Howard Vineyards Amos Chardonnay 2024
G 94
The perfect amount of sulphide, expressed as gun flint and charred black salt – not always easy to get right. Lemon curd, tart grapefruit and pressed spring blossoms. The palate doesn’t disappoint: concentrated fruit, preserved mandarin and pith. The fruit is pristine, yet the more muscular elements and taut acid do the heavy lifting. A physically strong wine, made in a specific style and executed well. Drink now–2035 Honey Moon Vineyard Sweet Cream Apera Grüner Veltliner Multi Vintage G 94 Only in the Adelaide Hills could you get a sweet cream Apera crafted out of late- harvest Grüner Veltliner. Bottled in September 2025 from casks in a simple solera setup, freshened every year since 2018. There’s a delicate flor character to begin, with honeyed apple-like flavours, both sweet and fresh with inherent acidity. Like a trad Cream Sherry, only better – hand-made, regionally true, and seductively tasteful. Drink now–2034 La Linea Albarina Albariño 2025 G 94 Encouraging straw colour, with flowering field grass and cut hay aromas, some citrus and saline as well. There’s a lot of joy swirling in here, with a touch of lemon gelato in the palate, creamy feels and a lithe, pithy finishing feel. Again, a sense of saline and salivating moreishness, though never lean and cut with acidity. It’s all about the matrix of elements that make this a very drinkable glass. Drink now–2030 La Prova Nebbiolo 2024 G 94 Very pretty in the glass, light tones promising a contemporary shape and style, with alluring floral and orange peel aromas, and the most light-hearted, joyous palate, light, energised, refreshing almost. How can Nebbiolo be like this? Drink now–2032 La Prova Fiano 2025 G 94 Fresh, bouncy, fun, yum. It’s got a youthful kick in its step. Green olive brine, tart pineapple, tense lime zest, kiwi fruit and coastal rocks. It flows comfortably – safe, calm, assertive – yet somehow exotic and a little dreamy. The acid’s fresh and salty, the texture chalky. This wine will sit just as easily in the hand of the conservative drinker as it will the adventurer. Drink now–2030 Lobethal Road Maja Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay 2021 G 94 Traditional method 2021 vintage disgorged in August 2024. Pushing the style to the edge with a good deal of tiraged aroma to state the wine’s identity. Three-plus years of lees contact delivers further interest in the palate, adding complexity to the chardonnay fruit within. Great acidity and mousse structure, just the right spiel of bitters, finishing dry and salivating. Proper stuff. Drink now–2032
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The Vintage Journal
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