There must be wizardry on the go at the great Primo Estate to conjure a wine that transcends the nature of the region and the variety in summonsing a white wine more zesty and refreshing than anyone would expect for McLaren Vale Colombard. Fresh lemons and crunchy nashi pears are accented with a subtle sea […]
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If you’re into shiraz, love a bargain and out to try something different, here is your wine. Enticing aromas of violets waft over a deep core of black plum, black cherry and liquorice fruit. Exotic nuances of spice and black pepper add interest. Matured in new and old French oak barrels, the wood influence is […]
readFrom the foothills of the French Pyrenees, south of the legendary walled city of Carcassonne, where the hills rise to an altitude of 400m, cooled by refreshing winds, this is an even and balanced sauvignon upheld by fine acid tone. Three months maturation on lees has built a softly textural mouth feel and apple cider-like […]
readin the right hands, semillon remains one of the great bargains of the Barossa. No hands are more deft with this variety than Peter and Michael Scholz, nurturing their seventy-six-year-old vines into a wine of characteristic lemon zest, talc and cut grass character. Toast, roast nuts and lanolin complexity are already building quickly, though it […]
readZesty, vivacious and unashamedly precocious in its youthful verve, this chardonnay is fresh, tangy, light on its feet and geared for lighter canapé fare. Half fermented naturally in seasoned French oak barrels, the oak influence is minimal, leaving the stage to pretty gardenia floral notes, lemon zest and grapefruit pulp. $13 at Tony’s Cellars.
readWhy spend any more on chenin when you can have all this with change from $20? Half fermented cool in tank and half warm and just a little bit dirty in aged French oak barrels to provide a softly textural structure, it over delivers for the price. It’s well crafted and varietal, capturing fragrant pink […]
readGeographe is Margaret River’s more affordable neighbour, Willow Bridge is its top estate and Dragonfly is where the best value is found. Matured in a combination of new and old French oak barrels, this is a cabernet merlot of delightful varietal precision, alive with red- and blackcurrants, tobacco and capsicum. It’s lively and crunchy, powered […]
readIf the punchy impact of Marlborough sauvignon is your style, try this for a more tightly honed option at a bargain price. O’Leary Walker’s mature vineyard at Oakbank in the Adelaide Hills produced a sauvignon concentrated in flavour and acidity and low in alcohol in the drought 2013 season. It’s a racy, lively, vibrant and […]
readIt’s a tough call to find authentic Margaret River cabernet as well assembled as this under $20. No corners have been cut here, matured in small, mostly mature French oak barrels, not in tanks with staves or chips. The focus rightly remains of lovely fragrant, deep and well-defined fruit reminiscent of violets, blackcurrants and tomatoes. […]
readAustralia’s greatest wines may not yet have been made and its finest vineyard sites might still be undiscovered. Trailblazers into new wine regions offer drinkers an exciting diversity of new wine styles. Australian winemaking identity Brian Croser is on a mission. His ambition is not simply to create a brand and sell wine, but to […]
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