Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon-Milly-Lamartine 2008

Les Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon-Milly-Lamartine 2008

This wine was an essay in why judging a wine in 5 minutes can be worthless because this kept on getting better and better every hour.  At the moment the wine is very tight and taut, almost chiselled in it’s approach.  What does come through is dried flowers, smoked almonds, honey glazed grapefruit and crushed quartz on a beautifully long drive of acidity.   

Alcohol: 13%

Price: $50

Rated: 92

Drink: 2014-2020

Yalumba Y Shiraz Voignier 2009

Yalumba has been growing grapes and making wine for 160 years now which in itself is a great achievement but what is more spectacular is that they are still innovating.  They transformed viognier from the wastelands to a household name and they have set their sights on vermentino. 

Yalumba Y Shiraz Voignier 2009

Burnt plums, blueberries and apricot kernels burst from the wine but as it settles a huge elegant spicy flavour takes over.  While length and bitterness on the back palate is an issue this is a great introduction to the blend.  I’d be happy to lay down this sort of cash for this wine especially since the nose is quiet pretty and the wine has a sense of cool sophistication. 

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $12

Rated: 82

Drink: now - 2 years

Pearwood Wines Unoaked Chardonnay 2007

This wine was grown in the Piccadilly Valley with meticulous care taken to provide the best bunches.  That said when I looked at the price I thought this wine wasn’t going to be much.

Pearwood Wines Unoaked Chardonnay 2007

It started with nectarine and peach then moved to lime zest and grapefruit with a hazelnut complexity.  A good length and acid drive fills out the palate and for the price dare I say restrained coplexity.  Normally Mike Press is my bench make for value driven and quality but this wins hand down.

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $140 a dozen

Rated: 86

Drink: 2011-2017

Chardonnay Vineyard

As my Sangiovese wasn't looking too good i decided to make some Chardonnay.  The vineyard is much closer to my house which means i get to taste it more before i decided when to pick.

I was looking at the fruit yesterday and it tasted like limes, grapefruit and white peach with a pure and vibrant acidity, so I decided to pick. We will see how it looks once it goes into barrel. 

My daughter was helping so we picked ½ a tonne.  Hang on she ate most of it from picking to the start of the de-stemming!  

Tyrrell’s Bin 91 Chardonnay 2009

Tyrrell’s has been around for a while in fact they are part of the first families of wine which includes Campbells, De Bortoli, D’Arenberg, Jim Barry, Brown Brothers, Hensche, Howard Park, Yalumba, Taylors, McWilliam’s and Tahbilk.  This is a group of family owned winery’s that have a long tradition and make a diverse range of wines that are typically regarded as being the contrary to brand Australia wines. In the case of Tyrrell’s they produce numerous single vineyard wines from ancient vineyards.  They offer extreme value for the quality and range and the Bin 91 is testament to that. If you are not on their mailing list you really need  to sign up.

Tyrrell’s Bin 91 Chardonnay 2009

I was thinking that since I’ve gone back to Uni to complete my honours I really need to start drinking something that is in my price range.  Well this little one bats well above its weight with melon, white nectarine and apple infused crème slowly unfolding upon my palate.  The wine is zippy with ok length and mouth feel but finishes a bit broad through the mid palate and looses focus toward the back.  A perfect little mid-week quaffer that won’t hurt the bank balance.

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $6.50

Rated: 84

Drink: now to 2 years

Sangiovese

I’ve decided to be creative this year so I’m taking the plunge and starting my own wine label.  I’ve just picked my sangiovese and its looks a little concerning to say the least.  I’ll take some photo’s of the ferment over the week end and post them early next week but below is some shots of the vineyard a month before we picked.  It took 3 of us 6 hours to pick 150 kg due to the botyris. In white wine this can be a very desirable character but in red wine is causes an oxidative enzyme called laccase to enter the berry and the end wine tastes flat.

Bodegas Muga Reserva 2006

 Bodegas Muga Reserva 2006

It’s a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, with Mazuelo and Gracian bringing up the rear. When the wine opens it really starts hitting its straps with a mix of smoked meats, earth, black cherry and a spring bouquet of flowers. The tannin structure is what really brings up the enjoyment factor for me with a chalky coating running across most taste buds. There are layers of complexity that unfold through out the journey but I would leave it alone for 3 to 5 years and enjoy the ride even more.

Alcohol: 14%

Price: $45

Rated: 90

Drink: 2014-2018