Arila Gardens Ironstone and Quartz Shiraz 2022
Chaffey Bros Wine Co Not Your Grandma’s Riesling Riesling 2024
G 94
G 94
Deeper aromatics set the tone here. Lime flesh and zest underly an engaging, persistent fragrance, with delicate musk notes offering sophistication and depth to the palate as well. A very attractive wine crafted with sensitive touch. Drink now–2032 Charles Melton Domaine Sophie Claire Riesling 2024 G 94 While it was never in doubt that winemaking talent runs in the Melton family – Sophie is Charlie and Virginia’s daughter – white wine in the Melton portfolio might have been. Not sure Charlie saw that coming, but seeing the results, he must be delighted (and more than a little proud). This is very pale lemon/lime hue. Beautifully aromatic, this offers aromas of spices, lemon sherbet, florals, citrus, grapefruit and has a finely crafted chalky backing. The limes linger and emerge on the palate. Vibrant acidity, a long and lingering finish and knife-edge balance. Eight to 10 years at the very least. Drink now–2034 Charles Melton Domaine Sophie Claire Red Blend 2022 G 94 An intriguing blend here – Grenache, Shiraz and Riesling. We have a dark cherry red hue. This is quite a savoury style with notes of smoked meats, cloves, aniseed, dried herbs, mulberries and a little dark chocolate. There are firm, ever-so-slightly grainy tannins and bright acidity, while the structure is generous, dense and yet balanced, with very good length. This has at least 10 years of pleasure in its future. Love it. Drink now–2034 Charles Melton The Father-in-Law Shiraz 2022 G 94 Anyone who has ever met Charlie Melton will have no trouble envisaging him telling the story of this wine. Seems Charlie’s father-in-law decided he wanted to plant a vineyard. Charlie thought taking up lawn bowls might have been a better option for his father-in-law, whom he describes as ‘a proud guardian of Teutonic stubbornness’. Needless to say, a vineyard it was and here we have a wine to honour the entire story – all described on the label. Dark crimson magenta in colour, there are notes of warm earth and liquorice here, with a flicker of oak. We have tobacco leaves, spices, leather, soy, beef stock, black fruits and charred meats. This is a more burly style than many of Charlie’s wines, but remains seamless with fine acidity, sleek tannins and very good length. Cigar box and black cherry notes emerge on the palate. Six to 10 years in a good cellar without a hiccough. Drink now–2034 Château Tanunda The Château Shiraz 2022 G 94 Medium-deep crimson. Lovely pure blackberry, dark chocolate aromas with roasted walnut notes. Generously concentrated wine with abundant dark berry fruits, some dark chocolate/red liquorice notes and fine loose-knit chocolaty textures. Some savoury roasted walnut/chicory notes at the finish. 14.9% alc Drink now–2030
Deep crimson. Fresh dark cherry, dark chocolate, touch ferruginous aromas with herb garden, hint liquorice notes. Ample dark berry dark chocolate flavours on the palate with lovely rich savoury firm and sinuous tannins. Finishes chalky/rusty firm with chinotto, hint black olive notes. 14.5% alc Drink now–2034 Barossa Boy Lifeblood Shiraz 2017 G 94 Medium-deep crimson. Complex dark chocolate, roasted almond, baked plum aromas with hints of spice. Generously proportioned and voluminous with deep-set choc-berry fruits, plentiful marzipan, vanilla notes and dense chalky tannins which fan out at the finish. Ripe and expressive. 14% alc Drinking very well now–2028 Bethany LE Reserve Shiraz 2021 G 94 A well-priced flagship Shiraz from the Eden Valley, more specifically a single vineyard from the slopes of the Flaxman Valley, which spent a year-and-a-half in a mix of French oak puncheons and hogsheads, the majority new. The colour is a deep red/maroon. Blackcurrants and raspberries, an intriguing mix of red and black fruits, dried herbs, a hint of graphite, spices, well integrated oak and a hint of gum leaves are all swirling around the nose. Good acidity and decent length, the wine has refinement and finesse with fine grained, almost cushiony tannins. A fine Shiraz which will provide pleasure for at least the next eight to 12 years. Drink now–2036 Biscay Road Barossa Shiraz 2022 G 94 The Biscay Road vineyard is 64 acres of prime Barossa grapes, situated at Tanunda/ Bethany. The wine, from a stellar vintage, spent 18 months in French oak puncheons and is really cracking value. A deep, dark inky maroon, the nose exhibits notes of plums, chocolate, mocha, cassis, delicatessen meats, leather and warm earth – all those delicious Barossa-y things. Quintessential Barossa Shiraz which would put many at twice the price to shame. Supple but mouthcoating tannins, balanced, saturated in flavour and with a long finish. Just gorgeous. Eight to 10 years. Drink now–2034 Brothers at War Nothing In Common Riesling 2024 G 94 Pale colour, straw hue. Fragrant lemon, lime, bath salts, guava, pink grapefruit and hint of elderflower. A linear, fresh wine with excellent concentration – pure lemon, lime carried by coiled acidity. A wine of poise and lovely freshness bound by appealing phenolic structure. 11.5% alc Drink now–2036
98
The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus
South Australia 2024
99
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