QWine Reviews : July 2019

Smith and Hooper Reserve Merlot 2017

A very tidy wine thrusting its hand in the air screaming, "Pick me!"

Vinifera Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Vinifera was established in 1994. Their 12 hectare organic vineyard has seven varieties in the dirt.

Naked Lady Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Naked Lady Wines won the Mudgee Wine Show Trophy for Best Cabernet with their 2015 vintage. The fruit for this 2016 release comes from vines perched 600 metres above.

Clarence Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

It's always good to taste two vintages back to back to see where things are at. This 2017 is somewhat more muted than the 2016 release.

Clarence Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Cabernet from the "Adelaide" region.

Dr Loosen Dr L Riesling 2017

A well-priced import from Cellarhand Wines.

Glendale Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Sauvignon Blanc produced by Brand & Sons to showcase a range of regions they have access to. An easy drink sure to please those seeking refreshment without complexity.

Soul Growers Single Vineyard Riesling 2019

Summer can't come soon enough with super refreshing Rieslings like this ready to unleash themselves. A fabulous release made from a single vineyard in the Eden Valley.

Hastwell and Lightfoot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

A delicious Cabernet in every sense that nails the price point.

Golden Grove Estate Tranquillo Bianco 2019

An easy-drinking quaff sure to please those in need of a cool, uncomplicated refreshment.

Golden Grove Estate Vermentino 2019

The back label suggests grab a deck chair, some oysters and chill the day away. Yep, do that, but add an extra bottle and some friends. A brilliant expression of Vermentino.

Flametree Embers Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

A fruit-forward Cabernet made for immediate drinking.

Domane Wachau Gruner Veltliner Kaiserberg 2017

An easy-drinking import brought to these shores by Cellarhand.

Te Whare Ra Toru SV5182 2018

A delightful wine that glides through the mouth. Off-dry, an ideal friend for dumplings and pork buns.

Clarence Hill McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017

McLaren Vale Shiraz with a mellowing tempo ticking away.

Andevine Wines Reserve Canberra District Syrah 2017

With a pretty label to greet the eyes, this is a Syrah guaranteed to please. Well, it's brilliant if I were to be completely honest.

Soul Growers El Mejor Cabernet Shiraz Mourvedre 2017

Soul Growers boss man Paul Heinicke tells me his wines represent the very best of the Barossa showcasing individual growers, Barossa sub-regions and the very best barrel selection from the vintage. This blend is an alluring beast.

Soumah Single Vineyard Viognier 2018

Viognier - get around it. There are a few Viogniers in Australia throwing their hand firmly in the air screaming, "Pick me!" Put this in that basket.

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Cabernet Sauvignon is Huntington Estate's flagship variety. The fruit for this wine is harvested from Block 9 (planted in the early 1970s).

Higher Plane Fiano 2018

Fiano with crowd-pleasing appeal from the Margaret River region.

Ten Minutes By Tractor 10X Chardonnay 2018

The crew at Ten Minutes By Tractor don't do too much wrong. What a delight this Chardonnay is!

Jilyara Heath Road Chardonnay 2018

A solid Margaret River Chardonnay with a nutty and tangy lemon backbone.

Guneemooroo Organic Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Fine boned is the best way to describe this Cabernet. The fruit was harvested off vines planted in 1983, this wine was previously awarded the Top Gold Medal at the 2017 Mudgee Wine Show.

LBM Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Bang the bargain drum, hard! This is an absolute beauty for the money. I love it when wines like this come across the bench. Never seen before, this is a side project by Lisa Bray, who also makes wine at Robert Stein Winery. It's a fabulous example of Mudgee Cabernet.

Robert Stein Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

I received six wines celebrating the quality and versatility of Mudgee Cabernet Sauvignon recently from the ever diligent and parochial NSW wine marketer David Cumming from Define Wine. Robert Stein Winery is renowned for their Riesling.

Hastwell and Lightfoot Shiraz 2017

I love the last line on the back label - wines made for eating. Yes! There's plenty to sink your teeth into here too.

Te Whare Ra SV5182 Pinot Gris 2018

Two wines from Te Whare Ra of late and they've delivered two beauties. No pressure on the third sample sitting over there... This Pinot Gris is clever, whispering softly as you shuffle closer unable to resist temptation.

Ten Minutes By Tractor 10X Pinot Gris 2018

Soft fruit and crunchy acid are the highlights for me with this Pinot Gris release.

Ten Minutes By Tractor 10X Pinot Noir 2018

Super soft Pinot. Bright red fruits light the way with this release from Ten Minutes By Tractor.

Golden Grove Estate Tranquillo Rosso 2017

A tasty new medium-bodied release from Golden Grove Estate. The rolling hills on the label create a perfect canvas for the easy-going vibe it exudes.

d'Arenberg The Hunjee Heartstring Montepulciano 2018

This wine, along with the new release Danger Mouse Nero d'Avola, represent d'Arenberg's ongoing program of alternate grape variety plantings in the McLaren Vale wine region. “These varieties are suited to warmer climate conditions, ripening significantly later than some of the other traditional grape varieties,” said d’Arenberg Chief Winemaker Chester Osborn. “With the changing climate, we are working with varieties that may one day replace the traditional ones planted in the region like Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon. They are more resistant to drought and heat stress. Montepulciano and Mencia in particular are my two favourite contenders to replace Shiraz in the future.”

Jilyara Heath Road Malbec 2018

Here's a firm and stern wine. Gutsy Malbec from Margaret River.

Soul Growers Slow Grown Shiraz 2017

A blend from a variety of Barossa Shiraz parcels, and gee, the Soul Growers crew have access to some incredible parcels which all tell a unique story.

Blackbilly McLaren Vale Shiraz 2017

Easy drinking McLaren Vale Shiraz.

Mérite Malbec 2016

Tip top Malbec from South Australia's Wrattonbully region.

Zema Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

A delicious Cabernet release from the good folk at Zema Estate.

Clarence Hill Shiraz 2017

Simple Shiraz from the 'Adelaide' region.

Jilyara The Williams' Block Chardonnay 2018

Jilyara are relatively new on the scene. This Williams' Block is the flagship range and comes from their best parcels of Margaret River fruit. There is a Cabernet Sauvignon in this range too.

Atze's Corner The Bachelor Shiraz 2017

Barossa Shiraz to embrace with two hands. A fab drop.

Juniper Estaste Small Batch Tempranillo 2017

Bright, fresh and inviting are the words which pop into my head when pouring this wine and taking a whiff.

Blackbilly Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2017

A good GSM from McLaren Vale ticking the boxes.

Paxton Now Shiraz 2019

The first 2019 red off the bottling line to come across this tasting bench. It's a Shiraz bursting with fruit.

Soumah Single Vineyard Savarro 2018

Stretch your horizons that little bit more and throw this refreshing Yarra Valley Savarro in your glass.

Ten Minutes By Tractor 10X Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Sauvignon Blanc for the thinker. Damn some work has gone into this and the result is mightily impressive.

Te Whare Ra TWR Sauvignon Blanc 2018

A super delish Marlborough Sauv Blanc. Hang on, did I just say that?

Soul Growers 106 Vines Mourvedre 2017

Soul Growers have access to some wicked parcels of fruit. This Mourvedre block was planted in Nuriootpa back in 1885. The spread of urban development has seen this vineyard reduced to only a precious 106 vines. And what a gorgeous wine these vines deliver.