Real Review - Top Wineries of Australia

Another year, another (relatively) expensive Real Review tasting. Go your hardest in 150 minutes of jostling and wrestling to get to the tables, taste spit and move on to the next.

Because of the nature of the beast this is pretty much the tasting order I went in...

• 2022 Rieslingfreak Riesling No. 2

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Polish Hill River

  Slight wild ferment, touch of apple, lime, lemon. On the palate the lime is very much in charge, sharp acidity, bone dry.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2022 Rieslingfreak Riesling No. 12

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  Richer than the No.2. Lime and candied lime peel. Sharp acid, very lime cordial. Surprisingly old school Australian from this producer.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2022 Rieslingfreak Riesling No. 10

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

  A little green apple, citrus, slightly leesy creaminess. Again acid is a little sharp but offset by textured mid palate grip, citrus and green apple, nice. Time

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2018 Levantine Hill Estate Melange Traditionnel Blanc

  Australia, Victoria

  Meaty, slightly savoury wild ferment notes, herbaceous, touch of apple. A little muted on the palate, textured burr, touch of sweet spice, lacks freshness, meh.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2018 Levantine Hill Estate Chardonnay Katherine's Paddock

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Slight struck match reductiveness, rich. Oak, stone frit, sweet spice, polished textured burr, fleshy, muted fruit. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Yangarra Estate Roussanne

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Waxy, touch of stone fruit, apricot. A little peach stone, sweet spice. Juicy, fresh, fleshy, savoury stone fruit, textured burr, a little fatness on the mid palate. Nice.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Cullen Wines Amber Wine

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Waxy, a little bruised apple, sour and unpleasant on the palate. Nah.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Stonier Chardonnay Reserve

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  slightly meaty, herbs, sweet spice, quality oak, slight struck match, stone fruit, slight lemon citrus. Juicy, fresh, textured rasp, a little stone fruit with a touch of lemon in support. Okay.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Stonier Chardonnay Gainsborough Park Vineyard

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Struck match reductiveness, sweet spice, citrus, lemon backed by slight lime and kumquat, touch of mandarin peel, apricot, polished oak. And quite citric on the palate, fresh acidity, textured grip, polished oak, balanced, rather lovely.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2022 Pooley Riesling

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Pretty peachy notes, ripe apple, slight citrus. Juicy acid, fresh fruit, apple with a slight stone fruit underpin. Good

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2022 Pooley Riesling Cooinda Vale

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Ripe apple, perhaps a little lees work here to lend a little savoury note. Slight tart acidity, textured burr on the mid palate. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Pooley Chardonnay Cooinda Vale

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Peachy stone fruit, polished oak, leesy notes, a little lemon in support. Juicy and buttery but lacks a little fruit here for me.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2022 Taylors Riesling St Andrews

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

  Ooh, a little funky and slightly gamey, lime and green apple. On the palate it's a touch sharp with the lime and green apple notes, textured grip is a little clumsy. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 By Farr Chardonnay

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Geelong

  Rich, concentrated, good oak, stone fruit, toasted nuts, slight butter. Citrus notes are more to the fore on the palate, slightly coarse texture, very slight alcohol warmth helps carry this long. Nice

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2022 Pepper Tree Sémillon Alluvius

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

  Grass, green apple…Medium plus intensity acidity, more green apple on the palate, textured burr, a little over extracted perhaps? Okay

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2018 Pepper Tree Chardonnay Reserve Venus Block Flawed

  Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange

  Something not quite right here, almost like a dirty bottle issue - it's dusty, closed and a bit funky. I'm going with FLAW

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2022 Stella Bella Chardonnay

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Rich, concentrated (a theme is emerging with these Australian Chardonnays today), peach and a little apricot, controlled smoked bacon fat, sweet spice. More citrus on the palate, a little sharp, great nose though, time may help with the rougher edges.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Stella Bella Chardonnay Suckfizzle

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Struck match lends bacon fat, sweet spice, stone fruit, peach and apricot, slight lemon. Juicy tends to medium plus intensity acidity, tangy, rich, then textured rasp across the palate, broad, young, yum

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2022 Howard Park Riesling

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Great Southern

  Super fruity, citrus but also a little stone fruit lends this a pretty nose and this proves to be equally pleasant on the palate, charming, a little texture, similar flavour profile, fresh and fleshy. Very good.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2022 Howard Park Chardonnay Allingham

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  polished oak, a little creamy lees work, butter, touch of struck match, slight stone fruit. Fresh, fleshy, juicy, balanced, long, exceedingly young but utterly gorgeous

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Robert Oatley Chardonnay The Pennant

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  And another rich and concentrated chardonnay, all components controlled, creamy a, little struck match, stone fruit. Juicy fleshy and fresh, a little lemon underpin to the stone fruit, rich, slight non intrusive alcohol warmth on the finish. Nice

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Pressing Matters Riesling R0

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  A little sulphur, muted citric fruit. Medium plus intensity acidity, bone dry, textured burr tugs at the palate, a little citrus but fairly meh today

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Pressing Matters Riesling R9

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Kerosene (!) lime cordial on the nose. Slight residual sugar offsets the rather sharp acidity, quite lime on the palate, again a fair amount of texture. It's a bit forward.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2023 Rieslingfreak Riesling No. 10

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

  Citrus; lime; lemon' orange, green and red apples. Great nose. Juicy, tangy, fleshy and fresh, fruity, long, very good.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2022 Kaesler Viognier Love Child

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Medium minus intensity aromas show a little muted apricot. Textured grip and this proves quite muted on the palate, a little apricot, slight ginger, finishes a touch bitter. Meh

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Oakridge Chardonnay 864 Funder & Diamond Vineyard Drive Block

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Struck match reductiveness, polished oak lends sweet spice, muted stone fruit. Juicy, fleshy, tangy with a little citrus underpin, stone fruit, oaky, fleshy, slight alcohol warmth on the finish. This needs another year to more to knit together but I'm concerned by the alcohol.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Oakridge Cabernet Sauvignon 864 Winery Block

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Black hued fruits, ripe blackcurrants, sweet spice, a little cedar and plain chocolate. Powdery drying tannins rather dominate the palate, a little muted fruit here as well. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Oakridge Cabernet Sauvignon Original Vineyard

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Blackcurrant, pyrazine, cedar, good typicity for me. Juicy tends to medium plus intensity acidity, fleshy, blackcurrant, tight chalky tannins are drying, fruit just about persists. Young, simple. Okay.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Chapel Hill Grenache Bush Vine The MV

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  medium minus intensity aromas of red hued fruit lends a touch of anonymity to the nose which is reflected on the palate. A little texture. Meh.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Chapel Hill Grenache 1952 Vines

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Again the nose is a little muted, there is a slight jammy underpin to the red berry fruits and a touch of sweet spice,. Juicy, fleshy, red berry fruits prove tangy, slight raspy tannins, Young. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Chapel Hill Shiraz Road Block McLaren Vale

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Reductive and rubbery initially, a little black fruits. In the mouth it has alcohol warmth, blackberry fruit, chocolate, sweet spice, floury tannins <shrugs>

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Chapel Hill Shiraz The Vicar

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Rich, ripe, concentrated dark fruits show blackberry, plums, sweet spice in support. Juicy, fleshy, dark hued fruits are concentrated, tight chewy tannins, long, balanced. Young, powerful. Pretty clever

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Kaesler Grenache The Fave

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Rich red fruits, touch of strawberry jam but with quiet a fruit lozenge note and some sweet spice. In the mouth it's juicy, fleshy and tight textured but with slightly sour acidity. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Kaesler Shiraz The Bogan

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Slightly rubbery and reductive, plums over very slight prune, sweet spice and a smidge of chocolate. Lashings of tight chewy powdery tannins in the mouth with slightly sour black fruits. Meh

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2019 Kaesler Shiraz Old Bastard

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Concentrated dark fruits, polished oak, more of the same on the palate. Showing a little closed. This needs a few years or a good decant to show anything other than reticence.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2018 By Farr Pinot Noir "Farrside"

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Geelong

  Whole bunch, sour red fruits, slight sweet spice, more of the of same on the palate, textured grip is drying. Meh

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2019 By Farr Pinot Noir Sangreal

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Geelong

  Medium minus intensity aromas of wild ferment, touch of whole bunch, sweet and savoury spice, red berry fruit, a little ashy on the palate, plenty of fresh red fruits are slight subsumed by this. Hmm

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 By Farr Shiraz

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Geelong

  Whole bunch, struck match, wild ferment, dark fruits. Sour and unpleasant on the palate. Nah

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Pressing Matters Pinot Noir

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  struck match, savoury, slightly meaty, dark hued fruits, touch of cherry. Tight, grainy tannins, dark fruits here as well. Hmm. Time.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Pooley Pinot Noir Butcher's Hill

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Slightly funky, stuck match, a little red fruit, strawberry, cranberry, slightly cherry behind this. Juicy, fleshy, struck match on the palate, tightly textured tannins. Hmm.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Stonier Pinot Noir KBS Vineyard

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Medium minus intensity aromas of red over black fruits, slight sweet spice, simple nose. Tangy, medium plus intensity acidity, drying chalky textured tannins, lacks fruit on the palate.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Stonier Pinot Noir Windmill

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Ashy whole bunch, more of the same on the palate - the whole bunch rather dominates everything. <shrugs>

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Cullen Wines Diana Madeline

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Rich with ripe black hued fruits and a red currant underpin, sweet spice, touch of pyrazine. Medium plus intensity acidity, a splash of fruit is easily sweet aside by a tannic tsunami leaving a sense of loss in the mouth and wallet.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Yangarra Estate Old Vine Grenache

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Pretty whilst still being concentrated on the nose with red berried fruit; strawberry primarily that tends to a little compote, sweet spice. In the mouth tight chewy tannins go hand in hand with the concentrated fruit. Simple but nice.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Yangarra Estate Shiraz McLaren Vale

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Reductive notes over black fruits, peppery spice, slight whole bunch (?) Juicy, savoury, very slight sour underpin, super persistent tannic grip, quite floury textured. Hmm.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Yangarra Estate Shiraz King's Wood

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Concentrated, ripe, rich, polished oak, blackberry fruit, sweet spice. And equally rich and ripe on the palate, concentrated, fresh acid line keeps things in check. Hmm.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2017 Levantine Hill Estate Pinot Noir Colleen's Paddock

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Wild ferment and whole bunch work with polished oak and sweet spice, dark fruits play second fiddle to the artifact on the nose and that translates to the palate as well but the fruit steps up here and there is more of a sense of balance and generosity.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2017 Levantine Hill Estate Syrah Melissa's Paddock

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Medium minus intensity aromas of a little black hued fruit, sweet spice, slight bacon fat. Juicy, fleshy, but it's a little anonymous, flat. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2018 Howard Park Cabernet Sauvignon Abercrombie

  Australia, Western Australia

  Very (to my mind) Margaret River, blackcurrant, eucalyptus, cedar, sweet spice, a little plain chocolate and vanilla in support. Juicy, black hued fruits, sweet spice, alcohol is well handled, tannins are floury textured, persistent, balanced, very good.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2018 Gralyn Estate Shiraz Reserve

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Popped and poured under screwcap so I was expecting super reductive…instead I get jammy dark hued fruits, sweet spice with a slightly meaty underpin and a little herbaceous notes. Slightly sour on the palate, chunky tannins, dark fruits are the ripe side on the palate. Hmm.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2018 Gralyn Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Mint and eucalyptus over blackcurrant with a little red currant note, sweet spice, a little cigar box and cedar. Juicy, fleshy and fresh, chewy, chalky tannins do not detract from the blackcurrant fruit, a little chocolate, sweet spice. Okay.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Hentley Farm The Stray

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Ripe red fruit; strawberries, sweet spice, jubey, pretty. On the palate the fruit has a slightly sour underpin with plenty of talc textured grip. Hmm.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2021 Hentley Farm Shiraz The Beauty

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Black fruits, blackberry, sweet spice. Juicy, slightly sharp acidity, plenty of drying oaky tannins aa little caramel, the fruit is a touch muted here. Hmm.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Hentley Farm Shiraz The Beast

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Perfumed but ripe dark fruits, plenty of sweet spice. Quite oaky on the palate with plenty of alcohol warmth, dark hued fruits are present, chewy tannins wrestle with the fruit. Lives up to its name. Time should help.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Hentley Farm Shiraz Clos Otto

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Rich, ripe, concentrated, polished oak, sweet spice, chocolate, dark hued fruits, show berry and plum. Juicy acidity, tight chewy chalky tannins, dark hued fruits in support. Long, balanced. Time required.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Eucalyptus, mint, fresh blackcurrant, sweet spice. Juicy, savoury, tight chewy tannins, slightly sour black fruits, Meh.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2020 Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon Serie Luminosa

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Savoury, a little saline quality, controlled oak, slight sweet spice, touch of pyrazine. Juicy, fleshy, slightly sour red currant notes, under the black hued fruit, touch of salinity, sweet spice. That sourness takes this out of whack for me. Nah

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2016 Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Touch of cream, vanilla, a little pyrazine, blackcurrant. Juicy, fleshy tight tannins are chalky textured and drying, muted black fruit on the palate. <shrugs>

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

The venue wasn't quite as suited to tasting as last year but I did my stellar best to get through as many as possible. A few very good chardonnays this year and a couple of Rieslings, red less exciting though a couple did shine. Ho hum.