Tag Archives: Wine Reviews

2012 Shottesbrooke Single Vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Jeremy Pringle

Part of the Scarce Earth collection of Shiraz wines. Quite a vineyard it is too. A sandy, north-facing slope with that Blewitt Springs altitude and wind broken by a line of gum trees at the very top. The perfect place … Continue reading →

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2012 Bekkers McLaren Vale Syrah

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Jeremy Pringle

The 2011 was stunning and this is almost as good. Fruit comes mostly from the Gateway Vineyard in the Seaview region with a portion also sourced from the Hickenbotham Vineyard towards the north in Clarendon “to [aid in] the production … Continue reading →

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2013 Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Jeremy Pringle

The evolution of the M3 continues. Ever slimmer. Wish I could say the same of myself. Adam Wadewitz is firmly in the driver’s seat by now. Ok Wadda, not the easiest vintage to kick things off. Wadya got? Youthful banana … Continue reading →

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2011 Blue Poles Reserve Merlot

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Jeremy Pringle

A (relatively small) increase in price may well lead to more sales. Wine is funny like that. A more compote-like character to the raspberry fruit high-tones than I remember from previous releases. Spicier too; cloves, cinnamon and fennel seeds. The … Continue reading →

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2012 Heggies Chardonnay

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Jeremy Pringle

When I think of Heggies, Riesling is the first thing to enter my mind yet the website tells me that the Chardonnays – both from the Eden Valley – are the flagships. So there you go. This is the ‘entry … Continue reading →

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2011 Howard Park Flint Rock Great Southern Shiraz

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Jeremy Pringle

I’m enjoying Howard Park’s exploration of Shiraz in the Great Southern. Fruit for this comes from both the Mount Barker and Frankland River subregions. Oak is more lightly applied here than in the case of the 2011 Scotsdale and the … Continue reading →

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2012 Under and Over Heathcote Shiraz

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Jeremy Pringle

The Under and Over Range offers plenty of value. Even the 2012 Grigio is a fair rendition for the price. This is a better wine although not quite as impressive as the 2013 Chardonnay. Friendly like a puppy you just … Continue reading →

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2013 Stoneleigh Rapaura Series Pinot Noir

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Jeremy Pringle

Single vineyard. Ain’t terroir marvellous? Chocolate covered cherries, plum, cinnamon, iced coffee and warm spice. Very ripe. Fairly obvious toasty oak, fairly obvious wine. Pert acidity. Touch of bitterness to the tannin and that aftertaste lingers. Okay I guess although … Continue reading →

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2013 Stoneleigh Marlborough Pinot Noir

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Jeremy Pringle

Marlborough Pinot can impress…but not in this particular case. Smells glossy, prickly and sweet with any evidence of polish absent on the palate. Pointy acid, thin, mawkish. Plums, raspberries, nail-polish, chocolate and spice. Sappy green and herbal edges. Lacks cohesion, … Continue reading →

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2012 Mitchelton Blackwood Park Riesling

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Jeremy Pringle

Slightly underwhelming Riesling from the Nagambie Lakes in Central Victoria. Feels strange to be reviewing a current release 2012 when the first of the 2014s are already hitting the tasting bench too. Lanolin, lime/lemon and zest with a gin and … Continue reading →

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