Alternative styles

2021 Bleasdale Vineyards Second Innings Malbec, Langhorne Creek

Open fermented, 10 days on skins, matured for nine months in French puncheons (10% new). It is a seriously good malbec by normal standards, but Bleasdale is Australia’s foremost maker of the variety, investing it with rich, velvety plum and blackberry fruits, supported with amiable tannins. This is exceptional value. JH

95 points, $22

2022 Rymill Pioneers Petit Verdot, Coonawarra

Australian petit verdot is such an underrated beast, or at least good examples of it are. Berried fruit flavours here, ripe and sound, come adorned with just-enough roasted spice, florals and smoked cedar additions. This is a red wine in a very good place. It feels even-handed, ripe, generous and yet well contained. No hesitation. CM

94 points, $25 2021 Ross Hill Wines Pinnacle Series Griffin Road Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Orange

From the famed old block on Griffin Road comes a show-stopping cabernet franc setting new style trends for the variety. The wine screams class, like a perfectly tailored suit. Exotic purple flowers, Madagascan vanilla bean and patchouli. Sweet elderberry, acai and tonka bean. The palate is lithe with a silken texture and a long cola-spiced finish. The wine sits confidently in its framework with superb acidity and finely woven, silty tannins. This will make you rethink everything you’ve ever known about cab franc. SW

96 points, $50

2021 Anderson & Marsh Parell Tempranillo, Alpine Valleys

Spain meets Alpine Valleys and it’s fireworks all around. The result is an impressive wine combining both power and elegance.

Intense scents of wet earth, dark berries, alpine herbs and licorice spice with gentle savoury overtones. It looks and smells dark and brooding, but then the palate lifts, the aromatics rise and elegance and poise rule with tannins fine and nimble. A top year brings tempranillo into its own in this part of the world. Bravo! JP

96 points, $45

2021 Mordrelle Wines The Gaucho Malbec, Langhorne Creek

Deep, verging on impenetrable purple announces a malbec of outstanding depth, texture and structure. The magic of the wine stems from the rivulet of acidity that flows throughout the long palate. It results in black fruits that draw you back to the spices, dark chocolate (as much regional as varietal) and impeccable management of tannins. JH

96 points, $35

2021 The Happy Winemaker Carménère By Jean-Paul, Heathcote

Some wines mark out their territory and then throw their lives at defending it. This wine defends a wine world of its own design: it’s all twigs and spices, boulders and earth, with forest and winter berry characters coming at pace. It charges through then swirls all about, the energy high, like a fury of nutshells, undergrowth and moss. It’s not for everyone – rage of this kind never is. But geez, as a drink, it offers a ride to remember. CM

95 points, $32

2021 Brand & Sons Last Sunday Drive Cabernet Franc, Coonawarra

Firm, powerful and impressive. There’s been a resurgence in varietal cabernet franc wines of late, and this is an excellent example of why. Blackcurrant, cocoa and eucalyptus flavours feel both rock solid and bold in the mouth (in a positive way), leading to a dry, resounding finish. You have to enjoy tannin to go for this because there’s plenty of it here, but in that context, it’s very good, and especially so when you factor in price. CM

94 points, $26