Category Archives: Adelaide Hills

2012 Mike Press Chardonnay

The best Mike Press Chardonnay to date in my humble opinion. Single vineyard, no oak, fruit forward and abundant purity of flavour. Hints of florals to go with the grapefruit, melon and stonefruits. The acidity is embedded in the wine, … Continue reading

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2010 Mike Press Merlot

Mike Press is one of the quite performers when it comes to Australian Merlot. Not sure there are any “loud” Australian Merlot performers, but anyway… Plenty of red fruited action but it’s mostly a savoury wine. Oak-driven structure means that … Continue reading

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2012 Jacob’s Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc

Another tidy regional offering from the Jacob’s Creek Reserve range. Crisp, crunchy, dry and flavoursome. Red capsicum and tomato bush but the nose avoids outright pungency. Sweeter tropicals - gooseberry and passionfruit – are ably matched by the thrust of citrus fruit. … Continue reading

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2005 Mike Press Cabernet Sauvignon

The wine that quite literally launched the Mike Press label. It’s got a bit of bling on it including a gold medal from the 2006 Royal Melbourne Wine Show, where it also won a trophy. Here’s a quick update in case … Continue reading

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2012 Jacob’s Creek Adelaide Hills Reserve Chardonnay

A big step up from the 2010 release here. You can put a lot of that down to superior oak integration. It’s there but it simply doesn’t feel hard or raw. Lemon citrus  and mandarin slice through white and yellow … Continue reading

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2011 Mike Press Cabernet Sauvignon

Quite an achievement to produce a Cabernet of this quality in tough conditions. A testament to vineyard management. Plenty of ripe blackberry, enticing violet notes, some green capsicum and ripples of red fruit. Savoury Cabernet characters of olive, tobacco and … Continue reading

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2011 Mike Press Shiraz

For all the bad press that the 2011 vintage has received, the areas hit by rain have still turned out some wines worthy of applause. They’ve also produced variations on themes and plays on difference which fascinate many wine enthusiasts, … Continue reading

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2010 Tapanappa Tiers Vineyard Chardonnay

Some will say that it could do without all the oak. And it probably could. Then again, that would make it a completely different wine… Textured and toasty, powerful and structured. Grapefruit, melon and yellow peach with a wicked mineral streak … Continue reading

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2012 Wirra Wirra The 12th Man Chardonnay

I don’t reckon Wirra Wirra have ever topped their 2010 12th Man Chardonnay. It was a beauty. This one could do with at least another year in the bottle - or consider decanting it. The oak is extremely prominent but if you … Continue reading

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2009 Daosa Blanc De Blancs

The fruit for this Sparkling wine was sourced from a single vineyard in the higher, cooler slopes of the Piccadilly Valley. It spent time in old oak barrels and saw a total of 38 months on lees although it’s not really … Continue reading

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