From Mount Crawford’s vineyard at the southern extreme of Eden Valley, this the finest vintage for Thorn Clarke Shiraz yet, a $20 benchmark of Barossa shiraz, for its fruit definition and density, layered with signature black plum and blueberry fruits, black pastilles and liquorice of considerable depth and precision. A firm tannin structure is finely […]

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Cliff Royle defines intuitive winemaking, tweaking and changing the finer details of production based on the expression of the vintage and its fruit. In the warm 2011 season, he picked early and avoided lees stirring and malolactic fermentation to accentuate the tighter white and pink grapefruit of the Wallcliffe area and the dried peach and […]

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2011 was kind to Southside, furnishing a value-for-money Margaret River Chardonnay in an elegant, linearly pure and textural style. Grapefruit and lemon zest are underlined by taut acidity, beautifully textured structure and well-handled oak, finishing with effortless persistence and poise. $21 at Wine Box Warehouse.

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A succulent and sweet botrytis that carries the spice of the cool 2011 season in nuances of kaffir lime and white pepper, making for a particularly enticing dessert style. Impressively fruit-focused and persistent, with a primary freshness and long, succulent, sweet finish. It will appreciate a stern chill, and will improve as it builds complexity […]

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With a cool lead-up to vintage, Adam Marks’ Heathcote shiraz gained flavour ripeness before stalk ripeness, so for the first time in ten years there are no stalks in the ferment. It seems the wine has its own memory, and carries a complex stalky note anyway. There’s quite a spectacle on show here: anise, sarsaparilla, […]

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An impressive Pizzini of refined balance, ready to enjoy right away, yet with the Nebbiolo tannin presence to see it out for a decade. Layers of alluring violets, dried flowers, anise, forest berries, mixed spice, dried herbs and tomatoes characterise a palate that leads out supple, finishes savoury and lingers with a very fine tannin […]

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A sheltered and warm site next to vineyards of Ata Rangi and Dry River produces the richest of Escarpment’s pinots. It’s a wine of great energy and endurance, with layers of black and red berry and cherry fruits permeating the finish with wonderful line and grace. It’s layered with exotic suggestions of dried herbs and […]

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The finest McLaren Vale 2010s epitomise shiraz of harmonious restraint and approachability, yet enduring longevity. RSW carefully intertwines alcohol, oak and ripeness in an impressively vibrant and poised style that pulls into a refreshingly honed finish of finely textured tannins and fine-boned harmony. Well-defined violet perfume and flavours of plum, crunchy blackberry and black cherry […]

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Francis Egly is one of the top handful of Champagne growers on everyone’s lips in the region at the moment, and rightfully so. His Brut Tradition is signature Egly – brilliantly crafted yet capturing the power of low yielding pinot noir in champagnes finest villages, within a profile of fresh definition and mineral character. A […]

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A perennial bargain, layered with vibrant grapefruit and white peach with nuances of almond depth. It’s driven as much by primary fruit as it is by its zesty, tangy acid profile, which provides backbone to its well-rounded, primary white fruits. $8 at Our Cellar, Grapevine Cellars, Jim’s and Wine Bay.

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