Margan White Label Chardonnay 2016

This veritably leaps out of the glass, unequivocally Chardonnay. A lovely deep straw, you couldn't mistake it for anything but what it is. 

Power-packed peach and something like a toffeed, butterscotch flavour. It's bold, carries a tickle of spice and a gentle flowing length. 89 

Tasted on: Saturday 6th May, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.margan.com.au

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Margan Shiraz Mourvèdre 2015

Another field blend from Margan, where the two varieties are inter-planted and picked in-situ. 

Leathery, earthen, slight animale aroma, mixed with a little smokey caramelisation. Touch of malt-choc in the mix too. Medium bodied. Carries an initial fruit sweetness that across a chewy, almost sinewy palate. It's a seemingly brief experience, yet with a decent tail of flavour. 

Quite bold in its manifestation, chewy and more of that malty depth to it. To me, more Hunter than necessarily varietal composition. Decent drinking given a challenging vintage. 89

Tasted on: Friday 28th April, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: Friday 28th April, a Fruit to Root day

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Margan Tempranillo Graciano Shiraz 2015

A field blend, so the exact quantities of each constituent part are somewhat unknown. 

Oak, plum, mulberry - more like the Shiraz - there's a little suggestion of the blue fruits, some earth and coffee. Bold and bright on aroma.  

Medium bodied, soft, juicy. There's some fine coca tannin immediately mid-palate, before this tangy acidification that casts flavour wide and long across the palate. Flavour per se non-specific, requisite black fruits in the mix. 

Touch of spirited warmth at the wine's conclusion, warming on a cooling night. 90

Tasted on: Monday 24th April, a Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.margan.com.au/

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Shaw Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Bit of mint, leaf, blackcurrant. Very fresh, youthful - interesting for a 4 year old. 

Medium bodied, vibrant, fresh. Not much of substance, more about fruit. Gummy flavours.

Fairly short - bit like this note - on length, but good fun. 88 

Tasted on: Sunday 23rd April, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $18
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website:

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Huntington Estate Block Three Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Strong capsicum aromas, bordering on a little greenness; tomato leaf, herbal.

Savoury on entry, scorched earth, licorice - varietal? A little mulberry, cassis - is this a warmer year? Slightly chocolatey, mud cake even. 

Slight concerns over varietal character - particularly at the asking price. 89 

Tasted on: Sunday 23rd April, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $65
Alcohol: 13.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://huntingtonestate.com.au

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Alkimi The Good Earth Marsanne 2016

Good to see Yarra Marsanne on offer at a fairly affordable price, it’s something I think of as being at least north of $30. 

The aromatics here are fairly intriguing: cut fennel, honeyed florals for sure, but also backed up with a liberal sprinkling of exotic spice. Exotic a term - one imagines - is relative to your familiarity with your spice rack.

Reasonable degree of texture, with a generous length of lemon balm flavour coursing through the middle. It feels fairly nimble on the palate, backed up with a little phenolic pinch. A resurgent wash of citrus across the back palate just reels you back in for a second sip, lo and behold it’s an action you find yourself repeating. Great drinking. 92

Tasted on: Tuesday 23rd May, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $26
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkimiwines.com/

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Yelland & Papps Devote Greenock Shiraz 2015

Sees a bit of American oak action too. Unusual for the brand, if not the region or variety.

Rich, dense, black fruit compote - Greenock on the Western fringes of the Barossa is known for this rich, almost chocolatey style. Bit auto-suggestive, but it's somewhat akin to a cherry ripe in that marriage of fruit and hedonistic oak sweetness. Classic Barossa. 

More of the same on the palate: slick, rich, mulberry and plum fruited depths. Has a glycerol slickness, a liqueur essence and beyond that ultra-fine tannin that elevate the wine to another level. 

Has a decent length that resolves fairly quickly. Classic Barossa, if not what I've come to think of as quintessential Yelland & Papps. It will have its fans. 92

Tasted on: Thursday 1st June, a Fruit day

Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 13.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://yellandandpapps.com/

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