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  1. Murdoch Hill Rocket Chardonnay 2020
    Murdoch Hill Rocket Chardonnay 2020
    Bolder expression of The Rocket, lots of flavour, lots of impact. Cinnamon and clove spice, cedar and tobacco, apple, green melon, wet slate going on. Flinty flecks through green apple, cinnamon spice and vanilla with faint smoky notes. Big mouthful of wine with powerful spine of acidity. The finish is a little firm and smoky. Tightly packed, complex, and structured. Impressive. Feels very fancy. MIKE BENNIE, winefront.com
    2020
    chardonnay
    Australia
    340
  2. Murdoch Hill Apollo Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2020
    Murdoch Hill Apollo Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2020
    2020 is the first release of this premium pinot. Downer has worked closely with three different vineyards all on the Western ridge on predominantly east-facing slopes. One vineyard that Downer has been taking fruit from since 2016 has consistently stood out. 85% of The Apollo 2020 comes from this site, located in Piccadilly just opposite the Mt Lofty Botanic Garden. The understudy source is in Ashton, and contributes more underfloor, forest notes to offset the Piccadilly vineyard's red-fruited intensity.

    On the nose this is brimming with aromatics that lure you in- dark spiced black cherries, maraschino cherries, wet earth and rosemary. The core is compact with great intensity and depth that slowly unfurls with a little air. A beautiful interplay of savoury earth and fresh fruit is apparent. Its spine of fine silky tannins holds a lovely line of tension in its youth. This is so tightly wound at the moment, and promises a bounty of treasures if you can put it away for a few years. A powerhouse pinot that is so light on its feet. GABRIELLE POY, PWS
    2020
    Pinot noir
    Australia
    340
  3. Shaw & Smith Shiraz 2017 375ml
    Shaw & Smith Shiraz 2017 375ml

    It’s from such an unusual/cold/late season that shiraz was picked four weeks later than average.

    It’s a peppery, twiggy, bunchy shiraz. It smells, feels and tastes like the result of a cool season. This wine will split drinkers down the middle. It’s smoky, herbal, berried, smooth-skinned and stringy at once. It both walks the tightrope and is one. There are menthol, alpine herb, walnut and peppercorn characters here in abundance. There are also substantial ropes of well-placed tannin. It’s a medium-bodied wine with a great deal to say. CAMMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front

    What can we say about this wonderful producer? Nothing that hasn't already been said. The consistency and quality is really quite astonishing and with Adama Wadawitz at the winemaking helm this a trend that will continue its upward trajectory. Their secret has been to continually improve and tweak the operations and that shows in every bottle. One of Australia's great estates. PWS

    2017
    shiraz
    Australia
    340
  4. Handorf Hill Rose 2022
    Handorf Hill Rose 2022

    36/23/21/20% pinot noir/tempranillo/merlot/trollinger. Hand-picked fruit, gently crushed. Free-run juice fermented in stainless steel with cultured yeasts. Delicate is the middle name of this breezy, summery rosé with its dusty strawberry scent, honeydew melon and mandarin skin aromas. Walks a fine, straight line of soft, juicy acidity across the palate. JENI PORT, The Wine Companion

    2017
    Gruner Veltliner
    Australia
    340
  5. Beyond the Pines “Viceroy” Syrah 2020
    Beyond the Pines “Viceroy” Syrah 2020
    This little gem comes from a mate and ex-employee Matt Keoghan and sourced from his family property in the Adelaide Hills. The family have been in the business for ages so know what they are doing when it comes to putting out quality fruit and this certainly delivers.

    This sees about 40% whole bunch and ten months in old oak with no additions and just a touch of sulphur at bottling.  It's the kind of syrah we love, elegant in style that ties in pretty, violet florals, dark berry and mulberry fruit with a dash of green herbs and olive. Judicial oak frames the sweet fruits nicely, Succulent and soft but doesn't shy away from being a little bit serious too.
    2018
    shiraz
    Australia
    340
  6. SC Pannell Koomilya DC Block Shiraz 2019
    SC Pannell Koomilya DC Block Shiraz 2019
    A very unique site tucked away between thatches of native forest and fringed by other old vine properties. The DC Block vines are 47 years old. There's 20% new oak employed here. A formidable and important project from Steve Pannell. The 2019 shiraz of McLaren Vale have a bit more dry reddiness as a thing, and there's some of that here, but the tannin and potency surpasses that.
    It's highly perfumed, so rich and ripe, inky plummy fruit characters, brined black olive and a strong overlay of cedar, mahogany and clove. The palate is similarly generous and rich, plush and impenetrable, tightens on train tracks of cedary, firm and long ribbons of tannin and overall it feels succulent despite the heft and concentration. Formidable wine here, a quibble on how oak interplays in dryness with dryer spectrum fruit characters, but there's a hugely impressive wine in the glass regardless. MIKE BENNIE, winefront.com
    2018
    shiraz
    Australia
    340
  7. SC Pannell Koomilya GT Block Shiraz 2019
    SC Pannell Koomilya GT Block Shiraz 2019
    The old property is serviced with bio-char and layers in a lot of regenerative agriculture that aims to reintroduce lots of native species into the farm. The GT block is 31 year old vines grafted from gewurztraminer to shiraz, 'GT stands for grafted or gewurztraminer', says Steve Pannell in his press release, but I go to famed mid-to-late 90s DJ and music producer, GrooveTerminator, when I see the initials. Almost a third is whole bunch fermented here, and 20% new oak used. Also, this is beautiful drinking right now.
    There's a freshness and lift to the wine despite the concentration and layering of dark fruit, woody spice and general inkiness. The character of gewurz seems omnipresent despite no gewurz here - it's floral and pretty shiraz, flirty and quite notably silky, more soft in the shiraz spectrum and red fruited inflections chime in with plum and dark, forest berry fruits. A lick of cola and char here but the wine floats and swishes on velvety tannins and finishes extremely long and fine. MIKE BENNIE, winefront.com
    2018
    shiraz
    Australia
    340
  8. Murdoch Hill Chardonnay 2022
    Murdoch Hill Chardonnay 2022
    Original plantings from 1989. Planted on a variety of landscape. Barrel fermented.
    Wow kinda chardy. Tightly wound but with juiciness. Almost on medium weight. Skittish acidity keeping things fresh, saline, briny, flinty notes gently there, a lot of lovely cashew and almond savouriness and then you notice, green apple, tart lime, anise. It's crystalline and bright. It's structured and finishes long. Delicious. MIKE BENNIE, winefront.com
    2020
    chardonnay
    Australia
    340
  9. Shaw & Smith M3 Chardonnay 2022
    Shaw & Smith M3 Chardonnay 2022

    A sleek, mid-weighted & highly contemporary chardonnay, embellishing a pungent mineral chassis with roasted cashew, nougat and curdy creaminess. Vanilla-cedar oak, an integrated framework. Apricot pith, white peach and nectarine, too. The acidity, palpably natural of feel and really juicy, towing impressive length. Among the better recent iterations of this rightly popular cuvée. NED GOODWIN, Wine Companion

     

    2022
    chardonnay
    Australia
    340
  10. Beyond the Pines “Viceroy” Syrah 2021
    Beyond the Pines “Viceroy” Syrah 2021

    This is the 2nd release of the 'Viceroy' Syrah for young winemaker Matt Keoghan who has worked extensively locally and abroad to try and hone in his craft from places such as Hermitage, Barolo and ChateauNeuf Du Pape.

    The vineyard from which these wines are made from are on the GI border of Mclarenvale (Clarendon) and Adelaide Hills from the Wind River Vineyard which is family owned and farmed. The soils are Buck Shot ironstones and quartz through Sandy loams on a light orange and red clay base. This leads to leaner alcohol wine and some slight reduction but almost pithy tannin and slurpee acidity.

    The wines are more savoury than what is usually seen from the Adelaide Hills with great structural framing around a blue/black fruited palate. The lift from the hallmark whole bunch kiss, an almost mineral fresh finish, this wine is really letting the fruit speak rather than the winemaking, with elevage in neutral Hogs Heads and all Natural fermentation and minimal sulphur added prior to bottling.


     

    2021
    shiraz
    Australia
    340
  11. Ngeringa Summit Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
    Ngeringa Summit Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

    If any grape variety is going to take you to the stars it's chardonnay, and here is one to do just that. This is textural, charismatic, free-flowing and yet well structured, and while there's plenty going on through the mainstay of the palate the real fireworks are on the finish. It tastes of hay and flint, oat milk and honeysuckle, white peach and crushed fennel, and just when you think that the flavours are going to stop they sail on and then on again. We're in stunning territory here. CAMPBELL MATTINSON, Halliday Wine Companion

    Biodynamics stalwarts and producing excellent wines, of course.

    Textural feast! Slippery, greasy almost, in the best sense, lots of riper stone fruit flavours but a saline minerality takes that to task. Green apple, almond nuttiness, wet fern and leafy herbal notes in the mix. It’s a potent chardonnay but cut with appropriate acidity and sense of freshness. It feels a touch wild, in the best sense, and I am all for that. It is character plus, in its essence. Dig in. MIKE BENNIE, The Wine Front

    2019
    chardonnay
    Australia
    340
  12. Shaw & Smith Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz 2020
    Shaw & Smith Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz 2020

    Shiraz from a north-facing site at 380m at Balhannah in the Adelaide Hills.

    Stunning shiraz. Rich in fruit, texture and savoury detail. Dark chocolate and black cherry, plum and sweet spice, smoky oak and graphite. Twiggy spice and associated herb characters are here but they keep their head down for the most part. Is there some reduction here? Probably a little, thankfully. The length here is seriously good, as is the package as a whole. (96) CAMPBELL MATTINSON, The Wine Front

    From a relatively close-planted plot on clay, ironstone, quartzite and shale. Whole bunches fermented wild in open tops with minimal agitation. A headily aromatic shiraz with notes of lavender and green olive and an underbelly of verdant herb and mezcal, the legacy of whole bunches in the ferment. Notes of damson plum, red cherry, violet and sarsaparilla trail across a raft of peppery tannins, a bit drying due to the low-yielding year. A whiff of iodine, peat and smoked meat lingers. This will benefit from some patience. (95) NED GOODWIN MW, James Halliday

    2020
    shiraz
    Australia
    340
  13. Murdoch Hill The Landau Adelaide Hills Syrah 2022
    Murdoch Hill The Landau Adelaide Hills Syrah 2022
    Among the vanguard of exceptional Australian shiraz. Or syrah as it is called here for the sake of differentiating this lithesome, aromatic and mid-weighted expression from the yeomen of warmer zones. Exceptional aromas of violets, crushed blueberries, white pepper, cloves, olives, saucisson and nori. The mid-palate is a sinuous concourse of measured generosity and freshness. The tannins, supple and impeccably shaped. The finish, long and energetic, without being obvious. In fact, nothing here is obvious, which is what makes for such exceptional drinking. If asked my favorite Australian syrah, this would be with the four or five gushed in the first breath. (96) NOD GOODWIN MW, jamessuckling.com
    2022
    shiraz
    Australia
    340
    Special Price $46.00 Regular Price $55.00 As low as $43.00
  14. Shaw & Smith Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
    Shaw & Smith Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

    An exceptional vintage for white wines. A lower pH, inherent freshness and phenolic bite, the artillery that delivers the impressive structural latticework necessary for further development. Really classy. Subdued aromas of cinnamon, sesame, quince, ginger and toasted hazelnut, with the barest hint of fruit. Better this way. The mid-weighted palate is pliant, nicely chewy and multilayered. The finish is exceptionally long, although I look forward to tasting again in another six or eight years after things unravel and meld. Stunning chardonnay, aligned with top-tier Chassagne and certainly among the finest tasted in recent memory (97) NED GOODWIN, Jamessuickling.com

    A cascade of yellow grapefruit juice, juiced green apples and lime sorbet. Elderflower and Acacia blossoms. A hint of green coconut and lemongrass. It's full of citrus zest with an almond milk creaminess and roast raw macadamia on the finish. Nutmeg, tahini and baked anzac biscuits. A harmony of high tones and deep base notes that presents a birds eye view of Hills chardonnay. There is real power and weight here but with plenty of fruit tension and enough malo buffering. A joy to drink now and will cellar 5-8 years. I can see this served beside a river of raclette on hot bread. (96) SHANTEH WALE, Wine Pilot 

     

    2021
    chardonnay
    Australia
    340
    Special Price $92.00 Regular Price $105.00
  15. Shaw & Smith Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz 2021
    Shaw & Smith Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz 2021

    A scintillating nose of mace, clove, blue-fruit persuasions, lilac, pepper-dried salumi, fennel seed and kelp, akin to nori of the sort found at Tokyo's arsenal of exceptional sushi counters. On the slightly richer side of mid-weighted. Yet, the slippery skein of tannin is so immaculately placed that there is neither heat nor an ounce of sloppy, sweet fruit. Everything is compressed into a polished bone of tension and savory refinement. The acidity is saline and lathered with tapenade. More of a syrah from an external perspective. An irrefutably brilliant one. I wish I had more to cellar, given the wine's noble stature. A ringer for refined Cornas, if not an oxymoron. (97) NED GOODWIN, Jamessuckling.com

    A sultry aroma of blackberry, Bing cherries and kombu seaweed. Crushed juniper, clove and allspice meet sandalwood, brown mushroom and pinecones. It’s full of forestry and undergrowth with specks of kalamata olive and hawthorn. Sweetness of spice shines through unpinning the black berried fruit and herbal nuances. Extremely compact and weighty. There is a lot of wine here for the dollar and as per usual it shows off its pedigree with class and sophistication. Tannins are suede like and acidity drives the flavours to the finish line which are way off in the distance. Drink now and will cellar for 5 years. A great wine for slow cooked beef tendon or oxtail. (95) SHANTEH WALE, Wine Pilot

    2021
    shiraz
    Australia
    340
    Special Price $92.00 Regular Price $105.00 As low as $89.00
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