"From the Stonegarden vineyard, 1858 plantings. Raised in 600 litre barrels. Contains a dash of Mataro (8%).

Rosy perfume, raspberry, spice, fresh mint, milk chocolate and hazelnuts. Medium-bodied, silky glycerol feel, ripe fine tannin buried under it, succulence of red fruit with some dried herb, beautiful texture, and a very long, pretty finish. Drink after a year or two more in the cellar."
Rated : 95+ Points Gary @ Winefront.com.au
 

A blend of Barbera, Dolcetto and Pelaverga dedicated to Olek's daughter Carolina. 2017 was an hard, hot and dry vintage. The Barbera was very concentrated and high in alcohol as a result; so Olek decided to blend in some dolcetto and pelaverga. The result is a beautiful wine, plenty of freshness as the barbera only went through 50% of the malolactic fermentation.

"This is a barbera with some dolcetto and pelaverga. Powerful but fresh style here. Barbera didn’t suit a solo wine in 2017 from Olek, per se. I loved this wine from tank during my visit to Olek Bondonio in June 2018, great to see it come to life here.

Many people know I don’t go a bunch on Shiraz, or more precisely, I have quite specific needs. Luke Lambert is the Jim Clark of winemakers.
Neon purple, perfume, pepper, boysenberry, blackcurrant, honey biscuits. It’s light to medium-bodied, intense small berried black fruit, plenty of bunch and spice, highlight is ultra-pure mineral water acidity, fine chalky tannin, and a long crisp peppery finish. Wonderful delineation and expression of Shiraz. Often not for everyone, but works for me. And so often you are defined by what you don’t do.

Rated : 96 Points Winefront.com.au

“Early-release, low-sulphur, unfiltered Grenache.”

Raspberry, iron-filings, flowers and spice. It’s medium-bodied, juicy and lively, exuberant, but not sweet, with an under-current of ironstone, fine-grained tannin, cranberry acidity, and a musky perfumed finish of solid length, a stroke of emery tannin keeping it neat. It’s flat out delicious. Highly recommended."
92 points Winefront.com.au

2017 De Iuliis Steven Vineyard (A$40)was for me an excellent example of stylish, medium-bodied Hunter shiraz. Kirkwood was expansive, writing, “It starts with gentle-weighted, plush red fruits, builds through the palate and continues to develop into a rather demanding wine. Vibrant rose petal and violets to start with – seems light on its feet, then builds through a light- to mid-weighted raspberry and mulberry palate that flows through to a rather fine-framed yet lingering and beautiful wine.
Pure and pretty. The shape and flow are stunning.” 95 points Gourmet Traveller Wine

"The entry level Cabernet from Vasse Felix, and very good it is too.

Perfume, earthy lead pencil stuff, dark fruits, a little bay leaf and spice. It’s medium-bodied, dark fruit, tobacco, dark chocolate liquorice, crisp and so well defined, firm fine tannin, tight long finish. Complex savoury flavour, excellent shape, and high drinking pleasure. Tops."
Rated : 93 Points Winefront.com.au

Aromatics of white flowers, apple blossom and citrus. The palate is generous with a powerful mix of Granny Smith apple and freshly squeezed lime. The mouth-watering natural acidity leads to a pristine palate of balance and length.

Black jellybean, menthol, hedgerow, blackcurrant and raspberry. Medium-bodied, juicy burst but with black olive and pencil/earth savouries, buoyant, fresh, complex, dusty emery tannin, and a long and briary finish. Such a great drink. 94 or 95 points."
Rated : 95 Points Gary@winefront.com.au

Raspberry, cherry, light spice and smokiness, almond, floral prettiniess this vintage too. Bright red fruits, firm, brick dust tannin, very ‘mineral’ and stony, slip of orange peel and dried herb on the finish. It’s a complete iteration of Passorosso with weight of fruit, freshness and perfume all in the mix. Splendid."
Rated : 95 Points Gary @ Winefront.com.au