James Halliday reviews the latest vintage from Blue Gables – 2 wines receiving 95 points.

Blue Gables KT Reserve Shiraz

James Halliday – Wine Companion tasting notes

Estate-grown, hand-picked, bunch-sorted, destemmed, open-fermented, 4 weeks on skins. The difference between this wine and its sibling is that only a single new French barrique was used, the wine matured for 11 months. Given the vines were only 12yo, one might have expected this to be overwhelmed by the oak, but that didn’t happen. All up, very impressive.

Rating: 95 points
Vintage: 2015
Drink By: 2030
Alchohol: 14.8%

Blue Gables East Gippsland Pinot Gris

James Halliday – Wine Companion tasting notes

Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed, fermented with cultured yeast. A very well made true gris style, a honeyed bouquet and texture and structure to burn. Delicious all spices run as background music for both the bouquet and palate; the flavours pick up the spices, and add pear, ginger and citrus, the last to brighten the finish. Gold medal Gippsland Wine Show.

Rating: 95 points
Vintage: 2016
Drink By: 2020
Alchohol: 13.7%

Blue Gables East Gippsland Sauvignon Blanc

James Halliday – Wine Companion tasting notes

Estate-grown, hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed, fermented with cultured yeast. Well made, with crystal clear varietal character, halfway between sweet peach and passionfruit on the one hand, grass and green pea on the other. Best soonish.

Rating: 90 points
Vintage: 2016
Drink By: 2019
Alchohol: 12.8%

Blue Gables Hanratty Hill East Gippsland Shiraz

James Halliday – Wine Companion tasting notes

The very cool climate imprints its mark on the wine, with complex savoury/spicy characters woven through the palate suggesting whole bunch or other unusual fermentation techniques when there are none. So, it’s the terroir/climate.

Rating: 89 points
Vintage: 2016
Drink By: 2026
Alchohol: 13.6%