| |
|
|
|
From the exclusive Dixon’s Creek De Bortoli family vineyards
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ ½ |
| Winery |
De Bortoli |
| Region |
Yarra Valley
|
| Fruit |
Pinot Noir
|
Unable to contain my elation at sampling this plush and opulent wine. A totally pinot-centrique experience buoyed by the most complete palate of raspberry and winegum, anise and plum, brought back down to earth by rustic burgundian influences of barnyard, truffle and musk.
|
|
|
|
|
An assemblage of Sauvignon and Semillon grown to the Henschke Adelaide Hills and Eden Valley vineyards
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ ½ |
| Winery |
Henschke |
| Region |
Adelaide Hills
Eden Valley
|
| Fruit |
Sauvignon Blanc
Semillon
|
Swimming with light herbs and dandy florals that somehow seems to morph between slate, vibrant mineral and toothsome, ripe fruit. I'd recommend this anytime as an aperitif style or party starter, ideally suited to crab or gumbo prawns.
|
|
|
|
|
As Australia's first PhD in viticulture
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ ½ |
| Winery |
Pirie |
| Region |
Tamar
|
| Fruit |
Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
|
Graceful essence of ripe, yellow stonefruits and warming boulanger characters, currant and floral with yeastyness and lemon precede a nicely figured, clean and effervescent, mouthfilling palate of subtley spiced, liqueured fruit savarins.
|
|
|
|
|
Deen De Bortoli created his Vat Series with the idea of fashioning a range of delicious
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ½ |
| Winery |
De Bortoli |
| Region |
Riverina
|
| Fruit |
Verdelho
|
A light straw colour with lustre precedes a bouquet of loquat and yellow peach, Verjus and hay. Yellow capsicum and walnut characters on the palate are joined by pinenut and spice before a creamy, peach filled finish.
|
|
|
The white wines of Wolf Blass are renowned for their fresh fruit flavours
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ½ |
| Winery |
Wolf Blass |
| Region |
South Australia |
| Fruit |
Riesling
|
THE RIESLINGS IN PARTICULAR ARE AMONGST AUSTRALIA'S MOST HIGHLY LAUDED AND WIDELY ENJOYED Rambunxious riesling this one, don't be surprised if the flavours within conjure up images of ice maidens picking bunches of crunchy riesling grapes, because that's what's in the bottle. Irresistably fruit driven with crystaline textures, pot-pourri and lime sherbet. It goes down like good wine should and embraces most foods like a prodigal sister. Try it with walnuts, fruit loaf and cheese.
|
|
|
|
The Wither Hills own Benmorven and St Leonards Chardonnay vineyards
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Winery |
Wither Hills |
| Region |
Marlborough
Wairau
|
| Fruit |
Chardonnay
|
What Wither Hills can do with Chardonnay will make you think twice the next time you reach for that familiar bottle of Marlborough Sauvvy. Bright crunchy fruits, pinenut and oatmeal, grapefruit embedded within a pudding of custard and tapioca, memorable for it's creamy textures and long, flavourful finish.
|
|
|
|
|
Cellar No7 Tawny is a contemporary take on the classic Australian Tawny style
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Winery |
Seppeltsfield |
| Region |
Barossa
|
| Fruit |
Shiraz
Grenache
|
Breathtakingly thick with lusty tawny flavours of rancio and walnut, this one will have you squealing with delight. It's heady aromas swing round the room like minarets of cherry and tobacco, apricot peel and marmalade, it finishes long, handsome and appealingly dry.
|
|
|
|
|
A mostly Chardonnay wine with smaller components of complimenting white varietal grapes grown to some of the finest vineyards
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Winery |
Shingleback |
| Region |
McLaren Vale
|
| Fruit |
Chardonnay
|
I like this wine and what it stands for. Give me an aromatic pecorino or mild gouda and I'll convince you as well. It's telling me there's no oak anywhere but the splended mix of fruit taunts me and diverts me from the juiciness at hand. I'd give it full marks if it weren't for it's demure pricepoint, I'm a sucker for conspicuous consumption, but very fine wine nevertheless.
|
|
|
|
|
Perched atop the spectacular boulder strewn hills of the Great Dividing Range at 550 metres
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ ½ |
| Winery |
Granite Hills |
| Region |
Heathcote
Macedon
|
| Fruit |
Merlot
|
Essential bouquets of cherries and plum complexed by a sprinkle of spice. Crisp tannins and background oak are in fine balance, the finish is fragrant, vital and lingering.
|
|
|
|
|
Semillon has always been the great white varietal of the Hunter Valley
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Winery |
Tyrrells |
| Region |
Hunter Valley
|
| Fruit |
Semillon
|
Savvy semillon for those who've warmed to Hunter whites but aren't sure where to begin. The full allotment of nutty fruit, lemon, tea and honey.
|
|
|
Sofitel Melbourne Trophy Best Chardonnay
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Winery |
Hardys |
| Region |
Tumbarumba
Coal
Rokeby
|
| Fruit |
Chardonnay
|
Pale straw yellow with a slight green hue. The best Chardonnay Hardy's can create exhibits an intense, complex grapefruit bouquet with hints of flint, cream and malt. The palate shows a struck match, flinty mineral character with grapefruit and malt. Piercing, lemony, ripe apple-like flavours with spice and rind are met by a gently smear of creamy, malty oak, there's genuine power, grandness and yet delicacy, a serious chardonnay to savour and to cellar.
|
|
Lovingly nurtured and hand crafted from the family owned Mount Fishtail property in the Wairau Valley
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Winery |
Mt Fishtail |
| Region |
Marlborough
Waihopai
Wairau
|
| Fruit |
Sauvignon Blanc
|
Exciting, fragrant wine, doses of lychee, lanolin and snow pea, sweet herbaceousness with passionfruit, refreshingly dry, plenty of flavour. So which Marlborough sauv-blanc to drink? Round and around and around and stop - we have a winner, very smart wine at the price.
|
|
|
|
Running With Bulls are crafted by stars of the Yalumba winemaking team and have enjoyed astonishing success ever since inaugural release
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Winery |
Yalumba |
| Region |
Riverland
|
| Fruit |
Vermentino
|
A medium bodied white with fresh and lively aromatics, a bouquet of crisp white peaches and stonefruit, tang of sorbet and twist of lemon rind all add charm to this evocative wine’s character. Finishes steely and fresh.
|
|
|
From Western Australia's
Pemberton Frankland Swan
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ½ |
| Winery |
Houghton |
| Region |
Pemberton
Frankland River
Swan River
|
| Fruit |
Chenin Blanc
Chardonnay
Verdelho
Riesling
Semillon
Muscadelle
|
A wine that's rich in history dating back to the 1830s, originally made by the founder of the brand, the late great Jack Mann. I keep coming back to this. Not just consistent, but consistently good. Pick it off the winelist and nobody's glass will be full for long. Chillingly dry, fruit, minerality and crisply green, vital and fresh.
|
|
|
|
The historic Metala Vineyard has been the Adams family's property since the 1850s
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Winery |
Brothers in Arms |
| Region |
Langhorne
|
| Fruit |
Shiraz
|
This is dizzyingly aromatic with swivelling bouquets before a fully satisfying palate of blackcurrant, trade spice and festive cake, mint, char and plum. The beautiful fruit characters dovetail into a seamless integration of dark, treacle/ vanilla oak and rubbery, savoury tannins.
|
|
|
From Western Australia's
Margaret River
| Rating |
★ ★ ★ ★ |
| Winery |
Amberley Estate |
| Region |
Margaret River
|
| Fruit |
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
|
Located towards the northern reaches of Margaret River, where the invigorating ocean breezes form a unique microclime, Amberley produces wines with elegant flavours, solid structure and fine balance. Bramble, cherry and winegum over a frame of topical, cedary oak and poised, gummy tannins.
|
