HENTLEY FARM H-BLOCK BAROSSA VALLEY 2016
96 POINTS // $175
A beautifully succulent, bright and fragrant blend that leads out with the aromatic violet lift and blackcurrant crunch of Cabernet and rolls into the glossy, black voluptuousness of Shiraz. It all coasts harmoniously into a very long finish, perfectly guided by fine tannin structure and focused acid freshness, the signature of the coolest pocket on the banks of Greenock Creek, defining one of the finest wines ever to emerge from the hallowed halls of Hentley Farm.
hentleyfarm.com.au
PEWSEY VALE THE CONTOURS EDEN VALLEY RIESLING MUSEUM RELEASE 2013
95 POINTS // $38
From a vibrant straw hue to tense lemon and lime fruit, this is a wonderfully enduring contours with a long life before it. Wisps of candle smoke and grilled toast hint at an endearing air of reduction, while bottle age has built buttered toast complexity. The finish is where this wine truly soars, at once high tensile and energetic and at the same time oh so long. Patience.
pewseyvale.com
HENSCHKE JOHANN’S GARDEN BAROSSA VALLEY 2016
94 POINTS // $56
A beautiful vintage for Johann’s that presents the depth of blackberry and cassis fruit, the tang of morello cherries and the spicy overlay of sarasaparilla. Vibrant acid drive unites seamlessly with confident, fine tannins on a long and seamless finish.
henschke.com.au
HEGGIES VINEYARD EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2017
93 POINTS // $26
A wonderfully precise and honed Heggies that is evolving in slow motion from the crunchy lime and white nectarine of youth, to the faint beginnings of subtle honeysuckle, fruit mince spice and toast of bottle age. It carries with impressive line and length, promising great things in the coming decade and beyond.
heggiesvineyard.com
ST HUGO EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2018
93 POINTS // $40
Pale straw with a pretty luminescent green tint, this is a wine that rises above the ripe, phenolic grip that dogged the 2018 season in Eden Valley, ascending to a plane of tension, purity and endurance. It’s tightly coiled and reticent, clutching its taut lemon and granny smith apple fruit close, laced with clove spice, honed with a razor line of focused yet ripe acidity that beckons for time to unwind.
sthugo.com
TURKEY FLAT GRENACHE 2017
95 POINTS // $40
The grand 100+ year old vines of the Turkey Flat vineyard have never looked more dignified, streamlined and honed back to racing spec. It takes micro-engineering fanaticism to highlight fragrance and spice before juicy fruit; texture and finesse before generosity,
and seductive allure before hedonistic impact. Mark Bulman has not only pulled this off, he’s demonstrated emphatically that his 2016 was no one hit Jimmy Watson wonder.
GLAETZER ANAPERENNA BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2016
95 POINTS // $52
A masterclass in the brilliance of 16% Ebenezer Cabernet in lifting the fragrance, structure and acid line of gloriously glossy Shiraz to wonderful elevations of violet fragrance and enticing black cherry glory. Supple, fine, intricately polished Glaetzer tannins mark out a long, juicy and joyous finish. A broad-shouldered Olympian in a perfectly tailored suit.
YALUMBA THE VIRGILIUS EDEN VALLEY VIOGNIER 2017
95 POINTS // $48
The culmination of 35 years of fanatical attention to detail in taming this flamboyant variety is on parade here. Dignified yet multi-faceted, calm yet determined, structured yet seamless, this is a wine of intricate engineering and grand longevity that now rightfully ranks among the great Viogniers of the world.
HEGGIES VINEYARD ESTATE BOTRYTIS RIESLING 2017
94 POINTS // $27
Fresh, succulent and tangy, this is a Botrytis that marries voluptuous, juicy generosity with magnificent citrus freshness and glorious acid drive that defines a finish of excellent line and length. A great Heggies Bortrytis, irresistible now and with loads of potential.
HENTLEY FARM VON KASPER CABERNET SAUVIGNON BAROSSA VALLEY 2016
94 POINTS // $90
This single vineyard on the banks of Greenock Creek has given birth to a beautifully authentic Barossa Cabernet, laced with hallmark blackcurrant and cassis fruit that rises in time to violet aromas. Sensitively massaged tannins build a fine web of structure, gently supported by dark chocolate oak. The result is confidently full-bodied while upholding tension, tang, persistence and beauty.
TURKEY FLAT BAROSSA VALLEY GRENACHE ROSÈ
92 POINTS // $21
I have long loved TFR and Mark Bulman has elevated it to an all new plateau. It’s finely structured, fragrantly aromatic, refreshingly textured, juicy and tangy all at the same time. Here’s proof that elegant Rosé isn’t all about Pinot and Sangiovese – Grenache from ye olde guarde can confidently play at this cunning game, too.
TURKEY FLAT BUTCHER’S BLOCK RED BLEND 2017
92 POINTS // $21
The embodiment of modern Barossa SGM, uniting the juicy persona of classic old vines with the crunchy tang of an al dente harvest and the fragrant, herbal lift of strategically deployed whole bunch fermentation. The result is playfully enticing, bucket loads of fun and eminently tapas-ready.
GLAETZER BISHOP BY BEN GLAETZER BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ 2016
92 POINTS // $33
An exact, modern take on the exuberance of Ebenezer, from vines between 35 and 120 years of age, packed with juicy, succulent blackberries, black cherries and satsuma plums. Crafted with exacting Glaetzer polish and gloss, it’s framed in supple tannins and perfectly integrated, dark chocolate oak.
ST HALLETT EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2017
91 POINTS // $20
From a single block of particularly aromatic Riesling, this is a medium sweet style of classic Eden Valley lemon and lime, with a lift of fragrant pink apple perfume and subtle guava complexity from a touch of co-fermented Gewürztraminer. It finishes clean and lively, having held excellent acid tension and drive.
DUTSCHKE UNCLE SHIRAZ CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT 2016
91 POINTS // $25
Wayne Dutschke has reinvented his historic WillowBend blend as a tribute to his uncle and grape grower, Ken Semmler. It contrasts the depth and succulence of blackberry and satsuma plum fruit with the brightness of southern Barossa acidity and the structure of finely crafted tannins. This is the wine to drink while everything else in his stable rests in the cellar.
HAYE’S FAMILY WINES SAM’S GRENACHE 2018
90 POINTS // $26
Signature northern Barossa Grenache that captures all the flamboyant appeal of Ebenezer and Koonunga in bright raspberry and juicy wild strawberry fruits, toned with finely structured tannins that support a succulent finish. Eminently BBQ ready.
HENTLEY FARM BLACK BEAUTY SPARKLING SHIRAZ NV
90 POINTS // $62
The crunch of deep, dark Barossa Shiraz is heightened by the firm, grainy tannins of a significant spell in more than one-third new oak, making for a structured style that calls for plenty of time to soften. Its bright fruit definition carries long on the finish, furnishing the
stamina to go the distance.
ROGERS & RUFUS GRENACHE OF BAROSSA ROSÈ 2018
89 POINTS // $22
Unashamedly at the pale extreme of the Rosé spectrum, this is a light-bodied style of subtle strawberry hull character, tangy acidity and fine structure. If you love super elegant Rosé, as far from Barbi pink juice as could possibly be conceived, this is your wine.
YALUMBA THE SCRIBBLER CABERNET SAUVIGNON SHIRAZ 2014
89 POINTS // $23
Four-and-a-half years of age has coaxed out a gamey complexity to the Scribbler, while retaining its vibrant acidity and crunchy, firm tannin web. It holds the potential to build complexity for a few more years yet.
HENTLEY FARM BLANC DE NOIR 2018
89 POINTS // $27.50
With a pale, bright salmon pink blush, this is a young, tank-fermented sparkling that celebrates the fragrance and juiciness of young Grenache and Pinot, while upholding impressive delicacy and tension unexpected for such a blend from the Barossa. A young and precocious style built around a surprising blend of equal parts Grenache and Pinot Noir with ten percent Chardonnay.
♦♦♦
