Posted: December 2, 2021
A fragrant medley of black fruits with meaty/smoky nuances. Very good length and complexity to the palate with a gamey-like edge to the sweet blue fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Welland Old Hands Barossa Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Great purple highlights to the colour with lovely brooding dark fruit bouquet and a dense and compact palate layered with black and blue varietal fruit and some excellent oak.
Comments Off on Reillys ‘Old Vine’ Stolen Block Clare Valley Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Subtlety of spiciness to the nose with interesting funky notes. Good palate length with hints of roasted spices, alcohol heat and charry tannins.
Comments Off on Reillys RCV ‘Epitaph’ Clare Valley Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A freshness of dark fruit on the nose with a raisined fruit flavour profile and chewy tannins.
Comments Off on Reillys RCV ‘Epitaph’ Clare Valley Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
“Lots of character here,” said one judge. Nose is a very attractive fusion of dark fruits, meaty/gamey notes, cinnamon and cloves. Great concentration of flavours on the soft palate.
Comments Off on Sussex Squire Wines JRS HACKETT Barrel Selection Clare Valley Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Lovely aromas of blueberries and plums lift off the nose with a faint whiff of spices. The sultry, spicy blue fruit, cola palate is nicely balanced with well-handled oak.
Comments Off on Sussex Squire Wines JRS Barrel Selection Clare Valley Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Minty/menthol characters mingle with the sweet blue fruit. Good mid palate sweet flavour concentration.
Comments Off on Arila Gardens Quartz and Sand Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An elegant, complex and intense shiraz that exhibits great length of dark fruits, mocha and chocolaty characters. Very good use of oak with attractive chewy tannins.
Comments Off on Zonte’s Footstep Age of Enlightenment McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Elusive chocolaty/dark fruit aromas and very pleasant combination of chocolaty and black fruit flavours on the palate with dusty oak and chewy tannins.
Comments Off on Zonte’s Footstep Z-Force McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A delightful nose of blackberry and fruits of the forest with a delicious concoction of dark fruit flavours edged with camphor and tobacco. Nice grainy tannins. Needs time.
Comments Off on McGuigan Personal Reserve VV Hunter Valley Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Dark fruit nose with a perfumed lift and sweet plum flavours with attractive oak influence and some grippy tannins.
Comments Off on McGuigan Personal Reserve Bainton Hunter Valley Shiraz 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A sweet concoction of blackberry and vanilla aromas and layers of dark fruit and toasty oak flavours.
Comments Off on McGuigan Personal Reserve VV Hunter Valley Shiraz 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Attractive lift of blackberry and plum fragrances nicely integrated with the oak and has a long, medium bodied palate with dark fruits, good oak and grippy tannins.
Comments Off on McLaren Vale III Associates Squid Ink (Estate Grown/Single Vineyard) McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Pretty, lifted floral aromatics with smoky accents. Subtle complexity to the palate with lovely oak support.
Comments Off on Seville Estate Old Vine Reserve Yarra Valley Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Lovely nose with pretty oak and black fruit aromas. Medium weight palate with great structure and good depth and persistence of dark blue fruits, oak and tannins.
Comments Off on Paulmara Estates Syna Limited Release Barossa Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Interesting funky character to the taut spicy nose with blue fruit and rose petal flavours. “For those who like something different!”
Comments Off on Paulmara Estates Aristotle Barossa Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Good spicy lift to the dark fruit nose with peppery fruit flavours and some herbal touches.
Comments Off on Ferngrove Vineyards Dragon Western Australia Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An intense, almost black, wine with crimson highlights, rich chocolaty fruit, spicy oak and chewy tannins with an abundance of licorice characters and hints of eucalyptus.
Comments Off on Knappstein The Mayors Vineyard Clare Valley Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Confectionery-like red fruit here with a potpourri edge and grippy tannins. “A nice slurpy wine!”
Comments Off on Chateau Tanunda 50 Year Old Vines Barossa Shiraz 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Ripe plum nose complemented by soy/meaty notes. The palate is rich, dense and complex with masses of menthol characters layered with “chippy” oak and silky smooth tannins.
Comments Off on Domaine Asmara Infinity Heathcote Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A mature seamless combination of varietal fruit, meaty/smallgoods and mouth puckering tannins.
Comments Off on d’Arenberg The Dead Arm McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A blue fruit nose and palate with a slight vegetative note and grainy chalky tannins.
Comments Off on Carillion Origins Fenestella Hunter Valley Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A charming classic with intense licorice characters on the nose and dense layers of rich ripe fruit and coconut oak flavours.
Comments Off on Fenrir Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Mature wine showing meaty/gamey characters with some toasty oak and grainy tannin structure.
Comments Off on Sidewood Mappinga Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Lifted aromatics with gentle spicy notes. Uncomplicated dark brooding plum palate layered with good quality oak.
Comments Off on Hemera Estate Home Block Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
“Very Rhone-like,” thought one judge. Briary fruit bouquet with vanilla accents that are repeated on the long lingering palate. Some gamey notes and good use of oak.
Comments Off on Hemera Estate Marananga Barossa Valley Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A cool climate style with very good intensity and complexity of dark blue fruits and gorgeous spicy oak. Nice level of tannins.
Comments Off on Hemera Estate Aurora Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Dusty oak bouquet and dark earthy characters on the mocha and plum fruit palate.
Comments Off on Fermoy Reserve Margaret River Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Compact varietal fruit fragrances delicately laced with perfumed characters and a smooth merger of sweet blue fruits, eucalypt and coffee flavours. Great balance and structure.
Comments Off on Thorn-Clarke William Randell Barossa Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Leafy cool climate fruit here that is nicely complemented by good use of oak.
Comments Off on Grampians Estate Streeton Reserve Grampians Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
The nose projects aromas of blackberry fruit with vibrant layers of dark fruits flavour well balanced by the oak with just a hint of citrus peel and tannins building across the palate.
Comments Off on Shingleback Unedited McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A firm, well-structured shiraz with plenty of sweet dark varietal fruit and attractive dusty tannins.
Comments Off on Haselgrove Col Cross McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An intensity of blackberry jam-like aromas with nicely focused blue fruit flavours seamlessly integrated with the oak.
Comments Off on Haselgrove The Ambassador McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Floral fragrances with musky notes and dark brooding oak/fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Pirramimma Warhorse McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Obvious coconut characters to the nose. Palate driven by the vanillin oak characters with lovely dense fruit underneath.
Comments Off on Pirramimma Ironstone McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Developed nutty plum nose and good palate persistence showing subtle complexity.
Comments Off on Curtis Family Vineyards Curtis Limited McLaren Vale Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An old fashioned style reminiscent of a rum and raisin chocolate bar. Vanillin oak tending to dominate with interesting soy sauce-like elements.
Comments Off on Curtis Family Vineyards Pasha Bin 388 MV McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A lighter weight style with blueberry fruit, some leafy tones and bacon bone-like oak.
Comments Off on Saddler’s Creek Alessandro Reserve Hunter Valley Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Deep purple wine with jubey sweet fruit characters, some butterscotch and good oak with grainy tannins.
Comments Off on Planta Circa Ancestor Vine Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Nicely focused lemon/lime varietal fruit with slight funkiness and lovely balance between the acid and phenolic structure. Excellent cellaring potential.
Comments Off on Tempus Two Uno Hunter Valley Semillon 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Beautifully toasty/honeysuckle development on the nose mixing with melon and orange rind-like fruit. Light bodied palate has lemon/lime primary fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Tempus Two Uno Hunter Valley Semillon 2014 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An intense and beautifully structured style that shows the great ageing ability of wines from this region. Very attractive sweet leafy cassis fruit seamlessly integrated with oak.
Comments Off on The Malleea By Majella Coonawarra Cabernet Blend 2015 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A lighter elegant style with lovely dark fruit characters and lots of tannins.
Comments Off on Penley Estate Steyning Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Made from naturally dehydrated grapes, this Northland wine is bright red, rich and sweet, with moderate alcohol, concentrated plum, spice and liquorice flavours, fresh acidity and a long finish. A distinctive wine, it’s already delicious. (375ml) $68
Comments Off on Waiparore Matthias Tutukaka Coast Dessert Wine Syrah 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This refined red is deep ruby, with a slightly earthy fragrance. Still youthful, it is mouthfilling, sweet-fruited and finely textured, with rich cherry, plum and spice flavours, complex, savoury and harmonious. Best drinking 2023+. $59 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This perfumed, silky-textured red was hand-harvested at Gibbston and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (28% new). Deep, bright ruby, it is mouthfilling and supple, with generous, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, and a subtle seasoning of…
Comments Off on Coal Pit Tiwha Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This distinctive, pink/pale orange sparkling was made entirely from pinot noir. Lively, it has rich peach, strawberry, spice and yeast flavours, showing notable complexity, and a basically dry, very harmonious finish. $56
Comments Off on Palliser Estate The Méthode Rosé 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Pale straw, this vivacious wine is a 50/50 blend of pinot noir and chardonnay. Drinking well now, it is highly fragrant and tightly structured, with intense, citrusy, yeasty, slightly toasty flavours, showing excellent complexity, and a long, crisp finish. $53
Comments Off on Palliser Estate The Griffin Méthode Traditionnelle Martinborough 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Drinking well now, this lush, single-vineyard wine was hand-picked and French oak-fermented. Bright, light yellow/green, it is mouthfilling, with rich, ripe stonefruit flavours, a vague hint of honey, biscuity notes adding complexity, balanced acidity and a very harmonious finish. $55
Comments Off on Moutere Hills Sarau Reserve Nelson Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021