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#90-94pts

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news2026-06-03
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)3 views
30-402590-94ptsfume-blancmargaret-riversauvignon-blanc
news2026-05-30
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)3 views
30-402590-94ptsgreat-southernpinot-noir
news2026-05-30
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)3 views
30-402490-94ptschardonnaymargaret-river
news2026-05-30
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)2 views
30-402490-94ptsblackwood-valleyviognier
news2026-05-29
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)4 views
30-402590-94ptsadelaide-hillsgamay
news2026-05-27
Yelland & Papps Single Vineyard Greenock Shiraz 2024
  From a Greenock vineyard planted in 1988, this Yelland & Papps Single Vineyard Shiraz comes from a site that has been farmed by four generations.  The twentieth consecutive release of this wine, it was wild yeast fermented and sees large format French oak for 22 months (22% new). With more muscle and bulk than its Syrah sibling , this is quite a different release from the incredible Single Vineyard Greenock Shiraz 2023 . What caught my attention this time was the increased spice and tension, not to mention the oak that protrudes a touch more than hoped, with cedar and coconut husk featuring large. Softer scents of violets are present, but not as lifted. Mulberries, black cherries and plums build a neat frame and sit at the core with delightful berry tart nuances. Dark chocolate, dark soy and peanuts dipped in chocolate add to the savoury drive. The acid shows life and is still quite energetic, even after a couple of days open. I suspect this will be better with more bot
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3 views
50-1502490-94ptsbarossashiraz
news2026-05-27
Turkey Flat Grenache 2023
  When you think of Barossa Valley Grenache, Turkey Flat is never far away from the conversation. What a joy it was to take a look at this 2023 and the brand new 2024 alongside one another. Raspberries, strawberries, red currants, orange peel and apricot kernel light up the stage with a hint of cola for good measure. A flicker of eucalyptus piques my interest, but that can't be seen on day two when this nestles into a neat groove. It's a wine with more structure and body compared to the pretty, silky, elegant thing that is the 2024 . Fine tannins are pliable with the length highlighted by fruit bun spices. Grenache lovers who appreciate a little more oomph, this is right in your wheelhouse. 94/100 Region:  Barossa RRP:  $50 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to   Qwine here Follow:  Instagram ,  LinkedIn  and  X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3 views
40-502390-94ptsbarossagrenache
news2026-05-27
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)3 views
30-402590-94ptsgrenachemargaret-river
news2026-05-27
Camino Wine Co Chardonnay 2024
  When I hear the suggestion that white wines don't need decanting, I don't entirely subscribe to it. Some whites would absolutely benefit from the opportunity to open up, and this Camino Wine Co Chardonnay is a perfect example. Sourced from two Adelaide Hills vineyards, the fruit was whole bunch pressed and sent to barrel where it underwent wild yeast fermentation before spending eight months in seasoned French oak. The shift on day two of tasting was significant due to being open that bit more. It was tense with some curious aromas initially, but time gave life to yellow grapefruit, lemon meringue, and lemon curd. Nougat creaminess and almond nuttiness play a shy hand with some old school lemonade acidity for good measure, leaving a sherbety tang to muse over. Mind you, I'd recommend having this with food to handle that energetic acidity. Think temupra prawns or even a classic Schnity. 90/100 Region:  Adelaide Hills RRP:  $60 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3 views
50-1502490-94ptsadelaide-hillschardonnay
news2026-05-25
Colmar Estate Block 4 Syrah 2024
  A brand new wine in the Colmar Estate stable, owner Bill Schrapnel has always been obsessed with Mosel, Alsace and Burgundy, but Côte-Rôtie has always made him curious. So here we are, his take on Syrah from his little patch in Orange. An early ripening clone was tracked down, so the R6WV28 landed, and these are the first Syrah/Shiraz vines of the sort to call Orange home. Uplifting aromas of red petals, cherries, plums, blackberries and red apple skin get the juices flowing. Its shape and presence ooze cool-climate Syrah. Noticeably youthful given the tension and firmish presence initially through the palate, it doesn't reach out on the palate as much as hoped. Mind you, I can't help but ponder where this is going, particularly as the vines mature in time. Earthy notes, Dutch cocoa, black pepper, and black tea build further appeal with sooty tannins and fine warming spices adding a comfort factor. Black book this Syrah. Those vines will pay grand dividends in time. 91/100 Regio
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3 views
50-1502490-94ptsorangeshirazsyrah
news2026-05-25
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)2 views
30-402590-94ptsbarossagrenache
news2026-05-25
St John's Road Blood & Courage Shiraz 2023
  In the slot, this St John's Road Blood & Courage Shiraz is a reliable expression of Barossa Shiraz that won't blow you away, but will present a solid argument. It tastes of plums, dark cherries and blackberries with a charcoal cameo. Mulberries step up once it sees some more air. I'm unsure where the fruit is sourced from, be it a single site or multiple, but the quality is evident. Roasted meats carve a course through the mid-palate with fine, brickdust tannins adding a moreish finish that dries out slowly. It's nicely done. 92/100 Region:  Barossa RRP:  $28 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to   Qwine here Follow:  Instagram ,  LinkedIn  and  X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2 views
20-302390-94ptsbarossashiraz
news2026-05-23
Kilikanoon Killerman's Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
  Launching with an expressive bouquet of dark fruits, led by blackberries and blackcurrants, this Kilikanoon Killerman's Run Cabernet Sauvignon offers a rich and inviting aromatic profile. Add savoury delight via grilled capsicum and green olives, it's a wine with a touch of rustic charm. Black tea, sage and dried herbs, plus some earthiness, add further intrigue. Firm, dusty tannins frame a palate with a drying, textural presence. In all, it's a neatly balanced and composed wine that provides respectable potential for medium-term aging. All this for a most reasonable $25RRP. It's a big tick from me. 92/100 Region:  Clare Valley RRP:  $25 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to   Qwine here Follow:  Instagram ,  LinkedIn  and  X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)4 views
20-302390-94ptscabernet-sauvignonclare-valley
news2026-05-23
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)4 views
30-402390-94ptsblackwood-valleyblendscabernet-sauvignon
news2026-05-22
St Johns Wine Round Puzzle Cabernet Malbec Merlot 2022
  Bold and unapologetically rustic, this Bordeaux-style blend offers power and savoury depth in equal doses. Opening with a rush of drunken plums, ripe blackberries and evocative Black Forest cake, savoury notes of charred wood, barbecue smoke and crushed granite build anticipation. Firm and muscular to taste, the dense fruit is wrapped in a sheet of tense, dusty tannins. Structured rather than plush, layers of black pepper spice and charcoal peer through the mid-palate. Some granite-like minerality adds detail, offering tension and focus that carries through to a dry, gripping finish. Sit this beside a slab of protein and you're winning. It's nicely done. 91/100 Region:  Blackwood Valley  RRP:  $40 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to   Qwine here Follow:  Instagram ,  LinkedIn  and  X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)6 views
40-502290-94ptsblackwood-valleyblendscabernet-sauvignon
news2026-05-20
Camino Wine Co Centenary Vines Grenache 2024
  Devilishly rounded and curvaceous on the second day of tasting, give this Camino Wine Co Grenache a decant before diving in. Give it that grace and you'll be in heaven. Sourced from a 1912 planted Lyndoch vineyard in the Barossa's south, Jason Barrette has access to some excellent parcels.  This 2024 carries on from where the 2023 left off. I was quite impressed by that release, and we come back for much of the same joy and the delish factor. It kicks off like a working-class Grenache of sorts with a rustic edge, yet it waltzes with royalty with some air under its wings. Be sure to give it that time. Made with 25% whole bunches, dive into a pool of raspberries, mulberries, cherries, raspberry rope, and cola with flecks of orange peel skimming the surface. Some pan juices and charcoal add some savoury appeal as woodsy spices curl around the palate, driving the moreishness. Firmish, cocoa tannins have the last word, but all I want is to dive back in. Clever stuff. Big love. 9
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3 views
50-1502490-94ptsbarossagrenache
news2026-05-19
Lyons Will Greenways Hill Gamay 2025
  The debut commercial release of the Greenways Hill Gamay comes from a new estate vineyard that is planted on the next ridge over from the winery. I must say, it's a glorious vista looking out to that vineyard from the cellar door. I don't have an up-to-date copy of the bottle pic, which has Greenways Hill across the front in large font, but you get the idea...  Planted 510 metres above in 2021 to eight Gamay clones to bring diversity and fill the palate, this is a juicy, slurpable thing that does show its youth. Having said that, strap in for a thrilling ride, because if this is the start of the journey, brace for where things are headed. Fine, with a greeny tinge on opening as a result of its youth, I can see this bringing the hype as the vines mature. Awash with purple fruits and blueberries, there is a delicate lick of Campari that oozes appeal. The mouthfeel is lacey which heightens its approachability, and particularly on the second and third day of tasting, those gree
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)5 views
40-502590-94ptsgamaymacedon-ranges
news2026-05-18
St Johns Wine Tweed River Shiraz 2023
  A super buy for 20 bucks, this St Johns Wine Tweed River Shiraz struts with a cool climate-like Shiraz swagger. Brooding and tightly wound on first pour, it opens with an array of dark fruits. Think blackberries, dark cherries and plums that gradually reveal a gentle cola lift with some air. The palate shifts confidently into savoury territory, where notes of meat jus and cured meats add depth and intrigue. Layers of dark chocolate and finely handled oak frame the fruit, while a subtle granite-like minerality lends precision. A dusting of black pepper spice carries through the finish, enhancing the wine’s complexity. Structurally, it is firm and composed, with tightly knit tannins and a line of persistent acidity that keeps the profile fresh and energetic. Still youthful, it has the balance and concentration to evolve gracefully, rewarding cellaring over the next 5 to 8 years. A big tick from me. 91/100 Region:  Blackwood Valley  RRP:  $20 Source: Sample Winery We
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3 views
15-202390-94ptsbargainblackwood-valleyshiraz
news2026-05-18
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)4 views
30-402490-94ptsbarberablackwood-valleyblends
news2026-05-17
Sunnyhurst Winery Viognier 2025
  Delightful, attractive and most approachable, this is a fruit-driven Viognier sure to please. It's my first look at a wine from the Blackwood Valley's Sunnyhurst Winery, and it has made a most positive impression.  Scents of yellow flowers, yellow-fleshed stonefruit and gingernut biscuit spices get you in the mood. Mazipan, fresh apricots and yellow-fleshed nectarines plant themselves on the palate, framed by those spices that cling to the finish. Armed for long lunches or soaking up the weekend sunshine, the length rolls on with the acidity bringing the mouth the water. A most pleasant drink indeed. 90/100 Region:  Blackwood Valley  RRP:  $28 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to   Qwine here Follow:  Instagram ,  LinkedIn  and  X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3 views
20-302590-94ptsblackwood-valleyviognier
news2026-05-15
Nannup Estate Firetower SMT 2022
  I recently received a few wines from the Blackwood Valley's Nannup Estate as I explore the district from the comfort of my east coast abode. Two wines down from this producer and they've delivered two rippers. This Shiraz Malbec Tempranillo nails the brief for great drinking. No information was received about the percentages in the blend, but that almost seems irrelevant when the going is good and the delish factor is high. Crushed purple petals set the tone. It's a wine with a rustic presence but polished with bevelled edges. Plums, mulberries and blueberries offer plenty of interest and depth with black earth and a notable minerally vibe. A faint eucalyptus note raises its hand with a neat dusting of dark chocolate crumb. Tense tannins soften over a couple of days. Built for food, it will take down some robust protein with ease. A terrific blend and rock-solid example of pleasure all for 28 bucks. 92/100 Region:  Blackwood Valley  RRP:  $28 Source: Sample Winery
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)5 views
20-302290-94ptsblackwood-valleyblendsmalbec
news2026-05-15
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)5 views
30-402290-94ptsblackwood-valleymalbec
news2026-05-14
Beulah Wines Shiraz 2023
  Singing on the second and third day of tasting, this Blackwood Valley Shiraz from Beulah Wines certainly embraced the opportunity to take a breath and unfurl slowly. Initially quite tense, generous handfuls of plums and blue fruits released their grip. Pan juices, meat rub spices, fruit bun spices and black pepper peel off with ease. It's a wine with a long future ahead, and one I'd love to see in another 5-8 years. Dark chocolate and firm, tightly woven tannins make the last call and cling to a sustained finish. Give it a good decant to drink now or hold with confidence that reward will come. Nicely done and good going for $28. 91/100 Region:  Blackwood Valley  RRP:  $28 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to   Qwine here Follow:  Instagram ,  LinkedIn  and  X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3 views
2390-94ptsblackwood-valleyshiraz
news2026-05-14
St Johns Wine Round Puzzle SGT 2022
I read "Shiraz Grenache Tempranillo" on the label, and all I can think of is burgers and pizza. Load up. From the Blackwood Valley region, just inland from Western Australia's Margaret River, this is a 57/22/21 blend. Dense fruit and mouth-filling tannins describe this wine best - armed and ready for those casualmeals. Blackberries and plums are plentiful. Tense through the core with puffs of earth, an array of dried herbs and a slight oak influence, puckering tannins leave their mark, adding some chew. Best enjoyed in the medium term, match with food and some footy on the TV for the win. 90/100 Region:  Blackwood Valley  RRP:  $40 Source: Sample Winery Website Subscribe to   Qwine here Follow:  Instagram ,  LinkedIn  and  X
by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)5 views
40-502290-94ptsblackwood-valleyblendsgrenache

Higher Plane Led Astray Fumé Blanc 2025

Yeah Wines Pinot Noir 2025

Yeah Wines Chardonnay 2024

Yeah Wines Viognier 2024

Camino Wine Co Gamay 2025

Yelland & Papps Single Vineyard Greenock Shiraz 2024

Turkey Flat Grenache 2023

Yeah Wine Single Vineyard Grenache 2025

Camino Wine Co Chardonnay 2024

Colmar Estate Block 4 Syrah 2024

Camino Wine Co Grenache Blanc de Noir 2025

St John's Road Blood & Courage Shiraz 2023

Kilikanoon Killerman's Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Sunnyhurst Winery Cabernet Merlot 2023

St Johns Wine Round Puzzle Cabernet Malbec Merlot 2022

Camino Wine Co Centenary Vines Grenache 2024

Lyons Will Greenways Hill Gamay 2025

St Johns Wine Tweed River Shiraz 2023

Bridgetown Winery Redtale 2024

Sunnyhurst Winery Viognier 2025

Nannup Estate Firetower SMT 2022

Nannup Estate Rolling Hills Malbec 2022

Beulah Wines Shiraz 2023

St Johns Wine Round Puzzle SGT 2022