QWine - Australian Wine Reviews: September 2018

Tuesday, 25 September 2018

Heartland Directors Cut Shiraz 2015

Power and concentration are words that glow on the back label.

I review all wines which come through the door but this was hard going. Heavy oak and weighed down, it's a wine that barely moved out of first gear.

International Grenache Day came and went in its glory. I love the variety but clearly not all are. I received a tweet which described the variety, "...start with raspberry cordial as it would prepare your palate for what was to follow." Clearly not a Grenache fan. You just gotta know how to find the good stuff and here, front and centre, is a cracking wine. The furthermost thing from raspberry cordial and boiled lollies, the savoury characters which sit atop the shoulders of beautiful fruit are adorable.

Ricca Terra Colour of Calmness Rosé 2018

Super attractive packaging. The colours used certainly grab the eye. Good drinking Rosé too.

Here's a good refreshment to wet your insides with during the warmer months as you laze poolside.

Rymill's third release Rosé from a blend of Merlot and Shiraz.

Raidis Estate Cheeky Goat Pinot Gris 2018

Cheeky by name, cheeky by appearance too. I love the blush appearance of this Pinot Gris. The berries are squeezed that touch bit more to get that gorgeous rose gold colour. A super drink all up.

Riesling not keen on putting on its party suit and socialising. Quite reserved and seemingly withholding itself.

Clever Sauv Blanc. A little bit of effort goes a long way and that's proven with dividends paid here.

A cheeky slurp. Super fresh, clean and crisp. Good going for the money.

Raidis Estate The Kelpie Sauvignon Blanc 2018

A sessional type Sauv Blanc. Why swim in the tsunami of New Zealand Sauv when there's tasty wines like this in our backyard?

A 2015 release for around $20 - not often you see a wine at that price point held back that long, but here we are. There's plenty on offer too.

There's an award at the Hunter Valley Wine Show for the winemaker of the best Verdelho - it's a tiara. Make of that what you will. This comes from what is said to be a top Verdelho site.

McLaren Vale Grenache making an enticing start. A few swirls of the glass and pretty aromas greet you.

Soumah The Butcher 2016

If I owned a winery I'd name a wine after me. Why the hell not? That's what Soumah boss Brett Butcher has done here, and good on him. A blend of Syrah, Cabernet and Nebbiolo - I like his style.

Give this a decant and you'll see it at its best. Some air under its wings delivers pretty aromas.

de Iuliis Shiraz 2017

I had a number of Shiraz samples lined up on the bench. Some were double the price of this wine. Some were a little more fancy you could say. But this is what I kept coming back to. It's a wine you just want to drink. No frills. No bells and whistles. Just solid, damn good drinking Shiraz. Zero in on it I say.

I'd love to say I loved this release, but it's not at the lofty heights expected. I was hoping to leap to attention, but not so.

Golden Grove Estate Rosé Brosé 2018

Ray Costanzo has mastered Vermentino by playing around with texture and skin contact. He's applying some of those techniques here, producing a Rosé which cranks the slurp factor high. Bang the bargain drum too - a beauty for $18!

I don't see a lot of Adelaide Hills Shiraz let alone Bird in Hand wines, so it's good to be back in the frame. Shiraz sourced from a range of sites in the region.

de Iuliis LDR Shiraz Touriga 2017

Such a pretty wine - a cracking drop. Rush to this!

Classic Dry White from the west bringing together Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon and Chardonnay (41/33/16/10).

More of a fruit driven style compared to the Single Vineyard Mount Barker Riesling release, but a delish drop nonetheless.

Singlefile Wines Single Vineyard Mount Barker Riesling 2018

Boom time Riesling. Slosh this into your glass and sunshine and smiles will be sure to follow.

Sirromet owner Terry Morris puts his name to this range of wines. Merlot from Queensland's Granite Belt.

Entry level Shiraz from Plantagenet.

Angove Organic Rosé 2018

Pretty in pink, this cheeky Rosé is made from Shiraz fruit. Of the six Organic new releases received, this would be my top pick.

I remember tasting components of this wine in barrel with Peter Fraser a few months ago. It's great to now see all elements coming together as they dance across the mouth.
Fraser doesn't make bad wine - this is a beauty.

Clever summertime drinking here folks. Good value too.

An easy drinking and relatively inexpensive fizz. There's a good chance you could nab it for under $15 too. Organic, vegan-friendly and made with minimal preservatives which is sure to lure a few punters its way.

Hickinbotham Trueman Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Hickinbotham wines ooze class. Single vineyard, the fruit is pristine and handled with kid gloves. Brace for power but with a soft caress all at the same time.

I had never heard of Lindsay Wine Estate until this sample arrived. Such new labels are always welcome at my door, and in my glass more particularly. A dense and concentrated type, age will be its friend - and it proved that.

Huntington Estate Pinot Noir Dry Rosé 2018

Strawberries and cream all the way. Whiffs of raspberries entice early with time in the glass introducing orange peel for interest.

Angove Organic Chardonnay 2018

A good drink seemingly wanting to be a little more complex than its shoes will allow.

Here's a tidy find. A Chardonnay with lots of slurp factor pushed along by fresh fruit.

Bloody good Shiraz moving along with swagger. Great Southern goodness for your drinking pleasure.

Huntington Estate Shiraz 2014

Clever Shiraz. There's so much to sink your teeth into. Great fruit and generosity for days, Mudgee hitting the high hats.

What a beautiful drink. Sunshine and tropical goodness all the way with some textural feels for good measure.

A refreshing Pinot Grigio sourced from the recently organically certified Angove Nanya Vineyard in the Riverland.

Sauvignon Blanc from Western Australia's Great Southern region. Man, I feel like I've just been whacked by the acid stick.

Cirillo Estate Single Vineyard Shiraz 2015

Winemaker Marco Cirillo tells me, "This is a soft and pretty wine - not your typical Barossa Shiraz." From a single vineyard in Steingarten, perched 415 metres above.

Montepulciano sourced from one of the coldest vineyards on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

I had the opportunity to taste this recently at a Rymill members event I was invited along to. Some spicy southern chicken sliders went around the room to match - yummo!