Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling 2024
G 92
Cordon cut – vines cut when fruit is ripe, allowing the grapes to raisin and gain an intense sweetness – is not for the faint-hearted vigneron. Green-yellow bright hues. Lovely fragrant scent in white flowers, lemon drop, lime, lemon sorbet and musk. Combines crystalised fruit sweetness with a vivid acidity, so clean, as flavours build with an added layer of gentle spiciness. Fresh, delicate and silky sweet. Drink now–2029
Pikes Il Premio Sangiovese 2022
G 92
Not your usual sweet-fruited Aussie charmer but considerably more serious in style, where sour cherry, bitter almond notes and an astringent dryness bring a little more Italian-like styling to the grape. So, too, its ability – its need – to be enjoyed with food. Sour cherry, red cherry, marjoram, thyme, pepper and an earthy leafiness. Acidity is keen, tannins are savoury, and the fruit remains enhanced by almond skin bitterness, and that’s where a little more time comes into the picture. It would love some. Drink now–2032 Pikes The E.W.P. Shiraz 2022 G 92 A tightly coiled youngster, fine featured and restrained. Dusty briar and acacia notes are a grounding for black cherry, plum, blueberry and Dutch liquorice with gentle cedary oak. Medium weighted with a nice spicy element running free across the palate, E.W.P. is coated in fine, chalky tannins. Upright in structure and remains pretty tight – would love some more time in bottle. Drink now–2034 Skillogalee Riesling 2024 G 92 All the things citrus, Granny Smith apple, some talc, a touch of ginger, freshly cut grass and a mineral undertone. A pure, chiselled palate with focus, precision and extreme drinkability. It’s a giver. Drink now–2036 Skillogalee Basket Press Shiraz 2022 G 92 There is enough juicy meat on the bones of this wine, with its grilled bacon fat, white pepper, poised violet, spearmint, liquorice, milk chocolate, black cherry and plum fruit. A medium-bodied wine with enough oomph of flavours that will reward in
the short term. Drink now–2030 Sussex Squire Thomas Block Shiraz 2023
G 92
Packed with plum, forest fruits, spice, earth, dusty cacao and a lasting, memorable layer of Aussie bush scents and flavours culminating in a warm and familiar menthol, gum leafiness, the Thomas Block Shiraz is everything you want and expect from a Clare Valley Shiraz. It’s super friendly, approachable, doesn’t try too hard, but simply impresses with its effortless delivery of flavours and integrated oak. There’s plenty to like here. Drink now–2030
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The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus
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