QWine Reviews - Australian Wine Reviews: September 2023

Wednesday 27 September 2023

Skimstone Wines Cabernet Merlot 2021

Winemaker Jean Francois calls this Cabernet Merlot blend Mr Winter. Take a sip and it's easy to see why. It's a wine with a comforting embrace. From vines planted in the early 1990s, this is a great blend.

Mudgee is doing Italian varieties very well and this Barbera from Skimstone is another case in point.

Sangiovese done well is a classic pizza night wine and that is precisely what I thought when I put this to my lips. The wines in the Skimstone range are highly consistent and this release ticks the boxes.

Brand new in the bottle, I was fortunate to be the first to check this out with winemaker Jean Francois prior to its release. Winning! This Rosé from Skimstone is an absolute cracker for 25 bucks. Go here.

The cellar door at Skimstone Wines provides a beautiful vista and laid-back experience. This Chardonnay is a fabulous wine worth tracking down for its terrific drive and balance.

First Ridge Wines Barbera 2021

This Barbera from First Ridge Wines is said to be their signature wine. Not too many Australian wineries hang their hat on Barbera, but isn't it good to be different! It matches the hype too - it's a fabulous drink.

I saw a couple of Montepulciano wines during my recent trip to Mudgee and this release from First Ridge Wines was one of the better examples. Bravo!

Marco is a 50/50 blend of Barbera and Sangiovese. This 2021 is the first release of the wine and it looks as though First Ridge might be onto something. Rich and generous, it's such a great drink.

The thing that strikes me about these First Ridge Wines is the consistency across the range. Well made with interest, they are reasonably priced too. This Sangiovese showcases all its varietal traits making it very enjoyable and then some.

This Rosé from First Ridge Wines calls for casual catch-ups, even a bag of sea salt chips as you watch the sun fall from the sky at day's end. It's a good drink for all occasions.

A very well-made Fiano from Mudgee's First Ridge Wines. It's layered with detail yet there is crowd pleasing appeal due to its easy going nature. Nicely done.

Formerly Mudgee Ridge, the name changed to First Ridge Wines in 2014. With a focus on Italian varieties, the cellar door is a must-do when in the district for its chic and glorious aspect. This Vermentino is a great wine to kick back with.

Rosby Wines is a beautiful cellar door perched 590m above and tucked away in Mudgee's hills. Some suggest it is one of the best vineyards in the district. This is a great expression of Cabernet that has a long life ahead. It's very nicely done.

A cellar door with a glorious aspect to catch the sunset, this Chardonnay is a tasty wine to enjoy while absorbing the numerous sculptures throughout the property. Art lovers will thoroughly enjoy their time at Rosby be it in the onsite gallery or wandering the gardens.

Rosby Wines is a beautiful cellar door perched 590m above and tucked away in Mudgee's hills. Some suggest it is one of the best vineyards in the district. This is a solid Riesling made for soaking up the glorious afternoon sunshine - something easy to do at the stunning cellar door.

This Rosby Wines Rosé is made with Shiraz. Personally, Shiraz is not my preferred grape to be used for this style of wine and it proves this once more with this release.

Robert Stein Reserve Chardonnay 2022

Just another great wine off the Robert Stein production cycle. This Reserve Chardonnay 2022 is a terrific wine made for relaxed vibes and deep chats.

Like a generous Chardonnay? This release from LMB Wines will hit the mark.

All the Mudgee Shiraz I tasted during my recent exploration of the region was very consistent. Cudos to the region and the winemakers. This Estate Shiraz from Heslop Estate is all Glenn McGrath like - line and length. Big love.

Great to see some carbonic maceration used with this Shiraz. Some dislike it. Some think it is a fad. Some couldn't care less. I think it imparts some vitality.

Dead smooth, there is plenty of interest in this Heslop Wines Shiraz Cabernet.

A curious Chardonnay. The oak is heavy handed but it may well fall into the lap of those that enjoy generous styles.

A tidy Sangiovese Rosé courtesy of Mudgee's Heslop Wines.

Also known as Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains, White Frontignac isn't too common but dry styles such as this can be good partners for Thai and Indian food.

My first look at a wine from Mudgee's Heslop Wines. This Vermentino is easy going and no fuss.

LMB Wines Shiraz 2019

This is all things Mudgee Shiraz. Voluptuous tannins and generous dark fruit are lined up for the taking. A wine of even flow, there is a calming manner about its appeal - much like its maker.

Lisa Bray is a winemaker to seek out. These LMB Wines are a side project to her main role at a larger Mudgee producer. With some serious runs on the board, the quality is sky-high and the asking prices are quite reasonable. This Riesling is a beauty. Hello summer!

LMB Wines Rosé 2023

A brand new Rosé from Lisa Bray. It's so new there is no bottle pic. If a savoury Rosé is your go, burst out of the blocks for this beauty.

blü hen Montepulciano 2022

So, SO impressive! I tasted a few Montepulciano releases on my recent trip to Mudgee and this 2022 from Robert Stein was way in front. What a belter!

Fresh as a daisy, this brand new 2023 Riesling was tasted at the cellar door with winemaker Jacob Stein. It's so new it hasn't made an appearance on the website just yet. Little has changed from previous years - it's another brilliant release.

These Robert Stein Rieslings seem unstoppable. Be it the new releases of the dry Riesling, those with residual sugar or these museum releases, just sit back and embrace the beauty. This Museum Release 2017 is available exclusively for members as well as those who partake in a museum tasting flight at the cellar door ($20). It was a thrill to taste this at the cellar door with winemaker Jacob Stein.

I met Kate Day, one of the two Kates behind the In Two Minds label, on my recent trip to Mudgee. Although Mudgee based, she makes her wines interstate with her sister-in-law Katherine Day, drawing parcels of fruit from a range of regions. An excitable and passionate winemaker, she says this wine pays homage to Don Lewis who was a great mentor in her early years.

O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling 2023

Why is Riesling the best value wine in Australia? Crack this for $30 and you'll sit bolt upright. What a blistering wine we have here!

Pretty as ever, the O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling is always an aromatic beauty.

2021 was also a wet and cold year in Mudgee but this Chardonnay bounds along with greater energy and presence than its 2022 sibling.

From a wet and cold vintage, this Slow Fox Wines Chardonnay is a tidy drink.

An easy-drinking Rosé from Slow Fox Wines with plenty of Sunday Sesh appeal.

The Blend NV brings together Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec (60/30/10) from 2021 and 2022.

Hutton Vale Farm Shiraz 2019

Curvacious, I'm a big fan of the shape of this wine. Not shy on generosity, hold this for a few more years to see it at its best.

Clean, fresh and pure. The 2023 Hunter Valley vintage is said to be better for reds but this is a very tidy expression of Semillon.

For an off-dry Semillon, this hits the mark. The texture from skins is evident and the delish factor is high. A smart wine from Gundog Estate.

One of two off-dry Semillons in the Gundog Estate range, this release needs some food beside it.

Chapel Hill MV Mourvedre 2022

All I want is a rack of pork ribs with this Chapel Hill MV Mourvedre in a glass to wash them down. What a beauty!

I like this. A great representation of McLaren Vale Shiraz, this Chapel Hill MV develops impressively in the glass.

This juggernaut of a bottle from France hits our shores once more. For all its hulking presence, it's only $25 but its weight certainly gives the impression that it is a lot more important than the price suggests.

Yalumba Vine Vale Grenache 2022

Sexy as always, this is always my favourite Grenache in the Yalumba range.

Planted in 1889, the Tri-Centenary block has been around for three centuries, hence the name. A Grenache like no other, the weight and complexity don't match the bright colour in the glass. This is an impressive wine.

Ever reliable, this is a great Grenache to wrap your lips around. A glass of medium-bodied delish, some of the fruit comes from 100+ year old vines. Value much?

A Grenache with some depth, the fruit and spices mingle with ease delivering a wine with an attractive presence and flow.

If you were going to introduce someone (or yourself) to Semillon, this Hunter's Semillon from Gundog Estate is an excellent starting point.

Something new and fabulous from Dalrymple... This debut Pinot Meunier is delicious and all I can say is just keep pouring.

Millennials love medium-bodied wines and this is right in their wheelhouse. Only a small batch production that is to be sold on premise, this oozes good times and good vibes.

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