Why Australian Wine is Some of the Most Exciting in the World A spicy GSM blend with lots of ripe black cherries, a hint of ivy extract, dark licorice and some cassis. On the palate, this shows real structure and definition with ripe yet sturdy tannins and fresh acidity. A tangy, chewy finish.

McLaren Vale mourvedre rides again. Yangarra has a two acre plot of this beautiful grape and while it mostly goes into the GSM blend, some is also bottled as a single variety. At the upper end of medium-bodied. Blackberry, plums, fresh leather, cloves and general woody, dried spice. Silken texture but with some grunt to the tannin. Acidity sits fairly high in the wine, giving it a refreshing aspect. Musky, perfumed, creamy notes through the finish. Quality drop, as they say.

A 60/22/18% blend; there is more flavour complexity that that of the Grenache, not surprising given the blend, but the mouthfeel is not quite so convincing. A worthy wine, nonetheless.

Richly fragrant, smooth and luscious with velvety texture, ripe blackberry fruit and hints of new oak; 68% Grenache, 27% Shiraz, 5% Mourvèdre.

Why Australian Wine is Some of the Most Exciting in the World Poached quince and pears with spicy and lightly honeyed aromas. The palate has a smoothly formed, fleshy texture. The honeyed, lees-derived influence sits well in this complex and textural white.

Take Note: Real Australian Wine Is Here Custard apple, apple pie and lemon notes too. There's a fluid palate texture with honey and lemon flavor. Neatly balanced. Drink now. Screw cap.

The 2015 Roux Beaute Roussanne has an alluring baked apricot, honeysuckle, brioche and marzipan-scented nose with hints of struck match, wet pebbles and yeast extract. The medium-bodied palate delivers the structure, texture and depth of a great Chardonnay with all the character of a very smart Roussanne. There's plenty of savory intensity supported by a satiny texture and an invigorating backbone of freshness, Finishing long and toasty.

Hand-picked, basket-pressed, wild fermentation and 7 months maturation in French oak (10% new). At the dawn of its life; chalky acidity.

The 2013 Roux Beaute Roussanne is scented of peaches, allspice, Golden Delicious apples and quince paste with a touch of honeysuckle. The medium-bodied palate has a lovely texture with yeast, savory notes plus fennel seed. It finishes very fresh and long.

From the estate plantings, biodynamically farmed, hand picked and sent to winery to natural ferment. It hangs out in tank mostly but some older oak is also applied. It’s a good thing to drink, I reckon. Would love to be on the White House (the Yangarra ‘mansion’) patio drinking this on a summer’s night pre dinner. Feels like a good thing to start an evening with. Subtle, fine, elegant expression of viognier. Has a soft, nutty complexion amongst the faint apricot, ripe apple, peach kisses in flavour. It’s very long, supple, licked at its heels with oatmeal savouriness, finishes with a quick zest of mixed citrus. So very easy to like the calm, even nature of this wine, and flavours are pleasing. Almost like a comfort white.

Estate-grown, 1 tonne/acre, hand-picked, basket-pressed, fermented in stainless steel, matured for 4 months in used French oak. The decision to use the basket press was presumably directed to limit the pressings to free-run juice and possibly oxidise some of the phenolics. Regardless, this is a juicy viognier with light chalky acidity.

Medium yellow-green; the wine has clear varietal expression, with a mix of apricot, peach and citrus, the finish fresh, bracing and without any phenolic load.

This dark yellow colored Chardonnay from Wind Racer is impressive. It opens with a lemon and pineapple bouquet. On the palate, this wine is full bodied, balanced and rich. Like the nose, the flavor profile is a tasty pineapple and lemon blend with notes of nicely integrated oak and hints of quince. The finish lingers and lasts for a very long time. This Chardonnay can certainly be enjoyed on its own. With food, I would pair it with lemon butter scallops over parmesan risotto.

Silky and smooth with vanilla, mellow spice and lovely balance; bright and juicy with finesse and crisp acidity.

Bright and racy (no malolactic) with minerals, tangy acidity, pure, focused flavors and elegant style; vibrant, lush and balanced with good length and a lively finish.

This is the first rosé Willakenzie has produced -- to which I say cheers, santé, slainte! It is a deliciously stylish wine, crisp and dry, with hints of strawberry, white peach and pink grapefruit. With good, but not biting, acidity, this is a rosé to enjoy all year, not just in summer.

Perfectly differentiated from the winery's equally excellent Pinot Blanc, this is a bit fleshier, with fresh flavors of apple and pear. The texture, mouthfeel and mineral-drenched acids all flow into a mouthwatering finish.

This thoroughly delightful wine puts a polished sheen on this grape, that is so often lost in the shuffle between Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. Here the clean and fresh flavors of grapefruit, white peach and melon mingle gracefully, with palate-pleasing texture and zippy acidity.

PinotFest 2018 WillaKenzie’s Gisèle is all about agility and expressiveness of the place, of the fruit, and of this dark ruby purple-tinged semi-transparent 2015 Pinot Noir. Delivers complexity and good flavor content to the glass – strawberries, boysenberries, violets, and just a hint of allspice and forest floor. The agility manifests itself as animation and responsiveness in the touch and feel. This is also a complex wine. WillaKenzie calls the winery a “site-driven, estate winery”. Gisèle, named after the founder’s sister, is a 40/60 blend of fruit from the Jory Hills and WillaKenzie Estate vineyards. The vineyards are named after the soil types: Jory’s soil is volcanic, and WillaKenzie’s is ancient sedimentary soil of marine origin. Cellar treatment on this 180-case production included a six-day cold soak, partial whole berry fermentation, with total time on skins of about 20 days. Élevage, 10 months in French oak, 20% new.

Deep brilliant red. Ripe red berries, cola, incense and a hint of vanilla on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy, appealingly sweet raspberry and cherry flavors show very good depth and pick up a succulent herb nuance on the back half. Finishes very long and smooth, displaying subtle tannins, strong persistence and a touch of lingering smokiness.

Of the three tasted together, the 2015 WillaKenzie Estate Aliette is the most delicate. It’s quite perfumed with a bouquet of Spring flowers and rose potpourri, cherry, strawberry, juniper, clove, and allspice on this high-toned nose. The palate is modest in weight, but round and smooth. Tannin is well integrated, while the acid is pleasantly juicy and slightly tart. The range of red fruit is impressive: strawberry, cranberry, huckleberry and raspberry, plus a not-so-minor role for plum. Tar, pepper and mulled spices feature on the back end. Pretty, but uninspiring at the moment, I suspect it will reach a higher elevation with three to five years of aging. 92 points, value A-.

Taut, focused, sleek and inviting, with blueberry, currant, pepper and floral flavors, lingering easily on the lively finish.

Dark and fruity, this juicy wine is packed with black cherry and highlighted with tobacco and coffee. The tannins are substantial, and hint at clean earth. It's big and full through the middle, but tails off a bit in the finish.

A slightly bitter tobacco note frames black-cherry fruit. The tannins need more time to smooth out, and that bitter streak is a bit worrisome. But that said, this powerful deep compact wine may explode with flavor if you have the patience to cellar it.

A ripe and fresh wine with dried-berry, chocolate and walnut aromas and flavors. Medium body, a solid core of fruit and a crisp finish.