Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reviews. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
2011 Riversdale Estate Crater Chardonnay (Coal River, Tasmania)
The birth of a second child a couple of months ago has meant that my reviews have been non-existent of late. A state of semi organised chaos has existed in the Red household since no. 2 came along, though as we start to find a routine I'll see if I can't be a tad more productive.
I'm always interested to try Chardonnay from Tasmania. It's yet to produce the amount of world class chardonnay that a number of mainland regions have, though there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this will change over time.
Upon opening the thing that stood out was the high, prominent acid. There was some good grapefruit flavour to match but that acid put me in the mind of a young, bracing Eden Valley Riesling or some such. I can see why the winery has held back the release of this wine more than your average chardonnay. On day two, however, the acid had softened considerably and the quality of the wine came to the fore. Some richer stonefruit and creamy notes are balanced by flintiness and a touch of bitter pith. Excellent line and length of flavour. A high quality chardonnay and one that will still benefit from some time in the cellar. 4 stars.
Rated: 4 Stars
RRP: $35
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2016-2021
Website: www.riverdaleestate.com.au
Red
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Bordeaux vs Coonawarra: 1994 Chateau Leoville Poyferre vs 1994 Petaluma Coonawarra Cabernet
Two 21 year old Cabernet blends, courtesy of my aunty’s cellar.
The first, the Leoville Poyferre, is a Second Growth from the Saint-Julien commune in Bordeaux. Having been established in 1840, the estate has been through some peaks and troughs as might be expected, however, the past few decades have seen a resurgence in its reputation and the quality of wine produced. The second wine, the Petaluma Coonawarra has been one of Australia’s more highly regarded Cabernet blends over a few decades now. Production for this wine began in 1979.
When the Red and Brown clans got together recently, we
decided to take these two wines of pedigree head to head. They are obviously
worthy of enjoyment and contemplation without competition or reference to any
other wine, but I still find comparative tastings like this highly enjoyable and
revealing.
Both wines had excellent quality, long corks that happily
had done their jobs, with both wines smelling great in the decanter from the
get go. We then proceeded to drink both bottles over the course of a few hours,
with some slow cooked lamb the accompaniment.
1994 Petaluma Coonawarra -
At 21 years of age this has retained an impressive level of primary
fruit that is present from the tip of the tongue through to the long finish.
Blackcurrant mainly. Adding savoury complexity are notes of red earth and black
olive. There’s a bit of regional mint/eucalypt but it’s in no way dominant and
plays its part in a complex whole. What’s really impressive moreover, are the
prominent tannins that really help shape and finish off the wine. There was a
little bit left in the bottle on day 2 and it continued to drink impressively well. It’s in a real sweet spot now where it offers a great aged Cabernet drinking
experience, but still has the stuffing to drink well over the next 5-10 years. 94 points
1994 Chateau Leoville Poyferre – What enthrals me with this wine
is the tightrope it walks between power and elegance. The entry onto the
palate is supple and subtle before building to great mid palate intensity,
which then tapers into a focused and savoury finish. It's the kind of structure that marks it out
as a great wine. Classic cassis and cigar box flavours. Gravel is also a signature, both in terms of the bouquet as well gravelly minerality through
the long finish. Fantastic to drink and wonderful to see it weigh in at only 12.5%
alcohol. It's a wine that ultimately could only be Bordeaux and would never be confused as
anything else. As with the Petaluma, it
gives great enjoyment now but will age over the next decade without a second
thought. 96 points
In the end the Bordeaux was the preferred wine on the night, showing a
class that is rare in the world of wine. That being said the Petaluma is a
great wine in its own right and is testament to the ageworthiness and quality
of the marque and Coonawarra Cabernet more generally.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
2007 Domaine Epis Pinot Noir (Macedon)
I've long wanted to taste an Domaine Epis Pinot Noir, but for some reason only just got around to it the other day. The Pinot Noir that Alec Epis and his former winemaker Stuart Anderson have made over the years have garnered plenty of praise. Furthermore, I'm a fan of Pinot Noir from the Macedon Ranges with Bindi and Curly Flat two standouts. When I saw a few bottles of the 2007 Epis Pinot at auction at a reasonable price I decided it was time to scratch this longstanding itch.
Buying at auction, however, always adds an element of Russian Roulette to the pursuit of drinking aged wine, but the risk was very much worth it in this wine, with the diam cork having aged the wine without issue. It opened with a classic, varietal nose of smoky undergrowth and cherries. These flavours carried through to a silky and supple palate, with additional spice and a touch of pleasurable warmth through the finish. It was the perfect foil for some roast pork over a long lunch, though I'd suggest the wine is at its aged peak at the moment. We had it open and decanted for 2-3 hours and it seemed to fade a bit just with the last half a glass. A great introduction to Domaine Epis Pinot Noir.
Rated: 4 Stars
ABV: 13.2%
Closure: Diam
Drink: 2015-2016
Website: www.domaineepis.com.au
Red
Thursday, March 19, 2015
2013 Tyrrell's Single Vineyard Reds (Hunter Valley)
I had these wines late last year, then lost my tasting notes, only
to find them again the other day!
I sometimes wonder if the past 5-10 years or so will be
remembered as a mini-golden era for wine lovers in Australia. It has been a
period in which an increasing number of wineries across the country have begun
to produce compelling wines that are unique expressions of site or vineyard.
This has all happened at a time when Australian wines were on the nose as far
as many international critics were concerned, the Australian dollar was incredibly
strong (further weakening export demand), and there was a general glut of
grapes. The result has been a wonderful array of exceptional wine at more than
reasonable prices. As with all cycles, things eventually turn, and in the past
two to three years we have seen a gradual positive changing of opinion amongst
international critics, and there has been some easing in the oversupply of
grapes (while still remaining problematic). Importantly, in the past 12 months we
have also seen the Australian dollar drop substantially, particularly
against the US Dollar. All of which would point to a likely increasing demand
for Australian wine. Some quite remarkable price rises by individual wineries
on their premium wines in the past year or two would seem to be at least in
part an early indication of this.
Which leads me to these Tyrrell’s single vineyard reds. Here
you are indeed getting compelling wines that are unique expressions of their
respective sites. Furthermore, they are scarce (not much made in terms of
production), and they age a treat. Finally they have an amazing history behind
them, being made by a winery established in 1838 and still in family hands, and
sourced from 100 year + old vineyards. While $50 is never a small amount to pay
for a bottle of wine, I would argue that with all these things considered, these wines are
great value at that price. I feel fortunate then to be a part of the Private
Bin club at Tyrrell’s through which you can buy these wines, and have been
stocking up in the past few years.
I believe something in this favourable equation for these special
wines will eventually break. It might be large price rises, a closing of the
Private Bin club to new entrants, or something else. Either way, I struggle to
see how these wines will remain so accessible, given both growing local
awareness and interest, and the turning, even just marginally,
in international demand. If these wines are your type of thing and you’re not a
member you might want to get in before it’s too late.
To the wines at hand -
2013 Tyrrell’s Johnno’s Shiraz – Johnno’s block was planted in 1908 and sits is on
alluvial sandy loam soils.
This is somewhat unyielding at present, only gradually
revealing its true appeal and potential over a few days. It’s light to medium
bodied and very much a “Hunter Burgundy” in style. Lovely cherry fruit meets
regional earthiness, with just a hint of oak at play. Acid driven. One thing
that does stand out at this stage of its life is its great length of finish.
This should largely be left alone for its first 10 years, and then savoured
after that. Rated: 93++ Drink: 2020-2030+
2013 Tyrrell’s Old Patch Shiraz – The ‘Old Patch’ vineyard was planted in 1867,
making it nearly 150 years old, and sits on red clay loams. .
While remaining medium-bodied, there’s a bit more of
everything with the Old Patch as compared to Johnno’s. A bit more joy and
drinkability early in its life. That being said this is just as much a monty
for the cellar as the Johnno’s. A slightly darker, richer fruit profile here,
while remaining in the cherry spectrum. Earthiness and a beautiful cinnamon
note. The tannins are subtle yet firm, and help shape the wine through its long
finish. Rated: 93++ Drink: 2018-2030+Red
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Murdoch Hill - 2013 The Landau Syrah (Adelaide Hills)
I
visited the winery in November last year, where I was hosted by Charlie Downer,
the family patriarch, and his son Andrew who looks after the marketing for the
winery. The farm has been run by the Downer family since the 1930s, with cattle
one of the mainstays till the present day. Vines were planted in 1998, and for
a number of years the wine was made offsite.
The site itself is a gently sloping one, with soil types varying between blocks. It is predominantly sandy loam of red clays, with varying levels of quartz, ironstone and schist metamorphic rock. The Red varieties are typically planted on the hardy shallow soils, and the Chardonnay and Sauvignon on the more fertile richer soils
2012 marked a significant turning point for Murdoch Hill with the return home of winemaker Michael Downer (Andrew’s
brother). Michael had worked at a number of wineries both in Australia
and overseas, including Shaw & Smith in the Adelaide Hills, Vietti in
Piedmont, and Bests in the Grampians. He evidently learnt a thing or two during
that time, for the range of wines that he has produced from the 2013 and
2014 vintages are very impressive.
Highlights include the 2013
Cronberry Shiraz, a cracking entry level wine, that finds that great balance
between ripe fruit and elegance. The 2014 The Surrey Pinot
Meunier is a unique, delicious, and highly drinkable wine.
Perhaps my favourite wine, however, is the 2013 Landau Syrah - the fruit for this wine comes off a part of the vineyard heavy with Ironstone. The grapes are hand tended and picked, before undergoing ferment with 50% whole bunch and then being aged in old french oak. It opens with a seductive nose, with the whole bunch seemingly having contributed to a berry perfume tinged with pepper and meatiness. To drink it is loose knit and medium bodied but displays perfectly ripe fruit. It’s underpinned by an unforced and integrated acidity and finishes with impressive length. So drinkable, but will be better again in a few years time.
Perhaps my favourite wine, however, is the 2013 Landau Syrah - the fruit for this wine comes off a part of the vineyard heavy with Ironstone. The grapes are hand tended and picked, before undergoing ferment with 50% whole bunch and then being aged in old french oak. It opens with a seductive nose, with the whole bunch seemingly having contributed to a berry perfume tinged with pepper and meatiness. To drink it is loose knit and medium bodied but displays perfectly ripe fruit. It’s underpinned by an unforced and integrated acidity and finishes with impressive length. So drinkable, but will be better again in a few years time.
Rated: 4 Stars +
RRP: $50
ABV: 13%
Closure: Diam
Drink: 2015-2020+
Website: www.murdochhill.com.au
Red
Sunday, January 11, 2015
2009 Rosby Cabernet Sauvignon (Mudgee)
There is great value
to be had here.
Gerald Norton-Knight
tends a small but quite unique vineyard in Mudgee. I have written about it
previously in more detail here. The wines are as such subject to the vagaries
of the vintage, and the lesser vintages tend to produce enjoyable quaffers. The
good vintages, however, result in lovely medium bodied Cabernet that is
fantastic value.
2009 was a
pretty good Mudgee vintage and the wine speaks to this. It delivers lovely
ripe, plummy fruit with some liquorice notes, all, however, within a medium bodied
frame. Where the interest comes in through is in the earthy rusticity it
displays, something on show with many a Mudgee red. I had it at 3.5 Stars on
day 1, but as it continued to integrate and lengthen on the finish over a few
days I nudged it up to 4 stars. Superb value at $13.30 a bottle in a case and still available
from the cellar door.
Rated: 4 Stars
RRP: $160 per case from cellar door
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2015-2019+
Website: www.rosby.com.au
Red
Labels:
2009 Rosby Cabernet Sauvignon,
Mudgee,
Reviews
Sunday, November 9, 2014
2014 Lark Hill Gruner Veltliner (Canberra District)
With this
wine there is always a flavour profile that offers plenty of interest
while still delivering on the yum factor. Citrus and pear is offset by some
green bean and root vegetable flavours. Somewhat weird if you weren’t expecting
it, but it nevertheless works and is very enjoyable to drink. Good quality fruit is
underpinned by a prominent acidity and a nice chalky texture. A worthy
change-up to my summer diet of Riesling and it should drink well over the next 5
years and beyond. Over the line for 4 stars.
Rated: 4 Stars
RRP: $45
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2015-2020+
Website: www.larkhillwinery.com
Red
Monday, October 27, 2014
2012 Marius Simpatico Shiraz (McLaren Vale)
This is
possibly the best Shiraz I have had this year. It takes a day or so to really
open up at this stage of its life, but once it does it's all glory. The
Simpatico, of course, sits behind the Symphony, which is Roger Pike’s top wine and comes off a select block of fruit in his vineyard. At the moment, however,
the Symphony is raw and way too young to be drinking. For now there is more on offer from
the Simpatico.
Seductive
nose. Aromas of berries, McLaren vale chocolate, a deep earthiness, and roses.
Indeed those floral notes really mark the wine out, with rose notes flowing through to
a beautiful mouth perfume that envelops the wine. It never gets much above
medium bodied, but the fruit has an undoubted power and ripeness. Persistent
tannins help shape the wine through its long finish. Top shelf and one to
cellar.
Rated: 4.5 Stars
RRP: $35
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2016-2027
Website: www.mariuswines.com.au
Red
Saturday, September 27, 2014
2013 Montalto Chardonnays - Mornington Peninsula
Simon Black is starting to produce some pretty smart wine at Montalto. Brown and I had the chance to visit him last year at the winery and taste through a range of barrel samples and there was plenty to like then. You also got the sense that things are on the up as Black improves the vineyards he has, and comes to understand these sites more intimately over time.
I tasted
both the entry level Pennon Hill and the Estate Chardonnay over 3 days.
2013
Montalto Pennon Hill Chardonnay – This punches well above its entry level tag
and registers very highly in terms of yum factor. Lovely fruit has gone into
this wine. Stonefruits, cashews, creaminess, and a bit of oak spice. Generous
yet restrained, it’s all underpinned by a fine acidity. Pushes through to a savoury,
citrusy finish. If this was your house chardonnay over the next few years you
would be very happy.
Rated: 92
RRP: $23
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2015-2018
Rated: 93+
RRP: $39ABV: 13.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2016-2020
Red
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
2006 Alluviale Merlot Cabernet Franc (Hawkes Bay, NZ)
One of my gradual learnings over the years is that most premium, age worthy wine doesn't actually get discernibly better with age. Sure, a wine may age in the sense that it drinks well at 10 years of age, but a wine that actually builds additional complexity and enjoyment when compared to its youth is indeed rare. Instead, for most aged wines edges have softened, flavours have become more savoury, and a glide path of gradual decay has begun. There’s plenty of enjoyment to be had in following a wine on such a path, it’s just not the epiphany that is often hoped for when initially laying a bottle down in the cellar.
The 2006 Alluviale Merlot Cab Franc fits this mould. Nothing startling has happened with a further 5 years under its belt since I first tried it, but is nevertheless represents very enjoyable cellared wine drinking. Medium bodied and food friendly, the tannin and acidity remain present but have now fully integrated into the wine. It still has plenty of nice plummy fruit along with chocolate notes. Grassiness, tobacco, and some earthiness all combine to provide a savoury finish. A lovely wine.
Rated: 4 Stars
ABV: 13.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2014-2017
Website: www.alluviale.com
Red
Sunday, June 15, 2014
2004 Fontanafredda Serralunga D'alba Barolo (Piedmont, Italy)
I consumed this as part of my birthday lunch along with a
2008 PHI Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley. The Pinot won wine of the day (see original note and updated comments here), but
the Fontanfredda was also impressive and provided me with the Nebbiolo hit I
was after.
At 10 years
of age those famous Serralunga tannins have softened somewhat and the
acidity has integrated, but both remain prominent enough to deliver a wine with
a great sense of texture. Classic flavours of liquorice, sour cherry, and tea
leaf. There’s also an interesting and appealing orange peel note. Tends to
earthiness through the back palate though perhaps doesn’t quite finish with the
length to push it up there for higher points. Very enjoyable now, but will also continue to age
well, turning increasingly savoury over
the next 10 years. Rated: 4 Stars
RRP: $80-90
Closure: Cork
Drink: 2014-2024
Website: http://www.fontanafredda.it/web/en
Red
Friday, May 23, 2014
2012 Mount Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz (Grampians)
The Mount
Langi Cliff Edge is generally a great value Grampians Shiraz, which won’
t set you back the big bucks of the flagship Mount Langi Shiraz. Indeed there have been
some big 94-96 scores flying around for this vintage of the Cliff Edge. I’m a fraction more circumspect,
but as a wine you can pick up for less than $25 it is undoubtedly great value.
This wine
combines great drinkability with plenty of yum factor. It’s just over medium
bodied with a lovely mouth perfume that gives the wine a levity and
elegance. Underpinning this however, is perfectly ripe fruit. A touch of
regional plum but tending more towards berries. Some meatiness, chocolate and
pepper adding complexity. This is a wine that will provide very enjoyable
Shiraz drinking over the next 5 years and beyond.
Rated: 4 StarsRRP: $30
ABV: 14%
Drink: 2014-2020
Website: www.langi.com.au
Red
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
2010 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir (Waipara, New Zealand)
This is great Pinot. Not cheap, but worth every dollar.
I had most of the bottle over two nights, and while on night
one it didn’t quite meet my lofty expectations, by night two it was singing. It’s relatively powerful with a very appealing viscosity. That being said its unmistakably Pinot and
retains a sense of elegance and silkiness. Dark cherry, some meatiness, hints of
undergrowth, and an appealing aniseed note. Exotic spices. An interstate trip then meant that I didn’t come back to a final glass of the wine until
night five. By this stage it was still drinking beautifully
but had turned decidedly savoury, earthy and autumnal. Length to burn. Top wine.Rated: 4.5 Stars
RRP: $60
ABV: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2015-2025
Website: www.pegasusbay.com
Red
Sunday, April 6, 2014
2003 Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon (Hunter Valley)
This is not
one of the truly great Vat 1’s, but it registers
very high on the scale of drinkability and joy.
As a wine it
is in its transition phase, with plenty of primary fruit still in the offing, but
development on display as well. There’s a prominent and cleansing acidity that
marks the wine out and will ensure long life, while a growing roundness of
fruit and flavour balances this nicely. Lovely citrus, a hint of vanilla, with
some toasty, honey notes in there too. It perhaps lacks the intensity and
length of a great Vat 1, but it is so enjoyable to drink you don’t really care.
Sydney rock oysters were a great match.
Rated: 4 Stars
ABV: 10.9%
Closure: Cork
Drink: 2014-2019+
Website: www.tyrrells.com.au
Red
Thursday, March 27, 2014
2012 Sorrenberg Chardonnay (Beechworth)
This is one of my favourite
Chardonnays but given the quality of the 2012 vintage this perhaps didn’t quite
meet my lofty expectations for this label.
Ironic in a way that I prefer the Chardonnay that Barry and Jan Morey
produced from the much maligned 2011 vintage. That being said the 2012 remains
a beautiful wine and will improve over the next 5 years.
It took
a couple of days to come together and really open up, but once it did it
presented a lovely nose with notes of peach to the fore. It follows on from
this with beautiful palate weight and everything nicely proportioned. High acids and spicy oak integrate with air.
Peach and an appealing milkiness are underpinned by a tell-tale minerally, lime streak that I find
in all Sorrenberg Chardonnay. Good
persistence of finish. Time should be kind.
Cork as ever the only real negative I can find with these wines.
Rated:
4 Stars +
RRP:
$48
Drink:
2015-2020
Closure:
Cork
Website:
www.sorrenberg.com
Red
Sunday, March 9, 2014
2012 Coriole Sangiovese (Mclaren Vale)
Coriole’s
Sangiovese is one of those wines where the grape variety and region are both
evident, and the synergy between the two is typically something that is lovely to
drink. In fact the 2012 is rather beautiful, and perhaps the best vintage of
this wine yet.
Lovely, ripe
fruit with berries tending towards sour
cherry as it travels along the palate. Texturally it feels like a Sangiovese
with prominent acidity that integrates well over a couple of days, and that
drying tannin that is so appealing. Mind you there’s a juiciness here as
well. Notes of aniseed, spices, and orange peel give it complexity. Yummy earthiness to finish. It needs another year or two
but I could drink lots of this. Great value too.
Rated: 4 stars
RRP: $25
ABV: 14.0%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2015-2022
Website: www.coriole.com
Red
Sunday, February 23, 2014
2009 Chateau La Croix Romane Lalande de Pomerol

This is a
good shout if you want to try a Pomerol from the much lauded 2009 vintage, and
yet don’t want to shell out the silly money that is typically required.
It’s rich
and plush as one might expect from an 09 Pomerol. Plummy fruit, liquorice,
and an overall pleasing warmth. That being said it delivers a refreshing
acidity, an ironstone like minerality, and lovely spice. It pushes through to a
savoury finish that is framed by robust tannins. Plenty of enjoyment now and
should age well over the next decade and beyond.
Rated: 4 Stars
RRP: $60
Closure: Cork
Drink: 2014-2024+
Website: www.vignoblesdubard.com
Red
Saturday, February 1, 2014
2009 Tyrrell’s 4 Acres Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
The 4 Acres Shiraz is one of the jewels in the Tyrrell’s crown, and indeed for Australian wine more generally. The 4 Acres vineyard was planted in 1879 by Edward Tyrrell. Like many other century old vineyards in Australia, it was spared the ravages of phylloxera, and since that time has produced a medium-bodied Shiraz very much in the classic “Hunter Burgundy” mode. Tyrrell’s are sensitive to this history and the style, and the viticulture and winemaking reflects this, in particular with the ageing of the wine in large format, old oak.
We decanted
the wine for a few hours before consumption, but it still didn’t reveal too
much on the nose – red fruits and some earthiness. To drink however, there is
more pleasure to be had. It’s a light-medium bodied Shiraz that is Pinotesque in
its weight and mouthfeel. Indeed, forget for a minute the substance here, and it
works as a lovely luncheon red. Ponder the wine for a moment however, and
there’s a future in the cellar to be excited about. It’s very much acid driven
with an insistent yet fine acidity underpinning its medium bodied frame. While light, the fruit has a pitch
perfect ripeness to it that carry the flavours through a long finish. Red fruits, mainly cranberry, and a beautiful
mouth perfume are given savoury purpose by a lovely earthiness.
The quality
of the fruit, the acidity and the latent complexity all lend themselves to the
suggestion that this will be something quite special in another 10 years and
beyond. The history of Tyrrell’s reds, and Hunter Shiraz more generally give
further weight to this proposition. I’ve got 3 bottles in the cellar, the first
of which I’ll open in another 10 years or so, from which I’ll take my cue on
the remaining two.
Rated: 4 Stars ++
RRP: $50
ABV: 13.0%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2019-2030+
Website: www.tyrrells.com.au
Red
Rated: 4 Stars ++
RRP: $50
ABV: 13.0%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2019-2030+
Website: www.tyrrells.com.au
Red
Sunday, January 19, 2014
2012 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay (Hemel en Aarde, South Africa)
Hamilton
Russell have long been on my list of must try wines, and I was lucky enough to
find a bottle of this a few weeks back.
Tim
Hamilton Russell was one of the pioneers of fine wine in South Africa. He
set up his vineyard in 1979, after a detailed search to find the ideal cool
climate spot to grow chardonnay and pinot noir. From the winery itself -
“Hamilton Russell Vineyards, one of the most southerly wine
Estates in Africa and one of the closest to the sea - is located in the
beautiful, cool, maritime Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation, just behind the
old fishing village of Hermanus.”
Since that time Hamilton Russell has built a reputation as one
of South Africa’s finest estates. Tim Hamilton Russell passed away last year
aged 79, and undoubtedly leaves behind an amazing legacy.
To the wine at hand. The is real Chardonnay. Juxtaposition and joy. To drink it delivers richness and complexity,
and yet it remains at all times tight and linear. The palate weight is just so, with a generosity that
retains a lightness of feel. Limes and stonefruit. Quality oak input that’s
just a bit unresolved at present, and yes there’s an undoubted minerality that
emerges through the mid to back palate. It needs a bit of time in the cellar to
show it’s best and there’s a big emphasis on the plus sign with the score.
Given both the reputation of this wine and factoring in all the silly import
costs for overseas wines into Australia, this is something of a bargain at the
$40-$50 it retails for. The only issue is they’ve stuck a cork in it,
but it’s worth exploring regardless.
Rated:
+
RRP: $40-$50 approx.
ABV: 13.0%
Closure: Cork
Drink: 2015-2020+
Website: www.hamiltonrussellvineyards.co.za
Red
Sunday, January 5, 2014
2013 Lark Hill Gruner Veltliner (Canberra District)
In the past
few years I have tried a number of promising, even exciting Australian Gruner
Veltliners, but none that I would necessarily unreservedly recommend. The 2013
Lark Hill Gruner Veltliner, however, brings home the bacon. It is the best Oz
Gruner I’ve had.
It’s a
generous, almost viscous white wine, but is beautifully balanced by insistent
acidity. Highly aromatic. Florals, lots of spices, and melons. There are some
green veggie notes that actually really work, adding interest and complexity.
Finishes nice and long. It has the balance to age well, though I think it’s the
kind of wine that will deliver the most enjoyment in the next few years.
Rated:
RRP: $45
ABV: 13.0%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink:2014-2016
Website: www.larkhillwine.com.au
Red
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