Australian Wine

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 93 Points | I like the savory iodine and bark notes here overlaid with black berry fruit, nutmeg and bay leaves. It’s juicy and supple with a medium to full body, silky tannins and soft, salty finish. Drink now or hold. Screw cap.

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Dark cherries, dried mint and tobacco peep through the cracks of this polished, rather reticent wine from Australia’s west. It’s tightly wound with textured tannins and a nice lift of acidity. Flavor gets a little lost in all the power, but it should evolve nicely over the next several years. (Best Buy)

Winemaker Description

Aged 30 days in rum barrels. Intensely rich with a jammy finish. Notes of sweet mocha, caramel and spice.

The 19 crimes turned convicts into colonists. Upon conviction, British rogues guilty of one of the 19 crimes were sentenced to live in Australia, over penalty of death. For those rough-hewn prisoners who survived the treacherous journey at seas, they forged a new country and life as pioneers in a new frontier. Today 19 Crimes celebrates nonconformists and those rule breakers who challenge the status quo.

Cornelius Dwyer Kane (aka Keane) (1839-1891) had been a law clerk and cener from Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland. Transported aboard the Hougoumont, Kane was conditionally pardoned in 1871, but was forbidden from returning to Ireland, so he never
reunited with his wife and children there. He did, however, settle in Queensland and became a civil servantny. 

Winemaker Description

Pomegranate, cranberry and plum waft as the wine opens up. Those same pomegranate and damson plum characters continue on the palate and are enhanced by a slightly herbaceous edge. The Shiraz component gives width and generosity to the finer savoury Grenache tannins.

Expert Reviews

90 Points James Suckling | This regional hero of value and consistency has plenty of ripe red-berry and plum aromas with some deeper, darker berries, too. The palate is mid-weight and has a gently grainy texture. So drinkable.

Winemaker Description

Classic McLaren Vale Shiraz. Crimson-purple in color. Aromas of dark plum, boysenberries, subtle black pepper and a touch of licorice. On the palate is where the wine becomes fascinating. Rich and opulent black plums, blackberries and boysenberries are intertwined with savory spices, mocha and a plush coat of red cherries. Tannins are ripe and velvety. Acidity, alcohol and oak are finely tuned, and their balance enhances length on the finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | Savory notes of sage and bay leaf are as forward on the nose as the plum and cherry notes. There’s a lick of vanillin oak showing, too. The abundance of tangy fruit continues its journey in the mouth, lingering on the finish amidst a powerful, well-placed frame of tannins. (2021).

90 Points James Suckling | Good shiraz, strongly regional, aromatic and attractive. While I query the dryness of the tannins here, there is ample pleasure to be found behind a veneer of violets, purple pastilles, blue fruit, iodine and licorice. A little reduction creates tension without ever becoming too hard. (2021). 

Winemaker Description 

A delightful medium-to-full bodied Chardonnay with excellent varietal flavors of melon and peach. The palate is soft and smooth with spice hints across the long, balanced finish.

Winemaker Description

A delicate style of wine with bright fruit flavours, hints of spice and savoury complexity.

Lindeman’s Elegant Pinot Noir Bin 99 2019 is a red wine produced by Lindeman’s, a winery located in Australia. This wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. The wine has a bright ruby color and aromas of red fruits, anise, and some spices. It is described as delicate in style with hints of blackcurrant and cherry fruit, a nice body and palate with that aforementioned hint of spice.

Winemaker Description 

Lindeman’s Bin 85 Pinot Grigio features aromas of fruit salad, peach, fig and rock melon with a medium bodied, fresh, crisp finish. Enjoy with seafood dishes, fresh salads, lighter meals, semi soft to firm cheeses. 

Winemaker Description

This wine is a deep red with a bright magenta hue. Vibrant aromatics of red and black berry fruits, a lift of violet florals, clove spice and mixed garden herbs. The palate is dominated by a lively burst of berry fruits, which are well framed by fine, powdery tannins. Juicy plum and blackberry flavors persist through the finish, with sweet spice to close.

As the wine ages over the decades, these young characters become more complex to create a symphony of flavours on the palate, supported by the further refined tannins of its youth.

Expert Review

92 Points Wine & Spirits Magazine | Peter Barry makes this wine with fruit from his family’s Lodge Hill Vineyard, in the hills three miles east of the township of Clare. It’s a shiraz with vibrant flavors of red and black raspberries, showing off the cool side of Clare in 2017. Fresh and bright, opening to graceful intensity, this is ready to take on crisp-edged grilled pork.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Erin Larkin writes:  This is only the second 2023 vintage I have tasted in bottle—perhaps not relevant, but it's an indicator that the year is moving on with pace. Leading with juniper and cassis, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is fresh and pert, with bright fruit and fine, chalky phenolics. I really like this wine, but then again, everyone in Australia really likes this wine. Every single year it delivers this experience of reliably good drinking. Famous for a reason. 12.% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.  Drinking 2023 to 2026.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93

James Suckling 91 Points | A popular wine, displaying all the pool-side party tricks with a nudge of sophistication. A cool vintage, making for a lighter weighted expression than normal. Vibrant accents of guava, lemon drop, nettle and hedgerow. Good crunchy length, if not a bit tangy. Drink now.

Winemaker Description 

Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc shows a pink grapefruit character, concentration and mid-palate texture, which reflect the carefully selected sites and hand harvesting during the small window of perfect ripeness. 

Winemaker Description 

This full and round bright-red wine with crimson hues give way to a subtle sweetness on the palate. The criminally intense vanilla aromatics are balanced with ripe raspberry and plum fruits. The vanilla aromatics carry through on the palate and complement subtle flavors of raspberries, dark plums and chocolate. Red berry fruit and plush tannins provide a lingering finish perfect for any evening.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Australian Wine Companion | Viognier sourced from six Yalumba growers across the Eden Valley. Yalumba continues to be the go-to for viognier in Australia. Here their entry-level offering ticks all the boxes. Textural and slinky with all the classic characters: apricot pith, stone fruits, crushed quartz, soft spice, lemon curd, blossom top notes and that expansive palate presence the variety is famous for. A great introduction to viognier 91 Points Wine Spectator | Both powerful and elegant, with fleshy white peach, mango and lemon meringue notes on the softest, creamiest frame, while a fresh thread of acidity and lemon blossom accents linger. Drink now. 1,000 cases imported.

91 Points Decanter | Spicy aromas of lychees framed with sweet vanilla and some pine needle. Lovely oily texture with elegance and finesse.

90 Points James Suckling | A fragrant and spicy viognier with aromas of fresh apricot, grapefruit, lemon blossom, white pepper and ginseng. It’s medium-bodied with fresh acidity and a refreshing, peppery finish. Vegan.

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | Quite perfumed, this wild- fermented wine, from one of Aus’s greatest Viognier champions, wafts aromas of lychee, pineapple rind, apricot and a little honey and ginger. It’s full figured, with a mouth-coating texture and just enough acidity to handle it. Drink with buttery shellfish or a mildly seasoned pork loin.

Producer Description 

With 175 years of unbroken independence, Yalumba continues to make wine at its founder's home estate under the direction of the same family today. Samuel's Collection honors Yalumba's founder Samuel Smith, his spirit of independence and conviction to invest in the land and make great wine.

Pure aromas reminiscent of fresh apricots, lifted ginger, saffron and fresh white flowers. The palate is long, rich, and luscious, with intense and expressive stone fruit flavors finishing with an alluring freshness. This wine will continue to grow and develop in the bottle, firstly showing enhanced apricots and spice, then honey flavors and toast complexity.

Enjoy with a Moroccan tagine and couscous, or baba ghanoush.

Winemaker Description

A soft, approachable medium-bodied Shiraz with vibrant fruit flavours. 

Winemaker Description 

Lindeman's Bin 50 Shiraz is a vibrant and bold Australian red wine. It showcases rich flavors of ripe blackberries, plums, and cherries, complemented by a touch of spice and subtle oak. The wine has a full-bodied texture with smooth tannins, offering a well-rounded finish. Its bold profile makes it a great pairing for barbecued meats, hearty stews, or dishes with rich flavors like grilled sausages or spicy curries. It's an excellent choice for both casual dinners and more sophisticated meals

When casual wine drinkers think of Australian wine, they probably think of the critter-laden labels of Yellow Tail and The Little Penguin, among others. And while large wine companies dominate the Australian list, there are also a great number of smaller producers creating highly-rated, award-winning wines.

The majority of Australian wine is produced in South Australia, with most of that (those “critter wines”) carrying a South Eastern Australia appellation. Subregions such as Barossa Valley, Coonawarra and McLaren Vale are home to smaller producers and higher quality wines. Victoria and New South Wales are also significant regions, and wines from Western Australia are reaching America in increasing numbers.

Though Shiraz is the grape most associated with Australia, they’ve also had great success with Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling and Grenache.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 94 Points | Offers fresh lemon, apple and pear, as well as sweetly fragrant spice. Pure and sleek palate with crisp apple, pear and lemon building into the long finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | The 2021 Gun Metal Riesling is tasted from magnum. I should mention that, as magnums are a magnificent way of storing wine. The wines stay fresher, for longer, and the only trouble is storing them. And working out when to drink them (of course, the magnum format has saved a great many bottles of mine from being opened, so it's a worthy investment). This is pithy and rocky, with florals, minerals and talc in equal measure. The fruit is frothy and soft, yet the acidity is like a coiled spring within. What a lovely, mineral wine; it's expansive and tight at once.

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | This is a bright and bouncy Riesling with aromas of apple skins and fresh squeezed lime, with bass notes of kerosene and honey. The mouthfeel is chalky and pithy with razor's edge acidity and a long, limey finish. Balanced and varietal, this may be a bit austere for those unaccustomed to the bone dry Aussie Riesling style, but paired with the right cheese or seafood, or aged in bottle a few years for more honeyed complexity, and it should win over most hearts and palates.

Winemaker Description 

Pale straw with green tinges. Citrus, especially lime, predominates the flavor profile while carrying the trademark minerality that Gun Metal is renowned for. Petals, minerals and talc. The palate is delicate, refined and intense, with a firm, dry finish and lingering aftertaste. Citrus, mineral and powder-dry finish.

Producer Description 

Lindeman's Bin 85 Pinot Grigio features a lovely amalgam of floral and tropical nuances with nashi pear and apple characters, finishing with grapefruit acidity that creates a clean and lengthy finish."

Winemaker Description

‘Mollydooker’ is old Aussie slang for a left handed boxer and our Boxer always punches well above his Fruit Weight™. Did you notice he has two left-handed gloves?

The 2022 Boxer boasts a robust foundation of dark fruit, black cherries, moccha, and a hint of clove spice that comes alive in the glass. Its velvety texture delivers notes of fresh plum, balanced tannins, and a subtle touch of toasted oak, all of which enhance the richness of the fruit. This wine offers a complex experience with multiple layers that are sure to impress.

Winemaker Description

Shining pale golden color. Fragrant aromas of tropical fruits like pineapple, melon, white peach and citrus blossom. The palate is clean and fresh with flavors of honeydew melon, pear, stone fruits, lemon curd and a characteristic pickled ginger in the end. Long and refreshing with bursting flavors through the finish.

Winemaker Description

2020 Gnarly Dudes is an unctuous yet classic Barossa Valley Shiraz. This Barossa Valley Shiraz staple will be able to go anywhere with you.

Expert Review

91 Wine Spectator | There's lots to admire in this compact red, which offers dense, firm tannins and accents of Earl Grey tea, smoked paprika, bay leaf, blackberry, blueberry and a hint of sweet mint on the finish. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

Hewitson Mourvedre Baby Bush 2019 is a wine produced by Hewitson winery in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia 1. It is made from 100% Mourvèdre grapes, which are grown on 15-year-old bush vines 1. The wine is a medium red with a bright purple hue and has aromas of brambly blueberry and black cherry, dried herbs, and earth 2. On the palate, it delivers a rich, velvety mouthfeel with sarsaparilla and classic blue fruits backed by very soft and fully ripe tannins 12. The grapes are whole bunch pressed and left on their skins for a couple of weeks before being aged for 15 months in seasoned French oak barriques.

Expert Reviews

According to Ray Jordan, a wine critic, the wine has a spicy raspberry and cherry character that lifts effortlessly from the glass. There is also a hint of liqueur chocolate and a lick of vanilla bean that adds to the complexity. 

Campbell Mattinson, another wine critic, describes the wine as firm, sweet, and ripe with just enough rusty/meaty notes to lend it some character. It feels of-the-earth even as the fruit swims forward, and its overall balance cannot be questioned. He suggests that it is good now but will be better in 2022.

Winemaker Description 

Red Schooner's new "Red Wine of the World," this red blend is sourced from famed regions of southern Australia, the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. Consisting of Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon, Transit 2 is bold yet nuanced, featuring scents and flavors of dark fruit, black pepper, leather and vibrant raspberries. 

A hint of mint stems from the region's native trees. Just like our Red Schooner Malbec from Argentina is known by the "voyage" that produced it, this wine is called a sequential "transit."

Winemaker Description

Citrus and honeydew flavors are further complexed by gentle French oak aging. The palate is soft yet fresh with balanced acidity and a soft creamy finish.

Winemaker Description

The Wine Advocate | The 2011 Hickinbotham Grenache is medium garnet-purple in color with an intensely scented nose of black raspberries, black cherries and violets as well as touches of cinnamon stick and rose hips.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 90 Points | Pretty nose of wild strawberries, plums, peaches, violets and spices. Full-bodied with sleek tannins and fresh acidity. Peppery, spicy and creamy finish.

The Wine Spectator 90 Points | There’s a firm, loamy note and malty black Assam tea details to balance the fresh and juicy raspberry and maraschino cherry flavors at the core of this red, with smooth, polished tannins. Shiraz and Viognier.”– (Best Value)

Winemaker Description

A rich bright red to crimson color, this wine has an intense nose with lifted vanilla aromatics balanced with red currants, violets, and mulberry fruits. It is a wine that is firm and full on the palate with a subtle sweetness giving a rich mouth feel. The vanilla aromatics carry through on the palate and compliment subtle flavors of red currants, dark cherries, and chocolate. The palate is filled with dark berry fruit and the soft tannins provide a lingering finish.

Winemaker Description 

Dark purple hue with a garnet rim. Complex aromas of black fruit, espresso, pine tar, molasses, olives and peppercorn. The elegant palate shows both fresh and dried blackberries, olallieberry and marionberry and a hint of eucalyptus.

Beautifully integrated and fresh on the palate; the finish is long and structured, the black tea-like tannins supported by lively acidity. Velvety soft. A suberb demonstration that Barossa Shiraz can have genuine finesse.

Winemaker Description 

Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay is a bright pale straw color. Opens with pretty fruit fragrances of peach blossom, mandarin pith and lemon sorbet notes. Underpinned by hints of apple pie crust, lemongrass and lightly spicy sandalwood. With time, these notes will develop more beautiful savory complexities. An incredibly fresh entry with a juicy and soft palate fills the mouth, then morphs into a light, dry flowing finish. Beautifully balanced floral, green apple and firm nectarine notes mingle with traces of lemon sorbet and granita biscuits.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | With the most upfront fruit in the Vasse Chard trio, Filius is immediately comforting in a favorite T-shirt kind of way, with bright, fleshy lime and peach blossom, a flicker of nougat and something stony, a bit salty. It flows seamlessly to a palate of mouth-watering acidity that balances the toasty oak and malolactic influences.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Bright and expressive, with plenty of precision to the detailed notes of lemon sherbet, lemongrass, pear, lemon verbena, white pepper and green apple. Hints of tangerine, lemon oil and tarragon linger on a juicy frame.

James Suckling 92 Points | The nose is fruit-driven, with generous aromas of peaches, white nectarines and orange blossoms. The palate is medium-bodied with focused acidity, giving notes of lemon pith, pink grapefruit and flint. Very refined and polished, being a classic style of Margaret River chardonnay.

Winemaker Description 

A soft, elegant and approachable medium-bodied wine with complete, rounded characters.

Expert Review- Vintage 2023

Christina Pickard of the Wine Enthusiast writes 93 Points | Lime leaf, waxy citrus, white peach notes and a hint of honey open this Clare Valley Riesling. The combo of dryness, cheek-sucking, orange peel acidity and chalky texture makes for a somewhat austere wine solo, but pair with a creamy goat's cheese or seafood risotto and watch it shine. 

Producer Description 

Originally a pastoral run dating back to 1839, and originally named Wolta Wolta, Jim Barry purchased the land for The Lodge Hill Vineyard in 1977 as he was sure it would “produce some of the best Riesling in the Clare Valley.” Situated at 480 meters above sea level and situated on the Eastern Ranges of the Clare Valley, the grapes at our Lodge Hill Vineyard are exposed to concentrated bursts of sunlight and cool nights which encourage slower ripening. This helps deliver beautiful natural acidity and citrus characters that ripen early because of the small crop it produces. Gentle pressing and a rapid move into the fermentation allows the natural fruit flavors to be preserved.

Aromas of fresh lime, spice, citrus blossom, white peach, and nectarine skins open on the nose. In the mouth, the lime flavors take center stage commanding attention on entry. The fruit is fleshy with considerable weight and framed with a refreshing driving acid. A lot of wine!

Winemaker Description 

The nose leads with aromas of fresh tobacco leaf, cassis, boysenberry and spice.
A silk like entry on the palate with super fine, detailed tannin, ripe berried fruits, a hint of tobacco and the classic brambles of Clare Cabernet to finish. 

On the southern boundary of Coonawarra is the old Penola cricket ground, which first saw a ball bowled in anger and the flashing cover drives of the local champions of 1950. The cricket ground was retired in 1996. The following year, Jim Barry was fortunate to purchase the 30-acre property which he then planted with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Eric Asimov - The New York Times

20 Bottles Under $20, for Hunkering Down

The blend of grenache, shiraz and mourvèdre has long been popular in Australia, but too often they have been heavy, oaky and alcoholic. No such issues with this relaxing, breezy blend from Hewitson in the Barossa Valley. It’s earthy, chalky and moderately fruity with focus and precision. Drink with roast chicken, braised meats or burgers.  January 25, 2025

Winemaker Description

A beautifully structured, fruit-concentrated red wine that absolutely delivers with integrity, intrigue, class and complexity in a very approachable style.

Winemaker Description 

Primary fruit aromas of fresh and lightly poached citrus are gently spiced with vanilla bean and perfumed with lemon myrtle and black currant. The palate's meld of many fruit flavors is enriched with a lemon curd richness and textured with a lime zest and chalk like minerality to finish.