De Bortoli Vinoque Gamay Noir 2015

De Bortoli Vinoque Gamay Noir 2015

  08:30    Stu.

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Grown at Steel's Creek, in the northern part of Yarra. De Bortoli have a pretty good track record with the Gamay off of the Roundstone vineyard.

Savoury, briar/hedgerow, spiced - almost a minty lift that tickles the nasal cavity. Peppery.

Strawberry and cherries. Light, lithe, juicy, it energetically races around the palate. Sweet fruited with a little sour tang, nice balance, ying and yang. Ease of drinking, if a little simple. Gamay 101. 90 

Tasted on: Sunday 2nd April, a Root to Flower day
Source: Cellar Door Purchase
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: debortoli.com.au/

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Mount Avoca Moates Lane Chardonnay 2014

Mount Avoca Moates Lane Chardonnay 2014

  14:30    Stu.

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Not the strongest aromatically: faint guava, hints of smokiness in the mix, a little of the vegetable crisper in there too.

Back palate creaminess and butterscotch are really what this wine is about. Interesting. Not the most profound wine, then again I’d perhaps question what you are looking for around the $12-15 mark. 

Not unpleasant. There’s just much better available in the portfolio. 86 

Tasted on: Saturday 1st April, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $14.95
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://mountavoca.com

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Rymill The Dark Horse Chardonnay 2016

Rymill The Dark Horse Chardonnay 2016

  09:00    Stu.

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Bright, fresh, beurre bosc pear, and a citrus generosity to it - almost a bit sherbet like (like a swizzle stick) in its representation.

That brightness doesn’t quite carry through to the palate, more akin to a watercolour than a radiant pastel or acrylic canvas (to attempt to bring some form of artistic metaphor to things). There’s nothing really wrong and it drinks well, just, I wouldn’t mind a little more. 87

Tasted on: Saturday 1st April, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.rymill.com.au/

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Yelland & Papps Devote Roussanne 2016

Yelland & Papps Devote Roussanne 2016

  09:29    Stu.

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This wine was my excuse to knock up a spicy Moroccan inspired Chicken, bastardised recipe included below. Or check out the original here.

Roussanne often strikes me as having this golden, Linseed character. Take that as a base, add stonefruit and a little creamed edge, a little chicken stock even and you start to approach where this wine is at. 

Quite a lavishly textured wine, chewy and textural. Hints of slivered almond, a little bite via some phenolics and spice. There's plenty going on, with citrus twists and a subtle creaminess to the body. 

Subtle. That's a good way of summarising it. 92 

Tasted on: Wednesday 31st May, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 12.7%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://yellandandpapps.com/

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lime
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Moroccan seasoning
• 60ml (1/4 cup) olive oil
• 4 (about 800g) chicken thigh cutlets (skin on), excess fat trimmed
• 2 (about 350g) red Delight potatoes, peeled, cut into 1.5cm pieces
• 1 (about 600g) sweet potato (kumara), peeled, cut into 1.5cm pieces
• 2 carrots, peeled, cut into 1.5cm pieces
• 2 red capsicums, seeded, cut into 1.5cm pieces
• 2 large zucchini, cut into 1.5cm pieces
• 2 red onions, cut into 8 thick wedges
• 240g (1 1/4 cups) couscous
• 375ml (1 1/2 cups) boiling water
• 30g butter
• 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves

METHOD

• Step 1
  Use a zester, or a vegetable peeler and a small sharp knife, to cut lime rind into thin strips. Juice the lime and reserve juice. Combine lime rind, garlic, chopped mint, Moroccan seasoning (or Harissa paste, 2 tbsps) and 2 tablespoons of oil in a glass bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Step 2
  Place chicken in a large glass bowl. Pour over three-quarters of the marinade and rub over chicken to evenly coat. Cover and place in the fridge for 1-2 hours to marinate.
• Step 3
  Preheat oven to 200°C. place a baking tray in oven. 
• Step 4
  Combine the potato, sweet potato, carrot, remaining marinade and remaining oil in a glass bowl. Place on the baking tray. Place the chicken on top of the vegetables. Bake for 25 minutes. Then add the capsicum, zucchini and onion to tray and toss to combine. Roast for an additional 25 minutes or until juices run clear (keep an eye on it basically) when the thickest part of the chicken is pierced with a skewer and vegetables are tender.
• Step 5
  Place couscous in a heatproof bowl. Pour over the boiling water. cover. Set aside for 5 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Use a fork to separate grains and stir to combine. Stir in mint leaves and either lime juice (retained from above), or lemon juice for a burst of freshness. Optional: add a handful of slivered almonds for extra texture.

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Mount Avoca Limited Release Fumé Blanc 2014

Mount Avoca Limited Release Fumé Blanc 2014

  14:30    Stu.

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I like that this still retains a fruit presence - Passionfruit, blackcurrant leaf - without the overt, excess of many Sauvignon Blanc. Carries the ‘Blanc’ flag well, a subtle creaminess - almost like a creaming soda - without too much of the smokiness that can dominant many.

Subtle citrus and cream on the palate, softened acidity. Bursts of minerality that bolster the profile. Balance, composure, class even - nothing over-wrought. Good work. 91

Tasted on: Saturday 1st April, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $29.95
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://mountavoca.com

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Robert Stein Mudgee Reserve Chardonnay 2014

Robert Stein Mudgee Reserve Chardonnay 2014

  08:30    Stu.

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Wild ferment action, oak treatment is 50% new French hoggies.

Oak does speak quite clearly here, provides a malty heart sitting over a core of nectarine and citrus. 

Substantive in the mouth, a mouthful of meal, stonefruit. Not quite a line and length merchant, partial-malo seeing off some of the acid. It does have fairly good persistence, though I remained unconvinced about its form/ style. 90 

Tasted on: Friday 31st March, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $40
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.robertstein.com.au/

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Yaldara Ruban Cabernet Shiraz 2014

Yaldara Ruban Cabernet Shiraz 2014

  14:30    Stu.

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Big changes at Yaldara. After some years in the corporate wilderness at the hands of AVL/ McGuigan wines, acquisition by a wealthy Sino-Australian businessman is breathing much needed life into the business.

I had the good fortune to spend two days recently as guests of the winery - draw from that what you will - learning about some of the ideas to rejuvenate the historical brand and re-establish it within the domestic market place.

A 70/30 blend of the two respectively. It smells its 15%: dense, dark, choc-malt, pencil shaving oak. 

Unequivocally full-bodied, pretty slick, a sheen on entering the palate. Not quite lavish, almost, the gloss giving way to cloven spice. 

Beefy, meaty back palate, saline edge. Good lingering presence, even if not totally with finesse. 90 

Tasted on: Thursday 30th March, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 15%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://1847wines.com/

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