Wine & Spirit Insider September October 2021

insiderthe wine & spiritAUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND September/October 2021 Issue 174 THE WINE & SPIRIT INSIDER IS A PROMOTIONAL GUIDE FROM THE LIQUOR TRADE TO THE CONSUMER. Winestate Publishing ABN 56 088 226 411 In this issue... New Releases & Best Value Buys Under $20

160 TASTED 139 AWARDED NEW RELEASES One of our highest strike rates for new releases, showing that Glenwillow Bendigo Mitchelton wineries are really putting their good wines forward. It is good Sparkling Shiraz Blackwood Park news if you are looking for your next \"house wine\" or special 2018 HHH 91pts Nagambie Lakes occasion wine, or just a wine that takes your fancy. In this Fresh and elegant Riesling 2021 tasting we had an excellent medal tally across the board, from herbaceous fruit HHHH 94pts whites to reds, with the only mixed results coming from the bouquet with soft, Zesty sweet and floral pinot gris/grigio flight. simple plum palate. $38 fruit fragrances and a lime Note: a wine is a new release if we haven’t seen it before, even juice driven palate with if it is a much older vintage, as seen with some wines in this Coates The Blanc good varietal presence. tasting. de Blancs Adelaide Great acidity. $25 Hills Sparkling Singlefile Great SPARKLING Poetic Justice Taltarni Pyrenees Chardonnay 2016 Southern Riesling Wrattonbully Blanc de Blancs HHH 90pts 2021 HHH1/2 93pts 11 TASTED Sparkling Shiraz 2017 HHHH 94pts Simple sweet primary Dusty peach and apple 11 AWARDED 2019 Toasty nose with a style with nice characters on the nose HHHH1/2 96pts lemony element, a fine persistence of stonefruit with zingy green apple/ Very consistent, good Deep red wine with fresh bead and soft in the characters. $60 stonefruit flavours. $25 quality flight. A wide blueberry, light prune mouth with persistent Singlefile Single range of vintages and and licorice aromatics. delicate fruit flavours. $26 Coates La Petite Vineyard Mount styles with the whites Bold tannic palate with Taltarni Pyrenees Cuvee McLaren Barker Great showing good palate nicely focused fresh fruit Brut 2015 & Adelaide Hills Southern Riesling depth and the reds flavours. Needs food! $25 HHHH 94pts Sparkling Shiraz NV 2021 HHH1/2 93pts balanced and true to Carmine's Black Rich tropical bouquet; HHH1/2 90pts Light grassy green apple style. Label McLaren Vale nice citrus zestiness. Nose is a concoction of bouquet and a drier style Sparkling Shiraz NV Soft mouth-coating dark fruits, licorice and palate with zingy lemon/ Brilla Prosecco HHHH 95pts flavours, some nice spices with a drying lime flavours. $35 Spumante DOC Big prune/raspberry complexity and a long tannic plum palate. $25 Reillys Freya and Veneto Italy savoury nose and finish. $26 Jules Watervale Sparkling Rosé complex tannic palate Bream Creek RIESLING Clare Valley Riesling 2020 HHHHH 98pts layered with cherry and Vineyard Tasmania 2021 HHH 91pts Delicate pretty rose plum flavours and a soft Cuvee Traditionelle 9 TASTED Fresh floral aromatics, petal bouquet with finish. $50 2015 HHHH 94pts 7 AWARDED nice brightness of lime light strawberry and Trentham Reserve Light yeasty citrus characters and residual grapefruit nuances Tasmania aromas with nice green A solid class of fresh and sweetness. $8.99 and a red fruit palate Blanc de Blanc NV apple elements and lively “babies” that are Z Wine [MAE] Eden with a fine bead and HHHH 94pts lovely brioche-like palate yet to show their true Valley Riesling 2021 well-judged residual Lemon curd-like aromas with citrusy fruit. $48 colours. Good potential HHH 91pts sweetness and acid. and creamy in the Carmine's The here. “Nice to see Reserved nose with $20 mouth with nice balance Henry Cuvee SEA natural fruit acidity here a light mintiness and of both citrus and melon Sparkling Shiraz NV rather than added acid,” lovely fresh fruit flavour flavours. $28 HHH 91pts said one judge. intensity. $28 Red currant aromas with developed notes and an Coates The Riesling intensity of spicy fruit Adelaide Hills flavours. $20 Riesling 2020 HHHH1/2 96pts Nose has a lovely lift of fresh citrus fruit and toasty buttery elements. Delightful “custardy” length to the palate. “Mosel-like in style,” said one judge. $35 92 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

wine & spirit insider tasting Capital Wines Hastwell & Lightfoot Hamelin Bay Wines By Geoff Hardy Red The Whip Canberra 'P' Langhorne Creek Margaret River Label Adelaide Hills Riesling 2021 Pinot Grigio 2021 Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc HHH 91pts HHH 90pts 2021 HHHH 94pts 2021 HHH 91pts Light citrus/lime driven Quite a savoury fruit Very delicate/elegant Slightly reserved green style with residual nose and a firm, aromas of green apples bean-like bouquet and sweetness underneath. textured, citrus driven and jasmine with similar straightforward acid Needs time! $32 palate. $25 characters concentrated focused, racy palate. on the palate. $26 $20 PINOT GRIS/ SAUVIGNON Babydoll Run Free by GRIGIO BLANC Marlborough Singlefile Great Sauvignon Blanc Southern Sauvignon 6 TASTED 10 TASTED 2021 HHH1/2 93pts Blanc 2021 3 AWARDED 10 AWARDED Subtle green apple and HHH 91pts pea-like aromas and A wine with simple A mixed result. “These “The 2021 vintage delicate fruit flavours clean fruit in the were true to style shows the benefits of with balancing acidity. citrus spectrum and which you don’t often a cool climate season,” $18.99 developing richness. $25 find - the gris were fuller said one judge. “There Yealands Reserve and grigios were leaner was a difference Awatere Valley Cumulus Vineyards and racy as they are between the upfront Marlborough Quilty & Gransden supposed to be,” noted Kiwis and the more Sauvignon Blanc Orange Sauvignon one judge. tempered Aussie styles.” 2021 HHH1/2 93pts Blanc 2020 Nose is pungent and HHH 91pts Longhop Adelaide K1 Adelaide Hills floral and fruity with Grapefruit nose Hills Pinot Gris Sauvignon Blanc great fruit expression tempered with 2021 HHHH 94pts 2021 HHHH 94pts on the palate and has a nettle notes. Good Light bronze wine with Floral/gooseberry zesty end. $19.99 development on the lovely aromas of pears bouquet with medium Yealands palate. $14.99 and delicate varietal intensity and complexity Marlborough fruit flavours with bright of varietal flavours with Sauvignon Blanc SEMILLON & acidity. $22 mouthwatering acidity. 2021 HHH1/2 92pts BLENDS $25 All gooseberry and Kings Creed asparagus. Herbaceous 5 TASTED Adelaide Hills Zonte's Footstep notes to the nose and 5 AWARDED Pinot Grigio 2021 Excalibur Adelaide nice pungency to the HHHH 94pts Hills Sauvignon palate. $16.99 Ripe pear nose with Blanc 2021 a floral lift and nettle HHHH 94pts Capital Wines A very consistent and notes. Great lemony fruit Green apple/gooseberry The Swinger high scoring group of intensity and length on nose with an Central Ranges wines with great wines the palate. $25 herbaceous edge and a Sauvignon Blanc across different vintages. crisp and balanced green 2021 HHH 91pts apple palate. $25 Delicate floral fruit fragrances and sweet cider-like flavours. Nice acid. $28 JUDGES - DAY 1 Jeanne Gobrait Steve Warrick Wine marketing consultant, Wine marketer with Nick Haselgrove including consultancy for David 20 years experience Winestate’s 2010 Australian Ridge Italian Wines, Living in McLaren Vale, Winemaker of the Year. Roots Wines and Paulmara Coonawarra, Adelaide Owner/Winemaker of Estates. Has also worked with Hills and Margaret Nick Haselgrove Wines. Seppeltsfield, Shaw & Smith River. Extensive wine Former chief winemaker at and the French Wine Centre. judging experience at Haselgrove Wines. A ‘flying Has completed WSET course the Adelaide, Hobart winemaker’ from 1993-95. and AWRI advanced wine and McLaren Vale Judge at Hobart for 3 years assessment course. Associate wine shows. and associate judge at judge at Adelaide wine show. Adelaide in 1996-97. Extensive International export activities. The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 93

NEW RELEASES Audrey Wilkinson Audrey Wilkinson Carillion Lovable Flowstone Haselgrove Staff Marsh Vineyard Winemakers Rogue Skin Contact Margaret River Adelaide Hills Semillon 2021 Selection Hunter Hunter Valley Chardonnay 2018 Chardonnay 2020 HHHH1/2 97pts Valley Semillon Vermentino 2021 HHHH1/2 96pts HHH 91pts Grapefruit/lime 2021 HHH1/2 93pts HHH 90pts Complexity of flinty, Zesty lemon fruit, great aromas with delicate Green apple and A citrus nose and a toasty and floral aromas zingy acidity and a nice floral traces. Great lime bouquet with fresh straightforward and more complexity dash of oak spice. $35 concentration, balance lovely floral notes. palate. Needs time to of buttery toasty fruit and length of citrus/ Palate is savoury and evolve. $30 obvious on the long, ripe Peter Teakle Estate apple fruit flavours with herbaceous. $30 and fleshy palate. $36 The Peninsulas crisp acidity. $40 CHARDONNAY Flowstone Queen of Chardonnay 2019 Hamelin Bay Wines the Earth Margaret HHH 91pts Singlefile Margaret River 14 TASTED River Chardonnay Oaky nose and nice Great Southern Semillon Sauvignon 10 AWARDED 2018 HHHH 95pts buttery complexity of Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Light melon nose with melon and fig flavours. Blanc 2021 HHH1/2 92pts Some very young wines a citrus edge and a $25 HHHH1/2 96pts Reserved citrus/ here noted the judges. powerful concentration This blend is a lovely apple aromas and a “These need to develop of lovely citrusy/melon Eight at The Gate fusion of edgy green firm, fresh and vibrant in the bottle to show flavours. $55 Single Vineyard lemon fruit characters palate. Super complex. at their best,” said one Wrattonbully VBBAEULSYUTSE with a meadow hay-like Great acidity. $26 judge. “Some nice older Chardonnay complexity and great examples here to prove 2018 HHH 91pts “powdery” acidity. $25 OTHER WHITE the point!” A reserved style soft Audrey Wilkinson VARIETALS & with oak and fruit and Series Hunter Valley BLENDS has some great acidity. Semillon 2021 $18 HHHH 94pts 4 TASTED Tight lime nose with 2 AWARDED Cox Family light zestiness and long Wines Pyrenees citrusy flavours with A couple of good Chardonnay floral notes. Needs time examples here. 2018 HHH 91pts to fatten the palate. $25 Sweet fruit fragrances and good length and intensity of varietal fruit flavours. $30 Foggo Eight at The Gate Cumulus Vineyards Hirsch Hill Estate The Enchantress Family Selection Quilty & Gransden Yarra Valley McLaren Vale Wrattonbully Orange Chardonnay Chardonnay 2020 Chenin Blanc Chardonnay 2019 2019 HHHH 94pts HHH 90pts 2021 HHH 90pts HHHHH 98pts Buttery ripe peach Buttery and slightly Fresh floral/musky Super toasty complexity bouquet and a long toasty style threaded aromas and crisp lemon on the nutty/figgy nose fleshy stonefruit palate through with preserved palate with light phenolic with lovely richness with hints of preserved lemon. $25 structure. $22 and depth of toasty/ lemon characters. lemon meringue flavours $14.99 ROSÉ with controlled lemony Hamelin Bay Wines length. $38 Margaret River 14 TASTED Chardonnay 2020 11 AWARDED HHH 91pts Reserved lemon sherbet Lots of nice quaffers of a nose and a palate. here for current drinking. Great intensity and “The best rosés are complexity. $33 designated wines rather than being just after thoughts,” said one judge. “Good to see most rosés now are dry in style rather than overly sweet.” 94 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

wine & spirit insider tasting Dee Vine Estate The Schwarz Wine Co GRENACHE Monteperle Reserve Monteperle Barossa Drover Riverina Rosé Schwarz Barossa Barossa Valley Valley G.S.M. 2019 2020 HHHH 94pts Valley Rosé 2021 8 TASTED Grenache 2018 HHHH1/2 96pts Rich red fruit nose HHH 91pts 6 AWARDED HHH 91pts A complexity of dark with a lovely textured Nutty stonefruit Spicy malty fragrances brooding fruits on the savoury palate with aromas and flavours; “A lovely variety, well- and maturing sweet nose and a super juicy great intensity and great mouth-puckering handled here,” said cherry/cola palate with palate rich with lovely concentration of fruit. acidity. $28 one judge. “Nice fresh, grainy tannins. $165 red fruits and has good $4.99 Barristers Block juicy fruits with retained tannin/acid balance. $65 Born Rose Penedes McLaren Vale vibrancy.” GRENACHE Grampians Estate Spain Grenache Tempranillo Rosé BLENDS Woolclasser's GST Rosé 2020 2020 HHH 91pts The Old Faithful Grampians Grenache HHH1/2 93pts A nicely structured McLaren Vale 8 TASTED Shiraz Tempranillo A delicate subtle rosé slightly “edgy” style Grenache 2019 8 AWARDED 2020 HHHH 94pts that has lovely control with zesty red fruit. $25 HHHH1/2 97pts Fragrant perfumed plum and balance of peach Grampians Estate A lively wine with great “What a great blender,” nose, lovely medium and strawberry fruit. $30 Drovers Grampians concentration of elegant said the judges. bodied palate, cranberry Bream Creek Rosé 2021 blackberry/plum and “Winemakers are flavours and powdery Tasmania Pinot Rosé HHH 90pts licorice fruit characters, thinking about this blend tannins. Time! $28 2021 HHH1/2 92pts A fresh and crunchy some fine and lively as offering great layering Blackbilly McLaren Bright pink wine with strawberry and cream tannins with great of the different varieties.” Vale G.S.M. 2019 delicate rose petal style with excellent acidity. $75 HHHH 94pts aromas and good fruit length. $25 Rusty Bike Wines Fragrances of mixed palate with intense Z Wine [AVELINE] Bec Hardy Wines The Penny-farthing peel and spices. Good acidity. $31 Barossa Rosé 2021 Pertaringa Two McLaren Vale Clare varietal flavour intensity Carillion HHH 90pts Gentlemen's Valley Grenache and complexity. Tight Expressions Tart raspberry/ McLaren Vale Shiraz 2020 tannins, supple acid. $25 Orange Rosé 2021 strawberry fruit with Grenache 2020 HHHH1/2 96pts Clarence Hill Red HHH 91pts high acidity and a citric HHHH 94pts Lovely ripe vibrant red Label McLaren Vale A savoury nose and finish. $25 A tight wine with fleshy berry and cassis fruit G.S.M. 2019 palate with great fruit Carmine's The plum fruit and savoury intensity here balanced HHHH 94pts concentration and Rose McLaren Vale tar/licorice nuances with with herbal/savoury Blue fruits on the nose balancing acid. $25 Grenache Rosé 2020 soft tannins. Needs nuances and has tight, with a spicy/herbal HHH 90pts more time. $25 super fine, tannins. $26 complexity and an olive Foggo Floraison Candied rose nose and tapenade–like palate. McLaren Vale simple, slightly sweet, Blackbilly McLaren Taltarni Pyrenees Has potential! $35 Sangiovese Rosé juicy fruit palate. $22 Vale Grenache 2020 G.S.M. 2020 2021 HHH 91pts Shingleback HHHH 94pts HHHH1/2 96pts Sweet perfumed Haycutters Salmon Reserved jammy nose Lots of black fruits on the musky aromas and a McLaren Vale Rosé and nice weight and nose and layered with dry palate with juicy 2021 HHH 90pts texture to the savoury oak. Lovely fruit weight fruit flavours. $25 A bouquet of palate with great fruit and intensity on the palate strawberries and rose intensity and supple with the acidity nicely in petals with a savoury tannins. $25 check. $26 palate and sweet finish. $18 Pirramimma Reserve Schwarz Wine Co White Label Old The Grower Barossa Vine McLaren Vale Valley G.S.M. 2020 Grenache 2019 HHHH1/2 96pts HHHH 94pts Subtle blue fruit aromas Cherries, chocolate with spicy notes. Nicely and licorice aromas concentrated juicy with a nicely structured varietal fruit on the palate palate showing good with fine tannins and fruit depth and proud controlled acidity. $30 tannins. $35 Salena Estate Wines Ink Series Langhorne Creek Grenache 2018 HHHH 94pts Bright spicy red berry bouquet and sweet juicy raspberry/cranberry palate with appropriate acid length. $25 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 95

NEW RELEASES Pirramimma OTHER RED Zonte's Footstep CABERNET & Stock's Hill VARIETALS & Canto Fleurieu BLENDS McLaren Vale G.S.M. BLENDS Sangiovese Lagrein 2018 HHH 91pts 2019 HHH 91pts 19 TASTED Gently maturing style 10 TASTED Firm savoury style with 19 AWARDED with super ripe fruit, plum/sour cherry fruit, bright spices and grainy 8 AWARDED balsamic notes and Very consistent class! tannins. $22 grainy tannins. $30 “The results ranged from solid to great with MERLOT & An interesting diverse Pirramimma the best showing fruit BLENDS line-up here with a Reserve White Label freshness,” said one couple of standouts. McLaren Vale Petit judge. “These often 5 TASTED Verdot 2018 show either red varietal 5 AWARDED Taltarni Pyrenees HHH 91pts fruits or non-varietal Sangiovese A straightforward dry dry red characters with A solid group with the Cabernet 2020 red style with great premium oak maturation best showing line and HHHH1/2 96pts varietal fruit and rich often the difference.” length without a hollow An attractive blend tannins. $35 mid-palate. heading into savoury Pirramimma Brand & Sons territory with spicy red Ironstone McLaren Sanctuary Nightfall Single Cumulus Vineyards fruit nose and intense Vale Petit Verdot Coonawarra Barrel Coonawarra Quilty & Gransden cranberry/plum flavours 2018 HHH 91pts Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2019 Orange Merlot with drying tannins and Firm angular wine with 2019 HHHHH 98pts HHHH 94pts 2018 HHH 91pts tight acidity. $26 inky intensity of dark Rich, succulent aromas Dark brambly fruit Delicate varietal fruit varietal fruits and rich of cassis blackberry, fragrances and nicely nose, blackberry/plum Nightfall Single tannins. $70 chocolate and licorice. textured cool climate flavours and tangy Barrel Coonawarra Monteperle Reserve Lovely balanced palate palate. Quite tannic with acidity. $14.99 Cabernet Franc 2019 Barossa Valley with concentrated plum attractive malty oak. $80 HHHH1/2 96pts Mataro 2018 and cherry flavours Fragrant and perfumed HHH 90pts and nicely controlled Bec Hardy Wines Dindima Orange on the nose with pine Earthy chocolaty nose, tannins. $130 Pertaringa Stage Merlot 2017 needle hints. Ripe juicy woody plum palate Left Adelaide Hills HHH 91pts fruit palate, interesting and leathery maturity Nightfall Draco Merlot 2019 A wine that’s all spiciness, good oak/acid developing. $165 Coonawarra HHH 91pts plums, blackberries integration. $80 Salena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon An attractive mix of and licorice with forest Wines Ink Series 2019 spicy red fruit, cassis floor traces. $50 Salena Estate Wines Langhorne Creek HHHH1/2 97pts and black olives with tart Reillys RCV ex-PRESS-ion Ruby Mourvèdre 2018 Choc mint and red fruit acidity. $25 'Stoneflower' Cabernet Riverland HHH 90pts nose with light cedary Clare Valley Merlot Ruby Red 2020 Dark fruit characters, oak. Palate shows nice Cabernet 2016 HHH 91pts malty nuances, some layers of fleshy berry HHH 91pts Primary plum bouquet mocha and sweet fruit, proud tannins and Nicely ageing wine with and quite a tannic palate tannins. $25 good acidity. $150 forest floor characters with good blue fruit mingling with plums and intensity. $25 spices. $40 We have to wash over 32,000 wine glasses each year ... so you don’t have to. Subscribe to Australia’s Leading Wine Buying Guide phone +61 8 8357 9277 or on-line www.winestate.com.au 96 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

wine & spirit insider tasting Nightfall Leo Single Mary Street Bream Creek Reillys Dry Land Barrel Coonawarra Vintners Archer's Tasmania Cabernet Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Point Coonawarra Merlot 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon HHH 91pts 2017 HHH 91pts HHHH1/2 96pts 2019 HHHH 94pts It’s all here; sweet Mature earthy fruit Lifted plum, berry and An earthy cassis mix of plums, licorice, cassis, aromas with well- cassis bouquet that is aromas with sweet juicy spices, toasty oak and defined varietal echoed on the pleasant varietal fruit flavours, balancing acidity. $36 characters on the fleshy palate that has supple tannins and good Pirramimma palate. $38 structure and balance oak. $18 Reserve White Eight at The Gate with good tannin Koonara Angels Label McLaren Vale Single Vineyard length. $80 Wings Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Wrattonbully Cabernet Shiraz 2018 HHH 91pts Cabernet Shiraz 2016 HHH1/2 93pts Delicate fruit nose, 2016 HHH 91pts Nicely aged chocolaty traces of violets, bright Smells of prunes and notes with menthol red fruit flavours and soft raspberries with very traces to the cherry fruit tannins. $35 good length of blue fruit and balanced with great Taltarni Old Vine flavours. $28 line of acid. $28 Pyrenees Cabernet Dindima Orange 2018 HHH 91pts Cabernet Sauvignon Hamelin Bay Wines Cumulus Vineyards A nose of sweet cloves 2017 HHH 90pts Margaret River Quilty & Gransden and vanilla spices with a Fine fragrant raspberry Cabernet Sauvignon Orange Cabernet dark chocolaty savoury fruit with spicy oak, 2020 HHH 91pts Sauvignon 2018 palate. $45 chewy tannins and a Steely green aromas, HHH 91pts Pirramimma ACJ malty finish. $38 bright youthful cassis Mocha mixes with blue McLaren Vale Hirsch Hill Estate fruit, light mintiness and fruits on the nose and Cabernet Petit Yarra Valley fine tannins. $33 has peppery varietal Verdot 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon flavours. $14.99 HHH 91pts 2019 HHH 90pts Shingleback Davey Mitchelton Estate Coates The Inky prune bouquet Light minty fruity nose Estate McLaren Vale Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and great length and and peppery herbaceous Cabernet Sauvignon Nagambie Lakes Langhorne Creek concentration of chocolaty characters to the blue 2019 HHHH 94pts Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon fruit flavours. $100 fruit palate. $25 Dark brooding bouquet 2019 HHH 91pts 2019 HHH 91pts and simple berry fruit Aromas of plums, Leafy fruit fragrances Monteperle Reserve profile on the well- cherries and sweet and intense bright red Barossa Valley structured palate. Full vanilla and a chocolaty currant flavours with Cabernet Sauvignon tannins and crisp acid. $25 fruit palate. $25 greenish tannins. $35 2018 HHH 91pts Woody spicy nose; some plums and cherries. Earthy palate with good savoury length. $185 COANIOLA WINES The W ine & Spirit29I/N07S/20I2D1 E1R0:03:23 AM97 YAA VALLEY Corniola Wines is nestled in the heart of the famous Yarra Valley wine region in Victoria. Experience the smaller, family owned and operated winery and Cellar Door. We are pleased to offer you our current range of wines made from hand-picked Estate grown fruit and from selected vineyards, with the focus being to create affordable wines of premium high quality. 100 Wills Rd, Dixons Creek VIC 3775, Australia Phone: 03 5965 2393 Opening Hours: 10:30am – 5:00pm, Monday - Sunday www.corniolawines.com.au AD_Corniola Wines_QPH_SO21.indd 1

NEW RELEASES SHIRAZ & Hemera Limited Flowstone Mary Street Vintners Blackbilly McLaren BLENDS Release Home Moonmilk Red Archer's Point Vale Shiraz 2019 2020/2019 Block Barossa Margaret River Coonawarra Shiraz HHH 91pts Valley Shiraz 2019 Shiraz Grenache 2019 HHHH 94pts Delicate floral aromas 19 TASTED HHHH1/2 96pts 2020 HHHH 94pts Nose is a delightful lift and great plum/cherry 19 AWARDED A ripe well-rounded wine Smells like plums, of cassis, cherries, roses flavour intensity with with sour cherries and prunes and sweet spices and eucalypt with a well- angular tannins. $25 Excellent class of solid raspberry tartness laced with a bright purple fruit balanced tannic palate of wines with concentration with oak, fine green palate and some great blue fruits. $18 Fullylove Pyrenees and harmony of fruit and tannin and good acidity. acidity. $25 Grampians Estate Shiraz 2020 oak.” “We are seeing One for the cellar. $60 Carmine's Basket Mafeking Grampians HHH 90pts lower levels of oak Bec Hardy Wines Press Old Vine Shiraz 2019 A toffee apple of a nose here than in previous Bec Hardy Reserve McLaren Vale Shiraz HHHH 94pts and bright spicy blue vintages,” noted one McLaren Vale 2020 HHHH 94pts Savoury briary style fruit flavours with fresh judge. “There seems to Shiraz 2019 Raspberry aromas with of shiraz with good acidity. $25 be a lot more finesse HHHH1/2 96pts toasty/musky notes. integration of blueberry by winemakers these Very subtle sweet plum Light fruit palate filled fruit, spicy oak and soft SHIRAZ & days with good oak aromas with hints of with rhubarb and red tannins. $25 BLENDS integration and fruit vanilla oak. Lovely palate currant flavours. $28 Taltarni Old Vine 2018 & OLDER parcel selection.” structure with long Schwarz Wine Co Pyrenees Shiraz “waves” of balanced The Grower Barossa 2019 HHHH 94pts 14 TASTED Bec Hardy Wines fruity flavours. Nice Valley Shiraz 2020 Chocolaty nose with 13 AWARDED Nature Foundation acidity. $70 HHHH 94pts some violets and a bit Barbara Hardy Hamelin Bay Wines Dark inky fruit nose with of lavender and good Another strong class McLaren Vale Rampant Red chocolaty elements savoury length to the all coming into their Shiraz 2019 Margaret River and dense fruit palate black fruit palate. $45 “drinking windows”. HHHH1/2 96pts Shiraz Blend with crisp acidity and Maygars Hill “These are intense in Light bright and juicy 2020 HHHH 94pts greenish tannins. $30 Strathbogie Ranges flavour with the strong wine with great intensity A blueberry licorice Hamelin Bay Wines Shiraz 2019 2018 vintage coming to of red fruit characters, compote of a nose with Margaret River HHH1/2 93pts the fore,” said one judge. some forest floor fleshy fruit flavours, Shiraz 2020 A seamless integration “Although they are all elements, oaky notes, supple tannins and high HHHH 94pts of savoury fruit, spicy drinking well now they fleshy tannins and great acidity. $22 Aromas of plums, cassis notes, oak, fine tannins will repay with further acidity. $20 and licorice with finely and crisp acidity. $32 cellaring.” structured cherry/cassis Mitchelton Estate Coates The Gimp palate, hints of licorice. Single Vineyard The Old Faithful McLaren Vale Has potential. $33 Nagambie Lakes McLaren Vale Shiraz Shiraz 2019 Schwarz Wine Co Shiraz 2019 2017 HHHHH 98pts HHHH1/2 96pts Meta Barossa Valley HHH1/2 92pts Dense briary fruit A spice box of a nose Shiraz 2020 Shy nose has a hint of fragrances; some forest with plenty of ripe HHHH 94pts greenness. Medium floor and licorice. Great creamy berry fruit. Leathery spiced plum weight palate of red varietal fruit intensity Lovely depth of great nose and great length fruits, cedary oak and and length; tastes of shiraz fruit flavours with and intensity of spicy fine acid. $25 cherries and raspberries a great tannin and acid plum flavours with Bec Hardy Wines with tea leaf characters structure. $35 powdery tannins. $38 Pertaringa Over the and fine tannins. $75 Schwarz Wine Co Top McLaren Vale Nitschke Block Shiraz 2019 The Old Faithful Single Vineyard HHH1/2 92pts Cafe Block McLaren Barossa Valley Cedar and malt evident Vale Shiraz 2017 Shiraz 2020 on the plum/cherry nose HHHH1/2 97pts HHHH 94pts with a dark oaky palate Red fruit fragrances with Smells like a Cherry and super ripe fruit. $40 a complexity of cigar-like Ripe chocolate bar! It is oak, marzipan and malt. supple and fleshy in the Well-rounded in the mouth with flavours of mouth with flavours of sweet spices. $50 plums and cherries. $75 98 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

wine & spirit insider tasting Wimmera Hills Clarence Hill Red SWEET WINES Winery \"Dedication\" Label McLaren Vale Pyrenees Shiraz 2018 4 TASTED Shiraz 2018 HHHH 94pts HHHH1/2 96pts A lift of rhubarb on the 2 AWARDED Lovely concentration of nose with a whiff of dense licoricey briary cedar and good varietal An interesting small fruit complemented by fruit intensity and high and diverse class with a a complexity of spicy acidity. $35 couple of nice examples. oak. It has freshness, Mitchelton vibrancy and nice Heathcote Estate Trentham VBBAEULSYUTSE Follow us and keep up to spiciness. $25 Grown Heathcote Reserve Murray date with all our latest Mitchelton Spring Shiraz 2018 Darling Noble wine info, tastings and Block Heathcote HHHH 94pts Taminga Shiraz 2018 Smell like a spice box 2015 HHHH 94pts events on facebook, HHHH1/2 96pts with chocolaty elements Honeyed stonefruit twitter and instagram. Aromas of red currant and has flavours of fragrances with nice and sweet vanilla oak stewed plums with a floral elements. Fleshy Connect on social with with some toastiness. slight mintiness. $40 mouth-filling sweet fruit Winestate Excellent fruit flavours Mitchelton Toolleen flavours. Needs food! seamlessly combined Vineyard Heathcote $18 www.facebook.com/Winestate- with the oak and Shiraz 2018 Magazine tannins. $75 HHHH 94pts Dee Vine Estate Mitchelton Ripe plum bouquet The Drover Riverina twitter.com/winestateed Print Heathcote with mocha traces and Moscato 2020 www.instagram.com/winestate/ Shiraz 2018 moderate intensity HHH 90pts HHHH1/2 96pts of spicy varietal fruit Pungent Muscat aromas www.winestate.com.au Tarry dark fruit bouquet flavours. $55 and a pear/peach palate with spices, vanilla and Dindima Orange with plenty of acidity to some nuttiness. Big rich Shiraz 2017 balance the sweetness. palate, well-structured HHHH 94pts $4.99 with good depth of Light nuance of oak fruit flavours and grainy layered over briary tannins. $150 fruit and tempered by tannins. Very peppery and licorice-like. $50 Tocco Wines Five Generations Old Vines Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2018 HHH1/2 93pts Dense cassis/licorice nose with some cedar oak and a flavour mix of cherry cola and licorice. $35.99 Cumulus Vineyards Reillys Dry Land Quilty & Gransden Clare Valley Shiraz Orange Shiraz 2017 HHH1/2 92pts 2018 HHHH 94pts Nicely maturing cool Ethereal aromas climate shiraz packed of berries, plums with red currants, and malt. Fleshy in cherries, prunes and the mouth tasting licorice. $38 of cranberries and Eight at The Gate blackberries. $14.99 Family Selection Wrattonbully Shiraz 2016 HHH 91pts Developing gracefully with good intensity of plum, rhubarb and spicy oak. $48 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 99

BEST VALUE BUYS - All under $20 Eight at The Gate Single Trentham Estate Grown Trentham Reserve Vineyard Wrattonbully Pinot Gris 2021 Murray Darling Noble Chardonnay 2018 Subtle sweet pear nose. Taminga 2015 A reserved style soft with oak Appropriately creamy and Honeyed stonefruit fragrances and fruit and has some great oily in the mouth with pear with nice floral elements. acidity. $18 flavours. $18 Fleshy mouth-filling sweet fruit flavours. Needs food! $18 Eight at the Gate Trentham Estate Pty Ltd Phone: 0400 843 126 Phone: 03 5024 8888 Trentham Estate Pty Ltd Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Phone: 03 5024 8888 Web: www.eightatthegate.com.au Web: www.trenthamestate.com.au Email: [email protected] Web: www.trenthamestate.com.au BEST VALUE WINES OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND $U2N0DE&R Is updated in each issue of The Wine & Spirit Insider. TO QUALIFY (NZ $25 & UNDER) Some wines may - if they are still available - remain in the next issue’s Best Value Wines listing. Others 1 Wines must have first been recommended will sell out, or be replaced by higher-rated wines. in Winestate Magazine style or new release The Wine & Spirit Insider’s Best Value Wines listing tastings. Style tastings are defined as varietal comprises the best wines currently available, from big- tastings - eg, shiraz, chardonnay, etc. - or name brands and the higher volume ‘second labels’ blended styles such as shiraz/cabernet wines. from the smaller producers, as tasted by Winestate 2 Wines from designated regional tastings Magazine panels. The Best Value Wines listing gives are eligible provided they are widely available. credit to the value wines in the marketplace - wines 3 All wines must be currently available from that would otherwise be overshadowed by their much the winery, or be readily available in the more expensive cousins. marketplace. Cellar door wine is ineligable. 100 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

Haha Marlborough Grandeur Wellington Hereford Heathcote Pinot Noir 2020 Artisan McLaren Vale Shiraz 2020 Still unfolding, this is a ruby- Shiraz 2018 A Cherry Ripe of a nose and hued, full-bodied red, with Mature chocolaty bouquet and an oak driven palate with spicy fresh, strong, plum and spice slight leathery palate with hints peppery flavours. $18 flavours, slightly earthy notes, a of olives. $20 touch of complexity and a fairly C&J Wines firm finish. Best drinking mid- Grandeur Wellington Phone: 0408 474 833 2022+. $25 Phone: 08 8383 0866 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Haha Wine Company Ltd NZ Web: www.grandeurwellington.com.au Phone: +64 6 833 7814 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hahawine.co.nz the wine & spiritA U S T R A L I A N & N E W Z E A L A N D Issue 174 | September/October 2021 Editor & Publisher Winestate Web Site electronic medium or machine-readable form without E-mail: [email protected] the express permission of the publisher. Every care is Peter Simic E-mail: [email protected] taken in compiling the contents of this publication, but Managing Editor Printing DAI Rubicon the publisher assumes no responsibility for the effects Website: www.distalliance.com arising therefrom. ABN 56 088 226 411 Lara Simic E-mail: [email protected] Administration Lyn Hannam E-mail: [email protected] Graphic Designer WINESTATE is published six times a year by Winestate Publishing Pty Ltd. Naomi Fry E-mail: [email protected] WINESTATE PUBLISHING PTY LTD, Telephone (08) 8357 9277 Marketing & Sales 81 King William Road, Unley SA 5061. Facsimile (08) 8357 9212 Copyright 2021 by WINESTATE PUBLISHING PTY LTD. E-mail [email protected] Debra Silver E-mail: [email protected] This publication may not, in whole or in part, be copied, Website www.winestate.com.au Tasting Coordinator photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any E-mail: [email protected] The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 101

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