The last Friday in April is designated as "International Viognier Day". Unsure who gets to make a call to designate such, regardless Yalumba - without whom the variety might not exist, certainly in an Australian context at least - were kind enough to sling a bottle of their flagship "Virgilius" to mark the occasion. Some barrel time - ten months, French oak - adds its presence here, over white florals and spice (mace, ginger) and a little vanilla. There's weight to the palate, varietal and stylistically. Spice, depth - it's dry and on an excellent length and persistence of flavour. Drink t ..read more

Chardonnay from the Macedon Ranges, a region I feel I know but - admittedly - would be hard placed to definitively place on a map. Chardonnay like this could well challenge that geographic uncertainty. Melon, drizzle of lime, grapefruit tang. Aromas that - logically - flow to the palate, fresh and vibrant. Set before a firmer position, an edge that feels as solid as the name for the region from which it came conveys. Unsure if a geographical feature qualifies as onomatopeia, mind. Generous length, subtle, creeping. Take note people. 92 Tasted on: Tuesday 30th April Source: Sample Pric ..read more

Dark cherry, rose petal, plum - almost plum sauce like in presentation. It's a single vineyard Pinot from Central Otago, in New Zealand's South Island. Firmer in style, typical of the region - with is dry environment. Plush, velvet like tannins - with a firmer backstop of flavour. Spiced, touch of dry leaf litter - lovely expression of CO Pinot Noir. 93 Tasted on: Saturday 11th May Source: Sample Price: $60 Alcohol: 14% Closure: Screwcap Website: https://tarrasvineyards.com/ Sample courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/ Follow me: https://www.vivino.com/users/stuart-ro ..read more

Barrel Ferment Chardonnay from Mudgee's Huntington Estate. Hints of stonefruit in tandem with vanilla and something like a frangipane note. Fragrant, Fruity, an exotic allure. Toast and bite on the palate, a textural swathe slicing it's way across the oral cavity. Balancing acidity, citrus and tangy. Lovely balance, to an overall attractive package. 92 Tasted on: Tuesday 21st May Source: Sample Price: $35 Alcohol: 13.77% Closure: Screwcap Website: https://huntingtonestate.com.au/ Follow me: https://www.vivino.com/users/stuart-ro ..read more

Pouring a pale straw, just enough colour for interest. Poached pear and cinnamon notes, a classic combination and varietally true. Suggestion of citrus blossom, white pepper and fennel tops. There's a nice crispness to the wine, in-line with its 12.3% alcohol. Dry and with a lingering acidic freshness. 91 Tasted on: Sunday 2nd June Source: Sample Price: $30 Alcohol: 12.3% Closure: Screwcap Website: https://stockmansridge.com.au/ Sample Courtesy of: https://definewine.com.au ..read more

I recently had the pleasure of joining an online tasting of Chardonnays from across the Hill-Smith Family Estates portfolio, joining winemakers Heather Fraser (Ringbolt & Yalumba), Marc van Halderen (Heggies Vineyard) and Clive Jones (Nautilus Estate) along with other invited wine media.   Each wine was selected on the basis of representing the Terroir from which the fruit is drawn. Each at a similar price point, around the $30 or so mark. One observation I made - and refer here - is how little oak was mentioned with respect to being a significant to winemaking, instead the fruit bei ..read more

November 1st 2023 sees the release of this wine - along with the accompany Tapanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2021. On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of the Foggy Hill vineyard, winemaker Brian Croser - accompanied by wife Ann - embarked on a series of tasting and dinners to celebrate this milestone. Whilst the Definitus wasn't part of that tasting, opportunity afforded to review it post. The Definitus is akin to a block level wine, the Definitus strip being a sub-ridge formed where ferruginuous sandstone comes close to the surface. It also marks a d ..read more

Foggy Hill is Brian Croser's latest (albeit one twenty years in the making) passion project, down on the Southern tip of the Fleurieu. Cool, maritime influenced, the site for this stunningly consistent Pinot.  Leads with a floral, rose-raspberry mix over Sage. Spice - pepper and Chinese five spice - linger in the background, supplementing the initial brighter aromatics with added depth. The palate is deep, rich - with a balance of tight and fine tannins, with a freshening acidity in the mix. Finishes long, with an appealing mineral like pucker. Offers finesse, elegance, yet wit ..read more

Black cherry, blackcurrant, touch of cocoa in the mix, with an underlying musky hint - a little like your favourite Uncle's after shave (don't mind me!). Delightful palate that all at once is tender, yet robust - offering both generosity of fruit, fine tannins and flashes of bright acidity. It's a well rounded package, versatile and comely, inviting and moreish - yet with enough structure to hold up to a broad range of foodstuffs. Good gear! 93 Tasted on: Tuesday 16th October Source: Sample Price: $45 Alcohol: 13% Closure: Cork Sample Courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.co ..read more

Black and red fruit against savoury, nutty oak. Some warmed earth in the frame. There's a freshness, both of fruit - with freshening acidity to cleanse across its length. A biscuity, roasted/ caramel edge adds an extra dimension to the final flourish. An excellent package overall. Drink to ten years. 92 Tasted on: Saturday 16th September Source: Sample Price: $54.99 Alcohol: 14% Closure: Screwcap Website: https://www.sthugo.com ..read more