Kym Teusner considers Avatar his standout wine of an outstanding season. There’s a little more shiraz in the blend than usual this year, (30%), but grenache retains the lead (40%), with strong support from mataro (30%), all from vines averaging an incredible 90 years of age. The result is an incredible expression of red and […]
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The cool, peppery intricacy of vineyards between 460 and 500m in altitude in the Strathbogie ranges makes for a captivatingly fragrant and spicy style of shiraz in the great 2010 season. Oak is old and new, big and small, English and French, with an elegance thanks to one-third in a rare 140 year-old 5000L English […]
readAfter a tiny production in the difficult 2011 season, M3 is back up to racing spec in the great 2012 vintage. An enticing bouquet captures the fragrance of lemon blossom, the freshness of grapefruit pulp, the depth of white peach, the complexity of mixed spice and the exoticism of fresh fig. The palate is intricately […]
readThe cabernet shiraz blend is the recipe behind some of McLaren Vale’s greatest hits, yet sadly very few in the region maintain the style among their flagships. Ulithorne is a bold exception, and the great 2010 vintage has made for one of the greatest wines ever to emerge from this label. Low yielding cabernet takes […]
readVintage stigma, be damned. Kym Teusner cleverly tweaked the Albert recipe in the cool, wet 2011 season, retaining the core of seventy-year old Ebenezer and fifty-year-old Williamstown shiraz vines and supplementing these with western Barossa fruit and, importantly, the Marananga block usually destined for his Righteous flagship. The result is one of the standout reds […]
readApera is the new sherry. From the palomino grape, with an average age of five years, four of which are under flor yeast, Morris is impeccably made, retaining both freshness and tang, while capturing nutty complexity and a lingering salty finish. A remarkable recipe for the price, this is one of the cheapest finos in […]
readA lively, fresh and perky thing of clean, crunchy citrus fruits, lifted with hints of guava and passionfruit. It’s zesty and crisp, holding its youthful vivacity impeccably on a refreshingly dry finish. A great value lunchtime quaffer. $11 at Dan’s.
readImpeccably crafted SBS at a brilliant price. It’s crunchy, lively fresh and pure with lime zest, lemon blossom, granny smith apple and guava, finishing with zippy acidity and soft texture. $14 at OurCellar.
readRutherglen Estates is unusual in this region for making an entourage of table wines and just one fortified – but it’s a good one, and well priced, so don’t miss it. With an average age of eight years, this could be labelled “Classic” (and it will be in the future). It’s lively and fresh, with […]
readMorris has never had a Tokay at the lowest level of the Rutherglen classification, as its youngest blend is still an average of eight years of age. It’s distinctive and varietal, with tea leaves, sweet honey and caramel flavours. Morris leaves its grapes out to ripen for longer than others, making this a softer style, […]
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