Reviews
Samuel Joseph Cowham Vineyard Shiraz 2022
Arguably the finest wine in this range, and it’s a super charismatic Barossan red. Drawn from the east-west block on the Cowham Vineyard at Light Pass, wild fermented and spends 12 months in 30% new oak with no fining of filtration, with just 165 dozen produced. No compromises. It feels like epic Barossan red too – there’s a chunky, milk chocolate decadence to this wine which just goes on and on. It’s thickset, oak-enriched, bold and yet when it threatens to be big, there’s this grainy savoury textural width and then enough real tannins to make it really punch through. In some moments I thought the oak was too dominant, but it’s sexy enough that it all works out in the wash. Gold medal stuff.
Best drinking: now and for fifteen years (if you want).
Rated : 18.5/20, 94/100
Tasted : October 2024
Drink : 2024 - 2039Andrew Graham![]()
Australian Wine and Drinks Review https://ozwinereview.com/2024/10/smart-single-vineyard-barossan-reds-under-40-from-samuel-joseph.html
Samuel Joseph Roesler Vineyard Shiraz 2022
Sourced from the 1978 block on the Roesler Vineyard near the township of Eden Valley. Again, wild fermented, 12 months in older oak, and no fining or filtration. If the Cowham Vineyard wine was a big personality, this is the moody one. It’s bold, yes, but also dark and compact in a very Eden Valley way – there’s that sense of mystery that the old Eden Valley vineyards offer. Dark fruit, bacon fat and this milk chocolate character that I thought was just oak, but ultimately decided is a vineyard character. Iodine, chocolate cherry, interesting nuances. It’s not necessarily an easy wine (it’s a bit dark and tight), but shitloads of intrigue at every angle.
Best drinking: good now, even better in 2-3 years time.
Rated : 18/20, 93/100
Tasted : October 2024
Drink : 2024 - 2027Andrew Graham![]()
Australian Wine and Drinks Review https://ozwinereview.com/2024/10/smart-single-vineyard-barossan-reds-under-40-from-samuel-joseph.html
Samuel Joseph Trial Hill Grenache 2022
Again, far too good for $39. From the 90-year-old Trial Hill Vineyard, wild fermented, with 15% whole bunches, and matured for 12 months in old oak. 166 dozen. There’s the red pastille fruit character of old vine Barossan Grenache and all sorts of briary depths to be found. Medium-bodied yet not lacking in power, it swishes on through with a red fruit swagger that speaks of quality fruit. Perhaps a little warming, but authenticity in droves.
Best drinking: good now, and will do ten years easy.
Rated : 18/20, 93/100
Tasted : October 2024
Drink : 2024 - 2034Andrew Graham![]()
Australian Wine and Drinks Review https://ozwinereview.com/2024/10/smart-single-vineyard-barossan-reds-under-40-from-samuel-joseph.html
Jaya Barossa SGM 2022
Jaya is the more affordable Barossa blend from Sanjay of Gambit wines. Corey Ryan makes the wines and they’re stupidly well priced. This Barossan GSM has 15% whole bunches and is far too smart for $25 odd dollars. Luscious choc plum fruit, warm run and raisin plump concentration, a nice chocolatey grainy texture and expansive flavours. Just a bit skinnier and warm to finish but so much Barossan flavour and character. Underpriced.
Best drinking: now and no hurry – five years will be fine.
Rated : 17.7/20, 92/100
Tasted : October 2024
Drink : 2024 - 2029Andrew Graham![]()
Australian Wine and Drinks Review https://ozwinereview.com/2024/10/22-flavour-packed-wines-for-35-or-less.html
Jaya Barossa Grenache 2022
Further, a shout out to the Jaya Grenache 2022, which is stupidly inexpensive for an energetic low-oak Barossan Grenache.
Tasted : March 2024
Andrew Graham![]()
Australian Wine and Drinks Review https://ozwinereview.com/2024/03/what-have-you-been-buying-and-drinking-this-march-2024.html
Jaya Eden Valley Riesling 2021
This is a new thing from Sanjay Chhabra, who many people in the wine trade may know. Sourced from two vineyards in the Eden Valley, made by Corey Ryan. At least one big name involved here.
Smooth, quite glossy in texture, with a Bickfords lime cordial, fresh lime, a little stoniness, lime leaf, and just hint of petrol. Acidity is crisp, and there’s some green apple flavour in the mix, but also has some weight to it, and a good finish of lime zest and again that stony feel. Good drinking now.
Rated : 92/100 Points
Tasted : September 2022
Drink : 2022 - 2027+Gary Walsh![Gary Walsh photo]()
https://www.winefront.com.au/jaya-riesling-2021/
Jaya Barossa Shiraz 2021
A blend from 20 and 40 year old vines. 15% whole bunch. One year old French oak.
Blackcurrant, blackberry, sage, truffle and a little creamy spicy oak. It’s medium to full-bodied, supple fine-grained gently sticky tannin, again some mushroom/truffle, and a juicy black fruited finish of good length. Nice wine. Easy to enjoy.
Rated : 92/100 Points
Tasted : September 2022
Drink : 2022 – 2028Gary Walsh![Gary Walsh photo]()
https://www.winefront.com.au/jaya-light-pass-barossa-shiraz-2021/
JAYA Barossa Grenache 2021
Gambit is the label of long-time Sydney wine sales rep (and friend) Sanjay Chhabra. I should go easy on his wines, but that doesn’t happen here on Australian Wine Review.
Luckily this Grenache is a winner. From the Marschall Vineyard at Vine Vale, it’s made seriously too – 15% whole bunches, wild fermented, matured for six months in old barrels. Made by Corey Ryan, who knows how to make this sort of wine.
Juicy, bright red fruit with a bit of play-doh and raspberry carbonic character, rhubarb, raspberry, lovely soft red fruits, and just a little bitterness to finish. This isn’t wildly complex, but it is a very easy, well-priced drink. Bang on for what it is meant to be.
Rated: 17.5/20, 91/100
Tasted: January 2023
Best drinking: nowish
Would I buy it? A few glasses.Andrew Graham![]()
https://ozwinereview.com/2023/01/summer-drinking-sorted-20-drinkable-easy-summer-wines-that-made-it-in-january-2023.html