Description
Geologists Mark Gifford and Tim Markwell have built Blue Poles into one of Margaret River’s definitive cult producers over the last 30 or so years. They operate almost entirely on word-of-mouth, funnelling their expertise into old-world-leaning reds that routinely make a mockery of their price tags.
The fruit comes from their single estate block in the cooler Wallcliff sub-region. The Allouran is their answer to the great Right Bank blends of Bordeaux, built here on a precise ratio of 67% Merlot and 33% Cabernet Franc. Because they rely strictly on this small plot, volumes are notoriously tiny and usually swallowed up by their mailing list before they ever hit a retail shelf.
It sits decidedly on the earthy, structural side of the fence, and it's charmingly classic in its delivery of this blend. There's a core of dark berries layered with crushed black olive, graphite, and a briny, serious finish with toothsome tannin. It drinks like a much more expensive European import but at a Thursday night price.
95 points
"I like that it has fruit weight and yet it feels ‘mineral’ at the same time. This is an excellent release."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)
Customer Reviews
| Price Bracket | $31 to $40 |
| Type | Red |
| Body | Medium Bodied |
| Variety | Merlot |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Margaret River |
| Australian State | WA |
| Feature |
High Score |
| Reviewed By |
The Wine Front |
| Critic Score |
95 |
| Alcohol | 14% |
| Size | 750ml |
| Vintage | 2022 |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
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Common Questions
Delivery is free on orders of $199 or more.
For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.
We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.
Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.
No sorry we do not have a store front and pickup is not available.
Yes, no problem. When placing your order select ‘Store at Different Drop and Delivery Later’ as your shipping method or reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order with additional instructions.
We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.
To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you.
If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.
Our warehouse is automated so unless you tell us otherwise, we will ship your order. If you would like us to hold your order please reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order and we are happy to store your order for up to 6 months at no charge. You can review our heat policy here.
Yes, of course. We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. You can see our price match policy here.
No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.
No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.
Most wine retailers list at a single-bottle price and then discount 10–15% when you buy six or twelve. We've taken the opposite approach. Since the overwhelming majority of our orders are already 6 bottles or more, our list price is set for the case buyer from the start. There's no inflated single-bottle price to discount down from.
What that means for you:
- One price, same for everyone — no minimum to hit to unlock the best rate
- No mixed-six gymnastics to qualify for a discount
- Our single-bottle price is typically at or below a traditional retailer's by-the-dozen rate
Put simply: the box discount is already baked into the price.
**And if you find it cheaper elsewhere?** Let us know. If the same wine is available at a lower price at another retailer (including at their mixed-six or by-the-dozen rate) we're happy to match it.
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