2014 Wines for Joanie Chardonnay

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Tony Peters

The Wines for Joanie twitter bio reads, “Two Queenslanders in Tassie growing grapes, making wine & having fun doing it.”  Good on them I say.

What it doesn’t say is, Andrew & Prue O’Shanesy were cattle and crop farmers in Queensland but, due to certain circumstances, they decide they needed to do something else.  After a few other ideas were floated, someone told them about a vineyard for sale in Northern Tasmania so, long story short, they moved to this magnificent state.

I knew nothing about Wines for Joanie until I saw them pop up on social media and, because I’m always interested in new Tassie wines, my interest was piqued.

I was at Festivale in Launceston recently so decided to head on over to their tent to check out the wines and who should be there, Andrew himself (and I met Prue there also).  We had a good chat and I discovered that Pete Dredge makes the wines and, with that man in charge, coupled with high quality 2014 vintage Tamar Valley chardonnay fruit, you’re definitely on a winner.

I also tasted this one at a recent event in Hobart and was lucky enough to be offered the opened bottle to take home.  I didn’t have to be asked twice.

It’s a lovely floral wine but it was when we tasted it that got me and my wife’s attention. The colour is lightish but it has plenty of flavour and texture don’t you worry about that! My wife thought it was nice and peachy while I got a creamy/buttery character (I almost wanted to dunk some fresh sour dough bread in it).  It finished with a touch of acidity but was very clean and rich.  As far as the Peters’ are concerned, it definitely has the ‘yummy’ factor.  There is not much around either so get in quick!

Region: Northern Tasmania     Cost $48     Source: Wine Tasting Event

http://www.winesforjoanie.com.au/

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2012 Grey Sands Pinot Gris

Posted on February 28, 2016 by Tony Peters

Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio.  Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the difference.  I have even seen it labelled Pinot G.  This one is unashamedly in the Pinot Gris spectrum.

A lovely pale gold in colour, the nose is almost like smelling a genuine Belgian wheat beer but a bit more refined. You know how it can have that hint of banana to it.

Tasting it is where it comes into it’s own.  It is luscious, deliciously textural and, on the palate, it seems as though as soon as the flavour starts to fade, it comes back again.  It’s like there is layer after layer after layer of flavour being laid on the palate that contributes to the whole mouth feel of this wine.  It seems to just keep going too.

Bob and Rita Richter, the proprietors of Grey Sands, have been making this style consistently for a long time now.  I have been lucky enough to have recently tasted a 2000 vintage and it was pretty good…still.  A very good indication that this wine, actually all their wines, are “made to last”.

There is still some of this vintage available online.

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

Region: Northern Tasmania     Price: $45     Source: Cellar Door Purchase

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2014 Raidis Estate The Kid Riesling

Posted on February 27, 2016 by Tony Peters

If you have met Steve & Emma Raidis, you know how easy going but hard working people they are.  They continually travel the country to promote their wines because they are fiercely proud of the wines they produce, and so they should be.

The cellar door has a family home atmosphere about it and that is how you are made to feel when you visit, right at home.  Steve, Emma and the staff are most welcoming and are more than happy to chat.  You will be surprised just how much time you will spend there.  You get so comfortable that time soon slips by.

Riesling is not normally associated with Coonawarra, and vice versa, but there are now quite a few produces that have one on their list.

I know it’s only a couple of years old but, I think everything has come together with this wine.  Nothing stood out for me and that is a good thing!  I still tasted some citrusy/limey characters and the acid and fruit were so in sync, I reckon they could easily win a three-legged race.  The bonus for me was the lovely dry finish.

A very slurpable, thirst quenching Riesling.  A bit of a favourite too.

They have moved onto the 2015 vintage that won the trophy for the best White Wine (other than Chardonnay) at the Limestone Coast Wine Show.  I’m going to have to get some of this too.

Region: Coonawarra     Price: $20     Source: Cellar door purchase

http://www.raidis.com.au/

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2013 Wirra Wirra Scrubby Rise Shiraz Blend

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Tony Peters

We have been to the Wirra Wirra cellar door in McLaren Vale (which won’t come as a surprise to many who know me) and again we had a great experience.  I suppose we were lucky because, being the only ones there at the time, the lady behind the counter was terrific.  We had her undivided attention.  The other thing that impressed me was, we were able to taste every wine free (we walked away with some goodies too).

When you do taste their range and get to the flagship wines, you tend to forget how good a value this range of  wines are.

Firstly, I love the label.  I mean, how cool is it! Admittedly there is a story behind it so go to the website and check it out.

As much as I would like to tell you what I saw in this wine, it is much easier for me to say, it is a very easy wine to drink.  For the price, it gives you plenty and does so in a humble sort of way.  I also have to admit, this is the first time I have bought it since tasting it at the cellar door three or four years ago.

If you want a good wine that has lots of plummy colours and aromas.  You’ve got it.  If you want a wine that gives you a nice juicy, soft, slightly sweet (fruit), smooth palate.  You’ve got it.  Anything you want in a great value wine, you’ve got it tucked neatly under a screwcap.  Lap it up!

Region: McLaren & Fleurieu     Price: $15     Source: Bottle Shop

http://wirrawirra.com/

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2015 Freycinet Riesling

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Tony Peters

The Freycinet vineyard was planted in 1979 by Geoff & Susan Bull and was the first commercial winery on the East Coast of Tasmania.  They started what is now an area dotted with many established vineyards and cellar doors producing great wines.

Claudio Radenti and his life partner Lindy Bull now make the wines under the Freycinet and Louis labels.  All of their wines are made with particular attention to detail, great cellaring potential and regularly receive high scores from journalists.

Freycinet produce high quality wines including this uniquely Tasmanian Riesling.  Not because it says so on the label but because it is distinctly varietal.  Fresh, floral, clean, citrusy, lemons, lemons and lemons with a touch of lime.

It seems to go on forever on the palate, so much so you want the flavours to stop so you can have another sip of it.

This latest release from the Freycinet stable is so young and raw it probably should be called ‘Riesling Tartare’.  A truly delightful Riesling that will live, well, probably longer than me if left to rest.

Region: Tasmania     Cost: $26 (website)     Source: Wine tasting leftover

http://www.freycinetvineyard.com.au/

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2015 Rogers & Rufus Grenache Rosé

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Tony Peters

Go onto the website and read about these two fellows.  Rogers (fisherman) and Rufus (surfer) sound like a couple of dudes that clearly are enjoying life and love making wine.  The other pretty cool thing is, they make one wine. This wine.  And they do a mighty fine job of it.

The (almost) fluorescent pink colour is just great and make sure you have a good whiff of it.  It is quite an aromatic rosé and you’ll find yourself wanting to reach for some cream or ice cream because the first thing you’ll get is fresh strawberries.

When I tasted it, I got the strawberries again but with a savoury, sort of spicy, cherry flavour too with a soft citrusy, slightly acidic finish.

The worst part about this wine is you just seemed to want to keep drinking it.  This may have been exacerbated by the fact it was 31 degrees in Hobart yesterday when we opened it.  Regardless of this fact, it’s extremely moreish!

Region: Barossa Valley     Price: $17.95     Source: Gift

https://www.rogersandrufus.com/

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2008 Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Tony Peters

John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon has been around since 1982 and was produced to be a flagship wine for Wynns Coonawarra Estate.  It is only released in the years when the grapes are of an exceptionally high quality with less than 1% of the top Cabernet grapes considered good enough for this wine.

I will repeat that.  Less than 1% of top Cabernet grapes are considered good enough for this wine.  That should tell you just what sort of quality we are talking about.

It is a deep, dark, glossy, inky looking wine that relished being decanted.  I think even the decanter straightened its back, puffed out it’s chest and raised it’s chin out of pride to be chosen to be part of this wine.

There are dark fruits galore on the nose and palate with every facet (fruit, wood, tannins) playing a part but working beautifully together.

I found it to be quite a concentrated wine but gee it was elegant, silky smooth and long, long, long on the finish.

Okay it’s not cheap (normally) but, with an iconic wine which is given the treatment it deserves, you are paying for what you get.  Quality with a capital ‘Q’.

Region: Coonawarra     Price: $150 (my brother & I paid $75)     Source: Bottle Shop

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

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2015 Main & Cherry Grüner Veltliner

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Tony Peters

Main & Cherry kicked off in 2009 with their own single vineyard shiraz from grapes planted in 1996.  Situated on the corner of Main & Cherry Gardens Roads, at Cherry Gardens, in the picturesque Adelaide Hills.

After graduating with an Oenology degree from Adelaide University in 2003, and getting some experience in some McLaren Vale wineries, Mike Sexton was keen to make his own wines including alternative varieties like this one.

Grüner Veltliner does very well in the Adelaide Hills and, coupled with an ethusiastic winemaker, it is no surprise that this is a very good wine.

On the nose, this wine was almost pinot gris/gewurztraminer like with with pear and light turkish delight flavours (something my mother loved) with a touch of spice.  At the family gathering where I shared it, somebody said it was like smelling little white flowers at the beginning of Spring.

This was pretty much how it tasted too (except the flowers bit) and it proved to be a big hit with my family and a few other friends who were there.  I liked that it finished dry and the flavours hung around a fair bit too.  Ticked all the boxes.

Region: Adelaide Hills     Price: $25     Source: Swap

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2015 De Bortoli Bella Riva Sangiovese Rosé

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Tony Peters

The De Bortoli family and their wines need no introduction but what I will say is, they were established in 1928 and are still family owned with the third generation keeping the tradition going producing quality wines in every price range.

Sangiovese is probably the most widely planted grape variety in Italy (155,000 acres) and is used in a wide variety of wine styles.  The most common is in Chianti.  I was surprised to read on Vinodiversity (www.vinodiverity.com) just how many Australian wineries are using and/or growing sangiovese.

We much prefer our rosé dry and this one fits the bill perfectly for us.  It is an inviting blush red colour like the cheeks of my (currently teething) grandson.  The nose was a bit closed but when the wine warmed a little, cherries introduced themselves and it just got better from there.  The palate was savoury and dry and I detected a hint of spice but that may have been due to the bruschetta I was eating at the time.

We opened this wine just after 4.00pm.  We had had a busy day doing things around the house and it was a beautiful afternoon in Hobart.  We wanted something to drink but it needed to be more than a white wine and red wine was not an option because we wanted something refreshing.  My wife got out some olives, cheese and bruschetta and that’s when I remembered I had this wine in the fridge downstairs.  It made for a perfect lead in to our Saturday night at home.

Region: King Valley     Price: $18     Source: Gift

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

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2012 d’Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Tony Peters

In 1912, Joseph Osborn made the difficult decision to sell his most prized horse, Footbolt, to purchase what is now the d’Arenberg property.  I’ve no idea how hard it must have been but, dare I say it, I’m glad he did.

This wine is named in honour of Footbolt.

The cellar door at d’Arenberg is a terrific experience.  If you are driving, make sure you spit most of what you taste because they allow you to try every wine in their portfolio.  Yep, every single one.  My memory is a bit hazy but, I think there were a ‘million’ of them.

The make up of this wine can have fruit from vines up to 100 years old.  Now, I heard a saying once that went something like, “The vines aren’t good because they are old.  They are old because they are good”, and d’Arenberg must have some very good grape vines.

Sometimes I wonder how my mind works but, if you put lots of freshly picked blackberries, blueberries and blood plums into a bowl of full cream vanilla ice cream into a bowl, then a squirt of chocolate ice magic over the top, that about sums this wine up.  It is just so (dark) fruity, creamy and a little chocolatey.

I used to buy this wine regularly because of what you get for such a small price and I have no idea why I haven’t done so lately.  I will have to change that.  Great value.

Region: McLaren Vale     Price: $18     Source: Wine Show box (purchased)

http://www.darenberg.com.au/

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