Lowe Headstone Primitivo Rosé 2014

Lowe Headstone Primitivo Rosé 2014

  08:03    Stu.

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So the story goes....as a flying winemaker back in the 90s, David Lowe was awarded the title of Rosé of the Year by the Times of London in both 1992 and 1993. Lowe has been known to quip: "There’d be worse things than being remembered for making the best Rosé in the world…....

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Montalto The Eleven Chardonnay 2013

Montalto The Eleven Chardonnay 2013

  15:37    Stu.

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"A-won't you take me to Funkytown? Won't you take me to Funkytown?" ~ Lipps Inc, Funkytown Some lovely funky AKA struck-match complexity on display here - something that may not appeal to all. Winemaking on the edge, skillfully navigated by winemaker Simon Black. Florals,...

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Hervé Souhaut Vin des Pays l'Ardeche Syrah 2013

Hervé Souhaut Vin des Pays l'Ardeche Syrah 2013

  12:40    Stu.

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Domaine Romeaux-Destezet was founded by Hervé Souhaut in 1993. Hervé has holdings across both the Northern Rhone and Southern l'Ardeche. Souhaut follows the principles of leading natural wine advocates, Jules Chauvet - whole bunches, utilising carbonic maceration at low...

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Hither & Yon Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot 2012

Hither & Yon Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot 2012

  21:14    Stu.

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Purple aromatics emanate from the glass: violets, blackcurrant, florals general - switches to a little black fruit and mint. Smells like new French oak, except it's bot, vanilla then - OK? Quite ripe, forward - as befits the year - black fruited. Hints of licorice,...

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Old Faithful 'The Almond Grove' Mourvédre 2006

Old Faithful 'The Almond Grove' Mourvédre 2006

  09:19    Stu.

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Showing some good secondary development, yet still retaining elements freshness. Aromatics by way of black cherry, liqueur soaked prunes, dried lavender tips. Has the dark, heady, kirsch, veering to licorice and tar. Medium-full of body, tannin is firm,...

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Stockman's Ridge 'Rider' Shiraz 2012

Stockman's Ridge 'Rider' Shiraz 2012

  16:00    Stu.

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I met winemaker Jonathan Hambrook once, about 4 years back - pretty smart fellow, recognising the need to hook into the core tourism market, in addition to now having his own cellar door. I reckon this would be an interesting site to visit too, lots of cool pepper...

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Out of Step Wine Co. Willoughby Bridge GSM 2014

Out of Step Wine Co. Willoughby Bridge GSM 2014

  09:11    Stu.

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I'm enjoying the creative outputs from the guys at Out of Step Wine Co, this GSM - fruit sourced out of Heathcote - has a different vibe from wines tasted previously. Equally delicious mind. Smells brown on opening - I'm very much into colour...

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Montalto Main Ridge Pinot Noir 2013

Montalto Main Ridge Pinot Noir 2013

  11:20    Stu.

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Tasted single blind in amongst a trio of three Montalto single-vineyard Pinots Noir. So, wine identities are known, but hidden at the point of tasting. Why? Because I can and to keep me on my toes. Clone: DSV12 Vineyard Profile: Red clay loam Aspect: 156m on a North-East...

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Montalto Teurong Block Pinot 2013

Montalto Teurong Block Pinot 2013

  11:14    Stu.

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Tasted single blind in amongst a trio of three Montalto single-vineyard Pinots Noir. So, wine identities are known, but hidden at the point of tasting. Why? Because I can and to keep me on my toes. Clone: MV6 Vineyard Profile: Brown clay loam  Aspect:  30m,...

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Montalto Merricks Block Pinot Noir 2013

Montalto Merricks Block Pinot Noir 2013

  07:33    Stu.

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Tasted single blind in amongst a trio of three Montalto single-vineyard Pinots Noir. So, wine identities are known, but hidden at the point of tasting. Why? Because I can and to keep me on my toes. Clone: MV6 Vineyard Profile: Grey loam over clay Aspect: 55m elevation,...

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Te Mata Estate - Hawkes Bay - New Zealand

Te Mata Estate - Hawkes Bay - New Zealand

  12:54    Stu.

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Peter Cowley - immaculately presented winemaker - of Hawke's Bays Te Mata Estate was in town recently. I took the opportunity to catch up with Peter and taste through a range of current releases. Thanks to Te Mata distributor red+white for the opportunity. Notes are...

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Cooks Lot Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Cooks Lot Sauvignon Blanc 2014

  10:40    Stu.

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Tropicals clearly evident here: passionfruit fore, a little mango sorbet aft. Touch of lemon thyme and possibly some Thai basil. Lively, zesty entry; zippy, zingy and lively on entry - a touch of chalky pucker. Fades on the middle-back, showing a bit four-square, water-colour...

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Giesen Wines The Fuder Matthews Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2012

Giesen Wines The Fuder Matthews Lane Sauvignon Blanc 2012

  08:21    Stu.

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Prepare to see Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc through a different lens. Giesen is one of the older New Zealand wine companies, and in Australia it is the second largest distributor of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Marcel Giesen, one of three brothers involved in...

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Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy Teroldego 2013

Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy Teroldego 2013

  21:37    Stu.

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Pours a vibrant, bright magenta rimmed wine into the glass. Savoury, Italianate feel, chinotto - herb, wood, black fruits. Supple, juicy - bright acidity and red fruit juiciness. Easy and fun to drink in youth - i enjoyed using the acidity here to pair with...

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Willow Bridge Estate Dragonfly Shiraz 2013

Willow Bridge Estate Dragonfly Shiraz 2013

  21:03    Stu.

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Delicious length here on this wine, with tannin that's fine-grained and veering toward a graphite profile, you'd have yourself doing a double-take at the suggested retail price. Char, toffee, a little caramelised sweetness to lead-in. Medium bodied, smooth - easy, unforced...

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View Road Wines Shiraz 2013

View Road Wines Shiraz 2013

  20:44    Stu.

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Powerful, fudge sundae, a little residual fruit sweetness, briar, fruits of the forest. Unmistakably Sellicks foothills/ coastal McLaren Vale, with its big, ballsy, up-front style. There's a touch of ripeness present, not overtly so, but - alcohol levels unsighted - it's...

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Some Young Punks Monsters Monsters Attack Riesling 2013

Some Young Punks Monsters Monsters Attack Riesling 2013

  20:25    Stu.

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Purchased this with the express intent of pairing it with a favoured chilli prawn dish of the household. Offers more in the fleshy tropical fruit spectrum than what you'd expect from a traditional dry Clare Riesling. Textural spread, the sugar adds width and a broad...

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Brash Higgins FRNC Cabernet Franc 2014

Brash Higgins FRNC Cabernet Franc 2014

  21:05    Stu.

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Despite purposefully opening this to go with a slow roast lamb shoulder (admittedly on its second run in Le Creuset - long story), a sniff of its wild herb, underlying red fruit, with a little lavender and purple florals, had me wanting a good haunch of venison.  Love...

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Willow Bridge Estate Gravel Pit Shiraz 2013

Willow Bridge Estate Gravel Pit Shiraz 2013

  14:30    Stu.

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Easy rock-heads, the vineyard is on the site of a former quarry from where much of the gravel for building local roads came. In vintages past, this wine was co-fermented with a small portion of the white grape Viognier, in 2013 the decision was taken to reduce the amount...

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Cook's Lot 333 Riesling 2014

Cook's Lot 333 Riesling 2014

  20:32    Stu.

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Leads with the blossom of apple and citrus. Those aromatics that herald the onset of the warmer months. Aromatics that mark this out as Riesling. Lively number: zesty and zippy - a contrast to the soft aromas that introduce the wine. It's juicy, there's a touch of Bickford's...

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Sojourn Wines Shiraz Mataro 2014

Sojourn Wines Shiraz Mataro 2014

  12:02    Stu.

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The Sojourn in question, is that of fellow blogger QWine and his quest to make a wine - that was commercially available -from the 2014 vintage. A bloke I call a mate {let's get that out of the way}, he's done the right things with regards to producing an attractively...

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Kaesler Vineyards and Winery - Notes on a Centurion

Kaesler Vineyards and Winery - Notes on a Centurion

  15:18    Stu.

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Barossan producer Kaesler, has a reputation for producing wines in a big, rich style - that often associated with 'Parkerisation', with alcohol volumes north of 15% and lavish use of new oak, primarily American. On the basis of this tasting, it's a reputation that is...

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Grant Burge Wines Meschach Wines 2009

Grant Burge Wines Meschach Wines 2009

  21:31    Stu.

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Grant Burge was in the news recently when it was confirmed it was in talks with Accolade Wines over a sale of the brand. Accolade (80% owned by CHAMP venture capital, with the balance owned by US beverage giant Constellation) has traditionally been a McLaren Vale centric...

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Out of Step Wine Co. Lone Star Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Out of Step Wine Co. Lone Star Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2014

  08:39    Stu.

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I've previously written up some of the wines of the Out of Step Wine Co., check here for those reviews and some background info on the duo behind the label. Each wine is like delving a little further into the minds and métier of Nathan and Dave. Here, they've...

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Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz 2013

Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz 2013

  14:09    Stu.

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Black fruit leads the way here, clearly on show, displaying its wares. It's pretty intense, the result of lower yields and concentrated berries, there's support from a little seasoned oak with a little sweet dried grass. It's spicy on entry, immediately noticeable -...

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