Julia Harding MW October 4th 2017
Steinert Flaxman’s Shiraz 2015
Black core, purple crimson rim. More lifted aroma than in the Loechel, almost a little minty. Dusty, dark and mineral. Juicy and very pure, very dark fruited. Terrific freshness and smooth, compact but lightish tannins. Cool, fresh and finishes soft, dry and long. Tighter and leaner than the Kraehe. Very long and leaves the mouth clean like 70% chocolate.
18/20 2019-2030
Brennecker Seppeltsfield Grenache 2015
Deep cherry red. Gorgeously sweet and seductive on the nose. Silky, cool and quite light on the mid palate, very fine boned. some oak sweetness on the nose but hard to see the oak on the palate – miraculously so. Real delicacy and elegance. Smooth, gentle and refined. You could almost decribe this as pretty. Then it is really persistent. Gentle but determined.
17.5/20 2017-2025
Kraehe Marananga Shiraz 2015
Smells completely different from the Steinert Flaxman. This is richer and riper on the nose and it tastes sweeter and more velvety. Rounded and sweet on the finish. Full and chewy in the mouth, texture is thicker and less dry – needs a little longer to slim down.
17/20 2019-2030
Loechel Eden Valley Shiraz 2015
Black core with purple crimson rim. Fragrant, scented with black and gently spicy dark fruit. More oak showing on the palate than on the nose but not dominant. Dark and lightly chewy yet still has a lightness of weight and silky tannins. Will be better when the oak has died back to reveal the elegant fruit. Super-fine, dry texture. Long.
17/20 2019-2025
Barossa Valley Roussanne Marsanne 2016
Ripe and sweet yellow fruit on the nose. Rich and fat on the palate, just enough freshness and with lovely creamy texture. Complex, nutty nose, smoky. Just slightly honeyed. Should get fresher and tighten up as it ages. Like the best northern Rhône whites, its freshness depends more on texture and savoury qualities than on acidity. Full and broad and spicy in the mouth. Lots of texture and richness. Really long. With crab or lobster, says Powell (ie Christmas in Australia)
17/20 2018-2026
Eden Valley Riesling 2016
Fresh and limey, intense and rich in the mouth, especially impressive at this low alcohol level. Weight and depth but also a great freshness and a sort of oily minerality in its weight. Not overly fruity (sample is room temperature, as preferred by David Harvey of Raeburn Fine Wines, Powell’s importer) but has power and precision and length. Powell commented that sometimes a wine can be too powerful, and therefore unbalanced, because of low yields. If they buy the vineyard, he may consider irrigation. Firm texture and just avoiding phenolics. A good match with oysters or sushi, adds Powell. 500 cases produced. This is a serious Riesling.
17/20 2017-2024
Barossa & Eden Valleys Shiraz 2015
Inky purple crimson with black core. Savoury and spicy, fine dry texture. Smooth tannins, cool and long. Gentle but persistent. There’s fruit depth yet a lightness of touch. Dark and just slightly chewy on the finish.
16.5/20 2017-2022
Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2015
Deep cherry red. Rich dark bramble fruit. Creamy, rich with a cool depth of fruit – Grenache is the star here. More red fruit on the palate. Very silky and gentle. Really juicy and lightly voluptuous. Deep, long and very easy to drink – you could drink this all evening.
16.5/20 2017-2021
Barossa Valley Shiraz 2015
Very dark with black core. Rich dark blackberry fruit, dark and a little savoury like a charry character but not oak-derived, as far as I can tell. Dark, savoury but super-silky and fragrant on the palate. Very dark and not overly sweet. Tannins are so silky but there’s just a touch of heat on the finish. Drink on the fruit. Deep and rich to the finish.
16.5/20 2017-2020
Riverside Grenache Mataro Shiraz 2015
Mid to deep cherry red. Lots of spice and bright, juicy dark-red fruit aromas. Spicy on the palate too, sweet fruited and very silky. Gentle and fresh on the finish. Lively aftertaste.
16/20 2017-2019
