Posted: November 9, 2017
Still primary with plenty of blueberry, dark plum and berry. Quite a bit of oak layering over the fruit. The palate is chewy with finely grained tannins acting as a counterpoint to the fruit. Good length. $18.00
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Immense colour. Very youthful but nose packed with plum, blueberry, blackcurrant and wild raspberry. Exotic notes of sweet spice and liquorice, with enough stuffing to soak up the very pronounced oak. Despite being a huge wine, it retains charm and…
Comments Off on Church Road Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet 2015 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Very pale pink. A dry, tight rosé, clean and crisp with some candy floss and red strawberry fruit. Uncomplicated easy drinking. $16.00
Comments Off on Villa Maria Private Bin Rosé 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Pale pink. Pretty summer pudding aroma of raspberry, strawberry and rose petal. Dry and satisfying with a lovely thread of freshness. Super appealing, clean and crisp. $20.00
Comments Off on Esk Valley Rosé 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Floral youthful chardonnay that doesn’t have much by way of complexity but is instead straightforward and crisp. $16.00
Comments Off on Vidal Estate Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
An uncomplicated fruity style of chardonnay made in an attractive, easy drinking style. Lots of peachy fruit and a nice line of acidity keeping the palate in check. $18.00
Comments Off on Left Field Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A solid, straightforward chardonnay destined for early drinking. Ripe banana and melon with a touch of oak too. Palate has acid and drive. $19.00
Comments Off on Mills Reef Estate Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Very smart. There is quite a bit of oak which contributes a creamy, nutmeg note and supports the peachy, buttery fruit. Plenty of concentration and flavour here. Excellent value. $18.00
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Gently aromatic with an edge of nutmeg and cinnamon spice. Creamy and concentrated, oak comes through alongside a mealy, leesy note. Not a big wine but lovely persistence of flavour. $20.00
Comments Off on Esk Valley Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Showing quite a bit of development, with some kerosene and toasty notes emerging. Light bodied, mouthwatering acidity with just a touch of sweetness to flesh out the palate. $15.00
Comments Off on Mission Estate Riesling 2015 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Very youthful and still showing some banana and pear drops on the nose which will presumably disappear with time. A light, crisp style of Pinot Gris with an appealing pithy texture. $16.00
Comments Off on Vidal Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Lightly fragrant with baked red apple and poached pear on the nose. Some sweetness at first that then leads to a medium dry textural palate. $20.00
Comments Off on Esk Valley Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Very pretty, sitting firmly in the bourbon rose petal, white blossom spectrum, rather than the big musky end of town. Light on its feet, not too extracted with a gentle hint of sweetness. Good persistence $15.00
Comments Off on Mission Estate Gewurztraminer 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Textbook pinot gris; plenty of apple and pear tree fruits with a touch of blossom too. Ripe generous flavours yet restrained. Lovely thread of acidity running through. Nicely judged, exuberant but not over the top
Comments Off on Montana Reserve Pinot Gris 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
An appealing concentrated viognier with plenty of musk, honeysuckle and just-ripe apricot. Light and bright on the palate; with great depth of flavour. Length. Excellent value. $18.00
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Viognier 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Vivid aromas of lemon and lime with some quinine too. Almost like drinking gin and tonic. A delightful textural wine with a strong acid spine that keeps the flavours pristine and focussed. Really attractive. $20.00
Comments Off on Esk Valley Verdelho 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Still bright and youthful with ripe lemon and lime flavours. Nice thread of acidity keeps palate vibrant with a touch of boiled lollies on the finish. $15.00
Comments Off on Waimea Spinyback Sauvignon Blanc 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Starting to take on some bottle developed characters of game and forest floor. Still quite a bit of tannin but nice touch of gentle ripe fruit. $20.00
Comments Off on Ceres Composition Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Bold red cherry and plum aromas with a touch of blueberry creeping in. Creamy, raspberry ripple flavours, soft and appealing with an off dry finish. $19.95
Comments Off on Church Road Hawkes Bay Rosé 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
An appealing fruity rosé that is made more interesting through the notes of dried rosemary and thyme that add a degree of complexity. Decent concentration, dry with a clean crisp finish. $17.00
Comments Off on Sacred Hill Orange Label Marlborough Rosé 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
An attractive, uncomplicated wine with some cinnamon spice sitting alongside aromas of stone fruit, jasmine and blossom. A fleshy wine with plenty of succulent white nectarine and peach fruit. $17.00
Comments Off on Waimea Pinot Gris 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A bright, easy drinking style of pinot gris, dry and crisp with decent concentration and intensity. Excellent value for money. $15.00
Comments Off on Waimea Spiny Back Pinot Gris 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Very pungent aromas of passionfruit, red capsicum and a little snowpea too. Bright and crisp on the palate with mouthwatering gooseberry and lime flavours. Lovely line of zesty acidity runs right through the palate leading to a crisp, citrus finish….
Comments Off on Sacred Hill Orange Label Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Lovely light lifted varietal characters of rhubarb and beetroot and good level of acidity.
Comments Off on Babich Black Label Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A light green with an elegancy of zesty lime-like varietal fruit characters with just a hint of residual sweetness..
Comments Off on Mercuri Estate Ryder Clare Valley Riesling 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Dark brooding fruit nose and a simple confectionery sweet primary fruit palate.
Comments Off on Trentham The Family Maestri Murray Darling Frizzante 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A very pretty pale pink wine showing lovely lifted ripe raspberry fruit aromas and some nicely restrained berry fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Trentham The Family Murray Darling Sangiovese Rosé 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Well made commercial style more gris in style with its fuller, complex fatty/nutty characters.
Comments Off on Trentham The Family Murray Darling Pinot Grigio 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Nose shows good lift of sweet rich fruit and the palate is a nice balance between the spicy licorice fruit and the oak. A well made wine.
Comments Off on Trentham Estate Murray Darling Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
This fruit dominated wine was described as a “Serious, spicy commercial style”. It’s deeper, darker, tighter and jammier!
Comments Off on Trentham Estate Murray Darling Merlot 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A pleasant cherry berry bouquet and a tasty balance of sweet and savoury flavours on the well textured palate.
Comments Off on Walter Wines Federation Hill Single Vineyard Mudgee NSW Rosé 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A drink now style with a powerful, upfront asparagus-like sauvignon blanc influence.
Comments Off on Sandalford Margaret River Range Classic Dry White Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Good example of a traditional grenache rose. Sweet and luscious with good acid balance.
Comments Off on Sandalford Margaret River Range Margaret River Rosé 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Simple stonefruit nose and more of a dry white style of palate. No faults but not very varietal.
Comments Off on Sandalford Margaret River Range Margaret River Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A lightweight with earthy green aromas and elegant fruit palate with ‘edgy’ acidity.
Comments Off on Sandalford Estate Reserve Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A slightly fuller style of rose that has some very attractive lifted floral/berry fruit and nicely balanced sweetness.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Private Bin Hawkes Bay Rosé 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Powerful yeast autolysis characters sitting on top of the sweet varietal fruit.
Comments Off on Kingston Estate Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A clean, lively and classy sparkling showing a lovely complexity of toasty, yeasty mature aromas with very attractive lemon sherbet flavours on the toasty palate.
Comments Off on Freixenet Elyssia Gran Cuvee Cava Spain Brut NV / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Light lift of rose petal/musky aromas and lovely fruity muscat flavour profile. A very nice drink – not overdone.
Comments Off on Azahara Victoria Sparkling Moscato NV / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A simple but balanced style with a reasonable length of sweet tropical fruit intensity.
Comments Off on Hoggies Estate Wines Coonawarra Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A very well made moscato with everything that you would expect from this particular style.
Comments Off on Hoggies Estate Wines Australia Moscato 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A big tight wine with quite savoury meaty/Bonox -like elements. Tannins still slightly aggressive. “A polarising style”.
Comments Off on Cartel Padthaway Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A well made commercial style wine. A tad sweet with some asparagus characters.
Comments Off on Ironwood Porongurup Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Minerally, acid driven wine with very fresh varietal fruit characters. Needs time to settle.
Comments Off on Schild Estate Barossa Riesling 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Spicy blackberry fruit tends to dominate the nose while the palate is full of rich primary fruit flavours. Good tannins.
Comments Off on Greenock Estate SA Shiraz Cabernet 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Big fresh grassy/asparagus sauvignon blanc with a tropical nose and punchy palate with lovely varietal lift.
Comments Off on Sidewood Estate Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Nicely balanced, well made, dry style of rose in the savoury/sweet spectrum with prickly acidity.
Comments Off on Graham Norton’s Own Pink By Design Hawkes Bay Rosé 2017 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
Nose is a lovely blend of ripe cassis fruit and sweet new oak. The palate is rich and chocolaty with long soft tannins.
Comments Off on 88 & 88 Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
A lovely medium bodied shiraz with blackberries and black pepper on the nose and pepper and spice filling the berry fruit palate.
Comments Off on Federation Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017
Posted: November 9, 2017
“Very stylistic”, noted one judge. Lovely rich nose and a soft and creamy sweet/savoury palate.
Comments Off on Bayliss Road McLaren Vale G.S.M. 2016 / 0 View / November 9, 2017