A generous and glossy blend of Langhorne Creek and Limestone Coast, packed with regional mint, rich black plum and berry compote fruit, red liquorice and fine, textural tannins. Impressive fruit impact for $18 at Dan’s.
readArticles
With plum, rhubarb and pepper flavours and finely structured textural tannins, Notty looks, tastes and feels like shiraz – and it’s not sweet, thank goodness! For $8.50, that’s a lot to ask, and for $7 at Dan’s you just might need to stock up ready for unwanted visitors.
readNew disgorgement, same mind-boggling wine. Beside Krug Clos du Mesnil and Billecart Clos Saint Hilaire, no champagne I have tasted in my thirty-three visits and hundreds of wines this trip has carried the untiring persistence of Nicolas Francois, nor its tremendous presence of mouth-consuming minerality. The legendary Billecart Grande Cuvée is sadly no more after […]
readJR is legendary among Coonawarra cabernets and only recently has it really found its mojo. 2008 is reticent, lurking, with deep black fruits, powerful concentration and oak integration that defines the modern era of JR. Excellent palate completeness, length and line, bringing calm control to its power.
readModa is supercharged by drying the bunches on racks for a week to increase concentration. It’s inky and powerful, with blackcurrant, cassis, dark choc oak and very firm, finely structured tannins. It maintains its poise thanks to a vibrant violet lift and a long, focused finish. Outstanding Moda.
readA chardonnay of delicacy and structure, built around a lemon blossom bouquet and a palate of finely structured minerality and lingering texture. Subtle lees complexity and understated almond oak support citrus and white peach fruit of finesse and restrained determination. $47.50 at Dan’s.
readV&A Lane is the axis of Coonawarra and home to some of its finest vineyards (including Majella) producing very refined tannins. Wynns owns the lion’s share and the cabernet shiraz blend is the finest and longest-lived expression. Cabernet blackcurrants, shiraz spice and monumental, velvety tannins.
read“Barwang” may not ring with class, but just taste the wine! 842 is the altitude and the explanation for this nuanced, textural, cool, mineral, linear and restrained style of subtle grapefruit, white peach and classy vanillin oak. Give it a couple of years for oak to settle. $29 at Dan’s, $32 at Kemeny’s.
readSeamlessly assembled, capturing robust McLaren Vale richness, crunchy varietal distinction and tremendous complexity all at once – no easy achievement! Crunchy blackcurrants, vibrant redcurrants, capsicum, tobacco leaf and olive, then deep, dark choc oak and firm, integrated tannins.
readHappy 25th birthday to one of Margaret River’s first SSBs! Gorgeous bouquet of lemon blossom, granny smith apple, pink grapefruit and musk. The palate is perfumed, fresh and fruity with all of the same, underpinned by finely textural minerality. Why wait until summer? $22 at Dan’s.
read