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Matured in French oak, 10% new, for a period of 7 months. Brilliant pale straw colour with flecks of green around the edges and a watery hue. The nose has aromas of white peaches, subtle dried honey, biscuity nougat like characters, citrus and light cashew. Fleshy white peach and nectarine flavours dominate the medium weighted palate which has an elegant, lightly creamed feel to it. Good richness on the back palate with subtlety honeyed nougat, biscuit and spicy cashew moving in. Finishes dry and balanced with a citrus freshness and a medium to long aftertaste.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 13%

Other Reviews….
This is, and always has been, a multi-vineyard blend. “Early, drinking deliciousness”, says Steve Flamsteed, “these aren’t for cellars… I like freshness and energy. Not so much the essence of any vineyard, but a showcase of Yarra Valley. They’re wines to really, really drink”. Winemaking goes hand-picked, chill overnight, pressed, free run gets a work over and into barrel, then some oxidative winemaking in leaving some ullage space, lending extra character. Clever, clever.
It’s a ripper drink. Shows pedigree of the top Giant Steps wines but delivers a wickedly drinkable, tangy, lemon-drizzled-apple-crunch of yummo chardonnay with enough pep and vigour (and faint salted nutty savouriness) to blast off on those warm, baking summer days. That aside, there’s spring to texture, light juiciness, a pucker followed by mouth-watering refreshment to close. No brainer for quality, bright, quietly complex but wholly guzzle-worthy chardonnay. Drink 2018-2025.
93 points
Mike Bennie – The Wine Front

Fruit for the Valley Floor Shiraz was sourced from the Barossa (92%) and Eden (8%) Valleys with vines aged between 9 to 100 years old and yields of 1.5 to 3 tonnes per acre. Maturation took place in a combination of 14% new American oak and 86% seasoned American and French oak hogsheads for a period of 24 months.

Rich, seductive and powerful with a sumptuous yet fresh finish.

Impenetrable black as night core with a deep dark red black hue. Intense liquorice, dark plum and black cherry aromatics sail out of the glass over vanillin cedar, fennel and spice. Rich seductive flavours of liquorice, dark plum, black cherries and blackberries saturate the mouth with underlying spicy vanillin cedar, traces of fennel and pepper. There’s an opulent feel to the fruit yet it finishes fresh and balanced. Silky smooth tannins provide the framework. Very sumptuous and long with a powerful aftertaste of liquorice, black cherries, dark plums, spicy vanillin cedar, fennel and pepper.
Cellar 5-6 years plus.
Alc. 14.5%

This blend of 51% Tempranillo, 44% Touriga Nacional and 5% Grenache was matured in 500 litre oak puncheons (10% new) for 10 months.

Impressive inky black purple colour with a bright dark purple hue. Incense laced scents of dark cherries, plum and liquorice are followed by some spicy herb notes. Rich black cherry, ripe blueberry and liquorice flavours decorate the medium bodied palate with an undercard of inky earth characters, subtle infusions of incense and spice. Finishes dry with plenty of fresh bright acidity and finely grained tannins. Juicy yet slightly chalky mouthfeel with a vibrant medium to long aftertaste.
Cellar 4-5 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Nick Glaetzer began his winemaking journey with his family in the Barossa Valley, following with vintages in the Languedoc, the Pfalz, Margaret River, the Riverland, Sunraysia, the Hunter Valley and Burgundy. In 2005 Nick landed in Tasmania, searching for cool-climate, super-premium vineyards; perfect for crafting Pinot Noir, Riesling and savoury Shiraz. The concept behind his Avance Pinot came from Nick’s experience working and travelling through many winemaking regions on the European Continent which gave him an insight into the lighter wine styles, keenly sought after by the local village people for their fresh fruit driven flavours.

A delicious fruit loaded Pinot with power to burn.

Semi translucent dark red colour with black tinged edges and a crimson purple hue. Very fragrant, the nose expels violet top notes over ripe cherry and strawberry aromas with subtle anise and fresh herbs ensuing. Rich, fruit loaded and expansive, ripe dark cherry, plum and strawberry flavours create a silken feel across the palate with elements of lightly smoked anise, subtle forest floor and spice also present. Terrific power, velvet smooth tannins and good vibrant acidity concluding with a deliciously long aftertaste of dark fruits, anise, subtle forest floor and spicy herbs.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13.5%

An intensely flavoured Riesling with a zingy, mouthwatering finish.

Certified organic. Brilliant very pale straw almost water like core with greenish tinged edges. Potent lime and citrus aromas leap out of the glass with orange rind, talc, green apple and light mineral notes also present. Showing terrific intensity are mouth watering flavours of lime and citrus with an undercurrent of orange rind, green apple and a chalky minerality. Dry zingy finish with fresh crunchy acidity. Superb length with a very long lime, citrus, orange rind, subtle green apple and flinty mineral aftertaste. Sublime drinking now but will also cellar a further 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5%

Nicolas Catena has been instrumental in Argentina’s progress over the last three decades, bringing the country's wine industry into line with world class standards. What you can now get for your money in the present day climate are seriously good expressions of the nation's signature varietal, Malbec, that rival many Australian reds for punch and price.

Very savoury and loaded with flavour this Malbec really over delivers.

A blend of three different vineyards the wine is matured in a mixture of new, second and third use barrels for a period of 12-14 months. Excellent depth of colour displaying an inky black dark red core with a deep dark red black tinged hue. Lifted violet black cherry and blackcurrant aromas intermix with liquorice, a faint whiff of blueberry, inky earth notes and spicy dried herbs. Medium to full bodied, black cherry, blackcurrant and liquorice flavours are rich and concentrated, yet there’s a feeling of finesse to this wine. Complexing elements of earthy dried herbs, subtle clove and spice are evident on the back palate. The tannins are sturdy but also silky in their feel and provide a great framework. Long savoury aftertaste of blackcurrant, blueberry, liquorice, earthy clove characters and spice. A top example of keenly priced Argentinian Malbec.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 13%

Other Reviews….
The fresh, floral and expressive 2016 Catena Malbec blends grapes from different parts of Mendoza: Lunlunta, Agrelo, Altamira El Cepillo and Gualtallary. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French and American oak barrels for an average of 12 months. It's straight and a little austere but has deep flavors. Superb quality for the price and volume. Drink 2018-2023.
92 points
Luis Gutierrez – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

Sourced from a single vineyard this wine was created as a tribute Ben Schild who began the family’s long association with winemaking and viticulture. The 2014 vintage was fermented in small open fermenters before being matured in a combination of French, American and Hungarian oak for 24 months and then underwent a further 24 months maturation in bottle prior to release.

Pitch black to the core with a deep dark red hue. Heady liquorice and blackberry aromas are trailed by some dark plum, lightly toasted vanillin cedar, hints of earthy leather characters and pepper. Large scaled flavours of liquorice, dark plum and juicy blackberries flood the mouth delivering tremendous richness and concentration. Notions of spicy fennel, smoky vanillin cedar, earth and pepper follow on. Opulently textured with rippling yet velvet like tannins. Fantastic power with a long peppery liquorice, blackberry, black cherry, smoky vanillin cedar, earth and spice aftertaste.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 14.5%

Even though the majority of this wine was matured in neutral oak, with only a small proportion in new 'Vicard' French oak barriques, the end result is a fairly full bodied style that will only fill out further with time. Winemaker Ben Riggs has added back an additional 10% of tank fermented juice to provide freshness and vibrancy to the final wine.

Bright straw colour with a watery hue. Elevated ripe peach, nectarine and light honeycomb aromas ascend from the glass with biscuity oak, hints of almond, nougat and spice also present. Rich, fullish palate with a creaminess to the peach, nectarine and dried honey flavours which sit over a back drop of biscuity oak, cashew and spicy nougat. Finishes dry with good freshness and an aftertaste of ripe peach, pear, dried honey, biscuity nuttiness and spicy nougat.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 13%

Kelvedon Estate has been in the Cotton Family’s hands since 1829. Over 12,000 acres in size, it is one of the largest land holdings on the east coast of Tasmania. In the mid-nineties Jack Cotton’s friend Ed Carr, winemaker at Arras, noticed a section of the property would be perfect for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which led to the family to diversify into viticulture in 1998. Today the bulk of the fruit is sold to Accolade which they use in the production of Arras sparklings and Eileen Hardy Chardonnay.

Rich, powerful and supple yet light on its feet.

Deep dark red colour with black tinged edges and a bright dark red hue. Sailing out of the glass are perfumed aromatics of violets, ripe cherries, plums and strawberries with subtle infusions of anise, forest floor and spicy cedar also evident. Blessed with richness and power yet light on its feet and supple in its feel the palate dishes up delicious flavours of lightly spiced red to dark cherries, strawberries, traces of anise, forest floor, well integrated cedar and subtle infusions of fresh herbs. Dry vibrant finish with velvet smooth tannins and a long juicy aftertaste.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.9%

The Monte Tondo vineyard can be found nestling in the gentle hills of Soave just a few kilometres from Verona on a slope overlooking the valley. Today it is 4th generation brother and sister team, Luca and Marta Magnabosco, who tend to the 25 hectares of vineyards situated on the best plots that the Soave zone can offer.

Brilliant pale straw colour with highlights of green around the outskirts and a watery hue. Elevated aromas of fresh pear and ripe lime meld into hints of dried honey, wet stone and mineral notes. Delicious flavours of lime and fresh pear decorate the mouth with an undercard of green apple, stony mineral characters and light fresh herb infusions. Nicely textured yet light on its feet it finishes with crisp acidity and long aftertaste. Delicious summer drinking.
Drink over the next 1-2 years.
Alc. 12.5%

Other Reviews….
Aromas of lemons, cooked apples and lemon curd with some straw. Full-bodied, rich and layered with a beautiful, creamy texture and rich fruit, yet always fresh and beautiful. Serious Soave. Drink now.
92 points
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