Tulloch Pokolbin Dry Red Shiraz 2013 $20–$25 Tulloch make a number of Hunter Valley reds, including this fruity drink-now version. In this instance “drink-now” means the fresh, vibrant fruit flavours, medium body and gentle tannins appeal enormously and make good current drinking. However, the quality, purity and depth of fruit flavour (and the ever reliable … Continue reading Wine review – Tulloch, Vinaceous and De Bortoli →

Tolpuddle Pinot Noir 2013 $75 Tolpuddle vineyard, Coal River Valley, Tasmania In 2011 Adelaide-Hills-based Shaw and Smith bought the mature 20-hectare Tolpuddle vineyard, located in Tasmania’s Coal RiverValley. The new owners sell the majority of their fruit to other winemakers, but make small quantities of pinot noir and chardonnay for the new Tolpuddle label. In … Continue reading Wine review – Tolpuddle, Langmeil, Bourke Street, Pikes, Four Winds and Hay Shed Hill →

Vickery Riesling 2014 $24 Castine and Brazel vineyards, Watervale, Clare Valley, South Australia A year after the death of Leo Buring in 1961, Lindemans bought his business and retained his winemaker, John Vickery. Lindemans promptly planted riesling in place of sherry varieties on Buring’s Florita Vineyard at Watervale, southern Clare Valley. And, in time for … Continue reading Wine review – Vickery, Jeir Creek, Geoff Merrill, Maipenrai, Rosemount Estate and Logan →

Mount Majura Graciano 2013 $27 Mt Majura vineyard, Canberra District, ACT “Graciano has a huge number of synonyms in Spain and all around the Mediterranean, suggesting it is an old and widespread variety”, write Jancis Robinson and Jose Vouillamoz. They also note it, “is valued for its acidity and perfume”. Mount Majura’s Frank van de … Continue reading Wine review – Mount Majura, Tahbilk, Four Winds, Ravensworth and Domenica →

Gallagher Shiraz 2012 $30 Murrumbateman, Canberra District, NSW “After doing climatic data searches for about two years, looking for the best area to grow shiraz”, says Greg Gallagher, he and wife Libby Gallagher planted the variety at Murrumbateman in 1995. While neighbouring Clonakilla enjoyed success with shiraz from 1990, and shiraz-viognier from 1992, the variety … Continue reading Wine review – Gallagher, Sandalford, Printhie, Ten Minutes by Tractor and Nick O’Leary →

Long Rail Gully Canberra District Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 $24 A wet vintage, and its attendant fungal diseases, ravaged much of Canberra’s grape crop in 2011. In addition, low temperatures meant a struggle for ripeness for what healthy fruit growers managed to salvage. Out of the near disaster, our vignerons made respectable wines, albeit stamped with … Continue reading Wine review – Long Rail Gully, Moppity Vineyards and Pig in the House →

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 $25–$30 At this year’s Wynnsday tasting in Coonawarra, good old Black Label cemented its claim as one of the best value-for money-wines in Australia – perhaps even the best. This is irresistibly deep, sweet, rich cabernet with an elegance, finesse and harmony far beyond what the modest … Continue reading Wine review – Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Helm and Brookland Valley →

Holm Oak Tasmania Pinot Noir 2013 $32 At Holm Oak in Tasmania’s Tamar Valley, husband and wife team Tim and Rebecca tend the vines and winemaking respectively. Rebecca Duffy notes a big Tasmanian vintage in the warm, dry 2013, with fruit flavours arriving in the fruit at comparatively low sugar levels. She also writes, “our … Continue reading Wine review – Holm Oak, Long Rail Gully and Grant Burge →