Zema Estate Cluny Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot 2016
Posted: November 30, 2021
A Cherry Ripe of a nose that carries through on to the very soft palate.
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Mr Riggs Battle Axe McLaren Vale Sparkling Shiraz NV
Posted: November 30, 2021
Soft developed wine with chocolaty/mocha characters freshened with a cassis fruit lift.
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Ca’Munari Millesimato DOCG Valdobbiadene Prosecco 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Subtle floral citrus fragrances with a restrained flavour profile.
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McHenry Hohnen BDX Margaret River Malbec Cabernet Petit Verdot 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
A big tannic style with good savoury varietal fruit and vanillin oak. “A great wine,” noted one judge.
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McHenry Hohnen Rocky Road Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2017
Posted: November 30, 2021
Brooding plum fragrances with great fruit weight on the palate and flavours reminiscent of fig jam.
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Backline Wines Je Fais Langhorne Creek Cabernet Blend 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Aromas of plums and blackcurrants, slight leathery edge and dark earthy fruit palate with greenish tannins.
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Scarpantoni Brothers Block McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Posted: November 30, 2021
A big full-bodied cabernet. Intense brooding bouquet, a dark complexity of smoky/roasted flavours and well “shaped” tannins.
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Scarpantoni Brothers Block McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Posted: November 30, 2021
A traditional Aussie cabernet at its best! An evolved earthy/berry nose with a generous chocolaty/leathery palate.
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Kirrihill E.B.’s The Settler Clare Valley Riesling 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
A lift of honey and limes on the nose with solid lemon flavours, a smoky element and great bracing acidity.
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Haselgrove Protector McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Deep purple wine with a minty/menthol bouquet and simple ripe fruit flavours.
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Haselgrove First Cut McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
A lovely varietal melange of blackcurrants and plums with herbal/menthol notes.
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Mr Riggs The Bolter McLaren Vale Cabernet 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
A riper style smelling of plums and cassis with a slight menthol edge and lovely dark cherry-like flavour profile laced with great chewy tannins.
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Mr Riggs Outpost Coonawarra Cabernet 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
A great elegant example of the variety with lifted blue fruit and spicy oak bouquet. Perfect palate weight, silky smooth in the mouth and with loads of flavour. Will age well.
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Mr Riggs Watervale Clare Riesling 2020
Posted: November 30, 2021
Pale green wine with delicate lime blossom fragrances and lovely minerality to the citrus palate with some racy acidity. Needs time to settle.
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Trinity Hill The Gimblett Red Blend Hawkes Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Up-front red berry bouquet and slightly angular structure to the palate with dark fruits, light acidity and drying tannins.
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Blue Pyrenees Estate Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Posted: November 30, 2021
Very soft and savoury style with a suggestion of cassis, violets, toast and vanilla.
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Blue Pyrenees Estate Red Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Complex cassis and menthol aromas with a fleshy palate intense with dark fruit flavours and mouth coating tannins.
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Pig In The House Organic Cowra Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
“A bit of a fruit bomb,” according to one judge. Good line and length with chewy tannins.
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Glenlofty Estate Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Posted: November 30, 2021
Interesting nose, quite gamey with a soft plum flavoured palate and vanillin notes.
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Rosabrook Wines Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
A great example of a greener style of cabernet. “A pleasure to judge,” according to one of the panel. Very varietal, lovely structure and grippy tannins.
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Bream Creek Vineyard Tasmania Cuvee Traditionelle 2014
Posted: November 30, 2021
A big and very complex savoury wine laced with some citrus fruit elements.
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Bream Creek Vineyard Tasmania Pinot Noir 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Super vibrant for a two-year old wine showing a classic stewed strawberry bouquet and a balance of sweet cherry flavours with subtle use of oak and velvety tannins.
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Bream Creek Vineyard Tasmania Cabernet Merlot 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Herbal notes to the nose with dark flavours on a lightweight palate with green edged tannins.
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Bream Creek Vineyard Tasmania Cabernet Merlot 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Lifted aromas of cassis fruit and strawberry jam. Generous youthful red fruit palate. Very approachable now. $36
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Lévrier by Jo Irvine Barossa Valley Merlot 2016
Posted: November 30, 2021
Beautifully aged merlot with great varietal fruit aromas layered with cedary oak characters. Lovely ripe fruit flavours well supported by the oak and succulent acidity.
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Majella Coonawarra Merlot 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Lifted spicy fruit fragrances and creamy confectionery strawberry/blueberry palate. Great oak selection and ripe tannins.
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Nova Vita Firebird Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Light and lean with some lovely varietal fruit that, according to one judge, showed “great picking decision!”
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d’Arenberg The High Trellis McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Posted: November 30, 2021
A varietal nose with hints of tomato bush and a very drying and flavoursome palate.
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d’Arenberg The Galvo Garage McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Petit Verdot 2015
Posted: November 30, 2021
Great development here with excellent integration between spicy cassis fruit, oak, tannins and warming alcohol. “So good for its age!” enthused one judge.
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Nodus Tollens Ferguson Valley Arneis 2020
Posted: November 30, 2021
Funky figgy fragrances with super passionfruit-like varietal flavours on the slightly oily palate
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Nodus Tollens Denmark Pinot Noir 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
Spicy, slightly herbaceous characters here with vanillin oak and chalky tannins.
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Nodus Tollens Frankland River Syrah 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
Lovely nose – smells like a rhubarb pie and has a palate sitting in the earthy savoury spectrum.
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Army Of Grapes Frankland River Shiraz 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
Very cool climate style – very Rhone-like with lovely peppery fruit and subtle cedary oak.
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Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Pinot Noir 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Bright ruby, this regional blend was matured in French oak barriques (10% new). Mouthfilling, it is moderately firm, with good depth of ripe cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, showing considerable complexity. Best drinking mid-2021+. $26 (A, UK, US)
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Obsidian Waiheke Island Syrah 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Fresh and lively, this medium to full-bodied red was matured in French oak barriques. Deep ruby, it has strong, plummy, spicy flavours, oak-derived complexity and a firmly structured finish. Open 2022+. $34
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Fromm Marlborough Syrah 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Certified organic, this medium-bodied red is a blend of syrah (97%) and viognier (3%), hand-picked and matured for 19 months in French oak barrels (less than 10% new). Full, bright ruby, it is aromatic, with vibrant, plummy, well-spiced flavours, revealing…
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Obsidian Estate Waiheke Island Tempranillo 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
This quietly classy red was matured in French and American oak barriques. Full-coloured, with a fragrant, slightly coconutty bouquet, it is mouthfilling, with ripe plum and spice flavours, complex and savoury, fresh acidity and good tannin backbone. A youthful, very…
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Mount Riley 17 Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
Offering fine value, this ripely scented wine was hand-picked and fermented and lees-aged for eight months in seasoned French oak casks. Still very youthful, it is fleshy, with generous, tropical fruit flavours, showing excellent delicacy, slightly creamy and biscuity notes,…
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Mount Riley 17 Valley Marlborough Chardonnay 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
This very harmonious wine was hand-picked and fermented and matured in French oak barriques (30% new). Fragrant, with a slightly creamy, biscuity bouquet, it is mouthfilling and vibrant, with youthful grapefruit and peach flavours, showing excellent delicacy, a subtle seasoning…
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Lawson’s Dry Hills Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still unfolding, this is a perfumed, weighty wine. It has vibrant pear, lychee and spice flavours, a touch of barrel-ferment complexity, fractional sweetness, and very good delicacy, harmony and length. Best drinking mid-2021+. $26 (A, UK, US)
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Dancing Petrel Paewhenua Island Mangonui Northland Viognier 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
This youthful, softly mouthfilling wine was hand-harvested at a coastal vineyard in the Far North and barrel-aged. Pale straw, it is powerful, with concentrated, ripe flavours of peaches and pears, biscuity notes adding complexity, balanced acidity and a dry, long…
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Dancing Petrel Paewhenua Island Mangonui Northland Cabernet Franc 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
Likely to be long-lived, this Northland red was hand-harvested and matured in French oak casks (30% new). Deeply coloured, it is fragrant and mouthfilling, with concentrated, ripe, youthful flavours of plums and spices, a hint of herbs, good complexity and…
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Stonecroft Old Vine Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Gewurztraminer 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
Exotically perfumed, this is a very rare wine – only 30 cases were produced. Straw-hued, with a hint of gold, it is powerful (15% alc/vol), with highly concentrated, youthful, peachy, deeply spicy flavours, hints of apricot and ginger, gentle acidity…
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Pyramid Valley Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018
Posted: November 30, 2021
This very youthful red was estate-grown at Lowburn and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques and cuves (partly new). Bright ruby, it is highly fragrant, with strong, ripe cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, complex and savoury. Built…
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Obsidian Estate Waiheke Island Montepulciano 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
Clearly a top vintage, this is a bold, well-structured, youthful red with full, bright colour. Sturdy, it is vibrantly fruity, with concentrated plum, blackcurrant and spice flavours, complex and savoury, good tannin support and obvious potential. Best drinking 2023+. $43
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Mount Riley 17 Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
Already delicious, this is a classy wine, priced sharply. Hand-picked and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (partly new), it is deeply coloured, finely scented, rich and supple. Powerful but not heavy, it is sweet-fruited, with strong plum,…
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Lowburn Ferry Homeblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017
Posted: November 30, 2021
This powerful, young, single-vineyard red was hand-picked in the Cromwell Basin and matured in French oak barriques (38% new). Deep ruby, with a fragrant, very ripe bouquet, it is highly concentrated, with dense plum and spice flavours, a hint of…
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Hunter’s Home Block Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
Hunter’s new ‘icon’ sauvignon blanc was hand-picked from mature, low-cropped vines (6 tonnes per hectare) and partly (10%) fermented in seasoned French oak puncheons. Medium to full-bodied, it is intense, crisp and dry, with punchy, ripe passionfruit/lime flavours, vague toasty…
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Dancing Petrel Paewhenua Island Mangonui Northland Tannat 2019
Posted: November 30, 2021
From a variety that is well known in south-west France and Uruguay, this Northland red was hand-picked and matured in French oak casks (30% new). Powerful, with dark, bold, purple-flushed colour, it is densely packed, with plum, spice and liquorice…
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Tatty Bogler Waitaki Valley Pinot Noir 2015
Posted: November 30, 2021
This North Otago red was matured for 10 months in French oak casks (20% new). Showing some colour maturity, it has a fragrant, slightly leafy bouquet, leading into a vibrant, supple wine with strongly varietal, moderately concentrated cherry, plum, herb…
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