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.