Category Archives: Hunter Valley

2010 Meerea Park Alexander Munro Shiraz

Since 1999 the Meerea Park Alexander Munro Shiraz has come from the Ivanhoe vineyard in Pokolbin. The 2010 incorporates 30% whole bunches and is matured in French oak barriques – half of which are new – for 22 months. That … Continue reading

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2003 Meerea Park Alexander Munro Aged Release Shiraz

A warm and very dry year in the Hunter Valley and here we have a bold and complex Shiraz articulating it. 20 months in French oak, 40% of it new. Flagship heroics. What’s really interesting is how well it pulls … Continue reading

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2008 Meerea Park Alexander Munro Semillon

I didn’t even know Alexander Munro was winemaker Rhys Eather’s great-great-grandfather until I visited the website for a bottle image. The things you learn. I did, however, know that the Semillon grapes for this wine are from the Braemore vineyard … Continue reading

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1992 Lake’s Folly Cabernets

It’s the 50th anniversary of Lake’s Folly this year. I didn’t even realise that when a friend brought this wine over. The growing season was dry in 1992 but the vintage itself was wet. Elegant and only medium-bodied with signs … Continue reading

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2012 Oakvale Hunter Valley L’Oeuf Semillon

Fermented and matured for 12 months in concrete eggs. From the press release: “We have conducted a lot of wine trials over the past couple of years,” explained winemaker James Becker.  “The concrete amphora Semillon is one of these. We … Continue reading

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2009 Glenguin Estate Ironbark Tannat

Tannat’s home is in the south-west of France and to a lesser extent Uruguay. It’s a variety that’s big on structure. Lots of acid and lots of tannin. This example from the Hunter is no exception. Plenty of rusticity on … Continue reading

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2011 Thomas DJV Shiraz 2011

I meant to taste this alongside the other 2011 Thomas red wine releases but I happened to misplace it. Have been checking in on it since last Friday. It’s my least favourite of his wines from that vintage. Sourced from the … Continue reading

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2011 Thomas Kiss Shiraz

My best Kiss since 2007? You could mount an argument. It’s a flagship wine in every sense. More structure, classier oak, greater depth, amazing fruit quality. The integration of the wood is one of the revelations here. Seamless. Dark fruited … Continue reading

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2011 Thomas Two of a Kind Shiraz

Harking back to Andrew Thomas’ roots in McLaren Vale and perhaps also to a time when Vale Shiraz used to find its way into more than a few multiregional Australian Shirazes, this contains 57% Hunter Valley fruit with the rest from … Continue reading

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2011 Thomas Elenay Shiraz

I arrived back from a week in McLaren Vale to sort through boxes of samples last Thursday. This was the funniest and the most accurate. A new wine from Andrew ‘Thommo’ Thomas (there will be no Motel Block from 2011. … Continue reading

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