d'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 2016

Rich, chocolatey, a malty edge framing the wine. Oak on display, handled somewhat sensitively.

Unwilling to release the wine that it has nurtured through its formative years. A powerhouse, having a compelling presence: oak, spice - pepper in the main. 

Its tannin structure is forceful, the sudden onset reminding this is a wine of substance - and not for now. Possessing the structure to last, there's a slight flash of warmth, minor, from a generous vintage. The finish though, seemingly perpetual. 93

Tasted on: Saturday 8th December 
Source: Sample
Price: $75
Alcohol: 15%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.darenberg.com.au/

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Superfly Shiraz 2018

Solid youthful Barossan Shiraz, in a very modern vogue.

Caught something like a peanut brittle (?) aroma here, black fruit pastille, barest twist of black pepper. Fruits of the forest jam, medium bodied. Good freshness. 

Tannin and spice wrapped in a tandem drive through the palate. Good definition, length. Persistence and sustaining length. 90 

Tasted on: Tuesday 30th October 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://rock-of-wisdom.myshopify.com

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Heartland Directors' Cut Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Compared with the Shiraz, this Cabernet conveys itself more varietal. It's tobacco, bay and chocolate - less of the immediate oak. 

More assured, medium veering to full bodied. Deep set black fruit, Mulberry and plum. The oak is evident here, robust, loses a little definition. Certainly assertive in flavour; firm and long on the finish. 91 

Tasted on: Sunday 14th October 
Source: Sample
Price: $33
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://heartlandwines.com.au

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Ballycroft Small Berry Shiraz French Oak 2015

Unusually gave this a good decant hour or two before opening. 

Remnants of toasty oak, deep and rich - honouring the Greenock terroir. Mulberry and plum, suggestion of aniseed.

Palate is more of the same, rich and luscious. The fruit is present, lavish in its presence. Generous length here. 92 

Tasted on: Sunday 14th October 
Source: Sample
Price: $47
Alcohol: 15.3%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ballycroft.com/

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Silkwood Estate The Walcott Cabernet Malbec 2015

Not the best release, bretty, giving the appearance of raw and untreated wood. Palate-wise, it's a silken slip of a thing, pitched seasoning - cedar and black pepper, freshly milled. 

Black, briar fruit, violets. Tannin is fine, Just the issues with the aroma. 84 

Tasted on: Wednesday 31st October 
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.silkwoodestate.com.au/

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Rock of Wisdom Grenache 2017

The current trend towards making Grenache, in what I consider a less is more approach, is seemingly reaping dividends for the variety. Whilst that is anecdotal, at best, purely from a personal perspective the examples that cross the bench seem to allow the variety to shine and express themselves, free of the shackles of oak and, to a different degree, hang-time on the vine.

Here, whilst still clocking in at a more than respectable 14.5%, the berry and hibiscus notes flourish and emanate from glass. Background spice lurks, in the spectrum of what can broadly be considered ‘brown’ spice - descriptive, I know.

The palate has that succulence, and light-handedness, again very much in the modern vogue of Australian Grenache. Powdery and crunchy tannin blossoms further in the mouth, adding volume, substance and length to the wine. 

Acting as a vehicle for the carriage of flavour, savoury with with a fruit tinged outer. It’s a deceptive wine, in that whilst it may not have the substance, structure or weight of other examples, the indicative quality of fruit and resultant wine is expressed manifestly in generous length. 91

Tasted on: Thursday 1st November
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://rock-of-wisdom.myshopify.com

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Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Reserve 2015

You could sense it coming. The increasing brand presence, confidence, and consistency. A premium release was surely always on the cards given the pedigree across the range and for quite some time now.

Here, subtle black fruit and aniseed twists on offer. For me, the magic happens on the palate, an exquisitely honed palate with fine-grained tannin. You'd like to say it leads a charge, except it seems to confidently saunter and gently flow.  

For a Cabernet dominant - being Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), Shiraz (20%) and Cabernet Franc (20%) - wine it's a gentle slip of a thing, with a structure that assertively reveals its class. Superb. 94 

Tasted on: Saturday 6th October 
Source: Sample
Price: $110
Alcohol: 14.4%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://terreaterre.com.au

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