Ashton Hills Blend No. 1 Pinot Noir 2013

Now I heard this from a mate that Stephen George was selling his vineyard and moving on in his life. I would live to buy the vineyard but I have no money which makes it tough. I also have no idea how to grow or make quality Pinot Noir but Stephen George is a magician with the variety. This wine is case in point as the season was extremely difficult.


Ashton Hills Blend No. 1 Pinot Noir 2013

Wow this is a broody Pinot with flavours of rhubarb and dried plums on a medium bodied palate weight.  It is intense and easy to drink which is a hall mark of Stephen's ability to craft quality wines but the only thing I think is missing is elegance and a spine of acidity. I would call this wine a fruity number with lots of Pinot goodness thrown in. You won't need to hold it just crack it open on a school night and go for it.

Alcohol: 14%
Price: $35
Rated: 90
Drink: Now - 2017

Pearwood Wines Blanc de Blanc NV

Pearwood Wines Blanc de Blanc NV

For 15 bucks I wasn't expecting much but what I found was lovely. It combined creamed melon, struck flint with dried figs and grapefruit. There are massess of bubbles which sort of take away some of the message as the bubbles bombard the palate without letting the flavours talk. At the quality level I would have said it was around the 20 - 25 mark so at 15 it is an easy buy. I would use it as a quaffer for my wife or parties and get out the top French year for the wine buffs.

Alcohol: 12.5%
Price: $15
Rated: 86
Drink: Now - 2016

Michael Hall Chardonnay 2011

This wine is made in a full on burgundy style but really what does that mean. At the moment people seem to making a chablis style which means that are generally pulling back on the oak treatment and allowing for a higher acid profile. In many cases they are stopping the wine from going through malolactic which also reduces the creaminess of the palate. Michael Hall's version is the opposite as there is oak and partial malolactic treatment.

Michael Hall Chardonnay 2011

While this wine is more burgundian in style there is still a majestic core of acidity through the centre of the wine. This vibrant spine has flavours of lemon rind, grapefruit infused butter, double cream, pineneedles and nectarine dangling off of it. The palate is restrained yet complete and seductive at the same time. I thought the 2010 version of this wine would be my highlight but the 2011 is a touch better due to the extended ripening period and succulent acidity. This wine will last at least a decade in the cellar and should hit its straps with 5 under its belt.

Alcohol: 12.8%
Price: $40
Rated: 94
Drink: 2018 - 2026

Double take Chardonnay style again

BK Wines Swaby Chardonnay 2010

This vineyard seems to produce full bodies chardonnay's year in year out that can take a fare amount of wine-making influences. This wine is that and a little more as elegant flavours of smoked nectarines and nut encrusted grapefruit comes riding around the mountain of tonguing fun. The depth and breath of flavour is beautiful and it all finishes with a wedge of freshness. mmm.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $38
Rated: 90
Drink: 2016 - 2024

Fraser Gallop Estate Parterre Chardonnay 2011

I can't think of another region that has such a strangle hold on top quality wines from one particular variety as Wilyabrup does. This wine has massive amounts of power but it is stored up and waiting to unleash itself.  The acid frame of this wine is big which allows flavours galore to tumble down but it is the texture of the wine that adds extra bonus points. It is light yet mouth coating and thick.  It is that sort of twisted mind bender that sends me spinning and I love it.

Alcohol:13.5%

Price: $31

Rated: 93+

Drink: 2018 - 2026

Double take Chardonnay style

Michael Hall Chardonnay 2010

I approached this wine lightly, as it has received not the greatest reviews from some of the big scribes. When I opened the wine it smelt like a great wine from great year with loads of acidity keeping the wine vibrant. On the palate that acidity transferred through but the fruit flavours covered the tartness. There were flavours of grilled mixed nuts, like the ones you get at a carnival, caramel, grapefruit, peach and a little white nectarine. At this stage of the wines development, the oak is already embedded within the wine which makes me think that this is going to be spectacular in about 5 years time.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $42
Rated: 93
Drink: 2016 +

Jean Claude Boisset Les Clous 2007

Intense, like a bunch of wine nerds standing around a bottle of DRC, is this wine as it slowly unfolds over the course of the night. There is richness but it is the acidity that balances it out perfectly. From a flavour perspective think honeycomb, crushed flower followed by exploded quartz and grapefruit as the wine starts out rich but finishes light and delightful. What a contrast the palate is, which is both intriguing and mesmerising. 

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $75

Rated: 94

Drink: In 4 more years 

Jauma Grauburgunder 2011

Grauburgunder is the Austrian name for Pinot Gris and is made in pretty much the same style.  This grape variety is found all over the world under different names and can vary in terms of sweetness and texture.  James is trying to make it to have an in built texture and easy flow of joyous flavours with something a bit extra added for your enjoyment.

Jauma Grauburgunder 2011

There is a common theme with all of the 2011 white wines from Jauma.  They all contain VA (VA smells like nail polish remover).  This has a sweet nose but quickly the nail polish remover takes over.  On the palate there is a hint of poached pears and pine-needles before the VA strangles the life out the wine.  Too much VA makes the wine taste simple but at least the back-end of the wine has a bit of lemon acidity to add something to think about.

Alcohol: 13.2%
Price: $30
Rated: 82
Drink: Now

Chardonnay Vineyard 2012

I went out to have a look at the Chardonnay vineyard today to see how it is progressing.

The vineyard is under nets as the bird life loves a good berry or two.

Crops are down this year.

To just under 2 tonne per acre.

But the bunches look great with low baume (9.2) and slow flavour development.

Ashton Hills Reserve Pinot Noir 2009

The spiritual home of Pinot Noir is definitely Burgundy, where the monks have been cultivating the cone shape clusters of grape for decades. While the origin of this variety are a little shady, many believe that Pinot Noir is a direct descendent 'vitis sylvestris' which is a common wild grape variety native to the Mediterranean regions. These wild grapes formed the basis for the majority of the different wine varieties from around the world. While the first records of the Pinot Noir grapes being used for wine is around 1345 which due to its association with the church has been used frequently in religious ceremonies. 

Image from Kobrandwineandspirits

Ashton Hills Reserve Pinot Noir 2009


Stephen George makes some of the most age-worthy examples from this variety in Australia and this wine is no different. The flavours are so tightly coiled around the tannin structure and acidity that they don't show well at this stage. Even still the 100% new French oak as been sucked up and spat out suggesting that there is a huge amount of power to be released at a later date in this wine. What excites me most about this wine is when it enters your mouth the tannins meander up my tongue coating every spare taste bud and stay there as if they have set up camp for the night. Love it!


Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $60
Rated: 93+
Drink: 2016 - 2023

Petaluma Chardonnay 2009

Brina Crozer was one of the first to plant a vineyard in the Adelaide hills and he is definitely the first to plant chardonnay.  While this doesn't come from the Tiers vineyard is does come from seven vineyard around the area.  You could consider him as one of the visionaries in the wine-making business.

Petaluma Chardonnay 2009

There is a massive oak influence running through this wine but the fruit seems to hold its own. Its a war at the moment between peaches and nectarines and the nuts and spice.  I did love the complexity of this beast but you need to think about what you could pair with this. I had it with beggars chicken but it was a little too much for the dish.

Alcohol: 14%
Price: $49
Rated: 91
Drink: 2014 - 2020

Tapanappa Chardonnay 2010

From a Chardonnay point of view, I  have never really been able to get into Brian Crozer's way of thinking.  I have never had a bad one, nor have I ever had one that has rocked my boat.  I've tried the Tier Chardonnay, from Petaluma, a dozen times but couldn't work out what all the fuss was about.  That said he may not have been making the wines at that stage within the Petaluma organisation.  This serious entry level Chardonnay comes from the young vines of a vineyard next to the Tiers vineyard.  The vineyard has only been planted in recent times so it is refreshing to see such quality as this stage.  I expect big things to come.

Tapanappa Chardonnay 2010

There is a definite winemakers thumb print over this wine but it all seems to hang together nicely.  There are flavours of caramelised hazelnuts, grapefruit and spicy peach  which hang off the beautiful acidity.   I think this gives an indication of where the Tiers Chardonnay will sit in terms of quality.  Nice, very nice.  Normally I associate Brian's wines with something a little bigger but its nice to see the fine shape of this 2010. It needs a little extra length and breadth of flavour to move up the ladder but for the price it is rather good.  Give it a few years in the bottle to fill out and you will be rewarded.

Alcohol: 12.8%
Price: $36
Rated: 88
Drink: 2013 - 2020

 

Michael Hall Chardonnay 2009

James Halliday wrote this up in the Weekend Australian giving it a huge wrap so considering my tasting note was written two weeks ago I thought I should post it.  While I agree with Halliday that this is a remarkable wine, he says it is the same quality as the 08 version (both 96pts).  I'm of the opinion that the 09 is a little better.  I opened it on a Sunday night and quickly tasted  it to write down some preliminary notes.  Six days later I remembered that it was in the fridge! Whoops! I thought it might be on the way out but it was fresh as a daisy with perfect integration and vibrant juicy acidity.  


Michael Hall Chardonnay 2009

The wine starts out in the grapefruit, white nectarine end of the spectrum with hazelnuts and vanilla bean thrown in.  There is a hint of gunpowder which gives the wine an extra degree of spiciness and interest.  On day one it is so tight and reserved it is almost a sin to drink. No such problem on day six as the message is intertwined throughout this beautiful extremely long wine. Breadth, depth and complexity elegantly pervade every inch of your mouth!  If you open this now I will have to come over and spank you!

Alcohol: 13.8%
Price: $40
Rated: 94
Drink: 2016 - 2025

 

Michael Hall Chardonnay 2008

Michael is not adverse to taking risks as he quit a lucrative job valuing jewellery in Switzerland and making wine at Rocland in the Barossa to pursue his own label.  I would put this fairly in the same class as Savaterre (94pts) and Giaconda (95pts) from the 2008 vintage.  Benchmark Chardonnay comes to mind.

Michael Hall Chardonnay 2008

Beautifully constructed and masterfully controlled along every inch of my mouth.  The wine is definitely in the savoury end of the spectrum, with toasted honey almonds, lemon pie, grapefruit and spicy nectarine. It has richness but the mouthwatering acidity pulls everything back together.

Alcohol: 13.8%
Price: $40
Rated: 93
Drink: 2015 - 2020