Wine & Spirit Insider November December 2022

insiderthe wine & spiritAUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND November/December 2022 Issue 181 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 Champagne & Sparkling Best Value Buys Under $20

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A Sparkling CARE E R “Champagne should be cold, dry and hopefully, free.” – Christian Pol Roger JOY WALTERFANG WHAT better place to talk about one of the trailblazing greats Pam always had an ambition to visit the genesis of sparkling of the Australian wine industry, Pam Dunsford OAM, than wines – France’s Champagne district but did wonder how she Winestate’s annual Champagne/sparkling tasting. Why? would be received. After all she was a prolific producer of Because she was right there at the forefront when this country base wines for sparklings that were erroneously being labeled was transitioning from being producers of bubbles ordinaire Champagne and she knew how incensed the French were about to creators of fine quality sparkling wines. countries that did that. Over the years very little has been left unsaid about Pam. But the spunky Pam need not have worried, with a Churchill Probably the most recounted stories are the long list of her Fellowship to study …winemaking in Champagne to improve Australian femme firsts; first to graduate with a diploma in the quality of Australian wines, and introductory letters from oenology from Roseworthy Agricultural College, first to become Len Evans to Andre Krug and Christian Pol Roger the doors of senior winemaker in a major wine company, first senior wine- the Champagne houses opened for her. show judge and the first to run her own wine consultancy business. Last year she received an Honorary Degree of Doctor Pam departed for France in 1987 with what she described as, of Science from University of Adelaide “… in recognition of her “A mixture of anticipation and apprehension. My plan was to pioneering work in Australian winemaking, blazing a trail for spend up to two months learning French in a language school women winemakers…” until the vintage started, which, fortunately occurred just two days after my second month of tuition.” But there is another of Pam’s firsts that is of particular interest here, it occurred during a brief phase in her four plus decades in Krug was the first Champagne house to invite Pam to join the wine industry that she refers to as, “The icing on the cake!” them, offering her the opportunity to work in their presshouse and barrel fermentation cellar. She was surprised to discover Pam was offered her first job in the wine industry in 1974 at that she was the first female ever to be invited to work a vintage the now defunct Glenloth winery in Reynella, part of the Wynns at Krug. “The only stipulation they had was that they wanted Winegrowers Group. During her 12-year tenure she worked her me to wear trousers,” laughed Pam. way up to become the company’s senior winemaker and under her umbrella of responsibilities was the production of the base Word got around about this eager young Aussie winemaker wines for the Seaview sparkling wine label. But in 1986, with a and opportunities to work as a stagiare (trainee) came in thick takeover looming, she set her sights towards new horizons. “By and fast. “It was like a bush telegraph,” she said. “I started the time I left Wynns we were in the throes of building what was getting invitations from the likes of Bollinger, Charles Heidsieck, going to be the biggest sparkling wine facility in the southern Krug, Louis Roederer, Piper Heidsieck, Pol Roger and Veuve hemisphere,” said Pam. But the take-over saw that facility move Clicquot Ponsardin.” to Nuriootpa and the 34-hectare Glenloth winery demolished to make way for housing. The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 81

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“Krug was the first Champagne house to invite Pam to join them, offering her the opportunity to work in their presshouse and barrel fermentation cellar.” Not wanting to miss out on the opportunities she was being Over the next two decades Pam liberally imparted her offered Pam extended her visit for another ten months, self- knowledge to wineries, individual winemakers, students and funding it. She soaked up everything she could about the wine communicators alike, many of whom have put up their viticulture, winemaking and secondary ferments that make hands, wanting to share with us, what Pam has meant to them, Champagne the unique wine it is. but we would need many more pages! “Finding accommodation was a challenge during vintage,” Just 55 and at the peak of her career Pam was forced to retire reminisced Pam. “I put up a note on a local notice board ‘single from the hands-on business of wine due to a virus acquired woman looking for accommodation’ and got a response from overseas that had heartlessly robbed her of her most important a couple who said I could stay with them. As it turned out they asset – her sense of smell and taste. Fortunately, they have were very poor and basically we all slept in the same room. returned, albeit slowly. Their bed and mine touched with just a sheet that was hung between us.” This year Pam Dunsford’s stellar career has been acknowledged with the Maurice O’Shea Award. Sated with knowledge it was time to return home. Not wanting to get caught up again in the corporate world Pam decided the The 1990 inaugural winner of the award was the creator of best way to honour her pledge to improve the quality of Australian Penfolds’ Grange, Max Schubert, the next in line for the triennial wines was to set up a consultancy, not a particularly reputable honor was Len Evans and the recipient three years before occupation back then. While waiting for people to come knocking Pam was fifth generation descendant of Australia’s oldest on her door she took on a couple of jobs lecturing at Roseworthy family-owned winery, Robert Hill Smith of Yalumba, illustrious and the Regency Hotel School. The clients came; Robert Gerard company indeed. the new owner of Chapel Hill was looking to improve the wines of his new acquisition. Pam’s initial four-hour weekly consult evolved The winemaking fraternity has not let Pam slip quietly into into the role of Chief Winemaker producing multi-award-winning retirement and she continues to inspire, mentor and be good wines for nineteen vintages. friend and true to winemakers of all generations. Padthaway Estates commissioned Pam to oversee the Page 80: Pam now retired enjoying her garden with fur friend Ruby. construction of a dedicated sparkling wine facility. She also Opposite page: Pam Dunsford OAM with her brother Trevor after receiving her organised the replica of a basket press to be built there, one honorary doctorate in April 2021. that was unique to Champagne production and the first of its Above: \"Word got around about this eager young Aussie winemaker,\" kind in Australia. [Still could be!] Pam Dunsford. The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 83

CHAMPAGNE & SPARKLING 150 TASTED 80 AWARDED CHAMPAGNE & SPARKLING A very bubbly feature tasting here for your enjoyment. With the CALNEGGIA Wines SPARKLING end of the year and Christmas and New Year coming it is time Prosecco DOC Italy ROSÉ to do your research on what to buy and stock up on. Here we Prosecco Rosé 2020 can help, across all styles and all budgets. Enjoy! HHH 91pts 17 TASTED Smells like honeyed 11 AWARDED PROSECCO Bec Hardy Good Nepenthe Adelaide buttered toast and has a Things Come To Hills Prosecco NV fresh crunchy red apple A good class overall with 17 TASTED Those Who Wait HHH 91pts palate. $30 lovely flavours and nice Australia Prosecco Citrus nose with secondary elements. 6 AWARDED NV HHH1/2 92pts tropical traces and a full SPARKLING Lightly citrus aroma flavoured creamy fruit UNDER $25 Centennial A mixed group of wines has a floral lift. Great driven palate. $25 Vineyards Southern with the best showing palate complexity with 11 TASTED Highlands NSW lovely freshness to a creamy texture and PROSECCO 2 AWARDED Brut Rosé NV the older wines that citrus flavours. $22 ROSÉ HHHH1/2 94pts occasionally exhibited Michelini Alpine Good wines were Pale salmon wine with coarse overtones. Valleys Prosecco 2 TASTED few and far between aromas of red apples, 2022 HHH1/2 92pts 2 AWARDED here. “Overall, these yeast autolysis and Gapsted Wines VBBAEULSYUTSE Light lemon nose with a wines lacked the fruit savoury elements with Alpine Road tightly wound palate of A couple of nice freshness balanced lovely flavours in the King Valley Prosecco lemon juice and florals. examples here. by aged characters,” toasty baked apple NV HHHH 94pts Needs time to settle commented one judge. spectrum and showing Pristine colour, floral down. $25 Michelini Alpine “Some were also over some citrus traces. $35 citrus nose with smoked Andrew Peace Wines Valleys Prosecco acidified or phenolic.” meat notes and a bright, Cora Prosecco NV Rosé 2022 Taltarni Tache crisp and crunchy palate HHH 91pts HHHH 94pts Wildly Organic Pyrenees Sparkling with apple-like flavour Floral fragrances with A delicate and perfectly South Australia Rosé 2014 profile. $18 light floral nuances and balanced wine with lifted Cuvée NV HHHH1/2 94pts a complex and textured strawberry and cream- HHH 91pts Pale bronze/orange hues Trentham Estate citrus palate. $19 like fruit characters and Fresh green apple and a lovely fine bead The Family Murray just a hint of smoked driven, fine bubbles with an aged toasty Darling Prosecco NV meats. $25 and some nice phenolic lemon curd bouquet HHH1/2 93pts texture with high and a flavoursome A fruit driven sherbet- acidity. $23 complexity of cooked like bouquet with a peaches and fresh baked sweet but balanced Tempus Two Varietal bread. $28 refreshingly vibrant South Australia palate. $18 Blanc de Blancs Sidewood Adelaide 2021 HHH 91pts Hills Sparkling Pinot Lovely honeysuckle Rosé NV HHH 91pts bouquet and a crunchy A complexity of toasty palate full of apple age and intense crumble flavours. $12 strawberry fruit with crunchy acid and fine bubbles. $24 JUDGES Jack Walker Shane Harris Allira Lord Winemaker for O’Leary Winemaker for Wines by Chardonnay and Walker Wines. Has Geoff Hardy including, K1 and sparkling winemaker, previously worked at Handcrafted by Geoff Hardy Pernod Ricard Wines. Peter Lehmanns, Wattle Wines. Has also completed 11 years in the Creek, DeBortoli, vintages in Queensland and Barossa wine industry. Seppeltsfield, Josef Victoria. Completed the AWRI Vintaged in McLaren Chromy. Has also advanced sensory course Vale, Marlborough NZ, judged at the Clare and has associate judged at Provence, France, Khao Valley wine show and McLaren Vale Wine Show. Yai Thailand and Southern Kangaroo Island wine Winestate Winemaker of the England. Advanced wine show. Year in 2009, 2019 & 2020. asessment course 2017. 84 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2022

varietal tasting Clover Hill SPARKLING DiGiorgio Family SPARKLING Firetail Margaret Tasmanian Pipers NV $25-$30 Coonawarra VINTAGE River Sparkling River Tasmania Sparkling Pinot Noir $25-$50 Chardonnay 2016 Cuvée Rosé NV 11 TASTED NV HHHH1/2 94pts HHH1/2 92pts HHH 91pts 3 AWARDED A delightful aromatic 21 TASTED A fresh and complex; Nice red fruit with a complexity of toast, 10 AWARDED toasty and flinty style savoury edge, toasty The judges were honey and spicy apples Another step up in with a racy acid drive. complexity and pleasant disappointed with this with a big, complex and quality and balance Many more years left in phenolic texture. $36 group. “There were too flavoursome palate, in the higher scoring it yet. $36 Bream Creek many grape varieties creamy in the mouth wines. “The base core Sidewood Chloe Vineyard Tasmania here,” noted one judge. with a savoury red fruit of fruit was better in Adelaide Hills Cuvée Brut Rosé NV “Neutral grapes with profile. $36 these wines,” said one 2015 HHH1/2 92pts HHH 91pts bubbles doesn’t make a Jansz Tasmania judge. A full, fleshy and A bright fresh fruit good sparkling!” Premium Tasmania flavoursome sparkling focussed style, some Cuvée NV Taltarni Vintage with quince/citrus fruit, sweetness with creamy Beresford Premium HHH 91pts Pyrenees Blanc nice nuttiness and mouthfeel and tight McLaren Vale Cuvée Zesty green apple de Blancs 2018 supportive acidity. $35 acidity. $38 NV HHH1/2 92pts aromas with a lively HHHH1/2 96pts Watkins Sibling Kreglinger Tamar A fresh, spicy and crisp and flavoursome Quite a flinty citrus/ Series Langhorne Valley Tasmania Brut fruity style with mouth fruit driven palate. $30 green apple bouquet Creek Sparkling Rosé NV HHH 91pts filling bubbles and Centennial and a generous palate Blanc de Blancs A subtle complexity balanced fruit tingle-like Vineyards Southern weight with apple-like 2021 HHH 91pts of spicy floral fruit characters. $25 Highlands NSW Brut fruit developing nice Nutty cider-like aromas fragrances and a fine Traditionelle NV complexity, some and a full, rich and apple/citrus palate. $40 DiGiorgio Family HHH 91pts phenolics adding texture spicy fruit cake of a Fermoy Pemberton Limestone Coast Intriguing, honeyed and a fine persistent palate. $28 Brut Rosé 2018 Sparkling Pinot Noir melon bouquet and bead. $32.99 Leura Park Estate HHH 91pts Chardonnay NV straightforward citrus/ Yes Said The Seal Bellarine Peninsula A crunchy and linear HHH 91pts tropical fruit flavours. $35 Bellarine Peninsula Sparkling Blanc de style with lovely lively Spicy pear drop-like d'Arenberg Sparkling Blanc de Blanc 2021 bubbles and flinty citrus fragrances and a creamy Pollyanna Polly Blanc 2018 HHH 91pts elements. $45 complexity of poached Adelaide Hills HHH1/2 92pts An enticing fuller creamy Jansz Tasmania pear flavours. $25 Sparkling White NV “Yum!” Great balance style with tropical fruit Vintage Rosé 2018 HHH 91pts between the fruit and focus and crunchy acid HHH 91pts Three Kings Wine Toasty fruit nose and a the toasty complexity line. $35 Flinty apple fragrances Merchants Q1908 complexity of slightly and very good flavour Marisco Vineyards with secondary The Cauldron sweet fruit flavours with persistence. $45 Diamond Heart complexity and a balanced Adelaide Hills good acidity. $36 Marlborough Blanc toasty palate. $54 Sparkling Pinot Noir Centennial de Blancs 2018 Clover Hill Cuvee Chardonnay NV Vineyards Limited HHH 91pts Exceptionelle Pipers HHH 90pts Release Southern Toasty spicy nose with River Tasmania Toasty oaky aromas and Highlands NSW a complexity of fruit and Cuvée Rosé 2017 a complex fruit cake-like Blanc de Blancs NV secondary characters on HHH 91pts flavour profile with sharp HHH 91pts the palate. $40 NZ Nicely ageing wine with acidity. $25 Flinty nose smells of Sidewood Isabella a mature complexity lemon curd with a fresh Rose Adelaide Hills of red apples and SPARKLING citrus palate developing Sparkling Pinot Noir strawberries. $75 NV $30+ complexity. $40 2015 HHH 91pts Buller Wines RLB Centennial A generous full flavoured Victoria Sparkling 14 TASTED Vineyards Late style with flinty toasty Rosé NV HHH 90pts 7 AWARDED Disgorged (10 Years plum-like characters and A combination of tart red On Lees) Southern good bead. $35 apples and perfumed “A better flight here with Highlands NSW Brut Koonara Guardian strawberry fruit with finer bubbles holding in NV HHH 91pts Angel Mount sharp acidity. $17 the glass,” commented Complex, toasty and Gambier Sparkling Love + Glory one judge. “With a step- creamy with a fine drive Chardonnay 2022 McLaren Vale up in complexity these of acid and mouth filling HHH 90pts Sparkling are well worth the extra bubbles. $50 A super fresh and floral Tempranillo Rosé few dollars.” Clover Hill Cuvee green apple nose with a 2022 HHH 90pts Foudre Pipers bright and crunchy linear Strawberry jam aromas River Tasmania palate. $30 with a floral lift and an Chardonnay Pinot upfront strawberry and Noir NV HHH 91pts cream palate. $35 A fuller, well-made and complex style; slightly sweet fruit and racy acidity to balance. $55 November/December 2022 W I N E S TAT E 85

CHAMPAGNE & SPARKLING Taltarni Essence Jansz Late Jansz Single Champagne Tsarine Champagne Tsarine Pyrenees Victoria Disgorged Vineyard Vintage Champagne France Cuvée Premium Blanc de Blancs Vintage Tasmania Tasmania Sparkling Brut Rosé NV Champagne France 2017 HHH 90pts Cuvée 2014 Chardonnay 2016 HHH1/2 93pts Chardonnay Pinot Subtle toastiness to the HHHH1/2 96pts HHH 91pts Deep candied pink Noir Pinot Meunier fruit fragrances with Nose described by one Good core and colour with a light NV HHHH1/2 96pts a flinty core of fruit judge as resembling a concentration of citrus rose petal nose. Broad Light straw colour with a flavours. $32.99 peach flan. Very more- fruit with nice autolysis creamy nose, racy slight amber edge. Light ish flavoursome palate and aged characters. $65 acidity and green apple attractive crisp apple SPARKLING with good concentration flavours. Very dry finish. and citrus bouquet. Nice VINTAGE $50+ of autolysis evident, Zonzo Estate $64.99 lively acid and some tight line of acid and a Vintage Sparkling delicious bready yeast 14 TASTED fine bead. $60 Yarra Valley Pinot CHAMPAGNE autolysis on the palate. 8 AWARDED Glandore Chloe Noir Chardonnay UNDER $100 $54.99 “Some real gems Hunter Sparkling 2016 HHH 91pts Dumangin J. Fils La here showing aged Chardonnay 2021 A very more-ish full 8 TASTED Cuvee 17 Chigny- complexity and lovely HHH 91pts flavoured upfront style 7 AWARDED Les-Roses France acid pulling the wines Super young and citrusy that still has some A solid group. “Nice Brut NV along,” enthused one with hints of apples primary fruit evident. $65 simplicity here offering HHHH 95pts judge. “A few could have and spices and a nice balanced elegant A delicious full flavoured been better with more crunchy acid line. $75 OTHER drinking,” noted one Champagne with peach yeast autolysis.” Truffle Hill Truffle EUROPEAN judge. and baked apple-like Hunters Reserve SPARKLING characters, nice acid Jansz Tasmania Manjimup Sparkling Champagne Charles drive and fine bubbles. Vintage Cuvee 2018 Pinot Noir 2017 4 TASTED Mignon Premium $49.95 HHHH1/2 97pts HHH 91pts 2 AWARDED Reserve Epernay Louis Bouillot A fragrant complexity Apple cider and quince- France Brut NV Perle d'Ivoire Blanc of hazelnuts, baked like aromas with nicely A couple of good HHHH1/2 97pts de Blancs NV apples and brioche focussed chocolaty/ examples showing fresh Toasty yeast autolysis HHH1/2 92pts with a mineral element strawberry intensity. $80 characters. nose layered with apple Smells of lemon drops and similar characters Clover Hill Pipers and lemon curd-like and has an elegant, following on to the River Tasmania Tissot-Maire aromas. Creamy in balanced and crunchy creamy palate with a Vintage Brut Crémant du Jura the mouth with long fresh palate with mouth lovely fine bead. $50 Chardonnay Brut Lapiaz Cremant persistent baked apple/ filling bubbles. $40 Bangor Tasmania Pinot Noir 2016 NV HHH1/2 92pts lemon curd flavours and Louis Bouillot Blanc de Blanc 2016 HHH 91pts Floral, citrusy and nutty juicy acidity. $92 Perle de Vigne HHHH1/2 96pts Nose is a nutty on the nose with a good ‘Grande Reserve’ A remarkably fresh complexity of aromas core of fruit freshness NV HHH 91pts bouquet of peaches, with a juicy fruit palate on the finely structured Elegant citrus bouquet apples and florals with and fine bubbles. $55 palate. $33 with a green edge and poached fruit flavours, tight floral fruit/melon a nice mineral thread, Marc Bredif Brut flavour profile. $38 lovely doughy autolysis Vouvray France Brut Champagne Canard- and salivating acidity. $95 NV HHH 91pts Duchêne P181 A hint of baked apples Organic Extra lift off the nose with nice Champagne France fruit flavour intensity on Cuvée 2014 the palate. $35 HHH 91pts Hues of summer straw CHAMPAGNE bales with a nutty ROSÉ complexity on the nose. Very broad natural 4 TASTED flavours on a dry citrus 2 AWARDED palate. $69.99 Champagne Two nice examples here, Canard-Duchêne however the judges Champagne expected better from France Cuvee Brut this category. Champagne NV HHH 90pts Champagne Canard- Spicy vanilla oak nose Duchêne Cuvée and generous honey Champagne France waffle driven flavours. Brut Rosé NV $54.99 HHH1/2 92pts Deep orange, onion skin hue. Soft toasty notes with a full mouthful of bubbles and finishing dry. $59.99 86 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2022

varietal tasting CHAMPAGNE Pommery Cuvee Champagne Charles Pierre Gimonnet & Sutherland $100+ Louise Brut Nature Mignon Cuvee Fils Spécial Club Estate Yarra Reims Champagne Comte de Marne 'Grand Terroirs de Valley Sparkling 11 TASTED France Chardonnay Epernay France Brut Chardonnay' Tempranillo 2021 11 AWARDED Pinot Noir 2004 NV HHHH1/2 96pts Extra Brut 2015 HHH 91pts HHHH1/2 97pts A drier style showing HHH1/2 93pts Spicy strawberry aromas Very consistent group Lovely freshness here great aged components. Light integrated candy and soft cherry flavours showing more texture with a bouquet of honey Nougat/honeysuckle-like apple aromas. Similarly with good acid, tannin with complexity, lees and vanilla and nicely aromas and a complexity light crisp lemon, lime and sugar balance. $38 stirring and age all focussed and well- of flinty fruit flavours and sweet apple acidity focussed in a linear way. developed flavours on on a delicately textured follows on the palate Scarpantoni Estate the phenolic textured palate with mouth- with a touch of dry Black Tempest Champagne palate showing fine watering acidity. $124 green bean character. McLaren Vale Tsarine by Adriana persistent bubbles. $380 Pol Roger $170 Sparkling Shiraz NV Champagne France Pommery Cuvee Vintage Brut 2015 HHH 91pts Chardonnay Pinot Louise Parcelles HHHH 95pts SPARKLING Dark berries dominate Noir Pinot Meunier Reims Champagne Flinty green bean RED the nose with spicy NV HHHHH 98pts France Chardonnay characters on the plum/berry flavours Mid-straw colour turning Pinot Noir 2005 nutty nose and good 13 TASTED filling the palate. $28 to sunset. Lovely nose HHHH1/2 96pts concentration of fruit 7 AWARDED of honeysuckle and A classy wine that is still flavours with lingering Andrew Garrett lemon rind. Excellent amazingly youthful with secondary elements. “Lots of interesting McLaren Vale balance of lively citrus toasty honeyed aromas $175 varieties being used Sparkling Shiraz NV flavours, juicy acidity and and fresh sweet fruit Champagne Charles here,” said one judge. HHH 90pts a buttery pie crust finish. flavours balanced with Mignon Premier Cru “But a few lacked Youthful spicy plum EU140.00 lovely, aged characters. Epernay France Brut purpose and direction. characters with a licorice Nice acid line. $360 NV HHHH 94pts The best wines had note, some sweetness Champagne Deutz Honeyed floral balanced base wines, and medium bubbles. William Deutz Brut fragrances and a fine sparkling expertise and $15 2013 HHHHH 98pts lively palate with a attention to detail.” Hues of soft gold. delicate honey/blossom Artwine La Nice seamless honey flavour profile and some Reillys Moonvine Dolce Vita Clare blossom and mature fine bubbles. $102 Clare Valley Valley Sparkling yeast autolysis nose. Barossa Sparkling Montepulciano NV Flavoursome lemon Pommery Grand Cru Shiraz 2018 HHH 90pts curd and soft brioche Reims Champagne HHHH1/2 96pts Sweet and spicy plum elements with hints of France Chardonnay Meaty notes to the plum fruit on the nose and homemade apple pie. Pinot Noir 2008 fruit nose with nice palate with a fine and Great assimilated palate. HHH1/2 93pts yeast autolysis. Palate persistent bead. $45 $200 Smells like fresh crusty has both fruit freshness bread with honeysuckle and complexity with MOSCATO Pierre Gimonnet & notes and a big, prominent tannins, good Fils Cuvée Fleuron complex and full-bodied acidity and great fine 3 TASTED Brut 1er Cru Blanc lemon curd palate. $149 bead. $40 2 AWARDED de Blancs 2017 HHHHH 98pts Grampians Estate Great wines for those A rich yet elegant style Rutherford who like a lighter, of Champagne with Grampians slightly spritzig, sweet a lovely toasty nutty Sparkling Shiraz style. complexity to the nose 2020 HHH1/2 92pts and a full fleshy and Brambly bouquet with Ellis Wines flavoursome palate with a charcuterie character Signature Heathcote the fruit nicely paired and good core of Moscato 2021 with the structural chocolaty fruit with fine HHH1/2 92pts acidity. $130 tannins. $40 Lemon fruit tingle-like aromas and a light Champagne Deutz Saddler's Creek balanced spritz fruit palate Amour de Deutz Wines Bluegrass with nicely balanced Champagne France Langhorne Creek sweetness. $22 Champagne 2011 Sparkling Cabernet HHHH1/2 97pts Sauvignon 2018 Watkins Sibling Vibrant colours of mid- HHH1/2 92pts Series Riverland straw. Mature aromas A well-made wine with Sparkling Moscato with strong yeast a cassis and cherry 2021 HHH1/2 92pts autolysis complexity. bouquet and forest floor Green apple nose Aged characters of and berry compote-like with honeysuckle-like marmalade and golden flavours. $45 sweetness that follows syrup on the palate but through onto the slightly supported by lovely tart palate. $24 fresh acidity. One for the lovers of aged Champagne. $370.00 November/December 2022 W I N E S TAT E 87

169 TASTED 104 AWARDED NEW RELEASES As we get closer to the end of the year we also get to see the Erin Eyes Emerald Yealands Reserve new wines that will excite us. Here we have a great selection Isle Clare Valley Marlborough across the board from fresh and lively youngsters to those wines Riesling 2022 Sauvignon Blanc that have been matured for a year or two, often in oak, to give HHHH 94pts 2022 HHHHH 98pts added complexity. Delicate floral/citrus An excellent example bouquet and an elegant of a NZ sauvignon SPARKLING Bec Hardy Good Shanahans seamlessly balanced blanc with its intense Things Come to Evergreen Eden palate with a lemon/lime green bean/passionfruit 4 TASTED Those Who Wait Valley Riesling 2021 flavour profile. $25 bouquet and its classic 3 AWARDED Australia Prosecco HHHH1/2 97pts flavour bomb of a palate NV HHH 91pts Pale straw wine with Erin Eyes Pride of with just a subtle hint of Two nice examples of Fresh floral and muscat- a green tinge, inviting Erin Reserve Clare oak. $19.95 fresh clean styles with like aromas with brown lime-like aromas Valley Riesling 2022 Babydoll one nicely matured pleasant and persistent and a generous, fuller HHHH 94pts Marlborough wine. apple flavours. $22 style palate with pretty Pretty nose – a floral Sauvignon Blanc perfumed fruit flavours delicacy of roses and 2022 HHHH1/2 Sidewood Estate RIESLING and hints of citrus. $23 violets with light, 97pts Adelaide Hills By Merrill Dancing refreshing and persistent A classic style sitting Sparkling Pinot Noir 7 TASTED Queen Clare Valley floral/citrus flavours. $40 in the pungent tropical NV HHHH 94pts 5 AWARDED Riesling 2021 spectrum with an Red berry fruit HHHH1/2 96pts Soul Growers Eden intense guava-like fragrances with a hint Excellent group of fresh Nose is intense and Valley Riesling 2022 bouquet and good of bready complexity consistent rieslings. buttery and just HHH1/2 92pts length of varietal fruit and a refreshing light “These are a good each starting to show some A richer style with flavours with a good acid strawberry palate with way bet for enjoying toasty development. interesting spicy floral drive. $18.95 crisp acid. $24 now or for cellaring,” Nicely structured fragrances and flavours Bec Hardy Adelaide said one judge. buttery toasty palate and nice phenolic grip. Sauvignon Blanc Coward & Black with marmalade-like $28 2022 HHH 90pts Western Australia varietal intensity. $25 Delicate grassy style Blanc de Blanc 2018 SAUVIGNON with tropical notes and HHH1/2 92pts BLANC sweetness rounding out Golden wine with a fine the palate. $18 bead, complex aged 4 TASTED aromas and a creamy 3 AWARDED palate with toasty flavours. $65 Very solid strong varietal characters here giving intense fruit flavours. JUDGES - DAY 1 Peter Pollard Mango Parker Senior Winemaker at Research scientist Richard Gawel Angas & Bremer Wines. at AWRI. Has AWAC Winemaking graduate, Completed vintages with qualification and 20 Roseworthy College and first Californian Wineries Geyser years AWRI quality specialist lecturer in sensory Peak, Sonoma Valley, and panel experience. science. 12 years as educator of Peter Lehmann in the wine evaluation at Roseworthy Barossa Valley. Previously and University of Adelaide. the Winemaker at Simeon Experienced wine show judge Wines. Completed Contributor to the Oxford AWRI Advanced Wine Companion to Wine. Currently Assessment course. research scientist at the Australian Wine Research Institute. 88 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

wine & spirit insider tasting PINOT GRIS/ Tahbilk Nagambie OTHER WHITE Tahbilk Nagambie Coward & Black GRIGIO Lakes Pinot Gris VARIETALS & Lakes Marsanne Western Australia 2022 HHH 91pts BLENDS 2022 HHH1/2 92pts Chardonnay 2018 9 TASTED A richer style with floral/ Clean bright citrus HHHHH 98pts 4 AWARDED lemon rind elements, 12 TASTED blossom bouquet and A fragrant developed A mixed bag of easy tangy acid and a 7 AWARDED full of delicate floral pear complexity of toast, drinking diverse styles phenolic texture. $21.40 flavours with a floral honey and lemon of wines ranging from The usual diverse finish. $21.40 meringue pie that the neutral to the lightly FIANO range of good varietal follows through onto flavoured. examples and some McGuigan the nicely textured 3 TASTED faulty wines with old oak Mastercraft and balanced palate Sidewood Estate 1 AWARDED taint. “The best wines Riverland SA with good, sweet/acid Adelaide Hills here were true to variety Chenin Blanc 2022 balance. $39.50 Pinot Gris 2022 One good example or showed texture that HHH1/2 92pts Marisco Vineyards HHHH1/2 96pts showing varietal added to their flavour Bright, fresh and lifted The King's Bastard A pleasant confectionery character and nice ripe profile,” said one judge. fruit driven wine with Marlborough pear bouquet with light complexity. “These don’t have to be nice balance between Chardonnay 2021 herbaceous characters polished; often they give subtle oak and floral HHHH1/2 97pts and refreshing savoury- Heritage Estate an extra dimension that citrus fruit. $22 Green apple and cedary like flavours with a hint Granite Belt Fiano is enjoyable.” oak aromas with a flinty of toast and good length 2021 HHHH 94pts Gudilly Single thread. Excellent oak/ of acid. $24 A complex, refreshing Mytikas Single Vineyard Adelaide fruit flavour complexity Yealands and mouth filling Vineyard Adelaide Pinot Bianco 2022 on the generous palate Marlborough combination of pear, Pinot Bianco 2022 HHH1/2 92pts with a drying acid finish. Pinot Gris 2022 lemon rind and floral HHHH 95pts Perfumed floral fruit $28.99 HHH1/2 92pts elements with toasty Full bodied full flavoured overlayed with toasty Aromas and flavours of notes. $39 wine, smelling musky elements adding pears and apples, floral and floral with clean complexity and crisp notes, moderate acidity VERMENTINO floral fruit flavours and a acid line. $30 and a savoury finish. warming finish. $30 $16.95 3 TASTED SEMILLON & Heritage Estate 2 AWARDED Mount Avoca Estate BLENDS Granite Belt Organic Pyrenees Pinot Gris 2021 A couple of worthy Viognier 2022 1 TASTED HHH1/2 92pts examples here. HHHH 94pts 1 AWARDED Distinctive colour, a Fresh lifted apricot complexity of aromas Sorby Adams aromas and a creamy One nice fresh drink and lusciously rich Mytikas Single textured palate with now style. apricot flavours on a Vineyard Adelaide more of the apricot silky palate. $29 Vermentino 2022 characters, cedary oak JUUL by Hollydene HHHH 95pts and mineral finish. $28 Estate Upper Hunter A delicate fruit driven Valley Semillon style with flinty peppery Berrigan Wines Sauvignon Blanc notes to the nose and Shining Rock 2021 HHH1/2 92pts nicely textured palate Adelaide Hills Smells like a lemon with good flavour length. Gruner Veltliner meringue pie with $18 2022 HHHH 94pts plenty of powerful citrus Aromatic floral nose flavours and a crisp line Sorby Adams Gudilly with a pretty floral palate of acid. $26 Single Vineyard that’s lifted, fresh and Adelaide Vermentino layered with a tight acid CHARDONNAY 2022 HHH 90pts backbone. $29.95 Light spicy fruit 16 TASTED fragrances and creamy Heritage Estate 9 AWARDED spicy flavours. Obvious Granite Belt sweetness on the finish. Verdelho 2021 An excellent result from $18 HHHH 94pts the older wines with An herbaceous and less depth showing in lifted tropical fruit style the 2022s. “Here we with toasty complexity see the winemaker’s on the nose and good craft with good use of flavour persistence and oak and buttery malo length. $30 balance,” said one judge. “This is now a ‘grown- up style’ – not too oaky and not too simple.” The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 89

NEW RELEASES Marisco Vineyards Haselgrove McGuigan Watkins Mad Leefield Station Alternative Series Mastercraft Cousins Series Marlborough McLaren Vale Murray Darling Ruscello Langhorne Chardonnay 2021 Grenache Rosé 2022 Montepulciano 2021 Creek Sangiovese HHHH1/2 96pts HHH 91pts HHHH 95pts 2021 HHH1/2 92pts Full bodied style with a Turkish Delight nose A rich full-bodied wine Fresh lifted raspberry complex buttery/peachy and good length and with ripe blackberry fruit, fruit characters with bouquet. Round and persistence of subtle red sweet vanillin oak and good tannin structure. creamy in the mouth fruit flavours. $26 massive tannins. Young, Should develop nicely with excellent fruit, oak needs time. $30 with time. $25 and acid balance and a OTHER RED Briar Ridge warm finish. $21.99 VARIETALS & Limited Release Mytikas Single BLENDS BDX Wrattonbully Vineyard Adelaide Borrello Vineyards Red Blend 2021 Sangiovese 2022 Margaret River 11 TASTED HHH1/2 93pts HHH 91pts Chardonnay 2020 8 AWARDED Quite a green nose Attractive mix of glacé HHHH1/2 96pts and palate with herbal/ cherries and light oak Brilliant intensity of A solid flight with eucalypt elements characters with earthy stonefruit, quince and interest across a number and young berry fruit notes. Easy drinking. $30 oak on the nose with of varieties. “The higher characters. $40 some flinty complexity. scored wines had Brand & Sons GRENACHE & Silky smooth in better fruit structure Last Sunday BLENDS the mouth with an and balance,” noted one Drive Coonawarra abundance of fruit/toasty judge. “Others were Cabernet Franc 2021 10 TASTED oak flavours. $28 Totino Wines Altezza guilty of infanticide!” HHH 91pts 4 AWARDED Adelaide Hills Attractive stewed plum Chardonnay 2021 Saddler's Creek fruit here with some A mixed bag! “A few Heritage Estate HHH 91pts Wines Winemakers minty complexity and a had advanced colour and Reserve Estate A lean flinty style with Craft Adelaide grippy finish. $26 lacked vibrancy that is Granite Belt buttery hazelnut nose Hills Barbera 2021 Saddler's Creek unusual for this variety,” Chardonnay 2019 and tight acid driven HHHH1/2 97pts Wines Winemakers noted one judge. HHHH1/2 96pts herbal palate. $34 Plenty of brooding Craft Adelaide Hills “The better wines had “Lots going on here!” sweet dark fruit Aglianico 2021 intense cherry and spice Tinned peaches, toasty characters laced with HHH 91pts characters and were fun herbal characters. Fleshy Very minty nose and rich to taste.” ROSÉoak and secondary in the mouth with grippy peppermint chocolate characters lift off the tannins, juicy acid and an flavours. “Big but not Krondorf Founders nose and fill the mouth 9 TASTED oaky finish. $44 brutish!” $44 View Barossa Valley with an abundance of 3 AWARDED Mercer Wines Joven Grenache 2021 McGuigan Hilltops Tempranillo HHHH1/2 96pts rich flavours. $59 Overall, this flight was Mastercraft Hilltops 2022 HHH 90pts Intense inky aromas – Tempranillo 2021 Lots of intense sweet all strawberry jam and Mount Avoca disappointing. “There HHHH1/2 96pts blueberry fruit characters plums with sweet cherry Moates Lane were too many low fruit, Fragrant fruit cake here laced with grippy fruit flavours layered Victoria Chardonnay thin and flavourless aromas with a slight tannins. $30 with chary oak and tangy 2021 HHHH 94pts eucalypt-like note. acid. Palate builds power Stonefruit nose with Lashings of sweet plum SANGIOVESE and strength. $24 flinty complexity and wines,” said one judge. fruit and sweet vanillin a smooth subtly flinty oak flavours with firm 4 TASTED Watkins Sibling peach palate with “A number were ‘run-off’ tannins and a spicy oak 3 AWARDED Series Langhorne wines - afterthoughts finish. $30 Creek Grenache Some worthy examples 2022 HHH1/2 92pts an oaky finish. “Very rather than designated Saddler's Creek here worth trying. Black cherry nose drinkable!” $24 Wines Winemakers Gudilly Single with hints of violets. rosé wines.” Craft Adelaide Hills Vineyard Adelaide Savoury palate with Sagrantino 2021 Sangiovese 2022 light herbaceous Sidewood Owen's Erin Eyes Celtic HHHH1/2 96pts HHHH 94pts characters. $22 Adelaide Hills Cross Clare Valley Interesting nose of Very varietal with Chardonnay 2021 Rosé 2022 cherries with a dash of plenty of sweet plum Borrello Vineyards HHH1/2 92pts HHH 91pts white pepper and earthy and sour cherry fruit, Swan Valley Flinty minerally aromas Pretty pink wine with complexity. Sweet fruit nice spiciness, earthy Grenache 2021 with some peach fruit fresh strawberry fruit driven palate with herbal notes and firm tannin HHH1/2 92pts in the mix and similar characters, floral nuances notes and a soft tannin structure. $30 Attractive cherry liqueur- characters echoed on and crisp acid. $25 structure. $44 like aromas with vibrant the palate. $55 Moppity Vineyards earthy prune flavours. “A McPherson MWC Lock & Key real crowd pleaser.” $22 Goulburn Valley Hilltops Rosé 2022 Chardonnay 2022 HHH 91pts HHH 91pts Delicate lifted rose-like Buttery peach bouquet bouquet and a light and and creamy oak chewy berry fruit driven dominated palate with palate. $25 nice purity of fruit. $22 90 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

wine & spirit insider tasting Allegiance Wines Bec Hardy Adelaide CABERNET & Bec Hardy The Artisan South Pinot Noir 2022 BLENDS Pertaringa Australia Grenache HHH 91pts Understudy McLaren 2021 HHH1/2 92pts A full-bodied 14 TASTED Vale Cabernet Lusciously sweet straightforward style 9 AWARDED Sauvignon 2021 jammy fruit characters with lifted cherry fruit HHHH 94pts with a savoury/meaty and earthy complexity. A strong class. Some Inky purple wine with a element and fine tannin $20 great examples here subdued earthy bouquet structure. $40 showing a touch of and a full-bodied palate Common Ground spearmint and berry intense with varietal fruit PINOT NOIR Limestone Coast fruit with chocolate flavours. $26 Pinot Noir 2021 overtones. 10 TASTED HHH 91pts 6 AWARDED A nice simple wine with savoury fruit, herbal “The best were fruit Marisco Vineyards hints and powerful Borrello Vineyards driven but also well The King's Wrath eucalypt notes. $22 Margaret River structured, complete Marlborough Cabernet Sauvignon wines,” said one judge. Pinot Noir 2021 Sidewood Abel 2020 HHHHH 98pts “Others were back to HHHH1/2 96pts Adelaide Hills Blackcurrant aromas the old style dry reds An earthy complexity Pinot Noir 2021 with some mintiness which we should have of cherry, plum and HHH 91pts and earthy nuances. stopped producing ages strawberry varietal fruit Savoury aromas with a Attractive upfront sweet ago.” characters on both the dash of plum jam and and fleshy fruit flavours nose and the palate nice mix of developed with a subtle hint of with grainy tannins and fruit flavours. $45 greenness and nice soft a warmth to the finish. tannins. $30 $28.99 MERLOT & BLENDS Yalumba The Menzies Coonawarra 7 TASTED Cabernet Sauvignon 3 AWARDED 2017 HHHHH 98pts A powerful wine that Three nice examples of is still fresh for its the variety here. age with some great varietal fruit and stylish Totino Wines Classic Watkins Mad oak, complexing minty Range Adelaide Hills Cousins Series characters and nice Cabernet Sauvignon Wavemaker secondary elements 2017 HHHH 94pts Langhorne Creek developing. $60 Herbal eucalypt Merlot 2021 characters mingle with HHH1/2 93pts generous plum fruit and A solid chocolaty style Glandore cedar oak and has some of merlot with good Cellarhands lively tannins. $28 berry fruit backbone Hilltops Cabernet and silky smooth in the Sauvignon 2021 Marisco Vineyards mouth. $25 HHHH1/2 97pts Tenafeate Creek One The Ned Spicy blackcurrant Tree Hill Cabernet Marlborough Tenafeate Creek varietal aromas with Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir 2021 One Tree Hill Merlot green bean notes and 2021 HHH1/2 92pts HHHH1/2 97pts 2021 HHH1/2 92pts generous dark fruit Intense mulberry/ Lots of lovely juicy Warm, generous and flavours with minty oak nose and fleshy cherry varietal fruit vibrant wine in the dark hints and seamlessly in the mouth with characters here layered fruit spectrum with integrated oak with fine long luscious red fruit with earthy complexity light oak and minty tannins. $120 flavours. $35 and hints of barnyard-like notes. $35 funkiness supported by Marisco Vineyards Watkins Heritage Uleybury Mt Lofty a firm tannin structure. Leefield Station Summerfield Series Adelaide Hills Ranges Cabernet $25.99 Marlborough Pyrenees Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Sauvignon 2020 Pinot Noir 2021 2020 HHH 91pts 2017 HHHH1/2 96pts HHH 91pts HHHH 94pts Rich full flavoured Smells like a plum Pleasant blackcurrant- Lifted cherry nose with varietal that’s all fruitcake with a like aromas and flavours an earthy edge and lots blackcurrants and mint edge and has with savoury and earthy of sweet varietal fruit chocolate. $36 a complexity of fruit complexity. $30 and spicy oak on the full cake-like flavours with flavoured palate. $27.99 massive tannins. Still youthful needs more time. $50 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 91

NEW RELEASES Coward & Black Tempus Two Watkins Sibling SHIRAZ & Haselgrove Il The Black Prince Copper Barossa Series Langhorne BLENDS Padrone McLaren Western Australia Valley Shiraz 2021 Creek Shiraz 2021 2020 & OLDER Vale Shiraz 2020 Cabernet 2020 HHHH 94pts HHH1/2 92pts HHHH 94pts HHH 91pts Velvety floral fragrances A big wine with dark 21 TASTED Spicy oak dominated A solid wine with very with a massive full blue fruits layered 15 AWARDED nose with some minty good varietal fruit flavoured palate and a with meaty/licorice fruit underneath. intensity, lifted minty background of oak. Good complexity and chewy There are more than Lightweight fruity palate notes and soft tannins. commercial style. $35 tannins. $22 enough great wines in with nice fruit finish. $45 $55 Mount Avoca Old Bec Hardy this flight from young to Barossa Valley Wine Vine Pyrenees Pertaringa older vintages to please Company Farms SHIRAZ & Shiraz 2021 Undercover McLaren most people. “The Barossa Valley BLENDS HHHH 94pts Vale Shiraz 2021 younger wines showed Shiraz 2019 2022-2021 Described by one judge HHH1/2 92pts good potential for further HHHH 94pts as “A solid citizen!” Bright purple hue with ageing but are also nice Tarry black fruit 22 TASTED That is a mix of primary an intense savoury berry to drink now, whilst the fragrances with a long 17 AWARDED red berry and stonefruit fruit presence, slight older wines were ready and quite drying tannic characters. $43 tarry notes and firm to drink now, with a palate showing good A variety of regions tannins. $26 couple past their use by berry fruit presence. $40 and winemaking styles Beklyn Single Mount Avoca Estate date,” said one judge. Yalumba The Steeple here. “There were some Vineyard Currency Organic Pyrenees Barossa Valley wines with varying oak Creek Shiraz 2021 Shiraz 2021 Uleybury Mt Lofty Shiraz 2018 balance and fruit depth,” HHHH 94pts HHH1/2 92pts Ranges Shiraz 2020 HHHH 94pts said one judge. “Lots Deep dark and slightly Lifted confectionery HHHH1/2 97pts Delicate perfumed of good drinking wines stewed varietal fruit floral aromas and a Rich ripe dark fruit fruit aromatics with a here to pick from.” elements here showing big, yet elegant, palate aromas lift off the nose chocolaty palate full of a savoury thread and with light berry fruit with gentle oak nuances excellent fruit richness Berrigan Wines stemmy notes. $45 flavours. $35 and luscious black and and a smooth finish. $80 Shining Rock Brand & Sons Old Haselgrove red berry fruit flavours McPherson Adelaide Hills Shiraz Town Coonawarra Alternative Series with mocha notes and Don't tell Gary 2021 HHHHH 98pts Shiraz 2021 McLaren Vale Syrah great tannins. $30 Central Vic Shiraz A lovely smooth HHHH 94pts 2022 HHH 91pts 2020 HHH1/2 93pts blackcurrant driven A powerful A creamy style with Mount Avoca The Savoury nose showing a nose with a reasonable concentration of red strawberry jam-like fruit Calling Pyrenees smoky element with nice depth of bright red fruit berry fruits on the nose and a slight savoury Shiraz 2019 balance between red flavours with a licorice- and following through thread. $28 HHHH1/2 97pts fruits and tannins. $24 like thread on a big, full onto the velvety smooth Mercer Wines A complex blockbuster McPherson MWC and nicely weighted palate. $50 Nouveau Hunter of a wine with lovely Central Vic Shiraz palate. $34.95 Shanahans Valley Shiraz 2022 lifted spicy black fruit Mourvedre 2020 The Old Dog Barossa HHH 91pts characters layered with HHH1/2 92pts Nature Foundation Valley Shiraz 2021 A subtle peppery fruit rose petal-like nuances. Bright red wine with Barbara Hardy HHH1/2 93pts bouquet with a lean light Lovely mouthfeel and a fresh berry bouquet McLaren Vale Shiraz Rich and juicy with a berry palate. $30 vibrant tannins. $89 and a mid-weight 2021 HHHH 94pts dark spicy fruit nose Tenafeate Creek palate full of fleshy fruit Nice example of a and a fruity palate Purple Haze Krondorf Moculta flavours. $22 McLaren Vale style with showing a firm tannin (Preservative Free) Eden Valley Shanahans The great presence of lifted backbone. $23 One Tree Hill Shiraz Shiraz 2020 Reaper Barossa black fruit characters 2022 HHH 91pts HHHH1/2 96pts Valley Shiraz 2020 and good tannin level. Very youthful with dense Dark purple full-bodied HHH1/2 92pts $20 inky fruit characters and wine that is developing A shiraz that is more in big silky tannins. $38 nicely with fruit in the the savoury spectrum Bec Hardy McLaren KAP Bros McLaren rich ripe strawberry-like with meaty fruit Vale Shiraz 2021 Vale Shiraz 2021 spectrum and chocolaty characters. “Has good HHHH 94pts HHH 91pts elements with nice bones!” Pun intended. A velvety smooth shiraz Big, fruity and savoury tannins. $40 $80 with lovely lifted red with leathery notes Mount Avoca berry fruit nose and and quite a soft tannin Shanahans Silence Moates Lane palate and a big tannin profile. $27.50 is Golden Barossa Pyrenees Shiraz presence. $30 Heritage Estate Valley Shiraz 2020 2020 HHH 91pts Granite Belt Shiraz HHHH 94pts Lovely cool climate Viveur Limestone Mourvedre Grenache A savoury, well- shiraz with fresh lifted Coast Shiraz 2021 2021 HHH 91pts structured, oak driven red berry fruit and a HHHH 94pts A solid meaty/ style of shiraz with licorice thread. $24 Savoury nose with savoury blend with a bright red fruit pushing a spicy lift. Rich and velvety smooth tannin through and drying rounded in the mouth backbone. $37 tannins. $30 and full of fruit flavours with drying tannins. $34.95 92 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

Haselgrove Bella BEST VALUE BUYS - All under $20 Vigna McLaren Vale Shiraz 2020 HHH 91pts Savoury aromas with a slight leathery note and a long, warm, red berry palate. $30 Haselgrove Tusail McLaren Vale Shiraz 2020 HHH 91pts Good commercial style; a mix of fruit, chocolate, licorice and leathery characters. $60 Te Awanga Estate Marisco Vineyards Trademark Hawke's A Sticky End Bay Syrah 2018 Marlborough Noble HHH 91pts Sauvignon Blanc A lean tarry oak 2021 HHHH1/2 dominated wine with 96pts herbaceous elements Burnt orange-like and some nice chocolaty bouquet lifted with zesty notes. $109.99 lime characters and a luscious silky smooth Mount Avoca fruit driven palate. Lovely Cellar Reserve viscous mouthfeel and Pyrenees Shiraz a good level of acid to 2015 HHH 91pts balance. $31.99 An aged savoury style with a brick red hue, Marisco Vineyards Gapsted Wines Alpine spicy tar characters and The Ned Marlborough Road King Valley developed tannins. $80 Pinot Gris 2022 Prosecco NV Slightly pink in colour with Pristine colour, floral citrus SWEET a pungent and spicy nose nose with smoked meat WHITES showing a hint of citrus notes and a bright, crisp that follows through onto and crunchy palate with 2 TASTED the rich palate with its nice apple-like flavour profile. $18 1 AWARDED clean line of acid. $19.99 Gapsted Wines Marisco Vineyards Phone: 03 5751 9100 Phone: +64 9 522 9684 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.gapstedwines.com.au Web: www.marisco.co.nz 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. The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 93

GOVERNMENT RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT GRANTS Wine making is an age-old art. New technologies, new approaches to cultivation and fermentation of grapes are constantly being developed. Innovation begins from the growing, harvesting, and aging process right through to corking, bottling, packaging, storing, and shipping. Wineries and innovative businesses that experiment, design, and create new methods in any of the above processes maybe eligible for the Federal Governments Research & Development Grant. So what are you waiting for? Let your new grant take your business to the next stage today. For a no obligation chat call us now. Tel: (02) 8861 9876 • Fax: (02) 8861 9801 • [email protected] 52 O’Connell St, Parramatta NSW 2150 P.O. Box 2407, North Parramatta NSW 1750 www.thegrantspecialists.com.au