Bremerton Betty & Lu Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Unmistakable Sauvignon Blanc, at least the overt and pungent aromas that can afflict the variety have been tempered somewhat here, more in the way of green capsicum with the requisite gooseberry.

Clean, crisp and balanced. Fans of the variety will be more than happy here. 90

Tasted on: Tuesday 17th July, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $17
Alcohol: 11%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.bremerton.com.au/

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Shottesbrook Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Classic Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc, an aromatic riot of the gooseberry, grassiness - both meeting sweeter accents via a little blackcurrant leaf and passionfruit.

Crispness and freshness, bolstered by tropical fruit. Has a bit about it and some. Solid Hills Savvy for $20, if that's your bag.

Tasted on: Tuesday 17th July, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $19.99
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.shottesbrooke.com.au

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Shaw Vineyard Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Found an overlooked stash of samples in the downstairs fridge. Poor logistics, no-one but myself to blame here.

Sem/ Sauv here with a few years on it. Aromatically it's all lemon/lime citrus, veering toward a pineapple and honeyed note.

Palate wise, there remains a tension between acid and fruit, against a chalky texture that pulls things up a little short. 86.

Tasted on: Tuesday 17th July, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: shawvineyards.com.au

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St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Deep, rich; tobacco leaf, coffee bean and mocha. Deep and heady concoction, certainly classy Cabernet, if not necessarily Coonawarra. 

Leaf, fine tickle of tannin across the palate. A lightness on entry, that balloons and somewhat grows in stature and presence. Violets, a mere suggestion of blackcurrant.

More savoury than fruity, classically structured. 92

Tasted on: Saturday 7th July, Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $54.99
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.sthugo.com

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d'Arenberg Custodian Grenache 2015

This is a Grenache in the firmer, riper mould. There's a crush of red fruit on offer,

raspberry in the main with a little cranberry softness around the periphery. 

Soft, a plushness, suppleness and roundness to the wine. Tannin is powdery, crunchy with a gentle reach. It's a thicker,  chewier manifestation of the variety. Solid - superb value. 90 

Tasted on: Saturday 7th July, Leaf to Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $18
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.darenberg.com.au

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Edenflo Eden Valley Syrah 2017

Three samples from Andrew Wardlaw rocked up on the doorstep unannounced, and some wines - just as guests are - are more welcome than others!

Andrew has a background in viticulture - starting out his career at Henschke as Prue Henschke's trainee; citing both Dom Torzi and Alex Head as mentors, pretty good company if you ask me.

Bright, pretty perfume on offer here - it's a coming together of floral and the fruit, the former being violets, the latter more in the blue/black fruit realm of black currant and mulberry.

Light, lithe and supple on entry - before the wine takes on a darker, almost meatier bent through the middle. Jeez it's got generosity writ large across the palate.

Peppery, spicy - it's quite remarkable that, for all its flavour it still has this delightful mid-weight presence. Excellent balance, presence and yes: flow. Sorry, I couldn't resist. 92

Tasted on: Friday 13th July, a Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $26
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Cork
Website: TBC

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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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