Redbank Fighting Flat Shiraz 2009

Redbank Fighting Flat Shiraz 2009

  21:37    Stu.

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It's fair to say that you have to like your oak to get into this wine. Oak, pepper, a full-on presentation of black fruits, hints of coal tar and liquorice root.

Medium bodied, pepper and clovey spice; says something that liquorice adds a certain elegance to the wine. Tanning is ultra-fine, lending structure to the wine. Ultimately a good wine, but some odd choices: unusual these days to see cork on a wine at this price-point. 89 - Good

Tasted on: Sunday 14th July, a Fruit Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $ 25
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.redbankwines.com/

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Montalto Pennon Hill Pinot Grigio 2012

Montalto Pennon Hill Pinot Grigio 2012

  19:14    Stu.

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Expressly aromatic, plenty of ripe pear and white florals with some elements of melon as part of its aromatic equation.

On the palate it is green, clean and crisp - with perky acid highlighting a little phenolic pinch and touch of spice. Moderate length of finish which does add extra appeal.

Personally for a Grigio I prefer clean and cheap, whereas a Gris at this price point I would expect to see a more worked, textural profile. That said, it's a solid 89 - Good

Tasted on: Saturday 13th July
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.montalto.com.au/wine.html

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Tapanappa Cabernet Shiraz 2009

Tapanappa Cabernet Shiraz 2009

  21:26    Stu.

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A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (84%) and Shiraz (16%), the fruit is dazzling, framed up by some exquisite oak treatment.

It's fairly loaded up with cassis, plum, and beyond that to underlying cedary notes, hints of violet. Multi-faceted, the fruit is very prominent, but return each time to find a little extra something, the wine revealing itself further.

Silken smooth on the plate, nigh effortless. Abundance of cassis here too, with peppery hints and eucalypt, supported with good acid set against a savoury edge. Tannin is ultra-fine, classy one could say. Seems a pleasure to drink now, yet cellaring well will certainly reward the patient. 94 - Outstanding

Tasted on: Friday 19th July, a Leaf Day
Source: Sample
Price: $55
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.tapanappawines.com.au/

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Terre à Terre Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Terre à Terre Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

  21:09    Stu.

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Terre à Terre is the label of Xavier Bizot and Lucy Croser, husband and wife team, each coming from respected winemaking familes, he as one of the families behind the Bollinger name and Lucy being the daughter of Brian and Ann Croser.

Their Terre à Terre label was started in 2004 with the planting of 3 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon and 2 of Sauvignon Blanc, just across the road from the Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard. This vintage saw a mere 450 bottles produced.

Out of the blocks the wine shows graphite and HB pencil aromas; dusty, savoury, with a hint of violet, plum and dusky rose. Settling into itself, it's mineral tinged and offering up plenty of alluring cassis.

Mineral-strewn with a touch of spice - barely noticeable at first, building. The wine's structure has you here, firm, yet not overdone. Tannin is chalky, drying and fine. You suspect you're in the presence of class when savouring it. Finishes long and savoury. 93 - Very Good

Tasted on: Sunday 14th July, a Fruit Day
Source: Sample
Price: $33
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://terreaterre.com.au/

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Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz 2011

Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz 2011

  19:43    Stu.

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I reviewed the 2008 of this only last year. So it seems it is released as a 2 year-old, and not a 5 year old as I thirst thought.

Lush, rich, 'polished' oak over background spice. The oak makes way - or certainly the olfactory organ gets used to it - a good perfume of fruit, spice with choc-vanilla-coconut layers.

Plum and florals on the palate, good acid thrust; tannin soft and chalky. Acid high, in balance against the oak and fruit - a coup given the cooler than usual vintage. Touch of salinity, choc-coffee, a punch of flavour...then a tail. 

Good length, fairly generous, with spice and zing. An indecisive 91/ 92 (as you wish) - Very Good

Tasted on: Monday 8th July, a Flower Day
Source: Sample
Price: $70
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.foxcreekwines.com/

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Michael Hall Roussanne 2011

Michael Hall Roussanne 2011

  21:29    Stu.

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Michael Hall is a producer to watch. This Roussanne spends 11 months in French oak, 1200 bottles produced in this vintage. Fruit is drawn from the Barossa, predominantly Marananga sub-district with a little additional fruit from Greenock.

Shows excellent varietal character with honeysuckle, white florals, creamy citrus and a little pine-nut added complexity.

The palate is a full-on textural assault, the creamy hints evident on the nose also present on the palate. Citrus-tinged, it shows an excellent acid structure, if initially seeming a little closed. Drinks very well now, but if you're lucky enough to have a stash, it will certainly reward cellaring and consumption in around 5 years time. Putting my nuts on the line here, with a deserved: 94 - Excellent

Tasted on: Monday 1st July, a Leaf Day
Source: Retail, Grand Central Cellars
Price: $35
Alcohol: 12.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.michaelhallwines.com/

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Giorgi Canneto Pavese Sangue di Giuda 2012

Giorgi Canneto Pavese Sangue di Giuda 2012

  08:15    Stu.

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One of the more unusual samples received for a PR tie-in, sent to coincide with the Australian run of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Sangue di Giuda - literally 'Blood of Judas' - is said to be so named by Friars who disapproved of the wine's aphrodisiac effects. It's made in Oltrepo Pavese zone of Lombardy and is a DOC wine.

Impenetrably dark in colour, it opens with a juicy, nigh grapey, aroma. Fresh, fruity and vibrant - what we often miss with wine is intent, or context, and here the wine is made in a deliberately low alcohol style - for 'casual' consumption if you wish. 

This particular example sees only 3 days on skins, enough for colour and flavour, but little tannin. Tank fermented, its style is lightly pettillant. The palate is simply fruity, almost cordial like with its 85 g/l residual sugar. 86 - Average, if a score matters. 

Tasted on: Saturday 29th June, a Flower Day
Source: Sample
Price: $?
Alcohol: 7%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://giorgi-wines.it/en/vini-dolci/sangue-di-giuda/
Imported By: http://www.italiquore.com.au/

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