Opaquely deep garnet. Mature, medium-intensity nose of blackberry, mint, pine needles, figs and tobacco. Medium-bodied, with high alcohol in good balance with the tannins and acidity. Tastes like a dark berry salad, fresh and young but already smooth and drinkable. What a French claret would be if it had more sunshine. Drink over the next couple of years.
Clear, very deep plum red. Powerful nose of black cherry, menthol, dates and oak. Smokey on the palate, with a chewy body and flavours of ripe black plums, licorice and mocha. Will taste even better next year. Great value. Made to accompany rare grilled lamb chops.
Opaquely dark plum red. Nose of oak, cherries and raspberries. Very fruity and fresh tasting despite its age, in good balance with flavours of cranberry, pomegranate and more raspberry. Drink within the next couple of years.
This mildly wooded Chardonnay comes from various plots around Western Australia, specifically from Albany, Mount Barker and Frankland. You can feel the sun-drenched fruit in the shoulders of the palate, though it's held smartly in check by a stream of acidity and bracket of stones on the sides. Ripe pear, yellow apple, orange blossom and lemon verbena quickly yield to a slick of lees and slight wood spice to the shorter finish.
Very pale with green reflections. Delicate nose of citrus and white fruits. Off-dry attack but residual CO2 creates an impression of freshness. Delicate taste, well balanced, somewhat short finish. Easy to drink right now, so don't wait. A blend of Semillon, white Frontignac, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris.
A wine of biblical precedent and proportions, it is made from partially dried Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. A very deep garnet colour, it has a huge, mature nose of black cherry underneath vanilla and pipe tobacco — the sort of aromas that call for sitting by the fireplace and simply sniffing for pleasure. It is full-bodied, tasting of plums and more cherries. The very definition of “balanced,” its high alcohol is offset by the ripe fruit, bright acidity and tannins from significant oak maturation. Drink soon.
Striking labels and memorable wine — all the more so if you recognize that this Montepulciano is not (gasp) from Abruzzo but from its tiny expat homeland in Oz. This was sourced from Kim Bolton Vineyards in Langhorne Creek, Fleurieu Peninsula, and is full of fresh cherries, tayberries, mulberries with an active undercurrent of worn leather and soft pepper. Tannins are soft and the mouthfeel is broody, much like the label. Peppery spices build on the finish. For current drinking and I'd take it with grilled veg.