Alkoomi Jarrah Shiraz 2009

Alkoomi Jarrah Shiraz 2009

  05:57    Stu.

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Built to last. Unlike many things these days.

Smooth, structured and has this lovely undercurrent of flavour, a citrus/ sour/ tang with good acid pitch. But balanced. Poised, that's possible a better way of putting it.

Opens with a rich, chocolatey, oak driven aroma in the mix with good red fruits adding to the overall package. The tang forms the finish, slowly fading. Quite delightful. 92 - Very Good

Tasted on: Friday 7th June, a Fruit Day
Source: Sample
Price: $39
Alcohol: 14.1%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://alkoomiwines.com.au

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Ocean Eight Verve Chardonnay 2009

Ocean Eight Verve Chardonnay 2009

  21:16    Stu.

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Opens with pine nuts and hints of corn. Whole bunch pressed, seeing 10-12 months in second use oak. Palate shows lime brulee, quite a full and creamy feel to it. 

Mineral line through its core and finishes with a flourish of acid and mineral. 89 - Good

Tasted on: Friday 7th June, a Fruit day
Source: Gift
Price: $38
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: DIAM
Website: http://www.oceaneight.com.au/

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The Lane Vineyard Block 14 Shiraz 2012

The Lane Vineyard Block 14 Shiraz 2012

  21:07    Stu.

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I was thoroughly enthralled by this wine.

The aromatics: alluring; the palate a dark, inky mass built around this graphite streak; finishing fine. Three separate parts, each offering something different, on their own quite brilliant, together something else. 

Whole berry fermentation gives the wine its aromatic intro. Red berries, satsuma plums, peppery hints - but quite delicate. In the mouth, it's meaty, supported by an acidic tang with a graphite minerality that is all too rare in many wines.

The finish is a little bitter, the conclusion to a savoury tail of flavour. It gives, gives, gives. Fantastic wine. 94 - Outstanding

Tasted on: Thursday 6th June, a Fruit Day
Source: Sample
Price: $39
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.thelane.com.au/

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Coombe Farm Chardonnay 2012

Coombe Farm Chardonnay 2012

  21:15    Stu.

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Chardonnay from the Yara Valley that uses a 60/40 split of the Mendoza clone - often said to lack a little on the back palate - and the P58 clone, favoured amongst some of the Yarra Chardonnay-heads.

Three batches of fruit were all vinified separately, different yeasts were also engaged, only 20% allowed to go through Malo. Oak, is French barriques, 20% of which is new.

Opens with a mix of florals, stonefruit, citrus and even a touch of fenugreek. The palate is full, creamy - unsure of the battonage regime - with good acid to cut through the back end. Shows nice balance, good drinking, has a moreish quality to it. Reels you back in.

That said, length is a little average, flavour is pulled through, medium acidity. Good wine. 90 - Good

Tasted on: Tuesday 4th June, a Leaf Day
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.coombefarm.com.au

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Chapel Hill Chardonnay 2012

Chapel Hill Chardonnay 2012

  21:00    Stu.

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2011 Bottle Image

"The final evolution in our unwooded Chardonnay" came appended to the bottle. The 2011 was the first vintage of the Chapel Hill Foundation Chardonnay that I had tasted, it was the 21st year of production, and it was also the first time in which a small component of the wine saw a little time in barrel.

So, to 2012, forward with lemon creme on approach; grapefruit hints - both aromatically and also by way of acidity - creamy with sufficient drive form the acidity to meander its way around that. 

Average length of flavour, yet considering the price point I would have to consider that it over delivers. A view in common with that 2011 example. Touch and go for a point higher: 87 - Average

Tasted on: Tuesday 4th June, a Leaf Day
Source: Sample
Price: $16
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.chapelhillwine.com.au

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Michael Hall Eden Valley Syrah 2010

Michael Hall Eden Valley Syrah 2010

  16:43    Stu.

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From the Naimanya vineyard perched at 520 metres in the Eden Valley. Was picked on the 1st April, de-stemmed,wild yeast ferented and spent 22 days on skins.

Opens initially to a smokey-toasty citrus infused profile. Backed up with blue fruits. Quite a pretty intro. Palate shows complexity, seemingly at odds to that aromatic profile - an interesting juxtaposition. Red and black fruits, a citrus tang built around a mineral core.

It is that minerality that forms the backbone of the wine, a fine length passing - and lasting - long on the palate, a flourish of tannin holding you. Simply captivating, offering something else at every turn. 94 - Excellent 

Tasted on: Saturday 1st June, a Flower Day
Source: Retail, Grand Central Cellars
Price: $40 RRP
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: DIAM
Website: http://www.michaelhallwines.com/

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Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz 2011

Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz 2011

  14:06    Stu.

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The Undercover, so named as McLaren Vale Shiraz was often a key component of

celebrated wines in Australia's history. These days it gets slightly more celebrated billing - but this is Pertaringa's nod to those times when it was less so.
Initially shows the aromatic signature consistent with a cooler, wetter vintage - git it a little time and air and it opens revealing a fairly dense tapestry of rich chocolate, plummy notes, dark berry compote: essence of McLaren Vale perhaps. Be patient, wait a little longer and there's some furtive sandalwood and minty character wafting through.

Entry is spicy, toasty oak is fairly prominent and provides gloss and sheen, tarts things up a little with slippery silken feel. Tannin is very fine, flowing to a finish of chocolate and berry fruits, a cascade of velvety teture. 90 - Good

Tasted on: Saturday 1st June, a Flower Day
Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol:
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.pertaringa.com.au

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[Edited at 18:41 on Sunday 9th June 2013 to reflect that this is the 2011 vintage and not the 2010]

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