Andrew Peace Wines Australia Felix Sagrantino 2012

I do like the 2012 Sagrantino’s as they seem to be more representative of the variety. Andrew Peace wines have access to 270 ha of vines in the Murray Darling and surrounding areas. This wine is sourced from 10 acres in the Swan-hill area in Victoria which makes this in the top three largest holdings of the variety in Australia. While I didn’t like the previous wine I tasted from this producer this vintage is a large step up.

 Andrew Peace Wines Australia Felix Sagrantino 2012

 

The wine is coiled up within itself at the moment but I would expect that from the variety if it was make correctly. There wasn’t any information provided regarding how it was made but it seems that older French oak was used allowing rustic flavours to unfold. Once they do open up flavours of ruby plums, spice and tree bark unfold. I love the savoury nature of this wine but it will need another 6 years to unfurl. I love the word unfurl and I have been trying to use it in as many sentences as possible. Another word I like is frolic and this wine seems to frolic with my senses. All in all a beautiful Sagrantino and one I would stash away.

 

Alcohol:

Price: $45

Rated: 91 ++

Drink: 2020 +

 

Delinquente Wine co. Pretty Boy Nero d’Avola Rosato 2014

A label I have never tried before and it does look ominous with an ugly looking fellow on the label. The winery is owned by Greg Grigoriou and the fruit is purchased form the Riverland which is where he grew up.

 

Delinquente Wine co. Pretty Boy Nero d’Avola Rosato 2014

This is a full bodied rosato with plenty of flavour. There is a nice balance between sweet plums, strawberry and more savoury notes of dried earth and spice on a long length. While I like the wine I would have preferred if it was more medium bodied and more savoury in profile.  I would see this being drunk as a dry red rather than a rosato. Either way a good quality wine if not a little confused as to what it is.

 

Alcohol: ?

Price: $18

Rated: 88

Drink: Now 

Image from website

 

La Bise Wines Rose 2014

The La Bise brand is owned by Tash Mooney and they source grapes from the Adelaide Hills and Coonawarra regions. The market for these wines is aimed at the organic personnel and the less is more consumers.

The La Bise website doesn’t ever have this wine attached so it may not be released yet. Or it has sold out ,either way I thought I should put it up.

 La Bise Wines Rose 2014

The wine feels ready to go with a sweet aroma of flavour bounding out the bottle. In the glass savouriness comes to the fore but this feels like it is a conventional rose that would appeal to the masses. I would put the wine in the glug glug guzzle guzzle  end of the spectrum  as it is easy to drink without ticking the complexity and sophistication boxes yet it still has a hint of graininess to it.

 Alcohol: ?

Price: $15

Rated: 87 good value

Drink: Now

Oliver's Taranga Vineyards Sagrantino 2011

Twenty eleven was a very cool and wet year so I wouldn't have expected a Sagrantino to have been produced as the variety is very late in ripening. This wine is made with fruit character in mind as the juice does not spend much time in contact with the skins. Once the fruit is pressed off it is transferred to old French oak and after about 2 years in barrel the wine is bottled.


Oliver's Taranga Vineyards Sagrantino 2011

My first word on my notes says perfumed and I can see why. The wine is very pretty and perky with light to medium bodied notes of dried roses, raspberries, light cherries, dried herbs and cracked pepper. The tannins are not prominent and seem fully ripe and round which makes this easy to drink now.  This wine is brilliant for an entry into the Sagrantino world.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $40
Rated: 88
Drink: Now - 2021

Tallavera Wines Rogue Series Foot Stomped Sagrantino 2013

The Hunter Valley is renowned for Semillon and Shiraz but who would have thought that Sagrantino would make an appearance in the area.

This wine comes from the Davis Premium Vineyards selection which is Tallavera's single vineyard series. Once the grapes were hand picked and de-stemmed back into the picking bin.

Tallavera Wines Rogue Series Foot Stomped Sagrantino 2013

The tannin profile is monumental and makes this wine drain every last moment of moisture from my mouth. I love that but it makes it hard to drink right away. Once the wine has ben open for a while the savoury nature takes hold with dried cherries, rusted nails, dried earth and cracked pepper. The flavours are perched on a light bodied frame with a huge amount of length. Stash away for a few years or drink with a rustic meal.


Alcohol: 14%
Price: $30
Rated: 89
Drink: 2016 - 2025

Trandari Wines Nebbiolo 2013

Trandari Wines is located in the Hilltops region in New South Wales. The vines for this wine were planted in 2004 which makes these relatively young. The vineyard is run organically and is managed in a hands on fashion. Hand pruned, bunch thinned and hand picked makes for a quality product.

Trandari Wines Nebbiolo 2013

The wine smells a bit weird with a sweet bubble gum and spearmint character dominating. On the palate there is a bit of cherry and spice on an otherwise dilute flavour profile. The palate has some length and there is a blob of acidity finishing the wine off which is nice but I was expecting more. That said the price is lower than what I was expecting so that was a nice change.

Alcohol:
Price: $22
Rated: 84
Drink: ?

Drinks for Christmas

I was getting my drinks in place for Christmas and I thought of getting out the big guns.

On my menu is

Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon 2014

 

Tyrrell's Belford Semillon 2014

Balnaves The Tally 1998

Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

 

 

 

Wild Duck Creek Estate Springflat Shiraz 2012

Wild Duck Creek Estate Springflat Shiraz 2012

Massive full bodied wine yet it retains a degree of elegance. The oak is prominent at the moment with the vanillin American oak taking the key role at the moment. The wine took 4 days to loose its oak derived flavours and the regional moments to come through. I liked the mint and plum that was mixed with flint, spice and blackberries once they came to the fore. Furthermore the wine is thick in the mouth but there is enough acidity to hold it in stead for 4 to 5 years before opening them.

Alcohol:
Price: $52
Rated: 92
Drink: 2018 +

Hurley Vineyard Lodestone Pinot Noir 2012 & Bannockburn Vineyards De La Terre Pinot Noir 2012

I must be having a good run because at the moment the Pinot Noir's that I am tasting are rocking.

Hurley Vineyard Lodestone Pinot Noir 2012

This is another single vineyard wine from the people at Hurley Vineyard. The grapes are treated the same as the Garamond but the aspect is different. Initially the wine felt more full bodied and in the mouth it definitely was yet the flavour spectrum is still restrained and chiselled. There are noted of plums, dried cherries and warm twigs mixed with spice and clay on an extremely long palate. The palate weight is medium to full with a bounce of acidity on the back-end. The only problem with this wine is it only comes in a 750 ml bottle.

Alcohol: 14.6%
Price: $50 world class and cheap for the quality
Rated: 94
Drink: give it 5 years before opening

 

 

Bannockburn Vineyards De La Terre Pinot Noir 2012

 

There are a few vineyards that make up the Bannockburn Vineyard portfolio with only the quality deciding if it makes its way into the estate wine or the single vineyard stuff. Personally I haven't had a Bannockburn wine in a while since I was put off by the price to quality ratio for the 99 - 01 vintages. There is no such problem here. The wine opens very shy yet fully composed with hints of Christmas cherries, fresh cut herbs, green pepper corns and Asian spice. In the beginning the wine felt feminine but made its way to medium bodied by the final glass. The extraordinary length is the key as it allows the beautiful sexualised flavours to pull their way up my tongue.

 

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $65

Rated: 95+

Drink: In 8 years

 



 



 



d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier 2010

d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier 2010

What can Viognier add to a warm climate Shiraz? Well it really depends on how the winemaker manages it. I have tasted a large amount where the Viognier has added texture and a massive apricot flavour. This wine has the added textural element but it doesn't have the apricot character which means it tastes better and more balanced. At the moment there is a little disconnect between the two varieties but I think that will work itself out with a bit of extra time in the bottle.  The Shiraz red berry fruits and the earthiness are masked by the textural element of the Viognier yet the medium bodied flavours sit on a very long palate length. All of this is easy to drink and feels more refined than a 30 dollar wine. Very narse.

Alcohol: 13.9%
Price: $30
Rated: 90
Drink: 2017 +

Symphonia Wines Arneis 2014

This is the first time I have tasted a wine from this producer and the packaging looks very smart. 

Symphonia Wines Arneis 2014

The length on this wine is extremely long which makes this top notch but it also possesses a vibrant or torte profile. There are notes of crisp and juicy pear, the ones that burst with delicate flavours and soak you in juice, exotic spice and lemon blossom. There is a feeling of complexity and intricacy woven through this wine and I would happily crack a couple of these during summer. Top quality booze and I would love to see what else they can do. 

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $24
Rated: 92
Drink: Now – 2020

Zerella Wines La Gita Arneis 2014

Natural fermentation and extended time in contact with lees makes for a quality wine and it does show when the bottle is finally open. I would hold off on opening this as I think it will show better in a few months. 

Zerella Wines La Gita Arneis 2014

Sweeter fruit profile with apples and pear before a phenolic edge kicks in from the mid-palate. The balance between grip and flavour is interesting as this offers more than your normal arneis yet it still retains the typical flavour profile. The palate weight is bigger than most but there is enough acidity to pull it all together. The acidity sits under the flavour with the complexity moving up the scale with orange blossom and lemon balm. 

Alcohol:
Price: $20
Rated: 87
Drink: Now – 2019

Vineyard 28 The Alternative Arneis 2014

This wine was pressed straight to tank and allowed to undergo fermentation. It spends a total of 4 week in contact with lees before it was cleaned up and bottled. Easy winemaking and easy drinking. 

Vineyard 28 The Alternative Arneis 2014

Not really showing much and what it showed was dilute in nature. There was a hint of runny pears and a touch of spice on a narrow palate. The palate feels rounded which suggests that I would be consuming this over the next few years. There needs to be a high degree of acidity to pull this wine together but otherwise it is drink at its peak now. 

Alcohol: 
Price: $20
Rated: 83
Drink: Now - 2017

S.C. Pannell Arido Rose 2013 Plus Pork and Mash

Ok so I have a bit of a problem at the moment. I'm Broke! Well it's been a problem for a while now but around the festive season it is a little worse. I was looking in the fridge and cupboard and I decided to do whatever I could do with what I had. The menu for tonight.

Herbed Pork with mash and asparagus

I'm luck that I plant herbs and other stuff in the garden as I wouldn't be able to cut the herbs and the asparagus 2 minutes before I start cooking them.

Pork

2 pork medallions
a handful of thyme and oregano
a pinch of salt and pepper
a splash of balsamic vinegar

Chop the herbs and coat the pork with herbs and salt and pepper and allow to sit for a while. I allowed it to sit while I put together the mash.  Once potatoes are mashed place pork on a medium hot pan and cook for 2 minutes on each side. Once cooked add balsamic vinegar and turn three to four times every thirty seconds until cooked to desired level.


Mash Potato

3 large potatoes with skin on
100 g butter
50 g cheese ( I used the left over I had in the fridge)

Boil the potatoes in water until soft. Strain water and add butter and grated cheese. I mashed the mix and allowed it to sit for a moment.

Asparagus

One bunch asparagus

Stream asparagus until al dente and serve with pork and mash.

S.C. Pannell Arido Rose 2013

This wine worked so well with the medium bodied pork but I think it could take some Asian style food as well.  The wine is very pale which suggests that it is made in a savoury dry style, rather than a light dry red style. The grapes for this wine were hand picked and then had 1 day skin contact before being drained off into tank. The flavours that are prominent on this wine are orange rind, cherry, spring blossom and earth with no tannin component and only a touch of acidity pulling it together. This wine has sweetness but it otherwise a dry style rose that possesses length and character. I would recommend drinking this early on a warm summers day.

Alcohol: ? Bottle says 13% but website says 14.1%
Price: $22
Rated: 88
Drink: Now

Longview Vineyard Riserva Nebbiolo 2012

Longview Vineyards was established by the brothers, Peter and Mark Saturno, in 1995. Well actually they bought it off of Duncan MacGilvray in 2001. Total production is 20000 dozen which puts them in the medium size winery category.


Longview Vineyard Riserva Nebbiolo 2012

What a big arse bottle this is and it does look impressive. The wine was made traditionally but really what the hell does that mean. When I first tasted Longview wines years ago the Riserva label was set at 80 bucks but now it is around the 45 mark which makes this wine rather good quality and value.

The aroma coming from my glass is in the typical nebbiolo spectrum with dusty cherries, fresh flowers and tar.  These translate onto the palate and meld well with the medium bodied nature of the wine and the nice acidity. The tannins are prominent yet feel pliant or bouncy which adds structure and texture. The balance between the structure and flavour is beautiful. This wine is one of the best examples of this variety in Australia.

Alcohol: 14.1%
Price: $45
Rated: 91
Drink: Now - 2022

ess & see Wines Sangiovese Rose 2014

I think that Australia as a whole is understanding what to do with rose's. They are picking earlier and not leaving the wine in contact with the skins very long which enhances the rose character and not making a light dry red.

ess & see Wines Sangiovese Rose 2014

This wine is very pale and has beautiful savoury characters of cherries, spice and a touch of rosehip oil. The light bodied palate is vibrant and bursting at the seems which means this wine will pair well with a nice variety of summer meals. I'm not sure where to buy this wine as a quick google search doesn't bring up anything. If you know where I can get it please put the location below.

Alcohol:
Price: $20
Rated: 90
Drink: Now

Trentham Estate Pinot Gris 2013

It is coming up to Christmas and the events are rolling in. I had two last week and a few coming up this week so the alcohol is flowing and the cash is leaving my wallet. What I suggest is putting a mixed dozen of cheaper quaffers together so you don't brake the bank or run out of booze.

This would be in the mixed dozen for me as it offers typical Gris texture at a cheap price.

Trentham Estate Pinot Gris 2013

This wine is pretty simple but carries a lot of what Gris offers at a very low price. After the grapes are picked this wine is made in a fast and fresh manner as it is pressed straight to tank and inoculated. After fermentation the wine is cleaned up and put into bottle. The wine has moments of baked apples and a little peach fuzz on a medium bodied palate. The palate feels thick but is balanced well by a nice acid kick on the back-end.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $16
Rated: 85
Drink: Now - 2015

Longview Vineyard Boat Shed Rosato 2014

The Longview winery is one of the most specular in the Adelaide Hills. Brilliant view and a monumental Lunch menu over the weekend. This boat shed wine comes from the estate range. The vineyard is located in Macclesfield which gets a bit warmer than many other areas in the Adelaide Hills.

Longview Vineyard Boat Shed Rosato 2014

A bit on the candied side of the spectrum which wasn't what I was expecting as Nebbiolo is used to make this. Think of candy coated cherries, strawberry creams and musk sticks on a medium length palate. I could see the people that drink UDLs going for this one with a nice salad on a warm summers day.

Alcohol: 13.3%
Price: $19.50
Rated: 84
Drink: Now

Heathvale Wines The Belief Sagrantino 2012

From all the current release Sagrantino's this is the best one but I think they could have gone further. This wine is hand picked from a small Sagrantino vineyard that used to be a chardonnay vineyard until it was grafted over to Sagrantino. The bunches were de-stemmed into small open top fermenters and fermented on skins for 7 days. Now here it is, if the tannin profile was a little more prominent and representative of the variety I would have given it a few extra points. That said the lighter easier tannins make it easy to access now. In the end, who rally cares when it tastes this good.

This isn't released yet and will come out when the 2011 sells out.

Heathvale Wines The Belief Sagrantino 2012

This has a very pretty and attractive nose with cherries, potpourri and spice woven into the body of this medium bodied wine. The wine is clean as a whistle and is laden with flavours in the bright end of the spectrum. The acidity pops at the end of the wine which lifts the sensation up and above. There is a nice balance between the acidity and the flavour profile with the light and fluffy tannins sitting firmly under everything. Beautiful and more of a sweet song than a violent melody. Drink with a little meat ragu.

Alcohol:
Price: $35
Rated: 92
Drink: Now - 2025

Wild Duck Creek Estate Alan's Cabernet 2012

Wild Duck Creek Estate Alan's Cabernet 2012

One hundred percent new French hogsheads has been the vessel for this Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot blend but the oakiness has been absorbed pretty well. It is still evident but in 8 years, when I would start to open these, it will be fully resolved. At the moment the wine tastes like chocolate mints, cinnamon, blackcurrant pastilles and dried flowers with a medium amount of acidity kicking in. I would call the wine plush but savoury and full bodied yet more elegant than monumental. It treads the line between Parkerism and just full bodied flavours that are well kept by structure. From my perspective it is structured and elegant with full bodied flavours.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $60
Rated: 90 +
Drink: 2020 +

Teusner Avatar 2013

The 2013 wines I've tried have been fruit forward and more enjoyable than the 2012 at this stage. I think the 12s have greater structure and will take more time to show their full potential than the 13s. The 13s I would drink now or sooner as they offer joyous flavours that are fully ripe.

Teusner Avatar 2013

I decided to watch Avatar while drinking this wine as it meant I was fully immersed in the Avatar experience. What is most notable about this wine is the creaminess of the palate. It feels like eating a really svelte vanilla ice cream with added flavours of a mixed bag of lollies that I used to buy at the corner store when I was just a teenager. The sweetness is the main feature of the spectrum but the back end it pulled savoury by the Mataro. Joining the flavours are stewed prunes, chocolate sauce and spiced earth on a medium bodied frame. The flavours open quickly and it was easy to slurp down a couple glasses without much trouble.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $30
Rated: 86
Drink: Now - 2020

Spee'Wah Deep River Shiraz 2013

This wine come from the Murray Darling and represents the new wave of winemakers in the area.


Spee'Wah Deep River Shiraz 2013

Nice little juicy fruit character this wine as the aroma flow from the glass. On the palate the wine is mostly fruity blue fruits with a speck of spice and brown sugar with a hint of fluffy tannins underneath. The palate is medium bodied with a little alcohol heat and a savoury finish that would work well at any BBQ. Nice little quaffer.

Alcohol: 14%
Price: $13
Rated: 84
Drink: Now - 2016

Hoggies Estate Riesling 2012

Rizza is Australia is pretty easy to make as we pick early and press straight to tank. The next generation of Riesling makers are experimenting with oak and skin contact but mostly it is straight from vine to bottle.

It must be pretty hard if you make Riesling, as the top of the pops versions are in their mid 20s to early 30s in price.

Hoggies Estate Riesling 2012

Floral                             tick
Minerals                         tick
Lemon or citrus              tick
Good entry                      tick
Typical flavour profile    tick
Mid-palate                       no tick
Value                              ok


Alcohol: 12.5%
Price:  $13
Rated: 83
Drink: Now - 2018

Bird & Fox Sauvignon Blanc Orange 2014

The label for this is beautiful as it just has a bird and a fox on the front. The back label informs that it is an orange wine made from the Sauvignon Blanc grape. Well actually the clear bottle allows the orange colour to come through which is much better than articulating that it is a sav blanc. I believe that orange wines should have a wine name and not both with a reference to the variety.

Bird & Fox Sauvignon Blanc Orange 2014

What texture this vibrant little number possesses which seems to be well balanced by acidity. The Sauvignon Blanc was kept on skins for 10 days prior to being pressed off to 2 old French barrels.
In the beginning this tasted a low like Tom Shobbrooks Giallo in flavour profile with a massive hit of guava, dragon fruits, orange rind and all sorts of spices. The texture is thick yet vibrant and refreshing. Lovely and a great introduction to orange or skin contact wines.

Alcohol: 11%
Price: $18
Rated: 88
Drink: While the sun shines.

Hither & Yon Nero d'Avola 2014

Pretty simple wine-making with no oak used at all. This is built to impress when young and be totally consumed young. The grapes are harvested early in the morning to retain natural acidity then it is de-stemmed and allowed to undergo wild ferment is small fermenters and pumped once a day for 12 days. Then it is pressed to tank for four months before bottling. Easy and straight to market with purity of expression on the mind.


Hither & Yon Nero d'Avola 2014

The palate is dark and rich with dark cherry, Asian spice and regional licorice on what is only really a medium bodied styled wine. The flavours are on show and them seem to allow the unfettered complexity to roll in. The lovely acidity lifts the flavours up. The profile is a little more fruity than savoury but it all works. Get on board the Nero Train!

Alcohol: 13.8%
Price: $25
Rated: 91
Drink: Now - 2018