I'm not sold on Sangiovese in the Barossa. In fact I think this variety likes it a bit cooler. The varieties that I think work well in this area are Mataro and Grenache.This wine comes off of 16 year old vines grown in the Moppa and Koonunga Hills. The wine spent 16 month in used French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Vigna Cantina Sangiovese 2010
Fulled bodied with the oak coming through on the front palate. The flavours of herbs and dried plums are nice but they fall away. I would love to see savoury characters and plenty of tannin in this wine but I just didn't get it.
Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $20
Rated: 83
Drink: Now
Monday, 23 September 2013
Pizzini Il Barone 2009
The Il Barone is a blend of Cabernet, Shiraz, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo which means that it is definitely a field blend styled wine is dark and brooding character. The price for this wine puts it at the up market end of town and it is great to see a blend be given such focus. Too often we see in Australia the blends being the entry level wine with the straight varietals sitting up the top. From a purely quality and enjoyment factor, my top 5 best wines have all been blends.
Pizzini Il Barone 2009
The wine starts out a little rustic with roasted meats and rusty nails before the red fruits come rolling in. After an hour in the glass the wine has added weight and a darker flavour profile but it still has a rustic charm about it that makes me want to stick my head in and suck it down. The Nebiolo and Sangiovese have added a dirtiness to the palate with filthy tannin running wild. In te end the palate finishes well with juicy acidity and freshness. Would I drink this now? Well I could but I would give it another 4 years to show its true colour.
Alcohol: 14.2%
Price: $40
Rated: 89
Drink: From 2017
Sunday, 22 September 2013
Coriole Willunga 1920 Shiraz 2011
It is great that Coriole are looking into the different district within McLaren Vale and showcasing the qualities. This wine is part of the Scarce Earth project so the use of new oak is frowned upon so this wine has only 30 new French oak.
Coriole Willunga 1920 Shiraz 2011
Wow there is some serious mint in this wine but it is overshadowed by Brett. Have you met Brett?
Alcohol: 14%
Price: $50
Rated: 85
Drink: ?
Coriole Willunga 1920 Shiraz 2011
Wow there is some serious mint in this wine but it is overshadowed by Brett. Have you met Brett?
This is what he looks like
Alcohol: 14%
Price: $50
Rated: 85
Drink: ?
Fairbank Rouge 2010
Sutton Grange and Fairbank was a horse training facility before Peter Sidwell got his hands on it. Well he bought the property for his horses but a long term friend persuaded him to take the property in a different direction. Thank god for that as the wines that come from this winery are unique in their structure and flavour profile. If you haven't tried them before buy a mix 6 pack as they are very impressive.
Fairbank Rouge 2010
The rouge is an easy drinking quaffer in style but it avoids any sweet flavours which makes it better to consume with food. The savouriness comes in the form of cherry pips, earthy twigs, spice and mushrooms. Easy to like and easy to drink with the structure hitting hard from the moment it hits my mouth. They are playful with a restraint that is lacking in so many wines at double this price point. Drink now or later this wine will handle it all.
Alcohol: 12%
Price: $22
Rated: 89
Drink: Now - 2016
Fairbank Rouge 2010
The rouge is an easy drinking quaffer in style but it avoids any sweet flavours which makes it better to consume with food. The savouriness comes in the form of cherry pips, earthy twigs, spice and mushrooms. Easy to like and easy to drink with the structure hitting hard from the moment it hits my mouth. They are playful with a restraint that is lacking in so many wines at double this price point. Drink now or later this wine will handle it all.
Alcohol: 12%
Price: $22
Rated: 89
Drink: Now - 2016
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
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
Toolangi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
Toolangi is located in the Yarra Valley which experienced a wet and cool growing season. In those type of seasons which variety would do best? Personally I think Shiraz would be one of the better varieties but I haven't tasted anything from the region from that variety. This wine was picked during the middle of the season in march and was fermented with 15% whole bunches included. This is the entry level wine which gives you an insight into the philosophy of the winery.
Toolangi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
The nose of this thing I could smell for days as it is very fragrant and seductive. On the palate the oak component makes it feel creamy but takes away from the flavours. There are moments of gritty tannins kicking in on the mid-palate but at this stage the wine feels out of balance and short. I suggest giving it 6 months in the bottle to see if it sorts itself out.
Alcohol: 13.2%
Price: $26
Rated: 83
Drink: 2014 - 2017
Toolangi Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
The nose of this thing I could smell for days as it is very fragrant and seductive. On the palate the oak component makes it feel creamy but takes away from the flavours. There are moments of gritty tannins kicking in on the mid-palate but at this stage the wine feels out of balance and short. I suggest giving it 6 months in the bottle to see if it sorts itself out.
Alcohol: 13.2%
Price: $26
Rated: 83
Drink: 2014 - 2017
Hillcrest Village Chardonnay 2011
Now I haven't posted anything for over a month now so I thought I should start with why that is. I had been publishing a few notes on my site since its inception every day plus I was writing for Gram and Australian Wine Showcase Magazine and working full time and starting my own label. I got to the stage where I was fried and couldn't look at any wines without thinking no not again. I feel rested now and have got back to getting home on a Friday night, where I look forward to that glass on wine. Now I'm back with a huge amount of wine notes to write up so here we go.
Hillcrest Village Chardonnay 2011
This medium to full bodied chardonnay was monumental last year and the 2011 version is about the same but it has a higher amount of acidity running through its backbone. The flavours are those lovely typical moments of nuts, grapefruit with peach which comes through on the mid-palate. This years wine takes longer to open up than last year but when it does it is brimming with flavour and food friendly personality.
Alcohol: 12.5%
Price: $25
Rated: 88
Drink: Now - 2019
Hillcrest Village Chardonnay 2011
This medium to full bodied chardonnay was monumental last year and the 2011 version is about the same but it has a higher amount of acidity running through its backbone. The flavours are those lovely typical moments of nuts, grapefruit with peach which comes through on the mid-palate. This years wine takes longer to open up than last year but when it does it is brimming with flavour and food friendly personality.
Alcohol: 12.5%
Price: $25
Rated: 88
Drink: Now - 2019
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