Hard to find Zena Crown pinot noirs are worth the effort This is one of the more serious pinot noirs we tasted in this flight. Firm tannins with blueberry and cranberry flavors, earthy and well structured.

Hard to find Zena Crown pinot noirs are worth the effort Multiple blocks of grapes are used to create a black cherry, blackberry profile.

The 2017 OLD VINE GRENACHE is a perfect axdvertisement for what Grenache can achieve when done right. It is not OTT, like the old fashioned ones were, nor picked too early so as to be thin, green and pissy, like quite a few “trendy” winemakers are now doing. This one is spot on the mark! From the very old vines planted in 1946, right through it has had mega TLC applied and it shows in the results. It is a bloody brilliant, world-class wine. No wonder Halliday raved about it.

Yangarra Estate Vineyard 2016 McLaren Vale Wine Region 'HIGH SANDS' #GRENACHE -From 70 Year old bush vines, made in open fermenters with wild yeast- Alluring complex aromas of red berries, dried herbs and a hint of forest floor, masses of yummy sophisticated flavours- layer upon layer, finishing with fine, elegant tannins. AN ABSOLUTE BLINDER!!

Yangarra Estate Vineyard 2017 McLaren Vale ORGANIC/BIO-DYNAMIC 'KINGS WOOD' #SHIRAZ - made with wild yeast + open fermenter, bright lively aromas of plums & herbs with a hint of spice, smooth rich- ever so tasty palate with masses of flavour & a tight, grippy, lingering finish. A great wine now or wait a while for it to round out some more and become TRULY SUPERB!

Then there is the 2017 SHIRAZ which has big, blousy aromas of plums, red berries and a smidge of dried herbs. It has a gorgeous mouthful of ripe flavours, great balance with just the right amount of tannins and acid, with a lingering finish. This is not a Barossa style blockbuster Shiraz, it is sophisticated and svelte – A bloody gorgeous contemporary Shiraz!

Yangarra Estate Vineyard 2016 McLaren Vale 'IRONHEART' #SHIRAZ - BIO-DYNAMIC made in open fermenters with wild yeast & 35% new oak. Almost inky black in colour. Big bright aromas, divine complex flavours with a goodly dollop of smooth vanillin oak- silky smooth yet powerful- A BRILLIANT CLASSIC SHIRAZ!!

Finally to my favourite, the 2018 NOIR, a very clever wine from the crossword on the front label that spells out the varieties involved in the blend, through to the thought and effort that must have gone in, to come up with such a smashing blend.

Starting with the 2017 MOURVEDRE (I wish they would call it either Monastrell being its original Spanish name OR Mataro, the Aussie name for the variety – so much easier for consumers to remember and spell), this is one of the best Australian Monastrell I have tasted so far. Oh, so yummy! Perfectly balanced and silky smooth – AN ABSOLUTE RIPPER!!

Yangarra Estate Vineyard 2017 McLaren Vale 'ROUX BEAUTE' #ROUSSANNE - Matured in ceramic eggs on skins. Complex subtle aromas, fabulous intricate flavours & great texture, lovely viscosity & brilliant taste- A BRILLIANT-VERY APPEALING WINE !!

Arguably Australia’s finest roussanne, this wine is all about profound complexity and alluring texture. It was made from grapes grown in sandy, gravelly soil; wild yeast fermented and aged in large ceramic eggs, with two-thirds of the blend spending four-and-a-half months on skins before being pressed off. The result isn’t funky and tannic, though, as you might expect: instead it’s fine and floral, with a full, silky texture that caresses the tongue. Absolutely spellbinding.

Wines Perfect for Every Type of Easter Dish Check out these perfect wine pairings for every favorite Easter dish, from brunch to dinner, casual or festive. WillaKenzie Estate 2018 Rosé Willamette Valley and a Chicken Salad. Did you sign up to bring the salad for Easter brunch or dinner? Don’t worry, the salad won’t be just another boring side dish if you bring a bottle of this rosé to pair. This Oregon bottle is one of our go-to’s when it comes to food-friendly rosés. It’s a perfect batch to cold chicken served on a bed of greens with goat cheese and any other spring veggies. It will also go so well with so many other foods on the table. It’s fruitiness and citrus zest notes pair well with the similar notes of spring foods.

22 Rosés to Try This Spring I believe 2017 is a first-time pink for WillaKenzie, heretofore known for aromatic whites. Well done. Neroli nose, splashy peach and watermelon on the palate. Delicate acidity, juicy finish. A pleasantly viscous texture (“mouth-coating” quality). A drag-and-drop complement to a warm dusk, a roast duck, a night on the deck.

This beautiful chardonnay has excellent structure, balance, soft texture and melon flavors.

Hard to find Zena Crown pinot noirs are worth the effort Concentrated with fresh black cherry and raspberry fruit.

Radiant dark ruby hue shading to utter transparency; the typical array of baking spices and floral elements: cloves with a grating of nutmeg, notes of rose petal and lilac; macerated red and black cherries and currants with hints of cranberry and rhubarb; keen acidity drives a spare, supple texture ; finish adorned with traces of mint, sage and pomegranate. Lovely expression of the grape. Now through 2022 to ’23. Excellent.

Saturday Splurge The 2016 Siduri Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir begins with a very pleasing aroma of cranberry, lots of red and black cherry and some savory undertones of herbs and spice. Tasting reveals a smooth and balanced palate with excellent spice notes. There’s quite a bit of oak influence as well but it blends beautifully with the concentrated berry fruit. The wine gains a lot of complexity as it has more air so this is definitely one to sip and savor in your glass as it evolves. It ends dry and quite long. This is really excellent Pinot Noir!

A beguiling transparent medium ruby hue; immediate impression of fresh cherries and raspberries; warm, ripe and fleshy but with a core of dusty graphite minerality; brings up seductive elements of rhubarb and pomegranate, cloves and sandalwood; clean acidity drives energy through to a dry, spicy, slightly tannic finish. Now through 2021 to ’23. Very Good+.

Deep ruby shading to an ephemeral magenta rim; another exotic entry in this roster: deeply spiced and macerated compote of red and black cherries and currants; sassafras, sandalwood, rhubarb; fairly ripe and fleshy, pulls up lilac and talc with undertones of graphite and briery earthiness; as well as underbrush and some rooty healing tea. Now through 2022 to ’25. Excellent.

Medium ruby color shading to a wholly transparent and ethereal rim; bright red cherry and currants scents and flavors; an exotic and seductive pinot that delivers a panoply of effects: cloves and sandalwood, rhubarb and cranberry, lilac and rose petal; ferrous and sanguinary, with hints of iodine and iron; sleek, supple and very satiny, lively and spicy; develops quite a bit of traction on the palate; finishes with dried fruit and licorice. A perfect marriage of elegance and power. Now through 2024 to ’26. Exceptional.

Medium ruby-mulberry color fading to an ethereal rim; notes of red cherry with cherry skin and raspberry; cloves, sassafras and sandalwood; crushed rose petals, old leather and loam; smoke and cigarette paper; incredibly animated, lithe and supple, powered by a sustained weight of bright acidity; succulent red fruit flavors but quite dry on the palate, with a touch of tannic austerity and graphite in the finish. Now through 2023 to ’25. Excellent.

Entrancing transparent ruby-magenta color; red and black cherries with a cranberry and pomegranate undertone; sassafras and beetroot; lovely and provocative texture, a balance of luxurious with lithe and sinewy; deep, densely satiny; opens hints of smoke and cloves with notes of cumin and sandalwood; meadowy and woodsy altogether; long, clean and vibrant; touches of fruitcake, oolong tea and spice cookie in the finish. Wow. Now through 2023 to ’25. Excellent.

Transparent medium ruby-mulberry hue; red cherry, pomegranate, talc and lilac; truly beautiful, with a surge of exotic spice — sandalwood, cumin — and foresty elements; super lithe and supple texture, red berry flavors of particular intensity, sleekness and ripeness yet presented on the palate with spare elegance; increasingly spicy; pulls up graphite, heather and underbrush elements on the finish. Hypnotic. Now through 2022 to ’24. Excellent.

Perfectly transparent ruby-magenta hue shading to an invisible rim; spiced and macerated red cherries and currants; loam and some rooty black tea; woodland flowers and herbs; very subtle but builds intensity; super satiny and supple texture; quite dry, with a finish that gets surprisingly tannic and austere. Now through 2022 or ’23. Very Good+.

Hard to find Zena Crown pinot noirs are worth the effort What makes this wine unique is the sweet fruit character that coats the palate with luxury. Violet and dried fruit aromas give way to raspberry pie flavors. Winemaker Lynn Penner-Ash started working with Zena Crown fruit in 2006. She uses fruit from one block and picks from multiple passes.