Cumulus Estate Luna Rosa Rosado 2015

Rose is coming into it own times with the weather starting to warm up. I love the diversity in rose now as many wineries are making dry style rose as a count point to the sweeter styles from the Barossa that consumers are used to.

Rosado is the Spanish version for rose so I was thinking that this would be a drier version. In fact this wine came about as a Portuguese winemaker was doing vintage at Cumulus and set about having a competition with the winemaking team. The wine has been kept on as the first vintage was well received by the drinking public.

Cumulus Estate Luna Rosa Rosado 2015

Lovely light and dry in appearance and smell. There seems to be crispness and tension in the wine and they translated to the palate with flavours of sour cherries and dried herbs. Once the wine hits the mid-palate it moves into ripe strawberries which seem to be a little sweet for the style of the wine before a touch of spice finishes the wine off. I really loved the profile of the wine, except for the ultra ripe strawberries, and would recommend it to be served with a salad of spring and summer. After tasting it I found out the price and was astounded.

Alc: 12.2%
Price: $15.50
Rated: 89
Drink: Now

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

 

 

 

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

Gledhill Vignerons Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

John Gledhill planted his Cabernet vineyard in 1994 in Coomealla which is near the township of Mildura.  He treats the vines pretty mean, especially when you consider the way they treat the grapes around him. Once harvested the grapes are transported down to the Vales where they are processed and transformed into wine and allowed to slumber in quality French oak.


Gledhill Vignerons Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

This smells like good Cabernet which is a good start. What is most appealing is the fact it tastes like a good Coonawarra Cabernet but from a warmer climate. The area near Mildura doesn't really take me in terms of Cabernet but this block only crops at 2 tonne an acre. The flavours are intense with moments of blackcurrants, savoury mulch and spice on a medium bodied frame and nice acidity. While the wine isn't ready to drink now it does offer great drinking at cheap prices.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $25
Rated: 89+
Drink: 2018 +

ReWine Saggio Nebbiolo Nuovo 2013

Gundagai can't grow quality grapes. Well I thought so until I tasted this. The town is located in New South Wales and is renowned for it bush rangers. They have run the area with their most notable ranger being Ned Kelly. I will watch out if I don't like this wine next year.

ReWine Saggio Nebbiolo Nuovo 2013

My god this is good. light in colour but a dirty cherry bomb. There is a little bubble gum action but the tannin profile and the length are brilliant.  The tannins are tannins are light but prevalent and the acidity pulls it into very long territory. I didn't try it with food but i would love to see what it could do. An earlier drinking number with easy of flavour and style.

Who thought Gundagai could produce such a wine? Not me as I haven't heard much but I will look now.

Alcohol:
Price: $15
Rated: 92
Drink: Now - 2024

Trentham Estate Wines Verdejo 2014

Trentham Estate has a vast holdings of vineyards throughout New South Wales and Victoria. The first vintage from the estate came out in 1985 from the 1984 vintage but this is the first time I have tasted one of their wines. All of their wines are not that expensive, in the 10 to 26 dollar mark, with the quality of the wines I tried in the good to very good area. Trentham Estate are offering very good value for money.  

Trentham Estate Wines Verdejo 2014

I have never had a verdejo so a quick google hit finds out that the variety originates in Spain and was majority used for Sherry production. Interesting as it seems to produce a full bodied dry style wine that retains a kick of acidity. All good and could work well in the warmer areas in Australia.

From the get go the richness is the main factor with flavours of peach, dried violets, orange peel and fresh cut French herbs. All these round flavours are nice and the mild kick of acidity balances them out. The richness of the wine could be too much without that acidity freshening up the back palate and leaving a bit of saliva dripping in. The wine is drink now but will keep well for awhile.

Alcohol: 12.5%
Price: $16
Rated: 87
Drink: Now - 2018

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

Cumulus Merlot 2011

Straight varietal Merlots are rare as the variety is normally blended with higher acid and tannin varieties. Merlot tends to be soft, cuddly and in need of consuming young. For top examples, the vines need to be water stressed which didn’t occur in 2011.  The vineyard that this wine comes from is single shoot positioned with a soil profile clay and basault which is formed from lava.

 

Cumulus Merlot 2011

 

This is a polished wine with silky oak sliding it way over the more herbal fruit. The flavours of tart plums, pepper, grass and capsicum sit on a medium bodied palate. The alcohol is not evident at all and if asked what the level was I would have said 12.5 – 13. How wrong was I? I do like the flavours but they sit only on the front and mid-palate before the oak takes over.

 

Alcohol: 14%

Price: $50

Rated: 87

 

Drink: Now - 2017

De Bortoli Deen de Bortoli Vat 4 Petit Verdot 2010

Cheap as chips and great value.

De Bortoli Deen de Bortoli Vat 4 Petit Verdot 2010

 

medium bodied

 

oak in the background

 

Alcohol: 14%

Price: $10

RAted: 84

Drink: Now 

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

De Bortoli Deen de Bortoli Vat 2 Sauvignon Blanc 2012

De Bortoli Deen de Bortoli Vat 2 Sauvignon Blanc 2012

 

 

 

Alcohol: 11.8%

Price: $8

Rated: 82

Drink: Now