2017 Chateau Yaldara Pinot Gris

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Tony Peters

This variety is becoming popular.  Simple.  Some styles are simple. Expected.  Some styles are expected to be simple.  Not this one.

It didn’t get off to a good start I must say.  It seemed a bit, well, lazy.  Yeah, that seems the appropriate word.  I had to do a bit of work to lure some aromas from it but when I did it was quite aromatic and Gris specific.

No surprises when drinking this either.  Pears of course,  hint of spice a nice touch and dimension, and even though it sits at a very stylish 12% alcohol, there’s enough palate weight for it to sit proudly in the Gris spectrum even if it doesn’t give a normal Gris length.

This is a good wine and proved to be popular with our unexpected visitors the afternoon I opened it.  They, like me, were impressed and pleasantly surprised with the price too.

1847wines.com

Region: Adelaide Hills     Price: $22     Source: Sample courtesy of Chateau Yaldara

CY-Pinot-Gris-WEB

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2015 Tatachilla Sangiovese

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Tony Peters

Here’s an Aussie Sangio (that’s slang for Sangiovese just so you know) that sits pretty comfortably in its skin.

When my wife said she was going to build a bolognese, this just seemed the perfect ‘grab’.  Italian bolognese, Sangiovese wine.  They work well together, we work well together…and still do.  Perfetto!

I get frustrated when a wine is dubbed a ‘pizza’ wine.  I think we punters should be the judge of that especially when any wine could be a pizza wine.  This is so much better than that.

This is going to impress in a big way.  Freshness, juiciness and loads of appeal.  I’d give two thumbs up only I need one of them to help hold the glass.

Red fruits, bright fruits, juicy fruits and fun fruits.  Uncomplicated but uncompromising when it comes to flavour too.

The price is always going to be a cause for concern when it comes to quality versus dollars.  Breathe in, relax, breathe out, click, grab your wallet and proceed to checkout.

tatachilla.com.au

Region: McLaren Vale     Price: $25     Source: Sample courtesy of Tatachilla

Tatachilla Sangiovese

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2015 Penley Estate Gryphon Red Blend

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Tony Peters

If you studied Greek mythology you would know what Gryphon is or means.  If you didn’t, you’re not alone.  I’m with you on that.

As it turns out it is a mythical creature made up of two not so mythical creatures.  Now, depending on which image you look at, the Gryphon can be both elegant and, dare I say it, an ugly looking beast.

Being only two years old, from Coonawarra, and a blend of varieties that tend to do well in that popular Aussie wine zone, you know it is always going to be a fresh, vibrant, fleshy, initially dark fruit forward wine.  Tannins stump up at the finish.  Maybe a little chalky/powdery but the fruit helped out here too.

There’s nothing mythical about this beautiful beast.  It’s genuine, it’s real and it’s easy to catch and keep.

penley.com.au

Region: Coonawarra     Price: $20     Source: Sample courtesy of Penley Estate

PenleyGryphon_product1

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2014 The Blok Estate Coonawarra Riesling

Posted on October 18, 2017 by Tony Peters

It’s no secret that Riesling is one of my favourite white wines.  Generally speaking, they are released pretty much the year they are grown, made and bottled.  Nothing wrong with that.  Who doesn’t like a fresh, spritely, limey, lemony youngster of a wine?  As much as I do, I also enjoy Riesling that has been given the opportunity to age.

I’m going to use the word, aromaticity.  I don’t know if that’s a word (the squiggly red line appeared underneath it so, not a good sign) but I think this wine has it.  Sitting on a nice citrusy base, texture filling out the middle, finishing off with a smooth acidic icing that allows you to have your ‘cellar it’ but also ‘drink it now’ Riesling ‘cake’.

blok.com.au

Region: Coonawarra, South Australia     Price: $19.50 (bargain!)    Source: Gift

Blok-Coonawarra-Riesling-2014

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2014 Grey Sands The Mattock

Posted on October 16, 2017 by Tony Peters

As much as the world news gives us much to scratch our heads about, there is also much to make us, well me anyway, realise there is also much to be thankful for.

In Spain at the moment they are protesting about stuff that I have a slight understanding about but I can’t fully appreciate.  If it was wine related, well, that would be a different story.

I reckon the French, for instance, would be marching the streets if they knew a winery in little Tasmania, a far off place in Australia, could come up with a Merlot based blend that could get so close as to poke them in the eye, colloquially speaking of course.

A lovely deep, youthful red colour.  Stick your nose in the fresh berry trough and that’s exactly what you’ll smell for ages.  Deeeee-lightful!  The drinking bit was easy thanks to those berries again providing plenty of flavour plus a hint of black/white pepper.  Plum fruit characteristics doing the job expected giving that mid palate coating and considerable length too.  Another successful Mattock release.  Great news indeed.

www.greysands.com.au

Region: Glengarry, Tasmania     Price: $40     Source: Sample courtesy of Grey Sands

 

Grey Sands14

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2017 Penley Estate Spring Release Cabernet Franc

Posted on October 15, 2017 by Tony Peters

Cabernet Franc is a grape variety that, sort of, gets treated like the poor cousin to Cabernet Sauvignon.  They are related but one is viewed as the King, the other…not so.

On this occasion, good ol’ Cab Franc has been treated very well, with respect and individualistically and boy does it shine in this role.

Straight up it’s as fresh as a spring morning after it’s rained on the raspberry canes while you’re still picking the fruit.  On the way back you stop off and pick some blackberries, add them to the mix and indulge in the aromas…because you can…and you take your time.

There’s no beg your pardons on the palate.  It’s up front about its fruit characters but it gives you some savouriness to support all that fruit.  Don’t go looking for any wood, timber or stack of kindling.  I doubt this was even walked past oak barrels or even the timber floor of a nearby homestead.

This has been put together oh so very well.

I checked the website but it’s not up there at the moment.  Do yourself a favour and give them a ring and get some of this…now!  It will, most certainly, sell out.

penley.com.au

Region: Coonawarra, South Australia     Price: $35     Source: Courtesy of Penley Estate

Coonawarra-Spring-Release-Cabernet-Franc-147x300

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2017 Lowe Wines PF500 Organic Shiraz

Posted on October 14, 2017 by Tony Peters

The PF is pretty obvious; preservative Free.  But, it is also organically and biodynamically produced.  Vegan friendly too.  Maybe they could put VF on the label as well.

500?  That needs a little explaining.  The vineyard is 500 metres above sea level and some of the wine was put into 500ml bottles (great idea).  The other reference takes a little bit more to get your head around if you are not familiar with it.  500 is also the preparation used in biodynamic winemaking.  It involves putting cow droppings in a cow horn to ferment then burying it.  After that, it is sprayed on the vines.  Yep, it works.

I know this is going to sound obvious because of it being a 2017 wine but it’s primary in every way possible.  Fresh blackberry and blackcurrant fruit basket in a bottle.  Don’t panic, it’s not like drinking alcoholic Ultra C.  There’s a bit more to it than that.  It has more palate weight with some added herbal/spice/savoury dimension.  That’ll get you thinking when you try it.

Tannins are a no show here.  My opinion only of course but I don’t think they have a place with a wine like this anyway.

Put together a charcuterie plate, serve up spaghetti bolognese, give your guests some lamb koftas.  It’ll welcome them all.

lowewine.com.au

Region: Mudgee  Price: $17 (500ml) $22 (750ml)  Source: Sample (thanks to Define Wine )

LowePF500__61571.1502692551.220.320

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2016 Wobbly Boot Pinot Noir

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Tony Peters

I’ve no doubt whatsoever that people will be thinking or saying, “here he is again banging on about Tassie Pinot”.  Well, as a matter of fact, yes I am.

I was so impressed with the 2015 vintage I bought six of them.  I’ve been told by Lynda from Wobbly Boot that this is a better wine and, I must say, she is entitled to her own opinion…of course.

This is indeed a very good wine.  The worst part is I’m using ’15 as a benchmark for these guys.  Now, I wouldn’t say it’s better, but I’d have to agree with Paul (the other half of Wobbly Boot) and say it’s different.  Good different though.

Idiosyncratically Pinot Noir.  Dark fruits, definitely spicy cherries.  Tannins are tamed by the quite lush fruit and it sits on the palate like it’s waiting for the distracted stop-go sign holder to give them the go-ahead.  Thankfully, they are in no hurry.

It’s a delicate wine but also a bit robust like it’s pushing through the Pinot crowd but saying, “excuse me” as it makes it’s way through to the front row.

www.wobblybootvineyard.com.au

Region: Coal River Valley, Tasmania    Price: $40      Source: Gift

WobblyPinot

 

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2015 Hollick The Gondolier Barbera

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Tony Peters

This was one of three I presented to a group of punters at a barbecue.  The reason was to get a objective view of the three wines where food was also a player in proceedings.

This one got a few “oooooooohs” and “aaaaaaaaahs” from the group as soon as I poured it.  A whoosh of  black fruit aromas came out of the glass immediately!  I can’t take the credit for ‘whoosh’ and I doubt you’ll see it in conventional wine reviews.

By this stage the group were really getting into it!  A couple actually commented how they never really thought about wine properly until now (I did suggest to them to not get to into it too much, to just enjoy it).

I felt it was quite fleshy and comfortably ripe, a bit earthy too.  The word ‘aniseed’ was popular.  Blackberries and cherries for me and then I was told to write down ‘blood plums’.  Yeah, I can see that too.  Good pick up by the punters.

This was a brilliant discovery I must say.  I’m not going to say when I poured it in relation to the three wines but I am happy to admit to underestimating it.  It’s richer, bolder and brassier than I expected.  A damn good wine.

hollick.com

Region: Coonawarra     Price: $29     Source: Swap

gondolier

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2015 Tatachilla Burnt Souls Shiraz

Posted on October 9, 2017 by Tony Peters

This was one of three I presented to a group of punters at a barbecue.  The reason was to get a objective view of the three wines where food was also a player in proceedings.

Deep colour that prompted the expected, “This looks better (than the last wine).”  Fair comment.  You’d expect nothing less from Shiraz when plonked beside Grenache (taking nothing away from the Grenache of course).  There was also a “pretty purple rim” that was exposed by some late afternoon sunlight on the table.

There was not much ‘sniffing’ of this one.  It seemed the colour triggered the ‘taste’ prompter in the brain and almost everyone moved directly to sipping it.  I will say, it was ‘berry’ aromatic (no pun intended) and they would  not have missed that when they tilted the glass back.

Instant appeal all round. So much so, I sensed nobody wanted to move on to the next wine!  Well, I managed to get from them that they all thought black currants, plums got a mention, even choc coated raspberries was thrown in the mix.  For me I agreed with them but I didn’t get the last descriptor.  Add, a nice little complimentary oak ‘coating’ (for want of a better word) and it sits easily in the ‘crowd pleaser’ category.

tatachilla.com.au

Region: McLaren Vale     Price: $23     Source: Sample

Tatachilla shiraz

 

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