Released too early to be labelled as a vintage, Geoffroy’s gorgeous rosé hails entirely from the outstanding 2008 harvest. Saignée skin contact extracts delightful texture and structure from pinot noir, giving sophistication to its soft raspberry, strawberry, pomegranate and watermelon flavours. $95 at www.champagnegallery.com.au
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The highest score I have awarded an $8 wine. Ever. Bleasdale makes one of Australia’s most reliable sparkling shirazes for $20 and the big secret is that this is precisely the same wine. The label has changed but not the beautifully expressive rhubarb, plum, red cherry, pepper, mixed spice, dark choc oak or silky tannins.
readA long line of fine, cool, high altitude acidity is the fingerprint of one of my favourite high altitude Adelaide Hills vineyards, painstakingly tended by a talented industry legend. He’s captured exuberant white peach, honeydew, pink grapefruit and guava, making this a multidextrous quaffer on the table. $13 at WineStar.
readThe star of Starlite, a stonking new bargain range from WineStar. Capturing the rich, juicy, succulent generosity of the Barossa while maintaining a poise, freshness and fruit purity – a tough balancing act and it’s taken one of the Barossa’s most talented makers to pull it off. Get on board the Starlite express! $15 at […]
readA consummately refined vintage for this bargain red blend of soft, cuddly tannins, dark choc oak and, yes, buckets of red fruit! More fragrant than ever, with a violet perfume to its dark berry profile. Cabernet contributes structure and a hint of leafy capsicum. $14 at Dan’s.
readIt’s preposterous to think that less than $20 will buy you a chunk of Frankland River’s chalky minerality and its cool lemon blossom, lime juice and apple fruit. Kissed by icy winds off the southern ocean; fine backbone and great length and longevity. Available from the Evans & Tate cellar door.
readHanwood’s secret is a cascade of fruit from McWilliam’s extensive vineyard networks. A whopping 40% of cool climate fruit from top regions (Yarra, Tumbarumba, etc) ensures that this stone fruit-focused style remains fresh, zesty and citrusy. $7 at Kemeny’s, $8 at 1st Choice & Dan’s – crazy!
readDavid Jones’ flagship is sailing high in this enticingly complex, deep and alluring wine of mixed spice and exoticity. A fine thread of black pepper laces black cherry and plum fruit to signature, seamless, textural Eagle tannins. Dark choc oak supports a finish of profound length and style.
readThe Champagne Guide 2012 is just weeks away, and the 2002 vintage is one of its darlings, set to be the greatest and longest-lived of the decade. L-P nailed it with this brilliantly delicate and poised wine of fresh lemon, white summer fruits and salty minerality. $80 at WineStar, $110 at Dan’s.
readTom Carson is a rockstar of Victorian chardonnay, pinot and shiraz, and never have his wines shown more poise, oak restraint and delicacy of fragrance than they do now. Cherry blossom perfume, pristine red cherry fruits and a structure at once silky and firm. $48 at Kemeny’s, $50 at WineStar & Dan’s.
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