Heartland Single Vineyard Shiraz Shiraz 2016
G 94
A heady and opulent Shiraz at eight years of age. Cedar oak and leather at the fore aromatically, followed by earth, soy sauce, desiccated coconut, fig cake, and plum pudding. Time in the glass offers up black liquorice and a welcome savoury note of dried garrigue. The palate is soft and round, ripe and rich with notes mirroring the nose led by ripe plum, coconut, and chocolate. There’s big structure here, with stacked, chocolate tannins and a latent kick of youthful acidity through a long finish. This is very bold and won’t be to everyone’s palate, but you can’t deny its complexity and power. Drink now–2028 Heartland Shiraz Shiraz 2021 G 94 Mulberry and blackberry sit above attractive black pepper spice straight up, with some beetroot and earth to follow. Beautiful cohesion through the aromatics, with a lovely pitch of fruit, spice and earth. The palate is restrained and poised, though intense. Blackberry and mulberry again, with a dusting of pepper and beetroot in tow along with a glimmer of mocha attaching to fine, grainy tannins and an assertive acid line that bursts through the finish to good length. And all of this for $25. Outrageous value. Drink now–2031 Lake Breeze Old Vine Grenache Grenache 2023 G 94 Musk and plum aromas make way for macerated strawberry, raspberry, nutmeg and cinnamon with an underpinning of earth adding depth and complexity. Lovely balanced and inviting aromatics. The palate is bright and lifted, with pops of red cherry, raspberry, strawberry and plum gliding high through the mouth while brown spice dances around the edges. Ribbons of svelte tannins frame the palate and pull length along with waves of red-fruited acidity. This is fine-boned and beautifully balanced. A steal for the money. Drink now–2029 Lake Breeze Arthur’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot 2021 G 94 Bell pepper, bay leaf and cassis sit at the fore of an elegant and restrained aromatic profile, before choc mint, nutmeg and tilled earth emerge to flesh it out. The palate is both restrained and intense. Blackcurrant, cedar, bay leaf and earth with dark chocolate and ground coffee in support. There’s a weave of espresso tannins and juicy blackcurrant acidity providing backbone and dimension through a long and balanced finish. This is complex, classy and elegant. Drink now–2029 Barristers Block Aston Fiano Fiano 2022 G 93 Fresh and bright aromas of white peach, almond, pear and green apple with some salinity in tow. Some nice bitter and savoury notes intermingling with fruit notes led by pear and white peach before a fresh, saline and attractively bitter finish. A lovely and true expression for Fiano. Drink now–2026
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The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus
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