Lofty Valley Chardonnay 2011

Lofty Valley Chardonnay 2011

  21:15    Stu.

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From the Adelaide Hills comes a fine Chardonnay, brand hitherto unknown to me prior to this opportunity to taste it.  The winemaker however is: one Brendon Keys. 220 cases produced, all estate fruit, 50% of it aged for 10 months in new French oak. Barrel ferment...

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Witches Falls Prophecy Syrah 2008

Witches Falls Prophecy Syrah 2008

  17:55    Stu.

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Representing the best of the best for Mount Tamborine (Gold Coast hinterland) based Witches Falls, this wine is only made is exceptional years. Bright berry perfume, polished cherry and lashings of toasty new oak.  Blackcurrant; black, inky-fruited depth, spice-tinged,...

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d'Arenberg 100 Years Young

d'Arenberg 100 Years Young

  18:30    Stu.

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100 Years young.  It seems appropriate, if a little corny. Young, fresh, energetic, driven, sharp.  Consider the principals of the business: Managing Director d'Arry Osborn, 85 years young and sharp as a tack - not missing a beat, recalling details of vineyards...

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Cypress Post 2000 Frances Viognier Marsanne 2011

Cypress Post 2000 Frances Viognier Marsanne 2011

  10:30    Stu.

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Good aromatics, the Viognier (75%) and Marsanne (25%) are both represented: apricot and ginger; spiced and honeyed parsnip. Textural, with nutty complexity. Spice toward the back end with some phenolic grip. Good length, leaving you with something long after the final...

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Un Air de Remejeanne Cotes de Rhone 2010

Un Air de Remejeanne Cotes de Rhone 2010

  15:30    Stu.

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Hand-picked, sorted and de-stemmed.  Spends eight months in a concrete tank, is not fined (making it Vegan friendly), is lightly filtered, but all up this equals a wine of dashed good fun. Lovely mix of brambly red fruits - predominantly raspberry.  Slight...

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Murray Street Vineyards Semillon 2010

Murray Street Vineyards Semillon 2010

  10:30    Stu.

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Lemon, lemon-sherbet, floral hints, but in the main: zesty fresh. Creamy lemon curd on the palate, a hint of minerally zing.  The acid familiar to young Semillon is still present, but is settling into itself.  Fresh, clean and pure – with excellent length.  Lovely...

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Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy Lagrein 2009

Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy Lagrein 2009

  18:06    Stu.

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Lagrein has its home in Italy's North-East, in the fantastic sounding Alto-Adige region.  I think this is a variety we're going to see a lot more of in Australia.  This example shows why. Aromatically fresh.  A little like chewing a minto, cherry drop...

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Mandalay Road Wines Zinfandel 2008

Mandalay Road Wines Zinfandel 2008

  20:49    Stu.

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"A Princess.  An alcoholic, potentially jammy Princess, with super-pretty structure, and spice to burn... Bit of a bitch vineyard-wise.  Difficult to ripen without going porty.  Needs care to manage structure, weight" ~ Kate Giles, Byrne Vineyards Undertaking...

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Shobbrook Nouveau 2011

Shobbrook Nouveau 2011

  15:25    Stu.

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I've come across this wine a few times, yet this was the first time I'd sat down with a bottle for the purpose of writing it up. The first thing to say is don't be alarmed by the spritz on opening, the winemaker has intentionally left some undissolved CO2 in the wine...

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Tscharke Marananga Mataro 2010

Tscharke Marananga Mataro 2010

  20:53    Stu.

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'Barossa Grounds' is a series of new releases from Damien Tscharke aimed at showcasing the Barossa's terroir through a range of Single Vineyard wines. In the case of this Mataro, it is estate fruit from their Stonewell Vineyard in Marananga, grown on its original...

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Fox Creek Old Vines Shiraz 2010

Fox Creek Old Vines Shiraz 2010

  14:30    Stu.

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Stylistically I found this wine making more than the occasional glance backwards to the place where I thought Australian reds were moving away from. It intrigued me to be honest. The magnificent power of the Old Vine material was clearly shining through, or rather...

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Wolf Blass Yellow Label Sparkling Brut 2010

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Sparkling Brut 2010

  10:36    Stu.

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It's generally rather handy to know of an acceptable fizz such as may be required for large gatherings.  This example from Barossa behemoth Wolf Blass incorporates the classic varieties for sparkling: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Hints of lemon curd on approach,...

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Flaxman Wines 'The Drone' GMS 2011

Flaxman Wines 'The Drone' GMS 2011

  20:48    Stu.

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Smooth, juicy and fruity blend (60/21/19) aided and abetted by some depth from the Mataro.  You're introduced by way of a spice flecked red and black fruited mix, raspberry and blackcurrant pastille.  There's a little licorice and earth in the equation, but...

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Mitchell Harris 'Sabre' 2008

Mitchell Harris 'Sabre' 2008

  20:53    Stu.

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Good things come to those who wait.  Given John Harris's background with Domaine Chandon you would expect to see a method sparkling in the Mitchell Harris stable.   This 2008 vintage wine was hand picked, primarily tank fermented and seeing no malo. ...

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