De Bortoli Cool Climate Pinot Noir 2024

De Bortoli Cool Climate Pinot Noir 2024

  09:00    Stu.

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Savoury lead-in, but it's the palate where this brings forth its varietal and regional qualities.

It's made by the Yarra Valley winemaking team of Kate Webber and Jai Harrop, distinguished winemakers in their own right, and each from winemaking families of renown. 

Black cherry and plum with some cool clime herbal character. Whilst being a lighter expression, it flows through on a decent length of flavour. Nice grip of tannin, twist of black pepper. Ready to go now! 90

Tasted on: Sunday 12th October
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: TBC
Closure: Screwcap
Website: debortoli.com.au

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De Bortoli Melba Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

De Bortoli Melba Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

  08:30    Stu.

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Only made in exceptional years, the Melba is named after Dame Nelly (who gave her name to the peach).

Forget about any presence of peach - or any stonefruit for that matter - here, it's a classically structured Cabernet: black fruit - think plum, damson, hints of blackcurrant - with savoury edges.

Really it's the grippy tannins that win here, coating the palate and giving both length, breadth and depth. As much as you might want to get your hands on Nellie now, patience is a virtue. One for the long haul! 94

Tasted on: Wednesday 25th May
Source: Sample
Price: $160
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://www.debortoli.com.au/

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De Bortoli Melba Amphora Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

De Bortoli Melba Amphora Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

  07:30    Stu.

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Cabernet from the Yarra Valley doesn't normally spend 150 days on skins in 1000l  amphora, being then pressed off and sent to older French oak. On this showing perhaps it should.

It's less about the aromatics, as perhaps is logical given from the techniques employed in its making.

It's both silken, velvet smooth, switching to a fine and tight grain of tannin that acts as a vehicle for a wine of depth to emerge through to its finish.

It's deep, classy and displaying a persistence of flavour through to its lengthy conclusion. A worthy inclusion in any cellar. 94

Tasted on: Wednesday 26th May
Source: Sample
Price: $80
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: DIAM
Website: debortoli.com.au

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Out of Step Wine Co Lone Star Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Out of Step Wine Co Lone Star Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018

  16:30    Stu.

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Grapefruit, citrus, lemon barley kinda vibe to proceedings here. More of that citrus cut and thrust across the palate, a skinsy phenolic feel that adds presence and breadth to the acidic line.

It pours cloudy, again reminding of that aforementioned lemon barley, carries suggestions of a tropical air through its conclusion. Smashing drink. 93 

Tasted on: Tuesday 31st March
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: TBC
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.outofstepwineco.com/

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Taylor's Jaraman Pinot Noir 2017

Taylor's Jaraman Pinot Noir 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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Taylor's branches out to the Yarra, a fair way from its Clare Valley base. Its been a while between drinks from the Jarraman range, if memory serves if was historically a range that celebrated dual regionality, clearly not something adhered to here. 

It's fresh, herbal and stemmy hints married to pure fruit aromas. Supple, savoury imbued, the cooler clime edginess leading and carrying through the finish. 

This is a solid regional offering, nothing to fault. 91 

Tasted on: Thursday 2nd April 
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.taylorswines.com.au/

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Liv Zak Malbec 2018

Liv Zak Malbec 2018

  20:40    Stu.

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Rose, damson, smattering of new oak in the mix. More of a lightness on entry, with a spike of acidity; a real openness and airy kinda vibe. Yarra Valley Malbec - as a single varietal - is not a common occurrence, part of a blend - yes.

Token black fruit hints, touch of pastille about it, but not quite the full picnic for mine. Just feeling a touch hollow. 88 

Tasted on: Wednesday 19th February 
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au/

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Liv Zak Chardonnay 2019

Liv Zak Chardonnay 2019

  17:59    Stu.

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Subtle stonefruit, leesy solids derived funk. 

There's a nice citrus and white nectarine vein running, gentle toast and a fine acidic line threading through. Moderate textural aspect - it's just a good all-rounder sitting in the zone. 91 

Tasted on: Sunday 16th February 
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au/

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Liv Zak Syrah 2018

Liv Zak Syrah 2018

  10:31    Stu.

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Certainly conveys a cooler climate take on the variety, and certainly worthy of the Syrah distinction.  Of stem and sap, brown spice and black pepper. 

Lighter of body, slight ferrous tannin, spike of acidity for drive and length. Certainly of savoury bent, and very much in the modern vogue. Delicate and balanced offering. 92 

Tasted on: Sunday 16th February 
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au/

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Liv Zak Pinot Noir 2018

Liv Zak Pinot Noir 2018

  08:30    Stu.

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Approachable, hints of forest floor, as if to season the fruit/savoury elements at the wine's core.

Mid-weight, succulent, fruit presence and a fine vein of acidity through the middle. 91 

Tasted on: Sunday 16th February 
Source: Sample
Price: $36
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au/

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Liv Zak Rosé 2018

Liv Zak Rosé 2018

  16:00    Stu.

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Liv Zak being the second label of the Yarra Valley's Warramunda Estate. 

This Pinot based Rosé is certainly pretty in pink, pouring both a delightful hue, offering a Berry accented aroma to the imbiber. 

The palate crisp and clipped, a smart snap of acidity that brings with it a gentle edge of texture, finishing long and dry. Gentle length that tugs along, bringing the carry of berry fruit with it. 89 

Tasted on: Thursday 13th February 
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 12.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au/

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Out of Step Wine Co Willowlake Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Out of Step Wine Co Willowlake Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018

  16:00    Stu.

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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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Oakridge Merlot 2013

Oakridge Merlot 2013

  08:30    Stu.

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Yarra Merlot at 7y, fleshy and meaty; juxtaposition of Plum and damson like fruit amongst that.

Slick, almost glycerol like, oak remnants - on a 7y old - spice and touches of black olive across the palate. Finishes strong, assertive and yet balanced. 92 

Tasted on: Saturday 8th February
Source: Cellar Door
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.oakridgewines.com.au/

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Liv Zak Chardonnay 2017

Liv Zak Chardonnay 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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Hand-picked and whole bunch pressed, settled overnight and then racked with solids to barrel, juice was left alone in barrel to ferment naturally, and was aged in old barrels on full-lees for 8 months with occasional stirring. 

Liv Zak being the second label of Warramunda Estate of course. Toastiness, citrus, lemon curd perhaps lending a creamy aspect to proceedings. 

Quite hard and lean palate, veers to a slatey and minerally edge, but comes at the expense of further complexity and flavour. 

Comes across rather flat on the finish. 87 

Tasted on: Tuesday 28th May, a Flower to Leaf day 
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au

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Warramunda Estate Viognier 2017

Warramunda Estate Viognier 2017

  17:30    Stu.

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Baked goods, creamy cashew, stonefruit, perhaps a suggestion of chicken stock in the mix. 

Textural, has width and weight as it rolls across the tongue. It gives way to a white pepper aspect, a minerally spice.  Freshness first, look for it to take on further weight, width and wonder with some time in bottle. 91+

Tasted on: Sunday 26th May, a Root to Flower day 
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au

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Warramunda Marsanne 2017

Warramunda Marsanne 2017

  12:30    Stu.

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Buttery, citrus, stonefruit awash across the palate. It has a nutty like aromatic that doesn't necessarily allude to what the palate offers. 

Quite light on alcohol, given its stated 12%, normally seeing the variety (and its Rhone brethren Viognier and Roussanne) clocking in the 13s. Light touch of vanilla, a moderately creamy aspect to it. Delightful wine. 90 

Tasted on: Saturday 25th May, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Cork
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au

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Warramunda Estate Pinot Noir 2016

Warramunda Estate Pinot Noir 2016

  08:30    Stu.

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Sour Cherry, has the slightly wild edge, suggestive of natural Ferment. Minor whole bunch inclusion.

Light, Berry driven, maraschino cherry. Tannin an afterthought. Good wine, questions on price/value given $50 ask. 90 

Tasted on: Saturday 22nd December 
Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: DIAM
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au

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Warramunda Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Warramunda Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

  08:30    Stu.

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Spends three months on skins before being pressed off to tank, then racked back to French Oak barriques.

Yarra Cabernet is an interesting beast, ripeness can be an issue in cooler spots. Here it's borderline, carrying the herbaceous, woody edge over a red fruit undercurrent. 

That said it's beautifully poised, weighted. Black fruit imbued with the savoury, fine tannin and a gentle flowing length. 92

Tasted on: Thursday 21st February, a Fruit to Root day 

Source: Sample

Price: 50

Alcohol: 13.8%

Closure: DIAM

Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au

 

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Warramunda Syrah 2016

Warramunda Syrah 2016

  12:30    Stu.

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Exudes the cool; of spice, bramble and even evocative of own brand cola (that cherry/ kirsch/ herb mix - you get me?). A latent hint of, something like tamarind paste, meets grilled meat.

Medium weight, just so, poised and pitched on the palate. Blue fruits, just squeezed in the palm and oozing through the fingers, violets. It's fine, fresh and elegant; graphite tannin conveys the wine through to an excellent conclusion. Well made. 92

Tasted on: Wednesday 5th December 

Source: Sample
Price: $50
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: DIAM
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au

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Liv Zak Rosé 2017

Liv Zak Rosé 2017

  12:30    Stu.

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I'm liking these Warramunda and Liv Zak wines, a suggestion of early picking (on both ABVs and flavour profile), with an approachability now, and structure to boot.

Delicate Berry aromatics, florals and a softness that reminds of talcum (or such). 

Crispness, a delicate acidic crunch that meets a textural roundness that lends a waxy feel - somewhat like apple skin. Suggestion of tart acidity freshens things up a touch. 90 

Tasted on: Thursday 15th November 
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au

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Liv Zak Syrah 2016

Liv Zak Syrah 2016

  11:30    Stu.

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Liv Zak is a second label, of sorts, for COldstream (Yarra Valley) based Warramunda Estate.

Brambley mix of fruit, spice, suggestion of whole bunch. Invitingly fresh and vibrant, fruit at its core with a savoury frame. 

Feels slick, polished, a veneer of glossy black fruit with aniseed and black pepper twists. Sensuous and easy going, yet with enough gravitas to elevate it to more than a thirst quencher. 91  

Tasted on: Wednesday 28th November 
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 13.6%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://warramundaestate.com.au

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