QWine Reviews : October 2019

Waterton Hall Tamar Valley Riesling 2017

A beautiful Riesling shared by a generous mate who is incredibly passionate about Tasmanian wines.

Brand and Sons CBD Shiraz 2014

One of the top tier wines from Brand and Sons soon to be released.

Brand and Sons Baker's Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

I'm liking these new releases from Brand and Sons - a lot! This Cabernet is a beauty for the money.

Oliver's Taranga Shiraz 2018

One of those reliable drops you can easily turn to when the bottle shop shelves become a blur.

d'Arenberg Stephanie The Gnome With Rose Tinted Glasses Rosé 2019

McLaren Vale Rosé with the longest name in the history of all Rosés.

Nannup Estate Phillip Stanley Chardonnay 2015

Nannup Estate can be found in the Blackwood Valley region, 70km east of Margaret River. This Phillip Stanley label represents their best fruit and the label is only produced in exceptional years.

Boireann Winery Shiraz Viognier 2018

A gorgeous Granite Belt wine which glides through the mouth with ease.

Brand and Sons Last Sunday Drive Cabernet Franc 2018

The rebirth of a new Brand label so famous in the Coonawarra region. You can't help but admire the excitement that gushes from Sam Brand when he details what has been happening in recent years and the plans for the future. Give this Cabernet Franc some time to breathe and you'll be rewarded.

Soumah Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Single vineyard Yarra Valley Cabernet from Soumah's Hexham site.

TarraWarra Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2017

Oh, what a treasure. A blend of two blocks which were planted in 1983 and 1989, this silky smooth Pinot saw 20% new French oak for ten months.

d'Arenberg The Money Spider Roussanne 2019

McLaren Vale Roussanne. A good drink to accompany a creamy based pasta dishes or even a roast chicken. There's plenty of depth to appease.

Wine 4 Water - Raising funds for those impacted by drought in the Granite Belt region

Enduring one of the most crippling droughts on record, the Granite Belt community is on its knees. The knock-on effect from this natural disaster is now hitting parts of the community in an unprecedented manner.

Farms that should be bursting with greenery readying crops for market are bare and dusty. Dams are parched and resembled moonscapes. Locals relying on town water are limited to using 100L per person per day with many outside this supplying hemorrhaging money to buy water for their own use, as well as water and food for their stock. All the while, staff are being laid off due to a lack of work available, the bustling backpacker trade used for picking fruit and vegetables has ground to a halt, and to add further insult, tourist numbers often teeming this time of year have also plummeted.

To combat this, several Granite Belt wineries have banded together to launch Wine 4 Water, a not-for-profit alliance to raise much-needed funds for another not-for-profit organisation, Granite Belt Drought Assist. This organisation is responsible for distributing water, food and stock feed for those Granite Belt community members in most need.

How does it all work? Go to one of the participating Granite Belt wineries listed and purchase a Wine4Water mixed 6 pack for $150 - delivered. All wines that are part of this initiative have a retail value of over $25 each with some retailing for $39 and $45 each.

This is a win-win scenario - 6 great wines can be purchased to enjoy while the Granite Belt community wins with approximately $45 from each pack going to those in need.

Give the Wine4Water Facebook Page a Like to keep updated and see what wines each winery is contributing.

Participating wineries:

Golden Grove Estate                    www.goldengroveestate.com.au
Ridgemill Estate                           www.ridgemillestate.com
Hidden Creek                                www.hiddencreek.com.au
La Petite Mort                               www.lapetitemort.wine
Twisted Gum                                www.twistedgum.com.au
Ballandean Estate                         www.ballandeanestate.com
Pyramids Road Wines                  www.pyramidsroad.com.au
View Wines                                  www.viewwine.com.au
Girraween Estate                          www.girraweenestate.com.au
Jester Hill Wines                          www.jesterhillwines.com.au
Heritage Estate                             www.heritageestate.wine
Robert Channon Wines               www.robertchannonwines.com

Redman Wines Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

If longevity is your thing, grab a few of these to stick in a dark place and forget about them for a decade or so. A great example of how wonderful Coonawarra Cabernet can be.

Angullong Pinot Grigio 2019

What a step up in class. I didn't rate the 2018 all that highly but it seems this release has gone from driving a Datsun 120Y to a Porsche in less than 12 months. A ripping Pinot Grigio!

Vinomofo Homeless Grapes Project Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

This Cabernet screams out for sitting around big tables with good friends and large plates of food when the laughs come for free. Better still, ALL proceeds go to charity. Now that's a deal hard to ignore.

d'Arenberg The Dry Dam Riesling 2019

Hot day thirst-quenching Riesling at the right price.

Angullong Sauvignon Blanc 2019

I've said before the Orange region in New South Wales produces some of the best examples of Australian Sauvignon Blanc. Here's another to stick in your black book.

Patrick of Coonawarra P-Series Rosé 2019

Gee we are blessed with the quality of Rosés on the shelves at present. Check out this beauty which even gets you change from a lobster.

d'Arenberg The Broken Fishplate Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc from McLaren Vale's d'Arenberg.

Oliver's Taranga Brioni's Blend 2018

Let's set the record straight - Brioni is a gun. She's such an easy person to chat and she's not afraid to roll up the sleeves - quite literally. Be it driving the fork truck, lending a hand in the winery or even competing in the world championships for Cross Fit, she also finds time to be a mum. Respect! This wine is named after her - a tribute to the mums ripping in and making the most of life.

Gundog Estate Shiraz 2018

Medium-bodied Canberra District Shiraz you want to call your friends around for. Crazy delish.

Chalmers Lambrusco 2018

Let's move away from the stereotype that Lambrusco is a cheap, semi-sweet wine because this rendition doesn't fit those shoes.

Pierre Amadieu Côtes-du-Rhône Roulepierre 2016

A Rhone blend imported by Cellarhand.

Montalto Estate Pinot Noir 2018

A stellar Pinot. Over a few days, this just shone bright like a diamond - Rihanna like if you will.

Meerea Park Hell Hole Shiraz 2018

Hunter Valley Shiraz made from vines planted in the 1960s.

Oliver's Taranga Chica Mencia Rosé 2019

It was tools down in the office and all hands on deck when the ladies at Oliver's Taranga all went into the winery to produce this fifth release Mencia Rosé named after them - the Chicas!

Boireann Winery Shiraz 2018

Sitting at 875 metres above, Boireann Winery has always been seen as a premium boutique producer of red wines on the Granite Belt.

Gundog Estate Hunters Semillon 2019

A super easy Semillon to kick back with. The freshness and wonderful fruit presented in Hunter Valley Semillon nowadays is just fabulous. Here's a great place to get your head back into the game if you've been missing from the Hunter Semillon party.

Oliver's Taranga Vermentino 2019

The kind of wine which oozes beachside getaways.

Wildflower Rosé 2019

A snap decision to have some Chinese called for an easy slurp. I found this in the bottleshop next door - job done.

Rouleur Ronda Nero d'Avola 2018

Nero named Ronda. My rugby team had a move called Ronda (or was it Rhonda?). It worked a treat too - many tries were scored as a result. This crosses the chalk with gusto as well applying some scoreboard pressure. A ripper!

Konpira Maru Mt Midoriyama Pet Nat 2019

The crew at Konpira Maru call this the Dame Judy Dench of sparkling. And if you were to pop your Pet Nat cherry, I reckon this is a good place to start.

Dexter Chardonnay 2017

A wonderful expression of Chardonnay. Gorgeous!

Seville Estate Pinot Noir 2018

Great Pinot. I dig this.

Montalto Pennon Hill Pinot Noir 2018

Drink me now kinda stuff. Step right this way!

Berton Vineyard Metal Label Durif 2018

Durif fans can soak up the value here.

Ravens Croft Tempranillo 2019

Mark Ravenscroft has a deft touch when it comes to Tempranillo. Some in the region suggest he makes the best one. This 2019 release is a beauty.

Ravens Croft Graciano Rosé 2019

A new wine added to the Ravens Croft stable this vintage.

Ravens Croft Good Girls Chardonnay 2016

I was keen to ask winemaker Mark Ravenscroft what makes this the "Good Girls" Chardonnay and if there was a "Bad Girls" version, but after a busy vintage making his own wines and those for a few others in the region, he has wandered over to Japan for a few weeks to support his beloved Springboks at the Rugby World Cup.

Ravens Croft Pinot Grigio 2019

A trip to Ravens Croft is always time well spent when on the Granite Belt. This Pinot Grigio is a case in point.

Gundog Estate Riesling 2019

As beads of sweat run down your brow this summer, this is a cool climate Riesling primed to help cool your heels.

Gundog Estate Off-Dry Semillon 2019

Spicy take away night here we come.

Robert Channon Reserve Shiraz 2016

Reserve Shiraz from Robert Channon. Good to see a current release with a few years already under its belt.

Robert Channon Reserve Pinot Noir 2016

Many varieties work well on the Granite Belt but I'm yet to be convinced Pinot Noir is one of them. That said, I'll keep trying and looking at them with an open mind.

Robert Channon Chopin Chardonnay 2016

Of the wines tasted on a recent visit to the cellar door, this was my preferred choice.

Robert Channon Chardonnay 2016

Chardonnay on the old school side of the spectrum.

Robert Channon Verdelho Bubbles NV

It's been a while since I've popped into the Robert Channon cellar door. Here's a wine I have not seen previously.

Boireann Winery Shiraz Viognier 2019

I popped into Boireann Winery while hanging out on the Granite Belt. A cute little producer of red wines, a change of ownership and winemaking in recent years has seen Brad Rowe taking the reigns from Peter Stark in the winery. I don't usually post barrel sample reviews, but why not for something different.