Hewitson Miss Harry 2012 $21.85–$23 Barossa Valley, South Australia Dean Hewitson’s delightfully savoury, spicy Miss Harry combines the Rhone Valley varieties, grenache, shiraz, mourvedre, carignan and cinsault. Much of the fruit comes from “historic 100-year-plus, dry-grown bush vine vineyards dotted throughout the valley”, writes Hewitson. The venerable old vines gave their best flavours in the … Continue reading Wine review — Hewitson, Tyrrell’s, Chalk Hill, Clonakilla, Ravensworth and Mount Langi Ghiran →

Grosset Chardonnay 2012 $52–$57 Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills, South Australia In the early nineties, Clare Valley riesling master, Jeffrey Grosset, looked south to the cooler Adelaide Hills for chardonnay, ultimately establishing vines in its Piccadilly Valley sub-region. The wines have always been good. But Grosset’s 2012 rises above any previous vintage, I believe. Its amazing … Continue reading Wine review — Grosset, Seville Estate, Vinaceous, Mitolo, Topper’s Mountain and Wickhams Road →

Rymill The Surveyor Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 $80 Rymill vineyard, northern Coonawarra, South Australia Coonawarra vigneron John Rymill launched his new flagship, The Surveyor, late last year. He dedicated it to his grandfather, John Riddoch Rymill, leader of a surveying expedition to the Antarctica peninsula from 1934 to 1937. Winemaker Sandrine Gimon says, “We picked the … Continue reading Wine review — Rymill, Angove, Tyrrell, Pooley, Bilgavia and De Bortoli →

Grant Burge Corryton Park Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 $50 Burge Corryton Park Vineyard, Barossa, South Australia Grant Burge’s Corryton Park vineyard sits on a high, cool site near Mount Crawford, in the southern Barossa. The site produces cabernet of outstanding varietal definition and flavour intensity. Grant Burge bought the site in 1999 and, over time, polished … Continue reading Wine review — Grant Burge, Seppelt, Frankland Estate, Coriole and De Bortoli →

Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 $30–$35 Margaret River, Western Australia Xanadu cabernet covered itself with glory at the 2013 National Wine Show. The 2010 vintage won three trophies – as best cabernet, best dry red and champion of the show. And the 2008 won the best mature-dry-red trophy. The wine tastes as good on the dinner … Continue reading Wine review — Xanadu, Hewitson, Montrose, Marchand and Burch, Pol Roger →

Balnaves of Coonawarra The Blend 2011 $19–$20 Coonawarra fared better than many other regions in the cold, wet 2011 vintage. And within Coonawarra, thick-skinned cabernet sauvignon proved more resilient to fungal disease than shiraz did. Balnaves’ blend – comprising mainly cabernet sauvignon, with a little merlot and cabernet franc – captures the region’s fragrant, ripe-berry … Continue reading Wine review — Balnaves, Bay of Stones and Paxton →

Four Winds Vineyard Riesling 2013 $22 Murrumbateman, Canberra District, NSW Rieslings from Four Winds vineyard have won wine-show awards, including gold medals, in the past – under the Four Winds label and for other winemakers sourcing fruit from the vineyard. But Sarah Collingwood says the thrill went up a notch when the 2013 vintage won … Continue reading Wine review — Four Winds Vineyard, Curly Flat, Goat Square, Terrazes de los Andes, Innocent Bystander and Wynns Coonawarra Estate →