I adore the texture of this vineyard, its chalky mineral finesse providing a grace and silky persona to beautifully primary fruit. There’s great concentration of black plum and black cherry, nuanced with liquorice and violets, lingering long and seamless. A standout of a great vintage. $37 direct.
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From ten paces, you’d swear this was prestige champagne. On closer inspection, it’s a stylish champagne substitute from the south of France, just the thing for everyday drinking. A blend of chardonnay, mauzac (I’ve never heard of it, either!) and chenin blanc, assembled with the same methode traditionnelle as champagne. Two years maturation gives an […]
readThe rise and rise of De Iuliis shiraz has been a captivating spectacle in recent vintages. No surprise that it swoops in with one of the best $20 (street price) newcomers in 2011. This is the young and friendly member of the family; refreshing and relaxed, with vibrant cherry/berry fruits and tangy acidity. Soft, supple […]
readTulloch’s entry shiraz just hit the big time. If you’re up for paying $20 to see what 2011 Hunter shiraz is all about, here’s your ticket. It captures the poise of black plum and blackberry fruit of the season, underlined by long-lingering notes of black pepper and fine-tuned structure.$20 direct.
readTwo Rivers has delivered a particularly tangy and lively rendition of an excellent Hunter season. Violet perfume wafts over black plum and blackberry aromas, becoming berry compote on the palate, framed in finely textured tannins. Give it at least five years to show its best. $28 direct.
readIn Margaret River cabernet hailing from the great vintages of recent times, there’s nothing unusual about impressively pronounced black- and redcurrant fruit, well-defined tobacco, cigar box and capsicum, and signature regional high cocoa dark chocolate, coffee and graphite-fine tannins – except that you’d expect to find all this in wines starting at $30, not one […]
readCellaring special at a bargain price. Melding the generosity of black plum and liquorice fruit with the savoury restraint of carefully monitored ripeness, this is a wine constructed for a considerable future. Tightly clenched oak tannins pull the finish into a honed tail of impressive persistence. $20 at My Cellars, WineStar, No Frills Wine, Aussie […]
readThe cool 2011 season has done wonderful things for Mount Horrocks Semillon, making for an impressively chiselled style. Semillon doesn’t always respond well to full barrel fermentation, but here the buttered toast and roast nut characters imparted serve to balance the taut, primary, zesty lemon drive of this high-tensile season, pulling into a honed finish […]
readBruce Tyrrell reckons this single vineyard may contain the oldest vines still in production in the Hunter. Regardless, this wine is a bargain, and 2010 is one of its great seasons. A pure, primary focus of blackberry, mulberry and plum fruit is textured with fine-grained fruit tannins, wonderfully massaged by the subtle influence of large […]
readIn Spain, ‘Crianza’ is a wine that has spent a year in oak, half that of ‘Reserva’ – and not infrequently all the better for it. Baigorri was founded by Jesus (Baigorri) himself, and at six years of age his blend of tempranillo and friends displays a fine-grained texture unusual in Spain, reflecting a focus […]
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