YALUMBA THE CALEY 2013
97 POINTS // $349
A beautifully composed blend that seamlessly unites the tension of Cabernet with the body of Shiraz, drawing out magnificent, fine-boned finesse and great acid/tannin confidence in this muscular season. A wine that has been intricately engineered for the long-haul, it exemplifies the philosophy of classic Cabernet Shiraz, reviving the deeply historical union of Coonawarra Cabernet and Barossa Shiraz.
yalumba.com.au
DUTSCHKE OSCAR SEMMLER ST JAKOBI VINEYARD SHIRAZ 2015
95 POINTS // $70
I have long admired Wayne Dutschke’s dexterity in uniting the depth of Barossa Shiraz with brightness, liveliness and definition. 2015 exemplifies this balance, coalescing black and red fruits with dark chocolate oak and finely integrated tannins. The vibrant acidity of the earliest harvest in history freshens a long finish.
dutschkewines.com
GRANT BURGE FILSELL OLD VINE BAROSSA SHIRAZ 2016
94 POINTS // $44
Capturing density, depth and colour are no challenge in the Barossa, but to do so with medium-bodied refinement, fine grained structure and enduring poise are what elevate 2016 above every other Filsell I have tasted. It is finely scaffolded and set for a confident life.
grantburgewines.com.au
DUTSCHKE SAMI ST JAKOBI VINEYARD CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015
94 POINTS // $35
This is a vintage that unites detail and fragrance with structure and endurance, capturing the varietal hallmarks of Cabernet that we love. It’s built around a high-tensile frame that beckons a long life in the cellar, yet there’s nothing of the presence and allure of the Barossa lost along the way.
dutschkewines.com
DUTSCHKE 80 BLOCK ST JAKOBI VINEYARD MELOT 2015
93 POINTS // $25
Dutschke crafts a wonderful take on Merlot: fragrant, spicy and packed with red fruits. The great 2015 vintage has given birth to a strong rendition: bright, detailed, finely structured and impeccably tuned for a long life in the cellar.
dutschkewines.com
YELLAND & PAPPS SECOND TAKE GRENACHE 2017
93 POINTS // $40
A delightfully modern take on 115 year old Barossa Grenache vines, in a refreshing, fragrant, tangy morello cherry and wild strawberry guise. A considerable 64% whole bunch is well moderated, infusing lift, herbal complexity and fine-tuned tannins without overwhelming elegantly played fruit.
yellandandpapps.com
ST HALLETT GARDEN OF EDEN SHIRAZ 2016
92 POINTS // $25
The spice and fragrance of the Eden Valley shine in a fine-boned structured, medium-bodied style of crunchy red and black berry fruits and elegant persistence. A finely crafted lunchtime style and just the thing to pour as an on-premise exclusive.
sthallett.com.au
PAISLEY WINES TURNTABLE BAROSSA VALLEY GRENACHE SHIRAZ MATARO 2017
91 POINTS // $25
Derek Fitzgerald says he is about the big ‘G’ and the little ‘S’ – and his new vintage blend is proof. It exemplifies the personality of Grenache in a bright and crunchy style. Refreshing acidity works in harmony with finely textured tannins in this well-crafted, great value and a friendly quaffer.
paisleywines.com.au
PENFOLDS LOT 1990 POT DISTILLED SINGLE BATCH BRANDY
98 POINTS // $425
A wonderfully evocative and complex brandy that seamlessly and masterfully morphs the magnificence of a remarkable old brandy with the complexity of a hint of Grandfather and a tweak of young oak. In mere mortal hands, such creativity could make for a disjoint style, but here James Godfrey’s lifetime of experience make for an alluringly silky smoothness and harmony. It’s deeply powerful in complexity, profoundly enduring in persistence and yet elegant and delicate in poise and balance. A remarkable achievement.
PENFOLDS RWT BIN 798 BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ 2016
96 POINTS // $200
An impressively deep, bright purple hue heralds an RWT of great stature and spine. This is a commanding vintage that delivers powerful, spicy fruit, while lacking nothing in structural assuredness of firm, fine tannin endurance. It culminates in a finish of impeccable line and enduring persistence. One of the greats in the twenty year history of RWT, and set to go down among the longest lived.
TURKEY FLAT SHIRAZ 2016
95 POINTS // $49
Here’s living, glorious proof that the epic 2015 Turkey Flat Shiraz was no one hit wonder. Mark Bulman is in a deep purple patch, and the character and focus he’s built into this wine are something to behold. Tapping the black fruit power and exotic spice depth of 1847 vines, it captures impeccable poise and endurance, thanks to delightfully structured, super-fine tannins. Patience.
PENFOLDS BIN 150 MARANANGA SHIRAZ 2016
94 POINTS // $100
This is a Marananga of fine-grained, structural confidence, with the juicy, spicy red and black berry fruits of the district uniting with classic milk chocolate to compelling effect. A core of impressive, focused fruit integrity carries from start through long finish. A great Marananga with a strong future before it.
HENSCHKE THE WHEELWRIGHT VINEYARD EDEN VALLEY SHIRAZ 2015
94 POINTS // $130
A quintessential Eden Valley Shiraz, spicy and vibrant, telling the tale of one of the higher reaches of the central Eden Valley in tangy, spicy, dark berry fruits, fine-ground tannins and outstanding persistence. A characterful wine that defines another piece to the tapestry of Eden Valley districts.
PETER LEHMANN MARGARET BAROSSA SEMILLON 2011
94 POINTS // $35
The cool 2011 season has chiselled out a tightly honed Margaret of cut lemon grass, upholding youthful vibrancy and considerable energy at seven years of age. Subtle notes of butterscotch and lanolin are only beginning to emerge on a long finish marked out by focused line and great stamina.
DUTSCHKE GHR NEIGHBOURS GODS HILL ROAD SHIRAZ 2016
92 POINTS // $25
This is an action-packed release for GHR, brimming with Barossa black fruits of the kind normally reserved for much more expensive labels, backed with dark chocolate oak and firm, fine tannins. For all of its impact, it upholds classic Dutschke brightness and succulence.
PENFOLDS BIN 138 BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ GRENACHE MATARO 2016
92 POINTS // $60
Dark berry, black cherry, plum and stewed rhubarb fruits declare the depth of a relatively dry season in the Barossa, framed in firm, fine-grained, dry tannins. Shiraz assumes a confident lead, making for an unashamedly full-bodied SGM of spicy fruit focus and lingering persistence.
PENFOLDS BIN 51 EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2018
92 POINTS // $40
A mandarin and tangelo exoticism leads out, telling the tale of a growing season of above average temperatures, flowing into a tense palate of taut lemon and lime juice. A touch of phenolic grip brings firmness to the structure of a finish of great persistence. A Riesling of full-flavoured concentration and structural tension.
HENSCHKE HENRY’S SEVEN BAROSSA 2016
92 POINTS // $37
A beautifully spicy and fruity take on Eden Valley Shiraz co-fermented with Barossa viognier, with medium-bodied restraint that speaks more of the personality of Grenache than its 15% representation might suggest. It’s succulent elegant, culminating in beautifully managed, very fine tannins.
TURKEY FLAT BUTCHERS BLOCK SHIRAZ 2017
91 POINTS // $22
Setting the pace for the modern face of Barossa Shiraz, this is a flamboyant style that celebrates the exotic lift and fragrant spice of whole bunch fermentation. With no new oak to speak of, it’s brimming with juicy dark berry fruits and structured with fine, supple tannins. It’s versatile at the table and eminently spice-ready.
YALUMBA OLD BUSH VINE GRENACHE 2017
90 POINTS // $21
The child of vines largely between 35 and 80 years of age, this is a light-bodied, lunchtime Grenache of rhubarb, leaf and yellow plum character. It carries the grip of fine tannin structure to draw out a long finish. A versatile style that will enjoy tapas with a light chill.
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