Ridgemill Estate Riesling 2017

Winemaker Peter McGlashan: "My first Riesling was in 2013 [review], I have been playing around with yeast and treatments for Riesling, while they have been quite good in the QLD context of Riesling, I thought it has potential to be so much more. In the past they have carried about 6g/L of R.S. (Residual Sugar) and they were enjoyable. 2017 the crop of Riesling was big. So i had a play with a small portion leaving it over night in the tank press on skins".

Both portions sent to tank for a slow cool ferment, on light lees for approximately a month before bottling. 

Lime and lemon barley, lemon butter. Expressive citrus. 

Lends a little width and weight, an even spread, oozing its way across the palate. There's texture, along with length, carrying a line of citrus derived flavour.  Length is generous. 91 

Tasted on: Friday 4th May, Leaf to Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $26
Alcohol: 11%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://ridgemillestate.com/

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Matriarch and Rogue Alice Shiraz 2016

Evocative floral perfume here, lavender and violets over Plum and and blue fruit aspects. Chinese five spice adds another element, depth and intrigue.

Medium bodied, fine and sandy tannin - certainly a wine of elegance on first glance. There's an element of something like ash and additional spice, riven through the wine. Acidity for freshness, generosity and length. 

Not one wanting to extend a regional reference, but it certainly seems to have a Southern Rhone air about it. No bad thing. 91

Tasted on: Saturday 31st March, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://matriarchandrogue.com.au/

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Alkoomi Black Label Shiraz Viognier 2016

Smokey, Plummy, biscuity, nutty.

Exudes a cool and dark presence, feels tight and somewhat shy. There's black Cherry at its heart, a tail of licorice and a good rub of gravelly tannin. Good going, a cool wine from a cool region. 89

Tasted on: Tuesday 3rd April, a Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au/

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Angullong Fossil Hill Barbera 2016

"De-stemmed with 20 percent left as whole berries for fermentation in order to create complexity and silkier tannins. It was matured in French oak puncheons (20% new) for 12 months. The hallmark of Barbera being its natural acidity".

Meaty and savoury, on opening even a little reductive hint. Powder-fine tannin, cocoa meets blackberry and black cherry. Silken and pillowy smooth on entry, cascading nicely across the palate. Good natural acidity, in tandem with savoury liquorice twists. 

This needs something more than a simple pasta dish that Barbera tends to get instinctively paired with, Venison ragu perhaps. 91

Tasted on: Monday 16th April, Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $26
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.angullong.com.au

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Heartland First Release Malbec 2016

Despite the name, this is actually the second release of the wine from Heartland. Six Barrels, 100% Malbec, all new French oak

Shy initially, taking its own sweet time to begin to unfurl. It's 100% Malbec from Langhorne Creek and it's home prior to bottling was 100% French new oak, not that you'd necessarily know - for it seems to have totally soaked it up. 

Yes, the wood is present, more as a seasoning to the violets, dried rose and black fruit hints that are in a curious interplay with what is, otherwise a wine of savoury intent. 

The palate is slick, having a slight glycerol feel, the new oak further giving that silken and racy texture. Black abounds, a dark and inky blackness. Tannin is fine, length is good. 91 

Tasted on: Tuesday 17th April, a Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap 
Website: https://heartlandwines.com.au

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d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2015

Dead Arm, d'Arenberg and McLaren Vale. Each integral to the other. Rich, a touch figgy, heady and a mix of dark black fruit that emanates from glass. 

Black fruits, sweeter accents on entry, tannin that resolves to something fine and yet gravelly. Black olive, hints of Mediterranean herb. It's a dark mix with elements of dark chocolate on the finish. A line of acidity gives excellent length. One for the trophy room! 93 

Tasted on: Sunday 22nd April, a Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $70
Alcohol: 14.4%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.darenberg.com.au

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d'Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Eighteen bucks and delivers in spades, the blackcurrant truck was well and truly backed up for this release, repeatedly. Primarily fruit driven, latent savoury hints sit in the background: black olive, tomato leaf and herb. 

Fresh, tangy with acidity in tune with the body of the wine. Presence of fruit, a little more of the herbal mix, though it does run out of steam and puff through the middle third. 

Holds up incredibly well over some time open. 90

Tasted on: Thursday 19th April, a Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $18
Alcohol: 14.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.darenberg.com.au

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