Cooke Brothers Pinot Noir Pinot Noir 2023
G 94
A winemaker-driven style with 1/3 whole bunch fruit, and spending seven months in French puncheons, 40% new. Who knows where all that wood went, as it’s disappeared up inside some decent, mid-dark cherry and berry, before reappearing as a total compression of savoury and fruit. Quite a compelling style. 13% alc Drink now–2034 DAOSA Natural Reserve Sparkling VI G 94 A Piccadilly Valley Pinot Noir/Chardonnay/Pinot Meunier cuvée from 2022 (85%) blended with older reserve wines out of oak, the lot further aged before tiraged on lees for 18 months. Complex aromas, a comfy heart of fruit and floral sweetness which carries forward into the palate as the wine’s natural acidity balances the mouthfeel, perks the mousse and refreshes with every sip. Joyful bubbles. 12.9% Traditional method Drink now–2030 Deviation Road Southcote Blanc de Noirs Sparkling 2021 G 94 A single Pinot Noir expression, with the faintest of faint bronze tinges, if you look hard enough! This expression shows a touch of red apple and fresh white fig characters, with tingling acidity and a deal of power in the palate, a fine mousse then allowing its sophisticated finish to linger. 12.5% alc Traditional method. Drink now–2030 First Drop Wines Minchia Montepulciano Montepulciano 2019 G 94 Dark and deeply coloured with ruby edges. Big, rich aromas, dried plum, date, Middle Eastern spice and braised meats. No shirking here, this is a rich and generously built wine in all its flavour constructions, with attendant mouth-filling tannins and acidity to keep its spine upright. Big, spicy, muscly. Best with a hearty tagine-like dish. 14.5% alc Drink now–2030 Hahndorf Hill Benediction Saint Laurent, Blaufrankisch and Zweigelt 2020 G 94 Deep medium crimson with purple hue. Seductive aromas – deep and brooding, fruits of the forest, morello cherries, cracked pepper, pine timber and five spice. A vinous chiaroscuro – the perfect balance of light and dark – tart red fruits abreast of ripe blackberry, Dutch liquorice and graphite. Plush yet poised, there is a beautiful structure to the wine as it wraps itself in a velvet coat of tannin. A sophisticated wine of worldly charm. Drink 2026–2030
South Australia 2024
25
Powered by FlippingBook