QWine Reviews - Australian Wine Reviews: May 2021

Sunday 30 May 2021

Humble Vine Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Much like its Shiraz sibling, this is an easy-drinking red wine. Mind you, I do prefer this Cabernet.

A solid Shiraz from the Goulburn Valley.

Quite dark for a Rosé given what we see flooding the shelves at present.

There is nothing unpleasant about this Sparkling Chardonnay except for the fact it lacks interest and personality.

Yangarra Estate Ironheart Shiraz 2018

A McLaren Vale Shiraz always destined to impress. This 2018 is no different. Another excellent Ironheart Shiraz.

Barrel fermented Chardonnay goodness, this is a fabulous wine from New Zealand's Hawkes Bay.

A McLaren Vale Shiraz that calls for burger night.

Barbecue red. Throw this GSM on the table at your next casual gathering.

Schwarz Wine Co Nineteen Sixty-Eight Grenache 2020

This is a ripper. A Barossa Grenache that skips to its own beat yet strides out with humility delivering an engaging persona. Grab a glass and you'll be skipping too.

Deep, dense and generous - a layered Shiraz as we've come to expect from Barossa producer Yelland and Papps.

An interesting blend that brings together portions of Shiraz from 2018 & 2019 and a splash of Roussanne (2019).

Quiet Mutiny Venus Rising Pinot Noir 2019

This is quite something. Exquisite. Elegant. I don't see as much Tasmanian wine as I'd like, but when little producers like this land on the doorstep, you get a sense the landscape needs far more exploration.

Soft Grenache that gets in deep. There's an alluring density about this. It's a wine that is wonderfully savoury from the whole bunches too.

Yelland and Papps Second Take Grenache 2020

Bunchy, cloudy, oozing delish. Dirty Grenache at its best.

When I say dirty, let it be known it is unfined and unfiltered showing the product unadulterated. A little cloudy in the glass but a whole lotta delish.

Get your groove on with this GRU. Hahndorf Hill's classic Gruner Veltliner, this is a fantastic wine and then some.

Brockenchack Great Scott Sparkling Shiraz NV

Drink more Sparkling Shiraz. It is such a versatile style of wine - pre-dinner, with a meal, dessert or on its own. Spring evenings poolside is where I'm at.

A wine shared with me by a friend who has connections with the winery. Here you have a dense, weighty, Shiraz drinker type Pinot from Geelong.

Varney Wines Expressions Of Interest Mencia 2020

It is never lost on me how privileged I am to look at so many wines from a broad and diverse range of producers. Then wines like this turn up - only 66 bottles produced. I held it aloft in two hands revering it just as it deserves. A superb Mencia.

Mataro done like no one else. This is something. A portion saw 100% carbonic maceration, which effectively means thousands of ferments getting jiggy with it inside the one big ferment. Get excited, just like Big Kev.

Magnums and barbecues are a perfect match. Sling this 1.5 litre bottle over your shoulder and good times await.

Montalto Tuerong Block Chardonnay 2018

Tuerong means "good camping place", and damn, if you camped between these vines you'd be in heaven with this superb Chardonnay and the forever brilliant Pinot Noir.

Always layered. Always insanely good. Made from eleven rows of vines, this doesn't miss a beat.

A little more complexity than its Humble Vine sibling, but not much.

Hello flavour, are you there?

A simple Riesling.

Ballandean Estate Saperavi 2018

Wicked. Just wicked. Sleek and generous, this Saperavi just slides down with ease.

Dripping with delish factor, GSM is a wonderful wine when done well, note Exhibit A here.

Patrick Coonawarra Two Blocks Riesling 2020

Patrick Coonawarra always produces great Riesling. The only thing that has changed in this case is the new label. A sharp new look to a forever reliable wine.

Thai night done right. A little sweetness is balanced beautifully with cleansing acidity.

Just like the other Lloyd's Block wines, for 20 bucks this is good going.

Only Australians would put Shiraz with Sangiovese. Surely?

Value drinking here. Get on board for 20 bucks.

Nothing flamboyant nor extravagant, but if a reliable white wine is what you seek, perhaps this is worth a look.

Montalto Tuerong Block Pinot Noir 2018

This is something that gets me every time. So supple. So complex. So damn delicious. Another excellent Tuerong.

Cool autumn evenings and the bell rings for GMT o'clock. But there's no tonic here my friends. Make that a very smashable Grenache Mourvedre Touriga thank you very much.

A little more concentrated and focused than its Red Hill Block sibling, this Merricks Block has stepped it up a notch.

Hesketh G.A.R. Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Australia's gift to the red wine world is the Cabernet Shiraz blend. Say hello to the Hesketh GAR, or more precisely, the Great Australian Red.

A happy-go-lucky Cabernet that doesn't get in deep as much as first thought.

Summertime Pinot Noir. Nah, cancel that. Any time in the sun Pinot Noir is a better fit. Delicious deluxe. Go here with a big glass.

Montalto Red Hill Block Pinot Noir 2018

Oh, Red Hill! Some sweet memories of lunching among the stunning gardens at Montalto overlooking these vines come flooding in with this wine. Always the brightest and lightest, the colour of the fruit coming off this block always glistens.

Super fresh and delivering great width and length, this delicious Central Otago Pinot Gris awaits.

Luke Tocaciu is a smart winemaker. His wines mirror his personality: quiet, considerate with a dose of charm. This Shiraz is a beauty and drinking beautifully now and will still reward the patient despite already being a six-year-old release.