2018 Gartelmann Sarah Elizabeth Chardonnay

Posted on November 24, 2019 by Tony Peters

I’ve always been a fan but I am so very pleased about Chardonnay coming back on the radar of wine drinkers.  Well, at least I think it is.  Judging by the comments from a number of friends and work colleagues I’ve spoken to recently, this seems to be true.  Most of them are asking for recommendations and the region or state doesn’t seem to be a consideration.  I like that too.

Excellent aromas of lemons/limes, stone fruits and just a hint of flint/struck match sort of thing.  These characters are also present on the palate which is both lush and lively at the same time.  Very good fruit characters with peaches and citrus fruits (lemons & limes) the main players.  Lovely palate weight thanks to some lees stirring resulting in a creaminess that compliments the aforementioned fruit characters very nicely, and a beautifully balanced, delicate yet flavoursome finish to round it all out perfectly.

This is a mighty fine Chardonnay and it stands to reason why it won the trophy for ‘Best White Wine of Show’ at the 2019 Orange Wine Show.

Gartelmann Website

Region: Orange Region, NSW     Price: $30     Source: Sample courtesy of Gartelmann Wines and Define Wine

GartelmannSEChardonnay2018

 

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2019 Angullong Sauvignon Blanc

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Tony Peters

I had to have a little chuckle at myself when I sat down and started writing this review.  In the category section of my blog site, I went looking for ‘Sauvignon Blanc’ as one of the boxes to tick.  There wasn’t one.  You see, when my brother set up this blog site for me, I told him not to include a category for Sauvignon Blanc because, at the time, I simply wasn’t a fan of the variety and figured I wouldn’t be reviewing many if any.  So, in the nearly four years I’ve been doing this, I’ve actually reviewed more than I thought, even if it’s not that many, and there has not been a bad one amongst them.  I feel like I’ve cheated myself and let the SB drinking demographic down!

Very aromatic with passion fruit, fresh from the pod peas and mouthwatering hints of lemon citrus on the nose.  The palate is zesty and fresh with plenty of flavours from those aromatic characters I mentioned.  There is some lovely texture and good palate weight as it peters off to a nice, crisp, medium length dry finish.

NZ Sauvignon Blancs don’t hold a candle to Australian Sauvignon Blancs of this calibre at this price.  It’s a beauty and that means a lot coming from me.  It definitely deserves its gold medal and trophy it was recently awarded, and the little stickers should be proudly placed on the bottle for all to see.

Angullong Wines Website

Region: Orange, NSW     Price: $22     Source: Sample courtesy of Angullong Wines and Define Wine

Angullong Sav Blanc

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2019 Angullong Pinot Grigio

Posted on October 24, 2019 by Tony Peters

I haven’t checked any statistics, however I reckon the leader of the most popular white wine in Australia at the moment would be a very close race.  Pinot Grigio/Gris and Sauvignon Blanc must be the leaders in this category.

When it comes to this variety, there is so much being provided (for want of a better word) to the consumer at very good prices.  Gone are the days of a white wine with up front fruity flavours and not much else (for quite a few of them anyway).  These sorts of wines are popping up on bottleshop shelves on a very regular basis and, I can categorically say, many more are being entered into wine shows.  This one has walked away with two gold medals and a trophy.  I can see why!

Goodness me, I loved the aromas that wafted from the glass from the outset.  As expected, it’s fresh and vibrant and smells like it’s jam packed with flavour.  Speaking of which, pears aplenty, peaches and there’s a sort of hint of sweetness, yet delicate acidity brings it back into balance.  Add a nice touch of musk to that freshness and vibrancy (as expected for such a young white wine) plus lovely length, balance and texture and you have very, very good wine indeed.  I have to say the bottle was almost empty by the time my wife and I talked about it and I made notes.  Say no more!

Angullong Website

Region: Orange, NSW     Price: $22     Source: Sample courtesy of Angullong Wines and Define Wine

Angullong Pinot Grigio

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2015 Grey Sands The Mattock

Posted on October 18, 2019 by Tony Peters

I decided to research the actual garden tool, the Mattock (thanks again to Google) and I was a bit surprised, and a little confused, as to its history.  I won’t bore you with it all but part of the (Wikipedia) blurb that stuck out to me was, “Mattocks are the most commonly depicted tool in Byzantine manuscripts of Greek poet Hesiod’s Works and Days”.  If you didn’t already know, Bob and Rita Richter also have a white wine named Byzantine.  Now I don’t know if this is pure coincidence or not but I reckon it’s a great connection into their world of wine.

Merlot makes up the majority of this wine coming in at 60%, with Malbec making up 40% and Cabernet Franc providing very good support, even if it is only 10% of the makeup.

It exudes very nice and attractive, fresh dark fruit aromas that gave me a pretty good insight into what I thought I was about to taste.  Black fruits are the mainstays with blackberries and blackcurrants shining through, then ‘hello’ to supportive plum characters on the abundant palate (but not rich if you know what I mean).  Definitely not shy on flavour that’s for sure.  It has a fairly long finish where some earthiness and tannin poke through but did not take anything away from the excellent fruit.

It is a very well made, flavoursome and balanced wine with the structure to age very well.  I’m going to go out on a limb and say, if my memory serves me correctly, this is probably the best Mattock out of the 4 vintages released and I’ve been lucky enough to try them all.

Grey Sands Website

Region: Glengarry, Tasmania     Price: $45     Source: Sample thanks to Grey Sands

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2017 Bailey Wine Co Watervale Riesling

Posted on October 11, 2019 by Tony Peters

I poured this Riesling for a mate recently and he was impressed.  It prompted him to say that he couldn’t understand why Riesling is among the lowest for sales of white wine in Australia.  I won’t go into what his role is in the industry but he has been a part of it for most, if not all, of his working life so he knows his stuff.  I was a bit surprised but, more so, felt sad hearing that statement.  Just my opinion of course, but it is one of the most versatile varieties in the world and so food friendly.  You really can’t go wrong when buying a bottle of this noble of white grape varieties.

Lovely perfumed citrusy nose to this wine that spoke so proudly of Watervale.  Plenty of flavour for all and sundry for sure.  Now, I could give you the usual descriptors when it comes to Riesling, and most of them are in this wine, but what has to be mentioned is the unmistakable attractiveness and downright deliciousness of the wine.  I can’t speak enough about that.  Add delicate soft acid to the plenty of flavour I mentioned earlier and the persistence on the finish, and you have a ripper Riesling for a ripper price.

Bailey Wine Co Website

Region: Watervale, SA     Price: $25     Source: Online purchase (of sorts)

Bailey Wine Co Rizza

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2019 Bailey Wine Co Mount Gambier Rosé

Posted on September 28, 2019 by Tony Peters

Hands up if you like rosé.  Hands up if you like Pinot Noir rosé.  You lot are going to love this wine.  For those of you who did not put your hand up, you need to pay attention.  This is another Pinot Noir rosé that is going to change your mind.

Now, I’m the first to admit to being a bit skeptical about rosé being made from the Pinot Noir grape variety.  I just wasn’t so sure about the body and flavour it could present in a rosé style of wine (not that there should be a lot of body in a rosé but it definitely needs to have flavour).  Among some others I’ve tried in this category, this one is an ‘all hands up’ type of rosé that needs to be in your fridge ready for summer.

It’s pale pink in colour which, I have to say, didn’t excite me to start with.  That trepidation was soon quashed when I smelt it.  Great nose I have to say.  Strawberries and cream and we even detected a hint of kiwi fruit in there too.  A delicious, delicate, creamy, flavoursome palate to get the ball rolling.  Those strawberry notes showing up again, citrusy characters adding a nice acidic dimension to the fruit, texture to boot and a pretty good, dry finish too.  At the end of the day, without question, it’s a delightful rosé.

Bailey Wine Co Website

Region: Mount Gambier, SA    Price: $22 (bargain)   Source: Online purchase..sort of. 🙂

Bailey Wine Co rose

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2017 Castle Rock Estate Porongurup Shiraz

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Tony Peters

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” Now, I don’t know when Eleanor Roosevelt said this but I think there is some correlation between it and West Australian Shiraz.  You see, West Australia is a bit like another wine region in Australia when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon getting all the attention.  Shiraz does just as well in the biggest state of Australia so I’m hoping it is not seen as inferior by those outside of WA.  My new saying for Shiraz from way out west is, “It may not be superior but it certainly is not inferior“.

It’s a very inviting nose to kick things off.  Pepper and spice and all things berry nice.

Plenty of flavour to take in that’s for sure.  Plums and spicy dark cherries with a touch of blackberry.  Savouriness with the addition of pepper in both ebony and ivory form on the medium bodied palate.  It’s quite an elegant style of Shiraz with a bit of finesse about it too, and while the tannins are evident, they are complimentary to the smooth lingering finish.  Maybe this is superior (wink, wink)?

Castle Rock Estate Website

Region: Porongurup, WA     Price: $30 (bargain buying)     Source: Sample courtesy of Castle Rock Estate and Define Wine

Castle Rock Porongurup shiraz

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2016 Angullong Orange Region Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on September 18, 2019 by Tony Peters

After tasting this wine from the Orange region of New South Wales, it got me thinking.  Is it getting to the point where the list of the more well known Cabernet Sauvignon regions of Australia is becoming longer?  I say this because I have been lucky enough to try a number of wines made from this variety that were from the lesser known areas.  I won’t go into them all but I would like you to think about the place this wine comes from.  Orange, New South Wales.  It’s not the first Cabernet I’ve tried from Orange but it is certainly one of the best.  That’s my opinion only of course, so I strongly suggest you find this wine and try it.

The bold nose is Cabernet Sauvignon for sure.  Helloooooo blackberries!

Better than medium bodied, the palate has dense and rich black fruits (but not rich rich if you know what I mean) of blackberries and currants and juicy dark cherries.  It is so smooth and has a creamy texture on the medium length finish with just a delicate spice hit as well to add to the moreishness of this wine.  I really liked it and loved the price even more!

Angullong. Website

Region: Orange, NSW     Price: $22 (bargain)     Source: Sample courtesy of Angullong Wines and Define Wine

Angullong_Cabernet

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2014 Grey Sands Pinot Noir

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Tony Peters

The words ‘Pinot Noir’ are pretty much part of the Tasmanian vernacular these days.  When Tasmanian wine comes up in a conversation, no matter who I speak with, Pinot Noir gets quite a bit of the attention over the other popular varieties.  There is so much good quality pinot coming out of the ‘Island State’ that even wineries on the big island are purchasing fruit to make a Tassie Pinot, buying vineyards or buying land and planting vines.  That’s a good sign don’t you think?

Well, Bob & Rita Richter saw the potential in planting a vineyard and growing grapes for wine production way back in 1989.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but foresight is what pays off.  Well done Bob & Rita I say.

It may well be five years old but it still has a lovely deep colour.  Now, the colour  may have you questioning its varietalness (I don’t think that’s a word) and origin.  Look past that and onto the aromas and the taste.  It is most definitely Pinot Noir, and Tassie.  No question.

Plums, dark cherries with a sweet red fruit influence sort of thing (sorry, I know this sounds odd) that adds a freshness or youthfulness if you like.  It’s quite mouthfilling, not in a rich or full bodied way but more of a plenty-of-flavour sort of way without taking away from that varietalness I mentioned earlier.  It’s lovely and smooth and little bit vanilla like on the finish that lingers very nicely indeed.  Tannins have almost integrated at this point of its development meaning you can tell they are present but don’t impinge on the enjoyment of drinking the wine.  To finish off, I’m going to sum this wine up in five words. Balanced with a bright future.

Grey Sands Website

Region: Glengarry, Northern Tasmania     Price: $55     Source: Sample thanks to Grey Sands

Grey Sands Pinot_Noir 2014

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2019 Castle Rock Porongurup ‘Skywalk’ Riesling

Posted on September 15, 2019 by Tony Peters

Riesling; described by Jancis Robinson MW in her Oxford Companion to Wine as “arguably the world’s most undervalued, misspelt, mispronounced variety … and could claim to be the finest white grape variety in the world on the basis of the longevity of its wines and their ability to transmit the characteristics of their vineyard”.  So apt when it comes to this wine, except the part that is more likely to be mispronounced would be Porongurup!

To get things started, it’s quite floral without being too much to be off-putting (I’m not sure I can explain it better than that but I hope you know what I mean) but it it has some lovely limey, citrusy aromas balancing it out perfectly.

The palate’s the place to be though.  Fresh with lots of flavour, those lovely lime characters appear again, and I just had to gently swish it around my mouth.  Not like it was a mouthwash, more to get the wine into every crevice possible.  Hello to crispy, mouthwatering acidity on the finish adding to the delightful length.  Beautifully balanced already and has a terrific mouthfeel too.  I could easily drink a lot of this Riesling.  Easily!

Castle Rock Estate Website

Region: Porongurup, WA     Price: $20 (An absolute bargain)     Source: Sample courtesy of Castle Rock Estate and Define Wine

Castle-Rock_2018_Porongurup-Riesling_180x

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