I'm a big fan of Lethbridge...as people have problem seen from previous posts. They just do a great job making a wine that isn't typical of Australia (not in my opinion) and I appreciate dedication to craft and the idealism that goes into their style of wine..
Lethbridge Estate Chardonnay 2008.
A bit of reduction...actually, I think they really sulfured the heck out of this..which is good in a way because that is currently the trend..that burnt match stick is something people are looking for in wine...I'm not sure I agree that it is a great thing although it doesn't bother me that much. I DO think they're doing it to put off all of the Premox going around in Burgundy so that "style" or "characteristic" of the wine has rubbed off on a few others.
Good fruit, slightly muted, peaches, pear...some burnt match stick or a lot of it I should say...I don't think the alcohol is high but I do get a slight bit of heat which to me is accentuated by the sulfur. Acidity is great, as it always is from them...Maybe a tad bit heavy on the oak although I too think the sulfur accentuates that. Overall, I do think the wine had pretty good balance with the acidity + new oak + malo...It isn't lean, it isn't fat...it has the characteristics of a good chardonnay and I think the style is really more old world than new.
One thing I did think was weird though..over 3 days, this thing has barely budged at all..relatively tight compared to other Lethbridge Chardonnays I've had...and this one isn't showing any signs of oxidation...which again lends itself to my sulfur theory.....I also don't think this has evolved too much under screw cap....there is SOME development but less than expected....So on the plus side, I think this wine will last 10+ years..on the downside...it is at a point where it will last 10+ more years...
Will I try to get more Lethbridge Chardonnay? Without a doubt....Do I think anyone that wants a more old world style new world Chardonnay should try these? Without a doubt...
Showing posts with label Chardonnay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chardonnay. Show all posts
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Byrne and Ruggabellus
Byrne Chardonnay 2013
Alex Byrne is the assistant winemaker at Lethbridge and also has his own label out of Ballarat. From what I've seen, he has some very interesting wines at a great price. I had a chance to re-try his 2013 Chardonnay...
A bit of oak on the nose, a tad bit of salinity seems like..peach..a bit of lemon....Palate has nice fruit, but the oak is quite obvious....I believe these go through malo as well but the acidity is really quite nice and it keeps this nice line within the wine and balances out the oak and malo quite nice....I will say, this is very Burg like in structure and mouthfeel. I think the only thing I wish was the oak was a little less up front although it looks like this only uses 15% new oak and the rest 1-3 years old...Still very enjoyable and great value...I'd like to see this with a bit more time to integrate the oak better but the wine is still very enjoyable, very well made and utterly fantastic value. 92 points.
Ruggabellus Archaeus 2012
Sort of the new wave of Barossa wine...there is a significant movement to change how people think of Barossa wine and Ruggabellus is one of those making that charge.
The Archaeus is their Shiraz dominated Southern Rhone blend...Mostly Shiraz with some Mataro and Grenache as well...
The first thing I notice is, the wine has very good acidity for a Barossa....I am really liking the earlier picking and I think what was considered underripe in the past is looking like the right time to pick. You still have the beautiful clean fruit but you're retaining better acidity and any slightly green notes are coming across as savory rather than fruit that wasn't suitable. The weight of the wine is relatively full bodied but definitely lighter than what you would have seen out of the Barossa 10 years ago..and for a blend with some Grenache, I think that is a real accomplishment. Texture on the wine is very nice..tannins are quite soft for such a young wine...brighter red fruits, great acid....Something is not quite blowing my hair back and I'm not sure what it is but it is still a very good wine and was even better after some time in the glass. 90 points
Alex Byrne is the assistant winemaker at Lethbridge and also has his own label out of Ballarat. From what I've seen, he has some very interesting wines at a great price. I had a chance to re-try his 2013 Chardonnay...
A bit of oak on the nose, a tad bit of salinity seems like..peach..a bit of lemon....Palate has nice fruit, but the oak is quite obvious....I believe these go through malo as well but the acidity is really quite nice and it keeps this nice line within the wine and balances out the oak and malo quite nice....I will say, this is very Burg like in structure and mouthfeel. I think the only thing I wish was the oak was a little less up front although it looks like this only uses 15% new oak and the rest 1-3 years old...Still very enjoyable and great value...I'd like to see this with a bit more time to integrate the oak better but the wine is still very enjoyable, very well made and utterly fantastic value. 92 points.
Ruggabellus Archaeus 2012
Sort of the new wave of Barossa wine...there is a significant movement to change how people think of Barossa wine and Ruggabellus is one of those making that charge.
The Archaeus is their Shiraz dominated Southern Rhone blend...Mostly Shiraz with some Mataro and Grenache as well...
The first thing I notice is, the wine has very good acidity for a Barossa....I am really liking the earlier picking and I think what was considered underripe in the past is looking like the right time to pick. You still have the beautiful clean fruit but you're retaining better acidity and any slightly green notes are coming across as savory rather than fruit that wasn't suitable. The weight of the wine is relatively full bodied but definitely lighter than what you would have seen out of the Barossa 10 years ago..and for a blend with some Grenache, I think that is a real accomplishment. Texture on the wine is very nice..tannins are quite soft for such a young wine...brighter red fruits, great acid....Something is not quite blowing my hair back and I'm not sure what it is but it is still a very good wine and was even better after some time in the glass. 90 points
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Fesq
I had the opportunity to try a good chunk of Fesq and Co's ANZ Portfolio...
It is always nice to have a surprise here or there..something you remember..but it is even nicer when you have multiple surprises across a pretty good range of wine...
Longhop
I only got to try their normal range but the quality overall was very good..
The Pinot Gris and Rose were both very good for their category. Texture, complexity, clean fruit, good acidity...two very solid wines. RRP is around 18 dollars which is probably about right for these two wines given the category.
Longhop Old Vine Grenache 2012
Unlike most SA Grenache, this feels a bit more medium bodied, good acidity, decent tannin structure as well..a lot more red fruits vs. dark fruits...This doesn't taste like raisins + alcohol, it tastes like a well thought out Grenache. Very impressive but atypical of what people might want out of Grenache...To me, that is a good thing. RRP is 18 dollars which I think is great value. 90 points.
Longhop Shiraz 2012
Great acidity, red fruits, firm tannins...This wine needs a bit more time but the package is great. RRP is also 18 dollars which makes this a total steal. Probably one of the best values out there right now...really well made, really good structure..It might not have the brooding depth people think of when they look at cellaring but I think this will do very well..and again, under 20 dollars...WTFBBQ. 91 Points.
Longhop Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Another surprising wine...Not a light Cabernet you might see from the Barossa or the surrounding area..but a true Cabernet Sauvignon...Chalky tannins, good acidity....red fruits...this has the structure to go a long time and is great value at 18 RRP...I think the main issue I have with this (and probably the Shiraz) is, at sub 20, people aren't really looking for heavy structure..they're not expecting to have to cellar the wines so to that point, I think they're missing what their target market is at this price point...but really really good value here.. 90 points
Mandala Wines
A few interesting wines here...The Chardonnay was very solid...good acidity, a tad bit of malo, good use of oak...The shiraz had a very floral note to it..almost viognier like but I was told this was 100% shiraz...good acidity....Overall a good wine. They had a pretty good Cabernet called Butterfly as well...Good structure, texture was very nice..
Mandala Prophet Pinot Noir 2010
Good acid, mouthfeel and texture are right..every medium bodied, some truffle, red fruits, tannins there but not aggressive...really quite a nice Yarra Pinot..and I don't say that very often..90 points
Lethbridge
I've said this several times already...great stuff from here...
Their recent Allegra Chardonnay and Mietta Pinot are even better than earlier versions..a bit more refined....Their Indra Shiraz is looking really good...Just a lot of great stuff from here..all very well thought out...great texture...One of my favorites in Australia...
Byrne Wines
Alex Byrne is the assistant at Lethbridge....easy to see why I liked the wines here. The Chardonnay and Pinots here were both great, cool labels, priced very well. I don't think they have the depth of Lethbridge but the texture is fantastic and still very very good wines...They also provide better value than Lethbridge which says a lot....
Between Five Bells
A joint venture by David Fesq, Josh Dunne, Ray Nadeson and help from Alex Byrne.
Basically, they're turning everything on their head with some really funky blends. Their Red and white seems to change as far as what they have in them..but have you had a Negroamaro, Nero D'Avola, Riesling, Shiraz Blend? How about a Sangiovese, Grenache, Shiraz and Graciano? Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc? Definitely all drink soon blends but great texture, acidity, mouthfeel..interesting flavor and complexity. Tiny production...It won't be loved by all but very interesting...
Bream Creek
I've had a few things from here in the past that I thought were pretty decent...In general I thought the wines were pretty good. Both their Dry and off-Dry rielsings were good. Good fruit, good acidity...Their Pinot was actually pretty good for a Tassie Pinot as well...good texture, mouthfeel was "right"...Looking forward to seeing more from them.
It is always nice to have a surprise here or there..something you remember..but it is even nicer when you have multiple surprises across a pretty good range of wine...
Longhop
I only got to try their normal range but the quality overall was very good..
The Pinot Gris and Rose were both very good for their category. Texture, complexity, clean fruit, good acidity...two very solid wines. RRP is around 18 dollars which is probably about right for these two wines given the category.
Longhop Old Vine Grenache 2012
Unlike most SA Grenache, this feels a bit more medium bodied, good acidity, decent tannin structure as well..a lot more red fruits vs. dark fruits...This doesn't taste like raisins + alcohol, it tastes like a well thought out Grenache. Very impressive but atypical of what people might want out of Grenache...To me, that is a good thing. RRP is 18 dollars which I think is great value. 90 points.
Longhop Shiraz 2012
Great acidity, red fruits, firm tannins...This wine needs a bit more time but the package is great. RRP is also 18 dollars which makes this a total steal. Probably one of the best values out there right now...really well made, really good structure..It might not have the brooding depth people think of when they look at cellaring but I think this will do very well..and again, under 20 dollars...WTFBBQ. 91 Points.
Longhop Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Another surprising wine...Not a light Cabernet you might see from the Barossa or the surrounding area..but a true Cabernet Sauvignon...Chalky tannins, good acidity....red fruits...this has the structure to go a long time and is great value at 18 RRP...I think the main issue I have with this (and probably the Shiraz) is, at sub 20, people aren't really looking for heavy structure..they're not expecting to have to cellar the wines so to that point, I think they're missing what their target market is at this price point...but really really good value here.. 90 points
Mandala Wines
A few interesting wines here...The Chardonnay was very solid...good acidity, a tad bit of malo, good use of oak...The shiraz had a very floral note to it..almost viognier like but I was told this was 100% shiraz...good acidity....Overall a good wine. They had a pretty good Cabernet called Butterfly as well...Good structure, texture was very nice..
Mandala Prophet Pinot Noir 2010
Good acid, mouthfeel and texture are right..every medium bodied, some truffle, red fruits, tannins there but not aggressive...really quite a nice Yarra Pinot..and I don't say that very often..90 points
Lethbridge
I've said this several times already...great stuff from here...
Their recent Allegra Chardonnay and Mietta Pinot are even better than earlier versions..a bit more refined....Their Indra Shiraz is looking really good...Just a lot of great stuff from here..all very well thought out...great texture...One of my favorites in Australia...
Byrne Wines
Alex Byrne is the assistant at Lethbridge....easy to see why I liked the wines here. The Chardonnay and Pinots here were both great, cool labels, priced very well. I don't think they have the depth of Lethbridge but the texture is fantastic and still very very good wines...They also provide better value than Lethbridge which says a lot....
Between Five Bells
A joint venture by David Fesq, Josh Dunne, Ray Nadeson and help from Alex Byrne.
Basically, they're turning everything on their head with some really funky blends. Their Red and white seems to change as far as what they have in them..but have you had a Negroamaro, Nero D'Avola, Riesling, Shiraz Blend? How about a Sangiovese, Grenache, Shiraz and Graciano? Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc? Definitely all drink soon blends but great texture, acidity, mouthfeel..interesting flavor and complexity. Tiny production...It won't be loved by all but very interesting...
Bream Creek
I've had a few things from here in the past that I thought were pretty decent...In general I thought the wines were pretty good. Both their Dry and off-Dry rielsings were good. Good fruit, good acidity...Their Pinot was actually pretty good for a Tassie Pinot as well...good texture, mouthfeel was "right"...Looking forward to seeing more from them.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Cellar Favorites with Friends
I met up with some friends for a wonderful evening of food and wine....
2003 Keith Tulloch Semillon - Just starting to develop some toasty notes. Good acid, good depth...This looks like it'll go quite awhile longer and I'd love to see this in five more years.
2006 De Iuliis Semillon - The acid is fading away on this...not a lot of development going on either...Maybe this will turn a bit but it isn't what I'm looking for in Semillon..
2012 Lethbridge Dr. Nadeson Riesling - I'm a big fan of these and still a big fan. 10g/L of RS and 13g/L of TA....Served a little cool which made the sugar stand out a bit more but once it got going the acidity and depth really showed..the sugar offset some of the searing acidity..I really enjoy this style...I wish more places made Riesling like this.
1996 Lakes Folly Chardonnay - I wasn't expecting much here because of the age but this had a wonderful nose and equally wonderful palate. Reminded me a lot of an aged Champagne with some yeasty notes, lemon pith, nutty notes as well. Acid still going strong. Quite a revelation for everyone at the table as I think everyone expected this to be past it.
1991 Orlando Lawsons Padthaway Shiraz (Magnum) - Deep dark fruited Shiraz, big fruit, mocha notes, some secondary minty and herby characters as well...In quite a nice spot really. Not quite the style I like but drinking fantastically well. Really no complaints here, I'd be perfectly happy drinking this.
1998 Penfolds St. Henri - Some felt this was in a good spot, to me it was way too young. Great structure, tannins were firm but not too aggressive but definitely there in force...Good acidity, fruit was still very young...some development but this will probably not be its best for 10+ years..at least...
1990 Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon (Black) - A bit of funk on the nose but that blew off...Acidity was quite good, redder fruits but definitely a Coonawarra feel to it. Tannins were fully resolved....Was probably a bit past it but still a very nice drop. Considering this was probably 5 dollars on release and was probably near the bottom of their releases, this is looking very good.
2009 Yarra Yering Dry Red No 3 - A mix of different Tourigas...I've never been a fan of this...still not much of a fan of this. Really young bright fruit....feels a bit awkward to me...
1996 Sallys Paddock - Nice mouthfeel to this...great little bordeaux blend. Darker fruits with some herby characters to it...Good overall structure and mouthfeel. I haven't had a Sallys Paddock and been blown away by it..but they're always consistently pretty good...
2013 Yellow Tail Merlot (this was a bit of a joke wine) - Most people have the same response...Yellow Tail? And a MERLOT at that? Haha. To me, a lot of cheap wine or a lot of wine that the winemaker is new to making have this manufactured fake red candy smell to it...as well as on the palate. I tend to see it in wines that are 5-15 dollars. Not everyone seems to pick this up though as I've seen plenty of wines that have this and people don't sense that. For me, even blind I'm picking this up. I'm not sure what it is and obviously there are tons of cheap wines I DON'T pick this up in..but a lot of them I do. I suspect some sort of winemaking flaw but I don't know what it is. Either way, this has it in spades. Palate is relatively sweet too so I suspect a good amount of residual sugar...If you don't mind the fake candy, I can see why people would drink this..easy to drink, a bit sweet (even though they don't know it is)...
2006 Glen Eldon Twisted Trunk Reserve Shiraz - A big bruising Shiraz...Huge oak on the nose and palate...This probably needs more time for the oak to integrate..not sure if that'll happen but it needs more time...I'm sure this is a crowd pleaser though...
1999 Yalumba Signature - Still a young pup...Big dark fruit, very viscous on the palate. A lot of oak but it has integrated relatively well. Tannins are there but not overpowering....This is in a pretty good spot right now if you like them a bit young but I can see this going another 5-10 years. Again, not the style I prefer but this was still quite nice.
2005 Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon - This fell a bit flat for me..probably needed to be served earlier in the evening. Light for a Cabernet...this seemed to be in a bit of an awkward spot...
2004 Buller Calliope Durif - VERY viscous...Almost port like in thickness...very dark dark fruit, big big fruit on the palate...To me this seems almost sweet...I'm not sure how much residual sugar is here but I've seen stuff that suggests it is relatively high for a red...and this is also labeled 16% alcohol but it is probably closer to 17%. That said, I wouldn't guess 17% as it isn't finishing very hot..but definitely finishes a bit hot to my palate. This would definitely be a crowd pleaser..I can see a lot of people loving this. For me, just too big..
2004 Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz - I've not always been happy with their Hilltops..I think they tend to be a bit awkward...but this has integrated nicely...it has a dash of Viognier and the Shiraz has really started to develop some secondary characteristics. Very Hilltops region on the nose and exhibits some of that on the palate. Overall a pretty good wine.
2003 Keith Tulloch Semillon - Just starting to develop some toasty notes. Good acid, good depth...This looks like it'll go quite awhile longer and I'd love to see this in five more years.
2006 De Iuliis Semillon - The acid is fading away on this...not a lot of development going on either...Maybe this will turn a bit but it isn't what I'm looking for in Semillon..
2012 Lethbridge Dr. Nadeson Riesling - I'm a big fan of these and still a big fan. 10g/L of RS and 13g/L of TA....Served a little cool which made the sugar stand out a bit more but once it got going the acidity and depth really showed..the sugar offset some of the searing acidity..I really enjoy this style...I wish more places made Riesling like this.
1996 Lakes Folly Chardonnay - I wasn't expecting much here because of the age but this had a wonderful nose and equally wonderful palate. Reminded me a lot of an aged Champagne with some yeasty notes, lemon pith, nutty notes as well. Acid still going strong. Quite a revelation for everyone at the table as I think everyone expected this to be past it.
1991 Orlando Lawsons Padthaway Shiraz (Magnum) - Deep dark fruited Shiraz, big fruit, mocha notes, some secondary minty and herby characters as well...In quite a nice spot really. Not quite the style I like but drinking fantastically well. Really no complaints here, I'd be perfectly happy drinking this.
1998 Penfolds St. Henri - Some felt this was in a good spot, to me it was way too young. Great structure, tannins were firm but not too aggressive but definitely there in force...Good acidity, fruit was still very young...some development but this will probably not be its best for 10+ years..at least...
1990 Wynns Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon (Black) - A bit of funk on the nose but that blew off...Acidity was quite good, redder fruits but definitely a Coonawarra feel to it. Tannins were fully resolved....Was probably a bit past it but still a very nice drop. Considering this was probably 5 dollars on release and was probably near the bottom of their releases, this is looking very good.
2009 Yarra Yering Dry Red No 3 - A mix of different Tourigas...I've never been a fan of this...still not much of a fan of this. Really young bright fruit....feels a bit awkward to me...
1996 Sallys Paddock - Nice mouthfeel to this...great little bordeaux blend. Darker fruits with some herby characters to it...Good overall structure and mouthfeel. I haven't had a Sallys Paddock and been blown away by it..but they're always consistently pretty good...
2013 Yellow Tail Merlot (this was a bit of a joke wine) - Most people have the same response...Yellow Tail? And a MERLOT at that? Haha. To me, a lot of cheap wine or a lot of wine that the winemaker is new to making have this manufactured fake red candy smell to it...as well as on the palate. I tend to see it in wines that are 5-15 dollars. Not everyone seems to pick this up though as I've seen plenty of wines that have this and people don't sense that. For me, even blind I'm picking this up. I'm not sure what it is and obviously there are tons of cheap wines I DON'T pick this up in..but a lot of them I do. I suspect some sort of winemaking flaw but I don't know what it is. Either way, this has it in spades. Palate is relatively sweet too so I suspect a good amount of residual sugar...If you don't mind the fake candy, I can see why people would drink this..easy to drink, a bit sweet (even though they don't know it is)...
2006 Glen Eldon Twisted Trunk Reserve Shiraz - A big bruising Shiraz...Huge oak on the nose and palate...This probably needs more time for the oak to integrate..not sure if that'll happen but it needs more time...I'm sure this is a crowd pleaser though...
1999 Yalumba Signature - Still a young pup...Big dark fruit, very viscous on the palate. A lot of oak but it has integrated relatively well. Tannins are there but not overpowering....This is in a pretty good spot right now if you like them a bit young but I can see this going another 5-10 years. Again, not the style I prefer but this was still quite nice.
2005 Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon - This fell a bit flat for me..probably needed to be served earlier in the evening. Light for a Cabernet...this seemed to be in a bit of an awkward spot...
2004 Buller Calliope Durif - VERY viscous...Almost port like in thickness...very dark dark fruit, big big fruit on the palate...To me this seems almost sweet...I'm not sure how much residual sugar is here but I've seen stuff that suggests it is relatively high for a red...and this is also labeled 16% alcohol but it is probably closer to 17%. That said, I wouldn't guess 17% as it isn't finishing very hot..but definitely finishes a bit hot to my palate. This would definitely be a crowd pleaser..I can see a lot of people loving this. For me, just too big..
2004 Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz - I've not always been happy with their Hilltops..I think they tend to be a bit awkward...but this has integrated nicely...it has a dash of Viognier and the Shiraz has really started to develop some secondary characteristics. Very Hilltops region on the nose and exhibits some of that on the palate. Overall a pretty good wine.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Hillcrest
Hillcrest is a relatively small winery that does a vast majority of its business via mail order. If they haven't sold out (which they generally do each year) you can visit them by appointment.
Once a year they do an open day where they have 60 some odd wines available to taste, a few specials here and there, the off chance to by a few back vintages and they provide some nice little nibbles for people to snack on.
Hillcrest is generally known for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir but they also have a pretty decent Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot if you have a chance to try those.
Impressions:
Their open day, while not huge, is really very nice. Plenty of different things to try, spit buckets and food...Really all you can ask for.
They had Chardonnays back to about 2004, Village, Estate, Premium and even one Reserve.
They had Pinots back to 2001, Village, Estate, Premium and one Reserve.
They had about 8-10 Cabernet Sauvignons and about 8-10 Merlots.
One thing I really like about their Chardonnays is they're very acid driven..they still have oak..they avoid Malo but I think some happens naturally...Either way, it has great depth and complexity...and they age very nicely...
The highlight of the Chardonnays for me was the 2010 Reserve....Really great mouthfeel, texture, great acid, great fruit that soaked up whatever oak was used...really complex, complete wine. They rarely make a Reserve Chardonnay...apparently only in the best of years but this was looking really good.
2012 Chardonnay Cleanskin. I didn't ask why they had them..I assume they had such a good year they had more than they wanted to bottle under their village label..either way, really nice chardonnay that I end up getting for less than 10 dollars a bottle..
Pinot Noir Reserve 2006. I've been wanting to try this awhile, I'm glad I got the chance. Bigger fruit but but very elegant mouthfeel. Great use of oak, very good acidity, nice texture overall. There are things (a bit of rubber) that makes me think Australian Pinot..but it isn't that noticeable and adds complexity instead of takes away from the wine..this is very well done...
Overall impressions - Most of the Chardonnays are top notch...I think I thought one was a little on the light side w/ acidity but pretty much everything across the board Chardonnay wise was very good...consistently good with great acid, great mouthfeel..the difference between the Village, Estate, Premium and Reserve was really the depth of the wine and little quality differences.
Pinot was a bit less consistent...I think some early Pinots were not good at all..very Australian Pinot, Rubbery bleh...They didn't have the right mouthfeel and weren't done properly .When they got to around 2003/2004 it started changing a bit. Better overall quality, better mouthfeel, they looked like they'd age better as well. After 2004 they were all pretty nice..the quality was excellent....The Premium 2010 was very good..I think the only one I thought maybe shouldn't have been made was the 2011 Village Pinot...
Cabernet and Merlot..both were quite interesting..very good expression of fruit...I think the Cabernets were consistently better for me..but there were a few very nice Merlots as well...I think the issue I'd have is they don't stack up price wise.....
For anyone that lives around the area I'd definitely suggest making time to go out there....Heck, one guy even took public transport and walked a few k to get there...
Once a year they do an open day where they have 60 some odd wines available to taste, a few specials here and there, the off chance to by a few back vintages and they provide some nice little nibbles for people to snack on.
Hillcrest is generally known for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir but they also have a pretty decent Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot if you have a chance to try those.
Impressions:
Their open day, while not huge, is really very nice. Plenty of different things to try, spit buckets and food...Really all you can ask for.
They had Chardonnays back to about 2004, Village, Estate, Premium and even one Reserve.
They had Pinots back to 2001, Village, Estate, Premium and one Reserve.
They had about 8-10 Cabernet Sauvignons and about 8-10 Merlots.
One thing I really like about their Chardonnays is they're very acid driven..they still have oak..they avoid Malo but I think some happens naturally...Either way, it has great depth and complexity...and they age very nicely...
The highlight of the Chardonnays for me was the 2010 Reserve....Really great mouthfeel, texture, great acid, great fruit that soaked up whatever oak was used...really complex, complete wine. They rarely make a Reserve Chardonnay...apparently only in the best of years but this was looking really good.
2012 Chardonnay Cleanskin. I didn't ask why they had them..I assume they had such a good year they had more than they wanted to bottle under their village label..either way, really nice chardonnay that I end up getting for less than 10 dollars a bottle..
Pinot Noir Reserve 2006. I've been wanting to try this awhile, I'm glad I got the chance. Bigger fruit but but very elegant mouthfeel. Great use of oak, very good acidity, nice texture overall. There are things (a bit of rubber) that makes me think Australian Pinot..but it isn't that noticeable and adds complexity instead of takes away from the wine..this is very well done...
Overall impressions - Most of the Chardonnays are top notch...I think I thought one was a little on the light side w/ acidity but pretty much everything across the board Chardonnay wise was very good...consistently good with great acid, great mouthfeel..the difference between the Village, Estate, Premium and Reserve was really the depth of the wine and little quality differences.
Pinot was a bit less consistent...I think some early Pinots were not good at all..very Australian Pinot, Rubbery bleh...They didn't have the right mouthfeel and weren't done properly .When they got to around 2003/2004 it started changing a bit. Better overall quality, better mouthfeel, they looked like they'd age better as well. After 2004 they were all pretty nice..the quality was excellent....The Premium 2010 was very good..I think the only one I thought maybe shouldn't have been made was the 2011 Village Pinot...
Cabernet and Merlot..both were quite interesting..very good expression of fruit...I think the Cabernets were consistently better for me..but there were a few very nice Merlots as well...I think the issue I'd have is they don't stack up price wise.....
For anyone that lives around the area I'd definitely suggest making time to go out there....Heck, one guy even took public transport and walked a few k to get there...
Friday, August 16, 2013
Geelong - Bannockburn - Part 2
Bannockburn
I wasn't originally going to go to Bannockburn because it was a bit of a last minute attempt at an appointment (I didn't even know they allowed for visitors until the day before)...but I'm very glad I did. I've had a few of their wines before and was always impressed...To me it was always a divisive style either you love it or hate it......I think it is one that appeals to most Pinot Noir geeks.....It is nothing like a typical Australian Pinot (which I think is great).
Michael Glover is the winemaker at Bannockburn and to me, he has brought the winery to new heights. He is not ashamed to tell you his philosophy and he is very passionate about what he is trying to do at Bannockburn. He has very strong opinions about irrigation (there shouldn't be any), what yields he'd like to see, what yields you want to get in order to show true terroir...He also wants his wine to be uniquely Bannockburn. To me, all of the reds show this vegetal characteristic that I associate with Bannockburn...to me that is their signature. Their Pinots, which are medium bodied and high in acidity might remind many of Burgundy...and you wouldn't be wrong to say that...but at the same time the fruit is most definitely new world. They have that Bannockburn signature...they have that Bannockburn texture....Michael will change up what he does each year, not because he's haphazardly experimenting because based on conditions he's trying to achieve certain things in the wine. Each vintage he tries to improve the wine and make them uniquely Bannockburn.
I also had the opportunity to see their new plantings (planted in 2007) which was 10,000 vines per ha. No irrigation and yield target of 500g per vine. Michael's feeling that the low yield and the vines needing to compete for resources it what helps them show their terroir. This is similar in theory to what is done at some of the best parts of Burgundy. The new vineyard is called De La Terre and it looks like a winner..
It was very interesting to see the contrast with Bannockburn and Lethbridge. Michael wants to make the best wine possible but wants to make sure they're uniquely Bannockburn...that they have their own particular style (and I think they succeed). Ray at Lethbridge wants to make the best wine possible, what he likes to drink, but I wouldn't necessarily say there is a unique style to Lethbridge..it is just he's doing a lot of good things making fantastic wine. Different ways of approaching winemaking...both are winners in my opinion.
Bannockburn Sauvignon Blanc 2012
The first thing that hits you on the nose is this is NOT a typical Sauvignon Blanc...There is a difference in depth, just on the nose. I find out that it has a bit of Riesling, a bit of Chardonnay...has spent time in oak, on lees and with a bit of skin contact....Great acidity, great depth, really nice texture. It has a bit of grass, hints of passion fruit, lemons, a bit of herbs and earthiness..a bit of spice. RRP is 27 which I think represents really great value. I haven't heard much about their SB but this is one of the most unique SB's I've had and at a fantastic price.
Bannockburn Chardonnay 2011
A very well made Chardonnay....good use of oak..and has undergone full malo so you still get that full Chardonnay mouthfeel. Really good acidity....Peaches, grapefruit, a hint of spice...I thought it was interesting that Michael didn't think this one would be good long term while Ray at Lethbridge, who had a very similar 2011 Chardonnay, thought the higher acidity would allow it to go long....Both are actually quite similar but different. I feel like this is a bit much at 57 RRP but still a very good Chard.
Bannockburn SRH Chardonnay 2009
A step up from the estate Chardonnay....Greater depth, deeper fruit (which is also because of the year). A very full bodied Chardonnay with a lot of class. This easily fits in with any of the top Chardonnays in Australia. Good acidity, good structure...great texture...
Bannockburn 1314 AD Pinot 2011
A good intro into Bannockburn..with a bit of that Bannockburn funk/vegetal that comes through..although a bit toned down. Lighter fruit than their normal line which makes for a much lighter Pinot than you'll normally see in Australia but I think that is a good thing. Red fruits, a bit of spice...something in there hints to me this is a cheaper Pinot but it really is a good buy at 27....and Michael suggests the 2013 will be fantastic..
Bannockburn 1314 AD Pinor 2013 (Barrel Sample)
I was lucky enough to get to try this....It has that Bannockburn vegetal characteristic..but the fruit seems very pure...clean lines, pretty good depth and texture considering this isn't even ready to be sold yet... Red fruits, a bit of spice....If this sells for 27, it will be an absolute steal. It will be a good gateway wine into the rest of the Bannockburn line...
Bannockburn Stuart Pinot Noir 2011
A bit more fruit forward than the rest of their line and less vegetal characteristics than the rest..but still shows that Bannockburn character. Darker red fruits, some spice, herbs, earth...Good acidity, good texture. This is a good intro to Bannockburn (even though it is slightly more expensive than the De La Terre..for now).
Bannockburn Estate Pinot Noir 2010
Very typical Bannockburn smell, texture and vegetal characteristics on the Palate. Good acidity, very well made. I think the only thing I dislike is that price wise, it is pretty close to say, the De La Terre...and basically 10 out of 10 times I'd probably prefer the De La Terre...(57 vs. 65RRP).
Bannockburn De La Terre Pinot Noir 2011
Made from their newly planted vineyard in the same fashion as Serre (although my understanding is it has slightly more dense plantings than the Serre), no irrigation, low yield (500g per vine). My feelings on this was, this was Michael's own project...so while similar to Serre, this was done under his tenure, it has his stamp, his way of expressing the terroir, expressing Bannockburn....Really good acidity, which is consistent across all of their Pinots and partially because 2011 was on the wet side...but also really fantastic texture, depth and complexity. Young vines but they're really doing a good job of showing you Bannockburn. Red fruits, spice, herbs, earthiness...that Bannockburn vegetal character...really fine tannis. Structure is there but it is still very approachable (as are all of their Pinots really).
Bannockburn Serre Pinot Noir 2010
A bit more weight and fruit on the Serre compared to the De La Terre...you get the sense this is made to cellar a bit longer....Very good acid, nice red fruits...tremendous depth..fantastic texture....I actually preferred the De La Terre mainly because I felt it was a bit lighter in texture and had slightly better acidity..but I can see just as many people preferring this. The Serre has been around awhile and it is Bannockburn's iconic wine....
Bannockburn Shiraz 2008
Medium bodied, good acidity...red fruits...and still that signature vegetal character...good overall structure and one more Shiraz from this region that makes me wonder why were not seeing more from here. I'm not as enamored with the Shiraz (either one) as I am the Pinots..but still very good..
Bannockburn Douglas 2009
Michael's own blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Pinot Noir....I believe this used to be their Cabernet Merlot...Has that same Bannockburn Vegetal character...darker fruits...it actually has a bit more tannin but still good acidity...Good texture and depth to this wine...and for 27, it really is a steal..great value. I've had some Cabernet Merlots from Bannockburn in the past and they weren't nearly as polished. There are a couple of rough edges there but still, really good value..a unique blend....
Halliday seems to suggest that the only thing from here that is vegetal and gamey is the Cabernet Merlot..but really, all of the reds show that same vegetal/gamey character..to me that is their signature..Each of the wines is carefully thought out and tweaked here and there (100% whole bunch vs. 50% whole bunch, etc) to adjust it to vintage/fruit conditions...Yes their wines are a bit divisive...Even with wine geeks, some will really enjoy that uniqueness..and some will not. But you can not deny the quality of the winemaking and the distinctiveness..
I wasn't originally going to go to Bannockburn because it was a bit of a last minute attempt at an appointment (I didn't even know they allowed for visitors until the day before)...but I'm very glad I did. I've had a few of their wines before and was always impressed...To me it was always a divisive style either you love it or hate it......I think it is one that appeals to most Pinot Noir geeks.....It is nothing like a typical Australian Pinot (which I think is great).
Michael Glover is the winemaker at Bannockburn and to me, he has brought the winery to new heights. He is not ashamed to tell you his philosophy and he is very passionate about what he is trying to do at Bannockburn. He has very strong opinions about irrigation (there shouldn't be any), what yields he'd like to see, what yields you want to get in order to show true terroir...He also wants his wine to be uniquely Bannockburn. To me, all of the reds show this vegetal characteristic that I associate with Bannockburn...to me that is their signature. Their Pinots, which are medium bodied and high in acidity might remind many of Burgundy...and you wouldn't be wrong to say that...but at the same time the fruit is most definitely new world. They have that Bannockburn signature...they have that Bannockburn texture....Michael will change up what he does each year, not because he's haphazardly experimenting because based on conditions he's trying to achieve certain things in the wine. Each vintage he tries to improve the wine and make them uniquely Bannockburn.
I also had the opportunity to see their new plantings (planted in 2007) which was 10,000 vines per ha. No irrigation and yield target of 500g per vine. Michael's feeling that the low yield and the vines needing to compete for resources it what helps them show their terroir. This is similar in theory to what is done at some of the best parts of Burgundy. The new vineyard is called De La Terre and it looks like a winner..
It was very interesting to see the contrast with Bannockburn and Lethbridge. Michael wants to make the best wine possible but wants to make sure they're uniquely Bannockburn...that they have their own particular style (and I think they succeed). Ray at Lethbridge wants to make the best wine possible, what he likes to drink, but I wouldn't necessarily say there is a unique style to Lethbridge..it is just he's doing a lot of good things making fantastic wine. Different ways of approaching winemaking...both are winners in my opinion.
Bannockburn Sauvignon Blanc 2012
The first thing that hits you on the nose is this is NOT a typical Sauvignon Blanc...There is a difference in depth, just on the nose. I find out that it has a bit of Riesling, a bit of Chardonnay...has spent time in oak, on lees and with a bit of skin contact....Great acidity, great depth, really nice texture. It has a bit of grass, hints of passion fruit, lemons, a bit of herbs and earthiness..a bit of spice. RRP is 27 which I think represents really great value. I haven't heard much about their SB but this is one of the most unique SB's I've had and at a fantastic price.
Bannockburn Chardonnay 2011
A very well made Chardonnay....good use of oak..and has undergone full malo so you still get that full Chardonnay mouthfeel. Really good acidity....Peaches, grapefruit, a hint of spice...I thought it was interesting that Michael didn't think this one would be good long term while Ray at Lethbridge, who had a very similar 2011 Chardonnay, thought the higher acidity would allow it to go long....Both are actually quite similar but different. I feel like this is a bit much at 57 RRP but still a very good Chard.
Bannockburn SRH Chardonnay 2009
A step up from the estate Chardonnay....Greater depth, deeper fruit (which is also because of the year). A very full bodied Chardonnay with a lot of class. This easily fits in with any of the top Chardonnays in Australia. Good acidity, good structure...great texture...
Bannockburn 1314 AD Pinot 2011
A good intro into Bannockburn..with a bit of that Bannockburn funk/vegetal that comes through..although a bit toned down. Lighter fruit than their normal line which makes for a much lighter Pinot than you'll normally see in Australia but I think that is a good thing. Red fruits, a bit of spice...something in there hints to me this is a cheaper Pinot but it really is a good buy at 27....and Michael suggests the 2013 will be fantastic..
Bannockburn 1314 AD Pinor 2013 (Barrel Sample)
I was lucky enough to get to try this....It has that Bannockburn vegetal characteristic..but the fruit seems very pure...clean lines, pretty good depth and texture considering this isn't even ready to be sold yet... Red fruits, a bit of spice....If this sells for 27, it will be an absolute steal. It will be a good gateway wine into the rest of the Bannockburn line...
Bannockburn Stuart Pinot Noir 2011
A bit more fruit forward than the rest of their line and less vegetal characteristics than the rest..but still shows that Bannockburn character. Darker red fruits, some spice, herbs, earth...Good acidity, good texture. This is a good intro to Bannockburn (even though it is slightly more expensive than the De La Terre..for now).
Bannockburn Estate Pinot Noir 2010
Very typical Bannockburn smell, texture and vegetal characteristics on the Palate. Good acidity, very well made. I think the only thing I dislike is that price wise, it is pretty close to say, the De La Terre...and basically 10 out of 10 times I'd probably prefer the De La Terre...(57 vs. 65RRP).
Bannockburn De La Terre Pinot Noir 2011
Made from their newly planted vineyard in the same fashion as Serre (although my understanding is it has slightly more dense plantings than the Serre), no irrigation, low yield (500g per vine). My feelings on this was, this was Michael's own project...so while similar to Serre, this was done under his tenure, it has his stamp, his way of expressing the terroir, expressing Bannockburn....Really good acidity, which is consistent across all of their Pinots and partially because 2011 was on the wet side...but also really fantastic texture, depth and complexity. Young vines but they're really doing a good job of showing you Bannockburn. Red fruits, spice, herbs, earthiness...that Bannockburn vegetal character...really fine tannis. Structure is there but it is still very approachable (as are all of their Pinots really).
Bannockburn Serre Pinot Noir 2010
A bit more weight and fruit on the Serre compared to the De La Terre...you get the sense this is made to cellar a bit longer....Very good acid, nice red fruits...tremendous depth..fantastic texture....I actually preferred the De La Terre mainly because I felt it was a bit lighter in texture and had slightly better acidity..but I can see just as many people preferring this. The Serre has been around awhile and it is Bannockburn's iconic wine....
Bannockburn Shiraz 2008
Medium bodied, good acidity...red fruits...and still that signature vegetal character...good overall structure and one more Shiraz from this region that makes me wonder why were not seeing more from here. I'm not as enamored with the Shiraz (either one) as I am the Pinots..but still very good..
Bannockburn Douglas 2009
Michael's own blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Pinot Noir....I believe this used to be their Cabernet Merlot...Has that same Bannockburn Vegetal character...darker fruits...it actually has a bit more tannin but still good acidity...Good texture and depth to this wine...and for 27, it really is a steal..great value. I've had some Cabernet Merlots from Bannockburn in the past and they weren't nearly as polished. There are a couple of rough edges there but still, really good value..a unique blend....
Halliday seems to suggest that the only thing from here that is vegetal and gamey is the Cabernet Merlot..but really, all of the reds show that same vegetal/gamey character..to me that is their signature..Each of the wines is carefully thought out and tweaked here and there (100% whole bunch vs. 50% whole bunch, etc) to adjust it to vintage/fruit conditions...Yes their wines are a bit divisive...Even with wine geeks, some will really enjoy that uniqueness..and some will not. But you can not deny the quality of the winemaking and the distinctiveness..
Monday, August 12, 2013
Geelong - Lethbridge, Eagle Rise part 1
I've always been a fan of Lethbridge which is in Geelong. I've only had the chance to try some Bannockburn Pinot once before and was really impressed...so when it came time to go to Melbourne with a free day on the weekend...there was really only one region that I wanted to visit...Geelong...
Geelong actually has three different regions...Moorabool, Surf Coast and Bellarine. Since both Bannockburn and Lethbridge were in Moorabool, that was my obvious choice although out of the three, it is the smallest and most spread out...
Ray Nadeson is the owner and winemaker at Lethbridge. From my talks with him and from others, Ray was in the medical field, developed a device that he patented and then sold off the rights...so what does a guy with enough money to retire on do? He opens a winery and makes what he loves.
Every winemaker says this..but very few often do this....Ray makes wines he loves to drink..the way HE wants to make them. While everyone else may be going to the left, he's going to the right. He has true passion for what he is doing, he even goes to see the trees that are going to be used to make the barrels he will be using for his wine.....He has his hands in every aspects of his wine and you have to really respect a guy that has such passion for what he is doing.
Lethbridge Dr. Nadeson Riesling 2012.
I love what they're doing to their Riesling.. Some residual sugar (10g/L), low ph (3.00) and really high acid (13g/L)...While that style is not completely unique globally...I don't see a lot of it...and it is completely unusual in Australia (although I have seen one or two others recently do something similar). That high high acid combined with a bit of residual sugar to soften it, is a fantastic combination. Lime pith, minerality, tart apples....Great complexity, great mouthfeel. I believe these are fermented in oak with a bit of lees stirring......It will really be interesting to see how these develop in 5 or so years..and if it gains some of that weight and secondary notes that Aussie riesling tends to...I think my only issue is I'm not sure how to keep my hands off the stuff long enough to wait that long and Ray doesn't make enough of it to really have a museum stock (I think he said he makes 100-150 cases). In any case, one of my favorite Aussie Rieslings if not my absolute favorite. RRP is 30 and it is a great buy at that.
Lethbridge Kabinett Riesling 2010.
This is something you won't see anywhere but the Cellar door, I believe they only make about 30 cases of it. Made in a Germanic style called Kabinett so I'm expecting to have a good amount of RS but not a huge amount. Made basically in the same style as his Nadeson, this too is also just absolutely fantastic. To compare it to German Kabinett, to me it feels like the RS and the fruit are not as seamless together as they are with a German Riesling..but I don't consider that a downside..it is just different....In many aspects it does remind you of a German Kabinett but I feel like the acid is showing better, I think there is greater depth at this age than you see from a German Kabinett....This is really very enjoyable and one I think my wife would actually drink as well. A bit of crushed rock, lime, apples, lemon peel...Texture is great with really high acidity to balance out the 30g/L of RS....This isn't made to appeal to most Aussies because many are adamant Riesling needs to be bone bone dry (Blue Nun did serious damage to the psyches of Aussies)...but it will appeal to anyone that enjoys German Rieslings...
Lethbridge Botrytis Riesling 2011.
I pretty much never talk about dessert wines. I enjoy them but in Australia, most of them are very straightforward - Sweet. Some have better acidity, some better complexity...but Australians iconic Botrytis Semillon, Noble One, I would hardly compare to a good Sauternes...There is a depth and complexity it just doesn't have (although Noble One is pretty good). THIS wine however, is one that had me just amazed.
Hand Picked Berry by Berry...as each individual berry was infected by Botrytis, they hand picked each individual one off the vine. I think Ray said it took them 6 weeks to pick the fruit and they only made about 25 half cases of the wine...so you can imagine all the time and effort it took to make this. Ray says they may never make another one again because of how much time and effort it took..but I have a feeling at some point, when conditions are right, they'll do it again.
My first impression of the wine were..wow, what else is going on in here? A real depth to the nose, not just sweet but something else...I then find out this has had time in oak which seems to really have given this weight, complexity and just that extra oomph that is really contributing to the nose. Palate - Sweet but not sticky sweet...really high acidity is helping to balance this out. Lime, lemon peel, some nuttiness coming out as well, a tad bit of rock, some vanilla....Really quite wonderful....My favorite dessert wine made in Australia (if you don't count 100 year old Para)....
Lethbridge Chardonnay 2010
A good % of new oak and full malo...This isn't your fat buttery oaky chardonnay but it is most definitely a more traditional, non Chablis like Chardonnay. A bit of peach, some nice creaminess and complexity. Good acidity but not as much as I'm looking for at this stage. A very good Chardonnay but I feel like it needs more time.
Lethbridge Chardonnay 2011
A cooler year in 2011, new oak, full malo, but a lot of really great acidity. Some peachiness, a bit of minerality, stone fruit...good depth and complexity. It fits more into what I'd like to drink but still carries that fullness that a chardonnay can carry..really quite nice..
Lethbridge Allegra Chardonnay 2008
Lethbridge Chardonnay 2010
A good % of new oak and full malo...This isn't your fat buttery oaky chardonnay but it is most definitely a more traditional, non Chablis like Chardonnay. A bit of peach, some nice creaminess and complexity. Good acidity but not as much as I'm looking for at this stage. A very good Chardonnay but I feel like it needs more time.
Lethbridge Chardonnay 2011
A cooler year in 2011, new oak, full malo, but a lot of really great acidity. Some peachiness, a bit of minerality, stone fruit...good depth and complexity. It fits more into what I'd like to drink but still carries that fullness that a chardonnay can carry..really quite nice..
Lethbridge Allegra Chardonnay 2008
Texture wise, this and the 2011 estate Chardonnay felt really similar..but this one had a LOT more depth, a LOT more complexity....Layer by layer it would unfold as I was tasting it. Stone fruits, lemon pith, stone fruit....Acidity with a bit of fatness to it...This is probably my favorite chardonnay in Australia right now...
Lethbridge Pinot Noir 2011
Really nice acidity, earth, forest floor, red fruits, a bit of spice...really quite nice but I'm not sure I like this as much as the 2010. Still, really great mouthfeel, really good texture, good depth, and nothing like a typical Australian Pinot...which is great.
Lethbridge Mietta Pinot Noir 2009
Greater depth than the regular estate...A bit more fruit but a bit more stuffing..good acidity, fine tannins, spicy red fruits, some vegetal flavors, some spice, herbs, some earthy tones, mushrooms...really quite nice. Definitely one of the better Australian Pinots out there....I think the 2008 had a bit more structure to it..it would have been nice to see these side by side.
Lethbridge Mietta Pinot Noir 2013 (barrel Sample)
I don't really get a chance to try barrel samples so this was a great opportunity. Good acidity, clean fruit, but still development going on...I have no way to properly evaluate this but the fruit seemed very pure....I'm looking forward to trying this when they release it.
Lethbridge Nebbiolo 2013 (barrel Sample)
Most of the Nebbiolo in Australia that I've had have been underwhelming...this was definitely NOT. The difference to me is the correct structure and mouthfeel was there that I'm looking for in Nebbiolo. Proper tannin structure, good acidity, definitely still a baby at this point and still developing but this looks like it'll be a really good Nebbiolo and probably the best in Australia...Ray says it is because most winemakers don't have enough patience as he shows me the barrels they've modded to allow the juice to have contact with the skins for over 100 days....Really old school, really smart guy...really good wine.
Lethbridge Shiraz 2010
Geelong Shiraz is really underrated....Good acidity, red fruits, herbs, some meaty characters, a bit of earth...Medium bodied...Not quite the acidity of a Hunter Shiraz but the fruit is a bit cleaner, less earthy characters...I think a lot of people would enjoy this style.
Lethbridge Heathcote Shiraz 2010
This is actually a Shiraz Mouvedre...and the Shiraz fruit from Heathcote.... a bit more fruit forward initially than the Geelong..good acidity...Some meat and chocolate...nice medium bodied feel...Nice texture and depth...finishes with a typical Mouvedre finish...really quite a nice wine...I've seen this blend before in Australia...this is one of the most successful versions of this that I've tried in AU.
Lethbridge Indra Shiraz 2008
This is like their estate Shiraz but with a lot more depth and lot more complexity. The oak is well integrated, good acidity...Medium bodied with red fruits, herbs, earth and fine tannins. A really great version of a Geelong Shiraz....I think the only downside is for the same price do I want an Allegra, Mietta or Indra? To me the Mietta and Allegra sit as top tier Chard/Pinot in Australia...Indra is great but not quite top tier....
Lethbridge Hugo George 2009
Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Franc....A Tuscan style wine....fine tannins, great depth, good acidity with a great mid palate. A very interesting blend that I think would be fantastic with food. Red fruits, some green pepper, herbs, some vegetal notes.....Really quite an interesting wine. I'm not sure this hits the heights of their other premiums...but a VERY interesting wine.
Eagles Rise
Small producer who makes about 500 cases of each wine. What differentiates them from their competitors is they like to hold back their releases until they feel they're ready to drink. Available for tasting was a Pinot Grigio, dessert Pinot Grigio, a Shiraz and a Cabernet Sauvignon. They do have some reserves and other versions but they weren't available to try...
Eagles Rise Shiraz 2005.
My favorite of those available for tasting. Redder fruits, good acidity, some herbs and some vegetal characteristics coming through...A bit of age so a few other secondary characteristics coming through....a bit of meatiness...mdushroms, earth....RRP is only 20 on this...I don't think it is easily available..
The vineyard is also for sale..for just under 1 million AUD...dreams dreams dreams....
Lethbridge Pinot Noir 2011
Really nice acidity, earth, forest floor, red fruits, a bit of spice...really quite nice but I'm not sure I like this as much as the 2010. Still, really great mouthfeel, really good texture, good depth, and nothing like a typical Australian Pinot...which is great.
Lethbridge Mietta Pinot Noir 2009
Greater depth than the regular estate...A bit more fruit but a bit more stuffing..good acidity, fine tannins, spicy red fruits, some vegetal flavors, some spice, herbs, some earthy tones, mushrooms...really quite nice. Definitely one of the better Australian Pinots out there....I think the 2008 had a bit more structure to it..it would have been nice to see these side by side.
Lethbridge Mietta Pinot Noir 2013 (barrel Sample)
I don't really get a chance to try barrel samples so this was a great opportunity. Good acidity, clean fruit, but still development going on...I have no way to properly evaluate this but the fruit seemed very pure....I'm looking forward to trying this when they release it.
Lethbridge Nebbiolo 2013 (barrel Sample)
Most of the Nebbiolo in Australia that I've had have been underwhelming...this was definitely NOT. The difference to me is the correct structure and mouthfeel was there that I'm looking for in Nebbiolo. Proper tannin structure, good acidity, definitely still a baby at this point and still developing but this looks like it'll be a really good Nebbiolo and probably the best in Australia...Ray says it is because most winemakers don't have enough patience as he shows me the barrels they've modded to allow the juice to have contact with the skins for over 100 days....Really old school, really smart guy...really good wine.
Lethbridge Shiraz 2010
Geelong Shiraz is really underrated....Good acidity, red fruits, herbs, some meaty characters, a bit of earth...Medium bodied...Not quite the acidity of a Hunter Shiraz but the fruit is a bit cleaner, less earthy characters...I think a lot of people would enjoy this style.
Lethbridge Heathcote Shiraz 2010
This is actually a Shiraz Mouvedre...and the Shiraz fruit from Heathcote.... a bit more fruit forward initially than the Geelong..good acidity...Some meat and chocolate...nice medium bodied feel...Nice texture and depth...finishes with a typical Mouvedre finish...really quite a nice wine...I've seen this blend before in Australia...this is one of the most successful versions of this that I've tried in AU.
Lethbridge Indra Shiraz 2008
This is like their estate Shiraz but with a lot more depth and lot more complexity. The oak is well integrated, good acidity...Medium bodied with red fruits, herbs, earth and fine tannins. A really great version of a Geelong Shiraz....I think the only downside is for the same price do I want an Allegra, Mietta or Indra? To me the Mietta and Allegra sit as top tier Chard/Pinot in Australia...Indra is great but not quite top tier....
Lethbridge Hugo George 2009
Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Franc....A Tuscan style wine....fine tannins, great depth, good acidity with a great mid palate. A very interesting blend that I think would be fantastic with food. Red fruits, some green pepper, herbs, some vegetal notes.....Really quite an interesting wine. I'm not sure this hits the heights of their other premiums...but a VERY interesting wine.
Eagles Rise
Small producer who makes about 500 cases of each wine. What differentiates them from their competitors is they like to hold back their releases until they feel they're ready to drink. Available for tasting was a Pinot Grigio, dessert Pinot Grigio, a Shiraz and a Cabernet Sauvignon. They do have some reserves and other versions but they weren't available to try...
Eagles Rise Shiraz 2005.
My favorite of those available for tasting. Redder fruits, good acidity, some herbs and some vegetal characteristics coming through...A bit of age so a few other secondary characteristics coming through....a bit of meatiness...mdushroms, earth....RRP is only 20 on this...I don't think it is easily available..
The vineyard is also for sale..for just under 1 million AUD...dreams dreams dreams....
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Yarra Yering 2011 vintage
I had the opportunity to try Yarra Yerings 2011 release...
I've always been a Yarra Yering fan...really nice wines..had their own style...well made..a bit on the pricey side but always good wines even though I thought some things were a bit odd (like their Pinot which I liked but would hardly have called it a Pinot).
2011 was a cold and wet year...I think for large chunks of Australia (SA and Vic) it wasn't a great year..in some cases really bad..some places didn't even make their flagships and just declassified everything into their lower end wines...
My overall impression? Declassification is what Yarra Yering SHOULD have done but didn't. I actually like a bit of green in my wine but this was not just bordering on Ripe/Underripe..this was just underripe....
Yarra Yering Dry White No. 1 2011
A blend of Semillon with a tad bit of Chardonnay...18 months in old French oak...it has also undergone Malo....To me it feels really oaky...which I think it odd because they've used 10 year old oak barrels....But that said, pretty decent mouthfeel...it definitely needs some time to come down. Decent acidity..interesting flavor profile. Definitely far too expensive though for what you're getting at 84 RRP. I'm not sure they realize this is a white wine (same price as their reds) and what 84 gets you out there.
Yarra Yering Chardonnay 2011
Good acidity, a bit tight on the nose and on the palate. This has gone through malo and oak for 19 months (40% new) but I'm not getting a lot from it. A lot of the fruit seems stripped out...well made wine..no flaws..but really not getting a whole lot..
Yarra Yering Chardonnay 2002
This was there to show what the wine will be like with some age...given similar vintage conditions...To me the 2002 seemed almost like it has been oxidized...but I don't think it is because I'm getting something from the wine..but in the background there seems to me something really weird about the wine...I'm not sure...this isn't really a good example to be showing though..
Yarra Yering Carrodus Viognier 2011
One of their flagships but not one I've generally been impressed with. Basically 4 times the price of a Clonakilla Viognier...and 8 times the price of nearly every other Viognier in Australia....Has a full bodied mouthfeel to it....woody notes....some yeasty notes to it....feels like it needs at least a few more years before drinking...it might be quite a bit better then..I've only tried this new so I don't know...
Yarra Yering Pinot Noir 2011
So I've had their Pinot several times..and while they tend to be made like a Shiraz...it is actually still quite enjoyable...Big fruit, vanilla, but pretty decent acidity as well....quite an unusual style of Pinot..but THIS year...I don't know what they've done. Good acidity, far more medium bodied, much more Pinot like...but with that Aussie rubber flavor (so not really a good thing). Very little fruit on this...so while the mouthfeel is more Pinot like...the wine itself is just not right. Very green (which isn't always a bad thing). Something is not right.. A failed attempt at trying to make a Burgundy is the best description. Granted, vintages conditions didn't allow them to make the very ripe, shiraz like pinot they have been making before..but this was not a good attempt either....It tastes like a not so great 10 dollar village burg in a bad year except without the flaws...Maybe in 10 years I'll be proven wrong...
Yarra Yering Underhill 2011
On the nose I would have guess Shiraz Viognier..which I thought was interesting because I heard some other people comment on that as well. Apparently it is 100% Shiraz. Medium body, medium minus acidity (sorry, I just watched Somm (wine documentary)). On the palate I still feel like this is a SV..red fruits but not a lot..some floral notes...but really quite green and herby. Maybe that is where it is making me think of SV...but overall, the greenies is really making this quite disappointing. What is odd about this and other wines is even though they're "green", the acidity doesn't seem to be as high as I'd expect..really quite odd..
Yarra Yering Underhill 2002
This seems far more fleshed out compared to the 2011...a bit more depth to this...some secondary characteristics but this wine is still pretty green..maybe not as much as the 2011 but I think this really hampers the wine. The 2002 was more enjoyable than the 2011...but I don't think it is something to look forward to either...
Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 2 2011
I generally like this blend...this year it is a Shiraz, Mataro, Viognier, Marsanne. Light red fruits, medium bodied...medium minus acidity....this is still a bit green as well....At this point I'm actually a bit annoyed at the whole thing...
Yarra Yering Carrodus Shiraz 2011
Definitely more fruit on this compared to the ones I've had so far at this tasting...medium bodied, medium acidity...good depth, clean fruit flavors...very nice mouthfeel...Far fewer green notes on this wine..and this wine is well made...but for 250...I'm expecting a LOT more. To put it in perspective...this is the same price (more actually) than a Torbrek Run Rig...more than twice as expensive as a Mt Edelstone...4-5 times more expensive than Wendouree and Tyrrels Vat 9, Four Acres, etc...In good years this wine might be great...This year it isn't. I have no idea why this isn't just used to make up for their underperforming lower end wines....there is no way this wine justifies the price...it is actually making me even more annoyed and it is actually borderline insulting...
Yarra Yering Agincourt Cabernet Malbec 2011
Good mouthfeel, still a bit green. Not as apparent as some of the other wines but not quite ripe. Far lighter than I'd expect a Cab Malbec to be....this wine has turned out ok...but not for 84RRP.
Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 2011
Big fan of this wine normally....which is a Bordeaux blend....Cab Sav, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot....100% new French oak.. More fruit in this wine compared to previous ones..nice medium body...medium acidity. Good depth to the wine, and good mouthfeel. Some greenies coming out but not too bad..some herbs....This is one of the better reds today...but not quite where it should be...probably my least favorite Red No 1 ever.
Yarra Yering Carrodus Cabernet Merlot 2011
Fruit is showing a bit better here..good mouthfeel..medium bodied, medium/medium minus acidity....pretty good depth and complexity given the lack of fruit...some greenies and herbs coming out but not too bad. A pretty decent wine...just nowhere near the 250 they're asking for it. In all seriousness, it is stupidly priced. 250 still gets you a 2009 Pontet Canet which RP scored 100 pts (not that I care). 250 gets you into the different Bordeaux Growths....It gets you into GC Burgs easily (for some anyways)....Just as the Shiraz..this is actually insulting...Maybe some years this is utterly fantastic...but for a bad year like 2011...come on...
Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 3 2011
A blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cao, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Alvarelhao and Sousao. I've always had mixed feelings on this...it is generally quite interesting although doesn't always seem to go. Mediumish bodied..a bit fuller than most of the other reds....Mediumish acidity...red fruits but still a bit tight..some greenies and herbs...an interesting blend...seems to be working better together this year...although it could be because they're all so underripe they're not showing their true flavors..not sure. Ok wine, not impressed..not as disappointed as I was with some of the others..
Yarra Yering Barbiolo 2011
A blend of Barbera and Nebbiolo. I'd actually prefer this to be mainly Nebbiolo and some Barbera but it is the other way around. Probably the most satisfactory wine of the night for the price....Red fruits..medium bodied..Medium plus acidity...good mouthfeel...overall a decent wine and I was the least disappointed with this (which is half expectations, half the wine).
I don't know if they're hurting financially or what...but I seriously don't consider this a good choice by them to release their full set of wines even though the year was not a good one. Coming from someone that actually enjoys cooler climate and even slightly green wine...for me to not really enjoy these really doesn't bode well for them. I heard a good number of other comments as well that basically confirmed what I was thinking...the fruit is just terribly underripe and it is really showing in the wine. I know bad vintages can really hurt some wineries but that isn't a reason to not seriously consider declassifying your fruit to release something (so get some money back) rather than hurt your brand. To me their 2011 release has really hurt their brand.
I rarely post anything really negative...and this isn't to say Yarra Yering, in almost every other year, is a bad buy..they're on the more expensive end but they do make good wine. 2011 though, was not a good year..and the wines aren't very good...all well made..but just not very good...
I've always been a Yarra Yering fan...really nice wines..had their own style...well made..a bit on the pricey side but always good wines even though I thought some things were a bit odd (like their Pinot which I liked but would hardly have called it a Pinot).
2011 was a cold and wet year...I think for large chunks of Australia (SA and Vic) it wasn't a great year..in some cases really bad..some places didn't even make their flagships and just declassified everything into their lower end wines...
My overall impression? Declassification is what Yarra Yering SHOULD have done but didn't. I actually like a bit of green in my wine but this was not just bordering on Ripe/Underripe..this was just underripe....
Yarra Yering Dry White No. 1 2011
A blend of Semillon with a tad bit of Chardonnay...18 months in old French oak...it has also undergone Malo....To me it feels really oaky...which I think it odd because they've used 10 year old oak barrels....But that said, pretty decent mouthfeel...it definitely needs some time to come down. Decent acidity..interesting flavor profile. Definitely far too expensive though for what you're getting at 84 RRP. I'm not sure they realize this is a white wine (same price as their reds) and what 84 gets you out there.
Yarra Yering Chardonnay 2011
Good acidity, a bit tight on the nose and on the palate. This has gone through malo and oak for 19 months (40% new) but I'm not getting a lot from it. A lot of the fruit seems stripped out...well made wine..no flaws..but really not getting a whole lot..
Yarra Yering Chardonnay 2002
This was there to show what the wine will be like with some age...given similar vintage conditions...To me the 2002 seemed almost like it has been oxidized...but I don't think it is because I'm getting something from the wine..but in the background there seems to me something really weird about the wine...I'm not sure...this isn't really a good example to be showing though..
Yarra Yering Carrodus Viognier 2011
One of their flagships but not one I've generally been impressed with. Basically 4 times the price of a Clonakilla Viognier...and 8 times the price of nearly every other Viognier in Australia....Has a full bodied mouthfeel to it....woody notes....some yeasty notes to it....feels like it needs at least a few more years before drinking...it might be quite a bit better then..I've only tried this new so I don't know...
Yarra Yering Pinot Noir 2011
So I've had their Pinot several times..and while they tend to be made like a Shiraz...it is actually still quite enjoyable...Big fruit, vanilla, but pretty decent acidity as well....quite an unusual style of Pinot..but THIS year...I don't know what they've done. Good acidity, far more medium bodied, much more Pinot like...but with that Aussie rubber flavor (so not really a good thing). Very little fruit on this...so while the mouthfeel is more Pinot like...the wine itself is just not right. Very green (which isn't always a bad thing). Something is not right.. A failed attempt at trying to make a Burgundy is the best description. Granted, vintages conditions didn't allow them to make the very ripe, shiraz like pinot they have been making before..but this was not a good attempt either....It tastes like a not so great 10 dollar village burg in a bad year except without the flaws...Maybe in 10 years I'll be proven wrong...
Yarra Yering Underhill 2011
On the nose I would have guess Shiraz Viognier..which I thought was interesting because I heard some other people comment on that as well. Apparently it is 100% Shiraz. Medium body, medium minus acidity (sorry, I just watched Somm (wine documentary)). On the palate I still feel like this is a SV..red fruits but not a lot..some floral notes...but really quite green and herby. Maybe that is where it is making me think of SV...but overall, the greenies is really making this quite disappointing. What is odd about this and other wines is even though they're "green", the acidity doesn't seem to be as high as I'd expect..really quite odd..
Yarra Yering Underhill 2002
This seems far more fleshed out compared to the 2011...a bit more depth to this...some secondary characteristics but this wine is still pretty green..maybe not as much as the 2011 but I think this really hampers the wine. The 2002 was more enjoyable than the 2011...but I don't think it is something to look forward to either...
Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 2 2011
I generally like this blend...this year it is a Shiraz, Mataro, Viognier, Marsanne. Light red fruits, medium bodied...medium minus acidity....this is still a bit green as well....At this point I'm actually a bit annoyed at the whole thing...
Yarra Yering Carrodus Shiraz 2011
Definitely more fruit on this compared to the ones I've had so far at this tasting...medium bodied, medium acidity...good depth, clean fruit flavors...very nice mouthfeel...Far fewer green notes on this wine..and this wine is well made...but for 250...I'm expecting a LOT more. To put it in perspective...this is the same price (more actually) than a Torbrek Run Rig...more than twice as expensive as a Mt Edelstone...4-5 times more expensive than Wendouree and Tyrrels Vat 9, Four Acres, etc...In good years this wine might be great...This year it isn't. I have no idea why this isn't just used to make up for their underperforming lower end wines....there is no way this wine justifies the price...it is actually making me even more annoyed and it is actually borderline insulting...
Yarra Yering Agincourt Cabernet Malbec 2011
Good mouthfeel, still a bit green. Not as apparent as some of the other wines but not quite ripe. Far lighter than I'd expect a Cab Malbec to be....this wine has turned out ok...but not for 84RRP.
Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 2011
Big fan of this wine normally....which is a Bordeaux blend....Cab Sav, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot....100% new French oak.. More fruit in this wine compared to previous ones..nice medium body...medium acidity. Good depth to the wine, and good mouthfeel. Some greenies coming out but not too bad..some herbs....This is one of the better reds today...but not quite where it should be...probably my least favorite Red No 1 ever.
Yarra Yering Carrodus Cabernet Merlot 2011
Fruit is showing a bit better here..good mouthfeel..medium bodied, medium/medium minus acidity....pretty good depth and complexity given the lack of fruit...some greenies and herbs coming out but not too bad. A pretty decent wine...just nowhere near the 250 they're asking for it. In all seriousness, it is stupidly priced. 250 still gets you a 2009 Pontet Canet which RP scored 100 pts (not that I care). 250 gets you into the different Bordeaux Growths....It gets you into GC Burgs easily (for some anyways)....Just as the Shiraz..this is actually insulting...Maybe some years this is utterly fantastic...but for a bad year like 2011...come on...
Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 3 2011
A blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cao, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Alvarelhao and Sousao. I've always had mixed feelings on this...it is generally quite interesting although doesn't always seem to go. Mediumish bodied..a bit fuller than most of the other reds....Mediumish acidity...red fruits but still a bit tight..some greenies and herbs...an interesting blend...seems to be working better together this year...although it could be because they're all so underripe they're not showing their true flavors..not sure. Ok wine, not impressed..not as disappointed as I was with some of the others..
Yarra Yering Barbiolo 2011
A blend of Barbera and Nebbiolo. I'd actually prefer this to be mainly Nebbiolo and some Barbera but it is the other way around. Probably the most satisfactory wine of the night for the price....Red fruits..medium bodied..Medium plus acidity...good mouthfeel...overall a decent wine and I was the least disappointed with this (which is half expectations, half the wine).
I don't know if they're hurting financially or what...but I seriously don't consider this a good choice by them to release their full set of wines even though the year was not a good one. Coming from someone that actually enjoys cooler climate and even slightly green wine...for me to not really enjoy these really doesn't bode well for them. I heard a good number of other comments as well that basically confirmed what I was thinking...the fruit is just terribly underripe and it is really showing in the wine. I know bad vintages can really hurt some wineries but that isn't a reason to not seriously consider declassifying your fruit to release something (so get some money back) rather than hurt your brand. To me their 2011 release has really hurt their brand.
I rarely post anything really negative...and this isn't to say Yarra Yering, in almost every other year, is a bad buy..they're on the more expensive end but they do make good wine. 2011 though, was not a good year..and the wines aren't very good...all well made..but just not very good...
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Margaret River Tasting 2013 - Sydney
This was an event held at Customs House in Circular Quay. I think the last time I was here was two years ago and while I remember there being significantly more wineries present, on the plus side they weren't limited to the number of wines they could present so that was a nice plus.
I've always been a big fan of Margaret River wine...They have a fantastic climate for growing wine, they have a large range of different things they grow there (Counting the greater WA area) where they basically grow all of the major grapes in Australia...Shiraz, Cab Sav, Merlot, Riesling, Sav Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay...even some Pinot Noir and Petit Verdot....
One of the things I've been less than impressed with as far as MR goes is, they love to make Semillon Sauvignon Blanc...I'm not sure why but they do but they do...but one trend I've seen happen is more and more places are starting to use oak barrels to give SSB a bit more depth and complexity and a much better texture than the watery mess I'm used to seeing from there.
Cowaraump Wines
Cowaramup Wines Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Reserve 2011
Really nice mouthfeel to this, good depth and complexity...a bit of passion fruit, lemon, grass, herbs...Really good use of oak..it really does at a lot to this wine and for 25 AUD, it is a really good buy. There is a significant difference between this and their Clownfish line of Sav Blanc Semillon and for only 5 dollars more, it is just a far superior wine.
Cowaramup Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2010
I huge step up from their normal Clownfish Cab, great mouthfeel, good acidity..really nice structure to this wine. Dark fruits, herbs, a bit of a leather a bit of earth....At 30 AUD RRP, this is one of the better deals out there.
Fraser Gallop
Fraser Gallop Parterre Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2011.
58% Semillon, 42% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine really has great mouthfeel and texture. The oak really pulls the right flavors out of the Semillon while the Sauvignon Blanc seems to add a bit of lift to it. Some toasty notes, lemon, herbs...For a SSB this is really quite nice. RRP is 36 which is definitely a bit much for a SSB but this IS a good one. I'm also told they only make like 200 cases so this sells out quite quickly.
Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2012
Really nice nose, a bit of citrus and nuts...Palate splashes grapefruit, cashews, a bit of honey and lemon. Really nice minerality in this wine...nice restrained use of oak...has a little bit of creaminess but not from any Malo (unless some happened naturally)..Really nice acidity...This is a nice wine and at 32RRP, it is probably underpriced by a bit...Great value...Great Chardonnay from a consistent performer.
Fraser Gallop Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Another really nice wine from their Parterre line...wonderful dark fruit on the nose..some herbs, mint and a bit of earth. Palate has nice acidity, good tannin structure, nice dark fruits coming through and maybe even a tad of eucalyptus and mint...At 42RRP, this is also a really good value.
Honorable mentions:
Xanadu Chardonnay 2010- Wish the Reserve was here but their normal Estate was still pretty good...
Howard Park Leston Cabernet 2010. Really solid, tannins are big (I think every Leston I've tried has been like this) but good acidity, good fruit. Solid wine.
I've always been a big fan of Margaret River wine...They have a fantastic climate for growing wine, they have a large range of different things they grow there (Counting the greater WA area) where they basically grow all of the major grapes in Australia...Shiraz, Cab Sav, Merlot, Riesling, Sav Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay...even some Pinot Noir and Petit Verdot....
One of the things I've been less than impressed with as far as MR goes is, they love to make Semillon Sauvignon Blanc...I'm not sure why but they do but they do...but one trend I've seen happen is more and more places are starting to use oak barrels to give SSB a bit more depth and complexity and a much better texture than the watery mess I'm used to seeing from there.
Cowaraump Wines
Cowaramup Wines Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Reserve 2011
Really nice mouthfeel to this, good depth and complexity...a bit of passion fruit, lemon, grass, herbs...Really good use of oak..it really does at a lot to this wine and for 25 AUD, it is a really good buy. There is a significant difference between this and their Clownfish line of Sav Blanc Semillon and for only 5 dollars more, it is just a far superior wine.
Cowaramup Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2010
I huge step up from their normal Clownfish Cab, great mouthfeel, good acidity..really nice structure to this wine. Dark fruits, herbs, a bit of a leather a bit of earth....At 30 AUD RRP, this is one of the better deals out there.
Fraser Gallop
Fraser Gallop Parterre Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2011.
58% Semillon, 42% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine really has great mouthfeel and texture. The oak really pulls the right flavors out of the Semillon while the Sauvignon Blanc seems to add a bit of lift to it. Some toasty notes, lemon, herbs...For a SSB this is really quite nice. RRP is 36 which is definitely a bit much for a SSB but this IS a good one. I'm also told they only make like 200 cases so this sells out quite quickly.
Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2012
Really nice nose, a bit of citrus and nuts...Palate splashes grapefruit, cashews, a bit of honey and lemon. Really nice minerality in this wine...nice restrained use of oak...has a little bit of creaminess but not from any Malo (unless some happened naturally)..Really nice acidity...This is a nice wine and at 32RRP, it is probably underpriced by a bit...Great value...Great Chardonnay from a consistent performer.
Fraser Gallop Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Another really nice wine from their Parterre line...wonderful dark fruit on the nose..some herbs, mint and a bit of earth. Palate has nice acidity, good tannin structure, nice dark fruits coming through and maybe even a tad of eucalyptus and mint...At 42RRP, this is also a really good value.
Honorable mentions:
Xanadu Chardonnay 2010- Wish the Reserve was here but their normal Estate was still pretty good...
Howard Park Leston Cabernet 2010. Really solid, tannins are big (I think every Leston I've tried has been like this) but good acidity, good fruit. Solid wine.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
New Zealand in a Glass 2013 part 2
Part 2.
Elephant Hill
Mapmaker
This winemaker had a few very interesting wines last year...so I was looking forward to seeing what else they had up their sleeve...
Elephant Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2011 - Te Awanga Hawkes Bay
Typical NZ SB but a bit better depth...Last year they had one with oak, this year they didn't..Better than a typical NZ SB but not by much. 28 RRP
Map Marker Sauvignon Blanc 2012
NZ SB.
Elephant Hill Chardonnay 2010 - Te Awanga Hawkes Bay
Fermented in Oak barrels with no malo, solid chardonnay with good depth but needs more time to integrate the oak...
Map Maker Pinot Gris 2012 - Marlborough.
Fermented in Oak barrels, no Malo...really nice mouthfeel and depth to this. Far more interesting than most Pinot Gris. A bit on the expensive side for a Pinot Gris (30 RRP) but definitely worth giving a shot if want Pinot Gris with a bit more to it (which is normally what it lacks).
Elephant Hill Pinot Noir 2011 - Central Otago
Good acid, bright fruit, smooth tannins, good structure. Solid overall pinot. Maybe a bit expensive at 45 RRP but pretty good.
Map Maker Pinot Noir 2010 - Marlborough
Good Acid. A bit too fruity but a nice drop. Reasonably priced at 33RRP.
Elephant Hill Syrah 2010 - Hawkes Bay
Medium bodied, dark and red fruits, some herbs...decent acid...good structure...Pretty good buy at 35 RRP...
A bit tight at this point but getting some very dark fruit. Acid is decent, tannins are pretty harsh still..this needs more time. Good complexity and depth to this. A reasonable buy at 49 RRP but hard to say where this is headed...
Francrest Estate
www.fancrest.com
A surprise from last year, I was really looking forward to seeing these as they were quite interesting last year...They have renamed their Di's label to just Fancrest Estate.
Fancrest Estate Pinot Noir 2009 - Omhi Hills Waipara Valley
I remember this being tight last year but you could still see some fruit sticking out. This has really changed a lot from what I remember. Good acidity, good structure, overall good balance and depth. Drinking quite nicely right now..one to follow to see how it develops.
Fancrest Estate Pinot Noir 2010 - Omhi Hills Waipara Valley
I don't know if this has budged from last year. Very very tight. Tannins are really quite pronounced. Some fruit is sticking out but really tough through all the tannins. Wine is showing really nice complexity and depth..Acid is good...this should be an interesting one. The structure is there to go long haul..but without the history and reputation, I think it is a hard sell for a lot of people. I REALLY want to see this next year and in 5+ years...
Fancrest Estate Pinot 2011 - Omhi Hills Waipara Valley
I don't know if Diane did something different in 2011 but the contrast between it and 2010 is tremendous. Really good acidity showing through, bright fruit, very nice complexity and depth to this Pinot. Tannins are there, definitely there, but they are adding to the depth and mouthfeel and not detracting from tasting the rest of the wine. It is drinking very well right now and a good buy at 42RRP. How will this be in a few years? After having tried 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011..I have no idea...but should be interesting...
This is an interesting estate overall. I hope Diane gets more coverage as she is making some really interesting stuff. It looks like she has shifted her winemaking style because I don't think the change in 2011 is strictly from vintage conditions...I really want to see these in a few years..
Giesen Wines
www.giesenwines.com
Giesen Estate Sauvignon Blance 2012
Very typical NZ SB.
Giesen The Brothers Sauvignon Blance 2011
Good depth of flavor, better than a normal NZ SB.
Giesen The August Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Good Acidity, good depth of flavor, fermented in oak barrels for 9 months and the oak and really added weight and complexity to this. Really quite nice but 40 RRP for a NZ SB is a bit high..but not too bad.
Giesen The Brothers Chardonnay 2011
Decent acidity, good depth, citrus a good buy at 25 RRP
Giesen Estate Pinot Noir 2011 - Marlborough
Good acid and bright fruit. Easy drinking and decent buy at 25 RRP
Giesen The Brothers Pinot Noir 2011 - Marlborough.
Really nice acidity and typical Marlborough bright fruit. Quite a bit more depth and complexity to this...craving a bit more structure though..not too bad at 40RRP
Friday, March 8, 2013
New Zealand in a Glass 2013 part 1
I have been looking forward to attending this event as it was quite a good one last year. New Zealand Wine puts on this event in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to promote New Zealand wine in Australia...to both consumers and industry.
Overall it was good...although I think a lot of the wineries from last year that I really enjoyed were not here...Specifically Surveyor Thomson, Pasquale, Auntsfield and Bridge Pa....But even with their absence, there were many interesting things going on.
One thing I saw from last year and taken one step further this year was that everyone was trying to make a different Sav Blanc. They were all very much NZ Sav Blanc but with different selections of fruit and use of oak. There is no doubt people are trying to differentiate themselves from the oceans of Sav Blan coming out of NZ. What I mean by that is you can take 10 different NZ Sav Blanc from 15-25 dollars and they all taste very similar..no distinguishing terroir, not even a difference in style...yes, one might have more passion fruit...one might have more gooseberry..but are they really any different? Not really..
The one thing that annoys me when I look at this show is the pricing of NZ wines...They are actually higher in pure numbers in AUD than in NZD. To give you an example..
A wine that might be 38 NZD is 44 AUD. Yes there is WET and a bunch of other worthless junk that goes into it... So 38NZD is about 30AUD...so somewhere in there is another 50% of taxes and shipping? Keep in mind NZ producers get WET back as well so the number is way out of wack..I don't understand it...
Akarua
www.akarua.com
Akarua Brut Sparkling (NV)
Akarua Rose Brut Sparkling (NV)
Both of these were just ok. Very much like an Aussie sparkling which means they weren't very good.
Akarua Pinot Noir 2011.
Good Acidity, bright fruit, good complexity, solid showing but a bit on the expensive side (48 AUD RRP). Overall a pretty good wine.
Akarua Rua Pinot Noir 2012.
Good Acidity, fruit was ok. Pretty bland overall but solid. On the expensive side for what you get (32 AUD RRP).
Allan Scott Family Winemakers
www.allanscott.com
Allan Scott Blanc de Blancs Sparkling (NV)
Allan Scott Cecelia Sparkling (NV)
Allan Scott Les Joues Rouge Sparkling (NV)
I'm considering not mentioning any of the Sparkling, they just were not that good. There is a typical lack of depth with AU/NZ Sparkling wine...I'm not saying it is terrible...they're just not very good..
Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Very typical NZ SB. I have nothing against SB, I think it is fine...but this tastes like every other sub 20 dollar NZ SB.
Allan Scott Pinot Noir 2011 - Marlborough
A solid effort out of Marlborough. Good acidity, bright fruit, maybe too much..but solid performer at 22 AUD RPP.
Scott Base is their Central Otago line.
Scott Base Riesling 2009 Central Otago
I didn't enjoy this. Not enough acidity, it was very flat.
Scott Base Chardonnay 2010.
A bit over oaked, some fruit, not sure where this is headed.
Scott Base Pinot Noir 2011
Good acidity, some good complexity, bright fruit. Reasonable for its price of 30AUD RRP.
They represent several different wineries in New Zealand..they're still searching for distribution but they do have a fairly solid line up (Pinot wise anyways).
Charcoal Gully Estate Sallys Pinch Gewerztraminer 2011
Overall it was good...although I think a lot of the wineries from last year that I really enjoyed were not here...Specifically Surveyor Thomson, Pasquale, Auntsfield and Bridge Pa....But even with their absence, there were many interesting things going on.
One thing I saw from last year and taken one step further this year was that everyone was trying to make a different Sav Blanc. They were all very much NZ Sav Blanc but with different selections of fruit and use of oak. There is no doubt people are trying to differentiate themselves from the oceans of Sav Blan coming out of NZ. What I mean by that is you can take 10 different NZ Sav Blanc from 15-25 dollars and they all taste very similar..no distinguishing terroir, not even a difference in style...yes, one might have more passion fruit...one might have more gooseberry..but are they really any different? Not really..
The one thing that annoys me when I look at this show is the pricing of NZ wines...They are actually higher in pure numbers in AUD than in NZD. To give you an example..
A wine that might be 38 NZD is 44 AUD. Yes there is WET and a bunch of other worthless junk that goes into it... So 38NZD is about 30AUD...so somewhere in there is another 50% of taxes and shipping? Keep in mind NZ producers get WET back as well so the number is way out of wack..I don't understand it...
Akarua
www.akarua.com
Akarua Brut Sparkling (NV)
Akarua Rose Brut Sparkling (NV)
Both of these were just ok. Very much like an Aussie sparkling which means they weren't very good.
Akarua Pinot Noir 2011.
Good Acidity, bright fruit, good complexity, solid showing but a bit on the expensive side (48 AUD RRP). Overall a pretty good wine.
Akarua Rua Pinot Noir 2012.
Good Acidity, fruit was ok. Pretty bland overall but solid. On the expensive side for what you get (32 AUD RRP).
Allan Scott Family Winemakers
www.allanscott.com
Allan Scott Blanc de Blancs Sparkling (NV)
Allan Scott Cecelia Sparkling (NV)
Allan Scott Les Joues Rouge Sparkling (NV)
I'm considering not mentioning any of the Sparkling, they just were not that good. There is a typical lack of depth with AU/NZ Sparkling wine...I'm not saying it is terrible...they're just not very good..
Allan Scott Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Very typical NZ SB. I have nothing against SB, I think it is fine...but this tastes like every other sub 20 dollar NZ SB.
Allan Scott Pinot Noir 2011 - Marlborough
A solid effort out of Marlborough. Good acidity, bright fruit, maybe too much..but solid performer at 22 AUD RPP.
Scott Base is their Central Otago line.
Scott Base Riesling 2009 Central Otago
I didn't enjoy this. Not enough acidity, it was very flat.
Scott Base Chardonnay 2010.
A bit over oaked, some fruit, not sure where this is headed.
Scott Base Pinot Noir 2011
Good acidity, some good complexity, bright fruit. Reasonable for its price of 30AUD RRP.
Bespoke Wine Company
Bespoke has their own label (this is new from last year) called Fifth Bridge. Through their interactions with other businesses they are able to acquire fruit from different places and when they find suitable quality, at the right price, they make their own wine.
Fifth Bridge Pinot Gris 2009 - Central Otago
Not a good start. Not too impressed with this Pinot Gris..
Fifth Bridge Pinot Noir 2010 - Central Otago..
Well made, good acidity, good use of oak. Solid fruit. RRP of 25 AUD makes this a pretty good buy.
Charcoal Gully Estate Sallys Pinch Gewerztraminer 2011
Just very blah...some lychee..but not much...This is just blah..
Charcoal Gully Estate Sallys Pinch Pinot Noir 2011
Good acidity, solid fruit. Nothing really standing out here. Nothing bad, nothing great...
Ceres Composition Pinot Noir 2009
Really good acidity followed by solid fruit coming in from behind the acidity..quite nice actually. I think they've had some balance issues when they first release their wine but I've been pretty impressed. Price a bit too high for a relative unknown but still very solid at 44 RRP.
Folding Hill Pinot Noir 2009 - Bendigo Central Otago.
Really nice acidity follow with nice red fruits, good complexity, good balance. Very nice wine. This was my favorite from them last year as well. On the more expensive side at 48 RRP but a pretty good buy considering the quality.
Craggy Range
I think most people are familiar with Craggy Range..they're one of the biggest producers out of NZ and they export all over the world. They have a huge range of products for many different grape varieties....
Avery Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2012.
I was expecting a typical SB but this one was actually quite nice. Good acidity but really nice depth and complexity which I don't normally see from NZ SB. Some good minerality coming through...nice SB...a bit expensive for SB at 32 RRP but quite good.
Te Muna Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Immediately you can tell this has spent some time in oak. The sharpness of NZ SB is dulled a bit against the oak...I don't believe this has any new oak but it has still imparted really nice depth and complexity and mouthfeel to this SB. As far as which is drinking better now, the Avery is...but I'd like to see this in a year or two.... 32 RRP for an oaked SB isn't too bad..
Te Muna Riesling 2012.
This might've been my favorite wine of the show. Razer sharp acidity, really nice depth, a bit of residual sugar...I really like this. I'm not sure what it is giving it its extra depth when I'm tasting it but I take a quick look...Oak barrels...Most riesling does not ferment in oak barrels but this one did (no new oak) and I think it really added another layer of depth to the whole thing. With its 9+g of acid, sub 3 ph and 9.x grams of residual sugar, this is a fantastic blend of basically everything I like in a riesling...and at 34 RRP this is quite good....It isn't widely available yet..but should be soon.
Kidnappers Vineyard Charddonay 2011
Out of Hawkes pay, this was actually a bit of a disappointment compared to the Riesling and SB...Nothing really wrong with it...Maybe my expectations were too high...I'd like to try this again and see...
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2011 - Marlborough
Good acidity, fruit was nice but really nothing special here. A very ordinary effort..nothing wrong with it..but for 55RRP, way overpriced.
Craggy Range Calvert Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010 - Central Otago
A much better effort...really good acidity...deep red fruits...good depth and complexity....a bit more structure to this.....I'm shocked at the price though..80 RRP is nuts...Is it a good Pinot? Yes...Is it worth 80 dollars? Nope...
Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Vineyard Merlot 2010
This was another just very ordinary effort. Capable, nothing wrong...but at 43 RRP..just no way.
Craggy Range Te Kahu Merlot Cabernet Franc 2010
A fairly popular low/mid ranged Bordeaux blend that is relatively popular on the export market as well as Australia...Relatively good structure, dark fruit, herbs...but something is not quite catching my attention on this one. Capable and reasonable at 34 RRP.
Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Vineyard Syrah 2010
Nice medium body, decent acidity, smoothish tannins....You can definitely see the effort here to separate themselves from the Australian market...Reasonable buy at 43RRP
Craggy Range Sophia Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2010.
This is one of their flagship wines which also gets a lot of coverage overseas. They really should've decanted this as it was just a monster of a wine. HUGE tannins...I'm not sure I can feel my teeth. You can see it has really good structure and somewhere in there is some fruit...some mocha coming through...a hint of herbs..but really the tannins are too big it is hard to get too much from this wine. Having had previous vintages, this should be very good. In Australia it is quite reasonable at 85 RRP...but it generally sells for around 50 elsewhere.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Royal Sydney Wine 2013
I've been attending this show each year for the last four or so years..and each year they have their own set of issues...but after this year I'm not sure I'll be attending another one...
The good:
They had a lot of snack foods available which were included in the cost of the ticket (which was more expensive this year but it was well worth having the snacky food in the middle. This was a HUGE improvement over previous years.
They had people pouring the portions (Much more on this in the bad section). Making sure people weren't pouring themselves full glasses of wine was very welcome.
They tried to make it so everyone could get a taste of the Trophy winners. They limited everyone to three tastes within the Trophy room. I think four would've been a better number but I can appreciate what they're trying to do here.
The different classes/tutorials were all open so you could attend multiple tutorials if you wanted..this was a very good idea. They also mixed it up a bit and did ones different from previous years...
They also had a couple of vendors selling other stuff..one of them was Sweetness Patisserie.
http://www.sweetness.com.au/
So a lot of very nice sweet snacky treats to buy at the end of your tasting.....Their Marshmallows and Rocky Road are YUM.
The bread in the snack section was provided by Brasserie Bread. This is the second time I've had their bread and it is excellent.
http://www.brasseriebread.com.au/
The BAD:
I'm not sure what happened but they were missing a LOT of the wine. It wasn't the popular stuff or the award winners..but the NON award winners were nearly non-existent. I'm sure many of these wines don't get too much attention during the show but let's face it, we're there to try different wines and honestly, I could care less if a wine wins a Trophy, Gold or any other award....
If you're going to have people pouring, you need to have enough people. There just weren't enough people pouring and it was rather frustrating seeing them run back and forth all over the place...That plus half the space to try (because they were on the other side of the table, half as many people could be near the table) was probably not a good combination.
Also, if you're going to have them pour..DO NOT HAVE THEM POUR HALF A GLASS. Maybe this is the new trend and I am the one that doesn't get it. But this is a tasting event...you should have enough to taste and move on...this IS NOT a DRINKING EVENT.
If you're going to split up the wines into categories..that's great...But don't end up with a few random ones that for some reason weren't in their spot and ended up in random places in other portions of the hall. There were 3 categories that were basically lost and I have no idea why..it is just poor planning...especially since there was more than enough table room in the hall..there were plenty of empty spots...
The Wine. Overall I was pretty disappointed with the entries this year. It could've just been my palate but I did find some good wines there so I'm not sure that was it...
Wine Highlights:
Tyrell's Vat 1 Semillon 2005. This has been highly touted for a long time but it hadn't really started that transition to an aged Semillon the few times I've had it in the past. This time however, was different. Wonderful honey, toast, lemon, grass and herbs on the nose. First sniff after tasting a few others and I was sure this was going to be good. Palate still had WONDERFUL acidity...but at the same time you really got that slightly petrol, nutty toast, honey, with a touch of lanolin. Very complex and obviously still changing....Big acidity but still some fruit and stuffing to balance it out and keep it going....This one is going another 15 years at least....
Meerea Park Alexander Munro Semillon 2006. I'm not sure what happened here. I tried this because it was there...and in previous tastings the acid was on its way out..not a great amount of development compared to previous AM Semillons....but maybe it was just asleep. Good acidity, great development...There were other Semillons in the same league as this at the time...but I think I was just surprised that this one was so different from previous ones I've had...
Tertini Reserve Pinot Noir 2009.
I finally got to this after wading through several full full bodied Pinots...and what a relief. Medium bodied, red fruit, good acidity, wonderful complexity...Fruit was quite bright but still had some earth and herbs...One of the better Pinots I've had in Australia and the best one at the show...
Briar Ridge Dairy Hill Shiraz 2010. Pepper, herbs, leather and earth on the nose. Medium bodied with very good acidity. True Hunter but clean fruit and silky tannins. This was quite nice.
Pepper Tree Tallavera Limited Hunter Valley Shiraz 2010. Another very Hunter Shiraz. Medium Bodied, very good acidity, wonderful complexity. Bright red fruit, leather, wood and earth. I'm not sure why they don't have this available when you go to their Cellar door but this was very nice.
Other notables:
Thomas Braemore Semillon, 2009, 2008, 2007...Still one of my favorites...great depth early on which makes it enjoyable young...and develops into a very typical aged Semillon....2008 looks like it'll go for awhile...
Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay 2011. Not as good as previous years..but still solid. I think this is just too young...
Overall..the disappointment of not having everything available and slow rate of tasting because it required servers made for a really mediocre time. The food was a good touch and the change in the tutorials was nice as well....Not sure I'll be coming back next year though...
The good:
They had a lot of snack foods available which were included in the cost of the ticket (which was more expensive this year but it was well worth having the snacky food in the middle. This was a HUGE improvement over previous years.
They had people pouring the portions (Much more on this in the bad section). Making sure people weren't pouring themselves full glasses of wine was very welcome.
They tried to make it so everyone could get a taste of the Trophy winners. They limited everyone to three tastes within the Trophy room. I think four would've been a better number but I can appreciate what they're trying to do here.
The different classes/tutorials were all open so you could attend multiple tutorials if you wanted..this was a very good idea. They also mixed it up a bit and did ones different from previous years...
They also had a couple of vendors selling other stuff..one of them was Sweetness Patisserie.
http://www.sweetness.com.au/
So a lot of very nice sweet snacky treats to buy at the end of your tasting.....Their Marshmallows and Rocky Road are YUM.
The bread in the snack section was provided by Brasserie Bread. This is the second time I've had their bread and it is excellent.
http://www.brasseriebread.com.au/
The BAD:
I'm not sure what happened but they were missing a LOT of the wine. It wasn't the popular stuff or the award winners..but the NON award winners were nearly non-existent. I'm sure many of these wines don't get too much attention during the show but let's face it, we're there to try different wines and honestly, I could care less if a wine wins a Trophy, Gold or any other award....
If you're going to have people pouring, you need to have enough people. There just weren't enough people pouring and it was rather frustrating seeing them run back and forth all over the place...That plus half the space to try (because they were on the other side of the table, half as many people could be near the table) was probably not a good combination.
Also, if you're going to have them pour..DO NOT HAVE THEM POUR HALF A GLASS. Maybe this is the new trend and I am the one that doesn't get it. But this is a tasting event...you should have enough to taste and move on...this IS NOT a DRINKING EVENT.
If you're going to split up the wines into categories..that's great...But don't end up with a few random ones that for some reason weren't in their spot and ended up in random places in other portions of the hall. There were 3 categories that were basically lost and I have no idea why..it is just poor planning...especially since there was more than enough table room in the hall..there were plenty of empty spots...
The Wine. Overall I was pretty disappointed with the entries this year. It could've just been my palate but I did find some good wines there so I'm not sure that was it...
Wine Highlights:
Tyrell's Vat 1 Semillon 2005. This has been highly touted for a long time but it hadn't really started that transition to an aged Semillon the few times I've had it in the past. This time however, was different. Wonderful honey, toast, lemon, grass and herbs on the nose. First sniff after tasting a few others and I was sure this was going to be good. Palate still had WONDERFUL acidity...but at the same time you really got that slightly petrol, nutty toast, honey, with a touch of lanolin. Very complex and obviously still changing....Big acidity but still some fruit and stuffing to balance it out and keep it going....This one is going another 15 years at least....
Meerea Park Alexander Munro Semillon 2006. I'm not sure what happened here. I tried this because it was there...and in previous tastings the acid was on its way out..not a great amount of development compared to previous AM Semillons....but maybe it was just asleep. Good acidity, great development...There were other Semillons in the same league as this at the time...but I think I was just surprised that this one was so different from previous ones I've had...
Tertini Reserve Pinot Noir 2009.
I finally got to this after wading through several full full bodied Pinots...and what a relief. Medium bodied, red fruit, good acidity, wonderful complexity...Fruit was quite bright but still had some earth and herbs...One of the better Pinots I've had in Australia and the best one at the show...
Briar Ridge Dairy Hill Shiraz 2010. Pepper, herbs, leather and earth on the nose. Medium bodied with very good acidity. True Hunter but clean fruit and silky tannins. This was quite nice.
Pepper Tree Tallavera Limited Hunter Valley Shiraz 2010. Another very Hunter Shiraz. Medium Bodied, very good acidity, wonderful complexity. Bright red fruit, leather, wood and earth. I'm not sure why they don't have this available when you go to their Cellar door but this was very nice.
Other notables:
Thomas Braemore Semillon, 2009, 2008, 2007...Still one of my favorites...great depth early on which makes it enjoyable young...and develops into a very typical aged Semillon....2008 looks like it'll go for awhile...
Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay 2011. Not as good as previous years..but still solid. I think this is just too young...
Overall..the disappointment of not having everything available and slow rate of tasting because it required servers made for a really mediocre time. The food was a good touch and the change in the tutorials was nice as well....Not sure I'll be coming back next year though...
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Tasting in the USA
I've done a number of tastings in the US but this was the first time I actually made sure I went to a number of different ones (normally I don't go to more than one per trip).
Wine Exchange Beaujolais Day. November 17, 2012.
I've been to a number of tastings at Winex and they generally do a pretty good job. They have little snacks if you want. They have plenty of seats, plenty of spit buckets.....You get a few people there to drink wine but you get just as many wine geeks that are there to taste... The ones I've been to tend to have about 15-20 different things to try.
Most of the Beaujolais they had for tasting was ok. Good acid, lowish tannins...Wine Exchange has a good buyer so it was really hard to go wrong. At the same time, a majority of what they had available was pretty boring as well.
The only shocker was the
Chateau des Jacques Moulin-A-Vent Champ de Cour 2009. At 30 dollars it is an expensive Beaujolais but I'm not even sure I'd call this a Beaujolais....Big, almost vanilla like oak on the nose, big fruit...dark dark fruit...It was almost like an Australian Pinot...except the use of oak was very good (not overpowering) and the wine was still very medium bodied. I've heard people refer to Moulin-A-Vent Beaujolais as very Burg like and this definitely reminded me of that. Good acidity, nice dark fruit, more tannic than I'd think a Beaujolais would have...nice depth to the wine...I'd like to try this again in a year or so..is was very good.
Hi Time Wine Cellars "Super Bad Ass" California tasting November 23, 2012.
The first time I've actually been to Hi Time for a tasting...to be honest, I was pretty disappointed. You can definitely see, people come here to DRINK not to taste. They charge a lot for the number of wines you get to taste..and that is probably because they serve you double or more the amount you might have at a tasting. On the good side, if you want to go somewhere and drink wine...these aren't a bad deal..you'd see tons of people show up with some cheese they bought and just sit there and drink drink drink...I think I was one of only two people that actually spit.
I think there was like 8 California wines and 1 Washington wine....They were all pretty good..well made..nothing wrong w/ them...I wasn't excited about any of them either. The more expensive wines had more structure..the less expensive ones were more drink now...I'm sure people would be very happy to drink them..I'd happily drink them..but I'm not sure I'd buy any of them. They were, IMO, typical CA wines...Well made, tasted good, but overpriced for what you get. Oddly enough, the most interesting wine was a heavily oak CA Chardonnay..and not because I thought it was really interesting..but because I haven't had one of those in quite awhile.
Wine Exchange Burgundy tasting November 24, 2012
Probably one of the most expensive Winex tastings, but it is Burgundy so it was to be expected.
A lot of good stuff...they really do have great buyers here...only disliked one wine, the rest were all very good...so for those that think Burgundy is full of land mines, the great thing w/ the buyers here is they tend to not pick those...
Robert Denogent Macon-Fuisse Les Taches 2010.
I haven't had too many Chards from Macon..and the ones I've had were almost salty....This was a very nice Chardonnay, great acidity, good balance..felt old world but quite fresh. A good buy at 24 dollars.
Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 2010.
A bit tight on the nose but getting a bit of citrus...Once I try it, it definitely sings of Burgundy..especially in the mouthfeel...good acidity, good use of oak...wine is a bit tight but oddly enough, the finish was crazy long...I could hardly believe it. It isn't that I wasn't expecting a long finish from a white Burgundy but it still felt like it needed more air and more time..and yet it delivered a long long long finish...The downside? 90 dollars.....
Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos des Myglands "Monopole" 1er Cru 2010.
Nose is a little tight but palate had great acidity, great depth..not overly tannic for a 1er Cru this young...I'm not sure this is built to last..but for 30 dollars it is a great buy..
Domaine Charles Audoin Gevery Chambertin 2010
Very good structure, great acidity..for 43 dollars this was a very good Gevrey Chambertin.
Other notables:
Domaine Tortochot Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2010
Domaine de L'Arlot Nuits Saint Georges Clos de L'Arlot 'Monopole' 1er Cru 2010
Domaine Charles Audion Marsannay Les Favieres 2010
Domine des Heritiers Louis Jadot Corton Pougets Grand Cru 2010
Mongeard-Mugneret Savigny Les Beaune Les Narbantons 1er Cru 2010
Wine Exchange Beaujolais Day. November 17, 2012.
I've been to a number of tastings at Winex and they generally do a pretty good job. They have little snacks if you want. They have plenty of seats, plenty of spit buckets.....You get a few people there to drink wine but you get just as many wine geeks that are there to taste... The ones I've been to tend to have about 15-20 different things to try.
Most of the Beaujolais they had for tasting was ok. Good acid, lowish tannins...Wine Exchange has a good buyer so it was really hard to go wrong. At the same time, a majority of what they had available was pretty boring as well.
The only shocker was the
Chateau des Jacques Moulin-A-Vent Champ de Cour 2009. At 30 dollars it is an expensive Beaujolais but I'm not even sure I'd call this a Beaujolais....Big, almost vanilla like oak on the nose, big fruit...dark dark fruit...It was almost like an Australian Pinot...except the use of oak was very good (not overpowering) and the wine was still very medium bodied. I've heard people refer to Moulin-A-Vent Beaujolais as very Burg like and this definitely reminded me of that. Good acidity, nice dark fruit, more tannic than I'd think a Beaujolais would have...nice depth to the wine...I'd like to try this again in a year or so..is was very good.
Hi Time Wine Cellars "Super Bad Ass" California tasting November 23, 2012.
The first time I've actually been to Hi Time for a tasting...to be honest, I was pretty disappointed. You can definitely see, people come here to DRINK not to taste. They charge a lot for the number of wines you get to taste..and that is probably because they serve you double or more the amount you might have at a tasting. On the good side, if you want to go somewhere and drink wine...these aren't a bad deal..you'd see tons of people show up with some cheese they bought and just sit there and drink drink drink...I think I was one of only two people that actually spit.
I think there was like 8 California wines and 1 Washington wine....They were all pretty good..well made..nothing wrong w/ them...I wasn't excited about any of them either. The more expensive wines had more structure..the less expensive ones were more drink now...I'm sure people would be very happy to drink them..I'd happily drink them..but I'm not sure I'd buy any of them. They were, IMO, typical CA wines...Well made, tasted good, but overpriced for what you get. Oddly enough, the most interesting wine was a heavily oak CA Chardonnay..and not because I thought it was really interesting..but because I haven't had one of those in quite awhile.
Wine Exchange Burgundy tasting November 24, 2012
Probably one of the most expensive Winex tastings, but it is Burgundy so it was to be expected.
A lot of good stuff...they really do have great buyers here...only disliked one wine, the rest were all very good...so for those that think Burgundy is full of land mines, the great thing w/ the buyers here is they tend to not pick those...
Robert Denogent Macon-Fuisse Les Taches 2010.
I haven't had too many Chards from Macon..and the ones I've had were almost salty....This was a very nice Chardonnay, great acidity, good balance..felt old world but quite fresh. A good buy at 24 dollars.
Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 2010.
A bit tight on the nose but getting a bit of citrus...Once I try it, it definitely sings of Burgundy..especially in the mouthfeel...good acidity, good use of oak...wine is a bit tight but oddly enough, the finish was crazy long...I could hardly believe it. It isn't that I wasn't expecting a long finish from a white Burgundy but it still felt like it needed more air and more time..and yet it delivered a long long long finish...The downside? 90 dollars.....
Domaine Faiveley Mercurey Clos des Myglands "Monopole" 1er Cru 2010.
Nose is a little tight but palate had great acidity, great depth..not overly tannic for a 1er Cru this young...I'm not sure this is built to last..but for 30 dollars it is a great buy..
Domaine Charles Audoin Gevery Chambertin 2010
Very good structure, great acidity..for 43 dollars this was a very good Gevrey Chambertin.
Other notables:
Domaine Tortochot Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2010
Domaine de L'Arlot Nuits Saint Georges Clos de L'Arlot 'Monopole' 1er Cru 2010
Domaine Charles Audion Marsannay Les Favieres 2010
Domine des Heritiers Louis Jadot Corton Pougets Grand Cru 2010
Mongeard-Mugneret Savigny Les Beaune Les Narbantons 1er Cru 2010
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Five Nations Wine Challenge 2012
This is a yearly even that is held in Australia and judged by a number of well known critics.
The Five Nations are:
Australia
New Zealand
Argentina
South Africa
Chile
The five judges select 110 different wines from their home country to compete against the wines from the other countries. For example, Bob Campbell respresented New Zealand and Huon Hook represented Australia.
They had a good broad range of different types of wine and for the most part the quality was above average.
BUT
The tasting part of the show was so poorly run, I have to question the experience of whomever was putting it on.
Let's start off with how you get a ticket in the first place:
Your options were to fax it (secure but a bit out of date).
or
E-mail it. Sounds pretty benign except only someone completely ignorant would send their credit card details over something like E-mail which is not secure. I'm not saying these people should really understand all the technical stuff behind getting credit card information but certainly doing it this way is a bit of a joke.
Don't have a secure shopping card? Have the information sent over SSL off of your website. DO NOT HAVE PEOPLE E-MAIL YOU THEIR CREDIT CARD DETAILS.
Ok so no big deal...fax it in...get the ticket (which btw was just a word document with no way to verify if you actually bought one or not).
The show was moved from its previous room at the Four Seasons to a larger room at the Four Seasons..perfect...no point in getting squeezed together...EXCEPT....
They didn't seem to have very many tables..so you had a very large room with just enough tables to fit the wine shoulder to should across all of the tables..so on the outside you had tons of free space (For what I'm not sure) and on the inside you had a ton of people squeezing in trying to get a taste.
So you had a rather unprofessionally organized event to start off...and then it gets better (worse).
It is on a Friday night...in the city...so half the people there are showing up not to taste but to get pissed drunk....People pouring each other nearly full glasses of some wine..chatting it up across the table so no one could get in..For a social event where you just want to drink some wine and come home completely off your face, it would've been great....For a tasting it was terrible.
What made this worse is there was only one bottle of any given wine. Ok, so not only are you doing this on a Friday night where you know all of the piss heads will show up and get to pour their own "tastes" but you supply a single bottle....I'm sure these wineries donated their wine for the show so I'm not sure why they'd only have a single bottle left for the tasting...who knows..
Luckily for me, I figured out that there wouldn't be enough wine to taste the ones I wanted to taste so I skipped from whites to reds for a bit and back...not exactly ideal but I would've missed out more than I did...
And finally, one of the most annoying things you can have at these events...a lack of spit buckets....There were spit buckets..small ones....spread out across the tables...but there weren't many (I'd guess about 12 in total for the entire room). This made for a terrible time if you were there to actually taste and not drink...another indication that their target market was for the after work Sydney crowd to come and get pissed on some wine..great.
There were some other minor annoying things...
The wine that they had available to buy was set aside on a different table...but no way you'd actually know that without running across it...luckily at some point I did...In many ways this was good as it ended up hiding some wine from people that I'm sure would've just come and poured themselves a few glasses full...
There was absolutely no rhyme or reason to how the bottles were placed the table except that they were in their general area. Example, Chardonnay was in the Chardonnay section...but the bottles were in alphabetical order or by vintage (which doesn't make sense to do anyways) or even by country..they were basically randomly put out across the section.....It meant if you were actually looking for something specific, it took longer than it should have..
So that was the show itself...for me, because of all the pressure to hurry up, because it was so crowded, I felt incredibly rushed...
Overall, glad I got to to but really annoyed at how it was organized...Sorry to rant about it but I figure if they ever get around to searching what people thought of the show, maybe they'll read this and make improvements...
Now to the WINE
Overall the quality of the wine was quite good...with a few very ordinary wines but for the most part, because of how the wines were selected, the overall selection was excellent.
Caro 2009 from Argentina. Consisting of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, I had never heard of this label but was quite surprised at it its structure and complexity. Dark fruit, some herbs. It was very very tannic...but the fruit still managed to come out. The wine shifted as it was in my mouth and I was actually quite surprised. I do wish it had a bit more acid but overall this looks to be a pretty good wine in 10+ years..it'll probably take that long for the tannins to soften..
Newton Forrest Cornerstone 2009 from New Zealand. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec blend. First thing that strikes me is this is a fairly medium bodied Bordeaux blend...More red than dark fruits coming off the nose...Maybe come pencil shavings...Palate has lovely acid that gives it a great lift. It is also making it stand out from the rest of the wine I'm trying. Fruit is bright and very forward but not big and overpowering. It is mainly red fruits or maybe it is just the acid that makes it feel that way..Tannins are there but mainly for structure. The wine evolves while it is in my mouth..good complexity but not more than the Caro or a few others...but either way, this is a really nice wine, something I'd gladly drink over and over.
Penfolds Bin 169 2008 from Australia. This is a Penfolds 707 but with French Oak instead of American. It is actually quite difficult to find and I'm a bit surprised it was here. Really deep deep dark fruit. Tannins are definitely there for structure and the oak is very apparent although not as much as the 707. It actually does seem significantly more elegant than a 707 would be at this stage. It is a very well made wine, it has good complexity, good structure, good balance. There is actually nothing wrong w/ this wine but for whatever reason, it isn't exciting me either. Don't get me wrong, this is very good but for the price I'd rather get multiple bottles of other things. The best way for me to describe this is...a wine that everyone (wine geeks and non wine geeks) will enjoy and everyone will be happy drinking it...but no one will remember it later on other than to say they've had it.
Pikes "The Merle" Reserve Riesling 2011 from Australia. Slight petrol notes on the nose which is nice to see on a Riesling this young. Picking up some stoney characters as well. Really good acidity on the palate and a tad of residual sugar. The RS really helps soften the acidity just a tad but not so much where you lose it...I really enjoy Australian Rieslings done in this fashion. Completely dry Rieslings are also great but sometimes they're just overdone. To put it in perspective, I liked this more than the Peter Lehmann Wigan 2006, more than the Pewsey Vale Contours 2006 and the Grosset Watervale Riesling 2011 at least on this day.
Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay 2010 from Australia. I'm surprised but not surprised. I'm surprised that every time I come back to this wine, it is excellent. You'd think there would be more bottle variation or my palate would change or the conditions would be different so it would taste different but no...As I've stated several times before, this is a really great Chardonnay...Good acidity, good use of oak, good fruit, has good complexity, good balance. I only wish this was priced better in Australia (it is actually cheaper outside of Australia). Do I think this is comparable to the top Chardonnays in Australia? As it is tasting now yes. Will it age well? Probably...but without the proven track record it is hard to put this at the same price point. Other "new" guns like Lethbridge Allegra or Yabby Lake Single Vineyard or something from 10 Minutes by Tractor, are also up there but at a lower price point.
Boekenhoutskloof Shiraz 2009 from South Africa. I'm not very familiar with South African wine but I'm told this is fairly well known. Very complex nose with red and dark fruits, some earth, a tad bit a of leather. Palate is has nice dark fruit and a bit fruit forward but not too much. Good use of oak, very nice balance. A bit of a fruit bomb but not a fruit bomb. Silky tannins, not as much acidity as I'd like but this has very nice balance and complexity. I would like to try this again to see how it goes....
Some other wines to mention...
Navarro Correas Structura 2006. A nice Bordeaux blend but definitely more on the fruity side. This won a Trophy in its division.
Polkura Block G+I Shiraz 2009 from Chile. BIG fruit bomb. Actually quite a complex palate. Very smooth tannins, very low acidity. A bit of heat. Not sure this will get better but it will be a crowd pleaser.
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2010 from NZ. Far more approachable than I've seen them in the past. A lot more fruit forward than I'm used to seeing them as well. Still, this was nice to have in a sea of Pinot Noir made like Shiraz.
Overall the quality is was very good..there are probably about 30 or 40 more I could mention and nearly everything there was above average so it was a good event from that standpoint. My only hope is they're far more organized the next time around...
The Five Nations are:
Australia
New Zealand
Argentina
South Africa
Chile
The five judges select 110 different wines from their home country to compete against the wines from the other countries. For example, Bob Campbell respresented New Zealand and Huon Hook represented Australia.
They had a good broad range of different types of wine and for the most part the quality was above average.
BUT
The tasting part of the show was so poorly run, I have to question the experience of whomever was putting it on.
Let's start off with how you get a ticket in the first place:
Your options were to fax it (secure but a bit out of date).
or
E-mail it. Sounds pretty benign except only someone completely ignorant would send their credit card details over something like E-mail which is not secure. I'm not saying these people should really understand all the technical stuff behind getting credit card information but certainly doing it this way is a bit of a joke.
Don't have a secure shopping card? Have the information sent over SSL off of your website. DO NOT HAVE PEOPLE E-MAIL YOU THEIR CREDIT CARD DETAILS.
Ok so no big deal...fax it in...get the ticket (which btw was just a word document with no way to verify if you actually bought one or not).
The show was moved from its previous room at the Four Seasons to a larger room at the Four Seasons..perfect...no point in getting squeezed together...EXCEPT....
They didn't seem to have very many tables..so you had a very large room with just enough tables to fit the wine shoulder to should across all of the tables..so on the outside you had tons of free space (For what I'm not sure) and on the inside you had a ton of people squeezing in trying to get a taste.
So you had a rather unprofessionally organized event to start off...and then it gets better (worse).
It is on a Friday night...in the city...so half the people there are showing up not to taste but to get pissed drunk....People pouring each other nearly full glasses of some wine..chatting it up across the table so no one could get in..For a social event where you just want to drink some wine and come home completely off your face, it would've been great....For a tasting it was terrible.
What made this worse is there was only one bottle of any given wine. Ok, so not only are you doing this on a Friday night where you know all of the piss heads will show up and get to pour their own "tastes" but you supply a single bottle....I'm sure these wineries donated their wine for the show so I'm not sure why they'd only have a single bottle left for the tasting...who knows..
Luckily for me, I figured out that there wouldn't be enough wine to taste the ones I wanted to taste so I skipped from whites to reds for a bit and back...not exactly ideal but I would've missed out more than I did...
And finally, one of the most annoying things you can have at these events...a lack of spit buckets....There were spit buckets..small ones....spread out across the tables...but there weren't many (I'd guess about 12 in total for the entire room). This made for a terrible time if you were there to actually taste and not drink...another indication that their target market was for the after work Sydney crowd to come and get pissed on some wine..great.
There were some other minor annoying things...
The wine that they had available to buy was set aside on a different table...but no way you'd actually know that without running across it...luckily at some point I did...In many ways this was good as it ended up hiding some wine from people that I'm sure would've just come and poured themselves a few glasses full...
There was absolutely no rhyme or reason to how the bottles were placed the table except that they were in their general area. Example, Chardonnay was in the Chardonnay section...but the bottles were in alphabetical order or by vintage (which doesn't make sense to do anyways) or even by country..they were basically randomly put out across the section.....It meant if you were actually looking for something specific, it took longer than it should have..
So that was the show itself...for me, because of all the pressure to hurry up, because it was so crowded, I felt incredibly rushed...
Overall, glad I got to to but really annoyed at how it was organized...Sorry to rant about it but I figure if they ever get around to searching what people thought of the show, maybe they'll read this and make improvements...
Now to the WINE
Overall the quality of the wine was quite good...with a few very ordinary wines but for the most part, because of how the wines were selected, the overall selection was excellent.
Caro 2009 from Argentina. Consisting of Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, I had never heard of this label but was quite surprised at it its structure and complexity. Dark fruit, some herbs. It was very very tannic...but the fruit still managed to come out. The wine shifted as it was in my mouth and I was actually quite surprised. I do wish it had a bit more acid but overall this looks to be a pretty good wine in 10+ years..it'll probably take that long for the tannins to soften..
Newton Forrest Cornerstone 2009 from New Zealand. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec blend. First thing that strikes me is this is a fairly medium bodied Bordeaux blend...More red than dark fruits coming off the nose...Maybe come pencil shavings...Palate has lovely acid that gives it a great lift. It is also making it stand out from the rest of the wine I'm trying. Fruit is bright and very forward but not big and overpowering. It is mainly red fruits or maybe it is just the acid that makes it feel that way..Tannins are there but mainly for structure. The wine evolves while it is in my mouth..good complexity but not more than the Caro or a few others...but either way, this is a really nice wine, something I'd gladly drink over and over.
Penfolds Bin 169 2008 from Australia. This is a Penfolds 707 but with French Oak instead of American. It is actually quite difficult to find and I'm a bit surprised it was here. Really deep deep dark fruit. Tannins are definitely there for structure and the oak is very apparent although not as much as the 707. It actually does seem significantly more elegant than a 707 would be at this stage. It is a very well made wine, it has good complexity, good structure, good balance. There is actually nothing wrong w/ this wine but for whatever reason, it isn't exciting me either. Don't get me wrong, this is very good but for the price I'd rather get multiple bottles of other things. The best way for me to describe this is...a wine that everyone (wine geeks and non wine geeks) will enjoy and everyone will be happy drinking it...but no one will remember it later on other than to say they've had it.
Pikes "The Merle" Reserve Riesling 2011 from Australia. Slight petrol notes on the nose which is nice to see on a Riesling this young. Picking up some stoney characters as well. Really good acidity on the palate and a tad of residual sugar. The RS really helps soften the acidity just a tad but not so much where you lose it...I really enjoy Australian Rieslings done in this fashion. Completely dry Rieslings are also great but sometimes they're just overdone. To put it in perspective, I liked this more than the Peter Lehmann Wigan 2006, more than the Pewsey Vale Contours 2006 and the Grosset Watervale Riesling 2011 at least on this day.
Xanadu Reserve Chardonnay 2010 from Australia. I'm surprised but not surprised. I'm surprised that every time I come back to this wine, it is excellent. You'd think there would be more bottle variation or my palate would change or the conditions would be different so it would taste different but no...As I've stated several times before, this is a really great Chardonnay...Good acidity, good use of oak, good fruit, has good complexity, good balance. I only wish this was priced better in Australia (it is actually cheaper outside of Australia). Do I think this is comparable to the top Chardonnays in Australia? As it is tasting now yes. Will it age well? Probably...but without the proven track record it is hard to put this at the same price point. Other "new" guns like Lethbridge Allegra or Yabby Lake Single Vineyard or something from 10 Minutes by Tractor, are also up there but at a lower price point.
Boekenhoutskloof Shiraz 2009 from South Africa. I'm not very familiar with South African wine but I'm told this is fairly well known. Very complex nose with red and dark fruits, some earth, a tad bit a of leather. Palate is has nice dark fruit and a bit fruit forward but not too much. Good use of oak, very nice balance. A bit of a fruit bomb but not a fruit bomb. Silky tannins, not as much acidity as I'd like but this has very nice balance and complexity. I would like to try this again to see how it goes....
Some other wines to mention...
Navarro Correas Structura 2006. A nice Bordeaux blend but definitely more on the fruity side. This won a Trophy in its division.
Polkura Block G+I Shiraz 2009 from Chile. BIG fruit bomb. Actually quite a complex palate. Very smooth tannins, very low acidity. A bit of heat. Not sure this will get better but it will be a crowd pleaser.
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2010 from NZ. Far more approachable than I've seen them in the past. A lot more fruit forward than I'm used to seeing them as well. Still, this was nice to have in a sea of Pinot Noir made like Shiraz.
Overall the quality is was very good..there are probably about 30 or 40 more I could mention and nearly everything there was above average so it was a good event from that standpoint. My only hope is they're far more organized the next time around...
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