Cook's Lot Chardonnay 2012

Cook's Lot Chardonnay 2012

  21:27    Stu.

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Showed well as the fourth Chardonnay in a bracket of four.   Aromatically intriguing, leading with orange rind, lemon and honeydew - an alluring aroma. Fairly loaded on the palate too: honeysuckle, some oak presence and then backed up with zest and mineral....

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Montalto Pennon Hill Chardonnay 2012

Montalto Pennon Hill Chardonnay 2012

  21:19    Stu.

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Image for 2011 Chardonnay Fresh, slightly herbal with some basil character initially, follows with more typical honeydew melon. Melon and stonefruit flow on the palate, some oak presence here too: provides structure and gives a little charry presence. Finishes pleasantly...

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The Collection Margaret River Chardonnay 2009

The Collection Margaret River Chardonnay 2009

  21:11    Stu.

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Easy integrated stonefruit with unobtrusive oak, citrus-lemon-meal and a hint of banana interplay on the nose. Lemon creme, oak and mineral - good quality fruit character coming through here. Finishes with with a balance of acid and mineral quality, not the greatest...

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Bimbadgen Estate Chardonnay 2011

Bimbadgen Estate Chardonnay 2011

  21:01    Stu.

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Shows a bit of barrel ferment character on the nose with hints of almond and meal.  Textural and creamy on the palate, fairly neutral flavour profile - shows a little hint of citrus. If you like it clean and linear then this may be for you. 86 - Average Tasted on:...

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Hahndorf Hill 'Zsa Zsa' Zweigelt 2012

Hahndorf Hill 'Zsa Zsa' Zweigelt 2012

  22:28    Stu.

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"Oh, Dahlink, you look absolutely fabulous." A good pink, nigh fuschia. Musky, rose and florals, hint of lolly and melon here. Touch of texture: dryness and phenolics. Quite tart, there's some citrus acidity, gives a little length. It's moderate length, backed up...

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Grant Burge Wines: Icon Releases

Grant Burge Wines: Icon Releases

  22:05    Stu.

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Had the pleasure of meeting Grant and Helen Burge at the Brisbane release for their Icon series. In addition, the event marked the unofficial release of the new sparkling from the winery, the Helene. 2004 Helene Sparkling Named after Grant's Tasmanian born wife Helen,...

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Queensland Wine Week: 1st-8th April 2013

Queensland Wine Week: 1st-8th April 2013

  19:24    Stu.

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This is not an official event, but rather a personal initiative I plan to undertake on the above dates. Simply put, for the specified period I plan to drink and blog about Queensland wines. Not a Queenslander by birth, but I do consider it my 'State of Origin' and do...

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Ducks in a Row Straight Up Mataro 2010

Ducks in a Row Straight Up Mataro 2010

  21:59    Stu.

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"Straight up now tell me do you really want to love me forever oh oh oh..." I sometimes struggle to recall what I did last week, yet can recall inane lyrics to 80s pop songs with ease...go figure. Christmas cake, damp and most, flecked with a little spice. Heady,...

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Domaine Tournon Mathilda Heathcote Shiraz 2010

Domaine Tournon Mathilda Heathcote Shiraz 2010

  21:48    Stu.

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Australian winery owned in its entirety by Rhone Ranger Michel Chapoutier.  Damn good value here, hedgerow and bramble interwoven with red fruit. Medium bodied, juicy - a mix of fruit, spice and a little tar.  Easy going, maybe a little too laid back - if...

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The Lane Vineyard Block 1A Chardonnay 2012

The Lane Vineyard Block 1A Chardonnay 2012

  22:02    Stu.

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Alkoomi Frankland River Riesling 2011

Alkoomi Frankland River Riesling 2011

  21:30    Stu.

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Ridgemill Estate - Eloise: A Sparkling Debut

Ridgemill Estate - Eloise: A Sparkling Debut

  11:13    Stu.

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"You don't win medals for making Rosé" could well become winemaker Pete McGlashan's equivalent to Homer Simpson's "You don't win friends with salad".  The Winemaker As large as life, an affable bloke, McGlashan isn't afraid to share his opinions, and whilst...

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d'Arenberg Peppermint Paddock NV Sparkling Chambourcin

d'Arenberg Peppermint Paddock NV Sparkling Chambourcin

  10:05    Stu.

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Chambourcin, the butt of a few jokes in wine circles, a hybrid variety with a high resistance to fungal disease, making it suited to regions with higher humidity levels. Some say that is so planted in some places as it is the only variety that can be. Here this NV sparkling...

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Yelland & Papps Devote Shiraz Roussanne 2011

Yelland & Papps Devote Shiraz Roussanne 2011

  07:26    Stu.

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"Altogether all too drinkable" quipped my wife. Not sure I need say more than that. Elegant, perfumed, with accented/ higher notes on the berry fruit spectrum. The Roussanne - a white variety and constituting 15% of the wine - seems to have provided a leg up to the wine....

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Rolling Sparkling Pinot Grigio Chardonnay 2012

Rolling Sparkling Pinot Grigio Chardonnay 2012

  06:58    Stu.

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Wouldn't immediately have thought of these two varieties as companions, but interesting bed fellows they make.  It worked for me. Shows a good deal of fruit on the nose, pear and stonefruit, Hints of of bread character, imbued with a little zest. Fairly drying...

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Running With The Bulls Wrattonbully Tempranillo 2012

Running With The Bulls Wrattonbully Tempranillo 2012

  22:04    Stu.

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"The drinker waggled his little finger at him and smiled at us with his eyes. Then he bit the stream off sharp, made a quick lift with the wine bag and lowered it down to the owner. He winked at us. The owner shook the wineskin sadly." ~ Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also...

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Te Whare Ra Gewürztraminer 2010

Te Whare Ra Gewürztraminer 2010

  21:20    Stu.

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Low-input, small scale producer based in the Marlborough sub-region of Renwick. Some of the earliest plantings within the Marlborough region can be found here, and the vines for this Gewürz date from 1979. Fairly exotic aromatics: turkish delight and rose, a hint of...

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