Welcome to Vine Verdicts - Where every bottle gets its say!

Our carefully selected 2025 tasting panel swirls, sniffs, and sips its way through a curated lineup of wines to bring you honest, insightful reviews. From hidden gems to cult classics, we deliver verdicts you can trust.
🍷Straight from the glass to your next great drop.🍷

MAY 2025

🍷 Reviewer @richiesipsvino

1838 RESERVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022
This Cabernet Sauvignon presents as a ruby with a brownish rim colouration, and a nose of medium (-) intensity, with notes of cedar, tomato leaf, with charred wood and very subtle dark plum. The palate shows medium sharp acidity, which promotes a medium intensity of juicy blackberry flavours coupled with subtle black plum, liquorice-anise, chocolate, coffee, caramel, and wood char. The tannins are soft and fully integrated. The alcohol at 14% helps promote the medium body. The length is medium (+) with a juicy & sharp blackberry flavour. In summary, this is a “Good” wine. It is a very smooth, easy drinking wine, with some complexity on the palate and a balanced structure. Fruit notes are restrained but present and persistent, and in combination promote a level of elegance and grace. I would suggest to drink now. Given the elegant style, this wine would pair well with roasted lamb.

Quality: Good

THE PERFECT STORM MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2023

Shiraz makes up approximately 46% of the total variety planted in Australia —so it is “the big gun-wine” in Australia. Looking at my cellar — 807 bottles (41%) are Shiraz of the total holding of 1960 bottles. This Shiraz presents as a deep purple–crimson colouration, with a medium (-) tolight aroma with subtle florals, blackberry, bramble. The palate shows a medium acidity, which is well balanced with medium, soft, fine integrated tannins and a high alcohol of 14.5%.It is textured with a medium (+) body, supported by medium intensity of blackberry and very subtle notes of plum, milk chocolate, vanilla, and oak spice. The length is medium (+) with a creamy blackberry finish. In summary, it is a simple, elegant, youthful Shiraz, which has a balanced structure with austere, subtle black fruits of creamy blackberry. Potentially a signature Shiraz of McLaren Vale? A wine to drink now. Given a lighter style, Shiraz would pair with roast lamb. Actually, I had a number of glasses with cheddar and just meditated.
Quality: Good

VIKING GRAND BAROSSA VALLEY GSM 2021
A blast from the past — I started cellaring seriously in 2003 and have very fond memories of Viking Wines, and the purchase and storage of the Viking Wines Grand Barossa Valley Shiraz. Those were the days!  This wine is based on the infamous GSM blend of the Southern Rhone. It presents with a medium intensity ruby with a slight brownish tinge, with a complex nose of cherry, plum, subtle raspberry, anise, oak, and vanilla, with Day 2 showing delicious notes of strawberry jam. On the palate, it has a balanced structure of smooth, fine, integrated medium tannins and medium (-) acidity with a medium body. Initially a bit dull on the palate with the flavours more subdued — subtle plum–prune and sour cherry — with Day 2 showing cooked plum, bitter dark chocolate, and a whisp of iodine. The length is medium with a blackberry finish. Potentially a need to decant to fully open up. In summary, a good, developing GSM with a fruit-forward element and levels of complexity. It’s easy drinking and enjoyable, with peak drinking now — so why wait? Pairing: barbecue and/or smoked meats, venison, or even a hearty winter stew.
Quality: Good+

THE COLONIAL ESTATE EXPLORATEUR BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ 2023
This Shiraz presents a deep purple–crimson colouration, with a nose of medium intensity of sweet oak, vanilla, black fruits such as blackberry and plum, tobacco smoke. The palate shows a dry, bright, juicy medium (+) acidity with integrated medium tannins and a high alcohol of 14.5%. This builds a soft, clean, rich, full body supporting complex medium (+) intensity flavours of blackberry, plum, vanilla oak, chocolate-mocha, sweet spice, liquorice, wood smoke, menthol, and orange peel. The length is long with a creamy vanilla–blackberry-like finish. In summary, a very good, delicious, rich Shiraz combining complex aromas and flavours highlighting black fruits and creamy vanilla, which is wrapped around a supportive balanced structure. A good representation of Barossa wine. Beautiful drinking now, but has potential for short-term cellaring. Given the bigger style, Shiraz would pair nicely with steak, beef, Osso Buco.
Quality: Very Good

CROWN & ANCHOR BUTTERY MCLAREN VALE CHARDONNAY 2024
Chardonnay — the winemaker's wine — given the many different styles that can be generated from the winemaker’s intervention both in the vineyard and the winery. Chardonnay, for me, given the multitude of styles, is always a wine that generates a “hit or miss” response with little middle ground. This Chardonnay presents as a medium golden colouration, with a medium (+) aroma of lemon, stone fruits of peach, apricot, and subtle herbal tones, hay, and oak. The palate shows medium (+) bright acidity and medium 13% alcohol with medium (+) rich, creamy textured body supported by notes of a citrus–stone fruit blend, oak, and spice.
The length is medium (+) with a citrus/stone-fruit finish, but with a disruptive burn on the lips. Has the ability to cellar. Given this rich Chardonnay, I would pair with any of the white/light meats, such as chicken, pork, veal. It also has the acidity to cut through creamy sauces, so I actually paired with a white fresh fish with a rich creamy white sauce. Boy, I am getting hungry just talking about it!
Quality: Good to Very Good Wine

SHANAHANS EVERGREEN EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2023
I am a “nutter” for Australian Riesling, based on the QPR (Quality Price Ratio) and its ability to age and evolve. Eden Valley, with its high altitude and coolish climate, tends to drive wines of lower alcohol and higher acidity. Shanahans Riesling presents with a lemon-greenish colouration, with complex aromas of medium (+) intensity of dominant citrus-driven fruits of lemon and lime, which develop in glass to pear and apple, supported by subtle notes of florals and lemon grass. On the palate, dry with medium (+) lively acidity and lowish alcohol of 11.5% driving a light “watery” body. The flavours are medium (+) intensity and more simplistic than the aroma, with a flavour hit dominated by citrus notes. It has a medium length with a slight sour citrus (memories of Warhead lollies) on the finish. In summary, a “Good,” simple, outhful, refreshing Riesling with purity of fruit. Drink now. Pairing a no-brainer, as Riesling is so versatile with foods such as fresh seafood, shellfish, oysters, Thai & Japanese cuisine. I actually paired this wine with sashimi and sushi — just perfection!
Quality: Good Wine

🍷 Reviewer @Malaika

SHANAHANS THE BARKING DOG BAROSSA VALLEY GRENACHE SHIRAZ MATARO 2023

Notes: This was my favourite of the selection! A beautifully balanced wine with soft subtle tannins. Juicy dark plum and blackcurrant with soft pepper, dried herbs and allspice. Great balance of savoury and sweet fruit flavours. Medium bodied with a long finish. Taste the fruit on the palate for quite some time. A delicious blend from a great producer. Incredibly moreish. Enjoyed it with Porterhouse Steak and mash

VIKING ODINS HONOUR BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ 2019
Notes: First impressions, quite dull however after about 20 minutes in the glass it opened up a lot more. On the nose blackberries, liquorice, herbal, ripe strawberries, dark plum, savoury, pepper. On the palate, subtle tannins, blackcurrant, dark plum, blackberries, oak bark, eucalyptus, dried herbs. Finishes short however it’s a good example of a medium bodied Barossa Shiraz with ripe dark fruits and subtle tannins. Benefits from decanting. Paired well with Parmesan. I would drink again

THE DIANNE VICTORIAN SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024
Notes: An easy drinking Sav that isn’t too overpowering in flavour. Subtle passionfruit and tropical fruits complemented with citrus. Light in body and texture, quite refreshing. A wine that doesn’t need too much thought. Went well with prawn pasta. I would drink this wine again

THE COLONIAL ESTATE EXODUS EDEN VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2022
Notes: Enjoyed this wine from the first sip. On the nose you could tell it would be a great example of a bolder style chardonnay with notes of creamy butter, pineapple, stone fruits, peach and lemon curd. On the palate it was equally as pronounced as the nose with well-integrated oak, tropical fruits and citrus with a long creamy finish. A great example of a bold buttery chardonnay with lots of depth and balanced acidity. Went very well with a triple cream brie. I would drink this wine again

CONQUEST SPARKLING BRUT CUVEE NV
Notes: A simple but refreshing sparkling. Light in body and complexity. Good as an aperitif or to mix and have a limoncello or Aperol spritz. I prefer a cleaner crisp style of sparkling so I probably wouldn’t drink again. Would go well with prawns or fresh seafood.

NORMANS OLD VINE MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2018
Notes: I really struggled with this wine, I tried it multiple times but there was something really off-putting about it. It almost tasted like burnt peanuts which is very random. I don’t have too much I can say about it as I couldn’t get past the off-putting taste left in my mouth. I wouldn’t drink this wine again

JUNE 2025

🍷 Reviewer @richiesipsvino

KILIKANOON OATH CLARE VALLEY GSM 2023

The wine presents with a deep Ruby colour. It is very subdued on the nose with a medium (-) intensity. It has aromas of charred wood with subtle savoury and leather characteristics and a splash of raspberry.
The “highlights” are associated with palate. It’s a dry developing red, with medium (-) flavours of cherries (which became more obvious on Day2) and plum combined with a background of liquorice and spice. It’s beautifully balanced with smooth, ripe, integrated medium tannins with supporting acidity. The body supported by 14.5% alcohol, invokes a medium (+) rich creaminess which fills the mouth. The length is medium with a subdued “creamy textured cherry” and a savoury mellow finish. This is an exceptionally well-structured wine that is elegant with subdued flavour and aromatic intensity. It is a “Acceptable to Good”, drink now, easy mid- week wine to drink with or without a meal.It could complement meals with lighter meats such as pork & veal and simple BBQ meats.

GREENSLADE CURRENCY CREEK SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024

When you review wines, you should not let personal bias impact your assessment however to be fair I did approach this wine with some trepidation The wine presented with a bright lemon – green colouration.
The nose had a youthful pleasant and pronounced mixed aromas of lemon grass, herbaceous cut grass and elderflower combined with stone fruits of peach and subtle citrus impact of lemon- lime. The aromatics are the star performer. The palate was dry with medium integrated background acidity and body. The key flavour intensity was medium citrus – lemon & lime with supporting peach notes. It had a slight subtle enjoyable astringency (sour lemon) after taste. The length was long and the finish of peach and citrus. I was pleasantly surprised, this is a “Good to Very Good” wine with excellent balance and intensity and a good representation of Sauvignon Blanc. It could pair well with Seafood & Japanese and Thia Cuisine.

SONGLINES ESTATES BYLINES MCLAREN VALE SHIRAZ 2023

When I started cellaring in 2003, this wine brand was one of the first I cellared. My memory was it performed well. The wine presented as a medium Ruby colour. It had a medium intensity of herbaceous notes of celery, green capsicum, with subtle blackberry and spice. The palate was dry, with medium (+) intensity of bright raspberries, blackberries supportive plum and cherry with subtle musk, spice and pepper. It is well structured with medium (+) acidity and medium smooth, ripe, silky fully integrated tannins and a medium body. The length is long with a delicious finish of red and black fruits – raspberry, blackberry and plum. This is a “Very Good” wine with structure, balance and intensity. A good example of McLaren Shiraz, it could undergo short- medium term cellaring but I see no advantage in doing so. As the great music critic Molly Meldrum stated, “Do yourself a favour” and get into this wine at $12.99 it’s an intergalactic bargain! It is a delightful wine which can be easily enjoyed with or without food. It would pair universally with many of the heavier meat styles, such as roast beef & lamb, duck, BBQ meats and stews.

RAPTOR BIRD OF PREY GREAT WESTERN SHIRAZ 2022

The wine presented as a deep Ruby. It had medium intensity aromas of a “fruit bomb of stewed fruit” and fortified like port notes, subtle cherry Kirsch, herbal and menthol notes. A dry wine, dominated by a pronounced “jammy stewed plum flavour” It had medium (+) acidity and body with medium tannin.It had a long length with a cooked plum finish. I found this wine to be “Acceptable” if somewhat one dimensional dominated by stewed plums. It could pair with meat stews and braised dishes.

THE COLONIAL ESTATE EMISSAIRE CLARE VALLEY RIESLING 2025

As noted in previous posts I believe that Australian Riesling has a great QPR, which I believe this wine at $12.99 clearly demonstrates!
The wine presented as a pale lemon green colouration. The aromatics are pronounced and hit you as you approach the glass. It is youthful with notes of honeysuckle, musk, florals and subtle lemon and pears notes. On the palate it’s dry, with medium (+) acidity and a medium body. It has a medium (+) flavour intensity of, lemon sherbet, Granny Smith green apples and pear and ever-present subtle lemon sour citrus impact in the background. The length is long with a refreshing Granny Smith Apple & Pear finish This is a “Good” wine and great value for the money. It also has the potential to cellar for 3- 5years. For me Riesling is a no brainer with Seafood and Asia Cuisine such as Thai (noddles +) and Japanese (sushi). It can complement Pork and Chicken dishes as well.

LIMB VINEYARDS BAROSSA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of my favourite cellaring varieties and given the required attributes an aged Cabernet is amongst the royalty (move over Barolo) of grape producing wines. Dreaming of you Wynns, Balnaves, Fraser Gallop & Cape Mentelle, I could continue to rave but let’s get back to the wine at hand. In the glass it’s shows deep Maroon – Ruby shades. It’s a developing wine with initial medium intensity aromas were savoury related pepper, spice, vanilla, oak followed by subtle dark fruits of Blackberry and plum. On the palate a dry wine, with medium intensity berry and sour cherry with spicy impact, promoted by the medium (+) sharp acidity. The tannins are smooth and fully integrated. A high alcohol of 14.5% contributes to a slight burn. It has a long length with a red and black berries, oak and tobacco.
This is a “Good” developing wine, with primary, secondary and tertiary notes. The acidity on day 1 was sharp, it had settled down significantly on day 2. As the potential to cellar in the short to medium term. Best enjoyed with food. Pair with Roast Lamb or Beef, medium rare steak, mushroom dishes.

🍷 Reviewer @Malaika

SPRINGWOOD PARK ADELAIDE HILLS SHIRAZ 2023

Bold yet well-balanced Shiraz with bright, juicy dark fruit. Cherries, plum, pomegranate, blackcurrant, black pepper and subtle oak. Smooth tannins make it very easy to drink. A great example of Shiraz from the Adelaide hills. Paired well with roast vegetables and tahini. I would drink this wine again.

NORMANS CHAIS CLARENDON MCLAREN VALE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018

A wine with rich dark fruit, blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, cherry. Confectionary fruit complemented by dark chocolate, eucalyptus, menthol, and green capsicum. It shows savoury, jammy, and herbal characteristics with well-integrated oak and smooth tannins. Medium in length and complexity. Some tertiary characters came through after time in the glass. Tried it the next day and it lacked fruit and complexity. Drink once opened!

VIKING GRAND BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ 2023

A smooth, fruit-forward wine with notes of blueberry jam, black cherry, red apple, and subtle herbs. Medium to high tannins. Well balanced. Shared this with my Grandfather who loved it. Not the most common pairing but we enjoyed it with Fish and Chips!

AMAKIRA EPICURUS THE PHILOSOPHY BAROSSA VALLEY SHIRAZ 2023

Well-rounded Shiraz with jammy red fruit, dark cherry, plum, pomegranate, pepper, and subtle spice. Smooth tannins, subtle oak, and good balance. Approachable and not overpowering. Paired nicely with roast vegetable risotto. I would drink this wine again.

NORMANS HOLBROOKS ROAD PINOT GRIGIO 2024

Good example of pinot Grigio, pear and stone fruit on the nose as well as the palate. Light and easy drinking. A good summer wine that doesn’t require much thought. Enjoyed with a cheese platter.

1838 RESERVE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024

Very light and watery. Some notes of passionfruit and lime but a very subdued wine with not much to it. Used it for cooking which was fine but I wouldn’t drink this again.