2019 Huntington Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Tony Peters

George Burns, the cigar-smoking American entertainer who passed away at 100 years of age, is quoted as saying, “You can’t help getting older but you don’t have to get old.” I realise this was generally meant for people but, it is relevant when it comes to other things too. Depending on many factors, when it comes to wine production, I think this is also pertinent to wine and, to break it down even further, red wine.

A bottle of Huntington Estate red wine gets older in the ‘number of years since vintage’ but the contents has historically had the structure to not get old at the same pace. Now, I’m not saying they will live as long as Mr Burns did but they have proven that, you don’t have to get old just because you are getting older. Here is another good example, well crafted by Tim Stevens at Huntington Estate.

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $34    Source: Samples thanks kindly to Huntington Estate

This is a very good Mudgee Cabernet Sauvignon with plenty on offer both on the nose and palate. It is generous and rich while maintaining a slightly better than medium bodied palate feel. Black fruits take centre stage with nice support coming courtesy of some plummy notes, smooth dark chocolate and slightly drying tannins with just the slightest hint of oak showing itself on a pretty good finish. As is well known, Huntington Estate Cabernets age very well, however, this one, at 6 years of age is drinking very well now. The great price of this wine allows for both options to be exercised.

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2024 First Ridge ‘Alira’ Prosecco

Posted on March 5, 2025 by Tony Peters

I must admit that the word ‘Prosecco’ used to frighten the daylights out of me if it was being poured at a function or dinner. I, unashamedly, used to wait for the next wine on offer. You are probably thinking, ‘wine snob,’ and fair enough too. My fears have since been allayed.

 It mainly came down to the misconception that this variety was a fizzy sweet wine of very little character and interest. Up until a couple of years ago, I could count on one hand the number of glasses (not bottles) of this variety I had consumed. I was kindly sent one to try and it, honestly, changed my attitude. That is why, again honestly, I can say I was really keen to try this one when I received an email alerting me to its impending arrival.

First Ridge Website

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $32 each    Source: Sample thanks kindly to First Ridge and Define Wine

It didn’t offer much aromatically but I was able to pick up a slight floral character and some citrus notes. At this point, it was a quizzical frown from me. However, the flavours turned that frown upside down (cheesy I know). Lots on offer here. Fresh, vibrant lemons and limes lead the way, stimulating the palate. Crisp and zesty for most of the way yet it seems to taper off nicely with an almost textural like finish. What a pleasant and delightful Prosecco this is! (And, it is under screwcap)

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Huntington Estate 2021 & 2019 Special Reserve Shiraz (Pre-release wines)

Posted on February 28, 2025 by Tony Peters

I come from a big family and second in line with a brother almost two years my senior. Growing up, I would often hear the words, “you can’t half tell you two are brothers” but it was generally about our appearance and many mannerisms we displayed. But, that was pretty much where the similarities ended. We had different (some would say obviously different) personalities that set us apart. On that note, personalities can be shaped by family traits, external influences and/or lived experiences.

The same can be said about wine. These two (pre-release) bottles of Reserve Shiraz were ‘born’ of the same winemaker, using 100% Huntington Estate fruit and are only two years apart in age. However, they present with different and likeable personalities. What is also well known is, wine can change over time but having read the notes about the vinification of these wines, they were always going to turn out to be individual souls in their own right.

(Photo is of the 2018 due to these two wines being pre-release and a photo is not available at this time)

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $54 each    Source: Samples thanks kindly to Huntington Estate

2019 Special Reserve Shiraz

At six years of age, I was surprised by the primary-ness it showed. Dense and bold, dark cherries and plums show the way with a nice creamy dark chocolate feel across the palate. A hint of spiciness is in the mix too while finishing a little dry due to the tannins but, that just tells me this will age very nicely. The notes provided indicated this wine sat in well-seasoned French and American oak for 18 months and it shows, but is supported by, and complements, the healthy fruit profile.

2021 Special Reserve Shiraz

I really liked the lively aromas this wine sent from the glass. Like freshly picked black and red berries with just a hint of oak. Juicy black fruits, dark cherry and plum notes are the highlights of the abundant fruit flavours. Dark chocolate appears in this wine also as do some nice spice characters too. The oak and tannins sit neatly amongst all of this as it finishes lovingly long. A totally different personality to the 2019, this one seemed to have a little more ‘shine’ to it (I’m not sure how else to describe it).

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Yalumba Y Series Pinot Noir

Posted on February 22, 2025 by Tony Peters

When someone is looking at the Pinot Noir shelves in a bottle shop, they generally don’t look toward the bottom where the ‘cheap’ ones are usually placed. Let’s be honest, to most people who enjoy a Pinot Noir, the price is usually indicative of the quality. Sometimes, that is not always the case.

I can’t remember where I saw this quote ‘Rough diamonds may sometimes be mistaken for worthless pebbles‘ (thank you English Author, Sir Thomas Browne) but I noted it, and I feel it had some relevance when it came to this Yalumba Y series Pinot Noir release. It is certainly not a worthless pebble; more like a diamond of the lower priced Pinot Noirs in the rough…if you like.

Y Series Wines Website

Region: South Australia    Price: $15     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Hill- Smith Family Estates

It’s a youthful, bright and a pretty ruby colour in the glass, giving the impression it’s going to be a light-bodied Pinot Noir and, let’s be honest, at $15 it’s a fair assumption. The aromas certainly exude Pinot Noir with ripe strawberry, dark cherry, slightly floral and a hint of spice all on show. Although it sits in the ‘slightly better than light-bodied’ spectrum, the fruit-driven, fruitful, flavoursome palate made my eyebrows raise as I nodded my head in instant approval. Plump strawberries and juicy dark cherries provide the bulk of the fruit flavours while plum characters add a little weight and a dash of spice to round it out on a pretty good finish. An absolute bargain!

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2018 Huntington Estate ‘Block 3’ Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on February 20, 2025 by Tony Peters

I was listening to a radio station recently and the person being interviewed was a cetologist. You know, someone who studies whales. She was speaking about the sounds whales make and how it was their way of communicating. I have to admit the sounds seemed incomprehensible but, somehow, they have worked out what the sounds mean and they can be projected to great distances. Nature is bloody amazing, isn’t it?!

Why am I mentioning this you ask? When I tasted this wine, I made noises that I reckon would attract a pod of excited whales. However, when it came to my body language and facial expressions, anyone and everyone would see the sheer delight I was experiencing tasting this wine. This is, without doubt, a great, Tim Stevens expression of Huntington Estate and Mudgee Cabernet Sauvignon.

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $80 (worth every cent!)    Source: Samples thanks kindly to Huntington Estate

A deep, dense and vibrantly youthful colour in the glass really kicked things off for me. A great introduction of what lies ahead. Delightfully youthful on the nose thanks to an array of primary dark fruits indicate that, even aromatically, this wine is destined for great things. Rich, bold and generous flavours on the palate and so, so silky smooth. Blackberries, dark cherries, licorice, and a nice sprinkle of spice to top things off on the flavour front. The oak and tannins sit neatly in the background, almost out of sight actually, thanks to the fruit intensity and it has a lovely long finish. Gee this is good!

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2023 Yalumba Y Series Lighter Shiraz

Posted on February 12, 2025 by Tony Peters

Shiraz. Arguably the most consumed red wine in Australia. There are so many iterations of the variety on the market from any number of regions and countries. It makes perfect sense to offer up a Shiraz that is ‘consumer friendly.’ I have been lucky (or unlucky in some instances) enough to have had the opportunity to try some that have zero alcohol or are low alcohol. Just my opinion but, this is a very ‘hit and miss’ category.

When a reputable wine company, who have been around for 175 years, decide to throw a ‘Lighter Shiraz’ into the market, you know it’s going to be, at the very least, good. When you think that the ‘zero’ or ‘low’ alcohol market is expanding at a rate of knots, there needs to be careful consideration as to what you put in the glass of today’s wine consumer. The Hill-Smith Family do not do anything on a whim, hence you would not be seeing this wine in your bottle-O if it were not up to scratch.

Y Series Wines Website

Region: South Australia    Price: $16     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Hill- Smith Family Estates

This looks bright and youthful in the glass and quite translucently appealing to the eye. I really liked the vibrant aromas it gave off with a good swirl of the glass. Lovely red fruits showed the way with a little pepper and herb characters coming through too. The flavours that came through on the palate were a pleasant surprise indeed considering the 8% alcohol. Strawberries, red cherries, plums and just a hint of spice all played their part as it finishes soft, smooth, and pretty damn moreish. Nicely done I say!

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Huntington Estate 2023 Chardonnay and 2022 Semillon Special Reserve Releases

Posted on February 6, 2025 by Tony Peters

I have been a Chardonnay fan for many years, tasted and drank quite a few in that time and the Huntington Estate Special Reserve Chardonnay’s reputation made this wine a no brainer, winner, for me…and it was!

However, originating from the island state of Tasmania, Semillon was not a variety that was recommended to me, talked about or among many wine lists that I can remember. Now, I am not saying it wasn’t on bottle-shop shelves or on restaurant wine lists but it was not a go-to like Chardonnay was, and probably still isn’t…sadly. It’s a shame really because Semillons, like this one from Huntington Estate, would go a long way to changing attitudes about this particular variety no matter where it’s produced.

I won’t go into the details of who Walter Scott was, however, I will provide a quote of his that I think sits very well with Huntington Estate winemaker, Tim Stevens. “Excellence is not a skill, it’s an attitude.” Now, just to clarify this, I am not saying Tim is not skilful in what he does. He most certainly is! What I’m saying is, it is easy to tell, when tasting these two wines that Tim has an extraordinary and excellent attitude to his winemaking. Taste both of these wines and you too will know what I mean.

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $45 & $35 respectively     Source: Samples thanks kindly to Huntington Estate

2023 Special Reserve Chardonnay

This Chardonnay is so pretty as it sits in the glass. Almost like liquid gold (check out the photo on Instagram) which is probably a good way to describe it actually. Quite intense and delightful aromatics where stone-fruits run the show, think peaches and pears, while delicate citrus notes have a say. The palate is similarly intense thanks to abundant varietal characters. Peach, nectarine, melon, lemon tart and little limey notes come into play. It has a lovely smooth buttery/creamy textural like mouth-feel that adds to its appeal. I really enjoyed this Chardonnay and I wasn’t alone.

2022 Special Reserve Semillon

The pale lemon like colour didn’t surprise me considering it is a young Semillon. The aromas, however, were a different story. Vibrant, youthful, zesty lemons and limes were at the forefront for sure. It had similar characteristics on the palate where it was really smooth but with depth of flavour and elegance with a pretty good finish. If you are an aged Semillon fan, this also has great structure that will see it cellar easily for as long as your patience can hold out.

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Yalumba ‘Y Series’ Sparkling Releases

Posted on January 30, 2025 by Tony Peters

The Hill-Smith Family started the Y series range of wines way back in 2002. Now I don’t know which wines were part of the inaugural release but it now numbers anything up to 15 wines, always great wines and always great value. I do like their motto, “there’s always been—and always will be—a Y for every occasion.” There are now three sparkling wines that sit perfectly as part of that range too.

Okay, so Christmas and New Year celebrations have come and gone but there are plenty of other occasions to celebrate with family and friends and, I reckon we should be celebrating something every day.

Also, things are pretty tight when it comes to people having spare cash for some of the simple pleasures in life…like a nice sparkling wine. These sparkling releases sit very nicely at $16 a bottle (and it is not uncommon to see the Y Series wines discounted) so well priced to celebrate the end of the working week, to enjoy while reading a book or, just simply ‘Y’ not. There’s now a Y Sparkling for every occasion.

Y Series Wines Website

Region: South Australia    Price: $16 each     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Hill- Smith Family Estates

Prosecco

One of two new additions to the Y Series range, this bargain priced Prosecco hits the spot very nicely indeed. The lovely fine bubbles form a cover to the wine but still allow slight floral and citrus aromas to escape from the glass. It’s light and refreshing on the palate while still providing a good amount of flavour thanks to green apple characteristics shining through along with some lemon notes. Here is your ideal, mid-afternoon, party starter.

Lighter Cuvée

This may be light on alcohol (only 7%) and light on calories (50 per 100ml serve) but it is not light on anything else. I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised with this Lighter Cuvée both aromatically and flavour wise. What the aromas offered up, was what I tasted plenty of on the palate. Citrus characters don’t hold back along with a slight pear note too. There is a delicate textural feel across the palate that takes nothing away from the lovely, attractive, ‘fizz factor’ of this sparkling.

Cuvée

The second of the new sparklings in the ‘Y’ range, this Cuvée has citrus and bready aromas and had no trouble making their way through the fine bead of bubbles that formed when it was poured. It has a good amount of those aromatic characteristics on the palate too giving it that refreshingly sparkling mouthfeel you would expect. As much as I enjoyed this sparkling too, you may be surprised to read that I don’t think it has the same level of flavour (marginally) as the Lighter Cuvée. Regardless of that, I think it is going to develop its own fan base.

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2024 Huntington Estate Rosé Releases

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Tony Peters

I was listening to a podcast recently and heard a fellow mention how humans automatically think that because it’s raining or cold they feel sad or unhappy. Conversely to that, if it’s sunny, people feel happy or bright and cheery. It does not have to be like that. It’s like saying that if it’s cold and wintery you should drink big bold red wine, and if it bright sunny and warm you should drink cool white wines…or Rosés.

I found a quote from Anthony J D’Angelo that went, “Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” I think this is what you can do simply by taking a bottle of either of these Rosés to your next luncheon, barbeque, or dinner invitation. No matter what the weather, take your own sunshine!

Let’s face it, since the renaissance of Rosés, their versatility has shone through and they are no longer just seen as the quintessential ‘summer on the patio’ or ‘drink beside the pool’ wine. Rosés like these from Huntington Estate are food friendly, weather friendly, people friendly and friend friendly wines.

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $25 & $28 respectively     Source: Samples thanks kindly to Huntington Estate

2024 “Rosie” Semi-Dry Grenache Rosé

This is the ‘fun’ wine of the two if you like. It has relaxation, conviviality and enjoyment neatly placed under the screwcap. The light spritz livens up the delicate strawberry flavours and fills the mouth with a refreshing crispness at the finish. It certainly has the moreish factor that will add to its popularity.

2024 Estate Pinot Noir Dry Rosé

The aromas of red fruits and berries along with a slight floral note set the scene for this gem of a Rosé. The abundant red fruits and berries show up on the delightfully fresh and textural palate too. All of this combined with a hint of dried herbs, slight minerality and some lovely acidity provide a smooth, flavourful and nice dry finish to this Rosé. Without doubt, great value drinking!

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2023 Huntington Estate Special Reserve Grenache

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Tony Peters

After tasting this wine and making notes and comments about it, I wondered to myself, where do I start? In the end, it was easy. By saying at the start what I would normally leave to the end. That is, this is a lovely, lovely wine.

It comes as no surprise that it was been awarded a gold medal at the Mudgee Wine Show plus (and how good is this?!) top gold and the Best Grenache Trophy at the Sydney Royal Wine Show. This is no mean feat considering there were wines entered in that Show from the more coveted Grenache growing regions such as the Barossa Valley and Mclaren Vale. Take a bow Tim Stevens!

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $54     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Huntington Estate

Things started well when I poured it into the glass. The aromas rose from the glass giving me an immediate indication of what to expect. There was an inviting freshness and brightness from the abundant ripe red fruits that made me smile. I was liking this already.

The palate, however, impressed me even more. Blue and black fruits, and dark cherry and plummy notes provide the great flavour profile of this Grenache. These were complemented nicely by slight peppery and herb characters that all come together forming a smooth, delightful mouthfeel that I found to be quite moreish. The tannins did present (as expected with these wines) but were nice and fine and were easily carried along by the generous fruit flavours this wine has. Loved it!

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