The 2010 vintage shone on one of the Yarra Valley’s most revered vineyards, nurturing a chardonnay of profound and generous complexity. Struck flint and lees funk form a seamless veil over a core of concentrated white peach and grapefruit pith. A deep, mouthfilling, textural structure carries with relentless persistence, confidently pulling the finish in honed […]

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There is an effortless, harmonious, silky, graceful approachability to Quintet that makes it enticingly appealing and instantly recognisable. This is cabernet sauvignon (almost half) and friends (one third merlot, a good dose of cabernet franc and a dash of petit verdot and malbec) of perfectly ripe, deep black fruit character, yet utterly restrained at a […]

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Comtes de Champagne occupies a privileged position in the top ten sparkling wines in the world, and a sneak preview of the 2002 vintage prior to its October release confirms its ranking. And it goes further, proclaiming a remarkable consistency from vintage to vintage, like no other champagne, even at this mesospheric height. Adoring followers […]

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Cabernet is the pinnacle of Nottage Hill this year. It’s unmistakably cabernet, too – filled with varietal hallmarks of crunchy black- and redcurrants, capsicum and cassis, supported by well-defined tannin structure. Impressively balanced and drinkable for the price, and it will live a few years! Quaff a case over springtime BBQs or pop it in […]

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For at least a decade, the coveted Trophy for the Best Current Vintage Semillon in the Hunter Valley Wine Show has been hotly contested by the more expensive semillons of the region. Quite a scandal was unleashed in the Hunter last week when both this trophy and the trophy for Best Current Vintage Dry White […]

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The third cool, wet vintage in a row has done nothing to slow the illustrious pace of progress at the finest estate in the Canberra district. The precision and intensity on display here are captivating, with a powerful kaffir lime juice core encased in notes of wet slate and granny smith apples. It surges with […]

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Finesse before power. True to the cool, wet 2011 vintage, this is a lighter, spicier and more textural rendition of Hilltops, laced with notes of violet perfume, crunchy blackberry fruit and an overlay of pepper. Fine, textural tannins carry its savoury fruit elegance long into the finish. A flattering style that makes for a compelling, […]

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I cannot recall any set of Australian aromatic wines as consistently breathtaking as Jeffrey Grosset’s 2012 releases. His off-dry riesling, named Alea for the first time, showcases fruit captured at the most exacting point in its ripeness to deliver the glories of pristine kaffir lime, crunchy granny smith apple and pure lemon zest. Such is […]

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Such is the pristine purity of this vintage that even a little time in old oak for the first time does nothing to interrupt its unreservedly honed focus and consummate control. Its fruit is immaculate, perfumed with pink grapefruit blossom, zesty with lime, even flamboyant with stone fruits, golden delicious apples and passionfruit. Signature Grosset […]

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There is much to revere in the Springvales of recent seasons, some vintages delivering unremitting control and exacting precision, others exemplifying inherent fruit power and concentration. Only the greatest seasons deliver both. Even in its extreme youth, there’s no doubt that 2012 will go down among the finest Springvales of all. As pure and precise […]

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