Riverland Wines

Ring the bell and hold the phone. We don’t give away five stars that often but this wine certainly gets it. Just a deliciously fascinating mid-weight Shiraz with earthy spicy characters and really impressive length. Far from a block buster this is a very find restrained Australian Shiraz for a very attractive price and organic too!

Not sure that we have ever seen a Montepulciano from Marlborough before but this is the real deal. A wine that shows the kiwis can do a whole load more than just produce aromatic whites. Originally from the Abruzzi region of Italy this easy drinking, savoury red is the perfect match with food like pasta, risotto and even pizza. The nose is laden with smoky fruit, tobacco and licorice before a silky palate of black fruit, dark chocolate and subtle oak.

The Echelon range from Kingston Estate, are wines that illustrate their commitment to producing the best examples of varieties from regions they believe in. This fascinating wine goes to show their utter belief in Petit Verdot, a variety that is rarely seen as a straight varietal. This is a wine that demands food, and the heartier the better so think meat and you’ll be on the right track. Indulge in its rich perfume of cherry and spice, layered tannins, integrated oak and persistent finish.

The idea behind Shiraz and Viognier as a blend, is to lend a subtle aromatic lift and a softness to the mouthfeel. That’s exactly what Angove’s achieve with their version and we think it’s the kind of wine that will pair well with a Bolognese or pizza. Nicely medium bodied with black fruits and intense peppery notes as well as a touch of apricot from the Viognier. It’s a soft and comforting mouthful that gets better and better in the glass.

Sustainable practices are becoming more and more common in vineyards across Australia as both consumers and winemakers search for a way to not mess with the environment. Angove’s have created a Shiraz Cabernet that is as pure as the day it was picked without the aid of fertilisers or chemicals. Packed with cherry, raspberry and spice, it’s nicely medium bodied with earthy, savoury flavours and subtle oak. A barbecue wine of the highest order, best matched with some sustainable meat products.

In French it means ‘little green one’, but we rarely see Petit Verdot as a straight variety as it’s commonly blended into Bordeaux style wines, to lend colour and complexity. Bill Moularadellis of Kingston Estate was convinced the variety could prosper in the Australian climate and his vision paid off, as it’s now seen as the benchmark Petit Verdot on the Australian wine scene. This wine is consistently awarded on the wine show circuit with its vibrant nose of violets and raspberry. Juicy berries on the palate aid texture and length while silky tannins and spicy oak complete the picture.

Produced from the Barich families vineyard in the South Australian Riverland, a vineyard located on the Murray River at Loxton and rightly admired as a pioneer for organic viticulture in this country, showing that organic grapes need not be more expensive to grow, nor do they need more water (the Barich vineyard uses significantly less water than many of it's neighbours). This then is a a lighter style of Viognier, still showing plenty of Viognier richness and fun, but without the oily fat that many others from this variety can show. Crisp, aromatic and delicious this is exactly what is required for the price point.

As consumers increasingly cry for more sustainable goods, so winemakers are making the effort to make wines that use organic farming methods. Here Angove’s show it’s possible to make a Chardonnay that did not need fertilisers or herbicides. It’s got pure Chardonnay aromas of melon, peach and citrus as well as some subtle oak. It’s got great texture and length and would enhance dishes of salmon or free-range roast chicken.

Would it be easier if both Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio were just labeled Pinot G? There is always some confusion with the variety, however it’s just the same grape yet made in an Italian or French style. This is a nod to the Italian version with crisper, leaner fruit that recommends itself to seafood or antipasto plates. So typical of the variety it shows pear and apple on the nose and palate, has a refreshing fruit profile and ends with clean acids.

The Angove portfolio of wines never ceases to amaze us delivering quality and consistency across a wide range. The Select wines are chosen to represent the best regions for the varieties. This Sauvignon Blanc is from the Adelaide Hills and shows all the vitality we’ve come to expect from the region. It’s heightened with grassy and passionfruit flavours, while the plate shows great fruit weight and length with clean citrus acids on the long finish.

For over 100 years the Angove family have farmed and produced wine in South Australia. The Nine Vines range is made for everyday drinking and thanks to the lightness of alcohol in this Moscato you can drink it all day. Well that’s not quite true, but it is the best thing for a brunch or to match with a fruity dessert. It’s fun, fruity and a little bit fizzy with enticing sweetness and gentle acids.

Easily the most impressive wine in the Nottage Hill range, this marries the sort of smooth affability that you'd expect in the Nottage Hill wines with an extra filip of dry leafiness that is rather welcome. Approachable yet not sickly simple vino.

This wine can be best summed up in two words... Not terrible. Obviously that sounds a little like damning with faint praise, but here us out. To put it bluntly, most budget Pinot Noir is plain awful. It's sickly sweet or dried out and raw, often driven more by residual sweetness and not flavour and finished off with a palate that tastes nothing like Pinot Noir grapes. But this is better than that. It actually tastes pretty good. Light and simple sure, but entirely drinkable at that.

Semillon Sauvigon Blanc - the blend - is nowhere near as cool as used to be, it's mantle having been taken by Sauvignon Blanc (and particularly Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc). Still, it's a reason that these two were matched up together, with the Sauvignon Blanc providing aromatics and punch, matched to the more mouthfilling and textural elements of the Semillon. Here that means a simple, yet correct, and affable sort of wine with plenty of forthright grassy.citrus flavours.

With a glowing, bright pink colour this wine embodies the Australian sunshine, the fun people and recalls warm days by the beach. Vibrant raspberry, strawberry and cherry aromas intermingle with fresh fruit salad fl avours and a lovely refreshing crispness on the palate. A dry finish makes this a versatile “food” wine, matching any grilled fish or meat and the juiciest tomato salad.

Colour: Pale straw. Bouquet: Lifted aromas of pear with touches of spice and fresh apple. Palate: Soft and approachable with nashi pear flavours integrating with mouth-watering acidity giving the palate a refreshing, crunchy texture. Food: Battered flathead with homemade tartare sauce.

Colour: Very pale straw with green hints. Bouquet: Strong citrus aromas with subtle hints of freshly cut grass and gooseberries. Palate: Vibrant grapefruit and lemon rind with crunch acidity providing a clean, crisp palate and impressive length. Food: Freshly shucked Coffin Bay oysters. Barbequed chicken.

Colour: Medium straw with a slight green/gold hue. Bouquet: Fresh melon notes are complemented by toast and mushroom aromas. Palate: Soft and round with good persistence of flavour and a fine persistent bead. Food: Fresh seafood.

Inky black with purple and garnet hues, this wine follows its lovely colour with aromas of rich plum, redcurrant and liquorice together with spicy vanillin oak. On the palate its soft silky texture and fruit richness have great length, and finish with exquisite mouth filling dark fruit flavours. This wine is ideal with kangaroo or your favourite steak.

The wine is a deep red colour with a bouquet of violets, blueberries, plums and spices reminiscent of a Christmas cake. These flavours continue onto the palate with the spice characters of clove, cinnamon and vanilla well integrated with vibrant cherry fruit flavours. The palate is medium to full bodied with generous fruit and rich tannins. The fruit retains a vibrancy of wild flowers and berry flavours with a wonderful length of flavour. Food Suggestions: This wine has the versatility to complement almost any dining situation. Try it with succulent roast lamb or pork or as an accompaniment with matured cheddar.