Bob McDonald

9.2

At the Peter Lehmann dinner at the Downs Club. This Wigan Riesling (named after Peter’s right hand man Andrew Wigan) was from the difficult cool wet 2011 vintage. Some poor reds were made in SA in 2011 but this Riesling is quite good with lime juice and honeyed characters starting to develop. No paraffin/kerosene notes like the 2013. Good potential and developing nicely. — 7 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

At the Peter Lehmann dinner at the Downs Club. Thanks to Clintyn Barnes for bringing this 1993 from his own cellar. Quite savoury and mellow- just medium weight with fully resolved Tannins. Clintyn agreed that 1993 was not a particularly good vintage in the Barossa so this was a welcome surprise. More like the nose of an old Burgundy with forest floor sous bois characters. — 5 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

At the Peter Lehmann dinner at the Downs Club. Personally I have always felt that the Barossa is best for Shiraz and not Cabernet Sauvignon except for certain old Penfolds vineyards like Block 42. However, this had text book Cabernet descriptors like Capsicum and geranium. Not as minty as Coonawarra Cabernet or as herbal as Margaret River Cabernet. — 5 days ago

Romain Stamm

9.0

Petrol, oily and yellow fruits, very ripe and ready drop right bow. Amazing on fried chinese food — 9 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Pale to mid Lemon in colour. Aromas of dried white flowers, herbs, and talc. A crisp zesty palate finishing dry. A good Eden Valley Riesling with fantastic QPR at only $15AUD. Nowhere near reaching its full potential, but at this price, and current hot dry weather its not going to last! — 12 days ago

Shay A

9.2

At 12yrs of age, this is drinking quite smooth while still retaining a bit of Aussie power. I imagine this one was quite a flavor bomb near release, but it’s balanced today. Aromatically it has cocoa powder, juicy cherries and jammy blackberries, currant, mulberries and cinnamon. Lighter bodied than expected on the palate with a clean and pure profile. Cherry smoked wood, graham cracker, ripe black cherries and just a hint of menthol and Andes mint (which I commonly get with Aussie Shiraz). Not getting any better, but will probably hold in this window for a few more years. — 5 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

This GSM from a boutique producer in the western Barossa near Seppeltsfield, is a blend of 45% Grenache, 35% Shiraz and 20% Mourvèdre. The Grenache is most prominent with its lush raspberry aroma and flavours, the Shiraz providing structure and the Mataro with its plummy tarry notes. This wine was a Trophy winner at the Toowoomba Wine Show a few years ago. — 11 days ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.5

I really like this
I reckon it'd be hard to say this is a Barossa Shiraz and without doubting
The fruit is not jammy, it is actually rather vibrant and fresh
Lots of little details around and a long finish
Wine in balance, but it can age too quite a while
I'd put this in the bracket of Barossa that I truly enjoy🙏 — 13 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Our marinaded tri-trip wine.

Good things happen when you take a good producer’s entry level wine and lay it down for 4-5 years. Then, pair with the right food.

Torbreck makes in descending quality order that I have had; The Laird ($400-$700), RunRig ($175-$200+), The Descendant & The Factor (around $90-$100 ish), their Struie (around $50) and the Woodcutter’s ($16-$24 depending on where you buy it).

The Woodcutter’s shows itself to be a close relative but, lacks some of the structure, depth and quality of fruit from its other siblings. However, the QPR is undeniable!

There are two things I am trying to convey. You don’t always need to spend $100 to $100’s for a really good quality wine. Second, even if you lay down a good entry level wine from a good producer in at least in a good vintage, very good things come through.

This shows, dark currants, ruby, candied; purple fruit mix, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum & blue fruits. Sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, limestone, dry, crushed rocks, mixed berry cola, soft leather, wood shavings, dry herbaceous notes, dark spice, softly, layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon, understated mint/eucalyptus with dark, purple, blue flowers in a violet & lavender bouquet.

The body is; rich; ruby and full. The tannins are round, tarry, chewy and meaty. The structure, tension, length and balance are just a couple steps short of its peak. Dark currants, ruby, candied; purple fruit mix, blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, black plum & blue fruits. Sweet tarriness, dark, used, expresso grounds, anise to black licorice, limestone, black pepper, dry, crushed rocks, mixed berry cola, soft leather, wood shavings, dry herbaceous notes, dark spice with palate heat, more pronounced & layered baking spices; vanilla, clove, nutmeg, hints of cinnamon stick, dark, rich turned earth, dark top soils, understated mint/eucalyptus with dark, purple, blue flowers in a violet & lavender bouquet. The acidity is round and nicely done. The long finish is, juicy to dry earthy, well balanced, elegant and persists without end.

The 2013 Woodcutter’s has another 10-15 years of good drinking ahead.

Photos of; their new tasting bar, Sofia during our private tasting with their International Brand Manager and that famous Barossa red clay soil structure with Estate vines. — 13 days ago

Scott Soren

9.1

Lovely Cab from Australia. Lively nose leads to baby fat driven red fruit. Boysenberry and raspberries dominate the palate. Nice finish too. A few years cellaring will do good — 8 hours ago