Western Plains, New South Wales

Lake's Folly

Hunter Valley Chardonnay 2014

A rich Chardonnay from an excellent vintage in the Hunter Valley. Luscious stone fruit notes on the palate, showing its warm climate origins. Low acid. Mealy. Stylistically not dissimilar to the Shafer Carneros Chardonnay had recently. — 4 days ago

Andrew, Jan and 16 others liked this
Andrew Cullimore

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Nice notes @Bob McDonald , stylistically very similar to the bottle of 2022 I had a couple of months back .
Bob McDonald

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@Andrew Cullimore Thanks Andrew. You went to the cellar door in the Hunter Valley if I recall correctly?
Andrew Cullimore

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Unfortunately I didn’t go to Lakes Folly as there was a big sign on the drive way saying ‘latest releases sold out ‘ , I had the 2022 in a restaurant in the region … it was round and generous, enjoyable .

De Bortoli

Noble One Botrytis Sémillon 2020

Sweet. Stone fruits (apricot and peach). I would score it higher if it had a bit more acidity. Enjoyed with a pear tart. — 2 months ago

Daniel, Ted and 6 others liked this

Brokenwood

Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz 2021

No formal notes. Bright bright ruby colour , pink rim . Quite high toned red fruit with a touch of smoked spice on the nose , attractive and inviting . Strawberry , red plum , raspberry , orange rind and black pepper on the palate , mirroring the nose . Very good depth , rounded , velvety but noticeable tannins . Good fresh acidity, detailed and precise on the palate . Saline touch on the long finish with balanced alcohol. This is at the beginning of a long life , though it’s quality is clear . Even better in 10 years and last a further 10-15 — 3 months ago

Bob, Daron and 5 others liked this
Andrew Cullimore

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Thanks for the ideas Bob , Tyrrells I visited yesterday , a great place to go !
Bob McDonald

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They have some hard to get old vine Shiraz like Old Patch; 4 Acres and Johnnos Shiraz. Unless you’re a member I’ve had to buy through retailers who charge a lot more. Perhaps offered at Cellar Door but production would be small.
Andrew Cullimore

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Yes most of the limited wines they had sold out of … which I suppose is no surprise . But they did have a few older vintages of some of the Semillons, which I managed to purchase !

Tyrrell's Wines

Belford Single Vineyard Hunter Sémillon 2009

Medium straw colour, green reflexes . Quite intense lemon oil , wax , wet wool , grassy notes . Quite deep and intense lemon , candle wax , grapefruit , with a touch of creamy , toasted notes . Long very balanced refreshing finish . Still very young but showing well and will continue to improve over the next 10-15 years — a month ago

Ira, Bob and 3 others liked this

Mount Pleasant Wines

Lovedale Hunter Valley Sémillon 2013

Medium lemon colour with green reflexes . On the nose quite intense lime syrup , lemon peel, with honey , green herbs and a candle wax note . On the palate lime cordial and pithy lemon rind notes with a honied richness. Quite high , almost saline acidity . Quite intense with good length and slightly honied , toasty , herbal tinged finish. This is drinking well now though still showing quite young . Drink over the next 10-15 years — 2 months ago

Tom, Tom and 2 others liked this

Brokenwood

Hunter Valley Sémillon 2012

Light lemon colour . Beeswax , lemongrass , lemon peel on the nose. On the palate good body, with lemon and lime notes , beeswax and a herbaceous tinge . Still fresh acidity , this comes across as really quite young still, without the honied, toasty notes you expect with age . Still quite light on its feet, elegant and relatively lean . The length is ok , and perhaps lacks a little intensity on the mid palate , but for the basic Semillon this shows well . Drink now and over the next 10 years — 3 months ago

Ira, Tom and 4 others liked this

Clonakilla

Canberra District Riesling 2025

Gorgeous. Light on its feet. Green apple. mineral. — 2 months ago

Kamall, Ted and 6 others liked this

Brokenwood

Hunter Valley Shiraz 2018

Harmonious. Not too big. 14% abv. Delicious. — 2 months ago

Ted, Bob and 4 others liked this

Tyrrell's Wines

Vat 1 Hunter Valley Semillon 2017

World class! Stunning beauty of a wine. Silky, lemon-lime fruit with a very long finish. — 2 months ago

Ted, Ira and 4 others liked this
Severn Goodwin

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I really need to get AUS Semillon into the rotation.
Andrew Cullimore

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Great pick that one @Byron Hewett , had it recently really is worth the effort to find !

Clonakilla

Canberra District Shiraz Viognier 2014

Another favourite Australian Red but this 2014 vintage not showing as well as it normally does. I put it down to the vintage. Aromatically it is spicy but subdued; digging deeper there is earth and clove with herbs. With time, meaty aromas emerge. Perhaps more time will reveal more and provide more depth on the palate. — 3 months ago

Ira, Byron and 19 others liked this