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#30-40
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Chapel Hill The MV Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
Only a few days before Endeavour went public and announced they were selling off the assets from Chapel Hill but only retaining the brand, I received an email from Michael Fragos asking if I could take a look at his wines. A great human, I feel for the staff who have been caught up in the crossfire. Perhaps this could be one of the last Chapel Hill wines that I see? To the wine... McLaren Vale Cabernet. It presents quite leafy, stemmy and firm on opening. Blackberries and blackcurrants aren't far from the action but then the savoury tempo builds and arrests your attention. Dried herbs, mint and green capsicum are the main players. Tensing up on close, this would be best with some protein by its side. I'm thinking of roast lamb or beef. 88/100 Region: McLaren Vale RRP: $33 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)28 views30-402485-89ptscabernet-sauvignonmclaren-vale - news
Higher Plane Jewels of Karridale Chardonnay 2025
A textural and interesting Chardonnay, the key is to not serve this Higher Plane Jewels of Karridale too cold so it can shine in all its glory. 100% barrel fermented (15% new) with 9 months in French oak, it is awash with concentrated white-fleshed nectarines and barbecued pineapple. Lemon curd, meringue, fine cashews and grapefruit keep things ticking over nicely. Sheets of vanilla, creamy oak, oak spices and ginger build sophisticated layers of detail. With a persistent length, the concentration lends itself to being best enjoyed with food. Great stuff. 92/100 Region: Margaret River RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)16 views30-402590-94ptschardonnaymargaret-river - news
Curly Flat Williams Crossing Chardonnay 2025
A Chardonnay with spark and energy, it feels like it's been kissed by the sun and flame in equal measure. It's great to see the Curly Flat Williams Crossing back on the shelves again after a brief hiatus. The fruit sits in the sweet spot with dehydrated peach mingling with barbecued stonefruit. There is a flicker of flint and a whisper of struck match that cuts through a note of custard powder. You get a sense that it walks the tightrope of richness and indulgence. A twist of ruby grapefruit skims across the palate adding freshness and a skip to its step. But it's hard to miss that textural detail that carries this along. Like an enveloping blanket, the Mediterranean tonic feels hum along bringing a supple, refreshing and complex detail. Above all, it's easy to love and even easier to re-pour. Yes! 93/100 Region: Macedon Ranges RRP: $34 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)21 views30-402590-94ptschardonnaymacedon-ranges - news
Curly Flat Williams Crossing Pinot Noir 2025
The Curly Flat Williams Crossing is back! After a brief stint MIA, consulting winemaker Steve Flamsteed ensured the label was back on the front line. Dark cherries and raspberries skip from the glass with an entourage of earthiness, charred oak, pine needles, cured meats, twigs and dried leaves in hot pursuit. The bones of a very good Pinot Noir are here, and it starts with such promise, but I found the palate to be clipped and it didn't flow through as much as hoped. Given the chance to shine over a couple of days, the drive and length I was hoping for just weren't there. Have a glass with food and you may not even know. 91/100 Region: Macedon Ranges RRP: $38 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)15 views30-402590-94ptspinot-noir - news
Geoff Merrill G&W Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
Released with eight years of ageing already done for you, this Geoff Merrill Cabernet quietly improved over the few days it was open. A blend of Coonawarra and McLaren Vale fruit, like its Jacko's Shiraz sibling, it's rich, ripe and bold. Loaded with black fruits, plum pudding and dark chocolate, it's puckering and saps all moisture from the mouth. Cigar box, dried mint and eucalypt nuances add interest with powdery tannins draped across a lengthy and sustained finish. Top value for $30, if you like 'em big with a dash of charisma, shuffle over this way. 92/100 Region: Coonawarra & McLaren Vale RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)19 views30-401890-94ptscabernet-sauvignoncoonawarramclaren-vale - news
Geoff Merrill Jacko's Shiraz 2018
Eight years young, this is only the early days for this long lifer from Geoff Merrill. A bold and full-throttle delivery is clear from the first swirl. With scents of chocolatey oak, rich vanilla and mocha, it's ripe and dense. Blackberries and blackberry jubes sit at the core with a slightly sweet fruited edge plus lashings of licorice for interest. Unapologetically dense, there is some real heft and muscle here without being top-heavy. A trail of lingering spices and boisterous tannins has the last word. If you like them painted on thick, I reckon you have a new friend here. 92/100 Region: McLaren Vale RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)16 views30-401890-94ptsmclaren-valeshiraz - news
Juniper Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
This Juniper Estate Cabernet is outrageously good for a two-year-old! And before you think that it might unleash fury on your bank account, think again. For a measly $35, you are drinking exceptionally well. Boom! Comfortably in the contemporary Cabernet zone, the value that it represents is immense. From one of the original sites planted in 1973, it is organically and dry farmed. Bright, alive and joyous with blackberries, blackcurrants and mulberries, fabulous notes of jubes, licorice, saltbush, cigar box, Bay leaf, parsley stem and rosemary sprig fold into one another with absolute ease. Dried herbs make a late dash, but I'm captivated by the elasticity that the tannins possess. Damn, this is a clever Cabernet that is drinking superbly now but will age gracefully. Go here. 95/100 Region: Margaret River RRP: $35 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)15 views30-402495ptscabernet-sauvignonmargaret-river - news
Camino Wine Co Grenache Rosé 2024
Some serious vine material goes into this wine that seems to be awfully cheap for what you get. Rosé lovers rejoice with this impressive Camino Wine Co Grenache Rosé 2024. From vines planted in 1912, it's a wine that has serious sessionable appeal. Bone dry with a thrilling creamy drive, the onion skin appearance attracts the eye from the outset. Dried raspberries, rhubarb, red currant, and apricot kernel diffuse from the glass and flow through to a flavour profile that is seductive and moreish in equal doses. It's such a wonderfully balanced Rosé, it's a wine I enthusiastically recommend. 93/100 Region: Barossa RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)16 views30-402490-94ptsbarossagrenacherose - news
Juniper Estate Chardonnay 2025
A great expression of Chardonnay that is true to the Margaret River region, check this Juniper Estate 2025 release. Alluring aromas of pineapple husk, white-fleshed stonefruit, flint and gun smoke roll out the welcome mat. These flow with ease to an expressive palate that possesses a fine feathering of texture. Some cashews, a touch of saltiness and a grapefruit acidity enhance its enjoyment factor, with an old school lemonade tang that clings to a persistent finish. It's really well done. 92/100 Region: Margaret River RRP: $35 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)18 views30-402590-94ptschardonnaymargaret-river - news
Higher Plane Led Astray Fumé Blanc 2025
Bursting with tropical fruit, this Fumé Blanc is not my style, but it will find its people. The barrel work is interwoven, but the fruit wrestles away the control. I prefer my Fumé more tempered and balanced. Rushing from the glass is an array of lemons, papaya, green melon, snow peas, lemongrass, pears and fine ginger spices. A whip crack of acidity brings the mouth to water. There is no doubting that it delivers some serious Sunday lunch appeal, just not for this little black duck. 90/100 Region: Margaret River RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)17 views30-402590-94ptsfume-blancmargaret-riversauvignon-blanc - news
Yeah Wines Pinot Noir 2025
Reviewing these Yeah Wines is awfully distracting. The whole time I am tasting and writing them up, I am humming along to Usher's song, Yeah! By the way, this is a great Pinot. Fermented with whole berries and whole bunches, the fruit is sourced from Pemberton in southern Western Australia. What engages me is how it steadily builds interest. You could suggest there is a new vista around every corner - winning! It opens with earthy and twiggy aromas with some wood smoke. Forest berries consume the fruit profile, but I'm hooked on the terrific savoury presence and drive. A delicate sheet of spice draws out to the persistent finish, where you find a fine hint of red apple acidity. I'm all in on the shape and flow. A solid example of Pinot, it's a beautiful drink without the bells and whistles. Yes! 91/100 Region: Pemberton RRP: $35 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)25 views30-402590-94ptsgreat-southernpinot-noir - news
Yeah Wines Chardonnay 2024
What I like about this Yeah Wines Chardonnay is the way it carries itself. It possesses this cool charm and a relaxed swagger. Whole bunch pressed, barrel fermented (30% new French oak). On first inspection, it gives the impression of a wine of depth from its aroma profile. But to taste, it slides through on an even keel without density or bulk. Concentrated peach lands on the mid-palate with licks of pineapple and mango. Butter cream, wafer biscuits, plus some cashews build layers of interest. A bright lemony acidity and lemony tang have the last word and call me back for more. A well-priced Margaret River Chardonnay, it's a thumbs up from me. 90/100 Region: Margaret River RRP: $35 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)28 views30-402490-94ptschardonnaymargaret-river - news
Yeah Wines Viognier 2024
Giving off a golden glow in the glass, this is a neat Viognier from Western Australia's Blackwood Valley region. Sitting on the richer side of the Viognier spectrum, it's not an oily type, and the fruit is able to express its freshness. Alive with peaches and cream, barbecued peaches, canned apricots and apricot nectar, barrel fermentation has imparted vanilla custard and vanilla oak nuances. A wine best enjoyed with food, this is a pretty tidy piece of work. 90/100 Region: Blackwood Valley RRP: $35 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)17 views30-402490-94ptsblackwood-valleyviognier - news
Camino Wine Co Gamay 2025
Dang! Dangerously slurpable and eminently smashable, this is a silky delight that will take pride of place on a lazy Susan and take down a Chinese banquet effortlessly. What a joy it was to review this Camino Wine Co Gamay. Sourced from the Adelaide Hills, it was made with 25% whole bunches before being pressed to seasoned French oak. Elegant and seductive, fine ripples of earthiness and delicate spices ride on the coattails of blueberry and mulberry fruit. It firms up late on the palate, which pulls it back a peg, but those creases should be ironed out with more bottle age in the next couple of years. Excellent drinking, no less, and guaranteed to swiftly evaporate from your glass, it's a great addition to the ever-expanding Camino Wine Co range. 93/100 Region: Adelaide Hills RRP: $60 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)30 views30-402590-94ptsadelaide-hillsgamay - news
Yeah Wine Single Vineyard Grenache 2025
My first look at a Yeah Wine from Western Australia and I'm fixated with the uber cool, beer-bottle-like label. Brilliant! From a single vineyard site in Karridale, Margaret River, a small portion of whole bunches was used. Opening with aromas of smoke, cured meats, dark cherry and berry pie, there is a delightful presence and drinkability here. Tense through the mid-palate, firm woodsy and earthy spices add interest and build complexity along with some orange peel. Medium bodied, a common thread of meatiness draws out long and has me thinking about burgers, pizzas and pasta night with a side of Friday night footy on the tele. Great stuff. 91/100 Region: Margaret River RRP: $35 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)16 views30-402590-94ptsgrenachemargaret-river - news
Camino Wine Co Grenache Blanc de Noir 2025
Jason Barrette has a knack for trying a few things. I've seen him push some boundaries with some wines in his care, and this Grenache Blanc de Noir under his own label tugs at your curiosity and soothes the taste buds with charismatic ease. Made from the red grape Grenache and handpicked from vines planted in 1912, the fruit was whole bunch pressed with no skin contact to ensure no impact on the colour. The result is a wine that is almost water clear. Attractive aromas of white peach, pears, red apple and strawberries pique my interest, and they flow through to the flavour profile with absolute ease. The mid-palate is filled with a thrilling and most engaging tonic-like texture. Fine ginger and cinnamon spice linger, upping the moreish factor. Slide this into a blind tasting and I doubt many would pick it as a red grape. An exciting take on Grenache with a point of difference sure to raise a few eyebrows around the table, big love. 93/100 Region: Barossa RRP: $35 Sou
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)18 views30-402590-94ptsbarossagrenache - news
Sunnyhurst Winery Cabernet Merlot 2023
An intriguing Cabernet Merlot blend from Blackwood Valley producer Sunnyhurst Winery, a splash of Petit Verdot works its way into the mix (50/40/10). Curiously, the website states 20% Petit Verdot, but the label says 10%... Each component was fermented separately and matured for 15 months in French oak before blending. On the nose, the aromas are tightly wound, pointing to a long future ahead. With air, it reveals a core of black fruits and berries and is layered with savoury notes of black olive, cloves and a touch of dark chocolate. The palate is firm and dry with assertive tannins that take charge for now, but these should settle with time. The concentrated fruit profile echoes the aromas. Those notes of spice and chocolate add depth and intrigue. The tension calls for time in the decanter if it were to be enjoyed now, but some more bottle age will see things unfurl and harmonise. 91/100 Region: Blackwood Valley RRP: $32 Source: Sample Winery Website S
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)20 views30-402390-94ptsblackwood-valleyblendscabernet-sauvignon - news
Bridgetown Winery Redtale 2024
This Bridgetown Winery Redtale is a great drink that screams for yiros, burgers and anything in between. Give it some time to breathe and the attractive aromatic lift will whisk you away. A blend of Barbera, Tempranillo and Shiraz (40/40/20), all parcels were co-fermented. I love the vibrancy of the red and purple berries and the structure the Shiraz brings to tie it together. Some cola, dark chocolate, puffs of earthiness and pan juices all put their shoulder to the wheel. Woodsy spices, a touch of five spice and some fruit bun spices elevate its appeal on close. It's a terrific drink and one that I would enthusiastically recommend. 92/100 Region: Blackwood Valley RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)19 views30-402490-94ptsbarberablackwood-valleyblends - news
Nannup Estate Rolling Hills Malbec 2022
Smart drinking. A Malbec with great fruit and shape, find me a cozy place on a cold night and a generous glass. Plush plummy fruit leads the way with ripe mulberries and hints of blueberries framing the edges adding lift. Beneath the fruit lies an earthy core threaded with fruit bun spices that cling to a persistent finish. Dusty and cocoa tannins are tense and add some chew. Thoroughly enjoyable, this is great stuff. 92/100 Region: Blackwood Valley RRP: $38 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)16 views30-402290-94ptsblackwood-valleymalbec - news
Bridgetown Winery Barbera 2023
Tasted alongside another Barbera, this Bridgetown release speaks of a heavy oak impact from the first whiff, which detracts from the fruit that does its best to sing. From the Blackwood Valley, just inland from the famed Margaret River region, it is awash with red cherries and blackberry leaf, only to have them drowned out by the oak. The oak brings with it those ski lodge cedar scents which flow through to the palate. Twigs, caramel, Mars bar nuances and woodsy spices gang up and arrest the attention from the fruit. Pare back the oak and unleash the fruit, I say. 87/100 Region: Blackwood Valley RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)22 views30-402385-89ptsbarberablackwood-valley - news
First Drop Wines Moderno Barbera 2023
Bright and touch lighter in the glass than some Barberas I've tasted of late, this release from First Drop Wines pushes its case for a cool evening with a hearty meal. Sourced from the Adelaide Hills, juicy red cherries, plums and energetic blackberries build a respectable fruit profile. Tilled earth, olive tapenade, and tree bark add savoury nuances with a fine mist of soft spices coating the palate. Red apple skin rushes late with crunchy red apple acidity on close. Tense tannins cling to a long finish and tease with a moreish factor. A most enjoyable take on this Piedmont delight. 92/100 Region: Adelaide Hills RRP: $30 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)24 views30-402390-94ptsadelaide-hillsbarbera - news
Travellers Chardonnay 2023
A well-balanced and structured Chardonnay, it delivers freshness and good fruit with immediate appeal. Sourced from two Granite Belt sites (Sirromet and Ballandean Estate), it opens with scents of custard apple and golden apple. Honey tones slide in with time in the glass. Although quite broad through the mouth, the fruit offers respectable vibrance. The touch of minerality speaks of its granite roots with a veil of slippery phenolics. Soft cinnamon spices curl around the palate on close with a bright lemony and grapefruit acidity. It's nicely done. 91/100 Region: Granite Belt RRP: $35 Source: Sample Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)24 views30-402390-94ptschardonnaygranite-belt - news
Squitchy Lane Estate Chardonnay 2024
A neat, well-positioned Chardonnay from Yarra Valley producer Squitchy Lane. It sees nine months in a mix of new (30%) and seasoned French oak. Opening with concentrated yellow-fleshed nectarines and green apples, there is a neat flow of custard powder and creme brulee notes which push the oak forward. The fruit is nimble enough, but the oak seems to speak louder for now. Perhaps this will settle with some more bottle age. Lemon juice and grapefruit acidity bring the mouth to water on a respectable finish. With all that in mind, it's a wine that will pass the roast chook test with ease. 91/100 Region: Yarra Valley RRP: $38 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)19 views30-402490-94ptschardonnayyarra-valley