La Petite Mort Viognier 2012

La Petite Mort Viognier 2012

  05:55    Stu.

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La Petite Mort is a euphemism for the good old orgasm. It's also the 'experimental' arm of the Granite Belt's Bent Road Winery, the label where they can have play around with techniques or run up small batches of wines. It's also home to quite possibly the most stunning labels seen in the region, a region not known for its adventurous styling or packaging.

Sees a little extended skin contact for additional colour extraction, but you wouldn't call it an 'orange' wine on the basis of its colour.

Opens with citrus, creamy puff pastry, suggestion of florals - honeysuckle - and a little vanilla. A touch of smokiness, it's a textural, weighty beast - spice builds here, has phenolic grip. Good texture that develops, supported by a little acidity.

Drank well over two days, retention of a little vitality with textural grip. 92

Tasted on: Wednesday 19th March, Root to Flower
Source: Retail, Craft Red Hill
Price: $28
Alcohol: 13.3%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://lapetitemort.com.au/

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Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier 2012

Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier 2012

  17:14    Stu.

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The last of a quartet of viogniers from the varieties saviour in Australia, Yalumba. You can find the Y Series, Organic and Virgilius elsewhere on this site. 

There's a lime and cream aspect on opening, followed by peach skins, apricot kernel. Somewhat delicate, not overbearing.

Textural, spicy, rich - has a fair degree of presence. Touches of white pepper, brown spice and a many layered textural presence. Concludes with a little pickled ginger, length building, spice lingering. Will go another 2-3 years I reckon. 91

Tasted on: Wednesday 19th March, a Root transitioning to Flower Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 13.3%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.yalumba.com/

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Kirrihill Clare Valley Sangiovese 2012

Kirrihill Clare Valley Sangiovese 2012

  17:06    Stu.

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Dry red-ish, hints of plum skin. Medium bodied, acid juts out a little here - not unusual in the variety - but not in check against the fruit. 

Worked better with food - brought out the fruit a little more. Fine grained tannin, aids and abets giving a little length. 87

Tasted on: Tuesday 18th March, a Root Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 14.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://kirrihillwines.com.au/

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Ridgemill Estate Pinot Noir 2013

Ridgemill Estate Pinot Noir 2013

  11:04    Stu.

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Pinot Noir as a varietal isn't something you see that much of on the Granite Belt. Of the examples I have tried, they have tended to sit more in the generic 'dry red' camp. This effort from Ridgemill Estate is quite the opposite - and most of all, of its variety.

It's all lightness and soft red berries: raspberry, wild strawberry, touch of juicy cranberry - with suggestions of pansies and peonies adding a little floral lift.

Light and juicy with a touch of tangy, crunchy acidity. The faintest rub of tannin - not seeing much time on skins at all. Possesses good flavour, light colour, minimal extraction. It had me thinking on more than one occasion of that other great, but lesser known, Burgundian - Gamay. Finishes with a little tangy plum-skin after-taste.

It is a light and fresh wine, it's not a wine you'd come too looking for depth and structure, that's not where its strengths lie, for it's damn enjoyable. A difficult to rate 89

Tasted on: Friday 14th March, a Leaf transitioning to Fruit Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $25*
Alcohol: 10%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://ridgemillestate.com/

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{This post was edited on Saturday 29th March at 11:10 to amend the pricing to $25}

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Yelland & Papps Second Take Roussanne 2013

Yelland & Papps Second Take Roussanne 2013

  21:21    Stu.

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The 2012 was quite possibly one of the best new releases from last year. The eagerly anticipated follow-up...

Greeted with the familiar cidery notes, you're also presented with apple, citrus, honeysuckle, frangipani and a little white spice/ ground ginger. 

Complexity is it's middle name, further elements of citrus with honeyed tinges. A slightly different bent this time around: nuts, citrus peel. A maelstrom of flavours I wrote in the notes I took when tasting, yet it handles itself well and drinks beautifully over two - even a third - day. Another spectacular release. 92

Tasted on: Monday 17th March, a Fruit transitioning to Root Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.yellandandpapps.com/

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Stefano Lubiana Black Label Riesling 2012

Stefano Lubiana Black Label Riesling 2012

  07:08    Stu.

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Tasmania, the new frontier in cool climate grape growing and wine production. Or, if you're Steve Lubiana, where you've been growing grapes since 1991.

A Cellar Door only release, 100% barrel fermented - an important point in understanding a little about the texture of the wine - produced from grapes that are biodynamically farmed.

Captivating aromatics of florals, candied citrus, grapefruit and a suggestion of talcum. Part of its charm lies in its unyielding nature, it carries all these aromas without slapping you around the head with them. It has plenty to give, and does so in a gentle manner.

Again, the palate shows a wine of poise, exquisite balance; width and weight, sweetness pitched against the inherent acidic nature of Riesling with the cool climate factor added in. Citrus fresh against savoury lees character - it spends six months on lees - and chalky dryness. Simply superb. 93

Tasted on: Friday 14th March, a Leaf transitioning to Fruit Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.slw.com.au/

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Bakkheia United and Undaunted Mourvédre 2011

Bakkheia United and Undaunted Mourvédre 2011

  08:45    Stu.

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Borrowed from GrapeObserver.com

Deep, dark, black fruits on offer here, a touch of sandy earth, a little citrus. Really expressive on day two with cassis - and suggestive of some whole berry ferment.

Entry shows juicy, jubey fruits. It's medium bodied, soft and plush. Red fruits, citrus, very easy-going fruity goodness here. Tangy, tart - moreish - easy to enjoy. 90

Tasted on: Thursday 13th March, a Leaf Day
Source: Sample
Price: $15
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.bakkheia.com.au/

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