Thorn Clarke Ron Thorn Shiraz 2017

 

Some things require a little more patience than others, here is a case in point. A most impressive wine at this stage, give it a few more years and the wow factor will be extreme.

Blue Pyrenees Estate Bone Dry Rosé 2020

 

A wine that lives up to its name - it's bone dry deluxe. Made with Pinot Noir and Merlot, this is a Rosé that needs some food. Tapas would do just fine. 

Winesmiths Sauvignon Blanc 2021

 

Time for a cask wine review, it's been a while too. Not everyone sits in the corporate box drinking wonderful wines - I get that. Here's one from the nosebleed section of the stadium.

Polperro Pinot Noir 2020

A cuddle in a glass. A wonderfully enjoyable and inviting Pinot Noir from Polperro.

Oakridge Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2019

 

An easy swirl and sip type. Wine bars with groovy beats would eat this up. 

Brash Higgins Zibibbo 2021

 

It's pretty wicked what Brad Hickey does with Zibibbo. Selected for its thicker skins and its ability to impart its personality on the finished wine, this spent 150 days on skins in Amphorae. Hickey raised eyebrows with his debut release and a keen following has been the result with winemakers wanting in on the action too. All this from his first vintage using fruit that was given away because no one would take it. How times have changed...

Balgownie Estate Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir 2019

 

Add this Balgownie Estate Macedon Ranges Pinot to the 'bigger style' list. The first Pinot from that region for this producer from what I'm aware, density is the word.

Patina Pinot Noir 2018

Spicy! A Pinot that comes across more like a Shiraz like. If you like 'em with a little more heft, this could be your calling.

Vino Intrepido Sting Like A Bee Fiano 2020

There is plenty of interest in this Fiano to sink your teeth into.

Jim Brand The Pursuit Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

 

A beauty that will only get better with a few more years under its belt. It proved that over a few days of tasting.

Even Keel Field Blend 2019

 

Sam Coverdale is a mysterious but incredibly hilarious individual. He's always thinking and scheming. Here we have a field blend but that's all I know. No varieties listed. No deets on the label, and that's okay. In a world where so many things are handed out on a platter, live on the edge a little and embrace the element of surprise. I did and I loved it!

Ridgemill Estate The Spaniard Tempranillo 2021

 

Bright and playful early on, this Tempranillo is quite dissimilar to previous releases which have been more focused with their game face on. This 2021 is all about big smiles and big plates of food with an abundance of friends nearby.

Oakridge Over the Shoulder Chardonnay 2020

 

Pretty darn good gear for $24. If only all entry-level wines looked like this.

Parker Interloper Cabernet Malbec 2019

 

Coonawarra Cabernet meets Barossa Malbec in this food-friendly, easy-going red. 

Varney Wines Entrada Rosé 2021

Clever. Very clever. I could neck the lot. A Grenache Rosé smashing it out of the park and down the street.

Oakridge Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2020

 

Yes! This is pretty damn good. Oakridge's Yarra Valley range of wines just keeps on pumping out the good stuff. Have you got 30 bucks and love Chardonnay? Get in the queue.

Even Keel Pinot Gris 2020

Hello pretty. What a beauty we have here. If Pinot Gris is your thing, head over this way. 

Penley Estate EOS 2018

 

This just feels cool and sophisticated and possesses an air of elegance. Coming in a big solid and sturdy bottle that could double as a rolling pin, the Penley Estate EOS brings pleasure in many forms.

Penley Estate Giliam Light Dry Red 2021

Crack this ripping bottle of delight. It's such a joyous wine that brings an inner smile. A smile in a bottle if you will. Yes!

Parker Coonawarra Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2020

 

Hello flavour, where are you? This is the leanest Parker Chardonnay I have seen. I've previously listed this as a bargain buy but I can't recommend the same for this 2020. Insert sad face here.

Thorn-Clarke William Randell Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

 

A measured Eden Valley Cabernet with a placid persona.

Eldridge Estate Clonal Blend Pinot Noir 2018

 

The Clonal Blend speaks of the original wineries to break ground on the Mornington Peninsula. Numerous varieties have been tried and tested and then numerous clones within those to see what would be best suited. This delicious Pinot Noir is a blend of seven clones from one of the district's originals - David Lloyd.

Vino Intrepido Nero's Fiddle Nero d'Avola 2021

Point the glass to the light and it's a glorious shade of crimson. Dangerously smooth, this is a great barbecue slurp to share around.

Auld Family Wines Strawbridge Shiraz 2019

A generous Barossa Shiraz to wash down your weekend steak.

Penley Estate Project E Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

There's a vibe pulsing through this Cabernet yet there is a focus as it goes about its work. The first wine released from the Coonawarra region that was fermented in a concrete egg, it's such a delight to ponder and sip slow.

Berton Vineyard Vermentino 2021

 

A clean, fresh and easy drinking Vermentino charged with refreshment that only asks for $14 for you to indulge in that pleasure.

Oakridge Vineyard Series Pinot Gris 2020

 

There is not a lot going on here to excite me. Not usually the Oakridge way. You can't win them all I suppose.

Varney Wines Grenache 2021

 

Stick the name Alan Varney in your Black Book. He is a winemaker doing great things. Small batches are produced but the wines come with an embrace and an inner smile. This Grenache is a ripper. 

Polperro Chardonnay 2020

 

Give this Polperro Chardonnay a go. It grows on you. The longer I left it in the glass the more I wanted in. 

Pizzini Pietra Rossa Sangiovese 2019

 

Love a Sangiovese? Wrap your lips around this. Happiness comes in spades.

Montalto Tuerong Pinot Noir 2020

 

Lining up all the Montalto Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs is always a privilege. They all bring their unique personality to the table catering to a wide range of Pinot lovers. But for me, the Tuerong sits on top. It has done so for a long time now. There's just something about its presence dragging you closer.

Oakridge 864 Funder and Diamond Chardonnay 2019

 

Climb the Australian Chardonnay pyramid and you'll see this near the top. An absolutely sublime expression of the variety, I just want to bathe in it.

Polperro Fumé Blanc 2020

 

This is where a Hawaiian shirt meets linen pants - a playful side with a little sophistication and a dash of high brow. Sauv Blanc done well. 

Ponting Milestone 127 Shiraz 2019

The Ponting range of wines seems to continue to grow. Parcels of fruit are drawn from a range of districts. This Shiraz is sourced from the Barossa Valley and was made by Ben Riggs. I've only seen two of the Ponting Wines and this is a better wine than the Tamar Pinot Noir recently sampled.

Golden Grove Estate Sangiovese 2021

 

Bright, fresh, crunchy, pizza and pasta night just got a little exciting.

Eldridge Estate Fumé Blanc 2019

 

Humble, classy and adorned with sheets of sophistication. A brilliant Fumé Blanc that's in the zone. 

Brash Higgins Chenin Blanc 2020

 

A considered wine, much like its maker. If you are after a wine that provokes thought as you sip slow, this may tick all your boxes. Its eye-catching label is a great start.

Tyrrell's Hunter Valley Semillon 2021

 

A joyous glass of refreshment.

d'Arenberg Stephanie The Gnome With Rose Coloured Glasses 2021

Stephanie might have rose coloured glasses but her wine also possesses the longest name in the history of mankind. Once you've managed to draw breath, hydrate with this, it's quite beautiful.

Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rosé 2021

 

A wonderfully bright and beaming Rosé for around the $15 mark. The Y Series plays the reliability card perfectly once again.

Tyrrell's Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz 2019

 

Two things skip out at me about Heathcote wines: those red Cambrian soils and eucalyptus notes. This Rufus Stone holds true to form. 

Miles From Nowhere Best Blocks Shiraz 2019

A good Shiraz for those who enjoy a wine with a dense mouthfeel.

Balgownie Estate Viognier 2020

 

If you enjoy a complex Chardonnay, perhaps stretching your interest a little further and indulging in a Viognier may be worth the adventure. This example from Balgownie Estate is a great wine to start your exploration.

Ridgemill Estate Snigley's Rosé 2021

Red cordial appearance, there is a little weight and booty to this Rosé.

Witches Falls Moscato 2021

 

With a light spritz, this is like a taste of sideshow alley. It's all fun and playful with a bit of sweetness.

Tyrrell's Hunter Valley Chardonnay 2020

 

Tyrrell's produce six Chardonnays. Sitting near the entry-level, this is a good drink and offers an insight to those further up the chain with more bells and whistles.

Oakridge Light Dry Red 2020

 

The Yarra Valley has seen a few Hunter Valley alumni successfully introduce the Hunter River Burgundy to the district - a blend of Pinot Noir and Shiraz. The Yarra is an ideal region to launch a cool climate version and the locals have started to catch on. It was a matter of time but now Oakridge has entered the fray and Dave Bicknell and Tim Perrin have nailed it. 

Hillsdale Estate Rosé 2021

 

An attractively scented Rosé from a little South Burnett producer, Hillsdale Estate.

Eldridge Estate PTG 2021

 

Blink and it's gone. It doesn't take long for the 'sold out' sign to be posted beside this wine on the Eldridge Estate website. It's a ripper year in year out and I reckon if David Lloyd jacked the price up it would still race out the door, such is its beauty and adorable juicy factor.

Balgownie Estate Macedon Ranges Chardonnay 2019

 

A new addition to the Balgownie Estate range with the fruit for this Chardonnay sourced from the Macedon Ranges. It's a serious expression that wants to drag you along for the ride. Count me in...