The great chardonnays of Tassie’s east are built on the definition of taut, cool, southerly acidity, here providing direction and drive to fleshy white peach, grapefruit and fig concentration. A wine of poise, line and lingering texture.
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Far too young to be showing its face just yet, this gloriously medium-bodied shiraz is no showstopper, but give it a decade, stand back and watch it emerge! The folds of its finely structured, firmly poised tannins hold many secrets of blackberry, blueberry, black pepper and dark chocolate. $26 at Dan’s.
readThe precision of Larry Cherubino’s craft is well celebrated but never before has it reached such profound heights of razor-cut linearity, mind-blowing purity or dateline-traversing persistence. Immaculate kaffir lime, granny smith and green pepper. A new stratosphere has been transcended for the longevity of Great Southern riesling. $33 at Australian Wine Centre.
readEpic complexity of hazelnut cream, raw coffee beans, grapefruit and lime zest but the real magic begins when this vast maelstrom pulls into a vortex of whipcracking lime juice, boring deep into the finish and lingering straight and powerful. Length and concentration are off the charts but the calm in the midst of the storm […]
readStrong representations of merlot and cabernet franc emphasise the fragrance of violets and red berries and a velvety, finely textured tannin structure. A primary, refined and backward style with merlot’s roundness to the finish. $40 at Nick’s and Wine House.
readHow do they do this for $10 (Vintage Cellars and Dan’s)? “Old McLaren Vale bush vines, basket pressed and matured in barrels for twelve months” reads like a recipe for a much more expensive proposition. Tastes like it, too, brimming with juicy berry fruits, red liquorice, mixed spice and even rose petal perfume.
readMore honed and linear than ever, a highwire act of lemons and limes over a linear backbone of taut acidity and fine, chalky, textural structure. Lees-derived complexity and white nectarine and white peach flesh provide weight to the finish. Well crafted and textural – faultless Faultline! $50 at WineStar and Dan’s.
readChampagne of craftsmanship and definition. Chardonnay with a touch of pinot, fully vinified in small barrels, gaining nuances of vanilla and ginger, but at every moment remaining focused on honed, restrained lemon and apple fruit. It lingers with a fine bead, taut acidity and minerality that tosses and swirls on the finish. $75 at www.champagnegallery.com.au.
readThe third in WineStar’s trilogy of stardom is no shrinking violet – this is the teenage Avril Lavigne of Marlborough savvy! She’s unashamedly overt an uninhibited, throwing fleshy stonefruits, asparagus, cut grass and tropical fruits in all directions. She’s a little sweet, and more than a little wild. Enjoy the spectacle for $15 at WineStar.
readAn immense amount of engineering has gone into the chassis of this streamlined Margaret River cabernet, drawing it out exceedingly long and poised, propelled forward with tremendous energy and honed determination. Very firm, fine, gravelly tannins and fine-tuned oak drive savoury complexity of tomato bush, capsicum, pepper, thyme, rosemary, violets and redcurrants. Stand back and […]
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