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Ballandean Estate Opera Block Shiraz 2024
The Opera Block at Ballandean Estate is just behind the winery and is named as such after the regular Opera in the Vineyards concerts were held on an adjacent stage. Sadly, this event is no more but the Shiraz and Chardonnay from these vines keep belting out the tunes. This is a beautiful expression of cool-climate Shiraz. Medium-bodied, it opens with a fragrant dusting of black pepper spice before rolling into notes of barbecued steak, gentle char and dark plum fruit. Supple blackberries bring lift and generosity to the palate, balancing the wine’s more savoury feels. There’s a firmish tension on entry that initially keeps things tightly wound, but a little time in the glass reveals a more relaxed and expressive side. The fruit broadens, the spice settles and the wine finds its groove. What I particularly like is the acidity. It brings life and energy, keeping everything vibrant and adding an extra dimension to the finish. Better still, it suggests this will reward further bott
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Head Wines Heart and Home Shiraz 2023
A blend drawn from four Barossa vineyards, this Head Wines Heart & Home Shiraz carries plenty of regional character. A 9% splash of Grenache works its magic too, bringing lift, brightness and a touch of prettiness to the wine's darker core. Blackberries and dark plums lead the charge, supported by notes of chocolate-dipped raspberries that add both richness and appeal. Dried herbs and licorice bullets contribute a savoury thread, giving the wine more dimension than a simple fruit bomb. What impresses most is the balance. There’s flex and muscle here, but little of the heft and bulk that can sometimes accompany Barossa Shiraz. The fruit is generous, the structure is respectable, and the whole package moves with ease and confidence across the palate. This is the sort of wine that delivers exactly what you want in equal doses: think flavour, balance and drinkability. Nicely done and great drinking for the asking price. 92/100 Region: Barossa RRP: $25 Source: S
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Head Wines RED GSM 2022
A 60/20/20 GSM blend that leans into the savoury side, this Head Wines RED GSM opens with aromas of black earth, boot polish and chocolate before strawberry and red cherry cameos add a welcome flash of brightness. There’s good shape and presence through the palate, with the wine carrying itself confidently. Just when the savoury notes appear set to take complete control, a burst of juicy fruit arrives on the mid-palate, injecting energy and keeping the wine lively and engaging. What stands out most is the texture. Super fine to taste, it glides effortlessly, backed by dusty tannins that provide enough structure without interrupting the flow. There’s a sense of balance and ease here that makes it particularly appealing. This is the sort of wine that quietly earns a place in the weekly rotation. It asks no questions, causes little fuss, but listens with intention. Honest, satisfying and highly drinkable, it's a mid-week go-to that delivers exactly what is required. 91/100 Re
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Domain Paul Mas Coté Mas Syrah 2024
From the south of France comes this Syrah that delivers stylistic simplicity. It opens with an aroma that immediately brings to mind a chocolate brownie packet mix before darker notes of blackberries and blackcurrants emerge. A thread of granite-like minerality moves throughout while a fine veil of black pepper delivers the variety's signature. The palate is straightforward but good enough, led by dark fruit, cocoa dust and a savoury edge that adds a little extra interest. Drying and puckering tannins draw a tight line through to the finish, offering a quiet nod to ensure that food sits by its side. A hearty meal would soften those edges and allow the fruit and savoury elements to settle into a more comfortable groove. In all, there’s a simple pleasure to be found here. 88/100 Region: Languedoc, France RRP: $18 Source: Sample Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Grant Nash Mourvedre Grenache Shiraz 2022
A slightly different take on the classic GSM, this blend from Grant Nash Wines hands the keys to Mourvèdre and lets its earthy, meaty personality rule the house. The 46/35/19 mix delivers plenty of character, leaning into savoury territory while still carrying enough fruit to keep things flowing. Dusty earth, baked blueberries and dark plums emerge first, setting an inviting tone. The palate is coated with black fruit while savoury elements play a neat supporting role. Dried herbs weave through the middle palate, adding complexity as fine peppery spices and hints of meat rub spices bring a further dimension. Despite its darker and more savoury drive, it moves and sways about with ease, carrying its flavour with a surprising amount of grace. This isn't a wine that asks too many questions. It simply turns up, delivers plenty of satisfaction and gets on with the job. Proper Friday night footy wine. 93/100 Region: McLaren Vale RRP: $40 Source: Sample Winery Website
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Sorby Adams Gudilly Moscato 2026
Made for fun in the sun, this bright and energetic Moscato brings a slight spritz that will be sure to heighten its enjoyment factor. Wines like this are built for enjoyment rather than being analysed. Chill it hard and pour large poolside, it's light on the alcohol (7% abv), which takes the worry away for overindulging. Scents of musk and Turkish Delight are joined by a chorus of pears, green apple, lemon juice and apricot kernel. Very easy to slurp, my tried and tested method of pouring out half a glass, partially freezing and shaking vigorously to make a slushy is the best way to enjoy such wines. 88/100 Region: Riverland RRP: $24 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Ross Hill Pinnacle Series Pinot Gris 2025
Grown at 1020 metres above sea level, this Ross Hill Pinnacle Series Pinot Gris brings both freshness and texture to the table. Fermented in seasoned French oak and matured on lees for eight months, there's a little extra complexity woven into what is already a very appealing drink. White lilies provide an elegant aromatic lift before cut pear, poached pear and pie apple take control of the flavour profile. The fruit feels generous without becoming heavy, carrying a lovely sense of balance across the palate. A neat veil of creaminess adds texture, while a gentle phenolic grip brings shape and interest. Together they broaden the wine's appeal at the table, making it an easy match for a wide range of dishes. An intriguing note of underripe green apple lingers, offering something to muse over long after the sip has gone. Scattered cinnamon spice threads its way through a persistent and moreish finish, adding another layer of charm. Textural, flavoursome and immensely drinkabl
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Ross Hill Pinnacle Series Sauvignon Blanc 2025
From Australia’s first Climate Active certified carbon neutral winery now celebrating ten years of that achievement, Ross Hill Wines has plenty to talk about before the bottle is even opened, right down to the label produced with 30% recycled content. What’s inside the bottle stacks up too. Bright, fresh and energetic, this Sauvignon Blanc leans confidently into the fruit spectrum rather than the grassy, insipid territory the variety can sometimes wander into. Expressive aromas of lemon, lemongrass, passionfruit and green melon burst from the glass, setting the tone for a vibrant and approachable drink. A faint creaminess adds an extra layer of interest, the result of barrel fermentation in seasoned French oak and 10 months on lees. It’s subtle providing texture without dulling the wine’s vitality. Cleansing acidity keeps everything taut and refreshing, carrying the fruit through a lively finish. An easy wine to enjoy and one that will have no trouble finding its people. Tick. 8
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Travellers Rosé 2025
A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Vermentino from Queensland’s Granite Belt, this Rosé lands firmly in the dry style camp and does so with plenty of charm. The colour sits on the onion-skin spectrum with a faint orange hue, immediately hinting at a wine with a little more interest than your average pink drink. The fruit profile is fresh and leads down the savoury road. White cherries, the white bit of the strawberry, rhubarb, red currants and watermelon husk all weave their way through the palate. There’s a pleasing crunch of red apple acidity that brings energy and freshness, while a gentle lick of raspberry closes things out nicely. What really stands out is the acidity. Bright and purposeful, it gives the wine shape and makes it exceptionally food-friendly. From pizza to barbecued slow-cooked meats, this feels right at home at the table. Available in 20L KeyKegs for on-premise venues, it's an honest, versatile Rosé that gets the job done with ease. 89/100 Region: Gran
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Sorby Adams Gudilly Pinot Noir 2025
A wine more about approachability than grandstanding, this Sorby Adams Gudilly Pinot Noir knows exactly what it is, and more importantly, doesn’t try to be anything else. Honest, uncomplicated and easy to enjoy, it delivers plenty of drinking pleasure without chasing lofty ambitions. Red cherries and cherry pips form the backbone, with mandarin peel adding a citrus charm. Red currants bring freshness, while a note of baked dark cherries adds a touch of warmth and depth. The palate is soft and accommodating, carrying good flavour without excess weight. A gentle flourish of black pepper spice provides a little extra interest on the finish. There’s nothing forced or overly serious here, it's just a well-made, easy-drinking Pinot Noir that slides down with ease. And sometimes, that's all you need. A good slurp for what it is, it goes okay. 87/100 Region: Riverland RRP: $24 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram ,&n
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Cael's Gate Samuel Tempranillo 2025
From the Broke Fordwich subregion of the Hunter Valley, this Tempranillo from Cael's Gate arrives with plenty of intent. Blackberry fruit and blackberry liqueur notes sit at the core, but it's the oak that protrudes powerfully from the glass and blankets much of the fruit. As a result, the palate is firm and uncompromising. Powdery tannins are scattered across the palate, bringing a drying, puckering mouthfeel that tightens its grip with every sip. There’s no shortage of structure or conviction, but this is a wine that powers along like a bulldozer, flattening subtlety and leaving little room for charm to emerge. For me, Tempranillo is at its best when it balances savoury detail with juicy fruit, vitality and an easy rapport with food. This takes a different path. It dominates in a somewhat brutish fashion, commanding attention rather than inviting it. There’s certainly muscle here, but it doesn’t engage or embrace quite as much as hoped. 83/100 Region: Hunter Valley RRP:&
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Head Wines RED Grenache 2025
The fusion of four Barossa and Eden Valley sites delivers a Grenache that bowls down the line with reliable line and length. Energetic aromas explode from the glass featuring dried red petals and roses, red berries and sarsaparilla. The fruit is juicy and silky, flowing about with ease. It's a wine that you can reach for time and again given its moreishness that is driven by tense, earthy tannins and finishes dry with a powdery note that whispers, calling you back. If the neighbours call you over for a drink, take two because one will evaporate in no time. 92/100 Region: Barossa RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Bethany Blue Quarry Contours Vineyard Grenache 2024
Sleek, sexy and carrying a little more depth than first impressions suggest, this Bethany Blue Quarry Contours Vineyard Grenache is immediately engaging. Coming from 50+ year-old vines, much younger than its Manse Vineyard sibling, I couldn't get enough of this. Softly spiced dark cherries reign supreme, while expressive raspberries bring a pretty, juicy lift that keeps everything bright and energetic. There’s an attractive savoury-sweet interplay at work too, with a flash of dark chocolate and even a suggestion of Cherry Ripe tucked amongst the fruit. It’s a wine that feels slinky and curvaceous, flowing effortlessly across the palate without ever sacrificing flavour intensity. The real highlight is the length. The fruit extends with confidence, and there’s no denying the juicy factor that makes each sip so inviting. Faint silty tannins provide just enough structure to frame the generosity without interrupting the wine’s natural charm. This is one of those Grenaches
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Bethany Blue Quarry Manse Vineyard Grenache 2024
Not as expensive as its Contours Vineyard stablemate, this Manse Vineyard Grenache offers a fuller, weightier expression from the outset. From 1924 planted vines that dig their feet into clay soils, darker fruits and berries lift from the glass wth scents of dried red petals, earthy nuances and a dusting of dark chocolate. The palate follows suit, bringing dark cherry and plum fruit with an earthy drive that keeps everything grounded. There is more heft here compared to more delicate expressions of Grenache with the fruit carrying good concentration and drive. Neat and composed, it comes together comfortably rather than spectacularly with the fruit and savoury elements working in unison. A solid, enjoyable Grenache that goes about its work with little fuss and drinks well. 92/100 Region: Barossa RRP: $50 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Usher Tinkler Tinkemans Shiraz 2023
Off the back of the Royal Queensland Wine Show, I was known for some of my interesting (and perhaps entertaining) tasting notes. A wine of detail and complexity, this Usher Tinkler Shiraz offers plenty of interest to explore. What I see here is what I experienced in some trendy, whole bunch wines that I termed Fitzroy piss. You know the type. They're the wines that those uber-cool bars and restaurants in Melbourne's Fitzroy and Brunswick would eat up, deluxe. It's the use of whole bunches that makes the difference. This is all savoury, meaty and utterly smashable. Baked cherries and plum strudel, pan juices, cured meats, it's a wine with character and presence. But that presence doesn't steal the spotlight, it causes you to lean in and discuss. It brings curiosity with a hint of swagger and charm. Torn jeans, unshaven yet moving with grace to its own beat. That's this Shiraz. Mind you, light the fire and embrace the cool of night with the added bonus of some steaks sizzling over golden
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Ballandean Estate Saperavi 2023
What makes Saperavi unique is its red flesh. One of the first to plant the variety in Australia (2008), Ballandean Estate continues to be a high performer. Black plums, blackberries and squishy blueberries lead the charge, delivering plenty of flavour and a more densely packed expression than recent vintages. There’s power here, no question, but some of the charm that has elevated this Saperavi in years gone by feels reserved. The lifted notes of dried purple flowers and violets that have often defined the wine are notably subdued. In their place sits a savoury edge of meatiness and pan juices, wrapped around a core of dark fruit. A streak of granite-like minerality keeps things honest, providing shape and direction through the palate. The tannins close dusty and furry, bringing grip and structure that suggest this will continue to evolve with bottle age. It remains a thoroughly enjoyable drink, but having seen this wine reach some lofty heights before, this release sits a touch
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Gilberts Wines Riesling 2025
Cool, fresh and super inviting, this Mount Barker Riesling is all about purity, energy and summertime pleasure. Aromas of white field flowers and cut green apple leap from the glass. An expressive palate of lime zest, Bickford's lime cordial and apple sours lure you closer with a mouthwatering lemon granita tang that keeps everything in check. A moreish and most delicious chalky texture adds shape and draws out the finish. Really clever and super refreshing, this oozes long lunches and good company in the sunshine. 94/100 Region: Mount Barker RRP: $32 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Varney Wines Mencia 2025
A thrilling Mencia, this 2025 release from Varney Wines is nothing short of excellent. Said to be for members only, bugger that and bang the door down. Tell Alan I sent you. Sourced from Australia's first Mencia planting at Oliver's Taranga, these 2011 planted vines continue to get better and better. It spent 14 days on skins before being pressed to second use French oak for ten months Give it a chance to breathe and it repays the faith. Gorgeously medium-bodied, bright blueberries and juicy mulberries muse with silky dark cherries. Meat rub spices pack things up in a neat parcel but there is no escaping the supple and elegant fruit that takes control of the midpalate. Varietally true, a red apple crunch seizes its moment, delivering a superb line of acidity. Incredibly moreish, I could get dangerous with this. And perhaps I did. What a super drink. 95/100 Region: McLaren Vale RRP: $35 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow:&nb
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Vinteloper Shiraz 2025
The back label is emblazoned with the words "Not the Shiraz your dad drinks", and it wouldn't be. But I reckon you could convert him over to this ripping expression from Vinteloper. What a cracker! Bunchy and savoury notes set the tone and I'm all in. So expressive and moreish, there is a sip-slow vibe about its swagger, but I can't help but lean into the plums, mulberry compote, shards of dark chocolate and fine sheets of spice that are rippled through the palate. There is a fabulous tension between the fruit density and savoury pleasure that drives through to an elongated finish. Above all, it's that complexity that has me fixated. I'd comfortably categorise this as "Fitzroy piss" - those trendy Fitzroy and Brunswick bars and restaurants would smash through bottles of this stuff all in the name of pleasure and delight. Go here. 93/100 Region: Adelaide Hills RRP: $40 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , Li
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Grant Nash Lunch GSM 2023
Affectionately called the Lunch Wine, this GSM from Grant Nash Wines is a delicious yin and yang balance of fruit and savoury delight. Dark fruit and raspberry rope notes get things moving up front, with layers of cured meats, pan juices, stripped bark and meat rub spices adding complexity and depth. The palate walks with impressive poise and a moreish length that urges another sip. Equally comfortable alongside a charcuterie board or plate of barbecued meats, this is a GSM that delivers flavour, texture and drinkability in equal doses. Big love. Go here. 93/100 Region: McLaren Vale RRP: $40 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Ballandean Estate Nebbiolo 2024
You could say that this Nebbiolo from Ballandean Estate is an Aussie take on the famed, drink-now Langhe Nebbiolo style. Alluring aromas and savoury complexity capture the essence of the variety. Dried red petals, orange peel and dark cherries lead the charge and are ably supported by cola, char and smokey meats. The palate stays true to the variety with Nebbiolo's signature drying, powdery tannins that provide structure and character without overwhelming its approachability. That floral lift and citrus peel nuance have me circling back. In all, it's a respectable, compelling and authentic take that is ready to drink now to the medium term. Bravo. 92/100 Region: Granite Belt RRP: $44 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Tout Prêt BBQ Shiraz 2025
Hitting the Qwine tasting bench from Rutherglen, this medium-bodied BBQ Shiraz smashes the brief for an approachable and easy-drinking drop that is armed and ready for casual gatherings. Dark cherries, red currants, red apple peel and plums skip from the glass, offering a melange of bright fruit and a darker, richer edge. Licks of char and charcoal are met by a dusting of black pepper spice. A wine with a respectable presence and length, splash it generously in a glass while indulging in a snag on bread or even minute steak burgers straight off the barbie. Winning! 92/100 Region: Rutherglen RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Jericho Bracken Vineyard Shiraz 2024
A fair chunk of oak plays its hand with this Jericho Bracken Vineyard Shiraz. I wasn't overly surprised to learn after tasting and compiling this review that this sees 60% new French oak for 14 months. That high percentage is telling, particularly with a rampant coconut oak note. Some menthol gets in on the aroma profile too and refuses to budge. Hmm. Dark plums, blackberries, cherry liqueur, cola, stripped bark and black tea add plenty of character, but it's hard to shake the oak. Perhaps time will help. 91/100 Region: McLaren Vale RRP: $42 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
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Travellers Key Keg 20L Vermentino 2025
Bright and fresh with a neat textural feel, these Travellers 20L Key Kegs are a good on-premise solution to keep wines fresh as well as minimising packaging. A most enjoyable wine, this Vermentino is bursting with lemons, old-school lemonade, sea spray and a dash of saltiness. Made with a splash of Chardonnay and Fiano (2% each), there is a fine veil of minerality which adds further detail and elevates this expression, to mention the respectable length. For a wine that comes in 20L kegs, this is a great get if you see this on premise. 89/100 Region: Granite Belt RRP: $ ?? Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X