It is wonderful to have the opportunity to drink wines such as these. This wine is a botrytis semillon made by De Bortoli wines in Australia and is from the 1982 vintage. It is tasted and reviewed here some 42 years’ later in 2024. The wine is so old that it is labelled as a “Sauternes”, pre-dating the 2010 agreement between Australia and the EU which no longer permits this term. You can read an outline of what was agreed between Australia and the EU in this respect in this publication from Wine Australia. Back to the wine, it’s an exceptional Australian botrytis semillon and may be among the ..read more

This is a very interesting wine from Stockman’s Ridge and the 2022 vintage.  Labelled as the “Left Bank”, it is a homage to the cabernet sauvignon dominant styles of Bordeaux, with the vineyard in the cool climate of Orange region in Australia.  To invite a direct comparison is brave, and better, it is also successful.  It’s an excellent wine and a blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% merlot.  It has aromas of cedar and blackcurrants.  The palate is medium bodied, with clues as to its local origin coming from the dark fruit flavours, a subtle eucalpytus character an ..read more

This is a supple and enjoyable pinot noir from Cloudy Bay in Marlborough in New Zealand and the 2020 vintage. Cloudy Bay is part of the LVMH group and there is evident focus on quality. In the glass, the wine has typical pinot noir aromas of rose petals and red fruits, with a touch of cedar. The palate is medium bodied and provides an enjoyable expression of ripe and rounded red fruits, supplemented by the autumnal leaf character found in good pinot noir. Its fruit and tannins are soft and supple. This lovely expression of Marlborough pinot noir is ready to drink now. Rating: Very Good ..read more

Sedona Estate are a small producer in Murrindindi near Yea in the hills north of the Yarra Valley.  Some very good single variety wines from Bordeaux grape varieties (and also sangiovese) are produced here.  Their 2021 reserve cabernet sauvignon is deeply coloured in the glass. The wine has aromas and flavours that remind of blackcurrant and vanilla.  The palate is medium bodied and has fresh acidity.  The alcohol is 14.0.  This is an edgeless expression of ripe, but not overripe, cabernet sauvignon that will please many. With a lighter hand on the new oak, this wine c ..read more

This riesling is from the Annie’s Lane label, the Clare Valley and the 2023 vintage and is a keenly priced commercial wine, retailing for around $15. Annie’s Lane appears to be a brand in the Treasury Wine Estates portfolio (a large listed Australian wine company).* Its aroma is straightforward and characterful, with regional notes of lime, peach and talc. The palate has high acidity that is marked by some hard edges, and finishes dry. This Annie’s Lane riesling provides a good representation of the Clare Valley style. Rating: Good (★★☆, 84 points). Website: NA. Tasted: July 2024. * The TWE gr ..read more

This is a good Barossa Shiraz from Two Hands, if one that does not have extra dimensions to it.  Deeply coloured, the wine has aromas of spices and plummy dark fruits.  The palate is full bodied and generous, while the length on the finish is medium.  The tannins are soft and this wine is fully mature at 8 years’ of age. For $60, a little more is expected. The wine is suitable for current drinking. Review Rating: Good (★★★, 88 points). Website: Two Hands Wines. Tasted: June 2024. The post Two Hands Bella’s Garden Shiraz 2016 appeared first on Grape Observer ..read more

Adorned by wine show medals various, this wine review is of Taylor’s “Estate Label” Riesling from the 2023 vintage and the Clare Valley in Australia. This is a keenly priced riesling at the circa $20 mark. In the glass there are piercing green apple and lime juice aromas and flavours, typical of the style of Clare Valley riesling. The palate has high acidity and an apply roundness to the fruit, together with a dry finish. This is a good quality, widely available riesling that will drink well for 6-8 years, and probably longer. Rating: Good (★★★, 88 points). Website: Taylors Wines. Tasted: July ..read more

There aren’t many wines to choose from if you are searching for a higher quality single variety Australian merlot.  Better examples are from the cooler climates including the Yarra Valley and the high altitude Orange region. You can add to this list Sedona Estate in Murrindindi in the hills near Yea, north of the Yarra Valley.  I have tasted a few vintages of this wine and there is a consistency to them.  The 2019 merlot has aromas and flavours of red and dark fruits.  The tannins are medium and the palate is in balance and mostly medium bodied.  This is an enjoyable m ..read more

Grosset’s “Alea” Riesling is from their Rockwood vineyard in the Watervale sub region of the Clare Valley in Australia.  Grosset is the benchmark Clare Valley producer of riesling, and probably of Australian riesling more generally.  I haven’t previously tasted this label from Grosset, but it is intended as a more European style.  In the glass, the 2023 vintage is plainly a very good wine, if lacking a little in approachability.  Its aromas and flavours remind of Clare Valley lime, but there are more stone and green apple characters.  The palate is linear, high in acid ..read more

For $20, Jim Barry’s Watervale riesling from the Clare Valley in Australia provides excellent and typical drinking at a modest price. Their 2023 Watervale riesling has aromas of lime and lime juice, with a slight herbal underlay. The palate is light to medium bodied, dry and high acidity frames its dry finish. The alcohol is a modest 12.0. I have reviewed Jim Barry’s wines over a number of years now. They rarely miss. Rating: Good to Very Good (★★★☆, 89 points). Website: Jim Barry. Tasted: June 2024. Related posts The post Jim Barry Watervale Riesling 2023 appeared first on Grape Observer ..read more