We kick off this month spreading seasonal goodwill, inviting you to delve into our compendium of magnums and save time shopping with our 12 wines of Christmas list. On the domestic front, the big releases come from Vanya Cullen (Kevin John Chardonnay) and Pip Farr (Mornington Pinot Noir), alongside vintage rolls for clos Clare reds and Stefano Lubiana’s gangster gris. Besides that, there’s praise galore being heaped upon the likes of Airlie Bank, Shadowfax, Geoff Weaver and Wantirna Estate.
In international news, Austria’s the big thing. 2017s from Emmerich Knoll, Bründlmayer and F.X. Pichler have landed in time for Christmas. A warm and early vintage produced clean healthy fruit and wines of layered complexity and, perhaps surprisingly, tremendous verve. These are thrilling wines that are ready to lay on the joy right now, and boast the structure and energy to lay down for later. Italy’s also in focus, with an extensive shipment from La Spinetta, which Antonio Galloni of Vinous Media reckons to include their best wines to date. Meanwhile firm Galloni favourite G.D. Vajra has sent reinforcements of some wines that sold out quickly first time around, plus a new vintage of its Riesling and Langhe Nebbiolo. Elsewhere, we’ve covered plaudits for estates such as Taupenot-Merme, Frédéric Mabileau, Pittnauer and some talented Teutons with spanking rizza.
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