Brave New Wine Hercules & Sunshine Riesling 2019

Brave New Wine Hercules & Sunshine Riesling 2019

  16:30    Stu.

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Sees some skin contact before being pressed off to a ceramic egg and a new French oak barrel for maturation on lees.It's floral and spice tinged, quite unlike other Riesling from within, and without.

Layered, textured, cascading in waves across the palate. As pretentious as that sounds, instead see it as saying: f**king delicious. I make few apologies for the profanity.

Some residual spiced nuance - indicative of that use of some portion of new barrel - just adds depth to the layering. 91 

Tasted on: Saturday 9th May
Source: Retail
Price: $35
Alcohol: 12.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://bravenewwine.com.au/

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Harewood Estate Frankland River Riesling 2019

Harewood Estate Frankland River Riesling 2019

  16:30    Stu.

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Kaffir lime, lemongrass, stonefruit, suggestions of Passionfruit; Certainly of tropical bent.

Generous line of zippy acidity, phenolic pinch adding depth to the length. Generousity - certainly a consistent theme - of fruit intensity, subsiding somewhat with honeyed and lemon peel notes. Subtle spice, lingering, following on the Asian theme from the aromatics. 93 

Tasted on: Tuesday 1st October, a Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.harewoodestate.com.au/

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Alkoomi Jarrah Syrah 2012

Alkoomi Jarrah Syrah 2012

  17:42    Stu.

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Released at 7y of age, almost hedonistic in its fudgey, toffeed manner. The oak remnants still hanging strong here.

Black fruit, licorice, hints of coffee bitters - concentrated, and intense. In spite of those years under the belt, it gives the impression that it will serve well for many years to come. I'm not even sure it's ready now. 92

Tasted on: Tuesday 3rd September, a Root to Flower day 

Source: Sample
Price: $45
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au/

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Alkoomi Blackbutt Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Alkoomi Blackbutt Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

  08:30    Stu.

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Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon (73.3%), with Malbec (21.5%) and Cabernet Franc (5.2%).

Again, I probably offer, or remark on this release strategy each time of the asking, 8 years old on release. 

And for that, there's still a fair throw of fruit primacy, deep and dark, bolstered by oak, framing it up, seasoning to the mix. Savoury, against the fruit. 

Appearance wise it is talking on some of those brickish tones around the edge. It still remains youthful and vibrant in entry, yet as the tannins kick in it is developing well, secondary elements making up the back end of the wine and delivering savoury hints long onto the finish. 

Black fruit, milk chocolate, herbal notes - Bay, a little Sage - add and aid length. It's certainly a wine of substance and yet, finesse. 92

Tasted on: Thursday 29th August, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $62
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au/

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Alkoomi Melaleuca Riesling 2017

Alkoomi Melaleuca Riesling 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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Produced from a single block of Riesling, vines that will soon be celebrating their half century in a couple of short years (1971 plantings). 

Lemon and lime, touch of development about it. Butter menthol, lemon balm, thyme. Aromatically complex. It's pressed off in the cool of the morning, being left on lees to allow that complexity to develop,

A tartness on the finish, length through acid. There's a texture to it too, the complex aromas seen here in the palate too. Initially there's a touch of Bickford's cordial about it, minerally twists. It offers much: textural, flavour in abundance, generous spine of acidity and thrusting length. Bravo! 94

Tasted on: Saturday 31st August, a Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au

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Alkoomi White Label Cabernet Merlot 2017

Alkoomi White Label Cabernet Merlot 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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Black fruit leads with doughy, nigh fudgey oak character. Hints of seasoning add to that - giving overall appeal of a crowd pleasing. easy going red.

Fairs better on the palate, the fruit being more prominent, over tobacco and leaf, albeit with an astringent, bittering. 

That is an aspect that forms the lasting impression of the wine, sadly. 86 

Tasted on: Thursday 29th August, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $18
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au

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Ferngrove Diamond Chardonnay 2017

Ferngrove Diamond Chardonnay 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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More lavish than I recall it being, observation nothing more. Sets the tone and lets the reader know what to expect, one suggests. 

So yes, somewhat butter and toast - compounds that, certainly in the case of the latter, persist across the length of the palate. Smokey hints, touch of grilled peach. 

Textural nuances, a gloss adding a waxy feel; subtle phenolics, a little bittering. Good wine. 91

Tasted on: Monday 10th June, a Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

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Alkoomi Victrix Chardonnay 2017

Alkoomi Victrix Chardonnay 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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Named after the eucalypt Victrix. It's hand picked, whole bunch pressed to French oak (unsure of the age.) 

Finely seasoned, citrus and stonefruit. The French oak adding that aforementioned seasoning. It's fine on entry, yet immediately delivers a lavishly textural experience, succulent and plump across the palate. 

It's actually fine boned, well pitched, structural. Elegant, a wine of finesses and presence. 93 

Tasted on: Sunday 9th June, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au/

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Alkoomi Black Label Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Alkoomi Black Label Sauvignon Blanc 2018

  12:30    Stu.

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Single block wine, 30% of which was fermented in French Oak. It still speaks of variety, softened, a vanilla aspect added to the green herb freshness. 

Nice pitch of zippy acidity, immediately noticeable on the palate. Delicate spice tickles its way across the palate too, again it's somewhat softened - the barrel fermented portion adding that delicacy and finesse. 

Be worth a stint in the cellar too. 91 

Tasted on: Sunday 26th May, a Root to Flower day 
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au

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Alkoomi Wandoo Semillon 2014

Alkoomi Wandoo Semillon 2014

  12:30    Stu.

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Semillon at 5, in a good spot. Something like preserved lemon, slightly butter menthol, honeydew melon. 

Herbal inflections, add another dimension, starting to take on some flesh about it. It's still fruit forward, with a fine acidic spine. 92 

Tasted on: Saturday 25th May
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 11.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au

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Alkoomi Black Label Chardonnay 2018

Alkoomi Black Label Chardonnay 2018

  12:30    Stu.

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Cooler manifestation of Chardonnay, clocking in nicely at a stated 12.5%, exhibiting stonefruit hints combined with citrus and meal. 

Starts off well. Palate shows an acidity, probing and cutting, carrying its grapefruit lines long across the palate. 91 

Tasted on: Thursday 23rd May, a Fruit to Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au

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Alkoomi Wandoo Semillon 2014

Alkoomi Wandoo Semillon 2014

  12:30    Stu.

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Great Southern Semillon, produced from a single block of estate grown fruit planted in 1987.  Free run juice, half of which free is fermented in French oak and the other half in tank.

Semillon with a bit of age too, a sensory pleasure! Citrus, sage and something akin to a burnt butter element. Fruit first, still, with the onset of some savoury elements. 

Rich and rounded, it's taking on flesh to the bones (aren't we all), there's still the framework of acid about which it hangs. The lemony tang freshens and enlivens the palate. It's softening, taking on a nuttiness. Enjoyable now. 91 

Tasted on: Wednesday 15th May, a Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 11.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au

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Alkoomi Black Label Riesling 2018

Alkoomi Black Label Riesling 2018

  13:00    Stu.

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Black Label is typically a highly expressive Riesling from the cool of Franklin River. This vintage is no exception, offering a complex range from the usual lime and kaffir lime through to more specific lemongrass.

Texturally it offers more than your typical line and length merchant, possessing a touch more width and textural presence. The aromatics that were present are also evident on the palate.

A lingering minerality really gives this wine extra carry, leaving a memorable presence on the palate. That’s if you can resist having another glass that is. 92 

Tasted on: Thursday 11th April, a Root to Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au

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Alkoomi Cabernet Franc 2016

Alkoomi Cabernet Franc 2016

  18:00    Stu.

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First release of a varietal Franc from Alkoomi.

It's fresh, elegant, carries that bright - and pippy - blackcurrant aroma. Delightful aroma, all violets and a hint of mintiness in the mix.

Light and airy frame, a freshness - with acidity - married to firmish tannin. Feels like it just absolutely goes now, yet has 5-6 in the tank to further bring those elements together. Impressive debut. 92 

Tasted on: Sunday 23rd December, a Flower day 
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au

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Harewood Estate Frankland River Riesling 2018

Harewood Estate Frankland River Riesling 2018

  12:30    Stu.

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Kaffir Lime, browning lime juice, certainly in that greener citrus spectrum. Fresh, bursting forth, yet in a somewhat restrained manner. 

Cleansing acidity from the go, a sorbet like freshness that moves across the palate with ease. There's a hint of texture on the final third, a pleasance in that it adds to the spread and provides coverage to the line of acidity before it. 92

Tasted on: Monday 24th December, a Flower to Leaf day 

Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.harewoodestate.com.au

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Ferngrove Black Label Merlot 2016

Ferngrove Black Label Merlot 2016

  12:57    Stu.

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Darn good Merlot for the dollar. Carries a freshness from the off, reminds of stewing plums in a kitchen - as a preamble to assembling some form of pie. A slight menthol hint adding to that aromatic profile. 

It's rather light in colour, almost garnet-like with a shimmering irresdesence. Firmer than one might suspect, given the colour and aroma. Elements of licorice lift the wine beyond the plum, raspberry and kiss of vanilla - again it reminds of a summer Plum pudding, a suggestion of grainy tannin bolstering the wine through the final third. 90 

Tasted on: Sunday 28th October 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ferngrove.com.au

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Alkoomi White Label Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Alkoomi White Label Sauvignon Blanc 2018

  15:56    Stu.

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Alkoomi's White Label range offers some of the best value wines amongst their respective varieties. This Sauvignon Blanc no exception, offering what the variety does from the cool Frankland River region in Western Australia's South-East corner.

Exuding the grassy, herbaceous notes for which the variety is oft associated. The pungency is not lost on the palate, subtle tropical nuances aid that further, on the back of a pleasing acidic length. 88

Tasted on: Saturday 2nd March, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $15
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au

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Ferngrove King Malbec 2016

Ferngrove King Malbec 2016

  19:26    Stu.

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I was all too ready to dismiss this, it seemingly offering a reductive, sulphurous pong on first opening. It was meaty, gamey - smelling more like a Pinotage.

This was just in need of some air. From the reductive to the sublime, now more like an old school Grenache, singing its delicious Berry coulis tune. 

Seduction becomes its play, the soft texture bringing with it the red currant and nigh-raspberry flavour married to a graphite like tannin. 

What a transformation! 91 

Tasted on: Monday 24th September 
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ferngrove.com.au

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Alkoomi White Label Riesling 2018

Alkoomi White Label Riesling 2018

  14:30    Stu.

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This wine wasn't showing the greatest from the off. Yes there was a beautiful profile of lime, lemon grass and talcum. Hitting the right aromatic notes from the off. 

But those flavours don't necessarily mesh well on the palate, where it actually seemed somewhat out of sorts. 

A day later it presented well. A good acidic line - it's Riesling - and a sense of citrus based flavour started to take shape. 

It's not a bad wine, just initially seeming somewhat hollow and bereft of what I expect from the brand, which normally over-delivers at the price point. Given the majority of this will be consumer straight from the off, it doesn't show itself best straight away. 86 

Tasted on: Thursday 13th September 
Source: Sample
Price: $15
Alcohol: 12.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.alkoomiwines.com.au/

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Ferngrove Orchid Cossack Riesling 2018

Ferngrove Orchid Cossack Riesling 2018

  14:30    Stu.

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Single block wine from Frankland River's Ferngrove.

Initially fresh, fragrant and floral - then shy, and musky, something like dank wood. Gave it an hour, apple blossom, vanilla, bathsalt.

Tangy entry, vibrant and zesty acidity, bathsalt and chalky pucker. It's certainly dry and drying, fair sucking the moisture through your cheeks. 

Shy and retiring for now, positive signs there 91+ 

Tasted on: Saturday 1st September, a Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ferngrove.com.au/

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