Valentine Chardonnay 2021

 

Dom Valentine knows a thing or two about Chardonnay having spent some time at Oakridge before breaking out to his solo venture. The fruit for this great expression is sourced from the Lone Star Creek vineyard in the Upper Yarra Valley.

Montalto Main Ridge Block Pinot Noir 2021

  

In the words of LL Cool J, "Paradise is very nice." This is everything Pinot Noir should be. Delicate, lacy and precise, the pleasure factor is supreme.

Gundog Estate Smoking Barrel Red 2021

 

A blend of Hunter Valley and Hilltops Shiraz, I'm unsure why it's called a "Red" when Shiraz is actually what it is. It's a great drink by the way, make no mistake. 

Chapel Hill Abacus Shiraz 2021

 

This is a great Shiraz for the budget conscious. It's dense and generous - get your claws into kinda stuff.

Chapel Hill Organic Small Batch Shiraz 2021

  

The organic wine market continues to surge and this small batch Shiraz from Chapel Hill is their red wine contribution. Good gear, it flows with ease. 

Brash Higgins Smart Vineyard Grenache 2021

 

Brad Hickey has moved into the Grenache game. Usually producing a Grenache Mataro blend, he's stepped things up and sourced some fruit from the 70 year old vines in the Smart Vineyard. What an excellent and delicately handled debut this is!

Montalto North One Pinot Noir 2021

 

The Tuerong single vineyard Pinot Noir is normally the boss but not in 2021. North One stakes a strong claim and deservedly so. Formerly known as 'Red Hill', North One is the block that sits beside The Eleven Chardonnay block. This release has levelled up on 2020.

Montalto Merricks Pinot Noir 2021

 

Quite a different wine to the Tuerong, this Merricks Single Vineyard is a beautiful Pinot that just hums along. 

Tenafeate Creek Durif 2021

 

Big rich and muscular. This is a generous and bullish Durif.

Montalto Tuerong Pinot Noir 2021

 

Quite an intriguing Tuerong, one that is very different to previous releases. A wonderful wine as always, but there are a few shades of contrast that haven't shown themselves prior.

Oakridge Vineyard Series Pinot Gris 2021

 

Some wines are better with food. That's not to say they are dud wines, but wine was made to enjoy with a meal and that will only enhance the experience. This Pinot Gris exemplifies that.

Chapel Hill Organic Small Batch Chardonnay 2021

 

McLaren Vale is a lot of things but a Chardonnay hotspot is one thing it is not. More muted than the Abacus Chardonnay, this is quite a simple drink.

Montalto The Eleven Chardonnay 2021

 

The Eleven. Pat Cummins could be the face of this label, but not so. It's named after the eleven rows first planted back in 1986. Concentrated and alluring, this is just brilliant Chardonnay.

Oakridge 864 Henk Vineyard Aqueduct Block Pinot Noir 2021

 

We are in elite company here. Yarra Valley on high. Sure it's at a premium price but heaven ain't come cheap. 

Tenafeate Creek One Tree Hill Montepulciano 2021

 

Cool nights and some comfort food are calling. A generous Montepulciano from Tenafeate Creek.

Oakridge Vineyard Series Hazeldene Pinot Noir 2021

 

Like a Pinot with spice? Go to the Oakridge Willowlake. Love the sleek touch? Go to Hazeldene. What a stunning Pinot Noir this is. 

Oakridge Vineyard Series Henk Pinot Noir 2021

 

Henk is the boss. The more I see the wines from this vineyard the more I play the fanboy. Yarra Valley Pinot Noir in the zone. Yes!

Oakridge Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2021

 

Oakridge has the luxury of covering all price points. Slotting in at $30, this Yarra Valley range Pinot Noir is a solid wine. 

Montalto Tuerong Chardonnay 2021

 

One of the wines I look forward to tasting each year and again there is nothing but joy and pleasure in the glass. A wine of serious quality, Simon Black's pursuit of excellence deserves a chorus of support from Chardonnay lovers. 

A vertical tasting of the last decade would be quite something. The detail and precision of the making let alone the quality of the fruit continues to mesmerise.

If you get the chance to share this, don't. It's good to be selfish once in a while.

Anarchy Wines The Catalyst Grenache 2021

 

These Anarchy Wines are smart. The Rosé really hit the mark and this Grenache isn't far behind. Quality wines from a small producer worth keeping an eye out for.