Winestate Magazine November December 2019

melbournegrapevine HILARY McNEVIN IT was the depths of winter when Bar Mains keep the including Il Bacaro and Bar Carolina. Margaux opened in the Melbourne’s CBD. Gallic thread going The goal - to open a sophisticated bar The newest venue from the hospitality with Duck Frites, Filet group Made in the Shade, which also owns de Boeuf and Poulet environment - has been achieved with an awarding-winning bar The Everleigh, late Roti - a roasted elegant interior designed by lauded designer night dive bar Heartbreaker as well as Bannockburn Chris Connell. A 6m-long bar of walnut, Connie’s Pizza, saw a gap in the late-night chicken for two - but caramel porcelain tiling and sculptured steel drinking market looking for somewhere what’s got everyone metalwork, forms the centrepiece around “grownup” to go and Margaux was born. talking is the MGX which the action happens. Burger. A tower of Made in the Shade founders, Michael two patties layered A cocktail-forward drinks list, curated by and Zara Madrusan have collaborated with gooey cheese award-winning cocktail bartender Alex with interior designer (and sister of Michael), that sit between a Dzyrart, of London’s acclaimed Bar III, Deanie Madrusan of BAR Studio, on the soft bun, there’s is augmented by a selection of premium broody, sophisticated 100-seat bar and bacon and the “coup de glaze” - a bordelaise champagne and sparkling wines, as well as restaurant that walks a stylish line inspired sauce with pieces of bone marrow through a tighter selection of European and Australian by the brasseries of New York and Paris. it. Luscious, fatty, salty, no wonder it’s turning wines. Cocktails such as American Beauty, a This means you walk in to a room with classic heads and pulling regular customers. mix of Maidenii Sweet Vermouth, strawberry chequered black and white tiled flooring, a The cocktail menu is split into three and jasmine syrup, finished with prosecco or zinc bar top, rich red leather banquettes and categories - light aperitif, serious styles and Florence Revival - Melbourne Single Shot Gin, custom pendants. digestif. This covers French and Italian spritz, fennel flower and lemon feature on the menu. the Black Velvet (Guinness and champagne), Group executive chef Daniel Southern plus half-size Martinis and Manhattans, Executive chef Matteo Tine’s menu (ex Vue Group and L’Oustal) has designed perfect when you don’t want to “push the boat offers refined Italian small plates that a menu featuring bistro classics. Steak out” but still want a serious drink. work with the drinks. Duck liver parfait tartare sits alongside just-shucked oysters, The wine list is designed by Made in the cannoli with pistachio and spritz relish escargot in garlicky butter and a French Shade group manager Marty McCaig, with makes for a perfect bar snack with onion soup that’s so thick it’s almost jammy. its aim to be approachable and affordable its crunch and creamy parfait filling. with local producers, including Lyons Will, The Jurassic quail spiedini, Jerusalem Tellurian and The Wine Farm featured. artichoke and roasted grapes takes The champagne list runs from small, things up a notch. More than a snack, it boutique champagne growers, including gives guests the freedom to use Tetto as Chartogne-Taillet and Agrapart, through a place for dinner, too. Level 1/48 Toorak to the classic producers Billecart-Salmon Rd, South Yarra; phone (03) 9867 7954. and Krug. Basement of 111 Lonsdale St, Melbourne; phone (03) 9650 0088. An old bank building in the north-east After opening Bar Carolina in South Yarra suburb of Alphington has been given a make just two years ago, celebrated restaurateur over by brother and sister duo Dylan and Joe Mammone and his business partners Maddy Breen and turned into a cosy bar and Joey Dee and James Sutherland unveiled restaurant called Alphington Social. Tetto di Carolina, an upstairs bar and The Breens, both from trade backgrounds, dining room that have kept the original timber floors and is taking the inner- open fireplace, adding a taxidermied stag’s south-east by storm. head, leather banquettes and dedicated one wall to cheese and charcuterie fridges. A European-style cocktail bar with The menu has strong Italian leanings and an Italian bent, Dylan is the main pizzaiolo. Everything is Tetto offers slick mixed by hand and the pizzas, as well as service and world- many other dishes, are wood-fired. Try the class hospitality Burrata, tomato sugo and fried basil pizza or synonymous with wood-fired carrots and broccolini with honey. Mammone’s stable of much-loved Mains include osso bucco, and duck with Melbourne venues, cider-braised fennel and there’s a selection of pastas - spaghetti vongole with garlic, tomato and chilli or linguine with nduja, tomato sugo, chilli, olives and burrata. 7 Rowe St, Alphington; phone (03) 9499 5671. Top left: Food from Margaux restaurant (photo credit Gareth Sobey). Bottom left: Interior of Bar Margaux. November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 51

hong konggrapevine LUCY JENKINS FROM the same group who brought Hong all giant ferns and vibrant colours and Stand-out dishes include the organic Kong cool Brazilian/Japanese hybrid cooling fans - perfect for Instagram and local heirloom tomatoes with smoked Uma Nota and the insanely popular for escaping the slight grime of the SoHo burrata cheese and the hand-cut Middle Eastern joint Bedu, comes JALAN, streets outside. JALAN, 42 Peel Street, stockyard wagyu beef sirloin tartare all a Malaysian hawker-style eatery which SoHo, Hong Kong painstakingly prepared by head chef graces SoHo. Incorporating the best of Lee Adams. Chinese, Indian and Malay influences at In a slightly unenviable position next this Peel St hot spot, JALAN is headed to IKEA and the glitzy tourist trap that Don’t miss the cocktails which are up by head chef Saumitra Suryavanshi is Fashion Street in Causeway Bay, The excellently made and presented in a who spent years in Malaysia finessing Park Lane Hotel is at least an unstuffy menu done up like a passport. his talents to introduce Hong Kongers breath of fresh air when it compares to to the veritable delights of black pepper other five-star Hong Kong hotels. SKYE GastroBar, 27/F, The Park Lane, eggplant and laksa fried chicken, as well a Pullman Hotel, 310 Gloucester Rd, as pandan custard doughnuts (as good Alongside its very excellent Skye Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. as they sound). rooftop bar - a must for post-dinner sun downers - is its new GastroBar which A relative newcomer which opened in Walking into JALAN is a bit like finding offers a simple farm-to-table concept late July, Honjo is a 120-seat behemoth yourself in Borneo from a bygone era; it’s that features locally-grown ingredients which harks back to 1950s Japan in a and sustainable seafood. rather cool kind of way. It’s separated into four themed dining areas - Tin Tin Toys Lobby, Safari Room, Red Armoury and Blue Suite - which gives a sense of private dining to proceedings and offers a fantastic array of sushi, sashimi and tempura -exactly the kind of dishes Hong Kongers go mad over. Highlights include lobster tempura with wasabi aioli; broccolini tempura; raw wagyu with chorizo oil and crispy quinoa and corn with miso butter. Honjo, 1/F Hollywood Centre, 77-91 Queen’s Rd West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Top left: Food from Jalan restaurant. Top right: Cocktail from Gastro Bar. Bottom left: Interior from Honjo restaurant. 52 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

DRAGON GOWN is a new brand under Dragon King Group. Compared with Dragon King Restaurant, Dragon Gown attaches greater importance to food appearance and dining environment. Like emperor’s gown, it must have splendid appearance and emphasizes comfort and health. To be sure, it is our foremost mission to assure food quality and quantity. Dragon Gown aims to receive local and overseas business guests. In internal design, Dragon Gown offers a diversity of dining table matching, simple and fashionable to meet diversified needs of reception and banquet. In dish design, we choose freshest food materials in combination with our conception of innovation and special style to present new generation Cantonese food. Take Poached Rice with Lobster Soup for example. We make Lobster Soup and serve it with Steamed Rice and Deep-fried Rice to create an irresistible flavor. Deep-fried Rice is crisp and refreshing and gives out a rustling sound when meeting hot Soup. Address: Shop Nos. 2C and 2D, 2/F, Sun Hung Kai Centre, 30 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong Telephone no.: 852 – 2180 6533 Working hours: Monday to Saturday 11:00am – 3:00pm & 6:00pm – 11:00pm Sunday and Public Holidays 10:00am – 3:00pm & 6:00pm – 11:00pm DRAGON SEAL is located on F101 of International Commerce Centre (ICC) in West Kowloon. As the third highest building in the world. For any type of activities or banquets, we can provide most suitable venue for you. Enjoying the charming seaview of Victoria Harbor, the dining hall serves as the best place for holding various types of ceremonies and celebrating unforgettable days. In addition, Dragon Seal is a preferred choice for enterprise cocktail party, anniversary celebration and private parties. In addition to pursuit for delicious diet taste, Dragon Seal is also particular in promoting diet culture of sound, color and art. Our group CEO Mr. Wong Wing Chee was born in a chef family. In his childhood, he was influenced by what he constantly saw and heard. Constant research of cuisine nurtured his unique and innovative thinking. In his opinion, food quality is very important and dining environment is also most important. He attaches great importance to man-to-man interaction and restaurant decoration. He pays special attention to comfortable seats, lighting and distribution as well as the interaction of tableware and tabletop, including the fresh flower on the dining table. Therefore, you will never feel disappointed when dining in Dragon Seal. Address: Shop C, 101/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon Telephone no.: 852 – 2568 9886 Working hours: Monday to Sunday 11:30am – 3:00pm & 6:00pm – 11:00pm

sydneygrapevine ELISABETH KING DARLING Square, Sydney's newest lifestyle word throughout the menu from the egg Trouble (two miniature martinis, single estate precinct, is wedged between Darling Harbour noodles with shimeji, shiitake, stracciatella Belvedere Smogory Forest and Lake Bartezek and Chinatown. Anchored by The Exchange, and pistachio to the crispy vegan option of vodka, served extra cold with condiments). a stunning spiral-shaped building designed broccolini, XO sauce, tomatoes and basil. by Kengo Kuma, one of the world’s leading For those who really want to get away from Reinvented classics rule and even the architect firms, the glamorous space will the tried-and-true, there is also dry aged French onion soup with croque monsieur will eventually be one of the city’s major foodie duck - a Vietnamese spin on cured meat make you re-evalute the old standby. Other hubs with more than 70 restaurants, cafes cooked at the very low temperature of 55C entrees to take you down memory lane with a and shops. The first tenants hung out their and served at room temperature. new perspective, include tuna sashimi nicoise shingles mid-year, including Hello Auntie, and olive tapenade, foie gras and rhubarb a CBD outpost of the original restaurant of Only one dessert is offered for those with pain d’epice and beef tartare, Jerusalem the same name in Marrickville. a sweet tooth. Like many restaurateurs with artichoke and chives. For mains, just-cooked an Asian heritage and an appreciation of perfection is the standard for corn-fed Back in 2015, chef/owner Cuong Nguyen Western tastes, Nguyen specialises in chicken, pomme puree, butter lettuce and decided to embrace his Vietnamese heritage desserts that straddle both cultures. We apple jus, and wagyu bavette, eschalot and after honing his skills in Italian, French enjoyed a deconstructed cheesecake French peas. Finish with a chocolate tart and and Japanese cuisines. His brand of spiked with soy sauce that knocked the truffle ice cream to end things in style. Franca contemporary Vietnamese quickly attracted socks off sickly versions of the old classic. Brasserie, Shop 2/81 MacLeay St, Potts Point; a loyal clientele in the inner west and scored phone (02) 9167 2921. rave reviews from major restaurant critics. A big shout-out has to go to the staff. Professional, polished and elegant, they Lotus Dining shuttered Fujisaki, its Nguyen didn’t want a carbon copy of his are also relaxed, friendly and fully across Japanese eatery in Barangaroo, early in Marrickville premises in the smart new digs Nguyen’s creative vision for his latest project. the year. The group has gone back to its - a chic combo of stone floors, mood lighting Magical in all seasons with the trees lit up at roots in Chinese contemporary cuisine for and sleek walls courtesy of Kathryn Ashley night in Darling Square, a visit to Hello Auntie the replacement - Bund. The fit out - vibrant Hospitality Design Studio and designer Terry is a treat for all the senses. Hello Auntie, splashes of red and gold, neon lighting and Kim. Another key drawcard is the Japanese Shop 2, 16 Nicolle Walk, Darling Square, street art murals - are meant to evoke the sake pairings, hand-picked by Nguyen, and Haymarket; visit hello-auntie.com.au. waterfront Bund area of Shanghai and a the innovative, Asian-inspired cocktail list, central bar semaphores that cocktails are including fresh mixes such as Koh Samui There’s been a mini wave of French a major magnet for after-work drinks. (pandan, white rum, Thai basil and lime). restaurants opening their doors over the past few years from Hubert to Metisse. The select The ’80s playlist lifts your spirits on entry. Only a few of the Marrickville menu listings club has been joined by Franca Brasserie, There’s plenty of dumplings on offer as have made the journey downtown, including which has taken over the former Fratelli Fresh you would expect at a Lotus Dining venue, fried rice with XO sauce and banh xeo - a location in Potts Point. The credentials of head including king prawn jade har gow and pork brilliant turmeric crepe crisped against the chef Alexis Bessau (Est, Bather’s Pavilion) and sweetcorn dumplings. The selection side of a wok, filled with your choice of meat and pastry chef Travin DeHoedt (Bistro of flame-grilled skewers from seven spiced or seafood, and cut at the table with a pair Guillaume, Bennelong) are impeccable. The salmon to hot and spicy octopus do a brisk of scissors. It’s traditional but seems bang decor is equally upmarket and the work of business. But don’t fill up on the small plates up-to-date at the same time. Steel and Stitch, who also overhauled Chula and dumplings at the expense of the mains, and Lobo Plantation. You can see where the including Xinjiang inspired lamb cutlets, char- Nguyen has given free rein to his creativity money went at a glance from the lavish use grilled with cumin and coriander and Bund’s and the curated menu relies on descriptions of marble to the velvet chairs, green leather XO Australian king prawns, wok-fried with rather than proper names. We started with booths and open cellar with 250 wines. asparagus. A good selection of 20 beers from spring rolls filled with shredded angus beef Kloud from Korea to local brew, Yulli’s Amanda and dipping sauce. The wagyu beef with The cocktail list was curated by Alex Mandarin IPA. Bund, Shop 2, 100 Barangaroo foie gras was a textbook lesson in fusion Raclet (Rockpool Group) and veers from Ave, Barangaroo; phone (02) 9052 9188. cuisine. Sophisticated is the operative the simply great Stonefruit Bellini (Chandon blanc de blancs, white peach, apricot puree, Top: Food from Hello Auntie restaurant. apple cider reduction) to the playful Double Left: Owners and chefs from Hello Auntie restaurant. 54 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

adelaidegrapevine NIGEL HOPKINS BACK in the days when banks managed “floater” of a vegetable samosa in lentil dal, Friday and Sunday, dinner Wednesday to have personal relationships with their you’ll be very happy. Ragini’s Spice, 1/210 to Saturday; phone (08) 8361 8714. customers, the conventional wisdom was Hutt St, Adelaide. Open for lunch and to “follow your bank manager”, wherever he dinner Tuesday-Friday, dinner Saturday; Not many bars have been inspired by a or she went. These days it’s probably much phone (08) 7222 4969. painting, but when owner Marty Palmer more sensible to follow that chef. saw Picasso’s La Cruche Fleurie (Jug of What started as successive single dish Flowers) in a San Francisco art museum it In the case of Adelaide’s acclaimed Indian pop-up restaurants, Spaghetti Crab followed gave him the theme for the look and feel of chef Ragini Dey, that’s required some by Spaghetti Meatballs, has morphed into Adelaide’s latest bar Paloma. doing given that it’s exactly 30 years since something far more sophisticated at l’Italy, she opened her first restaurant, the Spice one of North Adelaide’s newest additions. Although it’s at the heart of the most Kitchen, on Kensington Rd in 1989. competitive bar scene in Adelaide, joining Although it’s closely related in ownership the 100 or more that now throng the city But for those loyal customers who followed to near neighbours Ruby Red Flamingo centre, it has the advantage of being the her to her second and larger restaurant a and Tony Tomatoes, there’s nothing little sister to major city restaurant 2KW, little further up the road, then to Waymouth traditional here, no nonna’s favourites. which ensures its pantry is filled with St, then upstairs in Hutt St as Ragini’s Instead it provides a far more sophisticated pickled, fermented and preserved goodies Spice and now in larger and more obvious offering that wouldn’t be out of place in a to eat in or take home. premises downstairs, along with her many smart suburb of Rome or Milan. appearances at events and festivals, that Paloma’s Spanish vibe carries through to effort has always paid off. That’s hardly surprising given that manager both food and cocktails. There’s a tapas- and partner Riccardo Puccio is indeed from style bar menu that includes prosciutto-style There are cheaper and grander Indian Rome: “We have created a venue where you baby goat with Sicilian olives, Queso de restaurants in Adelaide, but none display come in and have a little sputini, or snack, Cabra - goat’s cheese with Josper-roasted the extraordinary knowledge of the breadth have a glass of wine, stay with us, stay apples and honey and hot-smoked ocean of Indian cuisine - and deliver it so well - as relaxed, take your time,” he says. trout with wholegrain-mustard mayonnaise. Ragini’s kitchen. And in terms of personnel, these days it’s also a very small kitchen, “With our kitchen serving the best seasonal The cocktail menu features agave spirits usually just Ragini toiling at the stoves, which and local produce, flavours will be fresh and - tequila, mezcal, raicilla - but there’s also makes the end result even more amazing. not fussy. Like any Italian osteria our menu a focus on sherry, which keeps it slightly will change regularly with a strong focus on out of step with everyone else and might Although now less encyclopedic than it traditional Italian dishes, prepared with love even encourage a comeback for this most has been in the past, Ragini’s menu still in our kitchen by the team every day.” delicious of drinks. Paloma, 20 Peel St, ranges across the sub-continent, from a Adelaide. Open for lunch Friday, from 4pm family favourite lamb kebab terrine that Chef Joe Carey’s cooking is clearly until late Wednesday to Saturday. she first tasted in Hyderabad, where her influenced by his two years at acclaimed father was once stationed (it’s served with Victorian regional restaurant Brae, with Top: Interior of Paloma Bar. fruit chutney made from her grandmother’s everything from pasta to salumi made in- Middle right: Garfish from I'Italy. recipe), to a Goan beef xacutti (a kind of house. Stay with the smaller dishes and Below right: Ragini Dey's book Spice Kitchen. curry) and Bengal spiced fish and prawn order lots of them, from crisp, caramelised khichari (with rice and lentils). strips of pigs ear with chilli and grilled radicchio to deboned whole garfish, One of her most outstanding dishes fleetingly grilled and topped with sweet-sour is a Kashmiri style osso roganjosh, with onions and hazelnuts, or a warm seafood meltingly tender chunks of osso bucco salad of steamed pippis with grilled and on a mix of lentils, chickpeas and oats, sauteed calamari in a seafood broth. and side condiments of mint, fresh ginger, garam masala, fresh coriander, chilli flakes Helped along by a wine list with plenty and lemon. If you’ve already started with of Italian imports and Australian-made Ragini’s crisp sago, potato, peanut patties Italian varietals, it looks, feels and tastes with coconut chutney, or her Indian style very Italian indeed. L’Italy, 47 O’Connell St, North Adelaide. Open for lunch November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 55

W H AT ’ S I T WO RT H ? WINESTATE’S AUCTION PRICE GUIDE Prices listed are exceptional auction highs and do not include buyer’s premium. AUSTRALIAN 2000 $270 2008 $55 1983 $220 1966 $1,000  WINES 2001 $290 2009 $70 1984 $220 1967 $600  2002 $300 1985 $280 1968 $600 2003 $200 1986 $330 1969 $560  2004 $350 GIACONDA 1987 $250  1970 $400  Stonewell Shiraz Chardonnay 1988 $330  1971 $720  1990 $90 BASS PHILLIP 2005 $230 1990 $110 1989 $280  1972 $400  1991 $70 Premium Pinot Noir 2006 $250 1991 $60 1990 $460 MOSS WOOD 1973 $450  1992 $85 1991 $400 Cab Sauv 1974 $480  1992 $60 1990 $75 2007 Not Released 1993 $90 1992 $350  1975 $460  1993 $65 1991 $90 2008 Not Released 1994 $100 1993 $300  1990 $130 1976 $850  1992 $95 1995 $85 1994 $360  1991 $150 1977 $450 1994 $55 1993 $80 2009 Not Released 1996 $140 1995 $320  1978 $380  1995 $55 1994 $110 2010 $200 1997 $95 1996 $480 1992 $120 1979 $400 1995 $80 1998 $110  1997 $300  1993 $100 1980 $380  1996 $70 1996 $110 2011 Not Released 1999 $120 1998 $420 1981 $400  1997 $55 1997 $140 2012 $210 2000 $110 1999 $380 1994 $100 1982 $380 1998 $140 2001 $110 2001 $380  1995 $130 1983 $480  1998 $85  1999 $120 2002 $160 2002 $420 1984 $350 2000 $120 CLONAKILLA 2004 $190 2004 $380 1996 $120 1985 $380 1999 $75 2001 $160 2005 $120 2005 $390  1986 $520 2000 $70 2002 $145 Shiraz Viognier 2006 $110  2006 $180  1997 $100 1987 $350 2001 $65 2003 $110 2007 $120  2007 Not Released 1998 $130  1988 $380 2004 $140 1990 $65 2008 $130  2008 $540 1999 $130 1989 $360 2002 $70 2005 $80 1993 $65 2009 Not Released 1990 $540 2007 $130 1994 $85 2010 $130 Armagh Shiraz 2000 $130  1991 $460 2003 $55 2008 $85 2011 $130 1990 $200 1992 $380 2004 $85 2009 $85 1995 $65 2012 $130 1991 $120  2001 $130 1993 $380 2005 $60 2010 $90 1992 $140  2002 $120  1994 $380 2011 $100 1996 $100 Meshach 1993 $110 2003 $90 1995 $370 2006 $60 1997 $130 1990 $100 1994 $130 1996 $500 1998 $150 1991 $85 1995 $130 2004 $100 1997 $380 2007 $55 1992 $80 1996 $190  1998 $580 2008 $60 1999 $55 1993 $70 1997 $140  2005 $100 1999 $400 1994 $90 1998 $250  2006 $70 2000 $420 2000 $90 1995 $70 1999 $180   2001 $380 1996 $90 2000 $120 2002 $450 2001 $130 1997 Not Released 2001 $140 2007 $95  2003 $420 1998 $110 2002 $200 2004 $460 2002 $130 1999 $90 2004 $160  2008 $90 2005 $430 2000 $70 2005 $120 2009 $85 2006 $520 2003 $100  2001 $110 2006 $160 2010 $80 2007 $420 2004 $120 2002 $95 2007 $95  2008 $620 BINDI 2003 $60 2008 $160 Block 5 Pinot Noir 2005 $110 2004 $70 2011 $90 Basket Press 1997 $80 2005 $65 1998 $95 2006 $120  2006 $65 Shiraz 1999 Not Released 2007 $190  2007 Not Released 2000 $150 2008 $90 2008 $85 MOUNT MARY 1990 $150 2001 $120 GREENOCK CREEK 1991 $140 2002 $110 2009 $95 Quintet 1992 $95 2003 $85  Roennfeldt Rd 1990 $150 2004 $110 Shiraz 2005 $140 2010 $90  1991 $120 1993 $110  2006 $100 1995 $280 2007 $120 2011 $75 1996 $260 1992 $110 1994 $95  2008 $120 1997 $160 2009 $90 2012 $70 1998 $350 1993 $95 1995 $100  2010 $95 1999 $200  2011 $85 2000 $220 1994 $110 1996 $180  2012 $95 2001 $250 1997 $90 2002 $320  1995 $100  2003 $210 2004 $210 1996 $120 1998 $190 2005 $230 1999 $110 2006 $260 1997 $120 2000 $90 1998 $160 Hill of Grace 1999 $130 2001 $95 1980 $280  2002 $120 Cabernet Merlot 1981 $220 2000 $120 2003 $100 1982 $250  2001 $110 1999 $95 2002 $130 2004 $110  2000 $65 2001 $110  2003 $110 2005 $110  2006 $110 2002 $90 2004 $140 2007 $85 BROKENWOOD 2005 $120  2003 $90 Bin 707 Graveyard Shiraz 2004 $110  2006 $120 1990 $250  2008 $85  1991 $250  1990 $90 2005 $85 2007 $90 1992 $210  2009 $85  1993 $220  1991 $110 2006 $70 2008 $95 1994 $220  2010 $100  1995 Not Released 1992 Not Released 2007 $100 2009 Not Released 1996 $230 THREE RIVERS/ 1993 $80 1997 $190 1994 $80 2008 $95  2010 $85 1998 $260 Chris Ringland 2011 $120 1999 $200 1995 $85  2009 $95  2000 Not Released Wines Shiraz 2001 $210  1996 $95 2010 $100  Chardonnay 2002 $220  1990 $520 2011 $75 2003 Not Released 1997 $85 Art Series 2004 $200 1991 $690 2005 $230  1992 $600 1998 $140  ELDERTON 1990 $60 2006 $220  1993 $700 1999 $90 2007 $200  2000 $140  Command Shiraz 1991 $60 2008 $210  1994 $650 1992 $70 2009 $200  2001 $85  1990 $90  1993 $65 Bin 95 Grange 2010 $280 1995 $450 1951 $46,000 2002 $75 1991 Not Released 1994 $85 1952 $17,000 1996 $830 1992 $100 1953 $14,000 2003 $80 1993 $65 1995 $100 1954 $11,000  1997 Not Released 1955 $4,000 1998 $850 2004 $85  1994 $85  1996 $65 1956 $14,000 1999 $600 1957 $12,000 2005 $85 1995 $75 1997 $90 1958 $4,100 2000 $450 2006 $110 1959 $2,000 2007 $90 1996 $95 1998 $70 1960 $1,500 2001 $800 1999 $75 1961 $1,600 2008 Not Released 1997 $70 2000 $75 1962 $1,600 2002 $800 1998 $95 1963 $1,200  2009 $85 1999 $70 2001 $80 1964 $1,200  2003 $500 1965 $600  2000 $65 2002 $80  CLARENDON HILLS 2001 $65 2003 $80 Bin 60A Astralis Shiraz 2004 $90 2002 $85 2005 $75 1962 $4,000 1994 $200 2004 $550  1995 $200 2003 $65 2006 $70 2006 $400 1996 $250  2004 $75 1997 $200  2007 $85 1998 $260 1999 $260 2005 $65 2008 $70 2006 $70 2007 $65 2009 $75  2010 $70 56 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TRANSTHERM Cellaring Your Fine Wines in Perfect Conditions 2002 $2,000 2003 Not Released 2004 $2,000 Follow us and keep up to Shiraz 2005 $5,700  E. Guigal La Turque date with all our latest 1990 $150 2006 $2,100 Hermitage wine info, tastings and 1991 $130 2007 $3,200 1992 $80 2008 $3,000 1990 $800 events on facebook, 1993 $90 1991 $850  twitter and instagram. 1994 $120 1992 $270 1995 $110 1993 $240 Connect on social with 1996 $160  Louis Roederer Chateau 1994 $300  Winestate 1997 $85  Cristal d’Yquem Sauternes 1995 $500  1998 $160  1996 $260 www.facebook.com/Winestate- 1999 $100  1990 $550 1990 $800 1997 $450 Magazine 2000 $80 1993 $220 1991 $450 1998 $700 2001 $100  1994 $340 1993 $340 1999 $850 twitter.com/winestateed 2002 $150  1995 $300 1994 $360 2000 $420 www.instagram.com/winestate/ 2003 $100 1996 $440 1995 $500  2001 $520 2004 $120 1997 $450 1996 $540 2002 $450 www.winestate.com.au 2005 $130 1999 $340 1997 $490 2003 $850 2006 $130 2000 $340 1998 $400 2004 $560 2008 $120 2002 $300 1999 $520 2005 $600 2009 $130 2004 $240 2000 $600 2006 $750 2010 $140 Chateau Mouton 2001 $900 2011 $110 2002 $500 Rothschild 2003 $600 1990 $650  2004 $500 Gaja Barbaresco 1991 $550 2005 $650 1990 $330 1992 $230 2008 $600 1991 $220 1993 $550  1992 Not Released 1994 $340 Para Liqueur 1995 $520 Domaine 1993 $210 1878 $2,200  1996 $800  de la Romanee 1994 $260 1879 $2,500  1997 $280 Conti La Tache 1995 $210 1880 $1,800  1998 $420 1990 $7,400 1996 $300 1881 $1,800  1999 $750  1991 $1,900 1997 $380  1882 $1,800  2000 $1,150 1992 $1,250 1998 $300 1887 $1,200  2001 $450 1993 $2,200 1999 $300  1893 $1,200  2002 $500 1994 $1,600 2000 $250  1899 $1,200  2003 $600 1995 $3,500  2001 $250 1901 $700  2004 $850  1996 $3,100  2002 Not Released 2005 $1,200 1997 $1,900 2003 Not Released 2006 $950  1998 $2,200 2004 $310 2008 Not Released 1999 $5,000 2005 Not Released 2009 $2,000 2000 $1,500 2007 $240 Chateau Latour 1908 $600  1990 $1,250 2001 $2,000 Tenuta 1910 $500  1991 $600 2002 $3,800 Dell’Ornellaia 1922 $350 1992 $350 2003 $2,800  1925 $600 1993 $440 2004 $2,500  Ornellaia 1927 $290 1994 $460 2005 $5,500 1991 $320 1930 $140 1995 $1,200  2006 $1,700 1992 $105 1933 $140  1996 $1,400  2007 $1,200 1993 $125 1939 $90 1997 $650  2008 $2,400 1994 $130  1998 $520 2009 $5,000 1995 $130 1999 $600 1996 $180 1944 $80  2000 $1,600 2001 $700 1947 $75  2002 $600 1997 $350  2003 $1,700 1998 $350  IMPORTED 2004 $600 Domaine Armand 1999 $200  WINES 2005 $1,300 Rousseau 2000 $450 2006 $1,100 2001 $260  Moet et Chandon 2007 $750 Chambertin 2002 $280  Cuvee Dom 2008 $1,100 Clos de Beze 2003 $150 Perignon 1990 $2,500  2004 $280 1980 $180  Chateau Petrus 1991 $200 2005 $200 1982 $280  1990 $5,500 1992 $220 2006 $220 1991 Not Released 1993 $700  2007 $220 1992 $1,300 1994 $500 2008 $150 1993 $1,000 1995 $560 2009 $190 1994 $2,800 1996 $650 1995 $4,000  1997 $280 1996 $2,400 1998 $400 1997 $1,000 1999 $800 1983 $190  1998 $4,800  2000 $320 Vega Sicilia Unico 1985 $200 1999 $1,250 Gran Reserva 1988 $260 2000 $6,000 2001 $700  2001 $4,500  2002 $680 1990 $560 1990 $320  2003 $600 1991 $420 1992 $240 1994 $550 1993 $260 2004 $440 1995 $420 2005 $1,200  1996 $360 1995 $220 2006 $600 1998 $420 1996 $370  1999 $550  1998 $260 2007 Not Released 2000 $360 2009 $1,100 2002 $420 1999 $190 2010 $1,100 2000 $190  2002 $200 2003 $190 2003 $294 2004 $170 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 57

travelbriefs WINSOR DOBBIN CLARE VALLEY VELVET TOUCH SUPPLIES TAKE A HIT ALL THINGS ITALIAN VISITORS to the 33rd Clare Valley Gourmet LOVERS of Clare Valley wines might want THERE is a little taste of Italy to be Weekend in May would have noticed a to order early or make a visit as soon as discovered at Umbria, a rustic eatery in newcomer in Velvet and Willow Wines, based possible with yields for the 2019 vintage Clare township. “At Umbria we focus on set in a quaint 1850s-built cottage in Auburn. down substantially. traditional Italian cuisine using, as much as possible, local produce and ingredients,” From a fruit and vegetable store to a bakery Clare Valley Wine and Grape Association says owner and chef Edoardo Strappa. to a lolly shop, the heritage building on executive officer Tania Matz said fans of “Our wine list showcases most of the Auburn’s main street is bursting with history, Clare Valley wines should put in orders Clare Valley wineries as well as Italian enhanced by its new custodians the Miller as soon as possible to avoid missing out, wines, particularly from Umbria. All our family who have put their mark on it as a because there would not be much around. pastas are homemade on premise with cellar door and pantry. Maintaining its old- “We’re estimating yields to be down 30-40 great ingredients such as Clare Valley world charm and transforming an overgrown per cent on some varieties,” Matz said. free-range eggs.” Think pasta dishes like adjoining yard into an 1850s-style heritage “More susceptible varieties will be a much homemade potato gnocchi tossed in a garden, the little cottage is a place to visit higher percentage down on last year, but rosè sauce with prawns and asparagus, or and taste the local fare at the gateway to the overall we’re reporting we’re about 30-40 house-made pappardelle in a rich sauce of Clare Valley. The venue is also available to per cent down on average.” Italian sausages, truffle puree and cream. hire for outdoor functions. The menu devised by Strappa features Jim Barry Wines winemaker Tom Barry locally-sourced baby goat, venison and Relative newcomers to the Clare Valley, said there was little moisture in the soil due porchetta, or maybe confit duck legs Velvet & Willow set up shop in 2015. The to the lack of rain over the past 12 months, marinated in herbs and orange, served day-to-day operations are kept on track which created problems for growers. “It’s with roasted pumpkin and broccolini. by Hamish Miller, whose father Andrew - a had a huge effect after a very dry winter There are dishes for children, gluten-free, Darwin-based obstetrician/gynaecologist - and dry spring as well. Riesling is really vegetarian and vegan options available, has been operating the St Clare vineyard in sturdy, that might only be 20 per cent down. and regular wine degustation dinners are nearby Leasingham since the late 1990s. Shiraz and cabernet were between 30 and held on the last Wednesday or Thursday of Open 7am-2pm weekdays and 8am-2pm 40 per cent down.” each month. Each showcases a different on weekends, The Pantry is a good spot local winery. The wine list features smaller for an artisan coffee or a freshly-baked He said the talk around older grape local producers like Matriarch and Rogue muffin. Complementary wine tastings are growers, like his father Peter, is that no and Sussex Squire, as well as big names held between 11am-4pm at weekends, one has seen dry conditions in Clare like like Grosset and Tim Adams. Family-owned or by appointment. “Being right in the this since 1982. and operated, Umbria is open Tuesday to centre of Auburn it was the perfect site Saturday for lunch and dinner at 308b Main for functions and events,” says Hamish North Rd, Clare; phone (08) 8812 1718, or Miller. “It’s definitely a great hub. It’s either visit www.umbriarestaurant.com.au. the first stop or the last stop to the Clare Valley.” Velvet & Willow, 17 Main North Rd, MATRIARCH TAKES CHARGE Auburn; phone (08) 7477 7848, or visit www. velvetandwillowwines.com.au. TALENTED winemaker Marnie Roberts, formerly of Kirrihill and Claymore, has opened a new cellar door for her Matriarch and Rogue wine range. 58 W I N E S TAT E

travelbriefs The old engravers shop in the main street is very important to me. For us to cook the SHED STAYS A NEW OPTION of Clare is now fitted out as a cellar door food, someone has had to put a lot of effort and wine bar. Roberts describes it as “a into growing it. I love the story behind that and BED In a Shed and Bed In a Shed Too are really chilled space, with a modern city I want their story reflected in my food. Treat the a couple of quirky private retreats designed feel, where you can do a relaxed tasting of food with respect and understand it for what and built by owner Andrew Quixley, a local my range, or just get comfortable and have it is and where it’s come from.” artist in Leasingham. a glass of wine.” Matriarch and Rogue is open Friday to Sunday noon-6pm at 279 Expect dishes like fried zucchini flower The main bedroom at Bed In a Shed offers Main North Rd, Clare; phone 0419 901 892, stuffed with house-made ricotta and vineyard views and features an extensive or visit www.matriarchandrogue.com.au. citrus mayonnaise, grilled local octopus use of interesting recycled materials, the with romesco, pickled basil and olive, or corrugated iron walls being fully insulated SLATE ROCKS THE VALLEY perhaps free-range pork belly with apple as is the timber feature ceiling. There is a and blackberry, baby carrots, cauliflower, Mintaro slate-paved pergola area and an THE opening of Slate restaurant at Pikes semi-dried tomato and onion caramel. undercover barbecue. Wines late last year gave the Clare Valley a new gourmet drawcard. There’s also a children’s menu, vegetarian The tariff includes two bedrooms (one options and a wine list that showcases the double, one single), Sheridan linen, towels, “Slate is at the heart of everything we do full range of current Pikes wines, along bath robes, hairdryer, reverse cycle air at Pikes,” says chef Max Stephenson. “Our with reserve and back-vintage wines conditioning, TV with DVD, bluetooth vineyards sit on an ancient bed of 500 million- and “a guest list of a few of our favourite speaker, microwave, fridge, coffee machine year-old stone that has been the critical international producers”. and coffee pods, tea-making facilities, element in shaping the wines we produce. breakfast supplies for a cooked breakfast Slate at Pikes, 233 Polish Hill Rd, Sevenhill; and a bottle of wine is provided for all stays “The Philosophy at Slate Restaurant is to phone (08) 8843 4044, or visit slate. of two nights or more. simply showcase our wines accompanied pikeswines.com.au. by the amazing produce that is grown in and Bed In a Shed Too has room for up around our region. The farmer-to-chef process to five guests and is close to wineries and top-class restaurants. There are three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large living area with wood-fired heater and airconditioning and breakfast supplies. Visit www.bedinashedclarevalley.com. Top left: Matriarch and Rogue wine range. Top right: Interior of Bed in a Shed. Far Left top: Slate Pikes chef Max. Left below: Pikes Wines vineyards. Middle Left: Interior of Slate Pikes restaurant. Opposite page top left: Velvet and Willow cellar door. Bottom left & right: Clare Valley vineyards. November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 59

CLARE VALLEY & SURROUNDING REGIONS 81 TASTED 64 AWARDED CLARE VALLEY & SURROUNDING REGIONS Generally regarded as Australia's premium riesling region, or Pioneer Road Clare OTHER WHITE certainly one regarded as the yardstick. Clare continues to Valley Riesling VARIETALS & delight as it did in this judging. Also of note are the Clare shiraz 2019 HHH1/2 BLENDS wines with the aged versions a special feature. Very delicate hints of citrus and floral 3 TASTED fragrances. Lovely crisp lime/citrus drive to the 3 AWARDED firm palate. $18 SPARKLING Taylors St Andrews Rhythm Stick Red Kirrihill Regional Small interesting line- Clare Valley Riesling Robin Clare Valley Selection Series up with good varietal 1 TASTED 2018 HHHHH Riesling Clare Valley Riesling expression across the 0 AWARDED Quite a shy nose with 2016 HHHH1/2 2019 HHH1/2 board and a special lime fruit pastille and Toasty buttery Subtle floral aromas with mention for the viognier RIESLING bath salt-like characters. bouquet with honeyed hints of honeysuckle. that showed excellent Lovely, intensely development. Rounded Lovely expression of balance. 19 TASTED flavoured, lemon/lime buttery flavours, lime-like flavours with a 16 AWARDED palate with lovely zippy perfumed notes and crisp finish. $19 Artwine Madame V fresh length. $40 some good phenolic Gleeson & Co Clare Valley Viognier Excellent class of Pauletts Polish Hill characters adding Watervale Riesling 2018 HHHH1/2 Rieslings from this River Clare Valley complexity. $22 2019 HHH1/2 Pretty stonefruit benchmark region. “A lot Riesling O'Leary Walker A bright and racy citrus fragrances with a hint of different expressions 2019 HHHH1/2 Polish Hill Clare driven style of riesling. of quince. Fleshy in here, with the 19s Mixed perfumed Valley Riesling It’s very elegant and the mouth with long showing great promise aromatics and plenty of 2019 HHHH has a lovely crisp line of lingering exotic varietal and the 18s ageing well length of brown lime-like Perfumed nose; hints acidity. $25 flavours with sweet but maybe already at flavours with plenty of of lilacs with slight Reillys Watervale edges and lively length their peak,” said one mouth-watering acidity funkiness. Beautifully Clare Valley Riesling of acidity. $25 judge. “Some very nice and talc notes on the textured, full flavoured 2018 HHH1/2 Taylors Hotelier older vintage wines here finish. $28 palate with yeasty Very attractive clean Clare Valley Pinot also.” EB's 'The Settler' persistence. $28 green lime aromas with Gris 2018 HHH Clare Valley Riesling Pauletts Clare Valley a high acid driven palate Smells of freshly picked Jim Barry Lodge Hill 2019 HHHH1/2 Riesling 2018 HHHH tasting of lemons and nectarines with a Clare Valley Riesling A lovely lifted jubey/ Lemony citrus driven limes. $25 supple, slightly tropical, 2019 HHHHH confectionery citrus- aromas with floral Reillys Barking Mad sweet edged palate. A slight whiff of like bouquet with an hints. Bright lifted citrus Watervale Riesling $18 minerally lime attractive supple and blossom palate with 2018 HHH characters on the nose. flavoursome palate with hints of barley sugar Soft approachable style Nicely structured, well- an excellent line of crisp sweetness. $NA with reserved floral balanced palate with acidity. $35 Rhythm Stick Red fragrances and lifted floral lovely length, drive and Taylors Clare Valley Robin Reserve Clare fruit flavours. $20 persistence of tight Riesling Valley Riesling Taylors Reserve floral lime flavours. $25 2018 HHHH1/2 2014 HHHH Parcel Clare Valley Rich nose; all citrus and Nose starting to develop Riesling 2018 HHH peaches with hints of attractive toastiness and Understated citrus nose barley sugar. A riper has a nicely balanced with good intensity and style palate with nice creamy, yeasty, length of lime driven balance of citrus, barley honeyed complexity to flavours. $25 sugar and phenolic the palate. $27 Skillogalee characters. $19 Trevarrick Single Contour Clare Valley Riesling 2017 HHH Nose of lime blossom and bath salts with a clean fresh citrus palate and “playful” acid. $54.50 60 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

rreeggi oi onnaal l ttaasstti ni ngg Jim Barry Clare Reillys Dry Land Artwine The Taylors St Andrews CABERNET Valley Assyrtiko Clare Valley Grace Clare Valley Clare Valley BLENDS 2018 HHH Tempranillo Graciano 2016 HHH Cabernet Sauvignon Delicate floral citrus 2016 HHHH A fleshy wine with 2016 HHH1/2 8 TASTED style with subtle aromas Dark, dense chocolaty warming fruit cake-like Nicely maturing wine 8 AWARDED and soft and fleshy in aromas with good characters on both the with intensity of Ribena The judges found this the mouth. $35 concentration of dried nose and palate. $32 and raspberry fruit to be a consistent plum nuances with an characters, mocha oak class with the cabernet ROSÉ explosion of ripe black Calcannia Cellar and soft tannins. $80 blending well with other cherry flavours. $29 Reserve Clare Valley Jim Barry Cover Bordeaux red varietals. 3 TASTED Stone Bridge Sangiovese Drive Clare Valley 1 AWARDED Wines Clare Valley 2015 HHH Cabernet Sauvignon O'Leary Walker Sangiovese Raspberry aromas with 2017 HHH Blue Cutting Road Just one good example 2017 HHH1/2 a peppery lift and a A supple elegant style Cabernet Clare showing good varietal Earthy bouquet with simple, silky smooth, with subtle sweet Valley Cabernet fruit characters. light herbal notes and savoury palate. $45 mulberry fruit and plenty Sauvignon Merlot firm, well structured, of oak. $22 2017 HHHH Gleeson & Co Clare cherry/rhubarb palate. CABERNET O'Leary Walker Lovely concentration of Valley Sangiovese Savoury tannins. $22 SAUVIGNON Polish Hill River dark fruit aromas. Palate Rosé 2019 HHH1/2 Stone Bridge Armagh Clare Valley is soft and rich with Subtle rose petal bouquet Wines Clare Valley 11 TASTED Cabernet Sauvignon jubey fruit and chocolaty and a bright lifted lychee- Grenache Mataro 8 AWARDED 2017 HHH flavours and silky like palate. $25 2016 HHH1/2 Dark fruit nose with a tannins. $22 The nose is dark and There were many leafy edge and soft, silky Stone Bridge OTHER RED earthy with hints of rose borderline cabernets and flavoursome in the Wines Clare Valley VARIETALS & petals and has an up- here with the better mouth. $30 Cabernet Malbec BLENDS front sweet fruit palate. wines showing good Artwine The Good 2017 HHHH Needs food! $26 balance and varietal Life Clare Valley Delicate leafy black 15 TASTED Calcannia Cellar intensity, but some Cabernet Sauvignon fruit fragrances with a 11 AWARDED Reserve Clare Valley wines had grippy tannins 2017 HHH gentle, well structured Grenache or excessive pressings Lovely cassis aromas palate loaded with The better wines here 2016 HHH1/2 to give flavour but not with a menthol edge chocolaty oak and showed distinctive A pot-pouri of aromas matching the fruit depth. and tight minty/dark fruit varietal fruit. $23 varietal characters and with sweet raspberry flavours. $40 had retained freshness. fruit flavours lifting off Kirrihill Regional Settebello Bastoni However, some wines the nicely textured Selection Series Clare Valley were overworked palate. $45 Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon resulting in loss of Artwine Hola Clare Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 HHH character. Valley Tempranillo 2018 HHHH1/2 Dark chocolaty nose Graciano 2017 HHH Beautiful blackberry with good expression of Taylors A firm acid driven bouquet and silky varietal fruit flavours on Clare Valley Merlot wine full of dark and smooth in the fleshy palate. $25 2018 HHHH1/2 spicy fruit aromas and mouth with layers of Reillys Dry Land Purple hues and flavours. $30 blackberries, plums and Clare Valley perfumed plum fruit Artwine Pack mocha characters and Cabernet Sauvignon fragrances with a Leader Clare Valley good tannin support. 2016 HHH chocolaty thread. Nicely Cabernet Franc $19 Loads of minty fruit structured palate with 2017 HHH characters with dark great balance and Herbaceous and leafy on Taylors The Visionary mocha oak and grippy intensity of the juicy fruit the nose with elegant Clare Valley tannins. $38 and the oak. $19 layers of cherry and Cabernet Sauvignon mocha flavours. $35 2015 HHHH Artwine Grumpy Reillys Dry Land Lovely dusty herbaceous Old Man Clare Valley Clare Valley Mataro fruit aromas with Grenache 2017 HHH lingering dark fruit 2018 HHHH Spicy aromas with hints flavours, attractive oak Subtle plum richness of rosemary-like herbs. sweetness and silky on the nose and very Bold licorice palate with tannins. $200 approachable, nicely edgy acidity. $50 structured, red fruit palate with slight medicinal lift. $35 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 61

CLARE VALLEY & SURROUNDING REGIONS Magic J Clare Valley Gleeson & Co Clare Pauletts Polish Hill Cabernet Malbec Valley Shiraz River Clare Valley 2017 HHH 2018 HHHH1/2 Shiraz 2017 HHH1/2 Black cherry bouquet Inky purple wine Bright lifted cherry with tobacco and spice smelling of dark aromas. Velvety smooth notes and a lingering chocolate and berries in the mouth with red fresh berry palate. $35 with good length of cherry flavours and jubey blackberry flavours grippy tannins. $35 Pauletts Polish Hill and some serious River Clare Valley tannins with a silky Taylors Special Cabernet Merlot finish. $25 Release Clare Valley 2017 HHH Shiraz 2017 HHH Silky smooth wine with SHIRAZ & A lovely mix of raspberry a chocolaty nose and BLENDS 2017 and blackberry fruit, dark layers of sweet fruit chocolate notes and soft flavours and generous 6 TASTED tannins. $14.99 tannins. $35 5 AWARDED Skillogalee The Stone Bridge Wines Reillys Stolen Block Cabernets Clare Miscela Super “These (above two Clare Valley Shiraz Clare Valley Shiraz Valley Cabernet Clare Clare Valley categories) expressed 2017 HHH 2016 HHHHH Sauvignon Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon the vintages well, from Opulent cherry/ Mature nose smelling of Franc Malbec Sangiovese Shiraz red spectrums to black,” plum nose with a rich soy, plums and leathery. 2016 HHHH 2016 HHH said one judge. “Oak palate full of raspberry Lovely controlled palate Attractive savoury Lighter sweet fruit was in a supportive role flavours. $30 weight – it’s savoury oak elements on the density here with dusty and not over done.” and textured with some blueberry nose. Lovely chocolaty oak and fine SHIRAZ & really lovely blackberry deep dark fruit flavours line of tannins. $45 Pauletts Clare Valley BLENDS fruit characters. $90 with mouth puckering Shiraz 2017 HHH1/2 2016 & OLDER Taylors The Pioneer tannins. $34.50 SHIRAZ & A subtle peppery fruit Clare Valley Shiraz Pauletts Helmsford BLENDS 2018 nose and a creamy 13 TASTED 2015 HHHH1/2 Clare Valley smooth palate with 10 AWARDED An inky wine, smells of Cabernet Shiraz 2 TASTED lovely length and good briary fruits and licorice 2017 HHH 2 AWARDED drinkability. $NA Very consistently sound bullets. A weighty The nose is herbal, spicy group of wines showing palate layered with dried and leafy with a palate A solid group of Kirrihill Vineyard how well these wines plums, cherries and that is soft, gentle and flavoursome, yet silky, Selection Series age from this region. chocolate with a supple flavoursome. $NA wines for both the Clare Valley Shiraz tannin backbone. $200 Pauletts Clare Valley 2018 and 2017 vintages 2017 HHH1/2 Jim Barry Lodge Hill Cabernet Merlot below. Chocolaty dark berry Clare Valley Shiraz 2017 HHH bouquet and layers 2016 HHHHH Spicy dark fruit aromas Kirrihill Regional of lovely varietal fruit, Dark purple, almost and fleshy palate that Selection Series toasty oak and very black, wine with fills the mouth with Clare Valley Shiraz good tannins. $29 intense plum, blueberry flavour. $NA 2018 HHHH1/2 and chocolaty nose. Vibrant compote of Lashings of plum fruit plum fruit fragrances over dark chocolate and with hints of spice and spicy elements. Long a supple textured palate lingering tannins. $25 with bright lifted fruit and fine tannins. “A lovely wine.” $19 JUDGES Tom Darmody Peter Gajewski Steve Warrick Assistant winemaker at Winemaker for Byrne Wine marketer with Taylors Wines. Has a Vineyards. Has 40 20 years experience Bachelor of Viticulture plus years in the in McLaren Vale, & Oenology from the wine industry with 25 Coonawarra, Adelaide University of Adelaide. years experience with Hills and Margaret Previously a cellar door Penfolds wines. River. Extensive wine assistant at Elderton Wines Has international judging experience at and Wolf Blass. Previously exposure with wine the Adelaide, Hobart a product expert at Dan marketing. Has judged and McLaren Vale wine Murphys. Committee in various regional wine shows. member of Clare Valley shows. wine show. 62 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

rreeggi oi onnaal l ttaasstti ni ngg Taylors St Andrews Skillogalee Basket Reillys Clare Valley STAR RATINGS  Clare Valley Shiraz Pressed Clare Valley Shiraz 2016 HHH1/2 2016 HHHH1/2 Shiraz 2016 HHHH Dark inky aromas; all Three-, four- and five-star ratings are signs of Intense dark blackberry Reserved varietal fruit plums, soy and leather excellence in fruit quality and winemaking skill. fruit bouquet laced fragrances with hints of with a dense rich palate All wines are judged ‘blind’ by wine industry with charred oak. The mint and chocolate. A that echoes the characters professionals and are compared in peer palate is sweet and rich big silky chocolaty palate on the nose. $25 classes by three judges. with plush tannins and with mouth coating Skillogalee CM Wine is exclusive to Cellarmasters, hints of mocha and cola tannins. $34.50 Trevarrick Single a major mail-order business. characters. $80 Contour Clare Valley CD Cellar door price. Settebello Coppe Shiraz 2015 HHH1/2 CDO Cellar door only. Clare Valley Shiraz Nose of blackberry and SO Sold out. 2016 HHHH chocolate. Lifted sweet $N/A Price not available at time of printing. Deep red hues and black fruit flavours, hints  Contact information pg 127 -128. aromas of plums, of jubey sweetness and chocolate and mint with big tannins. $74.50 RECOMMENDED cellaring (years). velvety red fruit flavours Calcannia Clare BEST VALUE for $20 & under. and long lingering Valley Shiraz tannins. $25 2016 HHH For a complete list of what we tasted EB's 'The Squire' An elegance of cherries please refer to www.winestate.com.au Clare Valley Shiraz on the nose. Long, dense, 2016 HHHH inky palate with good Attractive savoury fruit level of tannins. $30 characters on the nose and a nicely weighted palate with mouth filling jammy fruit flavours. $45 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 63

CABERNET SAUVIGNON & BORDEAUX BLENDS 351 TASTED SPONSORED BY 230 AWARDED CABERNET SAUVIGNON & BORDEAUX BLENDS An excellent line-up of cabernet varietals and blends. Here we Chateau Picoron include the so-called bordeaux (note lower case \"b\") blending Cotes de Bordeaux varietals of merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. At Merlot 2015 HHH their best these can stand alone and produce great wines also. Dark purple hues, (Petrus anyone?) Of course the spotlight always falls on the star intense chocolaty which is cabernet sauvignon, some say the king of red wines aromas and a very tannic and certainly provides the backbone for any of the these blends. berry palate. $45 In this judging we had a very high strike rate of quality wines, Murrumbateman especially at the pricing end. Winery Canberra District Merlot 2018 HHH Fresh oaky nose with berries underneath. Lovely mouth-feel with dark plum flavours. $30 MERLOT Mills Reef Reserve Irvine The Estate MERLOT Grey Sands The Gimblett Gravels Eden Valley Merlot BLENDS Mattock Tasmania 28 TASTED Merlot 2018 HHHH 2018 HHH1/2 Merlot Malbec 10 AWARDED Intense inky purple Aromas of plums with 11 TASTED Cabernet Franc wine with lovely dark hints of licorice and long 3 AWARDED 2015 HHHH “Those wines that cherry aromas and a evenly balanced flavours A pretty stalky/red were good, were nicely balanced dark on a fleshy palate. $30 A couple of wines here currant fruit style. Very very good,” said one berry palate with chewy Leconfield worth exploring further fleshy and juicy with a judge. “They showed tannins. $24.95 NZ Coonawarra Merlot but there were too fresh vibrant core. An freshness and varietal Leconfield 2018 HHH many faulty wines plus excellent cool climate character with different Coonawarra Merlot A super fresh a general lack of fruit to style. $45 CD styles ranging from the 2017 HHHH straightforward wine with carry the amount of oak riper fruitier ones to Jubey currant-like style bright pretty red cherry involved. Grove Estate the savoury. However, with some red licorice fruit characters. $26 Wherehaveyou Bin overall, the judges were characters and quite a Trentham Estate Church Road Grand MCB Hilltops Merlot disappointed with this savoury edge. Offers Murray Darling Reserve Hawke's Cabernet Sauvignon group with too many great drinkability. $26 Merlot 2017 HHH Bay Merlot Cabernet Barbera NV HHH wines that were either Church Road Spicy peppery berry fruit Sauvignon Soft easy drinking leafy one-dimensional or McDonald Series aromas and flavours. 2016 HHHHH wine with good balance showed premature Hawke's Bay Merlot Good palate length with Very youthful deep between freshness and ageing. 2016 HHHH a fleshy middle. $18 red wine with purple maturity. $18 A fresh young wine with Smith & Hooper hues and a leafy berry Bird in Hand deep purple hues, lifted Wrattonbully Merlot bouquet with obvious CABERNET Adelaide Hills floral fragrances and a 2017 HHH oak. The plum driven FRANC & Merlot 2017 HHHHH lovely earthy/red berry Advanced minty/ palate is long and tight BLENDS Lifted fruit intensity on flavour profile. $39.99 chocolaty bouquet and with great structures the nose laced with good spicy oak obvious and balance. $49.99 7 TASTED spicy cedary oak. Full on the palate. $21 3 AWARDED flavoured oak driven palate with pretty The best wines here varietal fruit underneath had fresh lively fruit and and a lovely vibrancy of balancing oak. acid. $45 64 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting Leconfield Hutt River Clare Hidden Gem Andrew Peace Wines Shingleback Red Coonawarra Valley Malbec Riverina Cabernet Masterpiece Victoria Knot McLaren Vale Cabernet Franc 2017 HHHH Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 HHHH1/2 An attractive style 2018 HHH 2018 HHH1/2 2017 HHHH1/2 Great depth of red/ with fresh cool edged Light bright red currant Soft generous style Brooding earthy purple hues. Bright fruit characters, some bouquet. Juicy in the with great length and chocolaty aromas with bouquet of blueberries, savoury earthy elements mouth with vibrant fruit persistence of lifted fresh plum fruit beneath. rhubarb and violets. and loads of spiciness. flavours. $5 briary fruit characters; Powerful palate; great Light bodied palate, soft $23.99 nice spiciness. $13 intensity and generosity in the mouth, with lively CABERNET & of long lasting dark spicy vibrancy of raspberry Three Hills Margaret BLENDS Andrew Peace Wines plum flavours. $15 flavours. $29 River Malbec $10-$15 Masterpiece Victoria 2017 HHHH Cabernet Merlot Shingleback Wine Leabrook Estate Intense, full-bodied, 9 TASTED 2018 HHH Red Knot McLaren Barossa Valley oak driven malbec 4 AWARDED Dark berry nose with Vale Cabernet Cabernet Franc with purple hues, hints herbal hints. Soft in the Sauvignon 2018 HHHH of confectionery fruit A mixed result. There mouth with juicy fruit 2018 HHHH Very deep intense inky characters and good were a few wines that flavours. $13 Bright purple hues with style with brooding tannin length. $38 offered value for money Christmas cake-like blue fruit characters but the rest either lacked CABERNET & aroma profile with a and pretty lifted florals. PETIT VERDOT freshness or were over BLENDS chocolaty touch. Similar “Super interesting & BLENDS extracted with harsh $15-$20 characters fill the mouth wine!” $35 tannins. “Freshness is with flavour. $15 3 TASTED the key here,” noted one 24 TASTED GMH Meritage Tamburlaine Organic 1 AWARDED judge. 9 AWARDED South Australia Wines Single Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Orange Just one good example Berton Vineyards Those that made the Merlot Petit Verdot Cabernet Franc that shows vibrancy and Metal Label grade were few and Malbec 2017 HHHH 2017 HHH retained fruit freshness. Limestone Coast far between showing Great spicy and minty Floral confectionery Big River Cabernet freshness, balance and lift to the black fruit fruit fragrances and Tenafeate Creek One Sauvignon vibrancy of bright lifted nose with juicy red generous red berry fruit Tree Hill Petit Verdot 2018 HHHH1/2 berry fruits. The rest fruit weight on the flavours. $22 2016 HHH1/2 A refined and elegant ranged between faulty, palate. “Great blend of A Cherry Ripe of wine with great varietal extracted, under fruited varieties,” noted a judge. MALBEC a nose with a dark expression and offering, or over fruited with $15 chocolaty palate that “Unbelievable value.” jammy characters. 3 TASTED shows great varietal Super fresh blend of 3 AWARDED fruit definition. $30 berry and spice aromas James Busby and flavours. $12 Margaret River A small but good result CABERNET & Cabernet Sauvignon for this interesting BLENDS Sit Stay Society 2018 HHHH1/2 varietal with freshness UNDER $10 Clare Valley A very defined and and varietal definition. Cabernet Malbec stylish cabernet. Quite 4 TASTED 2018 (375ml) HHHH stalky/leafy aromas Tamburlaine Organic 1 AWARDED Deep brooding wine. Inky with hints of dried herb Wines Reserve plum nose laced with and currants. Nice full Orange Malbec Generally disappointing spices and chocolate and flavoured dark berry fruit 2018 HHHHH group showing too many great depth and definition palate. $19.99 A warm and generous winemaking faults. But of briary fruit flavours. wine with aromas of there was one exception $10 beetroot, raspberries showing others can do it! and violets. Excellent level of fresh fruit intensity on the palate with floral notes running through. $44 JUDGES - DAY 1 Shane Harris Peter Pollard Kevin Glastonbury Winemaker for Wines by Senior Winemaker Senior winemaker Geoff Hardy including, at Angas & Bremer for Yalumba Wine Pertaringa Wines, K1 and Wines. Completed Company. More than Handcrafted by Geoff Hardy vintages with Californian 20 years’ experience Wines. Has also completed Wineries Geyser Peak, in various capacities vintages in Queensland and Sonoma Valley, and Peter in both small and Victoria. Completed the Lehmann in the Barossa large wineries in the AWRI advanced sensory Valley. Previously the Barossa Valley. Former course and has associate Winemaker at Simeon Winestate Australian judged at McLaren Vale Wines. Completed Winemaker of the Year. wine show. AWRI Advanced Wine Assessment course. November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 65

CABERNET SAUVIGNON & BORDEAUX BLENDS Thomson Estate CABERNET & Patritti Merchant Abbey View High CABERNET & Toolunka SA BLENDS McLaren Vale Altar Margaret River BLENDS Cabernet Sauvignon $20-$25 Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Merlot $20-$25 2018 HHH 2018/2017 2017 HHHH1/2 2018 HHH 2016 & OLDER Lifted perfumed Pretty powdery purple A well structured, light bouquet, an abundance 21 TASTED floral fragrant complexity bodied, style layered 24 TASTED of sweet red fruit 12 AWARDED with generous bright red with red currant/sour 8 AWARDED flavours and drying fruit palate and a savoury cherry fruit characters. finish. $18 Starting to see more edge adding complexity. $24.49 “An underwhelming Nick Haselgrove consistency here, Long smooth finish. $24 Mills Reef Reserve group for this price Wines Clarence Hill particularly with the Cat Amongst The Gimblett Gravels point,” commented one Adelaide Cabernet fresh and lively block Pigeons Barossa Cabernet Merlot judge. “Many of these Sauvignon of 2018s. “The best Valley Cabernet 2018 HHH were lesser wines 2017 HHH had different levels Sauvignon A firm, drying, than previous cheaper The nose is a compote of concentration but 2018 HHHH oak driven, wine brackets with premature of prunes, berries and were all balanced with Intense brooding wine underscored with ageing a factor,” said olives that is echoed on freshness and vibrancy – very stylish, youthful brooding plum fruit another. “The better the palate. $15 and appropriate use of and fresh with vibrant characters. $24.95 wines had more Andrew Peace Wines oak,” said one judge. combination of spices, NZ consistency of flavour Winemaker's Choice currants, red licorice and Orlando Gramp's and character with fruit Langhorne Creek Taylors Estate Clare fruit jubes. $20 Barossa Valley weight and structure. Cabernet Sauvignon Valley Cabernet Preece Great Cabernet Merlot 2017 HHH Sauvignon Western Cabernet 2017 HHH d'Arenberg The High Floral red fruit fragrances 2018 HHHHH Sauvignon Long and well-structured Trellis McLaren Vale and very approachable Very pretty floral 2017 HHHH blend with intense Cabernet Sauvignon sweet and spicy cherry bouquet with brooding A solid cabernet concentration of dark 2016 HHHH1/2 flavours. $18 intensity of dark fruits smelling of plums with fruit and chocolaty oak. Very powerful cabernet Andrew Peace lurking underneath. It’s savoury nuances. Silky $21.99 varietal expression at Wines Winemaker's soft, warm and spicy smooth in the mouth Coriole Songbird this price point with Choice Coonawarra in the mouth with the with great line of varietal McLaren Vale intense concentration of Cabernet Sauvignon palate delivering good flavours. $20 Cabernet Sauvignon blackcurrant, blackberry 2017 HHH balance of fruit and oak. Grounded Cru 2017 HHH and licorice characters A well made, easy $20 Cru McLaren Vale Chocolaty/berry bouquet with robust tannins. drinking, lighter style Langhorne Creek with masses of red fruit $20 full of juicy floral/berry Pertaringa Cabernet Sauvignon flavours and some grainy fruit with firm tannins. Understudy McLaren Shiraz Malbec tannins. $22 Berton Vineyards $18 Vale Cabernet 2017 HHH1/2 Richard Hamilton Reserve Coonawarra Patrick of Sauvignon Nose is a richness of 'Hut Block' McLaren Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra P 2017 HHHH1/2 Sarsaparilla, blackberries Vale Cabernet 2016 HHHH Series by Patrick Great varietal nose; and star anise with Sauvignon Rich red currant- Coonawarra all black currant, black a solid, full-bodied, 2017 HHH like aromas with an Cabernet Sauvignon olives and plums with chocolaty palate. $24 Has intensity and attractive floral lift. Full 2015 HHH tarry touches. Generous Preece Bendigo persistence of generous bodied inky chocolaty A big, nicely ageing, mouthful of earthy Cabernet Sauvignon punchy red licorice, palate with good level of cabernet with pretty savoury flavours. Nice 2018 HHH plum and floral fruit tannins. $20 plum fruit and spicy/ spiciness and drying Interesting funky floral/ elements. $22 stalky nuances. $19 tannic finish. $22 wildflower fragrances and complex earthy berry fruit flavours. $20 JUDGES - DAY 2 Matthew Pick Riley Harrison Yalumba winemaker for Winemaker at Samuel's Rob Ruediger Oxford Landing brand. Gorge. Previously at Dorrien Wine consultant. Previously winemaker Estate in the Barossa Valley. Formerly senior for Leo Buring, Yaldara Has vintaged in Portugal production winemaker at and Leasingham with and Germany. Judge at Accolade Wines (Hardy two vintages in Austria. the McLaren Vale wine Wine Company) involving Judge at the Adelaide show and associate judge all varieties and styles. Hills and Griffith wine at Adelaide, Barossa and Wine judge at Brisbane shows. Associate at Langhorne Creek. Has wine show. Barossa and Clare. completed the AWAC course also. 66 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting Grounded Cru Bunnamagoo Estate Grove Estate The Cru McLaren Vale Mudgee Cabernet Partners Hilltops Langhorne Creek Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 HHH 2016 HHHH Shiraz Malbec A lovely seamless meld Good definition varietal 2016 HHHH between two varieties. fruit characters. Subtle Big and powerful with Fleshy in the mouth. Good oak on the nose and intense black fruit, fruit sweetness. $24 powerful spicy herbal chocolate and meaty elements on the palate. aromas and well CABERNET & balanced, full bodied, BLENDS 3-5 $25 meaty/earthy palate. $24 $25-$30 Jacob's Creek Shingleback Davey Double Barrel 25 TASTED Estate McLaren Vale Barossa Valley 21 AWARDED Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 HHHH 2016 HHHH A strong class of A big, full bodied and A firm chocolaty oak consistent wines with very flavoursome, wine driven cabernet with lots of flavour and plenty with lots of blackberry hints of black cherries of character. “Good fruit, floral notes and and violets and an varietal definition here subtle herbaceousness. “Intense ball of tannins.” of cassis/blackcurrant $24.99 wines with balanced 5+ $25 Angas & Bremer acids and tannins,” said Langhorne Creek one judge. “In general Maygars Hill Cabernet Sauvignon the fruit profile was Strathbogie Ranges 2016 HHH good with overripe Shingleback Davey Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon “A big tannic monster!” examples few and far Estate McLaren Vale Margaret River 2016 HHHH Has warmth, complexity between.” Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon A riper style with a and richness of fruit. 2017 HHHH1/2 2016 HHHH1/2 blackberry compote of $20 Dark purple, almost Dried herb-like bouquet aromas and good cherry Gomersal Wines black, wine. Good cassis bordering on floral berry and chocolaty Premium Barossa cabernet characters on underscored with dark flavours. 3-5 $28 Valley Cabernet the nose with slight cassis fruit. Nicely Sauvignon leafiness. Mid palate ageing cabernet flavours Zonte's Footstep 2016 HHH unctuousness with spicy with toasty oak and very Blackberry Patch Lifted berry and plum fruit flavour complexity. fine powdery tannins. Fleurieu Cabernet fruits with spicy cedary Sauvignon oak and grippy tannins. 3-5 $25 5+ $28 Some aged notes. $20 Richard Hamilton Mr Riggs Outpost Taylor Made Clare Grove Estate The 2018 HHH1/2 Hut Block McLaren Coonawarra Vale Cabernet Cabernet Valley Cabernet Partners Hilltops Very youthful. Subtle Sauvignon spicy cassis fruit 2016 HHH 2016 HHHHH Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon fragrances, soft simple Intense sweet fruit Malbec Cabernet 2017 HHHH fragrances and good A blackcurrant/cassis Franc 2017 HHHH1/2 Mocha oak dominates palate, soft tannins and fruit palate with earthy bouquet with subtle complexity. $22 black pepper nuances. Bright vibrant raspberry the nose with leafy bright acid. 3-5 $27.50 Fleshy in the mouth with aromas showing a slight overtones and a raisined-like edge. Very flavoursome complexity attractive leafy minty fine boned tannins of spices, cherries and Ross Hill Tom & blackcurrant varietal flavours well integrated and bright acid nicely chocolate. 3-5 $25 Harry Orange Cabernet Sauvignon with the oak. 5+ support the red fruit 2017 HHH1/2 flavours. 3-5 $25 Brand & Sons $25 'Baker's Run' Spicy lift to the ageing Reillys Clare Valley Coonawarra nose with nice varietal Cabernet Sauvignon fruit underneath and 2016 HHHH1/2 Cabernet Sauvignon leafy minty varietal fruit Deep crimson wine with 2016 HHHH a dusty oak/blackberry Smells of cassis fruit flavours. 5+ $25 nose and powerful mix of cassis/blackcurrant and green olives. Lovely varietal fruit and dusty cabernet flavours on oak flavours. Bold nicely weighted palate. tannins and firm finish. Loads of powdery tannins. 5+ $25 5+ $25 JUDGES - DAY 3 Bill Hardy Stephen John Dave Matthews Corporate oenologist for Senior Winemaker for Formerly Winemaker Accolade Wines (formerly The Wine Group Australia at Rosemount and Constellation). 28 years’ and owner/winemaker of Boar’s Rock and winemaking experience in Stephen John Wines. More Group Winemaker for places such as McLaren than 30 years’ winemaking Treasury Wine Estates. Vale, WA and France. Has experience. Has judged Vintages in Tuscany and judged internationally at Adelaide, National, and California. Judged in (France & Japan), and been Barossa wine shows. Australia and overseas. an associate senior judge Regular Winestate panellist Currently with Francois at 20+ state & regional and chairman of judges at Freres group of wine shows in Australia. the Winestate Wine of the cooperages. Year Awards. November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 67

CABERNET SAUVIGNON & BORDEAUX BLENDS Krondorf The Saracen Estates McGuigan Shortlist McGuigan Shortlist Growers Barossa Margaret River Coonawarra Coonawarra Valley Cabernet Cabernet Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Sauvignon 2016 HHH 2017 HHHH1/2 2016 HHHH 2017 HHH1/2 Raspberry Ripple fruit Bright red wine with Crimson wine smelling Slightly developed jubey characters covered in a lifted leafy herbal of prune juice with just blackcurrant aromas with chocolaty oak. Great cabernet fruit nose enough fruit presence sweet oak driving the commercial style. and an elegant, tight, on the palate, some fine solid black fruit palate. ethereal fruit palate tannins and greenish 3-5 $26 with soft tannins and acid. 5+ $30 3-5 $26.99 lingering acidity. $30 Byrne Reserve Kalleske Merchant Clare Valley By Geoff Hardy Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Fuddling Cup Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 HHH Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 HHH1/2 A fuller tannic style. Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 HHH1/2 An herbaceous nose evident on the nose but 2016 HHHH1/2 Leafy cassis nose with with some sweetness loads of fruit and sweet Perfumed herbal a minty edge. A fresh, of cassis fruit flavours oak flavours. 3-5 bouquet with subtle clean and uncomplicated supported by powerful $28 menthol characters and palate. Good commercial tannins. 5+ $28 seamlessly balanced, style. 5+ $30 Koonara Wanderlust full-bodied, palate ripe Thorn-Clarke Wines Coonawarra with sweet fruit flavours. Allinda Winery Yarra Shotfire Quartage Cabernet Sauvignon “Light on its feet!” $30 Valley Cabernet Barossa Valley 2015 HHH Sauvignon Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon Oak dominates the Twinwoods Estate Longview Vineyard Franc Merlot Petit nose and is obvious on Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc the palate with shaded Margaret River Devil's Elbow Verdot 2017 HHH1/2 Merlot Petit Verdot berry fruits underneath. Adelaide Hills Very perfumed black 2016 HHH1/2 Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon fruit aromas and an 5+ $25 2017 HHHHH Dark licoricey bouquet Red purple wine with 2016 HHHH1/2 elegant spicy/herbal with bright “sun-ripe” Dark cherries and palate that’s still bright red fruit flavours with blackberry richness on blackberries lift off the and fresh. 3-5 $30 CABERNET & the nose with some nice long powdery BLENDS licorice-like aged notes. nose with herbal lines tannins. 3-5 $28 $30-$35 evident and a chocolaty Coriole Estate Well put together palate edge. Good sweet fruit McLaren Vale 26 TASTED with the tannins and Cabernet Sauvignon Leconfield acid in a supporting role on the mid palate with 2017 HHH1/2 Coonawarra 21 AWARDED fine tannins. 5+ Good briary minty Cabernet Merlot to the fruit. 5+ $30 cabernet fruit on the $30 nose with slightly 2017 HHH developed fruit flavours Dusty oak nose with Raidis Estate with silky tannins. iodine notes and some Another strong and Billy Coonawarra savouriness on the high consistent class, similar Cabernet Sauvignon 1-2 $32 acid palate. 3-5 to the previous flight. 2016 HHHH1/2 $26 Overall these wines Briary bush bouquet were well balanced by leading on to good Happs Two by Two Thorn-Clarke Wines the tannins and acid and cassis fruit flavours Margaret River Shotfire Quartage showing good varietal subtly supported by the Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Cabernet characters. sweet oak with very Petit Verdot Sauvignon Cabernet good drying tannin drive. 2016 HHH1/2 Franc Petit Verdot Punters Corner Pungent berry and Merlot 2017 HHH Coonawarra 5+ $33 blackcurrant aromas with Cabernet Sauvignon Nose still youthful 2017 HHHHH Tenafeate Creek One very ripe sweet fruit smelling of boiled A lovely full-bodied Tree Hill Cabernet flavours and a chewy lollies with very juicy flavoursome cabernet Sauvignon finish. 1-2 $30 confectionery fruit with a nose of stewed 2017 HHHH flavours. 1-2 $28 blackberries laced with Piquant raspberry nose Taylors Jaraman toasty oak and great with a leafy edge and Coonawarra Clare Wicks Estate balance between the spicy oak. Powerful Valley Cabernet Adelaide Hills bright varietal fruit and varietal flavours with Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon the oak flavours. very soft tannins and 2016 HHH1/2 2016 HHH bright acidity. 5+ Cassis bouquet with Fresh leafy/minty 5+ $30 $30 a menthol edge. Very aromas and the palate drying, full bodied, is a balance of cherry Twinwoods Estate Berton Vineyards palate with blackcurrant fruit and cigar box oak. Margaret River High Eden Eden fruit flavours. 5+ Cabernet Sauvignon Valley Cabernet $30 1-2 $25 2016 HHHHH Sauvignon Beautiful deep crimson hued wine with an 2016 HHHH abundance of bright red Generous style with berry and blackberry very dark viscous-like fruit aromas and flavours varietal fruit profile. with some prominent Some aged characters silky smooth tannins. developing. Warming finish. 3-5 $30 5+ $30 68 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting After Hours CABERNET & Grandeur Wellington Margaret River BLENDS Bin 62 McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon $35-$40 Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 HHH 2013 HHHH1/2 Sweet oak tending 35 TASTED A huge, full flavoured, to dominate the leafy 23 AWARDED well-developed, cabernet cabernet fruit with that’s big but balanced underlying green bean “The best wines here with loads of ripe fruit notes. 1-2 $30 were very good but characters and slightly there were those that woody complexity. Grampians Estate didn’t make the grade Grampians Cabernet through winemaking 1-2 $35 Shiraz 2017 HHH faults such as too Slightly dried fruit-like much time spent in oak Chain Of Ponds aromas with similar resulting in forward Amadeus Adelaide characters on the palate. developing flavours,” Hills Cabernet Cedary oak support. noted one judge. Sauvignon 2018 HHHH 1-2 $30 An elegant cabernet, fresh and bright with Peter Drayton leafy cassis varietal fruit Wildstreak Hunter characters with mineral Valley Cabernet notes and soft tannins. Sauvignon 2017 HHH 3-5 $35 Straightforward style Majella Coonawarra Velvet & Willow Reillys Dry Land Cabernet Sauvignon Clare Valley with fleshy cherry/berry 2016 HHHHH Cabernet Sauvignon Clare Valley fruit, varnish oak and 2016 HHHH1/2 Cabernet Sauvignon greenish acid. 1-2 Great hit of perfumed A big bold wine with a 2017 HHHH cassis aromas with lifted chocolate and red $32 attractive minty berry bouquet and loads Sultana cake-like of upfront fruit flavours elements to the nose Calcannia Clare elements. The medium with big ripe tannins with a “decadent Valley Cabernet bodied palate shows and good level of acidity. Sauvignon lovely purity of fruit, voluminous” palate. Great 2016 HHH 5+ $35 balance between the oak A big full-bodied wine brightness of acid and Grounded Cru and fruit. 3-5 $38 with slightly developed tannins linking it all Inc McLaren Vale dark fruit characters together. 5+ $35 Cabernet Sauvignon and powerful tannins. 2016 HHHH1/2 Singlefile Single Aromas of plums, Vineyard Frankland 5+ $30 blackberries and cocoa River Cabernet lift out of the glass. Sauvignon Saracen Estates Big full-bodied palate. 2017 HHHH Premium Margaret Excellent varietal fruit Some subtle berry River Cabernet richness of cherries and aromatics with a Sauvignon blackberries present. medium bodied palate 2016 HHH filled with lovely Leafy green fruit nose 5+ $38 Blackberry-Nip-like and plush blue fruit Nick Haselgrove cabernet flavours. flavours with an acid Wines Clarence Hill Reserve McLaren 5+ $39 Vale Cabernet driven finish. 5+ Sauvignon Reillys Dry Land Warramate Yarra $32 2017 HHHHH Valley Cabernet Cassis fruit nose with Clare Valley Sauvignon whiffs of pot pourri Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 HHHH Firetail Margaret and nice earthiness. 2016 HHHH1/2 A lift of herbal and cedar River Cabernet Great presence of well More of an old fashioned aromas with a slight hint Sauvignon weighted fruit on the style of cabernet with of cocoa. Big and juicy in 2014 HHH bold palate with good slightly developed cassis the mouth with flavours A “precise” wine with tannin management aromas nicely integrated like a Cherry Ripe bar. good varietal fruit “stealing the show!” with the oak and very characters, licorice drying dense dark fruit 5+ $35 notes and fine tannins. 5+ $38 Inner City flavours. 5+ $38 Hickinbotham 3-5 $33 Winemakers Indenture Hilltops Of Dromana Cabernet Sauvignon Church Road Mornington 2017 HHHH1/2 McDonald Series Peninsula Cabernet Dark red berry and Hawke's Bay Sauvignon chocolate aromas with Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 HHHH a lift of cardamom and 2015 HHHH1/2 Cassis fruit on the cinnamon spiciness A lovely cabernet, still nose with leafy notes. with toasty fruit very youthful and fresh Palate shows elegant flavours, bright acidity with intense purple cabernet flavours and and powdery tannins. hues, leafy berry aromas a balanced tannin and a tight palate structure. 3-5 3-5 $35 with great mulberry/ $38 blackberry flavours. 5+ $39.99 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 69

CABERNET SAUVIGNON & BORDEAUX BLENDS De Lisio Wines The Trinity Hill Inner City Grandeur Wellington CABERNET & Covert McLaren Vale The Gimblett Winemakers Bin 62 McLaren Vale BLENDS Cabernet Sauvignon Gimblett Gravels Indenture Hilltops Cabernet Sauvignon $40-$45 2015 HHHH Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 HHH Pretty floral fragrances Cabernet Franc 2018 HHH Aged aromatics with 16 TASTED with a perfumed lift. Merlot Malbec Nose like green blackcurrant notes. Full bodied palate with Petit Verdot raspberries with a Developed varietal 16 AWARDED developed varietal 2016 HHH1/2 meaty note and plush flavours framed by flavours and drying Spicy herbal aromas perfumed leafy fruit tannins. 3-5 $35 tannic finish. 3-5 with a floral lift. Oak flavours. 3-5 $35 Very consistent high $35 driven palate has bright Trinity Hill quality wines. “Purity peppery red fruit pushing Leconfield The Gimblett of fruit and clarity of Chain Of Ponds through. 1-2 Coonawarra Gimblett Gravels tannins is the feature Amadeus Adelaide $39.99 NZ Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon here”, said one judge. Hills Cabernet 2017 HHH Cabernet Franc “The balance between Sauvignon Grandeur Wellington Pungent savoury aromas Merlot Malbec fruit and oak here is very 2016 HHH1/2 Bin 62 McLaren Vale with cassis fruit flavours Petit Verdot good with nice attention Slightly stewed Cabernet Sauvignon prevailing on the palate. 2015 HHH to detail.” blackcurrant bouquet 2014 HHH1/2 A very grippy, oak driven and very tannic palate Chocolaty nose with 3-5 $35 style that has lifted but good weight of berry fruit and chocolaty cassis fruit balances it. a dried fruit edge and Dindima Orange characters. $39.99 NZ cedary/cigar box flavours Cabernet Sauvignon Saddler's Creek 3-5 $35 supported by soft Merlot 2016 HHH Bluegrass tannins. 1-2 $35 Rich mocha nose. Smooth Langhorne Creek and creamy in the mouth Cabernet Sauvignon Domaine Asmara with lovely fruit, oak and 2016 HHHHH Reserve Heathcote tannins. $35 A beautiful full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 HHH1/2 deep crimson cabernet. Dark fruit aromas; still It’s big but balanced and quite vibrant. Soft and is brimming over with round in the mouth with blackberry and cassis plush fruit and cigar box fruit and has cedary oak. $39 nuttiness. 3-5 $42 70 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting Artwine The Good Jim Brand Silent CABERNET & Life Single Vineyard Partner Coonawarra BLENDS Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $45-$50 Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 HHHH 2017 HHHH1/2 Very lifted bouquet 22 TASTED Leafy lifted blackcurrant with elegant perfumed 18 AWARDED bouquet with a very blackcurrant characters. buoyant and lively palate Leafy fruit flavours nicely A very strong class! thick with stewed-like framed by an intensity of “Big rich flavours, berry flavours and has tannins. 3-5 $40 good use of oak and a great tannin profile. palate structure offering Koonara Ambriel's additional characters 5+ $40 Gift Coonawarra across the board,” commented one judge. De Beaurepaire Cabernet Sauvignon “Well made wines, Henri Central 2015 HHHH ageing well.” Ranges Cabernet A powerful tannic Merlot Petit Verdot driven style with a Firetail Margaret 2016 HHHH1/2 complexity of cassis- River Cabernet The nose is dark, dense like varietal fruit and Sauvignon and leafy with soy/anise- oak in the cigar box-like 2016 HHHHH like elements. Powerful spectrum. 1-2 Ageing toasty chocolaty spicy oak tends to $40 bouquet with a nice lift dominate the blueberry of cherry fruit. Lovely fruit characters for now. Eden Hall Block Saddler's Creek elegant fruit flavours Three Hills Charles 3 Eden Valley Bluegrass with delicate use of oak Andreas Margaret 5+ $40 Cabernet Sauvignon Langhorne Creek nicely underscored by River Cabernet 2017 HHHH Cabernet Sauvignon strong tannin structure. Sauvignon Malbec Jim Brand Silent Big briary bouquet with 2017 HHH1/2 Petit Verdot Partner Coonawarra a spicy lift. The palate is Spicy oak nose; nice dark 5+ $45 2016 HHHHH Cabernet Sauvignon light in weight but has berries sitting underneath. Another big powerful 2016 HHHH1/2 a good line of varietal A chunky oak driven palate K1 by Geoff Hardy cabernet exhibiting Deep crimson wine with fruit and bright acidity. with fruit underneath. Adelaide Hills lifted blackberry fruit a compote of spicy plum Cabernet Sauvignon aromas layered with oak fruit fragrances showing 3-5 $40 3-5 $42 2016 HHHHH and similar characters some development and A powerful, ruby red and following on to the powerful dark berry Blue Pyrenees full flavoured cabernet bright vibrant palate. flavour richness on mid- Haselgrove Wines Estate Red Pyrenees that has a seamless Protector McLaren Cabernet Sauvignon balance between some 5+ $45 palate. 5+ $40 Vale Cabernet Merlot Malbec excellent Blackberry Nip- Firetail Margaret 2017 HHH like varietal fruit, cedary River Cabernet Maygars Hill Reserve Sauvignon An uncomplicated oak and long tannins. Sauvignon Strathbogie Ranges 2017 HHHH blend that smells like 2017 HHHH1/2 Cabernet Sauvignon Intensely varietal nose; a blackberry pie with 5+ $45 Perfumed blackberry 2016 HHHH1/2 all brambles and cassis inviting fruit flavours. nose with subtle Ruby hues to this with a lively “dance” Tempus Two Pewter mintiness – very wine with a floral of fruit and acid on the 3-5 $42 Coonawarra primary! The palate is confectionery bouquet palate and tannins that Cabernet Sauvignon full of vibrant blackberry and an elegant go forever. 3-5 $40 2016 HHHHH and blackcurrant flavours seamlessly flowing Saddler's Creek A big mature style and long chewy tannins. blackcurrant/capsicum Hemera Estate Bluegrass with aromatic richness palate. Fine tannins. Barossa Valley Langhorne Creek of blackberries and 3-5 $45 Cabernet Sauvignon Mudgee Cabernet cherries. Lovely 5+ $42 2017 HHHH Sauvignon Merlot roundness to the palate 2017 HHH with a very good balance Tamburlaine Organic Meaty/smallgoods Blue fruit nose with between fruit and fine characters on the nose oak sitting on top and leathery-like tannins. Wines Reserve and lovely purity and a lean spicy oak driven Orange Cabernet palate. $42 5+ $45 Sauvignon clarity of spicy varietal fruit flavours with a 2018 HHHH warm finish. 3-5 Blueberry/blackcurrant Murrumbateman nose with perfumed $40 Winery Canberra District Cabernet notes and beautiful fruit Pertaringa Rifle & Sauvignon Malbec pastille-like flavours with 2017 HHH some very powdery Hunt McLaren Vale Aromatic herbal red fruit Cabernet Sauvignon bouquet and big, rich tannins. 5+ $44 2017 HHHH and warming palate. $40 A maturity of ripe plum and blackberry fruit fragrances with nicely weighted palate full of ripe fruit flavours and tannins. 5+ $40 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 71

CABERNET SAUVIGNON & BORDEAUX BLENDS Bird in Hand Dame De Bouard St Adelaide Hills Emilion Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 HHHH1/2 2016 HHH An elegant nose in Confectionery the dried herb-like blackcurrant bouquet spectrum. Nice syrupy and an oaky palate with fruit profile on the quite astringent tannins. palate with chewy $49.99 tannins and a warming Tempus Two Pewter finish. 3-5 $45 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Bird in Hand 2015 HHH Adelaide Hills Attractive peppery/green Cabernet Sauvignon bean element to the 2017 HHHH nose with a lean dark Powerful cassis nose fruit palate. $45 with nice leafy notes and lovely varietal precision CABERNET & on the mid-weight palate with grainy tannins. BLENDS 3-5 $45 Centennial K1 by Geoff Hardy Sunshine Creek $50-$60 Tenafeate Creek Vineyards Limited Adelaide Hills Cabernets Yarra Basket Press One Release Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon Valley Cabernet 24 TASTED Tree Hill Cabernet Creek Orange 2017 HHHH Sauvignon Malbec 18 AWARDED Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Lovely colour, bordering Merlot Petit Verdot 2010 HHHHH 2016 HHHH1/2 on vermillion, with Cabernet Franc A strong class with Lovely colour for a nine- Lovely lifted cherry lifted red fruit aromas 2015 HHHH very few faults and year-old with beautifully bouquet with cinnamon- and full bodied, full Nose has pungent some excellent use evolved complexity of like spiciness and a flavoured, palate with smallgoods-like and integration of oak. dark berry and camphor- slight mintiness. More mouth-watering acidity. characters layered with “Some lovely aged like wood aromas and spicy fruit present on berry fruit and lovely wines here showing a very classy, long and the palate with strong 5+ $45 mouth-filling dark fruit excellent winemaking flavoursome palate. tannins. 5+ $45 Mills Reef Elspeth flavours. 1-2 $45 Gimblett Gravels 3-5 $55 Cabernet Merlot 2016 HHHH Wicks Estate C. J. expertise,” said one Tenafeate Creek One Nicely ageing wine Wicks Adelaide Hills judge. Tree Hill Cabernet with plenty of dark Cabernet Sauvignon Sauvignon berry fruits, some 2016 HHH1/2 2016 HHHH1/2 smoky/mocha oak with Subdued ageing fruit Shingleback D Block A huge monster of a a peppery element and Reserve McLaren a certain pungency. aromas with light Vale Cabernet wine with a mass of varietal fruit weight on beautiful cassis and 5+ $49.95 NZ the palate and some Sauvignon ripe blackberry fruit and Patrick of 2016 HHHHH Coonawarra Home astringency. 3-5 Excellent bright purple mountains of tannins. Block Coonawarra $45 Needs more time to fully Cabernet Sauvignon colour with floral blue integrate. 5+ $55 2014 HHHH fruit fragrances lifted A big ripe dark crimson Balgownie Estate with oaky complexity. hued wine brimming Central Victoria Gorgeous palate; rich St Hugo Coonawarra over with lovely Cabernet Sauvignon and flavoursome with & Barossa Valley blackberry varietal fruit 2015 HHH1/2 firm tannins. Needs Cabernet Shiraz and quite heavy use of Very dark varietal more time. 3-5 2015 HHHH1/2 oak. 1-2 $45 fruit profile here with $55 A classic Aussie elegant spiciness and blend. Great depths some savoury/leathery St Hugo Coonawarra of crimson hues with complexity. $45 Cabernet Sauvignon rich ripe pastille fruit 2016 HHHHH characters, showing a Patrick of A stylish cabernet. Nose strong menthol lift and Coonawarra Home is a rich concentration of supported by loads of Vasse Felix Margaret Block Coonawarra dark berry fruit layered oak. $57.99 River Cabernet with lovely oak. Powerful Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon cassis fruit/sweet oak 2013 HHHH flavours with big volume 2016 HHHH1/2 “Smells like a dried of grainy tannins. Mature dark berry aromas with delicate herb cupboard,” 5+ $57.99 thought one judge. rose-petal-like floral Palate still holding its notes. The fine powdery tannins give character to freshness with ripe plum fruit and oaky the black fruit flavours. complexity. 1-2 Strong finish. 5+ $47 $45 72 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting Kaesler Odd One Pask Declaration CABERNET & Out Barossa Valley Gimblett Gravels BLENDS Cabernet Sauvignon Hawke's Bay $60-$80 2017 HHHH Cabernet Merlot A blueberry nose with Malbec 28 TASTED an anise-like lift and 2014 HHH1/2 firm tannic palate with Soft and inviting oak 21 AWARDED excellent depth, length driven style showing and weight of varietal fruit sweet and savoury flavours. 5+ $55 characters. Ready for A step above in terms drinking now. $50 NZ of intense fruit and Dalwhinnie Hemera Estate concentration without Moonambel Limited Release aggressive extraction. Pyrenees Cabernet Coonawarra “These show great Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon fruit without going to 2015 HHHH 2017 HHH the overripe dead fruit A soft well balanced Elegant dark berry fruit characters,” noted one style with attractive blue with leafy varietal notes judge. berry varietal fruit on the and pencil shavings-like nose and flavours sitting oak characters. $50 Domaine Asmara in the red spectrum. $58 Yarrawood Barrel Select Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Infinity Heathcote 2017 HHH Cabernet Sauvignon Twinwoods Estate A cool climate cabernet 2017 HHHHH Villa Maria Reserve Optivus Reserve with cassis/herbal fruit Hawkes Bay Margaret River and fresh vanillin oak A huge youthful oaky Cabernet Sauvignon elements. $54 wine with years ahead Merlot 2016 HHHHH Cabernet Sauvignon Bunnamagoo Estate of it. Some nice plump, Still extremely youthful. 2015 HHHH1/2 1827 Reserve “Looks like a current Distinct cabernet Mudgee Cabernet sweet, dark plum fruit vintage,” according to Sauvignon underneath the classy one judge. Beautiful aromas and dense 2016 HHH oak. It’s a wine with structure, lovely fresh concentration of varietal An uncomplicated wine, vibrant fruit with firm fruit flavours with lovely still very fresh for its age elegance, depth and building tannins. “Very, with lifted cool climate freshness. 5+ $79 very good!” $69.99 NZ oak adding complexity fruit characters. $50 Reillys Clare Valley and tannins adding Swings & The Dancer Clare length. 3-5 $59 Roundabouts Valley Cabernet Backyard Stories Sauvignon Tenafeate Creek Margaret River 2016 HHHHH Basket Press One Cabernet Sauvignon A big wine with a Tree Hill Cabernet 2016 HHH chocolate box of a nose Sauvignon A mature wine with a and coffee notes. Rich 2012 HHHH1/2 nicely aged nose and a sweet dark berry fruit A delicious, full flavoured complex savoury palate. flavours with hints of cabernet that’s warm and olives. Great soft tannin generous with a menthol 3-5 $55 structure. Good use of edge to the ripe sweet Saracen Estates oak. 3-5 $70 red fruit characters and Twinwoods Estate Reserve Margaret excellent use of oak. Optivus Reserve River Cabernet Margaret River Sauvignon 3-5 $55 Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 HHH Rich fruit cake-like Saracen Estates 2012 HHHH aromas. Soft in the mouth Reserve Margaret Nicely ageing, complex, with spicy plum flavours. River Cabernet chocolaty wine with very “A good drink.” $56 Sauvignon ripe confectionery sweet 2012 HHHH1/2 fruit characters and tight Beautifully structured, tannins. $55 nicely evolved, dark Miscela Super Peccavi Margaret chocolaty style with Clare Clare Valley River Cabernet fig-like elements and Cabernet Sauvignon Sauvignon delicate menthol notes. Sangiovese Shiraz 2016 HHHHH “Quite French-like!” $56 2016 HHH1/2 A lovely wine full of rich Beautiful pure varietal ripe red berry varietal fruits with complex fruit characters of dark berry fruits with violet oak characters sitting nuances on nose and underneath. $59 palate. Great use of oak, plenty of length. Needs more time to reach its best. 5+ $68 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 73

CABERNET SAUVIGNON & BORDEAUX BLENDS Grandeur Wellington d'Arenberg The Vidal Legacy Cellar Reserve Coppermine Road Hawkes Bay McLaren Vale McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2013 HHHH 2016 HHHHH 2016 HHHH1/2 A powerful yet nicely Lifted sweet berry Beautiful ripe cassis fruit restrained cabernet and cassis fruit with characters seamlessly with evolving red fruit a violet nuance and integrated with the oak characters and satin has savoury/cigar box and complex secondary smooth tannins. Quite characters. “Balance characters evolving. warming. $69.99 NZ is the key to this Strong acidity. Will settle complete and elegant with time. 5+ $75 Evoi Reserve Satyr wine.” 5+ $75 Margaret River Domaine Asmara Cabernet Sauvignon Tenafeate Creek Infinity Heathcote Petit Verdot Malbec Leconfield The Basket Press One Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 HHHH Sydney Reserve Tree Hill Cabernet 2018 HHHH Complex tarry characters Coonawarra Sauvignon Very young wine with on the nose, shows Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 HHHHH a vibrant impact of nice bottle age with a 2016 HHHHH Lively and complex powerful fruit. Good leafy lift. Good depth of Fantastic youthful cassis style showing great use of oak and stand- flavour with fine-grained and blackberry bouquet colour for its age. Has out acidity. Needs tannins. $69 layered with savoury oaky/tarry aromas with time to come together. oak. A very fresh, alert, dark cabernet fruit still Vidal Legacy varietal palate with a fine obvious on the palate. A 3-5 $79 Hawkes Bay tannin structure. Plenty beautifully evolved wine. Cabernet Sauvignon of class here! $80 Taylors St Andrews Merlot 2016 HHH1/2 Leconfield The 3-5 $70 Clare Valley A very young, vibrant, Sydney Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon bright purple wine with Coonawarra 2017 HHHH excellent fruit characters Cabernet Sauvignon Bright blackberry and toasty oak. Needs 2015 HHHHH bouquet with a sweet time. $69.99 NZ A delightful complexity of cedar lift and lovely dark berries and tobacco medium bodied palate Flowstone Queen of lift off the nose. The fresh with fruit and the Earth Margaret palate shows the power balanced by the oak. River Cabernet and concentration of dark Sauvignon evolved fruit and oak 3-5 $67 2014 HHH1/2 flavour integration. $80 An elegant, mature oak Villa Maria Reserve Reillys Clare Valley Blue Pyrenees Peccavi Margaret driven style that’s full of Hawkes Bay The Dancer Clare Richardson Pyrenees River Cabernet gorgeous perfumed dark Cabernet Sauvignon Valley Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon Sauvignon berry fruit characters. $74 Merlot 2015 HHHHH Sauvignon 2017 HHHH1/2 2015 HHHH A big wine with dark 2014 HHHHH Bright red wine with A lean style with dense Evoi Reserve Satyr cherry/plum aromas and Huge nose with intense youthful purple hues. ripe cassis fruit, lovely Margaret River oak playing a secondary aromas with very dark Strong menthol lift to oak integration and Cabernet Sauvignon role. Tight “claret- olive/tar-like secondary the leafy herbal nose some attractive savoury Petit Verdot Malbec like” palate has lovely characters evolving. with more of those secondary characters 2016 HHH concentration of sweet Powerful chocolaty characters threaded evolving. $68 Young, uncomplicated and fruit, fine tannins and palate; very complex through the soft palate. fruity wine. “An upmarket oak. 5+ $90 NZ with perfect tannins Lévrier by Jo Irvine quaffer,” according to one giving focus. 5+ 3-5 $60 Anubis Eden Valley judge. $69 Cabernet Sauvignon $70 Saddler's Creek 2014 HHHH CABERNET & A complex cabernet with BLENDS St Hugo Legacy Alessandro Reserve cassis aromas showing $80-$100 Collection 'The Langhorne Creek green notes. Round and Last Letter' Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon soft in the mouth with 12 TASTED Valley Cabernet 2016 HHHH1/2 sweet fruit and cedar 11 AWARDED Sauvignon A big mature oak driven oak. $75 2013 HHHHH cabernet. Powerful A very consistent group A very good, tight and vanillin oak on the nose with similar quality to beautifully focussed, and the savoury oak on the previous group. cabernet. Huge colour, the palate frames the St Hugo Legacy “These should not powerful ripe fruit/sweet Collection 'The disappoint and are oak nose and lively generous fruit. “Has the Unspoken Promise' around what is to be savoury berry palate wow factor!” 5+ expected at this price,” with slightly drying $65 Barossa Valley commented one judge. tannins. $79.99 Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 HHHH Colour still showing purple hues and has a ripe Christmas cake of a nose with huge powerful cherry palate. “Very Australian!” 5+ $79.99 74 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting Jim Brand Family Truffle Hill Truffle Aus Provenance Reserve Domain Hunters Reserve Nightfall Draco Cabernets Pemberton Cabernet Coonawarra Coonawarra Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2015 HHHH1/2 2013 HHHHH Malbec 2014 HHHH Very attractive red/dark Interesting wine with Deep purple wine with a cherry fruit characters intense beautifully “Beautiful Bordeaux-like nicely supported by evolved tertiary aromas; nose.” Lovely varietal toasty savoury oak. an amalgam of berries, fruit on the palate with Some complexity mint, cedar and great oak integration. developing. Needs more chocolate. Big rich core time to reach its best. of sweet fruit on the 5+ $80 5+ $125 palate. 3-5 $85 Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Bird in Hand Nest Villa Maria Library Cabernet Sauvignon Egg Adelaide Hills Release Hawkes Bay 2016 HHH1/2 Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Oak has a big influence 2009 HHHH1/2 2013 HHHH1/2 here on both structure A beautiful mature Travelling well with and flavours with cabernet that has amazingly bright colour fruit in the ripe sweet plenty of left in it for the age. Beautiful spectrum. $80 yet! Has strong cigar blackberry fruit with box characters with classy sweet oak and McGuigan Personal Singlefile The Philip GPL68 by Majella remnants of sweet toasty notes. It has Reserve Hunter Adrian Frankland Coonawarra varietal fruit still evident. structure, length and Valley Cabernet River Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon Soft finish. $110 freshness. $90 NZ Sauvignon Sauvignon 2014 HHHHH 2014 HHH1/2 2016 HHHHH Complex mix of fresh Single File The Philip Villa Maria Reserve Lifted richness and Lovely richness of and mature aromas. Adrian Frankland Hawkes Bay maturity with complexity red berry varietal fruit Excellent length River Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon of cassis fruit and oak. characters with excellent and structure to the Sauvignon Merlot “Has a good claret oak in a supporting role palate with pristine 2017 HHHH 2013 HHHH1/2 structure.” $80 in the background with varietal flavours laced Young, stylish and Big dense mulberry/ tannins providing great with charry oak and elegant with minty plum fruit nose that CABERNET & focus and drive to the interwoven with cassis fruit and opens up with some air. BLENDS palate. $100 secondary elements. savoury nuances in the Powerful well-balanced $100-$200 Bird in Hand Nest $130 background with fine palate exhibits very Egg Adelaide Hills grained tannins. $100 good varietal fruit 22 TASTED Cabernet Sauvignon concentration. 3-5 20 AWARDED 2016 HHHHH Blue Pyrenees Brand & Sons $90 NZ Classy beautifully Richardson Reserve Icon Barrel Select Not a lot of difference in structured wine with Pyrenees Cabernet 11 Coonawarra McGuigan Personal the high quality wines dark chocolaty fruit with Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Coonawarra from the previous group. an herbal edge and hints 2017 HHHH1/2 2015 HHHH Cabernet Sauvignon “It is difficult to judge of dill cucumber. “Very Very distinctive menthol Big oak lift here with 2016 HHHH at this level knowing stylised by the oak characters on the varietal fruit characters in A lighter style with the price bracket,” said regime used,” said one beautifully lifted red the blue fruit spectrum. pretty minty red fruit one judge. “There are judge. Very fresh. $110 berry nose. Oak is quite A big tannic palate with aromas and flavours. a few pretenders here, Brand & Sons dominant on the lovely plenty of mouth-filling Slightly warm with fine but luckily across the Icon Coonawarra fresh palate. Just needs flavours. 5+ $125 soft tannins and hints of board there were only Cabernet Sauvignon more time to integrate. wintergreen. $80 a few you would not be 2016 HHHHH GPL68 by Majella happy to drink.” Some of Excellent maturity and 3-5 $120 Coonawarra the older wines were at complexity here with Cabernet Sauvignon Brand & Sons their peak. lovely amalgam of Koonara The Head 2015 HHHH Icon Cabernets berry fruit/oak aromas. Honcho Coonawarra Mature bouquet with Coonawarra Palate is very tight with Cabernet Sauvignon mocha-like tertiary Cabernet Sauvignon sweet red fruits, hints 2015 HHHH1/2 characters. Perfumed Cabernet Franc of leafiness and drying A dusty, inky and leafy dark fruit flavours and Merlot 2016 HHHH tannins. Time! $125 style with an aromatic subtle oak in support. A Cherry Ripe-like complexity of cassis “Has balance and combination of cherry fruit and sweet vanilla beauty!” $130 fruit and chocolaty oak with oak tending oak with pretty violet to dominate the rich notes. It’s young and palate. High level of tight and needs time. acid. 5+ $100 Blue Pyrenees Richardson Reserve 3-5 $96 Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 HHHH Bright crimson wine with dark berry bouquet supported by sweet dusty oak. An oak driven palate but plenty of sweet fruit to match. $120 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 75

CABERNET SAUVIGNON & BORDEAUX BLENDS Yarra Yering Bird in Hand Nest Pertaringa Tipsy Le Forts de Latour Agincourt Yarra Egg Adelaide Hills Hill McLaren Vale Pauillac France Valley Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon Bordeaux Blend Sauvignon 2012 HHH 2016 HHHHH 2012 HHHH1/2 2016 HHH1/2 A mature cabernet with Intense purple wine Funky meaty characters Alert cool climate lots of stylised oak with complex fragrances on the lovely complex cabernet with pretty and sweet fruit sitting of rich ripe dark fruits nose. Dark berry fruit pristine varietal underneath. $110 and classy oak. Palate flavours with the oak characters and excellent is a perfect balance of kept nicely in check oak complexity. $105 Patrick of ripe velvety plum fruit and showing a mineral Coonawarra Grande and oak with polished thread with savoury Aus Provenance Reserve Coonawarra tannins and an endless tannins. 3-5 $550 Nightfall Single Cabernet Sauvignon finish. 5+ $295 Vineyard 2012 HHH Taylors The Visionary Coonawarra A lovely velvety smooth Chateau Haut-Brion Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wine filled with aged Premier Grand Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 HHH1/2 cedar/cigar box and Cru Classe Pessac 2017 HHHH A beautifully aged wine, sweet fruit characters. Leognan Bordeaux Nose is a fragrant mix mature in colour with $125 Blend 2015 HHHHH of dark berry fruit and powerful cassis fruit/cedar Still quite tight and smoky/cedary oak. oak concentration and CABERNET & closed with years ahead Powerful, warm, oak power. 5+ $125 BLENDS $200+ of it yet with lovely driven palate with toasty minty cool climate fruit caramel flavours and big Sirromet Wines 7 TASTED characters. The chocolaty tannic finish. $200 Granite Belt 7 AWARDED palate has power, Gralyn Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Margaret Merlot Petit Verdot A great line-up of texture and length with River Cabernet 2014 HHH1/2 Bordeaux First Growths gritty tannins. 5+ Simple mature and three Australian $1,300 Sauvignon lightweight style with contenders. Great result 2008 HHHHH juicy earthy red fruit, for the Aussies showing Old-fashioned style roasted/toasty notes and Australian cabernets, at Chateau Lafite needs decanting but still mineral thread. $128 the top level, can match Rothschild Pauillac it with the best in the France Bordeaux very much alive. Lovely world! “The French have amalgam of sweet leafy a more mid-weight drier Blend 2015 HHHHH fruit, earthiness, tar, savoury palate whilst Perfect varietal Yarra Yering Dry Red the Australian wines definition here of figs and cigar box oak No 1 Yarra Valley have more obvious wrapped in super fine Cabernet Sauvignon sweet fruit ripeness with classic cassis fruit soft tannins. 3-5 Merlot Malbec Petit beautiful tannin balance. that’s nicely supported Verdot 2016 HHH Both are world class in by lovely oak and $250 A light, young, their own way. well-made and tannins with very alert uncomplicated wine acidity. “Just the right with pretty lifted estery length to the elegant fruit. $120 palate.” 5+ $1,500 Patrick of Chateau Mouton Coonawarra Grande Rothschild Pauillac Reserve Coonawarra France Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2015 HHHHH 2013 HHH A powerful and muscular A big old-fashioned cabernet that in no style of cabernet way diminishes the with beautifully attractive crunchy evolved varietal fruit. cassis/blackberry “Stunning!” $125 varietal characters. Some interesting STAR RATINGS  roasted meat/black olive Villa Maria elements. 5+ Three-, four- and five-star ratings are signs of Ngakirikiri Hawkes $1,500 excellence in fruit quality and winemaking skill. Bay Cabernet All wines are judged ‘blind’ by wine industry Sauvignon professionals and are compared in peer 2013 HHH classes by three judges. Dark and powerful with CM Wine is exclusive to Cellarmasters, oak playing a big role a major mail-order business. and fruit in the ripe CD Cellar door price. spectrum. $170 NZ 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 76 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting 1300 889 628 November/December 2019 W I N wE SwTwA.TcEsair.c7o7m.au

108 TASTED 63 AWARDED RIESLING Are we having the 5th riesling revival yet? I never understand why Jacob's Creek Blesings Garden this varietal doesn't have a bigger following with its refreshing citrus Barossa Signature Wines South lemon and lime acidity, perfect for spring and summer drinking. It is Barossa Riesling Flinders Riesling also a white wine that has great aging possibilities. Overall the best 2018 HHH1/2 2019 HHH here had intensity and balance of sugar and acid. Fruit sugar is great Intense lifted varietal Elegant floral citrus but added sugar for cool climate crops is also ok but only if it is aromas with a lavender bouquet with a full, balanced and not overdone! note and straightforward balanced and quite palate with good fruit complex palate. $18 RIESLING Yealands Estate Rhynie Road Clare weight. $19.99 UNDER $20 Marlborough Valley Riesling Freya and Jules RIESLING Riesling 2019 HHHH 2018 HHHH Watervale Clare $20-$25 22 TASTED Honeyed citrus bouquet Perfumed citrus Valley Riesling 13 AWARDED with quince-like nuances bouquet, almost 2019 HHH 23 TASTED and complex palate that lavender-like, with long A zesty lemon sherbet 12 AWARDED Very mixed results has a sweet edge and lingering citrus driven of a nose with a lively here. The good wines nice salivating acid drive. flavours on the full and fruit driven palate. $NA “The good wines were showed freshness, $13.99 rounded palate. $17 The Crafty Punter good – others were varietal elegance and Ryder Watervale Kirrihill Regional Clare Valley Riesling simply unfinished,” acid balance. Others had Clare Valley Riesling Selection Series 2019 HHH noted one judge. “Too phenolic or unbalanced 2019 HHHH Clare Valley Riesling Interesting quince-like many here needed sugar characters. Subtle zesty lime 2018 HHHH characters on the nose fining with phenolic fragrances with slight Reserved citrus aromas and pretty fragrant floral astringency and Two Churches The toastiness showing. and a fleshy citrus fruit flavours. $15.54 bitterness prevalent.” Preacher Barossa Palate is fresh, palate that exhibits Giesen Estate New Valley Riesling flavoursome, balanced excellent length and Zealand Riesling 2018 HHHH1/2 and long. $14 varietal intensity. $19 2019 HHH Toasty development Kirrihill Regional Jacob's Creek A sweeter style with starting to evolve on the Selection Series Classic Australia a balance of tropical citrussy nose with great Clare Valley Riesling Riesling fruit salad-like varietal varietal intensity on the 2019 HHHH 2019 HHH1/2 characters. $16.99 NZ long lingering palate that Nose of lime zest with A lifted nose with a nice Majella Coonawarra is fresh with delicious a spicy lift. Lovely plate spicy punch to it and Riesling 2019 HHH flavours. $13.32 freshness and showing followed by a long and Tight minerally riesling good flavour complexity complex crunchy citrus with reserved citrus and intensity. $19 palate. $11.99 aromas and zesty acid driven palate. $17 JUDGES Dylan Lee Steve Warrick Scott Rawlinson Winemaker for Bird in Wine marketer with Winemaker for Duxton Hand Wines, for the 20 years experience vineyards. Former chief past seven years. He’s in McLaren Vale, winemaker for Fleurieu vintaged in Northern Coonawarra, Adelaide Vintners, Boar’s Rock Rhone and Canada, Hills and Margaret Winery, Serafino Wines at along with Margaret River. Extensive wine McLaren Vale. Previously River, McLaren Vale and judging experience at winemaker with Mildara at the Swan Valley. He has the Adelaide, Hobart Jamieson’s Run and Wolf completed the Australian and McLaren Vale Blass. Associate judge at Wine Assessment Course wine shows. Canberra wine shows. (AWAC). 78 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting Richard Hamilton RIESLING Rolf Binder Eden Watervale Clare $25-$30 Valley Riesling Valley Riesling 2019 HHHH 2018 HHH1/2 35 TASTED A freshness of green Simple tinned pineapple 20 AWARDED apples lifts off the nose. nose with long, lean, A wide range of results Lovely depth of varietal clean citrus flavours and styles ranging from fruit flavours. Slightly showing a slight toasty the drier ones to the sweet palate with acid edge. $20 acid based residual to match. $28 sugar styles. The judges Lawson's Dry commented on the step Gleeson & Co Hills Marlborough up in intensity although Watervale Riesling Riesling sugar balance was an 2019 HHH1/2 2016 HHH1/2 issue dragging some of Estery sweet banana- Mellowing citrus aromas the scores down. like characters to the lift off the nose and nose and long complex has a nicely balanced, Grant Burge palate with nice crunchy luscious, candied-peel Vigneron Collection texture. $25 palate. $20 NZ Thorn Eden Valley Riesling Reillys Watervale Gilberts Mount Tamburlaine Organic 2019 HHHHH Kirrihill Gleeson Clare Valley Riesling Barker Great Wines On the Nice floral line to the & Co Clare Valley 2019 HHH1/2 Southern WA Grapevine Orange honeyed citrus nose Riesling Gleaming green wine Riesling Riesling 2019 HHH and a lovely, classic, 2018 HHHHH with lemon and lime 2018 HHHHH Green apples and riesling palate. It has Lovely lifted fresh aromas and a firm, Beautiful upfront zesty limes on the nose with drive, length and great varietal aromas showing slightly tart, but well lime bouquet and moderate intensity on flavour concentration faint toastiness. balanced palate. $25 excellent crunch to the the crunchy acid palate. underscored with a tight Beautifully balanced Montara Grampians palate with lovely purity $20 line of acid. $27 palate that is brimming Riesling of varietal fruit flavours. Mitchelton Wines over with great flavours 2018 HHH1/2 A wine with freshness, Blackwood Park intensity and fresh An elegant and delicate balance and length. $24 Nagambie Riesling acidity. $25 style layered with some d'Arenberg The Dry 2019 HHH lovely citrus-like varietal Dam McLaren Vale A well made wine with fruit concentration. $27 & Adelaide Hills musky/green apple Riesling 2019 HHHH fragrances and nicely Bird in Hand Clare Gilbert Orange Delicate citrus balanced palate. $22 Valley Riesling Riesling fragrances with a floral Gilberts Mount 2019 HHHH1/2 2017 HHH1/2 lift and lovely drive and Barker Great Delicate citrus nose and Soft approachable intensity of zesty lemon Southern WA very flavoursome palate riesling with punchy driven flavours. $20 Riesling 2019 HHH with good concentration, citrus drive and hints Reillys Barking Mad Reserved candied peel intensity and length of of residual sugar Watervale Clare aromas and a lively crisp crunchy varietal fruit sweetness. $26 Valley Riesling green apple palate. $24 and hints of residual Gilbert & Gilbert 2018 HHHH Gomersal Wines sweetness. $25 Single Vineyard Floral fragrances Premium Eden Staete Landt Rudi Riesling Eden Valley with a slight toasty/ Valley Riesling Marlborough Riesling kerosene edge. Nice 2018 HHH Riesling 2015 HHH1/2 concentration and Toasty kero-like aged 2012 HHHH1/2 Lovely rounded toasty complexity of ripe citrus aromas and nicely Beautiful honeyed toasty buttery aged characters fruit flavours. $20 weighted green citrus aged characters obvious obvious here with slight McLean's Farm flavours. $20 on the nose followed by hints of sweetness. $28 Reserve Eden Valley Loveblock Sweet a complexity of varietal Majella Coonawarra Riesling 2018 HHHH Marlborough fruit flavours and rich Riesling Toasty nose with orange Riesling 2018 HHH aged elements. $29 2013 HHH1/2 blossom elements Honeycomb aromas Bellarmine Dry Still very fresh for its threaded through. Sweet and luscious and Pemberton Riesling age with a zesty fruit in the mouth but has the buttery in the mouth 2019 HHHH lift to the nose and acidity to balance it. $24 with some sweetness. Slightly oily citrus/lime everything in balance on $21.99 NZ driven aromas with a the palate. $25 Alex Russell Wines lovely lean and elegant Bird in Hand Son of a Bull Pipers palate that exhibits Honeysuckle Clare River Tasmania excellent varietal flavour Valley Riesling Riesling 2018 HHH intensity. $26 2019 HHH Crunchy acid driven A spicy, floral and fruity wine with a musky nose nose with a fleshy and zesty fresh citrus sweet palate. $25 flavours. $24 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 79

RIESLING Patrick of RIESLING $30+ Robert Stein Dry Mockingbird Hill Cobb's Hill Estate Coonawarra Estate Mudgee Riesling Hayshed Block Clare Goldrush Adelaide Coonawarra & 28 TASTED 2019 HHHH1/2 Valley Riesling Hills Riesling Wrattonbully 18 AWARDED Clean, lean and long 2016 HHHH1/2 2019 HHH Riesling 2019 HHH A strong class with with zesty citrus varietal Some lovely honeyed Rich pungent bouquet Classic lemon/ excellent intense varietal aromas showing a spicy richness to the toasty and fleshy sweet honeyed lime varietal aromas fruit wines across the lift. The vibrant palate nose and it has a soft, but citrus flavours. $30 with a big and very board. Some excellent has attractive citrus intensely flavoured, palate flavoursome palate. $25 results from the older fruit flavours and nice with some lovely acidity Pipers Brook Winery Singlefile Great vintages showing how crunchy texture. $30 running through it. $38 Tasmania Riesling Southern Riesling well this variety ages. Robert Stein Singlefile Single 2018 HHH 2019 HHH The young wines had Reserve Mudgee Vineyard Mount Subtle floral/apple-juice- Pungent tropical freshness and vibrancy Riesling Barker Riesling like bouquet and fleshy, bouquet with lemon with typical lemon and 2019 HHHH1/2 2019 HHHH sweet edged, palate. $35 lime intensity on the lime intensity at a high Very attractive and clean A ripe punchy wine with Leasingham Vintage seamlessly balanced level. line of apple-like varietal some subtle pineapple- Release Clare Valley palate. $25 aromas with a punchy like characters and spicy Riesling 2017 HHH Velvet & Willow Leura Park Estate palate rich in lemon zest notes on the nose and Hints of pineapple on Clare Valley Riesling Bellarine Peninsula and brown lime flavours. a firm and flavoursome the nose with a slightly 2019 HHH Riesling Great drinkability! $50 palate. $35 edgy, slightly sweet, Subtle lemon sherbet 2019 HHHHH Foxey's Mornington palate. $58 nose and a complex Tightly wound citrus Kirrihill EB's 'The Peninsula Riesling Patrick of palate that is crunchy in aromas and flavours Settler' Clare Valley 2018 HHHH Coonawarra Aged the mouth. $25 with hints of tropical/ Riesling 2018 Pungent tropical fruit Coonawarra Riesling Leconfield Old Vine passionfruit characters on HHHH1/2 characters on the nose 2014 HHH Coonawarra Riesling the nose and lovely zesty A classic riesling nose; with nice balance and Lifted candied/ 2019 HHH balance to the intense all green fruit and citrus length of orange blossom- marmalade aromas and Quite a warming and varietal palate. $35 with a floral lift. Lovely like flavours. $38 beautifully textured pungent style with Pauletts Aged flavour complexity with Mockingbird Hill buttery lime palate. $39 rich passionfruit-like Release Clare Valley layers of ripe citrus and Slate Lane Clare Reillys Museum characters. $26 Riesling delicate spiciness. $35 Valley Riesling Release Watervale Pauletts Polish Hill 2012 HHHHH Jacob's Creek 2017 HHHH Clare Valley Riesling River Clare Valley Some beautiful toasty Steingarten Barossa Attractive toastiness 2012 HHH Riesling 2019 HHH bottle age characters lift Riesling developing on the floral Beautiful toasty, kero, Reserved citrus nose off the nose and mingle 2018 HHHH1/2 citrus nose with a buttery quince-like mellowed with a floral lift and citrus with lime-like nuances Sweet, clean and lifted palate showing lovely richness here. Drink now characters fill the mouth and the palate has mix of apple and citrus honeyed ageing. $30 and enjoy! $40 with flavour. $28 gentle mellowing citrus aromas with excellent Moorilla Muse Cat Amongst The driven fruit flavours. $75 varietal intensity on Moorilla Vineyard Pigeons Fat Cat the fresh, tight and Tasmania Riesling Eden Valley Riesling seamlessly balanced 2017 HHHH 2019 HHH palate. $49.99 Very interesting wine Spicy brown lime with lovely green citrus bouquet with a tight fruit characters on crunchy palate showing the nose and a fleshy a mineral thread. $29 palate with mineral-like Reillys Watervale intensity. $42 Clare Valley Riesling Jack Rabbit 2018 HHH Bellarine Peninsula Subtle fruit aromas Riesling with herbal notes and 2019 HHH1/2 reserved citrus flavours Estery nose has candied on the palate. $25 musk-like aromas and hints of bananas with spicy punchy sweet fruit flavours. $35 Barossa Boy Wines Cheeky Tilly Eden Valley Riesling 2019 HHH Reserved citrus fragrances and mouthfilling, slightly sweet, varietal fruit. $30 80 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting Crafted in Italy for three generations, Luigi Bormioli combines decades of glassmaking experience with the latest technology. High breakage Dishwasher safe for over Ultra clear resistance 2,000 industrial cycles transparent glass www.bormioliluigi.com @luigibormioli #luigibormioli November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 81

100 TASTED 72 AWARDED SAUVIGNON BLANC & BLENDS Many believe that this varietal wine is the most distinctive of Lana's Bike Ara Single VBBAEULSYUTSE all the whites, with its herbacious, grassy or pungent sweaty Marlborough Estate characteristics. It is loved by many and loathed by a few. In this Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough judging it is interesting to see the range of wines covering all these 2016 HHH Sauvignon Blanc characteristics, showing that whatever your preference there is a Herbaceous aromas 2019 HHHH1/2 wine here for you. Two additional comments; don't believe that with toasty notes that Delicate nose with the best of this variety can't age; it can! Secondly for some sceptics follow through onto the hints of confectionery give them a glass but don't tell them what it is. The best can be palate. $14 tropical fruits superb wines! characters. The palate SAUVIGNON is clean, bright and BLANC simple with attractive $15-$20 tropical elements and a long clean finish. 21 TASTED $18.99 NZ 12 AWARDED SAUVIGNON Whispers South Cradle Bay “The New Zealand BLANC Eastern Australia Marlborough wines in this flight have UNDER $15 Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc reduced their complex 2019 HHH1/2 2018 HHH1/2 pungency,” said one 11 TASTED Grapefruit-like citrus Simple steely judge. “These show 6 AWARDED aromas and lightweight gooseberry bouquet signs of early picking palate with a combination with herbal notes and create a more “These were a little on of grassy and citrus and good varietal fruit international style rather the light side without flavours. $5 flavours with a tangy than a typical regional much varietal fruit Babydoll finish. $14 Marlborough style.” showing overcropping Marlborough Counting Sheep tendencies,” said one Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Mount Riley judge. “On a positive 2019 HHH1/2 Sauvignon Blanc Limited Release note there were very Pungent passionfruit 2018 HHH Marlborough few faults evident here.” nose with lifted Nice tropical lift to the Sauvignon Blanc herbaceous notes and nose and a fresh palate 2019 HHHH1/2 Deakin Estate gooseberry edged with good weight of A pale wine with subtle Murray Darling asparagus-like flavours. fruit. $14 pungency to the nose Sauvignon Blanc $14.99 and grassy nuances. 2019 HHHH Good length and depth A straw-coloured wine of sweet varietal fruit Koha Marlborough with slight tropical notes flavours with a lovely Sauvignon Blanc to the pungent bouquet. crisp acid backbone. 2019 HHHH1/2 Nice length of citrus $17 NZ Very subtle complexity driven flavours on a of guava and citrus- textured palate. $10 based aromas. Bright fruit driven palate with lovely flavour depth, creamy leesy characters and a clean finish. $18.99 NZ JUDGES Owen Inglis Simon Parker James Evers Owner of Sidewood Senior winemaker and Senior Winemaker, Wines in the Adelaide winery manager with Nepenthe Wines and Hills since 2004. Has Haselgrove Wines. A Australian Vintage (SA completed the WSET Kiwi, born in Gisborne, Premiums for 11 years). course. Wine importer he has also been a Previously winemaker and distributor for “flying winemaker” in at Mildara, Coonawarra 30 years. Qualified France for two vintages. and Glendonbrook and sommelier. Previous positions were Rothbury in the Hunter at Pirramimma and Valley. Buronga Hill wineries. 82 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting Mount Vernon Angullong Orange Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc 2019 HHHH1/2 2017 HHH1/2 A very attractive nose A citrusy lift to the nose with lovely combination with grassy notes and of floral, tropical and an attractive fruit driven stonefruit characters palate with plenty of which follow through acid. $18 NZ onto the slightly warm, slightly oily, palate. $22 Pa Road Lobethal Road Marlborough Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc 2019 HHH 2019 HHHH1/2 A pale wine in the A citrus driven sauvignon tropical fruit spectrum blanc mixing with light with light floral lift floral fragrances and and a textured palate. blending with zesty $17.99 NZ passionfruit-driven flavours. Finishes long Rapaura Springs and clean. $22 Classic Marlborough Te Pa Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Lawson's Dry Summerhouse Sauvignon Blanc 2019 HHH Hills Marlborough Marlborough 2019 HHHH1/2 Floral fragrances with a Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc An herbaceous nose gooseberry edge that is 2019 HHHH1/2 2019 HHHH with a delicate floral reflected on the palate. Nose is a pungent Light varietal fruit lift and plenty of good $18 aromatic complexity fragrances with nice tropical fruit characters The Crossings of tropical fruits with a depth and balance of on the clean, tight Marlborough lovely intensity of rich grapefruit-like flavours and bright palate with Sauvignon Blanc mouth-filling varietal with subtle hints of subtle green elements. 2019 HHH fruit flavours on the tropical fruits. $24 $19.99 NZ Very regional sweet long lingering palate. St Amand Adelaide pungent fruit bouquet $20 NZ Te Pa Reserve Hills Sauvignon and good length to the Collection Seaside Blanc 2019 HHHH palate. $18.95 NZ Marlborough A “quiet” nose with Sauvignon Blanc hints of guavas and Land of Giants 2019 HHHH grapefruit. Nicely Marlborough An attractive complexity textured palate; good Sauvignon Blanc of pleasant gooseberry length and weight of 2018 HHH fruit, some citrus notes green apple flavours. A citrus driven style with and almost barnyardy-like $18 green apple notes and a pungency. $24.99 NZ nice clean finish. $17 Mitchelton Wines SAUVIGNON Yealands Estate Zonte's Footstep Grant Burge 5th The Bend King BLANC Single Vineyard Excalibur Adelaide Generation Adelaide Valley Sauvignon $20-$25 Marlborough Hills Sauvignon Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2019 HHH1/2 Sauvignon Blanc Blanc 2019 HHHH1/2 Blanc 2018 HHHH A straightforward Aussie 29 TASTED 2019 HHHH1/2 A bright, clean and Zesty white flower style that’s a pleasant 22 AWARDED A pungent style very pleasant wine bouquet with a nicely mix of white flowers, with some grassy/ with very good tropical textured palate showing tropical fruit and leesy A solid class with more floral characters on fruit derived characters good depth of guava notes. $15 consistency across the nose and a bright layered with some and grapefruit flavours. Montford Estate the board. “There is a well-balanced palate citrusy elements. It $20 Marlborough discussion about higher that’s intense with rich is long, intense and Sidewood Adelaide Sauvignon Blanc alcohol versus acid gooseberry-like fruit balanced. $22 Hills Sauvignon 2019 HHH1/2 line,” commented one characters. $21.99 Patritti Merchant Blanc 2019 HHH1/2 A crisp, tight and bright judge. “The best wines Adelaide Hills Light candied nose with wine with a mix of here had ‘zippiness’ but Sauvignon Blanc a somewhat gentle pineapple and peach fruit also kept their pungent 2019 HHHH palate but showing nice characters with a tropical structure rather than Lifted ethereal tropical varietal fruit depth. “A edge. $19.99 NZ going into a flowery/ and citrus aromas with a good example!” $22 white blossom style long and elegant palate (which is also okay).” that is bright and crisp with varietal fruit. $24 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 83

SAUVIGNON BLANC & BLENDS Te Pa Reserve Berton Vineyards Saint and Scholar Yealands Estate Collection Hillside High Eden Adelaide Hills Single Block S1 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 HHH 2019 HHHH1/2 Sauvignon Blanc 2019 HHH1/2 A wine in the tropical A pale hued wine with 2019 HHH1/2 Very floral on the nose fruit spectrum with light lifted passionfruit-like A light crisp wine -jasmine-like with a nice oaky notes and some aromas and nicely with lovely depth citrus/grapefruit-based residual sweetness. $22 balanced palate with good of passionfruit and palate showing light depth of tropical varietal gooseberry fruit tropicals. $24.99 NZ Piper & King fruit flavours and has a characters with hints of Atiru Marlborough Adelaide Hills long clean finish. $25 citrus. $27.95 NZ Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc 2018 HHH1/2 2018 HHH O’Leary Walker Forester Estate More of an old school An attractive Adelaide Hills Margaret River style – slightly oily straightforward style Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc characters with lifted bright with grapefruit 2019 HHHH 2019 HHH1/2 floral varietal fruit and and guava fruit Quite a closed nose with A nose of cut grass and pungent notes. $22 characters. $22 a hint of citrus but the passionfruit and delicate Taylors Estate palate is brimming over oaky notes that is Adelaide Hills Haselgrove Wines with rich ripe varietal reflected on the palate. Sauvignon Blanc First Cut Adelaide fruit flavours. $25 $29.99 2019 HHH Hills Sauvignon Light grapefruit/ Blanc 2018 HHH Yealands Estate Katnook Estate Sew & Sew Sashiko passionfruit bouquet Pleasant, uncomplicated Single Block L5 Coonawarra Adelaide Hills with similar characters and well balanced with Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc on the slightly oily fruit at the tropical end Sauvignon Blanc 2018 HHHH 2018 HHH1/2 palate. $20 of the scale. $23 2019 HHHH1/2 A riper style with yeasty/ A pale wine with floral Pertaringa Te Pa Reserve A rich fruit driven wine oaky characters on the complexity to the nose Scarecrow Adelaide Collection Hillside made in the intense nose and a long, creamy and soft stone-fruit Hills Sauvignon Marlborough pungent old school and nicely balanced flavours showing a floral Blanc 2019 HHH Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand style. “If palate with good use of edge. $25 A closed straightforward 2018 HHH you like that style then oak. $25 Gilbert Orange style with citrus-based More of an old this one is for you,” Eloper Wines Sauvignon Blanc fruit in the grapefruit fashioned, pungent, suggested one judge. Adelaide Hills 2018 HHH1/2 spectrum. $22 style – very $27.95 NZ Sauvignon Blanc Nose of melons and Raidis Estate The Marlborough. Some 2019 HHH1/2 oak. Rich flavours in the Kelpie Coonawarra balanced sweetness. Restrained herbaceous pineapple/guava tropical Sauvignon Blanc $24.99 NZ aromas with hints of spectrum and layered 2019 HHH passionfruit and a tightly with oak. $28 Interesting floral Cloud Farmer wound palate with crisp Bird in Hand fragrances with a lean Marlborough line of acid. $25 Adelaide Hills pungent palate that has Sauvignon Blanc Gapsted Wines Sauvignon Blanc a citrusy finish. $22 2016 HHH Ballerina Canopy 2019 HHH Rapaura Another older style of King Valley A gentle pungent fruit Springs Reserve sauvignon blanc. Quite Sauvignon Blanc lift to the nose and fuller Marlborough sweet and creamy in the 2019 HHH1/2 grapefruit citrus style Sauvignon Blanc mouth. $20 An ethereal citrus palate. $25 2019 HHH blossom-like bouquet Lawson's Dry Pungent characters SAUVIGNON and a simple palate filled Hills Reserve dominate the nose with BLANC with pure varietal fruit Marlborough a palate that’s rich and $25-$30 characters. $25 Sauvignon Blanc creamy. $24 K1 by Geoff Hardy 2019 HHH 21 TASTED Adelaide Hills Very regional with Sauvignon Blanc a grassy asparagus 20 AWARDED 2019 HHH1/2 bouquet and great fruit Citrus and tropical fruit driven palate. $25 NZ Tumu Marlborough Great consistency here. fragrances and good Sauvignon Blanc “These range stylistically Palliser Estate depth of fruit flavours 2018 HHH from balanced, complex Martinborough on quite a grippy A pungent complexity of and textural to the fresh Sauvignon Blanc palate. $25 tropical fruit characters and lively crisp acid 2018 HHHH1/2 on the sweet side. Drink wines.” “Interesting A very well made, soon. $20 to see some fumé oak typical New Zealand, influenced styles in the sauvignon blanc. It is mix,” commented one complex and pungent judge. with an herbaceous nose and a long line of sweet varietal fruit flavours. $28.50 NZ 84 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting Cobb's Hill Estate SAUVIGNON Jack Rabbit Tamburlaine Reserve SAUVIGNON Side Saddle BLANC Bellarine Peninsula Fumé Blanc Orange BLANC Adelaide Hills $30+ Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc SEMILLON Sauvignon Blanc 2018 HHHH1/2 2019 HHHH 2019 HHH 13 TASTED An oaked style of Floral fruit and French 5 TASTED Subdued nose and 9 AWARDED sauvignon blanc with oak aromas with oak 3 AWARDED attractive gooseberry and an ethereal lift of spicy obvious on a palate guava driven palate. $26 “A few of these wines floral fragrances and a layered with grassy Small flight of Grant Burge were over oaked for the nicely textured palate green fruit flavours and herbaceous styles true Vigneron Collection level of fruit involved,” layered with varietal crisp acidity. $33 to the character of this Kraft Adelaide Hills said one judge. “A fruit and subtle oak Churchview St blend. Sauvignon Blanc number were high flavours. $35 Johns Wild Ferment 2019 HHH in alcohol with the Yealands Estate Margaret River Choosy Beggar Lovely floral lift to the addition of pressings State of Flux Sauvignon Blanc Margaret River flinty nose with rich ripe in order to create Marlborough 2018 HHH1/2 Sauvignon Blanc tropical fruit flavours. $27 greater complexity, but Sauvignon Blanc A beautifully balanced Semillon Elysian Springs unfortunately thereby 2018 HHHH1/2 sauvignon blanc with 2017 HHH1/2 Pennies from losing overall balance. A rich, slightly sweet and some classy oak Herbaceous characters Heaven Adelaide However, the better pungent bouquet and use that adds overall dominate the nose with Hills Sauvignon wines here showed a long, balanced palate complexity. $35 good length of citrus Blanc 2019 HHH complexity through – quite grippy in the Jack Rabbit flavours and hints of Heady jasmine-like fruit intensity and had mouth and in the rich Bellarine Peninsula grassiness. $15 aromas and slightly balance overall. old school New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc warm and oily tropical style. $36 NZ 2019 HHH Saracen Estates palate. $28 Blind River Tekau Subtle passionfruit and Margaret River Blind River Marlborough oak nose but more Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough Awatere Valley obvious fruit coming Semillon 2017 HHH Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc through on the palate. $35 Nice line of citrus Sauvignon Blanc 2017 HHHHH Leura Park Bellarine aromas and some 2018 HHH A well-made wine with Peninsula Sauvignon herbal characters on the Punchy, pungent and intense spicy complexity Blanc 2018 HHH textured palate. $18 tropical style with to the nose and showing A big tropical fruit style an attractive grassy grassy nuances. A long, showing good use Abbey View High backbone. $25 NZ well balanced, varietal of oak with hints of Altar Margaret River Nick Haselgrove palate that’s a seamless grassiness. $30 Sauvignon Blanc Blackbilly Adelaide meld between the fruit Peccavi Margaret Semillon 2016 HHH Hills Sauvignon and oak. $30 NZ River Sauvignon Green herbaceous Blanc 2018 HHH Blanc 2017 HHH bouquet and simple Uncomplicated wine Saint and Scholar A complex oak driven asparagus/capsicum-like with pretty light The Honour Roll wine with hints of flavours. $24.60 grapefruit/lime style Dewy's Nectar honeydew and melon and nice balance and Adelaide Hills fruit characters. $42 texture. $25 Sauvignon Blanc Cockfighter Ghost 2018 HHHH1/2 STAR RATINGS  Single Vineyard Nose is a lifted Adelaide Hills complexity of oaked fruit Three-, four- and five-star ratings are signs of Sauvignon Blanc aromas and is soft and excellence in fruit quality and winemaking skill. 2017 HHH creamy in the mouth All wines are judged ‘blind’ by wine industry Nicely textured style with a long line of rich professionals and are compared in peer with good balance varietal fruit flavours and classes by three judges. between some good level of acidity to CM Wine is exclusive to Cellarmasters, sweetness and the balance. $45 a major mail-order business. tropical fruit. $25 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 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 85

71 TASTED 37 AWARDED PINOT GRIS/PINOT GRIGIO \"You say gris, I say grigio\"?! We continue to be confused by the Babydoll PINOT GRIS/ difference although there seems a friend in Australia and New Marlborough Pinot GRIGIO & Zealand for fuller flavours for the former and lighter zesty acidity Gris 2019 HHH BLENDS for the latter. Of course in Italy you have wines labelled \"grigio\" that Attractive rose petal $20-$25 cover both territories. These are not wines that win major trophies characters on the nose but are great sipping lunch wines or in summer with salads and light and a lemon and golden 23 TASTED fish or meat dishes. pear palate. $15.99 Tatachilla White 13 AWARDED Admiral South PINOT GRIS/ Molly's Cradle Duxton Vineyards Eastern Australia Consistent but lightly GRIGIO & Hilltops NSW Pinot Pete's Pure Murray Pinot Grigio flavoured wines here BLENDS Gris 2019 HHHH Darling Pinot Grigio 2019 HHH similar to the previous UNDER $20 Reserved nose with 2019 HHH Lemon sherbet class. With some hints of fresh limes and Dusty pear fragrances fragrances with a slightly wines it appeared that 21 TASTED nicely concentrated and nice long, balanced, sweet, zesty, lime driven winemakers worked a 11 AWARDED crunchy flavours. Should fresh minerally lime palate. $18 little harder sometimes open up well with some flavours. $12 Trentham Estate achieving good results, Mixed results here. time. $18 Yealands Grown Murray sometimes not! Most of the wines were Land of Giants Marlborough Pinot Darling Pinot Gris balanced and without Marlborough Pinot Gris 2019 HHH 2019 HHH Grounded Cru VBBAEULSYUTSE faults but many were Gris 2017 HHH1/2 A lift of Nashi pears Some pretty pear and Cru Adelaide just too neutral and Honeyed apricot on the nose and nicely rose petal aromas with Hills Pinot Gris flavourless with many bouquet and a warm textured crunchy palate. lingering zesty lemony 2019 HHHH borderline wines. complexity of candied $13.99 flavours. $18 Reserved perfumed fruit flavours on a long Mount Riley Trentham The Family aromas with slight green Te Henga lingering palate. $17 Marlborough Pinot Murray Darling pea notes and intense Marlborough Pinot Rapaura Springs Gris 2019 HHH Pinot Grigio zesty lemon flavours on Gris 2017 HHHH1/2 Marlborough Pinot Musky lychee-like 2019 HHH a tight, light and crunchy A complex riper style Gris 2019 HHH bouquet and flavours of Quite reserved aromas palate. $20 with slightly candied Reserved aromas with lemon juice and citrus with austere flavours toasty melon fragrances a lift of lime. Fleshy and sherbet. $15 NZ in the lemon juice Thorn-Clarke and a flavoursome slightly sweet on the spectrum. $18 Sandpiper Eden complexity of toasty, palate. $11 Valley Pinot Gris oaky and sweet fruit 2019 HHHH characters on the Very subtle lychee and rounded palate. $17 pear bouquet with a bright and zesty fresh lime driven palate showing a firm line of acid. $20 JUDGES Andrew Locke Simon Rowe Shane Harris Winemaker with Buying & Promotions Winemaker for Wines by Rosemount Wines manager for Sip 'n Geoff Hardy including, since 1998. Previously Save retail Group. Pertaringa Wines, K1 and he was a winemaker Stint with Down Under Handcrafted by Geoff Hardy with Orlando Wyndham Cellars in Sydney. Wines. Has also completed and De Bortoli Wines. Diploma of Wine vintages in Queensland and He has completed Marketing. Thirteen Victoria. Completed the vintages in the US and years in the retail liquor AWRI advanced sensory Loire (France). In 1993 industry including course and has associate he attended the AWRI managing Parade judged at McLaren Vale advanced assessment Cellars in Adelaide. wine show. course. 86 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting Angullong Orange Grounded Cru Cru PINOT GRIS/ Hahndorf Hill Winery PINOT GRIS/ Pinot Grigio Adelaide Hills Pinot GRIGIO & Adelaide Hills Pinot GRIGIO & 2019 HHHH Gris 2018 HHH BLENDS Grigio 2019 HHH BLENDS $30+ Delicate varietal Nose of pears, lychees $25-$30 Fresh bouquet of apples characters of pears and and must with nice and pears with a clean 10 TASTED melons on the nose freshness, balance and 17 TASTED crunchy acid palate. $25 3 AWARDED with slight edgy palate; texture to the palate. 10 AWARDED Lobethal Road some sweetness but in $20 Adelaide Hills Pinot The judges were balance. $22 Taylors Estate Clare Another similar result Gris 2019 HHH disappointed! In trying Koonara Wines Lucy Valley Pinot Gris with the better wines Nice intensity of delicate to build complexity & Alice Limestone 2018 HHH showing balance of fruit, lemon-like characters on winemakers here have Coast Pinot Gris Lifted fruity nose with sugar and acid and a nose and palate. $25 created other problems 2019 HHH slight tropical notes degree of structure and Singlefile Run Free such as unbalanced Savoury character to the and quite fleshy in the complexity. Great Southern alcohol levels, oxidation floral/pear nose with a mouth. $20 Pinot Grigio and ferment issues. straightforward green Ballewindi Bird in Hand 2019 HHH “This varietal is a fresh apple palate. $20 Mornington Adelaide Hills Pinot Subtle pear and melon approachable style with Leconfield Richard Peninsula Pinot Gris Gris 2019 HHHH fragrances and a long a small flavour target Hamilton Adelaide 2018 HHH A delicate pear/lychee palate with firm acid and generally doesn’t Hills Pinot Gris Nose has interesting nose and rose petal-like spine. $25 benefit from extra 2019 HHH toasty complexity with perfumed palate with Taltarni Pyrenees winemaking artefact.” A clean varietal with a nice lemony length to gentle texture, some Pinot Gris 2018 HHH slate-like pear aromas the palate. $23.32 warmth and plenty of Savoury aromas with Jack Rabbit and nicely textured Gilbert Blanc Orange length. $25 a hint of oak influence Bellarine Peninsula lemon palate. $20 Pinot Gris Riesling adding interest to the Pinot Grigio Tamburlaine Organic Gewurztraminer Bird in Hand palate. $26 2019 HHH Wines On the 2018 HHH Adelaide Hills Pinot Centennial Attractive Nashi pear Grapevine Orange A delicate varietal blend Grigio 2019 HHHH Vineyards Reserve varietal nose and a Pinot Gris 2019 HHH with some attractive The nose has a powerful Single Vineyard long rich crunchy fruit Highly perfumed nose phenolic characters. $24 passionfruit punch Southern Highlands palate. $35 with a floral lift and Oakridge The Parish with similar characters Pinot Gris 2018 HHH perfectly balanced Yarra Valley Pinot echoed on the fleshy Toasty vanilla edged Palliser Estate palate. $20 Gris 2018 HHH textured palate. $29 aromas and firm acid Martinborough Rapaura Intense lemon sherbet driven lemon sherbet Pinot Gris 2018 HHH Springs Reserve varietal characters Piper & King palate. $28.99 A tropical element to Marlborough Pinot and developing toasty Adelaide Hills Pinot Cockfighters Ghost the nose with some Gris 2019 HHH flavours. $24.43 Gris 2018 HHHH Single Vineyard sweetness on the Pungent passionfruit Attractive toastiness Adelaide Hills Pinot lemony palate. $31.27 NZ aromatics with great adding complexity to the Gris 2017 HHH flavour complexity. $24 lemony bouquet with a Slightly honeyed nose Leura Park Estate Gapsted Wines High tight, crunchy textured, and lively, zesty, lemon 25 d'Gris Bellarine Country King Valley acid driven palate. $25 length to the palate. $25 Peninsula Pinot Gris Pinot Gris 2018 HHH 2017 HHH Quite intense tropical Dancing Petrel Developing toasty aromas with a savoury Northland New honeyed aromas and edge and a lemon Zealand Pinot Gris attractive candied peel scented palate. $20 2019 HHH flavours. $35 Nice pear/apple varietal characters on the nose and a big weighty palate. $25 NZ Visit our website and keep up to date with all our latest wine info, news, competitions, tastings and events. Become a subscriber to enter into our exciting regular competitions. www.winestate.com.au November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 87

EMERGING VAR IETAL S 367 TASTED 150 AWARDED EMERGING VARIETALS Is this the new future for red and white wines? Just as on-line has PINOT BLANC Hahndorf Hill Winery dominated print, is this the new direction for wine? Only time will Adelaide Hills Pinot tell. What we can say however is that many of these wines offer 3 TASTED Grigio 2019 HHH very nice lunch or picnic style drinking wines with the premium 0 AWARDED Delicate sherbety citrus varieties knocking on the door of the so-called classics of bouquet with light cabernet, shiraz and chardonnay. Generally, however be pleased These wines were too lemon flavours and with mid-weight flavours and lots of 'slurpability' (sic), of wines neutral. “Needs a bit of tangy acid finish. $25 that tend to go well with food rather than dominate. chardonnay added to lift the flavours,” suggested PINOT GRIS & SPARKLING Gapsted Wines VBBAEULSYUTSE Trentham The Family one judge. BLENDS High Country Murray Darling 17 TASTED King Valley Frizzante Maestri PINOT GRIGIO 15 TASTED 8 AWARDED Prosecco NV HHHH 2019 HHH1/2 3 AWARDED Light crisp aromas Intense bouquet of 16 TASTED Another disappointing A mixed result here of apples and pears ripe sweet cherries and 4 AWARDED group! “A general lack with, according to showing a floral edge plums and bright fresh of flavour and varietal one judge, “Overall and lovely crunchy citrus plum flavours. Good The judges were characters here through freshness being the key flavours with a clean level of sweetness. disappointed with this over fining,” suggested for the best wines along apple-like finish. $20 $18 class. “Too many wines one judge. “Some that with good oak balance. Preece King Valley lacked freshness or showed flavour also had The lesser wines here Soumah Yarra Valley Prosecco NV HHH had fermentation and sulphide faults.” were either stale or had Frizzante Brachetto A nutty complexity to sulphide winemaking excessive tannins for the 2019 HHHH the floral nose with a full issues,” commented one Paracombe Adelaide fruit flavour involved.” Rose coloured wine flavoured, slightly sweet, judge. Hills Pinot Gris with a sherbet/floral palate. $22 2019 HHHH Gapsted Wines confectionery nose McPherson Wines Artwine Prego Clare Estery primary fruit Limited Release with vibrant candied Bella Luna Murray Valley Pinot Grigio fragrances with a floral Alpine Valleys strawberry flavours. One Darling Prosecco 2019 HHHH lift and very fresh King Valley for the punters! $28 2019 HHH A full flavoured style; flavoursome palate, a Sparkling Saperavi A richer, super fresh, very varietal with a touch sweet. Offering NV HHHH1/2 Kimbolton Bella style in the tropical fruit richness of sweet good drinking. $20 An interesting bright and Monte Langhorne spectrum with floral quinces and pears and lively Christmas cake of Creek Sparkling nuances. $18.99 nice crisp green apple a bouquet with a dense Montepulciano Caudo Vineyard characters. $25 licorice driven palate 2017 HHHH Bubbly Summers showing good balance A varietal complexity to South Australia Pure Wine Co. of the tannins and the nose; all mulberries Sparkling Verdelho Pete's Pure Murray sweetness. $37 and blackcurrants with 2016 HHH Darling Pinot Grigio a leathery note and A ripe melange of 2019 HHH1/2 persistent sweet briary peaches, pears and Delicate lifted floral flavours. $36 nectarines on both nose fragrances with a hint of and palate with a tropical pears and estery sweet note. $20 citrus palate. Offers easy drinking. $14.99 De Bortoli Pinot G Riverina King Valley Pinot Grigio 2018 HHH1/2 Lifted lemon/ honeysuckle nose starting to show some development and great weight of fruit flavours. $18 88 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

feature tasting Tamburlaine Organic CHENIN Berton Vineyards McPherson Wines Gartelmann Wines Wines On The BLANC Winemakers Reserve Bella Luna Central Jessica Hunter Grapevine Orange Riverina Fiano Victoria Fiano Valley Verdelho Pinot Gris 2019 HHH 6 TASTED 2019 HHHH1/2 2018 HHH 2019 HHH1/2 Very lifted zesty lemon 2 AWARDED Lovely savoury aromas Nose is a complexity of Tight peach-like aromas nose with delicate with slight pungency sweet lemon drops and on the nose and loads flavour profile showing a A couple of good and an herbal edge with cut hay with a simple of simple bright flavours floral thread. $20 examples with good depth of flavours citrusy palate. $18.99 in the tropical fruit freshness and tightness and slight sweet citrusy spectrum. $22 Gartelmann Wines but still flavoursome finish with nice phenolic VERDELHO/ Stephanie Orange whilst the others were note. $14 VERDEJO Jester Hill Wines Pinot Gris 2019 HHH simply too green. Hand Crafted Touchstone Granite Delicate quince driven by Geoff Hardy 11 TASTED Belt Verdelho aromas and flavours Brini Estate Wines Adelaide Hills Fiano 6 AWARDED 2019 HHH1/2 with a high level of McLaren Vale 2019 HHHH1/2 Aromas of white acid. $27 Chenin Blanc Great floral lift to “There were some peaches with hints of 2017 HHHH the nose – smells of very good wines here smoked almonds and ALBARINO/ Tight floral/lemon sorbet honeysuckle, pears and showing the potential of full flavoured citrus ALVARINHO aromas with similar apples. Great palate the variety in Australian palate. $24 characters filling the texture with lovely long terroir,” said one judge. 5 TASTED palate with flavour and lingering varietal fruit “These show generosity Mollydooker Wines 3 AWARDED good line of acid threaded flavours. $25 of flavour and good The Violinist through. $18 Haselgrove Wines overall balance.” McLaren Vale The judges found this Alternative Series Verdelho 2017 HHH class more interesting Brini Estate Wines McLaren Vale Fiano Saddler's Creek Nose is reminiscent of than the pinot grigios. McLaren Vale 2019 HHH Wines Hunter Valley spice according to one Generally, they offered Chenin Blanc Slight lemonade-like Verdelho judge with an oak driven good drinking. 2018 HHH characters to the nose 2019 HHHH palate. $25 A light, tight and well with a spicy palate and Estery tropical fruit Artwine The Real balanced citrus driven crisp line of acid. $26 fragrances and a fuller VERMENTINO Thing Adelaide Hills style with spicy notes Artwine Wicked style of palate that’s Albarino and honeyed elements. Stepmother Clare a touch warm with 15 TASTED 2019 HHH1/2 $18 Valley Fiano some attractive oak 7 AWARDED Floral fragrances with 2019 HHH influence. $26 slight honeyed notes FIANO Aromas of dried tropical “A good selection of and a palate tasting of and citrus fruits with Caudo Vineyard fresh styles with some apples and passionfruit. 9 TASTED full smooth tropical and Lifestyles South nice aged examples,” Crisp finish. $30 6 AWARDED stonefruit flavours $30 Australia Verdelho said one judge. “The De Bortoli Bella Riva 2017 HHHH mouth-watering acidity Symphony Hill A solid consistent King Valley Fiano Honeyed peach aromas and bath salt-like Wines Granite Belt class. “This is a fuller 2018 HHH and interesting palate perfumed characters are Albarino 2019 HHH flavoured wine, closer to Smells of rose petal with hints of crushed very attractive.” Lifted peach and guava- chardonnay rather than with nutty notes and pineapple and green like nose with a big to the spicy whites,” slightly oily palate apples. Nice crisp line of Symphony Hill flavoursome tropical fruit said one judge. “Also, texture with rose water acid. $20 Wines Granite Belt palate. $65 generally, we are seeing flavours. $18 Vermentino good winemaking here.” Tamburlaine Organic 2019 HHHH1/2 Stanton & Killeen Wines On The Zesty lemon nose with Wines Rutherglen Grapevine Hunter delicate floral notes. Alvarinho 2018 HHH Valley Verdelho Limes and lemons on Aromas of bananas 2019 HHH1/2 the palate and a good with hints of lemon rind Clean crisp bouquet line of minerally acidity. that follows through with light tropical fruit “A very well-made wine onto the slightly sweet elements and fantastic underneath!” $30 palate. $30 persistence of varietal flavours. $20 JUDGES - DAY 1 Shane Harris Mark Solomon Andrew Locke Winemaker for Wines by Scientist with AWRI. Winemaker with Geoff Hardy including, Member ofTechnical & Rosemount Wines since Pertaringa Wines, K1 and Quality panel of the Institute. 1998. Previously he was a Handcrafted by Geoff Hardy Completed the Advanced winemaker with Orlando Wines. Has also completed Wine Assessment Course Wyndham and De Bortoli vintages in Queensland and and Wine Show Judging Wines. He has completed Victoria. Completed the Course. vintages in the US and AWRI advanced sensory Loire (France). In 1993 course and has associate he attended the AWRI judged at McLaren Vale wine advanced assessment show. course. November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 89

EMERGING VAR IETAL S Peacock's Tail De Bortoli Villages La La Land VBBAEULSYUTSE South Australia Heathcote Victoria Vermentino Tempranillo Touriga Tempranillo 2017 HHH 2018 HHH 2017 HHHHH Subtle stonefruit and Sour cherry nose with A lovely bright lifted citrus characters on both a lift of spices and good cherry/berry bouquet nose and palate with solid sweet black fruit with just a hint of spice good line of acid. $22 flavours. $21.95 and some nice oaky notes. The dark fruit TEMPRANILLO Alex Russell Wines palate has hints of rose & BLENDS alejandro Riverland petals with a sweet oak (TINTO SA Tempranillo finish. $17.99 RORIZ) 2018 2018 HHH Nose is a mix of dark Oxenberry Farm 16 TASTED berries, licorice and Jack of all Trades 9 AWARDED plums with a warming McLaren Vale chocolaty palate. $25 Tempranillo VBBAEULSYUTSE Some good results here Angullong Fossil Hill 2017 HHHH showing good definition Orange Tempranillo Subdued aromas of of vibrant varietal 2018 HHH rhubarb, spices and characters. However, Blackcurrant bouquet cigar box characters with most of the lesser wines with hints of menthol balanced flavours in the here showed early and spices and tart dark fruit spectrum. development oxidisation uncomplicated, drying, $20 Trentham The Family that is inexcusable for Crittenden Estate spicy palate. $28 Murray Darling the young vintage. Los Hermanos King Summit Estate Vermentino Valley Tempranillo TEMPRANILLO Granite Belt 2019 HHHH Billy Button The 2018 HHHH1/2 & BLENDS Tempranillo Fresh floral fragrances Alluring Alpine Spicy rhubarb-like 2017 & OLDER 2017 HHHH with oyster shell-like Valleys Tempranillo elements on the nose Some pretty powerful elements and a clean 2018 HHHHH with leafy notes. A 30 TASTED spicy chocolaty fruit and crisp citrus palate Complex varietal nose, soft and supple palate 12 AWARDED on both the lifted nose with mouth-watering bright with cherries and of cherries, chocolate, Good wines were few and juicy palate that’s acid finish. $18 licorice and hints of spices and violets. and far between here! laced with big grippy Santolin Wines violets with a dash of “Great attention to “The 17s gave it a good tannins. $35 Cosa Nostra Alpine pepper. Crunchy black extraction.” $30 shot but after that the Valley Vermentino fruit palate has great Kalleske Dodger older wines just lacked Quattro VBBAEULSYUTSE 2018 HHH1/2 texture and persistent Barossa Valley freshness and vibrancy,” Mano Novillo Smells of toast and gravelly tannins. $32 Tempranillo agreed the judges. There Barossa Valley lemon curd and light 2018 HHHH are good wines here, Tempranillo 2017 bodied, but nicely Gapsted Wines High Nose reminiscent of but you must be very HHH1/2 textured, palate Country King Valley cherry flavoured cough choosy. The awarded Aromas of chocolate, with hints of sweet Tempranillo syrup according to one wines below are well raspberry and pepper. A pineapples. $25 2018 HHHH1/2 judge. Full flavoured worth seeking out. slightly green and spicy Seppeltsfield Plums and cherries on spicy plum palate with palate with a touch of Barossa Village the nose with a touch green notes. $26 age. $17 Barossa Vermentino of violet-like characters. Stanton & Killeen 2019 HHH Juicy in the mouth Wines The Prince Artwine Hola Clare Very lifted nose with a with earthy mulled fruit Iberian Blend Valley Tempranillo touch of the tropics and flavours and slight leafy Rutherglen Tinto Graciano good flavour length on notes. Soft tannins. Roriz Touriga 2017 HHH1/2 the off-dry palate. $25 $20 Nacional Tinto Cao Attractive licorice and La La Land Tinta Barroca berry fruit aromas with Victoria Vermentino 2018 HHH1/2 spicy notes. Good even 2017 HHH Great colour with cool red fruit palate with soft An uncomplicated juicy fruit characters. tannins. $32 toasty style starting Some cola notes on to show some aged the nose and hints of Paracombe Adelaide characteristics. $17.99 Balsamic on the palate. Hills Tempranillo La Maschera $50 2017 HHH Barossa Vermentino Taylors Clare Valley Smells of prunes 2017 HHH McLaren Vale and plums with a A crisp, super fresh, Tempranillo straightforward stewed wine with pleasant floral 2018 HHH black fruit palate. $22 elements and hints of Inky nose; all purple fruit herbs. $22 and chocolate with juicy Hastwell & Lightfoot sour cherry and chocolate Mediterranean flavours. $20 Series McLaren Vale Tempranillo 2017 HHH Earthy black licorice bouquet and a creamy boysenberry flavoured palate. $25 90 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

feature tasting Mount Avoca Estate Stanton & Killeen Kalleske Buckboard Myattsfield Perth GEWURTZTRAMINER Organic Pyrenees Wines Fortitude Barossa Valley Durif Hills Durif 2018 HHH 4 TASTED Tempranillo Rutherglen Durif 2018 HHHH1/2 Big thick leathery cherry 2 AWARDED 2017 HHH 2018 HHHHH A bold super dense cola characters on nose Same comments as Raspberry lolly nose Aromas of chocolate, style with a chocolaty and palate with chewy the previous class but with confectionery red raspberry and licorice blackberry bouquet tannins. $30 the gewurz fared better fruit flavours showing an with a floral lift. Dark and fleshy red fruit overall. earthy edge. $32.50 juicy licorice and bright flavours showing Atze's Corner The spicy red fruit flavours through the black cherry Giant Barossa Valley Centennial Quattro Mano Pais with very good level of fruit characters. Ripe Durif 2017 HHH Vineyards House Alto Eden Valley soft tannins. $38 tannins. $26 Big “chunk” of oak and Block Southern Tempranillo Berton Vineyards Mandalay Road black fruit on the nose Highlands 2017 HHH Metal Label Riverina Geographe Durif and loads of flavour with Gewurztraminer Powerful lift of toasty/ Durif 2018 HHHH1/2 2017 HHHH1/2 rich ripe tannins. $35 2019 HHH1/2 earthy mulled fruit and a Nose is a powerful A mix of beetroot and A pretty nose of lychees rich, textured spicy plum amalgam of sarsaparilla, mulberry aromas lift off Scarpantoni Estate and rose petals. Good palate. $40 licorice and menthol the nose with hints of Riverland Durif varietal definition on the with a big tannic palate violets and those similar 2016 HHH uncomplicated spicy and Billy Button The rich and ripe with fruit. characters are echoed Showing some sweet palate. $28.99 Flame Robin Alpine “A well thought out on the nicely textured development with earthy/ Cassegrain Edition Valleys Tempranillo wine,” noted one judge. palate. $29.99 leathery aromas and dark Noir Hunter 2017 HHH $12 Warrabilla Wines fruit flavours. $25 Valley Orange Good complexity here Reserve NE Vic Durif Gewurztraminer with lots of licorice and 2018 HHHH OTHER 2016 HHH cedar-like characters and Big chocolaty black WHITES Smells of preserved a trace of menthol. $50 currant nose and a limes and lemons with dense palate thick with a 13 TASTED similar spritzy lemon Shingleback Los mix of dark fruit flavours 2 AWARDED lime flavours on the Trios Bravos and a long warming palate. $28 McLaren Vale finish. $27 “Overall most of these Tempranillo Caudo Vineyard wines lacked fruit weight PETIT Monastrell Premium South and flavour,” agreed the MANSENG Grenache Australia Durif judges. “The other issue 2016 HHH 2017 HHHH was excessive oxidative 3 TASTED Big spicy black fruit A light bright style - handling by winemakers 0 AWARDED aromas and flavours great texture. “Smells in an attempt to increase A very disappointing with a nice lingering of freshly turned earth,” complexity for light class. finish. $25 said one judge. Excellent flavoured wines. They length of savoury might be light, but they Reillys Dry Land flavours. $30 should at least be bright, Clare Valley All Saints Estate fresh and crisp.” Clearly Tempranillo Family Cellar a dilemma here! 2016 HHH Rutherglen Durif Dark brooding black-fruit 2015 HHHH Bream Creek bouquet and a huge Nose is a dark and Vineyard Tasmania tannic palate with nice brooding compote of Schonburger sweet fruit. $29 berries and chocolate with 2017 HHH1/2 a thick, rich, warm and Lifted fragrances of DURIF developing palate. $75 fairy floss and Muscat Billy Button grapes. Fat and rounded 20 TASTED The Dapper Alpine in the mouth and tasting 12 AWARDED Valleys Durif of sweet pineapple. $31 2017 HHH1/2 A strong class of big A fusion of charred Bird in Hand bodied flavoursome beetroot, raspberry Adelaide Hills Arneis wines but there were and violet aromas. 2019 HHH also some nice lighter Well balanced medium Green apple nose with and well-balanced bodied palate. Give it some florals and hints versions. There are time! $32 of hazelnuts and a crisp some good value wines Andrew Peace Wines green apple palate. $29 here according to the Full Moon Victoria judges. Durif 2018 HHH Floral confectionery fruit fragrances and straightforward floral raspberry flavours. $20 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 91

EMERGING VAR IETAL S SAVAGNIN Centennial Hand Crafted Artwine In the BARBERA Vineyards Reserve by Geoff Hardy Groove Adelaide 4 TASTED Southern Highlands Adelaide Hills Hills Gruner Veltliner 8 TASTED 1 AWARDED Gruner Veltliner Gruner Veltliner 2019 HHH 4 AWARDED 2018 HHHHH 2018 HHHH1/2 Subdued citrus aromas The good wines here Only one very nice Lovely punchy and Lovely perfumed lift to with a floral lift and a showed great balance example of the variety to crunchy fresh apple the spicy tropical nose. A very clean crisp, acid- between acid, oak and be had here. aromas with an crisp and delicate spicy driven, palate. $30 tannin and deep dark attractive toasty fruit palate with a tight fruit flavour. Tscharke Wines Girl element. Great palate line of acid and a silky- Mt Bera Boundless Hollick Estates Talk Barossa Valley texture with lovely smooth texture. $25 Horizons Adelaide The Gondolier Savagnin spiciness spread across Nepenthe Pinnacle Hills Gruner Veltliner Coonawarra Barbera 2019 HHHH the length of the palate. Adelaide Hills 2018 HHH 2018 HHHHH Estery banana-like $28.99 Gruner Veltliner Gentle lift of spices and Lovely fresh aromas aromas with loads of Hahndorf Hill Winery 2018 HHHH limes on the nose and – smells of black fruit bright fresh “pulpy” White Mischief Spicy quince-like good length of delicate pastilles with beetroot- tropical fruit flavours Adelaide Hills bouquet with some tropical flavours. $35 like elements. Good with a good line of acid Gruner Veltliner honeyed notes and a black fruit palate – very on the finish. $25 2019 HHHH1/2 crisp palate with spicy Artis Wines Single flavoursome with soft Lifted stonefruit citrus and apple pie-like Vineyard Adelaide tannins and good acid GRUNER fragrances with a flavours. $35 Hills Gruner Veltliner backbone. $23 VELTLINER & delicate whiff of red K1 Wines Adelaide 2018 HHH BLENDS apple skins and a crisp Hills Gruner Veltliner Some toastiness evident Angullong Fossil palate that is filled with 2017 HHHH on the nose that is Hill Orange Barbera 16 TASTED bright fresh flavours Fresh lively floral/quince- also obvious on the 2018 HHHH 13 AWARDED in the apple and pear like characters with a flavoursome palate. Smells of black cherries spectrum. $24 lift of spice. Palate is, $36.99 with prune-like notes Great class of “As fresh as a daisy, and a bold tannic palate flavoursome varietal showing ageing potential ROSÉ with dark fruit flavours wines. “This is what for this variety”. $25 and gentle tannins. $28 we are talking about,” Hahndorf Hill Winery 4 TASTED Billy Button The enthused the judges. Reserve Adelaide 2 AWARDED Affable Alpine “Lots of fruit weight and Hills Gruner Veltliner Valleys Barbera structure with minimal 2017 HHHH Two nice fresh examples 2018 HHHH winemaking influence.” A fuller complex style, here, just as they should Loads of Turkish holding up well, with be. Delight-like characters K1 Wines Adelaide a spicy oak nose here on both the nose Hills Gruner Veltliner and lovely impact of Koonara Wines Emily and palate with subtle 2019 HHHHH tropical/baked apple May Limestone oak, balancing acid and Punchy spicy oak flavours. $45 Coast Sangiovese chewy tannins. $32 nose with a hint of Nepenthe Rosé 2019 HHHH1/2 tropical fruit characters. Winemakers Select Nose is a delightful Excellent perfumed Adelaide Hills mix of strawberries tropical fruit flavours Gruner Veltliner and rose petals with with some spicy oak 2018 HHH1/2 flavours reminiscent presence adding A clean, crisp and lively of Turkish Delight on complex highlights. $25 style with good honeyed a bright fresh palate citrus drive and a chalky showing a lovely crisp acid finish. $30 line of acid. $19.95 Artwine In the Groove Adelaide K1 Wines Adelaide Hills Gruner Veltliner Hills Rosé 2019 HHH 2018 HHH1/2 A very fine, bone dry, Nose is a savoury mix style with light florals of spices, apples and and cranberry fruit-like almond meal. Nicely characters. $25 textured palate with mild spiciness. $35 Hahndorf Hill Winery Gru Adelaide Hills Gruner Veltliner 2019 HHH Subtle spicy and floral bouquet with some great zesty citrus flavours. $29 92 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

feature tasting Ceravolo Adelaide TOURIGA d'Arenberg The Warrabilla Wines Hills Barbera NACIONAL Anthropocene Reserve NE Vic 2016 HHH Epoch McLaren Vale Malbec 2018 HHH Sweet black cherry 4 TASTED Mencia 2018 HHH Menthol/blackcurrant aromas with aged notes. 2 AWARDED Purple fruit fragrances bouquet with a simple Good length of dark and a firm assertive candied black fruit fruits flavours. $19 Two nice examples tannic palate with spicy palate. $25 showing lovely violet plum flavours. $29 SANGIOVESE & varietal expression MATARO/ BLENDS characteristic of this Bike & Barrel Ridge MOURVEDRE/ style. Top Alpine Valleys MONASTRELL 12 TASTED Pinotage 2016 HHH 1 AWARDED Hither & Yon A peppery lift to the 8 TASTED McLaren Vale green edged fruit nose 3 AWARDED Far too many oxidised Touriga and a light dry red fruit wines here said the 2018 HHHH1/2 palate. $28 The mataro/mourvedre/ judges. “Some showed Great colour and monastrell wines were old oak issues with very lifted bright fruit GRACIANO tough rather than fruity, extra length in the fragrances with lovely lacking definition. barrel whilst others had violet nuances and good 3 TASTED poor oxidative handling juicy berry fruit flavours 1 AWARDED Paracombe Adelaide problems,” said one nicely supported by the Hills Malbec judge. soft tannins. $29 Only one nice example 2015 HHHH1/2 here. Inky nose with subtle Haselgrove Wines Drayton's Family violet and blackberry Alternative Series Wines Vineyard Landaire Padthaway fragrances. Good McLaren Vale Reserve Hunter Graciano 2017 HHH length and persistence Sangiovese Valley Touriga Lovely fruit cake- of cedar oak and 2018 HHH Nacional 2018 HHH like aromas and blackberry fruit flavours A nose of brairy fruit and Delicate violet/red flavours starting to with good framework cedary oak with firm fruit bouquet and show attractive aged of tannins. $30 drying savoury palate. $26 uncomplicated black characters. $32 currant palate. $35 MALBEC ZINFANDEL OTHER RED La La Land Victoria 10 TASTED Malbec 2018 HHHH 4 TASTED 16 TASTED 7 AWARDED Aromas of cherry cola and violets with a bright 2 AWARDED 2 AWARDED A solid class with the fresh raspberry palate malbecs featuring and gravelly tannins. Light sweet/savoury The judges were with their fresh bright Good acid line to styles won the day in disappointed with these blueberry flavours. balance. $17.99 this class. wines finding far too much oxidation from Vinos For Chinos Tamburlaine Organic Alex Russell Wines Kalleske Fordson over extraction of fruit Clare Valley Malbec Wines Single alejandro Riverland Barossa Valley with a number of green 2018 HHHH1/2 Vineyard Orange SA Monastrell Zinfandel fruit wines lacking any Deep rich earthy nose Malbec 2017 HHHH 2018 HHH 2018 HHHH flavour. “Most of these with layers of black Smells of blackcurrants Lovely earthy/meaty Savoury style with a wines are aromatic fruit and a bold spicy and licorice with a aromas with a floral lift nose of licorice, plums varietals and should confectionery black fruit menthol note and good and warming Christmas and herbs with a rich not be overworked,” palate that, according weight of dark fruit cake of a palate. $25 earthy sweet fruit concluded one judge. to one judge, “Hits the flavours on a warming palate showing citrussy mark well”. $19 palate. $22 zestiness. $26 Brown Brothers Reillys Dry Land Mandalay Road Top Limited Release Clare Valley Mataro Block Geographe Heathcote Malbec 2017 HHH Zinfandel 2018 HHH 2018 HHH Good volume of varietal Smells like cherry cough A bright, fresh and fruit here with meaty syrup with earthy cherry uncomplicated style earthy characters and flavours and a dash of with floral dark berry fine tannins. $29 pepper. $29.99 fruit characters. $25 Yangarra Estate Taylors Taylor Made McLaren Vale Clare Valley Malbec Mourvedre 2018 HHH 2017 HHH Plump plum nose with Racy black fruit characters a violet lift and nice showing a meaty edge, integration of beetroot nice violet lift and supple and plum flavours. $25 tannins. $35 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 93

EMERGING VAR IETAL S VIOGNIER Yalumba Eden Valley d'Arenberg The Kirrihill Wines SAGRANTINO Eden Valley Viognier Money Spider Piccoli Lotti Mount & BLENDS 12 TASTED 2017 HHH McLaren Vale Lofty Ranges 4 AWARDED Bright floral apricot Roussanne Montepulciano 7 TASTED Lots of borderline wines bouquet with a big, 2018 HHHH 2018 HHHH 3 AWARDED here with acid balance slightly oily, stonefruit Good apricot-like primary Lovely mix of raspberry a major factor. “Many palate. $28 fruit obvious on the nose mulberry and rhubarb- One company scooped wines had the right and the crisp palate with like aromas with rich the pool here! characters but not the MARSANNE & perfectly balancing sugar primary fruit flavours luscious fruit to handle BLENDS and acidity. $20 across the length of the Andrew Peace Wines the acid level,” noted palate. $27 Australia Felix one judge. 6 TASTED MONTEPULCIANO Swan Hill Victoria 2 AWARDED Hand Crafted Sagrantino Berton Vineyards 13 TASTED by Geoff Hardy 2015 HHHH Metal Label The judges found some 4 AWARDED Adelaide Hills Meaty savoury aromas Riverina The clumsy oak handling “A difficult variety to get Montepulciano with a minty lift. Mint White Viognier here with just a couple right,” suggested one 2017 HHH1/2 and chocolate on the 2019 HHHH1/2 of wines showing the judge. “It is a medium A nose of cherry cola palate underscored with A delightful lifted mix of way. bodied wine that, if with a peppery lift and some pretty powerful peaches, lemon sorbet pushed, goes haywire traces of chocolate tannins. $45 and floral fragrances Tahbilk Museum with tannin weight and on the bright cherry which follows through Nagambie Lakes fruit profile.” However, palate. $30 Andrew Peace Wines onto a vibrantly fresh Marsanne the best wines here Australia Felix palate exhibiting 2013 HHHH1/2 showed attention to Artwine Leave Your Swan Hill Victoria excellent flavours in a A remarkably fresh wine detail with balanced Hat On Clare Valley Sagrantino stonefruit-like spectrum. for its age. According to tannin extraction. Montepulciano 2016 HHH1/2 $12 one judge it smells like 2016 HHH Minty strawberry Artwine Madame V a freshly baked apple Obsidian Estate A big ripe style that is bouquet with stewed Clare Valley Viognier pie! It has luscious Waiheke Island still holding onto its dark berry flavours and 2019 HHHH toasty lemon butter-like Montepulciano fruit freshness. $40 balancing acid and A vibrantly fresh style flavours. $23.95 2018 HHHH1/2 tannins. $45 with a lovely lift of Dark spicy briary fruit PETIT VERDOT peaches and apricots Tahbilk Nagambie bouquet and a palate & PETIT SIRAH Andrew Peace Wines on the nose and bright Lakes Marsanne with bright varietal fruit, AGLIANICO Australia Felix fresh palate with good 2019 HHH1/2 great texture and earthy Swan Hill Victoria weight of apricot Spicy pears and green undertones. This is an 9 TASTED Sagrantino flavours. $25 apples on the nose with excellent example of the 3 AWARDED 2013 HHH Artwine Madame V good length of citrus variety. $42 NZ Developed blackberry Clare Valley Viognier fruit flavours and good A few tired wines here aromas and a palate 2018 HHH1/2 line of acid. $18.35 showing premature age, still showing fruit Nice perfumed edge to but the recommended sweetness. $45 the delicate stonefruit ROUSSANNE & wines showed dark nose with great apricot BLENDS fruits and good acid SAPERAVI fruit presence and weight balance. on the palate. $25 4 TASTED 6 TASTED 1 AWARDED Rojomama Red 2 AWARDED Art Cellar Release Just one wine Barossa Valley Petit Interesting variety recommended here. Verdot 2008 HHH1/2 with according to one The rest showed Super fresh for an 11- judge, “Huge potential”. winemaking faults. year old. Smells like fruit A couple of good “Are some of these cake and cigar boxes examples here. afterthoughts with with spicy earthy black winemakers using the fruit flavours. $70 Cirami Estate same techniques that Riverland Saperavi they use for shiraz and Rojomama Red Art 2018 HHHH1/2 cabernet that don’t Barossa Valley Petit The nose is an work on these more Verdot 2017 HHH interesting mix of sour mid-weight wines?” Christmas cake cherry, prunes and questioned one judge. characters on the nose Balsamic-like aromas all and blackcurrant and of which are echoed on violets on the palate. $38 the palate that is nicely balanced by a lovely line Anderson Winery of crisp acidity. $20 Rutherglen Petit Verdot 2014 HHH A wine full of licorice, violets and dark chocolate characters with firm grippy tannins. $21 94 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

feature tasting Anderson Winery Paracombe Adelaide Longview Vineyard Seppeltsfield Whistling Kite Verrier Rutherglen Hills Cabernet Franc Riserva Adelaide Barossa Village Vineyards Limited Saperavi 2015 HHHH 2015 HHH Hills Nebbiolo Barossa Nero Release Classic Fantastic freshness for Green medicinal 2017 HHHH1/2 D'Avola 2019 HHHH Riverland Late its age with oak and characters to the nose A very charming wine Lifted aromas of cherries Picked Petit red cherries on the and vibrant fruit palate with a nose of tar and and raspberries with Manseng NV HHHH nose with a warm dark with velvety tannins. $30 roses and good palate super fresh varietal fruit Beautifully balanced fruit palate with drying weight showing long flavours working well wine with nutty, toffee oak. $33 LAGREIN lingering earthy/spicy with the soft tannins. and dried fruit aromas flavours with a savoury Easy drinking. $25 with a caramel sweet TANNAT 6 TASTED edge and crisp acidity. palate showing lovely 1 AWARDED $50 Hand Crafted citrus zestiness. $45 3 TASTED One good example here by Geoff Hardy Tahbilk Nagambie 0 AWARDED – the others just lacked NERO Adelaide Hills Nero Lakes Cane Cut freshness. D'AVOLA D'Avola 2018 HHHH Marsanne 2015 A small borderline Very lifted well-defined (375ml) HHHH sample of wines here Alex Russell Wines 9 TASTED wine with great level of Smells of lemon curd that didn’t make the alejandro Riverland 6 AWARDED complexity and layers of and toast with those grade as they generally SA Lagrein raspberry, mint, cherries characters following lacked freshness. 2018 HHH A strong class showing and spices. $30 through onto the palate Purple fruit fragrances great potential across and nicely balanced by CABERNET with a whiff of licorice a multitude of regions. Trentham The Family crisp acid. $19.95 FRANC and generous fruit “This is like grenache Murray Darling Nero Stanton & Killeen weight well supported without excessive D'Avola 2018 HHH Wines Classic 7 TASTED by a good tannic tannins; plush and lively,” Strawberries and plums Topaque Rutherglen 4 AWARDED framework. $25 commented one judge. on nose and palate with Muscadelle complexity and texture NV HHH1/2 Some excellent NEBBIOLO McPherson Wines adding interest. $18 Very sweet fruit mince- samples showing good Bella Luna Central like aromas with a tannin structure rather 5 TASTED Victoria Nero d'Arenberg The hot palate of nutty, than overripe berry 1 AWARDED D'Avola Danger Mouse chocolate and prune-like characters. One excellent example 2018 HHHH1/2 McLaren Vale Nero flavours. $38 here that shows the Cranberry-like varietal D'Avola 2018 HHH 919 Wines Pale Dry Leabrook Estate Old way. Those that did not fruit characters here with Intense tannic style Apera Palomino Vine Barossa Valley make the grade showed good level of complexity filled with youthful Riverland Apera Cabernet Franc overcropping of fruit on the palate from boysenberry fruit NV HHH 2018 HHHH with tannin profiles not the inclusion of whole characters. $29 Nutty honeyed Aromas of blueberries in balance. bunches with peppery bouquet with clean flor and violets with a fresh and spicy elements Hither & Yon characters on the crisp medium bodied palate adding a savoury edge. McLaren Vale Nero drying palate. $38 loaded with blueberry $18.99 D'Avola 2018 HHH Bream Creek and cherry flavours and A cherry bomb of a nose Vineyard Tasmania supple tannins. $40 and generous fruit filled Late Picked with opulent tannins. $29 Schonburger 2018 Tamburlaine Organic (375ml) HHH Wines Single SWEET Aromas of lychees and Vineyard Orange WHITES & honeysuckle with a tight Cabernet Franc FORTIFIEDS sweet palate balanced 2017 HHHH by good acidity. $31 Ripe red berry bouquet 8 TASTED and very juicy in the 5 AWARDED mouth with plenty of berry fruit flavours The best wines here and showing a certain showed good balance meatiness. $22 of acids and sugars with a freshness of flavours. Chateau Yaldara “Good fortifieds should Barossa Valley not be old and stale Cabernet Franc but freshened up with 2016 HHHH young material to Quite a savoury and maintain vibrancy,” said somewhat meaty one judge. style with some nice chocolaty characters, good oak balance and crisp acidity. $28 November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 95

travelbriefs WINSOR DOBBIN KANGAROO ISLAND EMBRACING SPIRITS With plant and animal species found FARM GATE OPENS NEW nowhere else on earth, Kangaroo Island is EXPERIENCE AFTER a decade building a strong brand in a natural wonderland seven times bigger the craft gin space in Australia, Kangaroo than Singapore. Australia’s third-largest KYM and Bridgette Bruce opened their Island Spirits has distilled the island’s first island (behind Tasmania and Melville Island), Flavours of Petite Provence farm gate single malt whisky. Kangaroo Island is about the same size as experience last September. the Australian capital city of Canberra. The whisky is thanks to a local The farm gate is now open six days a collaboration of sorts between KIS, which It was given its name for a reason - there week from 10am to 4pm (closed Tuesdays), was founded by Jon and Sarah Lark in are plenty of kangaroos, along with tammar selling its range of more than 20 local 2006, a winery, two breweries and barley wallabies, koalas, echidnas, brush-tailed Kangaroo Island products and giving growers. And there is plenty of advice on possums, black cockatoos, bottlenose visitors a taste of island permaculture. hand. Jon’s brother Bill Lark and his wife dolphins, sea lions and seals. Kangaroo Lyn created Australia’s first single malt Island is also home to the world’s last The range of products on sale includes whisky in Tasmania in 1992, which has genetically pure population of Ligurian organically grown foods, condiments, since grown to international acclaim. Jon, bees. The first sanctuary for this species of herbal-infused olive oils, olive oil soaps and Sarah and KIS head distiller Ronnie Kreher bee (and the oldest sanctuary in the world) handmade articles. Also on offer is honey had wanted to produce a Kangaroo Island was established in 1885. from apiarist Angus Bucany, and artwork by whisky for some time but could not access local artists - Dean Fox’s creative copper malted local barley until recently. Remarkable Rocks are found on Kirkpatrick work, and Jennifer Woodhouse’s paintings. Point and are one of the most breathtaking Barley had virtually disappeared from the natural landmarks on the island. Their sculpted The shop also stocks lavender products grain fields of Kangaroo Island because of appearance and multi-tonal colouring make from KI Lavender and olives and oil by low prices and the lack of suitable varieties for an excellent photo opportunity. Kangaroo Island Olives. until Coopers Brewery convinced Kangaroo Island Pure Grain (KIPG) in 2016 to grow Ships sailing past the island coastline The Bruces have cultivated their gardens the new Westminster variety which is better have resulted in 80 wrecks recorded since near American River since 2010 and have suited to the island’s cooler, wetter climate. 1847, making the shipwrecks excellent a unique range of jams, sauces and olive diving sites. And if diving isn’t your thing, products, which they have sold at farmer KIS is also using local port barrels, you can stay closer to the surface and swim markets for several years. sourced from Bay of Shoals winery. It with the dolphins. expects to offer the first release by the end Now islanders and tourists can visit them of 2020. Visit kispirits.com.au. on site to taste their range. What they don’t grow themselves they source from other gardens on Kangaroo Island. Their permaculture gardens and greenhouses have attracted international attention. The Farm Gate Shop, 12 Florance Rd, just after Prospect Hill off Hog Bay Rd. Visit flavoursofpetiteprovence.com. WILDLIFE HAVEN WHILE many of the visitors to Kangaroo Island are looking for a gourmet experience, it is also a haven for Australia’s unique wildlife. Although only 150km long, it has garnered international recognition for its diverse landscapes, dense flora and fauna, and its thriving wildlife. 96 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

travelbriefs LODGE BEST IN AUSTRALIA There are six ready-made self-drive RETREAT IN A REGAL SETTING packages, including the three-day American BAILLIE Lodges’ award-winning Southern River Adventure, three-day Food and Wine LAUNCHED by former Cold Chisel star Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island has ranked Lovers, three-day Island Hideaway, three- Ian Moss last December, Regal Retreats 98.81 from a possible 100, claiming the title day KI Family Escape at Vivonne Bay, four- Mistere Kangaroo Island offers eco-luxe of best Australian resort and third place in the day Emu Bay Wine and Wildlife tour and accommodation on 60ha, with panoramic Australasia and South Pacific in the Conde five-day Experience Kangaroo Island tour. views over the bay and lush surrounding Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards. farmland. For example, visitors can experience local Southern Ocean Lodge is an architectural produce and the spectacular scenery of the Guests can tour the property and the beach standout with its recycled timber floors, Dudley Peninsula while staying at Kangaroo front on a wide-tyre mountain bike, work up soaring glass, and limestone. Island Seafront in Penneshaw on the three- a sweat in the fully equipped Mistere Active day Food and Wine Lover’s package. This gym or swim laps in the saltwater infinity An eco-wilderness lodge, the 21-suite deal includes return SeaLink ferry travel edge pool with a flowing illusion into Nepean resort has panoramic ocean views from the for two adults and a standard size vehicle, Bay. There are also miniature horses, cows pristine clifftop brushland it inhabits. Rooms accommodation for two nights including and donkeys that call the property home. come with trekking gear (backpacks and daily full buffet breakfast at Kangaroo Island Prices start from $440 per night. water flasks) but mobile phone reception is Seafront, Penneshaw, welcome bottle of limited and not all suites have TVs. Kangaroo Island wine, $60 dinner voucher Mistere on Kangaroo Island is the first at Penny’s Restaurant, gourmet lunch at stage of a $10 million development that will The lodge takes full advantage of the Dudley Wines including a shared platter, eventually offer 12 self-contained villas, 14 natural setting, and the rates include gourmet pizza and a glass of wine, and eco tents and seven luxury caravans with treks, evening “Kangaroos and Kanapes” premium wine tasting and local produce outdoor decks. The development will also excursions, and half-day tours that take in platter at Bay of Shoal Wines. The package include tennis courts and stables. seal colonies, the island’s oldest lighthouse, starts from $493 per person, twin share and remarkable rock formations. or from $656.50 per person, twin share, The next phase is at approval stage and will including on-island hire car option. Phone include luxury American Airstream caravan Luxury Lodges of Australia (LLoA) is a SeaLink on 131301 or visit sealink.com.au. accommodation vans from the 1940s to the collection of 19 intimate luxury lodges in present day. Visit misterespaandretreat.com, unique Australian destinations. or phone 1300 546 472 or 0417 366 156. Each member property offers guests Opposite page: a luxury base from which to explore, a Top left: Kangaroo Island Spirits (KIS). unique and personal experience of the Top right: Flavours of La Petite Provence. destination, with the chance to connect with Bottom left: Remarkable Rocks, Kangaroo Island. the landscape, wildlife and local culture. Top left: Southern Ocean Lodge Aerial. Southern Ocean Lodge is at Hanson Top right: Sealink Kangaroo Island Bay Rd, Kangaroo Island. Visit Bottom left: View from Mistere Kangaroo Island. southernoceanlodge.com.au. OWN-PACE DISCOVERY TOURS SEALINK has launched a new range of self- drive Kangaroo Island short-break packages. The deals are aimed at tourists who want to discover the island at their own pace, whether they favour food and wine, beaches, wildlife or simply exploring. November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 97

26 TASTED 13 AWARDED KANGAROO ISLAND A nice snapshot of South Australia's jewel in the crown False Cape Wines OTHER RED Kangaroo Island's wines. Don't expect big blockbuster wines The Captain VARIETALS from this truly cool climate region. It's terroir that has potential Kangaroo Island for crisp elegant wines. Chardonnay 2 TASTED 2016 HHH 2 AWARDED SPARKLING False Cape Wines SAUVIGNON Buttery aromas with Montebello BLANC leesy notes and a big A mixed group of both 3 TASTED Kangaroo Island palate with an oily overripe wines and 0 AWARDED Pinot Grigio 3 TASTED texture and citrus others that showed 2019 HHH1/2 1 AWARDED flavours. $30 balance of medium The wines in this Good intensity of pear- weight fruit and oak with category were too like aromas with some False Cape Wines ROSÉ structured elegance. lightly flavoured and on tropical notes on the Silver Mermaid “It is okay to make the broader softer side palate and a canned Kangaroo Island 1 TASTED mid-weight wines rather which is why none were peach-like finish. $25 Sauvignon Blanc 1 AWARDED than trying to emulate awarded. 2019 HHH bigger flavoured Barossa RIESLING Pungent mix of citrus One nice textural, round or McLaren Vale wine,” OTHER WHITE and tropical fruit aromas and mellow wine with said one judge. “This VARIETALS 3 TASTED with a generous raspberry overtones. is a unique area and 1 AWARDED passionfruit palate. $25 there should be more 2 TASTED Stoke Wines confidence in expressing 1 AWARDED False Cape Wines CHARDONNAY Kangaroo Island it.” Willson River Sangiovese Rosé A mix of varietal whites Kangaroo Island 3 TASTED 2018 HHH1/2 Stoke Wines Super here that made the Riesling 2019 HHH 2 AWARDED Sound mellow aromas Sangio Kangaroo cut. The best examples Very varietal with a with clean raspberry Island Sangiovese showed vibrancy and lemon sherbet bouquet Bay of Shoals flavours and some 2018 HHH1/2 had nicely retained and a lean and elegant Kangaroo Island phenolic complexity. $30 Charry oak nose with varietal character. palate. $25 Chardonnay subtle smoked meat 2016 HHH characters underneath A pretty nutty, fig and and cured meat-like ripe apple bouquet with complexity on the sound good varietal fruit flavour palate. $30 profile. $22 JUDGES Marc Allgrove Peter Gajewski Brett Smith Partner at Evans and Winemaker for Byrne Winemaker at Peter Ayers consulting firm. Vineyards. Has 40 Lehmann wines in the With over 20 years in plus years in the Barossa Valley. Associate the Australian wine wine industry with 25 judge at the Barossa industry, both Australia years experience with wine show and small and abroad. Worked at Penfolds wines. winemakers shows (QLD). Hardy’s, Constellation, Has international Has completed AWAC Chapel Hill (CEO) and exposure with wine course. Previously a director of the Phylloxera marketing. Has judged winemaker at Lindemans board. in various regional wine and Penfolds. Has vintaged shows. in California. 98 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019

varietal tasting Stoke Wines False Cape Wines Bay of Shoals STAR RATINGS  Kangaroo Island The Captain Kangaroo Island Cabernet Franc Kangaroo Island Shiraz 2015 HHH Three-, four- and five-star ratings are signs of 2018 HHH Cabernet Sauvignon Clean fruit nose and ripe excellence in fruit quality and winemaking skill. Soft easy drinking style 2016 HHH stewed fruit flavours All wines are judged ‘blind’ by wine industry with lifted black fruit Intense blackcurrant with some quite drying professionals and are compared in peer characters and hints of aromas with hints of tannins. $25 classes by three judges. mint. $35 olive tapenade and a Dudley The Stud CM Wine is exclusive to Cellarmasters, good varietal palate. $35 Kangaroo Island a major mail-order business. CABERNET & Shiraz 2013 HHH CD Cellar door price. BLENDS SHIRAZ Oaky style layered with CDO Cellar door only. attractive dark chocolate, SO Sold out. 4 TASTED 5 TASTED cola and blueberry $N/A Price not available at time of printing. 2 AWARDED 3 AWARDED characters. $88  Contact information pg 127 -128. False Cape Wines Kangaroo Island RECOMMENDED cellaring (years). Unknown Sailor Trading Company BEST VALUE for $20 & under. Kangaroo Island Kangaroo Island Cabernet Merlot Shiraz 2016 HHH For a complete list of what we tasted 2016 HHH Raisined aromas with please refer to www.winestate.com.au Pretty plum bouquet and sweet raspberry notes vibrant medium weight and oak driven palate palate with a nice with a grippy tannic textural finish. $26 finish. $39 We move freight globally, worry free. From ISO tanks right down to single bottle movements — our team has all of your global beverage supply chain needs covered. We store and distribute wine, beer and spirits across Australia with daily deliveries into retail distribution centres, on premise locations and direct to consumers. Our air and ocean team makes organising international imports and exports easy with in house customs brokers and expert industry knowledge. Want to find out more about how we can customise a supply chain solution for you? Speak with a local Mainfreight team member today! [email protected] facebook.com/mainfreight AMERICAS ASIA AUSTRALIA EUROPE NEW ZEALAND @Mainfreight in linkedin.com/company/mainfreight mainfreight.com November/December 2019 W I N E S TAT E 99

47 TASTED 37 AWARDED SEMILLON & BLENDS This is a variety that is useful both at the youthful fresh and lively Midnight's Promise fruit flavour end and the complex and aged end. Of all the white Hunter Semillon varieties it is the one that ages gracefully! 2017 HHH Toasty honeyed aromas and a citrussy palate with secondary characters developing. $18 SEMILLON & Story Bay Margaret SEMILLON & Clovely Estate BLENDS River Semillon BLENDS Terroir South UNDER $20 Sauvignon Blanc $20-$30 Burnett Semillon 2018 HHH1/2 2014 HHHH1/2 9 TASTED Very herbaceous 18 TASTED Deep golden wine that 6 AWARDED fragrances with a fresh 12 AWARDED has great balance and and lively tropical fruit weight with lovely citrus “A good snapshot of the palate showing zesty Some excellent results fruit characters with a variety and the semillon lemon notes. $7 here for the price. spicy thread and hints sauvignon blanc blends,” Midnight's Promise However, a few of the of pepper. Refreshing said one judge. “Good Hunter Semillon wines that were not finish. $20 drinking here across the 2013 HHH1/2 recommended showed Pokolbin Estate Phil board with both young Deep golden wine with unbalanced sweet-sour Swannell Hunter fresh examples and a shy nose showing characters. Valley Semillon some nice older wines green highlights and a 2013 HHHH1/2 offering good value for pleasant citrus/mandarin McGuigan Bin Toasty honeyed bouquet money.” palate. $18 9000 Hunter Valley with light buttery notes Hidden Gem Semillon and very intense floral/ Midnight's Promise Riverina Semillon 2019 HHHH1/2 citrus flavours with slight Hunter Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Very delicate aromas flinty toasty nuances. 2014 HHHH 2019 HHH reminiscent of lemon Still very youthful for its A clean crisp well Pretty tropical characters sherbet with subtle age. $28 balanced wine with on the nose and varietal herbaceousness. Clean attractive toasty notes fruit flavours on the and fresh in the mouth to the citrus nose and grippy palate. $5 with intense lemon intense mouth-watering Midnight's Promise citrus primary fruit lemon flavours. $18 Hunter Semillon flavours. $25 2019 HHH Fresh floral citrus bouquet with the citrus fruit echoed on the tight crunchy palate. $18 JUDGES Marc Allgrove Peter Gajewski Brett Smith Partner at Evans and Winemaker for Byrne Winemaker at Peter Ayers consulting firm. Vineyards. Has 40 Lehmann wines in the With over 20 years in plus years in the Barossa Valley. Associate the Australian wine wine industry with 25 judge at the Barossa industry, both Australia years experience with wine show and small and abroad. Worked at Penfolds wines. winemakers shows (QLD). Hardy’s, Constellation, Has international Has completed AWAC Chapel Hill (CEO) and exposure with wine course. Previously a director of the Phylloxera marketing. Has judged winemaker at Lindemans board. in various regional wine and Penfolds. Has vintaged shows. in California. 100 W I N E S TAT E November/December 2019