Pattes Loup AC Chablis 2010

Pattes Loup AC Chablis 2010

  15:01    Stu.

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This picture made me buy the 2009 version of this wine.  The fact it was so damn good had me chomping at the bit to try and find the 2010 version. Has some of the familiar lemon creme pastry elements to it, flaked almonds, wheaty-mealy note with some honeyed parsnip. The...

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Les Courtilles Cotes du Rhone 2010

Les Courtilles Cotes du Rhone 2010

  10:39    Stu.

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Les Courtilles ('the courtyards') was founded in 1997.  It's a lovely fresh, modern take on the classic Cote Du Rhone style - what we in Australia generally know as a GSM, and in this case its a 48/ 44/ 8 blend of those three bad boys. Attractive on approach,...

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Yalumba Y Series Viognier 2011

Yalumba Y Series Viognier 2011

  10:17    Stu.

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Entry level Viognier from Australia's pioneer of the variety, Yalumba.  On the nose good honey and honesyuckle with a suggestive soapy - Starlight soap beckoning you in.  Textural mouthfeel, yes it's a little slapped on, unctuous, syrupy, full on mouth-feel. ...

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Yelland & Papps Devote Grenache 2010

Yelland & Papps Devote Grenache 2010

  20:45    Stu.

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"Your will to speak clearly Exposed too much Unsung once too often Could not rub off" ~ Helmet, Unsung Grenache is another unsung hero of the Australian wine industry.  But it's making a little resurgence thanks to producers like self-confessed Grenache freaks...

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Chapel Hill 'The Chosen' Gorge Block Chardonnay 2011

Chapel Hill 'The Chosen' Gorge Block Chardonnay 2011

  20:37    Stu.

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Aromatic allure, delicate grapefruit with pithy lemon citrus invite you in.  Go back and there's more, it's a snippet of a conversation at first you don't understand, then you process it and the picture is a little clearer. A nice segue onto the palate where...

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Chateau Maris La Touge Syrah 2009

Chateau Maris La Touge Syrah 2009

  20:17    Stu.

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Another cracker of an import from the guys at Pure Fine Wines, and another savoury wonder from the Languedoc that ticks many a box for me.  In fact, the winemaker at Chateau Maris is none other than Benjamin Darnault, of the eponymous Picpoul-de-Pinet so lauded...

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Boireann Tannat 2011

Boireann Tannat 2011

  07:18    Stu.

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This wine raised more questions for me than it provided answers.  It was the first Tannat that Peter Stark of Boireann has made since 2005, vintages in between variously lost to frost or hail damage, or made in such minute quantities that use for blending is the only option. It makes me question whether it's the right variety for the region? Boireann are the only winery I know of there releasing...

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TeAro Estate 'Charred Door' Shiraz 2008

TeAro Estate 'Charred Door' Shiraz 2008

  15:43    Stu.

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Go visit the TeAro website for the story behind the name, or even better help yourself to half dozen whilst there and take a walk through history with the 'timeline' printed on the bottom of the label. Initially quite dark and shut down, brambly and briary with hints of pepper flecked fruit being stole a glimpse of.  Give it a little time and it really opens up: black fruit, generous acid...

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Phi 2008 Pinot Noir

Phi 2008 Pinot Noir

  21:18    Stu.

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"PHI (pronounced /fiː/ FEE in English), the twenty-first letter of the Greek alphabet,  symbolised perfect balance, harmony and divine proportion." Hand harvested, hand-sorted, hand de-stemmed to a 9 tonne open-fermenter = love in my opinion. At 4 years...

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Te Aro Estate Joker's Grin 2008

Te Aro Estate Joker's Grin 2008

  15:33    Stu.

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A good example of the blend working, for the component parts to each have their say and to deliver a wine of fair value and good drinking. Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot (41/ 41/ 18% respectively) together offer juicy berry aromatics firmly in the black spectrum.  Clean and straightforward from the off, over time each constituent part gets the opportunity to speak their lines a little further:...

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Brendon Keys: BK Wines

Brendon Keys: BK Wines

  15:24    Stu.

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BK Wines is Brendon and Kirsty Keys.  BK Wines is a brand to watch, Brendon a winemaker whose star is rising. Pre-conception is a funny thing.  Look at this photo on the left, when I first came across this photo from this article, all I saw were the tattoos. I've...

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Cascabel Monastrell 2009

Cascabel Monastrell 2009

  21:06    Stu.

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Caveat: this was a leftover sample from tasting in the trade so I'm not entirely sure how long it had been open for when I got my mitts on it. Only one of about four producers in Australia that I know of using the Monastrell name.  Duncan Ferguson and Susana...

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Elderton Ode to Lorraine 2008

Elderton Ode to Lorraine 2008

  15:29    Stu.

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Caveat: this was a leftover sample from tasting in the trade so I'm not entirely sure how long it had been open for when I got my mitts on it. Lorraine is the mother of Elderton proprietors, the Ashmead brothers Allister and Cameron.   A blend of the best portions...

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Radford Eden Valley Biodynamically Grown Riesling 2010

Radford Eden Valley Biodynamically Grown Riesling 2010

  08:28    Stu.

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Caveat: this was a leftover sample from tasting in the trade so I'm not necessarily sure how long it had been open for when I got my mitts on it.   I tried this twice, once at room temperature when it was suggestive of a touch of oxidative handling with some brown...

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Langmeil 'The Resurrection' Mataro 2010

Langmeil 'The Resurrection' Mataro 2010

  21:01    Stu.

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"I am the resurrection and I am the light" ~ The Stone Roses, I Am The Resurrection  From vines just reaching puberty, 10-15 years old and from Keyneton and Williamstown - the Barossa's Southern end.   Didn't get much fruit from this dark, sullen beast. ...

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Murray Street Vineyards Black Label Marsanne 2011

Murray Street Vineyards Black Label Marsanne 2011

  14:27    Stu.

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What Jerry McGuire really wanted to say in the film of the same name was: "show me the texture" and he'd have no doubt been talking about blends or varietal wines made from "White Rhone" grape varieties.  This Marsanne from the Barossa's Murray Street Vineyards...

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A.Retief Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2011

A.Retief Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2011

  10:35    Stu.

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A blend of 70% Canberra Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Hilltops Semillon.  A good Bordeaux blanc style, barrel work evident on the nose, supporting peach, honeydew melon, with fresh accents of lemon.  All up, a good intro. Clean entry, feathered textural feel -...

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Bimbadgen NV Sparkling

Bimbadgen NV Sparkling

  10:30    Stu.

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Wafting out of the glass comes a citrus tinged note, lemon sherbet pervading the nasal passage.  Lively, sweet - very sweet - sherbet palate with the joy and spritz of youth. Refreshing and inoffensive.  You'll have to like it on the sweet side, but armed...

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Geddes Experimental Mataro 2010

Geddes Experimental Mataro 2010

  20:28    Stu.

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On opening, this was like Spinal Tap meets Metallica's 'Black Album' - all black, and peppery with szechuan spice, twisty licorice, pepper, black molasses.  Yet like hardcore fans of the latter band with that offering, you could possibly be disappointed for it didn't...

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d'Arenberg Twentyeight Road Mourvédre 2004

d'Arenberg Twentyeight Road Mourvédre 2004

  20:18    Stu.

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At 8 years of age this 'Fleurieu' Mourvédre from d'Arenberg, comprising 60% McLaren Vale fruit and 40% Langhorne Creek, is looking pretty good.  Still throwing some hallmark Mataro fruit character: sour cherry and heady plum.  Coupled with secondary character...

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Yalumba Organic Viognier 2011

Yalumba Organic Viognier 2011

  10:30    Stu.

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Opened a couple of Viognier from Yalumba - Australia's pre-eminent, and pioneering, Viognier producer.  Here's the first note: on opening smells a little like a ferment kicking off with CO2 and bready, yeasty character.  Give little time - and you'll see a...

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Clovely Estate 'Left Field' Barbera 2010

Clovely Estate 'Left Field' Barbera 2010

  10:35    Stu.

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Clovely Estate is Queensland's largest producer.  Based out of the South Burnett, they are also one of a handful of wineries to open - and succssfully maintain - a city based Cellar Door.  Their 'Left Field' range, showcases slightly more alternative grape...

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