Rymill gt Gewürztraminer 2018

Rymill gt Gewürztraminer 2018

  11:30    Stu.

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Exhibits all the hallmarks of Gewürztraminer, by way of the musk and rosewater. It's a lighter take mind, and no worse for it. 

A Minerally edge is really the defining aspect to the palate, faint musk and something like a lychee bent running through. Lightness being the watchword, a subtle take on the style, earlier picking to achieve that. 88 

Tasted on: Wednesday 3rd October 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.rymill.com.au

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Huntington Estate Special Reserve Semillon 2017

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Semillon 2017

  07:30    Stu.

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Softer aromatics, the citrus and grassiness are kind of given, that's followed up by a softer bent of tropical fruit - honeydew melon meets something like peach juice.

The palate shows the softer tropical flow, with a steelier spine - as if to act as a guide. Unsure it necessarily offers too much more over the standard release. 90 

Tasted on: Wednesday 3rd October 
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 11.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://huntingtonestate.com.au

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Montalto Estate Teurong Block Chardonnay 2016

Montalto Estate Teurong Block Chardonnay 2016

  16:30    Stu.

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Greenish hue in the glass, and seems to evoke a green response aromatically, yet is all dripping ripe stonefruit. 

At turns both fleshy, yet clipped and crisp. It evokes a somewhat fleshy and sensuous response.

There's a citrus acidity running deep, both lime and grapefruit. Zesty fresh, with a drying phenolic edge that serves to pinch and accentuate the flavour. 

It's a fine wine, of focus and precision with an excellent tail of flavour. 94 

Tasted on: Wednesday 3rd October 
Source: Sample
Price: $60
Alcohol: 12.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://montalto.com.au

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Tim Adams Pinot Gris 2018

Tim Adams Pinot Gris 2018

  11:30    Stu.

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Has the delightful kiss of the barest of skin contact, a pale golden/ translucent onion skin blush, that I like in a Gris. 

Don't serve too chilled, else you'll suppress the delicate aromatics: blossom, Nashi pear (AKA 'papples' as they're known.around these parts, being a pear that looks like an apple). 

There's a textural stonefruit line that runs across the palate, more like a peach nectar - seemingly bringing with it a residual sweetness. Lends that width, in the way sugar is want. Temporarily prolongs the finish. Would work well with a dish carrying some spice, a decent Thai dish perhaps. 88 

Tasted on:Tuesday 2nd October 
Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.timadamswines.com.au

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Huntington Estate Special Reserve Merlot 2016

Huntington Estate Special Reserve Merlot 2016

  07:30    Stu.

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It's always with a fair degree of trepidation that I approach a Merlot sample. Do the viticulturist and winemaker understand understand the nuances of the variety in its chosen region? Or have they produced a generic dry red offering little varietal definition?

Huntington Estate traditionally used its Merlot in 'Bordeaux' blends, first producing it as a varietal in 2006 and opting to release as a 'Special Reserve' in exceptional vintages.

This 2016 release is classic Huntington Estate and typically Mudgee. Add varietal Merlot in the frame and you get mocha oak with a little tobacco thrown in. The tannin profile is exquisitely fine, it's the first thing I noticed as it floods across the palate. 

Not without a sense of freshness, backed up with a swathe of black fruit. Concludes with what can only be described as the Mudgee terroir carrying long on the finish. 91 

Tasted on: Tuesday 2nd October 
Source: Sample
Price: $38
Alcohol: 14.3%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://huntingtonestate.com.au

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Cook's Lot Pinot Gris 2018

Cook's Lot Pinot Gris 2018

  16:30    Stu.

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I've never really quite understood nougat (or 'nugget' as I referred to it in my youth), save for its writ large here and offers appeal. 

Canteloupe melon, pear segments - more mineral on the palate than many a Gris offers. Has a little texture, bringing with it hints of citrus and tropical elements that bolster the profile. 

Certainly stands out from the crowd with respect to other Gris, and this somewhat straddles that Gris/gio territory. No bad thing mind. 91 

Tasted on: Tuesday 2nd October 
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.cookslot.com.au/

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Angullong Fossil Hill Barbera 2017

Angullong Fossil Hill Barbera 2017

  12:52    Stu.

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Barbera is not exactly a common variety here in Australia, and appears to fair well in some rather diverse regions. Here, Orange - and off a vineyard situated at 600-620 metres - shows the variety well in a cool climate - for Australia at least - guise. 

It's all a mix of Berry fruit married to savoury, woody/herbal hints. There's a remnant of oak in play too. Delightfully poised, with a medium bodied aspect, black fruit with liberal twists of pepper. 

Tannins are fine, powdery, coating the mouth and adding to a generous finish. We opted to pair this with a vegetarian lasagne, where it was more than a match for the juicy, tomato laden construct. Go here, easily. 92 

Tasted on: Monday 1st October 
Source: Sample
Price: $26
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.angullong.com.au

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