SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WINE GUIDE
VINTAGE JOURNAL
Andrew Caillard MW Lisa Cardelli Ken Gargett Angus Hughson Tom Kline Tijana Laganin Tony Love Jeni Port Andrea Pritzker MW Shanteh Wale
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2024
2025
INTRODUCTION
BY ANGUS HUGHSON When I first entered the wine trade, over 20 years ago, South Australia was widely described as ’The Wine State’. While other regions also had significant history and a library of fine wines, South Australia was this country’s undisputed centre of wine. The Barossa and Eden valleys were the pinnacles thanks to their sheer volume of quality wine, but McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, Langhorne Creek, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills and others could, on their day, hit similar heights. The landscape has certainly changed over the last three decades. New South Wales has grown far past its Hunter Valley origins, Western Australia and Tasmania have asserted their fine wine credentials, and Victoria has blossomed across numerous regions. This has been an exciting time for Australian wine in general as it has grown out of adolescence into a more mature industry with greater self-confidence, technical skill, and genuine aspirations to match the greatest wines from around the world. While there has been a movement across all states and regions, increasingly the wines from South Australia have been forgotten or undervalued in a rush to cover the evolution in other parts of the country or new-wave styles. Yet South Australia is by far the largest state in terms of vineyard area and wine production with a long and proud history which has also enjoyed its own period of evolution, and will, without doubt, continue to deserve a significant focus. The South Australian Wine Guide 2025 has been launched to rebalance the ledger, and provide a definitive guide that throws a light on all of South Australia’s wine regions, with a singular focus on the unique wines from what is still ‘The Wine State’. A number of regions are regularly overlooked by sections of wine media or do not receive the recognition due to them for their contribution to the national wine story – a trend that seems to be getting worse over time. This guide will proudly put every South Australian region on a pedestal to identify the leading local wines and highlight unique regional stories often hidden from view. A key intention for the South Australian Wine Guide 2025 is to go beyond tasting notes and scores and tell the deeper stories of the regions and their recent vintages. Tasting wine is much more profound than simply enjoying an alcoholic beverage. It is tasting the land, its people, and history expressed through aromas, flavours, and textures. From our perspective, providing a regional context is as important as any
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score and a vital component of this guide. Each region opens with an introduction to the area and wines tasted, including standout vintages and varieties to keep an eye out for. Keen Riesling fans will be particularly interested in the Eden Valley and Clare Valley reports of the 2024 Riesling vintage by Tony Love and Jeni Port, respectively. Critic choice is clearly important in guiding consumers. The world of wine has never been more complex, nor have consumer tastes. So, to reflect this diversity, this guide includes reviews from 10 critics of different ages and backgrounds. On the one hand, we have highly experienced tasters such as Andrew Caillard MW, Tony Love, Ken Gargett, Jeni Port, and Andrea Pritzker MW, whose opinions comfortably sit alongside those of rising stars Shanteh Wale, Tom Kline, Lisa Cardelli, and Tijana Laganin. We believe a range of palates with a vast array of backgrounds and experiences is essential to provide a compelling and all-encompassing guide that will resonate with all consumers, from novices starting out on their journey to collectors with vast cellars. Our overriding view is that there is a place and a consumer for every wine and so we taste with an open mind across a broad range of styles independent of any personal preference or bias. The South Australian Wine Guide 202 5 is our first foray into building greater recognition for the wines from all of South Australia. This is, we hope, just the start, and we can build the guide into a definitive resource and vinous bible for anyone keen to get a better handle on the wines of this key centrepiece of the Australian wine industry.
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LANGHORNE CREEK
Langhorne Creek, 2007
LANGHORNE CREEK SUMMARY AND REVIEWS TOM KLINE
Change is slow and, of course, it’s a region deserving of greater visitation based on wine quality alone. The Shiraz wines, which dominated the reds submitted, showed threads of soft dark fruit meshing with attractive spice, earth, present but integrated oak, and firm structure. The Cabernet Sauvignon wines were second in terms of quantity, showing threads of classic dark fruits, mint and graphite tannins. One notable category was Fiano, with several wines showing excellent balance and true varietal characters of salinity, almond, as well as both stone fruits and tropical fruits. As with many warmer regions, this grape variety will likely increase in importance in furthering the white wine identity of the region. Overall, the big take-home was the exceptional value on offer, with wines in the sub $30 price point consistently over-delivering. Beware the quiet ones, indeed. I get the sense that, after 170-odd years of hushed tones, Langhorne Creek is now finding its voice.
‘Beware the quiet ones’ is the thought that permeates my mind as I reflect on the Langhorne Creek region. There’s been no meteoric rise to fame, or capitulation to ephemeral fads. Instead, the region has been defined and refined over a long, slow and steady burn of consistency and steadfastness in delivering quality wines from grape varieties that suit the region so well. And, as has been increasingly proven, those who stick to their guns don’t only emerge unshot, but in time become bullet proof. Langhorne Creek’s patience and perseverance over an incredibly long and rich history makes this all the more admirable. In 1849, the fertile floodplains 70 kilometres southeast of Adelaide called Langhorne Crossing caught the eye of Frank Potts as he travelled through the area. Seeing huge potential, Potts purchased a section of land the next year and set about clearing it for farming. Shortly thereafter, shiraz and verdelho vines were planted, marking the beginning of flagship producer Bleasdale Vineyards, along with what is now a stalwart Australian region. Today, Langhorne Creek boasts the oldest family-owned cabernet sauvignon vines in the world, planted in 1891 by William Formby, founder of the iconic Metala Wines. Metala won much acclaim over the next century, including winning the inaugural Jimmy Watson trophy in 1962. In a general sense, Langhorne Creek is a low-risk and low-maintenance viticultural zone in comparison to many of its cooler climate counterparts. Premium grapes can be grown in this warm region with little risk of frost, minimal need for canopy management, and lower risk of late season weather issues given it’s an early ripening zone. What’s more, Langhorne Creek is home to the great Lake Alexandrina, a body of water some three times the size of Sydney Harbour, that assists in moderating the region. All of this begs the question: Why are there only nine cellar doors you can visit in the region? For a time, Langhorne Creek’s identity became somewhat defined as a fruit source region for big business. And given provenance hasn’t always been observed nor as much cared for as it is today, reverence was historically reserved for a bottle of wine rather than the place from which it came. In many cases, this still applies today, with Langhorne Creek often being cast into the abyss of ‘South Australian’ label statements.
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The Reviews
Kimbolton The Rifleman Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
G 95
Deep-set aromas of blackcurrant, mulberry, and dark plum are followed by bay leaf, milk chocolate, cedar, sea salt and graphite in a complex and impactful opening. The palate has lovely even intensity with elegant blackcurrant, black cherry, plum and cedar gliding through the mouth with a frame of svelte, graphite tannins and brisk mocha-laced acidity to long length. Impressive balance, complexity and finely woven structure here. This will drink wonderfully now with food, or evolve nicely in the cellar. Drink now–2031 Lake Breeze The Drake Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Malbec, Petit Verdot 2019 G 95 Blackcurrant, plum and cedar kick off the aromas, before an attractive unfurling of dried violets, black liquorice, earth and ground spice, all of this dancing around the core of fruit beautifully. The palate is sapid and mouth-coating with a full-bodied texture. Juicy blackcurrant bursts through the mouth with dark chocolate, ground coffee, liquorice and spice before being constricted within a sheath of grainy tannins and blackcurrant acid. Coffee and chocolate through the finish. There’s solid power, complexity and structure here, and despite its five years of bottle age, its best years are ahead of it. Drink 2026–2032 Bremerton Bâtonnage Shiraz/Malbec Shiraz, Malbec 2021 G 94 Restrained aromas of blood plum, raspberry, dark cherry, and violets lead the charge with an underpinning of brown spice. There’s nice purity and cohesion aromatically. The palate follows suit, with notes akin to the nose, flowing through the mouth ahead of firm chalky tannins and violet-laced acidity. There’s a purity and prettiness here thanks to the sweet pops of defined fruit and perfumed florals, with lovely spice in support and structure to frame it. Nicely done. Drink now–2029 Bremerton Walter’s Reserve Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 G 94 Bell pepper, blackcurrant, mint and dusty cedar lead the aromas, before a swirl of the glass reveals nutmeg, subtle ground coffee and sweet earth. The palate is elegant and restrained, with a cool shot of blackcurrant supported by chocolate, mint, cedar and earth. Graphite and mint attach to the tannins to draw elegant and detailed length. Good complexity, balance and restraint here that will develop nicely in the cellar. Drink now–2030
Langhorne Creek
Southern Flinders Ranges
Clare Valley
Riverland
Barossa Valley
Adelaide Plains
Eden Valley
Adelaide Hills
Adelaide
McLaren Vale
Langhorne Creek
Currency Creek
Southern Fleurieu
Kangaroo Island
Langhorne Creek
Padthaway
Mount Benson
Wrattonbully
Robe
Coonawarra
Mount Gambier
Lake Alexandrina
langhornecreek.com
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Heartland Single Vineyard Shiraz Shiraz 2016
Bleasdale The Riparian Vineyard Malbec Malbec 2022
G 94
G 93
A heady and opulent Shiraz at eight years of age. Cedar oak and leather at the fore aromatically, followed by earth, soy sauce, desiccated coconut, fig cake, and plum pudding. Time in the glass offers up black liquorice and a welcome savoury note of dried garrigue. The palate is soft and round, ripe and rich with notes mirroring the nose led by ripe plum, coconut, and chocolate. There’s big structure here, with stacked, chocolate tannins and a latent kick of youthful acidity through a long finish. This is very bold and won’t be to everyone’s palate, but you can’t deny its complexity and power. Drink now–2028 Heartland Shiraz Shiraz 2021 G 94 Mulberry and blackberry sit above attractive black pepper spice straight up, with some beetroot and earth to follow. Beautiful cohesion through the aromatics, with a lovely pitch of fruit, spice and earth. The palate is restrained and poised, though intense. Blackberry and mulberry again, with a dusting of pepper and beetroot in tow along with a glimmer of mocha attaching to fine, grainy tannins and an assertive acid line that bursts through the finish to good length. And all of this for $25. Outrageous value. Drink now–2031 Lake Breeze Old Vine Grenache Grenache 2023 G 94 Musk and plum aromas make way for macerated strawberry, raspberry, nutmeg and cinnamon with an underpinning of earth adding depth and complexity. Lovely balanced and inviting aromatics. The palate is bright and lifted, with pops of red cherry, raspberry, strawberry and plum gliding high through the mouth while brown spice dances around the edges. Ribbons of svelte tannins frame the palate and pull length along with waves of red-fruited acidity. This is fine-boned and beautifully balanced. A steal for the money. Drink now–2029 Lake Breeze Arthur’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot 2021 G 94 Bell pepper, bay leaf and cassis sit at the fore of an elegant and restrained aromatic profile, before choc mint, nutmeg and tilled earth emerge to flesh it out. The palate is both restrained and intense. Blackcurrant, cedar, bay leaf and earth with dark chocolate and ground coffee in support. There’s a weave of espresso tannins and juicy blackcurrant acidity providing backbone and dimension through a long and balanced finish. This is complex, classy and elegant. Drink now–2029 Barristers Block Aston Fiano Fiano 2022 G 93 Fresh and bright aromas of white peach, almond, pear and green apple with some salinity in tow. Some nice bitter and savoury notes intermingling with fruit notes led by pear and white peach before a fresh, saline and attractively bitter finish. A lovely and true expression for Fiano. Drink now–2026
Lovely dark and intense aromas of dark plum, black pepper, nutmeg and blackberry. Air unlocks an earth and game meat, adding complexity and interest. The palate holds cool dark fruit in a slippery texture – dark plum and blackberry sit above black pepper and subtle camphor before fine-grained tannins frame things up along with juicy blackberry acidity. Lovely long length through the finish. There’s class
and poise here. Drink now–2028 Bremerton Bâtonnage Chardonnay Chardonnay 2023
G 93
Reserved aromas toffee, preserved lemon and grapefruit meld with butter and toast, before shortcrust pastry and shortbread. Some air unlocks riper stone-fruit notes of peach and grilled nectarine. Quite rich and round, thus far. The palate follows suit with citrus preserves, toast, butter, peach and pastry dough sitting in a voluminous texture, cut by gentle phenolic structure and bitter acidity to medium length. It’s rich, as the name suggests, but nicely restrained and balanced. Drink now–2028 Heartland Director’s Cut Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 G 93 Restrained aromas of blackcurrant, old leather, and plum lead the charge before a swirl of the glass reveals nutmeg and tilled earth to nicely fill it out. The palate is full-bodied with good intensity and power. Blackcurrant, mint, mocha, and chocolate burst through the mouth, though in a controlled frame thanks to firm, grainy graphite and mocha tannins. There’s good long length here, defined by dark fruits, mocha and mint with a wash of latent acidity to cleanse the mouth. A bold Cabernet that doesn’t shy away from oak, fruit, or structure, but it all works together well in its style. Drink 2027–2035 Kimbolton Fiano Fiano 2024 G 93 Savoury and spicy aromas lead the charge here with spiced pear, fennel, green almond and subtle brine. Air unlocks some pastry dough aromas to fill it out and add interest. The palate has a reserved feel, with lemon rind, pear, green apple skin and almond with some honey in support. It all gets quickly encased in fresh green apple skin acidity making for a fresh and tensile close. Fresh and nicely textured. There’s a lot going on here in a $27 price point. Drink now–2026 Lake Breeze Winemaker’s Selection Shiraz Shiraz 2021 G 93 Cedar and vanilla bean at the fore with liquorice root, dark plum, blackberry trying to push through. A good swirl of the glass brings more balance, but there’s some stubbornness to the oak aromas. The palate is full-bodied, rich and velvety with lashings of dark plum and blackberry again, followed by subtle earth and a glimmer of dark chocolate. While the fruit is dark and bold, there is a coolness to it. The finish is framed by grainy black tea tannins and dark-fruited acidity to good length. Drink 2028–2033
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Cirillo Estate Wines, 1850 Grenache
Lake Breeze Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
Charlotte Dalton Wines This Is My Vermentino Vementino 2024
G 93
G 92
Cedar oak, blackcurrant and clove sit at the fore of an elegant aromatic profile, with some gentle black olive, plum, and spearmint to follow. The palate holds lovely elegant appeal, too. Creamy oak to the texture, sitting around blackcurrant, black cherry, plum and mint. Fine gravelly tannins are laced with mint dark chocolate bringing nice bitterness through the finish alongside freshening black-fruited acidity. Elegant and cool-fruited, punching above its price point. Drink now–2029 The Pawn Wine Co Fiano Fiano 2023 G 93 Restrained aromas of yellow apple, pear, quince, and orange blossom are followed by melon, subtle honey and white almond. The palate is bright and lifted, with a good core of apple and pear fruit surrounded by hazelnut, melon and bitter almond. There’s some nice chalky phenolic grip adding textural dimension and interest, and a nice wash of cleansing acidity through the finish. A poised and classy
Green edges to the light golden colour. The fragrance bursts out of the glass with musk and muscat-like aromas, exotic and spicy as well, lingering in the palate as the main flavour driver, giving some gravitas with a well-cast textural grip. Lovely spicy drinking with highly flavoured dishes. Drink now–2026 Charlotte Dalton Wines Fred Fiano Fiano 2024 G 92 The Italian variety Fiano given a lovely little Australian twist here, a subtle waft of mint and lime in the aromatics that drift easily into the flavour profile, savoury and saline, coastal acacia, peppery spice in neatly tangy finish with just the right amount of slipperiness to warrant another glass. Drink now–2026 Heartland Vermentino Vermentino 2023 G 92 Lemon pith, nashi pear, oyster shell and sea spray first up in a nervy aesthetic, followed by a sweet lift of green florals. The palate is quite tensile and furled, led by lemon juice, grapefruit, green mango skin and salty brine – all drawn long by a persistent, salty, grapefruit acidity. A lovely example, if lacking a touch in concentration. For $25, though, a steal. Drink now–2027 Heartland Director’s Cut Shiraz Shiraz 2021 G 92 Opaque with a ruby rim. Blackberry and plum meld with cut leather, cedar and black olive. Some nutmeg spice, coal, cocoa and tilled earth to follow, adding complexity and interest. Altogether, an even and attractive aromatic profile. On the palate, black fruit, leather and spice notes coat the mouth before being quickly constricted within firm, grainy, mocha-laced tannins. A black-fruited acid line cleanses the mouth and draws length. This is big and bold, but balanced. A food wine, for sure. Drink 2026–2031 Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 G 92 Mulberry, black tea and blackberry at the fore of an elegant set of aromas, followed by paperbark, delicate nutmeg and eucalyptus. The palate has a fresh and even feel. Mulberry dark chocolate, nutmeg, and mint glide through the palate before being wrapped up in grainy tannins and mulberry-drenched acidity to a long, elegant and choc mint-laced finish. Lovely elegance, complexity and flow, particularly at this price point. Drink now–2027
example. Drink now–2027 Ben Potts Fiddler’s Block Shiraz 2021
G 92
Gentle aromas of dark plum, blackberry, and briar with supporting black pepper and nutmeg spice first off. Waftings of earth and coal in the background. The palate is elegant and poised, led by fruit notes akin to the nose, before coal, chocolate, mocha and subtle graphite. A vein of sinewy mocha tannins frames it all up and carries to good length along with fresh blackberry acidity. Elegance, detail and
length. A lovely example. Drink now–2030 Bleasdale The Reed Patch Vineyard Malbec Malbec 2022
G 92
Blackberry, old leather, clove and dark plum make for a dark aromatic profile, with game in support. The palate is medium-bodied with blackberry and dark plum at the fore again with some clove and game in the background. Chalky tannins constrict the fruit into linearity with juicy acidity in tow to a fresh blackberry finish. There’s nice cool fruit and elegance here, with ample structure providing frame and shape. Drink now–2028 Bleasdale The Mullianna Vineyard Malbec Malbec 2022 G 92 Reserved and spice-led aromatics. Black pepper, clove, and game meat sit above blackberry and dusty earth. Attractive savouriness aromatically. The palate holds notes akin to the nose, though with fruit at the fore and the savoury notes beneath. A good lick of structure to finish. Another Malbec of elegance and structure in this Bleasdale range, with a good savoury appeal aromatically. Drink now–2028
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Kimbolton Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Metala Shiraz Shiraz 2022
G 92
G 92
Ripe dark plum, mulberry, subtle camphor, ironbark and nutmeg lead a soft set of aromas, with bay leaf and chocolate in tow. The palate has nice restraint with plum and mulberry at the fore, again followed by nutmeg and ground coffee before a sheath of fine graphite tannins and black-fruited acidity draws freshness through an elegant close. Soft and plush, though with elegance and shape. This is excellent
Sweet pops of ripe blackberry and new leather lead the charge before black pepper and nutmeg emerge to round things out. The palate has an equally ripe and open- knit feel. Juicy blackberry and mulberry jam make way for leather, pepper, baking spices and mocha before fine-boned tannins kick in, along with peppery acidity. Good length and freshness through the finish. A lovely balanced and spicy Shiraz punching above its $20 price point. Drink now–2028 Vineyard Road Shiraz Shiraz 2016 G 92 Dusty and deep on first smell in a decidedly savoury affair. Tobacco leaf, charcoal, plum jam, pan juices, mushroom sauce. On the palate, there’s plum jam and prune before leather, mushroom ragu and tobacco again. Quite youthful structure with stacked, grainy tannins gripping at the mouth and a wash of plummy acid through the finish. Certainly, a ripe and full style, though age has seen it develop savoury and heady appeal, primed for consumption with a hearty slow-cooked ragu. Drink now–2024 Bleasdale Generations Malbec Malbec 2023 G 91 Restrained dark fruit defines the aromatic opening. Blackberry, nutmeg, dried violets, and dark plum with a whisper of clove drawing you into the glass. The palate is similarly restrained, with blackberry and violet at the fore, and dark plum and spice in support. A firm stack of chalky tannins frames the finish, along with a nice slice of juicy blackberry acidity. Nice texture here, and an elegant feel, if not the most concentrated of expressions. Drink now–2027 Bremerton Old Adam Shiraz Shiraz 2021 G 91 This is quite ripe and not shy of oak. Burnt caramel and cedar at the fore, followed by sweet notes of sticky date pudding, plum sauce and brown spice, with meaty pan juices and tilled earth in tow. The palate is open-knit, fulsome and bold, with prune, plum, cedar and chocolate saturating the palate before powdery tannins and quite brisk plum acidity pull into line and cleanse the mouth. Quite juicy through the finish with some residual oak chew. A full-bodied, rich and opulent style. Drink 2026–2030 Cooke Brothers Wine Mataro Rosé Rosé 2022 G 91 Mataro is what classic Southern French Rosé is all about, so it makes sense to tap into that tradition from a southern maritime region. Pale pink, more savoury than many, peppery, faint suggestions of charcuterie, though a Pink Lady apple flavour lingers in the background. Textural, with a pithiness and grip that confirms this is a Rosé for the table surrounded by well flavoured dishes and, dare we say it, more serious red wine drinkers. Drink now–2027
drinking for $28. Drink now–2027 Lake Breeze Reserve Chardonnay Chardonnay 2023
G 92
Cedar wood and subtle toast melds with fleshy nectarine and white peach first up, with some lemon pith and melon thereafter. The palate has good texture and evenness, with cedar and brown spice dancing around a stone fruit and citrus core before being coiled within pithy phenolics to a fresh close. Great balance and texture at this price point. Drink now–2027 Lake Breeze Section 54 Shiraz Shiraz 2022 G 92 Opaque purple with a ruby tinged rim. A spicy and savoury opening with paperbark, cedar, nutmeg, and clove making way for black cherry, plum and blackberry. There’s a bitter mocha undertone, too. The palate is medium to full in body and holds a punch of upfront black fruits akin to the nose with the spice and oak notes in support. Fine tannins frame things up nicely, culminating in a dark chocolate bitterness through medium length. There’s a lot of wine for your money
here. Drink now–2029 Lake Breeze Malbec Malbec 2022
G 92
Juicy blackberry, mulberry, plum, and game lead the aromas, with some subtle sweet pops of clove and dried violet to follow. The palate is full-bodied but not weighty, with a sluice of vibrant black fruits at the core and some violet and spice notes in support. There’s a good lick of bitter, grainy tannins framing it all and a persistent line of plummy acidity freshening the finish. Nice varietal definition here. A lovely example. Drink now–2028 Lake Breeze Bernoota Shiraz Cabernet Shiraz Cabernet 2022 G 92 Blackberry jam and black cherry first up, followed by more savoury notes of coal, cedar and nutmeg. The palate is quite cool and elegant. A core of black cherry, plum and blackcurrant is surrounded by cedar and spice before being wrapped up in chalky mocha tannins and plum-skin acidity. Nice freshness through the finish, which is a thread through these wines. Great value. Drink now–2028
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The Pawn Wine Co El Desperado Rosé Sangiovese Tempranillo 2024
G 91
Pale pink orange. Fresh and bright aromas of strawberry, musk stick, and watermelon straight off, with glimmers of tangerine and blood orange in support. The palate is dry and refreshing, with notes akin to the nose, sitting within a slippery texture before being wrapped up in a vein of lovely, firm powdery tannins. This is all about freshness and drinkability, but with lovely textural grip adding dimension and shape. Drink now–2026 Watkins Grenache Grenache 2022 G 91 Baking spices, raspberry, rose, red liquorice, and subtle leather define the aromas. There’s more pop to the palate, with ripe raspberry, raspberry jam, and red liquorice bursting through the mouth with an underpinning of subtle pepper spice. Some firm chalky tannins frame the finish with red-fruited acidity cleansing the mouth. This is bright and fruit-forward, but with good structure in support. Drink now–2026 Watkins Shiraz Shiraz 2021 G 91 Blackberry, mulberry, new leather and olive tapenade lead the aromas, followed by savoury black pepper spice to add interest. The palate is fruit-forward with blackberry and mulberry again, with the tapenade notes in tow before firm, stacked tannins wrap it all up and draw it to good length with some leather and spice notes in tow. There’s a nice fruit, brown spice and savoury mix here, with ample structure to carry it. Drink now–2029 Bleasdale Second Innings Malbec Malbec 2023 G 90 Lifted plum and cherry fruit at the fore with some bramble and violet to follow and a glimmer of spice in tow. The palate is fruit-led also, with notes matching the nose and a soft juicy profile gliding through the mouth. Gentle bramble tannins frame a gamey finish. Easy drinking here, with fresh fruit and varietal definition. Drink now–2025 Gipsie Jack Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc 2024 G 90 Fresh squeezed lemon juice and guava leap out of the glass, followed by passionfruit and kumquat in a tensile and clean aromatic profile. The palate is taut and linear, with lemon juice leading the charge ahead of notes akin to the nose before a citrus rind-infused finish. This is by no means complex, but there’s thirst-slaking appeal. Drink now–2025
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Killibinbin Scream Shiraz 2021
The Pawn Wine Co Tempranillo Tempranillo 2021
G 90
G 90
Coconut leads the charge on first look, before the emergence of nutmeg spice, blackberry, chocolate pudding and plum. The palate is full-bodied and richly fruited, with dark plum and blackberry at the core with a surrounding of brown spice, chocolate, and ground coffee. The tannins are soft and integrated while providing frame along with a good hit of black-fruited acid through the finish. This is opulent and fruit-forward with balance and length belying its $27 price point. Drink now–2027 Kimbolton Montepulciano Montepulciano 2023 G 90 Juicy mulberry and blackberry aromas at the fore, followed by dark plum and violets with vanilla bean and nutmeg spice in support. The palate is equally juicy, with a sluice of mulberry, dark cherry and blackberry making way for fine, bitter cacao nib tannins and fresh acidity. Far from complex, but a fresh and juicy midweek option with a bowl of pasta. Drink now–2027 Kimbolton Montepulciano Rosé Montepulciano 2024 G 90 Medium watermelon colour. Some rubbery reduction makes way for dried maraschino cherry, strawberries and cream, and a red liquorice on the nose. The palate has nice weight and texture, with notes mirroring the nose, being encased in delicate but effective cherry-laced tannins. Not a complex example, nor should it be at the price, but it does have nice flavour and freshness. Drink now–2025 Kimbolton Carignan Carignan 2023 G 90 Lifted spiced cherry, plum, and strawberry are supported by nutmeg spice in an aromatic profile of bright, red-fruited appeal. The palate is light-bodied and equally bright, with red cherry, red plum, and just ripe raspberry gliding through the mouth. Supple tannins here, working with red-fruited acidity to a fresh finish. Freshness is the word. It’s bright, pure and eminently drinkable. Drink now–2026 Metala Shiraz Cabernet Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 G 90 Blackberry and plum first up, quickly followed by graphite, tilled earth, cedar and nutmeg. The palate is ripe and full-fruited. Blackberry, mulberry and plum burst through the mouth with some earth and mocha in support. Quite fine tannins and brisk acidity provide frame and carry to medium length. Not overly complex, but nice mid-week drinking at the price point. Drink 2025–2030
Delicate plum, red florals, red liquorice, salted meat and dark cherry on the nose. The palate is vibrantly fruited, somewhat belying its three years of age. Red plum and red rose lead the charge, before cranberry, red cherry and red liquorice again. Nice fine tannins and cherry acid lead to a fresh finish. There’s pop and vibrancy here. A playful expression that works. Drink now–2028 Vineyard Road Premium Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc 2023 G 90 Aromas of lychee, lemongrass, citrus preserves and pineapple lead a reserved aromatic profile. The palate follows suit, with a taut line of preserved lemon, pineapple husk, lemongrass and subtle passionfruit. The finish is fresh and laden with citrus preserve bitterness. By no means complex, but taut and refreshing. Drink now–2025 Vineyard Road Belvidere Estate Shiraz Shiraz 2021 G 90 Deep and heady aromas of dark plum pudding, prune, allspice, black pepper, liquorice and milk chocolate. The palate is full-bodied, ripe and bold. Sweet plum and blackberry pie coat the mouth, with Christmas cake, chocolate and coffee in support before firm tannins take hold and frame it through a chocolatey finish. This is certainly not for the faint of heart, given everything’s turned up to 11, but it’s kept in balance and achieves a finish of long length. Drink 2026–2031 Watkins Symmetry G.S.M. Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre 2021 G 90 Lavender, plum jelly, dust, date, and nutmeg lead a reserved and gently sweet set of aromas. The palate holds notes of the same in a delicately flavoured spectrum before firm, grainy tannins frame the finish with some attractive bitterness. A midweight and midweek GSM with softened edges, thanks to some bottle age. Drink now– 2025 Watkins Iron-Fire Tempranillo Tempranillo 2021 G 90 Aromas of dark plum, bacon fat, leather, boysenberry, and camphor make for a savoury start. The palate is full-bodied with sweet ripe plum, leather, camphor and ground coffee before a good lick of grainy tannins wraps it all up. This is varietal in an old-school Tempranillo mould, not shying away from ripeness nor oak. Drink now–2027
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