SA Wine Guide 2025

Murray Street Grenache Mataro Shiraz 2021

Pepperjack Red Blend 2023

G 92

G 92

An intriguing wine from the Barossa, just dubbed Red Blend, with no clues as to the actual varieties used here. The colour is a purple/maroon and the nose exhibits some alluring floral notes, violets, chocolate, cassis, soy and miso, with a pleasing dusting of cocoa powder. There is good focus and balance with a lingering finish and sleek tannins. Enjoy this now and for the next five to six years. The blend may remain a mystery, but the wine is definitely worth drinking. Drink now–2030 Pewsey Vale Vineyard Prima Riesling Riesling 2024 G 92 Subtle aromas lead into this wine that has a definite lean towards sweetness, rather than what might usually go for an ‘off-dry’ expression. The wine has lovely candied citrus flavour with a tangy palate zing as a counter-point. Has a place in the many

The famous Rhone blend done Barossa style. The fruit is sourced from three blocks of Grenache, the oldest dating back to 1920, with single blocks of the other varieties. The final blend was Grenache 66%, Mataro 25% and Shiraz 9%. The wine spent nine months maturing, 70% of it in old French oak puncheons, before a final three months in stainless steel. Deep magenta colour, the wine is delightfully ripe with notes of leather, warm earth, animal hides, cloves and black fruits. There is a supple texture through to abundant but quite fine, mouthcoating tannins. There is excellent length here. This is a red more burly than elegant, but it is full of flavour. The palate sees a move to cold tea and chocolate notes. Enjoy this for the next eight to 10 years. Drink now–2034 Murray Street Cabernet Shiraz 2021 G 92 The great Aussie red blend from a superb vintage, the split here is 65% Cabernet and 35% Shiraz. The source was six discrete blocks at Greenock. After fermentation, the fruit was basket pressed to tank for a couple of days before it was placed in French oak hogsheads and barriques (8% new) for 16 months. The colour at this early stage is inky maroon. The nose exhibits notes of blackberries, aniseed, leather, smoked meats, warm earth, cloves and bay leaves. An appealingly supple texture with fine tannins, good balance and a good line of acidity. There is decent length here, with a persistent finish. It will drink well for at least the next six to eight years. Drink now–2032 Orlando Wines Bungalow Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 G 92 Deep crimson. Vibrant black cherry, cigar-like aromas with graphite notes. Inky deep and pure fruited with fresh black cherry, blueberry flavours, sinuous and plentiful al dente tannins and underlying savoury notes. Very good energy and persistency, but best as an early drinking style. Drink now–keep for a while. Paisley Turntable GSM 2022 G 92 A lovely example of the famous Rhone blend, with 49% Grenache, 33% Shiraz and 18% Mataro. The latter two varieties are from the southern end of the Barossa, while the Shiraz hails from Angaston in the Eden Valley. The Grenache vines exceed 80 years of age. An opaque maroon hue, the nose exhibits notes of black fruits, cassis, chocolate, leather and earth, plums and blackcurrants. The structure here is seamless and generous, with satiny tannins and impressive length while the palate sees strong chocolatey notes emerging. This is a delicious drink for enjoying now and over the next four or five years. Drink now–2029

ways Riesling can shine. Drink now–2028 Pine Drive Vineyards The Pine Drive Shiraz 2021

G 92

Deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, dark plum aromas with dark chocolate/carob notes. Generously concentrated wine with deep-set juicy dark cherry, dark plum, dark chocolate flavours and fine grippy textures. Claret firm finish, sturdy structure but attractive volume and flow. 14.5% alc Drink now–2028 Poonawatta Four Corners Shiraz 2021 G 92 Medium-deep crimson. Fresh dark plum black olive hint meaty aromas and flavours, fine loose-knit chalky tannins and underlying flinty notes. Finishes firm and tight. Drink now–2030 Poonawatta Four Gardens of Eden Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 G 92 The concept of the Four Corners wines is that top-notch fruit is sourced from the four corners of the Eden Valley. The parcels are made discretely and aged for over a year and a half before blending. A deep, dark blood red hue, this is quite a savoury style. Earthy touches, charry notes, some toasty oak evident, black fruits, leather, tobacco leaves, cloves and smoked meats. A muscular wine with notes of liquorice and chocolate coming to the fore on the palate. There are fine but firm tannins with very good length. Leave this for the next three to four years, and then drink for the following 10, over which period the score will surely rise. Drink now–2034

148

The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus

South Australia 2024

149

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