Drink.  Learn.  Laugh.  Repeat.

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 326,593 strong:

Register Today!

Heartland Stickleback Red 2012 Wine Review

Heartland Stickleback Red 2012

Heartland Stickleback Red 2012

South Australia, Australia

Community Score:87/100

Community Reviews: 11

  Add My Review


Price: $19.95

Drink: 2013-2017

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine


Winery: Heartland

Agent: The Vine/Robert Groh Agency

Natalie's Score: 88/100

This Ben Glaetzer wine delivers amazing quality and taste for the money. Redolent of big black plums and lots of mouth-watering acidity on the palate. Great wine for hearty meat dishes. Finishes with black pepper and smoke. Highly recommended.

Food pairings: steak, cheeseburger.

Best Beef Wine

This Heartland Stickleback Red 2012 was reviewed on February 1, 2015 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2021  2019  2018  2015  2014 

  Add New Vintage

Pricing & Stock Information

Reviews and Ratings

Lori Kilmartin WSET3 - WSET3 Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

I purchased this wine because of the blends. 54% Cab Sauv, 37% Shiraz and 9% Dolcetto. There's a lot going on in the glass. Peppery notes from the Shiraz are prevalent as well as blackberry from the Cab. A good balance of tannins and acidity with a nice strong finish. Pair this with some ribs with a tangy sauce or a juicy grilled burger.
This is a great value wine!
Craig Kuziemsky rated this wine as 89/100 with the following review:

Dark fruit on the nose with plums, blackberries and pepper on the palate. The flavors weave together really well giving it a smooth fruity finish.
Valérie Dufour - Accredited Sommelier rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Ripe dark berries dominate the nose with aromas of spices. A fruit bomb in the mouth with pleasant acidity. Really great wine at a little price. Miam!
Jane Staples - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Stewed dark fruit and ripe plums on nose. Repeated on palate, with cloves and vanilla.
Heather Wall - CS; WSET Advanced rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

A unique blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and a splash of the early ripening, low-acid Italian grape Dolcetto. The result is an opulent deep ruby coloured wine with pretty floral notes over juicy black fruit. Charred wood, pepper, leather round out the aromas and flavours. Acidity is medium+ and tannins are polishing. Good length with a warm spice finish. This red blend is full-bodied and perfect for fine cuts of beef, ribs with BBQ sauce. Enjoy now or over the next 3 years.
Tasted: January 2015
Sean O'Regan - Certified Sommelier rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Medium ruby/garnet - this unusual blend of Cab Sauv, Shiraz and Dolcetto shows plummy fruit, cherry, baking spice. Fresh on the palate, with tart red cherry/berry fruit and soft tannins.
Douglas McMillan rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

Ripe dark fruit aromas and a taste that matches nicely. Good acidity, and a little tannin for structure. All in all, a good red for a good rice.
Shelley Harris rated this wine as 87/100 with the following review:

A blend of cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and dolcetto -- with deep berry, peppery and spice aromas and a smooth finish. This wine would pair well with a bbq chicken, heavily seasoned with a smoked paprika, oregano and garlic rub.
Winemaker Ben Glaetzer also makes the Mitolo wines in McLaren Vale and the Heartland wines in the Langhorne Creek region. Stickleback is the Heartland winery’s entry-level red wine. It’s mostly made from cabernet sauvignon and shiraz grapes with a dash of Dolcetto and Lagrein grapes. - Community Wine Reviews

1 Member would buy this wine again

If you liked the Heartland Stickleback Red 2012, you might also like these wines:

Recipes for Heartland Stickleback Red 2012

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

Wine of the Week

As featured on  

CTV Wine of the Week!

Wander + Found Sparkling Wine
Sparkling Cuveé Blanc Can

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 326,593 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

  Best Books of the Year

Red, White & Drunk all over by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

  Best Books of the Year

Unquenchable by Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

Insider tips on starting a wine cellar
From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources.   learn more  

337,614

WINE
REVIEWS

326,593

ACTIVE
MEMBERS
Winner World's Best Drink Writer
WFour-Time Winner James Beard Foundation
Five-Time Winner Association of Food Journalists
Six-Time Winner Bert Greene Award
Best Wine Literature Book Gourmand World Cookbook Awards
Online Writer of the Year Louis Roederer International Wine Writing Award