De Bortoli Blue Pinot Gris 2020

De Bortoli Blue Pinot Gris 2020

  16:30    Stu.

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I didn't read the accompanying PR at first and expected this to actually be blue with some adjunct. 

So why blue: as the press release actually states:"Blue evokes feelings of calmness, trust and confidence, paired with the dragonfly and butterfly which symbolise hope, change and freedom. That is what De Bortoli’s new BLUE Pinot Gris is all about." 

Very aromatic offering here: ripe pear, apple skins and florals - all giving aromatic lift and presence.

Textural, a generosity of weight to the palate. The pear is prominent, spice, phenolics adding a drying conclusion to the finish. Good spring drinking. 89

Tasted on: Thursday 2nd September
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: debortoli.com.au

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Pizzini Riesling 2021

Pizzini Riesling 2021

  16:36    Stu.

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Riesling was the first variety planted by the Pizzini family back in 1978, serving to remind of their deep and long connection to the region and industry.

Pure and nigh glacial, a cool and crisp representation of the variety from the King Valley.

There's a subtlety to the fruit, a light tang of citrus that casts a fine shadow through to the finish.

Acidity is present, but manages to move beyond the linear and battery acid like examples of elsewhere. 91

Tasted on: Tuesday 21st September
Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol: 11%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au/

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Pizzini Arneis 2021

Pizzini Arneis 2021

  16:00    Stu.

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Delightfully fragrant example: white florals, stonefruit - and dripping with juice - hint of white pepper in the mix too, somewhat unexpectedly.

Light and dry; open, airy and inviting kind of wine with just a powder puff suggestion of grape tannin across the middle.

This would kick-off a lunch superbly, perhaps zucchini flowers or fritters maybe? Something light, to match the sense of being of the wine. 92

Tasted on: Friday 5th November
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au/

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Pizzini Arneis 2018

Pizzini Arneis 2018

  12:30    Stu.

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Delicate aromatics, of pear, stonefruit and kernel. Subtle herbal hints add an extra layer across the wine's introduction. 

Feels fine boned, elegant, a gentle carry of fruit and a suggestion of crisp acidity married to some fine spice. 

It's effortless, unforced, unhurried - though you feel that comes at the expense of depth and penetration of flavour. 90 

Tasted on: Sunday 30th June, a Root day 

Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.pizzini.com.au

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Lana Pinot Grigio 2017

Lana Pinot Grigio 2017

  12:30    Stu.

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King Valley Grigio from a strong Italian heritage. Smells crisp, of pear and creamy white florals. 

Crisp and clipped, has a suggestion of middle succulence, almost textural. Stonefruit hints, unusually. Pinch of spice in the finish and a touch of acidic warmth. 88 

Tasted on: Thursday 11th July, a Flower day 
Source: Sample
Price: $19
Alcohol: 12.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.pizzini.com.au

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Pizzini Nebbiolo 2014

Pizzini Nebbiolo 2014

  08:30    Stu.

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Hauntingly aromatic, up front boldness - all raspberry liqueur like, softer rosewater elements lingering in the background. 

Initial brightness of acidity, follows with fine tannins and a wave of flavour. An earthiness, touches of leather. Firm, yet elegant, has a semblance of texture about the palate. Keep going back to that aroma, hooking and luring, nothing about the palate diminishing the intro. 

Aussie Nebbiolo at 5yo, just hitting its straps. 94 

Tasted on: Tuesday 5th March, a Root to Flower day 
Source: Sample
Price: $55
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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Pizzini White Fields Pinot Grigio 2017

Pizzini White Fields Pinot Grigio 2017

  12:30    Stu.

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You'd expect that a winery with deep Italian connections would be able to nail the Gris/gio style! Dried straw, vanilla and pear aromatics. Crisp as a summer's day.

There's a complexity to the palate, a nuttiness that segues to a creamy and rounded palate. There's a generous tail of flavour here, that vanilla feel trailing long. 

There's an acidity that clearly marks it in Grigio territory, yet it doesn't come at the expense of flavour and complexity. Well executed. 92 

Tasted on: Sunday 27th April, a Root to Flower day 
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.pizzini.com.au

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Pizzini Forza di Ferro Sangiovese 2015

Pizzini Forza di Ferro Sangiovese 2015

  08:30    Stu.

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Savoury aroma, meaty/bonoxy. Hints of Plum and violet florals lurking. An edge of brown spice. 

Soft, inviting, an onset of spice and yet with a sweet edge - initially - with the spice winning out across the length of the wine. Fine tannin, reinforces that sweet/savoury balance. And that's a key word, so unforced. 93 

Tasted on: Sunday 3rd February, a Fruit to Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $55
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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Pizzini La Volpe Nebbiolo 2017

Pizzini La Volpe Nebbiolo 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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Nebbiolo, beloved variety originally from Italy's Piedmonte region. Here, instead, from Victoria King Valley. Has the beautiful radiance, a garnet hue, redolent of cherry and pomegranate, spice tinged.

It's soft, encompassing, for a variety renowned for its tannin structure, it barely rates a mention. The aforementioned aromas flow onto the palate as flavour, again in that softened manner. 

It's not the most structured on wines, yet the combination of fruit presence and gentle tannin makes for a formidable combination - a versatile one at that. 91 

Tasted on: Friday 25th January, a Fruit to Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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Pizzini Pinot Grigio 2018

Pizzini Pinot Grigio 2018

  12:30    Stu.

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Succulent pear, almost brimming and dripping with the flavour and aroma one hopes, certainly expects of a Grigio (of Italian heritage).

That said, I was hoping for more of a clipped an acid forward line. Rather, here, it has more of a rounded and textural resolve. No denying the quality, just the designated marker. 91 

Tasted on: Saturday 2nd March, a Fruit to Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $21
Alcohol: TBC
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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Il Nostro Gallo Sangiovese 2017

Il Nostro Gallo Sangiovese 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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Hints of sarsaparilla, cherry, spicier and with savoury elements. 

Light, an elegance, powder fine tannin. An acidic freshness, juicy. Suggestive elements of anise, black pepper. No nonsense, fruity and fun to go. 89

Tasted on: Saturday 15th December 

Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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Pizzini Barbera 2016

Pizzini Barbera 2016

  16:28    Stu.

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Evokes thoughts of something tomato based, with eggplant and olive. Not necessarily of those things, with a freshness married to an underlying savoury mien. With time, raspberry and blackcurrants. Floral hints.

Carries its inherent freshness, as well made Barbera is want. That unison of savoury and fruit with a definite acidic line, that can handle a broad range of foodstuffs. Soft tannins. 

We paired it with an al'arrabiatta variation. Possesses something like a fruit, perhaps plum and rose, sweetness on the finish. 91 

Tasted on: Friday 7th December 
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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Pizzini Petra Rossa Sangiovese 2016

Pizzini Petra Rossa Sangiovese 2016

  12:30    Stu.

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Savoury, a little balsamic edge over black Cherry. Woody spice, a cinnamon quill, black pepper. 

Cherry, suggestion of blackcurrant, milled pepper with a freshening acidic line. A line that would cut a swathe through most. Powder-fine tannin to its conclusion. Another well crafted example. 91 

Tasted on: Saturday 8th December 

Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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Lana Nebbiolo Barbera 2017

Lana Nebbiolo Barbera 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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A certain perfume, a floral interplay of rose and violet. It's light, delicate - quite unlike what you might expect from the constituent parts.

Light, supple, almost succulent. Something approaching under-ripe raspberry, with the freshening acidity to boot. 

Tannin is fine, balanced, a gentle rasp and carry of flavour. The blend isn't entirely unknown, the broader Barolo/Barbaresco region often blends the two. Here, it's in an easy-going approachable, and (very) more-ish, style with its come hither acidity and succulent fruitiness. 90

Tasted on: Friday 7th December 

Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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Pizzini Nonna Gisella Sangiovese 2017

Pizzini Nonna Gisella Sangiovese 2017

  14:00    Stu.

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Evocative of cherry, even a little macerated raspberry as it veers toward the lighter end of the red fruit spectrum.

Dazzling palate, soft and supple on entry. Acidity freshens and awakes in what seems a secondary movement. Tannin is soft, almost powdery. All this makes up to deliver good length. 

Has enough about it to be versatile with foodstuffs, delivering now in youth and with the structure for ageing. 92  

Tasted on: Sunday 25th November

Source: Sample
Price: $21.5
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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Pizzini Prosecco 2018

Pizzini Prosecco 2018

  11:30    Stu.

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Quince and bruised apple aromatics, melon, a hint of baked tart - rather slightly browning pastry.

Delicate zip, fine minerality - unlike many Prosecco it has a gentle tickle of petillence rather than the aggressive and voluminous bubbles.

Second taste, a line of citrus acidity, possessive of a good tickle across the palate. 89

Tasted on: Saturday 3rd November 
Source: Sample
Price: $21.50
Alcohol: 11.5%
Closure: Crown Seal
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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Pizzini King Valley Riesling 2018

Pizzini King Valley Riesling 2018

  11:30    Stu.

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Sly and the Family Stone’s “It’s a Family Affair” was the ear worm that naturally sprang to mind as I checked my assumed history of the Pizinni family along with that of winemaking up in North-East Victoria’s King Valley.

A region with a deep Italo-Australian heritage, a region originally planted to tobacco before many families saw the writing on the wall and replanted to grapes. 

The Pizinni’s planting their first in 1978 before making the first wine under their own name in 1994, under the guiding hand of patriarch Alfredo.

Beautifully aromatic Riesling, offering up an aroma as crisp and clean as I imagine the sub-alpine air of the King Valley, itself butting up to Australia’s Alpine range.

Citrus, lemongrass and hints of talcum waft from the glass - but the energy, for me, lies in the palate where a distinct minerality and verve provide the buzz from the go.

Has a width and semblance of textural presence compared to, say, the Clare or Eden Valleys. And nor should the King Valley taste like those other regional markers given the considerable distance and differences in topology.

Finishes with a citrus flourish, clean and long, on a drying finish. 91 

Tasted on: Thursday 1st November
Source: Sample
Price: $18
Alcohol: 11.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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Lana Prosecco NV

Lana Prosecco NV

  17:18    Stu.

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A subsidiary label for Pizzini, named after the town that bears the same name, located in the Trentino Alto-Adige region of North East Italy. Looking to showcase more old world techniques.

Light bead, sitting pretty and golden in glass. Apple skins, pear, yeasty autolysis and a touch of citrus. 

Spring fresh, it opens up with a large volume of wine. Dry with citrus hints, gently tugging along. 88 

Tasted on: Sunday 25th November 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 11.5%
Closure: Crown Seal
Website: https://www.pizzini.com.au

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De Bortoli Windy Peak Pinot Noir 2017

De Bortoli Windy Peak Pinot Noir 2017

  14:30    Stu.

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For a wine that tops out at sub-$15 (if you want, this can be picked up for $11 at Liquorland) this smells like reasonable Pinot. Carries a little meat, briar, seasoning. Not particularly, or expressly, aromatic - yet certainly varietal. 

Squarely medium of body, it enters the palate well and conveys a semblance of fruit: think cherry in the main. The gentlest rub of tannin to provide some structure. 

The De Bortoli team has thrown the winemaking book at this, including cold maceration prior to fermentation, inclusion of whole bunches and warm fermentation to produce a decent example of the variety. 

Topping out at $15 is impressive. 89 

Tasted on: Sunday 10th September, a Fruit day
Source: Retail, Ashgrove Wine Room
Price: $15
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: debortoli.com.au

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Redbank Emily Brut Cuvee NV

Redbank Emily Brut Cuvee NV

  10:00    Stu.

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A little quince here, and in the wrong glassware smells sweeter than one anticipates.

Fine moussey texture, marmalade citrus - in a normal stem it's actual coarser in texture - bready with some yeast autolysis character. A decent fizz for the price. 88

Tasted on: Saturday 1st August, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $14.95
Alcohol: 11.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.redbankwines.com/

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