Testing imported excel sheet
| Vintage | Description | Region | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NV | Morgans Bay Sparkling Cuvee This sparkling cuvee is made from a blend of varietals perfect for sparkling wine. A great match to any meal | Mildura Vic | 89/100 | $30.00 | |
| NV | Taylor Ferguson Premimum Brut Cuvee Lively bouquet, fresh fruity characters on the palate. Crisp and clean with a dry finish. | South Eastern Aust | 89/100 | $30.00 | |
| NV | Salinger Premium Cuvee Light to medium straw colour with a brassy tinge. The bouquet is quite complex and shows some tirage age. It's nutty, lightly toasty and savoury, with meringue and rich smoky pinot aromas, to which a touch of strawberry is added when the wine is in the mouth. It's a little confectionery-like also. The acidity is well-balanced and the finish is nicely weighted, with low phenolics. | Great Western Vic | 92/100 | $40.00 | |
| 2011 | Salinger Henty Vintage Cuvee Light to medium straw colour with a brassy tinge. The bouquet is quite complex and shows some tirage age. It's nutty, lightly toasty and savoury, with meringue and rich smoky pinot aromas. The acidity is well-balanced and the finish is nicely weighted, with low phenolics. | Great Western Vic | 93/100 | $45.00 | |
| NV | Bleasdale Sparkling Shiraz Deep red colour with the last vestiges of purple tint. Ripe plummy bouquet, clean and fresh, and not shrill or simplistic. A tinge of spice, earth and faint chocolate. The palate is full, and round, soft and smooth, balanced and clean on the finish with a touch of cleansing tannin. There's plenty of sweetness mid-palate, then a clean, drying finish. | Langhorne Creek SA | 91/100 | $45.00 | |
| NV | Domaine Chandon Brut Bright green-straw, tangy chardonnay prevailing over the softer pinot, some brioche/nougat notes, long, clean finish. Like all domaine sparkling wines, is a methode traditionelle. | Yarra Valley Vic | 93/100 | $50.00 | |
| 2004 | Yellowglen Exceptional Vintage Piccadilly Pale straw-green, the mousse good; remarkably fresh, fine and focused, given its seven years on yeast lees; apple, citrus and yeasty brioche aromas are followed by a supple, long and balanced palate, bringing together all the elements of the bouquet. Traditional method used for this 66/34% blend of pinot noir and chardonnay. | South East Victoria | 93/100 | $60.00 | |
| 2010 | Domaine Chandon Vintage Brut Has an elegance and lightness of touch that stems from its faultless balance and seamless flow along the palate, with stone fruit and citrus perfectly counterpoised to more nutty/yeasty nuances. | Yarra Valley Vic | 95/100 | $60.00 | |
| 2009 | Domaine Chandon Vintage Tasmanian Cuvee Very light to pale yellow colour, good cordon of bubbles. Lovely honeyed overtones to the bready, yeast-developed bouquet, with some toast elements and a creamy, lemon citrus tang on the finish. Clean, dry, tart and appetising. | Yarra Valley Vic | 94/100 | $60.00 | |
| 2009 | Domaine Chandon Vintage Blanc de Blanc Light to medium bright yellow colour. Lightly bready bouquet, elements of beeswax and honey. Fresh and clean, creamy yeasty. Soft in the mouth with a creamy texture, gentle and fruity, dry and soft and savoury, not grapy. Very good style, ultra-dry and food friendly. | Yarra Valley Vic | 94/100 | $60.00 | |
| NV | Moet Chandon Imperial A complete, generous and dynamic champagne made of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. | Epernay Champagne France | 94/100 | $75.00 | |
| 2001 | Freycinet Radenti Chardonnay Pinot Noir Bright green-straw a 60/40% blend, fermented in the bottle and spent over eight years on yeast lees. Despite the resultant multilayered complexity and richness, also has elegance | East Coast Tas | 97/100 | $90.00 | |
| NV | Pol Roger Brut Light, bright straw-green in colour, it has good mousse, and a clean and vibrant bouquet; the flavours run in a green apple, pear and citrus spectrum, with a long, lingering finish. | Epernay Champagne France | 93/100 | $110.00 | |
| 2002 | Bollinger La Grande Annee The palate is concentrated, dense and structured with very fresh citrus fruit dominating at the moment. Still primary, with grapefruit pith freshness. Really pure and with plenty of potential for further development. | Reims Champagne France | 97/100 | $220.00 | |
| 2003 | Dom Perignon A highly concentrated vintage only wine. Paradoxically concentrated, yet creamy. A magnetic, still elusive wine that fully reals the dual nature that it is famous for. | Epernay Champagne France | 97/100 | $250.00 | |
| Bubbles | |||||
| NV | Morgans Bay Sparkling Cuvee | Mildura Vic | 89/100 | 30 | |
| This sparkling cuvee is made from a blend of varietals perfect for sparkling wine. A great match to any meal | |||||
| NV | Taylor Ferguson Premimum Brut Cuvee | South Eastern Aust | 89/100 | 30 | |
| Lively bouquet, fresh fruity characters on the palate. Crisp and clean with a dry finish. | |||||
| NV | Salinger Premium Cuvee | Great Western Vic | 91/100 | 40 | |
| Classic Salinger, contrasting crisp, primary lemon and red apple fruit with a honeyed dosage and creamy bead. Fruit integrity and persistence | |||||
| take the lead in this youthful and primary blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and meunier | |||||
| 2011 | Salinger Henty Vintage Cuvee | Great Western Vic | 93/100 | 45 | |
| Light to medium straw colour with a brassy tinge. The bouquet is quite complex and shows some tirage age. It's nutty, lightly toasty and savoury, | |||||
| with meringue and rich smoky pinot aromas, to which a touch of strawberry is added when the wine is in the mouth. It's a little confectionery-like | |||||
| also. The acidity is well-balanced and the finish is nicely weighted, with low phenolics. It's clean and refreshing, | |||||
| NV | Bleasdale Sparkling Shiraz | Langhorne Creek SA | 91/100 | 45 | |
| Deep red colour with the last vestiges of purple tint. Ripe plummy bouquet, clean and fresh, and not shrill or simplistic. A tinge of spice, earth and | |||||
| faint chocolate. The palate is full, and round, soft and smooth, balanced and clean on the finish with a touch of cleansing tannin. There's plenty of | |||||
| sweetness mid-palate, then a clean, drying finish. | |||||
| NV | Domaine Chandon Brut | Yarra Valley Vic | 93/100 | 50 | |
| Bright green-straw, tangy chardonnay prevailing over the softer pinot, some brioche/nougat notes, long, clean finish. Like all | |||||
| domaine sparkling wines, is a methode traditionelle. | |||||
| 2004 | Yellowglen Exceptional Vintage Piccadilly | South East Victoria | 93/100 | 60 | |
| Pale straw-green, the mousse good; remarkably fresh, fine and focused, given its seven years on yeast lees; apple, citrus and yeasty brioche | |||||
| aromas are followed by a supple, long and balanced palate, bringing together all the elements of the bouquet. Traditional method used for | |||||
| this 66/34% blend of pinot noir and chardonnay. | |||||
| 2011 | Domaine Chandon Vintage Brut | Yarra Valley Vic | 95/100 | 60 | |
| Has an elegance and lightness of touch that stems from its faultless balance and seamless flow along the palate, with stone fruit and citrus | |||||
| perfectly counterpoised to more nutty/yeasty nuances. | |||||
| 2009 | Domaine Chandon Vintage Tasmanian Cuvee | Yarra Valley Vic | 94/100 | 60 | |
| Very light to pale yellow colour, good cordon of bubbles. Lovely honeyed overtones to the bready, yeast-developed bouquet, with some toast | |||||
| elements and a creamy, lemon citrus tang on the finish. Clean, dry, tart and appetising. | |||||
| 2009 | Domaine Chandon Vintage Blanc de Blanc | Yarra Valley Vic | 94/100 | 60 | |
| Light to medium bright yellow colour. Lightly bready bouquet, elements of beeswax and honey. Fresh and clean, creamy yeasty. Soft in the mouth | |||||
| with a creamy texture, gentle and fruity, dry and soft and savoury, not grapy. Very good style, ultra-dry and food friendly. | |||||
| NV | Moet Chandon Imperial | Epernay Champagne France | 94/100 | 75 | |
| A complete, generous and dynamic champagne made of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. | |||||
| 2001 | Freycinet Radenti Chardonnay Pinot Noir | East Coast Tas | 97/100 | 90 | |
| Bright green-straw a 60/40% blend, fermented in the bottle and spent over eight years on yeast lees. Despite the resultant | |||||
| multilayered complexity and richness, also has elegance | |||||
| NV | Pol Roger Brut | Epernay Champagne France | 93/100 | 110 | |
| Light, bright straw-green in colour, it has good mousse, and a clean and vibrant bouquet; the flavours run in a green apple, pear | |||||
| and citrus spectrum, with a long, lingering finish. | |||||
| 2002 | Bollinger La Grande Annee | Reims Champagne France | 97/100 | 220 | |
| The palate is concentrated, dense and structured with very fresh citrus fruit dominating at the moment. Still primary, with | |||||
| grapefruit pith freshness. Really pure and with plenty of potential for further development. | |||||
| 2003 | Dom Perignon | Epernay Champagne France | 97/100 | 250 | |
| A highly concentrated vintage only wine. Paradoxically concentrated, yet creamy. A magnetic, still elusive wine that fully reals | |||||
| the dual nature that it is famous for. | |||||
| Something Sweet | |||||
| NV | Rosemount Encore Moscato | Muriootpa, SA | 88/100 | 30 | |
| Green apple and tropicals on the nose lead into a sweet but not too sweet tropical fruit palate, clean and refreshing. | |||||
| 2007 | Amberley Noblese (375ml) | Margaret River WA | 93/100 | 40 | |
| Brilliant, deep golden colour. A complex nose of brandied raisins, citrus rind and warm spices with a rich viscous palate of stone | |||||
| fruit, golden delicious aples and baked quince. | |||||
| 2011 | Elderton Botrytis Semillon (375ml) | Barossa Valley SA | 93/100 | 45 | |
| Glowing green-gold masses of juicy cumquat and mandarin flavours. | |||||
| Chardonnay | |||||
| NV | Morgan's Bay Chardonnay | Mildura Vic | 92/100 | 30 | |
| Lightly oaked chardonnay delivers white peach and green melon fruit with a cleansing citrus kick on the finish | |||||
| 2014 | Dragonfly Chardonnary | Geographie WA | 92/100 | 40 | |
| Light colour; smoky sulfide/reduction, attractive wine, very savoury, quite crisp, dry and leanish in profile. | |||||
| Clean finish. It's a touch hollow. Needs time for the bottling sulfur to dissipate. | |||||
| 2014 | Domaine Chandon Chardonnay | Yarra Valley Vic | 94/100 | 45 | |
| Medium yellow colour, with a toasty, oaky bouquet. Lively and fresh, clean and vital, with toasted cashew and stone fruits adding up to an | |||||
| attractive nose. It shows slight forward-development. It's rich and medium to full-bodied, smooth and intense with appealing balance. | |||||
| palate, subtle oak totally integrated. | |||||
| 2014 | Ironcloud Chardonnay | Geographie WA | 96/100 | 45 | |
| Bright medium-full yellow; nicely harmonised bouquet of mealy, nutty, butterscotch and background stone-fruit aromas. Medium-bodied and | |||||
| soft, but very intense in the mouth: smooth and rich in an understated way; mellow and drinking very well now. Superb intensity and | |||||
| concentration of grapefruit flavour - but also refinement and impeccable harmony. | |||||
| 2013 | Xanadu DJL Chardonnay | Margaret River WA | 95/100 | 45 | |
| Bright, light yellow hue, and a subdued but pleasant aroma of lightly toasted cashew nut and pear. It's fine and focused in the mouth, with good | |||||
| intensity and drive, the acidity powering it along and the finish and aftertaste pleasingly dry. | |||||
| 2012 | Balnaves Chardonnay | Coonawarra SA | 96/100 | 50 | |
| Light bright yellow colour, with a complex hazelnut and honey aroma, lovely fresh oak and cashewnut and some yeast lees - very clean and bright, | |||||
| fresh and complex. The palate is likewise: lots of honey and stone-fruit flavours, plus nougat. It's rich and intense with many layers of character. | |||||
| 2012 | Bream Creek Chardonnay | Tasmania | 96/100 | 50 | |
| Light to medium yellow colour. Lovely nutty toast and smoky bouquet with some nougat hints, the palate rich and fleshy, smooth and soft, with | |||||
| lots of flavour and supple sexy texture, as well as great depth of flavour. | |||||
| 2013 | Goaty Hill Chardonnay | Tasmania | 97/100 | 55 | |
| Light yellow colour; the bouquet fresh and youthful with a tight, restrained palate and a very clean, dry finish. A superb wine in a more subtle, | |||||
| restrained, latent style. Very long, powerful palate. | |||||
| 2013 | Seppelts Drumborg Vineyard Chardonnay | Great Western Vic | 97/100 | 60 | |
| Light, youthful, bright yellow colour. The bouquet is restrained and fine, with straw and hay like notes, restrained and promising. Grapefruit, | |||||
| a trace of honey. The faintest hint of complexing sulfide. Very fine, reserved, long and distinguished in the mouth. | |||||
| 2012 | Freycinet Chardonnay | Bicheno Tas | 96/100 | 60 | |
| Light, bright yellow-green colour. The bouquet shows some oak, with confectionery and vanilla notes, plus toasted nuts. The palate is very frisky | |||||
| and alive with excellent acidity and nerve. Grapefruit flavours, penetrating and lively: a superb wine of great energy | |||||
| 2011 | Curly Flat Chardonnay | Macedon Ranges Vic | 97/100 | 65 | |
| Bright light yellow colour. Very subtle restrained aromas, fresh and citrusy, clean and bright, oak is almost invisible. The palate is precise and fine, | |||||
| long and refreshing. | |||||
| 2012 | Heemskerk Chardonnay | Coal River Tas | 96/100 | 65 | |
| This is pure Tasmania, acidity woven through the wine from go to whoa, oak and extended lees contact have provided a gloss | |||||
| of creamy/nutty nuances, to a wine of extreme purity, drive and length. | |||||
| 2014 | Shaw & Smith M3 Chardonnay | Adelaide Hills SA | 96/100 | 65 | |
| Light, youthful, restrained colour and a lovely fresh, clean, precise aroma of fruit, with early-picked stone fruit and pome fruit (pear) to the fore. | |||||
| Oak is invisible. But there is underlying nutty, nougat-like complexity. The palate is very delicate, long and stylish. | |||||
| 2010 | Seville Estate Reserve Chardonnay | Yarra Valley Vic | 96/100 | 70 | |
| Vibrant green hue, this is rich, ripe, opulent and oaky at this early stage. Powerful wine. | |||||
| 2010 | Galli Estate Pamela Chardonnay | Sunbury Vic | 97/100 | 75 | |
| Fermented with wild yeast in a dedicated cool room in a mix of French oak. Great complexity and drive. One out of the box. | |||||
| 2010 | Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay | Margaret River WA | 97/100 | 85 | |
| Great intensity and utterly exceptional length. There is a seamless union between the pink grapefruit and white peach fruit, quality French oak | |||||
| and citrussy/minerally acidity; it is that acidity that draws out the extreme length of the palate. | |||||
| Sauvignon Blanc | |||||
| NV | Morgan's Bay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc | Mildura Vic | 90/100 | 30 | |
| Savoury cut grass aromas with hints of citrus, up-front tropical notes with elements of kiwi and passionfruit | |||||
| 2014 | Upside Down Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough NZ | 93/100 | 35 | |
| Light gooseberry and kaffir lime nose with herbal notes. Clean refreshing palate, hints of passionfruit, lemon and lime and a crunchy apple finish. | |||||
| 2014 | Mt Riley Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough NZ | 95/100 | 35 | |
| Palish yellow colour. Very fragrant fresh lime juice and passionfruit aromas, clean and vibrant and inviting. Very fresh, clean and alive on the | |||||
| palate. Light and crisp, refreshing and balanced with good acidity not overdone, and a clean finish without obvious sweetness | |||||
| 2014 | Dragonfly Sauvignon Blanc Semillon | Geographie WA | 95/100 | 40 | |
| It has intense, piercing flavours reaching out to citrus/grass on one hand, tropical on the other, but also given an extra measure of texture | |||||
| and structure by a portion of barrel fermentation | |||||
| 2013 | Howard Park Sauvignon Blanc | Great Southern WA | 96/100 | 45 | |
| Light yellow colour. The bouquet is subdued and faintly muffled, but savoury and more than just simple varietal fruit - although it has that too. | |||||
| Some barrel involvement, but it's not obvious. The palate is clean and intense, smooth and full of interesting flavours. | |||||
| 2015 | Bleasdale Sauvignon Blanc | Adelaide Hills SA | 94/100 | 45 | |
| A remarkably fragrant and beguiling sauvignon blanc. It's fresh and clean, crisp and lively, and only faintly yeasty at this tender age. It's fine | |||||
| and delicate, and long on the palate. | |||||
| 2014 | Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough NZ | 94/100 | 50 | |
| Very nettley, spicy, dried herb and peppery aromas, oddly reminiscent of gruner veltliner. The palate is delicate and fresh, crisp and clean, with | |||||
| a lean racy profile and a crisp, properly dry finish. Intense and lingering. | |||||
| 2014 | Shaw and Smith Sauvignon Blanc | Adelaide Hills SA | 96/100 | 50 | |
| Pale straw-green, the bouquet offers passionfruit, kiwi fruit and citrus aromas that set the scene for the palate. | |||||
| 2013 | Leewin Estate Sauvignon Blanc | Maragret River | 96/100 | 55 | |
| Palish hue and a lime and lemon aroma, which has no signs of green herb, grassiness or vegetal nuance. Fully ripe fruit, sensitively barrel- | |||||
| fermented (and not showing oak), then a very refined, long, lingering palate of impeccable poise. | |||||
| 2015 | Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough NZ | 96/100 | 55 | |
| Very light yellow colour; pungent bouquet of passionfruit, citrus aromas, clean and vibrant. Tight, delicate, intense and yet restrained on the | |||||
| palate, dry-finishing, crisp and beautifully balanced. An outstanding example of young Marlborough savvy. | |||||
| 2014 | Catalina Sounds | Marlborough NZ | 96/100 | 55 | |
| Discreet but perfumed aroma, fresh and vital, with juicy peppermint overtones to the citrus, herbal and tropical fruit flavours. Very intense, | |||||
| clean, precise palate with focused flavour of great charm and pristine freshness. The finish lingers long. | |||||
| Other | |||||
| 2015 | Tahbilk Riesling | Nagambie Lakes Vic | 90/100 | 35 | |
| Clean and vibrant, showing lemon zest and nice texture on the finish; | |||||
| 2014 | Howard Park Mt Baker Riesling | Great Southern WA | 97/100 | 45 | |
| A pristine wine, pale hued and superbly fresh, the aromas bright, floral and primary, the palate flavours very fruity, rich and soft, with a tickle | |||||
| of sweetness which adds to its charm. | |||||
| 2014 | Bream Creek Riesling | Coal River Tas | 96/100 | 50 | |
| Medium-depth yellow colour, with a peach fuzz aroma, soft and round on the palate, with very gentle acidity. A more accessible style of Tassie | |||||
| riesling, which has developed excellent lime and lemon aromas and flavours. A wine of concentration and length | |||||
| 2015 | Clos Clair Watervale Riesling | Clair Valley SA | 96/100 | 55 | |
| Very light almost pale yellow green hue. The aroma is very fresh and attractive with lime and gardenia fruit, while the palate is very delicate, | |||||
| restrained and unready, with crisp acidity and very delicate flavour | |||||
| 2014 | Andrew Thomas Braemore Semillon | Hunter Valley NSW | 97/100 | 55 | |
| Palish green/yellow colour. The aroma is fresh and vibrant, with a creamy yeasty note. It's tangy, fresh, lively and its profile has a scintillating | |||||
| line and refined texture. Very delicate yet very intense, the finish clean, dry and gossamer-fine. A masterpiece of finesse. | |||||
| 2014 | Nine Degrees Pinot Gris | Marlborough NZ | 89/100 | 35 | |
| Made in a medium style this wine has attactuive nectarine and ripe pear aromas leading to full fruit flavours | |||||
| 2016 | Tar and Roses Pinot Grigio | Central Vic | 92/100 | 40 | |
| Full copper-pink colour like a rose. Spicy and strawberry aromas. The palate is full and generous, dry and savoury, with plenty of flavour | |||||
| and character. | |||||
| 2015 | Punt Road Napoleone Vineyard Pinot Gris | Mornington Penninsula Vic | 93/100 | 45 | |
| Excellent mouth feel and complexity. Subtle spice delivers a long and beatifully textured palate | |||||
| 2014 | Pike & Joyce Pinot Gris | Adelaide Hills SA | 93/100 | 45 | |
| Pale straw colour. Fine and fragrant aroma, clean and ethereal. The palate is again very fine as well as intense, deep and lovely. A trace of | |||||
| yeastiness. The palate is deliciously fruity and enhanced by a trace of sweetness. | |||||
| 2014 | Riposte "The Stiletto" Pinot Gris | Adelaide Hills SA | 93/100 | 45 | |
| Medium rose-gold colour; the bouquet rich, ripe and spicy, with some complexities from barrel and lees. Traces of honey and apricot. | |||||
| The palate is full and rounded, soft and flavoursome, with ample character and length. Resonant finish; very satisfying. | |||||
| 2014 | Nine Vines Grenache Shiraz Rose | Renmark SA | 92/100 | 35 | |
| Bright, medium to full purple/pink hue. The aroma is very shy and reticent. | |||||
| 2014 | Domaine Chandon Rose | Yarra Valley Vic | 92/100 | 45 | |
| Bright, light pink, the bouquet has strawberry and spice, the palate is long, crisp and fresh, with a juicy but dry finish. | |||||
| Shiraz & Blends | |||||
| NV | Morgans Bay Shiraz Cabernet | Mildura Vic | 90/100 | 30 | |
| Notes of spice and plum, hints of cassis with lingering soft tannins providing excellent structure | |||||
| 2012 | Rosemount Little Berry Shiraz | McLaren Vale SA | 94/100 | 40 | |
| Deep colour, plumy and Juicy blackberry characters and hints of spicy choclate. | |||||
| 2013 | Dragonfly Shiraz | Geographie WA | 94/100 | 40 | |
| Bright crimson-purple; the bouquet is immediately appealing, totally seductive array of juicy blood plum, blackberry and licorice flavours, | |||||
| then a garland of finely balanced and integrated French oak | |||||
| 2014 | Angoves Family Crest Shiraz | McLaren Vale SA | 94/100 | 40 | |
| Deepish red/purple hue. The bouquet is spicy and meaty, appealingly scented, with a balanced and fleshy, nicely flavoured and shaped palate | |||||
| that really appeals. Rich and plush, with the right amount of fruit sweetness. | |||||
| 2013 | Moppity Vineyard Shiraz | Hilltops NSW | 96/100 | 45 | |
| Deep red/purple colour and a spicy, peppery, leathery, cool-grown aroma with pepper leading the way. Star anise and violet too. It's intense | |||||
| and focused, lively and firm, vigorous and deliciously flavoured. The palate is tremendously compact and fine, focused and piercing, with great | |||||
| flavour in the spicy spectrum and terrific length. | |||||
| 2013 | Ellis Wines Signature Heathcote Shiraz | Heathcote Vic | 95/100 | 45 | |
| Deep red colour with a purple tint. Blackberry, black plum, dark chocolate and tar aromas, the palate rich and deep, full-bodied and smooth | |||||
| and plush, very dense and fleshy and concentrated, with lovely flow and evenness across the palate. | |||||
| 2012 | Gemtree Vineyard Uncut Organic Shiraz | McLaren Vale SA | 95/100 | 45 | |
| Deep crimson; estate-grown and matured in French oak, this is a McLaren Vale powerhouse, with great depth to its layers of velvety black fruits, | |||||
| adorned by splashes of dark chocolate, licorice and cedar, the tannins perfectly balanced. | |||||
| 2013 | Mitolo Angela Shiraz | McLaren Vale SA | 95/100 | 50 | |
| Deep, dark red/purple colour. Intense plummy and chaffy aromas, the palate is rich and succulent, smooth and fruit-sweet, with excellent refined | |||||
| texture. It has real depth and persistence. | |||||
| 2013 | Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz | Barossa Valley SA | 94/100 | 50 | |
| Deep red with a purple rim; very chocolaty aroma with some ironstone and vanilla touches. The palate is soft and rich, round and quite oaky | |||||
| tasting, with a trace of bitterness at the end and decent persistence. The tannins are very soft and easygoing. | |||||
| 2012 | S.C.Pannell Adelaide Hills Syrah | Adelaide Hills | 96/100 | 50 | |
| Hand-picked grapes were fermented with 25% whole bunches, the wine matured for 12 months in large French oak vats and puncheons. Vivid | |||||
| purple-crimson colour; the exceptionally fragrant bouquet leads into a palate with great texture from fine tannins, and black cherry fruit | |||||
| from the vineyard and vintage. | |||||
| 2012 | Bleasdale Generations Shiraz | Langhorne Creek SA | 96/100 | 50 | |
| Superb ripeness and balance, married to marvellous softness, are the hallmarks of the new generation of Bleasdale reds, and this is a top | |||||
| example. Rich, fleshy and supple in texture; ripe and yet bright, fresh fruit. Dense, full-bodied, rich and plush. | |||||
| 2013 | Parker Coonawarra Estate Shiraz | Coonawarra SA | 96/100 | 50 | |
| Deep, dense purple/red colour; deep, dense, very ripe essency aromas with a lacing of pepper, but generally very ripe lush, almost decadent | |||||
| aromas and flavours. It's fleshy, rich and full-bodied, but the balance and superb texture are the key features. | |||||
| 2011 | DogRock Single Vineyard Shiraz | Pyrenees Vic | 96/100 | 50 | |
| Deep red/purple colour. Intense spice aromas with pepper leading the way. profound palate flavour, lively and tight, compact and penetrating. | |||||
| Refreshing, frisky wine, clean and invigorating with intense red fruit and spice flavours, and fine-grained tanninins. Very elegant. | |||||
| 2012 | Ellis Wines Premium Heathcote Shiraz | Heathcote Vic | 97/100 | 55 | |
| Deep red/purple colour. The bouquet is fresh and fruit-driven, with mint and raspberry aromas, fresh and lifted and aromatic. In the mouth it's | |||||
| medium to full-bodied and again the fruit does the talking. It has fresh, clean acidity and measured tannin on the finish. A pristine wine. | |||||
| 2012 | Hewitson Ned & Henry's Shiraz Mourvedre | Barossa Valley SA | 96/100 | 55 | |
| The wine was matured in used French oak. The vivid colour of the wine attests to its moderate alcohol, as does the joyful display of red and black | |||||
| fruits; the tannins are supple, the oak subtle but evident. | |||||
| 2011 | Lindeman's Hunter Valley Shiraz | Hunter Valley NSW | 95/100 | 55 | |
| Bin 1103. Light to medium crimson-purple; estate-grown on the historic Ben Ean Vineyard; a fresh and fruit-driven wine reflecting part maturation | |||||
| in stainless steel and part in used French oak for 12 months | |||||
| 2012 | Yangarra Estate Whole Bunch Shiraz | McLaren Vale SA | 97/100 | 60 | |
| So polished, so poised, so well fruited. The flavours come in waves, the acid keeps them moving, the tannin gives them traction. Various | |||||
| dark-berried fruits, coffee grounds, spicy oak and sweet, perfumed herbs. Precision is its middle name. | |||||
| 2013 | Clonakilla O'Riada Shiraz | Canberra Districts ACT | 96/100 | 60 | |
| Medium to full red colour with a purple tint. The bouquet is peppery, spicy and perfumed, with great charm and fruit complexity. The floral note | |||||
| raises the question of viognier. The palate is elegantly proportioned and finely textured, soft and easygoing, with superb balance and length. | |||||
| There is a core of fruit sweetness and then a wash of powdery tannins. | |||||
| 2012 | Heartland Directors Cut Shiraz | Langhorne Creek SA | 96/100 | 60 | |
| Deep, dense crimson-purple; this really is built for the long haul; cedary/spicy French oak is the first aroma encountered on the bouquet and is | |||||
| never far away, but there are waves of blackberry, plum and dark chocolate fruits, then round tannins to conclude. | |||||
| 2010 | Audrey Wilkinson The Lake Shiraz | Hunter Valley NSW | 96/100 | 60 | |
| Vibrant deep magenta, fine French oak, multi-layered and generous wine, the freshness of acidity is the perfect foil for | |||||
| this deeply fruited, finely textured and extraordinarily long shiraz. | |||||
| 2010 | Angoves Warboys McLaren Vale Shiraz | McLaren Vale SA | 96/100 | 60 | |
| Deep purple-crimson, bouquet of black fruits, spice and dark chocolate, the palate has exceptional mouthfeel, soft tannins | |||||
| and a lingering finish. | |||||
| 2011 | Best Great Western Bin No1 Shiraz | Grampians Vic | 95/100 | 60 | |
| (Jimmy Watson Trophy Winner 2012) | |||||
| 2009 | Howards Park Scotsdale Shiraz | Great Southern WA | 96/100 | 60 | |
| Deep purple-crimson aromatic bouquet the palate is intense and focused, the flavours reaching every corner of the mouth. | |||||
| 2010 | Shaw & Smith M3 Shiraz | Adelaide Hills SA | 96/100 | 60 | |
| Vivid crimson hue, red and black fruits, spice and ironstone complexity, the medium to full bodied palate is fleshy, silky, rich | |||||
| long, languid and beautifully detailed from start to finish. | |||||
| 2012 | St Hallet Blackwell Shiraz | Barossa Valley SA | 97/100 | 65 | |
| Deep, vivid crimson-purple; has taken full advantage of everything the '12 vintage had to offer; gloriously full, but supple and velvety/juicy red and | |||||
| black fruits, the tannins and oak joining with the fruit on the full-bodied, perfectly balanced, palate. | |||||
| 2012 | Shottesbrooke Single Vineyard Blewitt Springs Shiraz | McLaren Vale SA | 97/100 | 65 | |
| Vivid crimson-purple; the expressive bouquet tells of the concentrated blackberry fruit of the medium to full-bodied palate, with layered foresty | |||||
| black fruits, bitter chocolate and quality oak; has prodigious length and aftertaste. | |||||
| 2012 | Turkey Flat Shiraz | Barossa Valley SA | 97/100 | 65 | |
| Deep, bright, red/purple colour; very good, and the bouquet is superbly fresh and clean, bright and youthful, with plum and raspberry, dark cherry | |||||
| and spice notes, very much a fruit-driven and primary style, but not strident or simplistically raw-fruity. Same in the mouth: a very intense, bright, | |||||
| full-bodied wine of real purity, poise and harmony. | |||||
| 2008 | Gemtree Vineyard Obsidian Shiraz | McLaren Vale SA | 96/100 | 65 | |
| Three years in new French oak. The hue is remarkable, still crimson-purple, and the wine is crammed full of flavour, blackberry | |||||
| fruit with its McLaren Vale signature of dark chocolate. | |||||
| 2010 | Mount Pleasant OP&OH Hunter Vally Shiraz | Hunter Valley NSW | 97/100 | 70 | |
| Medium to deep purple/red; very good colour. Very smoky, char-oak and Hunter regional character its red fruits are cradled by fine tannins | |||||
| and just a hint of new oak | |||||
| 2012 | Jamsheed Great Western Garden Valley Shiraz | Great Western Vic | 97/100 | 70 | |
| Deep red/purple colour, with a dry spice and brazilnut aroma, Great Western? Lots of graphite, ironstone and charcoal characters; plenty of | |||||
| mystery here. Very full-bodied: it's massively framed, firmly tannic and gripping, with impressive attack and tremendous length. Serious wine. | |||||
| Great power, amplitude and length, augmented by frisky acidity and ample alcohol. | |||||
| 2010 | Thorne-Clarke William Randell Shiraz | Barossa Valley SA | 97/100 | 75 | |
| Inky purple-crimson, saturated with every manner of black fruits and bitter chocolate; despite this, it has an open-weave texture keeping | |||||
| it light on its feet, and allowing a farewell of juicy fruit finding its way through the high quality oak and fine tannins. An exceptional shiraz | |||||
| 2012 | Bleasdale The Powder Monkey Shiraz | Langhorne Creek SA | 97/100 | 80 | |
| This is an extraordinary wine with untold layers of decadent, inky, black fruits all kept in an envelope of 14% alcohol; the way it continues to express | |||||
| itself through the finish and well into the aftertaste is mind-blowing. | |||||
| 2009 | Dalwhinnie Moonambal Shiraz | Pyrenees Vic | 95/100 | 80 | |
| Highly polished blueberry and blackberry fruit bouquet, integrated toasty oak, Asian allspice, game and vivid mineral complexity, | |||||
| the palate is layered with vibrant red fruits and crunchy acidity and silky fine-grained tannins. | |||||
| 2010 | Peppertree Random Acts of Winemaking Shiraz | HunterValley/Grampians | 97/100 | 85 | |
| Brainchild of Jim Chatto and Dan Buckle at Mount Langi Ghiran a blend of two estate vineyards, the Hunter providing the depth | |||||
| and savoury elements, the Grampians the very obvious spice and floral lift. A high class, long-lived wine. | |||||
| 2009 | Tyrrell's Vat 9 Hunter Shiraz | Hunter Valley NSW | 97/100 | 95 | |
| Clear, inviting crimson with an amazing purity of fruit flavour coming from ancient vines on red soils. | |||||
| 2010 | McWilliams Mt Pleasant O'Shea Shiraz | Hunter Valley NSW | 97/100 | 105 | |
| Clear red-crimson great balance struck between oak, tannins, fruit and acidity. Generously textured with dark berry and spicy | |||||
| chocolate notes supported by it beautiful French oak. Its a stand out vintage. | |||||
| 2010 | Seville Estate Dr McMahon Shiraz | Yarra Valley Vic | 97/100 | 110 | |
| A full throttle wine to celebrate an icon of the Yarra Valley, Dr Peter McMahon. The colour is as vibrant as the spicy, whole | |||||
| bunch and new oak bouquet as the palate is scintillating in its precision and depth. | |||||
| 2010 | Clonakilla Murrumbateman Syrah | Canberra Districts ACT | 97/100 | 130 | |
| Bright, clear colour, the bouquet is silky with exceptionally intense and energetic flavours of spice, red berries, blackberry and black pepper | |||||
| the texture is outstanding, fruit, oak and tannins all harmoniously contributing. | |||||
| 2009 | Wynns Michael Shiraz | Coonawarra SA | 96/100 | 130 | |
| Good purple-crimson, the excellent bouquet is a classy opening, but this wine is all about structure, mouthfeel and length. | |||||
| The blackberry, plum, spice and mulberry flavours are folded in quality French oak. Will be a classic. | |||||
| Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends | |||||
| NV | Morgan's Bay Cabernet Merlot | Mildura Vic | 90/100 | 30 | |
| Up-front dark berry flavour and cassis. Fleshy merlot fills the mid-palate, subtle oak influence to finish | |||||
| 2013 | Blue Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon | Pyrenees Vic | 95/100 | 40 | |
| Deep red/purple colour, bright and youthful. The bouquet is very attractive, showing violets and both red and blue berries, the palate intense | |||||
| and focused, concentrated but not overly big-boned, with a beautifully elegant, lingering palate of model line. The tannins are fine and subtly | |||||
| firm, doing their job by gentle persuasion rather than brute force. The structure is well controlled and impeccably balanced. | |||||
| 2012 | Lake Breeze Cabernet Sauvignon | Langhorne Creek SA | 95/100 | 45 | |
| The grapes come from 40-year-old estate vines, which have provided a wine with clear-cut varietal character; bright and lively cassis fruit runs | |||||
| as a pure stream of flavour through the length of the medium-bodied palate; oak and gently savoury tannins tie the parcel up to perfection. | |||||
| 2011 | West Cape Howe Book Ends Cabernet Sauvignon | Mt Barker WA | 96/100 | 45 | |
| Deep, dark red with a tinge of purple; very good colour. Subdued bouquet with a dusty note at first, evidence of lots of oak, and nicely ripe black | |||||
| fruits predominating. The wine has richness and flesh, density and grip, the tannins ripe and smooth as well as abundant. | |||||
| 2012 | Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon | Coonawarra SA | 96/100 | 50 | |
| Deep, dark red/purple, excellent colour for its age. Superbly fresh, clean perfume aromas, dark berries, violets and spices. Some dried herbs. The | |||||
| palate is also loaded with sweetly ripe, delicious dark berry cabernet flavour. The tannins are light but firm and fine. | |||||
| 2010 | Hay Shed Hill Cabernet Sauvignon | Margaret River WA | 95/100 | 50 | |
| Deep red colour, slight purple rim. Toasty oak-saturated bouquet with black fruits and smoky black olive notes. Rich, fleshy, dense and smoothly | |||||
| balanced. Full-bodied and compact with smooth, ripe, rounded, ample tannins. This has density as well as elegance. | |||||
| 2012 | Bests Great Western Cabernet Sauvignon | Grampians Vic | 95/100 | 50 | |
| Good hue; a near-perfect expression of cabernet sauvignon, the region, the vintage and the winemaking all contributing to the finely structured | |||||
| and textured blackcurrant fruit, itself given shape by the fine-grained tannins on the long, medium-bodied palate | |||||
| 2012 | A Rodda Cuvee De ChezCabernet Sauvignon | Beechworth Vic | 96/100 | 55 | |
| Deep, vibrant, red/purple colour and a clean, bright aroma of black fruits and a hint of briar, with excellent blackberry and cedar cabernet | |||||
| aromas of quality and perfect ripeness. The palate is medium to full-bodied and smoothly texture, with good tannins in abundance; balanced, | |||||
| vibrant and long. | |||||
| 2009 | Kerrigan + Berry Cabernet Sauvignon | Mt Barker/Marg River WA | 96/100 | 60 | |
| A 50/50% blend, with excellent colour, a vividly fragrant bouquet and intense medium-bodied palate bringing together | |||||
| the strength and fleshier black and redcurrant fruit flavours.the tannin and oak contributions precisely calibrated. | |||||
| 2012 | Flametree S.R.S Wilyabrup Cabernet Sauvignon | Margaret River WA | 97/100 | 65 | |
| The immediate and striking strength of the wine is its extreme length and purity, a siren allure that may lead many to drink it long before it | |||||
| reaches its plateau of ultimate perfection; high quality grapes have been handled with admirable sensitivity by winemaker Cliff Royle. | |||||
| 2009 | Voyager Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot | Margaret River WA | 96/100 | 70 | |
| Deepish red colour with a purple tint. Crisp, crushed mulberry and dusty cedary aromas. This is more black fruits and richly ripe flavour than the | |||||
| Voyager Project cabernet. Full-bodied, weighty, and deep, with amplitude, length and generosity. | |||||
| 2011 | Lueewin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon | Margaret River WA | 97/100 | 80 | |
| Deep red/purple hue. Marvellous smoky, toasty barrel and blackberry fruit aromas neatly entwined, a trace of charcoal, and briar, while the | |||||
| palate is singularly impressive, with great power and length and superbly lavish, supple tannins. | |||||
| 2012 | Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon | Margaret River WA | 97/100 | 85 | |
| Deep red/purple colour; bright and youthful. Dusty young bouquet with subdued but slowly emerging blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. It's | |||||
| powerful and very strongly structured on palate; the fruit is classic dark berries and violets, backed by firm high-quality tannins. It all lingers with | |||||
| great persistence. | |||||
| 2009 | Vasse Felix Heytesbury Cabernet Sauvignon | Margaret River WA | 97/100 | 90 | |
| Deep purple/red colour. Dense, rich black fruit aromas and flavours; sublime, seamless fruit and tannin integration, tremendous structure | |||||
| and length. Very young and promising, but also remarkably approachable now. A top vintage. | |||||
| 2010 | Houghton Gladstones Cabernet Sauvignon | Margaret River WA | 97/100 | 100 | |
| Bright, clear crimson; as befits its name, a very distinguished and expressive wine from the first whiff of its bouquet through to the finish with | |||||
| ultra-classic cassis and redcurrant fruit that easily carries the fine-grained tannins and high quality oak | |||||
| 2010 | Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot | Margaret River WA | 96/100 | 125 | |
| Vanya Cullen has taken a gentle approach with all aspects of the wine. It is medium-bodied, but is perfectly balanced and its array of | |||||
| blackcurrant, redcurrant, earth and spice fruit flavours, its medium-bodied elegance setting it in a league of its own. | |||||
| 2009 | Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon | Coonawarra SA | 96/100 | 125 | |
| Strong colour, a very potent, deeply layered, full-bodied wine in which all of the expected Coonawarra cabernet characters | |||||
| of blackcurrant, blackberry, mulberry, earth and mint, very classy oak and fine, ripe tannins. | |||||
| Pinot Noir & Other | |||||
| 2012 | John Luke Pinot Noir | Mornington Penninsula Vic | 92/100 | 35 | |
| Wild fermented in French oak, a bouquet of cherry and dried herbs. A silky palate and fine tannins complement the finish. | |||||
| 2013 | Domaine Chandon Yarra Valley Pinot Noir | Yarra Valley Vic | 94/100 | 50 | |
| An elegant wine distinguished by a rich structure of firm, silky tanins | |||||
| 2012 | Bream Creek Pinot Noir | Tasmania | 96/100 | 55 | |
| Deep colour with a tinge of purple; the bouquet is charry, smoky and smacks of smoked charcuterie. Sweet dark cherry fragrance later. | |||||
| Some sappiness. The palate is big, bold and solid, with ample tannin, and is very attractive. Deep fruit, good concentration | |||||
| 2013 | Helen's Hill Long Walk Yarra Valley Pinot Noir | Yarra Valley Vic | 97/100 | 60 | |
| The colour is even deeper than that of its Ingram Rd sibling; it is packed with luxurious dark cherry and plum fruit running in an unbroken stream | |||||
| through the bouquet, palate, finish and aftertaste. | |||||
| 2012 | Scorpo Single Vineyard Pinot Noir | Mornington Penninsula Vic | 96/100 | 60 | |
| This wine has considerable elegance, finesse and length; the vivid red and black fruits are given shape by some foresty/savoury tannins. | |||||
| 2012 | Philippa Farr Pinot Noir | Gippsland Vic | 96/100 | 70 | |
| Light to medium ruby-red colour with the slightest tinge of purple. The bouquet is exceedingly complex and loaded with stemmy whole-bunch | |||||
| ferment characters. It's intense and packed with a superb array of flavours: leather, tobacco, cherry and fresh earth aromas. | |||||
| 2012 | Dog Point Pinot Noir | Marlborough NZ | 97/100 | 70 | |
| Very deep red/purple hue. The bouquet is impressive and loaded with rich, ripe, black cherry fruit, the palate likewise rich and concentrated, | |||||
| full-bodied and sweetly-fruited, but it's all balanced by good tannins and excellent structure. A glorious wine, very Burgundy-like. | |||||
| 2012 | Coldstream Hills The Esplanade Pinot Noir | Coal Valley Tasmania | 97/100 | 70 | |
| Deepish red colour with purple tints, and a meaty, charcuterie bouquet of considerable complexity. Rich and fleshy in the mouth, it's deep and | |||||
| layered with excellent texture and lots of extract. A lovely full-bodied, profound pinot with a fruit-sweet core and very good structure for keeping. | |||||
| 2012 | Freycinet Pinot Noir | Bicheno Tas | 97/100 | 80 | |
| Excellent vibrant colour. Very good fresh and vibrant aromas of dark cherry and spices, rich and full. Tannins are assertive and ripe, the harmony | |||||
| is good and it's very long. | |||||
| 2013 | Farrside by Farr Pinot Noir | Geelong Vic | 98/100 | 85 | |
| Full red colour with a tinge of purple; the bouquet sweetly ripe red fruits without excessive stalky herbal notes. Very perfumed, alluring, complex. | |||||
| The wine is very rich and fruit-sweet on the tongue, full-bodied and intense, powerful and very long in its aftertaste. A superb, delicious wine; | |||||
| brandied cherries; good soft and fleshy tannins and a tremendously long, satisfying finish. | |||||
| 2013 | Blue Pyrenees Merlot | Pyrenees VIC | 91/100 | 40 | |
| Matured for 16 months in French and American barriques. A robust, full-flavoured, full-bodied red | |||||
| 2012 | Leconfield Merlot | Coonawarra SA | 94/100 | 45 | |
| Bright red-crimson, an elegant, medium-bodied wine, it has fresh redcurrant and mulberry fruit running throughout the | |||||
| bouquet and palate, supported by very fine, persistent tannins; a merlot that doesn't rely on plum | |||||
| 2012 | Turkey Flat Butchers Block GSM | Barossa Valley SA | 94/100 | 40 | |
| This is one of the best Barossa Valley blends of this ilk, shiraz providing both structure and depth to the seductive array of red and black fruits on | |||||
| the bouquet and medium-bodied palate. | |||||