Tom Cullity 2019: One of Australia's Greatest Cabernet Blends

Neal Martin boldly declares the 2024s are the best yet and can compete with the best Syrahs from the Northern Rhône.

Damascene 2024's

97 Points - Neal Martin

"Year by year, Damascene is getting better and better. Wines such as the 2024 Stellenbosch Syrah represent some of the finest ever produced across the Cape. That particular Syrah, unsurprisingly from the renowned Karibib vineyard, is one I would confidently insert into a lineup of top Northern Rhône wines, such is its complexity and finesse. In fact, several wines in the lineup rank among the absolute best of my entire trip, a testament to Damascene's uncompromising approach and Smit's winemaking chops"

We've been raving about these wines since we sat down for lunch with winemaker Jean Smit. The 2024s are looking to be one of his best yet.

Damascene has quickly become one of South Africa's most exciting modern wineries, celebrated for its precision, elegance, and terroir-driven wines. Founded in 2017 by winemaker Jean Smit and businessman David Curl, Damascene focuses on cool-climate Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and site-expressive Chenin Blanc from top Cape vineyards. With minimal intervention and a focus on purity, the wines capture energy, texture, and a vivid sense of place. In a short time, Damascene has earned international acclaim and a devoted following.

Jean Smit's winemaking journey spans some of the world's most renowned estates. He trained under Andy Smith at DuMOL in California, refined his craft with Stéphane Ogier in Côte Rôtie, returned to California at Larkmead, and back in South Africa, he gained invaluable experience at Rustenberg before leading the winemaking team at Boekenhoutskloof for nearly ten years.

In his 2023 South Africa report, Tim Atkin elevated Damascene to his coveted 'First Growth' category, placing the estate alongside the Cape's elite names, including Porseleinberg and Sadie Family. This is especially impressive as winemaker Jean Smit is considered to be one generation after Eben Sadie.

The 2024s have been received incredibly well by both Neal Martin and Monica Larner from the Wine Advocate with them both praising the vintage and the winery in their 2024 write ups:

"Smit's talent, combined with top-grade fruit, either from their own estate or purchased, has rapidly made Damascene one of the most respected producers in the Cape." - Neal Martin, Vinous

"Damascene is the highly focused project of Jean Smit, an exacting perfectionist known for producing some of the Cape's most thrilling wines" - Monica Larner, Wine Advocate

Today we have the new release and we suspect that by the time Tim Atkin releases his 2024 scores in September, these will be sold out worldwide.

Fan of Syrah from the Cape? Then get them whilst you can.

Damascene Stellenbosch Syrah 2024

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€42.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

ETA 2-3 weeks

97 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2024 Syrah Stellenbosch comes from the Karibib Vineyard on granite soil, matured in 2,000-litre Austrian oak. This has a more subtle, reserved nose compared to the Swartland Syrah, black olive and seaweed infusing the mainly black fruit that blossoms in the glass. The palate is very pure, a little grippier in style, plenty of body and depth with a hit of peppercorns towards the detailed and persistent finish. The best of the three Syrahs from Damascene this vintage and a wine surely destined to age gracefully over the next 20 to 25 years.

95+ Points | Wine Advocate, Monica Larner

The Damascene 2024 Stellenbosch Syrah shows greater richness and dark-fruited volume compared to the Ceres Plateau bottling, delivering a broader, more blocky and muscular expression. There is depth and density here, yet the wine remains controlled and site-aware. Stellenbosch's warmer pockets and granitic soils naturally build mid-palate weight, shaping a Syrah of substance and authority. Production totals 3,720 bottles.

Damascene Swartland Syrah 2024

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€42.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

ETA 2-3 weeks

95 Points | Wine Advocate, Monica Larner

The Damascene 2024 Swartland Syrah, released in 4,230 numbered bottles, is dark and concentrated, with a plush, velvety texture and a sweeter, fleshed-out nose. Peppery stems, black fruit and charred aromas mingle with notes of dark bread crust, giving the wine a Syrah identity that feels confident and complete. The wine sees 75% whole-cluster fruit. Swartland's iron-rich, heat-retentive soils deepen color and amplify savory complexity while maintaining elegant texture.

95 Points | Vinous, Neal Martin

The 2024 Syrah Swartland comes from three sites, one échalas, predominantly on schist and shale soils, 75% whole cluster and matured in 2,000-litre Austrian foudres. Wow, this has a stunning bouquet with camphor-tinged black and blueberry that bursts from the glass, yet there is still real elegance here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, silky in texture (totally different to the Ceres Plateau cuvée that is more powdery), a little sweeter towards the finish yet structured with a dash of cracked black pepper and a hint of garrigues. Deeply impressive.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

Shop all Damascene → | Browse Stellenbosch → | Browse Swartland →

Single bottles of 1x150cl OWC

2020 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc

98 Points - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

"the 2020 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc opens with very serious scents of preserved lemons, kumquat, cedar, and chalk dust, leading to a fantastically fun undercurrent of passion fruit, orange blossoms, and sea spray. The palate is so, so tightly wound with tight-knit citrus, tropical, and mineral notes wrapped up in a silken-textured, racy frame, finishing with epic length and a whole firework display of minerals. What a fascinating wine!"

Domaine de Chevalier is one of Pessac-Léognan's true jewels, an estate that consistently overdelivers in both red and white. Hidden away in a forested enclave near Léognan, its gravelly soils and cooler microclimate create wines of finesse, freshness and complexity. Under the stewardship of Olivier Bernard since 1983, the domaine has earned a stellar reputation for its elegant, age-worthy reds and benchmark dry whites, crafted with precision, balance and a deep respect for tradition and terroir.

The 2020 vintage produced outstanding dry whites in Pessac-Léognan, combining the richness of a warm growing season with vibrant acidity. The best wines offer remarkable concentration, mineral precision and balance, making them superb both in youth and after decades of ageing.

The 2020 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc is a superb blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, revealing preserved lemon, passion fruit, pear and subtle spice. Silky yet tightly wound, it combines creamy texture with chalky minerality, vibrant freshness and remarkable precision. Powerful, refined and intensely complex, it ranks among Bordeaux's finest dry white wines.

Today we have a small parcel of single magnums packed in 1x150cl OWC at a really fantastic price of €155* In Bond per magnum.

If you're looking to add a truly special bottle to your cellar, few white Bordeauxs are more deserving of a place.

Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 2020

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€155* In Bond per MAGNUM

98 Points | The Wine Independent, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

A blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Semillon, the 2020 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc opens with very serious scents of preserved lemons, kumquat, cedar, and chalk dust, leading to a fantastically fun undercurrent of passion fruit, orange blossoms, and sea spray. The palate is so, so tightly wound with tight-knit citrus, tropical, and mineral notes wrapped up in a silken-textured, racy frame, finishing with epic length and a whole firework display of minerals. What a fascinating wine!

96-98 Points | Wine Spectator

Barrel Sample. This classic white wine reveals impressive potential as it unfolds. Along with its enveloping white fruits and crisp citrus it also has a wrought texture that will push it forward for the long term.

96-97 Points | James Suckling

A dense, creamy DC white with lots of rich cooked-apple, mineral, cream and praline character. It's full and very layered with chewy intensity and a long, bitter-lemon and almost honey finish. Pretty phenolic tension, too.

96 Points | Jeff Leve

Ripe, lush, and opulent, the wine opens to a wealth of fragrances, flowers, spice, honey, vanilla, green apples, lemon rind, mango, and pink grapefruit aromatics are easy to find. On the palate the wine is silky, lush, and fresh, finishing with yellow citrus and creamy green apples. You can enjoy this beauty on release, but it has the ability to age as well. Drink from 2023-2036.

95 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

Another terrific vintage for this wine, the 2020 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc unwinds in the glass with aromas of nectarine, pear, nutmeg, passionflower and hazelnuts. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and seamless, with racy acids and a bright, pure profile, it nips at the heels of the brilliant and somewhat racier, more refined 2019.

95 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2020 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc marries power and tension so well. Lemon confit marzipan, chamomile, dried orchard fruit and crushed flowers all build effortlessly into the expansive, beautifully resonant finish. Above all else, the Blanc is a wine of savory/mineral complexity and structure. I wouldn't dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. Tasted two times.

95 Points | Decanter, Jane Anson

An excellent white with precision, flesh and confidence, sure to age well. A ton of white pear and some soft pepper spice keeps up the pace and lift from beginning to end, and the intensity continues to build after the wine has left the palate - a sure sign of something special happening. A yield of 43hl/ha. Tasted twice. Unusual for me to score the red and white Chevalier at the same level, but both are extremely successful in this vintage.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

Shop all Domaine de Chevalier → | Browse Pessac-Léognan →

A top and very high-scoring release of one of Italy's most iconic wineries.

Produttori Barbaresco Riserva 2021

98 Points - Antonio Galloni

"This is a superb set of new releases from the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative. The Produttori remain the single most important producer in Barbaresco because of the quality of their wines and the scale of their deep reach into many markets around the world. The Produttori's 2021 Riservas are fabulous. It's an extremely consistent vintage across all nine wines, something that does not always happen"

Barbaresco is often described as the more elegant counterpart to Barolo, producing Nebbiolo with haunting aromatics, refined tannins and remarkable longevity. Among its finest ambassadors is Produttori del Barbaresco, whose single-vineyard Riservas remain some of Piedmont's greatest expressions of terroir and exceptional value.

Each Riserva comes from one of Barbaresco's historic Crus and is vinified traditionally with long macerations, malolactic fermentation in stainless steel and 30 months of ageing in large oak casks. The result is a collection of wines that beautifully express the unique personality of each vineyard while offering outstanding ageing potential.

The 2021 vintage is shaping up to be one of the great modern releases for Barbaresco. Antonio Galloni described it as an exceptionally consistent set of Riservas across all nine Crus, with even traditionally lighter sites showing unusual depth and structure. Careful selection reduced production, while the vintage's balance of concentration, freshness and precision has drawn comparisons with the outstanding 2016. For many collectors, this is a vintage not to miss.

As with any great vineyard, certain Crus naturally suit different palates. Produttori's vineyards are often viewed along a stylistic spectrum, beginning with the lightest and most elegant expressions before progressing towards the most powerful and structured wines. We've highlighted in bold the Crus available as part of today's offer:

Pora - 95 Points
Pajè - 96 Points
Ovello - 96 Points
Rio Sordo - 96 Points
Asili - 98 Points
Rabajà - 97+ Points
Muncagota - 95 Points
Montefico - 97 Points
Montestefano - 97 Points

These Crus are not only benchmarks for Barbaresco but also among the purest expressions of Nebbiolo anywhere in Piedmont. Each vineyard tells its own story through its soils, aspect and microclimate, and few producers capture those differences as clearly as Produttori del Barbaresco.

This is an opportunity to secure some of the region's most celebrated Riservas from one of the finest vintages in recent memory, wines that will reward patience for decades to come.

We couldn't fit all the Crus / wines below, so check out the website for all the available wines.

Produttori del Barbaresco Assortment Case 2021

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€595* inc NL VAT per 9x75cl OWC case

ETA 2 weeks

Want to line up all the Crus side by side and taste through them all? The Assortment Case 2021 brings together a bottle of all nine celebrated Riservas: Asili, Montefico, Montestefano, Muncagota, Ovello, Pajè, Pora, Rabajà and Rio Sordo. A unique opportunity to explore the full range of Barbaresco's greatest Crus from one of the finest vintages of the modern era. The assortment cases are rarer, so these do come with a small premium.

Produttori Barbaresco Asili Riserva 2021

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€59.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

This cuvée is 'On Allocation' for those who support the rest of the range. This is the joint highest ever score the winery has received from Vinous. Limited bottles like all of the range.

ETA 2 weeks

98 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is an alluring beauty that melds together the signatures of this site with the structure of the year at this address. Floral, bright and bursting with energy, the Asili is a star. Blood orange, kirsch, red-toned fruit, cedar, mint and spice rush from the glass. Here, too, readers will have to be patient. This is pure and total sensuality.

Produttori Barbaresco Montefico Riserva 2021

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€59.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

ETA 2 weeks

97 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is a tense, vibrant wine. Whereas in most vintages the Montefico can be a touch austere, the 2021 has plenty of energy, but also the textural depth to pull it all together. In that sense, the Montefico is a terrific example of the vintage here. Its concentration and persistence are the stuff dreams are made of. Hints of sage, graphite, chalk and mint explode on the back end.

Produttori Barbaresco Ovello Riserva 2021

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€59.50* inc NL VAT per bottle

ETA 2 weeks

96 Points | Vinous, Antonio Galloni

The 2021 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello sizzles with tension right out of the gate. Orange peel, mint, chalk, white pepper and crushed rocks are all finely sketched. Bright and sinewy to the core, the 2021 captures the purest essence of Ovello. It's another stellar wine in this range. The Ovello will appeal most to readers who like tense wines.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

Shop all Produttori del Barbaresco → | Browse Barbaresco →

Château Figeac 2019

"My admiration for recent vintages of Château Figeac is clear for everyone to read. Winemaker Frédéric Faye has done a fantastic job in recent years. I always knew that this property could reach the highest level based on my experience with older vintages"

- Neal Martin

100 Points - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

"Composed of 36% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Merlot, the 2019 Figeac is deep garnet-purple colored. It needs considerable swirling to coax out its alluring perfume of redcurrant jelly, juicy blackcurrants, and blackberries, with underlying suggestions of candied violets, chocolate box, fragrant earth, and lavender plus a touch of crushed rocks. [...] With its energy, structure, and incredible depth, truly, this is a towering triumph"

Château Figeac is one of Saint-Émilion's most historic and revered estates, with origins dating back to the Roman era. Its rare gravel-dominated soils favour Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot in near equal measure, producing wines of remarkable freshness, finesse and longevity. Today, Figeac stands among Bordeaux's most elegant and age-worthy wines.

Under Frédéric Faye, Château Figeac has entered a remarkable new chapter. Investment in meticulous vineyard management and cutting-edge cellar technology has refined the estate's already exceptional terroir, producing wines of greater precision and purity while remaining true to Figeac's classical style. Its promotion to Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2022 confirmed its place among Bordeaux's elite.

The 2019 Château Figeac is a magnificent expression of both estate and vintage. Combining Cabernet-driven freshness with the richness of the warm growing season, it reveals layers of cassis, graphite, violets and cedar wrapped around beautifully refined tannins. Powerful yet effortlessly elegant, it is one of the modern greats from this iconic Saint-Émilion estate, with decades of ageing potential.

At €165* In Bond per bottle, this feels like a very sensible entry point into one of Bordeaux's most exciting estates, particularly given the quality of the 2019 vintage. By comparison, standout vintages such as 2022 have been released at over €200 In Bond per bottle, making the value here difficult to ignore. We have loose bottles and 6x75cl OWC cases on the website which will arrive after the summer break/harvest in October.

Château Figeac 2019

Buy Château Figeac 2019

€165* In Bond per bottle

100 Points | The Wine Independent, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

Composed of 36% Cabernet Franc, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Merlot, the 2019 Figeac is deep garnet-purple colored. It needs considerable swirling to coax out its alluring perfume of redcurrant jelly, juicy blackcurrants, and blackberries, with underlying suggestions of candied violets, chocolate box, fragrant earth, and lavender plus a touch of crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a mind-blowing array of layers with exceptionally ripe, fine-grained tannins and jaw-dropping tension, leading to a fantastically persistent mineral and floral-tinged finish that makes your heart stop. With its energy, structure, and incredible depth, truly, this is a towering triumph.

100 Points | Falstaff

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle watery rim. Nuances of oak, dark forest fruit, a hint of cassis and liquorice, fine tobacco nuances, spices, orange zest, still a little reserved. Complex, cherries, well-integrated tannins, mineral and lasting, elegant style with a fine fruity finish, salty on the aftertaste, delicate liquorice in the finish, immensely harmonious, absolute ageing potential, however, patience is required. Leave to mature.

99 Points | Antonio Galloni

The 2019 Figeac is without question one of the wines of the vintage. All the promise it showed as a young barrel sample, is all there in bottle, too. Estate Director Frédéric Faye crafted a towering, statuesque Figeac built on vertical energy and a feeling of vibrancy that never lets up. Deep layers of red/purplish fruit, cedar, tobacco, mint and dried flowers are framed by a super-classic expression of structure that keeps things in balance. There is a bit more Cabernet Franc in this year's blend, and that definitely comes through. Readers who can find the 2019 should not hesitate, as it is truly majestic.

99 Points | James Suckling

This is a really beautiful red with crushed-berry, plum, bark, mushroom and earth character. It's full and creamy-textured with lots of tannins, but they are integrated and polished and flow across the palate. So much depth and intensity, yet there's underlying grace and class. Try after 2025.

99 Points | Wine Enthusiast, Roger Voss

The wine is seriously rich with solid tannins. The tannins are softening into a more velvet texture that suits this style of wine well. It is giving a smoky character to the wine as well as richness. This is a great wine, very aromatic and concentrated. Drink from 2027.

99 Points | Jeff Leve

Not quite at the level of the over the moon 2016, but not too far either, this sublime gem is almost opaque in color. This is so concentrated, silky, rich and decadent, it's almost off the charts. Blackberry, espresso, black currants, licorice, flowers and wet earth with cherry blossoms crowd into the perfume. Fresh, vibrant, lively and structured to age and evolve for decades, the wine ends with waves of perfectly ripe, vibrant, red and black fruits that simply do not want to quit! Drink from 2035-2060.

98 Points | Neal Martin

The 2019 Figeac was bottled in mid-July. Deep in color, with a bouquet that is initially backward and reticent. It requires a few minutes to shake off the veil of oak from the élevage. As I observed last year, the Cabernet Franc is very expressive this year, contributing blackberry and graphite notes and lending a more Left Bank-style bouquet. The palate is very fresh from the first moment, and very well structured, delivering layers of black fruit struck through by a fine bead of acidity. The tannins are very fine, and that crucial saline element appears toward the persistent finish. This is overtly classic in style and will require cellaring to reveal its full potential. But what potential! Chapeau, Frédéric Faye and team Manoncourt.

98 Points | Jane Anson

Fragrant straight from the first moment, this is a great Figeac, with waves of concentrated flavour. The focus is on graphite, salinity, saffron, crushed stone, smoked earth, builds gently through the palate, and has the finesse and elegance that you find in the best vintages of this wine. Poised, creamy, carefully carved out fruits, full of life. Clearly extremely measured with the extraction. 100% new oak. Frederic Faye CEO, with both Michel Rolland and Thomas Duclos as consultants.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

Browse: Château Figeac → | Saint-Émilion Grand Cru → | Bordeaux Wines →

Few winemakers have done more to elevate Spanish white wine than Rafael Palacios. After leaving his family's renowned Rioja estate, he settled in Valdeorras with a singular vision: to reveal the full potential of Godello.

Rafael Palacios Valdeorras As Sortes 2023

98 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

“A stunner, the 2023 As Sortes Val Do Bibei is textured, lengthy, complex, and resplendent in natural acidity, tasting of wet stone. Fully developed, this medium-bodied white is powerful yet delicate, a gorgeous contrast of brawn and beauty that should age well another 10-15 years”

96 Points - Wine Advocate

“The 2023 As Sortes reminded me of the 2021 vintage. It's perfumed, elegant and harmonious, with ripeness, elegance and freshness… There's a sense of purity and precision that I like very much, while the texture has very fine granularity”

Before Rafael Palacios, Godello rarely featured in conversations about the world's great white wines. Through meticulous vineyard work, low yields and a relentless focus on terroir, he demonstrated that the variety could produce wines of extraordinary precision, minerality and ageing potential. Today, As Sortes is widely regarded as one of Spain's finest white wines.

As Sortes is sourced from a handful of old-vine Godello vineyards on the granite slopes of the Bibei Valley. Fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged on its fine lees in large French oak barrels, it combines crystalline minerality, vibrant acidity and layered texture.

For those unfamiliar with the style, imagine something between a fine Puligny-Montrachet and an Austrian Smaragd Grüner Veltliner. It has the mineral drive and elegance of great Chardonnay, but with its own unmistakable personality.

2023 was a fantastic vintage for Rafael Palacios, earning a joint highest-ever 98 points from Jeb Dunnuck alongside 96 points from Wine Advocate.

We have a tiny parcel available today at a fantastic price of €47.50* In Bond per bottle.

If you've never tried a truly great Godello, this is the place to start.

Rafael Palacios Valdeorras As Sortes 2023

€47.50* IB per bottle

Add to Cellar - BUY

ETA 2 weeks

98 Points | Jeb Dunnuck, Virginie Boone

A stunner, the 2023 As Sortes Val Do Bibei is textured, lengthy, complex, and resplendent in natural acidity, tasting of wet stone. Like an Austrian Gruner Veltliner, it has structure and subtle fruit full of mineral-driven citrus and savory tones. Fully developed, this medium-bodied white is powerful yet delicate, a gorgeous contrast of brawn and beauty that should age well another 10-15 years.

96 Points | Wine Advocate, Luis Gutiérrez

The 2023 As Sortes reminded me of the 2021 vintage. It's perfumed, elegant and harmonious, with ripeness, elegance and freshness, with 14% alcohol and superb acidity that make it balanced and lifted up. It comes from six small vineyards ("sorte" locally) planted at the end of the 1970s and 1980s on the north face of the Bibei Valley at 680 meters above sea level on sandy granite soils that give the wine finesse and elegance. It fermented in 500-liter French oak barrels with indigenous yeasts and matured in those barrels with the fine lees for eight months. There's a sense of purity and precision that I like very much, while the texture has very fine granularity. It's very tasty and clean. 23,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2024.

96 Points | James Suckling

Very mineral and austere, this shows exceptional definition through acidity, taut texture and a saline lift that drives a finely detailed finish with restrained stone-fruit ripeness. From five north-facing parcels. Decomposed granite soils add remarkable clarity and precision. Fermented in 500-liter French oak barrels. Drink now or hold.

95 Points | Vinous, Joaquín Hidalgo

The 2023 Godello As Sortes Val do Bibei comes from Valdeorras. It opens with gentle primary aromas of pear and linden blossom, intertwined with soft herbal notes and a hint of anise, all set against a delicate backdrop of oak, where the foudre adds nuance. Sleek, supple and marked by elegance and poise, the palate is intense yet slightly compact, with a fine talc-like texture on the finish. This is a well-crafted and complex expression.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change. Prices are quoted In Bond, without local duties and taxes which are applicable prior to delivery. All wines are offered subject to remaining unsold and final confirmation.

Buy more Rafael Palacios wines → | Browse Valdeorras wines → | Browse Spain wines →

Coleraine never seems to stay in stock for long, so we're pleased to have a fresh parcel of Te Mata Coleraine arriving now in July.

Te Mata Coleraine 2023

98 Points - Wine Advocate

“With raspberry, iodine, crushed shells, nori, pressed flowers, new lead pencil, tobacco, bramble and cassis, it is magnificent. Raw cocoa and the gentle and subtle creep of game/gristle/blood and sweet marrow indicate its direction later in life. I love this wine. I think I write that every time I taste it. ”

Few wineries have shaped New Zealand's fine wine story quite like Te Mata. Founded in 1896, this historic Hawke's Bay estate has spent more than a century producing wines of remarkable elegance, longevity and consistency. Family-owned and unwavering in its pursuit of quality, Te Mata is widely regarded as the country's benchmark estate. Robert Parker has described it as "New Zealand's greatest winery", while Decanter has hailed it as "New Zealand's first growth."

At the heart of the estate is Coleraine, New Zealand's most celebrated red wine. A refined blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, it has earned comparisons to the great wines of Bordeaux and even been dubbed "New Zealand's Sassicaia" by James Suckling. Combining cassis, graphite and cedar with remarkable purity and structure, it is a wine built to evolve gracefully for decades.

The 2023 is another outstanding release. Led by Cabernet Sauvignon, it balances concentration with precision, delivering layers of blackcurrant, fine graphite minerality and beautifully sculpted tannins. Awarded 98 points by Wine Advocate, it is a compelling reminder of why Coleraine remains the benchmark for fine New Zealand wine.

Comparison of top 2023's scored by the Wine Advocate:

You should always take comparisons like these with a pinch of salt, after all, Coleraine comes from New Zealand rather than Bordeaux. Even so, it's remarkable that the 2023 received the same score as Haut-Brion and outscored both Lafite Rothschild and Château Margaux from the 2023 vintage.

At just €65* In Bond per bottle, Coleraine continues to offer extraordinary value compared with the world's leading Cabernet-based wines. For collectors looking to add one of the Southern Hemisphere's true icons to the cellar, this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Te Mata Coleraine 2023

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€65* In Bond per bottle

98 Points | Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin

The 2023 Coleraine comprises 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. This cuvée is not made to a recipe, rather as a selection of the best from each vintage. In 2023, due to the weather induced by Cyclone Gabrielle, which landed in early February (the second or third), the strongest performer was the Cabernet Sauvignon due to bunch architecture, small berries, thick skins and, in this case, the low-vigor rootstocks and the chicory in between the rows. Te Mata invests heavily into research and development in the vineyards, which really assists in a vintage like 2023, which imposes challenges. The elevation in all aspects of this wine from the already tremendously impressive Awatea is significant. Here, the tannins have a finer grain, the fruit is more persistent and the package is far more integrated and seamless. With raspberry, iodine, crushed shells, nori, pressed flowers, new lead pencil, tobacco, bramble and cassis, it is magnificent. Raw cocoa and the gentle and subtle creep of game/gristle/blood and sweet marrow indicate its direction later in life. I love this wine. I think I write that every time I taste it. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.

98 Points | Wine Orbit, Sam Kim

Stunning bouquet...engaging and captivating. The palate exhibits immense concentration and presence, superbly enhanced by silky texture and layers of chalky tannins. The acidity is perfectly pitched and provides freshness to this long-living wine. A wine of meticulous precision and undeniable sophistication.

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

Buy more Te Mata wines → | Browse Hawke's Bay wines → | Browse New Zealand wines →

Decanter recently blind tasted 147 of the leading wines from Pomerol and Saint-Emilion, awarding only 3 the coveted "Exceptional" rating. One of them was the under-the-radar Château Saint-Georges (Côte Pavie), a tiny estate nestled between Château Pavie and the legendary Château Ausone.

Best of all, despite its 98-point score and extraordinary terroir, it remains remarkably affordable at just €29.50* In Bond per bottle. Don't miss this one.

Chateau Saint Georges Cote Pavie 2020

98 Points - Decanter

"This relatively under-the-radar St-Emilion estate has been owned by the same family since 1873. The majority of its vines lie on the prestigious clay-limestone slopes nestled between Château Pavie and Château La Gaffelière. Beguiling nose. Plenty of grip but it's stony and mineral, with a real creaminess. Such a lot going on. Joyful but still a compact, muscular wine with plenty of ageability"

Château Saint-Georges (Côte Pavie) is one of Saint-Emilion's hidden treasures. The five-hectare estate entered an exciting new era in 2016 under the guidance of Stéphane Derenoncourt's team, combining generations of tradition with a renewed focus on precision, elegance and expressing this exceptional terroir.

Saint-Georges occupies an enviable position on the famed Côte Pavie limestone slope, directly beside Château Pavie and within touching distance of Château Ausone and Château La Gaffelière. Its south-facing clay-limestone soils deliver freshness, structure and minerality, placing this tiny estate among some of the most prestigious neighbours in all of Bordeaux.

Decanter Blind Tasting Results:

Decanter recently blind-tasted 147 leading wines from Saint-Emilion and Pomerol, awarding only three the coveted "Exceptional" distinction, with Château Saint-Georges among them.

The 2020 combines layers of black cherry, graphite, violets and crushed stone with refined tannins and a distinctive chalky freshness. It is a superb expression of the Côte Pavie terroir and one of Bordeaux's great under-the-radar success stories.

The quality should not come as a surprise; the estate has always possessed exceptional vineyards, but since the arrival of the Derenoncourt team in 2016, the wines have reached another level entirely.

We have a small parcel of 3x75cl OWC cases available, coming directly from the estate, at a remarkable €29.50* In Bond per bottle. If you enjoy discovering tomorrow's stars before everyone else catches on, this is a bottle well worth securing.

Chateau Saint Georges Cote Pavie 2020

Buy Chateau Saint Georges Cote Pavie 2020

€29.50* In Bond per bottle

98 Points | Decanter, Tasted May 2026

This relatively under-the-radar St-Emilion estate has been owned by the same family since 1873. The majority of its vines lie on the prestigious clay-limestone slopes nestled between Château Pavie and Château La Gaffelière. Led by Philippe Masson since 2016, it has entered a dynamic new chapter with consultancy from Derenoncourt Vignerons Consultants' Hannah Fiegenschuh, plus a new vat room, operational from 2020, and the creation of a special 100% Merlot cuvée, Clos 1873. Given its location and consistent quality, this estate really deserves to be better known. Georgie Hindle: "Beguiling nose. Plenty of grip but it's stony and mineral, with a real creaminess. Such a lot going on. Joyful but still a compact, muscular wine with plenty of ageability." Arthur Coggill: "Really inviting, with ripe Morello cherry, cedar and cumin spice. A racy little number, but you don't notice it as the whole vehicle is so well tuned, with its perfectly engineered tannins." Tom King: "Cherry and mulberry nose, delicate touches of leafy, woody character. Layers of flavour on a perfectly poised palate, suave tannin texture and a long finish."

95 Points | Jeb Dunnuck

"From a château that has been on the rise over the past decade, the 2020 Château Saint Georges (Côte Pavie) is based on 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, aged in just 30% new barrels, that comes from a gorgeous terroir on the Côte Pavie, just to the west of Château Pavie. Gorgeous red and black fruits, crushed stone, spring flowers, and hints of leather define the bulk of the aromatics, and it's full-bodied, with a deep, layered mid-palate, nicely integrated oak, and enough tannins to warrant a solid 5-7 years of bottle age. A gorgeous bottle of wine, it will have 20-25 years of overall longevity."

94 Points | Vinous - Antonio Galloni

"The 2020 Saint Georges (Côte Pavie) is every bit as stunning as it was from barrel. Rich, ample and explosive, with tons of energy, the 2020 is super-impressive. This may very well be the finest vintage I have tasted, as the tannins - while potent - are also nicely tamed. Graphite, black cherry, plum, licorice and incense meld into the palate staining finish."

93 Points | Wine Advocate, William Kelley

"A strong effort from this underrated property, the 2020 Saint-Georges Côte Pavie reveals notes of dark berries, cherries, raw cocoa and rose petals, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated palate framed by refined tannins and lively acids, concluding with a chalky finish. It derives from holdings adjacent to Pavie, where Cabernet Franc is gradually increasing in importance in the blend."

*Prices are accurate as of the blog publication date and may be subject to change.

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