2012 Montalto Pennon Hill Pinot Noir (Mornington Peninsula)

 
This is Montalto’s entry level Pinot and I reckon this goes really well as a bistro wine. It has plenty of flavour but retains a lightness and appealing pinosity. Flavours of cherry, five spice and a hint of smokiness. Oak is a nice contributor. Lovely mid palate richness in a loose knit structure. Nice wine if a touch dear.

Rated:

RRP: $30
ABV: 13.0%
Closure: Screwcap
Drink: 2013-2017


Red

2012 Hoddles Creek Pinot Noir (Yarra Valley)

This wine has become one of my automatic cellar inclusions each year. The 2012 keeps up the superb value for money tradition.

Needs another year or so in bottle but it’s already pretty damn drinkable. It’s lithe, balanced and has a nice touch of mid-palate richness. Flavours of cherry, five spice, orange peel, and touches of smokiness and undergrowth. Oak is nicely integrated.  I think this wine might be at its most enjoyable over the next few years, but the fruit, structure, and balance all suggest it will go the long haul as well.

Rated: 4 Stars
RRP: $19
ABV: 13.2%
Drink: 2014-2021
Website: www.hoddlescreek.com.au


Red

2012 Head Old Vines Grenache (Barossa Valley)

The 2010 of this wine remains one of the best bottles of Grenache I have had. The 2012 is not as immediately impressive, but in fact everything is there to suggest that it may give the 2010 a run for its money in 5-10 years time.

It’s just medium bodied, lithe, juicy, and with a lovely core of drying acidity that will sustain the wine through extended cellaring. Redskins, raspberries, florals, spice and just a hint of aniseed. A bit of stalkiness too. It turns very savoury as it pushes through to a long finish. Another 5 years should see more flesh, complexity and ultimately enjoyment here. Impressive.

Rated: 4 Stars +
RRP: $40
ABV: 14.5%
Drink: 2015-2022+
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.headwines.com.au


Red

2011 Oakridge 864 Chardonnay (Funder & Diamond Vineyard, Yarra Valley)

I reckon Sorrenberg, Hoddles Creek 1er, and this wine, the Oakridge 864, are currently my 3 favourite chardonnays.

This takes a day or so to open up at this stage, but once it does it reveals a superb, exciting Yarra Valley Chardonnay. It’s fine boned, but still has a beautiful lime intensity to the fruit. A dry, almost spritzy undercarriage is balanced by a lovely touch of creaminess, subtle oak spice, and an appealing cheesy note. It fairly bristles through the long finish. In another couple of years, once it has built some more weight, it will drink beautifully.

Rated:



RRP: $75
ABV: 13.4%
Drink: 2015-2021
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.oakridgewines.com.au


Red