Coppabella Sirius Chardonnay 2017

Coppabella Sirius Chardonnay 2017

  16:00    Stu.

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Winemaking at the margins here, up in the high country of Tumbarumba. Coppabella being a sister company to Jason and Alecia Brown's 'Moppity', with a singular focus to produce cool-climate wines of finesse and precision under that label.

The wine itself seemingly as pristine and clean as the air amongst which the vines precariously grow: citrus and hints of stonefruit. 

It's tight, focussed, a wire-taught line of acidity; grapefruit, hints of melon and just there nougat oak. Possesses almost a fragility, a barely there existence - yet it keeps going, perpetually flowing in its manner. Indeed a fine wine, of precision and complexity. 94  

Published on: Monday 27th May
Source: Sample
Price: $60
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://coppabella.com.au

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Zonte's Footstep Lady Marmalade Vermentino 2018

Zonte's Footstep Lady Marmalade Vermentino 2018

  13:18    Stu.

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Vermentino a few years back was touted as the next "great white hope" of Australian viticulture - they come along every so often, championed by a producer, well regarded scribe or such - being a somewhat drought tolerant variety that retains natural acid well. Such things take time, particularly amongst a wary consumer. 

There were some amongst the wine cognoscenti that tried to associate the variety with the humble Sardine, that went seemed to go down like a led herring. Pun certainly intended. 

As a variety it, and this example indeed does so, offers a fresh and fragrant aroma, redolent of Summer days. Here: stonefruit, citrus, so yes fresh and fragrant. 

But the palate offers both texture, how it feels in the mouth, roll and around and it's almost chewy. Beyond that a minerality, a tingle as it dances across the palate. Fresh and refreshing. Perhaps more for the summer months. 90 

Tasted on: Friday 24th May, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.zontesfootstep.com.au

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Shaw Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Shaw Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

  14:00    Stu.

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Jeez, I doubt this could be any more varietal if it tried! The Cabernet is strong in this one. 

Just exudes and emanates Cabernosity (it's not a word, I made it up) from the get go. All cedar, bay, bit of tomato bush in the mix. Smidge of sawdusty oak to book. It invites, lures, reels you back for more - in short, it's a bit of an aromatic ripper! 

Black fruit, cassis specifically, smooth with a eucalypt tang. It's all in check, an acidic fresh and at you finish, fine tannin on the profile. Happy to go here any time. 93 

Tasted on: Thursday 16th May, a Root to Flower day 
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://shawwines.com.au

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Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay 2017

Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay 2017

  08:35    Stu.

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Always a wine that exhibits the winemakers intent well. Here, the meal aspects of the Chardonnay combined with stonefruit hints sit first, with biscuity notes supplementary to that. 

The body a textural and minerally delight, with a fine spine of acidity. A wine of presence, elegance and balance. 93 

Tasted on: Wednesday 22nd May, a Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $49
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.shawandsmith.com

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Huntington Estate Barrel Ferment Chardonnay 2018

Huntington Estate Barrel Ferment Chardonnay 2018

  13:14    Stu.

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Toasty, barrel fermented funk going on. Grilled stonefruit softens that initial hit, adding a fruity succulence to the wine. Nougat, cashew - both serve to supplement things. 

That all flows through to the palate, a citrus edge adds flow and length to the wine. Hints of acid cut and thrust, perhaps a touch domineering at this early juncture. 

Impressive release, as ever, from the Huntington crew. 90 

Tasted on: Monday 6th may, a Fruit to Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $27
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://huntingtonestate.com.au

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d'Arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne 2018

d'Arenberg The Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne 2018

  11:50    Stu.

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Has this golden aura, a succulent and rounded aromatic profile with stonefruit top notes. The Viognier is principal variety here and it shows. 

It's rich and loaded on the palate, the vanilla edged Marsanne staking its claim here. It's got a sweeter edge too, akin to a baked apricot pastry or such. It's fleshiness singing, filling the void of your oral cavity. 90 

Tasted on: Friday 10th May, a Flower to Leaf day

Source: Sample
Price: $18
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.darenberg.com.au

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Terre à Terre Piccadilly Rosé 2018

Terre à Terre Piccadilly Rosé 2018

  19:01    Stu.

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Pinot Noir (82%) and Chardonnay (18%) drawn from the Bizot, Heysen and Summertown vineyards in the Piccadilly Valley (Adelaide Hills) originally destined for sparkling base, this being made from the pressings. 

Onion skin accents lure the eye in, red fruit and stonefruit tickles the olfactory organ. Time on lees in old oak for 9 months adds palate depth and weight, a light phenolic edge adding to that further. 

A crispness with lingering acidity, tugs things along, luring you back for another glass. 93

Tasted on: Thursday 9th May
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 12.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://terreaterre.com.au/

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