Posted: November 30, 2021
This pale gold, fleshy wine was estate-grown in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, and matured for 10 months in French oak barrels (25% new). Full-bodied and sweet-fruited, it has ripe, peachy, slightly spicy flavours, gently seasoned with…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Made in a dry style, this wine was hand-harvested and fermented in a mix of tanks and seasoned oak barriques. Bright, light lemon/green, it is fresh and full-bodied, with ripe pear, lychee and spice flavours, balanced acidity and a smooth…
Comments Off on Lime Rock Central Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Aiming for a ‘dry, mineral style’, this lively wine was estate-grown at Matapiro and hand-picked relatively early. Medium to full-bodied, it has fresh acidity and good concentration of peachy, slightly spicy flavours. Best drinking 2021+. $27
Comments Off on Church Road Gwen Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still unfolding, this youthful wine was mostly handled in tanks; 12.5% of the blend was barrel-fermented and briefly oak-aged. Bright, light lemon/green, it is weighty and fleshy, with strong, ripe, pear-like flavours, gentle spicy notes and a dryish finish. Best…
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Pale gold, this powerful, sturdy wine was estate-grown at Matapiro, harvested relatively late with some berry shrivel, and fermented and lees-aged in French oak cuves. It has concentrated stonefruit and spice flavours, balanced acidity, hints of apricot and honey, gentle…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still very youthful, this highly fragrant wine was partly barrel-fermented. Mouthfilling, with strong, vibrant stonefruit flavours, slightly buttery notes and fresh acidity, it has obvious cellaring potential; best drinking 2022+. $29
Comments Off on Mission Barrique Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Offering good value, this attractive young wine was estate-grown in the cool, elevated Riverview Vineyard. Mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, it has ripe stonefruit flavours, gently seasoned with toasty oak, fresh acidity and considerable complexity. Finely balanced, it’s already enjoyable, but…
Comments Off on Leveret Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This lively, youthful wine was hand-picked and fermented and matured for 18 months in French oak casks (45% new). Bright, light yellow/green, with a citrusy, biscuity, slightly buttery bouquet, it is mouthfilling, with crisp, vibrant, grapefruit-like flavours that linger well….
Comments Off on Junction Corner Post Central Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Already very approachable, this mouthfilling, generous wine was fermented and matured for 10 months in oak barrels (20 per cent new). Bright, light yellow/green, it is sweet-fruited, with fresh acidity and strong, peachy, slightly buttery and nutty flavours, showing good…
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still very youthful, this wine was hand-picked and fermented in French oak barriques. Bright, light yellow/green, with a fragrant, slightly oaky bouquet, it is mouthfilling, with strong, fresh stonefruit flavours, showing good concentration, balanced acidity, and very good delicacy and…
Comments Off on Tony Bish Heartwood Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Made in a bold, upfront style, this wine was grown at three sites, partly hand-harvested and fully barrel-fermented (33% new). Pale gold, with a rich bouquet, it is a powerful, fleshy wine, with deep stonefruit and toasty oak flavours. Best…
Comments Off on Mission Jewelstone Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Past vintages flowed from the Gimblett Gravels, but this stylish wine was hand-picked in the cool, elevated Riverview Vineyard. Fermented and matured for a year in French oak casks (32% new), it is mouthfilling, with vibrant, peachy, citrusy flavours, showing…
Comments Off on Mills Reef Elspeth Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Well worth cellaring, this youthful wine was estate-grown in the cool, elevated Riverview Vineyard. Bright, light lemon/green, it is mouthfilling, with vibrant, ripe stonefruit flavours, biscuity, toasty notes adding complexity, fresh acidity, and excellent vigour and concentration. Best drinking 2022+….
Comments Off on Leveret Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Fresh and youthful, this mouthfilling, sweet-fruited wine was hand-picked, mostly in the Tuki Tuki Valley, and fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak barrels (19% new). Bright, light yellow/green, it has generous, ripe stonefruit flavours, toasty and mealy…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This highly complex wine is already very approachable. Highly fragrant, with a hint of gunflint, it is mouthfilling and concentrated, with vigorous, ripe stonefruit flavours, finely integrated oak and a very harmonious, long finish. Best drinking 2022+. $40
Comments Off on Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Offering outstanding value, this very stylish wine was grown principally in the Keltern Vineyard, barrel-fermented and aged ‘sur lie’ (on its yeast lees). Bright, light yellow/green, it has excellent intensity of peachy, citrusy, gently oaked flavours, fresh acidity and a…
Comments Off on Villa Maria Platinum Selection Sur Lie Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Very harmonious in its infancy, this refined wine was grown at three sites (the Keltern, Kokako and Lyons vineyards) and fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques. Light lemon/green, with a fragrant, slightly smoky bouquet, it is…
Comments Off on Vidal Soler Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Full of potential, this single-vineyard wine was hand-harvested at Bay View and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barriques (40% new). Concentrated, vigorous and youthful, with a slightly smoky bouquet, it has concentrated, ripe stonefruit flavours and a tightly…
Comments Off on Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still very youthful, this powerful wine was grown mostly in the Tuki Tuki Valley and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels (30% new). Fragrant, with a complex, slightly smoky bouquet, it has rich, vigorous, stonefruit and toasty oak…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This powerful, youthful wine was fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak barrels (45% new). Bright, light yellow/green, with a fragrant, slightly smoky bouquet, it is sturdy, with highly concentrated, peachy, citrusy flavours, complex, savoury, rich and long….
Comments Off on Askerne The Archer Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Oak dominates the dark fruit characters and is underscored by fine tannins. Has elegance.
Comments Off on Zema Estate Family Selection Coonawarra Shiraz 2015 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Licorice-like maturity on the nose and great length of vibrant cassis/anise flavours on the juicy palate. Good drinking now.
Comments Off on Zema Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Dark berry aromas integrated with vanilla oak and has long lingering fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Capital Wines ‘The Frontbencher’ Canberra District Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A really lovely, elegant, medium weight merlot with a seductive minty blackberry bouquet and gorgeous blue fruit palate with some cool climate greenness.
Comments Off on Majella Coonawarra Merlot 2017 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A very stylish and elegant varietal bouquet. The palate is still fresh and only just starting to show some maturity with excellent oak integration and slightly grippy tannins.
Comments Off on Majella Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Pretty blue fruit bouquet with a lovely lift of lavender. Lots of oak on the smooth palate, nicely integrated with the ripe sweet berry fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Majella Coonawarra Shiraz 2017 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Mushroomy/earthy style with cherry cola-like notes. Has persistence and presence!
Comments Off on Lowburn Ferry Home Block Cromwell Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Funky elements over floral fruit fragrances. Savoury palate; great purity of varietal fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Leconfield Old Vines Coonawarra Riesling 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Blackberry bouquet with a malty note and a tight bright cassis palate with good tannins and obvious oak.
Comments Off on Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Vibrant spicy blackberry varietal fruit here that is perfectly balanced by the oak.
Comments Off on Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
“Lovely for such a young wine,” noted one judge. Good leafy plum bouquet with just a touch of oak. Silky smooth in the mouth with juicy red and blue fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Franc 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A nose of cherries and fine oak with a lovely richness and intensity of fruit flavours with a slight meatiness and somewhat grippy tannins – for now.
Comments Off on Leconfield Coonawarra Merlot 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Candied musky plum-like bouquet with very pleasant red fruit flavours laced with the crisp acidity.
Comments Off on Leconfield La Sevillana Coonawarra Rosé 2020 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A complex savoury style of riesling with slight kero-like development showing on the nose and palate, some floral touches and crisp acidity.
Comments Off on Leconfield Old Vines Coonawarra Riesling 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A strawberry nose with a potpourri note, sweet red fruit flavours and a grippy finish.
Comments Off on Leconfield La Sevillana Coonawarra Rosé 2020 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Lively strawberry aromas edged with floral notes – very pretty. Excellent fruit weight and intensity fills the big bright palate that shows well controlled sweetness. “A serious wine.”
Comments Off on Hahndorf Hill Adelaide Hills Rosé 2020 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A lifted tropical nose with mineral nuances and a full-bodied, nicely structured, stonefruit palate.
Comments Off on Cassegrain Edition Noir Hilltops Fiano 2020 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Chocolaty mocha bouquet. Nice fruit presence on the palate with savoury tannins throughout. 3-5
Comments Off on Cassegrain Edition Noir Hilltops Sangiovese 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Spicy plum fragrances not overly complex with a lighter style tannic strawberry palate.
Comments Off on Cassegrain White Label Central Ranges Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A mix of passionfruit and gooseberry fragrances and a typical varietal palate with plenty of acid giving freshness.
Comments Off on Summerhouse Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Delicate honeyed citrus nose and very sweet flavours with a decent amount of acid to cut through.
Comments Off on Mr Riggs Ein Riese Adelaide Hills Riesling 2020 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
The nose is lifted and aromatic with quite a fleshy candied fruit palate with very tight racy acid drive. Needs more time.
Comments Off on Mr Riggs Watervale Clare Valley Riesling 2020 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Spicy citrus nose with aged notes and a lean mineral palate with lively nettle notes.
Comments Off on Gippsland Wine Company Moyarra Vineyard Gippsland Cabernet Rosé 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
An elegant style that is ageing perfectly. The pure, classy, lemon and lime-like varietal fruit is just starting to show an edge of toasty maturity.
Comments Off on Tempus Two Pewter Hunter Valley Semillon 2013 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A seamlessly balanced semillon that is drinking beautifully now. The minerally green fruit is layered with a complexity of buttery toasty age.
Comments Off on Tempus Two Pewter Hunter Valley Semillon 2014 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A very well-made wine with delicate zesty green fruit fragrances showing a floral lift. Great concentration and balance of candied fruit flavours. Still youthful.
Comments Off on Tempus Two Pewter Hunter Valley Semillon 2015 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A lovely wine currently “in transit” according to one judge. Reserved buttery nose and delicately structured palate with a mouth-watering line of flavours.
Comments Off on Tempus Two Pewter Hunter Valley Semillon 2017 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Heady fragrances of pungent peas with hints of limes. The textured palate is a concentration of crisp lime and lemon flavours.
Comments Off on Tempus Two Pewter Hunter Valley Semillon 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A delightfully zesty wine, still a baby, with good length and depth of lemon sherbet-like fruit characters.
Comments Off on Tempus Two Pewter Hunter Valley Semillon 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021