Adelaide Hills Wine Guide 2025

Sidewood Estate Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Wicks Estate Shiraz Shiraz 2021

G 94

G 94

Neatly toned aromas – all the Sauvignon things, bramble, grapefruit zest, tropical fruits, with a cleverly entwined thread of acidity to energise the palate without overly zealous volume. Flavours hold their citrus bias for some time, with a nicely weighted, refreshing sense of the variety’s best foot forward. 11.5% alc Drink now–2028 The Pawn Wine Co Grüner Veltliner Grüner Veltliner 2023 G 94 Delightful aromatics: apples, pears, orchard florals, fresh air, moving towards minerally and savoury pathways, and a faint dusting of the variety’s signature white pepper. Through the core of the palate there’s a tonic-like refreshment. It all works in a harmonic chorus, yet quite understated and almost ambient. A peppery finish reflects its overall gastronomic pleasures. 12% alc Drink now–2028 Weaver Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc 2024 G 94 From Geoff Weaver’s Lenswood vineyard, a wine with great track record and, again, here we see why: lovely smooth aromatics, almost creamy passionfruit curd- like, with a roasted lime-like depth in the palate as well, lively acidity, balanced and mildly spicy, gentle throughout with a fruit tingle finish. 13% alc Drink now–2029 Weaver Pinot Noir Pinot Noir 2021 G 94 Geoff Weaver’s Lenswood estate grown. Classic cherry and woodsy notes, a light tobacco leaf wafting, black tea leaf too. The mix of fruit and leaf and spice are essential ingredients here, all in sync, with the backing of a tingling acidity and mouth filling tannins. No shouting, just intelligently expressed pinosity. 12.5% alc Drink now– 2034 Weaver Chardonnay Chardonnay 2021 G 94 Clearly generous styling, colour stepping into light gold with greenish tones, lovely ripe stone fruit flavours with delicate oak notes to back up the palate, acidity underlying to hold the textural lines. Plenty of Chardonnay wealth in the glass. 13.5% alc Drink now–2032 Wicks Estate Pamela Chardonnay Pinot Noir Sparkling 2016 G 94 A soft golden hue. A rich and inviting nose, stewed apple, quince, marzipan, camomile and a faint brine nuance. The delicate fine bead melts over the palate, congruent with its autolytic flavours and flaked almond edge. Attractive lemon fruit zing, finishes with a delicate tonic water bitterness. A stratified wine of complexity and flow. Make a seat for Pamela at the table. Drink now–2030

Highly aromatic in cool climate mode, long ripening bringing our high-toned dark quishy plums and cherry, great swirling purple colours adding to the opening thrills. The extra spice and herb notes suggest fruit compote, cracked pepper as well, fragrant oak too. Lots of top end attraction while the palate is quieter and supportive, a faint amaro bitterness in the tannins, just to add further gastronomic interest. Very smart. 14% Drink now–2034 About Time Woodside Chardonnay Chardonnay 2022 G 93 Lovely creamy Chardonnay notes to begin, well managed fruit and oak making a complete initial impression. Ripe yet delicate stone-fruit flavours, rich mouth-filling structures, mid-weight richness with balanced acidity and drive. Most enjoyable. 13% alc Drink now–2030 Anvers Razorback Road Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc 2024 G 93 Coming from the far southwestern corner of the region, bordering on Kangarilla, the varietal notes are clear, its herbal essences upright, passionfruit and lime, pine-lime almost, especially as there is a delicate creaminess to the palate while a neatly balanced undercurrent of acidity keeps the wine energised and toned. 12.5% alc Drink now–2027 Artwine In the Groove Grüner Veltliner Grüner Veltliner 2023 G 93 Pale with a faint green tinge in the glass. A mix of citrus, florals, white nectarine and green apple in the aromatics, clean cut and fresh, with a well measured blend of flavours and texture, some pithiness and spice in the finish. Lovely refreshing style. 12.5% alc Drink now–2029 Basket Range Wine Banksia Pinot Noir Pinot Noir 2023 G 93 Mostly estate fruit from the pioneering Broderick vineyard with a quarter from a nearby Balhannah source. Designed as a lighter, approachable and easy pouring Pinot, it has an alpine herbal/mint note to its fragrance, bush florals, with lighter cherry flavours, lighter tannin vibes with a subtle alpine herb/amaro note to finish. Delicate, but not insubstantial. 12.4% alc Drink now–2028 Basket Range Wine Bantam Red Blend 2023 G 93 A fascinating Basket Range estate vineyard blend: Merlot (30%), Petit Verdot (30%), Pinot Noir (15%), Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Saperavi (5%). An early/easy drinking style yet with a decent structure and savoury flavour notes of leaf and earth and stem that is the antithesis of power black fruitedness. Its core vibe is as a really interesting wine, charming, enticing and unique. 12.8% alc Drink now–2030

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The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus

South Australia 2024

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