Téssera Wines Middle Child Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

McLaren Vale Cabernet is - in my view - an oft overlooked pleasure. Shiraz stands tall, attempts have been made to garner Grenache as the hero variety - and that's without mentioning the strong Italian roots in the region that have seen Montepulciano and Sangiovese championed amongst the reds.

Here, a Cabernet Sauvignon with classic dark chocolate and coffee grounds aromas - those deep and dark compounds slowly reveal blue and black fruits within.

The palate is soft, rounded, approachable - oak tannin remnants married to a resurgence of fruit and associated freshness. Acid works in tandem to deliver a generous length - and satisfaction. Go now to 2028. 92

Tasted on: Sunday 26th February
Source: Sample
Price: $26.66
Alcohol: 14.6%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://tesserawines.com.au/

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Mayfield Vineyard Backyard Riesling 2022

It's been a while between drinks from Mayfield. This the first of a trio of reviews from the label since acquisition by the Eastham family in 2021.

Expressive Riesling from the Orange region: passionfruit, sour apples, suggestion of under-ripe banana in the mix too.

Soft on entry, soon yielding to a vibrant, minerally acidity giving energy and length.

Limes and kaffir leaf lead to thoughts of spicy Thai on hot days. 91

Tasted on: Thursday 16th February
Source: Sample
Price: $34
Alcohol: 13.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.mayfieldvineyard.com.au/

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Cellier des Dauphins Les Dauphins Côte du Rhone Rosé 2020

Strawberry and husk, a little watermelon and rind.

Textural with a slightly broader palate profile. Citrus running fresh across the finish. Flash of fresh herb in the frame too. A pleasing, somewhat no-nonsense style of Rosé. 88

Tasted on: Saturday 29th October
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Huntington Estate Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

I had the opportunity to re-appraise this at the Huntington Winemaker's Lunch (a great event if you get the chance - disclosure, I have been fortunate to be invited as a guest of the winery on occasion).

On that second tasting, it was reinforced how it is so a wine of depth, of dark black and red fruit sitting on a dense palate with firm tannins.

The Special Reserve is very much a denser and darker manifestation of Cabernet - at least on this showing - within the Huntington portfolio. 

There's a richness too, almost veering toward something that in youth might be considered a balsamic edge. Deep and dense, as though to reflect the rich Mudgee soil, free of the artifice that can be afflicted through excessive oak. 

The palate shows a freshness, a pleasant change of direction at odds to the initial depths that are explored across the palate. For all that, it's certainly assured of a life ahead of it. 94

Tasted on: Sunday 30th October
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://huntingtonestate.com.au/

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Lapis Luna Zinfandel 2020

Char and toast, bold aromas, certainly not subtle. It's Zinfandel - a staple of Northern California,

here  specifically the North Coast/Mendocino region, the wine sees a mix of French and American oak, a small portion (10%) new.

A lightness on the palate, sweeter edged - showing its alcohol for sure against firm tannins. Reasonable length, but it feels a little unsettled and I'm not convinced it's going to improve beyond where it's at.

For those that love them fuller in profile - go now for up to three years. 88

Tasted on: Tuesday 18th October
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 14.9%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Harewood Estate Great Southern Riesling 2022

This is the entry level Riesling from Harewood Estate - a producer that explores a range of sub-regional Riesling to such excellence.

Lime pith, green melon, a floral note - steely reserve under that initial aromatic introduction.

Quite austere, yielding little. There's a length and generosity of intent - but hard to nail its colours to the mast when I find such expression elsewhere in the range. 90+

Tasted on: Friday 28th October
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://harewood.com.au/

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Break Free Petite Blancs 2022

Swan Valley Chenin Blanc with Margaret River Chardonnay and Frankland River Gewurztraminer.

Unfiltered, giving it a Barley water-esque haze - something I don't mind in a wine, but shits me no end in a beer.

Plenty of interest mind: musky aromatics, pear juice dribbling across the palate, creamy almond in the mix too.

There's a creamy mid-palate with spikes of acidity. Certainly not your run of the mill white and all the more interesting for it. The sum of the parts and all that. 

Tasted on: Thursday 9th February
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://clandestinevineyards.com.au/

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De Bortoli Ti Amo Fiano 2022

Fiano from across plantings in both the King Valley and Rutherglen, making this a 'Wine of Victoria'.

Lemons and a briny whiff on immediate introduction. Certainly smells the part.

The palate conveys a freshness, by way of nashi pear, creamy nuts, with a harder aspect of minerally acidity that forms the spine for the wine.

It's fresh, Spring-like vibe will certainly grace any table and kick off a gathering. 89

Tasted on: Saturday 11th February
Source: Sample
Price: $19.95
Alcohol: 12.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.debortoli.com.au/

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Robert Stein Half Dry Riesling RS15 2022

Fruit from neighbouring GI Orange is used to make this off-dry Riesling from Mudgee based Robert Stein. 

Apple, mango, citrus - all combine on the nose and provide the lead in to a palate with a moderate sweetness.

A minerally vein gives the wine greater presence through the mid and final thirds. Delicately balanced, the sweeter edge works within itself, textured not cloying. 93

Tasted on: Tuesday 8th November
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 11%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.robertstein.com.au/

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Tessera Peggy Sue Sparkling Pinot Noir NV

Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir fizz, made in the Charmat (tank fermented) method. From husband and wife negociant team who source across the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale regions.

You can't call a wine Peggy Sue and not expect a "pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty" reference thrown in! A delicate blush in glass draws the eye, the nose lead-in with a kiss of summer berry.

Creamy mouthfeel, coarser effervescence - lending a cleansing feel to the palate. You'd suspect Peggy Sue would be just the girl to kick off a party - you know the type. 90

Tasted on: Saturday 4th February
Source: Gift
Price: $26.66
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: DIAM
Website: https://tesserawines.com.au/

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Huntington Estate Special Reserve Grenache 2022

Floral and berry lead Grenache on offer here, a little warmed earth beneath, in an attractive package clocking in at sub-14% alcohol.

A suppleness on entry, barely there tannin that talks to minimal extraction. It's polished and feels somewhat slick as it glides across the palate, layered as it flows through to the finish. Juicy berry derived flavours swell the wine's presence through the mid and final thirds. 92

Tasted on: Sunday 30th October
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://huntingtonestate.com.au/

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Yalumba Eden Valley Chardonnay 2020

Grapefruit and lemon-citrus lead-in. Feels familiar on the palate, with an expansive and textural feel.

Residual old oak hint, a minerally suggestion on a generous length. A good all-rounder. 90

Tasted on: Friday 18th November
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: Yalumba.com

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Angullong Fossil Hill Montepulciano 2021

Bright perfume, of cherry and blueberry - supplemented with a darker heart.

The palate conveys that brightness of fruit, a fine tannin - on a length that seems unyielding. A testament to the quality of the wine, overlooking minor spikes of warmth.

Much has been said about the Orange region and what its "hero" varieties may be, Angullong may well be putting down a marker in that conversation, by flying the flag with these varieties of Italian origin. 93

Tasted on: Thursday 2nd February

Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: angullong.com.au

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Sunlight by Oxford Landing Shiraz 2021

35% lower in alcohol and calories than the standard Oxford Landing Shiraz. Reflecting a general trend toward lower alcohol consumption. 

Berry fruit, dark chocolate, touch up of oak. Solid Shiraz credentials on aromatics alone.

Slick feeling across the palate, seems quite sweet in the way it presents itself. Loose and light presence. 87

Tasted on: Friday 18th November
Source: Sample
Price: $15
Alcohol: 7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.oxfordlanding.com/

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Amigo de La Tierra 2021

Organic Grenache and Tempranillo blend from a broader 'Wine of Spain' designation.

Dark Berry fruit with something like a balsamic edge. It's deep and showing its warmer clime origins in spite of that 13.5% alcohol.

Slick, full bodied feel, yet with a lightness across the palate at odds to that. It's dry, on a moderate length - with remnants of that boozy warmth at its conclusion. 88

Tasted on: Wednesday 23rd November
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Sample Courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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