Moorooroo Park ‘Lotties’ Shiraz 2016

Clear, deep, ruby with thick tears.

Clean, developing, medium+ intensity nose of red fruits, eucalypt and vanilla. Some heat evident that persists through to the palate.

Dry, high acid, medium chalky tannins, high alcohol (15%), full body, medium+ flavour intensity of blackberry, plum, cloves. Long finish, juicy, mouth-watering acid lingers. A generous and luscious palate.

This wine has little tertiary development and would benefit from aging – perhaps open the next bottle around 2030- and be sure to decant. This is a very good wine (94 points) with good (but not excellent) balance – a “blockbuster from Barossa” if you will!

Steak, roasted and barbecued red meats would be a perfect way to enjoy this wine.

Dandelion Lionheart of the Barossa 2018

Clear, deep, ruby with a purple rim.

Clean, youthful, medium intensity nose of baked plum, cranberry, sweet spice (cinnamon, clove), hint of vanilla (suggestive of used oak).

Dry, med+ acid, med tannin, high alcohol (14.5%), med+ body, medium flavour intensity of blackberry, plum – some jamminess. Med+ finish, juicy, acid lingers a little.

This is good to very good wine (93 points), mid-priced (excellent QPR in the low to mid $20’s), can drink now but has potential for ageing up to 10 years (2030). If you drink now be sure to decant!

This is a steak and three veg kind of wine, perfect for winter quaffing.

Rockford “Basket Press” Shiraz 2011

A clear, deep, garnet wine with a few thick legs appearing. Medium (+) intensity nose, clean and developing with red fruit and mocha – vanilla evident from oak treatment.

Dry with medium, fine tannins, medium+ acid and high alcohol (14.2%). A medium+ bodied wine with medium+ finish and medium(+) flavour intensity of raspberry, blackberry and a hint of dried herbs and black pepper.

This is an excellent wine (95 points), high-priced ($65) drinking well now, but will show improvement through to 2022.

A restrained version of the Basket Press, perhaps due to the difficult 2011 vintage, but a lovely wine nonetheless. Will benefit from decanting.

Alkoomi Shiraz Viognier 2012

Alkoomi Shiraz Viognier 2012
Alkoomi Shiraz Viognier 2012

A clear, medium, ruby wine with thick but clear legs. Medium intensity nose clean and developing with red fruit (cherry), plum, hint of black pepper. Oak treatment very subtle (only 33% in new French oak).

Dry with medium fine tannins, medium+ acid and high alcohol (14.5%). A medium+ bodied wine (despite the alcohol) with medium+ finish and medium flavour intensity cherry, pepper, hint of blackberry and a touch of the co-fermented Viognier coming through.

This is a very good wine (94 points), mid-priced ($23) and will drink now, but will show improvement through 2017 to 2019.

The Alkoomi is a very good expression of the Côte-Rôtie style and will pair barbecued foods, pizza, beef and pork.

UPDATE: (12 April 2020) I drank one of three remaining bottles on the Easter weekend and I am happy to report that the wine has improved and is stunning – my points have increase to Gold (95 points). Tertiary characteristics really evident now, smoked meat, Viognier has receded a bit, a nuanced wine.

Dandelion Lionheart of the Barossa 2014

Dandelion Barossa Shiraz 2014A clear, deep, ruby wine with thick legs. Medium+ intensity nose clean and developing with vanilla, baked plum, blackberries and a hint of cloves.

Dry with medium+ firm tannins, medium+ acid and high alcohol (14.5%). A medium+ bodied wine with long finish and flavours of jammy plum, blackberry, sweet spices and a touch of dark chocolate.

This is a very good wine (93 points), mid-priced ($27) and will drink now, but will improve to 2025. Quite young and tight at the moment so some aeration is advised.

This wine follows good vintages in 2012 and 2013 – it will suit barbecued and roasted beef / pork as well as cured meats. Will cut through big Mediterranean dishes too but will overpower lighter or subtler expressions.