2016 Taylors ‘Taylor Made’ Chardonnay

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Tony Peters

I had a bit of a scratch of the head when I tried this wine (and another of the ‘Taylor Made’ range).  I was thinking, how do Taylors keep coming up with a new range and continue to hit the bullseye?  I don’t know where to start looking for the answer either.

Well the scratching of the head soon turned to licking the lips.  This is a pretty juicy, moreish Chardonnay.

There’s no hiding the fact it’s a Chardonnay either.  It has all the hallmarks.  It’s flinty on the nose with peaches, pears and lemon meringue pie.  On the palate it’s nutty, creamy, vanilla like, rich yet medium body, a nice touch of spice, good palate weight and excellent length with a nice touch of acidity adding balance.  This has plenty of appeal both for its drinking and its price.

 

Taylors Wines

Region: Adelaide Hills, SA     Price: $25     Source: Retail Purchase

Taylor Made Chardonnay

Posted in Chardonnay | Leave a comment

2017 Irvine Spring Hill Riesling

Posted on March 3, 2018 by Tony Peters

irvine-riesling-2017_360x

I decided to put the bottle at the top of the page for this review for the simple reason, I’d like you to look at it before you read further.

What does the label tell you about the contents apart from the obvious?  In all honesty, not much really and that’s not unusual or unexpected from a punter’s perspective and that’s fair enough but it’s also a shame.  Where this label says little of the actual wine, the wine speaks loudly and proudly of the region, variety, vintage and winemaking.

If I had to sum it up in twelve words, they would be ‘Intense and flavoursome but delicate and soft with a long lingering finish‘ but you really need to know more because those twelve words are like the label on the front of this bottle.  They don’t tell you anywhere near enough about the wine.

My first smell conjured up thoughts of there possibly being some residual sugar but with the added aroma citrus fruits chiming in, I knew this was going to be balanced from top to toe.  This really didn’t prepare me for what I was about to taste.  Those citrus fruit flavours increase on the palate and continue to do so, then it seems to reach a plateau of intensity and acidic delicacy that just hangs there.  I said earlier I knew this was going to be balanced and it is beautifully so.  Very much enjoyed what was underneath the understated label that’s for sure.

Irvine Wines

Region: Eden Valley, SA     Price: $24     Source: Swap

Posted in Riesling | Leave a comment

2017 Main & Cherry Adelaide Hills Pinot Grigio

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Tony Peters

Pinot Grigio can be such a broad term these days.  When used on a wine label you can be rest assured that you will be getting something fresh, fruity, low in alcohol and easy to drink.  There’s nothing wrong with that at all.  However, sometimes there is one, like this one, that comes along and puts a completely different and delicious slant on the Grigio style.

Lots to take in on the nose.  Fresh as a daisy and, on that note, some blossomy aromas plus citrusy characters too.

Now, drinking it provides the pear characters I expected but there’s little of the texture I’ve found in other Grigios (not that that’s unusual).  It had some other complimentary characters that gave it the ‘deliciousness’ factor.  A nice lemon/lime/grapefruity acid tang gave it a really good freshness and vivacity that you can’t miss or help but enjoy.  The other very pleasant thing about this one is it lingers that little bit longer on the palate which would not normally be expected.

For me, this is has been made in a very smart way.  I say that in the context of being a Grigio that will easily fit in to a relaxing afternoon drink at a café, an accompaniment to tapas on a relaxing afternoon or a delicious dinner at a Thai restaurant.

Main & Cherry

Region: Adelaide Hills, SA     Price: $25     Source: Cellar Door Purchase (Sort of)

main-and-cherry-pinot-grigio-2017__10100.1516687035.560.850

Posted in Other Whites | Leave a comment

2017 Yalumba Y Series Pinot Grigio

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Tony Peters

This is a (‘nother) favourite in our home.  I want to point out from the start it has nothing to do with the price and everything to do with the wine.

I know this is going to sound a bit bizarre but part of the excitement about each vintage of this wine is which part of the Gris/Grigio spectrum this is going to sit and with this one, it’s touch and go which way it falls.  Either way, it never disappoints.

Pinot Gris was the ‘style’ of choice (just) with the crew I served this up to even though the general consensus was it had a Grigio freshness.  It offers up a fair bit on the palate and that is where is proves it’s an absolute bargain.  Plenty of pear characters and some nice texture, then in comes a gentle crunchy apple like acid component that I reckon is where that freshness comes from.  It adds a nice dimension to the wine too.

Stating the obvious here I know.  This is a bloody good wine at a bloody good price.

 

Yalumba

Region: South Australia     Price: $15 (I paid $11)     Source: Retail Purchase

y_series_pinotgrigio

Posted in Other Whites | Leave a comment

2010 Mitchell Sevenhill Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Tony Peters

The word ‘respect’ is not to be taken lightly or used willy nilly.  When used, it adds quite amount of weight to a situation, let’s be honest.

It is obvious to me the Mitchell family have a lot of respect for Clare Valley Cabernet.  They clearly know how to treat it and when to show it to the wine loving world.  That’s a skill in itself.

Incredible from the outset.  Great, great colour and it just goes on a gradual, upward plane from here.  A berry basket bonanza on the nose and it still smells pretty fresh even though the (new?) oak says a quiet hello.

There’s nothing quiet about the flavours though.  On the palate it gives you everything a red wine could possibly possess but in such a powerful yet subtle way.  The black fruits start it off, the oak joins in, the tannins accept an invitation then the black fruits come back around to wrap it all up…and repeat.  It seems to keep on giving and presenting.  I must say, the tannins seemed to break away from this conga line and show themselves individually but the fruit is such it doesn’t take much to pull them back into line.  Time in the cellar will soon fix this.

I stand, remove my hat and tip it in deference to the crew at Mitchell Wines.  They deserve it for, yet again, holding a wine back and releasing it at 8 years of age.  And what a wine it is and will be!

Mitchell Wines

Region: Clare Valley, SA     Price: $28     Source: Sample courtesy of Mitchell Wines

Mitchell_Cabernet_NV

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon | Leave a comment

Yalumba Y Series Riesling

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Tony Peters

Riesling.  A variety I am happy to pay good money for.  I don’t mind paying less money either when I hear and read good things about it, supported by my knowledge of it.  This particular one has always been a favourite, always been very well made, always at a bargain basement price and always easily found.   I don’t think there is a box it doesn’t tick!

It’s all Riesling from head to toe.  Florals and a citrusy nose lead the way and it’s such that you expect a touch of residual sugar on the palate but, stand by.

Fresh and fruity in this zone but with limey acidity and…dry!  Yep.  Perfect in my eyes.  I would love to know how they do it for the RRP.  Ka-Ching!!

 

Yalumba

Region: Barossa & Eden Valley     Price: $15 (I paid $11)     Source: Retail purchase

Y Series Riesling

Posted in Riesling | Leave a comment

2016 Hoddles Creek Yarra Valley Chardonnay

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Tony Peters

The talk around town is that Riesling seems not to be getting the attention it deserves.  I think I read where it was referred to as the ‘noble white grape’…which is fine,  I get that and I like it a lot.  However, I think there needs to be a platform for other varieties to slide alongside those dubbed a ‘noble white grape’.  This Hoddles Creek Chardonnay presses this point even more so.

Fresh and lively it awakens you with the immediate, tell-tale and recognisable Chardonnay aroma and it doesn’t go away in a hurry.  This caused a pause before I tasted it because I wanted to take it all in, and so should you.

There was even more enjoyment when I tasted, or should I say started drinking this wine.  It simply gave everything in spades and, when you consider the price, it is truly astonishing.

The often used and ideal descriptor is stone fruit.  Throw in flinty, minerally and textural, even almondy (I know that’s not a word) and it got me thinking how it has some complexity too.  The acidity sat perfectly with this wine and it threw me a bit.  It made me wonder if it was built to tuck in and enjoy or be patient and let it show more of what it obviously has to offer.  Nicely done Franco d’Anna.  I’ll leave the other 4 bottles I have to answer that question over time.

hoddlescreekestate.com.au

Region: Yarra Valley, Vic.     Price: $22     Source: Online purchase.

2016_Hoddles_Creek_Estate_Chardonnay

 

Posted in Chardonnay | Leave a comment

2016 Irvine The Estate Merlot Cabernet Franc

Posted on February 24, 2018 by Tony Peters

A Merlot based red blend?  Not something that springs to mind if someone asked me for an Aussie red blend recommendation.  Even the people at Irvine Wines would not be at all surprised at this outcome.  For this reason, I applaud them.  They have taken the plunge into the vast sea of blended reds and come to the surface with this Merlot Cabernet Franc in a life jacket.  The wine has been made so well, it was always destined to survive.

It definitely looks like a young buck in the glass thanks to the purple tinge at the edges but it is quite deep in colour.

On the nose it is not dark fruits but it’s not red fruits either.  From what I have read about mulberries (I’ve only ever tasted two), it seems as though that, and dark cherries, are what you’ll get here.

Now, here’s a thing.  Tasting this wine gives some pretty cool, very delicious and moreish characters.  As much as Merlot is 66 parts per hundred of the blend, the expected plum characteristics are but a bit player.  The Merlot must be a damn fine clone because it provides darker fruits than would normally be expected of the variety.  The Cab Franc adds some weight, width and length so well, you’d be mistaken for thinking it added more to the make-up than 34%.

This wine is all about the fruit.  French oak has been used but seems happy to carry the abundant fruit while the tannins support the Cab Franc at the finish.  It gives the punter plenty without a huge investment at the bottleshop.  Very nice work indeed.

irvinewines.com.au

Region: Eden Valley, South Australia     Price: $30     Source: Swap

irvine-estate-merlot-cabernet-franc-2016_360x

Posted in Red Blends | Leave a comment

Levantine Hill – Ezard at Levantine

Posted on February 23, 2018 by Tony Peters

My wife and I are big advocates of the degustation menu with matching wines.  Getting the balance of enough food coupled with the right amount of wine and matching the textures as well as the flavours can be a chefs and sommeliers nightmare.

Cue Ezard at Levantine.  Here is the exception and I say that having experienced it for myself.

Let me start at the beginning;  Teage Ezard has come up with an exquisite menu that works so well with the quality Levantine Hill wines you are bound to walk away thinking like I did.  There has been a lot of thought, care and planning gone into this.

LevantineFood-signature-salmon

Ora King salmon, squid ink, tapioca dust, Yarra Valley Dairy Persian fetta, chervil, salmon roe, yuzu pearls, burdock root, and finished with various succulents.

The dishes are not a meal, let me make that clear from the start but, this is a good thing.  When selecting the degustation menu of your choice, whether it be the five course (with the option of an extra wagyu beef inclusion) or the eight course, there is enough food to satisfy even the most robust of eaters.  The menus are so well structured and thought out.  I just realised how (almost) boring that sounds.  What I mean is, the dishes are served in a sequence that highlights the hero of the dish starting with lighter foods through to heavier meats, culminating in dessert.

LH Ezard

Top: Pork belly, green pea, garlic, red wine

Bottom: Wagyu beef, ox tongue, onion, pickled shiitake, potato terrine

Another treat awaiting the taste buds is how delicately and beautifully the flavours are matched.  Nothing is overpowering or dominant.  Everything seems to just meld together effortlessly.  I’ve only ever used this word when I’ve described a wine but, ‘balanced’ is appropriate for all of the dishes.

LH Ezard2 - Copy

Apple, black sesame, fromage frais

Another aspect of their ‘way’ is the timing of presenting each course.  Nothing is rushed, each course seems to appear in a timely manner and with a clear, concise verbal description of what you’re about to experience.  Not in a way that is pretentious or boastful but informative and in a proud way.  Gee they do a good job of this!

The whole experience is exactly that, an experience (it’s not a process like some places).    You certainly feel special but you don’t feel exclusive.  Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean this in a bad way.  It’s just that the Ezard team make you feel so relaxed and comfortable it is like they are bringing you your meal at your own dining table.

I know it is not within everyone’s reach but, if you get the chance to visit and eat at  Ezard at Levantine Hill, special occasion or not, do so.  When you leave, it will be remembered as a special occasion regardless.  I have no doubt.

Ezard at Levantine Hill

Region: Yarra Valley, Victoria     Price: (from) $135     Source: Invitation

Next time: Levantine Hill – The Wines

 

Posted in Cellar Door | Leave a comment

2017 Mérite Merlot Rosé

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Tony Peters

I have been really enjoying drinking rosé lately.  The same can be said for the other person that lives under the same roof as me, my wife.  Out of the two of us, she can be the thorn in your rosé if you serve up a dud.  I have no hesitation in saying that no rosé coloured glasses were needed for this one.

It’s quite a pretty colour.  Sits between the pink-ish colour that’s not unexpected for a rosé to a coppery colour of a skinsy pinot gris.  Aromas are all red fruits with a hint of sweetness but are subtle, delicate and inviting.

When you taste this rosé, you are going to be more than surprised for one that is merlot based.  It has all the bright red fruits like strawberries, ripe cranberries and juicy plums but there’s depth on the palate and texture too.  Tannins play a part that you wouldn’t expect in a rosé yet they are nicely played here.  It’s delicious, no two ways about it.  Well priced too.

We are really enjoying riding on the Rosé Revolution train that’s selling heaps of tickets and stopping at many stations around Australia.

Merite Wines

Region: Wrattonbully, SA     Price: $24     Source: Online purchase

2017_ruckus_estate_merite_rose_

Posted in Other Reds | Leave a comment