Yelland and Papps Devote Shiraz 2017

Yelland and Papps Devote Shiraz 2017

  12:30    Stu.

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Fairly rich, sumptuous wine, yet still clocking in at a modest 13.5%. 

Plummy depths of a very Barossan Shiraz. Soft, barely there tannin registering across the palate, bringing with it fruit subtley accented with oak remnants. 

Waves of flavour hit you, as though immersing yourself under a cascading waterfall of it, seemingly relentless. 93

Tasted on: Friday 3rd July
Source: Sample
Price: $45
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.yellandandpapps.com/

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Out of Step Wine Co Willowlake Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Out of Step Wine Co Willowlake Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018

  16:00    Stu.

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Soft, sensuous - that's just the aroma - similar textural feel on initial entry to the palate. 

It steps up a notch, minerally and flinty - almost gunsmoke like - with a deep and long finish that is seemingly perpetual. Jeez these fellas make exquisite booze, poised and seemingly delicate, yet with that intense length and duration of finish. This indeed is top drawer wine. 95 

Tasted on: Wednesday 11th March 
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.outofstepwineco.com/

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Mérite Q Merlot 2016

Mérite Q Merlot 2016

  17:07    Stu.

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For all that Merlot is maligned, it's a pleasure to see another producer giving the due care and attention this noble variety deserves. 

It's a single vineyard wine from Wrattonbully in South Australia, made from a single clone - Q45 - one of a number of new clones now available in Australia that could well redeem the variety.

Conveys a brightness, an aromatic freshness, in fact one that could perhaps remind of Cabernet Franc. An initial juiciness on the palate gives way to a fine grained structure that carries with it a depth of flavour. Milk chocolate, plum, barest hint of Mediterranean herbs all flow effortlessly, creating a sensory memory of a wine that exudes sheer class. 93

Tasted on: Wednesday 4th March 2016
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.meritewines.com/

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Juniper Small Batch Tempranillo 2018

Juniper Small Batch Tempranillo 2018

  16:30    Stu.

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Inclusion of 5% Shiraz; spends 15m in oak, no new. A darker manifestation of inky blue fruit: blueberries, cassis, smattering of violets.

Feels light on entry, fleet of foot, before powder fine sweeps across the palate. Nigh chalky in feel, it feels as though it morphs in the palate, expanding first and then contracting to a fine length. 

Persistent in nature, latent black fruit intertwined with savoury structure. 91 

Tasted on: Wednesday 27th November, a Leaf day 
Source: Sample
Price: $27
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.juniperestate.com.au/

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Harewood Estate Flux-V Pinot Noir 2018

Harewood Estate Flux-V Pinot Noir 2018

  17:00    Stu.

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I'd heartily recommend a good look at the Harewood website for its dynamic representation of the various terroir at play here. Impressive stuff.

From the accompanying PR: With (winemaker) James Kellie’s attractive FLUX wines, there is more freedom - but an equal attention to detail - as his meticulously composed wines that we know well from Harewood Estate."

The Rieslings in the portfolio are impressive, a meticulous look at a range of Riesling terroir across the great Souther. James' winemaking career started at the exemplary Howard Park, an experience he brings to his own Harewood Estate label.

 

Sits in a DMZ between an aromatic Pinot Noir and a light, dry red. Floral, something like Pomegranate meets hibiscus. 

Light on entry veering towards a firmer palate, that drier red territory. Fine tannin, light spice. It's perhaps somewhat angular, yet it remains inherently enjoyable with spicier notes bringing the wine home. 91 

Tasted on: Monday 13th May, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.harewoodestate.com.au/

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Out of Step Wine Co. Margin Walker Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Out of Step Wine Co. Margin Walker Sauvignon Blanc 2016

  08:30    Stu.

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The 2016 guise of the Margin Walker comes from the Willowlake Vineyard (the 2015 being off of Lusatia Park, a fruit source prior to its acquisition by De Bortoli).

Made primarily from a single bin of fruit. It was sent to two one year old barriques to ferment naturally, and then mature. 

Smelling more like a mature Chardonnay, all honeyed and stone fruit rich. It simply oozes with charm and character. Texturally lavish, it comes with a vanilla and stonefruit profile - quite unlike any Sauvignon Blanc you’re like to have tasted before, unless of course it came from the Out of Step crew.

Grapefruit drops add further substance, and provide the lead in to a long, flowing finish. Simply put, this is quite exemplary Sauvignon Blanc. Words I don’t often write. 94 

Tasted on: Tuesday 2nd October
Source: Sample
Price: $34
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.outofstepwineco.com

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Margan White Label Semillon 2017

Margan White Label Semillon 2017

  16:30    Stu.

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Lime and lemon butter, hints of lemon grass. Initially some menthol - but that had dissipated with some time. 

Soft and rounded, initially the acid quite flacid, again with time the energy gains. Soft and fleshy, has texture and width - enough meat about the bones, so to speak. 

More akin to something like a Roussanne. I'd hazard this will grow in stature with time. 91 

Tasted on: Sunday 30th September 

Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.margan.com.au

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Out of Step Wine Co Summerhill Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Out of Step Wine Co Summerhill Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2017

  18:30    Stu.

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The OoS team are not only raising the bar for Sauvignon Blanc production in Australia, I'd actually hazard they're redefining the rules. 

Opening with a honeysuckle and citrus imbued aroma, with a suggestion of tropical fruit flowing underneath. There's the barest grassy hint in the frame, just SB's calling card - leaving its mark.

What I love here is the freshness, the acidity that just gives so much energy, and totally lacking the shrill that so often afflicts the variety. It feels so pure, so fresh. Redefining the variety. 93 

Tasted on: Monday 1st October
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.outofstepwineco.com

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Wirra Wirra Hiding Champion Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Wirra Wirra Hiding Champion Sauvignon Blanc 2018

  12:04    Stu.

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Smells like a Sauv Blanc, looks like a Sauv Blanc, heck it even says so on the label.

Aromatics of passionfruit married to squeaky Gooseberry. Has the pithy, grapefruit citrus sitting in the mix too.

Has some zest, verve and swagger about it on the palate. Some zip and phenolics (what we wine bods see as mouth feel, a bit like tannins in reds - if you care?).

Good lasting and penetrating finish. Lingers long with an acidic presence. A great place to be for a lover of the Sav Blanc. 92

Tasted on: Thursday 20th September
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.wirrawirra.com

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Montalto Main Ridge Pinot Noir 2016

Montalto Main Ridge Pinot Noir 2016

  14:30    Stu.

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Sour Cherry, veering to softer notes of wild strawberry and Pomegranate. 

Soft, sensuous and inviting. The tannin profile seems a little firmer than elsewhere in the portfolio amongst an impressive array of single vineyard wines. Yet, for that it is elegant and long as befits the cooler aspect of the Main Ridge site higher up the Peninsula. 

A fine elegant length, hints of spice and pine forest floor. 93 

Tasted on: Friday 24th August, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $70
Alcohol: 13.6%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://montalto.com.au/

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Mr Riggs Scarce Earth Shiraz 2014

Mr Riggs Scarce Earth Shiraz 2014

  05:08    Stu.

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I've not heard so much of McLaren Vale's much vaunted 'Scarce Earth' initiative of late. This bottle here carrying that mark simply around the neck foil. 

Upon enquiring the same of the twitter I subsequently learned that the initiative has been pulled, with no planned replacement. A shame in my opinion, it had been excellent in exploring geological differences and subtleties within the region and highlighting that through single block-level wines.

This Shiraz comes from Ben Riggs’ ‘Burnt Block’ from the wonderfully named Piebald Gully Vineyard, up in the Clarendon sub-region of McLaren Vale.

Presents itself as a dense brew, chocolate and maltiness lingering; suggestive of figginess and a little violet, blackcurrant and mint patty.

Whilst it possesses depth and intensity on entry, it's lighter in how it actually sits on the palate. Has a latent sweetness afore chewy and powdery tannins present themselves, flows gently and with a sense ease. Sure to win over many 92 

Tasted on: Tuesday 12th June, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: DIAM
Website: http://www.mrriggs.com.au/

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Alkimi Good Earth Syrah 2015

Alkimi Good Earth Syrah 2015

  16:30    Stu.

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Off the Warramunda Vineyard in the Yarra Valley's Coldstream sub-district. The terroir evident through judicious use of whole bunch. An approach that initially comes to characterise this wine. 

Time and perhaps air soften that herbal, sapid note. That's not to say the savoury eludes entirely, cola notes, caramelised root, along with a peppery top note. Carries a fair weight, an almost sinewy, chewy, substantive presence.

Yet, for all that, it seems light and airy through the mid. Not without fruit: blackcurrant, mulberry, with a soft weave of powdery tannin. Loved it. 91 

Tasted on: Wednesday 17th May, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkimiwines.com/

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Out of Step Wine Co, Lusatia Park D Block Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Out of Step Wine Co, Lusatia Park D Block Sauvignon Blanc 2016

  08:30    Stu.

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It's hard not to replicate what the Out of Step Crew post: 2016 (was) our 5th year of making wine. Along the way I feel we’ve transitioned from getting excited about varieties we’d like to make to really thinking about the vineyards we work with & what varieties will best express themselves, & why, on those sites. 

The one constant in all our explorations over these 5 years has been sauvignon blanc from Lusatia Park in the upper Yarra Valley, albeit from H block (the 2016 example will be released is due course) rather than D block, which is the wine in question here. But either way we’re adamant now that if treated with respect once it’s off the vine sauvignon blanc can deliver just as much excitement & deliciousness as the vast majority pinot noir & chardonnay from the same region.

There you go kids, block level Sauvy is where it's at these days.

Evokes a 'gold' response: florals, honeyed. Generous, quite opulent, expansive; slate and mineral, fan of acid that spreads across the kid-back palate. Hints of tropical fruit, delicate suggestions of citrus. 

It's less about flavour, a hard one to get your head around from a 'review' perspective, where the risk you run is to try and describe a gamut of flavours. I digress. It's more about feel, feeling, texture and an expansion in the mouth - a wonderful gentle phenolic style. 92

Tasted on: Monday 13th February, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.outofstepwineco.com/

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Ballycroft Small Berry Shiraz 2014

Ballycroft Small Berry Shiraz 2014

  14:30    Stu.

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Just over one and a half tonne of fruit picked in Feb 2014 (1.675 tonne from 5 acres on 13/2/13, that's only 335kg to the acre) pumped over 4 times a day for 10 days. Just under 100 dozen made. Spends 24 months in shaved out American Oak. Sent to bottle unfiltered. Due for release later this year.

Alcohol dialled back a notch in this ’14 (14.7% compared to the 16.2% of 2013). It shows. Not such a bombastic, powerhouse comparative to its prior year stablemate. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still rich and carrying that potent line of plum in the glass.

Supple in the mouth, silken, a glossy and polished line of - primarily - black currant fruit races through the palate. It’s a more considered take on the style. Greenock fruit tends to be quite a warm, chocolatey, rich manifestation and this is no exception.

Again I would caution those buyers who have perhaps become accustomed to a trend toward a lighter style of wine. For those who savour this richer, hedonistic take: back up the truck! 92

Tasted on: Saturday 1st April, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $45
Alcohol: 14.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ballycroft.com

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Ballycroft Small Berry Shiraz 2013

Ballycroft Small Berry Shiraz 2013

  08:30    Stu.

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Just over a tonne of fruit was picked from Joe and Susan Evans' dry grown vineyard on Feb 2013 (1.3 tonne from 5 acres on 17/2/13, a mere 260kg to the acre). It was pumped over 4 times a day for 15 days. Only 93 dozen made, spends 36m in shaved out American Oak. Unfiltered.

Unashamedly ‘big’ style of wine from the self-styled “little winemaker”. It exudes a rich, powerful, high-octane, nigh on porty aroma. Think soaked prunes, dense and heady plum, blackberry jam.

Thick, chewy, somewhat hedonistic. You’ve got to like a bit of fruit sweetness to your wine; residual oak tannin that courses through your palate, leaving a drying sensation. Lingering black fruited beast that you just cannot escape from.

The quality is undeniable. But, caveat emptor, you’ve to appreciate the intent and full on nature of the wine Joe has nurtured and crafted here. 91

Tasted on: Saturday 1st April, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $45
Alcohol: 16.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ballycroft.com

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Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2015

Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay 2015

  13:05    Stu.

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An impressive site, and sight, the Tiers Vineyard. Planted back in Brian Croser's beloved Picadilly Valley back in 1979. If you're ever in the Hills, do ensure you take time to visit the cellar door and soak in the view back toward the drive you came down.

Peach, figgy, cashew, cream and spice

Lots going on with a palate presence that builds and builds. Meyer lemon, creamy presence, spicy oak. It has nuttiness, a texture, presence, a lingering significance that seems to just give. 

Acidity is balanced, yet it still needs time to settle. That said, It's an impressive wine. 93

Tasted on: Thursday 24th November
Source: Sample
Price: $79
Alcohol: 13.6%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://tapanappa.com.au

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Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard 1.5m Chardonnay 2015

Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard 1.5m Chardonnay 2015

  12:30    Stu.

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2003 Saw the removal of some part of the Tiers vineyard, to be replanted to Bernard clones 95 and 96 with close planting of 1.5m, the fruiting wire just 0.5m above the ground. Just 200 dozen made.

Florals, citrus, quince, ripe stonefruit. Mealy with a suggestion of elevated spice in the background. 

Full on, intense flavour on immediate entry. Stonefruit, citrus, perhaps grapefruit acidity. Bold, certainly not lacking in flavour. Leesy derived texture, fullness of palate.  92+

Tasted on: Sunday 23rd October, a Leaf Day
Source: Sample
Price: $55
Alcohol: 13.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: tapanappa.com.au

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Out of Step Wine Co Lusatia Park Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Out of Step Wine Co Lusatia Park Sauvignon Blanc 2015

  08:30    Stu.

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Funky edge derived from barrel fermentation. There's passionfruit, grass, a little asparagus, root veg.

Palate defies any descriptor of Sauvignon Blanc i've tasted: it's quite thick, nigh chewy, having a substantive presence. Possesses something like a creme brulee, with a trailing minerality. 

Sublime. 94 

Tasted on: Friday 9th September, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $26
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.outofstepwineco.com/

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Shaw & Smith Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz 2014

Shaw & Smith Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz 2014

  13:21    Stu.

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With about 70% whole bunch, their inclusion is quite noticeable, I asked (Shaw + Smith's Trade Sales and Education lead) Dan Coward whether this was an Adam (Wadewitz, Senior Winemaker) 'thing', for it's certainly an element of his metier.

Savoury, gamey, kalamata olive. Almost a suggestion of leather, Earth. 

Medium bodied, with a depth and intensity that sees it almost cranked up to 11. It's savoury, intense, with a fair grind of the pepper mill towards the back end. 

Length, and some at that. It gives, keeps on giving and is seemingly perpetual in nature. Celebrate the site. 94 

Tasted on: Monday 8th August, a Flower day
Source: Tasting
Price: $85
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.shawandsmith.com/

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En Soleil Pinot Gris by Cape Jaffa 2015

En Soleil Pinot Gris by Cape Jaffa 2015

  08:30    Stu.

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Lightly poached pear, suggesting of nectarine. Quite mute...kept wanting it to wake up.

Luscious, textural spread oozing its way across the palate; light spice, a little woody, white root veg element (I kinda often see raw parsnip in something like this, or Grüner). 

Reasonable length. Needs to giddy up a little. There's promise. 89 

Tasted on: 27th July 2016
Source: Sample
Price: $27
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.capejaffawines.com.au

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