Pauletts Winemaker Series BMS Brielle, Watervale Grenache 2023
G 94
The Winemaker Series allows winemaker Jarrad Steele to work on small batch, limited edition wines. Brielle goes from strength to strength as an exciting Grenache addition to a valley usually dominated by Shiraz and Cabernet. Looks the part in cherry-crimson red. Cherries – red and maraschino – flow on the bouquet with raspberry, violet florals and spice. Breezy and bright in summer berries, cherry, red liquorice confection and peppery spice on an underlay of autumnal, earthy notes. Runs deceptively deep and long. It’s hard not to be impressed. Drink now–2031 Sevenhill Vaulted Cellar Shiraz 2022 G 94 Medium-bodied and elegant, Vaulted Cellar moves the Clare Valley Shiraz dial into serious territory. Intense deep purple-red hues. Ripe and juicy black fruits, anise, roasting spices, bay leaf, chocolate, vanillin oak and earth. Well-crafted along sturdy tannin lines with potential written all over it. Slowly yields some deep-seated flavours but remains taut. The best is yet to come. Drink now–2034 Skillogalee Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 G 94 A wine celebrating the intrinsic beauty of Clare Cabernet in an easy drinking style but with more than enough oomph in reserve for some time to come. Offers the fragrant scent of violet, black fruits, cassis, autumnal leaves, dried herbs and spice. Delivers a ripe, juicy, bright palate in earthy, herbal tones and spice, but the star is the engaging, long running, smooth delivery of delicious dark cherry, plum, cassis, ripe fruit on a bed of fine-cut tannins. Delish. Drink now–2033 Sussex Squire Samuel Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 G 94 Black as night and impenetrable hues is a sign of the impending dense concentration of fruit, oak and tannin to come when Samuel Block is poured into the glass. A wine clearly intended for further ageing, but a decant now will loosen structure and bring ripe black fruits, Aussie bush characters, autumn leaves, earth, anise spice and dark, nutty oak to the fore. The palate packs impressive weight and concentration with dense tannins and well integrated oak. A black olive savouriness is a pleasing closing note. All it needs now is a little more time and patience. Drink now–2035
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The Vintage Journal
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