Saint & Scholar Graduates Collection Adelaide Hill Shiraz 2021

From the cool of the Hills, but in a somewhat warmer bodied guise.

Blood plums, hints of violet, touch of oak - older - framing and supporting, adding depth.

A supple, easy-going approach to the body. Yielding to some meaty depths and on a very good length. A multi-faceted wine of many parts that doesn't fail to surprise at its many turns. 92

Tasted on: Thursday 30th March
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://saintandscholar.com.au/

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Saint & Scholar Graduates Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Adelaide Hills fruit - made by the Barossa Valley based winery
Kaesler.

Classic Hills grassy, passionfruit, fresh vibe on offer here.

Citrus bent on entry to the palate, a thrust of acid that curves its way across the palate. Fleshy rock melon notes had me thinking of warmer months gone. Solid, Savvy. 90

Tasted on: Sunday 23rd April
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://saintandscholar.com.au/

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Saint & Scholar Graduates Collection Pinot Noir 2021

For those who don't know, Saint & Scholar is a secondary label of Barossa based Kaesler.

Here Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir, fruit drawn off a single vineyard, clocking in a very respectable 13.5%.

Fruit at the lighter end of the red Berry spectrum: strawberry, raspberry - perhaps even a playful twist of pomegranate getting in on the action.

A light hand on the tiller across the palate, cooler clime Hills spice starts to come to the fore mid-palate, asserting itself through the finish. Decent Pinot, with a play to all hands. 91

Tasted on: Thursday 23rd March
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://saintandscholar.com.au/

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Saint & Scholar Graduates Collection Chardonnay 2022

Creamy vanilla creme patisserie on offer here, nougat and cashew.

Further oak presence - by way of mouthfeel and spice - on the immediate palate, leading to a moderately creamy palate. Chardonnay on the money. 89

Tasted on: Thursday 13th April
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://saintandscholar.com.au/

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Saint & Scholar Graduates Collection Pinot Gris 2022

Hills Gris here, exuding the hallmark qualities of the style at a textbook 13%.

It's all poached pear, quince, with a trailing edge of patching spice.

Faint textural edge, but I personally prefer to see more width and breadth in the style. Somewhat redeemed through a generous length to it. 89

Tasted on: Sunday 23rd April

Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://saintandscholar.com.au/

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Berton Vineyard Alfresco Barbera 2021

Looks good, tastes good, has enough presence of fruit to take a chill, clocks in at a moderate 12.5% - what's not to like?

Barbera from the Riverina - light cherry and strawberry crunchy vibe, counter-balanced with a darker depth of flavour.

There's a herb and spice twist in the game, carried by a freshening acidity - the hallmarks of a good Barbera. It's all bound up in an attractive mid palate freshness. Solid all rounder - much to commend. 91 

Tasted on: Tuesday 27th June
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.bertonvineyards.com.au/

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Harewood Estate Flux V Pinot Noir 2022

Plum and sour cherry vibe here - cool rendition of Pinot Noir from Denmark, in Western Australia's Great Southern region.

Veers towards a dark fruit profile on the palate: tight, dense tannin profile. Delivers an excellent length, but one suggests the enjoyment factor will be enhanced with time, or a bloody good decant. 92

Tasted on: Thursday 20th April
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Sample courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

Producer: https://harewood.com.au/

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Berton Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Passionfruit and lemon balm nose, good aromatic game - a little herbal twist without being over done.

Balanced palate, drive of fruit with some glacé pineapple in the frame. A little zest and drive of acidity. Well produced Sauv, not often you hear me say that! 91

Tasted on: Saturday 10th June

Source: Sample
Price: $14
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.bertonvineyards.com.au/

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Yalumba Homefulness Shiraz 2021

A collaborative effort between leading family owned winery Yalumba and housing charity Forage Built.

This Shiraz builds on the success of the Grenache of a year or two back, which to date has seen Yalumba donate $60,000 to the charity. Whilst I never reviewed that wine, I certainly did my bit and enjoyed a few cases as a home staple.

Redolent of Barossa Shiraz: mulberry, cassis, hint of baking spice in the frame.

The palate conveys similar, supplemented with a twist of black licorice - as if to firm things up a little. It adds a bitterness through the finish, culminating in an almost espresso grounds like conclusion. 91

Tasted on: Tuesday 13th June
Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.hsfe.com.au/

Website: https://foragebuilt.com.au/   

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Colmar Estate Block 2 Chardonnay 2021

Chardonnay from the cool of Orange, where tropical fruit notes have come to the fore to express themselves.

Citrus, ruby grapefruit, vanilla oak. It's delicate and balanced - not a slap you in the face style.

Spiced oak across the palate, intertwined with a suggestive stonefruit notes. What really stands out here is the focal length, delivering a spice tinged conclusion. It really grows on you, be patient - allow that finish to grow and reward. 94

Tasted on: Thursday 22nd June
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: colmarestate.com.au 

Sample courtesy of: definewine.com.au 

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Yalumba The Cigar 2019

A delightful, dense black fruited mass is what greets you here. Suggestive oak lurks furtively, framing not dominating.

The palate shows a lick of black licorice, a slick and glossy feel shows it gliding across the palate. It feels composed, graceful in how it presents itself - yet not without some gruff tannins, somewhat acting as a counterpoint to how it presents otherwise.

Generous length. Go the years here easily. Drink now to 2032 92

Tasted on: Thursday 22nd June
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: yalumba.com

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Feudo Arancio Nero d'Avola 2021

Classic Sicilian variety at a very friendly price.

Plum and kirsch notes with a herb and savoury edge.

The palate is supple, lithe, hints of baked raspberry across the palate. True tannin profile, with a roughish edge that gives grip across the final movement through the palate. 90

Tasted on: Saturday 24th June
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Sample courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Tolloy Pinot Grigio 2021

Stewed pears with a little soapy floral in the frame.

The palate shows an initial burst of fruit, before a sterner, minerally edge takes over. It's actually the better for it, giving it something of a chalky phenolic that carries across the palate. 

Good line of acidity about which it hangs. Lots to like here. 93

Tasted on: Saturday 10th June
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Castel Firmian Pinot Nero 2020

Pinot Nero from Trentino.

Conveys a dark cherry with something like a choc coated aroma - altogether rather pleasant.

The palate is familiar in that respect too, the addition of a grilled nut character makes this the perfect accompaniment for the cooler months, with the nights drawing in.

There's a gentleness to it in initial entry, with a firmer backbone that translates into a good length. Enjoyable, comforting, balanced. 92

Tasted on: Tuesday 30th May
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: TBC
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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De Bortoli Wood Fired Grenache 2021

An initial soft and sensuous palate yields to depth of fruit: satsuma plum, blueberry compote.

It's a pretty straight-down-the-line affair, a fine grain of tannin adds some structure to the palate profile.

Good level of sustain to the finish - steady effort here. 90

Tasted on: Wednesday 31st May
Source: Sample
Price: $21.95
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: debortoli.com.au

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