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This Australian wine blog was formerly known as thewinewankers.com

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Sunday, 15 April 2012

Waywood Wines Quattro Vini 2010


A blend of Nebbiolo (35%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%), Sangiovese (25%) and Shiraz (10%).  You can see how the blend works.  In the accompanying notes, the winemaker - Andrew Wood - explains hoe the blend is one tool of the winemaker in trying to achieve an idea, in this case something along the lines of a bistro wine, a great drinker - perfect with friends and food.

Sultry, dark fruited mix of plum, blackcurrant and black cherry with lovely smoky, savoury, smallgood elements thrown in too.  Juicy, fresh acidity adding one aspect in the mouth, supported by a sidekick of tannin - real tannin, chewy, grippy.  

Further, there's this tomato sauce element coursing though the palate, the acid wave carrying it through.  Damn juicy and drinkable.  91 - Very Good

Source: Sample
Price: $27/ $160 per 6
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap

Friday, 13 April 2012

Waywood Wines Cabernet Franc 2009


"Generally the bridesmaid, never the bride" or so winemaker and proprietor Andrew Wood has placed on the  label for this varietal Cabernet Franc.  One of the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc is earlier ripening than its better known parent, and in Bordeaux it is used to add perfume and smoothness to tame what can be aggressive Cabernet tannin. 

Exhibiting the hallmarks of good Cabernet Franc: the beautiful, heady perfume, lifted aromatics of leafy blackcurrant, a hint of raspberry, latent peppermint in the background.  It's a perfume that really reaches into the olfactory organ.  Deliciously appetising, in the mouth it is light, smooth with extremely fine grained tannin, working in conjunction with generous acid to create a memory of what came before.  93 - Very Good

Source: Sample
Price: $27/ $160 per 6 pack
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
 

A.Retief Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2011


There are some women you come across, elfin, delicate, fragile individuals that give you the impression they'll break at the merest suggestion of contact, yet they have this irresistible charm - this allure, this intoxicating, seductive quality that just reels you in.  This wine is like that.

Delicate citrus aromatics with a honeyed note; a coiled, tight, clenched fist of a wine in the mouth, revealing an almond, nutty element on entry, some Chablis-like oyster shell moving toward the spine of acid.  For a wine that was fermented in 100% new French oak - you wouldn't know it, malo has imparted a gentle creaminess on the finish.  Length, balance, fragility...subtle intensity.  Would love to see how it evolves.  92+ - Very Good

Source: Sample
Price: $45
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap

Thursday, 12 April 2012

Hunter Valley Valley New Generation








New Generation Hunter Valley
The New Generation Hunter Valley crew are hitting the road again for a one month  trip around the Eastern states.  Starting in Melbourne on 19th April, this motley crew - the self-titled “Not Your Usual Suspects Winemakers" – are bringing their unique style and sense of fun to you.

Laughs and jokes aside, do not underestimate the quality of wines that these six gents produce.  

Representing a new breed of producers in Australia’s oldest wine region, this group of friends are blessed to work with some of the oldest and most distinguished vineyard sites in Australia.  To that, they add their own fingerprint, employing contemporary methods to produce wines reflective of place and their own personalities.
 
How to Get Involved?
Brisbane-ites will be able to partake in the NewGen’s Pop-up bar, the exact location is a secret and will be emailed to ticket holders one week before the event:

BRISBANE | POP UP WINE BAR
WHEN: Thursday 17 May TIME: 6pm - 9pm
WHERE: Secret inner-Brisbane location (you'll be sent the venue details one week prior))
MORE INFO: info@newgenerationhuntervalley.com.au
TICKETS: $30 - get them HERE
 
What to Expect?
I’ve had the good fortune to try wines from most of the producers featured, including in 2011 when the Caravan of Courage first rolled into town. 

By and large they specialise, and excel in, what the Hunter does best: Semillon and Shiraz.  If you haven't tried young or aged Hunter Semillon, you're in for a treat.  Considered by many to be Australia's gift to the world of wine, producers such as Meerea Park and Thomas Wines hold back wines so that customers to get to appreciate the benefit of ageing for this variety.  

Others like Mike De Iuliis and the Eather brothers of Meerea Park are exploring techniques such as whole bunch fermentation to give the wines structure, large format oak to explore the benefits that brings to typically earthy wines.  Margan and Hook are pushing the envelope with new emerging varieties like Barbera, a deliciously juicy higher-acid grape variety of Italian origin that works well with rich, saucy foods.  Andrew Thomas has taken the innovation a step further, producing a Semillon with retained residual sugar to create a wine with lovely shape in the mouth, one that can pair nicely with food with a little spice.
So get along on the 17th and explore the wines of this bunch of unusual suspects winemakers.

David Hook | David Hook Wines
Andrew Thomas | Thomas Wines 
Rhys Eather | Meerea Park
Nick Paterson | Mistletoe Wines
Mike De Iuliis | De Iuliis Wines 
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Tuesday, 10 April 2012

Yelland & Papps Devote Shiraz 2009


From a single vineyard in Greenock, towards the North-East of the Barossa Valley, comes this Shiraz of easy-going drinkability and charm.  The aromatic profile shows a black fruited introduction supported by spicier notes of clove along with muscovado sugar and vanilla.

It's in the mouth where it works a treat.  Smooth, rich and rounded, rather fullsome and voluptuous.  There's not so much definition here compared to the Divine Shiraz.  The finish has an essence like quality, fruit flowing smoothly with spice coating the mouth.  90 - Good

Source: Retail
Price: $32
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap

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Saturday, 7 April 2012

Murray Street Vineyards Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2010


The third red in the current Black Label range (there being a Mataro and Shiraz currently) and a pleasant mix of Eden Valley and Barossa Valley fruit.  Some gentle doh oak on opening - it spends 18 months in a mix of American and French, new and old. There's also some of Cabernet's trademark herby, leafy aromatics; this wine's of good length, some fine raspy tannin carrying a finish with a lick of liquorice.

Smooth and medium-full bodied, fuller-fruited with blackcurrant and mulberry completing the mix.  Improved over a day it was opened, providing an inclination as to short-medium term cellaring opportunity.  Good drinking now too.  90 - Good.

Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol:14%
Closure: Screwcap

Dyson Premium Reserve Clarice Cabernet Sauvignon 2009


Pretty low-input winemaking here from Alan Dyson.  Showed better over two days, indicating some cellaring potential.  Varietal leaf, bay and bushy aromatics; sweet blackcurrant/ cassis. Medium bodied, the big downside being the heat and alcohol were rather noticeable.  Enjoyable except for that.  88 - Good

Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol:14.5%
Closure:Cork