Zonte's Footstep The Hills Are Alive Shiraz 2017

Zonte's Footstep The Hills Are Alive Shiraz 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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Cool Hills Shiraz. Plummy, touch of pan juice, chocolate and wafer hints. 

There's something like an orange juice freshness and acidity to the wine, certainly on initial entry. A blue/black fruit mix makes its presence known, fine and chewy tannins allow a consideration around the palate. 

Decent length and energy. 90 

Tasted on: Friday 17th May, a Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.zontesfootstep.com.au

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Harewood Estate Cabernet Merlot 2016

Harewood Estate Cabernet Merlot 2016

  17:30    Stu.

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A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon 35% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. From across the Great Southern region.

Dense, cedary wine, iGenerousity and complexity. Plush and rounded, fine tannins, generous persistence. Plummy notes. 91 

Tasted on: Sunday 19th May, a Flower to Leaf day 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 14.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.harewoodestate.com.au/

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Hastwell & Lightfoot Fiano 2018

Hastwell & Lightfoot Fiano 2018

  12:30    Stu.

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Snow pea, green leaf aromatics, perhaps serving at fridge temperature not the greatest idea. Delicate white florals. Subtlety. The watchword. 

Something like a vanilla panna cotta aspect, almost creamy with perhaps a light stonefruit complexion. Decent textural width, a fine phenolic feel. 91 

Tasted on: Tuesday 21st May, a Leaf to Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://hastwellandlightfoot.com.au

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Hastwell & Lightfoot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Hastwell & Lightfoot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

  08:30    Stu.

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The H&L viticulture team have put considerable effort into reviving some older vines on their blocks down in McLaren Vale, cutting the vines off at the trunk to allow it to regrow. Approximately 60% of this wine is from restructured vine material.

Deep black fruit, gives an air of possessing a sheen, a gloss and fruity lift. There’s a small addition of Cabernet Franc to this wine, that’ll do it!

It’s very purple in nature, in looks, aroma and even in how it conveys itself on the palate. Touch of boozy warmth distracts a little, feeling bigger than it’s 14%. Lends the wine that spiced, almost Christmas pudding vibe to things. 

Stands up remarkably well with some time, indicative of the quality of fruit, and inherent cellarability. 92 

Tasted on: Friday 12th July, a Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://hastwellandlightfoot.com.au

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Syrahmi Grenache 2017

Syrahmi Grenache 2017

  17:30    Stu.

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Adam Foster, Chef turned Vigneron, now of Heathcote but honed his craft in the early years with four vintages in the Rhone. And a resultant love of Grenache ensued. 

Exquisitely perfumed, strawberry and raspberry, a hint of that Provencal garrigue, the florals adding to the perfume. Then, unexpectedly, a whiff of cordite in the mix, a flinty and harder edge to the softness of the berries. 

Those softer elements flow - mellifluously - onto the palate. A slight crushed rock, powdery earth, phenolic rub. Generous and flowing length on a silken backbone. Jeez, Heathcote Grenache, who'd a thunk it? 93 

Tasted on: Tuesday 25th June
Source: Retail
Price: $45
Alcohol: 14.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://adamfoster.com.au

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Harewood Estate Mount Barker Riesling 2018

Harewood Estate Mount Barker Riesling 2018

  12:30    Stu.

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Pithy citrus, lemon and grapefruit in its prime. It feels cool, almost hard in how it represents. 

Soft palate than the aromatics suggest, a lively zestiness on the front palate. Tang, thrusting and probing acidity gives drive and energy. Harewood Estate get Riesling right, a delightful exercise in terroir across their range. 93

Tasted on: Monday 20th May, a Leaf day 
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.harewoodestate.com.au/

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Zonte's Footstep Baron Von Nemesis Shiraz 2017

Zonte's Footstep Baron Von Nemesis Shiraz 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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Seemingly reductive initially, or rather being reductive in nature. Naturally, some oxidative exposure sees that blow off, so to speak, allowing that Plummy Barossan fruit to start to shine. 

It's somewhat meaty in manifestation, a plump and succulent presence of a wine, it's smooth and generous to a fault. Unequivocally Barossan, that just so sweet and spice accented fruit seeing you home. 90 

Tasted on: Thursday 16th May, a Root to Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.zontesfootstep.com.au

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