Schubert Estate The Hatchling Shiraz 2020
Tim Smith Bugalugs Blanc White Blend 2024
G 91
G 91
Deep crimson. Dark cherry, black olive, hint walnut aromas. Well concentrated dark cherry, mulberry fruits, persistent chewy textures and some cedar, walnut, liquorice/aniseed notes. 14.8% alc Drink now–2028 Schwarz Wine Co. Meta Grenache Blanc 2023 G 91 Clear colour, straw hue. Gently aromatic, ripe stone fruit, honeydew, apricot and hints of orange blossom. Luscious and well concentrated; the palate mirrors with layers of flavour and a hint of butterscotch spice. Good length and a nice touch of grip to finish. 13.1% alc Drink 2025–2029 St Hugo Wines Shiraz 2022 G 91 Deep crimson. Lifted raspberry, dark cherry aromas with hint of graphite. Inky deep and sinuous with attractive red and dark berry fruits and supple/slinky tannins. Very attractive density, vigour and flow. Minerally firm at the finish. Drink now–
This is a combo we don’t often see, at least locally – Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Roussanne. Previous incarnations have seen Clairette in the blend, but it failed to make the cut this vintage. The aim is a textural style of wine with flavour. Deep yellow, there is quite a chalky and minerally texture here. Older drinkers might recall cleaning the chalk from the blackboard at school, along with some citrus and saline notes. The wine steps up on the palate and we have touches of lemon curd and peach skins, with good acidity on a lengthy and balanced finish. There is pleasure to be had here for at least the next four to six years. This is one of those wines that, if you are not careful, you could find yourself enjoying more of than you thought you
might. Drink now–2030 Welland Valley & Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
G 91
The Valley & Valley series looks to fruit from both the Barossa and Eden Valleys. This Barossa Cab saw a year in French oak for maturation. Dark red/maroon, it offers spices, red fruits, tobacco leaves, aniseed, cherries and florals on the nose, with a touch of gentle oak. The palate sees a move to plums, a flick of blueberries and cherry pie notes, with a core of sweet black cherries. Finely balanced, the wine has focus and energy and a lingering finish with sleek tannins. For enjoying over the next six to 10 years. Drink now–2034 Yalumba Barossa Grenache Rosé 2024 G 91 Delicious Rosé from a variety which seems ideally suited to the style, although it is ideally suited to a number of styles. Pale neon pink hue, there are those alluring aromas of strawberries and cream, along with gentle florals, orange blossoms, and red fruits. This is quite an elegant style of Rosé with the palate moving to juicy flavours, notably raspberries. There is decent length here and the wine will drink well for at least the next three to four years. Drink now–2028 Atze’s Corner Indulgent Grenache 2023 G 90 Medium-deep crimson. Lifted raspberry, red liquorice, cured meat and hints of cola and earth. Smooth with well-concentrated raspberry pastille, mulberry, strawberry and plentiful fine chalky tannins. Bittersweet notes and juicy acidity. 14% alc Drink now–2026 Atze’s Corner Bachelor Shiraz 2021 G 90 Deep crimson. Glossy and vibrant wine with fresh black olive, dark berry aromas and flavours, loose-knit chocolaty/gravelly tannins and well-balanced fresh acidity. Touch sweet at the finish. 14.5% alc Drink now–in a while
keep for a while St Hugo Wines Riesling 2024
G 91
Almost clear colour. Fragrant lime, pear, verbena with hints of jasmine and passionfruit. Indelible acidity of pure lime, lemon, faint herbal flavour with a mineral drive on the finish. A pleasantly balanced wine in a refreshing style. 11% alc Drink now–2031 St Hugo Wines Chardonnay 2023 G 91 Pale golden straw colour. Fresh lifted lemon, lime with abundant stone fruit, hints of cashew and gun smoke. Gentle layers of citrus, stone fruit, cashew, nougat and well-placed oak. Acidity is well integrated, carried by a creamy, spiced-laden finish. 13% alc Drink now–2030 Tim Smith Viognier 2024 G 91 Eden Valley is the home for the vineyards providing the fruit for this classy version of Viognier. Whole bunches are pressed straight to a mix of older and new barrels for six months maturation, with a wild ferment and no malo. What is intriguing is that the oak is a mix of French and Hungarian. Burnished gold, this is delightfully aromatic while refraining from morphing into one of those over-the-top apricot bombs. There are hints of apricots, but all is in moderation, along with peaches, ginger and florals. Plush and velvety in structure, there is good concentration and a flick of acidity running the length. The wine has persistence and a lingering finish. You’ll pay much more for Viognier of far less quality than this one. Should be terrific drinking for the next three to four years. Drink now–2028
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The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus
South Australia 2024
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