Shadowfax Minnow Rose
Very pale salmon, some light red hues. Red fruits, raspberry, cranberry, a touch of liquorice, some light spice and earth. Pinot Noir is apparent on the front palate, with berries, fluffy talc and crystalline texture. The Grenache brings weight through the middle, a riot of red fruits and tarry spice. Mourvèdre fills the rear, with lovely fine extract framing the palate and adding length. A harmonious and very fine Minnow Rosé by Shadowfax: complex, dry and delicious.
Tomich Hill Pinot Noir
Intense berry and red cherry aromas vibrant lend themselves to the palate of dark berry and cherry with subtle hints of dry herbs and silky soft graceful tannins.
Fletcher The Minion Nebbiolo
The focus here for this wine by Fletcher is on what Nebbiolo as a variety can do in Australian terroir. The philosophy behind these wines is to de-construct tradition and start afresh. Driven with obsession and going against the grain, Ann from Fletcher had the foresight to plant small acreage to mixed clones of Nebbiolo in 1998, which officially makes this some of the oldest Nebbiolo in Australia. Meticulously manicured, this vineyard, after the green harvest, is lucky if it produces 2 tonnes to the acre, and the fruit it produces is floral, rich and backed by Nebbiolo's superior tannins.
Vigna Stefani Heathcote Nebbiolo
The fruit was sourced from the warmer foothill regions of Heathcote. The wine was left on skins for up to 7 weeks then pressed and put to seasoned barrels for 6 months Medium red in colour with hints of tobacco leaf and prunes.The palate is rich and textural with firm tannins.
Spinifex Papillon
Spinifex Papillon is a vibrant and luscious red from the Baross Valley that is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Mataro. Made in the typical modern Australian mould, the Papillon is bright and aromatic with lifted cherry, red currant and spicy raspberry. A very perfumed wine with earthy flavours of beetroot and white pepper which lends itself to being a terrific food style wine with lovely acid structure and a medium weight.
Picardy Shiraz
A beautifully elegant form of Shiraz from Picardy displaying notes or red fruits, cracked black pepper and spice. A fresh, vibrant wine with suede like silky tannins and a wonderfully lingering finish. Super stylish effort.
Cirillo Shiraz
Red wine artisan, Marco Cirillo, has produced a single vineyard Shiraz with as minimal intervention as possible. Using 90% whole berry and 10% whole bunch as well as natural yeast fermentation without fining or filtering, this Shiraz screams of its terroir. Expressive fruit up front of plums and red berries with small waft of leafy characters. The palate dances across the tongue without hindrance from over use of oak and is a supreme wine for the price.
Printhie Shiraz
From Orange in NSW, this Shiraz is a good introduction to the qualities of this emerging area. It shows aromas of plum and spices and the palate is all about the fruit with little intrusive oak.
Eden Hall Shiraz
Though part of the Barossa, the Eden Valley is a slightly cooler climate than the neighbouring Barossa Valley, so generally produce Shiraz that is slightly more elegant in style. That said, the Eden Hall Shiraz is a wine that is not only rich, vibrant and full of life today, it will also hang in for the long haul.
Delta Pinot Noir
Marlborough isn't only capable of producing Sauvignon Blanc, some fine examples of Pinot Noir are coming our too. None better than this excellent wine from Delta Vineyards. Extremely fragrant on the nose and packed with squeezed forest berries, oak, spice, and some herbal, thyme-like notes. The palate displays vibrant red fruit flavours balanced by silky, fine tannins.