Clandestine Vineyards Shiraz 2021

 

If you like your Shiraz rich and generous, head on over this way. 

Sorby Adams The Thing Shiraz 2018

Generous and rich, this brilliant wine is sourced from the Sorby Adam Home Vineyard in the Eden Valley that was planted in 1932. Dripping with longevity, it comes in a big, weighty bottle with a cork and wax seal as well as the heft to match. 

Sorby Adams Morticia Sparkling Shiraz NV

 

Sparkling Shiraz is a great drink but sadly it gets pigeonholed as a "Christmas drink". Park that idea and reap the reward when you pop that top off this on any of the other 364 days of the year.

Sorby Adams Jutland GSM 2021

 

From an excellent Barossa vintage comes this delicious blend. GSMs are made for burgers and barbecues, well I think so anyway. The detail and slurp factor presented here demand large pours.

Break Free Little Wing Shiraz Noir 2022

 

Carbonic maceration is a sexy thing - thousands of little ferments all happening in one big ferment. It's a flavour orgy of sorts. This Shiraz/Pinot Noir blend comes from the Adelaide Hills, and if low-fi wines are your thing, get this on your radar. 

Hayes Family Wines Mickan Block Releases 2021

The Mickan Block brings together cuttings of some super premium vines from across the Barossa to be grown on the same dirt at the Hoffman Vineyard in Ebenezer. The vines are still young at five years of age but already the differences between each are telling. Hayes Family Wines have made a barrel of each of the three (300 bottles) plus a blend. 

These wines are available for members only, but a cheeky phone call or email will get your foot in the door to snare a sneaky four pack.

Dallwitz 2021

These cuttings come from the Dallwitz block in Ebenezer. Muscular, this is by far the biggest wine of the group. This is the bouncer at the door. The safety. No one dies on Dallwitz's watch. Lots of dense plums, blackberries and a cheeky suggestion of Ribena. Add some dried herbs and a flash of mint, it's dusty and powdery which brings those 90% cocoa feels through the mouth. Drying and sapping, it's mouth-filling and incredibly long. Give this beast some time but I get a sense it will bloom and potentially outstrip the others. 

92/100

Becker

These cuttings were sourced from the Becker ancestor vines in Koonunga.

This is a wine for later, purely and simply. Follow that simple rule and you'll be rewarded in five+ years. Dense dark berry fruit, fruit bun spices, licorice bullets and some meatiness, it is drying and sapping. Powdery tannins scatter about. Still quite reserved and tight, it is yet to show its hand. Over a number of days of tasting, it started to show itself on day three. One for the cellar, this will improve over time as will the score.

Drink to fifteen years+

93/100

SCC

These cuttings came from the cooler Eden Valley and it was a great expression compared to its Mickan siblings. The cooler climate traits in its DNA shine through with brighter and pretty aromas. Think chocolate brownie, dried petals, blackberry jam, dense plums and dancy purple fruit. Baking spices and waves of earthiness build terrific momentum. Easily the most approachable of the four Mickans for now, it will age beyond a decade make no mistake.

Drink to ten years+

94/100

Hoffman Mickan Block

A cool Friday night and a glass of this curled up on the lounge would be a winning combo.

A blend of the Dallwitz, Becker and SCC, each contributes roughly a third to this wine.

As with the others, this is still so young and no where near its best. Blackcurrants, mulberries, licorice, dark chocolate set the scene. Ribbed with exotic spices, this is long and almost refuses to move. Dense, brooding and structured, those firm and drying tannins certainly make a statement. It's a wine with a decade of aging easily in its veins. Mouth-sapping dryness swoop on close as those characteristic Barossan spices do laps around the mouth with absolute ease. I'm fixated on its mystique. 

A clever wine that will only get better.

94/100

Region: Barossa

Source: Sample

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Dr Plonk The Good Doctor's Tonic 2014

 

The Good Doctor knows best. A muscular wine busting out with Tannat leading the charge, there is an elegance about its carry that I find irresistible. I loved the 2012 release and my sentiments haven't changed with this 2014.

River View Shiraz 2018

 

Give it a swirl and scents of Old Gold Rum 'n' Raisin skip about. That dark chocolate is definitely not shy. 

Dr Plonk The Good Doctor's Cure Mataro Shiraz 2019

 

Mataro and Shiraz are a killer combo when done well! Silky with some muscle, gimme it all!

Hayes Family Wines Hoffman DV Shiraz 2021

Boom! The power and the poise. The longevity of this Shiraz will have you punching the air no end. With superb structure and balance, go here. One sip is far from enough for this excellent Barossa Valley Shiraz.

Hayes Family Wines Nuri Ancestor Vines Shiraz 2021

 

Brett Hayes' ability to gather fruit from unique vineyards is quite impressive. From a vineyard behind the old Penfold's winery in Nuriootpa, these ancestor vines are over 125 years old. An incredible wine, it shines a bright light on what are all things fantastic about Barossa Valley Shiraz.

Pikes The EWP Reserve Shiraz 2021

 

Dripping with class - wow. Kick back and embrace an arm armchair ride through the pleasure zone. A glorious Shiraz from the Clare Valley.

Hayes Family Wines Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021

 

A blend of vineyards from the northern Barossa, this is a Shiraz that brings happiness and comfort in equal doses.

Hayes Family Wines Fromm Single Vineyard Shiraz 2021

 

This is a beauty and just gets better and better. I thought it was on fire on day two of tasting but it continued to impress as time went on. Get around this fabulous Single Vineyard Barossa Shiraz.

Hayes Family Wines Primrose Single Vineyard Shiraz 2021

 

If you enjoy richer styles, this Single Vineyard Primrose Shiraz release would be well placed in your cellar. Owner Brett Hayes says this is an intellectual wine. Sit beside a glass for a while and you can see what he means. It will be a late bloomer and time will be its friend.

Yelland and Papps Shiraz 2022

A Barossa Shiraz that is more focused on good times than getting in deep, this is a great wine to splash in some glasses and kick back with. 

Mount Langhi Bili Bili Shiraz 2021

 

It's been a while since I've seen a Billi Billi Shiraz. The last time was at a wedding many years ago. Classic function centre wine, this is reliable and is quite the bargain for 20 bucks.

Shaw Wines Estate Rosé 2022

 

An interesting pair of varieties thrown together for this Rosé but it works. A little darker in the glass with a cranberry juice tinge, it's a ready partner for a casual barbecue.

Whistler Estate Shiraz Cabernet 2021

 

I find wines like this fascinating. Sure they'll live long, but the vibrancy and slurp factor now urge me to dive in with pike. Have one now and save one for later (much later) and you'll know what I mean. The fruit is just bristling at the moment. It's on the dance floor cutting moves and dragging everyone in - you can't help but want more. 

Mount Langhi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz 2020

 

I dig this. Cool climate Shiraz hitting the high hats. It's unashamedly generous and layered with interest yet slides down with ease. Winning!