Secret Cellar deal on super-premium shiraz and cabernet
A 96-point, old-vine Barossa shiraz, a sublime Hunter red that normally costs more than $100 and a Coonawarra cabernet feature in our latest mystery offer.
We’re prising open the door of our Secret Cellar this week, pulling out four super-premium reds that normally have a price tag of around $75 a bottle.
Yes, that’s right, these wines aren’t exactly quaffers – but as regular readers of this column know, the Secret Cellar has become our most popular offer and is often sold out.
For those of you who may be new to The Australian Wine Club, this is our mystery deal where we offer an incredible discount – with a catch.
We ask you to take a leap of faith and place your order without knowing what’s on offer.
But the risk is not as great as you may think – if you don’t like what you receive, we’ll refund your order. No questions asked.
Each wine this week is a gold-medal winner, produced by a top-class Australian winery and is on offer for less than half the normal price across the Secret Cellar dozen.
The line-up includes a 96-point old-vine shiraz from the heart of the Barossa Valley; a sublime Hunter Valley shiraz with a recommended retail price of $115; a much-awarded Coonawarra cabernet that’s picked up gongs around the world; and a luscious grenache/shiraz/mataro blend from one of Clare Valley’s most highly regarded wineries.
We began our Secret Cellar series after the Chinese government effectively banned importing Australian wines by dramatically increasing import tariffs, creating an oversupply of wines here.
The impact is being felt across the industry, with winemakers saying they have never seen so many vineyards for sale.
The Secret Cellar is our way of offering deep discounts while protecting wineries’ brands and normal price points which have taken many years to establish.
To help you weigh up the offer, I do try to give as much information about these wines as I can without giving the wineries’ identities away.
And remember, we do offer a money-back guarantee, as well as free freight to your door.
As the weather cools, I’m sure those who enjoy premium Australian reds will be happy to greet these mysterious arrivals.
From a Barossa institution comes this old-vine shiraz dripping in old-school charm. Generous fruit on the nose, with waves of blackberry and plum aromas lifting from the glass, along with licorice, vanilla and almonds. These old Barossa vines have produced a wine well described as an iron fist in a velvet glove. There’s plenty of power on the palate, wrapped in a plushness that tames and tempts all the way to a long, lingering finish. Dark fruit flavours (mulberries and blackberries) meld with chocolate, black olives and polished cedar. Awarded a Grand Gold at the Berlin International Wine Competition in 2021 and scored a 96-point rating from Master of Wine, Andrew Caillard. My colleague at the wine club claims she could eat a jam sandwich and still taste this wine afterwards! I’d recommend matching with a grass-fed porterhouse in red wine jus, with Paris mash and roasted broccolini (and forget about the sandwich!). 15% alc; RRP $80 a bottle.
SPECIALS $74.99 a bottle in any dozen; $35 a bottle in Secret Cellar dozen.
Hunter fans jump in. This is a top-tier shiraz from a trusted winery with a five-star Halliday rating. For a wine with six years in the cellar, the vibrancy of its purple red colour shows off the quality and ageing potential. It’s superb drinking right now though. Ripe plums and red cherry flavours lie at the heart, surrounded by a web of supporting characters: mocha coffee, leather, aniseed, spice, smoky cedar. Tangy acid drives to the finish line. Medium-bodied in typical Hunter style, with a lovely combination between fruit sweetness and earthy savouriness. 95 points from James Halliday’s team. A cracker. 14% alc; RRP $115 a bottle.
SPECIALS $79.99 a bottle in any dozen; $35 a bottle in Secret Cellar dozen.
Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Eight gold medals around the world – including at the prestigious Concours International des Cabernets competition in France – testify to the class of this Coonawarra classic. A triple treat of blackcurrants, mint and cassis flavours swirl through the palate, with herbal notes, leather and savoury oak adding complexity. Balanced acidity; grippy tannins. 96 points at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2022; 95 points Wine Orbit. Partner up with juicy lamb backstrap with green pea hummus, white beans and mint. 14.5% alc; RRP $60 a bottle.
SPECIALS $49.99 a bottle in any dozen; $35 a bottle in Secret Cellar dozen
Clare Valley Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2018
Seductive Rhone-style blend from one of Clare’s best five-star wineries. Grenache from a high-altitude vineyard brings soft blueberry flavours and lifted aromatics, fusing with shiraz’s red fruits and mataro’s earthiness. With its rustic combination of black cherries, savoury meats, cloves and charry oak, my mind drifts to picnics in the French countryside. Medium-bodied. Was matured for almost 18 months in French oak. Won a Gold medal at Germany’s highly regarded Mundus Vini wine awards. 14.5% alc; RRP $55 a bottle.
SPECIALS $49.99 a bottle in any dozen; $35 a bottle in Secret Cellar dozen
SECRET CELLAR DOZEN Three bottles of each wine above for $35 a bottle. SAVE $510 a dozen.
Order online or phone 1300 765 359 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm AEST. Deals available only while stocks last. The Australian Wine Club is a commercial partnership with Laithwaites Wine, LIQP770016550.
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