Fighting Gully Road Block 2 Sangiovese 2022

Crushed, macerated on skins in large format oak, 18 months' maturation in new and seasoned oak. Built for longevity, not speed, Block 02 is a viticulturist's dream come true, a block planted according to a firm clonal selection protocol. It's one serious sangiovese, still evolving, still very much a taut, precision-driven engine yet to reveal all. Looks to dark cherries, plum, fennel, earth, tobacco, thyme and cured meats framed in savoury tannins and wood-spiced oak. Leaves you wondering and wanting more. (96) JENI PORT, Halliday Wine Companion

It’s been a Beechworth and worthy day of tasting for me today. 1,200 bottles produced. I’ve not tasted any wines from this estate before, and was prompted to ask for samples by our Snr Chardonnay Master™, John Humhprey, who tasted the FGR Smith Chardonnay 2022, and suggested I get across it. Wise words. Thank you to Peter Graham (Domenica) and Mark Walpole for sending them in to enlighten me. If you don’t ask, you don’t get, which is as it should be. Sometimes these people are too busy doing what they do to send wines in to simple wine critics. I’d like to add the word ‘humble’, though I’m not sure that would be appropriate, though I am in my own way.

Red cherry, strawberry, mint, dried herbs, tobacco and spice. There’s a bit of oak influence here, which I’d rather not have, though it’s modest and should fold into the wine with bottle age. It’s medium-bodied, at most, fresh and lively, the tannin offers a gentle pumice stone texture, and there’s a bright and minty finish of excellent length, with some almond paste to close. It has energy and vivacity, and speaks well of its grape variety. It’ll improve in bottle, no doubt. It’s very good. (94+) GARY WALSH, The Wine Front