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

 



 



 



Paradigm Hill L'ami Sage Pinot Noir 2012

For a winery that only produces about 1500 cases this winery puts out some brilliant wines. This wine underwent 7 days cold soak before being allowed to warm up and undergo wild fermentation. The cold soak allows for better retention of colour and flavour. All hands on processes that these utilise.

Paradigm Hill L'ami Sage Pinot Noir 2012

Tight? Yes. Pretty? Yes. Good value? Yes. The wine has a very European feel about it with a drive of acidity pulling everything together. The tannins are light but evident and mouth filling which suggest that they will open out in time. At the moment the flavours are in the dirty darker territory with dark cherries, plums with dried clay and fresh cut herbs rolling around. These flavours are only medium bodied on a spectacularly long palate length. Beautiful.

Alcohol: 13.3%
Price: $66
Rated: 93
Drink: 2016 - 2026

Paradigm Hill Col's Block Shiraz 2011

Dr George Mihaly is a very renowned biotechnologist and has studied at Monash and Melbourne University.  What does this mean in the vineyard and wine world? Well it means he has a research based mindset which would allow him to evaluate the quality of each vineyard on a yearly basis and make changes if need be.



Paradigm Hill Col's Block Shiraz 2011

This tastes more euro in style than Australian but there is a green peppercorn note that takes over. It is lovely to drink with the sour cherry and wild boar notes that are mixed with a soft green peppercorns,  green herbs and a spice number. The palate is light weight with a high degree of acidity that drives its way through the wine. Now the kicker...is it good? yes and no. Its not as good as the 2012 pinot that were delivered  but for a 2011 it is ok.

Alcohol: 12.7%
Price: $48
Rated: 86
Drink: ?

Hurley Vineyard Garamond Pinot Noir 2012

This winery is now my number one Pinot Winery in Australia. The vineyard is located in Balnarring district in the Mornington Peninsula and they keep each vineyard separate. The dry grown vineyards are cropped extremely low but the average rainfall of 750 mm is enough to keep the vines ticking along. This wine receives cold soaking of the grapes after they are picked for 7 days before the grapes are allowed to warm up and naturally ferment. It sounds really easy but I guess they are just treating the grapes with respect.

Hurley Vineyard Garamond Pinot Noir 2012

The wine is pretty clean in the glass but you can tell that it isn't fined or filtered. I think this method preserves the beauty of the wine as the serious elements seem to flow right out the bottle just after I cracked it open. On the nose there is an earthy aroma with a speck of dried twigs and sour cherry kicking in. On the palate it is pretty much the same but it feels lighter in weight than the nose, then there is a massive kick of acidity that runns away with the palate length. The length and details is beguiling which makes this one of the best pinots I have tried in a long time from Australia. Furthermore the flavour profile is ultra savoury and thoughtful which makes me go back for more.

Alcohol: 13.9%
Rated: 95
Price: $80 rrp but I would sign up for the mailing list
Drink: 2017 - 2027

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

 

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

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

 

The Shiraz edition

The Shiraz edition

 

Shiraz is the number one selling variety in Australia even though it the sales are on the decline. What has changed is the style that wine-makers aim for. The big bad monsters are reducing and the savoury and more balanced wines are on the up. Shiraz works well as it can grow in so many different climates. It seems to show all the weather conditions and turn out anything from full bodied to medium bodied with flavours of fruit and spice. If you are after something that drinks well from the get go then turn your head towards Shiraz.

 

Tuck's Ridge Shiraz 2011

 

Savoury flavours are evident to begin with but there is a nice amount of boysenberry loving to fill the fruit bin. The weight builds in the mouth over the 4 days I had this open so I would suggest that it could go a few years before it really shows well.  It is elegant and medium bodied with plenty of acidity to hold it in good stead. If you drink it now the first thing that you notice is the green peppercorns and French herbs before it finishes with spice. A lovely little 2011 Shiraz from the Mornington.

 

Alcohol: 13%

Price:

Rated: 91

Drink: After 2017

 

 

Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2011

The first thing that you notice about this wine is the slippery texture that doesn’t really possess much tannin at all. I like the texture but would like a bit more tannin. On the other hand the spicy flavours are rather nice. They are medium bodied with hints of brambles, pepper and raspberry coulis. The wine comes across as soft and cuddly in a drink now style. While I do like the flavour spectrum this isn’t in the same league as the 2010 version.

 

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $24

Rated: 83

Drink: Now – 2016

 

Torzi Matthews Moppa Hills Shiraz 2012

 

The vines for this wine were planted in 1903 which makes this special stuff. What is better is the price as many wines from old vine material normally sits at about 100 bucks. This is under 40 which makes it a bargain. The flavours of blackberries, chocolate cake and glaze cherries are rich but totally balanced. The flavours are balanced by a creamy mouth feel and polished tannins. With many of these 2012s they need time for the oak to fully integrate but when they do oh boy you are set for fun. What will be interesting is to see the difference between the 2012s and 2013s. We will see which one comes out the victor.

 

Alcohol: 14.2%

Price: $35

Rated: 90

Drink: 2016 – 2027

 

 

Wild Duck Creek Estate Springflat 2011

The Springflat is normally one of my favourites from the Wild Duck Creek range and give me the ability to see what is in store for me up the range. While I don’t like the American oak in the wine I think it is balanced given a long sleep in the cellar. The flavours of boiled leather, dirty mint, scorched earth and essence of spiced blackberries are very different than normal which makes this an interesting addition to the range. I would be giving this medium to full bodied wine 5 years to show well and then start opening the stash.

 

Alcohol: 15%

Price: $50

Rated: 89

Drink: 2018 +

 

Kooyong Estate Chardonnay 2011

Fully worked and fully sick mate! The manner that a grape variety has been dealt with really changes the experience. The last wine was zippy and this wine is rich and full in flavour yet they both have acidity at their core. I am changing my mind about 2011 as the white wines are bloody spectacular. This wine is no exception!

Kooyong Estate Chardonnay 2011

Long? Yes! Plumped up? Yes! Dying to be opened? No! What is most unbelievable is the length of the palate and it crawl up my mouth in an even and totally balanced manner with no holes at all. It is like a thrilling novel as I just want to see what is next. The oak does play a part but it is more a creamy mouth-feel and a thicker texture that it adds. But you ask about the flavours. Well they are typical for the area and they finish with a mouth watering acidity.

Alcohol: 13%
Price: $42
Rated: 93
Drink: Now - 2025

Ocean 8 Verve Chardonnay 2011

The verve Chardonnay is made in a Chablis style but without the minerality that is common for that region. The grapes are picked very early and is pressed into barrel before receiving about 12 months on lees. The wine doesn't see any new oak and it doesn't feel like the wine has gone through malo but I can't find the info on the net regarding this. The wine is racy and that is an understatement!

Ocean 8 Verve Chardonnay 2011

Really light and tight with acidity being the main driving force of the wine. It is bright and adds flavours of grapefruit and lemon rind before a hint of spice and creamy nuts kicks in. The balnce of the wine is so inviting that I don't think this should be cellared for that long. Keep it fresh and vigorous and then match it with seafood mains or as a first drink when your party arrives. The palate weight is really light but the intensity is very good which makes this a thinking persons wine. I like that approach a lot.

Alcohol: 12.2%
Price: $48
Rated: 93
Drink: Now - 2018

Paradigm Hill Col's Block Shiraz 2010

 Paradigm Hill is run along keeping it green and sustainable principles and is located in the Mornington Peninsula. The Estate only comprises 10 acres and they only produce wines from their estate. The Estate is located below and you can see that not much is around it.

 

Image from Google

Paradigm Hill Col's Block Shiraz 2010

Twenty ten from the Mornington Peninsula has produced a medium bodied style wine with unbelievable length and savoury flavours. There is impact on the front palate but that is only half of it. The flavours crawl their way up the palate with each flavour doing a commando role to the outer reaches of my taste buds. The balance and drive is pure with a spicier spectrum. Love it!

Alcohol: 13.8%
Price: $46
Rated: 94
Drink: Now - 2027

Quartier Pinot Noir 2011

Quartier Pinot Noir 2011

Pinot Noir is a difficult variety and 2011 wasn't easy for the production. In good years there is a silky palate with savoury flavours that sit on fluffy tannin structure and bright acidity. Unfortunately none of those things are evident here. In this wine there is no structure, no dirty tannins at all, but there is a sour flavour spectrum. On the back palate the acid is striking out with some flavours of mulch and cherries hitting the front palate. Drink Now yes if you really want to.

Alcohol: 13%
Price: $38
Rated: 83
Drink: Now

Tuck's Ridge Pinot Noir 2011

Pinot Noir is a very difficult variety to grow. The grower needs to work constantly in the vineyard even when the weather is kind. In 2011 the weather was wet and cold so only the best estate and vineyards performed well.

 

Tuck's Ridge Pinot Noir 2011

 

Oh so light and fragrant with notes of cherries and forest mulch that have been rolled in spice. These flavours continue on the palate but they are joined by cinnamon and raspberry coulis. As with many of the 2011 wines they are light and a little dilute from the mid palate which makes them easy to drink now. For the money it is pretty good and will get you through until the 2012s are released.

 

Alcohol: 13.4%

Price: $35
Rated: 87
Drink: Now – 2017

Here comes the sun

I love when the seasons change. The vines have started the journey for the 2014 vintage and it looks like everything is going to be early in SA.We had four days of extreme heat for this time of the year, in fact we recorded the hottest start to spring in 60 years, so the vines pulled themselves out of their sleep and started to burst from their buds. It looks great this time of year so get yourself down to a wine region and enjoy a cheese platter and a glass of luscious wine.

Tuck's Ridge Chardonnay 2012

This winery started in 1985 with a chardonnay of all things and it has kept this variety as its focus even though Pinot Noir has come on board. This wine feel more like a burgundy than an Australian with the mouth feel, texture and flavour spectrum all being styled towards restraint. It has an easy going vitality with flavours of dried figs, fresh cut melons and lemon pith attaching itself to every corner of my mouth and never letting go. This is pure precision and sophistication style all wrapped up in one.

Alcohol: 12.9%
Price: $30 which is stupid value
Rated: 93
Drink: in 5 years

 

 Hurley Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir 2011

Anyone for Pinot? This winery specializes in the variety and you can tell that they mean business when you taste this wine. This is the best 2011 Pinot that I have tried. The colour is light but the fragrant flavours pack a punch. It has complexity and vitality in a light bodied frame. The mid-palate is beautiful and bouncy with dark cherry leading the way. I love this wine right from the time I opened it and it captivated me for the four days I tried it.

Alcohol: 13.7%

Price: $40

Rated: 91

Drink:  Now - 2024

 

John Duval Eligo 2010

Oh boy this is good but it had to be when the man who made grange made it from a year where no bad wine should have been made. The wine has a lovely lightness about it but I think that comes from an inclusion of Eden Valley fruit thrown in. The main stay is layers of plump black berries and fruitcake mixed with plum sauce and dried herbs. If you want to impress pull this out and watch the facial reaction when your guesses taste this. My god it put a smile on my face. Watch out for the finish where the vibrant tannins take over.

Alcohol: 14.5%

Price: $105

Rated: 95

Drink: 2025 - 2040

Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Dry Riesling 2013

Riesling is one of my favourite varieties and works brilliantly when the sun comes out. This wine was picked in Febuary which means that it was an early vintage. Who really cares when it is this good with flavours of lemon blossom, spice, guava and smashed quartz. These flavour are enhanced by a massive amount of star like acidity bringing the moments out of the wine. What is even better is the price which is under 25 but you should be able to find it for about 20.

Alcohol: 12.4%

Price: $22

Rated: 90

Drink: Now - 2023

Paradigm Hill Riesling 2012

This tiny estate is owned and run by George and Ruth Mihaly. The 10 acre estate is run in line with zero carbon emissions with everything being done by one or both of the husband and wife team.

Paradigm Hill Riesling 2012

I haven't tried a Riesling from the Mornington before and this one sticks out in term of texture and weight. It is a little stickier on the palate with the flavours of minerals, lemon grass, summer blossom and epsom salts providing a nice counter point to the heavy weight. The flavours slowly crawl along the long length in a glycerol style. The acidity isn't as high has I would have liked yet the wine is still balanced in a textural love me sooner style. All in all a very high quality wine with something different to offer than the normal Australian rizza.

Alcohol: 13%
Price: $36
Rated: 93
Drink: Now - 2020
  

Kooyong Estate Pinot Noir 2011

There are many areas that are well placed to put there name forward for the best Pinot spot but the Mornington Peninsula must be right up there. The area makes cool climate wines that possesses a fair amount of fruit and medium term structure. The 2011 wine from Kooyong is not different but it does possess a lovely cooler edge.

Kooyong Estate Pinot Noir 2011

The vintage is best defined by the intro which was taken from the website "When the Eastern states of Australia’s decade-long drought broke in September of 2010, the rains were met with great relief. The cooler conditions delayed vine development and gave expected harvest timeframes more akin to historical averages. However the growing season weather patterns came to be shaped by a strong La Niña, which meant Spring and Summer rains were frequent and significant, increasing the time demands on our viticulture team. This season we employed a number of techniques in the vineyard not used for a number of years, including leaf plucking to improve ventilation and sunlight interception in the fruit zone. Surprisingly, fruit set was good and cropping levels quite moderate despite the lack of heat and high humidity during flowering. The ripening period was cool and extended and has produced fragrant and delicate white wines and Pinot Noirs with attractively ripe tannins, balanced natural acidity and elegant, savoury fruit." The wine is definately cool with lovely sour cherries coming through before crushed fresh herbs and roasted fennel seeds sets in fdrom the mid-palate. These beautiful flavours are underpinned by light yet pervasive tannins and a wedge of acidity. I'm obsessed with acidity so I found myself heading back for a second and third sample of this wine. Just Yummy!

Alcohol: 13%
Price: $42
Rated: 89
Drink: Now - 2020

Ocean Eight Pinot Gris 2012

There are not too many Pinot Gris wines that take my fancy and I have had two of them in the last few weeks. This wine along with the Stefano Lubiana Gris 2012, are the best I have tried from this country. The Ocean 8 is produced in the Mornington Peninsula by Michael Aylward of Kooyong fame. He crafts four wines from his 32 acres of vines that were planted while he started Kooyong.

Ocean Eight Pinot Gris 2012

This Gris has texture to burn baby. Once open the wine is more about mouthfeel and creaminess than it is about the flavours. That said the flavours are in the typical end of the spectrum for the variety. The level of sweetness in the wine is finely balanced by mouth watering acidity on the back palate, with the length sitting at the brilliant end of the spectrum. Yum and would work perfectly with any Asian style dish.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $28
Rated: 92+
Drink: Now - 2020

Paringa Estate Cellar Door

Paringa Estate stands as one of the beacons in the Morington Peninsula as it was one of the first to produce top quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the area. The Estate was established in 1984 with their first vines being planted the following year.

Paringa Estate Chardonnay 2009

Rich and Ripe with plenty of flavour to throw around. This wine would be a high roller at the Casino that showers everyone with free drinks all night. They would be friendly and loving with plenty of funny stories to share with all their new friends. You will definitely have a good time with that sort of a person, even if you do wake up with a bit of a hangover in the morning.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $35
Rated: 86
Drink: Now - 2015

Paringa Estate Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2009

This wine is the real deal! Big? Yes but it possesses something extra. The wine is make from 9 rows of vines just outside the cellar door. The winemaking is pretty much the same as above wine but this sees a little extra newer oak. Once the liquid hits my mouth, the first thing I notice is the creamy feel. What a beautiful experience it is and the flavours of grapefruit, spice, rockmelon and peaches only add to the overall delight. You do have to splash the cash for this wine but it pays off in spades.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $50
Rated: 92
Drink: In 3 years

Paringa Estate Pinot Noir 2009

Made from a blend of all their top vineyards in the Mornington area is this beast of a Pinot Noir. It has all the traditional Pinot smells in a darker frame of mind yet it doesn't give any heat from the higher alcohol, rather it is light in weight but dark in flavour. I liked this a lot as it reminded me about what this area does so well.

Alcohol: 14%
Price: $60
Rated: 91+
Drink: Give it 2 years and she will be ready

Paringa Estate Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009

Watch out for this baby as she is funky and seductive at the same time. There are those New World fruity flavour mixed in with some earthy and forest floor elements which makes this a perfect union between the two ends of the world. This will satisfy any of the Pinot Noir lovers as there is a little something for everyone. The tannins are more vibrant that the above wine and the flavours are more coiled up within themselves so I would give this a few extra years in the cellar. On the mid-palate the alcohol did show through but I would hope that with the right food match it would not distract from the experience. 

Alcohol: 14%

Price: $90

Rated: 93

Drink: Up to 10 years

Main Ridge Estate Cellar Door

Main Ridge Estate is situated down a little bumpy dirt road in what feel like the middle of no where. When you arrive the first thing that pops out is the thickness of the vines and how manicured they are. Just have a look at them below.

While the Estate doesn't produce many wines they focus on the varieties that fit with their geological and climatic location. Nat White is a man who has thought about what type of wine that the Estate will produce and he sets about getting the job done. While he keeps things simple in the vineyard by reducing the amount of chemicals and only relying on natural ferments, Nat doesn't consider himself to be a natural winemaker. What the wines do show is clean and crisp flavours of character.

Main Ridge Estate Chardonnay 2010

Cellar time anyone? This needs it and some more as it is coiled up so tight. Did someone say tight like a tiger? This is a serious beast of burgundy inspired vineousness with flavours of lemon blossom, melon and peaches before an explosion of minerals hits every flavour receiver in my mouth. What is so beautiful about this wine is the acidity that is the backbone of the wine. It holds everything together and keeps the palate dripping with saliva. Just brilliant.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $55
Rated: 94++
Drink: 2020 - 2027

Main Ridge Estate The Acre Pinot Noir 2010

This is pretty straight forward as the name gives it away. This comes from an acre block on the estate which is treated with love and care. The wine possesses mouth puckering levels of acidity and chalky tannins. While this means that the wine isn't showing that well at the moment, it does allow for the future to to bright. The length of the wine is brilliant while the flavours are in the normal level of red fruits and with some musky spice.  Leave this alone and it will resume the thrown.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $60
Rated: 92+
Drink: In 5 years go for it

T'Gallant Cellar Door

T'Gallant cellar door is situated in the heart of the Red Hill area in the Mornington Peninsula. This is the first time I have visited the area so I wasn't sure what to expect so when I saw rolling hills and extremely narrow roads with large tree overhanging, I was pleasantly surprised. 

The cellar door is open seven days a week with a gorgeous restaurant and pizza bar attached. The staff at cellar door are very friendly and seem to be able to pick what sort of service they need to deliver to achieve the best outcome for them and for the patron.

The restaurant uses their own or local produce when producing any of their wonderful meals

T'Gallant Ophelia 2006 Sparkling White

The bottle is marketed towards working women, who just want to go out and have some fun but the quality of the bubbles inside is a little more serious than that. There are lovely nutty notes with creamed grapefruit and spice rolling on through with a mouthfeel that feels like it is a mixture between silk and cotton. The texture sort of coats my tongue before the bubbles releases another wave of flavours.   For the money this is rather impressive.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $29
Rated: 88
Drink: Whenever

T'Gallant Grace Pinot Grigio 2011

T'Gallant focus on all things Pinot G and this wine comes from the vines just outside the cellar door. The wine is light and fresh but still packs a punch with flavour. I noted flavours of smoked pears, lime and honeysuckle which filled the mouth before a nice acid wedge finished me off. True to the variety is this little number but it did need just a touch extra brightness and nervy acidity to move into the Italian end of the spectrum. This is one of the best Aussie versions of this variety that I have tried.

Alcohol: 12.5%
Price: $29
Rated: 89
Drink: Now - 2016

T'Gallant Tribute Pinot Gris 2010

These guys are brilliant as they have a Pinot G spectrum on the back of the bottle which tell you how far along the luscious or zesty spectrum this wine is. The one I tasted here was towards the end of the richness scale. There are some lovely poached pears and spice before a sugar coated wave of warmth hits my mouth. The alcohol sticks out a bit which blurs the enjoyment lines for me but it does add a bit of extra texture. You win some and you loose some with the 10 days extra this spent on the vine when compared to the Grace Pinot Grigio.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $39
Rated: 85
Drink: Now - 2017

T'Gallant Claudius 2008

This wine is a blend of Chardonnay, Moscato Giallo and Gewurztraminer and it spent 7 months on skins before being pressed off and put back into barrel. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. The nose is beguiling in its delivery of sweet summer flowers and spice. One could almost just sit back and smell this without taking it to the next level. Alas I want to take it all the way so I let the fine nectar touch my lips. On the palate the wine texture and vibrancy is mesmerising. The taste is not at all like the smell, rather the palate is bone dry with notes of peach and flint taking hold. The wine has massive mouthfeel with a chalkiness that kicks in as the flavours start to fade. What stand out is the length of the palate which seems build in depth as it sits in the glass. 

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $45

Rated: 92

Drink: In 5 to 10 years

T'Gallant Tribute Pinot Noir 2010

In the Mornington they pride themselves on making beautiful Pinot Noir. The flavours of this wine are big and new world but it does have a little old world dirt in the mix to keep things real. On the palate there is baked raspberries and cherries mixed with cinnamon, earth and a drop of spice. The entrance of the flavour is good but the alcohol kicks in from about the mid-palate on. I would expect that the alcohol would be better masked if this was paired with a nice fat duck dish. 

Alcohol: 14.5%

Price: $69

Rated: 91

Drink:  Now - 2017