Tim Shand makes wines dripping with interest. He writes a good label too. "Pulling apart Gris and putting it back together again one piece at a time," he says. This is Pinot Gris, but not as you know it. For 22 bucks, a textural exploration awaits.
Oliver's Taranga Fiano 2021
Fresh and lip-smackingly textural, here is another Oliver's Taranga Fiano sure to get you in the mood.
Margan Wines Ceres Hill Albariño 2021
Oliver's Taranga Vermentino 2021
Rush at Greek seafood dishes and a generous pour of this. Vermentino taking you to Rancho Relaxo.
Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling 2021
Thrust this in your glass and refreshment launches itself at you.
Oliver's Taranga Chica Mencia Rosé 2021
Made by all the ladies at Oliver's Taranga, hence the name 'Chica'. This is a great excuse to enjoy a long lunch in the sunshine.
Tellurian Rosé 2020
This Rosé from Tellurian is a blend of Shiraz, Nero d'Avola, Mourvedre and Grenache. A terrific food wine it must be said, but the school of thought is that a 'food wine' is below par. Not so. This wine will make the dining experience enjoyable rather than it needing a wingman to prop it up.
Tellurian Riesling 2020
Heathcote is best known for its Shiraz rather than Riesling but greetings to this release from Tellurian.
Eldridge Estate Gamay 2019
Oh, Gamay. Such a luscious drink - enough to make you weak at the knees. Eldridge Estate is always an excellent producer of the variety and lovers of Beaujolais ought to make a beeline towards it.
Tellurian GSM 2019
The GSM blend can be exhilarating when done well and this release from Tellurian urges attention. Such a great drink, you can't help but gravitate towards it.
Jansz Pontos Hills Vintage Cuvée 2017
A new Cuvée released to speak of its place rather than the sum of the parts and it is superb! Released to celebrate the new Pontos Hills winery (formerly Frogmore Creek), the good folk at Jansz are excited about this new location for the next generation of Jansz sparkling wines in Tasmania.
Trifon Estate Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
With seven years already under its belt, this Cabernet took a little while to hit its straps.
O'Leary Walker Seasonal Release Cabernet Shiraz 2020
From fifty-year-old Barossa vines, this Cabernet Shiraz blend is firm and abrasive on opening. A day on and it is a different wine entirely. A lesson in giving a wine time to find itself.
Lagoon View Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
A fair wine that gained some momentum with some air under its wings.
Yelland and Papps Second Take Vermentino 2020
An excellent expression of Vermentino. As soon as it was released it was sold out at the winery - that is saying something. Check good independent stores as there would be spicks and specks out there in retail land - but not for long.
Punt Road Chardonnay 2020
A good get this for $24. It's a wine that grows on you and will only improve with medium-term cellaring.
Eldridge Estate Burkitt Blend Pinot Noir 2020
Here is a wine that is more about community spirit, banding together to support a mate and generating funds for a worthy cause. Open the bottle and it is bright and beautiful. Captivating from the outset, there is so much about its being to embrace.
Yelland and Papps Second Take Roussanne 2020
There is so much interest to peruse with this wine. Not fined nor filtered, this Roussanne is from the Barossa's Yelland & Papps is in its raw form and generates maximum impact.
Yangarra Estate Roux Beaute Roussanne 2019
Soul Growers Eden Valley Riesling 2021
The first of the Barossa 2021s to arrive and all the talk of a super vintage hold true. Fresh as and screaming for sunshine and smiles, this Riesling is refreshing deluxe. Get in my belly material.
Tellurian Redline Shiraz 2019
A barbecue special. Personally, I'd go a hamburger. One of those trendy double smashies will do me just fine. A drink now Shiraz from Tellurian's now certified organic vineyards.
Airlie Bank Sauvignon Blanc 2021
If you are going to have a Sauvignon Blanc, make it one that has been barrel fermented - like this one. Fresh as, the fruit bursts from the glass.
Trifon Estate Family Reserve Shiraz 2015
Some of these Trifon Estate wines have a good bit of age on their side and they are drinking very well right now. I enjoyed the Humble Vine Tempranillo and this is very tidy too.
Tellurian Pastiche Shiraz 2018
A Shiraz that needs food. Feed it protein. Preferably barbecued - but that's just me...
Yangarra Estate Hickinbotham Grenache 2019
It is hard to ignore the beauty this delivers. Another excellent Grenache in the Yangarra Estate portfolio.
Oakridge Vineyard Series Barkala Chardonnay 2019
I didn't point this as highly as the Henk, Willowlake and Hazeldine, but gee I loved drinking it. And that's fundamentally it. Don't drink to points, drink to what you enjoy the most. This Barkala just talks to me as it whispers in my glass.
Champagne Duval-Leroy Brut Reserve NV
Varney Wines Expressions of Interest Riesling Fiano 2021
A journey through the textural pleasure zone. Nicknamed the Ginger Sherbet Skinsy Thing pretty much sums up where things are at. A 60/40 blend, the Riesling was fermented on skins with Fiano.
Oakridge Vineyard Series Hazeldine Chardonnay 2019
Another superb Chardonnay from Oakridge. You'd bathe in the stuff. Bliss.
Castle Rock Estate Shiraz 2019
Always great. Always delicious. A wine hard to beat for consistency. Get around this Shiraz from Castle Rock Estate.
Humble Vine Select Tempranillo 2015
Pitched beautifully, this is a wonderfully balanced Tempranillo from Victoria's Goulburn Valley.
Varney Wines Chardonnay 2020
Sourced from two Adelaide Hills vineyards, the fruit for this Chardonnay was harvested over three weeks before seeing French oak for six months.
Oakridge Vineyard Series Willowlake Chardonnay 2019
Winemaker Dave Bicknell has an uncanny ability to showcase fruit purity with a lean delivery. His range of Vineyard Series Chardonnays blast the door down making an, "I'm here!" statement. Hello to the beautiful Willowlake once more.
Oakridge 864 Henk Vineyard Aqueduct Block Pinot Noir 2019
The sophistication that comes from this vineyard strides forward once more.
Punt Road Block 3 Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Sade factor here. Smooth operator and all. Cabernet keeps making all the right noises in the Yarra yet Chardonnay and Pinot Noir keep taking the microphone. Check this - it's a beauty.
Yangarra Estate High Sands Grenache 2018
Yangarra's top Grenache and there's nothing stopping its impressive beauty. Another brilliant release from the High Sands with this 2018 edition.
Yangarra Estate King’s Wood Shiraz 2019
Big love for this. A fabulous expression of McLaren Vale Shiraz.
Humble Vine Selected Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Airlie Bank Pinot Noir 2020
A pleasant, easy-drinking Pinot from Punt Road Wines' Airlie Bank range where texture and interest are the focal point.
Quiet Mutiny Charlotte's Elusion Riesling 2020
Pretty as. Any time Riesling. Oh, this is a tremendous wine.
Varney Wines Fiano 2019
All the elements of an interesting Fiano are laid out but the acid didn't want to come to the party.
Castle Rock Estate Porongurup Pinot Noir 2019
Very Pinot. Very delicious. A great wine from a tough, dry vintage.
Punt Road Pinot Noir 2020
Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Shiraz 2016
"People want to see greatness," winemaker Kevin Glastonbury tells me. And he's right. From a most impressive vintage, pour a glass, embrace the aromas and sip slow - you'd be forgiven for thinking you were knocking on the door to the promised land. Welcome to The Caley 2016.
Lagoon View Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
Roast night red coming in large format. Set plenty of places around the table to share this easy-drinking Cabernet magnum.
Oakridge Vineyard Series Henk Chardonnay 2019
Dang! Could you get any finer, leaner and pure? Henk is king. Feed this to me via a drip.