Battle of Bosworth Best of Vintage Shiraz Malbec 2023
d’Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier 2018
G 92
G 92
Purple lilacs and magnolia blooms meet boysenberry and prune plums. Freshly poured tar and pink peppercorns. The vibrant fruit dances on the palate with gravelly tannins and sweet clove and kopi luwak coffee spice. It’s intriguing and decadent without relying on oak or artefact. Seductive stuff. Drink now–2030 Coriole The New Australian Collection Piquepoul 2024 G 92 Grapefruit soda, yuzu, elderflower and green apples. Lemon sherbet salt and almond milk creaminess. This is zesty with poignant salinity that adds a moreishness. Seafood pairing perfection. In the coastal locale of McLaren Vale this is the kind of white wine you should be reaching for on a hot day. Excellent value and, as international Piquepoul goes, a very good example. Drink now–2026 Coriole The New Australian Collection Sangiovese 2023 G 92 Gorgeous red garnet hues. Rosebud, goji berries and fresh pomegranate. Paprika spice and dry autumn leaves. Rosemary and marjoram. Skipping skittles of acidity and driven by powdery but firm tannins. Excellent value and representative of the true shape of Sangiovese. Drink now–2038 Coriole Rubato Fiano 2023 G 92 Yellow stone fruits, winter melon and lemon skin. A wealth of pulpy citrus acidity and undertones of pineapple core, apricots and nutmeg. Long and flavourful, this is showing the multi-dimensions of Fiano with rich body and style. Drink now–2028 d’Arenberg The Sun Surfer Fiano 2024 G 92 This Fiano bursts out of the gate with fresh pineapple, yellow guava and tropical brekkie juice. A squirt of lemon, a dash of lime. A powdery talc freshness. It has an orchard apple aroma and then continues to add an array of fruit along the palate trail. A skerrick of fruit sweetness is complemented by its long line of acidity and sea spray zing. It’s a wine that is very well handled and delivers a sense of McLaren Vale charm and sass. Drink now–2026 d’Arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne 2023 G 92 I’ve always remembered my first moment of tasting the Hermit Crab: it tasted of apricots, peach melba and was, in essence, Flavour Town central. Today, that still rings true. This vintage also shows lily and gardenia florals with creamed honey and lanolin. Its richness is balanced by a dollop of acidity that pulls in the billowy puffs that Viognier can display. It’s rounded in its mouthfeel without being warm in alcohol. I hope this wine tasting memory stays with you, as it has done me. Drink now–2026
A coil of red fruit supported by boysenberry and plums. Here, after six years’ bottle age, we see the wine relaxed into its oak foundations and still showing quince paste and redcurrant brightness. Sappy tannins suck and pull at the long line of acidity; this is in a drinking window that many collectors prize. A grainy cedar note layered with red bean, carob and cinnamon quill. The heady spices are enthralling. Drink now d’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 G 92 Blackberries, mulberry leaf and tea tree. The wine has hit its straps and is showing its worldly wisdom. Cassis has mellowed into blackberry wine gums; sandalwood and leather varnish showcase the tight grain of oak beneath. It’s full-blooded and bold, but for the handy price you have a wine with plenty of detail and nuance. Value. Drink now d’Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings GSM 2019 G 92 Red cherries, autumn leaves and ironbark. Old Gold chocolate studded with raisins and nuts. There are plenty of savoury cured meats notes too. A confectionary store of lolly frogs and raspberries. Everything here is dialled up and powdery, but firm tannins make it a kitchen sink of a wine. You name it, it’s got it. Not shy in coming forward, this is ideal for that hard-to-buy-for person – if they like red wine, they’ll
love this. Drink now Grant Nash Vitamin G Grenache 2023
G 92
1941 Bush Vine Grenache shows dried Chinese date, rhubarb stem and tangelo citrus. Barley, orange oil and raspberry. A wealth of running acidity and fine, powdery tannins. The wine sips and slides across your tongue. A touch of sumac, nutmeg verging on cola spice on the finish. There is a sweet and sour spice like the Hawaiian Li Hing Mui sprinkled over chunks of mango. Savoury, mouth-watering
and addictive. Drink now–2026 Haselgrove Wines Vine Sean Grenache 2024
G 92
Vine Sean (meaning Old Vine) is a potpourri of pretty delicate purple florals: pansy, lilac and lavender. There is a shade of blackberry and plenty of mulberry and fig. Maple leaf, black tea and black sesame nuttiness. The palate is bright with lively acidity and a grip of upfront tannins. Sappy cherry liqueur is the final note. Lots going on here and maturation allows the fruit to shine. Drink now–2028
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The Vintage Journal – Regional Focus
South Australia 2024
275
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