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Travellers Keykeg 20L Cabernet Merlot 2025
Some wines don't ask for food, they demand it. This Granite Belt Cabernet Merlot is one of them. These 20L keykegs from Nextgen Wines and are pointed to venues as a cost-effective alternative to bottled wine. Sourced from the Granite Belt, this Cabernet Merlot possesses black fruits that set the tone from the outset, with a leafy edge whispering its varietal persona. Sage and thyme weave through the palate, adding savoury complexity before a lick of red apple peel lingers on the finish. Cocoa-like tannins provide plenty of grip, delivering a drying, puckering structure that cries out for a robust meat dish to soften its edges. Think slow-cooked lamb shoulder, roast beef or a rib eye steak. 88/100 Region: Granite Belt RRP: $? Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)21 views2585-89ptscabernet-sauvignongranite-beltmerlot - news
3 Rings Shiraz 2023
I've now reviewed this 2023 Shiraz three times in the past 18 months. My first tasting was shortly after bottling, then again ten months later. Those extra months in bottle made a noticeable difference. Curiously, I tasted this wine again this time, wrote up my notes and then referred to my previous reviews. Of note, my thoughts are much the same as they were the last time I tasted it, back in December. Abundant dark fruits lead the way, joined by Christmas cake and raisins dipped in dark chocolate. Cedar mingles with black pepper and a medley of earthy, woodsy spices. The mid-palate is saturated with fruit, yet remains taut and firmly structured. All up, it's good gear and an easy go-to for a night of binge-watching your favourite series. 89/100 Region: Barossa RRP: $19 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)20 views15-202385-89ptsbarossashiraz - news
Paringa Cabernet Sauvignon 2025
This is the first time I've come across this Paringa Cabernet, despite reviewing the Shiraz on several occasions. Like its Shiraz sibling, this is an approachable wine. Sitting on the black fruit spectrum, there is a neat dark chocolate, dried herb and earthy presence adding savoury nuances to consider. A shimmer of soft spices chime in late with a tension that seizes up on close. Good drinking and a Cabernet that will tackle a roast or casual barbecue with confidence. 88/100 Region: Murray Darling RRP: $18 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)14 views15-202585-89ptscabernet-sauvignonmurray-darling - news
Paringa Shiraz 2025
Like its 2024 sibling, this 2025 is an easy-drinking and approachable Shiraz. Comparing the two, this 2025 comes across a little more forced. There is a distinct tension here too, and that is felt through the mid-palate. The tannins are more forward as well, delivering a drying, brick dust feel. Still, there is no denying the quality of the dark plum and dark berry fruits that cascade with ease. Good gear. 88/100 Region: Murray Darling RRP: $18 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)16 views15-202585-89ptsmurray-darlingshiraz - news
Stream & Stone Chardonnay 2025
A new brand under the Angove banner, this Chardonnay comes from Tasmania's Tamar Valley. Lemon, lemon sherbet, green apple and tinned pineapple deliver a bright and energetic opening before white-fleshed nectarines and subtle licks of barbecued peach add interest. A vanilla slice note and a slippery pastry-like feel bring a gentle creamy touch, while a saline edge keeps the fruit in check. It's neatly composed, although the fruit is thinly veiled and the palate feels clipped, finishing sooner than hoped. There's enough freshness and balance to make it an enjoyable drink, but it stops short of delivering the depth and persistence that would lift it to the next level. In the end, it goes okay. 89/100 Region: Tasmania RRP: $50 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)30 views50-1502585-89ptschardonnaytasmania - news
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
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)20 views15-202485-89ptsfrancesyrah - news
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
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)20 views20-302685-89ptsmoscatoriverland - news
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
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)16 views30-402585-89ptsorangesauvignon-blanc - news
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
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)21 views2585-89ptsgranite-beltmerlotrosevermentino - news
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
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)17 views20-302585-89ptspinot-noirriverland - news
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
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)22 views2585-89ptsgranite-beltvermentino - news
Gilberts Wines Estate Chardonnay 2025
From Mount Barker comes this barrel-fermented Chardonnay from Gilberts Wines. A curious thing that caught my attention was the scents of wet brown paper and a musty note. Odd... Tinned pineapple, bruised golden apple and firm green tea-like phenolics are the driving forces. The palate is clipped and doesn't reach as much as hoped. I'd prefer others, particularly at this price point. 85/100 Region: Mount Barker RRP: $40 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)19 views40-502585-89ptschardonnaymount-barker - news
Turkey Flat Butcher's Block Shiraz 2024
Generous and plush, this Butcher's Block Shiraz is ripe to the core. Indulgent aromas of berry pie, Dutch cocoa and freshly baked brownie, it walks with broad shoulders to carry that ripe fruit. Woodsy and exotic spices mingle before broad, furry and dusty tannins have the last word. Ideally, I'm looking for some finesse and lift at this price point. So much so, I much preferred its GSM sibling . 88/100 Region: Barossa RRP: $27 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)22 views20-302485-89ptsbarossashiraz - news
Cael's Gate Semillon 2026
A new producer to me, in comes this Hunter Valley Semillon from Cael's Gate. Fresh green apple and lemongrass aromas spill from the glass offering a welcome invitation. The longer it sits, mind you, some bruised red apple aromas appear. A fine phenolic grip glues itself to the palate, with those aromas flowing onto it. Curiously, that bruised red apple trait builds momentum through the mouth and arrests attention. A whip crack of lemon-like acidity on close cleanses the palate, but I suspect this will go better with food. 86/100 Region: Hunter Valley RRP: $38 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)17 views30-402685-89ptshunter-valleysemillon - news
Yeah Wines Bringing Sexy Back Merlot 2024
If Merlot is your thing, this Yeah Wines release may just bring sexy back. It's got a bit of get up and go, some swagger, energy and lift. Give it some air and it will pay dividends, coaxing out aromas of purple flowers and blackcurrant paste. A concentrated flavour profile is spearheaded by plums and blackberries with a satisfying core of dark fruit. What elevates its appeal is its honesty, and that is evident on the label where winemaker Andrew Dawson simply adds, "unfined and unfiltered without much mucking about". Notes of fennel and licorice add savoury delight late, but of interest is a noticeable alcohol warmth that pegs this back a notch or two. Perhaps that's just part of the wine's untamed spirit? In all, this will find its people with good company and some backyard barbecue beats to celebrate its appeal. 89/100 Region: Blackwood Valley RRP: $35 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and&nbs
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)17 views30-402485-89ptsblackwood-valleymerlot - news
Kosciuszko Pinot Noir 2024
If an easy-going Pinot Noir with a bit more depth is your thing, wander over this way and check out this Kosciuszko from Tumbarumba. A stand and deliver type - what you see is what you get. Plums, dark cherries and baked strawberries build a respectable fruit profile flanked by twigs, mushroom compost and woodsy spices. There is a composure here which I like, not to mention a persistent finish. It's not trying to be anything it's not, yet it delivers the goods with humility. Good stuff. 89/100 Region: Tumbarumba RRP: $32 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)27 views30-402485-89ptspinot-noirtumbarumba - news
Kosciuszko Sauvignon Blanc 2026
Regulars to this site would know that Sauvignon Blanc is not my favourite friend, particularly those grassy, herby types. I'm pleased to report that this Kosciuszko sits on the tropical fruit spectrum and goes okay. Almost water clear, it delivers passionfruit, green melon, papaya and lemon juice. Some green apples try to emerge with a green tendril-like trait trying its best to get noticed, but that is shouldered away. Clean and cleansing acidity whips through with a little texture to pursue. What pulls it back is that the palate is clipped and does not reach as far as I hoped. A good drink no less. 88/100 Region: Tumbarumba RRP: $24 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)26 views20-302685-89ptssauvignon-blanctumbarumba - news
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)27 views30-402485-89ptscabernet-sauvignonmclaren-vale - news
Lane's End Cabernet Franc 2024
My first look at a Cabernet Franc from the Macedon Ranges. Sourced from a nearby grower as the estate vineyard is planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, now 40 years old. The fruit sees 14 months in French oak (15% new). It shows that leafy trait that the Cabernet family tends to do, and it absorbs my attention probably more than it should. That green astringency is a bit off-putting initially, delivering herbal and green capsicum things. Blackberries, blackcurrants and a faint flicker of raspberries do their best to swim against the tide, not to mention some dried purple flower aromas, but they can't get out and shake it off. Some acidity pokes out with puckering tannins that are youthful. I suspect this needs more time to fuse together. 88/100 Region: Macedon Ranges RRP: $40 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)18 views40-502485-89ptscabernet-francmacedon-ranges - news
Beulah Chardonnay 2023
If a rich, oak-driven style of Chardonnay is your thing, head on over this way. Beulah Wines hail from Western Australia's Blackwood Valley, just inland from Margaret River. Dehydrated peach, peaches and cream, this is definitely on the yellow fruit spectrum. Lemon curd gets amongst the action with cashews and gingerbread adding some savoury interest. Warming and mouthfilling, woodsy spices linger long on a persistent finish. Of note, the acidity creeps up high on the palate and refuses to loosen its grip. It feels quite muscular and aggressive to close, perhaps some more bottle age will do the trick? 88/100 Region: Blackwood Valley RRP: $28 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to Qwine here Follow: Instagram , LinkedIn and X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)22 views20-302385-89ptsblackwood-valleychardonnay - 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)21 views30-402385-89ptsbarberablackwood-valley