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Winemaker Ben Riggs takes a ruthless, John West approach to culling barrels in order to make Tatiarra’s flagship wines the best they can possibly be. What’s left from this initial first harsh cull is then culled again to produce the Culled Barrel Shiraz, a wine that over delivers in an extraordinary way. The left over wine from this second cull is then sold off in bulk.

Delivering ridiculous value this is benchmark $20 drinking in Shiraz.

Magnificent inky black core with a very deep dark red black hue. Heady aromas of ripe blackberries, liquorice and dark plums rise from the glass over vanillin oak and spicy pepper nuances. Full bodied, immense black fruit flavours completely saturate the palate supported by a robust wall of tannins that provide great structure. Bold, succulent ripe blackberry, dark plum, liquorice and black cherry flavours overlay a back drop of vanillin oak, crushed rocks and spicy pepper. Muscular, yet opulent mouthfeel delivering outstanding power, richness and concentration for the price. Finishes chewy and long with an aftertaste of ripe black cherries, liquorice, blackberries, dark plum, vanillin oak and spicy pepper.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc 15.5%

Certified organic, a portion of this wine is fermented using indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged for 2-3 months in stainless steel tanks then bottled without fining. Brilliant water like core with distinctive greenish highlights around the outskirts. Intense unripe passionfruit and grapefruit aromas lead the charge with subtle gooseberry, citrusy asparagus characters, herbaceous cut grass and struck matchstick notes ensuing. The vibrant palate is filled with concentrated yet elegant flavours of citrus, unripe passionfruit and subtle grapefruit which overlay a back drop of herbaceous gooseberries, grassy asparagus characters and smoky mineral elements. Crisp, refreshing finish with a long engaging aftertaste.
Drink now.
Alc. 13%

Narkoojee’s Chardonnays have built up somewhat of a cult following now selling out in matter on months from date of release. The excellent 2018 season produced fruit of exceptional quality which was fermented using wild yeasts indigenous to the Narkoojee vineyard. Maturation took place in mostly older French oak barriques.

Brilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Ripe peach, subtle apricot and dried honey aromas meld into citrusy nougat, cashew and spice notes. Full bodied, rich and concentrated with a creamy texture, mouthfilling flavours of ripe peaches, honeycomb and cashew sit over a back drop of biscuity nougat characters and spice. Well rounded with balanced acidity and a long cream tinged aftertaste of ripe peaches, honeycomb, cashew, biscuit and spicy nougat.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13.5%

The vineyards for the Jester Shiraz are located at the southern end of McLaren Vale where the combination of cool sea breezes, gully winds and heavy clay soils provide ideal growing conditions for the production of intensely flavoured Shiraz. Maturation takes place in oak barrels, 10% new, for a period of 18 months.

Totally opaque black dark red core with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Blackberry, plum and liquorice aromas interact with vanillin cedar, fennel, earth and spice. Rich and plush with good body weight the palate serves up dark plum, liquorice and blackberry flavours which are underpinned by vanillin cedar, fennel, traces of black olive and spicy pepper characters. Polished yet structural tannins. Good power with a long, lusciously textured liquorice and black fruit aftertaste.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Other Reviews….
Estate-grown at the southern end of McLaren Vale near the seaside town of Aldinga, cooled by sea breezes. The crimson-purple colour leads the way for a wine of considerable intensity and length, nimbly stepping around any sledgehammer blows of full-bodied shiraz. Elegance? Yes, but modesty might be a better one-word description, value another. Drink by 2031.
94 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion

Tenuta delle Terre Nere is owned by the widely acclaimed Marco de Grazia who is one of winemakers responsible for bringing the wines of Etna to prominence on the world stage. A blend of 95% Nerello Mascalese and 5% Nerello Cappuccio matured in French oak for 16 months.

Deep dark red core with black tinged edges and a bright red hue. Fragrant ripe red cherry, raspberry and subtle rose petal aromas fill the nostrils followed by delicate notions of scorched earth, aromatic herbs and light spicy pepper notes. Light to medium weight, juicy ripe cherry and raspberry flavours are backed by fresh, crunchy like acidity and robust tannins which impart some firmness and grip to the finish. Chewy feel with elements of earth, fresh herb infusions and stony mineral characters also evident. Elegant and long with a bright, savoury red fruited conclusion.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%

The simplistic label of this Cabernet pays homage to the 1953 Penfolds Grange (the only time a 100% cabernet was bottled under the Grange label). Sourced from two sites in McLaren Vale the wine was aged in French oak for 20 months.

A beautifully aged Cabernet primed for drinking now.

Totally opaque black dark red core with a deep very dark red hue. Fragrant blackcurrant and mulberry aromas intermingle with cedary tobacco characters, earth and spicy dried herb notes. Bold and rich the ripe blackcurrant flavours are still holding up over a backdrop of vanillin cedar, earthy tobacco characters, dried herbs and spicy leather. Excellent concentration and length with a slightly dryish finish, silky smooth tannins and a long aftertaste.
Drink now.
Alc. 14.5%

Tim Smith began his wine career as a cellar hand at Yalumba in 1987 and it was here where he went on to learn the craft of winemaking. He then went on to work as winemaker at St. Hallett, Tatachilla and Chateau Tanunda and saw numerous overseas stints, mostly in Portugal, France and New Zealand before setting up his own outfit in 2002. Fruit for his 2016 Barossa Shiraz was sourced from vineyards in both the Barossa and Eden Valley with maturation taking placed in mostly French oak barrels for a period of 20 months.

A superb Shiraz brimming with plush Barossa fruit, yet retaining great freshness and balance.

Impenetrable inky black colour with a deep dark red black hue. Sailing out of the glass are pronounced aromatics of blackberry and liquorice with dark plum, lightly smoked vanillin cedar, hints of dark chocolate and spice in toe. Rich with a plush feel, the full bodied palate is decorated with lavish liquorice, ripe blackberry, dark plum and subtle dark chocolate flavours. Lying beneath the extravagant layers of fruit are elements of smoky vanillin cedar, fennel and blackpepper. There’s good freshness to the finish with velvet like tannins and a powerful aftertaste that lingers long after the wine has been swallowed.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Tassie experienced an early, exuberant year in 2018 producing big berries and Pinots fresh, bright and pretty with loads of juicy red fruits. Semi translucent bright dark red colour with a crimson red hue. Fragrant ripe red cherry and strawberry aromas crossed with anise blossom from the glass followed by hints of violets, subtle forest floor and spicy herbs. Delicious juicy ripe dark cherry and strawberry flavours show excellent drive with elements of anise, subtle forest floor and spicy cedar also present. Supplely textured tannins finishing with vibrant acidity and a long moreish aftertaste.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 14%

GC is Nick Farr’s tribute to his father Gary and what he has achieved in the Geelong region and also what he has contributed to Australian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir over a 40 year career. The wine is matured in French oak, 35% new, for approximately 10 months.

An essay in refinement and power this is now firmly entrenched as one of Australia’s great Chardonnay’s.

Brilliant pale straw colour with distinctive tints of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Greeting the olfactory senses is a superb matrix of aromas led by white peaches, ripe nectarines and dried honey with a gun flint overlay. Cashew, biscuity nougat characters and spice notes then chime in to complete a complex picture. Firing on all cylinders, breathtaking intensity and length are counterpointed by a sublime freshness giving the palate a high wire act like balance. Refined yet brimming with richness and possessing a creamy textural feel, the mouth is engulfed with generous flavours of stone fruit, dried honey, cashew, biscuity nougat, citrus and subtle infusions of gun flint. Clean dry finish with an exceptionally long aftertaste of ripe white peaches, dried honey, biscuity nougat characters, lightly spiced cashew and traces of gun flint. Stunning.
Divine drinking now or cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 13%

Other Reviews….
GC references founder Gary Charles Farr – but it could stand for grand cru! Vines planted on exposed slopes with loam, limestone, volcanic, clay and buckshot stone strewn soils produce awesome power and complexity. Still, this is a thoroughly Australian Chardonnay, with ripped, muscular fruit, salty cashew and creamy almond, cut with zesty lime and flint. Plenty of phenolic, savoury chew makes for a compelling, resonating finish.
97 points
Sarah Ahmed - Decanter Magazine

Tasted blind in a fair sized bracket of Chardonnay, and I think this was my favourite wine. I don’t try By Farr wines very often, so nice to have it bob up like this.
Ripe lime, white flowers and vanilla cream, stony things. Intense lime and lime rind, almost like a lime spider, smoky and flinty, core of intense acidity, really bursts through the finish. Pure, and yet full-throttle. Crikey. Drink 2020-2028.
96 points
Gary Walsh – The Wine Front

Margaret River experienced one of its best all round vintages in 2016 with Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz the standout varieties. The Chardonnay was 100% barrel fermented and aged for 11 months in new French oak barriques with regular lees stirring.

Sophisticated, intense and dazzlingly long.

Brilliant pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Offering up a kaleidoscope of aromas the refined, intensely scented nose sees white peach, nectarine and light dried honey notes overlaid by cashew. Spicy nougat, biscuit and subtle gun flint nuances also chime in to provide an extra layer of complexity. Elegant and regal yet seriously potent and long, the palate is filled with ripe white peach, nectarine and biscuity cashew characters which sit over dried honey, nougat and spice elements. Beautifully textured creamy like, yet vibrant mouthfeel finishing with good freshness. A dazzlingly long aftertaste lingering well after the wine has been swallowed. Magnificent.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Other Reviews….
Leeuwin Estate is about to release what I believe is Australia’s greatest white wine, and the first I have given a score of 99-plus. The Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2016 hits the shelves on April 1, and apart from being as near as dammit to perfection, will change the way Margaret River chardonnay is seen. It is a game changer. And it has given me a problem. You see, I gave the 2015 chardonnay 99 points, my highest score for an Australian white wine on release. But the problem now is that the 2016 is a better wine. I don’t believe any wine has achieved perfection, but this one pushes it mighty close. So, all I can do is give it 99-plus.

For me, the 2016 Leeuwin is the closest thing, stylistically, to Burgundy — Grand Cru Burgundy — I have seen in an Australian chardonnay. The combination of power, intensity, palate length and precision stamps it as something special. A little element of Puligny, Chassagne, with more than a decent hit of Margaret River. Deciding to give it 99-plus wasn’t taken lightly. I was pretty sure after the first taste a few weeks ago, surer after sharing a bottle with friends and finally convinced after a third assessment, when I tasted it several times over 24 hours to see how it opened up.

Leeuwin winemaker Tim Lovett described the vintage as “remarkable and spectacular” and a tribute to the underpinning contribution of the famous Blocks 20 and 22 that continue to lay the foundation for Art Series chardonnays.

A marvellous wine that continues to mark the subtle shift to a style of more elegance and minerally finesse. There is such gorgeous texture and middle palate complexity here, with precise delivery through to a very long finish. Spices with floral notes, a touch savoury and understated mealiness that is part of this wine's DNA. What a fitting wine to mark the 50th anniversary of Leeuwin Estate. (Best drinking: Now to 2032)
99+ points
Ray Jordan, The Weekend West Magazine