Winestate Magazine

Editor & Publisher Peter Simic E: editor@winestate.com.au Managing Editor Lara Simic E: lara@winestate.com.au NZ Editor Michael Cooper E: michaelcooper.wine@outlook.com Administration Lyn Hannam E: administration@winestate.com.au Graphic Designer Nao

WELL, THINGS ARE CERTAINLY CHANGING IN THIS EVER-ADAPTING COVID AFFLICTED WORLD and as such we have felt that we need to change along with it. For a start, we have for a long time been urged to change to a points-based system by some in the trade and

ANYONE involved in winegrowing knows producers have to play the hand they’re dealt each harvest. Last year Mother Nature was kind enough but the escalating coronavirus pandemic delivered a uniquely new set of challenges. This year, Mother Nature agai

METEOROLOGICAL spring in the northern hemisphere is March, April and May. In five of the last six years, Europe has been hit by spring frosts, of varying extent and damage. This seems counter-intuitive in the glare of climate warming claims. The fros

A RED wine that suits all occasions at the dinner table must be smooth, velvety and supple on the palate. Not too heavy, not too alcoholic, not too jammy but pleasantly fruity and not overpowering. It should be an all-rounder, preferably medium bodie

CANBERRA is more accessible than ever for Sydneysiders. The massive WestConnex road system begins at the back of Newtown on the edge of the CBD and a drive to the nation's capital now takes under three hours. It's a great incentive for more frequent

THE Uraidla Hotel, a magnet for wine lovers, offers visitors the chance to do a 30-minute wine tasting in The Tank – its spectacular underground cellar. Book ahead for tastings for between two and eight people, for $25 per head. Licensed in 1867, The

110 TASTED 79 AWARDED After many years of experimenting the Hills are starting to hit their straps! With many different micro-climates in the same place and the tendency to like alternative varieties it is not surprising that this is so. Whilst it wa

244 TASTED 137 AWARDED This is one of our favourite judgings of the year involving king cabernet sauvignon and its siblings; merlot, malbec, cabernet franc and petite verdot, often described as bordeaux blends. (Note the lower case “b” in bordeaux be

47 TASTED 47 RECOMMENDED Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s second-largest wine-growing region, with 12% of the country’s total area of bearing vines. Chardonnay and claret-style reds (cabernet sauvignon and merlot-based) have been the traditional successe

57 TASTED 44 AWARDED These wines offer some amazing opportunities for great value wines for everyday drinking, whether at home or your on-premise outlet. Exciting alternative varieties also do exceptionally well in these high volume warm climates as

64 TASTED 50 AWARDED With the world going “dry” these two classes of sweet whites and fortifieds, it could be argued, are greatly under presented these days in any selection of fine wines. However, for the aficionado or the newcomer, these offer grea

55 TASTED 54 RECOMMENDED There’s something for everyone in the latest batch of new releases, with outstanding examples of chardonnay, riesling, muscat, gewürztraminer, sparkling wine and pinot noir. The tasting also featured impressive pinot gris, sa

which includes hard-copy and digital versions plus full on-line access to Winestate’s web site and reviews. Available only through online order, www.winestate.com.au WINESTATE GIFT SUBSCRIPTION Tel: 08 8357 9277 www.winestate.com.au ■

WELCOME to our annual Winestate Organic & Biodynamic wine show awards. This year with additional entries from Europe we have expanded the title to include “International” in the name as we welcome more wines from France, Italy and Spain to join us in

Gemtree Wines Obsidian McLaren Flat Shiraz 2019 Gemtree Wines Obsidian McLaren Flat Shiraz 2019 “We are biodynamic farmers because we know it is better for our soil, vineyards, employees and the flavour of our fruit,” says Owner and Winemaker of Gemt

218 TASTED 122 AWARDED Another most enjoyable judging of organic and biodynamic wines. That's not to say that our judges are easy or preferential when judging these wines. Quite the contrary in fact! As you can see in the results there is no quarter

The Top Ten Organic & Biodynamic wines as selected by highest judges scores are: ORGANIC INDUSTRIES AUSTRALIA (OIA) BEST WINE IN SHOW AWARD SX CERTIFIED AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND AWARD 1. Gemtree Wines Obsidian McLaren Flat Shiraz 2019 98pts (ACO) 2. S

The Top Ten Organic & Biodynamic wines as selected by highest judges scores are: 1. Laudum Roble Monastrell Syrah 2019 ★★★★1/2 96pts (CAECV) 2. Bodegas Neleman 30 Wishes ECCV Valencia Spain Tempranillo 2019 ★★★★ 94pts (Organic/CAECV) 3. Bodega Cuatro

The Top Ten Organic & Biodynamic wines as selected by highest judges scores are: 1. MILLESIME BIO INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR BEST ORGANIC OR BIODYNAMIC WINE Famille Amirault-Grosbois Le Bourg Loire Valley - AOP Chinon France Cabernet Franc 2020 1/2 96pt

The Top Ten Organic & Biodynamic wines as selected by highest judges scores are: 1. Konrad Dry Marlborough Riesling 2017 ★★★★1/2 97pts (Biogro NZ) 2. Villa Maria Earth Garden Hawkes Bay, NZ Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 ★★★★1/2 96pts (BioGro NZ) 3.

Is updated in each issue of The Wine & Spirit Insider. Some wines may - if they are still available - remain in the next issue’s Best Value Wines listing. Others will sell out, or be replaced by higher-rated wines. The Wine & Spirit Insider’s Best Va

TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED AND DISCOVER A HIDDEN GEM, WHICHER RIDGE WINES. Whicher Ridge is the result of 10 years of work by the dynamic duo of Neil and Cathy Howard, a vigneron and winemaker couple with a combined 50 years of grape growing and wi

Agnew Wines Pty Ltd Phone: 02 4993 3600 Email: RRaper@agnewwines.com.au Web: www.agnewwines.com.au Nova Vita Wines Phone: 08 8356 0454 Email: sales@novavitawines.com.au Web: www.novavitawines.com.au Berton Vineyards Phone: 02 6968 1600 Email: wine@be

AS a journalist who writes about trends across a range of subjects, I have always been cautious about joining media pile-ons spruiking the next big thing. In the majority of cases, articles tracking upsurges invariably omit to mention the dominant ma

*Normally we would have a series of trade and consumer tastings scheduled across Australia at major function venues but with the current social distancing and constantly changing event rules in place this is clearly impossible. Although many events h