Henschke Hill of Grace 2012
99 Points // $825
There is an effortless, calm, indeed graceful purity to this vintage that captures the essence of this historic and celebrated site. A grand, expansive complexity juxtaposes restraint and elegance. Dark chocolate, the classic Chinese fine spice of Hill of Grace and a sage leaf note true to 2012 are laced together with gorgeously silky tannins. It’s approachable and irresistible now, but don’t underestimate the grand longevity of this season.
Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling 2016
94 Points // $25
This is a delightful season for this brilliant and underrated vineyard, fragrant, elegant and pristine, uniting delicacy and purity with impeccable varietal definition of granny smith apple and lime blossom, underscored by the flinty mineral definition that traces the signature of the Eden Valley.
St Hallett Eden Valley Riesling 2012
94 Points // $30
A tiny release of just 120 dozen, held in tank for four years at 12 degrees to uphold fragrant, primary freshness, this is a remarkable aged Riesling that captures the alluring palate softness of maturity with nothing of the secondary complexity of age. You’d never guess it was five years old.
Turkey Flat Vineyards Barossa Valley White 2016
93 Points // $25
Capturing Barossa floor Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier with fragrant elegance and refreshing finesse calls for quite some wizardry, particularly in the presence of extended skin contact and partial new oak maturation. Turkey Flat has achieved all this with masterful execution, while showcasing the distinctive texture and complexity of these varietals.
Magpie Estate ‘The Tight Cluster’ Sparkling Shiraz 2012
90 Points // $48
Signature Barossa Shiraz with bubbles, built around a core of black plum and black cherry fruit, layered with luscious milk chocolate, both from old oak barrel maturation and from the vineyards themselves. A hint of gamey complexity adds interest without imposing.
Pewsey Vale The Contours Eden Valley Riesling 2011
95 Points // $36
The cool 2011 season has injected an energy, stamina and purity that make for a magnificent aged Riesling release. Pure granny smith apple and lime fruit are preserved in freeze frame slow motion amidst the toasty, honeyed allure of maturity. Captivating now, with endurance to burn yet.
Glaetzer Anaperenna Shiraz Cabernet 2015
95 Points // $52
Ben Glaetzer has worked his magic at the big end of northern Barossa, uniting old vine Shiraz (82%), Cabernet (18%) and new French oak with such succulence, seamless harmony and supple texture that there’s no need to wait a moment before uncorking
this glorious thing.
Pewsey Vale Prima Eden Valley Riesling 2016
93 Points // $26
The greatest off-dry Rieslings are not about sweetness at all, and a subtle dose of 24g/L of residual sweetness serves to heighten the fragrant appeal of this pristine and pure style. As always, acidity is the key, and the cool, high Pewsey Vale vineyard certainly
delivered in 2016.
Henschke The Bootmaker Barossa Valley Mataro 2015
93 Points // $75
Fragrant complexity sings in a panoply of black plums, lifted violets, blood orange and mulberry, laced with black and white pepper and layers of Campari. Mataro declares its fingerprint in savoury complexity and firm fine tannins, yet at every moment graceful and controlled.
Turkey Flat Vineyards Mataro 2016
92 Points // $32
In sensitive hands, Barossa Mataro doesn’t have to be aggressive, powerful or boisterous. It can be fragrant, refined, intricately structured and eminently ageworthy, with a purity of lingering black fruit precision. Turkey Flat is on a high right now, and even Mataro knows it.
Hemera Estate Tier 1 Barossa Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
92 Points // $125
Formerly Ross Estate, Hemera’s top wine turns the volume up on ripe fruit, bathed in 24 months of 100% new French oak barrels. The result is a generous and cedary style of warm alcohol and finely structured tannins.
Henschke The Rose Grower Eden Valley Nebbiolo 2013
92 Points // $60
This is Nebbiolo in an elegant, fragrant and eminently accurate guise of rose hip, forest floor, red fruits and savoury notes of tomato. Tannins are fine and well married to the gentle mood of the style, yet with confidence and structure on the finish. A well managed style of elegant alcohol.
Mountadam Pinot Chardonnay NV
92 Points // $27
The tension and focus of this cool, high site sings in lemon, apple and crunchy pear fruit of good concentration and mid-palate depth, well toned by the creamy texture and almond meal complexity of three years lees age. A pale straw hue reflects its restraint, with a long finish carried by fine acidity and toasty complexity. A highlight in Eden Valley sparkling.
Kalleske Fordson Single Vineyard Zinfandel 2016
91 Points // $25
It’s a tough act to capture ripe Zinfandel complexity with refreshing definition and low alcohol, and Kalleske has nailed the balance in 2016, built around a core of succlent blackberries and plum cake spice.
Fernfield Eden Valley Riesling 2014
91 Points // $25
Three years of bottle age has lent a spicy, honeyed edge to the apple and lime fruit concentration of this vineyard. Cool acidity upholds tension, while maturity has brought integration and complexity.
Dutschke GHR Neighbours God’s Hill Road Shiraz 2014
91 Points // $32
2014 is a spicier, more contemplative and more immediate vintage for Barossa Shiraz, and Wayne Dutschke has bottled the mood of his dirt road at the southern end of the Barossa in a tangy and lively style of berry fruits and finely mastered tannins.
Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz 2015
91 Points // $33
A deep and dark Barossa Shiraz that upholds definition of blackberry and satsuma plum fruit within a style of ripe alcohol, dark chocolate oak and finely structured tannins. It carries integrity, balance and tang on the finish.
Teusner Salsa Barossa Valley Rosé 2016
90 Points // $23
Kym Teusner blends almost equal thirds of Grenache, Mataro and Montepulciano to craft a fruity and spicy Rosé of quite some personality, yet pulls it off with finesse and balance. Raspberry and strawberry fruit meets mixed spice, contrasting a tangy finish with a touch of sweetness.
Dutschke 80 Block St Jakobi Vineyard Merlot 2014
90 Points // $25
Merlot is blessed with more varietal allure, fragrance and tang in the Barossa’s cooler seasons, and 2014 has captured its crunchy redcurrant, leaf and tangy personality in the south of the region. The result is more varietal than ever, though never weedy, and it will live longer, too.
Pepperjack Sparkling Shiraz NV
90 Points // $39
A bright and crunchy Barossa sparkling Shiraz, with satsuma plum, black cherry and pepper, backed by high cocoa dark chocolate. Firm, fine tannins meet sweet dosage on the finish.
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