The backbone of Black Label are Wynns’ magnificent single vineyards on the terra rossa strip. The 2012 is classic Coonawarra cabernet, back in the admirably restrained mould of 2009. It’s an excellent release, classic, fine-boned, taut and drawn, built around a fine scaffold of rigid, fine and textural tannins. There’s a core of coiled blackcurrant […]
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In fragrance, purity, energy and slatey mineral texture, Polish Hill is the riesling of the year to date. Nothing in Clare or Eden Valley comes close in this warm season, so I lined up the best of Western Australia and Tasmania, and Grosset Polish Hill came out on top. A gloriously fragrant bouquet of lily […]
readSingle vineyard, southern Margaret River. Medium purple-red. There is an understated elegance and an effortless grace to this single vineyard wine, backward and coiled at four years of age, capturing the restraint of southern Margaret River. It’s impeccably polished, with super finely textured tannins supporting pure blackcurrant fruit, capably swallowing 45% new French oak. 89% […]
readStevens Road Chardonnay is a selection of the best barrels of mature, low yielding vines on the Boodjidup Brook, on a ridge behind Leeuwin’s Block 20, the core of its magnificent Art Series Chardonnay. This is grand cru chardonnay turf in Margaret River, yet Stevens projects an entirely different personality to Art Series. It’s remarkable, […]
readVasse Felix has poured tremendous energy into its vineyards since 2006 and this is the first vintage that fruit from its newly acquired Karridale site hit Heytesbury heights and was incorporated into the blend for the first time. The focus and purity on show here are nothing short of breathtaking, capturing exquisite fruit and presenting […]
readThe fruit selected for Stonewell is the most intensely flavoured of the vintage, and Wigan describes 2010 as “a notch above average on the intensity scale” yet in a line of 2010 Barossa shiraz, this clocks in admirably as one of the lower in alcohol at 14%. It’s at once deep-set and intense in its […]
readBarrel and bottle maturity have built subtle, savoury charcuterie complexity, which provides depth and character to an otherwise vivacious and youthful style of tense lemon juice acidity. It’s honed, linear and focused, with subtle, well-gauged dosage and a fine, creamy bead. All the elements are in place to go the distance, and all it needs […]
readAt almost a decade of age the lively crunch of lemon zest and pear is impressively youthful, well polished into a silky, soft style of well integrated acidity, invisible dosage and understated complexity of brioche, candied citrus rind and lemon butter. It finishes long and seamless, confirming an impressive release for Lubiana, with the energy […]
readWine legend Andrew Pirie has been instrumental in the establishment of many of Tasmania’s most significant brands. His passion today rests in a tiny vineyard in Pipers River. His Apogee wines are sourced exclusively from this estate. While they’re quite young, he purposely builds a sparkling style of approachability by fermenting 40% of base wines […]
readThere is character and complexity here, with notes of exotic spice and violet perfume enveloping a deep and rich black fruits core. The tension of Tasmania is expressed in the contrast between vibrant acid line and black fruit depth, accented by supple, impeccably integrated tannins. Chatto craftsmanship in a total of just 3466 bottles. Best […]
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