The Lucky Dip Case is back! This time with an extra chance to win even more awesome wines! This case has a potential to be a whopping $1420 RRP, but don’t fret, at an absolute minimum, the case is $505 RRP. Everyone wins!
Every case contains the same 5 already wicked wines, including some of 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 one of these world-beater wines you will receive as your sixth.
The 6th wine is the wildcard and could be any one of these:
An iconic Penfolds Grange 2017 worth $1000 (1 in 50 chance)
A 100pt Châteauneuf-du-Pape worth $400 (1 in 25 chance)
A 98pt Barossa shiraz worth $320 (1 in 10 chance)
A 95pt Barolo worth $100 (1 in 5 chance)
A 96pt Barossa shiraz worth $85 (at a minimum!)
Each box contains one of these epic wines. The odds vary, but each one is a centerpiece wine, worthy of some truly special occasions.
We should say up front: there are no returns on this - click here for case terms and conditions. As it’s a Lucky Dip, it would be unfair to other mofos running in the draw.
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 $1000 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:
The Wild Card Wines
Wild Card Wine #1
Penfolds Grange Shiraz 2017
South Australia
98pts Wine Spectator | 98pts Huon Hooke | 96pts Robert Parker
“Very deep, dark, dense colour with plenty of purple in the rim. The bouquet is classic Grange, loaded with toast-smoky-oaky scents of smoked-meats and toasted barrels, dried herbs adding an extra fragrance, and hints of five-spice, especially star anise. It’s very full-bodied and concentrate, powerful and long-lasting, but the tannins are beautifully crafted and supple, harmonious, and avoid any suggestion of astringency. The core of the wine is lusciously fruit-sweet and delicious, the robe of tannin complementary rather than domineering. The finish is tremendously long and satisfying. I can enjoy drinking this now: not usual with a new Grange release. A quite magnificent wine and a great Grange.” - Huon Hooke
“Strongly marked - as always - by its 100% American oak elevage, the 2017 Grange backs up the cedar and vanilla notes with ample blackberry and cassis fruit. Full-bodied, ripe and almost decadently creamy in the mouth, it’s loaded with substance, concentrated and rich, yet- in the context of Grange - relatively light and elegant-seeming on the finish. Only the seventh-ever Grange to be exclusively Shiraz, it originates from Barossa Valley (86%) and McLaren Vale (14%): Shiraz from the other growing regions in South Australia failed to make the grade this year.” - Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“Memorable, complex, aromatic and explosively deep, with a mix of palo santo, dark chocolate, black olive, espresso and hazelnut butter. The pure fruit at the core is a mix of ripe huckleberry, boysenberry and wild blackberry, with dense but polished tannins. Savoury notes of dried rosemary and sage, cigar box, dried apricot and sandalwood linger on the epic finish. Drink now through 2045.” - Wine Spectator
YOU’D PAY $1000 full price.
Wild Card Wine #2
Domaine Saint Préfert Collection Charles Giraud Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, FR
100pts Jeb Dunnuck | 98pts Wine Cellar Insider | 97pts Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate | 95pts Wine Spectator
We’ve just entered rare air with this Châteauneuf-du-Pape from cult winery Domaine Saint-Préfert. Let’s start with producer...
Saint-Préfert is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with an incredible release of wines, wines that truly start in the vineyard. The soils are stony, porous and filtering, allowing the vines to root deeply in clay. With such extreme temperatures in the Rhône, these deep roots are vital to accessing water, resulting in grapes of immense intensity and richness.
This ‘Charles Giraud’ Collection CdP is the jewel in the crown of Saint-Préfert’s range. It’s best to read the 97 point review below from Joe Czerwinski of The Wine Advocate to get a professional writer’s take on the wine. But know you are getting something rare and special, a wine that Rhône aficionado and critic Jeb Dunnuck graced with a perfect 100 point score. If you are serious about wine, then this is one for the collection.
YOU’D PAY $400 full price.
Wild Card Wine #3
Maverick Ahrens’ Creek Ancestor Vine Shiraz 2020
Barossa Valley, SA
98pts Wine Orbit | 4.4 Vivino (All Vintages) | Five Red Star Halliday Rated Winery | Five Stars Wine Orbit | Certified Biodynamic | Old Vine
The shiraz for this wine was sourced from the best block of a vineyard in Vine Vale planted back in the 1870s. Nearly a decade ago, our extremely meticulous producer rewired and re-trellised every single vine, returning the block to its full vigour. One wine critic labelled this as ‘breathtaking’, and we think we needn’t say much more. This is a wine that shines out of the glass, as if speaking of god-like status. It’s one of plump richness, sweet fruit and a silky texture. Behind the fruit, you’ll find hints of roasted chestnut, black olive, baking spices and spicy oak. We’re in the presence of classic Barossa greatness here, a wine for the ages that will age for decades.
YOU’D PAY $320 full price.
Wild Card Wine #4
Ettore Germano Barolo DOCG del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba 2017
Barolo DOCG
95pts Wine Enthusiast | Mofo Fave
Barolo is always in the discussion of the top premium wine regions in the world. If you are bothering to read this, then you probably already know that it is a small area in Piemonte in Northern Italy that produces only red wines made from nebbiolo. Barolo itself is divided into 11 communes (sub-regions). Serralunga d’Alba, one of the most famous of the communes, is home to Ettore Germano. Now run by Sergio Germano, the winery is one of the top producers in Serralunga d’Alba and has been making wine since 1856.
The 2017 vintage was not without its challenges for Barolo. But the top producers were able to craft incredible wines and this comes across so clearly in Ettore Germano’s Barolo del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba. In the glass, the colour is a bright ruby garnet. The nose opens up quickly with strawberry, cherry, pomegranate and rose petals. After the few years it already has had in bottle, hints of leather and tobacco have integrated with the dark fruits evident on the palate. The tannins are fine, readily present and elegant. Ettore Germano is one of the most exciting Italian producers we’ve imported to date. If you are into Barolo, this is certainly a must have.
YOU’D PAY $100 full price.
Wild Card Wine #5
Rosenvale Vineyards Angaston Road Shiraz 2020
Barossa Valley, SA
95pts Wine Enthusiast | Mofo Fave
This wine is Barossa through and through - even at two years old, it’s looking good and ready to go. It’s full to the brim with ripe, black fruit, vibrant blood plums, charry oak (including a dash of American) and a crackle of peppery spice to round it off. There’s just enough tannin resting in a tongue-coating opulent mouthfeel, and a long, lingering cocoa-rich finish. Complexity comes from the incredible depth of flavour and good quality, integrated oak.
YOU’D PAY $85 full price.
The Others
Lou Miranda Estate Single Vineyard Shiraz 2017
Barossa Valley, SA
4.3 Vivino (All Vintages) | Single Vineyard
The Barossa shiraz we’ve all been waiting for - the newest vintage of Lou Miranda’s single vineyard shiraz is back and isn’t here to mess around! Handcrafted from vines planted on stoney, clay & premium soil, this Barossa Valley dreamboat is laid out with the soil restricting the growth, channeling the grapes to be highly concentrated as they ripen. An old school shiraz, this wine has been matured in American oak barrels for FOUR YEARS, allowing for those juicy juicy tannins to fully develop and soften. Intense, bold and not afraid to stand out, this mofo fave has massive fruit mixed with massive oak. With flavours of deep plum, dark fruits and a creamy vanilla kick on top, you don’t need to hold back on the food flavours to pair. Go big, go rich, go hearty and have yourself a lavish time.
YOU’D PAY $100 full price.
Haselgrove The Lear Shiraz 2020
McLaren Vale, SA
98pts Winestate | 95pts Wine Pilot | 4.3 Vivino (All Vintages) | Five Red Star Halliday Rated Winery
One of our bestselling wines is back with a bang (for your buck). Vintage after vintage, this wine has been awarded 95+pts, proof’s in the pudding and mofos have gone mad for this shiraz. It’s rich, full-bodied and brimming with luxurious McLaren Vale fruity-chocolatey notes. There’s some of the very best grapes in the region here, held together by a generous touch of French oak. Drink now or cellar for the next decade and a half. From experience, though, you’ll crack this out well before then. Whether you open it or not, it’s the lowest risk investment you’ll make this year… and the returns are delicious.
YOU’D PAY $90 full price.
Maverick Eden Regained Shiraz 2020
Barossa, SA
96pts Wine Orbit | 95pts Halliday Wine Companion | 5 Red Star Halliday Rated Winery | Five Stars Wine Orbit | Certified Biodynamic | Old Vine
Ron Brown of Maverick Wines tends to 75 acres of vineyards spread across the Barossa and Eden Valley. Not any old vines- these are some of the oldest in the region, many hit their centenery long ago, some are even reaching into their second century having been planted in 1840. You should only have love and respect for vines like these, hence why it’s a natural choice to tend to the vineyards biodynamically. Everything is dry grown (meaning, the soils aren’t inundated with irrigated water), hand harvested, and lovingly reincarnated into some stunning wines. It’s no surprise that Ron was shortlisted for James Halliday’s Viticulturist of the Year Award.
Eden Regained is a serious shiraz that asks a playful question - what if it was the noble grape rather than apples and figs in the story of Adam and Eve? We’re not going to comment one way or the other on this biblical tale, but we will say that this shiraz is complex, vivid and extremely lovable. Check out the glowing review below from Halliday for a bit more detail.
YOU’D PAY $80 full price.
School House Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Coonawarra, SA
96pts Wine Orbit | From the Cellar
We all know that fine Coonawarra cabernet ages extremely well. Like a George Clooney or Brad Pitt ages well. We’ve had a couple of stunning back vintages from School House, so when they offered us some 2014 vino, we did not hesitate. This is one of our go-to Coonawarra producers, making it such a no-brainer of a deal. It’s still plenty powerful, but age has softened the edges a touch to give it a bit more gravitas. Blackberry and mulberry, roasted nuts and black olive, all in perfect harmony. This is great stuff that will prove to be worthy of the A-list for years to come.
YOU’D PAY $80 full price.
El Enemigo Cabernet Franc 2018
Mendoza, Argentina
94pts Descorchados | 93pts James Suckling | 4.4 Stars Vivino
Unlike most of the top producers in Mendoza, El Enemigo focuses on cabernet franc for their reserve wines. There’s always a bit of malbec in the blend, but the vast majority is cab franc, 92% in the case of this wine from their estate range. Rather than relying on the power of malbec, El Enemigo focuses on the layering of complex flavours in a more structured and medium-bodied style of wine. There’s plenty of dark fruit there, but it’s the herbs, spices, earthiness and savouriness that really shine through in a style of Mendoza wine that may surprise and will certainly delight.
YOU’D PAY $70 full price.
