Le Grape Escape Sydney 2024

The medium-bodied 2022 Saint-Joseph Silice is laced with ripe blackberry, black cherry, crushed violets and delicate cedar. Elegant and refreshing, it offers a juicy mouthful of classic Rhône Valley Syrah. Ripe and polished tannins lend gentle structure to this open-knit 2022. NICOLAS GREUNACHER

Fermented with roughly 10% whole clusters, the 2023 Vin de France Grenade aged for six months in stainless steel tanks. Black-fruited, round and refreshing, the strait-laced 2023 touches the palate with lifting freshness and finishes with moderate length. NICOLAS GREINACHER, Vinous

STAFF PICKS 2024 - RICH

Gewurtztraminer can be often misunderstood with low quality examples from the and 80's and 90's still in the minds and on the palates. This is a great wine to help change that mindset. Floral notes with honeysuckle leap from the glass with a hint of white pepper and the traditional spiciness. Due to an drier than normal vintage the alcohol is lower than usual and coming in at less than 1g residual sugar, there is a mineral freshness not often seen from this varietal. The palate follows the nose but brings in elements of stone fruit and sweet spice. If you haven't had a Gewurtztraminer in a hot minute, this is perfect. RICH

Hard as it may be to believe, this gewurz has stacks of yellow rose and star fruit aromas, but is only medium-bodied and tastes so bright. The interplay of the acidity and the exciting touches of tannin and bitterness drive the long, bone-dry finish. Just 12.6% alcohol. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now. STUART PIGOTT, jamessuckling.com

Very fresh and bright with effusive pink grapefruit and lilac aromas from the warm, dry growing season. I love this wine’s zesty personality and the wonderful mineral freshness that gives the long finish a terrific kick. This almost pure muscat a petits grains. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now. STUART PIGOTT, jamessuckling.com

Welcome to the wild side of pinot gris, but don’t imagine for a second that this is a lush wine. In spite of all the power, this is super-cool and tense. If you have the patience, then let yourself sink into this incredibly dense and compact dry wine. Massive dark minerality in the extremely long finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. 97 STUART PIGOTT, jamessuckling.com

The 2022 Riesling Roche Calcaire is harvested across the limestone soils of the estate from vines that do not make it into the single vineyards. In 2022, this was restricted to the marl and limestone soils of the village of Gueberschwihr, around the Goldert Grand Cru, a site that Humbrecht calls "virtually drought-proof." The nose still flickers with yeasty funk and lovely, flinty reduction, but even this funkiness does not obscure the vibrant lemon and orange peel. The palate is fresh but so buffered, with stunning limestone smoothness wrapping itself around a central vein of bright freshness. This is lip-smacking and approachable. It's friendly and bright already. The finish shines with a tart yellow apple. (Bone-Dry) ANNE KREBHIEL MW

Brimming with star fruit, bergamot and flint, this is a dangerously fresh and minerally dry riesling for this warm and dry vintage. Terrific drive right through the bone-dry palate, the slate and Amalfi lemon zest at the finish strident. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold. STUART PIGOTT, jamessuckling.com

Dark berries, dried thyme and black pepper on the nose follow through to a light to medium body, with crunchy fruit on the palate, fresh acidity and great drinkability. Drink now. JAMES SUCKLING

An intense and animal nose with dark cherries, smoke, grilled meat, game, wet earth, bark and loads of cloves. The palate is medium-bodied with silky texture and fine tannins. It’s restrained and juicy with control and elegance that contrasts with the intense nose. Crunchy finish with bright acidity. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. JAMES SUCKLING

Tasted blind. Youthful and primary with a delicate sweet violet and crushed blackberry nose. A soft palate with moderate fruit concentration – spice, violet, zesty acid and attractive fruit. Lightweight and easy early drinking. JANCISROBINSON.COM

An amazing Crozes-Hermitage. Very complex nose with notes of candied bitter oranges, mulberries and hot dry earth. Serious concentration for this appellation, plus a stack of fine tannins that exactly balance the finely nuanced forest berries and citrus fruit. Super-long very polished finish. Drink or hold. STUART PIGGOT, jamessuckling.com

Suave, soft, ripe blackberry and blackcurrant. Supple and ripe tannin. Does have a good sense of balance and drinkability, plus a long finish. One of the better 2022 Crozes. MATT WALLS