We weren’t planning to bring in any new wines this week…But then yesterday happened.

One sip turned into two. Eyes widened. Palates danced. And before we knew it, we were begging for whatever they’d let us have. The result? Just 5 six-packs each of two jaw-dropping bottles from Australia’s iconic d’Arenberg with pricing that was just too good: The Laughing Magpie 2018 and The Dead Arm Shiraz 2018.

The Valpane Estate in Monferrato has been producing award winning wines since 1898 Pietro Arditi is the third generation stewarding this property and he continues the way his ancestors did farming small plots of mostly Barbera without and pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers; preferring to let the grapes stress to produce the most intense flavorful wines possible.

Bordeaux in general always benefits from a bit of aging: it can soften the structure and reveal those secondary fruity notes that can help balance out those classic leather & tobacco flavors. While both wines have some aging already under their belt, the Chateau Bourbon is ready now.