Colmar Estate 2021 Chardonnay Releases

Posted on July 17, 2023 by Tony Peters

I’ve been delving into wine seriously now for, gee, thirty years I reckon.  In saying that, I have one question;  Colmar Estate, where have you been all my wine life?!  Another hidden gem in the Orange region of New South Wales and, if you can’t make it to the cellar door, make sure you get your hands on their wines. 

Speaking of the cellar door, listening to an interview with owner, Bill Shrapnell, it sounds like there is a spectacular view from the tasting area allowing the cellar door crew to point to the vines that went into a particular wine a punter is trying. I am now regretting not calling in during our whirlwind visit earlier this month.

My immediate thoughts.  What a couple of ripper Chardonnays these are!  There you go.  Right off the bat. No holding back. Putting it out there.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed these two excellent examples from the Orange Region of New South Wales.  We could not help but aromatically investigate and palate ponder them constantly while it belted down with rain in our small town on the east coast of Tasmania.

Colmar Estate Website

Region: Orange Region, NSW     Source: Samples thanks kindly to Colmar Estate and Define Wine

2021 Block 2 Chardonnay ($50)

This is delightful from the first pour to the bottle emptying last pour.  There is plenty of flavour from the stone fruit characters, it’s smooth and textural providing a lovely mouthfeel, and acidity plays a gentle yet excellent supporting role on the considerable length this wine has.  While the oak does show its hand, everything is nicely in balance resulting in a wine that is very much approachable already.

2021 Reserve Chardonnay ($60)

Where do I start with this Chardonnay?  Well, I could have taken in the aromas for days.  Okay, so a slight exaggeration but it is so beautiful on the nose.  I just love how it feels on the palate too, so appealing in an effortless way.  While it is rich and offers full flavoured palate presence, it maintains elegance right up until it leaves your palate, and it is certainly in no hurry to do that.  This is without doubt a lovely Chardonnay. 

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Levantine Hill 2019 Estate Releases

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Tony Peters

The word ‘Estate’ can mean a lot of things to different people. The one that really resonates with me, in the context of wine, is the stately ‘manor style’ house, bathed in sunshine, on a vast property surrounded by grapevines looking lush and green.  You’re picturing it in your mind now, aren’t you?

Levantine Hill do not use the word ‘Estate’ on their labels or include it in their name. However, their Cellar Door, with its beautiful grounds adorned with art installations and the adjoining vineyards, give it that ‘Estate’ feel complemented by a welcoming, warm and relaxing space inside that seems to invite you back after each visit. And you can’t forget, or miss, the Jreissatti family home that sits so splendidly atop a hill surrounded by vineyards that complete the Levantine Hill ‘Estate’ picture in this lovely part of the Yarra Valley.

Levantine Hill Website

Region: Yarra Valley, Vic     Price: $80 each     Source: Samples thanks kindly to Levantine Hill

Chardonnay

A lovely nose starts things off with a hint of flint, melon and peach. Rich on the palate with abundant stone-fruit characters, creamy and textural, delicate yet impactful grapefruit like acidity and just a hint of spice, all of which lingers longingly on the finish. This is a brilliant Chardonnay! I loved it, my wife loved it and a mate who tried it loved it too. Lots of love all round for this bottle of beauty.

Pinot Noir

Love a good Pinot Noir? Get yourself some of this! A dark cherry and red currant nose with a touch of oak as well. An intense yet elegant palate of black fruits, black cherry, some earthiness comes through along with a palate coating red-fruit like freshness and some gentle spiciness adding a lovely dimension to it. The tannins and acidity are lovely and fine as it finishes long and smooth.

Cabernet Sauvignon

This shouts ‘Cabernet’ from the roof tops and everyone is listening. Juicy dark berry goodness to die for from the nose to the toes with this one, along with a modicum of herb and spice notes, nice supportive oak and svelte tannins on an excellent long finish. It’s beautifully medium bodied and mouthcoating while maintaining that elegance and poise we love in a Yarra Valley Cabernet at its very best, which this is!

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De Iuliis Wines Cellar Door

Posted on July 12, 2023 by Tony Peters

As much as I have frequented many wine tastings over the years, there is nothing like visiting a cellar door to taste somebody’s wines.  There is really no comparison is there?

I have been lucky enough to try De Iuliis wines thanks to a very good friend of mine, Steve Leszczynski (Qwine), organising a wine swap two or three years ago.  Since then, it has always been our intention to visit the Hunter Valley, a place that has, for some reason, eluded my wine region curiosity senses.

When the decision was made to visit the Hunter Valley, it was a no-brainer to call into De Iuliis cellar door.  I don’t know if you’ve ever been there but, driving up to it, it is quite a picture.  The lawns and gardens are immaculate (love a good garden) and the setting is inviting and serene.

Walking into the cellar door there is a sense of ‘organised’ yet ‘relaxed’ and we were soon relaxed.  Gail welcomed us at the door guiding us to a table beside the window giving us an uninterrupted view of the outside vista, and it wasn’t long before we were offered a taste of the zesty and fresh 2019 Sparkling Chardonnay that led into a great tasting experience.

We started with the 2022 Garden Vineyard Semillon that had gentle acidity and is nicely balanced, then the 2017 Aged Release Semillon which showed a little of a toasty character and some lovely fine acidity.

Moving on, the 2022 Estate Chardonnay is fresh and such an easy-going drink while the 2019 Limited Release Chardonnay has texture, a lovely mouth-feel and beautifully balanced.

I could not miss the 2023 Estate Rosé.  It exudes ripe strawberries, finishing savoury and dry, and bound to be popular anytime of the year.

I was definitely looking forward to trying the Shirazes and they did not disappoint. The 2021 Estate Shiraz is nicely fruit-forward thanks mainly to purple fruits with a red-fruit like lift and freshness, while the 2020 Steven Vineyard Shiraz has lush fruit and so silky and elegant.  The 2020 LDR Vineyard Shiraz is perfectly fruited (can’t put it any other way), generous and with great length.  Beautiful aromatics kick things off with the 2020 LDR Vineyard Shiraz Touriga while dark fruits present on the elegant and long palate.  It was a pleasure to get to try the 2018 Limited Release Shiraz which is all about lovely dark fruits and mid-palate plums, and while it is medium bodied, there is good intensity on the palate too.

Hats off to winemaker Mike De Iuliis and his team for producing a line-up of lovely drinking wines that will please anyone and everyone at anytime of the year.

I can’t remember how long we were there, and I don’t remember looking at my watch at any stage.  Gail was so engaging and conversational (as were we) that it didn’t matter because we didn’t have to be anywhere, and we lapped up her knowledge and stories.

This is yet another Hunter Valley cellar door I would not hesitate to recommend to my wine enthusiastic friends.

De Iuliis Wines Website

Posted in Cellar Door, Chardonnay, Rosé, Semillon, Shiraz, Sparkling Wine | Leave a comment

Thomas Wines Cellar Door

Posted on July 9, 2023 by Tony Peters

Considering the number of wine regions I have visited over the years, some more than once or twice, it is slightly embarrassing for me to admit that I have never been to the Hunter Valley and I really do not know why that is the case.

To remedy that situation, as part of a road trip to a warmer state of our big island, we made the decision to call into the Hunter Valley and, Thomas Wines was always going to be on my list of must visits.  Thanks to a good wine friend of ours, Steve Leszczynski (Qwine) we were kindly treated to a tasting at their cellar door.  It was an amazing experience, to say the least, and I really feel the need to tell you about it.

Firstly, the cellar door has a modern feel to it yet it is still warm, spacious and inviting.  We were met by Belinda and immediately felt welcome.  When the conversation started, we knew it was definitely not scripted.  It was genuine, humorous and convivial. 

Secondly, the tasting experience would have to be one of the best and relaxing we have had and we have been to many cellar doors around Australia.  Brodie looked after us and his knowledge of the wines was informative without being too technical, and presented in a fun and inclusive way, so much so it would not intimidate those learning about wine or new to the wine scene.

And last, but by no means the least, the wines.  I could easily sum them up in two words.  Genuine and exquisite.  However, they deserve much more attention to detail than that, just like what the wines receive.  We were lucky enough to try five white wines with four of those being Semillon and the other a blend of Semillon and Chardonnay, while seven Shirazes crossed our palates as well.

The 2022 ‘Fordwich Hill’ Semillon is a great introductory wine for those not sure if Semillon is ‘their thing’.  It is so approachable in its infancy with the fruit being the star while the acidity is soft and complementary.  The 2022 ‘OC’ Semillon is a little more generous on the palate with some good acidity adding zip and freshness. 

We were lucky enough to try the, yet to be released, 2023 ‘Braemore’ Semillon which was citrussy and fresh (as you’d expect) with a lovely mouth-watering apple-like acidity.  This is going to be a winner!  The ‘Vat 32’ Semillon Chardonnay deserves its place in the line-up. I don’t know the percentages of the two varieties that make up the wine but they definitely get on well together resulting in a flavourful, textural and delicious wine.

When it came to the Shiraz line-up, the 2021 ‘Synergy’ is ridiculous value.  It’s vibrant, it’s juicy and so adorably drinkable.  The 2021 ‘Belford’ and ‘Dam Block’ wines were lovely ‘go-to’ styles while the 2021 ‘Sweetwater’ seemed it would love you to leave it in the cellar for a while.  All three had plush fruit, texture, fine tannins and judicious use of oak with the ‘Sweetwater’ having that little extra tannin structure to support cellaring.

The 2021 ‘Elenay’ and ‘Kiss’ Shirazes are truly something.  While both wines are elegant and so seamless with great length, the ‘Elenay’ maintains a lovely medium body fruit weight across the palate while the ‘Kiss’ slowly builds to a beautifully balanced intensity.

I would have no hesitation in recommending a visit to this cellar door.  It is something you will tell your friends about, and not just those ‘wine boffins’ you know.

Thomas Wines Website

Posted in Cellar Door, Other Whites, Semillon, Shiraz | Leave a comment

Angullong Orange Region 2022 Chardonnay Releases

Posted on June 24, 2023 by Tony Peters

Isn’t Chardonnay just a lovely grape variety.  It seems to be so attractive in such an effortless way, not seeking any sort of distinguished ‘name’ to place itself above other white varieties. 

I have been a fan for quite a few years now but my focus was quite narrow in the early days.  Tasmanian Chardonnay was it for me until I discovered others from more commonly known regions and producers that entered the Royal Hobart Wine Show.

Thanks to David Cumming of Define Wine, my Chardonnay experiences have been extended to regions that, as far as I am concerned, deserve to be alongside the big shots of the Chardonnay scene in Australia.

I was first introduced to the Angullong wines just on five years ago and about the same time frame since I had the pleasure of trying one of their Chardonnays (2017 Fossil Hill).  Here are two that are definitely going to be spring and summer time people pleasers for sure.

Angullong Website

Region: Orange, NSW     Source: Samples thanks to Angullong and Define Wine

Angullong Chardonnay ($25)

Lovely, fresh citrus characters immediately present on the fruit driven nose giving a good indication of what is to come.  The palate has a good intensity, yet approachable, with the fruit showing its best.  Stonefruits, pear flesh and an apple like crispness are the main players.  I didn’t detect any oak influence, however, there is slight creamy like feel that tells me it probably saw a little oak during the winemaking process, and there is a refreshing touch of acidity on the good length finish.  An attractive wine with an early-drinking vibe to it.  Very good value!

Angullong ‘Fossil Hill’ Chardonnay ($30)

Taking nothing away from the previous wine, this Chardonnay is worth more than the five dollars extra you pay for it.  It has a lovely delicate like richness on the palate thanks to the good fruit intensity with the oak running alongside nicely, and texture adding to the nice mouth-feel with every sip.  Some nice acidity shows itself as it lingers nicely on the palate for a very good finish.  Elegance is the key to this terrific value Orange Chardonnay.  A delicious wine indeed.  Bravo!

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2017 Levantine Hill Samantha’s Paddock Mélange Traditionnel

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Tony Peters

“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” A fellow by the name of Aristotle uttered these words many moons ago. It suggests that, if something was to be broken down into its parts, those parts would be good and valuable on their own but, put them together and the final product is of tremendous value and purpose. The grape varieties used in making this wine have been selected because of their high quality, and, I have no doubt they would be excellent if bottled on their own, as individual wines.

This is a wine that demands your attention from the get-go thanks to a weighty bottle with a punt so deep it has an echo! Then it’s the colour when you pour it that is truly gorgeous. Deep, dark and inky, and so glossy in the glass. I’m in love with this wine already just by how it looks! While the nose has intensity, it is just so delightfully fruitful and broodingly captivating. The medium bodied palate shows richness and elegance at the same time with lovely juicy dark fruits abound and show the way early, slight herbal and spice notes chime in while the tannins get carried along with ease by the lush fruit on the mighty fine finish.

This feels terrific on the taste buds, indicative of the quality fruit which is what this wine is all about, and I can’t help but think it will show the splendour of the 2017 vintage for many years to come.

Levantine Hill Website

Region: Yarra Valley, Vic     Price: $200     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Levantine Hill

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Clandestine Wines Red Wine Releases

Posted on June 3, 2023 by Tony Peters

Henri Murger was a French author and poet around the early to mid-1800’s. I would expect his name is not necessarily ringing any bells for you right now but, if I mention that the opera La Bohème is based on his book, “Scenes of Bohemian Life” that may cause an “oh okay” or possibly an “of course” from you. Prior to when he was ‘famous’, he was a member of a group who called themselves “The Water Drinkers” simply because they couldn’t afford to buy wine. Ironically, that brings me to what I was drawn to mostly about him, which was his quote, “The first duty of wine is to be red. Don’t talk to me of your white wines.” When I lined these three red wines up to try, I thought of Mr. Murger and how he would probably be more than happy to drink all three of them.

Source: Samples thanks kindly to Clandestine Vineyards and Savvy Comms

2022 Pinot Noir

This is certainly going to get your red wine juices flowing.  It is a little better than light weight providing excellent varietal flavours of red cherries and ripe strawberries.  Add to that a slight herbal note, a bit of cherry spice and a pretty good, elegant finish and you have a very good wine at a damn good price! Good stuff this.

Region: Adelaide Hills, SA     Price: $30

2021 Shiraz

Moving up a notch from the Pinot Noir, here we have a Shiraz that certainly walks the walk.  Offering up generous flavours of black cherry, plums and some spiciness all coming together very nicely for such a young wine.  It sits on the top-side of medium bodied but has a richness and a fruitful smoothness that gives the impression of being better than that.  I liked this a lot!

Region: Mount Barker, WA     Price: $35

2021 Malbec

This looked so strong and impressive in the glass thanks to the terrific colour. Great start! It has a blue fruit perfume to it that I couldn’t help but take in more than once. Great middle! Rich and bold on the palate, blackberries and plums come to the fore with a delightful savoury appeal too as it finishes elegant and long. Great ending! Makes you want to head back to the start, doesn’t it? I certainly did. Two thumbs up.

Region: Margaret River, WA     Price: $35

Posted in Other Reds, Pinot Noir, Shiraz | Leave a comment

2017 Levantine Hill Melissa’s Paddock Syrah

Posted on May 25, 2023 by Tony Peters

Close to 300 years ago, Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.”  When I write something, whether it is worth reading or not is up to the reader.  However, when it comes to writing about wine, I try to cover both parts of this quote by Mr Franklin.  Tasting wine is something worth writing about, and I also try and make what I write worth reading.

When it comes to this wine, there is plenty to write about, however that would mean there would be plenty for you to read, so I will do my best to keep it reasonably short.

It is easy for me to write this because you can’t see it but, it is such a very pretty colour in the glass, so attractive to the eye for me.  Very expressive on the nose, clearly showing its youthfulness with fresh dark cherry, pepper and spice.  The palate is the epitome of the balance between power and elegance.  It’s full-bodied yet is so enjoyably silky smooth.  Lovely blue fruits, a nice plum fruit influence, a spice character (that I can’t put my finger on), and a lick of liquorice, all adding to the savouriness of this wine, with an incredibly long finish. 

Benjamin Franklin is also quoted as saying, “Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.”  I think Levantine Hill wines are constant proof they want to see us happy!

Levantine Hill Website

Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria     Price: $200     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Levantine Hill

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2022 Colmar Estate Riesling Releases

Posted on May 14, 2023 by Tony Peters

I have always wondered what dogs liked about having their head out of the car window and the wind blowing into their face at speed, with their ears flapping about as the vehicle motors along.  Turns out, their head is full of sensory receptors and, as the air rushes over their head, those receptors are massively stimulated and lasts for as long as they can keep their head out of the window.  Not something I have ever considered doing. 

However, I could not help but imagine what it would be like as you are driving along a coastal road with the fresh sea air in your face, or through snow covered mountains where the air is so invigoratingly cool on your face you cannot help but want more of it.  A bit like when tasting fresh, young, and vibrant Riesling that triggers off three main pleasure receptors; sight, smell and taste. Tasting these Rieslings did exactly that, which meant I had three times the sensory stimulation.

https://colmarestate.com.au/

Region: Orange Region, NSW     Source: Samples thanks kindly to Colmar Estate and Define Wine

2022 Estate Riesling ($35)

A lovely introduction to the Rieslings of Colmar Estate. It is invitingly fresh and perfumed on the nose. The palate has zip and verve thanks to the citrus fruit hit of acidity tending toward a lemon influence.  With just a smidge of sweetness, it sails very close to the label of ‘bone dry’ while providing a refreshingly long finish.  Very enjoyable to say the least.

2022 Block 5 Riesling ($45)

This Block 5 takes up where the previous Riesling left off perfectly but the flavour feel on the palate has gone up a notch with this one.  Citrusy characters aplenty (more limey than lemony for me), a hint of residual sugar providing a lovely balanced mouthfeel while finishing long and moreishly fresh.  This has ‘classic’ written all over it.  Lots to enjoy too.

2022 Reserve Riesling ($55)

Goodness me!  Presence, power, poise and persistence.  Sums this Riesling up perfectly, I think.  What a lovely, lovely wine.  Taking nothing away from the previous two Colmar Estate Rieslings, this sits deservedly at the top of the tree.  Intensity, freshness, elegance, refinement and great length.  An abundance of positive adjectives could be added, but I think I’ve made my views of this wine clear. 

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Nightfall Wines 2019 ‘The Noble Beasts’

Posted on May 7, 2023 by Tony Peters

There are many photos posted regularly on social media of sunrises and sunsets. I have to admit, some are just beautiful.  Recently, when I was working an afternoon shift, I drove along an Esplanade here where I live and the moon was up and about on a clear, almost cloudless night.  The light from the moon was like a blanket across the water.  There was a gentle breeze as well and this caused the water to ripple just enough to make the moonlight seem to sparkle and glisten giving new meaning to the words “sea of stars.” 

When you experience something like this, there is certainly something to be said for Nightfall which seems to have been captured in these Noble Beasts.  A glistening array of Coonawarra wine stars in the Australian sea of red wine varieties.

Website: nightfallwines.com.au

Region: Coonawarra, SA     Price: $360 for the set     Source: Thanks kindly to Sam Brand and Nightfall Wines

2019 ‘The Leo’ Cabernet Sauvignon

I’ll tell you what.  Coonawarra does Cabernet Sauvignon bloody well.  Stating the obvious, I know, but I just had to say it after being lucky enough to try the Draco, and now this one from Nightfall Wines.  This is delightful in every way.  Terrific fruit, a beguiling intensity, lovely balance and poise, captivating and charming, silky smooth with elegance in spades.  I could go on and on just like it does on the finish.  A very well made wine that is great to drink and even ponder over.

2019 ‘Aquila’ Cabernet Franc

I was pleased, very curious and a tad excited to see this variety bottled as a stand-alone variety, and I must say, this is quite an impressive wine.  It presents beautifully in the glass, and so perfumed and pretty on the nose.  Rich, lush and delicious dark fruits, delicate herbal notes, nicely played oak and really good length finishing soft and graceful.  I very much enjoyed this wine and, just my opinion of course, it has set the bar high for Cabernet Franc in this country.

2019 ‘Lupus’ Merlot

Merlot from a cool climate region is always going to raise some questions but I think that is due to wines from years past.  This is a medium bodied wine providing really good varietal plum fruit characters, a tickle of spice and herbs, a nice touch of oak is in there too and finishes with some fine tannins on a pretty good length.  This probably takes the bronze medal out of these three wines, but it was a close call and definitely not a reflection on the quality of this wine.  Far from it.

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Other Reds | Leave a comment