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Barossa Be Consumed is one of the top 3 wine festivals on the Melbourne wine calendar. The Barossa Valley literally picks up and comes to our door (well, to the North Melbourne Meat Market, which is one cool venue!) At this year’s show, over 45 wineries showed up to sample their awesome wares. As you will see in our wines of show below, even seasoned wine tasters such as ourselves discover something new and fresh at this event each year. If you haven’t been before, you should save the date for 2020 now!
As usual. with so many producers, we could not hit them all. Instead, we focused on those we have visited less frequently (or never before). You can find our picks of the show from these wineries below. Wineries that we didn’t visit at the show this year but that we can always recommend as exceptional quality include: Izway Wines, Kellermeister, Rolf Binder, Schild Estate, Schwarz, Bethany Wines, and Yelland & Paps.
Our Wine of the Show:
* Arno 2018 Grenache – Another Arno Grenache miracle. Is it possible this one is even better than the last? There is a simultaneous depth and brightness to Arno’s Grenache that we cannot explain. It is vibrantly alive but worthy of ponder. A purity, a roundness, a completeness to this wine… since we cannot quite capture it in words, buy this wine for yourself. You’ll see what we mean! $30
Other notables:
* Brockenchack 2017 Hare Hunter Pinot Noir – A very serious French-style complete Pinot Noir. While you wouldn’t call it heavy, the wine still achieves a satisfying heft and depth not typically seen in AUS Pinot. A perfect rich food wine (no pun; would be awesome with hare stew). We loved it! Hope to see more of this varietal coming from Eden… $25
* 2015 Edenmae Cabernet Sauvignon – Edenmae has done it again with their Eden Valley (cooler section of Barossa) Cab Sav. Delicious, plump fruit flavour shines through in this one. Ample blackberry with strong notes of ripe blueberry as well. $32
* Heathvale 2017 Belief Sagrantino – Probably the most balanced AUS Sagrantino we have ever had, which is the most critical but so rarely achieved key element for this powerful varietal. You couldn’t find much better in Italy. We don’t see near enough Sagrantino in AUS; drink this one and you’ll understand what we mean! $45
* Langmeil 2018 Rough Diamond Grenache – A quintessential Barossa Grenache. Sweet cherry balanced by bramble and discernible notes of peppery spice; it’s like drinking Barossa right from the bottle. Grenache has been underappreciated in AUS (though that is slowly changing). This one is as rewarding and engaging as any Shiraz. $30
* Rojomama 2018 Chiaro Tempranillo Grenache – In some ways one of the most interesting wines we had at the show and at the same time leaving you wondering why you don’t see this blend more often. Light for sure but yet an odd intensity of savoury at the same time. Very smoothly blended for an elegant and engaging drop that will keep you trying more as you try to unlock its secrets. $30
* Rusden 2016 Black Guts Shiraz – An archetypical Barossa Shiraz. Power, power, power, but cleverly restrained to spread gracefully across a broad palate. Dark berry, mocha, distant hints of violet … it’s all here. A massively rewarding wine-drinking experience. $80
* Spinifex 2018 Espirit Grenache Mataro – Savoury, funky, and all together rewarding. Spinifex is a perennial master at coaxing out the most engaging flavour elements in its wines, and that prowess is clearly on show in this one. Multiple layers of complex flavour intensity in this titillating bottle. $41
The above wines fully reflect #WhyWeLoveWine. To stay on top all our reviews, follow us at: facebook.com/winehuntersaus
To see our reviews for these wineries and many more, visit: http://winehuntersworld.com/wineries/