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Home / What's new / 2023 Award Winners, January-May

Press Favourites: January to May 2023

Impressive Wines Reviewed

We are delighted to showcase a range of wines that have garnered exceptional reviews from journalists so far this year. To explore our complete range of award-winning wines, please click here.

Our Award Winning Selection

Abel Mendoza, Viura, DOCa Rioja, Spain, 2021

2021 Rioja, Spain

Decanter 95 Points

A standout wine from a significant player in the renaissance of Rioja white wines. This is a beautifully judged balance of oak and ringingly clean Viura fruit - a combination of juicy pear, tangerine and nougat-like nutty creaminess, with real depth, presence and length. 95 Points, DW, May 2023.

Bottle shot - Abel Mendoza, Viura, DOCa Rioja, Spain

Abel Mendoza, Malvasia, DOCa Rioja, Spain, 2021

2021 Rioja, Spain

Tim Atkin Rioja Report 2023 93 Points

The neighbouring villages of San Vicente and Labastida are the twin sources of this new French oak-fermented Malvasía Blanca from Abel Mendoza and Maite Fernández. Floral and engaging, with clementine and citrus flavours, good focus and a sheen of vanilla spice. 2023-30. 93 Points, TA, 2023.

Bottle shot - Abel Mendoza, Malvasia, DOCa Rioja, Spain

Abel Mendoza, Selección Personal, DOCa Rioja, Spain, 2018

2018 Rioja, Spain

Decanter 92 Points

Attractive notes of spice, toast, ripe cherry and dark fruits, with well-balanced use of oak. Refined and graceful with a complex finish. 92 Points, SJE, PBT, PM, March 2023.

Bottle shot - Abel Mendoza, Selección Personal, DOCa Rioja, Spain

Bodegas Amaren, Malvasia, Rioja Alavesa, Spain, 2019

2019 Rioja, Spain

Decanter 96 Points

This is seriously impressive stuff from Jon Cañas- a white made from old vine Malvasia planted in 1912. Fermented and aged in concrete egg, it is terrifically complex. Grapefruit and mandarin orange, smoke and a hint of nut. Drink 2023- 2040. 96 Points, Rioja Guide, March 2023.

Bottle shot - Bodegas Amaren, Malvasia, Rioja Alavesa, Spain

Bodegas Amaren, Malvasia, Rioja Alavesa, Spain, 2019

2019 Rioja, Spain

Decanter 96 Points

This is seriously impressive stuff from Jon Cañas- a white made from old vine Malvasia planted in 1912. Fermented and aged in concrete egg, it is terrifically complex. Grapefruit and mandarin orange, smoke and a hint of nut. Drink 2023- 2040. 96 Points, Rioja Guide, March 2023.

Bottle shot - Bodegas Amaren, Malvasia, Rioja Alavesa, Spain

Bodegas Luis Cañas, Rioja Gran Reserva, DOCa Rioja, Spain, 2016

2016 Rioja, Spain

Tim Atkin Rioja Report 2023 92 Points

Like the bodega's Reserva, this Gran Reserva is a cuvée of Tempranillo and 5% Graciano, with maturation in mostly French and 30% American oak barrels. Using grapes from two parcels in Villabuena de Álava-Carraelciego and Carracastellano-this is savoury and sweet, with notes of red berry fruit, toast, tobacco leaf, leather and forest floor. 2024-30. 92 Points, TA, 2023.

Bottle shot - Bodegas Luis Cañas, Rioja Gran Reserva, DOCa Rioja, Spain

Bodegas Luis Cañas, Rioja Blanco Viñas Viejas, DOCa Rioja, Spain, 2021

2021 Rioja, Spain

Tim Atkin Rioja Report 2023 91 Points

Pedro Pablo Amurrio makes this old-vine white from an assemblage of Viura and 15% Malvasía Riojana. Subtly oaked in new and older barrels, it has pear, lime and yellow apple flavours and a dusting of cinnamon spice. 2023-25. 91 Points, TA, 2023.

Bottle shot - Bodegas Luis Cañas, Rioja Blanco Viñas Viejas, DOCa Rioja, Spain

Bodegas Luis Cañas, Rioja Reserva, DOCa Rioja, Spain, 2016

2016 Rioja, Spain

Tim Atkin Rioja Report 2023 91 Points

The Luis Cañas Reserva is a well-judged half way house between the modern and traditional styles. Marrying Tempranillo with 5% Graciano, mostly from vineyards on slopes, it sees a 60/40 mix of French and American oak and has bramble, sweet spice and balsamic flavours. 91 Points, TA, 2023.

Bottle shot - Bodegas Luis Cañas, Rioja Reserva, DOCa Rioja, Spain

Bodegas Manzanos, Voché Vino de Autor, DOCa Rioja, Spain, 2001

2001 Rioja, Spain

Decanter 93 Points

Piquant notes of strawberry confiture, spice, pencil and dry, meaty fruit. Smooth, integrated tannins with a pure and long finish. 93 Points, SJE, PBT, PM, March 2023.

Bottle shot - Bodegas Manzanos, Voché Vino de Autor, DOCa Rioja, Spain

Château L'Escarelle, Palm Par L'Escarelle Rosé, IGP Méditerranée, Provence, France, 2022

2022 Provence, France

James Suckling 90 Points

Very pale rosé with aromas of chopped apples, apricots and peach pits. Hints of herbs. Fresh and dry, with refreshing acidity and a delicate finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. 90 Points, JS, March 2023.

Bottle shot - Château L'Escarelle, Palm Par L'Escarelle Rosé, IGP Méditerranée, Provence, France

Château L'Escarelle, Les deux Anges Rosé, AOP Côteaux Varois en Provence, 2022

2022 Provence, France

James Suckling 92 Points

Aromas of pink cherries and nectarines with dried tangerine peel, almonds and dried flowers. Medium-bodied and creamy with some salinity to it. Crisp and juicy with a fleshy finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. 92 Points, JS, March 2023.

Bottle shot - Château L'Escarelle, Les deux Anges Rosé, AOP Côteaux Varois en Provence

Château L'Escarelle, Croix d'Engardin Rosé, AOP Coteaux Varois en Provence, 2022

2022 Provence, France

James Suckling 91 Points

A peach-pink colored rosé, with notes of nectarines and peaches, as well as hints of dried pomegranate skins, bread dough and some yeasty notes. Medium-bodied, creamy and textured with some saltiness to it and a smooth, polished finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. 91 Points, JS, March 2023.

Bottle shot - Château L'Escarelle, Croix d'Engardin Rosé, AOP Coteaux Varois en Provence

Château L'Escarelle, Rosé, AOP Côteaux Varois en Provence, France (150cl.), 2022

2022 Provence, France

James Suckling 91 Points

Very pale rosé with aromas of chopped apples, pomelos, peaches, sea shells and jasmine flowers. Delicious core of stone fruit here, with a medium body and fresh, creamy finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. 91 Points, JS, March 2023.

Bottle shot - Château L'Escarelle, Rosé, AOP Côteaux Varois en Provence, France (150cl.)

Château L'Escarelle, Palm Par L'Escarelle Rosé, IGP Méditerranée, Provence, France (150cl), 2022

2022 Provence, France

James Suckling 90 Points

Very pale rosé with aromas of chopped apples, apricots and peach pits. Hints of herbs. Fresh and dry, with refreshing acidity and a delicate finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. 90 Points, JS, March 2023.

Bottle shot - Château L'Escarelle, Palm Par L'Escarelle Rosé, IGP Méditerranée, Provence, France (150cl)

Quinta da Costa do Pinhão, Tinto, Douro, Portugal, 2015

2015 Douro, Portugal

Decanter 92 Points

Savoury, dried herbs and coffee/mocha as well as some bruised cherries and plums. Round, juicy tannins with forest floor, hay and mushroom. It will carry on evolving and improving. 92 Points, Panel Tasting, January 2023.

Bottle shot - Quinta da Costa do Pinhão, Tinto, Douro, Portugal

Thistledown, Walking With Kings Roussanne-Grenache Blanc, Australia, 2022

2022 South Australia, Australia

The Wine Front 94 Points

Lemon zest, honey and almond, green apple and pear, with a little perfume of aniseed and dried herb. It’s waxy and rich, yet fresh and bright with tart white fleshed fruit, a chalky and gently bitter phenolic pucker, a distinctly saline/oyster shell character, with honey gloss and a pithy finish of excellent length. You have to dig these white Rhône styles, maybe, though I like this a lot. 94 Points, GW, February 2023.

Bottle shot - Thistledown, Walking With Kings Roussanne-Grenache Blanc, Australia

Abel Mendoza, Viura, DOCa Rioja, Spain, 2021

2021 Rioja, Spain

Decanter 95 Points

A standout wine from a significant player in the renaissance of Rioja white wines. This is a beautifully judged balance of oak and ringingly clean Viura fruit - a combination of juicy pear, tangerine and nougat-like nutty creaminess, with real depth, presence and length. 95 Points, DW, May 2023.

Bottle shot - Abel Mendoza, Viura, DOCa Rioja, Spain

Thistledown, She's Electric Single Vineyard Old Vine Grenache, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia, 2022

2022 South Australia, Australia

The Wine Front 93 Points

Rich, ironstone/ferrous thing, raspberry, cherry, hazelnut and carob, lots of flesh and tannin, fruit is more on the down low, maybe a little lacking in the mid-palate, but the earthy/choc/ferrous things are the main driver here. Still, distinctive and very good. 93 Points, GW, 2023.

Bottle shot - Thistledown, She's Electric Single Vineyard Old Vine Grenache, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Thistledown, Sands of Time Single Vineyard Old Vine Grenache, Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, Australia, 2022

2022 South Australia, Australia

The Wine Front 96 Points

Blewitt Springs. A single vineyard with vines 75 years old. Exotic, so much perfume of flowering herbs, aniseed, chocolate, dark raspberry and cherry. Muscular style, purple and ripe red fruits, lots of spice, layers of graphite tannin grip, all blue and spicy on a very long and firm finish. Quite something. 96 Points, GW, 2023.

Bottle shot - Thistledown, Sands of Time Single Vineyard Old Vine Grenache, Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, Australia

Thistledown, The Great Escape Chardonnay, Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia, 2022

Product code: 2942

Available internationally

Bottle shot - Thistledown, The Great Escape Chardonnay, Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia

Thistledown, Thorny Devil Grenache, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia, 2022

2022 South Australia, Australia

James Halliday 94 Points

While vintage '22 may not scale the heights of '21, it was another attenuated, Euro-styled year of poise, enough fruit weight and immense freshness. Savoury, the signature. I'll take that over obvious sweetness any day. The first cab off the premier rank. A subregional blend limited to old, dry-grown bush vines. Varying degrees of whole bunches. A number of picking windows, too, to embellish freshness and enough weight. Fermentation is ambient. I'd be hard-pressed to find a better wine than this for the price. Kirsch, ume, cranberry, bergamot and a scape of pixelated tannin, sandy of feel, directing length. 94 Points, NG (MW), 2023.

Bottle shot - Thistledown, Thorny Devil Grenache, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Thistledown, The Vagabond Old Vine Grenache, Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia, 2022

2022 South Australia, Australia

The Wine Front 94 Points

Cherry, strawberry, mint and menthol, orange peel. It’s medium-bodied, a juicy red fruit flavour strewn with herbs and spice, supple tannin, and a juicy red fruited finish of fine length and spicy perfume. Nice. 94 Points, GW 2023.

Bottle shot - Thistledown, The Vagabond Old Vine Grenache, Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia

Thistledown, This Charming Man Single Vineyard Old Vine Grenache, Clarendon, Mclaren Vale, South Australia, 2022

2022 South Australia, Australia

The Wine Front 95+ Points

Clarendon. Some vines up to 100 years of age. Black and red fruits, baking spice, floral too, with some thyme and cocoa. It’s lively, quite stony in feel, a lovely crunch and freshness to acidity, quite concentrated but still light on its feet. The finish pulls more to spiced strawberry and raspberry, with flowering herb perfume on a very long finish. Delightful. 95+ Points, GW, 2023.

Bottle shot - Thistledown, This Charming Man Single Vineyard Old Vine Grenache, Clarendon, Mclaren Vale, South Australia

Wild & Wilder, Cloud Cuckoo Land, Greco, Fiano, Zibibbo, Riverland, Australia, 2022

Product code: 3762

Available internationally

Bottle shot - Wild & Wilder, Cloud Cuckoo Land, Greco, Fiano, Zibibbo, Riverland, Australia

Thistledown, Fool On The Hill Grenache, Eden Valley, Australia, 2022

2022 South Australia, Australia

James Halliday 93 Points

Seldom does grenache from Barossa or Eden Valley equal that of the Vale. This is good, but darker of exposure than the luminosity of expressions closer to the coast. But it is still grenache, the finest red cultivar for the majority of Australian conditions by a country mile. Transcendental moments are inevitable, thus. Brambly forest berries, mint, amaro and anise. A swathe of eucalyptus dries the tannins, but there is plenty of push to the extract and underlying freshness for poise and drinkability. 93 Points, NG (MW), 2023.

Bottle shot - Thistledown, Fool On The Hill Grenache, Eden Valley, Australia

San Polino, Brunello Di Montalcino Helichrysum, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy, 2018

2018 Tuscany, Italy

Decanter 95 Points

Harvested just after the estate Brunello in Montalcino's southeast, the grapes saw the same pre-fermentation maceration to fix colour, as well as gentel daily pumpovers to keep fragils skins intact. Equally distinc in fragrance as its sister bottling, though more Mediteranean in temperament, lavender and scented broom mingle with pepper, expanding with sumptuous tannins that hemp in plentiful fruit, perky acidity and a long and violet-tinged finish. It definielty carries the stuffin and structure for ageing. Organic. 95 Points, MM, April 2023.

Bottle shot - San Polino, Brunello Di Montalcino Helichrysum, DOCG, Tuscany, Italy

Abel Mendoza, Viura, DOCa Rioja, Spain, 2021

2021 Rioja, Spain

Decanter 95 Points

A standout wine from a significant player in the renaissance of Rioja white wines. This is a beautifully judged balance of oak and ringingly clean Viura fruit - a combination of juicy pear, tangerine and nougat-like nutty creaminess, with real depth, presence and length. 95 Points, DW, May 2023.

Bottle shot - Abel Mendoza, Viura, DOCa Rioja, Spain