Yarra Valley, Victoria
12.5%, screwcap, around $20
www.chandon.com
A light shade of pink mixed with coral. On the bouquet there was a seductive array of roses and Turkish delight. This wine smells like...happiness! On the palate there was an array of fresh and juicy wild strawberries, though there was no detectable residual sugar, it was completely dry and savoury, finishing with a zingy slightly sour edge. A sensational Rose - 95.
Henschke's Lenswood vineyard in the Adelaide Hills
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Wolf Blass, Red Label Shiraz Grenache (2010)
South Eastern Australia
13.5%, screwcap, $11
www.wolfblasswines.com
I had to try this wine after noting that it won a gold medal in the 2011 National Wine Show of Australia. An amazing result in a strong field. Unfortunately it may have been a fluke, because I found the wine to be incredibly underwhelming. With a medicinal nose, the palate of stewed red and dark berries lacked fruit intensity, acidity, complexity and oak influence - 83.
13.5%, screwcap, $11
www.wolfblasswines.com
I had to try this wine after noting that it won a gold medal in the 2011 National Wine Show of Australia. An amazing result in a strong field. Unfortunately it may have been a fluke, because I found the wine to be incredibly underwhelming. With a medicinal nose, the palate of stewed red and dark berries lacked fruit intensity, acidity, complexity and oak influence - 83.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Penfolds, Thomas Hyland Chardonnay (2009)
Adelaide, South Australia
13%, screwcap, around $18
www.penfolds.com
Light straw. Aromas of almonds, peach, nectarine and classy oak. On the rather simple palate, subtle nectarine with some grapefruit notes - 90.
A nice wine, but I am not at all enthusiastic about the current trend for Australian Chardonnay which emphasises cool climate fruit, picked early and with little to no malolactic fermentation. The overdone Chardonnays of the 80's are well behind us, but it is my view that the pendulum has now swung too far in the opposite direction.
13%, screwcap, around $18
www.penfolds.com
Light straw. Aromas of almonds, peach, nectarine and classy oak. On the rather simple palate, subtle nectarine with some grapefruit notes - 90.
A nice wine, but I am not at all enthusiastic about the current trend for Australian Chardonnay which emphasises cool climate fruit, picked early and with little to no malolactic fermentation. The overdone Chardonnays of the 80's are well behind us, but it is my view that the pendulum has now swung too far in the opposite direction.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Peter Lehmann, Semillon (2009)
Barossa Valley, South Australia
10.5%, screwcap, around $14
http://www.peterlehmannwines.com/
Light straw. Hints of citrus and hay on the bouquet. Lemon sherbet on the palate. A great balance achieved between the fruit and acid. Reasonable length. Great value - 91.
10.5%, screwcap, around $14
http://www.peterlehmannwines.com/
Light straw. Hints of citrus and hay on the bouquet. Lemon sherbet on the palate. A great balance achieved between the fruit and acid. Reasonable length. Great value - 91.
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