QWine Reviews : January 2024

Brash Higgins CINS 2022

This slurp factor of this Brash Higgins Cinsault is sky-high. Slinky, juicy and moreish. Add a slight chill and this is sheer joy in a glass.

Wild Game The Dame Shiraz 2018

These Wild Game wines are proven to age well. Already with six years under its belt, this Dame Shiraz doesn't feel as though it's settled into its groove just yet.

Turkey Flat Butchers Block Shiraz 2021

Readily available, you won't lose with this in your glass. A straight bat example of Barossa Shiraz from Turkey Flat that hits the mark.

Wild Game The Duchess Riesling 2021

A very tidy Riesling with a little more volume compared to those energised and sizzling types, but the shape is the endearing feature here I feel. This Duchess from Wild Game Wines was sourced from Mt Gambier, just south of their Coonawarra base.

Brash Higgins CHN 2022

A parade of interest in typical Brash Higgins style, this Chenin Blanc offers plenty to consider and ponder. Grown in the sands of Blewitt Springs, it spends time on skins for a few days then a year in French oak.

Brash Higgins NYMPH 2023

The colour is not your typical Rosé but Brad Hickey doesn't do typical. He is all taste and feel with a liberal dose of texture. An off-dry Rosé from a blend of Mataro and Carignan, this is really tasty stuff.

White Gate Wine Co Otto 2022

Sleek and silky, this Otto Grenache/Mataro/Cabernet glides about with ease. Another interesting, yet well-handled blend from White Gate Wine Co.

White Gate Wine Co Curio 2022

Another left-field punt by White Gate Wine Co and it has come off nicely. This Curio is a Cabernet/Mataro/Syrah blend that brings some heavy hitters together to deliver a wine with lift and vibrance.

Tyrrell's Blanc de Blancs 2015

Hello to the inaugural release of the Tyrrell's Blanc de Blancs and what a pristine beauty it is. From the alluvial soils of the Casuarina block which sits just off Hermitage Road and is surrounded by numerous famed vineyards, this is a superb wine. I keep coming back to its fine-boned purity - winning!

Stella Bella Shiraz 2022

So pretty and attractive, this Shiraz from Stella Bella is a head-turner. The aromas captivate from the get-go. Woah!

White Gate Wine Co Syrah 2022

Chad Connelly is doing some cool things with his White Gate Wine Co. label. This medium-bodied Barossa Syrah throws a different light on the Barossa Shiraz poster boy of the region.

Turkey Flat Butchers Block Red Blend 2021

A perfect partner for casual meals, this is a great GSM from Turkey Flat.

White Gate Wine Co Grenache 2022

This White Gate Wines Grenache comes from 90 year old vines and the layered detail is impressive. Savoury is the word.

Turkey Flat Evolution Grenache 2023

I love this. Savoury driven, the density of this Evolution Grenache from Turkey Flat carries a magnetism that draws you in.

Turkey Flat Sparkling Shiraz NV

I wish Sparkling Shiraz wasn't made out to be a one-trick pony, that is, drink it only at Christmas. It's a fabulous drink that's so versatile and a beacon shining bright in the Australian wine landscape. This release from Turkey Flat is a beauty. Fill me up.

Paulmara Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Wow! This Cabernet Sauvignon from the Barossa's Paulmara Estate is one out of the box. It's a fabulous wine from a difficult vintage.

Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Tense, this Cabernet from Stella Bella wants to let you in, but it's still a little hesitant. A long decant is the answer and a beautiful butterfly emerges from its chrysalis. Yes!

Turkey Flat Rosé 2023

Why drink those imported Provence Rosés when you have sheer brilliance like this on your doorstep? This is a delicious, attractive and wonderfully moreish Rosé from Turkey Flat.

Turkey Flat Shiraz 2020

This Barossa Shiraz from Turkey Flat is on song. From a tough year, the classy handling and winemaking shine through.

Gundog Estate Indomitus Albus 2023

Like its Indomitus Rosa sibling, this range of wines from Gundog Estate seeks thoughtful experimentation of varieties or blends. The 2022 was a Semillon and Riesling blend and this 2023 comes back to 100% Semillon. Steely and focused, it's certainly a curious and inviting wine.