Gallagher Wines: A Masterclass in Winemaking

Last week at Canberra Wine and Spirit Merchants, we had the pleasure of tasting six exceptional wines from Gallagher Winery. Each offering was meticulously crafted, showcasing true varietal characteristics and making the most of different vintages. Greg Gallagher OAM (Order of Australia Medal), with over forty years of experience in premium wine production across Australia’s best wine regions, has truly honed his craft. His impressive resume includes stints as Senior Winemaker for Taltarni and Clover Hill, as well as extensive experience in the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, and internationally in France, the USA, and New Zealand. The result? Wines that are not only well-made but also deeply expressive of their origins. Here’s what we tasted:

Blanc de Blanc 2016 - $53.95
This full-flavored sparkling wine delivers a long, crisp finish. Hand-picked and whole bunch pressed, this wine was aged on lees for 84 months to enhance its aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel. The pale lemon straw color with fine and persistent bubbles pairs beautifully with its ‘bread dough’ yeast character and honeydew melon aromas. On the palate, it’s fruit-dominant with a rich, creamy texture and a clean, crisp finish. Perfect with seafood, stone fruits, or white meats.

Riesling 2024 - $31.95
A stylish and complex Riesling that’s really good now and promises to age well. Pale lemon in color, it’s fragrant with lime and lemon aromas. The palate is clean, crisp, and attractively flavored with vibrant citrus and a lingering finish. Ideal for pairing with lightly spiced aromatic foods, seafood, or Asian dishes.

Sauvignon Blanc 2023 - $27.95
Fresh cut grass and herbs greet the nose of this Sauvignon Blanc, while the palate offers full, clean flavors with a soft finish. The lemon and golden straw color is complemented by rich honeydew and tropical fruit aromas with a hint of mint. It’s fruit-driven, with full and long-lasting flavors, perfect for salads, pasta, and most white meat dishes.

Merlot 2019 - $31.95
A quality Merlot that delivers generous mouth-filling dark fruits with soft but tense tannins. Vibrant dark plum red in color, it boasts blackberry and mulberry fruits with a rich vanilla note on the nose. The palate is rich and intense with fine-grained tannins and a persistent finish. Pair this medium-full bodied wine with rich Mediterranean dishes, steak, or tomato-based sauces.

Shiraz 2021 - $31.95
A cool vintage wine with bright fruit and good structure, this Shiraz will benefit from a few years in the bottle. Deep garnet red in color, it offers black cherry fruit aromas with light pepper and aniseed characters. The palate is rich, full, and generous with cherry and plum flavors, rounded by a ‘velvet’ tannin structure. It’s perfect with lamb or rich Mediterranean meat or tomato dishes.

Reserve Shiraz 2018 - $59.95
Made from the best barrels of the very warm 2018 vintage, this Reserve Shiraz is rich, sumptuous, and savory. It displays all the classic cool climate Shiraz qualities and is good to go now, though it will also reward cellaring.

Gallagher Winery has delivered a stellar lineup that demonstrates the skill and experience behind every bottle. Each wine is a testament to Greg Gallagher’s dedication to his craft, making them a joy to taste and a delight to drink. Whether you’re looking for something fresh and crisp or rich and robust, Gallagher has something to offer. Join us next week for more wine explorations and discoveries. Cheers!