The Lucky Dip Case is back! Last time we did this, we broke the internet. This time we’ve bubble-wrapped the servers because they’re in for another beating.
Every case contains 11 wicked wines, including some our absolute faves here at the ‘fo. More info on them below, and they’re all good things. All mofo standard - i.e. nothing we haven’t enjoyed ourselves.
Then there’s the added excitement of seeing which of these world-beaters you won. The odds of scoring change, but each one is a centrepiece wine, worthy of some truly special occasions.
The twelfth wine is the wildcard and could be one of these three wines:
That 100pt Iconic Penfolds Grange 2015 worth $900 (1 in 100 chance)
A 96pt winning McLaren Vale 2017 shiraz worth $68 (1 in 10 chance)
A Clare Valley 2018 shiraz worth $45.
We should say up front: there are no returns on this - click here for case terms and conditions. The chance involved would make this unfair for all. But rest assured there are no fillers here. I can tell you the mofos around HQ have their fingers on their keyboards, waiting for this offer to go live. So it’s mofo a mofo, mano a mano, dog eat dog.
The easiest way to guarantee getting a bottle of Grange is to go out and buy one for yourself. If you, like me, don’t have $900 handy, this is definitely your best (and cheapest) option! Heard enough already? Pop that case in the cart and cross your fingers and toes! Otherwise, read on for a bit more info on all those lovely wines:
Wildcard Wines
Wildcard Wine #1
Penfolds Grange Shiraz 2015
South Australia
100pts James Suckling | 99pts James Halliday | 98+pts Wine Advocate | 97pts Wine Enthusiast | 97pts Wine Spectator | 97pts Wine Front
“Much anticipated vintage for Grange and it is a powerhouse of concentration and complexity. Aromas of orange and lemon peel to start, then graphite, blackberries, plum paste, black cherries, boundless sweet oak spice, fresh cedar, tar, mahogany, roasted coffee and chocolate - the list goes on. Such complexity. Classic Grange, offering such deep, dark intensity. The palate has immense richness and depth with a super succulent and very long, fleshy, deeply weighted array of dense, velvet-wrapped tannins that run so long. The fruit flavors sit in the blackberry, blood-plum and blueberry zone with succulent, long and assertive structure, carrying through in an utterly seamless mode. The finish is tightly wrenched, in spectacularly powerful style, locking this wine in for a very long haul. Best from 2030.” – James Suckling
“Bang. The first whiff cries Grange. A lifted, fragrant, harmonious blend of fruit, oak (American, of course) and finely pitched tannins. Faultless. It’s all relative, but this is starting to relax its grip. And the length is very, very special.” – James Halliday
“The nose of the 2015 Grange features the wine’s characteristic lifted aromas, joined by pronounced American oak influence and bold blackberry fruit, plus hints of red meat, raspberries, asphalt and vanilla. It’s dense and concentrated on the palate, full-bodied yet balanced and firm, with a rich, velvety texture and long, plush finish. Don’t expect great complexity at this stage—it’s much too young to show much more than the primary fruit and oak elements—but this is a Grange that should easily go three or four decades.” – Wine Advocate
“Don’t mind if I do. There are clear notes of coconut here, indeed more than I can ever remember in a young Grange. That will ring alarm bells for some but, in my opinion, it can mention coconut all that it likes; it still manages to get away with it. The combination of richness, length, tannin spread and balance places this straight in the realms of the elite. Individual descriptors: who cares. It’s deep, bold, muscular and dark, and it delivers all this in svelte, satiny, seductive fashion. This 2015 release of Grange is no disappointment. Indeed it’s as good as you’d hope and/or expect. The finish: it soars.” – Campbell Mattinson, Wine Front
YOU’D PAY $900 full price.
Wildcard Wine #2
Shiraz 2017
McLaren Vale, SA
96pts Sam Kim | 5 red star Halliday rated winery
When I was part of the Dealer Team, chatting directly with mofos on the phone, this was without doubt one of the top 3 wines people asked for more of. It’s as intense, as complex, as high quality, as powerful as it is deeply, unendingly and immeasurably satisfying. A fanfare of Black Doris plum, blackberry, roasted nuts and spices, and super dark chocolate bursts onto the palate with the first sip. A cascade of supple tannin enhances the larger-than-life mouthfeel, with a bright flash of lively acidity to accompany. It’s sumptuous, opulent, decadent and however many other plush adjectives you care to throw at it. Plus it’ll cellar for a decade, easy. If you’ve not experienced it yet, you’re in for a wild ride!
YOU’D PAY $68 full price.
Wildcard Wine #3
Kilikanoon Golden Hillside Shiraz 2018
Clare Valley, SA
Australian Winery of the Year | 5 red star Halliday rated winery
Kickass Kili have done it again. Their inimitable Golden Hillside shiraz is a firm ‘fo fave, and consistently one of the fastest selling vinos we bring in. Not surprising, really. Rambunctious cherries and burstingly-juicy berries are just contained by a toasty coating of fabulous French oak. No rush to drink this beauty, it’ll keep the rest of your cellar very good company for a decade, easy.
YOU’D PAY $45 full price.
The Other Wines
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 - 2 bottles
Limestone Coast, SA
94pts Sam Kim | 5 stars Sam Kim | Single Vineyard
This tasty cabernet straddles both worlds of youthful and serious, from Coonawarra’s little brother region of the Limestone Coast. Drinkability is at the forefront, with just enough tannin structure to make you know it’s cabernet. Black currants, spice and dark herbaceous notes are underscored by licorice and a touch of pepper. Fruit delivers powerfully and with some unexpected mid-palate richness. Long-lasting Limestone Coast goodness right here.
YOU’D PAY $27 full price.
Sauvignon Blanc 2020 - 2 bottles
Margaret River, WA
5 red star Halliday rated winery | Mofo Favourite
Welcome to the big wide wine world vintage 2020 and what a super way to kick things off with a 5 red star mofo favourite. 2 words that describe WA vintages? Consistently consistent. This Pemberton savvy bee displays lifted aromas of white florals, your recognisable splash of passionfruit and a long, driving citrusy acidity that provides simultaneous length and balance. Find a grassy spot in the afternoon sun and put your feet up with your favourite book and sip on this nice and chilled and quench that thirst.
YOU’D PAY $27 full price.
Penley Estate Shiraz 2018 - 1 bottle
Coonawarra, SA
5 star Halliday rated winery | Mofo Favourite Producer
We all know that Penley Estate, one of Coonawarra’s finest, make great cabernet under their Estate Range. It’s the kind of red you want on the wine rack all year round because it over-delivers and gets better and better. Can the same be said for their shiraz? We think so, but you’ll have to try the wine and decide for yourself. Expect a firm palate with soft tannins, nestled in a medium-body of fruit and spice. There’s dark plums, bright cherries and spicy cloves, drinking well now and only getting better.
YOU’D PAY $25 full price.
Les Oliviers Côtes du Rhône 2018 - 2 bottles
Rhone Valley, France
Gold Medal Gilbert & Gaillard
Straight from the Rhône Valley in France comes this spicy mix of syrah and grenache. Ripe and juicy red-berry goodness, this is a Rhone that looks the part AND tastes the part! This delicious wine is a stunning interplay between the two grapes - syrah provides attractive, red-berry fruit aromatics and a finely polished tannic structure, while the grenache lends a helping hand with a juicy ripeness and generous texture. A dash of pepper and an underline of spice will remind you that yes, indeed you are drinking Old World, and drinking well. Great drinking.
YOU’D PAY $25 full price.
Chardonnay 2017 - 2 bottles
Yarra Valley, Victoria
Boutique Producer | Mofo Favourite Producer
Don’t you dare turn your nose up at the price tag, mofos. Or, if you do, know that many a happy wine lover will swoop in to gather the spoils. Firecracker Yarra fruit yields surprising complexity, with green apple, pithy grapefruit and a juicy slice of white peach making up the moreish fruit profile. Cool-climate-derived acidity provides freshness and a clean, crisp finish.
YOU’D PAY $24 full price.
Pinot Gris 2018 - 2 bottles
Southern Highlands, Tasmania
5 star Halliday rated winery
Hilltops isn’t a mythical land between Lilliput and Hobbiton. But it is a mythical land of magical pinot gris. And this is one of them. Bright, popping citrus and juicy stonefruit are the order of the day. The palate is subtly textural, with a lovely soft pear-skin grip to it. Lees maturation adds a gently briochey richness and luxuriously creamy finish.
YOU’D PAY $24 full price.
