HAYES FAMILY WINES VINEYARD SERIES EBENEZER SHIRAZ 2016

94 POINTS // $60

The power and might of this single block high in the hills of Ebenezer in the northern Barossa effortlessly swallows up 20 months in a new French puncheon. It has emerged a deep black purple, rippling with density of black fruits, black pastilles and coal dust. A wine for lovers of the full impact of the northern Barossa, yet with line, length, finely structured tannins and balance to support it.

hayesfamilywines.com

 

 

ST HUGO BAROSSA GRENACHE SHIRAZ MATARO 2016

93 POINTS // $58

The St Hugo team have targeted a fresher, crisper and more crunchy style through earlier picking and more whole bunches in the ferment. The result frames pretty berry fruits in savoury spice. A change in the Shiraz parcel has produced a beautifully fine-boned style of well-defined tannins.

sthugo.com

 

 

 

JACOB’S CREEK BUNGALOW LANE BAROSSA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2013

93 POINTS // $82

A classic Barossa Shiraz that unites density with definition, packed with blackcurrant and blackberry fruit and layers of dark chocolate French oak, structured with firm, fine and slightly furry tannin structure. Built for the long-haul, it has the tension and frame to
go the distance.

jacobscreek.com

 

 

  

PAISLEY WINES CLURICHAUN SINGLE VINEYARD BAROSSA VALLEY MATARO 2016

93 POINTS // $45

Derek Fitzgerald intended to blend this Mataro from a single site in the south of the Barossa, but couldn’t resist keeping it aside when he saw the quality of the fruit. The fruit integrity  more than endorses his decision and he’s done a masterful job of upholding red fruit brightness, mixed spice complexity, even notes of sarsaparilla, beautifully framed in refined tannins and lingering long with bright acid line.

paisleywines.com.au

 

 

EDEN HALL EDEN VALLEY RESERVE RIELSING 2017

93 POINTS // $35

A beautifully refined Eden Valley Riesling of lifted kaffir lime spice that captures the mood of the cool, slow-ripening 2017 season in focused lime and granny smith apple fruit, nuanced with a ripeness and fragrant exotic lift reminiscent of pink lady apple. It holds itself with impressive line and length, with the immediately approachable ripeness of the vintage contrasting a structure
of stamina.

edenhall.com.au

 

 

 

ST HALLETT MATSCHOSS SINGLE VINEYARD EDEN VALLEY SHIRAZ 2016

93 POINTS // $55

From the top of Mengler’s Hill, the highest vineyard from which St Hallett sources, this is a characterful and structured style for lovers of Eden Valley Shiraz. It’s tangy and bright, proudly proclaiming its cool altitude credentials in herbal notes and grippy, fine tannins and great length and focus that promise enduring potential.

sthallett.com.au

 

 

 

ST HALLETT OLD VINE GRENACHE 2016

93 POINTS // $30

There is fragrance and elegance here of wild strawberry and raspberry fruit, within a style of spice and dried herbs. Bright acidity well supports tannins of fine structure. 40% whole bunch sits comfortably and lifts the spice and tannin grip, while upholding a refined and restrained style. It finishes long and well balanced.

sthallett.com.au

 

 

 

HAYES FAMILY WINES BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ 2016

92 POINTS // $35

The historic Willandra vineyard on the banks of Jacob’s Creek infuses hints of peat, horseradish and smoke, which add layers of complexity to plush and rich old vine fruit. It’s wrapped gently in beautifully refined old vine tannins and nuances of mixed spice, Christmas cake and prunes. Structurally, it’s silky, supple and effortless, with great persistence and confidence, enticing now, though promising great potential.

hayesfamilywines.com

 

 


GRANT BURGE MESHACH BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2012

95 POINTS // $175

Deep in colour yet vibrant in hue, the distinguished 2012 season has given birth to a Meshach of brooding power, surging with black fruits of all kinds, black pastilles, liquorice and dark chocolate, underlined by the gamey complexity of two years maturation in oak barrels. Firm, fine tannins draw out a finish of great line and length. Signature Barossa Shiraz and benchmark Meshach.


PEWSEY VALE THE CONTOURS EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2012

95 POINTS // $38

The great 2012 season in Eden Valley is tracking with pristine determination at six years of age, upholding the tension of pure lime and lemon that defined its youth, and ever so slowly building the personality of honeyed toast, spice and roast nuts. It has barely embarked on its secondary journey, and its magnificent, taut yet ripe acidity and stunning line and length promise a profound future.


MESH CLASSIC RELEASE EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2012

95 POINTS // $38

The calibre of the 2012 season in the esteem of Robert Hill-Smith and Jeffrey Grosset is evidenced in their first ever rerelease of Mesh. Five years of bottle age has built wonderful depth of toasty, spicy, roast almond complexity while doing nothing to diminish the laser line and lemon and lime tension of this great vintage. For all it represents, it’s a bargain.


GRANT BURGE SHADRACH BAROSSA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010

94 POINTS // $92

The spectacular 2010 season has delivered a Barossa Cabernet of well-tempered ripeness, upholding  blackcurrant and capsicum varietal integrity and framing it in the supple, succulent generosity of the Barossa. At eight years of age, the gamey, pan juice and roast capsicum personality of maturity adds a layer of intrigue. Fine tannins remain confidently poised, promising medium-term potential.


PEWSEY VALE EDEN VALLEY 1961 BLOCK RIESLING 2012

94 POINTS // $32

A new release to commemorate the 170th anniversary of Riesling at Pewsey Vale, from a ‘dress circle’ block in this grand, historic site, this is a riesling layered with considerable depth of old vine presence, and amplified texture of slatey Eden Valley minerality. It juxtaposes cool, high acid tension with the generosity of the season. In undeviating line and determined length, this is a Riesling force to be reckoned with.


TURKEY FLAT BUTCHER’S BLOCK SHIRAZ 2016

93 POINTS // $25

Welcome to the new age of Barossa Shiraz, where early-picked freshness and characterful pepper and spice rule! Maker Mark Bulman was concerned his brand new release might be chastised for not being sufficiently ‘Barossa’. To the contrary, he’s captured a regional and varietal integrity too often masked by alcohol and oak. Modern palates want more Barossa Shiraz of such delightful refinement.


ROCKFORD ROD & SPUR SHIRAZ CABERNET 2014

93 POINTS // $36

Bright, crunchy Cabernet leaves a more pronounced impression than its one-third inclusion might suggest, well meshed with the spice and succulent berry fruits of Shiraz, freshened with lively acidity and nicely textured, super fine tannins. A blend of length and vibrancy, promising strong ageing potential.


HENSCHKE KEYNETON EUPHONIUM 2013

93 POINTS // $60

A well-crafted wine that utilises the fragrance and structure of more Cabernet, Merlot and Cabernet Franc than usual to balance this warm season. The result is a wine of violet fragrance, crunchy dark berry fruits and a firm, grainy chassis of tannin structure. Four years of maturity has brought subtle gamey, savoury complexity that carries through a long finish.


MESH EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2017

93 POINTS // $30

A fragrant apple blossom and white pepper bouquet and steely lime juice, granny smith and talc palate tone the exuberance and exotic quince notes of the season.
It concludes with a wonderful juxtaposition of tension and concentration, carrying with great line and length. A standout of the season, and it will be among the longer lived.


CHARLES MELTON GRAINS OF PARADISE 2015

93 POINTS // $76

Charlie Melton’s more traditional, American-oaked Barossa Shiraz is full of black plum and black cherry fruits, backed with layers of savoury spice and milk chocolate. It’s a supple and approachable style of well-textured, fine-grained tannins and a long and plush finish.


CHARLES MELTON NINE POPES 2015

93 POINTS // $86

Charlie Melton aspires to smoothness in his signature blend and the great 2015 season has given birth to a particularly plush and supple rendition. He had tactically deployed a touch of Mataro from the top of Mengler’s Hill to lend a savoury, herbal garrigue-like complexity
to counter its juicy and sweet feel. It finishes with a Long, effortless glide.


TORBRECK BAROSSA VALLEY ROUSSANNE 2017

91 POINTS // $49

This zesty young Roussanne exuberantly declares Ian Hongell’s arrival at Torbreck, beautifully juxtaposing fresh, wild lemons with exotic nashi pear and star fruit complexity. Exclusively from the 1994 planted Descendant vineyard, this is a finely textured and elegant style of finesse and class rarely seen in this variety.


 

 

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