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Esk Valley Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Very pretty and peppery. Plenty of blackberry and plum fruit but attractive, expansive nose allows hints of lavender and violets to peep through. Definite note of warmth from alcohol, a powerfully fruited wine that has excellent concentration and length. $25.00

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Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Strongly aromatic; floral rose petal and lavender. Very pure, focused style of Syrah, not the most concentrated wine but beautifully judged with peppery, plummy fruit supported by silky, finely grained tannin. $25.00

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Church Road McDonald Series Hawke Bay Syrah 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Fruit slightly subdued at first but opens up in the glass to reveal some pretty doris plum and blueberry. A very ripe style, tannins are well judged and though they are fairly bold, they are well integrated. Excellent length. $28.00

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Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Malbec 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

A firmly structured wine packed with boysenberry, dark plum and blueberry fruit. There is plenty of oak and tannin which, at this youthful stage, make the wine pretty hard work. But there is enough concentration to suggests that with time,…

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Villa Maria Cellar Selection Gimblett Gravels Grenache 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Very fragrant, packed with lovely lifted floral and raspberry fruit. Some white pepper and violet florals too. Decadent and juicy with a soft, plump generous palate. Really very lovely. $25.00

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Left Field Merlot 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Bright and juicy with lots of redcurrant and raspberry fruit. There is a just a touch of tannin and spicy oak but very subtle; this is as an appealing early drinking wine. $18.00

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Te Awa Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Very polished aroma; vanilla and coconut with blueberry and doris plum too. A layer of chewy tannin lays right across the palate giving structure. There is real concentration and intensity suggesting this is a great candidate for the cellar. $30.00

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Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Lots of interest;, star anise, black plum. Plenty of fruit to support the charry smoky notes. Maybe doesn’t have the length of really top examples but very appealing. $16.00

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Vidal Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Densely fruited. Lots of blueberry, damson plum on the nose. Big, opulent, fleshy characters. Lots of tannin but core of fruit seems to soak it up. Not immediately appealing and takes time to open up but grows in charm. Good…

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Villa Maria Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Still primary with plenty of blueberry, dark plum and berry. Quite a bit of oak layering over the fruit. The palate is chewy with finely grained tannins acting as a counterpoint to the fruit. Good length. $18.00

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Askerne Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Malbec 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Massive opulent wine showing huge exotic almost wild notes of blueberry spice, red liquorice and star anise. Complex multi dimensional wine. Well judged tannins support rather than overwhelm the fruit. Plenty to like here. $30.00

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Church Road Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Immense colour. Very youthful but nose packed with plum, blueberry, blackcurrant and wild raspberry. Exotic notes of sweet spice and liquorice, with enough stuffing to soak up the very pronounced oak. Despite being a huge wine, it retains charm and…

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Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Big, bold and opulently fruited with plenty of cinnamon and sweet spice oak in support. Generously fruited with lovely density and some sweet slippery tannins to support. Not the boldest wine but pretty and restrained. $50.00

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Sileni Estate Triangle Merlot 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Starting to show a little maturity, the dark berry and doris plum fruit has been joined by notes of savoury leather and spice. A concentrated yet elegant wine that has a lovely backbone of tannin. Good length. $33.00

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Mills Reef Elspeth Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Lovely bright juicy blueberry fruit. A firm background of tannin coming through, just a bit grippy at this stage but should ensure wine develops well. $50.00

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Saint Clair James Sinclair Cabernet Merlot 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Really pretty; some dark cherry and berry fruit. Touch of new oak at the back. Blueberry and sweet spice. A little grip of tannin coming through. Reasonably fleshy and bright, not particularly lengthy but attractive drinking for the middle term….

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Mills Reef Bespoke Cabernet Franc Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Very lifted blackcurrant fruit with a touch of florals too. Crisply fruited with firm acidity, powdery tannins across the palate. Just a wee bit dilute. $40.00

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Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Cabernet Merlot 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Intensely coloured with a big bold aroma; blackcurrant and blueberry fruit, with an appealing hint of graphite starting to emerge. Very polished and bold, good spine of both acid and tannin yet palate retains lovely grip and density. Quite an…

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Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Deeply fruited with plenty of dark berry and cassis fruit, a serious amount of oak and a firm, fine grained tannic backbone. A big powerful wine that has masses of concentration and power but needs time in bottle to really…

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Alchemy Chardonnay 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

An understated style; there is a hint of oak on the nose plus some rock melon and pear. Decent length and intensity. Nice to see a wine with a little age. $28.50

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Pask Declaration Chardonnay 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Just starting to take on some attractive bottle developed characters of toast and smoke to sit alongside those of white peach and melon. A bold, powerful wine with plenty of character. $40.00

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Mission Estate Riesling 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Showing quite a bit of development, with some kerosene and toasty notes emerging. Light bodied, mouthwatering acidity with just a touch of sweetness to flesh out the palate. $15.00

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The Elder Pinot Noir 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Starting to show a bit of bottle development with forest floor, button mushroom and game starting to emerge. Very sweetly fruited with fine silky tannins. Not a big wine nor very complex but one with masses of charm. $62.00

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Fifth Bridge Pinot Noir 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Lovely bright red fruits on the nose, with a touch of florals. Not a powerful wine but instead a pretty, silky one with a core of sweet fruit. $29.95

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Ceres Composition Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Starting to take on some bottle developed characters of game and forest floor. Still quite a bit of tannin but nice touch of gentle ripe fruit. $20.00

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Catalina Sounds Sounds of White Pinot Noir 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Very deep colour. Nose is intense with masses of dark fruits; blackberry, blueberry and plum and some spicy oak too. Not a great deal of finesse but instead packed with flavour and richness. For those who like powerful, fleshy pinot…

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Katnook Founder’s Block Coonawara Sparkling Shiraz 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Lovely nose, smells of prunes. Excellent flavours on a complex palate with drying tannins.

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Brick Kiln The Grove Single Vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Lovely medium bodied style with savoury aromas and a “scorched earth and red berry palate”.

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Beresford Classic McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Beautifully complex nose; all cassis and cedar with nice nuttiness. A great palate – it has length, depth and complexity with a balance of sweet fruit and soft oak flavours.

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Beresford Classic McLaren Vale Shiraz 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

A big oak driven shiraz but there is also plenty of sweet raspberry fruit characters lurking underneath.

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Bream Creek Tasmania Chardonnay 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

A tropical complexity to the slightly oily nose and a long, bright, fresh fruit and light oak palate.

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Oparina Padthaway Cabernet Shiraz 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Deep crimson wine. Well integrated fruit/oak nose it’s still closed. Lovely palate complexity; excellent depth of vibrant fruit, chewy oak and textured tannins. Nice finish.

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Eminence McLaren Vale Shiraz 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

A deeply intense brooding wine that has a long life ahead of it. Amazing dark chocolate and blackberry aromas and flavours with a big menthol lift. Lovely freshness and palate length.

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Rivers Lane Organic McLaren Vale Shiraz 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

A huge wine -still a baby! Has an intense concentration of dark berry and black olive-like fruit characters with very subtle use of oak. Lovely palate depth, texture and balance.

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Shingleback Davey Estate Reserve McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Old fashioned style with mature fruit cake-like aromas and lovely complex palate.

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Climbing Orange Merlot 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Distinctive cool climate blackcurrant and plum style; a nice wine. “Needs time to tame the tannins”.

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Lupe Cholet Chablis Chardonnay 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Fresh grassy/melon fruit nose and lovely bright flavours on the creamy palate.

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Lupe Cholet Domaine Du Bois Des Chenes Beaujolais Villages Gamay 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

A simple quaffer with light strawberry/blackberry fruit and a long drying finish.

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The Lindsay Collection The Sumit Barossa Valley Shiraz 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

A huge but beautifully balanced shiraz with a chocolaty nose showing minty notes. Lovely balance, texture and length to the palate with flavours in the savoury spectrum.

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The Lindsay Collection Sunup Barossa Valley Shiraz 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

This is a soft, easy drinking, commercial style shiraz that is, “rounded and satisfying”.

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The Lindsay Collection The Selector Barossa Valley Shiraz 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

A very well made wine with excellent balance between the lovely dark fruit and the well handled oak and showing nice savoury complexity and good fruit sweetness.

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The Lindsay Collection Old Mac Barossa Valley Merlot 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

“A big commercial offering” with its resinous oak nose and dark raspberry fruit/charry oak flavours.

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The Lindsay Collection Bull Fight Barossa Valley Tempranillo 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Stalky young fruit nose and high acid, green fruit palate with drying tannic finish.

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Chateau Yaldara Reserve Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Mature sweet berry bouquet and a simple flavoursome palate. Very easy to drink!

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Chateau Yaldara Reserve Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Mature chocolaty/toffee nose with hints of cherries and similar characters on the palate. 3-5

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Chateau Yaldara Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

A big wine with nice oak use – plenty of vanilla and toasty characters- but the fruit is pushing through. A wine with lovely drinkability.

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McGuigan The Shortlist Barossa Valley Shiraz 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

An interesting light, spicy and plain shiraz with reserved dark fruit showing a savoury edge.

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Leabrook Estate Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

Oaky/chocolaty nose; hints of age. Masses of upfront red fruit flavours with an astringent finish.

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Foxeys Hangout Scotsworth Farm Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

A lovely wine that’s bright and full of energy with a youthful spicy berry bouquet and masses of ripe black and red berry fruit flavours layered with licorice-like elements.

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Handpicked Capella Vineyard Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2015

Posted: November 9, 2017

A muscular wine with sweet varietal fruit at its savoury heart. “At its best now so drink up!”, advised one judge.

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