Wednesday 25 December 2013

Lanson Gold Label 2002


Lanson is owned by Lanson International and has 0 vineyard holdings. The house purchases grape from 110 different communes and supplies some for the royal family.   

 

Lanson Gold Label 2002

 

Champagne this time of year is a must but at this price you could drink this all year round. It seems that Champagne is getting cheaper. Is it that we are drinking more so they can buy bigger shipments or is it the price of our dollar? These bubbles of joy have complexity wedged with acidity and creaminess. On the palate there are flavours of lemon curd, sea salt, roasted nuts and spicy grapefruit that slowly unfold. Open on Christmas day!

 

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $55
 
Rated: 93

Drink: Now - 2020

Lanson Gold Label Vintage Brut 2002

Blind River Sauvignon Blanc 2011


The Blind River Winery is located in the Awatere Valley in Marlborough region. The famous Awatere River divides the valley as it winds its way to the east coast. The closest major town is Blenheim which sounds more like a pumpkin than a town.

 

Blind River Sauvignon Blanc 2011

 

What increases the enjoyment level on Sav Blanc? For me it is mouth feel or texture as so many are fermented quickly without lees contact or barrel fermentation. This wine sees both and the mouth feel is beautiful. It is a little creamer as well but the acidity and flavour are bright and zesty. It wasn’t what I expected as I was thinking ‘just another typical blanc but it was much more than that. Think lemon grass, gooseberries with a fruit or tropical nature with zest on the back-palate pulling everything together.

 

Alcohol: 13%

Price: $18

Rated: 90
 
Drink: Now – 2016

2013 Blind River Sauvignon Blanc

Wild Duck Creek Estate Alan's Vat 1 Cabernet 2011


Normally my favourite from the release but the blend had my lips flapping this year.

 

Wild Duck CreekEstate Alan's Vat 1 Cabernet 2011

 

I started tasting this while I was cooking a BBQ and all I got was a nice dose of satay Chicken. Not what I was expecting so I sat the glass aside for half an hour before going back to the wine. The wine is definitely a field blend of all thing Bordeaux with all components working well together. The medium bodied style is normal for this wine with a light note of pomegranate and brown sugar adding a difference that I wouldn’t normally associate with this label. What I do get that is common is a cinnamon donut flavour mixed with blackcurrant and clay. The flavours work well with the slow to evolve tannin and nice acidity with the oak sitting firmly in the background. The wine won’t be a keeper like so many from this label but it will drink nicely with four years under its belt.

 

Alcohol: 13%

Price: $45

Rated: 88
 
Drink: 2017 – 2026

Ocean 8 Aylward Reserve Pinot Noir 2009


Mike Aylward seems to be kicking a lot of goals as he is pushing the elegant nature of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to the max. James Halliday has just written his Chardonnay up as in the top 2 in the country. No small feet from such a small winery that hasn’t been around that long. 

 

Ocean 8 Aylward Reserve Pinot Noir 2009

 

This is impressive to say the least. The flavour profile is even tempered with staggering complexity and structure. The palate seems to spread out like a peacock’s tail which is a little poxy to say but I’m going to go with it anyway. If you forget about the flavours the mouth feel is silky and seductive like running your hand along a silk sheet for the first time. It leaves you with a sense of wonder and delight. Special stuff!

 

Alcohol: ?

Price: $70

Rated: 94+
 
Drink: In 4 years

2009 Ocean Eight Aylward Pinot Noir
 

Jim Barry Watervale Riesling 2013


Jim Barry started his wine making career at the Stonyfell winery in 1945 but he moved to the Clare Valley in 1946 after completing his studies. The iconic wine from this winery is based around Shiraz yet the white wines fly out at very low prices.

 

Jim Barry Watervale Riesling 2013

 

This wine is full on flavour but doesn’t possess the structure for medium term cellaring. What you get is lime, jasmine and lemon drops in your face that bounces around with swagger. The wine has a honey like moment on the mid-palate before finishing up with a blossom note on the back palate. The flavours are more open than normal but for a wine that drinks well this summer it does the job nicely.

 

Alcohol: 12.2%

Price: Under $15

Rated: 86
 
Drink: Now - 2017

'Watervale' Riesling 2013 Bottle Shot

Les vignerons d'estezargues cuvée des copains Cote du Rhone 2011


I have never heard of this winery and the label isn’t your normal French style as it has a huge pig on the front in bright pink. The wine is good quality and very well priced. The winery is a local cooperative that produces a lot of wines for negociants but this winery has decided to keep the better wines separate and handle them with care into the bottle without much interference.

 

Les vignerons d'estezargues cuvée des copains Cote du Rhone 2011

 

This light bodied 100% Grenache based wine shows lovely regional and varietal flavour in an earthy sort of manner. The flow of the wine is the thing that stands out as each flavour doesn’t seemed forced or contrived, rather it feel natural and easy. What the wine really needs is a bit of a beating as it opens up massively over the course of the night to finally produce lovely red berry notes mixed with musk sticks, river pebbles and dried earth. The mid-palate is pulsing with acidity and a joyous flavour which makes me think you can just crack into them now. At this price who really cares how long you keep them.

 

Alcohol: 14.5%

Price: $16

Rated: 89
 
Drink: Now – 2018

Importer: Eurocentric Wine

Kilikanoon Mort's Block Riesling 2013


The Morts Block vineyard is located in the Leasingham district which has a habit of producing some great Riesling and Shiraz based wines. This vineyard was planted 40 years ago and is the spine for this and the Morts Block reserve wines. This wine has a little fruit from the Khileyre vineyard.

 

Kilikanoon Mort's Block Riesling 2013

 

What is most evident is the amount of fruit weight that is bursting from this wine. This weight it mixed with scintillating acidity and grip. Back to the fruit as that is what I notice the most. It has lemon and lime with some blossom before a feijoa note on the mid-palate and a spicy finish. From my perspective this offers a lot at just over 20 bucks in a drink now or later style.

 

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $22

Rated: 92

Drink: Now – 2023
 
2013 Kilikanoon Mort’s Block Riesling

d'Arenberg DADD NV


The DADD is a lighter style white sparkling wine made from fruit grown in the cool and crisp Adelaide Hills. The wine only sees partial malo-fermentation which highlights the zippy nature of the wine. I would recommend serving this as an aperitif.

 

d’Arenberg DADD NV

 

This reminds me of a prosecco wine as there are tart apples and lemon rind at the core of the flavours. These flavours are joined by spice on the back palate and grapefruit on the front. Everything is light and delicate which would make for a refreshing drink over the warmer months. For a white sparkling it doesn’t possess the full on rich nuttiness or depth of flavour but it also doesn’t come with a huge price tag either.

 

Alcohol: 11.7%
Price: $24 - $28

Rated: 86
Drink: Now

Thursday 19 December 2013

Torzi Matthew Frost Dodger Shiraz 2012 & Riesling 2013


Two Torzi Matthews wines of ultra high quality and the Shiraz is the best wine I have tried from this producer ever.

 

Torzi Matthews Frost Dodger Riesling 2013

 

This wine is intense with the flavours tasting more like they come in the essence form rather than the off the tree. It is also so minerally and/or slatey that it feel like you would be at a mine site. In the end the wine finishes with great vitality and structure.

 

Alcohol: 13%

Price: $25

Rated: 90

Drink: Now - 2025 



 

 

Torzi Matthews Frost Dodger Shiraz 2012

 

The Frost Dodger Shiraz comes from a single vineyard in the elevated Eden Valley. The 16 year old vines are single wire positioned with 30 % whole bunches during fermentation before being pressed into French oak hogsheads for 16 months. For a wine that sees a lot of oak the impact is negligible. The mouth-feel is a little creamy and silky but otherwise the oak has been swallowed up. The first thing you notice is the beautiful aromatics that are flowing out of the glass. They are mesmerising and delicate with floral notes mixed with hinted of Indian spices. On the palate these aromatic flavours are joined by the essence of blackberries and blood plums mixed with sage butter. It is a delightful wine and one that makes me rethink about how I think about Shiraz based wines.

 

Alcohol: 14.5%

Price: $38

Rated: 93

Drink: Now – 2028
 

Tyrrells The Lost Block Semillon 2013


The lost block used to be produced from a single vineyard that was left on the vine a little longer to allow for greater fruit development. Now it is produced from a variety of vineyard in a house style sort of manner.

 

Tyrrell's Wines The Lost Block Semillon 2013

 

Lemon rind and orange peel makes me feel good that is higher in palate weight than I am used to for a wine of this age. The wine drinks well now but will look better with six months under its belt. Currently the wine is fruit forward but has enough acidity to hold it all together and finish vibrantly. I would drink this over many sav blanc but it still offers many of those good easy drinking characters that are associated with that variety.

 

Alcohol: 11.5%

Price: $18 but try the outlets as it might be cheaper
 
Rated: 84

Drink: now - 2016

Lost Block Semillon

Elderton Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon 2010


The vines for this single vineyard wine were planted in 1944 and tended by the Ashmead family. The wine spent 18 months is 100% new French oak before being bottled in some kick arse bottles.

 

 

Elderton Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

 

Full bodied and rocking booze. The wine is both regional and varietal with masses of plum soaked currants, brandy snaps and chocolate mud cake thrown in. There isn’t a hint of leafiness or capsicum notes that are associated with this variety but this is a statement in quality. Any oak? Yes but it has been totally swallow by the fruit. If you want to impress, this wine will serve that purpose and a bit more.

 

Alcohol: 14.5%

Price: $90

Rated: 90

Drink: Now – 2024
 
Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon

Heathvale Vineyard Sagrantino 2011


The Heathvale vineyard vines are old Chardonnay root stock that has been grafted onto Sagrantino. This has reduced the amount of disease in the vines that many of the other growers are experiencing with the original root stock. The variety is the undisputed king for phenolic compounds in the skins and the highest tannin level for all wines. Drink at your own peril.

 

Heathvale Vineyard Sagrantino 2011

 

The 2011 wine looks good even though it comes from a cool vintage. There is a nice plum lift along with cranberries and summer flowers which makes this a lighter style wine in term of depth of flavour and flavour profile. The wine possesses good balance of flavour and texture but it doesn’t possess the tannic kick that is associated with the variety. Why? Maceration. This wine only spends a short time on skins before being pressed off into barrel. Does it suffer as a result? No not really, it just makes it easier to drink as a young wine.

 

Alcohol: 14.3%

Price: $35

Rated: 88
 
Drink: Now – 2024

Wirra Wirra The Lost Watch Riesling 2013


The Riesling from 2013 feel like they are fruit expressive with many being a little more open than the best years but the best wines combine fruit weight and structure which put them on par with the 2010, 2012 and 2004 versions.

 

Wirra Wirra The Lost Watch Riesling 2013

 

These regional selection wines are high quality and generally focus on the cooler or vineyard select varieties. This wine comes from the pristine Adelaide Hills and tastes like lemon blossom and spring flowers. The flavours are crunchy which must mean there is a huge amount of acidity hanging around. I would then recommend a stint in the cellar as this would work out the bobbly nature on the back palate and allow the flavour to fully unfurl.

 

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $19

Rated: 91

Drink: 2015 - 2025
 

Domaine des Espiers Cote du Rhone 2011


This tiny little family run winery spans 23 acres in Gigondas, Sablet and Cotes du Rhone. This wine comes from a 4 hectare plot of land in the Cote du Rhone region. This wine is a blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah

 

Domaine des Espiers Cote du Rhone 2011

 

I like the dirty nature of the wine that has been produced by Philippe Cartoux. He has woven a number of elements including plenty of savoury flavours in the form of liquorice stick, cranberries, lemon balm, mixed dried herbs and fresh sage. The medium boded weight works well with the flavours and the easy going tannins. It isn’t a keeper but really for a village wine it is very good.

 

Alcohol: 14%

Price: $23

Rated: 89

Drink: Now – 2016

 
 


Two Cabernets for Christmas


Two 2011 Cabernet wines from two different area but they have a commonality. Greenness! One of them manages to bring in some lovely other flavours as well which makes up for it.

 

Hillcrest Vineyard Village Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

 

This wine is like a shopping list that is based on colour. Green herbs and capsicum are evident to begin with but they are joined by mulberries and blackcurrants. Even though it is light bodied the flavours work well and the mild tannins add a bit of textural elements. The palate is a bit narrow and the flavour are a little too open for the age but for a village style drink now wine it works well.

 

Alcohol: 12.8%

Price: $25

Rated: 85

Drink: Now – 2018

 
 

Jim Barry Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

 

What a great entry to this wine with full bodied flavour of mint, currants, pipe tobacco and spicy herbs.  These flavour attack the front palate like a viking on a war path but once he is finished he falls a sleep in a heap. If you want a translation it means that they do not transfer up the palate line. This wine had me perplexed as I wanted to like it more but I just couldn’t in terms of the quality. What I did like was the profile of the wine. Oh well you win some and you lose some.

 

Alcohol: 14%

Price: $17

Rated: 83

Drink: Now – 2016
 

Claude et Florence Thomas Labaille Sancerre l’Authentique 2011

The wines from this producer come from older vines that are a planted on a hill side. They are hand pruned and picked before fermentation in concrete vats and stainless steel tanks then transferred to second use oak barrels.  
 
Claude et Florence Thomas Labaille  Sancerre l’Authentique 2011 
 
This is an authentique Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc with a heap of complexity woven into the fabric of this wine. There are moments of banana skin that fleetingly pass by before citrus and asparagus notes kick in. There is also vibrancy and a chiselled edge to the wine that pulls everything together. While the wine isn’t cheap for a Sav Blanc the inherent complexity and style of the wine puts this way ahead of most of the blancs going around in Australia. The only other two Sav Blancs that are close to this quality are Micheal Hall and Domaine A from the Adelaide Hills and Tasmania respectively. The price of this wine is well under the Domaine A so I would buy this first and get through the case.  
 
Alcohol: 12.5% 
Price: $35 
Rated: 91 
Drink: Now 2017 
Importer: Eurocentric Wines 

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Old Plains Longhop Cabernet Sauvignon 2012


The Longhop Cabernet was open fermented and hand plunged before being pressed into predominantly French oak hogsheads. It sounds pretty easy as there are not many tricks added. We could call it stripped back wine-making.

 

Old Plains Longhop Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

 

Is a tannin structure a must for Cabernet? Well yes if you are a purest but easy drinking styles need to tone that down which this wine is. The flavours of dried blackcurrant marshmallows and strawberry jam are soft and cuddly. The full bodied nature along with the easy flow makes for good drinking in the short term.

 

Alcohol: 14%

Price: $17

Rated: 85
 
Drink: Now - 2017

Mike Press Cabernet Sauvignon 2011


Mike Press is located in Kenton Valley in the Adelaide Hills which is more renowned for cherries and a golf course rather than grape growing. I propose that Mike should add the sub-region as well as the Adelaide Hills. It is good to promote districts.

 

Mike Press Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

 

The father of affordable stylish wines has done well with the 2011 vintage. The oak is prominent but the flavours of Crushed leaves, dried herbs and cassis over take the oak on day 3. The mid-pale is rather sweet but it makes it so easy to drink. It’s not a sipping wine but would work well with a side of meat on the BBQ and a group of friends. If you leave it in the cellar I think the savoury quality of Cabernet will win out.  The amount of oak in this wine suggests that you will need to cellar it for a while but if you want to drink it now just open it in the morning before you go to work and leave the cap off.

 

Alcohol: 14%

Price: $14

Rated: 85
Drink: Now – 2020


Chalmers Nero d’Avola 2011


Chalmers is the god father for many of the Italian varieties and in general their wines offer good quality drinking at affordable prices.

 

Chalmers Nero d’Avola 2011

 

What does the term weedy mean? The dictionary says ‘physically weak in appearance and containing or covered with weeds’. The synonyms for weedy are undeveloped, frail, weak, thin and undersized. These terms are not something that I would normally associate with quality wine but that is the leading factor in this wine. I think it has to do with the 2011 vintage as it was a cool and wet year. There are notes of plum but they are green and they are mixed with green pepper corns.

 

Alcohol: 12%

Price: $20

Rated: 82
Drink: Now

Paradigm Hill Les Cinq Pinot Noir 2011


The Mornington Peninsula has many great holiday destinations and accommodation places but these are classic; rent a house, rent a shack and the best home away. They range from the lower end of the market but most of them would sit in the 4 star category.  These come with a pool and/or spa with some having a nice outside entertainment deck. My wife and I went their last year and it was fantastic and we would recommend it to everyone.

 

Paradigm Hill Les Cinq Pinot Noir 2011

 

Strawberries, mulch, spice that come across as with a little swagger and slightly feral. The wild nature is appealing with an added fragrance emanating from the glass. On the palate this is pretty much the same, only a small amount of svelte tannins add texture and chalkiness. I would recommend drinking this in the shorter term with a light cheese platter.

 

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $60

Rated: 88
Drink: Now – 2017

Paradigm Hill Pinot Noir Les Cinq

Wirra Wirra The Hiding Champion Sauvignon Blanc 2013


This wine comes from the Yandra Vineyard which is located in Lenswood and is owned by the Gowers. They do great Chardonnay as well.

 

Wirra Wirra The Hiding Champion Sauvignon Blanc 2013

 

This is a easy to understand wine with plenty of those typical Australian Sav Blanc flavours. Think of opening a mixed tropical fruits tin and then throw in a wedge of lemon grass and you have the profile of this wine. I’d be happy to crack this open anytime.

 

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $24

Rated: 85

Drink: Now

Buy Wine Online White Wines Sauvignon Blanc Wirra Wirra Vineyards RGT Collection Hiding Champion Sauvignon Blanc - TheGlass.com.au

Morgante IGT Nero d‘Avola 2009


The Morgante winery is a family owned and run business on the tiny island of Sicily. Their vineyard spans 200 hectares with 100% of the production used to come from a single variety, Nero d’Avola, which now spans Frappato, Moscato, Merlot, Cabernet, Inzolia and Grecanico. The added options allows for great blending choices.

 

Morgante IGT Nero d‘Avola 2009

 

If you are after medium bodied goodness with a slightly sour profile, look no further. There is a slightly herbal note mixed with fruitiness so it really offers everything in the one wine. From a textural perspective the wine possess silkiness with great acidity and a gruff tannin dryness running underneath. This ticks a low of boxes for style and Nero d’Avola flavour which would work so well in the weather that we are expecting to have over this summer.

 

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $20
Rated: 86
Drink: Now – 2016
Importer: Trembath & Taylor

bottleshot

The Christmas Issue


The Christmas Issue

 

Its Christmas time so get out your National Lampoons Christmas vacation, sit back in the couch and open something cold. This time of year lends itself to catching up with everyone, not just you family, on every night of the week. Today it is my wife’s workplace Christmas lunch so they have pulled out all the stops with a catered lunch and beverages on show. You have to love when you get paid to have a few drinks as it lifts the spirits. Enjoy any of these drinks below, especially as a few of them are pink in colour which makes them the national drink for this time of year.

 

Vigna Cantina Rosata di Sangiovese 2013

 

To begin with there is an enchanting cherry lipstick note which is both pretty and light. Once I sip it the wine comes across as medium bodied with hints of spice and lemon balm. These flavours give the impression of good complexity, especially when the wine was served really cold, and the best thing about it is the dryness that the wine finishes with. Drink up with the weather is hot!

 

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $20

Rated: 86

Drink: Now – 2015

 torzi rose

 

Pizzini Rosetta 2013

 

This wine is lighter in colour and weight of flavour but this only means that it would be a better match for starters or entrée meals. Flavours of strawberries, rose hip and spice come oozing out and they don’t stop working their hips baby. This is a beautifully styled Rose that has acidity as its driving force. Bring more of this on as this didn’t even last the night. There is also a textural element that takes the interest factor up a level.

 

Alcohol: 11.5%

Price: $17.50

Rated: 87

Drink: Now



 

Running with Bulls Tempranillo 2012

 

The bomb! This is on special at the moment so it is around the $14 mark but it is worth around the 25 to 35 mark. This little medium bodied delight has complexity up the wazoo with flavours of cherry cola, wood smoked bark, spice and blueberry pie. All these flavour are built of a savoury profile with silky tannins flowing underneath. I have half a page written about this wine on my notes but the word that comes up the most is lovely! I’ve bought some now you need to get on the band wagon.

 

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $14 - $18

Rated: 87

Drink: Now – 2020
 

 

Azienda Agricola COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2010

 

This wine comes in a kick arse squat bottle which makes this wine feel impressive even before you open it. The winery has only been around since 1980 and they focus on everything that is associated with the Sicilian heritage. They utilise amphora’s and older wood which lets the textural and flavour of the indigenous varieties speak loudest. The savoury flavours of orange rind, blood plums, dried autumn leaves and spice are major with a spearmint component on the back end. The medium bodied palate weight is so satisfying and is a pure joy as it is miles away for the over bearing and clean nature of a some of the Australian wines.  

 

Alcohol: 13%
Price: $50
Rated: 91
Drink: Now - 2020
Importer: Enoteca Sydney

label

Sunday 15 December 2013

Leo Buring Clare Valley Riesling 2012


The long term forecast for South Australia, from the weather bureau, indicates that we will reach temperatures similar to 07 and 08. In those years we experienced extremely hot period with over two weeks of 40 degree plus temperatures in a row. The wines from these years were fruit forward with many lacking structure. Some 08 wines look spectacular if they were picked before the heat. It just depends when the heat comes. We will wait and see how this year’s vintage turns out but in the meantime stock up on this wine.

Leo Buring Clare Valley Riesling 2012

 

This wine comes in two parts. Firstly the entry which is light in weight but has nice intense flavours of lemon and lime cordial mixed with talc powder, dried flowers and creamy high end soup.  The second party hits on the mid-palate where there is a textural element. In the end the wine finishes dry and crisp which is perfect for a summer like we are expected to have.

 

Alcohol: 12%

Price: $15

Rated: 87

Drink: Now - 2018
 

Saturday 14 December 2013

Ocean 8 Pinot Noir 2010


Does the quality of the Pinot depend on the wine-maker or the vineyard?

 
Ocean 8 Pinot Noir 2010

 
Pristine flavour delivered with an undergrowth feeling that oozes out. It isn’t a funky dirty wine as it possesses plenty of fruit flavour but it does have an extra something lurking.  The profile is sour with some smoky fennel flavours finishing everything off. The flavours that came to mind were sour cherries and the essence of raspberries with a bright core of acidity running through the middle of my palate. Drink now? Yes but will develop nicely in the bottle.

 

Alcohol: 13%

Price: $48

Rated: 91

Drink: Now - 2019
 
Ocean Eight Pinot Noir 2010 Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir

Pizzini Pinot Grigio 2013


The first vines from this variety arrived in 1832 so it has been around a while but it is only recently, the last 10 years, has it really taken off. Generally these wines are released very young but wineries are experimenting with lees contact and barrel aging so expect some wild new wines to emerge.

Pizzini Pinot Grigio 2013

The Pizzini effort is built for summer drinking and loving and it still possess plenty of flavour in the form of pear skin, lemon rind and spice. The light weight palate works perfectly in the middle of the day with a nice light meal yet it still has a richer mid palate with a hint of creaminess coming through which takes it up the interest ladder. This wine is a very good effort for a wine under 20 bucks.

 
Alcohol: 11.5%
Price: $18.50 cellar door

Rated: 86
Drink: Now
 
 

Noon Winery Cabernet & Shiraz 2012 vintage release


I’ve been looking forward to the 2012 vintage release from Drew and Raegan Noon for some time now so it was interesting to sit down over the four days and have a look at these.  What I will say is that they are not as over the top as I was expecting. They are full bodied wines with elegance, structure and big oak, especially the Shiraz.

 

Noon Winery Reserve Shiraz 2012

 

The wine starts out with mostly Asian spices that have been pummelled over an open fire. That smokiness is infused with the exotic aromatic nature of cardamom, cassia, black cumin and cloves which make it feel like a good Indian curry house. On the palate the vanilla oak comes through but the fruit manages to work its way out over the course of the four days. The fruit flavours come in the form of raspberry coulis, smoked coconut, burnt sugar and blackberries with a nice fine bone of acidity holding it together. The palate feels soft and cosy yet it still takes its time to fully unfurl. I could still drink this now without any problem but it will keep for many years.

 

Alcohol: 15.2%
Price: Cellar door $27 – Online retailers $120
Rated: 91
Drink: Now – 2024

 Noon Shiraz Langhorne Creek Reserve
 
 

Noon Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

 

Full bodied with masses of blackcurrants and fragrant violets cascading out if the bottle once the screw cap is open. The oak smells like it is not even there but I can feel it once I place the liquid to my mouth. The oak is well integrated at this stage of the wines life with the profile firmly sitting more savoury than the Reserve Shiraz. There are moments of tomato leaf, dried mint, bold blackcurrant, spice, fresh cut violets with smoked cedar underneath. While this wine is full boded it isn’t as big as normal which makes it easier to pair with food or just enjoy a few glasses after work.  You could say that it is a Holden Cruze with a V8 engine in nature as it smells big but has the energy contained well.

 

Alcohol: 16%
Price: Cellar door $27 – Online retailer $80
Rated: 93
Drink: Now - 2027

Noon Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Langhorne Creek, South Australia label

Saturday 30 November 2013

Domaine Jean-Marc Burgaud Cote du Py 2010

Why is it that many wines taste sweet while some others are sour? Sun I say and how much time the grapes hang on the vines. It is a mix between the wine-maker and vines. This is why we have so much fruit and sweetness in Australia. Slowly people are changing what they plant so as to better fit the variety to the area. This wine is sour and bright with great flavour.

While this winery hasn't been around for that long, Jean-Marc only started in 1989, they are producing some spectacular wines already.

Domaine Jean-Marc Burgaud Cote du Py 2010

The flavour profile is sour but it works so well. The 50 year old vines have worked their magic as the complexity of plums, strawberries, raspberries and spice are beautiful and perfumed. The tannins take it up a level as they are dry and bold yet oh so pretty. While I love this now I would let it sit for 3 to 5 years in the cellar before I open them up.

Alcohol: 13%
Price: $35
Rated: 92
Drink: 2016 - 2025
Importer: Eurocentric Wine


Pizzini Riesling 2013


The King Valley is a lovely picturesque area with many wineries and food shops but that is not the only thing going on. Once a year in October the locals and other competitors get their fitness groove on and take on a triathlon. The event starts at Lake William Hovell which is a magnificently breathtaking start to the event. The 15k run takes you through sandy flats and rustic gum before a 12k Kayak on the Lake which starts out at the boat yard and ends on the calm end of town. This is then followed by a 39k bike ride and a 3k sprint. After the event there are so many wineries and boutique beer store I suggest that you get stuck in to them.

 

Pizzini Riesling 2013

Ticks all the rizza boxes and is worth every cent of the 16 bucks of the RRP. The wine starts out very floral before some lemon drops kicks in on the mid-palate. While my notes say high in acid it isn’t that noticeable compared too many of this style from Eden Valley or the Clare Valley.  What I would say is the style is highly drinkable and would work well once the weather starts heating up.

 

Alcohol: 11%

Price: $16

Rated: 87

Drink: Now - 2020