2023 Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Barbera

Posted on June 27, 2025 by Tony Peters

I’ll say up front, I am liking the new look labels of the Fossil Hill range from Angullong Wines. That’s not to say I am all for change or contemporising because I liked the forward nature of the original labels. However, as American author Irene Peter said,”Just because everything is different doesn’t mean anything has changed.” In this instance, yes, the new label is very schmick, but the contents of the bottle, their delightful Barbera, is just a good as it has ever been. I have no doubt both the new label and the wine will be warmly received.

Angulong Website

Region: Orange Region, NSW     Price: $30     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Angullong Wines and Define Wine

An aromatically vibrant medley of red and dark berries with a touch of florals and earth nuance highlights its varietal personality and charm. Medium-bodied yet bursting with flavours of dark cherry, plum, blackberry, and ripe raspberry, complemented by gentle herbs, spice, and a hint of chocolate. So, so juicy and savoury on the palate, it shows some fine textural characters finishing silky with lovely fine tannins. Gee I like this a lot. At 30 bucks, this is ridiculously good value. This is should be one of your go-to wines.

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2024 Running With Bulls ‘Bullish’ Shiraz

Posted on June 22, 2025 by Tony Peters

I looked up the meaning for ‘bullish’ and what came up was, “aggressively confident and self-assertive.” It is obvious a wine is not able to project these types of traits, well, not in the literal sense anyway. This may sound a contradiction in terms, but this Shiraz (with a dash of Tempranillo) does its ‘bullish-ing’ in a smart and subtle way. For starters, the bottle shape and the bright label coupled with the white capsule will definitely make it standout in a lineup of Shiraz on a bottle shop shelf. I also think these captivating traits will generate conversation-worthy appeal with the younger generation of wine drinkers who will not be so shy to take a bottle of wine to a barbecue instead of beer or mixer drinks.

Shop Running With Bulls

Region: Barossa Valley, S.A.    Price: $21     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Hill- Smith Family Estates

Lovely inviting aromas of fresh blackberries and plums give a nice insight into what may be experienced on the palate. Abundant juicy dark berries and plums are the order of the day, confidently supported by a dash of black pepper with a soft, smooth yet pleasantly assertive fruitful feel across palate. This is a really good wine that I think sits at better than the ‘quaffer’ price it sells for. Don’t hesitate to give it a try. It does not disappoint.

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2024 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir

Posted on June 21, 2025 by Tony Peters

As U.S. General George S. Patton once said, “Accept the challenges so that you can feel the exhilaration of victory.” That sentiment rings true for Castle Rock Estate’s winemaker, Rob Diletti, who experienced considerable challenges with the 2024 vintage. Through diligence and persistence, he and his team stayed closely attuned to the vineyards right up until the time of picking. Their perseverance paid off and, in this resulting Pinot Noir, there’s every reason to celebrate a triumph. I’m very much looking forward to trying the other two Pinots from the 2024 vintage.

Castle Rock Estate Website

Region: Porongurup, WA     Price: $46    Source: Thanks kindly to Castle Rock Estate and Define Wine

There’s something so unmistakably Pinot about the aromas of this wine and I like them! Ripe strawberry and dark cherry, underpinned by subtle savoury and herbal notes. There’s a nice ‘yin/yang’ thing happening between richness and brightness that gives it a nice aromatic lift too. This lovely, medium-bodied, elegant wine opens with vibrant black and red fruits that sit beautifully on the palate. Layers of dried herbs, a touch of black pepper, charry notes, and finely judged oak come together very nicely, leading to a long finish that leaves a lasting impression of finesse and complexity.

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2021 Brand & Sons ‘Jim Brand Silent Partner’ Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Tony Peters

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that the name ‘Jim Brand’ is on the label of a Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. This family name has long been connected with the region where the family’s vineyards provided the fruit that Jim Brand crafted into iconic wines in his day, resulting in the quality Brand & Sons wines of today just like this one. His legacy beautifully encompasses not just the wines he created, but the passion and sincerity that infused his work, and continues to inspire and influence others well beyond his time. Enough said (as I tip my hat in deference to Jim Brand).

Brand & Sons Website

Region: Coonawarra, SA     Price: $40     Source: Gift thanks kindly to Sam Brand

While it’s a lovely colour as it sits in the glass, it’s the aromas of this Cabernet Sauvignon that really kicks things off. Intense aromas of black fruits dominate the nose while a little liquorice and oak poke through. The palate is rich and flavoursome while sitting very nicely above medium-bodied. Dense dark fruits are the stars here, nicely complemented by a touch of dried herbs and oak as it glides gracefully across the palate where the tannins say hello but are carried easily by the abundant fruit to a lovely long finish. I admit to drinking a glass of this over a good amount of time which seemed to make a difference to its presentation so, a decant is probably a good idea.

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2015 Slow Wine Co. Pinot Noir (Museum Release)

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Tony Peters

There are many things that are inevitable in life and one of them is moving further away from being young. I don’t mind having birthdays, not at all, but it is such that, regardless of what you do, nature has some say in how quickly and gracefully you move into those later ‘young’ years.

As French author, Jules Renard is quoted as saying, “It’s not how old you are but how you are old.” This can be related to many things, humans included, but when it comes to wine, I think it can be more nuanced. This is a wine that brings this quote into play and specifically when it comes to the complexity Pinot Noir can develop as it ages.

Slow Wine Co Website

Region: Orange Region, NSW     Price: $50    Source: A wine tasting with Slow Wine Co

It is ten years old and, yes, showing some maturity, but it is still a lovely, elegant wine. There’s dark cherry, some earthy notes, subtle spice and leather, nice textural feel across the palate while the tannins are smooth and integrated finishing with a nice savouriness on the pretty good length. So, when it comes to the “how you are old” part of the quote, I would say, this wine is very well indeed!

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2022 Yalumba ‘The Signature’ Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz

Posted on May 10, 2025 by Tony Peters

“Don’t work for recognition, but do work worthy of recognition” American author, H Jackson Brown Jr was quoted as saying. I can’t help but relate this to Paul Midolo, who has been recognised by the Hill-Smith family by being named the Signatory for the 2022 Yalumba The Signature release.

From what I have read about Paul, he went about his job, whichever role he was doing over his 30 year career, not for the recognition but in such a way that tells me he enjoyed it and enjoyed working for the Hill-Smith family. They clearly appreciated it and felt he was deserving of recognition by acknowledging him in this way. A very worthy 51st Signatory. Congratulations Paul Midolo.

Yalumba Wine Shop

Region: South Australia     Price: $74    Source: Samples thanks kindly to Yalumba

I’ll kick this off with four words. Delicious. Impressive. Serious. Phenomenal.

The aromas are intensely inviting, perfumed and youthfully complex brimming with black fruits, subtle mint and herbal characters, aniseed and just a hint dark chocolate. The flavours on the palate do not let up, and I type that with some emphasis. Bold yet elegant and precise. It has richness and concentration of black fruits that seem to sail effortlessly across the palate, supported by dark plums, cedary oak characters, herbs and delicate spices that complement the voluptuous fruit intensity. The tannins are fine with a slight graininess but, goodness me, it has great length. Then there is a wait-there’s-more moment as that length reminds you of what you just tasted. Gee this is good!

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2021 Levantine Hill Glen Garvald GSM

Posted on April 17, 2025 by Tony Peters

Most of the time, on a bottle of wine, you will see the type of variety clearly displayed, be it Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or any other variety you care to think of, is there for all to see. When walking into their local bottle-o, everyone knows exactly what they are getting.

It is fair to say, and I am sure many wine drinkers alike would agree, that the acronym GSM (short for Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvèdre for those who are not aware), is just as recognisable on a bottle of wine in a bottle shop or on a wine list.  I realise that sometimes the blend can differ for various reasons, but even if you saw GMS or SGM or MGS(unlikely) you would be pretty safe in the knowledge that the wine contains Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre (also know as Mataro or Monastrell). Normally GSMs are associated with the Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale. This version of the blend, from the Yarra Valley, is a very good example indeed.

Levantine Hill Website

Region: Yarra Valley, Vic     Price: $45     Source: Gift

A lovely ruby red colour in the glass, it is quite fresh and aromatic with ripe red fruits showing the way with a nice herbal touch too. This vibrantly inviting, juicy, medium-bodied wine provides the palate with flavours of ripe raspberries, plums, chocolate (more on the dark than milk side, a little spice and herb characters are there too, while it finishes with good length. I don’t know what percentages of the varieties are in this wine, but it doesn’t matter. Each of the variety’s strengths are on display in this nicely balanced blend.

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2019 Huntington Estate ‘Tim Stevens’ Signature Shiraz

Posted on April 12, 2025 by Tony Peters

I worked in a job for 36 years and, sadly, towards the end of my working life, I was deemed ‘old school’ for no other reason than I had been around for so long. I could still do my job in the ‘modern era’ and use all the mod cons and technology available to me, achieving the same results that I had for over three decades. I would also like to add the ‘old school’ way was appreciated just as much as the more ‘contemporary’ way by those I connected with during that part of my working life. Winemaking technics can travel between ‘old school’ and ‘contemporary’ depending on both the individual winemaker and the traditions of the winery.

I appreciate and take my hat off to winemakers like Tim Stevens who don’t hesitate to produce a wine that may well be in the mould of older style, which I think this wine is, with the knowledge that it still has a place in the modern wine world, and rightly so. I enjoyed this (pre-release) Shiraz and I have no doubt my grandsons will too (if they turn out to be red wine drinkers).

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $100    Source: Samples thanks kindly to Huntington Estate

There was a boldness and a headiness about it this wine that really appealed to me right from the start. It stood its ground and refused to budge, providing a lasting experience for the consumer along with instant gratification. Rich and generous on the palate thanks to some dark fruits with a nice mid palate plumminess while delicate herbs and spices add their two bobs worth. There is a little fruit sweetness in there along with some oak showing its hand, and the tannins say hello on the nice long finish. This is not built for today, clearly, which comes as no surprise with the Huntington Estate wines. This wine is worth the investment considering there are wines two and three times the price out there.

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2023 Angullong Crossing Reserve Chardonnay

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Tony Peters

In case you weren’t aware, the average person has over 60,000 thoughts a day, 90% of which are repetitive. Now, I realise those thoughts, and the repeating of them, could and would be about sooooo many things because of our interactions and experiences throughout any given day.

When I sat down to write this, I thought about this wine…again. I reckon, adding all the times I thought about this wine from taking it from the fridge, pouring it and tasting it, I would’ve used about 30,000 of my ‘allocation’ of thoughts on this one subject. Mind you, that is not a complaint. Quite the opposite actually. It is a Chardonnay well worth investing your thoughts into also.

Angulong Website

Region: Orange Region, NSW     Price: $50     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Angullong Wines and Define Wine

I mistakenly let this wine get too cold which ultimately led to the aromas and flavours being initially muted. Thankfully, because of where I live, it didn’t take long for it to show itself very nicely in both areas. The nose is expressive and vibrant, varietal stone-fruits showing through with delicate citrus undertones and just a hint of spice. The palate shows great balance between being generous and flavourful while having a lovely citrussy freshness to it thanks to stone-fruit characters of ripe peaches coupled with some fleshy pear notes and green apple acidity. Some lovely texture and macadamia nut like creaminess play a part in the depth and generosity of this wine as it finishes with great length. This exemplifies why I drink and enjoy Chardonnay.

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2021 Huntington Estate Grand Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz

Posted on March 29, 2025 by Tony Peters

I know I use a lot of quotes from people who are famous, infamous and all those in between but I try to ensure they are relevant to what or who I am writing about. And, guess what? Here I go again with another that I think is pertinent to Huntington Estate winemaker, Tim Stevens. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Thanks, this time, to Will Durant, an American historian and philosopher.

I have been lucky enough, and had the privilege, to have tried many wines from Huntington Estate for close to eight years now. It may well be me, but I think Tim has developed the very good habit of ‘excellence’ when it comes to the wines he sends out into the world. This Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz blend is part of the ‘habit of excellence’ that Tim has.

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $100    Source: Samples thanks kindly to Huntington Estate

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This is such a wine that even the aromas don’t let up. They keep on giving as they keep on drawing you back to experience them again. Obviously, there came a time to actually try the wine. Rich and deeply generous, there is much on offer from this youthfully exuberant Cabernet Shiraz blend. A tame full-bodied wine with lovely dark fruits courtesy of blackberries, blackcurrants, some dark plums and cherries. Complementing those characters are; creamy dark chocolate, a little earthiness, savouriness and tannin presence, and a finish that, just like the aromas, keeps on giving. Great!

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