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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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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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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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Paringa Estate Peninsula Pinot Noir 2012 Wine Review
2021 seemed about right to open this 2012 vintage of Paringa Estate’s Mornington Peninsula pinot noir. 2012 seems to have been an equable season in the region on the basis of this report from Winetitles media. Cellared since purchase, the wine has moved to a red brick colour and has swirling and misty aromatics of […]
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Craiglee Shiraz 2017 Wine Review
Craiglee is an Australian cool climate shiraz institution. From Sunbury in the suburbs of Melbourne, the 2017 vintage tasted here is true to its northern Rhône styling. Elsewhere, even in Australia, it would be labelled as syrah (writing in 2021). It has aromas pepper, game and bacon and a well integrated cedar character. The palate […]
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Delatite Riesling 2019 Wine Review
This wine review is of Delatite’s riesling from the 2019 vintage. Delatite is situated in north eastern Victoria with stunning views of the local mountains. Its riesling is fashioned in a classic bone dry, minerally style. It has aromas of stones and unripe citrus. The palate is dry, has high acidity, moderate alcohol, a medium […]
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Dalwhinnie Shiraz 2006 Wine Review
This wine review is of Dalwhinnie’s 2006 Moonambel shiraz from the Pyrenees region in western Victoria. Dalwhinnie is the leading producer in this remote region. The shiraz style here is a crossover style – syrah like in manner, but in a warmer climate form with richer fruit. It reminds a little of Margaret River shiraz, […]
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Sedona Estate Sangiovese 2019 Wine Review
This wine review is a Sedona Estate sangiovese from the 2019 vintage and the Yea region in the hills north of the Yarra Valley in Victoria. It’s a really good sangiovese. In terms of style, the wine is closer to a Chianti Classico style than those I taste from the better known King Valley in […]
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Will de Castella Jean-Paul’s Vineyard Shiraz 2014
This wine review is of Will de Castella’s Jean-Paul’s vineyard 2014 shiraz from the hilly Yea region north of the Yarra Valley. Sealed under wax, it is an immediately earthy, complex and medium bodied style of shiraz. Fully mature, it has aromas of red berries and cedar (vanilla, likely at least 12 months maturation, small […]
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Best’s Great Western Bin No 1 Shiraz 2005
From the 2005 vintage, Best’s have produced an outstanding shiraz here from the Great Western region in western Victoria. Bests is certainly out of the way, but is worth the visit alone to see its old mixed vineyard with unknown vines. Cellared since purchased at the winery, the wine opens to tertiary aromas of rosemary, […]
