Bremerton Battonage Chardonnay 2018

Citrus and a hint of curd, slight cheesey note with subtle spice from a touch of wood.

Variously slick and glossy, a generous textural spread laying a swathe across the palate. Feeling rich yet with a clip of flinty like acidity that sets the rhythm. Always in proportion, a well balanced and generous example from the vintage. 92 

Tasted on: Tuesday 21st January 
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.bremerton.com.au/

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Altus Rise Wildlight Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Milk chocolate, cedar, wild herb and garrigue like notes. Glimpses of vanilla when first opened.

Latterly hints of damson and plum, sitting in front of darker char and earth. Carries itself well, the most complex of the Wildlight releases, if still missing the depth to elevate the wine further. 89

Tasted on: Monday 3rd February 
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://altusrise.com.au/

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Pewsey Vale Prima 23GR Riesling 2019

Fleshy tropical fruits, mango pulp; smells as a Weiss bar tastes.

Palate shows something approaching a red apple, stonefruit and citrus mix, both in flavour and also with a textural and fleshy width married to some citrus derived length. 

At 23/gr it's borderline medium sweet, compared to a more off-dry offering around 14/15. The distinction is important, yet the beauty of this style is the ability to lap up heat of (very generic, I know) South-East Asian cuisine. 92 

Tasted on: Thursday 16th January
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 9.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pewseyvale.com/

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Jacquart Mosaique Brut NV

Stonefruit, apricot marmalade, hints of brioche/ Danish pastry; there's an umami - savoury in a sweet spot - like hint lurking in the background - adding depth.

Green apple, grapefruit, citrus and stonefruit. Fine minerally acidity, on the back of a good length. Toast and nuts across the palate too. Good complexity here, with an inherent drinkability. 93 

Tasted on: Friday 24th January
Source: Sample
Price: $70
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.champagne-jacquart.com/
Sample courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Dalrymple Sauvignon Blanc 2018

A very expressive example here, showing the characteristic gooseberry that the variety is renowned for, yet augmented with tropical hints. It seems that the fertile lands and relative cool of Piper’s River district of North-East Tasmania has served to dial this one up to 11!

Beneath that, on the palate, sits a citrus tang with a gentle phenolic edge, evident of some texture building . The acidity freshens and draws the palate long on a dry finish.

A pop of citrus at its conclusion adds a final flourish, an amuse bouche if you like, to cleanse and prepare the palate for a repeat instance. 92 

Tasted on: Thursday 16th January
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.dalrymplevineyards.com.au/

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Out of Step Wine Co Willowlake Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Soft, sensuous - that's just the aroma - similar textural feel on initial entry to the palate. 

It steps up a notch, minerally and flinty - almost gunsmoke like - with a deep and long finish that is seemingly perpetual. Jeez these fellas make exquisite booze, poised and seemingly delicate, yet with that intense length and duration of finish. This indeed is top drawer wine. 95 

Tasted on: Wednesday 11th March 
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.outofstepwineco.com/

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Jules Taylor Gruner Veltliner 2018

Stonefruit with a subtle white pepper and mace-like edge, the seasoning to the fruit. It's aromatically poised, the seasoning tickling the olfactory organ.

Subtlely worked texture, a pinch of phenolics with a fine minerality across the backbone of the palate. Subtlety, balance, guile. It's a delicate wine that will have you yearning glass after glass. 92. 

Tasted on: Friday 20th March 
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.julestaylor.com
Sample Courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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