Words from a Wine Glass

2013 Paddy Borthwick Paper Road Pinot Noir

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Tony Peters

The Borthwick family’s involvement in farming goes back a long way but the extension into viticulture kicked off in 1996 when Paddy and his dad planted 27 hectares of vines. Mind you, Paddy already had the credentials to get involved in the wine side of things having trained in viticulture and winemaking at Roseworthy College. He then honed his craft in “…five countries and three continents..” (from the website) before heading back to Wairarapa to do his own thing.

I have to admit, prior to a bit of a jaunt around the south island of New Zealand (NZ) a few years ago, my experience with NZ pinot noir was, well, to be honest, zero. I remember being very impressed but, when I returned home, I didn’t continue to explore them. I mean let’s face it, I had Tassie pinot at my finger tips.

This wine has reinvigorated my interest big time. It is such a lively little number right from the start. Bright, fresh and juicy and, after seeing the colour, what it does on the palate will surprise you.

The surprise is, it’s knocking on the door of medium bodied but the sweet & sour cherries and red fruits keep it a smidgen under that. And, that’s the other thing about this wine, it is all about the fruit (which I assume is deliberate). I detect a soft spiciness, almost a pepperiness to it as well but, as I mentioned earlier, the fruit carries all of this on it’s shoulders with ease.

I loved this NZ pinot noir and that’s saying something coming from somebody who extols the virtues of Tasmanian pinot noir.

Region: North Island, New Zealand Price: $30 Source: Gift

http://borthwick.co.nz/

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2010 PHI Lusatia Park Sauvignon

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Tony Peters

I have an announcement to make. I’ve decided to admit I like Sauvignon Blanc.

To clarify that, certain styles of Sauvignon Blanc. This style of Sauvignon Blanc.

I’ve also tried three (so far) from the Adelaide Hills made by Guthrie, Chain of Ponds and Main & Cherry, and a couple of Tasmanian fumé blancs that have hit the mark for me.

Anyway, I really liked this Sauvignon. Even at 6 years of age, for me this wine still had some juicy pear flavours whereas my wife thought it was tropical fruit/fruit salad like. But it was the texture, richness and length that surprised me and it was quite viscous too. The thing that pleased me about the wine was there was no sweetness or acid poking out.

A beautifully balanced, scrumptious wine that I would buy. There you go, I said it.

Region: Yarra Valley Cost: $36 (online) Source: Gift

http://www.debortoli.com.au/

Posted in Other Whites | 1 Comment

A 2014 Terrific Teusner Twosome

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Tony Peters

The first thing I did was read the Teusner story. It is a great read but also a relaxed read and a really interesting read. You have to read it.

I have always been a fan of their wines but have always seemed to have gravitated toward the Reibke or the Joshua & Avatar. I haven’t consciously avoided these wines. I am now wishing I had consciously bought these wines.

2014 The Independent Shiraz Mataro

It appears these guys did not want to show favouritism when it came to blending this wine so they made it “about 50/50” and it works for me and no doubt many vinophiles. The Shiraz gives it plenty of oomph but the savouriness of Mataro, for me anyway, balanced out the sweet blackberry and pluminess of the Shiraz in this mix. Silky bloody smooth too.

2014 Bilmore Shiraz

I remember reading a Winestar newsletter late last year with it saying that this wine was their wine of the year. I made a decision to speak to my mates and see if we should all throw in a buy some because I wanted to try it. Needless to say, it never happened so I kicked myself in the shins.

The thing about this wine was it seemed so delicate but ballsy too. I know that is an oxymoron but, taste this wine and you will understand. Lotsa fruit, lotsa flavour. I think I luvs Blimore too!

I genuinely struggled to pick my favourite out of these two wines. If I had to choose, I’d go the Teusner.

Region: Barossa Valley Cost: $27 (I paid $40 for the two) Source: Bottle Shop purchase

https://www.teusner.com.au/

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2012 Yelland & Papps Devote Rousanne

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Tony Peters

Prior to heading out the door to go to work this morning, I was having a look in my wine racks to find something nice to have when I got home and I came across this wine. It proved to be a gem of a find let me tell you!

I just had to use a photo of the wine in the glass, with the bottle, to show off how good the colour is!

When we tasted it, my wife thought it was a (slightly) aged chardonnay because it was textural, rich and delicious but still quite delicate and smooth. Fresh bread, toasted, real butter and a slither of honey (sounds like an aged Semillon). The message we received from this wine was hazelnuts, cashews, oven roasted almonds enveloped in a nut shell.

A truly delicious wine at maturity (my opinion only of course) of which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Region: Barossa Valley Price: $40 Source: Swap

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2014 Kinvarra Estate Riesling

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Tony Peters

I have mentioned before that part of the vineyard at Kinvarra Estate was planted in 1990, some of it to Riesling. I can distinctly recall tasting some old Rieslings from here at a wine expo (for want of a better word) and they were superb. That was some time ago.

To say I was chuffed to see Riesling under the Kinvarra Estate label again is an understatement. They have cleverly given the fruit to Kate Hill to weave her Riesling wand and it must have been so easy for her to produce such a lovely wine.

I picked it up chilled but I think it benefited from the 15 minutes drive home out of the fridge. I loved the aromatics. It was like the lemon/lime aromas were standing over the stone fruit aromas but not enough for them to show their worth and textural contribution to this wine.

There is a hint of residual sugar on the palate but with a nice fine acid line, an almost dry finish tells you this is Tasmanian Riesling at its best.

Delicate, elegant, smooth and rich. The label doesn’t say much but this is a classy Riesling.

Region: Derwent Valley, Tasmania Price: $32 Source: Sample

http://www.kinvarraestate.com/

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2013 Grey Sands Romanesque

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Tony Peters

A blend of Aglianico, Petit Verdot and Touriga Francesa, this is a delicious, more-ish wine.

The aromas are what mesmerises you at first. Give this wine plenty of air and you’ll get a lovely hit of red fruits and white pepper which segues so easily onto the palate. Here you are delivered even more with lush spicy cherry flavours.

The tannins are a little dry but the fruit was a big help with those and when we had it with a (partly) charcuterie spread (not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon I must say) it came into its own.

Julius Ceasar is quoted as saying, “It is better to create than to learn! Creating is the essence of life”.

Bob and Rita have created a lovely wine right here so, grab a Roman beaker or a wine glass, whichever you have handy, then drink and enjoy.

Region: West Tamar, Tasmania Price: $40 Source: Sample

http://greysands.com.au/vineyard/

Posted in Red Blends | Leave a comment

2015 Rymill The Yearling Shiraz

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Tony Peters

Let’s be honest. Sometimes, when you pay $15 for a young Shiraz, your expectations are not high. They can be a thin, fruit bomb of a wine that hangs around as long as Clive Palmer in an administrators meeting about his nickel mine.

This $15 Coonawarra Shiraz is very different.

Juicy red fruits, plummy mid palate with a nice sprinkling of spice and pepper, it’s a lively little wine. Thanks to the soft tannins, the flavours hang around long enough for you to google check the price. Yep, only $15.

I’m not going to call this a barbecue wine. It is better than that. Have I mentioned it is only $15?

Region: Coonawarra Price: $15 Source: Swap

http://www.rymill.com.au/

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Yalumba Y Series Wines

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Tony Peters

This series of wines is such good value for money I decided to buy four of the twelve available in the range and review them. Admittedly, the bottle shop I went to did not have the whole range which made it a bit easier to select four.

2015 Riesling

This is a surprise packet. For the price it has all the things you expect from Riesling including the colour, aromas and flavours but, the added bonus, it has a soft comfortable citrus acidity that gives it some length. It’s a no brainer when it comes to future purchases of this one.

2015 Pinot Grigio

Certainly in the grigio style. Plenty of up-front flavour with hints of spice, pear and (sort of) apple pie there too. As expected with this style, it doesn’t hang around very long on the palate but is still quite satisfying.

2014 Shiraz Viognier

I have to admit I am a big fan of this particular wine in the series so my mind was set on ‘positive’ when I poured a taste. Cherries and spice and all things nice. White pepper came over the top of a juicy, soft tannin finish.

2013 Tempranillo

I didn’t know there was a Tempranillo in the series but boy am I glad there is. As strange as it sounds, there is quite a bit of uncomplicated stuff going on with this wine. My wife thought blueberries but for me it was more like black cherries and a bit herbal like in a darn good way. A ripper food wine at a ridiculous price. Let’s hope we see subsequent vintages.

I have not tried all the wines in the Y series but if this lot is anything to go by, I may need to hunt down the others (I would have to drive to four different bottle shops to get the other varieties). Terrific value for money wines.

Region: South Australia Price: $13 (picked these up for $10) Source: Bottle Shop

https://www.yalumba.com/

Posted in Other Reds, Other Whites, Red Blends, Riesling | Leave a comment

2013 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Tony Peters

I’m pretty sure everybody knows this wine. It’s been around seemingly forever. I think even Noah picked up a 6 pack to put away for a rainy day.

All jokes aside, this has been one of the most consistent wines, in Australia, since it was first produced in 1954. It has a pretty big following both in the retail and auction markets.

I’ve been collecting the Black Label for a few years now and have tended to take it for granted, that when I open one of these wines from any vintage, it will be good. This one literally stopped me in my tracks.

When I poured it, well, it was a mouth watering black fruit aroma barrage. I realise that doesn’t sound particularly inviting but on the palate all that black fruit excitement has been brought under control by some savouriness and delicate oak inclusion (not intrusion). There was a bit of sweetness to it also but not a fruit sweetness. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was.

The tannins are there on the finish but you don’t really notice them because everything is so integrated and balanced already. I can only imagine what it would’ve been like had I decanted it.

I recently opened an ’07 (under screwcap) and it was still as fresh as a daisy and if that is any indication, this one has a a few years left in it yet.

I have seen this wine discounted so if you see it below $30, fill your trolley.

Region: Coonawarra Price: $45 Source: Wine Show mixed dozen purchase

https://www.wynns.com.au/

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2012 Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz

Posted on March 9, 2016 by Tony Peters

When it comes to the Australian wine industry there are some names that everybody is familiar with. Seppelt is one of those names. If you haven’t heard of them, you must be living in a Tibetan monastery (and probably wouldn’t be reading this anyway). Not that that is a bad thing, it just means you are not familiar with a piece of Australian wine history.

What I didn’t know about this wine is, it has been produced since 1953. It was called Chalambar Burgundy back in those days, and having been made by Colin Preece, it was a ripper of a wine then as it is today including the bang for buck factor.

If you have ever seen a parade of defence force personnel decked out in their best uniform then you will understand when I say how this wine is presented so immaculately and everything is in sync. Yes you could thank the ideal vintage conditions but you still have to get everything right up until the screw cap goes on.

Black fruits aplenty with this stunner. I half expected some pepper and got it in the form of a gourmet mix which added a nice spicy character to the abundant fruit. The oak and tannins are doing their job without any fuss or bother.

The thing with this shiraz is it gave me the impression of being a sophisticated wine in a King Gee outfit. It will appeal to everyone.

Region: Mount Chalambar, Victoria Price: $27 Source: Online Purchase

https://www.seppelt.com.au/