Raidis Estate - New Releases - Tasting Notes

Raidis Estate - New Releases - Tasting Notes

  15:41    Stu.

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Steve Raidis, principal/winemakerof Coonawarra's Raidis Estate was in town recently on some trade visits. I took the opportunity to catch up with Steve, along with a few like minded souls to take a look at some new and current recent release wines over a spot of dinner*

Steve, first generation Aussie, along with wife Emma and parents Chris and Fran own and operate Raidis Estate, self-titled 'new kids' in Coonawarra. 

Chris Raidis migrated to South Australia age 3. Growing up in and working he vineyards of Coonawarra. They opened Penola Strawberry Farm and their own taverna, the Greek Charcoal Grill. Dreaming of owning vineayrds, they were eventually persuaded to rip out the strawberries where they planted Cabernet Sauvignon in the famous terra rossa soils.

2013 'The Kid' Riesling

Fruit drawn from Southern Coonawarra, cooler and greater influence from the coast,

Attractive - apple blossom, faint tropicals: paw paw, lime. Mineral, harder edge; slightly gin and tonic mineral feel to it. Decent length. 89 $20 12.5%

2014 'The Kelpie' Sauvignon Blanc 

Spends a little time on skins, giving the wine little bit of 'bronzing ball' blush colour to it. Florals, crushed candies, musk and a little fleshy melon. Textural nuances - that word again,fleshy - mineral and acid. Nice little phenolic edge. Enjoyed this. 90/91 $20 12%

2014 'Cheeky Goat' Pinot Gris 

Spends four days on skins, deeper colour - almost bronzed and veering to onion skin. The only Gris grown in Coonawarra (not sure what that says).

Varietal: poached pear, apple, spice - good allure from the off with this one. Sees more spice, peach/stonefruit. Textural too - the time on skins giving that little edge to it too. 92 $20 13.6%

2013 'Wild Goat' Shiraz

I first tasted the 2012 at 'Game of Rhones' mid-late last year. In its youth then, as were the vines, but the class and quality were obvious. Roll on one year and it's no different, proving it no fluke. Floral, pretty - crushed berries and florals; youthful, vanilla/residual oak. Sees berries, spice on the palate; incredible smooth, oak here again, gives a bit of tannin too. Depth, chocolatey, cassis on the finish. An absolute pleasure from start to finish. 92 $28

2012 'Billy' Cabernet Sauvignon
Made from the vines planted on the original Raidis property, where those strawberries once resided on the famous Terra Rossa. Lovely complex nose here, with tobacco leading over that regional Eucalypt. Earth, pencil shavings and black berries. Nicely structured. 92/93 $28

Tasted on: Thursday 29th January, a Root day
Source: Private Tasting
Website: http://www.raidis.com.au/

* For the avoidance of doubt, the wines were supplied by Raidis Estate and attendees paid their own way with respect to the food we shared in great company.

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O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2014

O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2014

  18:35    Stu.

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Expressive little number here: bath salts, kaffir lime, citrus blossom.

Has the focus and precision, the lazer-beam acidity cutting a clinical line through the palate. Yet, for all that, it has an easy-going moreishness to it.

Citrus derived length, proportions generous. A perennial winner. 93

Tasted on: Thursday 8th January, a Leaf to Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://olearywalkerwines.com/

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Voyager Estate Chardonnay 2011

Voyager Estate Chardonnay 2011

  08:38    Stu.

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Has that stonefruit, citrus, seasoned oak and a sprinkle of vanilla bean thing going on. One of the most alluring combinations known, and the hallmarks of good quality Chardonnay.

Cut of grapefruit acidity, well integrated seasoned oak on the palate. It was a wine I preferred more as it warmed a little: textural nuances highlighted further, all round a balanced and well rounded proposition. 91

Tasted on: Tuesday 6th January, a Flower to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $45
Alcohol: 13.3%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.voyagerestate.com.au/

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Willow Bridge Estate Solana Tempranillo 2013

Willow Bridge Estate Solana Tempranillo 2013

  06:27    Stu.

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Tempranillo for me, when executed well, is a thing of beauty. I have laid bare my issues against Australian Tempranillo in the past, not so here with this offering from Willow Bridge Estate in Western Australia's Geographe region.

Coffee bean, chocolate and blueberry - little tart bundles of juicy goodness and a background of vanilla bean.

The palate shows what is so good about the better examples of the variety: blue fruits, even suggestions of stonefruit, it's a wine that straddles tart and juicy with soft aromatics. Tannin is fine grained and powdery, an excellent vehicle for the wine's flavour. We see a little anise on the back palate and overall a dark cherry manifestation.

For what is an in-depth wine, it yields an incredible freshness - in tandem just downright smashable, and yet also serious, contemplative. Bravo Mr Burnell! 93

Tasted on: Sunday 4th January, a Root to Flower day 
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 13.3%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.willowbridge.com.au

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View Road Wines 'Picked by My Wife' Tempranillo 2013

View Road Wines 'Picked by My Wife' Tempranillo 2013

  06:25    Stu.

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The specs: wild ferment, plunged twice a day for five and a half weeks, twelve months in old French oak. From Yakka Paddock vineyard in Kuitpo (southern end of the Adelaide Hills), planted in 2001.

Good aromatics here, blue fruits in the main initially. Doesn't quite flow through on the palate. Big wine - impact statement - manages to avoid the heat, but cannot shake the stewed fruit character.

No issues with balance - just devoid of the character I expect, somewhat truncated finish. 87

Tasted on: Sunday 4th January, a Root to Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $27
Alcohol: 15.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.viewroadwines.com.au/ {Under Construction}

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Wirra Wirra Lost Watch Adelaide Hills Riesling 2014

Wirra Wirra Lost Watch Adelaide Hills Riesling 2014

  08:34    Stu.

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Riesling from the Adelaide Hills tends to be a little overlooked. As a variety it is overshadowed by those two classic Riesling producing regions to the north: Clare and Eden Valleys; within its own region it doesn't get much of a guernsey compared to the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc produced there.

Apple, a touch of blossom and bath salts. A very Spring like aromatic profile - refreshing the olfactory organ long before you've taken your first sip.

Loaded with lemon and lime, a punchy acidic line, beautiful aromatics, clean-up-your-palate acidity and a decent enough length to have you refreshed and yearning for at least a second glass. 90

Tasted on: Sunday 4th January, a Root to Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $22
Alcohol: 12.6%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://wirrawirra.com/

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d'Arenberg The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

d'Arenberg The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

  14:23    Stu.

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I'm not prone to call favourites - but if I were, amongst the d'Arenberg icons, then the Coppermine Road could possibly hold the position of first amongst equals.

Plum, damson and notes of damp earth. Heady you might say. Chocolate and wafery oak only add to what is an already inviting package.

It needs a little time, opening up to reveal spice: clove and a touch of pepper; leaf - savoury notes, licorice twists - fruit, present, but secondary. That chocolate - some might say, regionality - depth comes on more over a second day at the expense of licorice and spice.

Excellent bassy resonance, enveloping you in a warm and wintery fuzziness. Top drawer. 94

Tasted on: Saturday 3rd January, a Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $65
Alcohol: 14.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.darenberg.com.au/

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