Barossa Wine Guide 2025

Heathvale Estate The Angry Rabbit New Luck Cabernet Sagrantino 2023

Discovery Road Montepulciano 2022

G 91

G 91

Medium crimson. Fragrant bouquet redcurrant, red cherry. and peppery spice. Medium bodied with an intriguing thread of peppery spice. Good freshness and al dente tannins. Pulls up a tad short. 14.5% alc Drink now–2027 Heathvale Estate Rabbit on the Moon Riesling 202 G 91 3 Pale green colour. Aromatic baked lemon, pine-lime aromas and hint of passionfruit. Attractive fruit sweetness, lemon sherbet, passion fruit, elderflower cordial flavours. A refreshing style with sherbet acidity and appealing phenolic grip on the finish. 11% alc Drink now–2030 Hewitson Madame M Blanc & Blanc Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Sauvignon Blanc 2023 G 91 Pale lemon colour. Fragrant bouquet of white jasmine, orange blossom, musk. Fresh with a lively line of crisp acidity leading to a long floral flourish. Well balanced. 11.3% alc Drink now–2025. Irvine Wines Altitude Shiraz 2022 G 91 Medium-deep crimson. Fresh red cherry, blackberry hint menthol bush garrigue aromas. Elemental unevolved pure blackberry, raspberry flavours, a core of fruity sweetness and bittersweet persistent tannins. Gravelly at the finish with aniseed notes. 14.5% alc Drink now–2028

Montepulciano is one of those varieties turning up more and more and that only happens when a grape has something to offer. Montepulciano certainly does – a delicious and often easy drinking style, full of flavour. It might be a long way from its Mediterranean home but it seems well suited to our climate, or at least, parts of it. This is a near explosive purple hue with notes of chocolate, plums, fruitcake, florals, cherries, mulberries and blackcurrants. Good concentration, but it really is almost slurpable. A touch more length would lift it even further but all things will eventually come. Fine tannins and decent balance, this is a pleasing and generous wine for enjoying over the next three to five years. Drink now–2029

Gibson Duke Grenache 2022

G 91

You can read the reason for the name of this wine on the label – it is the sort of thing best left to those involved to resolve. A blend of fruit from both the Barossa and Eden Valleys. The colour here is a plush red crimson. The nose exhibits gentle notes of red fruits, spices, warm earth and dry herbs with cherries and raspberries. A seductive texture, the wine is well balanced with good length, through to fine, silky tannins. There is also a hint of almond bitterness on that lingering finish. For drinking over the next half dozen years. Drink now–2030 Hare’s Chase Ironscraper Shiraz 2021 G 91 Medium crimson. Savoury bouquet, cedar chest, dried blackberry, nutmeg, black pepper. Medium bodied, offering a depth of blackberry confit, black plum and a twist of aniseed. Well structured and harmonious in balance with a savoury finish. 14.5% alc Drink now–2026 Head Wines Old Vine Grenache 2022 G 91 Medium-deep crimson. Black olive, red plum aromas, with herb garden notes. Supple and round with red plum, red cherry flavours, slinky textures and some roasted walnut notes. Crispy finish. 14.5% alc Drink now–soon Head Wines Grenache Rosé 2023 G 91 Grenache from Nuriootpa, Ebenezer and Mengler’s Hill has been blended together for this classy Rosé. There is also 5% Mataro, 5% Viognier, 3% Vermentino and 2% Riesling in this wine. There is no malolactic fermentation, the Viognier is barrel- fermented and wild yeasts did the job. A lovely pink/orange sunset hue, this is a Rosé of fragrance and finesse. Notes of strawberries and cream, florals and raspberries swirl around. There is decent length here and the wine is fresh, well- focused and gently persistent. Will provide pleasure for the next two to three years. Drink now–2027

Juno Old Vine Grenache 2023

G 91

The fruit here is sourced from old vines located in a single vineyard. The colour is an alluring crimson. The nose gives us a hint of oak but it is merely part of the overall array of aromas, which include spices, cherries, vanilla, dry herbs and red fruits, most especially raspberries. There is a supple and rather seductive texture with sleek tannins. This is a generous and comforting Grenache of medium weight and decent length. While it is terrific drinking now, it will continue to travel well for at least five to six years. Drink now–2030 Juno Shiraz Grenache 2023 G 91 The blend is dominated by Shiraz, over Grenache, 80% to 20%. The fruit hails from the Western Ridge sub-region, from a clone which comes originally from Guigal’s legendary ‘La Mouline’ vineyard in Côte-Rôtie. Four months’ maturation in older French oak. Red/maroon in colour, the nose reveals appealing red fruit aromas with cherries and raspberries to the fore. There are notes of warm dry earth, cloves and spices, notably a flick of pepper and cinnamon. Dark fruits and a touch of chocolate are also present. Well structured, this is finely balanced, leading to fine supple tannins on the persistent finish. Quite delicious drinking at the moment, and it should prove to remain so for the next four to five years. Drink now–2029

156

The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus

South Australia 2024

157

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