Initially little sign of the Viognier here - indeed it "should be seen and not heard" as someone once told me. Meaty, a little ferrous, florals start to come through with a little time. Medium bodied, has a juicy, cola-ish feel mixed with delicious berry fruit. Offers up spice with an easy-going, slippery textural feel to it. Concludes with a savoury edge after the juicy fruits that come before it. 89 Tasted on: Tuesday 26th November, a Fruit Day Source: Sample Price: $21.95 Alcohol: 13.5% Closure: Screwcap Website: www.yalumba.com Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
Has the slightly porty, leathery, raisined notes of dried out fruit. There's a fair whack of oak lain over the top. Given a little time, it settles itself - takes on a more subtle bent. Thick, creamy oak, a slightly burnt edge; feels a little hollow in the middle, fleshes out a little with some aniseed, pepper. Again it's rawness on opening settles with time - seems a touch more balanced and altogether more pleasurable. Finishes well - generous length - consistently comes together with a little time. 91 Tasted on: Tuesday 26th November, a Fruit Day Source: Sample Price: $45 Alcohol: 15% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.roclandestate.com/ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
Here we have a happy, bargain, entry-level sparkler that delivers above its pricepoint. Toasty on entry, backed up with some grilled stonefruits, citrus and red berries. Toasty, bready entry; a little mid-palate sweetness is perfectly positioned against a touch of mineral and cream in the body. Acid provides a little freshness. Lacks the depth you'd get from a wine that spends additional time on lees, but that comes at a cost. For $15 this drinks perfectly well. The finish sees a little red berry fruit sweetness pulled through. Length is moderate. A certain crowd pleaser. 87 Tasted on: Monday 25th November, a Fruit Day Source: Sample Price: $15 Alcohol: 12% Closure: Cork Website: http://www.byrnevineyards.com.au/ Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
Opens a touch sweaty with the presence of aromatic compounds known as 'mercaptans' present (specifically ethanethiol if you wish to get sexy on terminology). Hints of nettle here too - not altogether uncommon in cooler region sauvignon blanc. The palate shows a light bodied, some freshness present here too: fruit backing up with a little chalky phenolics. Length offers a little redemption from the aromatic introduction that wasn't quite my cup of tea. 85
Tasted on: Thursday 14th November 2013, a Leaf Day Source: Sample Price: $16.50 Alcohol: 13.5% Closure: Screwcap Website: http://www.ferngrove.com.au Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac
