Winestate Magazine November December 2019

varietal tasting McGuigan Bin Gumpara Wines Audrey Wilkinson Pokolbin Estate Phil Tempus Two Pewter 9000 Hunter Valley Frieda's Old Vine Winemakers Swannell Hunter Hunter Valley Semillon Barossa Valley Selection Hunter Valley Semillon Semillon 2007 HHHH1/2 Semillon 2019 HHH Valley Semillon 2011 HHHHH 2013 HHHH Beautiful buttery aromas Flinty nose with floral 2018 HHHH1/2 Lovely developed Super youthful nose for with a lemony thread. nuances and a clean lean A good style with a toastiness dominates a six-year-old smelling Great honeyed aged palate with grapefruit- tight varietal nose that’s the flinty, spicy, of sweet citrus with characters on the solid like flavours. $28 all cut hay and lemon nutty nose with zippy flavours of lemons and well-balanced palate. rind with earthy notes. honeyed flavour length, passionfruit and crunchy Excellent example of an Allandale Winery Nice balance of melon weight and style with acidity. $40 aged semillon. $25 Single Vineyard flavours and crunchy acid soft acidity. Ready Tempus Two Pewter Mount Eyre Hunter Valley with a drying finish. $30 for enjoyable drinking Hunter Valley Vineyards Three Semillon 2018 HHH now! $50 Semillon Ponds Hunter Valley Creamy citrus aromas Cockfighters Ghost Pokolbin Estate Phil 2017 HHH1/2 Semillon and a tight palate in the Reserve Hunter Swannell Hunter Lovely lift of jasmine-like 2018 HHHH orange/lemon flavour Valley Semillon Valley Semillon aromas. A tight and Restrained youthful pale spectrum. $24 2017 HHHH 2009 HHHHH elegant palate with fine straw wine with aromas Generous punchy green Pale green/gold colour acid spine. Excellent of citrus blossom and McGuigan Bin citrus characters on with a toasty buttery potential. $40 super fresh lychee and 9000 Hunter Valley the nose with slightly bouquet showing Allandale Winery lime-like flavours with Semillon 2013 HHH astringent white melon/ shades of green melon. Hunter Valley soft acid. $20 Very pale wine still lemon flavours. $30 Intense and powerful Semillon Fermoy Estate amazingly youthful flavours. Ageing 2010 HHH1/2 Margaret River with plenty of fruit still Allandale Winery beautifully with many Toasty bottle age Semillon Sauvignon evident. $25 Hunter Valley years left in it yet. $50 characters obvious on Blanc 2018 HHHH Semillon Audrey Wilkinson the slightly honeyed Good intensity of pretty SEMILLON & 2013 HHHH The Ridge Hunter nose and the nicely varietal characters BLENDS Ready for drinking Valley Semillon developing palate. $52 here of tropical fruits, $30-$40 now! Honeyed nose 2018 HHHH1/2 Fermoy Estate asparagus and capsicum with toasty aged An austere style with Reserve Margaret with some flinty 8 TASTED characters and super green melon notes River Semillon complexity. $25 7 AWARDED supple mouthfeel on to the nose and very 2017 HHH McGuigan Bin the creamy buttery flavoursome varietal fruit Herbaceous, slightly 9000 Hunter Valley A very strong class palate. $32 vibrancy to a palate that green, nose with Semillon across the board. shows a long tight acid a peppery lift and 2018 HHHH “These are beautifully McGuigan Shortlist backbone. $45 seamlessly balanced A fresh youthful and made with attention to Hunter Valley Tempus Two Pewter palate. $45 vibrant herbaceous detail,” said one judge. Semillon 2018 HHH Hunter Valley Tempus Two Pewter driven style that has “The younger wines will A clean, crisp and Semillon Hunter Valley great balance and length also age gracefully and uncomplicated style 2018 HHHH Semillon 2014 HHH with citrussy notes. “A are well worth cellaring.” with youthful citrus/floral Very lean uncomplicated Attractive toasty sleeper!” $25 Some lovely aged characters. $30 style with a tight closed development on the flinty Clovely Estate Left examples here too. nose and a palate that herbal nose with youthful Field South Burnett Uleybury Reserve shows good lemon/ citrus flavours. $40 Semillon McGuigan Shortlist Adelaide Semillon citrus fruit and soft line Allandale Winery 2009 HHHH Hunter Valley 2002 HHH of acid. $40 Hunter Valley Deep golden wine. Semillon Beautifully aged wine Tempus Two Pewter Semillon 2014 HHH Attractive toastiness on 2019 HHHHH with lovely characters of Hunter Valley A well balanced citrus the nose and plenty of “A sleeping giant,” burnt butter, toast and Semillon driven semillon with power to the long strong according to one judge. tropical/citrus fruits. $35 2015 HHHH attractive toasty buttery palate with its crunchy Pure citrus aromas with A fragrant mix of elements. $52 acid finish. $20 a lovely floral lift and SEMILLON & mandarins, herbs and Mistletoe Reserve McGuigan Bin herbaceous characters BLENDS subtle spiciness. Big Hunter Valley 9000 Hunter Valley underneath. Very $40+ powerful palate still Semillon 2009 HHH Semillon good citrus dominated youthful with lime Pale gold wine with a 2017 HHH1/2 palate; great flavour 12 TASTED characters dominating. $40 fresh citrus bouquet Subtle citrus aromatics intensity. $30 12 AWARDED and youthful palate with with a floral whiff and super tight acidity. $50 intense lemon flavours McGuigan Shortlist Great consistency here with mouth-watering Hunter Valley and again shows that acidity. $25 Semillon this variety has the 2014 HHHH1/2 best ageing potential of Still amazingly fresh any other white wines. and youthful showing “These build complexity great intensity of toasty with age yet maintain herbaceous aromas and citrus freshness and flavours with a lovely vibrancy,” noted one thread of lime and nice judge. flintiness. $30 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 101

travelbriefs WINSOR DOBBIN HAWKE'S BAY SETTLE IN FOR LUXURY SHAKEN BUT NOT BROKEN afterwards in their gardens, on roadsides, at SERVICE Nelson Park and on Marine Parade beach. NAPIER, the city that is the heartbeat of Over the next two weeks, 525 aftershocks CRAGGY Range is known not only for its the Hawke’s Bay wine region, suffered a were felt in the region. restaurant but also its village of private massive earthquake in 1931. The quake vineyard cottages dotted around its and the fires that followed destroyed most Art Deco was fashionable in the 1920s. estate, at the centre of which lies a four- of the town, but by the end of the decade The architectural style is characterised bedroom luxury lodge with stunning views Napier had the newest city centre on the by the skyscraper shape, sunbursts and of Te Mata Peak, with the vineyards and globe. Today, Napier's town centre is fountains, and geometric shapes. In post- riverbed below. recognised as one of the largest collection earthquake Napier, Art Deco was both a of Art Deco buildings outside Miami. safe and economical choice. The new Lodge guests can take a dip in the concrete buildings were more resistant outdoor pool overlooking Tukituki river, Nowhere else in the southern hemisphere to earthquakes and fire, materials were enjoy a privately catered meal in the open- has such a concentration of buildings in the cheap and the stucco relief ornaments plan dining and living room, or stargaze styles of the 1930s - Stripped Classical, typical of Art Deco offered a less costly by the large outdoor fireplace. Spanish Mission and especially Art Deco. form of decoration. At 10.46am on February 3, 1931, Napier Lodge features include breakfast and its surrounding region were struck by an Four Napier architectural firms banded supplies, a sommelier service, four earthquake that measured 7.8 on the Richter together after the earthquake to share luxurious king bedrooms each with an en- scale. While the ground shook violently for facilities and create a united front for the suite and a fully equipped chef’s kitchen. less than three minutes, 261 lives were rebuilding task. Working in shifts around lost as the ground moved and buildings the clock, they continued to design the There is a formal living area with dining crumbled around inhabitants. Fires broke buildings individually. As a result of their and sitting areas by an impressive open out all over town, some beginning in combined efforts, Napier was almost fireplace, a private pool and a courtyard chemist shops where gas jets were close rebuilt within two years of the disaster. with uninterrupted views of Te Mata Peak, to flammable liquids. Firemen could do little lush lawns and gardens. to stop the rapid spread as water supplies An Art Deco Trust was established in had been cut in the earthquake. Afraid to 1985 to promote and preserve what is now The lodge sleeps up to eight people. enter their homes, the survivors camped recognised as a world-class collection of Art Deco architecture. The trust offers a variety of activities such as guided historical walks and vintage cars tours. The annual highlight is the Art Deco Weekend held on the third weekend of February (Feb 19-23 in 2020) when the town turns back the clock and dresses in its deco finest. Vintage vehicles and planes, picnics and jazz concerts, parades and dancing in the street, good 102 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

travelbriefs food and wine are some of more than 8.30pm. Platters are available all day. and design, thanks to its Scandinavian- 100 events that help celebrate Napier’s Smith & Sheth, The Courtyard, Village inspired decor and mid-century style unique heritage. Exchange, 4 Te Aute Rd, Havelock North. chairs, wooden floors, slatted screen and feature wall. FOCUS ON LOCAL WINES CELEBRATING LOCAL FARE Three Wise Birds took out the Outstanding HIDDEN away behind Porters Hotel in IT was a great year for Craggy Range Bar award, and Bistronomy was once Havelock North is the recently arrived tasting at the 2019 Hawke’s Bay Food Awards, again recognised as the Best Restaurant facility for local negociants Smith & Sheth. taking out two top awards - Outstanding in the region. Winery Restaurant along with Best Chef The Smith & Sheth Oenotheque comprises for Casey McDonald. Other winners included Funbuns, which a cellar door and wine lounge offering took out Best Cocktail Experience, and tastings of the wines produced by Steve The Outstanding Coffee Establishment Matisse Wine Bar which had the Best Wine Smith, who played a major role in founding award went to Hawthorne Coffee Roasters and Beverage List in the region. Craggy Range, and American businessman and People’s Choice Award was presented Brian Sheth. to Adoro in Ahuriri. Restaurant Association of New Zealand CEO Marisa Bidois, said it was important Havelock North restaurant Malo won for each region to take time out and the award for outstanding ambiance celebrate as an industry. “Hawke's Bay is a mecca for both local and international guests, so it's great to see so many incredible dining experiences in the region,” she said. Top left: Dancers in the Art Deco street. Middle left: Smith and Sheth interior. Middle right: Exterior of Matisse Wine Bar. Bottom right: Exterior of Three Wise Birds. Opposite page top left: Craggy Range restaurant. Opposite page bottom right: Art Deco in Napier. The pair purchased two New Zealand wineries, Pyramid Valley and Lowburn Ferry, and scoured New Zealand looking for special vineyard parcels. Every wine has Maori designation that relates to its whenua (land) origins. Smith & Sheth opened its doors just before last Christmas and all visitors get the chance to sit down with a sommelier and taste through a menu of seven wines under the CRU label. The tasting room is a design triumph with leather, wood, velvet and soft lighting. The cellar door is open daily from 10am- 4pm and visitors can then move through to the wine bar which is open from 4pm- November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 103

114 TASTED JUDGED BY 112 RECOMMENDED Michael Cooper H AW K E S B AY Winestate’s New Zealand editor is author of the internationally acclaimed Wine Atlas of New Zealand and the annual New Zealand Wines: Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide. In the 2004 New Year Honours, Michael was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to wine writing. Hawke's Bay has long been renowned for its weighty, richly Elephant Hill Vidal Soler Hawke's flavoured chardonnays and ‘Bordeaux-style’ blends of merlot, Reserve Hawke's Bay Chardonnay cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. This tasting found many Bay Chardonnay 2018 HHHHH top-flight examples of both, but there’s a lot more to Hawke's Bay 2016 HHHHH This very elegant, than chardonnay and claret-style reds. Syrah, soaring in profile over Well worth cellaring, this youthful wine was the past 20 years, is getting better and better as the vines mature, elegant, youthful wine grown in the Kokako yielding perfumed, graceful reds, packed with plum and black was estate-grown at Te Vineyard, in the Ohiti pepper flavours. Awanga (80%) and in Valley, and matured for the Bridge Pa Triangle 10 months in French oak New Zealand’s second-largest wine region has a wide range of sub- (20%), and fermented barriques (26% new). regional climates and soils, yielding a notably diverse array of wine and matured for a year Fragrant and full-bodied, styles. The tasting also revealed many impressive examples of oak- in French oak casks it has strong, citrusy, aged sauvignon blanc, gewürztraminer, pinot gris, viognier, albarino, (26% new). The bouquet peachy, biscuity flavours, sweet whites, sparkling, rosé and tempranillo. is highly fragrant and with smoky notes complex; the palate adding complexity, and a Prices shown are approximate New Zealand retail. Wines available full-bodied and tightly finely poised, persistent in export markets are shown as (A) Australia, (UK) and (US). structured, with finish. Best drinking concentrated grapefruit 2021+. $35 CHARDONNAY Babich Irongate Coopers Creek and peach flavours, Vidal Legacy Gimblett Gravels Swamp Reserve smoky, mealy, biscuity Hawke's Bay 32 TASTED Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay notes adding complexity, Chardonnay 32 RECOMMENDED Chardonnay Chardonnay good acid spine and a 2018 HHHHH 2018 HHHHH 2018 HHHHH rich finish. Best 2021+. Still very youthful, this Chardonnay is Hawke's Fragrant and finely This classy, harmonious $54 (UK) stylish wine was hand- Bay’s most widely textured, this weighty wine was estate-grown Mills Reef Elspeth picked in the Lyons planted white-wine wine has deep peach in the Havelock North Gimblett Gravels and Kokaho vineyards, variety. It is often and grapefruit flavours, hills and fermented and Hawke's Bay and matured for 10 regarded as performing mealy notes adding matured for 10 months Chardonnay months in French oak at its greatest on complexity and a in French oak casks 2017 HHHHH barriques (45% new). clay soils, but the top seamless, lingering (30% new). Full-bodied, This quietly classy wine Highly fragrant, with examples in this tasting finish. Fresh, youthful it has concentrated, was hand-picked and a complex, slightly flowed from a diversity and finely poised, it’s peachy, slightly spicy fermented and matured smoky bouquet, it is of soil types and sub- already enjoyable, but flavours, gentle biscuity for 10 months in French weighty, with deep, regions, including the likely to be at its best and smoky notes adding oak casks (34% new). vibrant, citrusy, peachy, arid, stony, free-draining 2022+. $40 (A) complexity, and a very Refined and youthful, it slightly biscuity flavours Gimblett Gravels. Many finely balanced, lasting is full-bodied, with deep, that build to a tightly of the wines from the finish. Best drinking citrusy, peachy flavours, structured, lasting warm, early-ripening 2022+. $39 (A) biscuity, savoury notes finish. Best drinking 2018 vintage are already adding complexity, 2022+. $60 delicious. balanced acidity, and a tightly structured, very finely balanced finish. Best drinking 2021+. $40 (US) Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2017 HHHHH Already delicious, this fragrant, rich, complex wine was fermented and matured for a year in French oak puncheons (30% new). Still youthful, it is full-bodied, with strong, peachy, biscuity, slightly toasty and creamy flavours, balanced acidity and a long, harmonious finish. $40 (UK) 104 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

regional tasting Villa Maria Platinum Elephant Hill Askerne Hawke's Coopers Creek Matahiwi Estate Selection Sur Hawke's Bay Bay Chardonnay Select Vineyards Holly Hawke's Bay Lie Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2018 HHHH Plainsman Hawke's Chardonnay Chardonnay 2017 HHHH1/2 Offering good value, Bay Chardonnay 2018 HHHH 2018 HHHHH This tightly structured, this creamy-textured 2018 HHHH Made in a rich, upfront This very elegant, vigorous young wine wine was fermented This subtle, creamy- style, this barrel- youthful wine was was estate-grown at Te and matured for nine textured wine was fermented wine is grown mostly in the Awanga (90%) and in months in mostly French fermented and matured bright, light yellow, with Keltern Vineyard, barrel- the Bridge Pa Triangle oak casks (28% new). for 10 months in barrels, bold, peachy, toasty, fermented and aged (10%) and fermented Bright, light yellow/ but with no use of new slightly buttery flavours ‘sur lie’ (on its yeast and matured for a year in green, it is fragrant oak. Fresh and full- and a smooth finish. lees). Fresh and finely French oak casks (25% and mouthfilling, with bodied, it has very good Already drinking well, poised, it is sweet- new). It has a fragrant, generous, ripe, peachy, depth of ripe, peachy, it should be at its best fruited and tightly complex bouquet, toasty flavours, showing slightly leesy flavours, 2020+. $30 (A, UK, US) structured, with citrusy, leading into a full-bodied good complexity, and a considerable complexity, Te Awa Single peachy, mealy flavours, wine with good intensity well-rounded finish. Drink balanced acidity and lots Estate Hawke's Bay a subtle seasoning of of fresh grapefruit now or cellar. $23 of drink-young charm. Chardonnay oak, balanced acidity and peach flavours, Babich Black $22 2018 HHHH and a lengthy, very integrated toasty oak, Label Hawke's Bay Esk Valley Hawke's Fragrant, with ‘struck harmonious finish. Best and a crisp, long finish. Chardonnay Bay Chardonnay match’ aromas, this is a drinking 2022+. $25 Best drinking 2021+. 2018 HHHH 2018 HHHH mouthfilling wine with Villa Maria Reserve $34 (UK) Finely balanced for Partly barrel-fermented, generous, ripe, stonefruit Hawke's Bay Mission Barrique current consumption, this wine is priced flavours, balanced acidity, Chardonnay Reserve Hawke's but also worth cellaring, sharply. Mouthfilling, and accentuated, smoky 2018 HHHHH Bay Chardonnay this fragrant, vibrantly with generous, notes adding complexity. This stylish, tightly 2018 HHHH1/2 fruity wine has stonefruit flavours to A powerful style structured wine has a A classic regional style, generous, ripe stonefruit the fore, slightly spicy statement, it is a lively, fragrant, slightly smoky this full-bodied wine flavours to the fore, a and smoky notes adding ageworthy wine, likely bouquet. Mouthfilling was fermented and subtle seasoning of complexity, and a fresh, to be at its best 2021+. and youthful, it has matured for nine months oak adding complexity, finely balanced finish, $25 vigorous, ripe, stonefruit in French oak barrels. slightly buttery notes it should be at its best Villa Maria Cellar flavours, gently Rich and rounded, it has and a well-rounded 2021+. $20 Selection Hawke's seasoned with toasty ripe, stonefruit flavours, finish. $23 Leveret Estate Bay Chardonnay oak, impressive intensity seasoned with toasty Coopers Creek Hawke's Bay 2018 HHHH and a long finish. Best oak, balanced acidity, Select Vineyards Chardonnay Already drinking well, 2022+. $32 and excellent complexity Limeworks Hawke's 2017 HHHH this full-bodied wine has Askerne Reserve and depth. Best drinking Bay Chardonnay This elegant wine has a strong, ripe stonefruit Hawke's Bay 2021+. $25 2018 HHHH fragrant, slightly biscuity, flavours to the fore, Chardonnay Vidal Reserve If you like toasty, smoky bouquet. Fresh with slightly smoky 2018 HHHH1/2 Hawke's Bay creamy, full-flavoured and mouthfilling, it has and toasty notes This powerful young Chardonnay chardonnays, try vibrant grapefruit and adding a distinct touch wine was fermented 2018 HHHH1/2 this. Grown in the peach flavours, finely of complexity, fresh and matured in French How’s this for a great Havelock North hills, integrated oak adding acidity and a dry, finely oak casks (35% new). buy? Fermented and it was fermented and complexity, and very balanced finish. Best Bright, light yellow/ matured for 10 months matured for 10 months good depth. Enjoyable drinking 2021+. $18 green, it is full-bodied in French oak casks in American oak casks now, it should be at its Babich Hawke's Bay and sweet-fruited, with (15% new), it is full- (30% new) and given a best mid-2020+. $24 Chardonnay strong, ripe stonefruit bodied, with a slightly full, softening malolactic Linden Estate 2018 HHH1/2 flavours, seasoned with smoky fragrance and fermentation. Fragrant Hawke's Bay Drinking well already, toasty oak, excellent generous, peachy, and full-bodied, it has Chardonnay this fresh, full-bodied complexity and a rich, citrusy, slightly toasty generous stonefruit 2018 HHHH wine is vibrantly fruity, smooth finish. Best flavours, showing flavours, strongly Showing good with ripe, stonefruit drinking 2021+. $32 excellent freshness, seasoned with toasty personality, this sturdy, flavours to the fore, Coopers Creek delicacy, complexity and oak, and good complexity. high-flavoured wine good mouthfeel and Swamp Reserve harmony. $20 $25 (A, UK, US) has a slightly biscuity texture, and a rounded Hawke's Bay Villa Maria Reserve bouquet. Mouthfilling, finish. $20 (UK, US) Chardonnay Hawke's Bay it has ripe, stonefruit Mills Reef Estate 2017 HHHH1/2 Chardonnay flavours to the fore, Hawke's Bay This full-bodied, youthful, 2017 HHHH1/2 considerable complexity Chardonnay single-vineyard wine was Still very youthful, this and a soft, creamy- 2018 HHH1/2 grown in the Havelock elegant wine has a textured finish. Drink Fragrant and fleshy, this North hills. Hand-picked slightly smoky bouquet, now-2021. $25 wine is already drinking and barrel-fermented, strong grapefruit and well. Bright, light yellow/ with strong, smoky, peach flavours, mealy, green, it has generous, ‘struck match aromas’, biscuity notes adding ripe, peachy, slightly toasty it has intense, vibrant, complexity, finely flavours (from 10 months stonefruit flavours, integrated oak and a in French oak, 10% new), showing very good fresh, tightly structured with finely balanced complexity, and a tightly finish. Best drinking acidity and lots of drink- structured finish. Best 2021+. $32 young appeal. $19 drinking 2021+. $39 (A) November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 105

H AW K E S B AY Mills Reef Reserve SAUVIGNON Linden Estate Mission Hawke's Askerne Hawke's Hawke's Bay BLANC Hawke's Bay Bay Gewürztraminer Bay Pinot Gris Chardonnay & BLENDS Sauvignon Blanc 2018 HHHH 2018 HHHH 2018 HHH1/2 2018 HHHH Offering good value, Still unfolding, this Made in an upfront 4 TASTED Barrel-fermented, this this invitingly perfumed pale yellow wine has a style, this wine was 4 RECOMMENDED is a finely balanced wine is fresh and full- fragrant, gently spicy fermented in French wine with ripe, tropical bodied, with strong, bouquet. Fresh and (86%) and American Sauvignon blanc doesn’t fruit aromas. Medium- peachy, spicy, slightly full-bodied, it has strong, (14%) oak (24% new), enjoy a high profile in bodied, it is sweet- gingery flavours, an oily peachy, slightly spicy and barrel-aged for 10 Hawke's Bay, but its fruited and vibrantly texture and an off-dry and gingery flavours, months. Bright, light plantings are almost as fruity, with fresh acidity, finish. Drink now or showing a touch of yellow/green, it is full- extensive as chardonnay. a touch of complexity cellar. $16 complexity, balanced bodied, with fresh, ripe Reflecting the region’s and very good flavour acidity and a dryish stonefruit flavours and climate classification depth. $18 Stables Ngatarawa finish. Best drinking mid- strong, buttery, toasty for viticulture as Gewürztraminer 2020+. $23 notes. It needs a bit ‘intermediate’, rather Mills Reef Reserve 2018 HHH1/2 Mills Reef Reserve more time; best drinking than ‘cool’, it yields Hawke's Bay Already very open Hawke's Bay Pinot mid-2020+. $25 satisfyingly full-bodied Sauvignon Blanc and expressive, this Gris 2018 HHHH Mission Hawke's wines with moderate 2018 HHH1/2 modestly priced Very fresh and lively, Bay Chardonnay acidity and ripe, non- Aromatic, fresh and Hawke's Bay wine has a this single-vineyard, 2018 HHH1/2 herbaceous flavours that lively, this medium to spicy, vaguely honeyed Crownthorpe wine has Full of drink-young suit oak aging. full-bodied wine has bouquet, leading into a very good depth of charm, this mouthfilling, crisp passionfruit/ mouthfilling, exuberantly peach, pear and gentle vibrantly fruity wine has Askerne Hawke's lime flavours, a hint of fruity wine with lots of spice flavours, in a crisp, citrusy, peachy Bay Sauvignon green capsicum, and peachy, spicy flavour. vibrantly fruity style flavours, slightly toasty Blanc Sauvignon very good delicacy and Drink now-2020. $13 with good delicacy and notes adding complexity, Gris Semillon depth. $23 a basically dry finish. and good depth. Priced 2018 HHHH1/2 PINOT GRIS $25 sharply. $16 This distinctive wine is GEWURZTRAMINER Mills Reef Reserve Mills Reef Estate a blend of sauvignon 9 TASTED Hawke's Bay Pinot Hawke's Bay blanc (73%), sauvignon 4 TASTED 9 RECOMMENDED Gris 2019 HHHH Chardonnay gris (20%) and semillon 4 RECOMMENDED Freshly scented, this 2017 HHH (7%), partly barrel- In the relative warmth of full-bodied wine has very Briefly oak-aged, this is fermented. Already If you haven’t yet Hawke's Bay, pinot gris good varietal character a medium-bodied wine drinking well, but worth discovered Hawke's yields full-bodied, vibrant and depth of peach, with good depth of cellaring, it is full-bodied, Bay’s gewürztraminers, wines with peachy, pear and spice flavours, peachy, slightly toasty with fresh, strong, try these. Perfumed, slightly spicy flavours, with a finely balanced, and buttery flavours, tropical fruit flavours, weighty and rich, with gentle acidity and lots of smooth finish. Enjoyable fresh acidity and a showing very good an off-dry finish, they easy-drinking charm. from the start. $25 smooth finish. $19 complexity, and a long, are typically affordably Stables Ngatarawa Sacred Hill Hawke's dry finish. Good value. priced and delicious. Esk Valley Hawke's Reserve Hawke's Bay Chardonnay $23 Bay Pinot Gris Bay Pinot Gris 2018 HHH Askerne Reserve 2019 HHHH1/2 2018 HHHH Lemon-scented, this Askerne Hawke's Hawke's Bay Showing strong This characterful, single- vibrantly fruity wine Bay Sauvignon Gewürztraminer personality, this finely vineyard wine was was estate-grown in Blanc 2018 HHHH 2018 HHHHH poised wine was partly grown at Mangatahi. the Rifleman’s Vineyard This weighty, full- Already a lovely barrel-fermented. Fragrant and full-bodied, and fermented ‘with’ bodied wine has mouthful, this is a softly Invitingly scented, it it is pale gold, with French oak. Pale lemon/ strong, passionfruit and mouthfilling wine, is full-bodied, with generous, peachy, green, it is citrusy and pineapple aromas and weighty and rich. Bright, strong, vibrant, pear- slightly spicy, vaguely peachy, with fresh acidity, flavours. Generous, light lemon/green, it has like flavours, hints of honeyed flavours, moderate complexity and with a dry finish, concentrated stonefruit lychees and spices, a showing a touch of good, drink-young appeal. it’s a distinctly non- flavours, hints of ginger touch of complexity, complexity, and very $17 (A, UK, US) herbaceous style, fresh, and spices, excellent balanced acidity and a good depth. $20 Stables Reserve generous and dry, in delicacy and harmony, dryish, lingering finish. Falconhead Hawke's Ngatarawa Hawke's the ripe, rounded style and an off-dry, lasting Enjoyable from the start, Bay Pinot Gris Bay Chardonnay typical of Hawke's Bay. finish. $30 it offers excellent value. 2018 HHH1/2 2018 HHH $20 $20 Priced sharply, this Enjoyable young, this Askerne Hawke's attractively scented, partly barrel-fermented Bay Gewürztraminer mouthfilling wine has wine is fresh, vibrant 2018 HHHH1/2 good depth of vibrant and full-bodied, with Attractively perfumed, peach, pear and lychee peachy, slightly toasty this is a full-bodied, flavours, hints of spices flavours, showing a well-rounded wine with and ginger, gentle acidity touch of complexity, strong stonefruit and and a dry, harmonious balanced acidity, and a spice flavours, gentle finish. $16 slightly creamy finish. acidity and a slightly $20 gingery, off-dry finish. Delicious in its youth, it offers fine value. $23 106 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

regional tasting Mills Reef Estate Villa Maria Single Villa Maria Cellar Leveret IQ Premium Mission Hawke's Hawke's Bay Pinot Vineyard Braided Selection Hawke's Brut NV HHHH Bay Rosé Gris 2019 HHH1/2 Gravels Hawke's Bay Bay Viognier This vivacious Hawke's 2019 HHH1/2 Aromatic and finely Albariño 2018 HHHH Bay sparkling is a This bright pink, very balanced, this fresh and 2018 HHHHH Weighty and sweet- blend of pinot noir, pale red rosé was made lively wine is vibrantly Full of youthful impact, fruited, this youthful, chardonnay and pinot from red-wine varieties. fruity, with very good this highly scented partly (20%) barrel- meunier, disgorged Very fresh and lively, depth of pear and spice wine is mouthfilling and fermented wine offers after a minimum of 18 it has good depth of flavours and an off-dry punchy, with citrusy, good value. Fresh, months on its yeast vibrant strawberry, finish. Offering very easy peachy, slightly spicy full-bodied and vibrantly lees. Bright, light watermelon and spice drinking, it should be at flavours, showing fruity, it has stonefruit yellow, it is invitingly flavours, slightly peachy its best from mid-2020+. a distinct touch of flavours, showing scented, with fresh, notes, and a finely $19 (A) complexity, appetising a distinct touch of lively grapefruit and balanced, dryish finish. acidity, and excellent complexity, and a dry, peach flavours, biscuity, Good value. $16 Vidal Reserve vigour and intensity. well-rounded, lingering yeasty characters adding Hawke's Bay Pinot Made in a dry style, it’s finish. $19 complexity, and a crisp, MERLOT & Gris 2018 HHH1/2 well worth cellaring. $32 finely balanced finish. BLENDS Drinking well now, Coopers Creek SWEET WHITES $24 this full-bodied wine Select Vineyards 17 TASTED is still very lively, Chalk Ridge 2 TASTED ROSÉ 16 RECOMMENDED with fresh peach and Hawke's Bay 2 RECOMMENDED pear-like flavours, Viognier 2018 HHHH 4 TASTED Merlot is by far the slightly spicy notes, a Fresh, mouthfilling Esk Valley Late 3 RECOMMENDED most widely planted vague suggestion of and sweet-fruited, this Harvest Hawke's Bay red-wine grape in sweetness, balanced Havelock North wine Chenin Blanc 2018 Unlike the rosés of the Hawke's Bay, but not acidity and good depth. was hand-picked and (375ml) HHHHH South Island, typically the most fashionable or $20 barrel-fermented. It Already hard to made from pinot noir, prestigious. As a result, has very good vigour resist, this pale gold those from Hawke's many of the wines Stables Ngatarawa and depth of stonefruit wine has an intense, Bay are mostly merlot- offer good value. Dark, Pinot Gris 2019 HHH flavours, a subtle honeyed fragrance. based. Delicious in their weighty, complex and Enjoyable young, this seasoning of biscuity Showing lovely depth infancy, but usually savoury, the top wines Hawke's Bay wine has oak adding complexity, and harmony, it has retaining their freshness in the tasting revealed a very pale straw colour. balanced acidity and concentrated, vibrant, and charm for a year or a power and structure Mouthfilling, it is fresh some cellaring potential; peachy, botrytis-enriched two, they are well worth that suggests strong and slightly creamy, best drinking mid- flavours, abundant checking out. cellaring potential. with peachy, strongly 2020+. $25 sweetness, finely poised spicy flavours, showing Elephant Hill acidity, and excellent Esk Valley Babich The Patriarch good depth, and a dryish Hawke's Bay Sea vigour and richness. $30 Hawke's Bay Rosé 2016 HHHHH finish. $13 Viognier 2018 HHHH 2019 HHHH This powerful, very Still unfolding, this wine Mission Late Bright, pale pink, this youthful red is a OTHER WHITES was estate-grown at Harvest 2018 merlot-based rosé is Gimblett Gravels blend Te Awanga and partly (375ml) HHH1/2 fragrant and vibrantly of merlot (40%), malbec 5 TASTED (60%) barrel-fermented. Still very youthful, this fruity, in a medium- (33%) and cabernet 5 RECOMMENDED Bright, light lemon/ wine was made from bodied style with very sauvignon (27%). Deeply green, it is mouthfilling botrytis-affected riesling good depth of fresh coloured, it is weighty, Viognier yields some and vibrant, with fresh, grapes. Bright, light strawberry and spice with bold, berryish, of Hawke's Bay’s best citrusy, slightly biscuity yellow/green, it is fresh, flavours, a hint of plummy, nutty flavours, whites from ‘alternative’ flavours, showing good lively and crisp, with peaches, and a smooth, fresh and concentrated, varieties (those with vigour and complexity, citrusy, slightly spicy dry finish. Good drinking firm tannin backbone, small planted areas), and a smooth finish. flavours, a hint of apricot for the summer of 2019- excellent complexity and but it was albarino that Best drinking mid- and good sugar/acid 20. $20 a long, spicy finish. Best provided the most 2020+. $34 (UK) balance. Best drinking drinking 2022+. $90. striking wine in this Mission Hawke's 2021+. $16 Villa Maria Private (A, US) class, suggesting that Bay Riesling Bin Hawke's Bay the trendy Spanish and 2016 HHHH SPARKLING Rosé 2018 HHHH Portuguese variety has Still youthful, this great Merlot-based, this bright a strong future in the value wine is bright, 1 TASTED pink, slightly orange region. light lemon/green, with 1 RECOMMENDED wine is fresh and lively, a scented bouquet and with strong, peachy, emerging, toasty, bottle- strawberryish flavours, aged aromas. Medium- hints of watermelon and bodied, it has strong, spice, finely balanced crisp, citrusy, limey acidity and a dryish flavours and an off-dry, finish. Ready; no rush. tangy finish. $16 $16 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 107

H AW K E S B AY Villa Maria Reserve Leveret Estate Leveret Estate Mission Hawke's Babich Heritage Gimblett Gravels Reserve Hawke's Hawke's Bay Bay Merlot Anniversary Label Hawke's Bay Merlot Bay Merlot Cabernet Merlot Cabernet 2018 HHH Hawke's Bay 2014 HHHHH 2015 HHHH 2015 HHH1/2 This very easy-drinking Premium Red Blend At five years old, this This full-bodied, youthful, Drinking well now, this red is full-coloured and 2016 HHHHH powerful, ripe, very single-vineyard red was single-vineyard red was mouthfilling, with fresh, Clad in the company’s concentrated red is still grown in the Bridge grown in the Bridge vibrant, berryish, spicy cabernet sauvignon unfolding. It has deep, Pa Triangle and barrel- Pa Triangle and barrel- flavours, gentle tannins label from the 1970s, fairly youthful colour, aged for 18 months. aged for 18 months. and a smooth finish. It’s this 100th anniversary with a hint of liquorice Deeply coloured, it has Full-coloured, it is fresh, not a complex style, but red is a blend of on the nose, deep, ripe generous, ripe, plummy, mouthfilling and supple, enjoyable young and cabernet sauvignon, plum, berry and spice spicy flavours, woven with generous, berryish, priced right. $16 merlot and cabernet flavours, and good tannin with fresh acidity, and slightly spicy and nutty franc, grown in the backbone. Weighty, gentle tannins. Best flavours. $24 Villa Maria Private Gimblett Gravels and dense and complex, it drinking 2020+. $28 Mills Reef Estate Bin Hawke's Bay French oak-aged for 16 should be at its best Mills Reef Reserve Hawke's Bay Merlot 2018 HHH months. A very elegant, drinking 2022+. $50 Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Enjoyable young, this ‘complete’ wine, it Babich Winemakers Hawke's Bay Merlot 2018 HHH1/2 full-coloured, mouthfilling is deeply coloured, Reserve Hawke's 2018 HHHH Deeply coloured, red is vibrantly fruity, with with concentrated Bay Merlot Freshly scented, this with a fresh, slightly good depth of plummy, blackcurrant, plum and 2016 HHHH1/2 fruit-packed red was herbal bouquet, this slightly spicy flavours, spice flavours, showing Grown in the Irongate hand-harvested and blend of merlot (54%), fresh and smooth. $16 excellent complexity, Vineyard, this fragrant, matured for a year cabernet sauvignon fine-grained tannins, very elegant Gimblett in French oak barrels (33%) and cabernet Villa Maria Private and impressive vigour Gravels red is full- (25% new). It has bold, franc (13%) spent a Bin Organic Hawke's and harmony. Open coloured, with excellent purple-flushed colour, year in French oak (30% Bay Merlot 2022+. $80 body and depth of mouthfilling body, new). Mouthfilling, it 2017 HHH Babich Irongate berryish, spicy flavours. generous, plummy, spicy is vibrantly fruity and Certified organic, Cabernet Merlot French oak-aged for a flavours and a gentle supple, with generous this ruby-hued red is Franc 2016 HHHHH year, it is complex and seasoning of oak. Best blackcurrant, plum, medium-bodied, with This refined Gimblett savoury, with good drinking 2021+. $25 herb and spice flavours, berryish, slightly spicy Gravels red was cellaring potential. $35 Vidal Reserve a distinct touch of flavours, showing a matured for over a year The Regent of Gimblett Gravels complexity and good touch of complexity, and in French oak barriques Tantallon Hawke's Merlot Cabernet tannin support. Best a fresh, smooth finish. (40% new). Dark and Bay Limited Edition Sauvignon mid-2020+. $19 (A) $16 youthful in colour, it Merlot Cabernet 2017 HHHH Mission Hawke's is mouthfilling and 2015 HHHH1/2 This elegant, fruit-packed Bay Merlot Cabernet CABERNET well-structured, with Set for a long life, this is red is a 2:1 blend of Sauvignon SAUVIGNON & deep blackcurrant, plum a sturdy, fleshy, youthful merlot and cabernet 2018 HHH1/2 BLENDS and spice flavours, red, deeply coloured, sauvignon, matured for This sharply priced red is oak complexity and an with concentrated 18 months in French based on merlot (77%) 11 TASTED inviting fragrance. Best blackcurrant, plum and barriques (20% new). and cabernet sauvignon 11 RECOMMENDED drinking 2022+. $40 spice flavours, nutty, Fragrant and full- (19%), with splashes Elephant Hill savoury notes adding coloured, it has very of malbec and cabernet Cabernet sauvignon Reserve Cabernet complexity and a firm good body and depth franc. Full-coloured, ruled the roost in Franc Cabernet foundation of tannin. of fresh, plummy, spicy with a fragrant, slightly Hawke's Bay 30 years Merlot 2016 HHHHH Best drinking 2022+. $40 flavours. Best drinking herbal bouquet, it is ago, but in terms of This powerful, weighty, Askerne Reserve 2021+. $20 mouthfilling and supple, planted area, has since youthful red is a blend Hawke's Bay Merlot Babich Hawke's Bay with generous, berryish, been overhauled by of cabernet franc (34%), Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet slightly spicy and herbal merlot, syrah and even cabernet sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2017 HHH1/2 flavours, underlying pinot noir. However, the (32%) and merlot 2018 HHHH Full-coloured and tannins, and some aging region’s top cabernet (26%), with a splash of Deeply coloured, mouthfilling, this fresh, potential. $16 sauvignon-based reds malbec. Hand-harvested this youthful red is a vibrant red has good Pask Gimblett are truly world class. in the Gimblett Gravels blend of merlot (43%), depth of berryish, Gravels Hawke's Bay Harvested during a dry (75%) and the Bridge cabernet sauvignon slightly spicy flavours, Merlot 2016 HHH1/2 April, the 2016 vintage Pa Triangle (25%), it (36%), cabernet franc savoury, nutty notes Still unfolding, this cabernet sauvignon- was matured for 21 (11%), petit verdot adding complexity and mouthfilling red has very based reds are notably months in French oak (7%) and malbec (3%). a smooth finish. Best good depth of vibrant fragrant, rich and refined, casks (48% new). Dark Mouthfilling and sweet- drinking mid-2020+. plum, spice and herb with good cellaring and purple-flushed, it is fruited, it has generous, $20 flavours, finely balanced potential, but also great fragrant, with substantial plummy, spicy flavours, tannins and some approachability. body, concentrated a hint of herbs, and a savoury complexity. Best blackcurrant, plum and very smooth finish. Best drinking mid-2020+. $22 spice flavours, and firm drinking 2021+. $32 (A, UK) tannin backbone. Set for a long life, it should be at its best 2023+. $54 (UK) 108 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

regional tasting Esk Valley Vidal Soler Gimblett Pask Gimblett Coopers Creek Vidal Legacy Winemakers Reserve Gravels Hawke's Bay Gravels Hawke's Reserve Hawke's Hawke's Bay Syrah Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon Bay Cabernet Merlot Bay Syrah 2016 HHHHH Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 HHHHH 2016 HHH1/2 2018 HHHHH This highly refined red Merlot Malbec Still very youthful, this This fresh, supple, Set for a long life, this was hand-picked at two 2016 HHHHH dark, fragrant, powerful medium to full-bodied powerful, highly refined sites in the Gimblett A refined, very red was matured for red is a blend of red was grown in the Gravels and matured for ‘complete’ wine, this 18 months in French cabernet sauvignon Chalk Ridge vineyard, on 20 months in French oak dark, fragrant red is oak barriques (45% (71%) and merlot the edge of the Havelock barriques (43% new). mouthfilling, rich and new). Full-bodied, (29%). Full-coloured, it North hills. Hand- Dark and floral, with supple, with lovely it has concentrated has very good depth of harvested and matured inviting plum and black depth of blackcurrant, blackcurrant, plum and blackcurrant, plum and for a year in French pepper aromas, it has plum, red berry and spice flavours, nutty oak herb flavours, a gentle oak casks (45% new), dense plum, berry and spice flavours, finely adding complexity, and seasoning of French it is dark and invitingly spice flavours, with very integrated oak and a a long, tightly structured oak (14 months in fragrant, with dense, fine-grained tannins and very harmonious, lasting finish. An elegant, very seasoned barrels) adding youthful, well-ripened a rich, supple finish. Best finish. Already delicious, ageworthy wine, it complexity, and plenty plum, spice and black drinking 2021+. $75 but full of potential, it’s should be at its best of current-drinking pepper flavours, a hint of Vidal Soler Gimblett well worth cellaring to 2022+. $35 appeal. $22 (A, UK) liquorice, and a very rich, Gravels Hawke's Bay 2022+. $60 Linden Estate harmonious finish. Open Syrah 2017 HHHHH Trinity Hill The Hawke's Bay Dam Mission Hawke's 2023+. $60 A classic cellaring style, Gimblett Block 2017 HHHH1/2 Bay Cabernet Esk Valley this fragrant, savoury 2016 HHHHH Already drinking well, Sauvignon Winemakers Reserve red was grown at two This very ageworthy, this is a blend of 2016 HHH Gimblett Gravels sites in the Gimblett blended red is cabernet sauvignon, This bargain-priced red Hawke's Bay Syrah Gravels and matured for dominated by cabernet merlot and cabernet was partly (20%) barrel- 2016 HHHHH 18 months in French oak sauvignon (43%) and franc. Full-coloured, it is aged for 18 months. Built for the long barriques (36% new). cabernet franc (41%), savoury and complex, Full-coloured, it is haul, this beautifully Full-coloured, with a with splashes of merlot with mouthfilling body, mouthfilling, with fresh, structured red was peppery bouquet, it is and malbec. Matured deep, berryish, spicy, berryish, slightly herbal hand-picked in the well structured, with for 16 months in nutty flavours, and the and spicy flavours, Cornerstone Vineyard strong, youthful, plummy, French oak barriques structure to age well. showing good depth. and matured for 15 spicy flavours, slightly (35% new), it is deeply Best 2021+. $55 $16 months in French oak earthy notes adding coloured, full-bodied, Linden Estate barriques. Dark and complexity, fresh acidity, fresh and vigorous, with Reserve Hawke's SYRAH concentrated, it is good tannin backbone concentrated, youthful Bay Cabernet fragrant and sturdy, and obvious potential; blackcurrant, plum and Sauvignon 22 TASTED with deep, youthful open 2022+. $35 spice flavours, good 2017 HHHH 22 RECOMMENDED blackcurrant, plum and tannin backbone and a This full-coloured red black pepper flavours, long finish. Best drinking was matured in French Syrah has been grown refined tannins and 2022+. $40 (UK) oak barriques. It has in Hawke's Bay since a very harmonious, Vidal Legacy a fragrant, savoury the 19th century, but persistent finish. Best Gimblett Gravels bouquet, leading into only in the past 20 years drinking 2021+. $60 Hawke's Bay a mouthfilling wine have its finest Hawke's Trinity Hill Homage Cabernet Sauvignon with strong, berryish, Bay bottlings attracted Syrah 2017 HHHHH Merlot 2016 HHHHH spicy flavours, showing widespread international Still a baby, this Gimblett This classy, densely considerable complexity, praise. The top wines Gravels red was matured packed red is a 4:1 blend and good tannin in the tasting were all for 15 months in French of cabernet sauvignon backbone. Best drinking worthy candidates for oak ovals and barriques. and merlot, matured for 2021+. $65 very lengthy cellaring - It has deep, purple- 20 months in French oak perfumed and dark, with flushed colour and a barriques (60% new). ripe, supple tannins and highly scented, peppery Still purple-flushed, it is dense plum and black bouquet. Mouthfilling, highly fragrant, full- pepper flavours. vibrantly fruity and bodied and complex, supple, with deep with concentrated plum and black pepper blackcurrant, plum and flavours, seasoned with spice flavours, a hint of nutty oak, it builds across dark chocolate, and very the palate to a very long, refined tannins. Full of harmonious, spicy finish. potential, it should be at Best drinking 2022+. its best 2022+. $65 $145 (UK) November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 109

H AW K E S B AY Villa Maria Reserve Babich Winemakers’ Stables Ngatarawa Leveret Estate Pask Gimblett Gimblett Gravels Reserve Hawke's Reserve Hawke's Hawke's Bay Syrah Gravels Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay Syrah Bay Syrah Bay Syrah 2016 HHH1/2 Syrah 2018 HHH 2014 HHHHH 2017 HHHH 2018 HHHH Mouthfilling and smooth, This medium-bodied At five years old, this Full-coloured, with Bargain-priced, this this easy-drinking red red was oak-aged for highly perfumed, a fragrant, peppery fragrant, full-bodied red was barrel-aged for a 10 months. Bright ruby, powerful red is a bouquet, this includes minor portions year. It has very good with a fresh, peppery pleasure to drink, but mouthfilling red has of merlot (8%), malbec depth of plummy, spicy fragrance, it is vibrantly still unfolding. Matured fresh, strong, berryish, (4%) and cabernet franc flavours, with nutty, fruity and supple, with for 17 months in French spicy flavours. Grown (2%). Full-coloured, savoury notes adding lively, plummy, spicy oak barriques (35% in the Bridge Pa Triangle with a plummy, spicy complexity. $24 flavours and lots of new), it is dark and and matured for eight bouquet, it is youthful, Mission Hawke's drink-young charm. $22 full-bodied, with dense, months in French oak with concentrated Bay Syrah (A, UK) beautifully ripe flavours barrels (25% new), it is plum and black pepper 2018 HHH1/2 of plums, spices, black still youthful, with very flavours and a fairly firm, Enjoyable young, but still OTHER REDS pepper and nuts, a hint good depth, complexity long finish. Best drinking unfolding, this is a fresh, of liquorice, firm tannins and texture. Best 2021+. $20 medium-bodied red, 3 TASTED and a lasting finish. Best drinking 2021+. $35 Te Awa Single Estate deep ruby, with a spicy, 3 RECOMMENDED drinking 2022+. $60 Coopers Creek Hawke's Bay Syrah slightly earthy bouquet. Coopers Creek Select Vineyards 2017 HHHH Strongly varietal, it has Trinity Hill Gimblett Select Vineyards Chalk Ridge This Gimblett Gravels good depth of plummy, Gravels Hawke's Bay Chalk Ridge Hawke's Bay Syrah red is deep ruby, savoury spicy flavours, slightly Tempranillo Hawke's Bay Syrah 2017 HHHH and spicy. Still youthful, savoury notes and a 2017 HHHHH 2018 HHHH1/2 Drinking well now, it is full-bodied and lively, long, peppery finish. This classy young red This sturdy, finely but still youthful, this with good density of $16 was matured for 16 structured, highly full-coloured red was plum and black pepper Villa Maria Private months in American fragrant red was matured for a year in flavours, slightly earthy Bin Hawke's Bay oak barriques (partly hand-harvested, French oak casks (40 per notes and a firmly Syrah 2018 HHH1/2 new). Full-coloured, blended with a splash cent new). It has fresh, structured finish. Best This highly approachable with a fragrant, berryish, of viognier (1.3%) and peppery aromas, leading drinking 2021+. $30 red is bright ruby, fresh spicy bouquet, it is matured for a year in into a mouthfilling, Vidal Reserve and smooth. Medium mouthfilling, with French oak casks (27% supple wine with vibrant Gimblett Gravels to full-bodied, it has excellent density of new). It has excellent plum and black pepper Hawke's Bay Syrah plenty of ripe, plummy, vibrant blackcurrant, concentration of plum, flavours, a hint of 2017 HHHH peppery flavour, some plum and spice flavours, spice and black pepper liquorice, and very good Well worth cellaring, this savoury notes adding a earthy, savoury notes flavours, showing good depth. $28 (UK, US) full-coloured red was touch of complexity, and adding complexity, good complexity, and a lasting Matahiwi Estate matured for 17 months a well-rounded finish. tannin backbone, and a finish. Best drinking Hawke's Bay Syrah in French oak barriques $20 long, spicy finish. Best 2022+. Fine value. $28 2018 HHHH (30% new). Mouthfilling, Babich Hawke's Bay 2021+. $40 (UK, US) This floral, supple, finely with fresh acidity and Syrah 2018 HHH Stables Reserve Trinity Hill textured red was grown strong, vibrant, plummy, An attractive, drink- Ngatarawa Hawke's Gimblett Gravels in the Bridge Pa Triangle spicy flavours, showing young style, this Bay Pinot Noir Hawke's Bay Syrah and matured in old good complexity, it medium-bodied red is 2018 HHH1/2 2018 HHHH1/2 French oak barrels. Deep should be at its best vibrant and supple, with Priced sharply, this This elegant, vividly ruby, it’s already drinking 2021+. $27 youthful, plummy, spicy bright ruby, softly varietal red was matured well, with plummy, Villa Maria Cellar flavours, fresh acidity mouthfilling red is for eight months in a spicy flavours, showing Selection Hawke's and gentle tannins. Best savoury and sweet- mix of barriques and excellent complexity and Bay Syrah drinking 2021+. $20 fruited, with cherry, 5,000-litre oak ovals. harmony. Best drinking 2017 HHHH Mills Reef Estate plum and spice flavours, Full-coloured, with a 2021+. $30 (A, UK, US) This smooth-flowing, Hawke's Bay Syrah showing considerable floral, peppery bouquet, Mills Reef Reserve generous red is already 2018 HHH complexity, and a it is medium to full- Hawke's Bay Syrah enjoyable. Deep ruby, A drink-young charmer, smooth finish. Drink bodied, with strong, 2018 HHHH it is mouthfilling, this single-vineyard red now-2021. $20 youthful, plum and black Fresh and full-bodied, savoury and supple, was matured for seven Leveret Estate pepper flavours, a hint of this ageworthy red with good concentration months in French Hawke's Bay Pinot liquorice, gentle tannins, was matured in a mix of plum, spice and and American oak Noir 2015 HHH and excellent depth and of American (56%) black pepper flavours, casks. Bright ruby, it is Ruby hued, this harmony. $40 (UK) and French (44%) oak showing considerable floral and supple, in a mouthfilling, supple casks (26% new). complexity, and a medium-bodied style red was barrel-aged for Full-coloured, it has lengthy finish. $25 with ripe, plummy, a year. Enjoyable now, strong, black pepper distinctly spicy it has fresh, gentle, and plum aromas and flavours, a touch of strawberryish, spicy flavours, showing complexity and gentle flavours and a touch of very good complexity, tannins. $19 complexity. $26 hints of liquorice and dark chocolate, and a moderately firm finish. Best drinking 2021+. $25 (A) 110 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

The Rees Hotel, Luxury Apartments and Lakeside Residences; surround yourself with bespoke luxury with a unique, True South, New Zealand flavour and breath-taking Queenstown location. Luxury Accommodation • Award Winning Food and Wine • Unrivalled Lakeside Views The Rees offers a variety of spacious and luxurious accommodation options including 60 Hotel rooms, 90 Apartments and five private, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom Lakeside Residences, all with terraces, showcasing spectacular views across Lake Wakatipu to the alpine panorama of the Remarkable Mountain range. True South Dining Room is The Rees’ award winning restaurant, headed by Executive Chef Ben Batterbury. True South is sophisticated, elegant dining and offers mouth-watering monthly menus, with daily tweaks and seasonal changes, to showcase Ben’s signature style. The Rees has developed a private wine cellar, with one of the most comprehensive collections of fine wine in the Southern Hemisphere. Our Bordeau Wine Cellar offers both breadth and depth, combining the fine wines and vintages of France, Italy and Australia with the famous producers of New Zealand. [email protected] • www.therees.co.nz • +64 3 450 1100

MICHAEL COOPER RECENT RELEASES Explosively flavoured, intensely aromatic sauvignon blancs from the 144 Islands Bay of Chard Farm Mata-Au early-ripening 2019 harvest were a highlight of the latest batch of Islands Syrah Central Otago Pinot recent releases. The tasting also featured some impressive pinot 2017 HHHH1/2 Noir 2017 HHHH1/2 noirs from the notably cool, low-yielding 2017 vintage in Central Full of personality, this This generous, youthful Otago and an irresistible, Sauternes-style beauty from North single-vineyard red was red was estate-grown Canterbury. grown on a south-east- and hand-picked at two facing site near Kerikeri, sites, at Lowburn and Prices shown are approximate New Zealand retail. Wines available matured in French oak Parkburn, and barrel- in export markets are shown as (A) Australia, (UK) and (US). barrels (one-year-old), aged (20% new). Ruby and bottled unfined hued, it is savoury and  Mondillo Central Pegasus Bay Finale and unfiltered. Deep supple, with strong Otago Pinot Noir Noble Barrique and youthful in colour, cherry, plum, spice Chard Farm The Tiger 2017 HHHHH Matured Sauvignon it is full-bodied, with and nut flavours, oak Lowburn Central Already delicious, this Blanc Semillon concentrated, vibrant, complexity and obvious Otago Pinot Noir rich, savoury, supple 2017 HHHHH plummy, spicy flavours, potential; best drinking 2017 HHHHH Bendigo red was estate- A wine of strong a hint of liquorice, finely 2021+. $47 (A) This is my pick of Chard grown and barrel-aged presence, this golden, balanced tannins and a Chard Farm The Farm’s reds from 2017. A for 10 months. Deeply honey-sweet North long finish. Best drinking Viper Parkburn single-vineyard Lowburn coloured, with a fragrant, Canterbury wine is 2021+. $35 Central Otago Pinot red, it was hand-picked berryish, spicy bouquet, made in the classic Ataahua Waipara Noir 2017 HHHH1/2 and barrel-aged (20% it is a powerful, sturdy Sauternes style. Pinot Noir Invitingly perfumed new). Deep ruby, it is wine, with generous, French oak-aged for 2016 HHHH1/2 and finely textured, this mouthfilling and supple, ripe cherry, plum, spice 18 months, it has a This very ageworthy single-vineyard Parkburn with generous, youthful and nut flavours, finely fragrant, gently honeyed red was estate-grown, red was hand-harvested cherry, plum, spice and integrated oak, good bouquet. Full-bodied, hand-picked and and barrel-aged (20% nut flavours, oak-derived complexity and a well- it has rich, apricot-like matured for over a year new). Mouthfilling, it is complexity and a long, rounded finish. Best flavours, showing lovely in seasoned oak barrels. ruby hued, with strong, very harmonious finish. 2021+. $45 complexity, poise and Deeply coloured, it is ripe cherry, plum and A very ageworthy, Paddy Borthwick vigour. Best drinking fragrant and full-bodied, spice flavours, nutty oak graceful young red, it Wairarapa 2022+. (375ml) $42 (A, with strong, youthful adding complexity, and a should break into full Sauvignon Blanc UK, US) cherry, plum and spice very harmonious finish. stride 2021+. $79 (A) 2019 HHHHH flavours, finely balanced Best drinking 2021+. Mondillo Bella Full of personality, this ½ tannins and very good $79 (A) Reserve Central explosively flavoured, complexity. Best Otago Pinot Noir single-vineyard wine 144 Islands drinking 2021+. $37  2017 HHHHH has a pungent, ripely Northland Ataahua This lush, sturdy, velvety aromatic, very fresh Chardonnay Waipara Riesling Ataahua Waipara red was estate-grown and lively bouquet. 2017 HHHH1/2 2018 HHHH1/2 Chardonnay and hand-selected at Mouthfilling and racy, Grown at Mangawhai Instantly appealing, this 2017 HHHH Bendigo and matured for it is sweet-fruited, with Heads, this elegant, is a rich, medium style. Still youthful, this 19 months in French oak penetrating, ripely barrel-fermented wine Attractively scented, barrel-fermented wine barriques (one-year-old). herbaceous flavours, has lots of youthful it has strong, citrusy, has a slightly creamy, Deeply coloured, it is threaded with crisp drive. Fresh and full- peachy, slightly appley buttery fragrance. Full- softly mouthfilling, with acidity, and a dry, bodied, with an oaky, flavours, showing good bodied, with peachy, seductively rich, ripe persistent finish. $24 (A, buttery fragrance, delicacy, and a lovely slightly spicy and cherry/plum flavours, UK, US) it has generous, balance of sweetness biscuity flavours, and gentle acidity, and a very peachy, slightly toasty and mouth-watering finely balanced acidity, harmonious, rounded flavours, showing good acidity. Drink now or it shows considerable finish. $95 complexity, balanced cellar. $26 complexity, with a acidity and a long, tightly rounded finish. $29 structured finish. Best drinking 2021+. $35 112 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

recent releases Chard Farm Mason Main Divide Mount Riley ½ Mount Riley Vineyard Central North Canterbury Limited Release Marlborough Otago Pinot Noir Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Black Cottage Sauvignon Blanc 2017 HHHH 2019 HHHH Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Rosé 2019 HHH1/2 This tightly structured, Looking good for the 2019 HHHH 2019 HHH1/2 Priced sharply, this single-vineyard Parkburn summer of 2019-20, this Offering great value, this This bright, light pink is a 4:1 blend of red was barrel-aged bright, light lemon/green wine was substantially wine has fresh, slightly Wairau Valley and (20% new). Ruby hued, it wine is full-bodied and (55%) grown in the spicy aromas. Blended Awatere Valley grapes. is invitingly fragrant, full- freshly aromatic, with lower Wairau Valley, from pinot noir and Highly aromatic, it’s a bodied and fresh, with good intensity of ripely blended with fruit from pinot gris, grown in medium-bodied wine a hint of herbs, savoury, herbaceous flavours, the central Wairau Valley the Wairau Valley and with very good depth nutty notes adding crisp and punchy. (From (40%) and the Awatere lees-aged for two of fresh, lively, tropical complexity and firm Pegasus Bay.) $21 (A, Valley (5%). Lees-aged months, it is a medium- fruit and herbaceous tannins. It needs time; UK, US) for three months, it is bodied wine, with lively flavours, and a crisp, open 2022+. $79 (A) Map Maker fresh and full-bodied, strawberry, watermelon tangy finish. $15 (A, Chard Farm River Marlborough with very good vigour and spice flavours, UK, US) Run Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc and concentration slightly peachy notes Mount Riley Pinot Noir 2019 HHHH of tropical fruit and a crisp, basically The Bonnie 2017 HHHH Highly aromatic and flavours, a herbaceous dry finish. $18 (A, Marlborough Pinot Delicious young, this intensely varietal, this is undercurrent, and a UK, US) Rosé 2019 HHH1/2 fresh, elegant red a pungent, very fresh, lingering finish. $17 Mount Riley This bright pink, highly was estate-grown and crisp and lively wine, (A, UK, US) Marlborough scented wine was barrel-aged (15% new). with incisive passionfruit Paddy Borthwick Riesling blended from pinot noir Bright ruby, it is sweet- and green capsicum Wairarapa Riesling 2019 HHH1/2 and pinot gris. Briefly fruited and supple, flavours, tangy, dry and 2018 HHHH Still a baby, this lees-aged, it is vibrantly with youthful, ripe, lingering. (From Staete Already drinking well, attractively scented wine fruity, with strawberry, moderately concentrated Landt.) $18 this single-vineyard was grown in the central watermelon and spice cherry, plum and spice Mount Riley wine is scented and Wairau Valley. Pale flavours, a hint of flavours, oak-derived Marlborough full-bodied, with lively lemon/green, it is fresh peaches, and a slightly complexity and some Gewürztraminer acidity, good intensity and medium-bodied, sweet, smooth finish. tannin backbone. A very 2019 HHHH of citrusy, limey flavours with a gentle splash of Good drinking for the graceful red, it should be Perfumed and full- and an appetisingly crisp, sweetness, balanced summer of 2019-20. at its best mid-2020+. bodied, this single- dry finish. $22 (A, UK) acidity, good depth of $17 $37 (A) vineyard wine was Toi Toi Winemakers citrusy, slightly appley grown in the Southern Selection Central and spicy flavours, and Valleys and principally Otago Pinot Noir lots of youthful vigour. handled in tanks; 10% of 2018 HHHH Fine value. $15 the blend was barrel- This fragrant, youthful fermented. Enjoyable red is deep ruby, with from the start, it is mouthfilling body, invitingly scented, with strong, ripe, cherryish, vibrant peach, lychee and gently spicy flavours, spice flavours, showing savoury notes adding a distinct touch of complexity and a fairly complexity, and excellent firm finish. Well worth depth and harmony. Top cellaring, it should be at value. $15 its best 2021+. $33 (A) Haha VBBAEULSYUTSE Paddy Borthwick Toi Toi Winemakers STAR RATINGS  Marlborough Wairarapa Pinot Gris Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2018 HHHH Marlborough Three-, four- and five-star ratings are signs of 2019 HHHH This full-bodied, partly Sauvignon Blanc excellence in fruit quality and winemaking skill. This very fresh and lively barrel-fermented wine 2019 HHHH All wines are judged ‘blind’ by wine industry has strong, vibrant This punchy, very professionals and are compared in peer pear, lychee and spice youthful wine is full- classes by three judges. flavours, with a lingering, bodied and vibrant, with CM Wine is exclusive to Cellarmasters, dry finish. Showing fresh, strong passionfruit a major mail-order business. good varietal character and green capsicum CD Cellar door price. and a distinct touch of flavours, lively acidity and CDO Cellar door only. complexity, it should be a finely balanced finish. SO Sold out. at its best mid-2020+. Good value. $21 (A) $N/A Price not available at time of printing. $24 (A, UK)  Contact information pg 127 -128. wine is medium-bodied, with a punchy, aromatic RECOMMENDED cellaring (years). bouquet. Strongly varietal, BEST VALUE for $20 & under. it is crisp and tangy, with very good vigour and For a complete list of what we tasted depth of passionfruit, please refer to www.winestate.com.au lime and green capsicum flavours. Priced sharply. $18 (A) November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 113

HOW WE JUDGE WINESTATE MAGAZINE TASTING CRITERIA OUR STAR RATING SYSTEM Our tastings and published ratings are designed with one thing in mind: to provide a useful and genuine balanced guide on wines to our readers. In order to achieve this we follow certain procedures in an activity that is notoriously difficult! There are regular criticisms of wine shows and various scoring systems; here is how we approach our tastings. A wide selection of wines there are unpleasant flavours. These advertise if they wish, their awarded final ‘medals’ are then converted into wine’s review will be featured regardless Wines are invited from any producer, a star rating system for publication in of advertising. The judges’ decisions are provided that they meet the criteria Winestate. A gold means 5 stars, silver final and these are published according of the class being judged. The class is 4, and bronze is 3 stars. to the judges’ scores, whether advertising may be a regional, style or new release is taken or not. tasting and generally the wines must be The biggest judging system available for consumers to purchase, The judges although we have museum and rare Winestate examines on average more wine tastings as well. Australasian wines per year than We take care in selecting our judges. any other forum - more than 10,000. But remember: judges are human and Awarding scores Compare this to the biggest show in their own preference will influence Australia, the royal Melbourne wine their scores. We use judges with Winestate carries out the judging show, with just over 4000 entries. complementary backgrounds and a using Australian capital city wine show three-person panel for each flight will procedures; the wines are not known Independence of advertising include winemakers with technical to the judges. The three judges taste expertise and often a marketing/retail the wines blind and assign a score Winestate does charge a nominal expert who knows consumer tastes. without reference to each other. Once entrance fee for wines submitted which Often one or more of the judges are this is done, only then do they compare covers our administration costs only, masters of wine with vast international scores, and if there is dissension they and will often purchase ‘yardstick’ experience, and most judges have re-taste the wines and come to an wines to be evaluated where we believe experience at major Australian wine agreement. Scores are compiled using that these are of consumer or trade shows. We are also aware of expertise. the 20-point international system: gold interest if these have not been entered If we are judging a region, for example, is 18.5 and above; silver is 17 and by the wineries. In order to produce we will have a winemaker judge from above and is an excellent wine; bronze the biggest and best wine magazine, that region because that person knows is 15.5 and above and represents good Winestate includes advertising; the local style. We balance that with wine. A reasonable, sound everyday- however, this is fiercely independent a judge from outside the region and drinking wine scores 15 (but does of any wine tasting editorial. Wine generally someone with broad and not gain a medal). A bland but clean companies are advised of the blind mature experience. wine scores 14. Below this score tasting results and it is their choice to HOW WE COMPARE Winestate Rating Comment Wine show Medal International 20 100 Point System Point System HHHHH Outstanding Gold 18.5 - 20 97 - 100 HHHH1/2 Excellent High Silver 95 - 96 Very Good 18 - 18.4 93 - 94 HHHH Silver 91 - 92 HHH1/2 Good/Very Good High Bronze 17 - 17.9 89 - 90 Good HHH Bronze 16.5 - 16.9 15.5 - 16.4 Wine judging is an inexact art, not a science - even at the highest levels of proficiency. Accordingly, Winestate uses the star rating system which reflects a range, rather than a specific point score. Point systems indicate a level of accuracy that simply does not exist. 114 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

insiderthe wine & spiritAUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND November/December 2019 Issue 165 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

132 TASTED 83 AWARDED NEW RELEASES Here we are beginning to see the introduction of 2019 whites Patrick of Leconfield Old Vine offering at their best freshness and vibrancy across numerous Coonawarra Estate Coonawarra Riesling different varietals. Similarly for the reds the excellent 2018 wines Coonawarra & 2018 HHH1/2 are coming out and will be picked up fast. As always older wines Wrattonbully Powerful and pungent that have retained their vibrancy and fruit freshness are worth Riesling lemon and lime aromas checking out. 2019 HHHH1/2 with attractive zesty Subtle citrus nose with lemon palate and mouth- a floral/perfumed lift and watering finish. $26 a very attractive crisp and lively varietal fruit Tamburlaine Organic palate with a great acid Wines On The backbone. One for the Grapevine Orange cellar. 5+ $25 Riesling 2019 HHH SPARKLING Longhop Premier Delicate steely Cuvee Adelaide Hills Z Wine Saul Eden fragrances and a light 5 TASTED Sparkling Pinot Noir Valley Riesling flavoursome citrus 2 AWARDED Chardonnay NV HHH 2019 HHHH1/2 driven palate. $20 A light zesty fruit driven “Think apple pie when A couple of wines here style almost prosecco- you nose this wine,” Mr Riggs Watervale worth looking at but the like with a crisp acid according to one judge. Clare Valley Riesling judges noted a lack of finish. $25 Has some citrus notes 2019 HHH fresh zesty acidity with underneath. The lemon A crisp lively style with the others. RIESLING rind palate is steely, good varietal characters stylistic and well of lemons and limes. $25 Velvet & Willow 11 TASTED structured. $32 Northern Tasmania 9 AWARDED Tomich Woodside Sparkling Pinot Hutton Vale Farm Vineyard Adelaide Chardonnay A strong class of Eden Valley Riesling Hills Riesling 2015 HHHH varietally pure wines 2018 HHHH1/2 2018 HHH Flinty citrus/lemon that showed potential Light honeydew-like A crisp aperitif style of aromas with a toasty/ for cellaring. Nice to see melon-based aromas riesling with pretty spicy yeasty edge. Lovely drier styles. showing a slight citrus perfumed fruit. A keeper. creamy texture in the thread and has an mouth with bright citrus Eldredge Vineyards excellent steely citrus 5+ $25 fruit flavours. $55 Spring Gully Clare palate that has vibrancy, Valley Riesling length and seamless SAUVIGNON 2019 HHHHH balance. $35 BLANC & Lovely spicy/floral BLENDS aromatics with a crisp Criminal Minds line of lime characters South Australia 4 TASTED and lovely full flavoured Riesling 2018 HHHH 4 AWARDED palate tasting of limes Honeyed citrus nose and lemons with a spicy with hints of kero A small group of thread and a drying development. Some herbaceous styles true finish. $20 complexity to the palate to character. with good flinty floral fruit flavours. $18 JUDGES Andrew Locke Peter Kennedy Eric Semmler Winemaker with Winemaker for Ekhidna Proprietor of 919 Wine Rosemount Wines since Wines. Formerly Company. Formerly 1998. Previously he was a with Foggo Wines winemaker for the Hardy winemaker with Orlando and Brothers in Arms Wine Company. Previously Wyndham and De Bortoli wineries; following ten with Brown Brothers Wines. He has completed years in liquor retail. and Auldstone Cellars. vintages in the US and Has vintaged in St. Has spent eight years as Loire (France). In 1993 Emilion and judged in fortified winemaker for he attended the AWRI Perth and regional wine Hardys. Associate judge at advanced assessment shows. Rutherglen, McLaren Vale course. and Riverland shows. 116 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

wine & spirit insider tasting Tomich Hill Adelaide SEMILLON & Aravina Estate Artwine Wicked CHARDONNAY Hills Sauvignon BLENDS Single Vineyard Stepmother Single & BLENDS Blanc 2019 HHHH1/2 Block 4 Margaret Vineyard Clare Plenty of rich and 3 TASTED River Chenin Blanc Valley Fiano 7 TASTED punchy sweet tropical 2 AWARDED 2017 HHHHH 2019 HHHH 4 AWARDED fruit aromas and a full Buttery bouquet with Smells of stonefruits A good class of well- flavoured tropical fruit A good strong class of plump stewed melon with mineral notes and made wines with good varietal palate with classic youthful styles aromas and great has floral fruit flavours. fruit and oak balance. green nettle notes and a showing great ageing varietal characters “A very pleasant crowd “But watch the oak big acid drive. $20 potential. showing hints of pleaser,” said one judge. level,” advised one honeysuckle on the $NA judge. “It has to match Barristers Block Forester Estate crisp and creamy Mr Brightside the density of the fruit Poetic Justice Lifestyle Margaret palate. One for the Adelaide Hills Pinot involved.” Single Vineyard River Semillon cellar. 5+ $35 Gris 2019 HHHH Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc Lifted lime, lemon and Evans & Tate Sauvignon Blanc 2019 HHH1/2 apple aromas and crisp Redbrook Estate 2019 HHHH Herbaceous, green acid driven palate with Margaret River Pungent gooseberry- bean and cut grass vibrant length of lemon Chardonnay like nose with cut grass aromas with similar zest flavours. $22 2017 HHHHH in the background and flavours reflected on the Artwine The Real A well made, lifted, oak vibrant well-handled generous palate. $26.99 Thing Single driven, wine developing fruit flavours with racy Vineyard Adelaide complex secondary acidity. $27 Blend Boss Hills Albarino characters with citrus Tomich Woodside White Fusion 2019 HHHH and melon derived Vineyard Adelaide South Australia A crisp lively style of varietal fruit in the Hills Sauvignon Semillon Chenin wine with some inviting background. Lovely crisp Blanc 2019 HHH Blanc Muscadelle apple/citrus-like varietal acid finish. $40 Subtle pungent fruit Chardonnay fruit characters and a Smithbrook Wines characters nicely 2018 HHH high level of acidity. $30 Single Vineyard integrated with an austere Simple, easy drinking, Artwine Madame Pemberton acid structure. $25 style with a complexity V Single Vineyard Chardonnay Mother of Pearl of aromas and appealing Clare Valley Viognier 2018 HHHH1/2 Wrattonbully flavours. $20 2019 HHH Made in a crisp Chablis & Coonawarra A light and creamy style style with nice toasty oak Sauvignon Blanc OTHER WHITE with perfumed stonefruit and melon-like overtones 2018 HHH BLENDS & fragrances and spicy on the nose and oak Developing herbaceous VARIETALS fruit flavours. $25 evident on the palate bouquet and soft Gapsted Wines layered with elegant fruit herbaceous driven 13 TASTED Limited Release flavours. $25 palate. Good acid line. 8 AWARDED King Valley Pinot $15 Blanc 2019 HHH A mixed flight with Broad pear aromas with some excellent hints of lemons and examples of different flinty fruit flavours. $25 varietals but some Barristers Block missing out due to a lack Single Vineyard of fruit depth. Adelaide Hills Fiano 2019 HHH Very varietal with lemon pith and pear skin-like aromas and flavours. $27 Artwine In The Groove Single Vineyard Adelaide Hills Gruner Veltliner 2019 HHHH1/2 Lifted steely peach derived aromas with a spicy lift and floral notes. Good depth of zesty citrus-based flavours of grapefruit and lemons with crisp acidity. $NA The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 117

NEW RELEASES Richard Hamilton Mr Brightside Leconfield MERLOT & Z Wine Roman Almond Grove McLaren Vale Coonawarra BLENDS Old Vine Barossa McLaren Vale Grenache Rosé Cabernet Franc Valley G.S.M. Chardonnay 2019 HHH 2018 HHHH1/2 3 TASTED 2018 HHHH1/2 2018 HHH Vibrant rose petal Leafy varietal nose A soft, well-made and Nose of peaches and fragrances with delicate with a minty lift and 2 AWARDED seductive style with citrus and light citrus strawberry flavours and well constructed, delightful confectionery flavours with a drying plenty of acid. $22 vibrant berry and bitter “We are really getting berry/plum nose and finish. $20 chocolate palate that has this variety right,” great length of fresh OTHER RED some attractive spicy/ enthused the judges. fruit flavours with a nice Below & Above VARIETALS & floral elements. $35 spicy edge. $38 Single Vineyard BLENDS Twill and Daisy Smithbrook VBBAEULSYUTSE Pemberton Murray Darling Wines Estate Longhop Old Vine Chardonnay 11 TASTED Graciano Tempranillo Red Blend Adelaide Plains 2016 HHH 8 AWARDED 2019 HHHH Pemberton Merlot Grenache 2017 HHH Big developed wine with A good class with some Nose has lovely varietal Cabernet Sauvignon Ageing savoury/tarry tropical fruit and toasty good results. “These complexity of dark Petit Verdot nose and a savoury oak characters and slight generally showed chocolate, black cherries 2018 HHH textured palate with savoury edge. $35 excellent varietal and toasty oak with Leafy cabernet nose earthy elements. $20 expression,” suggested fleshy fruit flavours and and elegant vibrant ROSÉ one judge. grainy tannins. $17.99 fruit flavours with Semprevino GSM Vino Di Famiglia slightly astringent McLaren Vale 9 TASTED Tenafeate Creek Adelaide Hills tannins. $16 Grenache Shiraz 5 AWARDED One Tree Hill Sangiovese Mourvedre Montepulciano 2018 HHHH Smithbrook Wines 2017 HHH “Some great dry elegant 2017 HHHHH Red fruit aromas with Single Vineyard A big oak dominant European styles relying A very well-made savoury/meaty nuances Pemberton Merlot style with some wild- on fruit rather than sugar wine with an intriguing and great length of 2018 HHH cherry fruit and high to express the style,” chocolaty/meaty rich dark chocolaty fruit An astringent style tannins. $26 commented one judge. bouquet showing a flavours with grainy with elegant plum fruit, lovely perfumed menthol tannins. $20 nice spiciness and soft Springton Hills Mother of Pearl lift and followed by, “A Gapsted Wines tannins. $25 Wines Femme Wrattonbully Rosé big rich roasted red meat Ballerina Canopy Fatale Eden Valley 2019 HHHH of a palate”. $30 Alpine Valleys Durif GRENACHE & Grenache 2016 HHH Elegant dry European Mr Riggs Yacca 2018 HHH1/2 BLENDS Slightly perfumed style with delicate Paddock Adelaide Nose is a mix of dark stewed plum nose with savoury aromas and Hills Tempranillo chocolate and spicy 7 TASTED developing chocolaty flavours of floral red 2018 HHHH1/2 fruit and has a dense flavours. $24 berries with a drying Rich, brooding and dark berry varietal fruit 6 AWARDED acid finish. $15 inky aromas of black palate. $31 PINOT NOIR & cherries and spices. Full Springton Hills The judges thought BLENDS Swings & flavoured palate with Wines La Cosa this an excellent group Roundabouts great varietal definition Nostra Eden Valley of varietal styles with 2 TASTED Margaret River Rosé and supple savoury Montepulciano flavour and expression. 0 AWARDED 2019 HHHH tannins. $30 2017 HHH Slight pungent herbal Huge inky wine with Z Wine Rustica CABERNET aromas with spicy cola/black fruit aromas Barossa Valley SAUVIGNON notes. Great fruit and tight, tannic and Grenache expression on the palate high acid palate. $35 2019 HHHH1/2 12 TASTED showing nicely balanced Calcannia Cellar Candied strawberry 3 AWARDED sweetness. $24 Reserve Clare Valley aromas with cherry Sangiovese nuances and a delicate Generally disappointing. La Vue Victoria 2016 HHH palate with lovely “We are seeing tannin Grenache Rosé Nicely ageing wine with vibrancy and great upon tannin here,” said 2019 HHH earthy/meaty/chocolaty varietal fruit expression one judge. “Winemakers Ripe red berry bouquet characters on nose and with sweetness kept in need to look for balance with light florals and palate. $49 balance. $20 in the style depending simple light red fruit on the fruit weight.” palate. $18.99 Z Wine August Old Vine Barossa Valley Z Wine Aveline Grenache Barossa Valley 2019 HHHH1/2 Grenache Rosé Fragrant confectionery 2019 HHH fruit bouquet and nicely Berries and cherries on textured palate, rich the nose and light sweet but soft with beautifully red fruit flavours. $20 balanced raspberry and cherry flavours that stretch across the palate. $30 118 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

Son of a Bull are premium Tasmanian varietal wines. Son of a Bull is the brainchild of a bull at a gate - it’s fresh frisky and impulsive. This ‘live for the moment’ wine is for drinking at a young age - no cellaring required. Variety RRP Sauvignon Blanc $25.00 Riesling $25.00 Gewurtzraminer $25.00 Pinot Noir $28.00 Fresh, GEWURTRAMINER 2018 Frisky and Impulsive. | 95 POINTS | ‘Light, delicate and floral. Lifted with some rose petal like aromas. Attractive esters and floral, good acid and texture, highly drinkable wine’ AUSTRALIAN ALTERNATIVE WINE SHOW 2018 Trade contact: Distributor contact: Kim O’Hara Bouchon Wines & Spirits Periscope Management 16 Prospect Street, Fortitude Valley Qld 4006 Mob: +61 421 077 344 Tel: +61 07 3854 0407 [email protected] [email protected] Distributor contact: Distributor contact: Claret & Co | Scott Teasdale Unique Wine Solutions | Stephen Nankervis 13 View Street, Subiaco WA 6008 PO Box 106, Port Melbourne Vic 3207 Mob: +61 447 087 998 Mob: +61 414 388 046 [email protected] [email protected]

NEW RELEASES Z Wine Section CABERNET Swings & 3146 Barossa Valley SAUVIGNON Roundabouts Cabernet Sauvignon BLENDS Margaret River 2017 HHHH1/2 Cabernet Merlot Lifted menthol and dark 6 TASTED 2017 HHH leafy fruit aromas with 4 AWARDED Spicy beetroot-like cigar box notes. Nice aromas and simple concentration of dark Some sound results earthy flavours with big berry fruit flavours with here with these blends. tannin structure. $24 earthy notes and some dominant tannins. $35 SHIRAZ 2019/2018 16 TASTED 13 AWARDED Perfectly A consistent and balanced. solid class with the 2018s showing good concentration and style and offering ageing potential. The best wines had good balance between the fruit concentration and the phenolics. DW Fox Tucker is a sophisticated, Eden Hall Block Gapsted Wines High yet refreshingly earthy legal “blend”. 3 Eden Valley Country King Valley Our bold service offering is built on Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Merlot a full-bodied foundation of vast 2017 HHHH1/2 2018 HHHH general commercial experience, yet Nice concentration A big rich well overlaid with distinctive specialist of earthy dark fruit constructed earthy wine expertise in a number of key fragrances and great with an abundance of industries and niche market length of persistent blackcurrants and spicy sectors. sweet varietal fruit plum fruit characters It’s a winning combination that flavours laced with lovely with minty/herbal notes. allows every client who opens a ripe tannins. $40 $20 “case” to get exactly what they need. So whatever your business Richard Hamilton Hare's Chase Grampians Estate or legal objectives, don’t hesitate Hut Block McLaren Barossa Valley Mafeking Grampians to contact us. Vale Cabernet Cabernet Shiraz Shiraz 2018 HHHHH At DW Fox Tucker, every Sauvignon 2017 HHH Intense aromas client matters. 2017 HHHH Spicy chocolaty bouquet reminiscent of black Fresh vibrant minty with a hint of cedar and licorice, olives and cola L14, 100 King William Street blackberry bouquet and big tannic blackberry with a big, soft and Adelaide SA 5000 firm cool-climate varietal palate. $38 seductive palate rich p: +61 8 8124 1811 fruit palate with some Tamburlaine Organic with spicy berry flavours upfront tannins. $22 Wines Preservative and lashings of licorice e: [email protected] Free Central Ranges with grippy tannins. $25 dwfoxtucker.com.au Cabernet Merlot 2019 HHH COMMERCIAL | CORPORATE | DISPUTES Aromatic fresh plum and ENERGY | EMPLOYMENT | FAMILY rhubarb nose and fruity palate with pronounced INSOLVENCY | IP | INSURANCE | PROPERTY tannins. $20 RISK MANAGEMENT | RESOURCES SELF INSURANCE | TAX | WORKERS COMPENSATION 120 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER DWFT 2364 - DWFT_WS_Vert 59x270_Novemeber 2017.2in1/d1d1/21017 2:08:46 PM

wine & spirit insider tasting The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 121

NEW RELEASES Grampians Estate Fourth Wave Aravina Estate Eden Hall Block 4 Reis Creek Rhymney Single Wine Theory of Single Vineyard Eden Valley Shiraz Chairman Barossa Vineyard Grampians Evolution Langhorne Margaret River 2017 HHH1/2 Valley Shiraz Shiraz 2018 HHHHH Creek Shiraz Shiraz 2018 HHH Floral raspberry 2016 HHHH1/2 Rich dark fruit cake-like 2018 HHHH1/2 Slight gamey/leathery aromatics with spicy The nose is a lovely aromas with a bright Sweet blackberry notes to the black fruit peppery notes and an soft concentration of spicy lift and a delightful bouquet with a dash nose and flavoursome elegant seamlessly blackberry, cola and palate that’s a perfect, of black pepper and cherry-like palate. $40 balanced savoury spices with a big palate seamless balance lovely palate that’s big palate. $40 full of nicely ageing red between the sweet and rich but in balance Haselgrove Wines fruit flavours and some plum fruit, oak, tannins with the long lingering Catkin McLaren Vale Longhop Mt Lofty up-front tannins. $68 and acid. $30 flavours showing some Shiraz 2018 HHH Ranges Shiraz Reis Creek Limited complexity. $20 Attractive spicy plum 2017 HHH Release Barossa Beklyn Currency Grampians Estate nose and juicy fruit Oak driven style with Valley Shiraz Creek Shiraz Arawatta Single palate with prominent some spicy berry fruit 2016 HHHH1/2 2018 HHHH1/2 Vineyard Grampians tannins. $40 and hints of spearmint. Big black berry bouquet Soft minty berry Shiraz 2018 HHHH $20 layered with spicy aromatics with earthy/ Big, juicy blackberry Richard Hamilton oak and a tight tannic chocolaty nuances nose with hints of Centurion 126 Reis Creek The palate with developed and a delicious palate raspberries and flavours McLaren Vale Pioneer Barossa spicy black fruit full of lovely sweet of berries and spices Shiraz 2018 HHH Valley Shiraz flavours and some well- fruit flavours layered with some capsicum Big rich tannic wine 2017 HHH handled oak. $68 with some savoury notes. $30 with mint, chocolate Warm, easy drinking elements. $45 Hare's Chase and rhubarb-like style with peppery Criminal Minds Ironscraper Barossa characteristics. $75 raspberry fruit aromas South Australia Valley Shiraz and flavours. $28 Shiraz 2018 HHH1/2 SHIRAZ 2017 2018 HHHH1/2 Big tarry chocolaty Tenafeate Creek Inky nose; all dark style of shiraz with 12 TASTED Basket Press One fruit, spices and sweet warm fruit characters, 8 AWARDED Tree Hill Shiraz oak followed by a rich toasty oak and a long 2017 HHH concentration of some tannic spine. $35 A cooler vintage Smells earthy and “serious” varietal fruit Tamburlaine Organic producing wines for Vegemite-like with a ripe flavours on the long Wines Preservative drinking now or in the tannic palate and good seamlessly balanced Free Central Ranges next few years. raspberry length. $30 palate. $18 Shiraz 2019 HHH Vibrant purple wine with Mr Riggs McLaren Z Wine Section attractive, lively, spicy Vale Shiraz 3146 Barossa Valley berry fruit and some 2017 HHHH1/2 Shiraz 2017 HHH sweetness. $20 Subdued menthol edged Oak aromatics sitting Mr Riggs Piebald black fruit aromas with on some fruit richness Adelaide Hills Syrah intense richness of and a solid fruit driven 2018 HHH varietal fruit flavours on palate. $35 Big earthy varietal a big, nicely structured nose and a fleshy, well and seamlessly balanced SHIRAZ balanced palate, with a palate. $50 2016 & OLDER savoury length. $30 Semprevino Mr Riggs The Bolter 10 TASTED McLaren Vale Shiraz McLaren Vale Shiraz 4 AWARDED 2018 HHH 2017 HHHH Tarry black fruit nose Nice depth and control Just four great examples with a minty edge and of the cool savoury in this group showing a huge tannic/menthol rhubarb-like fruit good fruit intensity and fruit palate. $35 characters. Has plenty maintained life and of oak and lots of ripe vibrancy but the rest tannins. $25 disappointed the judges with too many wines Gooree Park Wines already past their use-by- Crowned Glory date. Mudgee Shiraz 2017 HHH1/2 Briary plum fruit and lifted oak evident on both the nose and the palate with balancing tannins. $38 122 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

wine & spirit insider tasting SWEET WHITE & FORTIFIED 1 TASTED 1 AWARDED A beautiful example of a sweet white. Old Plains Power of De Beaurepaire Follow us and keep up One Adelaide Plains Rylstone Estate to date with all our latest Shiraz 2016 HHHH Bluebird Central wine info, tastings and Inky and brooding Ranges Botrytis chocolaty/dark fruit Viognier 2017 events on facebook, nose and a palate that (375ml) HHHH twitter and instagram. offers a mouthful of A lift of citrus fruit, fleshy sweet blackberry apricots and mixed Winestate Magazine flavours. $35 peel aromas with a @WinestateEd slight tropical edge and an intensely rich and complex apricot driven palate. $34 Z Wine Rustica Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016 HHHH Cool mint/cough drop- like aromas with lovely rich chocolaty length to the palate spiked with rhubarb and plum-like flavours. $34 STAR RATINGS  Three-, four- and five-star ratings are signs of excellence in fruit quality and winemaking skill. All wines are judged ‘blind’ by wine industry professionals and are compared in peer classes by three judges. CM Wine is exclusive to Cellarmasters, a major mail-order business. CD Cellar door price. CDO Cellar door only. SO Sold out. $N/A Price not available at time of printing.  Contact information pg 127-128. RECOMMENDED cellaring (years). BEST VALUE for $20 & under. For a complete list of what we tasted please refer to www.winestate.com.au The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 123

BEST VALUE BUYS - All under $20 Gapsted Wines High Haha Marlborough Ara Single Estate Grounded Cru Cru Country King Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2019 Marlborough Sauvignon Adelaide Hills Prosecco NV This very fresh and lively Blanc 2019 Pinot Gris 2019 Light crisp aromas of apples wine is medium-bodied, with Delicate nose with hints of Reserved perfumed aromas and pears showing a floral a punchy, aromatic bouquet. confectionery tropical fruits with slight green pea notes edge and lovely crunchy Strongly varietal, it is crisp and characters. The palate is and intense zesty lemon citrus flavours with a tangy, with very good vigour clean, bright and simple with flavours on a tight, light clean apple-like finish. $20 and depth of passionfruit, lime attractive tropical elements and crunchy palate. $20 and green capsicum flavours. and a long clean finish. $18.99 Gapsted Wines Priced sharply. $18 (A) Grounded Cru Phone: 03 5751 9100 Giesen Group Ltd NZ Phone: 0438 897 738 Email: [email protected] Haha Wine Company Ltd NZ Phone: +64 3 344 6270 Email: [email protected] Web: www.gapstedwines.com.au Phone: +64 6 833 7814 Email: [email protected] Web: www.groundedcru.com.au Email: [email protected] Web: www.giesen.co.nz Web: www.hahawine.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. 124 The Wine & Spirit INSIDER

Quattro Mano Novillo La La Land Victoria Oxenberry Farm Jack Of Smithbrook Wines Estate Barossa Valley Tempranillo 2017 All Trades McLaren Vale Red Blend Pemberton Tempranillo 2017 A lovely bright lifted cherry/ Tempranillo 2017 Merlot Cabernet Aromas of chocolate, berry bouquet with just a hint Subdued aromas of rhubarb, Sauvignon Petit Verdot raspberry and pepper. A of spice and some nice oaky spices and cigar box characters 2018 slightly green and spicy palate notes. The dark fruit palate with balanced flavours in the with a touch of age. $17 has hints of rose petals with tart dark fruit spectrum. $20 Leafy cabernet nose a sweet oak finish. $17.99 and elegant vibrant fruit Quattro Mano Scarpantoni Estate Wines flavours with slightly Phone: 0430 647 470 Wingara Wine Group Phone: 08 8383 0186 astringent tannins. $16 Email: [email protected] Phone: 03 9682 5000 Email: [email protected] Web: www.quattromano.com.au Email: [email protected] Web: www.scarpantoniwines.com Smithbrook Wines (Fogarty Wine) Web: www.lalalandwines.com.au Phone: 08 9282 5413 Email: enquiries@smithbrookwines. com.au Web: www.smithbrook.wine the wine & spiritA U S T R A L I A N & N E W Z E A L A N D Issue 165 | November/December 2019 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 Vicki Bozsoki 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 Manager 81 King William Road, Unley SA 5061. Facsimile (08) 8357 9212 Copyright 2019 by WINESTATE PUBLISHING PTY LTD. E-mail [email protected] 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 Ashlea Lowke E-mail: [email protected] The Wine & Spirit INSIDER 125

passion elegance tradition Tomich Wines - Adelaide Hills - SA Proudly distributed by: Festival City Wines Bidfood – SA, VIC, QLD & NT Under the Covers – NSW For more information visit tomich.com.au

contact details CABERNET & CABERNET BLENDS Tenafeate Creek Wines Longview Vineyard (SA) SEMILLON & BLENDS Phone: 08 8280 7715 Phone: 08 8388 9694 Andrew Miller Wines Pty Ltd Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Clovely Estate Pty Ltd Phone: 0412 569 445 Web: www.tenafeatecreekwines.com Web: www.longviewvineyard.com.au Phone: 07 4168 2127 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.velvetandwillowwines.com.au Twinwoods Estate Obsidian Wines NZ Web: www.clovely.com.au Phone: 0419 833 122 Phone: +64 9 372 6100 Centennial Vineyards Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Midnight's Promise Estate Phone: 02 4861 8700 Web: www.obsidian.co.nz Phone: 02 9235 3947 Email: [email protected] Vasse Felix Email: [email protected] Web: www.centennial.net.au Phone: 08 9756 5000 Paracombe Premium Wines Web: www.midnightspromise.com.au Email: [email protected] Phone: 08 8380 5058 Eden Hall (Hallman Pty Ltd) Web: www.vassefelix.com.au Email: [email protected] RIESLING Phone: 0400 991 968 Web: www.paracombewines.com Email: [email protected] Villa Maria Estate Ltd NZ Accolade Wines Australia Web: www.edenhall.com.au Phone: +64 9 255 0660 Stanton & Killeen Wines Phone: 02 9666 5855 Email: [email protected] Phone: 02 6032 9457 Email: [email protected] Gralyn Estate Web: www.villamaria.co.nz Email: wine@stantonandkilleenwines. Web: www.accoladewines.com Phone: 08 9755 6245 com.au Email: [email protected] CLARE VALLEY & SURROUNDS Web: www.stantonandkilleenwines.com.au Gilbert Wines Web: www.gralyn.com.au Phone: 08 9851 4028 Artwine Pty Ltd Trentham Estate Pty Ltd Email: [email protected] Grey Sands Phone: 08 8389 9399 Phone: 03 5024 8888 Web: www.gilbertwines.com.au Phone: 03 6396 1167 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.artwine.com.au Web: www.trenthamestate.com.au Kirrihill Wines Pty Ltd Web: www.greysands.com.au Phone: 08 8842 1233 O'Leary Walker Wines HAWKE’S BAY Email: [email protected] Happs Wines Phone: 08 8843 0022 Web: www.kirrihillwines.com.au Phone: 08 9755 3300 Email: [email protected] Villa Maria Estate Ltd NZ Email: [email protected] Web: www.olearywalkerwines.com Phone: +64 9 255 0660 Kreglinger Wine Estates/Ninth Island Web: www.happs.com.au Email: [email protected] Phone: 03 6234 2010 Reillys Wines Web: www.villamaria.co.nz Email: [email protected] Inner City Winemakers Phone: 08 8358 0480 Web: www.kreglingerwineestates.com Phone: 02 4962 3545 Email: [email protected] SAUVIGNON BLANC & BLENDS Email: [email protected] Web: www.reillyswines.com.au The Sharp Group Web: www.innercitywinemakers.com.au Giesen Group Ltd NZ Phone: 03 5248 6866 Skillogalee Winery Phone: +64 3 344 6270 Email: [email protected] Leconfield Wines Pty Ltd/ Richard Phone: 08 8843 4113 Email: [email protected] Web: www.thesharpgroup.com.au Hamilton Email: [email protected] Web: www.giesen.co.nz Phone: 08 8323 8830 Web: www.skillogalee.com.au NEW RELEASES Email: [email protected] Lawson's Dry Hills NZ Web: www.leconfieldwines.com EMERGING VARIETALS Phone: +64 3 578 7674 Aravina Estate Email: [email protected] Phone: 08 9750 1111 Majella Wines Alex Russell Wines Pty Ltd Web: www.lawsonsdryhills.co.nz Email: [email protected] Phone: 08 8736 3055 Phone: 0400 684 654 Web: www.aravinaestate.com Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Palliser Estate Wines NZ Web: www.majellawines.com.au Web: www.alexrussellwines.com.au Phone: +64 6 306 9019 Artwine Pty Ltd Email: [email protected] Phone: 08 8389 9399 Nick Haselgrove Wines Angullong Wines Web: www.palliser.co.nz Email: [email protected] Phone: 08 8323 6124 Phone: 02 6366 4300 Web: www.artwine.com.au Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Summerhouse Wine Co Web: www.nhwines.com.au Web: www.angullong.com.au Phone: +64 3 570 2251 Barristers Block/Celad'or Estate Email: [email protected] Vineyards Peccavi Wines Berton Vineyards Web: www.summerhouse.co.nz Phone: 08 8389 7706 Phone: 0404 873 093 Phone: 02 6968 1600 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Te Pa Family Vineyards Ltd NZ Web: www.barristersblock.com.au Web: www.peccavi-wines.com Web: www.bertonvineyards.com.au Phone: +64 3 570 5192 Email: [email protected] Beklyn Reillys Wines Centennial Vineyards Web: www.tepawines.com Phone: 0405 189 363 Phone: 08 8358 0480 Phone: 02 4861 8700 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] The Sharp Group Web: www.beklynwines.com Web: www.reillyswines.com.au Web: www.centennial.net.au Phone: 03 5248 6866 Email: [email protected] Eden Hall (Hallman Pty Ltd) Shingleback Wine Crittenden Estate Web: www.thesharpgroup.com.au Phone: 0400 991 968 Phone: 08 8323 9199 Phone: 03 5981 8322 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Yealands Estate Wines Ltd NZ Web: www.edenhall.com.au Web: www.shingleback.com.au Web: www.crittendenwines.com.au Phone: +64 9 920 2880 Email: [email protected] Eldredge Vineyards Singlefile Wines Pty Ltd Hahndorf Hill Winery Web: www.yealands.co.nz Phone: 08 8842 3086 Phone: 0409 108 166 Phone: 08 8388 7512 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: cellardoor@hahndorfhillwinery. Zonte's Footstep Pty Ltd Web: www.eldredge.com.au Web: www.singlefilewines.com com.au Phone: 08 7286 3088 Web: www.hahndorfhillwinery.com.au Email: [email protected] Sunshine Creek Management Pty Ltd Web: www.zontesfootstep.com.au Phone: 0432 718 364 Email: [email protected] Web: www.sunshinecreek.com.au November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 127

contact details Evans & Tate NEW ZEALAND RECENT RELEASE Quattro Mano AMENDMENT FROM Phone: 08 9213 1799 Phone: 0430 647 470 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER Email: customerservice@mcwilliams. Haha Wine Company Ltd NZ Email: [email protected] com.au Phone: +64 6 834 3888 Web: www.quattromano.com.au 2019 EDITION Web: www.evansandtate.com.au Email: [email protected] Web: www.hahawine.co.nz Scarpantoni Estate Wines The De Bortoli King Valley Rosé Gapsted Wines Phone: 08 8383 0186 Rosé 2019 was incorrectly Phone: 03 5751 9100 BEST VALUE BUYS Email: [email protected] published as De Bortoli Rose Email: [email protected] Web: www.scarpantoniwines.com King Valley Sangiovese Rosé Web: www.gapstedwines.com.au 2019 in Winestate's New Smithbrook Wines (Fogarty Wine) Release tasting September/ Grampians Estate Gapsted Wines Phone: 08 9282 5413 October 2019 edition. Please Phone: 03 5354 6245 Phone: 03 5751 9100 Email: enquiries@smithbrookwines. see the amended review Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] com.au below. Web: www.grampiansestate.com.au Web: www.gapstedwines.com.au Web: www.smithbrook.wine De Bortoli Old Plains Pty Ltd Giesen Group Ltd NZ Wingara Wine Group King Valley Phone: 0407 605 601 Phone: +64 3 344 6270 Phone: 03 9682 5000 Rosé Rosé Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] 2019 HHH Web: www.oldplains.com Web: www.giesen.co.nz Web: www.lalalandwines.com.au Delicate perfumed berry bouquet and Reis Creek Wines Pty Ltd Grounded Cru bright clean palate with Phone: +61 8 7007 3068 Phone: 0438 897 738 racy acidity. $18 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.reiswines.com.au Web: www.groundedcru.com.au Tenafeate Creek Wines Haha Wine Company Ltd NZ Phone: 08 8280 7715 Phone: +64 6 833 7814 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.tenafeatecreekwines.com Web: www.hahawine.co.nz www.winestate.com.au Follow us and keep up to date with all our latest wine info, tastings and events on facebook, twitter and instagram. Connect on social with Winestate www.facebook.com/Winestate-Magazine twitter.com/winestateed www.instagram.com/winestate/ 128 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR COMPLETE PACKAGE which includes hard-copy and digital versions plus full on-line access to Winestate’s web site and reviews. Available only through online order, www.winestate.com.au GIFT SUBSCRIPTION Tel: 08 8357 9277 www.winestate.com.au November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 129

aftertaste ELISABETH KING DRINKS TAKE ON A LEADING ROLE ACTORS have enjoyed a cinematic tipple on the social media platform. Pinterest even Drink choices when viewing Sex and since the early days of movie-making. Who lists the best 69 celebrities with wine posts. the City and Mad Men are obvious - can forget the star cocktail of the iconic There’s a lot of famous faces to choose from, the Cosmopolitan and the Manhattan, tearjerker Casablanca? A highlight of a including supermodel Heidi Klum, Kylie respectively. The Bachelor and The visit to Rick’s Bar Americain, the French Jenner, Mindy Kaling, Justin Timberlake Bachelorette almost mandate a rose - still or 75, was a combo of gin, lemon juice and and Ed Sheeran. sparkling. Re-runs of Scandal call for a large simple syrup shaken over ice, strained goblet of red wine, the favourite drink of the and topped up with champagne. Bogart’s The trend of celebrities owning vineyards lead character, Olivia Pope. Ditto The Good character boasted that downing a couple isn’t new, but it’s been re-energised in the Wife, led by the example of Alicia Florrick was like being hit with the force of a World past few years. The poshest of them all played by Julianna Margulies. War I French artillery gun. is the Queen. In 2011, Her Majesty gave permission to Laithwaite’s, the UK’s largest Up until the mid-2000s, most TV shows Way back then, movies only featured the wine retailer, to plant vines in Windsor shied away from characters who drank even odd drink as a prop or plot point unless one Great Park. Sparkling wine was the goal a little. In Cheers, the bar was run by the ex- of the characters was a hopeless drunk. of the project and the vineyard is planted alcoholic, Sam Malone. The characters on But downing martinis and huge goblets to the three major grapes of champagne - Seinfeld stuck to coffee and herbal tea. Even of wine has become almost obligatory in chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. Barney, the town drunk on The Simpsons, major TV series, reality shows and streaming The first experimental bottle of Windsor morphed into a teetotaller. services. One of the biggest hits on Netflix Vineyard English Quality Sparkling Wine is Grace and Frankie, starring Jane Fonda was produced in 2013 and the first cases So what changed? First, product and Lily Tomlin as two reluctant housemates went on sale last year through Laithwaite’s, placement was a major trigger. When whose husbands announced they were gay of course. James Bond downed a beer in Skyfall, the and then married each other. move was part of a commercial deal with Many programs have Heineken. Agent 007 had to enjoy at least Fonda’s character is the epitome of the one glass of the Dutch brewer’s beer to well-off, middle-class businesswoman with more adult content and meet the requirements of the $US45 million a predilection for dry martinis, relaxing agreement. According to actor Daniel glasses of wine and straight vodka. The that means using adult Craig, tie-ins like this one have become a irony is that the legendary actress is now an necessary part of the business of making a octogenarian and can’t drink more than one language and drinking multi-million dollar film. “Bond is a drinker, glass of wine without getting a hangover. he always has been, it’s part of who he is,” adult beverages. he explained at the time. “Having a beer Sex and the City was the benchmark in is no bad thing, which in the movie just showing women drinking openly on TV Whoever thought that watching other happens to be Heineken.” without plumbing the depths of despair or people watching TV would become a smash loneliness. Carrie Bradshaw and her friends hit show worldwide, but Gogglebox proved The streaming and cable revolution single-handedly revived the Cosmopolitan the naysayers wrong. So it’s a small step has also shifted the dial. Many programs cocktail for a new generation. Earlier this to watching your favourite TV show with have more adult content and that means year, Sarah Jessica Parker collaborated with your preferred drink. Streaming services using adult language and drinking adult the New Zealand brand Invivo to come up like Stan also let you stroll down memory beverages. The characters on How I Met with a sauvignon blanc to suit her tastes. lane. The ’90s show Friends is still one of Your Mother have even taken a dig at She also hand-painted the label herself the most popular shows on Netflix and Friends, its ’90s predecessor, because the and the wine went on sale in September. Cosmopolitan magazine recommends lead actors only drank coffee. But it’s a trend Next year, SJP plans to launch a new rose fans sip on a mimosa, the champagne and that also ties in to the increasing popularity from France. What else, given its roaring orange cocktail, to match the peppy nature of responsible drinking and social tippling popularity with women worldwide. of the characters. as a pleasure. On Scandal, Olivia bonds with her father over their shared love and No doubt Parker will post several shots on interest in wine. It’s hard to do that over a Instagram exhorting her 5.6 million followers lemonade and shows how far we have come to join her in a glass or two. Celebrities in dealing with reality on screen. sipping on a vino has become a mega-trend next issue: It’s time to look a final look back on 2019 before diving into the new year with our Annual (Jan/Feb) Wine of the Year Awards Edition. This issue covers all the highlights of the four, four-and-a-half and five stars reviews from 2019 and also the outstanding Wine of the Year Awards winners and then we ring in the new year with the latest new release wines and rosé. Here’s cheers to a wonderful 2020! 130 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

MEMBER EVENTS NOVEMBER 2019 Winestate Wine of the Year Awards Lunch (Australia) Adelaide Convention Centre Date to be advised By Invitation only (Trade Only and VIP Guests) Winestate Wine of the Year Awards Lunch (New Zealand) Date and venue to be advised By Invitation only (Trade Only & VIP Guests) APRIL 2020 JAPAN - Wine & Gourmet Japan Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan 15-17 April 2020 Details at: www.wineandgourmetjapan.com JANUARY 2020 Perth - Winestate Best of the West & Wine of the Year Tasting Friday 31st January 2020 - 6pm to 8.30pm Perth Hyatt Regency Hotel Perth, Western Australia (Subscribers receive two complimentary tickets upon request) www.travelrite.com.au For further enquiries email to: www.cruiseoffers.com.au Toll free number: 1800 630 343 [email protected] or phone 08 83579277 JOIN US TODAY! By becoming a Winestate Member you will receive complimentary tickets to our events!

Some call it an obsession. But what’s wrong with being passionate about something that’s more cherished now than the day it was produced? Stored safely, at the right humidity and away from harmful light, Vintec’s state-of-the-art wine cabinets offer the perfect conditions to keep your pride and joy safe until you’re ready to take one for a spin. WINE PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGY