Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2012
Tim Smith Grenache 2022
G 95
G 95
Medium-deep crimson. Fresh musky plum, chinotto, touch Campari aromas. Smooth and supple palate with lovely red plum, strawberry, Campari flavours, fine loose-knit chalky textures and fresh indelible acidity. A touch of star anise/heat at the finish. Drink now–2028 14.5% alc Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Shiraz 2023 G 95 A hugely popular Barossa Shiraz, which is cracking value, the wine is named after a nod to a film that surely appears amongst everyone’s favourites, The Big Lebowski . A dark maroon hue, the nose exhibits a wonderful array of aromatics – mocha, mud cake, soy, lavender, plums, beef stock, leather, black fruits and dark chocolate. A rich and richly flavoured Shiraz, generously structured and approachable, it offers a supple texture and very fine, sleek tannins. There is a lingering finish over which the intensity in this wine is maintained for the full journey. A 10-year proposition, this really is great buying. Drink now–2034 Two Hands Mengler’s Hill Shiraz 2022 G 95 Under diam, this is heavy bottle territory – the wine is nowhere near as old- fashioned as the container. The colour is magenta/purple/black. Things really lift with the gorgeous aromas, the first impression being a freshly baked cherry pie. Black fruits, beef stock, plums, mocha, liquorice and dark chocolate are all evident. Richly flavoured, this is generous and balanced with fine acidity and medium weight, such is the refinement. The quality oak has been deftly handled. Excellent length, a seamless structure and fine tannins, there are hints of almond bitterness on the finish. Expect this to provide pleasure for the next 10 to 12 years, likely much
Medium-deep crimson. Fragrant and complex wine with black cherry, blackberry, graphite, cedar aromas with brambly notes. Richly concentrated black cherry, blackberry fruits, persistent gravelly/sinewy touch ferruginous tannins, lovely inky density and well-balanced cedar, roasted chestnut oak notes. Finishes sinewy firm, followed on by buoyant dark berry fruits. Generously flavoured and well evolved wine with impressive vigour and mineral length. 19 months’ maturation in 23% new and seasoned Yalumba-coopered French barriques and Hungarian hogsheads. 13.5% alc Drink now–2035 Yalumba Vine Vale Grenache 2023 G 95 Of all the wines in the Yalumba Grenache collection, for me, this is the value pick. A cracking wine which is seriously good buying. The fruit comes from old bush vines which were planted in 1929 and 1949 in the Tri-Centenary Vineyard in Vine Vale. The two blocks were harvested for the wine, with the first seeing 40% whole bunch fermentation and the second 33%. A garnet/crimson colour, the nose is utterly gorgeous. This is Grenache on steroids. Strawberries and cream, florals, bergamot, spices and cherries. Take everything that is good about Grenache and it is jam- packed into this wine. It also offers that typical Grenache tannin mix of silky and sandy. Showing good balance and length, this is a superb example of a top-notch Barossa Grenache. Drink now and for the next eight years. Drink now–2032 Yalumba Tri-Centenary Grenache 2022 G 95 Medium-light crimson. Perfumed strawberry, rose petal aromas with orange rind, hint flinty notes. Fresh and supple palate with strawberry, red cherry, redcurrant flavours, fine slinky/lacy textures, lovely mid-palate viscosity and well-integrated but juicy acidity. Chalky at the finish with star anise notes. Drinking beautifully now, but should develop and expand with further bottle age. 372-day post-fermentation maceration in stainless steel has created a compelling complexity and timelessness in style. Based on 820 surviving 1889-planted grenache vines in the heart of the Barossa Valley 14% alc Drink now–2032 Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz 2014 G 95 Medium-deep crimson. Evolved earthy, wax polish, blackberry aromas with roasted walnut notes. Inky deep earthy, blackberry, dark plum fruits, fine supple ripe, touch grippy tannins, attractive mid-palate density, some roasted walnut, chinotto notes. Finishes with a chalky plume and wax polish leather notes. Secondary characters bring a lovely complexity, while bottle age gives added volume. Drinking very well now, but should continue to develop. 20 months’ maturation in 38% new French and American oak octaves, the balance in seasoned barriques, hogsheads and octaves. 14% alc Drink now–2035
longer. Drink now–2036 Whistler Wines Shiver Shiraz 2022
G 95
Medium crimson. Fragrant bouquet, mulberry and violets, hint of peppery spice. Fresh, medium-bodied and elegant. Attractive vibrancy, hint of white flowers/ apricot kernel with supple velvety tannins. Finishes long with excellent line and length, minty overtones to the close. 13.9% alc Drink now–2029
Whistler Wines Estate Shiraz Cabernet 2022
G 95
Deep crimson. Lovely blackberry dark chocolate ginger aromas with a touch of aniseed. Blackberry, praline liquorice flavours, slinky/chalky tannins and underlying savoury notes. Finishes inky with a soft velvety tannin plume. Bloody nice wine. 14% alc Drink now–2030
94
The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus
South Australia 2024
95
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