JM 1ST APPROACH

Here’s the second Barossa 2011 red that shows what uncommonly bright humans of exceptional sensory nous can do in the worst vintage of recent history. For once in my life, I can confidently quote a press release without rewriting the damn thing. This beauty seems to have taken some of the worst of the wettest vintage in history (I think that’s official now) and used it to become more French than Barossan. But you wouldn’t find a Frenchman doing this for $18. Philip White Indaily July 2012

WOW, power and intensity from the west. From the area renowned for cabernet sauvignon, shiraz lives in the shadows, but should never be ignored. Earthy, tobacco and dark fruits give this wine a brooding intensity. Juicy blackberry and plum, coffee and dry, intensely gripping tannin add some real punch. Firm, youthful and very bold, this is attractive on many levels. This is worth finding. Value: Excellent Food: Roast beef Rating: 4/5 Tony Love

WOW, power and intensity from the west. From the area renowned for cabernet sauvignon, shiraz lives in the shadows, but should never be ignored. Earthy, tobacco and dark fruits give this wine a brooding intensity. Juicy blackberry and plum, coffee and dry, intensely gripping tannin add some real punch. Firm, youthful and very bold, this is attractive on many levels. This is worth finding. Value: Excellent Food: Roast beef Rating: 4/5 Tony Love

Decent, quaffable pinot noir for under $20? It's almost impossible to find but this terrific value import from the south of France manages it ... “the best French Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy” .... It's on the riper side of the pinot spectrum, certainly no shrinking violet, but no brash bogan either. The (French) girl next door with smoothness, dark cherry fruit flavours, hints of earthiness and plenty of length. Windsor Dobbin

Smoky char characters, riper tropical/melon fruits, biscuity tones. Lift of citrus in bouquet too – it doubles back in palate with tangy, steely, linear acid which courses from front to back palate with fine length. Some mellow texture, deep flavour, youthful and mostly unadorned and feels very natural in fruit flavour. Soft, lacy acidity key here. 93 points Winefront.com.au

The stunning Ébano Crianza is made from 100% Tempranillo, known locally as Tinto del Pais, with an average vine age of 20 years. It has a vibrant purple colour with intense fruit notes of ripe cherries, mulberries and raspberries. The wood is well integrated and keeps alive the earlier fruit as well as adding toasty aromas. Ébano 6 is made from 100% Tempranillo and spends 4 months in French oak. Great fruity structure, powerful finish.

Full purple-crimson; if depth and power of flavour are the sole criterion of quality, this shiraz would get 100 points; the flavours, too, are very good indeed, the only point of criticism is the somewhat thick texture. Will cellar very well, and is an outrageously priced bargain. 94 points James Halliday

a dense and powerful old-vine wine from the Biscay clays of Bethany, inky black colour, intense kirsch and dark plum with mint, graphite, bay leaf, herb, dark chocolate and violet notes, full bodied, extractive palate with firm, gravelly tannins and plenty of new French oak (****1/2) GenXYWines

Swirls boldly in the glass, immensely satisfying and tapers to a click of briny acidity. I'd drink this in youth over age, but plenty left in the tank. Oh boy. Oh yes. Rated : 93 Points Winefront.com.au
... is looooong, with firm but fine tannins stretching out. Slow to open up and with a fantastic structure, this powerful wine needs a little sleep to begin to show the complexities that will develop with time. I think it will become a beauty! Great stuff Gavin Trott 

... savoury interplay with oak handled in its stride. Tannins are ripe, fine and disciplined. Ruggedly handsome yet frighteningly suave, this has the whole kit and caboodle going for it. 94 Excellent  Wine will eat itself