Sunday 30 May 2021

Friday 28 May 2021

Thursday 27 May 2021

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.

Yelland and Papps Devote Shiraz 2018

 


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

Jester Hill Shiraz Roussanne NV

 


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

Wednesday 26 May 2021

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. 

Rojomoma Red Art Grenache 2018

 


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.

Tuesday 25 May 2021

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.

Hahndorf Hill Gru Gruner Veltliner 2020

 

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

Sunday 23 May 2021

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.

Mt Moriac Pinot Noir 2019

 


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.

Friday 21 May 2021

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.

Yelland and Papps Second Take Mataro 2020

 


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.

Lagoon View Shiraz 2014

 



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

Wednesday 19 May 2021

Ballandean Estate Saperavi 2018

 


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

Varney Wines GSM 2019

 


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

Sunday 16 May 2021

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.

Pauletts Late Harvest Riesling 2020

 

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

Lloyd's Block Shiraz Cabernet 2017

 


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

Lloyd's Block Sangiovese Shiraz 2017

 


Only Australians would put Shiraz with Sangiovese. Surely? 

Lloyd's Block Cabernet Merlot 2017

 


Value drinking here. Get on board for 20 bucks. 

Lloyd's Block Chardonnay Semillon 2018

 

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

Friday 14 May 2021

Montalto Tuerong Block Pinot Noir 2018

 

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

Varney Wines Entrada GMT 2020

 


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. 

Montalto Merricks Block Pinot Noir 2018

 

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

Thursday 13 May 2021

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.

Patrick Coonawarra Two-Blocks Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

 


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

Wooing Tree Blondie 2020

 

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.

Tuesday 11 May 2021

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.

Maude Estate Pinot Gris 2019

 

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

Patrick Coonawarra Two-Blocks Shiraz 2015

 

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.

Witches Falls Wild Ferment Mourvedre 2017

 

A curious wine. The opening aromas will pulverize and the rest is mixed up.

Monday 10 May 2021

Mount Avoca Estate Lagrein 2016

 


This is such a super impressive drink! Lazy nights curled up on the lounge - this is your weapon.

Witches Falls Wild Ferment Aglianico 2020

 


Wonderfully balanced, this a great drop of red. Another ripping addition to the Witches Falls stable.

Friday 7 May 2021

Ridgemill Estate Hungry Horse 2019

 

Meat-eating wine. This just inhales it. A 50/50 Tempranillo and Mourvedre blend from Ridgemill Estate.

Hesketh Jimi's Ferment Fumé Blanc 2020

 


Fermented like a red wine but without the skins the back label says, this Sauvignon Blanc went through MLF then saw seven months in old French oak.

Thursday 6 May 2021

Parker Coonawarra Estate Kidman Shiraz 2019

 


Often used to blend away, the quality of the fruit from this vineyard was too good not to let it shine in its own right. So we welcome the Kidman Shiraz to the Parker stable and what a wine it is!

Ridgemill Estate Riesling 2019

 


A great Riesling from Ridgemill Estate. You'd be forgiven for thinking you were sipping on a minerally driven example from the Polish Hill River subregion not one from the Granite Belt.

Wednesday 5 May 2021