INTRODUCTION
From the rolling hills of Tuscany and the historic vineyards of Veneto to the dramatic slopes of the Northern Rhône, the old vines of the Barossa and the remarkable vineyards of Mendoza, these six wines each tell a story far greater than what is simply found in the glass.
What unites these wines isn't simply power or concentration. It's balance. Precision. The ability to carry richness with elegance and generosity with restraint. These are reds that command attention, not because they are loud, but because every element feels purposeful.
BIG REDS WITH BIGGER STORIES
THE WINES
2019 MONTE TONDO AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA
Veneto, Italy
~ The Art of Patience ~
Few Italian wines carry the same sense of occasion as Amarone della Valpolicella. Rich, layered and unmistakably expressive, Amarone has earned its place among Italy's most celebrated red wines, and Monte Tondo is a wonderful example of why.
The story begins long before fermentation. After harvest, the grapes are carefully laid out to dry for around four months using the traditional appassimento method. As the fruit slowly loses water, flavours and aromas become beautifully concentrated, creating the remarkable depth and richness that has made Amarone one of the world's most distinctive wine styles.
In the glass, Monte Tondo delivers everything you hope for from a great Amarone. Layers of dark cherry, black plum and ripe blackberry are woven together with warming spice, cocoa, dried herbs and a gentle hint of mocha from its extended maturation in French oak. Yet for all its generosity, there's a freshness running through the wine that keeps everything beautifully balanced, a hallmark of the estate's higher-altitude vineyards in the hills of Valpolicella.
This is a wine that rewards a little patience. It slowly reveals new layers with every swirl and every sip, reminding us that the greatest wines aren't just powerful, they're beautifully composed. Monte Tondo captures everything that makes Amarone della Valpolicella one of Italy's true icons, while remaining wonderfully approachable and deeply rewarding to drink.
FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
~ Slow-braised beef cheeks with creamy polenta
~ Osso buco with saffron risotto
~ Wild mushroom pappardelle finished with parmesan
~ Aged Parmigiano Reggiano with balsamic
~ Dark chocolate & hazelnut tart
2023 TENUTA SAN GUIDO 'GUIDALBERTO'
Bolgheri, Italy
~ A Different Chapter in Bolgheri ~
Few names have shaped modern Italian wine quite like Tenuta San Guido. Long before Bolgheri became one of Tuscany's most celebrated wine regions, Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta was quietly planting Cabernet Sauvignon along this remarkable stretch of coastline, convinced the vineyards could produce wines to rival the great estates of Bordeaux. That vision would eventually redefine Italian wine and place Bolgheri firmly on the world stage. Guidalberto tells a different chapter of that story.
Named after Guidalberto della Gherardesca, the 19th-century agricultural innovator who helped shape the Bolgheri landscape, this wine was created to offer a more approachable expression of the estate. It isn't simply a stepping stone to the estate's flagship wines, but a beautifully complete wine in its own right, showcasing the elegance, balance and unmistakable character that have made Tenuta San Guido one of the world's most admired producers.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Guidalberto strikes a wonderful balance between structure and generosity. Dark cassis, black cherry and ripe plum unfold alongside fragrant violets, cedar and sweet spice, all wrapped around a subtle savoury edge that speaks of Bolgheri's coastal influence. Fifteen months in French oak brings polish and refinement, adding depth without ever overshadowing the purity of the fruit.
There is a quiet confidence to this wine that becomes more apparent with every glass. Rich without feeling heavy, powerful without demanding attention.
FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
~ Rosemary-crusted lamb rack
~ Slow-cooked beef short ribs
~ Duck breast with cherry or blackberry jus
~ Porcini mushroom risotto with aged Parmesan
~ Aged Pecorino Toscano with fig paste
2024 LAGARDE ORGANIC MALBEC
Mendoza, Argentina
~ A Vineyard More Than a Century in the Making ~
Some wineries become famous because of a single wine. Others earn their reputation over generations. Lagarde belongs firmly in the second category.
Founded in 1897 in the heart of Luján de Cuyo, the family-owned estate has helped shape the story of Argentine Malbec for well over a century. Today, sisters Sofía and Lucila Pescarmona continue that legacy alongside long-time winemaker Juan Roby Stordeur, combining historic vineyards with a thoughtful commitment to sustainability and organic farming.
The story of this wine begins in one remarkable vineyard.
Planted in 1906, Lagarde's historic Drummond vineyard is home to some of the estate's oldest Malbec vines. Sitting high above sea level on the alluvial soils of Luján de Cuyo, warm sunny days and cool mountain nights create fruit with wonderful concentration while preserving freshness and natural acidity. Organic farming and a genuine respect for biodiversity allow the vineyard to speak clearly, producing a wine that feels every bit as vibrant as the landscape it comes from.
With no oak to stand in the way, this is Malbec in its purest form. Blackberry, ripe plum and black cherry lead the way, lifted by delicate violet perfume and a gentle dusting of spice. The palate is generous without becoming heavy, carrying all the richness you hope for from Mendoza Malbec, balanced by freshness, energy and beautiful natural poise.
FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
~ Chargrilled rib-eye with chimichurri
~ Slow-cooked beef empanadas
~ Smoky barbecue brisket
~ Provolone cooked over charcoal with oregano
~ Dark chocolate & sea salt brownies
~~
~ The Slow Art of Amarone.
2022 HICKENBOTHAM 'THE NEST' CABERNET FRANC
McLaren Vale, South Australia
~ A New Side of McLaren Vale ~
The Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard is one of McLaren Vale's most historically significant hillside sites. Since 2012, renowned Napa Valley winemaker Chris Carpenter has led the estate's pursuit of single-block wines that express the individuality of this remarkable vineyard. Following the passing of the legendary Peter Fraser in 2025, Carpenter continues to guide the Hickinbotham wines alongside the estate's experienced vineyard and winery team, maintaining meticulous focus on site, precision and varietal expression, allowing the story of individual vineyard blocks to be told.
The Nest is one of those stories.
Drawn almost entirely from a tiny 0.9-hectare parcel known as Block 107, this wine offers a fascinating expression of Cabernet Franc, a variety more commonly associated with the Loire Valley than McLaren Vale. The cool hillside location allows the fruit to ripen slowly, preserving the freshness, perfume and natural acidity that make Cabernet Franc such a captivating grape when grown in the right place.
In the glass, The Nest is beautifully composed. Dark cherry, blackcurrant and wild blackberry are layered with fragrant violets, dried herbs and a gentle dusting of spice, while a subtle mineral thread carries through to a long, elegant finish. Careful oak maturation adds polish and structure, but always allows the vineyard to remain the hero.
This is a wine that quietly challenges expectations. It has all the depth and presence you'd hope for from McLaren Vale, yet carries itself with remarkable finesse and precision.
FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
~ Roasted field mushrooms stuffed with taleggio
~ Caramelised onion & gruyère tart
~ Beef Wellington
~ Wild mushroom & truffle risotto
~ Roasted venison with juniper & thyme
2021 GUIGAL SAINT-JOSEPH ROUGE
Rhône, France
~ A Northern Rhône Benchmark ~
When people talk about the great names of the Northern Rhône, Guigal is almost always part of the conversation. Since Etienne Guigal founded the estate in 1946, three generations of the family have helped define what modern Rhône Syrah can be, earning a reputation for wines that combine remarkable power with elegance, precision and incredible longevity.
You can feel that philosophy in every glass of this Saint-Joseph.
Made entirely from Syrah, the wine spends more than two years maturing in Guigal's own coopered oak barrels, a level of patience rarely seen for a wine at this level. The oak is never there to dominate. Instead, it gently frames the fruit, adding harmony, texture and quiet complexity while allowing the vineyard to remain firmly at the centre of the story.
The result is a beautifully composed expression of Northern Rhône Syrah. Blackberry, dark cherry and ripe plum are layered with cracked pepper, violets and warming spice, all carried by a subtle savoury edge that is unmistakably Saint-Joseph. Fine tannins and vibrant natural freshness give the wine wonderful energy, while a long, graceful finish continues to reveal itself long after the first sip.
This is Syrah at its most refined. Powerful without excess, elegant without trying too hard, and a beautiful reminder of why Guigal remains one of the world's most admired producers.
FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
~ Pepper-crusted eye fillet with roasted shallots
~ Venison with juniper and blackberry
~ Beef bourguignon with creamy mash
~ Duck confit with lentils
~ Aged Comté, Gruyère & crusty sourdough
2021 LANGMEIL 'PURE EDEN' SHIRAZ
Eden Valley, South Australia
~ Elegance Above the Valley ~
When people think of Barossa Shiraz, richness and power often come to mind first. But just beyond the valley floor, the cooler slopes of Eden Valley tell a slightly different story, one built on perfume, freshness and remarkable finesse.
Few producers understand that balance better than Langmeil.
With roots stretching back to the earliest days of the Barossa in the 1840s, Langmeil has become one of Australia's great custodians of old-vine heritage. Home to the legendary Freedom Vineyard, believed to be the oldest surviving Shiraz vineyard in the world, the estate continues to honour its history while crafting wines that feel distinctly modern in their precision and balance.
Pure Eden is a beautiful expression of that philosophy. Sourced from cooler, higher-altitude vineyards, it captures all the generosity that makes Barossa Shiraz so loved, while bringing an elegance that is unmistakably Eden Valley. Hand-picked fruit, gentle open fermentation and careful maturation in French oak allow the vineyard to remain firmly at the centre of the story.
In the glass, layers of blackberry, dark plum and blueberry unfold alongside fragrant violets, cracked pepper, baking spice and a gentle hint of dark chocolate. The tannins are beautifully refined, giving the wine structure and depth without ever sacrificing freshness or drinkability.
This is Australian Shiraz with a wonderfully measured touch. Powerful when it needs to be, elegant throughout, and a reminder that some of our most memorable wines aren't defined by sheer size, but by balance, restraint and an unmistakable sense of place.
FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
~ Chargrilled rib-eye with café de Paris butter
~ Beef and Guinness pie with buttery mash
~ Smoked brisket with roasted onions
~ Roast duck with cherry glaze
~ Aged cheddar, quince paste & crusty sourdough
Langmeil Pure Eden Shiraz 2021
$189.99
CONCLUSION
The world's greatest wines are rarely defined by a single vintage, a critic's score, or even the grape variety they're made from. They endure because of the people who continue to care for them, the vineyards that give them their identity, and the stories that are passed from one generation to the next.
These six wines each offer something different. Some speak with quiet elegance, others with generosity and power, but they all share a sense of place that is impossible to replicate. They remind us that great wine isn't about chasing the biggest bottle or the boldest flavour. It's about balance, authenticity, and the moments created when a remarkable wine is shared around the table.
Perhaps that's what makes these stories worth telling.
Find the stories inside the bottles with our Masterclass 6pk, replicating the events line up of wines with tasting notes and food matching ideas. In a limited time value offer.
BIG REDS, BIGGER STORIES. MASTERCLASS 6PK
