Posted: December 2, 2021
A sweet nose of cassis and violets with a soft chocolaty palate layered with mulberry fruit.
Comments Off on Woody Nook Gallaghers Choice Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Smells of rum and raisins with a nicely matured palate laced with drying tannins.
Comments Off on Saracen Estates Reserve Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An elegant and silky-smooth wine. Good length of plum and blackberry fruit with hints of leather and spices.
Comments Off on Saracen Estates Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Very interesting, still youthful, wine with a lovely mélange of plums, cherries and cassis fruit characters. Slightly savoury oak and some lovely tannins.
Comments Off on Cape Mentelle Vineyards Two Vineyards Margaret River Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Nose is earthy, toasty and slightly leathery with good depth of stewed fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Tempus Two Copper Gundagai Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Grown in the Southern Valleys, this is a top example of South Island syrah. Full-coloured, it is highly fragrant and full-bodied, with ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, hints of liquorice and nutty oak, fresh acidity, and excellent complexity and density. Still…
Comments Off on Giesen Limited Edition Organic Marlborough Syrah 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Estate-grown in the upper Awatere Valley, this deep ruby red is still fresh and fairly youthful. Mouthfilling and supple, it has deep, vibrant, plummy, spicy, slightly herbal flavours, lively acidity and very good complexity. Best drinking 2022+. $60
Comments Off on Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This richly flavoured sparkling was blended from pinot noir (49%), chardonnay (36%) and pinot meunier (15%), and disgorged after over three years on its yeast lees. Bright, light lemon/green, it is fragrant and mouthfilling, with strong, peachy, yeasty, slightly nutty…
Comments Off on Hunter’s Miru Miru Reserve 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Probably at its peak, this pale gold, fleshy wine was hand-harvested in the Waihopai Valley and fermented in old French oak barriques. Weighty, it has rich stonefruit and vaguely honeyed flavours, showing good complexity, a slightly oily texture and an…
Comments Off on Lawson’s Dry Hills The Pioneer Marlborough Pinot Gris 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still youthful, this refined, complex, single-vineyard wine was hand-picked from vines planted in 1988 and fermented with indigenous yeasts in seasoned French oak barriques. Bright, light lemon/green, it is medium to full-bodied, with vigorous, ripely herbaceous, tropical fruit flavours, finely…
Comments Off on Jackson Estate Grey Ghost Barrique Wairau Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A well made and easy drinking sparkling showing plenty of character.
Comments Off on Blue Pyrenees Estate Midnight Victoria Cuvée Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A solid hit of rich dark blueberry and mulberry varietal fruit with powdery tannins.
Comments Off on Ellis Wines Premium Heathcote Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A huge wine! Great length and concentration of dark ripe fruits with chocolaty elements and enormous tannins.
Comments Off on Watkins Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
“Very much an Aussie style.” Great concentration and very flavoursome.
Comments Off on Watkins Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A huge wine – ageing beautifully with great fruit and good oak.
Comments Off on Reillys ‘Old Vine’ Stolen Block Clare Valley Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Big rich and mature Aussie style with dense choc-mint elements and huge tannins.
Comments Off on Taylors Masterstroke Clare Valley Cabernet Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A complex full-bodied and nicely layered wine. “An interesting style with attractive flintiness,” said one judge. Palate has loads of creamy stonefruit varietal characters.
Comments Off on Lake Chalice Plume Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A big, complex and nicely developed wine with good balance of oak, fruit and malo.
Comments Off on Hollick Estates Bond Road Coonawarra Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Lots of roasted cashew-like oak characters here with bottle age complexity developing and well matched by ripe citrus-like fruit.
Comments Off on Giesen The Fuder Clayvin Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
An interesting nose – very complex with lots of attractive nutty oak and fresh citrus fruit characters. The palate is long and creamy with a complex oak/fruit flavour profile.
Comments Off on Giesen Organic Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Nutty complexity to the nose with a slight funky edge. Generous palate developing nice, aged characters.
Comments Off on Chateau Des Quarts Pouilly Fuisse ‘Clos Des Quarts’ France Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This powerful, gutsy red is ready to roll. Estate-grown in the Far North, it was barrel-aged for 29 months. Fullish and fairly mature in colour, with a slightly rustic bouquet, it is mouthfilling and firm, with ripe, moderately concentrated, spicy,…
Comments Off on Karikari Estate Pinotage 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A vibrant and youthful wine, rich with dark brooding fruits and smooth fine tannins.
Comments Off on Olivia Coonawarra Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Slightly restrained chocolaty nose with nice soft sweet fruit flavours and grippy tannins.
Comments Off on Olivia Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Delightful umami savouriness to the nose with a big complex fruit cake of a palate.
Comments Off on Patrick of Coonawarra Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Showing excellent toasty development to the lemon butter bouquet and more lemon butter on the still very fresh and youthful palate with lovely complexity and zippy acidity.
Comments Off on Hollydene Estate Eden Valley, South Australia Riesling 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Funky lemon nose with some toastiness and loads of citrus flavours on a tight palate.
Comments Off on Weingut Bründlmayer Ried Zoebinger Heiligenstein 1ÖTW Lyra Reserve Kamptal Riesling 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Somewhat reserved candied nose with a floral lift and toasty edge and nice range of citrusy flavours.
Comments Off on Yilgarnia Denmark Semillon 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Great toasty maturity on the lemon butter nose. Soft, creamy and toasty in the mouth with an intense core of sweet fruit.
Comments Off on Reillys Museum Release Watervale Clare Valley Riesling 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A lighter style cabernet with juicy red and blue fruits and lots of, slightly grippy, tannins with a long lingering finish.
Comments Off on Patrick of Coonawarra Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
A lovely lift of cedar and cassis on the nose and a tight, linear and yet generous palate with lovely depth and seamless layers of fruit and oak.
Comments Off on Brand’s Laira One Seven One Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still youthful with aromas of cherries and cassis fruit and a nicely textured palate with well integrated fruit/oak flavours.
Comments Off on Brand’s Laira Blockers Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Ready to roll, this hand-harvested red was partly barrel-aged. It has lightish, developed colour and moderately rich flavours, slightly herbal, nutty, savoury and supple. $28 (UK, US)
Comments Off on Lime Rock Kota Central Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Maturing very gracefully, this full-bodied red was hand-harvested from 21-year-old vines in the Mere Road Vineyard. Full-coloured, it is fleshy, with concentrated, vibrant blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, seasoned with nutty oak, and a smooth, harmonious finish. Best drinking 2022+….
Comments Off on Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still fresh and youthful, this blend of merlot (52%), malbec (28%) and cabernet sauvignon (20%) was grown in the Gimblett Gravels. Matured for 14 months in American oak casks (50% new), it has a fragrant, spicy bouquet, leading into a…
Comments Off on Pask Small Batch Trilliant Merlot Cabernet Malbec 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This medium to full-bodied red was hand-picked in the Mere Road Vineyard and matured for 17 months in French oak casks (34% new). Sweet-fruited, it has strong blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, with savoury oak adding complexity, and a smooth…
Comments Off on Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still youthful, this is a deeply coloured, mouthfilling red with fresh, concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, finely structured and sustained. Best drinking 2022+. $30
Comments Off on Leveret Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This rich, savoury, smooth red is still unfolding. Merlot-based (92%), with a splash of cabernet sauvignon (8%), it was grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle (mostly) and the Gimblett Gravels, and matured for 18 months in Hungarian and French oak…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This powerful, yet very approachable, red is a blend of merlot (74%) and cabernet sauvignon (26%), grown in the Gimblett Gravels (mostly) and the Bridge Pa Triangle, and matured for 18 months in French oak barrels (41% new). It has…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still youthful, this fragrant, lush, supple red was matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (54% new). Deeply coloured, it is mouthfilling, vibrant and supple, with highly concentrated plum and spice flavours, a hint of liquorice, well-integrated oak and…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021