Stephen Pannell’s beloved Koomilya vineyard leads the way this month, with three 2018 single-block Shiraz wines out now: JC, DC and GT. Steve fell in love with this McLaren Vale vineyard as a young winemaker because of the strength of its personality, and the wines bearing the Koomilya name are magical, mythical explorations of terroir.
Other new releases come from Tasmania and Victoria. First up, Lou and Joe of Stoney Rise have an exotic suite of 2021s: Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau and a first-ever Savagnin join sulphur-free No Clothes Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, while we also have the 2020 Chardonnay and “regular” Pinot Noir. And from Chalmers we have the second release of their Falanghina, Pecorino and Col Fondo sparkling Aglianico rosato.
Rounding out the domestic stories is some additional praise for Corymbia’s 2020 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon and Marco Lubiana’s Huon Valley Pinot Noir from the same vintage.
On the imports front, we have the first 2020s from Gunderloch, whose popular Jean Baptiste Kabinett is celebrating its 30th birthday. From neighbouring Austria, Prager’s superb 2020s are causing a massive stir. Cigliuti’s in the news again, after a standout performance in a Vinous Media article on Everyday Piedmont.
Last but not least, the 2019 Karasì Areni Noir has landed from our friends Zorah in Armenia. Once again, it’s a resounding statement on the specialness of those ancient mountain vines.
Click here to read the newsletter in full.