2018 Huntington Estate Special Reserve Shiraz

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Tony Peters

I live in a very photogenic part of Tasmania.  When I’m walking or driving around the area, I can’t help but want to capture a sunrise or sunset, a reflection on an inland waterway, or a wombat as he waddles off into the bush.  The opportunities are endless.  It’s a shame the same can’t be done for capturing an image of the aromas and flavours of a wine. I can use descriptors in providing a ‘picture’ to whomever reads it, however, it would be so much better if it could be visual. If you know what I mean?

I say this as I take in the incredible aromas and flavours of this particular wine with a picture in my head.  I now need to, but also want to, put that in writing so you get the same picture as me, and that is not always easy when you get to try a lovely wine such as this, but here goes. 

My sense of smell and taste were hit with continual waves of rich and lush dark fruits (think blackberries, dark cherry and plum) and there’s a lovely creamy (almost) dark chocolate feel through the palate.  The oak and tannins show their hand as usual with these wines when they are so young but, they have excellent support from the perfectly ripe, and obvious quality fruit.  This wine is so vivid and flowing, I reckon those flavours and characteristics would seem to come to life even more so in a photograph.

Huntington Estate Website

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $100     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Huntington Estate

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2018 Huntington Estate Tim Stevens Signature Shiraz

Posted on July 17, 2022 by Tony Peters

I was listening to a podcast of a fellow who has, literally, mapped the human brain.  I won’t go into how he did it (it’s pretty gory) but, the result was such that he was able to see, apart from what the brain does as a matter of course, what certain sections of the brain actually do when stimulated.  We all know that particular chemicals are triggered in the brain and provide sensations, both nice and not so nice, depending on what we experience.  While tasting this wine, I have no doubt information would have been darting about alerting every section of my brain while it was being flooded with dopamine, the feel-good chemical (of course).

The colour and aromas of the wine as it sat in the glass was a definite message of things to come.  Denseness, richness and seriousness were evident.  Well, that’s not quite how things panned out on the palate.  Yes it was rich and dense but the ‘seriousness’ was perfectly replaced with two words, ‘elegance’ and ‘class’.  Terrific dark fruit intensity, smooth as silk as it coats the palate with the lush fruit and the oak is very nicely played indeed.  What a delight this wine was to smell, taste, drink and talk about.

Huntington Estate Website

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $100     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Huntington Estate

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2012 Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on July 12, 2022 by Tony Peters

Two or three years ago now I went to a wine tasting in Hobart. All the wines were Tasmanian. Two gentlemen walked in the door, stopped, and while looking at the catalogue, one uttered the words (something like), “I won’t be trying any of the Cabernets,” the other one said, “I don’t know why they don’t just pull it all out.”  I can’t remember which Cabernets were available for tasting at the time but I was so tempted to tell them that this particular Tasmanian Cabernet Sauvignon has been in the Langton’s Classification (Outstanding Section) for a number of years!

Yes, it’s 10 years old but gee I like the youthful edginess it still possesses.  Lovely, rich, dark berry fruits, a little herbal touch and the oak is still present in a gloriously comfortable way.  There’s quite a savouriness to it but something of a sweet element as well which complements it nicely.  The palate sits perfectly in the medium bodied zone, and the tannins present a little drying on the long finish but have the support of the quality fruit I mentioned earlier. 

Elegant, refined and gentlemanly, this is a lovely example of cool climate Cabernet Sauvignon.  I reckon those two fellows would be eating their words if they tried this wine.

Domaine A Website

Region: Coal River Valley, Tasmania     Price: $110     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Domaine A

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2021 Huntington Estate Grenache

Posted on July 7, 2022 by Tony Peters

It’s pretty rare for me not to order an entrée when we go out for dinner.  It kicks off the taste buds in preparation for the main meal.  I try to be good and pick something light knowing the next dish will usually, but not always, be bigger (of course) and richer with sauces and condiments.

I have to confess, I chose this wine to drink before I opened a ‘bigger’ wine to have with dinner.  Yes, it’s lighter than your normal style of Grenache (if there is such a thing) but, let me tell you, it got the wine juices flowing.  I wouldn’t dare call it an entrée style wine.  It is so much better than that.

It’s very pretty and bright in the glass. Youthfulness is definitely shining through aromatically where it’s all fresh red fruits and, I sense, with a dash of fun in there too. Tasting it is all about freshness on the palate too with bright and ripe red berry fruits playing a major role, a red cherry influence and a nice touch of spiciness adding to its palate appeal. It’s a wine that is very easy to like and deserves much more respect than I initially gave it.

Huntington Estate Website

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $32     Source: Sample thanks to Huntington Estate

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2016 Moorilla Estate Cloth Label White

Posted on July 2, 2022 by Tony Peters

Rainbows have been fairly common in my part of the world.  Just enough rain as the sun shines through a gap in the clouds to produce an arc of bright colours, none of which are as clearly defined as when drawn by a child.  The arc stopping in mid-air, not completing the semi-circle shape we have become so familiar with, preventing the prospect of finding that pot of gold at the end.

This wine is (usually) a blend of varieties that form a rainbow of aromas, flavours, characters and complexities.  There’s an abundance of flavour thanks to peaches, pears and apricots providing the main colours to the rainbow of flavour while a deft touch of citrus fruit like acidity give structure to the arc.  Additions of texture and presence, elegance and length, complete this very interesting, funky and thought-provoking wine.  There may not be a pot at the end of this rainbow but there is definitely ‘gold’ in the glass.

Moorilla Website

Region: Tasmania     Price: $75     Source: Sample thanks kindly to Moorilla Estate

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2018 Matthew Atallah Wines Block a2 Chardonnay

Posted on June 27, 2022 by Tony Peters

Over the last two or so years I’ve been really getting into new grape varieties, regions and producers.  Thanks to some associations/contacts I’ve made, one of the best ‘finds’ for me has been the Orange region of New South Wales. Gee I’ve had some good wines from there and here’s another one, but this time, it’s from another new producer coupled with a favourite variety of mine. 

What a marvellous introduction to this producer.  It reeks of ‘quality everything’ on the nose and palate.  Things get rolling with an immediate aromatic impact on the senses. This continues on the palate where there’s great fruit intensity, subtle texture, a delicate creaminess with fine yet vivacious acidity.  There’s a lovely feel to this wine too which persists to the eminently long finish.  A classy, cool climate Chardonnay.

Atallah Wines Website

Region: Orange, NSW Price: $60 Source: Swap

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2021 Yalumba Y Series Viognier and Riesling

Posted on June 19, 2022 by Tony Peters

I remember the times when visiting a cellar door to try wines and the person behind the counter would start with, “…our entry level wines.”  I have to say, I am not a fan of the words ‘entry level’.  It seems so, I don’t know, derogatory, for want of a better word.  I was saying recently to a wine loving mate of mine that, thankfully, it has been a very long time since I have heard the term used.  These days, wineries are giving all their wines an identity which I applaud.  Take these wines for instance.  Most punters know this particular range of Yalumba wines as the ‘Y’ Series, full stop.

These are two of my all-time favourite wines from the range.  Ones that I purchase regularly.  They consistently offer incredible value for money. 

Yalumba Website

Region: Various, Australia     Price: $15 (regularly discounted)     Source: Retail Purchase

2021 Viognier

Utterly varietal on the nose.  Tropical fruit aromas, a little floral and that pollen/honey blossom like character too.  The palate is fresh with the distinct apricot characters, a little addition of peachy notes, it’s textural with a lovely mouth-feel and just a hint of acidity giving some extra character on the finish.

2021 Riesling

It offers plenty of lemony and limey characters, as you’d expect. However, the difference is, considering it can be found regularly at around $10, you get more than you would regularly expect.  It’s fun and refreshing with great palate presence and a nice little pinch of acid on the finish.  It’s such that, it is so reliable, if it was found in the dictionary, the definition would be, ‘fall back, Riesling’, which it is for me.

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2017 Levantine Hill Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Tony Peters

You can’t have lamb and not have Cabernet Sauvignon as the wine of choice.  They go together, as Forest Gump famously said, “…like peas and carrots” (He meant this in a good way).  Any of the Bordeaux blends too, of course, but that’s where I draw the line.  When lamb shanks are served up for dinner, choosing the right Cabernet, for us anyway, was a no brainer.  This excellent one, from a superb Yarra Valley vintage, was an easy pick.

Berry basket of goodness on the nose with just a hint of leafiness.  The palate is rich with blackcurrant and ripe blueberries, texture, just above medium bodied yet elegant and soft, and there’s a little stemminess to it as well.  There’s no beg-your-pardon on the finish either as it sticks to the taste buds, so the enjoyment lasts and lasts.  It seemed to get better too the longer it was open. A gem.

Levantine Hill has moved on to the 2018 vintage, and I’m sure it will be just as good, but there is still some of this available out there in retail land. It will be well worth the search.

Levantine Hill Website

Region: Yarra Valley, Vic     Price: $80     Source: Online purchase (of sorts)

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Domaine A and Moorilla Pinot Noir Releases

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Tony Peters

When I decided to sit down and have a look at these wines, I said to myself, “I’m going to check out the three pinots.”  I had a little chuckle to myself because it sounded like a movie title, you know, like the Three Amigos or the Three Musketeers (there were actually four, that’s always baffled me).  I envisage these three fine examples of Pinot Noir turning up to a dinner party that was floundering with wine choices, or a food/wine match that was sadly lacking.  Glasses, seemingly appearing from nowhere, being filled with the delights from the bottles bringing relief and pleasure to those imbibing in the feast.  Let’s see what each of these Three Pinots bring to the party.

Moorilla Website

Source: Samples thanks kindly to Domaine A and Moorilla

2019 Moorilla Praxis Pinot Noir

Three words: freshness, flavour and fun(k).  But that’s not all.  Hanging off these words is vibrancy, juiciness, personality and moreishness.  There’s nothing trying to be hidden with this wine from go to woh.  Everything is up-front without being in your face.  You know what you’re getting from the first smell and the first taste, seemingly dragging you into its bright and cheery world and you’re more than happy to stay there. Price: $33

2017 Moorilla Muse Pinot Noir

Two words for this one: Oh yeah!  Nothing is missing from this wine.  It’s brash while having finesse, it’s bold yet maintains elegance.  Plenty of dark fruit flavour on offer (while still sitting beautifully in the Pinot Noir world), a sprinkle of spice, juicy plum palate presence and lovely length.  And all of this seems to be on repeat as it keeps coming back to tantalise your taste buds.  It’s classy and mighty impressive. Price: $56

2016 Domaine A Pinot Noir

I only need one word: terrific! Alluringly aromatic, there’s plenty to like just from what wafts from the glass after pouring it!  The palate is rich, generous, balanced, velvety and long.  The abundant flavours of ripe cherries and dark berries seem to spread across the palate at a snail’s pace and are in no rush to leave. There’s also a delicate savouriness in support and the tannins aren’t shy either…in a good way.  A Pinot with poise, presence and persistence. As I said earlier, terrific! Price: $85

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2021 Serere Wines Whitlands Chardonnay

Posted on June 4, 2022 by Tony Peters

Your face is capable of so many different expressions.  In any one day, I reckon we must show so many emotions and feelings through facial expressions thanks, or not, to what we experience.  It could be something we see, are told, touch, smell or taste.  And when one, or more, of our senses is stimulated, people can generally pick our feelings about something by the raising or furrowing of our eyebrows, the screwing up of your nose or that face-filling smile.  If anyone was watching me as I tasted this chardonnay, they would know I was feeling pretty bloody good about it.

Aromatically, this wine stimulates the senses immediately with its youthful vivaciousness. It’s citrussy, minerally and a touch spicy on the nose, and it warrants some serious attention here.  The palate is quite rich yet so so elegant. The usual stone-fruit suspects to the fore, a creamy macadamia nut textural feel to it, lovely mouth-watering acidity and it lingers beautifully.  Nicely done, again, (winemaker) Joe Warren.

Serere Wines Website

Region: Whitlands, Victoria     Price: $45     Source: Online purchase (of sorts)

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