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

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

 

 

 

Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon 2014

The vintage conditions for this wine were perfect but it is the change in how the grapes are harvested which is most impressive. Hand harvested at night with head lights. What the.......? This practise retains more natural acidity and works brilliant here.

Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon 2014

Don't tell anyone but this is mind blowing brilliant. At the moment the wine is coiled up in it self but the length is monumental and the flavours spread out wide. Forget about what the wine tastes like now as it will require 10 in the cellar to show a little of its true colours. What the cool liquid bliss provides from the get go is intensity then it just keeps on pulling long and slowly up my tongue. While this next part is an exaggeration it makes a point. I feel like I could watch the whole of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (extended version) on only a few sips off this beautiful beauty and it would still be there after the movie finished. Just Bliss nothing more or less.

Alcohol: 10.8%
Price: $30
Rated: 95++
Drink: 2024 - 2044

 

Image from Thomas Wines

A tail of two chardonnay

Chardonnay can vary in its quality like all other varieties yet it seems that the style varies more. The first wine is light and made in a more less is more style while the second wine looks towards the chardonnay’s of old.  

 

Tyrrell's Lost Block Chardonnay 2012 

 

In the beginning there is acidity in a light bodied style which makes me think of a lime splice in summer. It is a little confected but provides a nice summer refreshing drink with no real creamy nature.  

 

Alcohol: 12.5% 

Price: $18

Rated: 82 

Drink: Now – 2015 

 

 

Big volume chardy! 

 

Lindeman’s Bin 65 Chardonnay 2013 

 

Simple or one dimensional is the only thing I have down for this wine. There is a note of peach with a sweet entry before it hits the mid-palate and disappears. The wine is nice enough especially at this price but that is about it.  

 

Alcohol: 13.5% 

Price: $5 

Rated: 78 

Drink: Now  

 

 

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

Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon 2012

Semillon is that common a grape variety but it is grown in Australia and is produced in many cases as a straight varietal. In France and Africa many produces blend the variety with Sauvignon Blanc. The variety is easy to grow as it has thick skins and can take a fare amount of sun as a result. Semillon also is a heavy cropper which is great for the grower if they are after cash. The best examples are produced from soils that allow the water to drain away such as gravel and limestone.
 

Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon 2012

 

This label is a bench mark in the wine world and this years wine is pungent with huge amount of acidity at its core. At the moment it is a little bit of a recluse but the moments of struck quartz orange peel and fennel seed flavours are very nice indeed. If I had the opportunity to have this or the Belford wine to drink now I would choose the Belford but in 10 to 20 years this will wine hands down.

 

Alcohol: 10.5%

Price:
Rated: 95+
Drink: After 2022

Bimbadgen Estate Chardonnay 2012

Bimbadgen Estate Chardonnay 2012

So many people have found a new love for chardonnay and it shows that the variety is the number one selling Australian variety in Australia. What wine-makers have done is pull back the oak and that is what is evident in this wine. The palate is a little broad but it works as a quaffer. There is plenty of Australian Chardonnay flavours happening with the initial attack of flavour being the most satisfying.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $20
Rated: 84
Drink: In the short term

Bimbadgen Estate Shiraz 2011

The Hunter Valley isn't that far from Australia’s largest city so I is a perfect place to take a little drive up to on the week-end. The area can be divided into two sections, the upper and lower Hunter. The upper Hunter is mostly fertile alluvial soils where the grape vines find it easy to produce large quantities year in year out.  The lower Hunter has a more diverse soil type with basalt, volcanic red and yellow clay. Some produces are bottling these individual vineyard wines and showcasing those soil types. 

Bimbadgen Estate Shiraz 2011

True regional style Shiraz with boot polish, earthy plum and a touch of spice comes through on the very good length palate. The light bodied palate weight is balanced by a buff of tannins that is built for the right and now. The team at Bimbagden did well in a cool and wet vintage to produce a wine of this quality.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $20

Rated: 86

Drink: Now – 2016

Tyrrell's Old Winery Semillon 2012

Tyrrell's Old Winery Semillon 2012

Go out and grab a can of solo and a lime splice at your local service station and you have yourself this wine. It is medium bodied with sweetness and mild length to match. It is easy to drink and would go down well at a BBQ.

Alcohol: 11%
Price: $9.99
Rated: 80
Drink: Now

Tyrrell's Single Vineyard Stevens Semillon 2012

This wine was harvested from grapes grown in the Glenoak vineyard in the Hunter Valley. The soils are red clay on light sand and the wine was picked slightly earlier than the 2011.

Tyrrell's Single Vineyard Stevens Semillon 2012

For a wine with such low alcohol this packs a punch. It possesses lemon pulp, lemon grass, crushed flowers and spice flavours on a palate that is so torte and tensile it is scary. There is a huge amount of richness through the mid-palate on an otherwise light and bright flavour ride. Even though I think it is possible to drink this now it will show its best with 12 to 17 years under its belt. 

Alcohol: 10.5%

Price: $25

Rated: 91

Drink: Now -2035

Tyrrell's Vat 47 Chardonnay 2012

Tyrrell's Vat 47 Chardonnay 2012

Full on Chardonnay in an old school style that works so well as the creaminess holds so much personality. Imagine eating French cream topped with warms figs and Peach Melba on a warm summer’s day by a lake in a remote area as your girlfriend skips the light fantastic in front of you.  Mmm I can just feel it now and I want this moment to say with me forever.  The use of 30% New oak has imparted some wonderful full on characters but the fruit is strong enough to have absorbed it even at this early stage. Add to this a massive amount of whipped cream in texture and flavour and I get the feeling of Chardonnay about 15 years ago which is a complement as I think there should be a blend of new thought processes mixed with the traditions of old. Now the wine doesn’t go through malolactic fermentation so there is zestiness on the back palate which holds all the flavours together. Even though this is drinking so nicely now, it will fly higher with a few years under its belt.

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $55

Rated: 91

Drink: 2015 - 2022

Bimbadgen Estate Sparkling Semillon NV

While many people are focusing on producing French style bubbles, the people at Bimbadgen took their quality Semillon and jazzed it up a bit.

Bimbadgen Estate Sparkling Semillon NV

While this is an easy drink to glug the sweetness is a little too much. I thought I would get those insane levels of acidity that is normally associated with this region but it just wasn't there. What I got was nuts rolled in lemon rind and lime lollies on a medium length palate.  At this price it is not bad value and offers some easy drinking.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $16
Rated: 83
Drink: Now

Golden Chicken Braised Greens and Potato Gratin Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meal + Tyrrell's Johnno's Semillon 2012

Jamie Oliver 15 Minute Meal Golden Chicken Braised Greens and Potato Gratin

There is a theme running through the 15 minute meals and that is one of fresh flavours. The Golden Chicken dish that we cooked was good with the two elements of chicken and potato gratin but the braised greens really took it to a new level.

The chicken was easy as it is just bashing chicken thighs and rosemary together before you cook them on a hot pan with a little bacon added. The Gratin was a little sneaky as I had to finely slice the potato and onion before boiling the potato for around 15 to 20 minutes before taking them out. The onions were browned with a bit of chicken stock and sage added just before they were taken off the heat. Once this is all done add together and pour over cream and parmesan cheese and then brown under a grill. Two dishes down and one to go. The braised green took no time at all as the chopped leeks, baby spinach and peas are just allowed to warm in the pan and them served under the chicken. So far this has been the easiest of the dishes with the boiling time for the potatoes being the only thing that pushed the stop watch. Just delicious!

Tyrrell's Johnno's Semillon 2012

This is a little lower in alcohol than last year but it doesn't show on the intensity of the flavours. The floral bouquet is enhanced by the combination of lemon rind, river pebbles and pink grapefruit before a little spice kicks in. The palate is highly structures with a laser beam of acid controlling the movement of flavour all the way. This acidity of the wine matches well with the cream nature of the potato and the flavour kick of the bacon. It is a vibrant wine that pairs well with a fresh dish.

Alcohol: 10.5%
Price: $45
Rated: 94
Drink: Start drinking in 10 years

Jamie Oliver 15 min meal plus Bimbadgen Estate Semillon 2012

At Christmas I was given Jamie Oliver's 15 minute meals so my wife and I decided to cook our way through all the meals. The first one on the menu was the Chicken Tikka, lentil, spinach and naan salad. There is a nice mix between traditional spice, chilli and fragrant chicken mixed with more modern elements in this dish. The meal was easy to cook but some of the ingredients were a bit difficult to find as I live in a small country town.  I wasn't able to get naan bread or the chestnut mushrooms but I could get puy lentils which I had to cook myself before starting the recipe. Once my wife and I sat down to consume this medium bodied meal our taste buds went wild with each little flavour making an impact. The balance of the fresh flavours was really well executed and I would happily cook this as a main meal or as a side salad for a larger group.

My daughter enjoyed the meal as well and always wants to get involved.

Bimbadgen Estate Semillon 2012

After tasting this wine I was sure it was a 25 to 30 buck wine but a quick search on the internet shows how wrong I was. This wine has those typical lime and lemon notes before an element of crushed flowers and spiced herbs comes in. The winery is rather stunning, as the photo below outlines, and this seems to come through in the purity of the wine. In fact the wine is so easy to drink I almost forgot what I was doing.

Alcohol: 10%

Price: $18

Rated: 86

Drink: Now - 2019

Tyrrell's Belford Single Vineyard Semillon 2012

Tyrrell's Belford Single Vineyard Semillon 2012

Do you want texture? Do you want full bodied white wines? You can have all this with the zesty nature of Semillon collapsed in the one bottle. Does it taste like your normal Belford? Well yes, it is a little more full bodied than the other wines of the same year but this isn't ready for consumption right now. The palate is tight and reserved with elements of lime dried flowers with spice and quince paste taking a secondary performance. The block that Belford comes from was planted so long ago that the wine, year in year out, seems to produce a pearler but the 2012 is one of the better ones.

Alcohol: 11.5%
Price: $26
Rated: 93+
Drink: 2018 ++

Tyrrell's Fordwich Verdelho 2012

This wine is released as a drink now wine with plenty of flavour and a little bit of texture and crunch.

Tyrrell's Fordwich Verdelho 2012

While this isn't as good as the 2011 it is bloody beautiful. There are those moments of spice and tropical fruits before it turns into lime and intense crushed violets. It is the sort of wine that should be paired with food rather than drank by itself as the structure offers so much more. I would be drinking this now as it offers so much goodness with a slight tartness on the back palate.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $18
Rated: 85
Drink: Now - 2017

Party Time Wines

Summer is in full swing and that means party time. It seems that every year we pack every get together with anyone in the two months of December and January.  This period is one filled with hot days, warm nights and fun filled moments with friends and family. The best way to celebrate this time is with refreshing whites and bubbles of happiness.

Hahndorf Hill Winery Gruner Veltliner 2012

This wine should come with a warning of don’t serve too cold as the palate shuts down a bit under extreme chills.  When the wine is allowed to warm up a bit flavours of crushed flowers and pears start to emerge.   The entry of the wine is light and delicate but from the mid-palate on there is masses of intense flavours and texture galore.  The flavours come across as those mystical crystals you see in the healing stores in the city mixed with peaches, spice and lemon blossom.  These flavours work brilliantly with the glycerin style mouth feel.  My god it coats my mouth, sticking the flavours to my receptors.  This is a wine to be proud of so get on board. This wine is so good I am going to predict that the Adelaide Hills will become a beacon for top quality Gruner. Just wait within 5 years the Hills will be Chardonnay and Gruner mecca.

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $28

Rated: 88

Drink: Now – 2024

Tyrrell’s Wines Traditional Method Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2009

When wineries say that a sparkling is made using the traditional method they mean that it has been bottle fermented. This process takes much longer and allows the fruit to stay in contact with the lees which results in a creamer taste and mouth feel.  This wine has that in spades with extra flavours of dried grapefruit, toasted brioche, gun smoked strawberries and spice, in fact I would say this wine is packed with flavour. It feels like a party popper in my mouth, masses of flavours jumping for joy as they tumble along in my mouth.  At 26 bucks this wine is a sophisticated beast that will be easy to crack over this festive season.

Alcohol: 13%

Price: $26

Rated: 87

Drink: Now or over the next 5 years

Mount William Winery Jorja-Alexis Rose 2003

This wine spent 8 years on lees before being disgorged and topped with fresh Pinot Noir which brings back the salmon colour.  Murray, the owner of Mount Williams Winery, describes it the best in his media release. Murray explains that "whilst the wine is on lees in the cellar, the large red molecules drop out and we end up with a rather anemic looking sparkling rose'. The addition of the young still Pinot Noir doesn't affect the flavour and it has a beneficial effect on the bouquet when it is added.".  This wine is one of the best Australian Sparkling roses that I have tried as it is light in weight yet powerful in the delivery of strawberries and crème, rhubarb and spice. This wine definitely stays on the savoury side of things but the strawberries and crème adds a little confectionary style note which is lovely. The wine pulls long in my mouth with a knife edge of acidity keeping the wine fresh and vibrant. This would be perfect as a starter on Christmas day or any other special event.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $45
Rated: 89
Drink: Now or later

Torzi Matthews Vintners Frist Dodger Riesling 2012

Pitch perfect and vibrant is this Eden Valley Riesling. In fact this could be your archetypical version of Riesling from this region with flavours of slate, lemon, blossom, struck quartz and lime pulp. In the mouth the wine explodes and the flavours stick to every inch of my mouth. The wine feels like it is thick and textured yet light and bright all in the same mouthful which is interesting and cerebral.  All I want to do is sit back under my loquat tree with a big glass and just let the earth spin around me. I could drink this now but it only improved over the 5 days that I tasted it so I would leave it alone for a while.


Alcohol: 13%
Price: $22
Rated: 93
Drink: Now - 2027