More pre-release 2014 Hunter Valley Shiraz and 2015 Semillon

I’m just cleaning up the Evernote folder today (love Evernote, helps keep my notes together on all devices) and discovered a few more tidbits from the big Hunter pre-release tasting back in May, plus a few other odds and ends tasted recently that I haven’t published yet.

While this was a rather hurried tasting of some embryonic wines, the quality of the ’14 reds were already on show. Conversely, the ’15 vintage is trickier (especially for Semillon) which shows in the Sems.

A special shout-out from all this lot to the quality of the ’14 Bimbadgen Shiraz. As a group, they stood out for their consistency and style. Worth hunting down.

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Sadly I’ve only got basic notes on some of these wines as they were tasted without background info – just about what’s in the glass. I’ve only scored the finished, bottled wines too (and wines tasted more recently as indicated).

Oh and the photo above is of the pre-release tasting. Stu Hordern (Brokenwood) is on the right in the very blue Brokenwood shirt, newly crowned winemaker of the year Mike De Iuliis in black shirt on the left.

Briar Ridge Dairy Hill Hunter Valley Semillon 2015
Juicy and passionfruity. Dry finish. Lots of vigour. Early drinking vitality. Lovely generosity. 17.8/20, 92/100.

Briar Ridge Stockhausen Hunter Valley Semillon 2015
Much more of a melon character here. Ripe, and powerful with lots of energy. Lovely mid term drinker. 18.5/20, 94/100.

Pepper Tree Alluvius Hunter Valley Semillon 2015
Lots of acid. Very serious and backward. Deep and thick acidity. Serious quality but all back palate. 18/20, 93/100+.

Thomas Wines Braemore Hunter Valley Semillon 2015 (Sample)
Much more generous and tropical. compared to the Pepper Tree but a little soft on the finish. An odd sample?

Tulloch Hunter River White 2015
Passionfruit, but also a bit heavy hessian. Gritty finish. A little rot? Less certain about this. 16/20, 87/100.

Briar Ridge Hunter Valley Fiano 2015
More Hunter than Fiano but isn’t that part of the story. Has a place though and certainly varietal and vital. Much to come. 17.5/20, 91/100.

Bimbadgen McDonald’s Road Hunter Valley Shiraz 2014
This looks really good. Juicy purple fruit, the oak is a little caramel but length is excellent. Ripe styled Hunter Shiraz, without a sharp edge in sight. 18/20, 93/100.

Bimbadgen Palmers Lane Hunter Valley Shiraz 2014
Really smart too. More savoury and chocolate than the juicy McDonald’s road. This really nails the Hunter style. All of 13.7% alcohol. and looks great. 18.5/20, 94/100.

David Hook Hunter Valley Shiraz 2014 (Sample)
Purple and a little sweet. Maybe a fraction skinny. Plump but looks a fraction outclassed here.

Margan W/L Hunter Valley Syrah 2014 (Sample)
Purple and juicy. Lots of classic hunter style her and has some tannins too. Quality wine here, though still feels pre-release.

Tyrrell’s Vat 9 Hunter Valley Shiraz 2014 (Sample)
Dry and backward. Quite rustic and dry. Great length. Maybe a bit broad? Lots of power though. Very promising.

Tulloch Pokolbin Dry Red Hunter Valley Shiraz 2014
High acid and not quite enough fruit. Has Hunter Burgundy style though. 16.8/20, 89/100+

Tulloch Private Bin Hunter Valley Shiraz 2014
Is this from the same winery as the standard Pokolbin Dry Red Shiraz? Such a different beast, with the alcohol at 14.5% too!  Bright, juicy and very plump. Loads of creamy richness and a long finish. Flashy and rich, juicy and ripe. This is really impressive. 18.5/20, 94/100.

Mcleish Estate Hunter Valley Cabernet Shiraz 2014 (Sample)
Hunter first, Cab Shiraz second. The tannins are a bit serious here. Making for a wine of some depth. Long. Not quite Lakes Folly but puts forward a fair case.

This was tasted last week: