The Luke Lambert 2021 Syrah is one of the top Syrahs I’ve ever had from the Lucky Country. The 2022 is a bit more dense, darker, but similar character and will live a long life. I think there was a vineyard change in the two vintages. Solid winemaker.
Never tried the Nebbiolo or the Chardonnay, but have heard amazing things. Wish Vine Street Imports brought over his “Crudo” line of all three varietals, but it’s all small batch.
Of course! Now that you posted, Darren, you brought back the memory of you bringing this for us to try at dinner a few years ago. Thanks for the memory jog!
" 2018 Luke Lambert Yarra Valley Syrah
Darren brought this, a producer held in high regard but one I’ve not ever known. Cool aroma for a Syrah, with low-level eucalyptus poking out. Combined with come-hither deep plum, earth and dark chocolate. My, my. Zaps you with a super-tingly raspberry entry. This still needs a lot of time but has extremely interesting parts that are not yet knit together. No sense of heavy or overbearing whatsoever."
Simpler times Mike! 
too truly, Darren. I devoutly hope for a return to those times.
Had this 2005 Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham Cab this evening (with merguez sausages and grilled eggplant). Absolutely rocking. Power, fresh acid, bold black fruit and milk chocolate. Would go head to head with a Napa Cab 3x the price.
A good channel to follow - the indomitable JJ always has a good grasp of the wines of the land.
I was at the winery when this was released. It was the first vintage of the label and picked up a number of trophies. Today it is absolutely singing, with chocoberry dark cassis fruit. Gossamer tannins and real dimension and length. Still with plenty left in the tank. Absolutely delicious. Quite blown away!!
Tasted part of the Shaw + Smith/Tolpuddle range tonight at my favorite local shop, which put on a seated tasting for the winery’s sales director to do his roadshow.
No detailed notes, but the wines were tasty and I may order a few bottles.
The 23 Sauvignon Blanc was crisp, down the middle for modern styled SB in terms of ripeness/body, citrus and some racy greenness. The 23 Riesling, which had some very light RS, was similarly energetic and fresh with good drive.
The Chardonnays were what really impressed. Believe they were all 2023, forgot to take a picture of the order sheet. [EDIT: Note below is actually for the 2021 Lenswood, not 23. Others were 23s.]
M3 Adelaide Hills multivineyard showed a touch of reduction, light oak spice, creamy citrus, and a nutty toasty character. Lenswood SVD from Adelaide Hills was more focused and linear compared to the more rounded M3, but had some depth to balance the acid cut, with a lot of concentration and a longish finish. However the Tolpuddle was the best of the bunch - albeit the one that seemed like it would most benefit from 5yrs sideways. It showed white flowers, citrus oil, a touch of steel/flint reduction, and oak spice on the nose; it had a “round but focused” mouthfeel, silky texture, a bit of phenolic grip, great acid balance, and just-right-ripeness of the citrus and stone fruit flavors on the palate plus a longish finish. Very nice stuff the 23 Tolpuddle which apparently had a record long/slow/cool season and lots and lots of hang time to develop flavor while retaining good cool climate acid levels. This latter in the same neighborhood with top Oregon chards IMO. (Don’t drink enough white burg to make a real comparison but certainly was not noticeably worse than say the Jadot 1ers I’ve had, at a nicer price point.)
Adelaide Hills Pinot was good not great, pretty/floral/red fruited. Tolpuddle PN was a good deal better, slightly darker toned, silky, a bit more spice from 50% cluster, buttressed with tasteful oak, lots of good acid and a longish finish.
The two Shiraz bottlings (current release appellation and a 2020 svd) were IMO forgettable. Certainly more fresh and savory than your Barossa/Mclaren Vale bruisers. Just too dark toned and dour for me - I want some higher register floral and citrus in addition to bass note bacon and black olive.
Good wines, certainly not anything I’d have pegged as Australian. I think for me the problem is that they are competing directly against very good Oregon wines of a similar quality and at a similar price point.
Thanks Justin. Excellent notes. I too feel the Tolpuddle chardies a step up from the very good Adelaide Hills wines.
If you ever get the chance the S + S team’s MMAD wines from the Blewitt Springs sub-region of McLaren Vale are all very fine. Shiraz, Grenache and Chenin Blanc,
2021 Levantine Hil Estate Chardonnnay (Yarra Valley, Vic)
Youthful, penetrating. sinewy yet stacked Chardonnay. Intense white stone fruits and citrus that has weight and intensity yet shows a cool, stony persona. Very fine wine.
and 2021 in Yarra was tough!
I wasn’t aware of that. My recollection was that 2021 was a pretty strong vintage across South East Australia.
I tasted Mount Mary wines 19,20,21 and 22 and 21 felt the more clunky. Not that it was bad it just was not as strong as 20 or 22.
Really sad news - Peter Fraser gun winemaker from Yangarra wines passed away in a house fire yesterday. He helped redefine Australian Grenache, making some of the very best examples.
The High Sands Grenache is phenomenal, terrible news.
