Brokenwood Shiraz Kat's Block

{screwcap, 14%} Mid-garnet, about right for age. Muted nose of faint cherry fruit and white pepper. Palate is tart and sour, with a little cherry fruit, low/medium acid, low-level gritty tannins, and a fast-blossoming but short finish. Doesn't seem much to this at all. Maybe just medium weight, if I'm generous. Auction buy - doesn't seem obviously heat-damaged, but I'd have expected better than this from such a fine vintage. Hard to know what to make of it. If I …

Supple, detailed, with the glossy Brokenwood treatment. Fuller than medium bodied, this is drinking well now with a short decant. Very good to excellent. Now to 5 years. From 375ml under screw.

This is very good and great value for money in the context of Hunter Shiraz. Purple fruits with a streak of charcuterie and liquorice. No probs drinking now either but will certainly age well. Really delicious. Silky.

For me a nicely Rhone style Shiraz. Cool, gently plummy and white pepper. Very nice.

Hunter Valley - 3 Cellar Doors (Hunter Valley) : {screwcap, 14%, A$50} From a great Hunter vintage, this hits the right spots, even if the price is pushing things a bit. Leathery dark red fruits, soft spicy oak, a touch of leather, medium weight, with medium acid, dry and savoury dusty tannins, and a medium length finish. It’s quite dense, and seems made in a drink-now style; it’s perfectly open and expressive, with even palate presence right along the tongue. …

Hunter Valley 2019 Trip; 3/8/2019-3/9/2019 : Redcurrant, spice, pepper and earth flavours. Really nicely put together, this has a good mix of savoury and sweet elements. Good length and balance. I was impressed.