From some of the Hilltops’ oldest vines, this is a shiraz of beautifully textured mouth feel of finely structured tannins, laced with subtle reductive complexity. It’s savoury, understated and immensely spicy, alive with fragrant white pepper, impressive persistence and lingering cool climate restraint. $21 at Cloudwine

read

Despite the difficulties of the wet 2012 season in Hilltops, this is one of my favourite vintages of Grove Estate, a wine of impressive persistence, fine-boned structure and exotic allure. An intricately peppery and spicy style of lifted violet perfume and a subtle hint of game, capturing the lively cool climate of the season and […]

read

Exactingly crafted and beautifully executed, this is a stunning vintage for Clonakilla riesling. Warm, sun-bathed days and cool nights have ripened breathtakingly pristine lemon zest, granny smith apple and lime blossom purity. Decomposed granite soils build chalky, talcy mineral structure. A wonderfully enduring riesling of lemon blossom, crunchy fennel and lime zest persistence. $25 at […]

read

2012 is one of the great blends of Felton Road’s three chardonnay vineyards, with a richness of fruit character typical of the vintage, yet with a focused precision and intricately defined structure, thanks to rapid picking. Struck flint and gunsmoke complexity hovers over pristine white peach and lemon purity, with a core of intense stone […]

read

There is a restrained elegance to Felton Road’s 2012s, an understated intensity of fragrance and spice framed in well-defined structure, making this one of the great vintages for the finest estate in New Zealand. The balanced ripeness and depth of flavour of the year allows the fruit to dissolve 28% inclusion of stems in the […]

read

There’s density and concentration of black plum and liquorice fruit in Moppity’s top shiraz, contrasting with the spicy restraint and low alcohol poise of the highest vineyard in Hilltops. Finely textured tannins are supported by oak structure that calls for time to integrate. $50 at Oak Barrel.

read

Cornish Point is the riper and more boisterous of Felton Road’s 2012 pinots, clocking in at 14.5% alcohol. It retains impeccable fragrance of beautifully lifted spice, red cherries, plums and sweet pipe smoke. The palate is filled with generous and succulent red cherries and stewed plums, drawn into focus by finely structured tannins. $67 at […]

read

At 20 years of age, Felton’s Block 3 pinot vines have burst out of their teens with a wine that may rank as the greatest to emerge from this estate yet. In structure, shape, consummately controlled focus and sheer endurance it has no equal. The bouquet is layered with black pepper, clove spice, crushed rock […]

read

This refreshingly lithe blend from Langhorne Creek is quite the antithesis of Broad-side. In a region that built its name on solid, rustic reds of at times imposing proportions, this bargain Bleasdale makes a beautifully low alcohol statement that unlocks wonderful fragrance, lively freshness and crunchy, spicy dark berry fruits. A pristine vintage has yielded […]

read

Far and away the standout of a new tier in the Petaluma range, this is an intricately crafted and great value chardonnay from one of South Australia’s most important pioneers of the variety. It’s clearly picked up some tricks from its older siblings, elegantly contrasting delicately fragrant lemon blossom and grapefruit flavours with the subtle […]

read