Willow Bridge Estate G1-10 Chardonnay 2024

 

A wine of concentration, terrific flow and shape, this Willow Bridge Estate G1-10 Chardonnay is ace.
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St Aidan Ferguson Chardonnay 2020

 

Part of a set of wines sent by the Geographe Wine Association, it was great to see this Chardonnay from St Aidan with some bottle age as part of the package. An attractive depth had me leaning in a little closer.

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Talisman Aurum Chardonnay 2022

 

A Chardonnay with drive and presence, this broad and creamy Talisman Aurum Chardonnay is quietly captivating.

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Green Door Amphora Fiano 2024


An excellent Fiano from the Geographe region, this Green Door Amphora is highlighted by freshness, depth and character.

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Smallwater Estate Chardonnay 2024

 

If you like a Chardonnay with depth and wisps of caramel, hunt down this Smallwater Estate from the Geographe wine region. I dig it.

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Vineyard 28 Fiano 2025

 


Geographe's Vineyard 28 has a focus on Italian varieties. They produce a tidy Arneis and complementing that white is this Fiano.

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Storm King Wine Co Vermentino 2025

 

This is a textural Vermentino masterpiece from a place you'd least expect. I'll even go on record - no one in Australia makes Vermentino better.

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Talisman Wildchild Riesling 2024

 


From one of the most elevated sites in Geographe's Ferguson Valley, this Talisman Wildchild Riesling is taut and minerally with a charismatic detail.

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Smallwater Estate Cellar Door Reserve Sauvignon Blanc Chardonnay 2025

 


Tropical fruit salad meets sophistication as they walk hand in hand. This Sauvignon Blanc/Chardonnay blend is a great drink from Geographe's Smallwater Estate.

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Vineyard 28 Arneis 2025

 

With a love of Italian varieties, Vineyard 28 was the first to produce Arneis in Western Australia. After exploring the variety in Piedmont only a few weeks ago, I'm pleased to have come across this tidy expression.

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Smallwater Estate Unwooded Chardonnay 2025

 

Unwooded Chardonnay has become a rarity compared to a decade ago. This release from Geographe's Smallwater Estate works well. It's an easy, fresh, uncomplicated wine sure to please.

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St Aidan Sparkling Chardonnay 2022

 

Welcome to Geographe says this energetic fizz as I start to tuck into 26 samples sent to me from the region. I applaud the Geographe Wine Association for this initiative and I'm grateful to be part of it. This is a great aperitif and party starter.
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Willow Bridge Estate Bookends Fumé 2025

 


A fresh, frisky and very young Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon blend that sees some barrel work.

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Indigo Vineyard Shiraz 2022

 

A charming wine with an appealing rustic edge, this is a cool climate Shiraz from Indigo Vineyard that demonstrates clear potential for ageing.

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Hayes Family Wines Hoffman DV Shiraz 2023

 

From a late ripening vintage, those with warmer sites thrived, and this Hoffman DV Shiraz from Hayes Family Wines certainly shows its pedigree.

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Zema Estate Cluny Cabernet Merlot 2021

 

Everyone has their go-to wines, and I have no doubt that this Zema Estate Cluny Cabernet Merlot is a regular in many households. Ever reliable, what a cracker it is once again with the added bonus of four years aging already under its belt.

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O'Leary Walker Seasonal Release Pinotage 2024

 

From 500 vines that were planted in 2014 just a stone's throw from the cellar door, this Pinotage is made exclusively by O'Leary Walker. Having followed the wine across three vintages, this is the best release yet.

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Holm Oak The Wizard Pinot Noir 2023

 

Made with 30% whole bunches, The Wizard Pinot Noir from Holm Oak is a wine that has good bones and structure.

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Indigo Vineyard Small Batch Shiraz Merlot 2023

 


A wet vintage produced no Cabernet, so the winemaking team needed to be a little creative. So here we are, a Shiraz Merlot blend. Dead smooth, it's not an overly complex wine, but gee, it slides through with ease.

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O’Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2025

 

What a pretty thing this is! I always look forward to the O'Leary Walker Riesling releases and these 2025 newbies are superb. Run at this Watervale - it's irresistible.

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O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling 2025

 

Taut, concentrated and expressive, this O'Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling continues to fly the flag as an excellent expression of the variety.

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Rockbare Click 99 Sparkling Cuvee NV

 

A non-vintage sparkling from the budget-friendly Rockbare Click 99 range.

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Storm King Wine Co Tempranillo 2024

 

These Storm King Wine Co releases showcase considered winemaking and this Tempranillo is no exception. Providing a fresh lens on the Granite Belt district, this is a wine of depth and allure.

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Indigo Vineyard Bianco 2025

 


Yet to hit the shelves, hunt down this debut Bianco from Indigo Vineyards when the time comes. It's thoughtful, textural and utterly delicious.

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Indigo Vineyard Frizzante NV

 


Something brand new and fresh from Indigo Vineyards, this Frizzante NV is fun, fresh and will hit its target market with ease.

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Tim Smith Wines Bugalugs Grenache 2024

 

Like its Shiraz sibling, this Bugalugs Grenache is a good get. Juicy, splurpable and with a dash of sophistication, I like the cut of its jib.

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Schwarz Wine Co The Grower GSM 2023

 

The Grower GSM from Schwarz Wine Co has had a facelift, and I’m all for it. The refreshed label brings stronger shelf appeal, but rest assured, the wine inside remains just as polished.

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Montalto Single Vineyard North One Pinot Noir 2024

 

Big love for this and yet another cracker in the Montalto lineup. This set of 2024 single vineyard Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays from Montalto is in elite form.

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Hayes Family Wines Hoffman DV Shiraz 2022

 


A generous embrace highlights this Hayes Family Wines Hoffman DV Shiraz 2022.

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Storm King Wine Co Mataro Graciano 2024

 


Carrying itself with a hefty dose of "pick me, pick me" appeal, this Storm King Wine Co Mataro Graciano brings together two unlikely bedfellows to deliver an intriguing and considered delight.
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Tim Smith Bugalugs Shiraz 2024

 

The Barossa is flourishing with rock-solid examples of its most prized weapon, and this Tim Smith Bugalugs Shiraz is right in the sweet spot when it comes to its varietal expression, impeccable drinkability and price point.

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Hayes Family Wines Block 8 Field Blend 2024

 

A vineyard interplanted with Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro, the Hayes Family Wines Estate Block 8 is a true field blend in every sense.

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Rockbare Click 99 Chardonnay 2025

 

From the soils of the Limestone Coast comes this budget-friendly Chardonnay from Rockbare.

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Rockbare Click 99 Pinot Gris 2025

 

From the Fleurieu Peninsula comes this simple yet tasty Pinot Gris.

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Three Dark Horses Chardonnay 2024

 


McLaren Vale is not Chardonnay country and this wine proves that theory to be correct once more.

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Montalto The Eleven Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

This is a Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay masterclass and I wouldn't have it any other way. The fruit purity sizzles. A wine of intrigue and class that highlights the deft touch of winemaker Simon Black.

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Three Dark Horses Frank Ernest Shiraz 2023

 

Dense and muscular on opening, the Frank Ernest is the flagship of the Three Dark Horses label, a tribute to their grandfather.

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Vickery Polish Hill River Riesling 2024

 

Refined elegance with a minerally vibe, this debut release of the Vickery Polish Hill River Riesling is an absolute treat.

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Montalto Tuerong Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

 

A thrilling expression from the Mornington Peninsula, this is another excellent Tuerong Chardonnay from Montalto.

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Riposte The Scimitar Riesling 2025

 

Riesling in the right hands is an absolute joy, not to mention the value it represents. Check this Scimitar from Riposte, it's a cracking drink for 24 bucks.
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Hayes Family Wines Glengrae Old Bush Block Grenache 2024

 

The prettiness of the Glengrae Old Bush Block rises up once more. A great Grenache, this release from Hayes Family Wines is delicious and then some. 

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Nautilus The Paper Sauvignon Blanc 2023

 

It appears the Sauvalanche is over, well, at least it is on my tasting bench. Not that many come through the door, and I'm not at all complaining about it, mind you. This release from Nautilis is pretty tidy. Well played.

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Soumah Barbera Nebbiolo 2024

 

Wild boar ragu is a cherished classic in the north-west of Italy, and given the roots of Barbera and Nebbiolo in this blend, a glass or two alongside would be a hand-in-glove pairing.

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Zema Estate Shiraz 2021

  

A solid rendition of Shiraz, slot this Zema Estate into that "reliable buy" category.

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Hayes Family Wines Barossa Valley Grenache 2024

 

A mid-week ticket to help you slide into your happy place, this is a tidy Barossa district Grenache blend from Hayes Family Wines.

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Montalto Single Vineyard Merricks Pinot Noir 2024

 


Elegant and fine-tuned, this Merricks is a superb Pinot Noir from Montalto.

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Hayes Family Wines Mader Block Grenache 2024

 

Brett Hayes' insatiable appetite for Grenache knows no bounds, and if there is a quality vineyard he can get his hands on, he will. Enter the Mader Block from Light Pass. Juicy, inviting, dancy - whoa, this is something.
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Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Late Harvest 2024

 

Hello to this late harvest Sauvignon Blanc. It's been a while since I have seen one, to be honest. It's a style of wine that has dipped in popularity, but it's good to see some offerings are still out and about. This release from Terre à Terre is quality.

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Hayes Family Wines Fromm Vineyard Grenache 2024

 

The Fromm Vineyard sits in the Barossa's deep south and lies within arm's reach of the Adelaide Hills GI. Grown in clay soils, this is a touch more robust than some of the others in the Hayes Family Wines Grenache portfolio.
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Three Dark Horses Grenache 2022

 

From 70-year-old dry-grown bush vines comes this sweet-fruited, juicy Grenache.

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