Down to Earth Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Down to Earth Sauvignon Blanc 2013

  21:31    Stu.

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The Down to Earth Sauvignon Blanc is made from fruit drawn off the same, close planted, vineyard as the Terre à Terre Sauvignon Blanc. 

The distinct difference is that this wine is fermented in stainless steel, with a small portion - 5% - fermented in a new Foudré, and that portion added back into the final blend.

Open and expressive: shows lemon balm, a little quince and touches of tropicals that 'flesh' out the aromatic profile further.

Hints of texture on the palate, a slight stony - nigh flinty - feel to the wine. Tropicals are present, a touch of banana and a fleshy guava-esque note. This wine's strengths paradoxically lie in its subtlety. It's no slap you around the face example. Good drinking. 89

Tasted on: Thursday 29th August, a Root Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://terreaterre.com.au/

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William Hardy Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2012

William Hardy Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2012

  21:20    Stu.

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Good Hills savvy here. Lemon, touches of banana, underlying tropicals with hints of grass/ herb.

Soft and lush in the mouth, quite a rounded palate feel. Acid has been softened too - comparatively so for other Sauvignon Blanc tasted. 

Tropical hints represented here, in amidst the textural feel. The acid presents itself a little more towards the wine's conclusion - all up fairly inoffensive and certainly representative of the style and region. 87

Tasted on: Thursday 29th August, a Root Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $20.99
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.hardys.com.au/

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Torzi Matthews 2012 Old Vines Shiraz 1903 Single Vineyard of Domenico Martino

Torzi Matthews 2012 Old Vines Shiraz 1903 Single Vineyard of Domenico Martino

  21:03    Stu.

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Long name, and with it comes a wine more than equal to the longevity of its title. I'm going to say it: I think it is under priced. That's not hyperbole. Given the age and provenance of the source material, the resultant quality of wine, compare that price to other wines you see in the market and that's the basis of my position.

Opens with a freshness, a lightness, an airy - superiority? - red fruits abound, accented with a little citrus. There are touches of blue/ black fruits here too - that lightness: floats like a butterfly.

The palate construct is somewhat at odds with an onset of spice early on - the sting like a bee. Oak here, it spends 16 months in 10% new French, is nothing more than a stable platform from which the ancient vines can shine. The wine has a subtle energy and vitality to itself. Acid nicely pitched, tannin fine, a touch of hazelnut bringing up the rear. Drinks excellently over 48 hours/ 3 nights of being open. 93 - Very Good

Tasted on: Tuesday 27th August, a Fruit Day

Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 14.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.torzimatthews.com.au/home/

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Yalumba Y Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Yalumba Y Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

  21:46    Stu.

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Soft, squishy red fruits sit atop an underlying woody, slightly mulchy undercurrent. Touch of herbal character, augmenting rather than detracting.

A little flat on the palate, touch of bitter tea tannin. Quibbles at the price I might add. Short and a little astringent. 86 - Average

Tasted on: Monday 13th May, a Root Day
Source: Sample
Price: $15 RRP
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.yalumba.com

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Yalumba Y Series Unwooded Chardonnay 2012

Yalumba Y Series Unwooded Chardonnay 2012

  21:39    Stu.

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One that somehow slipped through the net, worth writing up.

Aromatics initially muted, showing a little citrus, tropicals and stonefruit. Fruit more pronounced on the palate: grapefruit and pineapple most noticeably, puckering acidity and even some spicy character. touch of texture present too - a bonus given it's unwooded. Finish shows more of that acidic line. Drinks alright for the $. 87 - Average

Tasted on: Saturday 27th April, a Flower Day
Source: Sample
Price: $15 RRP
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.yalumba.com

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Teusner Dog Strangler Mataro 2010

Teusner Dog Strangler Mataro 2010

  21:11    Stu.

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At the conclusion of a beautiful Sunday in Brisbane, having been hard at work in the garden, coming off the back of a bout of sickness - only one thing for it: strangle the dog.

I first looked at this wine nigh on two years ago to the day, two years on its worth a revisit.

Plum, black cherry, touches of new leather. Has that familiar dark, damp, moist, almost 'Jamaican Ginger Cake' feel, it's spice tinged, shows a touch of creosote - no "waffer theen meents" though - and muscovado sugar. In summary: cracking Mataro.

Medium-full bodied, persistent szechhuan spice that provides a foundation for the core of the wine. Lighter touches here too with violets, spice and woody elements, hints of licorice root. It's at turns complex, yet also offers a delightfully easy-going, oh-so-moreish feel to itself. Tannin is pared back, a mere suggestion of pebbly mineral wraps things up. In a very good spot at present. 93 - Very Good

Tasted on: Sunday 25th August, a Leaf Day 
Source: Cellar
Price: $28
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.teusner.com.au/

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Matison Estate 'The Kirk' Pinot Noir 2010

Matison Estate 'The Kirk' Pinot Noir 2010

  21:43    Stu.

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Simon Curkovic is one of a number of Sommeliers who's turned his hand to making wine, formerly plying his trade at Catalina Rose Bay, former Gourmet Traveller Sommelier of the Year.

Fruit for this wine is drawn from a well regarded vineyard - the Forest Edge Vineyard - that must rank as one of the highest in Australia, perched high on the slopes of Mount Canobalas at 1040m.

Savoury aromatics, light and pretty she's not, take a stroll through an evergreen woodland, undergrowth, kicking your feet through the leafy matter. Stop, take in the aroma, a little resinous note and a touch of mushroom - can you smell it? Dark, earthen, wet stone - petrichor they say.

Light bodied, yet has a hint of darkness, a charcuterie edge. Spicy, touch spirited, weighs in at 14.5%, features heavily but doesn't dominate. Winds up with a little dark plum, silken - winding its way around the back palate, a fine silken cravat. 92 - Very Good

Tasted on: Sunday 18th August, a Fruit Day
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.matisonestate.com.au/

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