Wine & Spirit Insider November December 2021

insiderthe wine & spiritAUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND November/December 2021 Issue 175 COMPLIMENTARY COPY 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

224 TASTED 143 AWARDED NEW RELEASES Always a pleasure! Each issue New Releases delivers a range Corryton Burge Kith of great, good and not so good wines for us to evaluate and Eden Valley Riesling recommend. Whilst scores are a good guide for wines for you to 2021 HHH 91pts try what is more important is to read between the lines and look Subtle refined citrus at the reviews/comments. But first work out what style you like; aromas and prickly big bodied, sweet fruit, savoury, austere, oakey, elegant, youthful/ sherbet-like flavours. $28 aged or wines with other descriptions. Then you can check out Barossa Boy Cheeky the reviews with a clearer focus on what you might like and Tilly Eden Valley want to try. Riesling 2021 HHH 91pts Quite tight and peppery with nice drive of lime juice-like fruit characters. $30 SPARKLING Ekhidna SEA Paulett Wines PINOT GRIS/ Corryton Burge Kith Prosecco NV Missy Clare Valley GRIGIO Adelaide Hills 4 TASTED HHH 91pts Riesling 2021 Pinot Gris 2021 3 AWARDED Nice honeyed/yeasty HHH1/2 93pts 9 TASTED HHHH 95pts complexity with a A very well made 6 AWARDED Pretty floral fragrances Mixed results here with savoury edge and crisp sweeter/off dry style with with a perfumed lift and some fresh proseccos apple characters. $20 punchy fruit in the greener Consistent, easy sweet light floral and and a quality sparkling fruit spectrum. $25 drinking, crowd pleasing lychees flavours with a shiraz. RIESLING Seville Estate Off group of wines. “The bright finish. $28 Dry Yarra Valley stronger wines had Quarisa Wines Jip Jip Rocks South 8 TASTED Riesling 2019 flavour without being Three Jailbirds SEA Australia Sparkling 6 AWARDED HHH1/2 93pts cloying; vibrant and fresh Pinot Grigio 2021 Shiraz NV Nice toasty notes to without being acidic,” HHH1/2 93pts HHHH 95pts A solid class of fresh, the slightly tropical commented one judge. Fresh pears on the nose Cherries and chocolate vibrant varietal wines nose with vibrant lime/ Wines for drinking not with floral traces. Palate lift off the nose with with varying degrees of lemon flavours and good thinking! a touch sweet but has a complex chocolaty sweetness. acidity. $36 the acid to balance it. palate, minty elements, McGuigan Cellar $11 fine tannins and a crisp Cassegrain Wines Select Hilltops finish. $25 Edition Noir Riesling 2021 Canberra Riesling HHH 91pts Artwine Prosecco 2021 HHHH 95pts Musky hint to the nose Bianca Adelaide Bright floral citrus with a very savoury, Hills Prosecco 2021 bouquet and very long, lean and balanced HHH1/2 92pts tight zesty palate with palate. $25 Fresh, simple and obvious orange peel/ refreshing with a lifted lime flavours. $32 persistent bead, estery fruit fragrances and zesty fruit palate. $25 JUDGES - DAY 1 Peter Kennedy Natalie Cleghorn Winemaker for Ekhidna Winemaker with the Alex Mackenzie Wines. Formerly Yalumba Wine Co since Winemaker for Treasury with Foggo Wines 1998. Associate judge Wine Estates. Previously and Brothers in Arms at the Barossa Wine a winemaker for Annie’s wineries; following ten Show, Stanthorpe Small Lane, Tintara. Has vintaged years in liquor retail. Winemakers and Adelaide in Germany, Piedmont and Has vintaged in St. wine show. Chianti (Italy) and Hermitage Emilion and judged in (France). Has judged at Perth and regional wine the Adelaide Hills/Barossa, shows. Victorian wine show and as an associate at the Clare Valley wine show. 92 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

wine & spirit insider tasting Quarisa Wines St Johns Brook Bec Hardy Wines Sidewood Adelaide Atze's Corner Caravan SEA Recolte Margaret South Australia Hills Pinot Blanc Barossa Valley Pinot Grigio 2021 River Sauvignon Sauvignon Blanc 2020 Vermentino 2021 HHH 91pts Blanc Semillon 2021 2021 HHH 91pts HHHH1/2 96pts HHH1/2 93pts Nose is floral and HHHH 95pts Pungent nose; smells Attractive toasty lemon Estery fruit salad of tropical with a herbal Subtle nettle notes to and tastes of tinned bouquet and great a nose with quite a touch and tight green the grassy/citrus nose asparagus. Very varietal. persistence and balance delicate palate and crisp apple palate. $15 with lingering sauvignon $17 of a sherbet/rose petal-like green lime flavours. $25 flavours and semillon flavour profile showing Cassegrain Wines FAT'n SKINNY by adding weight. $23.99 Jip Jip Rocks attractive underlying White Label Central H&L Langhorne Sidewood Mappinga Padthaway minerality. $24 Ranges Rylestone Creek Pinot Grigio Adelaide Hills Fumé Sauvignon Blanc Artwine Madame Hunter Valley 2021 HHH 90pts Blanc 2020 2021 HHH 91pts V Single Vineyard Verdelho 2021 Very savoury and herbal HHHH 94pts Minty green nose with Clare Valley Viognier HHH1/2 93pts nose with zesty lemon Great depth of smoky hints of nettles and 2021 HHHH 95pts Lifted tropical fruit flavours and a floral toasty aromatics with a tropical fruit-driven Lovely varietal nose – aromas with the fruit edge. $20 toasty oak obvious on palate. $23 all apricots and orange salad palate nicely the tropical fruit palate blossom. Soft in the supported by the zesty Sidewood Adelaide with acid to balance. $35 Gooree Park mouth with generous acidity. $27.95 Hills Pinot Gris 2021 Quarisa Wines Mudgee Sauvignon apricot flavours. $25 Singlefile Great HHH 90pts Three Jailbirds SEA Blanc 2021 Tempus Two Copper Southern Fiano 2021 Delicate spicy ginger-like Sauvignon Blanc HHH 91pts Hunter Valley HHH1/2 92pts fragrances and mouth 2021 HHH1/2 93pts Green melon Semillon Sauvignon Seamlessly balanced filling spicy ginger Restrained tropical fragrances with a Blanc 2021 drink-now-style. Vibrant flavours. $22 nose and lovely, sweet tropical note and subtle HHHH 95pts floral/zesty lemon fruit tropical palate. “Very tropical flavours. $24 An elegant and light nectarine Windowrie Wine Co. enjoyable consumer mouthwatering blend notes. $29 Pig In The House wine.” $11 Swings & with intense drive of Glandore Wines Organic Cowra Sidewood Adelaide Roundabouts SBS lemon and passionfruit Regional Series Pinot Gris 2021 Hills Sauvignon Margaret River characters and racy Hunter Valley HHH 90pts Blanc 2021 Sauvignon Blanc acidity. $30 Vermentino 2021 Slight toastiness on the HHH1/2 93pts Semillon 2021 Artwine Wicked HHH1/2 92pts citrus nose with floral Very tight crisp style HHH 91pts Stepmother Single Delicate pear aromatics passionfruit flavours. $25 with aromatic citrus/ Zesty lemon sherbet Vineyard Clare with a savoury edge. Soft passionfruit characters bouquet with lovely Valley Fiano 2021 and subtle palate tasting SAUVIGNON and strong acid spine. $22 nettle/passionfruit HHHH 95pts of fresh pears. $30 BLANC & Forester Estate palate. $24 An interesting riper and NOVA VITA Project BLENDS Lifestyle Margaret full flavoured fiano with K - The GTR Adelaide River Sauvignon Bec Hardy Wines attractive honeysuckle/ Hills White Blend 14 TASTED Blanc 2021 Pertaringa orange blossom varietal 2021 HHH1/2 92pts 11 AWARDED HHH1/2 93pts Scarecrow Adelaide characters. $35 Full, rounded and subtly Pungent but restrained Sauvignon Blanc Zerella Wines La textured wine with The judges said that lifted aromas and a 2021 HHH 90pts Gita McLaren Vale glimpses of musk, roses, there were some real bright tight nettle/ A shy but pretty style Arneis 2018 pears and ginger. $40 fruit bombs here, some gooseberry flavour with subtle sherbet/citrus HHHH 94pts RedHeads Blue others less so, but all profile. $25 fruit characters. $25 Developed toasty wine Belle Barossa Valley had flavour across the with obvious bottle Semillon 2021 board. “But watch the OTHER WHITE age and good length HHH 91pts acid levels,” one judge VARIETALS & of orange peel-like fruit Good grassy/peapod advised winemakers. BLENDS characters. $30 varietal definition with “As a varietal you know Swings & some nutty smoky what you are getting,” 29 TASTED Roundabouts complexity. $25 said another. 16 AWARDED Margaret River Ekhidna She Viper Chenin Blanc 2021 Adelaide Hills Fiano Quarisa Wines A very mixed group HHH1/2 93pts 2021 HHH 91pts Caravan SEA of wines with mixed Light, fresh and youthful A leaner style of fiano Sauvignon Blanc results. “However, it wine with light herbal with a greener fruit 2021 was a very interesting notes to the tropical fruit profile and subtle floral HHHH1/2 96pts flight of alternative aromas and flavours. $22 nuances. $29.50 A very well-made fruit varietals that were true Amadio Wines Tempus Two Copper bomb of a wine. Pretty to their variety,” said one Horse & Cart Series Hunter Valley lifted florals on the judge. “Well played!” Adelaide Hills Vermentino 2021 nose – lively and rich in Many of these would Pecorino 2021 HHH 91pts the mouth with a lovely be great with food. HHH1/2 93pts Delicate floral fruit long, bright and clean “Oysters anyone?!” Subtle herbaceous fragrances with a after taste. $15 pungency on the nose generously flavoured with a delicate prickly lively palate. $30 sherbet-like palate. $25 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 93

NEW RELEASES Artwine Ti Amo Gooree Park St Johns Brook Swings & GRENACHE Single Vineyard Mudgee Chardonnay Single Vineyard Roundabouts Adelaide Hills Arneis 2021 HHH1/2 93pts Margaret River Backyard Stories 6 TASTED 2021 HHH 91pts Aromas of melons and Chardonnay 2020 Margaret River 4 AWARDED A long and very textured peaches and a fine and HHH 90pts Rosé 2021 wine with lifted spicy delicate palate with Subtle flinty nose; some HHHH1/2 96pts Some nice juicy fruit aromas and light pear flavours in the green tropicals with a simple Blush pink wine with examples both within flavours. $35 spectrum. $24 but attractive varietal a subtle perfumed the varietals and the Yarrawood Yarra palate. $33.99 influence to the blends. “These are CHARDONNAY Valley Chardonnay strawberry and cream ‘slurpable’ but not 2020 HHH1/2 93pts Gralyn Estate nose with fresh constrained styles.” 18 TASTED Lifted lemon fruit Reserve Margaret strawberry fruit flavours. 10 AWARDED fragrances, a hint of River Chardonnay “Yum!” was one Schwarz Wine vanilla and bright fresh 2018 HHH 90pts comment. $34 Company Meta A very mixed result! and zesty varietal fruit A tight flinty wine Bec Hardy Wines Barossa Valley “The better wines flavours. $18 – pungent and very Adelaide Rosé 2021 Grenache 2021 here showed flavour, Seville Estate tropical with a nice HHH1/2 92pts HHHH1/2 97pts balanced acidity and Reserve Yarra Valley tannic grip. $90 Pretty tangerine colour Bright and juicy rhubarb appropriate use of oak,” Chardonnay 2020 with lovely lifted candied aromas. Light and soft said one judge. “If you HHH1/2 93pts ROSÉ apple-like aromas and in the mouth with a are going to release an Tight fresh chardonnay flavours. $17 flavoursome complexity early vintage chardonnay in the riper fruit 8 TASTED Jip Jip Rocks of stewed berries with then let the fruit shine,” spectrum, nice leesy 6 AWARDED Fleurieu Peninsula savoury elements. $38 advised another judge. notes and minerally Cabernet Rosé 2021 “Mixed oak and malo acidity. $80 A strong and consistent HHH 91pts Z Wine [AUGUST] ferments have created 919 Wines Ella class of well-made Light, lifted and fresh Barossa Valley some unbalanced wines Semmler’s wines. “Winemakers are red fruit aromas with Grenache 2021 here.” Orchard Riverland adding savoury notes a tight savoury fruit HHH1/2 93pts Chardonnay 2021 to the wines making palate. $25 Very young and very RedHeads Harmonie HHH 91pts them refreshing and Paulmara Estates approachable with Rox Coonawarra Toasty nutty lemon curd- enjoyable rather than Barossa Sangiovese intense aromas and Chardonnay 2021 like elements with hints sickly sweet,” noted one Rosé 2021 flavours of berries and HHHH 95pts of pineapple. $22 judge. “Some nice fruit HHH 90pts plums. $35 A very pretty tropical Koonara Cape Banks vibrancy is also a feature A toffee apple-like nose fruit bouquet and ripe Mount Gambier here.” with sweet and crunchy Z Wine [ROHRLACH] fruit driven palate with Chardonnay 2021 red fruit flavours. $25 Survivor Vine a good line of acid and HHH 91pts Swings & Ekhidna She Viper Barossa Valley soft on the finish. $25 Buttery toasty aromas Roundabouts McLaren Vale Grenache 2020 with a nicely structured Margaret River Shiraz Rosé 2021 HHH1/2 93pts Bec Hardy Wines palate and complex Rosé 2021 HHH 90pts Bright peppery plum Pertaringa Lakeside flavours. $25 HHHH1/2 96pts Nice lift of raspberry bouquet and flavours South Australia RedHeads Blue A subtleness of sweet and plum fruit varietal of spices, pepper and Chardonnay 2020 Belle Adelaide Hills strawberry fragrances characters with crisp cherries with a savoury HHHH 95pts Chardonnay 2021 and a bright and acidity. $29.50 thread. $120 Complex earthy smoky HHH 91pts complex dry/savoury characters on the green Attractive melon and style palate with leesy Bec Hardy Wines apple/peach nose with peach varietal fruit, notes. Good balance Pertaringa Two a palate driven by lovely pretty oak and bacon between the fruit and Gentlemen's fresh fruit. $17 notes. $25 acid. $24 McLaren Vale Grenache 2020 HHH 91pts A spice rack of a nose with lovely vibrant fruit driven flavours. $25 JUDGES - DAY 2 Peter Kennedy Adam Clay Winemaker for Ekhidna Winemaker for Pirathon Brock Harrison Wines. Formerly Wines. Previously winemaker Sparkling and full-bodied with Foggo Wines for Penfolds, Lindemans white winemaker for and Brothers in Arms and Taylors. Has completed Pernod Ricard Wines. wineries; following ten vintages at Marchesi de Has been a judge at years in liquor retail. Frescobaldi in Chianti and the Royal Adelaide Has vintaged in St. Pellegrin in California. Judge at and associate judge at Emilion and judged in the Alternative Varieties show the Royal Melbourne, Perth and regional wine Cairns, Queensland Wine Canberra International shows. Awards and Clare Valley wine Riesling Challenge and show. Barossa and Adelaide Hills wine shows. 94 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

wine & spirit insider tasting GRENACHE Watkins Symmetry Nanny Goat Vineyard OTHER RED Craft vs Science BLENDS Langhorne Creek Queensberry VARIETALS & Boutique Wines G.S.M. 2020 Central Otago BLENDS Barossa Valley 12 TASTED HHH 91pts Pinot Noir 2020 Touriga Nacional 8 AWARDED Blueberry bouquet, HHHH1/2 97pts 29 TASTED 2020 HHHH 94pts Zerella Wines bright plum palate and A complex and 19 AWARDED Intense floral/violet Packing Shed some fine tannins on the very more-ish pinot blueberry bouquet with McLaren Vale finish. $20 with great varietal More consistent results an explosion of floral Grenache Mataro persistence. Has and higher scores here plum flavours carried by Shiraz 2020 Schwarz Wine brooding forest floor than in the Other White firm tannins. $50 HHHH1/2 97pts Company The fragrances and dark fruit Varietals. “The best here Tenafeate Creek The nose is a pretty Grower Barossa flavours with cedary oak were medium bodied One Tree Hill compote of black fruits, Valley G.S.M. 2020 and nice acid line. $62 wines great for current Montepulciano 2019 spices and pepper with HHH 90pts Catalina Sounds drinking enjoyment,” HHHH 94pts a “Yummy, slurpable,” A peppery lift to the red Marlborough said one judge. “Bright Earthy plum aromas blackberry jam of a fruit nose and meaty/ Pinot Noir 2020 and fresh is best which with some sweetness. palate showing a fine plum and blackberry HHH1/2 93pts many of these wines Excellent depth of tannin structure. $30 flavours. $30 Leathery notes to the showed.” youthful dark fruit cherry nose. Quite a flavours. Still plenty of Z Wine [ROMAN] Tenafeate Creek tight and savoury palate Zerella Wines La potential. $30 Barossa Valley One Tree Hill G.S.M. with cherry flavours. $32 Gita McLaren Vale Glandore Wines G.S.M. 2021 2020 HHH 90pts Seville Estate Yarra Nero D'Avola 2020 Black Label TPR HHHH 94pts A savoury meaty Valley Pinot Noir HHHHH 98pts Hunter Valley Dark crimson wine complexity mingling 2020 HHH1/2 93pts Lovely lifted and vibrant Tempranillo 2017 with dense purple with the bright red fruits A brambly bouquet floral berry/licorice fruit HHHH 94pts fruit aromas and fresh and grippy tannins. $30 and fresh cherry driven on the nose. Rounded An oak dominant style youthful spicy fruit palate with good oak savoury and youthful with raisined fruit flavours with a zippy acid Craft vs Science use and persistent palate with tannins characters and a firm finish. $40 Boutique Wines tannins. $50 adding texture and tannin backbone. Ageing Watkins Bright Barossa Valley Sorby Adams Gudilly interest and acid adding gracefully. $49 Red Langhorne Grenache Shiraz Adelaide Pinot Noir length. $35 Quarisa Wines Q Creek Grenache Touriga 2020 2021 HHH 91pts SEA Malbec 2021 Sangiovese 2021 HHH 90pts A very pretty lightweight Tempus Two HHH1/2 93pts HHH 91pts Lifted spirituous red wine with rhubarb Copper Tumbarumba Deep purple wine, Meaty aromas with cherry fruit with a slight and plum-like varietal Gamay 2021 blackcurrant fruit pastille a green capsicum- green edge and peppery characters. $20 HHHH1/2 96pts nose and spicy dark fruit like edge and quite a notes. $50 Nanny Goat A straightforward, easy flavours layered with savoury palate. $20 Vineyard Central drinking cool climate oak. $15 Sidney Wilcox Otago Pinot Noir wine with lovely delicate Mount Avoca Estate South Australia 2020 HHH 90pts red berry fruit, savoury Organic Pyrenees Grenache Shiraz Attractive raspberry complexity, drying Tempranillo 2021 2018 HHH 90pts nose and tight palate tannins and salivating HHH1/2 93pts Plum, pepper and meaty with slightly stalky acidity. $30 Fragrant violet lift to the aromas with a rhubarb raspberry flavours. $43 blueberry bouquet. Silky palate showing savoury Schwarz Wine smooth in the mouth traces. $25 Company Meta with licorice flavours. $28 Barossa Valley PINOT NOIR Mataro 2021 HHHH1/2 96pts 6 TASTED Smells quite gamey with 5 AWARDED grilled meat elements and some lifted floral A small solid group fruit notes. A charcuterie of drinkable pinots. of a palate; very varietal - “Great to see very little very drinkable. $38 winemaker intervention here but instead just Swings & letting the fruit shine Roundabouts Novus through,” enthused one Margaret River judge. Malbec 2021 HHHH 94pts A bright, modern, drink now vibrant purple wine with fragrant aromatics and minty fruit flavours. $24 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 95

NEW RELEASES Watkins Ruscello Zerella Wines La Z Wine [FRANZ] Koonara Ambriel's Swings & Langhorne Creek Gita McLaren Vale Barossa Valley Gift Coonawarra Roundabouts Sangiovese 2020 Barbera 2019 Cabernet Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Backyard Stories HHH1/2 92pts HHH 90pts 2019 HHHHH 98pts 2019 HHH1/2 92pts Margaret River Savoury and herbal A dark rich and complex A warmer, complex and Blackcurrant and cedar Cabernet Sauvignon on the nose with an meaty/savoury style generous wine. Lovely oak lift off the nose with 2019 HHH 90pts earthy/savoury palate with lovely fresh line of deep crimson in colour bright spirituous cassis A toasty/cedary showing hints of plum acid. $35 and rich with sweet fruit flavours. $44 complexity on the nose fruit. $20 plum/cassis fruit, shows Sorby Adams with varietal fruit more Quarisa Wines Mrs Allegiance Wines good use of cedar-like The Couch Barossa obvious on the palate. $55 Q Adelaide Hills The Artisan oak and a lingering Cabernet Sauvignon Sangiovese 2019 South Australia finish. $60 2019 HHH1/2 92pts Seville Estate Old HHH1/2 92pts Tempranillo 2019 Yarrawood Tall Dark, complex, oak Vine Reserve Yarra Dense black fruit HHH 90pts Tales Yarra Valley driven, wine with Valley Cabernet fragrances and thick Perfumed herbal fruit Cabernet Sauvignon underlying briary/cassis Sauvignon 2019 concentration of oak and fragrances with delicate 2019 HHHH 95pts fruit and long prickly HHH 90pts fruit on a syrupy textured red fruit flavours and Lively, vibrant expression tannins. $55 Light and fruity with fresh palate. $18 savoury traces. $40 of the variety. Zesty Moppity Vineyards herbaceous cabernet NOVA VITA minty aromas and Estate Hilltops characters. Plenty of acid Project K - The MPN Brangayne Of slightly green, briary fruit Cabernet Sauvignon for ageing. $80 Adelaide Hills Orange Orange with fine tannins. $30 2018 HHH1/2 92pts Red Blend 2021 Merlot 2019 Forester Estate Tight but complex and in SHIRAZ & HHH 91pts HHH 90pts Lifestyle Margaret the riper fruit spectrum BLENDS Attractive cassis Uncomplicated, well- River Cabernet with cedary oak and firm 2021/2020 bouquet with mouth- made varietal with Sauvignon 2020 grippy tannins. $35 coating blue fruit/cherry sweet berry fruits, HHH1/2 93pts McPherson Wines 15 TASTED flavours. Drink now! $40 vanilla oak and soft A cabernet in the cooler, Full Fifteen Big Red 10 AWARDED Paulmara Estates tannins. $40 green fruit, spectrum SEA Cabernet 2020 Cellar Reserve with loads of green HHH 91pts Consistent solid group of Barossa Sangiovese 919 Wines Reserve bean/herbaceous varietal Oak drives this wine fresh and vibrant wines 2020 HHH 91pts Riverland Durif 2018 characters. $25 but there is still nice in the modern fruit Distinctive olive HHH 90pts Brand & Sons blackcurrant varietal fruit driven styles. Generally, tapenade-like characters A hugely generous, Baker's Run evident. $18 these wines have been on the nose with sweet warm and very inviting Coonawarra Watkins Langhorne made for early drinking ripe fruit flavours. $40 wine rich with ripe black Cabernet Sauvignon Creek Cabernet not for cellaring. Allegiance Wines fruit. $45 2019 HHH1/2 93pts Sauvignon 2020 The Fighter A super tasty supple mix HHH 91pts Paulmara Estates South Australia CABERNET of sweet mocha oak and A drink now cabernet Marananga Barossa Tempranillo 2019 SAUVIGNON & lovely blackcurrant fruit with bright cassis fruit Shiraz 2020 HHH 90pts BLENDS with grippy tannins. $26 with some complexity HHHH 95pts Quite a savoury style developing. $20 Deep inky purple wine with some nice mature 21 TASTED RedHeads The with an explosion of complexity. Drinking well 13 AWARDED Red Sedan South fresh black fruits laced now. $25 Australia Cabernet with spices and showing Bec Hardy Wines A solid group of Sauvignon Shiraz a meaty edge. $30 Pertaringa Stage varietally expressive 2019 HHH 90pts Left Adelaide Merlot wines. “The wines Straightforward black NOVA VITA Project 2019 HHH 90pts ranged from medium fruit and cedar oak wine K - The SPN Adelaide Menthol dominated bodied easy drinking with generous alcohol Hills Shiraz Pinot chocolaty aromas fruit driven styles to warmth. $20 2021 HHH1/2 93pts and a soft, juicy and the more complex Windowrie Wine Co. Lovely wine – simple, flavoursome palate. $25 structured versions,” Pig In The House fresh and silky smooth said one judge. “Great Organic Cowra with vibrant plum/cherry to see that there were Cabernet Sauvignon fruit and fine tannins. $40 very few that were 2019 HHH 90pts overripe and overdone.” A classic – a touch Jip Jip Rocks light with lifted minty Padthaway Shiraz fruit and lovely palate Cabernet Sauvignon structure. $25 2020 HHH1/2 93pts Brambly/tobacco leaf nose with the cabernet fruit obvious on the firm, long and well-structured palate. $23 96 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

wine & spirit insider tasting Mount Avoca Estate Schwarz Wine Manser One Mad Zerella Wines McPherson Wines Organic Pyrenees Company Meta Moment McLaren Workhorse McLaren MWC Victoria Shiraz Shiraz 2020 Barossa Valley Vale Shiraz Vale Shiraz 2019 Mourvedre 2019 HHH1/2 93pts Shiraz 2020 Grenache 2019 HHH1/2 93pts HHH 91pts Bright tarry varietal fruit HHH 90pts HHHH 95pts Plums and chocolate on Soft and silky style with with savoury/meaty A nice juicy fruit shiraz Ripe aromas of prunes the nose and a sweet attractive meaty plum complexity, some with musky nuances, and spices with generous dark fruit palate with characters and fine spiciness and mouth savoury hints and fine mouth filling savoury firm oak and grippy tannins. $19 coating tannins. $28 oak. $38 plum flavours and spicy tannins. $30 Bec Hardy Wines Windowrie Wine Co. complexity. $35 Z Wine [PLOWMAN] Barbara Hardy The Mill Central Schwarz Wine Dry Grown Barossa McLaren Vale Shiraz Ranges Shiraz 2021 Company Nitschke Z Wine [HEDLEY] Valley Shiraz 2019 2019 HHH 91pts HHH 91pts Block Barossa Valley Barossa Valley HHH1/2 93pts Dark lifted stewed plum Raspberry jelly-like Shiraz 2020 Shiraz 2019 A complexity of lifted fruit with savoury/meaty bouquet with juicy and HHH 90pts HHHH 95pts stewed black fruit and elements and a warm spicy red fruit flavours. A solid, warm and friendly Warm, ripe chocolaty roasted nuts with meaty spicy finish. $20 Drink now. $20 shiraz that is all fruit cake shiraz with spicy rhubarb elements. More cellaring Paisley Mixed By DJ Watkins Langhorne and licorice. $50 bouquet and great potential. $120 Deadly Boombox Creek Shiraz 2020 persistence of dense Barossa Shiraz 2019 HHH 91pts SHIRAZ & dark fruit flavours. $35 Sutherland Wine HHH 90pts Fresh peppery plum nose BLENDS Thomas Legacy Heathcote Shiraz “A warm and fuzzy and sweet plum flavours 2019 Waiheke Island 2019 HHH 91pts shiraz,” with raisined with a dash of pepper. Syrah 2019 Pronounced musky fruit, caramel oak and Drink now. $20 27 TASTED HHHH 94pts cassis fruit with firm fine tannins. $25 Windowrie Wine Co. 13 AWARDED An attractive cool grainy tannins carrying Morambro Creek Pig In The House climate style with a the fruit. $NA Padthaway Shiraz Organic Cowra The judges were stylish peppery red fruit 2019 HHH 90pts Shiraz 2020 generally disappointed bouquet and a different Minty cool fruit HHH 91pts with this group. “Too flavour profile. $70 fragrances and nice line Pretty blueberry many forward, maturing of juicy sweet plum/ fragrances and some wines covering over ripe vanilla oak flavours. $35 musky characters on the fruit with oak making Bec Hardy Wines smooth palate. $25 the wine disjointed,” Pertaringa Over the Schwarz Wine noted one judge. The Top McLaren Vale Company The 2019 vintage was a dry, Shiraz 2019 Grower Barossa hot one, but the better HHH 90pts Valley Shiraz 2020 producers still managed A balanced complexity HHH 90pts to make some fresh and of blackcurrant fruit, A Joven style with a vibrant fruit wines as savoury notes, oak and lovely mix of fragrant shown here. age. $40 blue fruits, olives and Coppabella Procella meaty elements. $30 Hilltops Shiraz 2019 HHH 90pts Subtle red berry fruit with some licorice and balancing acid and tannins. $45 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 Bec Hardy Wines Amadio Wines Farm To Table Central SWEET Glandore Wines Reserve McLaren Horse & Cart Series Victoria Shiraz 2018 WHITES Regional Series Vale Shiraz 2019 Adelaide Hills Shiraz HHH 91pts Block A Hunter HHH 90pts Cabernet 2018 Licorice/chocolaty nose 2 TASTED Valley Late Harvest A rich, full bodied, HHHH 95pts with warm medium 2 AWARDED 2021 (375ml) warming wine full of Nose is a rich expression bodied plum/oak palate. HHH1/2 93pts sweet plum/raspberry of blueberry, plum and $17 Two nice examples Floral/marmalade fruit characters. $50 olive varietal characters Glandore Wines of sweet wines here. fragrances with a with a full-bodied oak Regional Series Worth checking out! sweet complex mix of SHIRAZ & dominated palate. $22 Hunter Valley Shiraz honeysuckle and orange BLENDS Moppity Vineyards 2018 HHH 91pts Yarrawood Tall Tales peel flavours. $30 2018 & OLDER Reserve Hilltops “A classy wine,” with Yarra Valley Botrytis Shiraz 2017 high-toned oak sitting on Riesling 2020 16 TASTED HHHH 95pts top of stewed plum fruit (375ml) HHHH 95pts 11 AWARDED Still fresh and inviting characters. $35 A very good example with fig and tobacco leaf- Manser Dad's Block of this style. It’s young, Definitely a more like aromas and plenty of Adelaide Hills Shiraz fresh and slightly consistent flight fleshy fruit flavours and 2018 HHH 91pts astringent with lots of compared with previous subtle oak. $80 Mature chocolaty shiraz jasmine floral characters ones showing the Mr. Riggs The Chap with leathery notes and mixing with sweet strong 2018 vintage but McLaren Vale sweet upfront spicy apricots. $36 there are also some Coonawarra Shiraz rhubarb fruit. $35 nice examples from Cabernet 2016 Seville Estate Dr STAR RATINGS  older vintages. “These HHHH 94pts McMahon Yarra wines are showing more Generous fleshy wine Valley Shiraz 2018 Three-, four- and five-star ratings are signs of complexity and density with attractive savoury HHH 91pts excellence in fruit quality and winemaking skill. of fruit texture but also fruit, olive and choc mint Plum-like varietal fruit All wines are judged ‘blind’ by wine industry having maintained varietal characters. $100 with musky nuances, professionals and are compared in peer vibrancy,” said one Ekhidna She Viper smoked meat traces and classes by three judges. judge. “These have a McLaren Vale Shiraz fine tannins. $150 CM Wine is exclusive to Cellarmasters, better ‘flow’ of polished 2018 HHH1/2 93pts Five Geese McLaren a major mail-order business. tannins from beginning A complex wine - all Vale Shiraz 2017 CD Cellar door price. to end.” plums, olive tapenade HHH 90pts CDO Cellar door only. and smoked meats A warm ripe fruit driven SO Sold out. Swings & layered with oak and style supported by dusty $N/A Price not available at time of printing. Roundabouts tannins. $29.50 oak. “Has plenty of  Contact information pg 105. Margaret River Manser Block 4 personality!” $24.99 Shiraz 2018 Adelaide Hills Shiraz RECOMMENDED cellaring (years). HHHH1/2 97pts 2018 HHH1/2 93pts BEST VALUE for $20 & under. Lovely nose – smells like Some obvious oak here blackcurrant pastilles. The but has the weight of For a complete list of what we tasted warming palate has a very dense brambly fruit to please refer to www.winestate.com.au attractive peppery plum balance it. $55 and licorice flavour profile. “Tastes better with each mouthful!” $24 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 98 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

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BEST VALUE BUYS - All under $20 Trentham The Family Bunnamagoo Estate Mitchelton Wines Preece Three's A Crowd Murray Murray Darling Mount Lawson Nagambie Lakes Grenache Darling Pinot Grigio NV Prosecco NV Mudgee Rosé 2021 Rosé 2021 Spicy stonefruit aromas with Lifted citrus nose, floral a citrus note and zippy sweet nuances, persistent Lifted lolly-like strawberry An elegant style. Savoury and spicy citrus flavours bead, simple pear-like driven nose with a nicely fruit aromas and nicely with a warm finish. $16 fruit and good acidity. $18 textured palate, soft and balanced crisp fruit palate. $20 sweet in the mouth. $15 Trentham Estate Pty Ltd Trentham Estate Pty Ltd Mitchelton Wines - Phone: 03 5024 8888 Phone: 03 5024 8888 Bunnamagoo Estate Wines Nagambie Wine Corporation Email: info@trenthamestate.com.au Email: info@trenthamestate.com.au Phone: 02 6373 3046 Phone: 03 5736 2222 Web: www.trenthamestate.com.au Web: www.trenthamestate.com.au Email: sales@bunnamagoowines. Email: mitchelton@mitchelton.com.au com.au Web: www.mitchelton.com.au Web: www.bunnamagoowines.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

The Ned Marlborough Leefield Station Grandeur Wellington Berton Vineyards Pinot Gris 2021 Marlborough Artisan Adelaide Hills Metal Label Padthaway Stonefruit nose with a tropical Pinot Gris 2020 Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Sauvignon Blanc 2021 edge. Sweet fruit driven palate; Poached pear bouquet and Bright varietal nose; pretty Attractive perfumed fruit some complexity. $18.99 nicely textured tropical palate; and subtle with a fine, fragrances and a warm fruit sweet but balanced. $19.99 flinty and firm palate. $20 driven palate with good Marisco Vineyards acid/sweet balance. $14 Phone: +64 9 522 9684 Marisco Vineyards Grandeur Wellington Email: georgia@marisco.co.nz Phone: +64 9 522 9684 Phone: 08 8383 0866 Berton Vineyards Web: www.marisco.co.nz Email: georgia@marisco.co.nz Email: peter@gwellington.com.au Phone: 02 6968 1600 Web: www.marisco.co.nz Web: www.grandeurwellington.com.au Email: wine@bertonvineyards.com.au Web: www.bertonvineyards.com.au the wine & spiritA U S T R A L I A N & N E W Z E A L A N D Issue 175 | November/December 2021 Editor & Publisher Winestate Web Site electronic medium or machine-readable form without E-mail: editor@winestate.com.au the express permission of the publisher. Every care is Peter Simic E-mail: editor@winestate.com.au 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: lara@winestate.com.au Administration Lyn Hannam E-mail: administration@winestate.com.au Graphic Designer WINESTATE is published six times a year by Winestate Publishing Pty Ltd. Naomi Fry E-mail: production@winestate.com.au 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 editor@winestate.com.au Debra Silver E-mail: sales@winestate.com.au 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: tasting@winestate.com.au The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 101

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