The Other Side of Australia 750 ml

Skip the 26-hour flight and discover the best Australia has to offer with The Aussie Exploration set, a 5-bottle tour of the land down under that proves Oz is far more than full-bodied Shiraz. From Brokenwood’s legendary (and long-lived) Semillon—which challenges the best Bordeaux Blanc for complexity and nuance—to Thistledown’s impossible-to-find Grenache, this liquid tour is the perfect way to get to know Australia’s finest wines. 

Dual 94-Point Cab from Award-Winning Australian Winery

2018 Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River Australia

Tough to find in Australia and nearly impossible to get in the U.S. since winning Australia’s top wine honor, this Cabernet sells out immediately. 

Tasting note: Dark, almost opaque ruby-purple with thick staining tears. The nose opens to an array of dark fruit including blackberry, cassis, black plum, and dried blueberry. The surrounding aromatics incorporate crushed bay, pipe tobacco, mint, and cedar plank. There is a mouth-filling richness to the wine with good concentration and depth of flavor. Damp soil, fire-roasted pepper, and new black leather linger on a long, sophisticated finish. Drink now - 2030.

A Star Among the World’s Most Complex, Long-Lived White Wines

2019 Brokenwood Wines Semillon Hunter Valley Australia 

Brokenwood is a benchmark producer of Australia’s Hunter Valley region, one of the “most respected estates,” according to Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Their focused and intense Semillons can age for decades, adding richness and complexity to the vibrancy and lemon-lime zest of their youth.

Tasting Note: Water-white in color with just a tinge of green. Reserved and reticent at first, it opens with time to reveal underripe lemon, fresh pear, lime zest, citrus blossom, and wet stone aromas. Lithe and ephemeral, there is a highly intense freshness of citrus fruit flavors with hints of mineral and lemongrass. Super-lean and taut, with a mouth-watering intensity, it is a unique style of white wine that will improve in the cellar for as long than most Burgundy or Bordeaux, developing nutty and toasted marzipan complexity over decades. Drink now - 2040.

96-Point World-Class Riesling

2018 Pewsey Vale Vineyard 1961 Block Riesling Eden Valley Australia 

Sourced from 60-year-old vines on the oldest, best block of the iconic estate that Parker’s Wine Advocate called “one of Australia's finest Riesling producers.” A rare jewel that comes with 96-point praise. 

Tasting Note: Light lemon hue with green reflections. Aromas of lemon and white flower blossoms. The palate is electric with tons of pulverized oyster shell and quartz minerality, which lead to a core of subtle green apple and piquant lemon-lime fruit. This is as precise as a marching band with tremendous length and crisp acidity on the finish. This is Australia's answer to the bone-dry single-site Rieslings that have become so prized in Germany. The perfect wine to have with cracked crab! Drink now - 2035. 

Stock Up Before The World Takes Notice

2018 Heirloom Vineyards Velvet Fog Pinot Noir Adelaide Hills Australia

A wine of distinct focus and supreme elegance grown on fairy-tale slopes in Australia’s prime Adelaide Hills region, the 2018 Heirloom Velvet Fog delivers everything we look for in premium Pinot Noir.

Tasting note: Pale ruby, with a slightly turbid core and a water-white rim. Perfectly fresh strawberries and Rainier cherries leap from the glass, chased by notions of menthol, wild thyme, forest floor, and toasted coriander. Focused and vibrant, the taut mouthfeel and satiny tannins perfectly showcase the cool Adelaide Hills terroir. Stunning red fruit intensity on the palate is balanced by mouthwatering acidity that follows through a long, spice-laden finish. Drink now - 2024.

Australia’s “Secret Weapon”—Hard to Find, Easy to Drink

2019 Thistledown Thorny Devil Old Vine Grenache McLaren Vale

Thistledown's Thorny Devil redefines Grenache. A value stunner, it’s a thrilling red that delivers the grace and power of blockbuster Châteauneuf-du-Pape for as little a fraction of the cost to drinkers lucky enough to find it.

Tasting note: An enchanting Grenache, with a lively ruby color in the glass. A festival of wildflower and violet aromas are complemented by scents of dark spices and eucalyptus. The palate is full and well-rounded with sour cherry and plum flavors that harmonize with cola nut, spice, and a hint of incense. Memorable and pleasing with a broad structure, silky tannins, and a throughline of cleansing acidity. Drink now - 2028.

Highly-Limited Australian Masterpiece

2019 John Duval Wines Entity Shiraz Barossa Valley

John Duval’s Entity is on a hot streak like we’ve rarely seen. The last five releases from this iconic winemaker have earned 96- to 99-points, and the 2019 is poised for greatness. 

Tasting note:  Opaque, pure purple-black, so viscous it has its own gravity. This wine overflows with juicy blackberry, boysenberry, and blueberry aromas, equally matched by notes of mocha, toasted vanilla, clove, bramble, and star anise. Luscious and velvety on entry, the wine is perfectly balanced. Tantalizing flavors of blackberry and blueberry fruit seamlessly intertwine with baking chocolate and exotic spices that linger on the long finish. Drink now - 2034.