Seville Estate’s Upper Yarra Valley Chardonnay rises to ever higher planes of refinement with each passing vintage, but never has it seen the breathtaking heights achieved in the cool 2011 season. This is a wine of grace and harmony, with perfectly judged fruit concentration, understated persistence and confidence. Impressively elegant notes of spice and struck […]

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It is quite a feat to craft a sparkling wine that captures richness within a frame of delicacy. Quartz Reef has met the brief impeccably, celebrating the power of Central Otago pinot noir (almost two-thirds of the blend) in its rich stone fruit, mixed spice and baked apple glory, then toning it with the pink […]

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Rippon is one of the original vineyards of Central Otago, and its site on the banks of Lake Wanaka must be the most spectacular place to grow grapes in the southern hemisphere. It’s hard to imagine that the wines of this estate could continue such a steep trajectory of refinement, even after some twenty-four years, […]

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Oxford Landing is the benchmark against which I compare all sub-$10 sauvignons and I am yet to find anything that is its equal. The cool 2012 season made for long and consistent ripening, which proved to be a blessing for this early harvest style, producing great synergy of punchy passionfruit and crunchy lemon zest flavours […]

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St Hallett front man Toby Barlow is setting the pace breaking new frontiers in the Barossa, and it’s worth visiting this inviting cellar door just for the chance to taste his latest creations. This consummately crafted and eminently drinkable wine may seem an unusual blend, but if you cast all varietal preconceptions out of your […]

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Announcing one of the Jester’s finest performances yet! A delightfully fragrant, tangy and refreshing rosé of pale salmon hue and flavours of rose petal, raspberry, pomegranate and guava. It finishes with excellent acid zip and softly textural structure, lingering long and clean. The Jester is more lively than you might expect for McLaren Vale, thanks […]

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Devil’s Lair’s medium tier chardonnay is characterised by finely balanced acidity and a long, refined finish, marking this as a particularly good value Margaret River style. Its crisp energy and low alcohol finesse are well tamed, yet there’s no lack of powerful Margaret River chardonnay flavours of white peach, fig and grapefruit. The finish is […]

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Dollar for dollar, this is one of the best value bottles of fizz on the shelves. Layers of rich complexity are built around pinot noir (almost three-quarters of the blend), reinforced by reserves and liqueurs aged half in old oak. This creates aromas and flavours of wild honey, succulent peaches, mixed spice and ginger nut […]

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The exacting touch of winemaker Sandro Moselle lifts this moscato to a place of fresh definition and finely balanced poise. A lively rose water and Turkish delight bouquet is accented by fresh lemon and ginger notes. It’s clean, lively and long, with plenty of sweetness, yet sufficient acidity to keep it in balance. Give it […]

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This is an impressive Salinger of purity, balance and fruit drive, with an exciting, zesty finish. It’s testimony to the diversity of Australian sparkling, with a more than three-quarters majority sourced from Henty. Pinot noir from the Drumborg vineyard is the focus, providing its core of power, its lemon sherbet fizz and focused acid line. […]

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