We have a lively one here! It was well away from my nose yet the aromas were exploding from the glass to get my attention. Clean, fresh and oh-so refreshing, fun in the sun awaits with this one. Bring on spring!
Juxtaposed Fiano 2022
This is quite a lovely drink. From the Lacey Vineyard in McLaren Vale, attractive aromas and the detailed textural appeal make this a delicious Fiano to savour.
Mount Pleasant Fiano 2022
A wonderfully textured white for a cool winter's afternoon. I'm keen on a creamy pasta dish after making friends with this.
Wild Game The Dame Shiraz 2014
The value this represents given the age is exceptional. A quality Coonawarra Shiraz hands down. All you are doing here is winning.
3 Rings Barossa Shiraz 2020
Blueberries and dark plums hit the palate in earnest with a thick smear of dark plums.
Paringa Shiraz 2020
A stock delivery of Shiraz. That Glenn McGrath delivery on repeat. Fair gear for 15 bucks.
So how does a $600 Yarra Valley Chardonnay stack up?
I was recently offered the opportunity to take a look at the debut release of Levantine Hill's Optume Chardonnay 2020. Rather than tasting it in isolation, a bracket of 2020 Chardonnays was assembled to see where things were at. And what a fabulous exercise it was!
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2020
The momentum is pulsating. It gathers you up as you're skating along with minimal friction and maximum flavour. What a Chardonnay we have here!
Levantine Hill Optume Chardonnay 2020
This is clever. Classy without question. A Chardonnay that glides with precision and speaks of winemaking excellence. Tasted blind in a lineup of six 2020 Chardonnays, this Levantine Hill Optume certainly captured my attention from the outset.
Oakridge 864 Funder and Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay 2020
Lean and pristine, big love for the precision of this exquisite Chardonnay from Oakridge. Tasted blind in a lineup of six 2020 Chardonnays, this wine sat at the top of the podium alonside another.
Seville Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2020
Tasted blind in a lineup of six 2020 Chardonnays, the focus and fruit purity of this Seville Estate Reserve brings the mouth to water.
Yarra Yering Carrodus Chardonnay 2020
Hoddles Creek Syberia Chardonnay 2020
A super Chardonnay. Spicy and tight, there is an entrancing measured depth and complexity about its swagger. Tasted blind in a lineup of six 2020 Chardonnays, it stood tall among those twice and nine times the price.
Terre à Terre Crayères Sauvignon Blanc 2022
From now on, if you ask me what Australia's best Sauvignon Blanc is, this Terre à Terre Crayères will be my bullet-like response. I can guess what some may suggest countering this statement, but find me a better example that is highly consistent, considered, layered, and most of all, damn good drinking.
Juxtaposed Home Block Minchella Shiraz 2021
Wine and food matching is overrated. Pour a glass of this Home Block Minchella Shiraz and have it with a packet of Freckles by your side. Job done. Oh, and this is a great wine too! It's very impressive.
Mount Pleasant OP and OH Shiraz 2022
An energetic number on opening, this Old Paddock & Old Hill needs a lie down. After three days of tasting, the momentum it built was superb. One for the long haul with a proven track record for aging, tuck this away and be rewarded deluxe.
Colmar Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2021
The presence and mouthfeel of this Reserve compared to the Block 2 is significantly different. A wine that is focused and precise with a leaner drive, there is plenty to get excited about here.
Colmar Estate Block 2 Chardonnay 2021
I preferred to drink this Block 2 Chardonnay from Colmar Estate for now rather than the more highly rated Reserve. A nutty thing, hazelnuts cut loose with some cashews for good measure. A very clever Chardonnay from Orange, NSW.
Briar Ridge Dairy Hill Semillon 2023
Three 2023 Semillon releases from Briar Ridge have come and they are three very different expressions. The racy Stockhausen to the purity of the Black Cluster and now the concentrated Dairy Hill. We're spoilt for choice here.
Juxtaposed Wait Vineyard Grenache 2021
More sophisticated than the Smart/Wait Grenache blend, this walks with a furrowed brow and intent. The focus of this release is quite noticeable and is a step to the right compared to the usual joyful and juicy Grenache wines seen in the past.
Terre à Terre Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Briar Ridge Hilltops Cabernet Shiraz 2022
Briar Ridge's take on the classic Aussie claret blend of Cabernet and Shiraz.
Briar Ridge Black Cluster Hunter Valley Semillon 2023
Brilliant. Classy. All that. A superb Hunter Valley Semillon from Briar Ridge.
Briar Ridge Stockhausen Semillon 2023
The first Hunter Valley Semillon hits the tasting bench for 2023. Full of energy and zip, find the seafood platter and a large pour of this.
Mount Pleasant Tempranillo 2022
Every winery needs a pizza and pasta wine in their portfolio and this Tempranillo is Mount Pleasant's take.
Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Good gear loaded with juicy black fruits.
Max and Me Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Briar Ridge Big Bully Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
A members only wine once upon a time, the Big Bully is now out there for all. Made with fruit from Wrattonbully, you can take a guess where its name comes from. Let this breathe and you're in for a treat.
Juxtaposed Smart/Wait Grenache 2021
From the hands of the AWRI guru Dr Wes Pearson comes this Juxtaposed Grenache. A blend of fruit from the famed Smart and Wait vineyards (Clarendon and Blewitt Springs respectively), this 2021 is a muscular rendition.
Barossa Boy Double Trouble Shiraz Cabernet 2020
Mount Pleasant Rosehill Shiraz 2022
Mount Pleasant Rosehill Shiraz 2022 hits the tasting bench. It's an interesting wine and one that you want to just hang out with. That curious friend who seemingly asks more questions than gives answers and that mystique creates more curiosity.
Terre à Terre Down to Earth Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Angullong Fossil Hill Chardonnay 2022
With a little more sophistication than the entry-level wine, this Angullong Fossil Hill is a clever expression of cool climate Chardonnay.
Angullong Chardonnay 2022
Fresh and citrus-driven, there is some good energy here for a $25 Chardonnay.
Briar Ridge Briar Hill Chardonnay 2022
Sometimes I wish wine reviews could be as simple as, "This is brilliant! You should buy it." But life isn't that simple, is it?
Briar Ridge winemaker Alex Beckett is doing some great things at the moment and he is certainly one to watch. I enjoyed this Chardonnay so much I didn't share a drop. What a beauty it is!
Briar Ridge Briar Hill Chardonnay 2017
A museum release from Briar Ridge, this Chardonnay is all arms and legs early but it then settles into a neat groove. Give it some time to compose itself and it comes good. Really good.
Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Padthaway Shiraz 2021
A softer and more approachable wine for now, this is my preferred Shiraz out of the Stonehaven Limited Release Vineyard range. With similar characteristics to its siblings, it's a wine that has a soothing appeal.
Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Wrattonbully Shiraz 2021
Like the Robe, it's warm but generous. A cuddly warmth I must clarify, it's not that hot alcohol warmth which is not where you want to be. A solid Shiraz - tick!
Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Robe Shiraz 2021
Slow Wine Co Riesling 2021
Steelier than your ex's heart.
This Riesling could be mistaken to be from the Clare Valley's Polish Hill River sub-region. But oh no, it's a beauty from Orange, NSW.
Jim Brand Silent Partner Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Firm and generous, this Coonawarra Cabernet is big, dry and sapping - mouth puckering stuff.
Briar Ridge Dairy Hill Shiraz 2010
I reviewed this Briar Ridge Dairy Hill many moons ago on release and what a treat it is to see it again over a decade later. Made by Scott Coymns at the time, subsequent vintages saw a change in the making of this wine. Wonderfully smooth and luscious, it's a fabulous Hunter Valley Shiraz.
Barossa Boy Little Tacker GSM 2018
This is my first look at these Barossa Boy wines and the consistency across the range is what stands out. Well made with plenty of personality, this GSM is a blend that you can faithfully keep going back to time and again.
O’Leary Walker Doctor’s Cut Riesling 2022
From a certified organic vineyard in Polish Hill River that is owned by two Adelaide heart surgeons, the Doctor's Cut is only made in exceptional years. Racy with chiselled acidity, this is an electric Riesling from O'Leary Walker.
Slow Wine Co Tribus 2022
A blend of Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewurztraminer (55/27/18), this blend is incredibly food friendly. Pretty scents and some textural pleasure, there is something here for everyone.
Hesketh Penola Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Penola is the main township of Coonawarra and this 'Penola Cabernet Sauvignon' is in the slot without being extravagant. There is a lot to like for those seeking a solid red wine.
Hesketh Twist of Fate Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Tense and puckering, but for the money, I like the flow. An easy-going camping wine for fifteen bucks from Hesketh.
Barossa Boy Lifeblood Shiraz 2018
The Boy can do no wrong! I'm getting through a batch of samples from Barossa Boy and what a neat set of wines they are. There is a regal feel with this Lifeblood Shiraz in hand. Big and rich, every drop reaches out with comfort.
Briar Ridge Hillrose Shiraz 2022
Mercer Wines Picpoul Blanc 2023
"Keep an eye out for Picpoul," were the words of Yangarra Estate's Peter Fraser a couple of years ago when I had a chat with him about emerging varieties. When Fraser speaks, it's best you pay attention. And he was right. The rise of the variety has been noticeable around the landscape in recent years. This new release from Mercer Wines was sourced from the NSW Central Ranges and it is a beauty! A variety with high natural acidity and lemony fruit, charge at it with some oysters in hand.