Fragrant, fresh, spicy.
I love reds from Australia's cooler regions, and this Lodge Hill from Jim Barry in Clare is a great example. Made from the Lodge Hill Vineyard vines (planted in 1977) it's inky-purple in colour with expressive black raspberry and mulberry, violets. sarsaparilla and sweet mocha notes. Leaner and fresher than the nose would suggest, the palate offers wild purple berries and peppery spices are layered with flavours of toasted spice, espresso and earth.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 30th, 2020

Fragrant, generous, seamless.
I love reds from Australia's cooler regions, and the Jim Barry is a great example. It is inky-purple in colour with notes of mulberries and vanilla, blueberry and baking spices, cedar chips and wildflowers. The entry is supple, and is has a generosity of bright and juicy fruit. Deftly woven and seamless, it has a long smooth finish.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 17th, 2020

Singular, precise, juicy.
You're likely wondering what Assyrtiko is doing in Clare Valley, that is if you're familiar with this Greek varietal. As it tuns out, Peter Barry and his wife were vacationing on the Greek Isles in 2006 when he came across a wine that reminded him of the beloved Rieslings of his Clare Valley. He gathered cuttings, they went in mandatory quarantine (a typical step in the wine world) and vines were finally planted in 2012; 2014 marked the first vintage of Assyrtiko in Australia.
It's my first taste of this wine; an exciting sip for a wine writer and from it I got a nose of racy lime, candle wax, peach stone and crunchy white fruits. It's juicy AF with oodles of lime and snappy tree fruits. Focused and precise, it's a great bottle for a story or with crisp salads, oily fish, or runny cheeses.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 24th, 2020

Stylish, fresh, precise.
King estate is an established family owned property and their well-known Pinot Gris offers honey and guava, melon, bergamot and lime aromas. It is fresh and dry, with wonderful precision, concentration and length. A proper Gris that is delightfully stylish.
Pair: oily fish, creamy mushroom dishes, Moroccan cuisine.
©copyright 2018 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 8th, 2018

Potent, fragrant, unctuous.
Very perfumed; think rose scented soap, lychee, pomelo, honey and 5-spice. Unctuous on the palate it is spicy and has that soapy/glycerol texture and thick spicy finish. The acid is balanced though and cleans the palate nicely.
©copyright 2018 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 21st, 2018