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Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 15.5%Style: Rich Full RedMercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship wine of Orin Swift and emphasises their guiding principle: Without quality grapes, great wine is impossible. It comes from the best lots from very select vineyards in Napa Valley and the wine is a testament to those vineyards, to their principle and to what is possible in Napa Valley. The Liberty Dime on each bottle symbolises winemaker Dave Phinney's favorite coin in his collection growing up and his most prized possession. Vivino Rating: 4.5 (Jul -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Petite Sirah, Syrah / Shiraz, GrenacheABV: 15.5%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - Decanter. Orin Swift Machete, an iconic Californian red, artfully blends Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Grenache from Napa and Sonoma, aged for 10 months in French oak for vanilla-spiced depth; and layer upon layer of complexity. A full-bodied lover's delight with dominant dark fruit aromas, raspberry-plum-chocolate flavours, medium tannins, and a smooth, lasting finish—perfectly paired with grilled meats, cheese, and charcuterie. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Mar 2025) Wine Press Ratings 92 Points -
Country: France, BurgundyGrapes: ChardonnayABV: 12.5%Style: Classy Complex WhiteCrafted from old vines planted on Chablis’ renowned limestone soils, this limited-edition cuvée showcases the purity and finesse of the region. The 2022 vintage offers vibrant citrus and ripe orchard fruit, layered with subtle floral and mineral notes. Aged on fine lees, it delivers a beautifully rounded texture while retaining the crisp acidity that defines classic Chablis. This will really start to show its potential 5 years from vintage ... one to cellar for the future, but still very drinkab -
Country: South Africa, Western Cape, StellenboschGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full Red95 Points - Tim Atkin MW. De Toren Private Cellar, established in the late 1990s and located in Stellenbosch, South Africa, is renowned for its high-quality Bordeaux-style wines that beautifully capture the unique terroir of the region. The iconic Left Bank-based blend, De Toren Fusion V is meticulously crafted from Bordeaux’s ‘Noble Five’ varietals and, with its complex flavours of dark sour cherry, a spiciness of tobacco, and a hint of aniseed, it offers a stylish departure for sophisticated -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Primitivo / ZinfandelABV: 16%Style: Rich Full Red94 Points - Wine Spectator. Named for its iron rich, red volcanic soils, Monte Rosso has produced grapes of unmistakable character for more than a century. Three generations of the Martini family have made wine from this iconic vineyard and it continues to inspire their winemaking team on a deeply profound level. Monte Rosso remains the source of some of the most coveted bottles in the Louis M. Martini portfolio. Full bodied and concentrated the textured mouthfeel is plush, finishing long. Vibra -
Country: France, Bordeaux, Saint JulienGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic Red92 Points - Wine Enthusiast. St Julien is the commune in Bordeaux with the highest proportion of Classed Growths, and its superlative wine growing land make it a go to destination for high quality Bordeaux. Château les Ormes is made up of 2 principal parcels of vines. One touching the western border of Château Léoville Barton (in fact Anthony Barton sold this parcel to Chateau les Ormes in 1989) and the second further south and juxtaposed between Château Gruaud Larose, Saint Pierre and Beychevel -
Country: France, Bordeaux, PauillacGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic RedThis 1.2-hectare vineyard in Pauillac stands next to the 5th growth grand cru classé's of Chateau Batailley, and across the road from Château Grand Puy Lacoste, on soil worthy of a classified growth. The yield here is around 32 hl/ha and the vineyard is planted in equal measure of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The entire batch of their Pauillac parcels is aged in new French oak barrels under the label Château Les Landes de Cach. The result is a superb wine from exceptional soils and winemakers. -
Country: France, Bordeaux, PomerolGrapes: MerlotABV: 14%Style: Savoury Classic RedClement Fayat set up his construction business in the 1950’s. Having grown it to the 4th largest in its sector (just behind Bouygues – owners of Chateau Montrose) he decided to follow his passion and began to invest in properties in Bordeaux. A lover of Pomerol, he purchased Prieurs de la Commanderie in 1984 and has begun to achieve the potential quality that rough diamond always promised. Dusty garnet colour. Aromas and flavours of mocha, toasty pistachio, and berry tart with a supple, bright, -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet FrancABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - Wine Spectator. The Jayson Red Wine was produced from grapes from a selection of prime sites in and around Atlas Peak in eastern Napa. Hailing from the outstanding 2021 vintage, a year noted for its opulence, this blend of 81% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Sauvignon is wonderfully full and plump. The grapes were hand-picked and hand-sorted before undergoing fermentation in stainless steel tanks to enhance its fresh fruit profile and retain its bright acidity. The wine was then racked into -
Country: Italy, TuscanyGrapes: SangioveseABV: 15%Style: Savoury Classic Red95 Points - WinesCritic.com Produced exclusively with hand-picked Sangiovese grapes from the company's oldest vineyards, after careful fermentation at a controlled temperature, the wine matures in French oak barrels. Subsequently the wine spends a period of refinement in the bottle, essential to guarantee the pleasantness and complexity that have made Brunello di Montalcino famous throughout the world. Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Mar 2025) Wine Press Ratings 95 Points - WinesCritic.com (2019 Vintage) "L -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, MerlotABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red93 Points - Wine Spectator. The Pahlmeyer Jayson Cabernet Sauvignon was produced from fruit from Pahlmeyer’s mountain-grown vines. It’s a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Merlot, so a classic Bordeaux blend. 2018 was an outstanding vintage, the unusually cool growing season saw the grapes ripen more slowly and gave them the opportunity to develop even more complexity. Once deemed ready, the grapes were harvested at night to preserve their freshness and ensure the aromas -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: MerlotABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red93-95 Points - The Wine Independent. Pahlmeyer made the most of the glorious 2021 Napa Valley Merlot vintage – a year that seems destined to rival or even eclipse the extraordinary 2013, 2018, and 2019 havests. The grapes for the Pahlmeyer Merlot 2021 were grown on high-elevation blocks and were hand-harvested, allowing for rigorous vineyard selection and gentle handling. Once in Pahlmeyer’s state-of-the-art winery, they were given a further hand sort and destemmed, with only perfectly ripe frui -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, MalbecABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red96+ Points - The Wine Advocate. The profoundly successful 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vintage - a year that seems destined to eclipse even the extraordinary 2013, 2018, and 2019 vintages – allowed Katie Vogt and her team to create a masterpiece. The Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 2021, a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 1.5% Petit Verdot, and 1.5% Malbec, is the product of high elevation sites at Upper Range, Waters Ranch, and Vagone. The grapes were hand-harvested at night to pres -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 15.5%Style: Rich Full Red94 Points - The Wine Independent. It's rare to find a wine from the Napa Valley composed of all five Bordeaux-style varietals. But, for many years, that has been Papillon's focus. The raw strength and prestige of Cabernet Sauvignon buttressed by the opulence of Merlot, the spiciness of Cabernet Franc, the depth of Malbec and the sheet unctuousness of Petit Verdot come together seamlessly. Vivino Rating: 4.3 (Mar 2025) Wine Press Ratings 94 Points - The Wine Independent (2021 Vintage) 90 Points - -
Country: South Africa, Western Cape, StellenboschGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 15%Style: Rich Full RedIt’s a bold claim to say a wine – especially a Shiraz – is unlike anything you have ever tasted, but in the case of the De Toren Black Lion Shiraz, it happens to be true. As De Toren puts it, ‘The Black Lion wine is the heirloom of years of winemaking in De Toren’s continuous quest for perfection’. Planted on ancient soils with specially selected vines and nurtured by hand manicuring and individual attention, nothing is left to chance. Irrigation is kept to a minimum and the vines are treated or -
Country: South Africa, Western Cape, StellenboschGrapes: MalbecABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full RedNothing is left to chance with the De Toren Private Cellar Patronus Malbec. Taking its name from the Latin for ‘patron’, this is a wine where winemaking is turned not just into an art form, but into an obsession. The tiny harvest goes through an incredibly stringent selection process with only the finest old Malbec vines on the property being considered for use. Once chosen, individual bunches are selected at harvest and then, post-destemming, individual grapes. Following a long, yet cool, ferme -
Country: Spain, RiojaGrapes: TempranilloABV: 14.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red94 Points - Tim Atkin MW. The Cuentaviñas Alomado 2021 is another wonderful wine from of this extraordinary Rioja bodega. Produced from a single vineyard which is home to vines that are over 60 years old, it marries tradition with innovation to startling effect. It’s planted with a mixture of Tempranillo grapes alongside the white varieties of Viura, Malvasía Riojana and Calagraño in what’s now known as a ‘field blend’. Innovation continues in the winery where the wine is barrel fermented in sm -
Country: Spain, Ribera del DueroGrapes: TempranilloABV: 15%Style: Rich Full Red97 Points - Guia Penin. Pago de Carraovejas Cuesta de Las Liebres 2018 is one of the greatest wines of the Ribera del Duero. The 2018 scored 94 from Robert Parker, cementing its reputation as a wine to be compared with the likes of Vega Sicilia and Pingus. Made exclusively from Tinto Fino, the local name for Tempranillo, from a single high-altitude (850m above sea level) vineyard in only great years, since its release in 1991 it has become one of the most sought-after wines in all of Spain. Prod -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 15%Style: Rich Full RedOrin Swift Palermo, a captivating blend with a core of Cabernet Sauvignon that mirrors Napa Valley's spirit, unfolding intense aromas of dark fruit and blackberry pie, leading to a velvety palate of black cherry, vanilla, and spice, all embraced by seamlessly integrated tannins, delivering a gratifying finish - making it your ideal companion for hearty delights like grilled steak or braised beef, sure to leave a lasting impression on your wine journey. Vivino Rating: 4.5 (Oct 2024) Tasting Note -
Country: USA, CaliforniaGrapes: GrenacheABV: 15.5%Style: Rich Full Red92 Points - Decanter. Orin Swift Abstract is a meticulously crafted red wine known for its rich and complex character. It is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Petite Sirah, creating a harmonious symphony of flavours. The wine exhibits a deep, visually striking hue and a captivating aroma profile that ranges from fruity to floral, with subtle notes of dark chocolate and spice. On the palate, it offers a full-bodied experience with robust tannins and a bold, fruit-forward taste. The finish is long a -
Country: France, Bordeaux, MargauxGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13.5%Style: Savoury Classic Red93 Points - VertdeVin. The 2,5 hectare parcel producing just 10,000 bottles of this confidential wine stand in a mythical triangle of vines surrounded by Château Palmer, Rauzan Segla and Cantenac Brown, just the finest terroir one could hope for in the appellation. "Generous nose showing fruits in brandy, dried fruits and fine oakiness. Warm, expressive attack echoing the nose beautifully. The mid-palate and finish are firmer and bolder in this characterful wine." The wine is the epitome of the -
Country: Portugal, DouroGrapes: Touriga Nacional, Touriga FrancaABV: 20%Style: Sweet and Fortified93 Points - Revista Adega. The Fonseca 20 Year Old Tawny Port is a traditional blend of grapes including Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cao, Touriga Nacional, and Tinta Francesca. Under the expert guidance of David Guimaraens, a sixth-generation winemaker, nothing is left to chance. Grapes are gathered from the best vineyards in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior regions and are made in the traditional way with fortification with grape spirit halting the fermentation to leave some residual sugar in the wine. -
Country: Australia, South AustraliaGrapes: Cabernet SauvignonABV: 13.5%Style: Rich Full Red93 points / Silver Medal - Decanter World Wine Awards. If you like your Australian red wine to combine power with finesse, then the Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2017 is the perfect wine for you. Produced on the famed terra rossa soils, arguably Australia’s greatest, in the warm Wrattonbully region, it gets its name from the remains of a 37-million-year-old whale that were found here. Made from old, low-yielding vines, the quantity of fruit produced here is tiny, but the quality i -
Country: Australia, Barossa ValleyGrapes: Syrah / ShirazABV: 14.5%Style: Rich Full Red95 Points - Winepilot. The Lou Miranda Estate Centenarian Old Vine Shiraz is a piece of Australian wine history. It is produced in minuscule quantities from fruit from their Church block which was established in 1907. These precious old vines are planted on their original rootstocks, not grafted onto American ones as is the norm today, and are afforded royal treatment. Dry grown rather than irrigated, and hand-tended at every stage of their development to ensure each vintage meets the exacting s