2015 Patina Reserve Chardonnay

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Tony Peters

Zip-A-dee-doo-dah Zip-A-dee-A, my oh my what a wonderful Chardonnay!!

This is my second Patina Chardonnay in a very short period of time and I am mighty impressed.  From start to finish, I simply could not put the glass down.  Whether it was swirling it, smelling it, tasting it or (eventually) drinking it, it didn’t matter.  My wife and I constantly spoke about it in glowing terms.

I realise this is going to seem lazy when it comes to doing a review but, when it comes to this wine, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts” is the best way to sum it up.

‘Generous’ is the easiest word to use for starters.  Aromas and the palate have this is spades.  Stone fruits, creaminess, a delicate citrus hit, textural, lovely palate weight, beautifully balanced and long, long, long, long and long!!  And that’s a wrap.

Just so you know, “This wine has been fermented and aged for twelve months in new and seasoned French Oak”, and it has been used so judiciously it adds some good complexity to the wine and not obvious at all.

Patina Website

Region: Orange, NSW     Price: $45     Source: Sample thanks to Define Wine

2015 Patina Reserve Chardonnay

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2015 Gartelmann ‘Rylstone’ Mudgee Petit Verdot

Posted on June 12, 2018 by Tony Peters

Let me start by saying, there is nothing petite about this Petit Verdot.  The colour, the aromas, the flavours, the level of interest it generated or the bang you get for your buck.  I’m not saying it’s the type of wine that wants to be a scene stealer either, not at all.  It’s more like it wears its heart on its sleeve and just wants to be exactly what it is supposed to be.  A full bodied, full flavoured, food wine.

Crack the screwcap and you will immediately know what I mean.  It was like the wine exhaled the rich black fruit aromas as though they had been (literally) bottled up against their will and what terrific aromas they were.  There was no mistaking how full bodied this was going to be.

A lovely deep, dark colour greets you with open arms then wraps them around you providing a warm comforting hug.  Dark fruits aplenty is the go and they dominate for sure.  Not that that is a bad thing, not by any means.  It’s a very good indicator of how young this wine is.  Complementing the fruit beautifully was dark chocolate, a dash of spice and a hint of licorice.  Put all these flavours together and you can just imagine how delicious and moreish it was.

On the back of the bottle it mentions “…significant tannins”.  Now, I didn’t get that.  They were there, don’t get me wrong, but they worked in conjunction with the powerful fruit flavours as did the oak (14 months in new and older American & French).

I must add that these notes were made on the second night of tasting it.  Not that there was anything wrong with it when I tasted it on the first night.  It seemed to have come together, seemed better balanced and was smooth on the finish with plenty of length.  This definitely has a bright future.

Gartelmann Website

Region: Mudgee, NSW     Price: $35     Source: Sample courtesy Define Wine

2015 Gartelmann PetitVerdot

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2014 Kennedy Wines Heathcote Shiraz

Posted on June 11, 2018 by Tony Peters

It’s been quite a while since I’ve tried a Kennedy wine.  For no other reason than, well, there isn’t one really.  This one reminded me of why I should revisit some of the smaller wineries/producers that have impressed me in the past.  Now, I’m not going to say which bottle warehouse I bought this from but I was so glad it was there.

Apologies, I’m going to use a ‘formula’ (for want of a better word) for this blog post.  I saw it on an Instagram and thought it was simple, succinct and wouldn’t draw on people’s attention too much (to be more specific, bore you.  I’ll be interested to know your thoughts).

Colour: It was deep and dark all the way to the rim. It had a such a sheen to it as well.  Attractive to say the least.

Nose: It took some work but black fruits got me in.  Star anise (or fennel or cheap licorice) and a high percentage of dark chocolate for sure.

Palate:  There’s some licorice with dark fruits including plums.  There’s a slight fruit sweetness that balances sour black cherries.  Medium to full bodied, dense yet delicate with a creamy like (oak?) impact on tasting.  It is so very smooth with a long, long finish. Don’t expect the cool climate white pepper.  It may be savoury but the fruit is the crowning glory for me.  Tannin?  Zip, zilch, zero.  Very nicely done.

Kennedy Wines Website

Region: Heathcote, Victoria     Price: $25     Source: Retail Purchase

Kennedy Shiraz

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2015 Patina Chardonnay

Posted on June 10, 2018 by Tony Peters

I have a lot to thank David Cumming of Define Wine for.  A few months back he introduced me to wineries and wines from areas of New South Wales I was not familiar with, didn’t have a proper appreciation for and am now coming to thoroughly enjoy.  Patina is a perfect example of this.

There is a great story behind the Patina name and I encourage you to click on the website link below and have a read.

Rich yet subtle mouth-filling and palate coating flavours of peaches, pears and cream.  Peaches, pears and cream?  Who wouldn’t love that!!  A delicious, silky textural element that seems to surf the wave of lush fruit right to the finish.  Speaking of the finish,  it is…

…surreptitiously long.  What do I mean by this?  Well, when I tasted it the first time I did everything the normal way including swallowing the wine (I don’t spit wine under these circumstances).  I had a bit of a think about the wine and went to have another taste but the flavours were still there, so I moved my glass away for a few seconds.  As I raised the glass again, those flavours were STILL on my palate!  I think this wine was quietly trying to tell me not to rush it but to savour the flavours it was giving me so generously.  Truly delightful!

Patina Wines Website

Region: Orange, NSW     Price: $35     Source: Sample courtesy of Define Wine

2015 PatinaChardonnay

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2017 Angove Long Row Riesling

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Tony Peters

The expectation is that expensive wine has to be good but, good wine doesn’t have to always be expensive.  Here is a wine to prove that point.

I must admit, the only reason I went for this wine was because it was among other white wines, including a sparkling wine, that didn’t take my fancy.  Added to that, I knew the Angove name was synonymous with good quality wines.

It was a little developed colour wise but that didn’t deter me.  I’m a big Riesling fan.  I was going in anyway.

Quite an aromatic, varietal, citrusy nose so it was off to a very good start for me.  Citrusy for sure on the palate.  Limes with a hint of lemon and subtle grapefruity tang.  It’s nice and delicate without reaching any great heights but, for pete’s sake, look at the price!  I must add, it lingered longer than I expected on the palate too.  Very nice work.

FYI, it was awarded a bronze medal at the Sydney Royal Wine Show in 2017.

Angove Website

Region: South Australia     Price: $10 (Bargain)     Source: Hotel Club Lounge

Angoves Riesling

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Indigo Vineyard – Beechworth

Posted on June 7, 2018 by Tony Peters

In Beechworth there are approximately 30 wine produces which I have to admit surprised me.  What surprised me even more was that there are only 4 Cellar Doors (I think) which was music to my wife’s ears.  So, with a mate’s recommendation and a phone call to Rob Hawkings of Indigo Vineyard, off we went.

Firstly, Rob kindly took us for a drive to the vineyards and what a site it is.  This time of year it’s a mix of vines still with their gold and red leaves while others had dropped theirs and seemed to be exposing themselves to the visitors (Adam and Eve would never drop their leaves in front of visitors).  The sites seem to roll and undulate so seamlessly in the vale it was like they were suited to the location.  Although not certified, they do practice organic and, to a certain extent, bio-dynamic principles in the vineyard.  As much as we talked, I couldn’t help but take it all in.

Indigo Vineyard

After brief meet, greet and chat with vineyard manager Dan, I learnt just how much work there is in a 120 acre vineyard.  Just one example, Dan had to replace 1000 vineyard posts since vintage finished and they were only the ones needing to be replaced immediately!  Actually, I’ll give you another.  I think I’ve got this right but, they are about to start hand pruning the whole vineyard.  Have a quick look back at line two in this paragraph and you’ll get an idea how much work there is to be done.

Back to the cellar door (which was a former butcher shop with slaughter house attached but that’s another story) to taste the line-up of wines.  From whites through to the reds, it was a excellent range with wines to suit anyone and everyone (I think they are one and the same).

The Pinot Grigio is lovely and dry with plenty of flavour and a hint of spice and both Chardonnays were a delight.  The Cowra is an easy weekday drinker while the Secret Village is something else.  This shouts out to be consumed with food.  Don’t ask me what with, you work it out but the structure, the richness, the texture and the length are working perfectly well together already.

A couple of delicious discoveries, for us anyway, were the Secret Village Rousanne and Viognier.  This might sound a little bizarre but I spent a little extra time with both of these wines.  They are both quite expressive showing the varietal characters very well and we came away with a bottle of each (thanks heaps Rob).

Indigo Wines

With us coming from (arguably) the Pinot Noir State of Australia, being poured this variety can be a cause for concern but not for Rob.  Nope, he wasn’t fussed at all and why would he be?  These were scrumptious.  The 2017 was fresh, fruity, and easy drinking with the 20% whole bunch giving it a nice dimension.  The 2016 Secret Villages (30% whole bunch) is an obvious step up.  The colour is gorgeous, the abundant aromas and flavours are in the middle of red and black cherry with a hint of spice/savoury oak.  The palate fades away so slowly that, if you tasted it on a Saturday night, by the time it faded completely you’d be wondering if you need to get ready for the first day of the working week!

The Secret Villages Shiraz deserves its own paragraph.  Another delightful wine.  It’s a dark cherry-skin colour that belies its medium bodied palate.  Quite elegant but there’s a good whack of dark fruit on the palate that hangs on too.  Oak is very supportive and is a good friend to the end.

Among all of these we were also treated to tastes of the nice and juicy, gluggable Sangiovese and the soft, subtle, fruit forward, medium bodied Cabernet, both of which would be the glamour couple at any Sunday lunch no matter the time of year or where you live in this great country.

So, after a couple of hours with Rob, we left Indigo Vineyard having seen the idyllic vineyard location, tasted the impressive line-up of wines, met Mary at Cellar Door (who keeps everything ticking along nicely at cellar door) and left with smiles on our faces and some bottles in the boot…well hatchback area to be precise.  A perfect end to our time in Northeast Victoria.

Indigo Vineyard Website

Location: 1221 Beechworth Wangaratta Road, Everton Upper Vic

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2015 Levantine Hill Syrah

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Tony Peters

It was only a few months ago I wrote about the pure luxury of the 2014 (here) which won a very prestigious award.  I commented at the time of just how good the 2015 was going to be considering the positive talk of that vintage.  I don’t know if there is a better term than ‘luxury’ but if there is, it would be ideal to describe this wine.

So where do you think the best place to start with this wine is?  Well, for me, paired it up with my dessert for the afternoon.  Yep, seriously.  It was a perfect match but I’ll get to that later.

The nose is generous with plenty of dark fruits that seem to blend in with subtle white pepper aromas but it’s the palate where this shines.  “Captivating” is the word actually.

It starts off with gentler dark fruit flavours like loganberry and mulberry but builds up to a richness that is a little shy of blackberries (if you know what I mean) and it just gets better!  Dark cherries, plums, spiciness and dab of dark chocolate all spread so evenly across the palate, oak and tannins complementing everything just perfectly, and it fills every crevice of the mouth for a very long time.  If you can, let it sit in the glass a little longer and sip and taste it over a period of time and you’ll see just how beautifully it develops.

That dessert I mentioned earlier was Soft chocolate, Pedro Ximenez, salted caramel and malt ice cream (quoted directly from the menu).  Coupled with the berriness, cherriness, chocolatiness and creaminess of this wine, I was trying to work out if life could get any better.

This is a complex, beautifully balanced wine, no doubt about it.  Having just won the Australian Red Trophy, Australian Shiraz Trophy and Victoria Shiraz Trophy at the International Wine Challenge in London, this is already selling quickly so get in fast for your share.

Levantine Hill Website

Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria     Price: $80     Source: Ezard Restaurant Wine List

Levantine Hill syrah 2015

 

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2017 Shanahans Wines ‘Resisting Temptation’ Rosé

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Tony Peters

If I had to nominate a my favourite grape variety when it comes to a rosé it would have to be Grenache.  Shiraz comes in second and very close in third spot is Sangiovese, so you can imagine my excitement when I discover a rosé made using two of my top three varieties.

The Forrest Gump movie is a classic and many of Forrest’s quotes continue to be used long after the movie was released.  One of those that sticks in my head is, “Jenny and me was like peas and carrots”.  In case you were wondering, this actually has a meaning which is, “…any two things that go well together, get along very well together, or are well-suited”.  I have to say these two varieties work very well together here.

The fancy clear bottle showcasing the pretty salmon pink colour of the wine makes it hard to resist (no pun intended) so, when it was cool enough, the screwcap was appropriately removed.  A red berry bouquet was clearly waiting to pounce on the senses and there was no time wasted tasting it.

The red fruits appear on the palate and here they show their freshness, brightness, perkiness, cheeriness and any other fun word you care to put ‘ness’ on the end of.  Don’t worry, it’s not all about the red fruits.  There is some extra ‘Bubba’ lip service (and we all remember how big that bottom lip was) from some cherries that add to a dry, persistent, slightly textural finish.

I’ve come up with a ‘ness’ word of my own for this wine.  Moreness, and this wine has plenty of it.

Shanahans Wines Website

Region: Barossa Valley, SA     Price: $20     Source: On line purchase (of sorts)

Shanahans-Resisting-Temptation-Rose

 

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2015 Shanahans ‘The Barking Dog’ Grenache Shiraz Mataro

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Tony Peters

Grenache Shiraz Mataro (or Mourvèdre) blends, GSMs for short, are not to be approached in a blasé or perfunctory fashion by winemakers these days.  They are becoming quite the ‘go to’ wines when it comes to adaptability for a variety of foods and occasions.  From  Barbeques to a Beef Bourguignon, GSMs are the perfect ‘pick it up and pour it for the people’ wines.

This example, beautifully crafted by John Harris, will definitely be a crowd pleaser.  Let me tell you why.

The colour is pretty amazing for this blend.  It’s quite a deep purple with cherry red rim that speaks of its youth.

It smells rich, juicy and down-right delicious.  Blackberries and dark cherries I reckon but almost a little sweetness coming through… raspberry like.  This certainly bodes well for what’s in store.

Pure drinking pleasure!  The blackberries and dark cherries turn up for this part of the show, palate coating plums too along with a flick of fennel and spice.  The tannins are soft and velvety providing the ideal accompaniment to the better than medium weight palate and delightfully surprising (and I don’t mean this is bad way) long finish.  I knew this was going to bring a smile to the dial and that was before I saw the price.

Shanahans Wines Website

Region: Barossa Valley, SA     Price: $20 (Bargain!)     Source: On Line Purchase (of sorts)

the-barking-dog-2015-gsm

 

 

 

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2015 Grey Sands Romanesque

Posted on May 23, 2018 by Tony Peters

Have you noticed how many Roman Empire constructions are still standing some 2000 years after they were built?  Well apparently they have worked out why.  A bloke by the name of Vitruvius (What was his mother thinking?!) wrote of “a kind of powder which from natural causes produces astonishing results”.  It was more so with maritime architecture where the sea hardened a blend of volcanic ash, lime and seawater which then mixed with an aggregate of volcanic rock.

In the article I was reading, it referred to a study by a smart lady at the University of Utah, Marie Jackson, where seawater found its way into the cracks of the construction and it dissolved some of the ash.  The alkali fluid allowed the minerals to develop which strengthened it and bonded the materials.  How cool is that?

Now, I’m not saying this wine has been built using this method or to last as long as some of the Roman structures we see today.  It is clearly a blend of three grape varieties that have bound together in a strong, united and unique way that will have “Friends, Romans and Countrymen…” lending their ears, eyes and tastebuds.

A blend of Shiraz, petit verdot and touriga franca, this is not a wine your going to find in many places around Australia let alone Tasmania.  A fruit forward wine with plenty of relatives from the berry family in the mix with bold blueberries holding the reins of this wine chariot.  There’s a cohort in support consisting of some subtle herbs and leafy notes, savouriness and soft smooth tannins bringing up the rear as it departs the arena triumphantly.

Grey Sands Website

Region: Glengarry, Tasmania     Price: $40     Source: Generous gift

Shop-Romanesque_2015

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