Words from a Wine Glass

I had mixed feelings when I opened this wine. Delight, because I got to taste it, and sadness for the many wine drinkers who probably won’t. I say this because, when it comes to a producer having aged wines for sale on their website, there can’t be many bottles available. This small honour isn’t lost on me and, to be given the opportunity to try it and write about it, means a lot.

There’s also a sense of respect that comes with opening a wine that’s been looked after this long and a curiosity about how a wine like this carries itself after a few years. Someone made the call to hold it back, someone believed it would get better with time, and someone trusted that it would be appreciated when that time came. It certainly made me aware that this isn’t an everyday pour. You could say you’re almost tasting something with a bit of history behind it. This brought a different perspective to the wine when I tasted it.

Live simply. Laugh often. Wine a lot.

Region: McLaren Vale, S.A.     Price: $70     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Beresford Estate

Great colour still. The nose shows some aged notes now. Dark berries, ‘dusty’ blackberries and a little earthiness sitting alongside the remaining fruit.

The palate is still nicely fruitful, carrying lovely dark fruits, blackberries and plums with a delicate herbal lift and a touch of leather adding depth. It’s silky smooth and delightfully medium‑bodied with integrated oak ably supporting the fruit. The tannins are slightly grainy, fitting comfortably with the wine’s settled nature, and the length remains good.

The finish lingers with a savoury edge that adds an extra layer. A mature Shiraz that shows how gracefully this Limited Release has developed.

There are so many choices in the Australian Shiraz world these days, and sometimes it can be easy for them to get wrapped up in hype through no fault of their own. Ideas of prestige due to price or reputation, awards or critics’ points, presentation or promotion. And let’s face it, some wines lean into this. Bold, powerful and dressed to impress, and good on them. I can’t deny having had my fair share over the years.

However, more often than not, a wine comes along without all the unnecessary noise accompanying it. Genuinely enjoyable, not pricey, with a trustworthy reputation that has been earned and satisfyingly good to drink. In other words, it comes down to what’s in the bottle. Pretty simple really.

At $35, this Huntington Estate Shiraz is exactly that kind of wine. It has pleasure in the bottle, pleasure in the glass, and pleasure on your palate without the fuss attached to it.

Live simply. Laugh often. Wine a lot.

Huntington Estate Website

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $35     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Huntington Estate

This is going to sounds a bit strange describing a wine in this way but this is a really cool wine. Everything about it seems mellow, relaxed, and easy. It’s more blue fruits than black, a plummy note fills out the palate, a gentle spiciness and a medium bodied-ness that feels inviting instead of imposing. Yes, there are tannins but they seem apologetic and explanatory at the same time, asking to be excused while they do their thing and carry this wine into the future. Good, good length and a flavourful finish make this such a friend-finding wine.

I’d love to pretend I approached this Blewett Springs Shiraz like a ‘professional’ should, but honestly, I cracked it open with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store. There’s just something about Shiraz from this part of the world. You don’t so much taste it as settle into it, like easing back into your favourite chair.

Blewett Springs has that familiar‑yet‑impressive thing going on. You think you know what’s coming, and then the first swirl reminds you ‘the Vale’ still has a few pleasant little tricks up its sleeve. One sniff, one sip, and suddenly you’re leaning back and remembering exactly why the region has such a strong reputation for Shiraz.

It has richness and generosity without the ego. It’s like McLaren Vale just needs to hand you a glass and let you take it all in. This bottle felt like, and absolutely did, exactly that.

Live simply. Laugh often. Wine a lot.

Region: McLaren Vale, S.A.     Price: $45     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Beresford Estate

This is a lovely colour in the glass. Deep, glossy, youthful and vibrant, which bodes well for what’s to come. The aromas are anything but shy due to abundant plums, dark fruits, a gentle herbal lift and a hint of oak weaving through. The palate has a big ‘Hello’ factor. It’s rich, bold, vibrant and generous, packed with black and blue fruits and a touch of gentle spice. Beautifully played oak rounds everything out nicely. There’s real power behind the fruit, yet an elegance that keeps the wine balanced and refined. A fine example of Blewett Springs Shiraz. Great stuff!