Splash it around, hide the bot, stand back and watch the merriment! A cleanskin killer crafted using the kind of tricks you only hear about in tiny boutiques: wild yeast ferment, skin phenolics and cool, high altitude fruit to tone its Riverland base. Never mind the technicals, it’s textural, luscious and creamy.
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Wouldn’t touch it in a pink fit? I’ve converted many a red-blooded bloke to the wonderful world of pink fizz with this juice. But that’s hardly fair, because Taché (‘stained’) is hardly pink at all. Barely a faint salmon hue, with flavours of subtle strawberry hull (the white bit that joins to the stem). $17 […]
readThe contrast here is absolutely captivating. Utter finesse and poise, crunchy lemon zest and hints of fig and pear with ultra-low alcohol for Margaret River. At the same time, mesmerising complexity of cashew nut French oak and leesy, barrel ferment complexity. You’ll need a second glass to figure it out. $30@Dan’s.
readLine up every single vineyard, small maker pinot under $15 and pick the gorgeous one that tastes like pinot. Trick question. There are no others! That’s reason enough to get on to Mike right away to get this into your cellar. It will age for a few years, too.
readIf you asked the mirror who’s the fairest pinot maker in the land, it’s got to be Billy. His 2010 trilogy is about to hit the ground and you want them all. My favourite changed every time I came back to them over three days, but the Yarra won out. Delicate and lively with precise […]
readThere’s a perfumed, floral lift to Lyndoch shiraz in the far south of the Barossa, and Wayne Dutschke bottles it better than anyone. GHR is the result of years of eyeing off his neighbour’s fruit! The 08 is his blackest and deepest yet, seething with blackberries, blueberries, plums and liquorice. Patience.
readKrug is the epitome of luxe, grandeur and decadence, with an other-worldliness and an amplitude as lofty as its mesospheric price. GC is definitive Krug, exotically rich, extravagantly complex and thunderingly expansive. It’s every bit as enchanting as its legendary reputation anticipates. $230 at 1st Choice.
readLook out, there’s a new chardonnay on the top shelf and it’s about to cause a stir. Not because it takes on Giaconda, Leeuwin, Bin A or Tapanappa but because it looks nothing like them. Pour RG blind and I’d make a complete fool of myself with words like ‘Grand Cru’, ‘Puligny’ and ‘Montrachet.’ Truth […]
readThe grand chardonnay makeover has come to sub-$20 land and, my goodness, has it arrived in style! Gorgeously restrained, rippling with mountain river pebble minerality and glistening with lemon and lime zest, Next of Kin is as pristine as Margy Chardy gets at this price.
readHenschke may not be known for its Adelaide Hills Pinot but that’s all about to change. There’s a newfound delicacy, a seamless finesse and a gentle sensitivity to the 09, captured in its perfumed rose petal bouquet, gentle red cherry palate and fine, supportive tannin texture.
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