2015 Rockliffe Third Reef Riesling

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Tony Peters

I don’t know about you but when someone says they are not a fan of white wine, open a box, hand you a bottle of wine and say, “here, have this.  I reckon you’ll like it”, there is always going to be an element of doubt.  Almost like one of those ‘re-gifting’ moments.

This is one of those ‘re-gifting’ winner moments!

Classed as cool climate, the Great Southern is always going to produce excellent Riesling and this is no exception.

The brown bottle was not the ideal packaging to show off the lovely clean looking pale green colour this wine has.  The nose is pretty lively showing typical cool climate characteristics but more so on the lime side rather than lemon, and a spring blossom aroma is icing on the olfactory cake.

Flavours are the same with a nice touch of residual sugar to balance that citrusy acid.  I detected a slight hint of development to it though it did provide a nice dimension to the wine.

This is a new label for me and I must say, it’s impressive.

www.rockcliffe.com.au

Region: Great Southern, WA     Price: $28     Source: Gift

2015-rockcliffe-third-reef-riesling

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2015 Katnook Estate Amara Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on May 7, 2017 by Tony Peters

I don’t know anybody that dislikes Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.  I have to admit I’ve tasted and drank a few.  No.   Let’s rephrase that.  I’ve tasted and drank heaps over the years and I have wines like this one to thank for that.

When I poured this wine it immediately invaded my personal space but rather than back away, I grabbed it and allowed it to stay close.  It smelt clean and fresh while black fruits bombed the senses.

Even on the palate that clean-ness is apparent but again the lush black fruits are obvious and oh so pleasantly so!  These flavours are calmed by a creaminess that spreads it all out and helps it hang there…and hang there…….and hang there……………..and hang there!

For all of you AFL fans whose team is in the ‘building phase’, like this wine, give it time. It can and will get better and reward your patience and loyalty.  Mind you, it is the perfect candidate for the Rising Star nominee right now.

katnookestate.com.au

Region: Coonawarra     Price: $50     Source: Prize

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2016 Yelland & Papps Second Take Grenache

Posted on April 16, 2017 by Tony Peters

Without a doubt the most obvious word to use when looking, smelling, tasting and drinking this wine is FRESH!!!

Everything about this wine just screams vibrancy, youthfulness and attractiveness.

Unmistakable red fruits.  Cranberries, raspberries and sweet/sour cherries.  You would not be criticised for thinking it was a pinot noir (I was tempted to preempt pinot noir with ‘Tassie’ but that would show my bias).

There is a lovely lightness when you taste it but still plenty of those red fruit flavours hitting the spot, not selling itself short of body thanks to a nice mid palate plumminess and some late spice adding a terrific third dimension.  Thankfully, oak doesn’t bother any of those elements.  I mean that in a good way because the delicious fruit, spice and pure freshness of this wine simply doesn’t need that distraction.  I really enjoyed this wine and so would you.

Region: Barossa Valley     Price: $40     Source: Sample

yellandandpapps.com

Y&P Second Take Grenache

 

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2016 Yelland & Papps Second Take Mataro

Posted on April 14, 2017 by Tony Peters

Two words sum up this wine and the Yelland Papps team.  Quiet achiever/s.

I have to admit to wondering what this wine was doing to start off with.  It offered near nothing when it was opened and poured.  Shy and unresponsive to say the least and I’d go as far to say, it lacked personality.

However.  I left it alone for a while.  Well, to be honest I put it aside and went looking for something else to open.

Given the chance, it displayed plenty of berries, some cherries and a ‘come a little bit closer’ nose that drags you in but tasting it provides even more interest.  Hello to those berries then surround it with plums, savoury/sticky oak, dry earthiness and it becomes such a friendly thing that, in my opinion, will end up being the poor cousin in this range of wines.  It doesn’t deserve to be.

The only points I’m giving to this wine is both of my index fingers pointing to the website below.  Hit the link my friends.

yellandandpapps.com

Region: Barossa Valley     Price: $40     Source: Sample

Y&P Second Take Mataro

 

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2016 Yelland & Papps Second Take Shiraz

Posted on April 9, 2017 by Tony Peters

I was reading the famous “I have a Dream” speech of Martin Luther King Jr recently and I must say, if you get a chance, read it (I have also seen excerpts of this in documentaries over the years).  It shows the determination of a person who is part of a minority, with the support of many, putting his thoughts, dreams and ambitions out there for the world to see and hear.  The speech starts on a high and gradually builds to a spine tingling ending.

Cue, this shiraz and it’s makers.

This wine started on a high for me and just kept getting better.  All red berries and a little charryness on the nose to start off with, greeny/stemmy characters next up but nicely complimented by the blue fruits that chimed in, BUT, the longer it sat in the glass, a lush array of darker fruits appeared that were lovely, soft and mouthfilling and seemed to go on and on like the last bit of that speech I mentioned earlier where the crowd of over 200,000 cheered so loudly and applauded for what seemed like forever.  It definitely hit the peak of a crescendo right then and there.

The Yelland & Papps husband and wife team are in the minority in the world of the Barossa Valley.  They have the support of many avid followers and are putting their thoughts, dreams and ambitions into the wines they make for the world to smell, taste and enjoy.  Get behind them!

yellandandpapps.com

Region: Barossa Valley     Price: $40     Source: Sample

Y&P Second Take Shiraz

 

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2016 Yelland & Papps Second Take Rousanne

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Tony Peters

A wine that rattled the curious part of my brain.
I just had to open it, how could I abstain.

Check out the colour, it’ll catch you off guard.
To find a wine of similar ilk is certainly going to be hard.
But don’t be put off it’s part of the intrigue.
This is a wine that’s in a totally different league.

Fruits to the fore that’s for sure.
Apples, pears, pineapples and more.
There’s a hint of spice, some almond meal.
It’s definitely a wine with ample appeal.

I like what they’ve done with this grape from the Rhone.
It’s developed a following all of it’s own.
If you want some you’d better move fast.
There was only 2100 bottles made by the Yelland & Papps cast.

yellandandpapps.com

Region: Barossa Valley     Price: $40     Source: Sample

Y&P Second Take Rousanne

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2016 Yelland & Papps Second Take Vermentino

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Tony Peters

Humans are curious by nature.  I think I am more so, probably an occupational hazard. If something catches my eye, I have to check it out more thoroughly.

“279 days on skins” piqued my interest big time!

Don’t try too hard with the aromas.  You don’t need to.  They seem to come in and tell you to move right along and taste it, and you can’t help but do just that.

The fruit flavours seem to pile up, giving plenty and tantalise the taste buds.  If you go into your local fruit & vegie store (not one of the big guys), you could point your finger at almost any of the fruits and its flavour would be in this wine.

The finish is generous too. The extended skin contact plays its part here adding the texture and almost grapefruity like character…in a good way.  The other thing that, dare I say, is a surprise is that it has a bit of length to it which adds to the intrigue of this wine.

My advice, don’t serve this novel little gem cold.  It much prefers being a cool dude.

yellandandpapps.com

Region: Barossa Valley     Price: $40     Source: Sample

Y&P Second Take Vermentino

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2012 Kennedy Heathcote Sangiovese

Posted on March 27, 2017 by Tony Peters

Heathcote Sangiovese?  I have to admit I wasn’t quite sure what to expect not having had many, if any that I can remember.

From young vines this is very approachable, and probably at its best right now but that doesn’t take away from the fact it has plenty of flavour, is light on it’s feet and has a bit of length to it thanks to some smooth tannins.

How cool is it that I can you find a slightly aged Sangiovese, at such a great price, that ticks box after box after box (for this punter anyway)!  Yep, you can find this one on the Kennedy website and it is their current, I repeat, current release.

www.kennedyvintners.com.au

Region: Heathcote, Victoria     Price: $22.50     Source: Online Purchase

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2015 Stargazer Tasmania Chardonnay

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Tony Peters

I hear and read so often about how Chardonnay is making a ‘comeback’.  I don’t agree with this statement.  It has always been around (it’s the most widely planted white grape in the country) but it copped a bit of flack for a while because of how it was being made.  I would prefer to say that Chardonnay has been refurbished or reinvented if you like.  Here is a Chardonnay that is certainly making a contribution.

There is so much to like about this wine that it doesn’t seem right to single out any particular characters.  You will know it’s a Chardonnay there’s no doubt about that but it seems to have it’s own personality without being different.  It’s intriguing to the point where you keep sipping it and drinking it because there is so much to find out about this wine.

Grab a novel by your favourite author and a bottle of this.  You’ll soon find yourself wondering which one you are trying to read and which one has your attention.

stargazerwine.com.au

Region: Tamar & Derwent Valleys, Tasmania     Price: $45     Source: Online Purchase

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2014 Summerfield Merlot

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Tony Peters

Plenty of things have surprised me of late.  I could go on a bit about them but I can’t help but mention how surprised I was about this merlot.  Maybe that’s a bit unfair I don’t know but, to be honest, it came down to not having tried Summerfield wines before and a merlot from an untried producer.  I was oh so pleasantly surprised, enamoured and impressed all at the same time with this one.

The colour is incredible!  It’s as dark as the label on the bottle.  Youthful, dark fruit and plummy aromatics that seep onto your tongue which by now is salivating in anticipation. It’s dark fruity, it’s savoury, it’s a little woody, it’s a little dry but by bloody oath it’s good! Don’t bother looking for tannins or alcohol (13.1%!). Use your time productively and find where you can get your hands on some of this.

Thanks heaps to our good friends Bob & Karen for the gift and introducing me to this label.

summerfieldwines.com.au

Region: Pyrenees, Vic     Price: $35     Source: Gift

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