Posted: September 4, 2019
This deeply coloured, single-vineyard red was estate-grown at Cromwell and French oak-aged for 11 months. Full-bodied, it is youthful, with concentrated, vibrant, plummy, spicy, slightly nutty flavours, showing very good complexity, fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins. Well worth cellaring, it…
Comments Off on Wooing Tree Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Offering good value, this Alexandra red is deeply coloured, with a fresh, fragrant bouquet. Full-bodied and fruit-packed, it has generous, vibrant, plummy, spicy flavours, nutty, savoury notes adding complexity, and good tannin support. Best drinking mid-2020+. $32
Comments Off on Dry Gully Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
This powerful young red was estate-grown, hand-harvested and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (26% new). Deeply coloured, it is vibrantly fruity, with concentrated cherry, plum and spice flavours, good tannin support, and obvious cellaring potential; open 2021+….
Comments Off on Domain Road Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Weighty and supple, this ruby-hued, fruit-packed red is mouthfilling and youthful. Fresh and sweet-fruited, it has vibrant cherry, plum and spice flavours, good tannin support, and obvious potential; best drinking 2021+. $40 (UK, US)
Comments Off on Ceres Composition Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Estate-grown at Gibbston, this savoury, finely poised red is drinking well now. Full-coloured, with a hint of development, it is fragrant and vibrantly fruity, with ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, a hint of herbs, good tannin backbone and excellent…
Comments Off on Brennan B2 Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Delicious now, but also ageworthy, this is a single-vineyard, Bannockburn red, hand-picked and matured for a year in French oak (27% new). Full, bright ruby, it is a powerful, young, sweet-fruited and savoury, with a fragrant, slightly earthy bouquet and…
Comments Off on Wild Earth Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Instantly attractive, this fragrant, full-bodied regional blend was grown principally at Parkburn, in the Cromwell Basin, with a small component (12%) from Gibbston. Already delicious, it is sweet-fruited, with deep, vibrant cherry, plum and spice flavours, seasoned with French oak…
Comments Off on Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
This floral, very graceful red was estate-grown at Bendigo and matured for a year in French oak hogsheads (33% new). Deep ruby, it is sweet-fruited, savoury and supple, with vibrant plum, spice and nut flavours, silky-textured and lingering. Still youthful,…
Comments Off on Misha’s Vineyard The High Note Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
This highly ageworthy red was estate-grown at Bannockburn, hand-picked, matured for a year in French oak barrels (25% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deep ruby, it is mouthfilling, savoury and supple, with concentrated, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours…
Comments Off on Doctors Flat Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
This ageworthy, organically certified red was estate-grown and matured in French oak barriques. Full-coloured, it is mouthfilling, concentrated, savoury and structured, with ripe cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, slightly earthy notes adding complexity, real depth through the palate and…
Comments Off on Carrick Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
This vivacious, single-vineyard rosé was hand-picked near Alexandra. Bright, pale pink, it is freshly scented, with strawberryish, slightly peachy and spicy flavours and a finely balanced, fully dry finish. $26
Comments Off on Three Miners Rocker Box Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Offering easy drinking, this is a fresh and lively blend of tempranillo (70%) and zinfandel (30%). Light pink/orange, it is medium-bodied, with a sliver of sweetness, a touch of tannin, and strong, peachy, slightly spicy flavours. $40
Comments Off on Brennan Gibbston Central Otago Rosé 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Certified organic, this wine was hand-picked and fermented with indigenous yeasts in tanks and barrels. Bright, light lemon/green, it is crisp and nettley, in a medium-bodied, slightly austere style with good intensity of herbaceous flavours, a touch of complexity, firm…
Comments Off on Carrick Wild Ferment Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
This vibrantly fruity wine was hand-harvested in the Cromwell Basin, barrel-fermented and lees-aged in old oak. Medium-bodied, it is very fresh and youthful, with citrusy, peachy, slightly appley flavours, showing a distinct touch of complexity, and a dryish, lengthy finish….
Comments Off on Queensberry Gardens Reserve Central Otago Chenin Blanc 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
This lively, full-flavoured wine was hand-harvested and partly (42%) French oak-fermented. It has good intensity of citrusy, herbaceous flavours, with a subtle seasoning of oak adding complexity, and a slightly nettley bouquet. $23 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Domain Road Vineyard Central Otago Bannockburn Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
This “playful”, clearly varietal wine is mouthfilling and perfumed, with strong, vibrant, peachy, appley flavours, a splash of sweetness and lively acidity. Finely balanced, vigorous and youthful, it should be at its best 2020+. $50
Comments Off on Brennan Gibbston Muscat Central Otago 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Already enjoyable, this is a skilfully balanced blend of three aromatic varieties – gewürztraminer (45%), riesling (45%), and muscat (10%). Bright, light lemon/green, with a perfumed, gently spicy bouquet, it is full-bodied and vibrantly fruity, with a splash of sweetness…
Comments Off on Brennan Gibbston Trio Central Otago 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Finely poised and youthful, this estate-grown wine has an invitingly perfumed, floral, spicy bouquet. Mouthfilling and fresh, it is strongly varietal, with rich, yet delicate, peachy, spicy flavours, a slightly oily texture, and obvious potential. Best drinking 2021+. $40
Comments Off on Brennan Gibbston Central Otago Gewurztraminer 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
A memorable mouthful, this blend of pinot gris (73%), muscat (15%) and riesling (12%) was made “following ancient winemaking traditions”, including fermentation on skins for two months in old French oak barriques. Probably at its peak now, it is highly…
Comments Off on Brennan Gibbston Orange Central Otago 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Invitingly scented, this lively, light-bodied, estate-grown wine was hand-picked at Earnscleugh, near Alexandra. Pale lemon/green, it has citrusy, slightly appley flavours, showing excellent delicacy and depth, and a slightly sweet, finely balanced finish. Drink now or cellar. $23
Comments Off on Three Miners Central Otago Riesling 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Bright, light lemon/green, this single-vineyard wine was hand-picked at Bendigo. Fragrant, it is medium-bodied, with strong, vibrant, grapefruit and lime flavours, a hint of spice, and a finely balanced, off-dry, lingering finish. Best drinking 2021+. $27 (UK, US)
Comments Off on Wild Earth Central Otago Riesling 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Fragrant, fresh and punchy, this medium-dry wine was hand-picked in the Mondillo vineyard, at Bendigo. Attractively scented, it has good vigour and intensity of citrusy, slightly appley and peachy flavours, threaded with lively acidity, and a persistent, very harmonious finish….
Comments Off on Maori Point Single Vineyard Central Otago Riesling 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
This attractively scented Bannockburn wine has a Mosel-like balance and lightness. Bright, light lemon/green, it is vivacious, with strong lemon/lime flavours, gentle sweetness and fresh acidity. Already delicious, it’s ageworthy too. $28 (UK, US)
Comments Off on Ceres Black Rabbit Vineyard Central Otago Riesling 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
This powerful young wine is full-bodied, with fresh grapefruit and peach flavours, showing good ripeness and richness. Bright, light lemon/green, with gentle sweetness and lively acidity, it’s a generous, finely balanced wine, well worth cellaring. $33
Comments Off on Brennan Gibbston Central Otago Riesling 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Drinking beautifully now, this Bendigo wine was partly (22%) fermented with indigenous yeasts in old French oak barrels. Bright, light lemon/green, it is a finely scented, medium-bodied wine with rich, vibrant, citrusy, peachy, appley flavours, toasty, bottle-aged notes adding complexity,…
Comments Off on Misha’s Vineyard Limelight Riesling 2015 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Drinking well in its youth, this is a full-bodied, fleshy wine with ripe, peachy, slightly spicy and gingery flavours, fresh and generous, and an off-dry, well-rounded finish. (From Rockburn). $26 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Devil’s Staircase Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Already very enjoyable, this bright, light lemon/green wine is full-bodied, with strong stonefruit and spice flavours, fresh, balanced acidity, a touch of oak-derived complexity and an off-dry finish. Best drinking mid-2020+. $35
Comments Off on Brennan Gibbston Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Estate-grown, this freshly aromatic wine is full-bodied, crisp and lively, with strong peach, pear and spice flavours, appetising acidity and a dryish, finely balanced finish. Drink now or cellar. $27
Comments Off on Brennan Gibbston Central Otago Pinot Grigio 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Fresh and full-bodied, this classy, youthful blend of Gibbston (85%) and Bannockburn (15%) fruit was partly handled in old French oak barrels. Light lemon/green, it has strong, vibrant pear, lychee and spice flavours, showing a distinct touch of complexity, excellent…
Comments Off on Wild Earth Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Finely scented, this youthful wine was estate-grown, hand-picked and handled without oak. Pale lemon/green, it is fresh and weighty, with substantial body, pure stonefruit, pear, lychee and spice flavours, showing excellent delicacy and depth, and a basically dry finish. Best…
Comments Off on Valli Gibbston Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Full of youthful vigour, this attractive scented, weighty, dryish wine was partly (22%) fermented with indigenous yeasts in old French oak barrels. Bright, light lemon/green, it is full-bodied and fleshy, with strong, vibrant peach, pear, apple and spice flavours, a…
Comments Off on Misha’s Vineyard Dress Circle Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Certified organic, this hand-picked wine was barrel-fermented with indigenous yeasts and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Bright, light yellow/green, it is full-bodied, with strong, peachy, toasty, slightly buttery flavours and a crisp, dry finish. Best drinking 2020+. $39 (UK)
Comments Off on Carrick Central Otago Bannockburn Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
This extroverted but ageworthy wine was grown at Pisa and Bendigo – districts of the Cromwell Basin – and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak casks (15% new). Fragrant and full-bodied, it has strong, vibrant, peachy flavours, slightly toasty…
Comments Off on Wild Earth Central Otago Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Full of youthful drive, this tightly structured, estate-grown wine was barrel-fermented and lees-aged. Bright, light yellow/green, it is full-bodied, with ripe stonefruit and toasty oak flavours, showing impressive complexity and depth, fresh acidity, and a finely balanced, lengthy finish. Best…
Comments Off on Brennan Gibbston Central Otago Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Sweet gooseberry nose with a crisp green fruit flavour profile and showing some pungency.
Comments Off on Pertaringa Scarecrow Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Floral/honeysuckle bouquet with a citrusy palate and good acid balance.
Comments Off on Howard Park Mount Barker Great Southern Riesling 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Dark purple wine with a minty cherry nose and fresh plum flavours with a beefy edge.
Comments Off on Clyde Park Estate Geelong Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
A riper oaky style with a nice play between the sweet and the sour fruit characters nicely wrapped in firm tannins.
Comments Off on Clyde Park Estate Geelong Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
An older style; complex toasty oak/sweet fruit nose and palate with a creamy finish.
Comments Off on Clyde Park Estate Geelong Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Honeyed stewed fruit fragrances and rounded caramel flavours with a toasty finish.
Comments Off on Twin Bridges Hunter Valley Semillon 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Oak dominated nose and sour cherry palate with obvious tannins – needs food!
Comments Off on Twin Bridges Hilltops Sangiovese 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Aromas of cherries, soy and leather with a chewy green edged currant-like palate.
Comments Off on Twin Bridges Hilltops Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Mulberries and licorice on the nose. Soft in the mouth with figgy/tarry flavours.
Comments Off on Karland Estate Equi Animo Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Blackcurrant/cherry aromas with a spicy edge and lovely mouthful of dark fruit flavours with fine tannins and a toasty end.
Comments Off on Cassegrain Edition Noir Hilltops Sangiovese 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Nice, easy drinking, commercial style with lifted fruit and soft tannins.
Comments Off on Cassegrain Central Ranges Syrah Pinot 2018 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Pleasant herb and lime nose with a crisp mineral-like palate and slight candied flavours.
Comments Off on Cassegrain White Label Central Ranges Verdelho 2019 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
All apples and pears with buttery notes and emerging secondary elements.
Comments Off on Grampians Estate Kelly’s Welcome Grampians Blanc de Blanc 2010 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
Dark red wine with subdued jubey aromatics. Big and rich in the mouth with slightly green tannins. 5+
Comments Off on Goldman Wines Alpine Valleys Shiraz 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019
Posted: September 4, 2019
“A seductive wine,” noted one judge. Lovely green hues with an aromatic nutty peach bouquet and lovely rich, full on, fruit interest on the long palate. 3-5
Comments Off on Goldman Wines Alpine Valleys Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / September 4, 2019