Here’s proof in a bottle that McLaren Vale need not lean on oak, ripeness or impact to make a profound statement. There’s real restraint here, in a tightly coiled black plum, blackberry and black cherry guise; its old French oak invisible in flavour, lending a lightly-gauged touch of support to finely poised tannins and bright […]
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An exactingly honed Road Block, built around a chassis of intensely firm, finely structured tannins that gradually relinquish their grip to reveal honed black plum and black cherry fruit. This is a consummately structured and textural shiraz that balances fruit ripeness and oak impeccably to a sophisticated and long-ageing end.
readIf it were possible to bottle the essence of McLaren Vale shiraz I imagine it would taste much like this, a classic and immaculately poised wine that personifies the region’s black fruit spectrum of plums, liquorice and black olives. These are united with an impeccably textured platform of silky fine yet superbly supportive tannins. The […]
readThere is only one patch of dirt on earth that musters this exotic, lifted spice profile, a flamboyant personality that prevails in spite of the seasons. Sarsaparilla, star anise, cumin, even Indian curry float over a core of immaculate black fruits and cocoa. The palate texture is a ravishing delight, finely structured and mouth-fillingly embracing, […]
readMcLaren Vale Scarce Earth spans a wider spectrum of prices than ever this year, but it’s here that things first start to get exciting. Brad Hickey has conjured impressive depth of concentrated plum and blackberry fruit, encased in a balanced structure of solid, firm tannins, finishing with good acid definition. Allow time for oak and […]
readFour-year-old French oak provides plenty of space for expressive, primary fruit integrity of black plums and blueberries to take to the stage, with a backing track of finely textured tannins, subtle dark chocolate oak and well-balanced acidity.
readThis is a McLaren Vale shiraz of potent intensity and powerful fruit, with a particularly dark, impenetrable black hue and vibrant purple rim. A dense slick of liquorice and black fruits of all kinds drive long into a honed finish, toned refreshingly with piquant acidity and firm, finely textured tannins.
readBleasdale has always made one of the best value straight malbecs in the country, and I’d bet real money that this is the same wine under a different label at half the price. A pretty violet and rose petal bouquet is laced with red cherries and berries of all kinds, flowing through a palate of […]
readLindemans Bin 65 has always been one of the best made chardonnays on the bottom shelf, and considering the vintage and the volume, this release is something of a triumph. It melds peach, melon and citrus zest in a soft yet lively style, with a finish defined by fruit integrity and balanced acidity. But wait […]
readThe finest vintage for Mike Press Sauvignon yet? No question. Picked at the perfect instant of ripeness, it captures exuberant and flamboyant fruit reminiscent of lime zest, guava, frangipane and rockmelon. As crunchy and fresh as ever, with impressive length and balance that comes from vines that have now reached their teen years. $8.50 direct.
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