Posted: December 2, 2021
Set for a long life, this classy red is more elegant, less rustic than many malbecs grown in New Zealand. Matured in French (mostly) and Hungarian oak barrels (38% new), it is a powerful wine, dark and full-bodied, with dense,…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This elegant, youthful red was estate-grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle and matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (34% new). Deeply coloured, it is mouthfilling, with blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, showing excellent density, nutty, savoury notes adding…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Redstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Well worth cellaring, this perfumed, vigorous, smooth-flowing red was estate-grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle and matured in French oak casks (36% new). Full-coloured, it has good density of plum and spice flavours, a hint of liquorice, fresh acidity and…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Syrah 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Dark and still purple-flushed, this fragrant, rich red was matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (54% new). Still very youthful, it has concentrated, plummy, spicy flavours, a hint of liquorice, fresh acidity, finely integrated oak and a well-rounded,…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This pale gold, flavour-packed wine was hand-picked in the Tuki Tuki Valley and fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak casks (21% new). A powerful, complex style, it has highly concentrated, peachy flavours, enriched with toasty oak, fresh…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Tuki Tuki Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Reminiscent of crème brulee with toasty lemon butter bouquet and a lovely unctuous palate.
Comments Off on Sandalford Prendiville Reserve Margaret River Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Sweet oak and raisined-like fruit aromas with perfumed notes. The full-bodied palate is rich with flavour.
Comments Off on Z Wine Julius Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Rich ripe ageing style with leathery spicy notes and velvety smooth tannins.
Comments Off on Buller Wines The 1928 Block Rutherglen Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A still amazingly youthful, fruit driven style with lovely flow and balance of pretty pear and stonefruit varietal characters. The acid backbone ties it all together.
Comments Off on Gralyn Estate Reserve Margaret River Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Velvety smooth style holding up well with complex varietal characters and firm tannins.
Comments Off on Passel Estate Lot 71 Reserve Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Powerful rich sweet dark plum fruit, plenty of oak and good tannin structure. Years ahead of it!
Comments Off on Reillys RCV ‘Epitaph’ Clare Valley Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Obvious concentration of smart varietal fruit with lashings of oak. Tannins are a highlight here; they are silky and there are lots of them! 5+
Comments Off on Reillys RCV ‘Pressings’ Clare Valley Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Rich meaty aromatics and a nice solid core of sweet rich fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Gumpara Wines Mader Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Mature brooding fruit nose with big ripe sweet fruit flavours and a chewy oak finish.
Comments Off on Ten Miles East Adelaide Hills Syrah 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Blackberry/mocha nose with a peppery lift and sweet fruit tannins across the palate.
Comments Off on Sidewood Mappinga Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Smells of blackberry jam with a rich ripe palate. Good length of sweet tannins.
Comments Off on Chain Of Ponds Cachet Adelaide Hills Cabernet Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An intense crimson hued wine that is very youthful with many years ahead of it yet. It exhibits great depth, concentration and vibrancy of varietal fruit richness.
Comments Off on Knappstein Wines Enterprise Vineyard Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
There is a hint of crushed nuts to the oak driven nose with an intense richness of fruit on the well-structured palate that is perfectly balanced by the oak.
Comments Off on Grandeur Wellington Cellar Reserve McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Lifted fragrances of blue fruits edged with violets and an alert and nicely textured palate. Very stylish!
Comments Off on Sam Miranda Of King Valley Girls Block King Valley Cabernet Franc Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot Malbec 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
“A perfectly complete wine,” enthused one judge. It has a beautiful vibrancy of cassis-like cabernet fruit that is seamlessly balanced by the lovely quality oak.
Comments Off on Truffle Hill Truffle Hunters Reserve Frankland River WA Cabernet Malbec 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An elegantly structured wine with powerful oak, sweet fruit and lots of acid.
Comments Off on Swings & Roundabouts Wildwood Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A lively number, super blackberry/cassis fruit, lovely cedary oak, typical crushed ant-like nuances and perfect level of acid. “A delight to judge and drink!”
Comments Off on Swings & Roundabouts Backyard Stories Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Lovely bouquet that is a fragrant mix of red berry fruit and mulberries. A delightfully rich sweet varietal fruit palate with layers of silky-smooth tannins.
Comments Off on Clarence Hill Reserve McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An oak driven style of cabernet – there is lots of oak, but it is lovely classy oak with the intense ripe blackberry jam-like varietal fruit pushing its way through.
Comments Off on Kerrigan + Berry Mount Barker Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Quite typical of a leafy cool climate cabernet with excellent varietal fruit aromas layered with cedar-like oak with these characters echoed on the still vibrant palate.
Comments Off on Hay Shed Hill Block 2 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A very flavoursome Bordeaux-like style of wine with masses of lovely lifted oak but has an intense complexity of cabernet fruit behind it.
Comments Off on Woody Nook Gallaghers Choice Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A six-year-old wine that is holding up well and still showing good cabernet fruit freshness.
Comments Off on Woody Nook Gallaghers Choice Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Another oak driven style resulting in lots of vanillin-like characters adding complexity to the vibrant varietal fruit. Good tannic grip.
Comments Off on Peccavi Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Super oaky style – very cedar chest – but has a lovely concentration of cabernet fruit to carry it. The palate is stunning – it is both elegant and complex.
Comments Off on Paulmara Estates APOTIGI Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Nutmeg characters dominate the oaky nose with a sweet fruit palate balanced by oak freshness.
Comments Off on Welland Old Hands Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A classy, complex and perfectly balanced wine with ripe cassis fruit, beautiful oak and drying tannins.
Comments Off on Gaelic Cemetery McAskill Clare Valley Cabernet Malbec 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Lolly-like nose with cola elements and flavoursome sweet fruit on the palate.
Comments Off on Hemera Estate Limited Release Barossa Valley Cabernet Franc 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
“A wine that is all class!” agreed the judges. There is just a hint of malt on the nose with a palate offering a huge mouthful of intense fruit and oak flavours.
Comments Off on Hemera Estate Limited Release Marananga Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Great varietal complexity here – a big rich hit of black forest cake-like characters.
Comments Off on Shingleback D Block Reserve McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A massive, well-aged and old-fashioned red that is brimming over with ripe fruit and sweet oak.
Comments Off on Reillys Dry Land Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An oak dominated chocolaty cabernet, but it also has the fruit to handle it.
Comments Off on Leconfield Coonawarra ‘The Sydney’ Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Lovely bouquet that is reminiscent of a rich fruit cake and is followed by a lovely fresh and youthful palate but still showing a degree of complexity.
Comments Off on Leconfield Coonawarra ‘The Sydney’ Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
More of a savoury style, great structure and nice intensity of cherry/berry fruit.
Comments Off on Domaine Changarnier Monthelie 1er Cru Rouge “Champs-Fulliot” (Organic EU) Burgundy France Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A fruit driven shiraz with lovely concentration of rich fruit sweetness laced with soft tannins.
Comments Off on J & J Wines Eminence (ACO) McLaren Vale Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Brooding oaky nose and a savoury palate with Ribena-like characters and plenty of oak.
Comments Off on Cigalus Rouge (Demeter) IGP Aude Hauterive France Red Blend 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Lovely leafy berry varietal characters with good use of oak and drying tannins.
Comments Off on Stormflower Vineyard Single Vineyard (SXC) Margaret River Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Intriguing spicy fruit nose with nice soft plum/red berry palate and some obvious tannins.
Comments Off on Gemtree Wines The Phantom Red Blend Ten (ACO) McLaren Flat Red Blend 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Dense black/red colour with a slight medicinal note to the subdued nose and great depth and richness of ripe soft stonefruit flavours with a nice warming finish.
Comments Off on Gemtree Wines Obsidian (ACO) McLaren Flat Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Broad developing bouquet with lovely integration of pristine varietal fruit, oak, chewy tannins and acid.
Comments Off on Gemtree Wines Ernest Allan (ACO) McLaren Flat Shiraz 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A solid inky style with power and delicacy. Great palate structure, berry fruit flavours and velvety tannins.
Comments Off on Tamburlaine Organic Wines Reserve (SXC) Orange Malbec 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An excellent example of an aged semillon. Has lovely toasty/creamy oak complexity to the nose and an amazing palate – delicious and still very youthful.
Comments Off on Tamburlaine Organic Wines Reserve (SXC) Hunter Semillon 2013 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Very Burgundian – very varietal – all cherries, forest floor, herbs and spices.
Comments Off on Greystone Thomas Brothers (Biogro NZ) North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Complexity of new oak and stewed pear fragrances. Creamy in the mouth with perfect balance of fruit, acid and oak.
Comments Off on Rosily Vineyard Reserve (ACO) Margaret River Chardonnay 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
“A rare one this!” Still fresh despite its age with immense power and concentration of caramel, honey and raisin-like characters. “Handle with care!”
Comments Off on Morris Old Premium Rare Rutherglen Muscat NV / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Big, rich, bold and complex with lots of fruit cake notes and a floral spirit lift to the nose. Huge tannin concentration on the intense palate. 5+
Comments Off on Honey Moon Vineyard EBVR (Early Bottled Vintage Red) Adelaide Hills Vintage Fortified 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021