handpicked in the cool of the early morning and delivered directly to the winery. 30% whole bunch was put in the bottom of each open fermenter with the balance destemmed directly on top. The fruit was left to cold soak for 4 days after which wild ferment began spontaneously. The ferments were gently hand plunged twice daily so as to maintain as many whole berries as possible. Creating bright juicy fruit characters and firm yet silky tannin structure. The wine was matured in a mixture of new French oak Barrique and 2-4 year seasoned French oak. The barrels were tasted blind by the winemaking team selectin a portion of 20% new oak. The final blend was racked out of barrel, settled in tank and bottled without filtration or fining.  TASTING NOTES: Deep crimson with purple hues. Deep and brooding. Roasted beetroot, bramble fruit and cured meats. Fine yet firm tannins provide great length on the palate. Accompanied with black cherry, truffle and dried herbs. 13.3%

2020 Domaine Charvin Côtes du Rhône Le Poutet 750 ml & 1500 ml - due June 2022’From 2010 81% Grenache (av age 40 yrs in 2012, youngest 2004, 1992, oldest 1920s), 7.5% Syrah (1985), 7.5% Mourvèdre (1985, a recently rented plot), 5% Carignan (1950s), before was 85% Grenache (av age 40 yrs in 2008, youngest 1992, oldest 1920s), 10% Syrah (1985), 5% Carignan (1950s) from near Maucoil, Quartier Champovin, Boislauzon, sandy, clay-limestone, some galet stones soils, light crush, whole bunch 15-20 day fermentation, daily pumping overs, press wine added, concrete vat raised 18 months, fined, unfiltered, up to 50,000 b’ ’(vat, bottling Feb 2022) red robe; the nose carries a light essence of cooked plum fruit, strawberry jam, pepper, peony. It’s wide, will emerge and evolve well. The palate is close-knit, herbal-peppery, lined with red cherry, brisk fruits, cut in the tannins that still stand a little on the outside. Its frame is a bit skeletal, can amplify. There is rocky powder emphasis on the close, the length good. I like its gradual upping of the tempo, depth. It has interest, hidden corners, is not an open book. “It’s very fresh, always had foundation. 2019 is powerful, but 2020 bears jolis fruits, has true class, an identity,” Laurent Charvin. 14.5°. From 2024, decant. 2038-40 Oct 2021’ 4 stars, John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkrhone.com, The Cradle Of The Rhône, October 2021. “While I wasn’t able to taste it for this report, Laurent also fashions a brilliant Côtes du Rhône that is well worth seeking out and cellaring.“ Jeb Dunnuck, March 2021

A deep red colour with hints of purple. Superbly intense and complex, the wine has notes of cassis, blackberry and blueberry fused harmoniously with notes of sweet spices like nutmeg and cloves. Ageing in French oak barrels gives it vanilla, and sweet tobacco. A dense wine with tannin structure that combines the elegance and concentration. The finish, thanks to the oak, is a wonderful mixture of violet and forest fruit.

Gamay grapes were handpicked in the cool of the early morning and delivered directly to the winery. With one fermenter of 100% destemmed berries. The fruit was left to cold soak for 4 days after which wild ferment began spontaneously.  The ferments were gently hand plunged tiwce daily so as to maintain as many whole berries as possible. Once dry it was pressed off to a single new and two second use French oak barriques. Where it spent 10 months in oak maturing. Bottled un-fined, unfiltered.  TASTING NOTES:Crimson with violet hues. A lifted, delicately perfumed and spicey Gamay. Prominent black forest fruits, cherry, rose petal and liquorice. Medium-bodied in style. The palate is concentrated and silky, with finely structured tannins, bright fruit characters, wonderful elegance and depth. Stored carefully, this wine will age gracefully for 8 years.  ALCOLHOL: 12.4%

A remarkably long-lived vintage of an already long-lived wine, the 2013 is big, textural and voluptuous. The nose is intense and oak-driven: blackcurrant, caramelised rhubarb and tomato leaf lead under layers of warm tobacco and dark chocolate. A full-bodied, savoury palate shows surprisingly tight, chalky tannin (even after three years in oak and seven in the cellar) that promises great things for those with the patience to mature it further.

Cork Cutters performs the traditional (Old World) roll of Wine Negociant to provide exceptional value wines, matched to the best vineyards. We have one rule when it comes to the vines and winemaking, Benign Neglect. Less is more. Less fertilizers, less pesticides and less intervention. 

Bright crimson colour, powerful floral bouquet of violet and rose, rounded off with a red berry finish.  Initial weight on the front palate creeps up on you to end with surprising length.  Cherries, aniseed and charred oak.  Soft subtle tannins allow this Nebbiolo to be consumed early; it will be exciting to see how it evolves over time. 

100% Pinot Noir from three vineyards in the Coal River Valley: the Brinktop Vineyard in Sorell, the Pressing Matters vineyard in Richmond and the Bubb + Pooley vineyard on White Kangaroo Road. The clonal mix is 115, MV6, 777 and 2051 (D5V12). The fruit was hand picked and wild-yeast fermented with 10% whole bunches over 25 days. Matured for 9 months in a mix of concrete (30%) and French oak puncheons (70%) with 20% new oak. Bottled unfined, so vegan friendly.

On the nose, juniper and black pepper awaken the senses. Garnets glitter in the glass, while flavors of cranberries and raspberries glisten on the palate. After aging in 2-year old American oak for 14 months, hints of marionberry pie wrap up a long and lingering finish.Certified by the California Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing

Produced in limited volumes, the Lazio Syrah is expertly balanced in sugar and phenolic. The immediate process from harvest to maceration brings out the natural freshness and sweetness in the grapes, resulting in an elegant flavour with a rich, intense colour.

Barossa Valley, South Australia Elderton Wines is proudly owned by the Ashmead family in Australia’s picturesque Barossa Valley and offers some of the best Barossa wines that the region has to offer. With a philosophy of winemaking that has stayed with us throughout the years, our vision is to create excellence from distinguished vineyard sites. Our flagship wines, the Command Shiraz and Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon are renowned single vineyard wines, sourced from vineyards that date back to 1894 and 1944 respectively.Today, Elderton runs three vineyards that highlight the individual terroirs of the region through a wide range of varietals; Nuriootpa supplies most of our flagship wines; Greenock provides the power and vines dating back to 1915; and finally, Eden Valley offers elegance. From the three vineyard sites, Elderton’s aim is to make balanced wines that can be enjoyed young but will stand the test of time.Barossa wines that showcase the very best of the region. The Elderton Command Shiraz has established an enviable reputation since the first vintage in 1984. It is often regarded as one of Australia’s best and most highly acclaimed wines. Accolades have come from the world over for vintages such as the 1992, which was chosen by the influential wine critic Robert Parker in his U.S. magazine the Wine Advocate as one of the world’s Top 80 wines. The 1995 Command was awarded 95 points by Wine Spectator and placed in their Top 100 wines; the 2000 was awarded 97 points by the same magazine and placed 27 in their Top 100. The 1996 Command won the trophy for the Best Shiraz in the World at the London International Wine and Spirit Competition. 96 POINTS - DAVE BROOKES, HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION 2023Rich and commanding as always, with intense dark plum, blackberry and black cherry fruits, fruitcake spice, black strap licorice, high-cocoa dark chocolate, cedar and roasting meats. Full bodied and pure with superb fruit depth, superfine gypsum-like tannins and a concentrated and balanced finish that lingers admirably.95 POINTS - ERIN LARKIN, THE WINE ADVOCATE ISSUEThis 2019 Command Single Vineyard Shiraz is hugely concentrated, coiled and long... The fruit has such intensity that a couple more years isn’t going to bother it in the least. By “a couple more years,” I am of course meaning 10 or 15 plus.94 POINTS - JAMESSUCKLING.COMA rich and dense wine but it remains compacted and very polished with plush tannins and a fresh, tangy finish... Really attractive now but can age well too. Winemakers Comments The winter preceding the 2018 vintage delivered sufficient rainfall to set up the vines for a healthy growing season. There was very little rain to interfere with ripening and this also allowed us to make all picking decisions based purely on fruit profile. From the river we see a gradual increase in clay content across the rows which corresponds with a decrease in vigour over the block. For this reason we harvest the block in several batches aiming to achieve the perfect balance in each batch. We harvested the 2018 Command Shiraz over three weeks from 7 - 22 March, bringing a little fruit in earlier with a tight acid line and the last fruit to come in with a deeper, more plush palate weight to balance. We used a combination of heading boards and standard open fermentation combined with a small amount of barrel fermentation to create the Command blend. Post pressing our Command batches were transferred to a combination of new French and American oak from coopers we know and trust. Here the wine went through malolactic fermentation and further ageing to allow the powerful fruit to come together with the tannin profile present in the fruit and oak. - Jules and Brock Style Rich, powerful and elegant Colour Deep crimson Aroma Lifted red fruits and plummy depth with hints of spicy oak Palate Rich and attractive spicy fresh ripe berries, supported by silky tannins that together provide a focused structure, and a powerful yet elegant finish flush with fruit to balance the tannins Maturation 30 months in new French and American puncheons Drink Drink now or cellar confidently for 15 - 20 years Alcohol/Volume 14.6%