QWine Reviews - Australian Wine Reviews: January 2022

Sunday, 30 January 2022

Oakridge Over The Shoulder Cabernet Merlot 2020

One of those "off to dinner and drop into the bottleo" reliable wines. A classic Cabernet Merlot blend.

Another impressive Grenache from the Thistledown team. It's sleek with a little more weight in its carry than its siblings.

Meaty and spicy, dude food kinda wine. Get your friends around for hot dogs, wings and a cheeky Chiko roll or two in the air fryer.

A Pet Nat made with Topper's Mountain Shiraz and Gruner grown in Gamilaroi Country - New England, NSW. A sapping fizz awaits with a little touch of yeastiness still loitering.

John Wallace Wines Sisters Chardonnay 2021

I was recently asked what I wanted to drink more of in 2022. Among a couple of others, Hunter Valley Chardonnay was one on my list - it's so underrated. Get out there and dip your oar into this ocean of beauty. This Sisters release from a new small producer is a ripper. Get around it.

Named after the matriarch of the family, Lorraine Schild was a tireless worker behind the scenes. A fitting tribute. As I sip this, all I can think about is roast beef or lamb chops on the coals.

It's not easy tasting wine with Karma, karma, karma, karma, karma chameleon on repeat in your head. But I took a hit for the team. This is a Sem Sauv that will make a lot of people very happy. It beams happiness and sunshine. Thank goodness it's not beaming red, gold and green...

A traditional medium dry alcoholic cider reflecting the style of apple wine produced in the eastern English counties when labourers were paid in cider back in the 17th century. This is a smart alternative to a crisp white wine.

Clandestine Vineyards Hearts and Minds Grenache 2021

Hearts and Minds is the top-tier range from Clandestine Vineyards. The fruit was sourced from Jericho's Blewitt Springs vineyard planted in 1950.

Sagrantino is bold. It just doesn't know any other way. I suspect the three sisters behind this Fierce III label are quite bold too creating a label to celebrate their coming back together in the family business. A smart wine this.

There is a first for everything, and after more than ten years of reviews, this Alcohol Removed Pinot Grigio is the first non-alcoholic wine to grace these pages. Bravo! With the non-alcoholic drinks market suggested to increase its market share by up to 30% by 2024, I suspect I may be posting a lot more of these drinks in the future.

Thistledown Vagabond Grenache 2021

Such a pretty expression of Grenache, I just want it all - Freddy Mercury style. An excellent wine hands down.

I was generously gifted this wine by Tony Peters, one of the most selfless and kind people I've had the pleasure of meeting through this wine caper. He is Mr Wine Tasmania - pageant sash and all. He bleeds the stuff. I'm pleased he shared this with me, too, as I don't ever see any wines from Accolade. This is a beautifully layered Chardonnay and I savoured it until the very last drop. Superb!

A melting pot of sorts that brings Syrah and Pinot Noir together from three regions - Canberra, Central Ranges and the Hilltops. An interpretation of the Hunter River Burgundy perhaps that seems very much in vogue at the moment.

Thistledown She’s Electric Grenache 2021

She's Electric alright! A superb Grenache. Dancy and pretty, just kick back and enjoy the ride.

From a new range of wines released by Lou Miranda, this dry Rosé has picnics and charcuterie in its future.

Eat Italian food and drink Italian wine - life doesn't need to be complicated. This is a wine made exclusively for Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers, a chain of Italian Restaurants.

A Rosé made from Merlot that needs food by its side. There is some weight and density here.

Barrel fermented Rosé made with Shiraz grown in Wiradjuri Country. Isn't it great to see producers acknowledging the First Nations people on their labels?

Gundog Estate Indomitus Rosa 2021

Lacy pleasure. Delicate and curvaceous. Gee, we are blessed with the high standard of Rosés available on the shelves. Considered winemaking continues to push the bar higher. Here is a brilliant Rosé from Gundog Estate.

Delicious! A juicy and energetic Grenache to throw your arms around. For $25, this is a fab drink.

A new range of wines for Lou Miranda, the Fierce III is a nod to the three sisters behind the business. Here you have a neat Pinot Grigio ready to match a casual meal with friends.

Made with fruit sourced from a derelict vineyard, this Dirt Candy Pet Nat has some street smart textural appeal. My only gripe with Pet Nat is that it can be a lottery with how much you actually get to drink. You see, with sediment in the bottle, like this one, you need to agitate things slightly I upended this bottle twice and opened it five minutes later. I lost close to 20% as it gushed out. Sigh. But that's Pet Nat...

Cassegrain Wines Spring Rosé 2021

Gee, this is one out of the box! A superb Rosé from a producer you may not have on your radar. Afternoon chills just got that little bit better with this in the glass.

Give this time to shine and you'll be rewarded in spades. A new Shiraz release from Lou Miranda.

Vintage Brut made in the traditional method. This is a great drink for fizz lovers without burning a hole in your back pocket. With an RRP of $33, it's currently on the website for $28 while members pay only $21. The members are the winners here.

Garganega is the key to Soave. If you've had the chance to come across Shannon Burgess-Moore, the muscle behind Grandis Wines, you would know he is a suave kinda guy. This wine and Shannon are peas in a pod really.

Pirate Cru Wines IMP's Mataro 2016

When seeking some inner pleasure, this is a great wine to turn to. So often Cabernet and Shiraz get that privilege yet this Mataro fills the brief admirably.

Woah! This is what some refer to as a 'big Barossa Shiraz'. There is some muscle about this blockbuster.

I'm reliably informed the Slurpy Puppy GSM is by far the top-selling wine in the Pirate Cru range. It's easy to see why given it oozes crowd-pleasing appeal.

The top Grenache from Pirate Cru Wines. This wine is a barrel select that sees 3 years in French oak, 40% of which was new.

Pirate Cru Wines Slurpy Puppy Grenache 2018

Fancy finding a $25 wine that comes from 100 year old+ vines. An entry-level wine for Pirate Cru Wines, the crowd-pleasing appeal here is sky-high. It even picked under a full blood red harvest moon.

An interesting contrast to taste this 2018 beside its 2016 sibling.

Sourced from Centenarian vines from the Vine Vale sub-region, I could sip on this all night. This is a very good Grenache that oozes moreishness.

I spent some time with Jennifer Graham and Dirk Pettigrew from Pirate Cru Wines earlier this week. Their passion for the Barossa and their brand is infectious. There is a terrific story behind this wine. Jen and Dirk are very well researched and the links to their wines is impressive. This Ban Shé refers to the Victorian period with "romantic" being the keyword. Romantic in terms of dreaming and what's on the horizon Dirk tells me. A period of enlightenment you could say. This Grenache provides enlightenment. Ten years old without a splinter of oak. Gee, it looks good. Very good.

Tomfoolery Wines Young Blood Grenache 2020

Australian singer Deni Hynes has an album called the Delicious Collection. This should be on the front cover. Yummo!

This McLaren Vale Cabernet will age well. Give a few more years to see it at its best.

This is Australia Day Cabernet. It would eat all the lamb. Entry-level Cabernet done well.

The fruit sweetness is what grabbed me from the outset here. It's not overly sweet, don't get me wrong, but there is enough to take note.

Malbec is a variety that is a cracking drink when done well. A generous and brooding type, this release comes from the Margaret River region.

FU Manchu Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Super smooth. Super enjoyable. A great McLaren Vale Cabernet to curl up to. These Dr Plonk wines continue to impress.

Grenache that gets in deep. It’s considered and focused. Superb stuff. Yes please!

I've got to give it to Marcus Hofer. He sent this wine through for a review last year and wasn't over the moon with my thoughts. Credit and respect to him for backing his product and saying indirectly, "It's better than that. Can you have another look?" Sure thing mate, I'd be happy to.

Wilhelm Scream Tempranillo 2019

Tempranillo directed by La Petite Mort and filmed on location at Bents Road Winery. I only know this because this is what a very clever back label says. Oh, and this is a very approachable wine that screams (can I say that?) for food.

Casual sips on an overcast afternoon to pizza and pasta night. This is a neat Sangiovese driven by pleasing savoury characters.

Not all wines can be a runaway success, but this Shiraz from Lemon Villa shows solid wines have their place. Medium-bodied, this is well done.

Brighter and more vibrant than its 2017 sibling, there is an enthusiasm about its swagger.

A savoury cool climate Shiraz already showing some aged traits.

Welcome to 2022! A couple of weeks away from the keyboard and it's time to get back into it. Best we start with a Grenache - heck, why not? This release from Yalumba is rock star material in the making, so much so I bought six. You probably should too.

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