Lowe Nullo Mountain Late Harvest Riesling 2013

Lowe Nullo Mountain Late Harvest Riesling 2013

  08:45    Stu.

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Opened this alongside a Gewürztraminer, looking for something to handle a little spice, this was more than up to the task.

Lemon peel, a little seville orange, not overt aromatics. 

Lovely textural entry, sweetness balanced by acid. A little burnt orange provides a counterpoint to the sweetness. Decent length, balanced, I reckon will be an even better proposition some way down the track when it fleshes out further. 89+

Tasted on: Wednesday 27th August, a Fruit to Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: lowewine.com.au

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Rymill Gewurztraminer 2013

Rymill Gewurztraminer 2013

  11:00    Stu.

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Excellent varietal character out of the glass, just lacking a little in the middle for me.

Musk, rose, gentle spice, even a suggestion of apricot nectar in the mix. Ticking the right boxes for the variety.

Palate shows a wine that's a little flatter in profile, lacking a little texture. Good spice per the variety, perhaps a little residual sugar retention would have helped fluff up the middle.

Decent length to boot, like I say, just missing a little something through the middle. 89  

Tasted on: Wednesday 27th August, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $21.95/ 19.95 on website
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.rymill.com.au

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Topper's Mountain Nebbiolo 2011

Topper's Mountain Nebbiolo 2011

  09:26    Stu.

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Red fruits initially - fading to nuts, herb (I thought some fennel too, but that was the 'Italian' sausages I was pairing this with), green tea and dried leaf matter.

Strawberry on entry, light on, good drying tannin, nice pea of acid toward the back end. Came across as two different wines, with and without food - better with the Italian sausage ragu.

Savoury tea tannin, decent length, promising. 89/90+

Tasted on: Saturday 23rd August, a Leaf day 
Source: Sample
Price: $38
Alcohol: 12.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://toppers.com.au/

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Chapel Hill Chardonnay 2013

Chapel Hill Chardonnay 2013

  21:21    Stu.

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Forward, tropical notes of guava and passionfruit with a little gooseberry-esque character in the mix.

Chalky, acid is pretty fluid, racing across the palate. Length is OK, but not the one for me this time round. 87

Tasted on: Sunday 23rd August, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $16 
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.chapelhillwine.com.au/

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Montalto Pennon Hill Chardonnay 2013

Montalto Pennon Hill Chardonnay 2013

  12:03    Stu.

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From the Montalto website: "The name Pennon Hill comes from the south facing slope on our home vineyard in Red Hill South. The wines are Mornington Peninsula regional blends and we’re aiming for bright, fresh wines with juicy, textured fruit flavours."

Wheaty, mealy, creamy with stonefruit singing here. Touch tangier than the Montalto Chardonnay (above), displaying those characters sought in the Pennon Hill range. Stonefruit, pear, a bit of toasty oak and even a little grip moving towards the back palate.

Good length here too, not to the same degree of intensity, freshness and delicious to boot. 92

Tasted on: Saturday 23rd August, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://montalto.com.au/

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Montalto Chardonnay 2013

Montalto Chardonnay 2013

  11:53    Stu.

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The intensity: struck match complexity, cashew and a suggestion of key lime hanging out around the back of the bike-shed.

Toasty, flinty mineral, good balance of fruit. Acid a bit chatty but against the other elements it creates a wonderfully balanced drinking proposition. Length is excellent. A joy to drink - and once the formalities of tasting were over, I did just that. 93/94

Tasted on: Sunday 23rd August, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $39
Alcohol: 13.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://montalto.com.au/

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Heggies Eden Valley Chardonnay 2012

Heggies Eden Valley Chardonnay 2012

  14:00    Stu.

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Stonefruit, sensitive oak inputs, a little citrus, touches of flintiness in there too.

Creamy - plenty of battonage here - toastiness, flinty mineral complexity. An all round attractive package, no shouting please. Line and length are admirable. Composed and elegant is probably how I'd summarise it. 91

Tasted on: Saturday 23rd August, a Leaf day 
Source: Sample
Price: $29.95
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.heggiesvineyard.com/

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