Sorby Adams Lassell Grenache 2021
Juno GSM 2023
G 90
G 90
The blend here is Grenache dominant, supported by Shiraz and some Mataro, sourced from across the Barossa. A deep garnet hue, this is quite an earthy, savoury style with notes of animal skins, red fruits, liquorice, mulberries and cherries. There are firm tannins here with good concentration throughout and a lingering finish. Slightly muscular in structure. For drinking over the next five to six years. Drink now–2030 Orlando Wines Printz Shed Shiraz 2022 G 90 Deep crimson. Intense choco-berry fruits with hints of aniseed/liquorice. Generously flavoured wine with abundant dark berry, dark chocolate flavours, some cedar notes and fine loose-knit tannins. Drink now–soon Pepperjack Sangiovese 2022 G 90 A fresh and flavoursome version of Tuscany’s famous grape, Sangiovese, which hails from a range of local regions, the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Padthaway. The colour is a deep garnet, while the nose offers traditional notes of raspberries, aniseed, dried herbs, cherries and spices. A hint of warm earth lingers towards the finish. A wine with good focus, there are sleek tannins and gentle grip with a lingering finish. Enjoy over the next two to four years. Drink now–2028 Saltram Winemaker’s Selection Semillon 2023 G 90 Try as one might, Semillon from anywhere in Australia will be compared to Semillon from the Hunter Valley – patently unfair as they are simply different. Barossa Sem deserves to be judged on its own merits and this one would do well. The grapes used here hail from a Centenarian vineyard – planted in 1919 – located between Rowland Flat and Lyndoch, so it is hardly a newcomer to the scene. Quite a pale lemon hue here, this is delightfully aromatic with notes of dry herbals, spices, minerals, grapefruits and nettles. A wine with focus and energy and an appealing supple texture. It is of medium length and will drink well for at least the next two to four years, but more than likely will surprise and go much longer. Drink now–2028 Seppeltsfield Vermentino 2024 G 90 Along with Fiano, Vermentino is the variety from outside the mainstream most likely to make a positive impression. Future generations will see it as a grape as popular as some of those prominent today. Fermentation was in stainless steel, but bâtonnage (the stirring of the yeast lees) was utilised to ensure complexity and texture. The colour here is the palest lemon hue. The nose offers us a melange of florals, crisp pears, citrus, minerals and a slight chalky backing. This is neatly balanced and is a wine with energy and focus. A fine savoury style which should provide ample pleasure over the next two to four years. Think of opening a bottle with a dish of fresh seafood. Drink now–2028
Medium crimson. Musky plum, raspberry, nutmeg, vanilla, walnut aromas with a hint of wax polish. Generously flavoured wine with plentiful dark plum, raspberry pastille sweet vanilla notes and loose-knit tannins. Builds up firm at the finish with a touch of carob. 15% alc Drink now–2028 Sorby Adams Jellicoe Riesling 2024 G 90 Pale colour – almost translucent. Lifted bath salts, lemon curd, pear drops, tonic water/musk and hints of orange blossom. Pear drops, musk, orange blossom with mid-palate fullness and a creamy finish carried by mineral length. 11.5% alc Drink now–2030 Sorby Adams Margret Pinot Grigio 2024 G 90 Pale watery white. Lifted bouquet of ripe pear, pear drop, green apple. Fresh and crisp, offering good mid-palate intensity and weight. Attractive creamy mouthfeel and green apple intensity to the finish. Hints of pear drop at the end. 12.5% alc Drink now–2025 St Hallett Wines Garden of Eden Shiraz 2022 G 90 Deep crimson. Fresh blackberry, mocha, hint liquorice, sage aromas. Sweet and generous with inky deep blackberry fruits, chocolaty tannins and underlying espresso notes. Grippy, touch leafy firm at the finish. 14.5% alc Drink now–soon
Yalumba Vine Vale Grenache Blanc 2024
G 90
The sight of a bottle of Aussie Grenache Blanc is rarer than finding an honest politician, but the team at Yalumba have a hectare of the stuff in their famous Tri- Centenary vineyard. The opportunity to try this rarity will excite many winelovers, and they are likely to return as it is such an enjoyable drink. A cool ferment, in tank with wild yeasts, ensures we see the best of the aromas come forth. Very pale straw in colour, there are attractive aromas here with stone fruits, especially hints of peach, dry herbs, nuts, bergamot and even a whiff of fennel. Fresh and elegant with a fine line of acidity, the wine is of medium length and should drink well for the next three to four years. Drink now–2028
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The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus
South Australia 2024
165
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