Stoney Rise Grüner Veltliner 2012

Stoney Rise Grüner Veltliner 2012

  21:23    Stu.

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Stoney Rise had the first commercial plantings of Grüner Veltliner in Australia, and whilst Lark Hill were first to market with their own release in 2009, the Stoney Grüner holds a special position viz the history of the variety in this country. Opens musky with tropical...

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Schloss Schönborn Feinherb Riesling 2010

Schloss Schönborn Feinherb Riesling 2010

  12:06    Stu.

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An off-dry Riesling, the term Feinherb has been permitted on wine labels in Germany since 2000 as an acceptable alternative to Halbtrocken. Halbtrocken wines are permitted to have 10-18 g/l residual sugar (subject to total acid - but that's a discussion for elsewhere). I...

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d'Arenberg Galvo Garage 2008

d'Arenberg Galvo Garage 2008

  08:36    Stu.

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A nod to the garagistes of Bordeaux, with a 'Bordeaux' blend made in that most Australian of man-caves: the galvo shed. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (72%), Merlot (13%), Cabernet Franc (9%) and Petit Verdot (6%), predominantly from McLaren Vale, with some supporting...

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Atze's Corner The Renegade Mataro Grenache Graciano 2009

Atze's Corner The Renegade Mataro Grenache Graciano 2009

  21:38    Stu.

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Earthen notes greet you, offering up some black cherry too - an appropriate welcome to this Mataro dominant blend.   The palate shows licorice, szechuan spice - but really only gives mere glimpses as to what it could be without ever fully convincing.  The palate...

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Mitchell Harris MGS 2011

Mitchell Harris MGS 2011

  21:42    Stu.

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I've enjoyed a fair few of the reds that have come out of that vintage.  Stylistically, there's more often than not a definite nod toward the Cotes du Rhone.  This cannot be seen as a universal statement, fruit ripeness still had to be there, along with the...

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Ballycroft Small Berrys Shiraz 2009

Ballycroft Small Berrys Shiraz 2009

  22:46    Stu.

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Rich, oak, choc and plum - reminded me a little of Plum Brandy - and that's a good thing.  Ably assisted by an assortment of black fruits, rich choc and christmas pudding, with a layered quality to the aromatics. Early onset of peppery spice, smooth and full bodied. ...

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Cook's Lot Lot #689 Sauvignion Blanc 2012

Cook's Lot Lot #689 Sauvignion Blanc 2012

  22:21    Stu.

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Herb, nettle and citrus waft out of the glass here, supported by a little oak character.  And there you start to see the difference between this and this and those that went before it. Shows texture on the palate - for winemaker Duncan Cook has opted to employ techniques...

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Yalumba Y Series Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Yalumba Y Series Sauvignon Blanc 2012

  22:12    Stu.

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Second of 4 SB's opened up and tasted.  Less overt than the first - good integrity of the variety: gooseberry and grass, subdued topicals, hints of lemon sherbet in the background. Tropicals and citrus through the palate, slightly harsher acidic note presenting...

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Taylors Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Taylors Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2012

  22:05    Stu.

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Strong aromatics: nettle, grass, hints of tropical fruit by way of guava and lychee.  Drying in the mouth - phenolics and feel - with little else discernible. Hard green apple character toward the finish.  Not particularly enjoyable for this individual. ...

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Mitchell Harris Sauvignon Blanc Fumé 2012

Mitchell Harris Sauvignon Blanc Fumé 2012

  21:44    Stu.

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Opened a swag of Sauvignon Blanc, and this was by far the best of the bunch - quite possibly as it is so far removed from what the general representation of the variety is. Key lime with waxy hints, toasty and smoky on the palate.  It's lie in a combination of restraint...

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Terres Dorées Moulin a Vent 2010

Terres Dorées Moulin a Vent 2010

  21:13    Stu.

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Moulin a Vent is one of Beaujolais's ten named crus, and Terres Dorées is the Estate of Jean-Paul Brun, a winemaker focussed on more traditional methods of wine production, against the prevailing use of cultured yeasts and chaptalization. Wines from the cru are generally...

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Chapel Hill McLaren Vale Shiraz 2010

Chapel Hill McLaren Vale Shiraz 2010

  20:58    Stu.

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Blacker than black, a layered texture, progressive feel and movement on the palate.  Initially showed - to me - choc and hazelnut, a hint of chicory, latterly a good core of black and red fruits coming through. The palate, in addition to that vin de mille-feuilles...

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Tscharke Only Son Tempranillo 2011

Tscharke Only Son Tempranillo 2011

  20:48    Stu.

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Dark and brooding, hints of molasses and coffee, black fruits, cola and spicy old wood.  Good entry into the mouth, showing depth and a dark fruited core.  Smooth with licorice, sarsparilla, a little hint of bitterness and tart towards the back end. Falls a...

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Dandelion Vineyards Legacy of the Barossa Pedro Ximenez

Dandelion Vineyards Legacy of the Barossa Pedro Ximenez

  21:29    Stu.

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Fabulous wine, on approach there’s almond biscotti, candied peel along with hints of toffee and caramel.  Fresh on the palate, honeyed with intensity from citrus rind.  Hints of orange liqueur, nutty and unctuous, a quality of both age...

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d’Arenberg DADD Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir Pinot Meunier NV

d’Arenberg DADD Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir Pinot Meunier NV

  22:20    Stu.

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d’Arenberg’s first sparkling wine, released to coincide with their centenary celebrations and so named to honour the Osborn family pioneers who established the winery all those years ago.    Shows bready, leesy characters, with hints of...

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Yalumba The Scribbler 2010

Yalumba The Scribbler 2010

  11:10    Stu.

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There's something inherently comforting about a "Great Aussie Red", and this example from Yalumba shows its Cabernet (57%) dominant composition with plum, mulberry and spice on approach.   Good Cabernet structure on its medium bodied frame, charry oak and Shiraz...

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Chapel Hill Parson's Nose Shiraz 2011

Chapel Hill Parson's Nose Shiraz 2011

  08:43    Stu.

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Parson's Nose always reminds me of growing up on London's District Line and the station Parson's Green.  There you go, an insight into my youth. Dry leaf matter, hints of wood and spice over black-fruited goodness, add a smattering of regional chocolate into the...

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Clos Clare Watervale Riesling 2012

Clos Clare Watervale Riesling 2012

  12:52    Stu.

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The Barry boys, Tom and Sam, have excellent familial heritage when it comes to making regarded Clare Valley Riesling.  They've set up shop in the corner of the renowned Florita Vineyard, and there they've crafted this stellar Riesling that I've gone long on as a...

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Mitchell Harris Rosé 2012

Mitchell Harris Rosé 2012

  13:58    Stu.

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Opened this up as one of a trio of Rosé and gave the remains of the open bottles to some friends.  This was the one they opted to drink, on the basis that it was the bottle that was least full.  Good taste those two. Strawberry and cherry, with a creamy dried...

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Yalumba 2012 Y Series Sangiovese Rosé

Yalumba 2012 Y Series Sangiovese Rosé

  14:40    Stu.

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Not the palest, not the most textural, nor savoury - it's dry and, for this author, a pleasure to drink.  That's what counts right?  You'll find it on shelves for anywhere between a tenner and its $15 RRP. Good red fruit aromatics: cherry and strawberry in...

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