The Auswine Forum

Hey folks,

I was just back in Adelaide for two a bit weeks (slightly extended due to travel chaos) and got through quite a few wines largely from my cellar... thought I would share the notes.

• 2009 d'Arenberg Cabernet Sauvignon The Coppermine Road - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (3/2/2026)
  Still deep red but trending to brown. A melange of red fruit over dusty oak and earth. Not really cabernet and more aged McLaren Vale but not bad in any way. Surprisingly tannic was my first impression on the palate but this softens with air. Resolved but not at all over the hill, really rather nicely balanced. Overall quite impressive. (92 pts.)
• 2009 Torzi Matthews Sangiovese Vigna Cantina - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley (3/2/2026)
  This was forgotten in the cellar. I'm sure it's not my wine but neither dad nor I can recall where or when it was picked up. I thought this would be past bring out your dead territory but it was a real surprise packaged. Varnish and lifted cherry on the nose which blows off and evolves with air. Touches of earth and undergrowth as well. Moderately sharp on the palate with a bit of acidity still. I think you could be fooled to say Italian with this which is quite something to say. There you go, 17 year old Barossa sangiovese that I am scoring over 90 pts... Who would have thought. (91 pts.)
• 2006 Wirra Wirra Shiraz Viognier - Catapult - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (3/2/2026)
  Magenta red, some browning of course but no overly faded. Obviously aged but on the nose there is still plum with the viognier adding a sweeter note alongside more earthy development. What lingers of the fruit is smooth and resolved. Definitely time to drink up but a surprise that it is still hanging in there (good cellar from purchase at cellar door many moons ago). (88 pts.)
• 2007 Charles Melton The Kirche - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (2/28/2026)
  Fully resolved and classicly proportioned Barossa Shiraz. Mature and rounded with plum and liqueur fruit and very good length. Really a pleasure to drink and a great representation of the style and region. (93 pts.)
• 2005 Hugh Hamilton Petit Verdot The Nutter - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (2/28/2026)
  Probably not intended to be kept 20 years. I had several bottles of this back in the day and rated it highly - this having been a one off for this producer before pulling the vines out. Pleasingly and although quite fully mature this is hanging on and still offers some deep scented plum fruit along with earthy developed notes. Moderate length. Definitely time to drink up but still pleasant. (92 pts.)
• 2007 Capercaillie Shiraz The Ghillie - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley (2/27/2026)
  Pretty much fully evolved as you would expect at 19 years old but still quite full of life. Medium bodied plum fruit with a lick of tertiary earth like development. Rounded and even this is just drinking superbly now though I suspect close to the end of its ideal window. (93 pts.)
• 2012 Head Wines Shiraz The Contrarian Moculta - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley (2/27/2026)
  Deeply fruited still and quite youthful. This shows deep plum, brambly red fruits and a touch of pleasant undergrowth complexity. Relatively cool and savoury with really quite pleasant complexity and length. Terrific wine. (93 pts.)
• 2014 Tyrrell's Shiraz Johnno's - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley (2/27/2026)
  Deep red. Quite structured and layered nose. Pretty classy oak here on quite ripe fruit. When the Hunter works it really works. Excellent length and palate weight. No rush at all to drink this, should evolve a bit further and drink well for a decade. (93 pts.)
• 2001 Jacob's Creek Riesling Steingarten - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley (2/27/2026)
  Apparently I had three of these a long time ago and had none left which was for one reason or another not correct. For a 25 year old Riesling the screw cap really did the job here and this was astonishingly fresh. Citrus and a touch of toast on the nose. More toast than traditional Kero which is interesting. Bright acidity still on the palate as well as some rounder lime flavours. Maybe just starting to look at the end of its window so probably best to drink up but really what a tremendous wine. 92-93 pts (92 pts.)
• 2004 Shingleback Shiraz McLaren Vale - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (2/27/2026)
  I've noticed this bottle may be the "cellar door" label, not quite sure if that is different. Purchased at release from the cellar door this has been in my cellar for quite some time. I was a little concerned on opening due to a slight retinence at first but this opened up into a lovely aged red style where all of the elements have resolved into a single harmony of fruit and earth. Really rather delicious though definitely time to drink up. (90 pts.)
• 2012 Bleasdale Shiraz Powder Monkey - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek (2/25/2026)
  Deep red. Still quite youthful with dark red fruits, plum, a touch of earth. Medium to full bodied with decent acidity. Really very enjoyable albeit shaded out by a head to head with a Bin 389 from the same vintage. (92 pts.)
• 2012 Penfolds Bin 389 - Australia, South Australia (2/25/2026)
  Deep red still. Pretty classic nose with dark red fruits and a touch of glossy oak character. Full bodied but starting to relax on the palate. Decent length. Overall a classic Penfolds style from a very good vintage. Will probably still improve and certainly hold for a long time more. 92-93 pts (92 pts.)
• 2013 Tyrrell's Chardonnay Vat 47 - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley (2/24/2026)
  Still quite light yellow. Remarkably fresh on the nose with citrus and stone fruit elements. Classic Chardonnay framed by very classy oak. Perhaps a little old school in the oak and full butteryness element but that is a style I frankly enjoy. Fresh on the palate too with medium bodied yellow fruit and pleasant acidity. A contender for the best Australian Chardonnay I have tried, certainly of those from the "second tier" after the big guns Giaconda and Leuwin Estate. No rush to drink but it is drinking very well now. (94 pts.)
• 2012 Marius Wines Shiraz Simpatico McLaren Vale - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (2/24/2026)
  Spectacular. Not sure I need to say more. Dark purple fruit with a herbal underpinning remains predominant. The balance is superb. Ripe but never over sweet. This label remains probably my favourite from the region. (93 pts.)
• 2015 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (2/24/2026)
  Still mid to full red. Quite youthful nose with ripe plum fruit and purple floral elements. A touch of mataro blood character. Supple and very approachable on the palate. Entirely ready to go at this age even under screw cap. Really just a delight to drink. (93 pts.)
• 2013 Henschke Riesling Julius - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley (2/24/2026)
  Surprisingly light yellow green still. A touch of kero on the nose overlaid on lime cordial. Really the lime element is predominant. Lime and chalk on the palate. Still very fresh despite the age. Maybe just a touch broad and finishing slightly short to really hit the high points but I think this is really rather special. No rush to drink. (92 pts.)
• 2010 Skillogalee Riesling - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (2/24/2026)
  Another year on and another bottle down for this label which again impressed. Drink to 7 years said the label but a screw cap and a good cellar says otherwise. Really rather good. (91 pts.)
• 2024 Spinifex Lola - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (2/23/2026)
  Mid yellow. Classic barossa semillon nose (entirely different to Hunter for example) with rounded citrus and a distinct oily character. Medium bodied palate, fairly round but with a lick of acidity to close. Quite pleasant overall. 88-89 pts (89 pts.)
• 2024 Brokenwood Chardonnay - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley (2/22/2026)
  Primarily Beechworth fruit with additional fruit from the Yarra and Hunter. This is a pretty classic Aussie Chardonnay with melon and stone fruit flavours balanced with a touch of citrus. Slightly broad and medium bodied but not over done. Reasonable acidity and length. Pretty decent for $28 on special. (88 pts.)
• 2024 Pirramimma Malbec McLaren Vale / Adelaide Hills - Australia, South Australia (2/22/2026)
  Boisterous sweet purple fruit on the nose, this has a ripe and glossy impression on the palate. Probably a touch over sweet compared to better examples of the grape but still quite pleasant and not too heavy. (87 pts.)
• 2008 Charles Melton Shiraz Voices of Angels - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills (2/20/2026)
  Blood red. Still quite fresh on the nose with deep plum fruit and oak spice. Some earth like development. Really quite long and complex on the palate with lovely balance. Gathered weight with air but a bit longer open and this did start to fall apart so I think it's probably squarely in the time to drink. Delicious. (94 pts.)
• 2012 Grosset Pinot Noir - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills (2/20/2026)
  Very little has changed with this since my last note two years ago. This still shows deep cherry fruit and earthy development. One could even say truffles. Really terrific wine and probably the best Aussie pinot I have tried. (94 pts.)
• 2014 Craiglee Shiraz - Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Sunbury (2/20/2026)
  Medium bodied with brambly ref fruits. A touch of green as well, almost garrigue but not too herbal or distracting. What really puts this wine apart is the impeccable balance. Even at 10+ years old this doesn't fall over when open two days. Great acid balance. Will continue to age gracefully for quite a few years more I would think. 93-94 pts (94 pts.)
• 2012 Majella Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (2/20/2026)
  Still quite deep red in colour, this delivers ripe high toned blackcurrant fruit and some oak spice on the nose. Medium bodied and still quite fresh on the palate. Drinking well without perhaps delivering the complexity and length to score higher. (92 pts.)
• 2012 Petaluma Cabernet Merlot Coonawarra - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (2/20/2026)
  Magenta red in the glass this shows as very structured on the nose with a touch of blackcurrant and some herbal notes framed by cedar oak. Medium bodied and quite complex in the mouth, without perhaps having as much intensity as might be needed to score higher. Still, delicious and drinking well now. Should age gracefully from here in a good cellar and under screw cap although I'm not sure how much better this will get. (92 pts.)
• 2014 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (2/20/2026)
  This is drinking super well for this classic label. Quite dense fruit still. Ripe but balanced. Not too much tertiary development going on, really still quite fresh. As often with this wine it drinks so nicely with age and is a terrific bargain. (92 pts.)
• 2008 Hugh Hamilton Shiraz The Rascal - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (2/20/2026)
  Rich, liquet plum type of wine. The fruit is still present and despite the ripeness hasn't shaded into a porty mess. The fruit is framed by some earthy development. Very pleasant and for $25 or whatever this was back in the day pretty decent value. (91 pts.)
• 2003 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet - Australia, South Australia (2/20/2026)
  Found this aging cheapie lost in the cellar. Didn't expect much but in honesty this was rather pleasant. The fruit has gracefully faded but remains present. Drinks a little like an aged claret, medium bodied and even weighted. Really quite pleasant and a surprise given the 22 years of age. (87 pts.)
• 2014 Petaluma Riesling Hanlin Hill - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (2/16/2026)
  Despite cellaring professionally since release this is absolute toast as other recent notes mention. Full golden colour. Oxidised and stripped palate. No redeeming factors. I still have two left but not optimistic. Disappointing for this label. NR (flawed)

Posted from [url=https://www.cellartracker.com/]CellarTracker[/url]

What’s the issue with the Petaluma?

I’ll try an 05 today under stelvin!

JamieAdelaide wrote: ↑Sat Mar 07, 2026 10:41 am What’s the issue with the Petaluma?

I’ll try an 05 today under stelvin!

No idea, I have a bunch of different vintages back to 2010 and this is the first one I have had that had completely fallen over ... and based on the cellar tracker notes others have had the same experience with the 2014.

I recall a vintage around then that when I tried it I thought it was a terrible style and wouldn’t cellar well. I stopped buying Petaluma. Maybe it wash 2014.

The 2005 was a lovely wine under stelvin. Slightly ripe and plush fruited, nicely rounded out for Riesling an an easygoing trail of acid and phenolics to finish.

JamieAdelaide wrote: ↑Mon Mar 09, 2026 9:17 pm I recall a vintage around then that when I tried it I thought it was a terrible style and wouldn’t cellar well. I stopped buying Petaluma. Maybe it wash 2014.

The 2005 was a lovely wine under stelvin. Slightly ripe and plush fruited, nicely rounded out for Riesling an an easygoing trail of acid and phenolics to finish.

They can be quite ripe compared to other CV’s, and don’t always have the acid that its neighbours have

I've always thought that about one in ten Petaluma riesling vintages are wonderful.
1980 was terrific, 1990 was good. 2002 is decent.
That's why I don't buy it!

I’m happy with my Petalumas from good vintages in the cellar.

I had the 2005 alongside the 2005 Seppelt Drumborg Riesling and the Petaluma more of an upfront crowd pleaser- riper, rounder and less austerity and steeliness in the acidity.

Petaluma is a decent variation from the normal in good vintages . But I moved away when a few vintages a decade or so ago seemed tropical and sweet. There was a weird trend in SA to try and bring some kind of Frankenstein monster here with an odd Mosel like influence ( residual sugar and botrytis ).

Steingarten and absolute classic wine before they Bastardised it. Enjoyed many in a past life. Sadly didn't cellar any and wouldn't touch whatever they call it now. Long gone the single vineyard offering. I have always wondered where that fruit goes now and what's happened to that Vinyard.
Thank you for bringing back those memories of a wonderful bygone era.

I have both the 12 Majella and 12 Petaluma Coonawarra in the cellar, so sounds like i better crack one and see.

Petaluma Hanlin Hill I have stopped buying too. Last vintage was 2017 in the cellar. Mainly as the for the same dollars there are spectacular offerings such as JB Florita, Pews 1961, Merle , Leonay, ect.

Rossco wrote: ↑Wed Mar 11, 2026 8:54 pm Steingarten and absolute classic wine before they Bastardised it. Enjoyed many in a past life. Sadly didn't cellar any and wouldn't touch whatever they call it now. Long gone the single vineyard offering. I have always wondered where that fruit goes now and what's happened to that Vinyard.
Thank you for bringing back those memories of a wonderful bygone era.

I have both the 12 Majella and 12 Petaluma Coonawarra in the cellar, so sounds like i better crack one and see.

Petaluma Hanlin Hill I have stopped buying too. Last vintage was 2017 in the cellar. Mainly as the for the same dollars there are spectacular offerings such as JB Florita, Pews 1961, Merle , Leonay, ect.

I had an 02 Steingarten last week…. Drinking really well. Not too much kero, quite toasty with cleansing acidity

I’ve had a few 03 Steingartens recently and not a great vintage but stelvin does the trick. It’s a grumpy Riesling, long, minerally a steely, sells it as a better food proposition.

I went back to look at old Steingarten notes and found I thought the 01 looked pretty good, but then it was only 12 months old at the time!
2001 Jacob's Creek Riesling Steingarten - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley (6/09/2002)
NobleRottersSydney - Hunter Valley dinner (Darling Mills, Glebe): More stelvin. This is ultra-closed – I can scarcely detect any aromas at all on this wine. A hint of minerals & musk perhaps, but that’s being imaginative. Some steely acid on the palate, but even this is not as persistent as I expected (maybe this is a consequence of tasting young Hunter semillon beforehand). Not a ‘generous’ wine by any stretch. If there are rieslings made in Australia that are absolutely NOT intended to be drunk young, this surely must be one of them. Maybe it will blossom. Maybe I’ll taste some more older Steingartens one day and find out.

I had a 2006 just recently (decent but no more) and noted that even back then the label described the wine as "a tribute" to the original vineyard. I think after it stopped being a single vineyard bottling it became all-Eden, then lost the "Orlando, then it just became "Barossa' and - presumably - another line on some sales spreadsheet somewhere. Wouldn't be surprised if the original vineyard was abandoned or sold off by now.