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Hello, and welcome to my periodic dig through the samples pile. I’m pleased to bring you the latest installment of Vinography Unboxed, where I highlight some of the better bottles that have crossed my doorstep recently.

This week included a couple of the newest releases from Dierberg Vineyards, a lovely little property down in Santa Barbara. Their latest rendition of Chardonnay, in particular, was compelling for its balance between riper flavors of tropical fruits and the nervy acidity that the cooler hills and valleys of Santa Barbara can produce. I really enjoyed it. There were two Pinots as well, both of which could do with a little more time in the bottle before opening.

Few people are familiar with Hungarian wine, and those that are usually know only the sweet Tokaji wines. Hungary has a diverse set of wine regions, however, and makes some seriously great red wines. This week I was treated to a reserve bottling from the Kovacs Nimrod winery in the country’s Eger region. It’s worth seeking out for its nutty richness.

Finally, we end this weeks’s tasting with some notes from a few Shiraz wines out of Australia’s Hunter Valley, known for its meaty, savory style of Shiraz. These were all quite young, but a few were tasty, especially the Brokenwood and the Tyrell’s — perhaps unsurprisingly, as they are two of the regions top producers.

2014 Dierberg „Dierberg Vineyard“ Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara, California
Light gold in color, this wine smells of sweet cream and tangerine peel. In the mouth, mixed citrus flavors have a nice snap thanks to excellent acidity, along with an exotic tropical edge that adds an interesting dimension to the citrus base. Thankfully, oak influence remains quite subdued as the wine finishes with notes of mango and papaya. 13.8% alcohol. Score: around 9. Cost: $33. click to buy.

2014 Dierberg „Drum Canyon Vineyard“ Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, Santa Barbara, California
Medium garnet in the glass, this wine smells of cranberry and raspberry fruit. In the mouth, cranberry, raspberry and dark earth flavors have a nice brightness to them thanks to excellent acidity. Notes of dried herbs emerge on the finish. Faint tannins brush the edges of the mouth. 13.2% alcohol Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $54. click to buy.

2014 Dierberg „Dierberg Vineyard“ Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara, California
Light to medium garnet in color, this wine smells of raspberries and dried herbs and dirt. In the mouth, brilliant acidity makes flavors of raspberry and citrus peel quite zippy as a tart sour-cherry note lingers with orange peel in the finish. Leaning towards the shrill side of the equation, but likely long lived for all its aggressive acidity. 13.7% alcohol. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $44. click to buy.

2008 Kovacs Nimrod „NJK“ Red Wine, Eger, Hungary
Inky garnet in the glass, this wine smells of stewed prunes and crushed, roasted chestnuts. In the mouth, rich nutty flavors of cherry, black cherry, and leather have a nice freshness to them thanks to excellent acidity. At this age, the wood is integrating into the wine, but a distinct wood signature still abounds in the wine, though not to the levels that are truly objectionable. Made from mountainside fruit from one of Hungary’s highest-altitude vineyards, Nagy-Eged. 13.9% alcohol. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $??

2015 Ferraton Pere et Fils „Samorens“ Red Blend, Côtes du Rhône, Rhone, France
Medium garnet in color, this wine smells of cherry and earth and strawberries. In the mouth, strawberry and cherry flavors taste as if they have been filtered through damp earth. Hints of dried flowers and herbs emerge on the finish along with leathery tannins. Decent acidity. 14% alcohol. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $14 click to buy.

2014 Brokenwood „Graveyard“ Shiraz, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
Dark garnet in the glass, this wine smells of blackberry and cocoa powder and a hint of herbs. In the mouth, blackberry and cassis and melted brown sugar meld with a touch of leather. Excellent acidity. Fine grained tannins. Leathery finish. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $200. click to buy.

2014 De Iuliis „Limited Release“ Shiraz, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
Medium to dark purple in the glass, this wine smells of blackberry and cassis and a touch of oak. Toasted oak and blackberry pie linger with fine grained tannins in the finish. Good acidity. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $??

2014 Tyrell’s Wines Shiraz, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
Medium purple in color, this wine smells of eucalyptus and cassis. In the mouth, cassis and blackberry pastilles mix with eucalyptus, and mud. Tight tannins, good acidity. Score: between 8.5 and 9. Cost: $29. click to buy.

2014 Audrey Wilkinson „The Lake“ Shiraz, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
Medium to dark garnet in color, this wine smells of blackberry and leather and notes of herb. In the mouth, more savory flavors of herbs, meaty notes, and blackberry linger through a long finish with leathery tannins. Good acidity. Score: around 8.5. Cost: $63.