Each month, we get to taste hundreds of wines in store and at trade events around the country. It’s our mantra to find the absolute best wines available. Trophy winners and Gold Medal awarded wines are snapped up by the canny buyers immediately, and we have to be on top of our game to source these wines for you.
Listed below are some of our best finds over the last few months.
AYALA 2012 BLANC DE BLANC (AY, FRANCE)
This stunning Blanc de Blanc is produced in very small quantities in exceptional years only, and fully expresses the superb calibre of great Chardonnay from the best crus of the Côte des Blanc. After six years of ageing in cellars, remarkable minerality and low dosage make this an outstanding wine that can accompany a variety of flavoursome dishes including poultry and fish, or be served on its own to celebrate a special occasion. A Corker Cellars exclusive!
2018 AUNTSFIELD MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC
This distinctive and elegant example of New Zealand sauvignon blanc displays Marlborough traits of fine citrus acidity balanced with ripe tropical fruits. Bursts of passionfruit greet the nose and the palate resounds with flavours of white peach, passionfruit and hints of lime ending with a long, dry finish. $24.99
2018 SIDEWOOD ADELAIDE HILLS SAUVIGNON BLANC
Multiple award-winning wine from ex Shaw + Smith winemaker Darryl Catlin. This wine displays tantalising aromas of tropical fruits, grapefruit and zesty lemon citrus. The palate is vibrant with mouth-watering flavours of grapefruit, melon and green apple. Beautifully balanced with lively lifted acidity, this wine delivers outstanding length and flavour. $19.99
2016 MOUNTADAM ‘HIGH EDEN’ CHARDONNAY
Fermented in French oak, matured for 12-14 months before a barrel selection for this wine, which is one of the best produced in the Eden Valley. It has fluid grace and effortless power; the fruit flavours at the midpoint of the stone fruit (white peach)/citrus (grapefruit) spectrum. Lovely wine. 97 points, James Halliday. $31.99
2017 RED CLAW PINOT NOIR
From the classic 2017 vintage on the Mornington Peninsula, Yabby Lake’s second label, Red Claw, is a model of consistency delivering fragrant aromatics, ripe berry fruit and a velvety feel. Hand picked, this wine always shows great power with a supple mouthfeel. Drink over the next 2-3 years. $25.99
2017 HOUSE OF PLANTAGENET ‘NORMAND’ PINOT NOIR
Highly scented and perfumed point noir with floral sour cherry notes dominant, but with a subtle truffle-like character. The palate is light to medium-bodied, but there is intensity and power there behind its soft facade. The fine chalky tannins support the palate beautifully. An outstanding pinot. $21.99
KALLESKE CLARRY’S GSM (BAROSSA VALLEY, SA)
Clarry’s is a blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro with old vine Grenache from the 1940s and 1960s. The wine is fermented in open-top fermenters and basket pressed. To preserve the superb fresh fruit flavours of the wine, it was only aged in very old oak hogsheads and only for a limited time of one year. Clarry’s is soft and fruit-driven with flavours of raspberry, perfume, clove and spice. It is mouthwatering with a muscular structure and great length. $21.99
TE MATA ESTATE 2017 COLERAINE BORDEAUX BLEND
Saturated, dark ruby with a neon-purple edge, Coleraine ’17 tantalizes with fragrant ripe cherry and fresh, black plum aromatics. The bouquet blossoms over a silky palate laden with lavender, sandalwood, cigar box, juniper and wild blackberry. Balanced and on point, Coleraine ’17 dances across the senses now, and will do for years to come – classically Coleraine. ‘A New Zealand national treasure’ – JancisRobinson.com, Jan 2019
By Alfie Pardoe, Corkers Cellars Sanctuary Cove
