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Jean-Paul’s de Castella Wines Shiraz 2016
With no bottles taking its place on the local wine shelf, I feared that I may have tasted the last of this producer’s wax sealed wines from the 2014 vintage and the Yea region. I recently however spotted a 2016 vintage for sale (in 2022). Unlike the 2014 vintage, this wine is more syrah than […]
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Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2010
From Moss Wood’s Ribbon Vale vineyard, the 2010 vintage is a blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and 7% cabernet franc. A deep ruby in colour, the wine has taken on some tertiary characters of earth and has savoury red and dark fruits. It is bottled under screwcap; the argument that screw capped reds […]
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Medhurst Shiraz Yarra Valley 2005
I think of cool climate syrah as a more recent trend. But it is not really. This 2005 vintage shiraz from the Yarra Valley provided very good drinking at 17 years of age. Deeply coloured, it has plenty of green aromas; in particular, rosemary, seaweed and bouquet garnis. The palate is fully mature and medium […]
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Yarra Yering new releases from the 2020 and 2019 vintages
All the wines were tasted in December 2021.
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Patina Wines New Releases (2019 and 2018 vintages)
These wine reviews are from Patina Wines in the Orange region of New South Wales in Australia. The latitude here (approximately 33c) is moderated by altitude, and typically the wines present in cooler climate styles. I have tasted successful wines from this region, particularly among the whites. 2018 Reserve Chardonnay The 2018 reserve chardonnay is […]
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Terre à Terre Crayères Cabernet Franc Shiraz 2018
This wine is from Terre à Terre, a very good producer in Wrattonbully near Coonawarra in South Australia. It’s an unorthodox blend of cabernet franc (63%) and shiraz (37%). In the glass, there are brooding aromas of dark fruits and cedar, and lifted herbal characters with time. The palate is medium to full bodied, the […]
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Unico-Zelo Alluvium Fiano 2020 Wine Review
From the Adelaide Hills, this is an interesting fiano from Unico-Zelo. It has correct fiano varietal character. It shows potential with its minerally bearing and high acidity putting it in the same orbit as its Italian fiano cousins, a feat that is not to be assumed on Australian soil. The wine opens to aromas of […]
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2021 new releases from Lyons Will Estate (2019 and 2021 vintages)
Introduction Lyons Will Estate are a small producer with 5 hectarines under vine in the Macedon Ranges in Victoria, Australia. The Macedon Ranges are one of the Australia’s coolest wine regions (climatically). The vineyard is located at altitude (554 metres) and the climate is continental. Sustainability and minimal intervention are the goals. Reviews of their […]
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Wendouree Shiraz Malbec 2018 Wine Review
Wendouree is the leading red wine producer in Australia’s Clare Valley. Wendouree continues their mystique with a feted mailing list and absence of a website or marketing. I suspect they could sell their entire vintage this way, year in year out. Wendouree’s wines also find their way on to local restaurant lists and some retailers. […]