Toolangi Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2016

Following on from the 2015 [Review] and still contract made by Yering Station's Willy Lunn.

It's a pleasure to stick the olfactory organ into the glass with this. As per previous reviews, it's really about the primacy of fruit, square and centre: sour cherry, blackberry, a suggestion of wild strawberry - all with this underlying savoury bent.

The palate is gorgeously mid-weight, meshing together bright and juicy fruit, a little prickle of acidity to alert the senses further. Fine tannin adds another dimension.

Good drinking, a minor quibble over a minor bitterness and the prickly acidity first up. 91

Tasted on: Friday 13th July, a Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.toolangi.com/

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Yelland & Papps Divine Shiraz 2014

Comes off a Greenock vineyard planted in the early 60s; 1076 bottles produced (bottle #1009). Pretty hands-off in the winery, a small percentage (18%) of new French oak, seasoning, for 27 months before being bottled, both unfiltered and unfined.

 

Deeper representation of the variety, compared to the vogue and certainly within the portfolio. 

Yet for that depth, it carries the lighter red fruit elements of plum, veering toward a little cassis; it's spice tinged with cinnamon and clove. Lighter blue fruit elements start to shine, as it slowly unfurls. 

The elegance of the fruit shines, a stark contrast to its inherent depths. Haunting, it clings to the very recesses of the palate and lingers, long, in the memory. 94

Tasted on: Saturday 7th July, Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $115
Alcohol: 13.1%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.yellandandpapps.com/

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Mitchell Peppertree Vineyard Shiraz 2014

At four years old it presents a position of elegance and freshness. There’s a hint of gum leaf that can often be seen if Clare Valley reds, not overpowering, rather it lends a freshness.

Cool and composed on the palate, that gummy/ mintiness is further evident. Straddled with blue/black fruit in the plum and blackcurrant spectrum. 

Restrained, with fine tannin on a good length. Goes well now and will reward over the next 5-8 years. 91 

Tasted on: Saturday 9th June, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $26
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.mitchellwines.com

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Mr Riggs Scarce Earth Shiraz 2014

I've not heard so much of McLaren Vale's much vaunted 'Scarce Earth' initiative of late. This bottle here carrying that mark simply around the neck foil. 

Upon enquiring the same of the twitter I subsequently learned that the initiative has been pulled, with no planned replacement. A shame in my opinion, it had been excellent in exploring geological differences and subtleties within the region and highlighting that through single block-level wines.

This Shiraz comes from Ben Riggs’ ‘Burnt Block’ from the wonderfully named Piebald Gully Vineyard, up in the Clarendon sub-region of McLaren Vale.

Presents itself as a dense brew, chocolate and maltiness lingering; suggestive of figginess and a little violet, blackcurrant and mint patty.

Whilst it possesses depth and intensity on entry, it's lighter in how it actually sits on the palate. Has a latent sweetness afore chewy and powdery tannins present themselves, flows gently and with a sense ease. Sure to win over many 92 

Tasted on: Tuesday 12th June, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: DIAM
Website: http://www.mrriggs.com.au/

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Chateau Mercian Ensemble Rosé 2015

This is a blended Rosé, from primarily Merlot with a little Muscat Bailey A (not a grape I am familiar with). It appears to be a cross-regional blend with fruit drawn from both the Nagano (Japanese central Alpine region) and Yamanashi Prefectures (East Central region, where Mount Fuji sits within).

Gentle Berry aromatics, strawberry in the main (which Rosé seemingly doesn't?). 

Palate is fuller, strawberry and a little raspberry perhaps. Tickle of white pepper across the central palate. No real phenolics to speak of. A simple pleasure to enjoy, certainly smashed down easily with the Gyoza we paired with it. 88 

Tasted on: Sunday 17th June, a Leaf day 
Source: Wine List
Price: ¥4000 (approx. $48 AUD)
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.chateaumercian.com/en/

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Higher Plane Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2013

Reserve selection of Cabernet Sauvignon. Spends 18 months in French Oak, even at 5 years that's still evident. 

Underneath that oak, it's a mix of Plum and olive skin, with thyme and bay herbal inflections. 

Fine quality to the palate, smooth as it glides across the palate. A sheen if you will - serves as an introduction to black fruit depths and fine-grained tannin. Possesses subtle depth, a wine of classic proportions. 93

Tasted on: Wednesday 13th June, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $38
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.higherplanewines.com.au

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Rymill The Dark Horse Shiraz 2016

There’s a sense of char here, pepper and black fruit sound the charge. It’s even a little leafy, dusty as it assaults the nasal cavity.

More of that pepper on show through the palate. Not the most defined shape. Tannin a little coarse, reasonable length about it 89

Tasted on: Saturday 9th June, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.rymill.com.au/

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