Tony Love is a writer, wine lover and proud Adelaide Hills resident. He was named the Wine Communicators of Australia 2018 Legend of the Vine (SA), was a member of the Halliday Wine Companion reviewing team for the 2022 edition, reviews for Winepilot and judges at regional and capital city shows. He is the South Australian Wine Ambassador for the Asian-Pacific Region.
1Basket Range Bantam 2023
Adelaide Hills
12.8% | $35
An all-estate vineyard red blend from the original Basket Rangers, the Broderick family, winemaking steered now by son Sholto.
Varieties are Merlot and Petit Verdot at about a third each, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir each around 15%, plus a quirky addition of the Georgian red grape Saperavi. A youthful drinking style, yet with a decent amount of structure to it.
Light, yet not inconsequential. Leaf, earth, florals and stems all add to the subtle blue and black fruits. Quite charming and enticing in a unique expression.
2Ministry of Clouds LDR 2023
Adelaide Hills
13% | $38
LDR is the acronym for Light Dry Red, referencing a renowned history of similar wines from the Hunter and Yarra Valleys. This trophy-winning iteration of that story hones in on Pinot Noir, Syrah and Gamay in equal third proportions, each sourced from separate vineyards, yet forging a very drinkable, deeply considered singular style. Fragrance and flavours focus on crushed raspberry, with suggestions of pomegranate, white pepper and a delicate minerality. Simply delicious.
Chill it if you wish.
Pour it at a table of many Middle Eastern or Asian dishes.
3Wicks Estate Pinot Syrah 2022
Adelaide Hills
13.5% | $27
A blend that’s starting to gain a little traction in the Adelaide Hills, given the region’s suitability to raise a style similar to the revered Hunter Valley “Burgundies” of last century. Fast forward to the 2020s and here we have a most vibrant interpretation, (55% Pinot Noir, 45% Syrah from the Wicks vineyard bordering Woodside), fragrant with a definite woody spice to the crushed red fruit at its core. Juicy, energised and earthy with a savoury bay leaf edge in the finish. Quite expressive, yet with decent power as well.
4Hesketh Woodside Gamay 2024
Adelaide Hills
13% | $34
The Gamay variety has forged a remarkable identity in the Adelaide Hills in a very short time. This wine won the variety’s own class trophy at the region’s wine show late last year. A charming royal purple hue and vibrant floral/earth/musk and spice aromatics are an enticing start – think Pinot on a night out on the town. The palate swells encouragingly as you sip, crunchy summer berries with refreshing fruit tang, yet still gently textured in the finish. A delicious medium-weighted red, chillable if you wish. Suits flavour-packed cuisines.
5Trescowith The Naughty One Pinot Noir 2023
Adelaide Hills
13.5% | $35
The epitome of small-batch Hills winemaking, sourced from Alex and Julia Trescowith’s own vineyard in the Lenswood Valley, formerly a cherry and apple orchard, as well as another grower in Carey Gully. Pinot, of course, is the Adelaide Hills’ original light red wine variety, and this is a very pretty expression of how it plays out, perfumed with rose and sandalwood-like suggestions, then a fleshy palate, cherry juicy in terms of flavours, delicately mineralled in terms of texture, soft-hearted in the finish, echoing the initial perfumed aromas.
6Wind River Shiraz 2022
Adelaide Hills
14% | $25
Good ol’ Shiraz, known from other warmer regions to swamp the senses, heavy, chewy, oaky, over-ripe and other misdemeanours.
Adelaide Hills versions mostly don’t play that game, rather delivering a more elegant style, evident here in this delicious, medium-bodied wine from the south-western corner of the region, made by Matt Keoghan out of his parents’ Anvers vineyard.
It smells of crimson to black fruits with a crushed granite-like edge, the palate lively, spicy and lip-smacking. Modern, lighter style Shiraz without missing out on the variety’s much-loved flavour and spice.
