The Meunière of Casterbridge: Langham Estate Wines

The Meunière of Casterbridge: Langham Estate Wines

  03:02    Stu.

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“One of my greatest claims to fame”, confided the landlord of the local public house, “is I had two Frenchmen in here last week drinking English ale after bottling 40,000 bottles of wine for the local winery”. The local winery of which the landlord spoke, is...

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Giesen Fuder Clayvin Vineyard Chardonnay 2012

Giesen Fuder Clayvin Vineyard Chardonnay 2012

  10:00    Stu.

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Tasted blind in a bracket of four Chardonnay, mix of years and regions. Another barrel ferment Chardonnay, where evidence of that technique is clearly on show. Carried out with an even hand, not assaulting the nostrils: the toast, creamy smoke give the wine a profile that...

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Cooks Lot Handpicked Chardonnay 2013

Cooks Lot Handpicked Chardonnay 2013

  10:00    Stu.

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Tasted blind in a bracket of four Chardonnay, mix of years and regions. Handpicked, whole bunch, free run juice. Barrel fermented, partial solids and wild yeast. Some good inputs there, deliberate choices from winemaker Duncan Cook, pursuing a style. Shows the barrel...

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Willow Bridge Estate Dragonfly Chardonnay 2014

Willow Bridge Estate Dragonfly Chardonnay 2014

  10:00    Stu.

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Tasted blind in a bracket of four Chardonnay, mix of years and regions. Classic stonefruit aromas here, a little green melon. Bit of almond husk, a savoury edge. Texture on entry, pitch and zest, pure and fresh. Pretty good length. Very good for the price on the reveal....

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Willow Bridge Estate Dragonfly Chenin Blanc 2014

Willow Bridge Estate Dragonfly Chenin Blanc 2014

  10:00    Stu.

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Fresh, offering up citrus - grapefruit, specifically - with some chalk and wet stone. Touch of husk, sea spray too. Lemony tang, textural nuance - a little phenolic bitterness; balance of punchy flavour, acid and feel. Good flavour travel. Pretty good...

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Ridgemill Estate Merlot 2012

Ridgemill Estate Merlot 2012

  17:59    Stu.

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Leads with a sweet perfume that's more in the berry spectrum. With time, and air, that segues to a little wood, olive skin and herb. Initially juicy, acid feels a touch jangly at first - berry fruit, a little tart blueberry. You start to see glimpses of the savoury edges,...

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Guthrie Wines 'Obtenu Bois' Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Guthrie Wines 'Obtenu Bois' Sauvignon Blanc 2013

  09:40    Stu.

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'Obtenu bois', meaning 'with wood' or perhaps 'got wood', a reference to the fact it is 100% barrel fermented and as per the Guthrie website: " Handpicked from a single vineyard...whole bunch pressed to seasoned French oak hogsheads...juice was then left for a slow,...

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Angullong Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Angullong Sauvignon Blanc 2014

  16:21    Stu.

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Good aromatics here: kiwi-fruit, grapefruit, lemon and lime, touch of grass and herb. Good combination.  Palate shows more of the citrus, good balance of acid against a little drying phenolics - all contributing to back palate drive and length.  Little latent...

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Ridgemill Estate 'Black Dog' Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Ridgemill Estate 'Black Dog' Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

  13:12    Stu.

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"This black dog is out of control My mouth is so dryMy eyes are shut tightThere's a black dog a coming tonight" ~ Manic Street Preachers, Black Dog On My Shoulder "I wish I could have 2005 again" quips winemaker Peter McGlashan, "the chance to apply  what I've learned...

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Printhie Mountain Range Merlot 2013

Printhie Mountain Range Merlot 2013

  06:57    Stu.

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Forward, touches of fresh tobacco and gamey notes, but really it's more about the heavy hand of oak here and the vanilla and caramel that lends to the wine. Medium bodied, a warmth that betrays its alcohol. Spice, a little tapenade and dried herb. Acid and tannin at...

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Ferngrove Symbols Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Ferngrove Symbols Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2014

  20:20    Stu.

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Faint tropicals, citrus - lemon and lime - smells like dilute cordial. Manages to shun the pungent aromas - but goes too far the other way. Thin, bitter, Little redemption, save perhaps its resemblance to a weak, cheap, gin and tonic. Not much on the finish either. There's...

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Bremerton Special Release Malbec 2013

Bremerton Special Release Malbec 2013

  20:29    Stu.

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Florals, black fruits of the forest, a touch of almond paste and sweet paprika on opening. A lovely perfume - something for which the variety can be renowned. Nice weight on entry: soft, medium body - that's before the fruit kicks in and the onset of some...

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Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyard Cabernet Merlot 2010

Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyard Cabernet Merlot 2010

  20:40    Stu.

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Cherry, tobacco and cocoa - mix of aromas on show here. Smokey, rolling tobacco - not sure which brand - show up as secondary aromatics. Lovely medium bodied wine: fine tannin, modicum of acid, more tobacco and leafy notes. Ultra-fine body - feels classy, good...

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Down to Earth Cabernets Shiraz 2013

Down to Earth Cabernets Shiraz 2013

  06:10    Stu.

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A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz (55/17/28% respectively). The Cabernets spent time in a in a 3-4 year old 4000L foudré - a very large barrel. Cedar, dried herb with lovely fruit mix adding to the package: plum skins, mulberry and perhaps a little...

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Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013

Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013

  12:01    Stu.

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Foggy Hill is a site that I yearn to visit. I've only taken the Southward drive down the Fleurieu coast the once, but I simply love that coastal drive, the child-like rolling hills that simply form, one into the other. I'll get there one day. Until then, I'm highly appreciative...

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