What a great start to January of 2025. Fifteen wines in a box delivered to the door from www.laithwaites.co.nz. Mostly red wines this time around, but with a couple of interesting looking whites. As usual, a diverse selection – any many varietals and styles that expend the horizons beyond what would typically find its way into my glass if i stuck to my tried-and-tested cellar. I’ll split the contents into two articles for ease of reading (and tasting). Here we go…
Trimboli Lucia Tresecco 2022
From the King Country in Oz comes this sparkling wine created by Salvatore Trimboli to celebrate the birth of grand daughter Lucia. Taking inspiration from his heritage in Italy’s north, he has blended three varietals to make the wine (Tre, meaning three, Secco, meaning dry). A vibrant froth of fine bubbles, and a zesty aroma filled with pear, peach, melon and lemon lead the way. Quite straight-forward and light-weighted in the palate, with a clean, tart and energetic heart. One for the lunch table this summer. 90pts
Angove Bin 4288 Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
One of Australia’s most-celebrated regions for growing the Cabernet Sauvignon grape provides a wine of good depth and hallmark Cabernet styling. Blackcurrant, graphite, sour cherry, mulberry and a little bay leaf herbal on the nose. Oak sits obediently behind the fruit, flanked by powdery tannin. At four years old, it is starting to have a touch of ‘secondary’ flavours – look for a bit of leather, tapenade and mushroom. 91pts
Red Heads 1888 Shiraz 2023
A single-vineyard Shiraz from the Barossa Valley in South Australia. A nearly-black shade of red in the glass, with a vibrantly spicy nose filled with boysenberry, liquorice and cherry flavours. As well as the unctuous fruit flavours, there are layered notes of mint, capsicum and pepper that emerge as you go. A silky texture helps to smooth out that wealth of spice at the start of the palate adding an easy-going balance. The oak becomes more prominent too as you go – the weight of the wine fits the style and will have appeal for those expecting that. 91pts
The Old Red River Gum Cabernet Shiraz 2023
From South Australia – and what is a classic Aussie blend of these two varietals. In some ways it is the quintessential pairing that represents big reds from this part of the country. A bit more blue fruit on show here, with a brightness of a refreshing line of acidity and a spine of fine tannin. A mint and eucalypt note gives a nod to the name, adding a green fringe to the otherwise bloody palate. 91pts
Trimboli ‘Saverio’ Big Rivers Malbec 2023
Named for Salvatore Trimboli’s father, who was the winemakers mentor. A very dark magenta colour, with a fullness to the palate that follows suit. Deep, concentrated flavours of black fruits and rich notes of date, espresso and toasted spices. The chewy tannins add structure to its inky depths, and oak plays a part, framing the fruit with a smoky border. Bold, ‘blocky’ and full of character, into a finish of decent length. 90pts
The Waxed Bat Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec Reserve 2022 is a big wine. Made by Rodolfo (Opi) Sadler who may be familiar to Laithwaites regulars. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Malbec, in a ‘reserve’ style with twelve months in oak. The bottle looks Aussie in style, and the wine seems that way too. The Cabernet sets the tone, flooding the edges of the palate with a lushness, and the Malbec sits in the middle, on your tongue, filling the gap. Peppery, toasty oak and a velveteen texture makes this very easy to like. 89pts
The Black Pig ‘The Prize’ Shiraz 2023
This is the top of the line of South Australian Shiraz that Laithwaites offer from this label. A deep, dark purple in the glass. The perfume has a classic set of blackberry, plum, raspberry, black pepper notes so typical of the expression. Look for that distinctive milk chocolate signature that defines big McLaren Vale reds, but also a bit of smoky salami as well. A thick slice of spicy oak and bold tannin add backbone to that plush core. 92pts
Aluado Alicante Bouschet 2023 comes to us from Quinta de Porto Franco – north of Lisbon in Portugal. A black-purple in the glass, with a sweetness on the nose that is very ‘portuguese’ in style, where the ripeness they appreciate in their wines is only matched by some grunty Barossa expressions. Fresh acid and supple tannin give structure to that confident fruit. At 12.5% alcohol, this has character and a carress without overpowering. Rather slippery and succulent – this style will certainly have its fans. 92pts
