Gathering 2009 is one of the most intellectual sauvignon semillon blends you will encounter this year. It’s at the same time challenging and engaging, with profoundly exotic allusions. But for all of its frivolity and complexity, it’s taut and tense, agile and edgy, pulling into a disciplined, focused and disarmingly honed finish, defined by monumental […]
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There is a harmony between pure, concentrated fruit and finely restrained, textural structure that marks this among the great vintages for Petaluma Chardonnay. White peach, fig, grapefruit and lemon blossom each find excellent definition, impeccably supported by understated ferment complexity and struck flint lees notes. Finely textured structure and outstanding persistence draw into a finely […]
readThe precision of Jeffrey Grosset is as apparent in his Adelaide Hills chardonnay as it is in his revered Clare rieslings. In 2010 it carries beautiful definition of finely perfumed lemon and grapefruit, pristine white peach and notes of almond blossom, underlined by exceedingly classy and restrained almond and cashew nut French oak. High altitude […]
readDeviation Road is on the rise among the most refined winegrowers of the Adelaide Hills. Its secret is its Carey Gully vineyard, planted by the family in Lenswood in 1983. At an altitude of 600m, this is the source of pristine aromatic whites and sparkling base. Its 2011 sauvignon is holding its poise beautifully almost […]
readThere’s impressive poached pear and fresh lemon fruit presence here, even a touch of baked apple and nutmeg, pulling into a nicely honed tail of cool Adelaide Hills acidity from this single vineyard in Charleston. One-third fermented in old French oak barriques helps to build its finely mineral texture, rounded out just a touch by […]
readLindsay Barratt is a gentleman and a mainstay of the Adelaide Hills for more than two decades, and he’s managed to pull a fantastically pure sauvignon from, in his words, “a bitch of a year.” This is a pristine and enticingly priced Adelaide Hills sauvignon that retains sensational, youthful vibrancy in mid-2012. Notes of lime, […]
readPinot gris is the fastest growing white wine category right now, which means that too many are thrown together from young vines on less than ideal sites. Deviation Road soars high above the masses thanks not only to its pristine, high altitude, 1983 planted site but, importantly, to a gentle and skilful approach in the […]
read2011 was a game-changing vintage across south-eastern Australia, a tough, cool season that worked magic with some vineyards. Bella Coppia is cooler, calmer and fresher than ever, a wine of dazzling acidity and mouthfilling texture. Crunchy lemons, grapefruit zest, a hint of almost ripe honeydew and a varietal note of dried grass are all part […]
readThe expertise of Croser’s impeccably crafted vintage wines has filtered down to its bargain-priced non-vintage. This is a fruit-focused style of wild strawberries, golden delicious apples, wild honey and notes of mixed spice. A zesty acid cut and a fine bead make for a clean and refreshing aperitif style. $19 at Discount Wines and Jim’s […]
readConfession time. I wasn’t a big fan of the last two vintages of the Adelaide Hills’ most famous wine, eclipsed by the Chardonnay and Shiraz of the same estate. But the brand new 2012 is nothing less than stunning, returning to the classic purity that first put this wine on the map. Its citrus profile […]
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