Brash Higgins GR/M Grenache Mataro 2016
Sourced from a biodynamically farmed vineyard in Blewitt Springs, or so the legend goes. Brash Higgins is Brad Hickey winemaker, and this wine has been reliably good as an expression of McLaren Vale’s...
View ArticleThree Dark Horses Grenache 2016
I’m off to McLaren Vale this Friday, so I put together this checklist. Organize vertical of Coriole Shiraz from 1991. Organize vertical of Kay’s Block 6 Shiraz from 1991. Book table at The Victory...
View ArticleZonte’s Footstep Love Symbol Grenache 2015
I think a name change from Peacock’s Tail to Love Symbol (I can’t find a bottle image, but they look the same anyway).
View ArticleBrash Higgins FRNC 2016
Vines planted in 2001 on a site on Malpas Road. All French oak though it only spent 9 months in barrel. 295 dozen. Been awhile since I’ve visited the Vale. Itching to get back.
View ArticleEccolo SSS 2015
Here’s a clever bland of 50% Sangiovese and 25% Sagrantino and Shiraz. One of those wines that, when tasted, lit me up after a rugged couple of days tasting. Bottle image is not correct, but it’s similar.
View ArticleKoltz DogDay Shiraz 2016
Reflecting on recent vintages of McLaren Vale Shiraz, I offer the following thoughts. 2014, some good wines made, of course, but often clunky things that don’t really feel like they know what they’re...
View ArticleThree Dark Horses GT 2016
70% Grenache with Touriga. Love a bit of Touriga to lift a wine. I’m thinking of buying a Holden Touriga soon too.
View ArticleConte Estate Primrose Lane Unwooded Chardonnay 2016
This must be one of the last wines to be labelled ‘unwooded Chardonnay’ on the market. There was a thing going on there at one time. From McLaren Vale, not necessarily the epicentre of Australian...
View ArticleKay Brothers Amery Vineyards Griffon’s Key Grenache 2015
Sold out at the winery (where I tasted on Saturday), but not at retail. Anyway, I’m trying this at home again from another bottle, ostensibly just to make sure I got it right at the winery. McLaren...
View ArticleWirra Wirra Woodhenge Shiraz 2015
From a range of vineyards locations over the McLaren Vale – Seaview, McLaren Flat, Maslin, Whites Valley
View ArticleOlivers Taranga Corrina’s Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
It might just be me, but increasingly, and through recent releases, I have seen a kind of coffee ground, malty, mocha powder finish to the Oliver’s Taranga wines that typically leaves me feeling like...
View ArticleCoriole Negro Amaro 2016
Inaugural release of a Negro for Coriole. Bottle image isn’t right, but similar.
View ArticleSomos Barbera Rosé 2016
Fully interesting new project from a Mexican winemaker (born and raised there, worked in the Mexican wine industry before shifting gaze to Australia), and an Australian who kinda fell into winemaking...
View ArticleOliver’s Taranga Vineyards Shiraz 2015
The Oliver family have a 100 hectare property “smack bang in the middle of McLaren Vale”. The family have been farming this block for 175 years. Remarkably.
View ArticleOliver’s Taranga Vineyards DJ Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
The fifth release of a DJ Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards.
View ArticleOliver’s Taranga Vineyards HJ Reserve Shiraz 2013
The 11th release of a HJ Reserve Shiraz. From old McLaren Vale vines.
View ArticleCoriole Estate Shiraz 2015
A couple of weeks ago now, I did a vertical tasting of Coriole Shiraz from 1990-2015 inclusive (aside 2008 being MIA). I’ll write that up shortly, but meanwhile, one of the bookends to keep you going...
View ArticleChalk Hill Grenache Tempranillo 2015
50% Grenache (planted 1960), 36% Tempranillo and14% Graciano (both planted 2007). Increasingly, I lean towards the view that Grenache and friends are better suited to McLaren Vale than is Shiraz. Of...
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