WINES TO WATCH
From top new releases to some great shiraz soon to roll out, these wines are worth a closer look.
2017 DOWIE DOOLE DD C.S.M.
McLaren Vale, South Australia
$30
A quintessential Australian red blend, where each variety is used for its particular strengths. Cabernet offers a perfume of eucalypt and blackcurrant as well as a long tannin line to the palate. Shiraz gives aromatic red fruit lift and the more powerful mouth-filling fruits, with merlot completing the wine, offering blue fruit aromatics and soft velvety tannins rounding the palate. dowiedoole.com
2018 GILBERT CHARDONNAY
Orange, New South Wales
$30
This is an elegant, cool climate chardonnay with intense aromas and flavours of stone fruit and key lime, in harmony with a flinty, textured minerality on the palate. Maturation on full lees in new and old oak, plus concrete and stainless steel, creates a beautiful balance between oak and fruit. This wine pairs perfectly with richer flavours as we move into the cooler months. gilbertfamilywines.com.au
2020 ROBERT STEIN WHITE RIESLING
Mudgee, New South Wales
$35
This classic dry riesling has all the lime and mineral characters you would expect, with a dry, crisp and racy finish. It is a declassified ‘Dry Riesling’, produced during the terrible drought and bushfires of 2019, and the pandemic of 2020. We made this wine to keep our flagship riesling alive, help our family business survive and keep all our wonderful staff employed. robertstein.com.au
2019 EISENSTONE EBENEZER SHIRAZ SR 802
Barossa Valley, South Australia
$75
This classic, full-flavoured style of shiraz is from the Ebenezer subregion of the Barossa Valley. Matured for 18 months in 50 per cent new French oak, it is soft and approachable now, but will continue to evolve for years to come. Only 2000 bottles produced.
2019 EISENSTONE HOFFMANN VINEYARD EBENEZER SHIRAZ SV 902
Barossa Valley, South Australia
$100
Produced from vines that are more than 70 years old, this wine comes from the Hoffmann family vineyard at Ebenezer in the northern part of the Barossa Valley.
Old vines produce wonderful, powerful wines of great intensity that are also elegant. Only 1600 bottles produced.
2019 EISENSTONE ROENNFELDT VINEYARD EBENEZER SHIRAZ SV 904
Barossa Valley, South Australia
$100
Roennfeldt Road is a renowned stretch of the Barossa Valley, and home to many iconic wines and winemakers. The wines from here are known for their intensity of colour and depth of flavour. Only 800 bottles produced.