Lush, generous and persistent - this is a fabulous example of all things Barossa Shiraz.
De Bortoli Organic Shiraz Field Blend 2020
Barbecues and pizza night just found an extra bit of energy with this field blend from De Bortoli. Organically farmed in the Riverina region, red fruits are plush and skip along.
Ridgemill Estate Fumé Blanc 2021
Fumé is the only way to make Sauv Blanc I say and this is a beauty. Textured, considered and layered with interest, this is a terrific drink.
Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa Shiraz 2020
One of those reliable types that will age well for the medium term. A rock-solid Coonawarra Shiraz.
Hayes Family Wines Koonunga Creek Block Grenache 2021
Beautiful and elegant, I could bathe in this. Another excellent Grenache from the supreme Barossa 2021 vintage.
Even Keel Rosé 2021
Hayes Family Wines Smart Vineyard Grenache 2021
Brett Hayes is one of the biggest buyers of Grenache in the Barossa Valley. His thirst for the variety is insatiable. So much so, he has now made a foray into McLaren Vale sourcing fruit from the Smart Vineyard. Pinot lovers ought to head this way - it is a perfect match for duck.
Yelland and Papps Single Vineyard Roussanne 2021
A Roussanne that has an absorbing presence as it rolls through the mouth with absolute ease. Well played here from Yelland & Papps - the masters of the variety in Australia.
Holm Oak Pinot Noir 2020
One of my workmates asked me to recommend a Tassie Pinot for under $30. That's nonsense - quality and Tassie Pinot under $30 don't generally go in the same sentence. Sure you can find a couple, but serious Pinot lovers don't always have pockets laced with diamonds. So, my top tip was this Holm Oak. Some crafting online searching and she snared some of this for $28 - winning! You will be winning too if you get this in your glass for that money.
Rock of Wisdom Shiraz 2020
Meaty, this is dense with a gamey side. Roast beef or a steak on the coals will have you sorted with this Barossa Shiraz from Rock of Wisdom.
Paisley Wines Maeve Shiraz 2018
The top wine in the Paisley Wines stable sees 20 months in barrel (50% new French and American oak). A generous and wonderfully rounded Shiraz, there is some serious longevity in its veins.
Yelland and Papps Shiraz 2021
If you like your Shiraz complex, layered and considered, here is your weapon. Well played Yelland and Papps.
Payten and Jones Hollow Bones Chardonnay 2019
I haven't seen a P&J wine for a little while, three years in fact. Behn and Troy have been super busy growing the business, importing Vermouth from Spain, setting up a wine bar on Stradbroke Island, kitting out the brand with some wicked merch (what other wineries have branded high cut boots?), not to mention nurturing their growing families, plus they've been dealing with a pandemic. Interesting times all round...
Hollow Bones is a different Chardonnay to the Paul's Range Chardonnay of years gone by. Still possessing some generosity and layered with interest, the fruit source for this is new too.
Storm King Wine Co Mataro Graciano 2021
Medium-bodied red fruit driven Mataro meets a muscular Graciano in this 80/20 blend. A new label from the Granite Belt, these Storm King Wine Co wines have landed on the scene with a respectable presence. Debuting with three wines in the range (including Vermentino & Shiraz Malbec), considered winemaking with wines such as these continue to raise the profile of the Queensland industry.
Rock of Wisdom Mataro 2021
Rock of Wisdom prides itself on minimal intervention small-batch wines. My first look at the range came via the very tidy Grenache and now this Mataro. With the Shiraz review to come, these are impressive wines.
Paisley Wines Denim Mataro 2019
Gimme all the wings and a glass or two of this. Yummo! The spiced plums and smokey characters of this Mataro fly the flag proudly. A respectable density and gripping meatiness call for smoked and charred meats.
Hayes Family Wines Estate Block 2 Grenache 2021
The brilliance of the Barossa 2021 vintage is front and centre with this sublime Grenache. Coming off the Hayes sustainably farmed organic vineyard, damn this is impressive.
Montevecchio Rosso Field Blend 2020
Splash this in your plastic cup at the beach, or pour generously at a barbecue with friends, a rissole and snag on bread await. Take this and its sibling Montevecchio Bianco and you're sorted.
Montevecchio Bianco Field Blend 2021
The complexity is in the making not the enjoying. A mega field blend, this slides down all too easily. A wine that is a fab go-to for a casual gathering with friends.
Montevecchio Moscato Frizzante 2020
Here's cheers to an easy refreshment. A Moscato with a slight spritz to tickle your fancy - if you like them a little sweeter.
Yelland and Papps Grenache 2021
The 2020 release of this wine was one of my top picks in my book, Grenache - Barossa Grown. This 2021 is a great example of picking a little earlier as the fruit retains its energy with a delicious red apple crunch.
Storm King Wine Co Shiraz Malbec 2021
Even Keel Pinot Noir 2021
A smart Pinot Noir from this ever-reliable Even Keel range of wines. Some rebranding has elevated its shelf appeal too - great stuff.
O'Leary Walker Romalo Sparkling Shiraz NV
Named in honour of Norman and Hurtle Walker, Nick Walker's respective father and grandfather who spent over 100 years in the wine industry., the Romalo cellars were where they honed their craft. Wrap your lips around this tasty Sparkling Shiraz.
Storm King Wine Co Vermentino 2021
Hello Storm King Wine Co! A side project for Ray Costanzo and his wife Jen, these wines are about small batches that are handcrafted using traditional techniques. Here we have a cracking debut Vermentino release that shows vitality, textural interest and wonderful savoury appeal.
Yelland and Papps Roussanne 2021
Always so intriguing. Always so delicious. If interest and complexity float your boat, get your oar and paddle this way. Autumn is the season for textured whites and this rockets to the top of that list ready to deliver supreme joy.
Credaro Kinship Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Good gear. It's right in the slot. Wines like this are hard to knock. A most enjoyable Margaret River Cabernet.
Howard Park Petit Jeté NV
Really enjoyable, this is a serious looking fizz that is not so serious on the hip pocket. Nicely done from the crew at Howard Park.
Dicey Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2019
A classic Central Otago Pinot Noir. There's depth and intrigue, layers and personality. A superb wine from Matt Dicey, formerly of Mt Difficulty fame.
Lange Estate Providence Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Take me with two hands it says. A Cabernet that softens wonderfully over a few days. Give it some time in a decanter or a couple of years tucked away and you'll reap the reward.
Hayes Family Wines Barossa GSM 2021
Even Keel Pinot Gris 2021
A Pinot Gris that rarely misses the mark, these Even Keel wines are well made. The re-vitalised labeling is pretty on the eye too - nicely done. Splash this in your glass and you'll feel a little bit fancy.
De Iuliis Limited Release Chardonnay 2009
Generous and rich, here we have a thirteen-year-old Chardonnay smashing it out of the park.
Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa Merlot 2020
Coonawarra Merlot. I haven't seen a release of this wine for three years. Give it a good decant and it calms. Some prickly acidity still loiters about though.
De Iuliis Talga Road Shiraz 2019
A bigger, more muscular Shiraz than we are used to from the Hunter, but it's well worth sinking your teeth into. Give it some air and you will be rewarded deluxe. An excellent wine!
Hayes Family Wines Estate Shiraz 2020
A blend of the estate blocks on the Hayes property, sometimes such wines are looked upon as the dregs thrown into one. Not so. Some blends, such as this one, are an exercise of winemaker skill - bringing together parcels of fruit to get the right balance of fruit, oak and acid. One wine that highlights such blending expertise for me is the Thomas Wines Elenay. Give this Hayes Shiraz a chance to open up and you'll see what a beauty it is.
Palliser Estate White Label Pinot Noir 2020
I love it when wines that I have never come across find their way onto the tasting bench. This Palliser Estate Pinot turned up recently and what a joyous Pinot it is. A fabulous example of Martinborough Pinot Noir.
Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Rock of Wisdom Old Vine Grenache 2021
A burger and fries or pizza night are covered with a large pour of this in your glass. Good gear from Rock of Wisdom.
Short Stories GSM 2020
Juicy red fruit steps forward delivering an easy-drinking GSM. I'd happily enjoy a glass of this.
Thistledown Gorgeous Grenache Rosé 2021
Spicy and creamy, red berries prance about. It's charming and cuddly all at the same time. That "pour another" feel washes over you given its generous hospitality.
Palliser Estate White Label Chardonnay 2020
Martinborough is a gem in the New Zealand landscape that doesn't get the same attention as some other more fancied regions. This White Label is only available in Australia - perhaps the kiwis have sent the better gear over the ditch?
De Iuliis Single Vineyard Semillon 2021
This is that cruiser bike with fat wheels ridden with a flat peak cap, worn backward of course. It's the cool kid that just moves with a street-wise swagger. A delicious Hunter Semillon.
Short Stories Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2021
Hayes Family Wines Estate Block 1 Shiraz 2020
A Shiraz in mint condition that will live long and comes off Hayes' organic 70 years+ vines. Super fine through the mouth, it's a joyous ride through the pleasuredome.
Vino Intrepido Dulcet Tones Dolcetto 2021
A bundle of happiness awaiting a big slab of lasagne. A full glass with a casual meal or a lazy night in front of the television watching some trashy reality program is all that is required.
Kilikanoon Prodigal Grenache 2018
Most Grenache releases come out a year or two after their vintage so it's good to see the odd example with a little bottle age on its side.
Yelland and Papps Mataro Cinsault 2021
Friday night, a bag of Samboy barbecue chips, some footy on the television as rain taps on the roof plus a large glass of this = winning!
Hayes Family Wines Stone Well Block 9 Shiraz 2020
Keep heading directly past the cellar door at Hayes Family Wines and you'll land in Block 9. These 70+ year old certified organic vines are dry-grown on a thin layer of soil. The vines struggle and that was highlighted furthermore in 2020 - the third successive drought year. This is a keeper that deserves time in the cellar.