Ferngrove Majestic Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Ferngrove Majestic Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

  11:22    Stu.

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Classic aromatics on offer with this Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon from Ferngrove.

Intense, powerful fruit of mulberry and cassis is immediately on offer. Violets, plum and a little residual oak seasoning further to seek to highlight the quality here. 

Minerally, good firm tannin, all the essential pre-requisites to see this being an age-worthy proposition, especially when considered with the powerful fruit. 92

Tasted on: Tuesday 18th August, a 
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.ferngrove.com.au/

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Ferngrove Symbols Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2014

Ferngrove Symbols Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2014

  20:20    Stu.

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Faint tropicals, citrus - lemon and lime - smells like dilute cordial. Manages to shun the pungent aromas - but goes too far the other way.

Thin, bitter, Little redemption, save perhaps its resemblance to a weak, cheap, gin and tonic. Not much on the finish either. There's greater pleasure - and value - to be had elsewhere in the Ferngrove range. Not here I'm afraid. 82

Tasted on: Friday 6th March, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $16
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ferngrove.com.au/

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Ferngrove The King Malbec 2012

Ferngrove The King Malbec 2012

  09:23    Stu.

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Ferngrove produces what is widely regarded as one of Australia's leading examples of Malbec, from its special patch of dirt down in Western Australia's Great Southern wine region. 

Dusky, dusty, violets and black fruit. A little earthen, suggestive of a little mushroom - almost. Sweet black fruit greets the palate taking the first sip, fruit sweetness that segues to the fine tannins of the variety. 

Soft and inviting, easy drinking in many respects - yet not as accomplished as the 2011 vintage prior. To the unassuming drinker, that may not matter one jot. 90

Tasted on: Wednesday 27th May, a Fruit to Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ferngrove.com.au/

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Ferngrove White Label Rosé 2017

Ferngrove White Label Rosé 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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Brand and packaging update from Ferngrove. What was formerly the 'Origins' range has become the White Label range, bringing it more in line with the remainder of the Portfolio. 

Wild strawberry, red currant and cranberry - dryish fruit, not the sweet and succulent. Solid Rosé, it has the fruit, it's dry and even a semblance of texture (solids perhaps?), somewhat unusually for a wine in this price range. 

There's a touch of spice too - only quibble is a bit of perky acid. You could pay twice the ask of this and not find something as complete 90

Tasted on: Thursday 22nd March, a Fruit to Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $16
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

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Ferngrove Independence Pinot Noir Rosé 2017

Ferngrove Independence Pinot Noir Rosé 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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Smart new packaging from the Ferngrove crew. Colour on this wine is interesting, it's nowhere near as Fuchsia pink as the image to the right suggests, more like onion skin in bottle.

Pretty aromatics, all rose and strawberry wafting out here. Has that creaminess too, like those lollies of old.

The creamy aspect flows onto the palate too; it's soft, layered, almost cushioned on the palate. Manages to retain a little fruit sweetness, yet really is bang on bone dry with a little of the savoury edging toward the finish. 91

Tasted on: Saturday 17th March
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

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Ferngrove Orchid Cossack Riesling 2018

Ferngrove Orchid Cossack Riesling 2018

  14:30    Stu.

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Single block wine from Frankland River's Ferngrove.

Initially fresh, fragrant and floral - then shy, and musky, something like dank wood. Gave it an hour, apple blossom, vanilla, bathsalt.

Tangy entry, vibrant and zesty acidity, bathsalt and chalky pucker. It's certainly dry and drying, fair sucking the moisture through your cheeks. 

Shy and retiring for now, positive signs there 91+ 

Tasted on: Saturday 1st September, a Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 12.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ferngrove.com.au/

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Ferngrove Frankland River Shiraz 2011

Ferngrove Frankland River Shiraz 2011

  05:57    Stu.

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Not ashamed to say that I called this wine incorrectly on first taste. It seemed very simple, almost shut down, suffice to say I promptly returned it to the fridge for re-evaluation the next day.

Behold! Hasn't the young fellow grown up - or my own senses have reawakened? 

Black fruited, compote aromatics - pretty in a sense. Medium bodied, sweet black fruit with a touch of fennel present. Lacks a little length, but other elements make up for it.

My issues would be, at $20, was the bottle on first opening representative of how it would appear to average Joe ripping the lid off and consuming with gusto? For it is a much better wine after a day (IMO of course). 88

Tasted on: Friday 6th June, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

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Ferngrove King Malbec 2011

Ferngrove King Malbec 2011

  10:13    Stu.

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Vibrant in the glass, leaping out, encouraging you in.

Violets, lavender, blackberry compote. An alluring aromatic array. Underneath that lies a savoury edge, a little earth and dried grass.

Has Malbec's graphite edge - as I see it - black fruit bordering and backed up with some clove derived spice. Good length of flavour, if lacking a little detail on the finish. 92

Tasted on: Saturday 21st June, a Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ferngrove.com.au/

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Ferngrove White Label Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2017

Ferngrove White Label Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2017

  14:30    Stu.

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Light on flavour and aromatics this time out. There's some faint kiwi fruit and citrus and even a suggestion of green melon.

There's a little zesty liveliness about the palate, a tingle and jingle of acidity that pricks across the tongue. That's really what the bulk of the experience is about, the dilute flavour not matching the energy. 86

Tasted on: Friday 6th April, a Leaf to Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $16
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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Ferngrove Frankland River Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Ferngrove Frankland River Sauvignon Blanc 2013

  12:44    Stu.

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Tasted in a small bracket of Sauvignon Blanc one Saturday afternoon. Shows hints of tropicals (passionfruit/ guava) on initial introduction - smells fleshy, quite pleasing.

On the palate it follows suit: textural, fuller - the flesh of mango accompanied with the zip of citrus acidity. Moderate in length, rather its defined by the palate and shape. 88

Tasted on: Saturday 8th February, a Root Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ferngrove.com.au/

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Ferngrove Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Ferngrove Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

  12:30    Stu.

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Easy-going Cabernet on offer. Certainly offers classic Cabernet character without being too stern: cedary oak, cassis. All flowing nicely onto a palate that offers that and more. 

Subtle licorice twists add an additional layer of complexity to the wine. Powdery but firm tannin provides a solid platform for the aniseed twists to flow on to the finish. 89 

Tasted on: Sunday 3rd September, a Root day
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ferngrove.com.au

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Ferngrove Cossack Riesling 2017

Ferngrove Cossack Riesling 2017

  19:40    Stu.

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Preserved lemons, grapefruit, floral hints, suggestions of vanilla. Lots going on, lots to entice with.

A veritable burst of flavour, an explosion if you like. Lemons, lime, grapefruit. Theres a zestiness that provides some zing and a powdery phenolic texture for extra grip. It reminds - in flavour and texture - or orange barley water, a cordial like drink that I long associate with the Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon.

Back to the wine, it's everything you want in a Riesling, bloody delicious. 93

Tasted on: Wednesday 24th January
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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Ferngrove Independence Pinot Noir 2017

Ferngrove Independence Pinot Noir 2017

  14:30    Stu.

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Rather bold aromatics on this Pinot Noir from WA's Great Southern region, more black than red fruit - Plummy, with herbal inflections. 

Medium bodied, juice laden palate with fine silken tannins. Black fruit, licorice, dark in its presentation. Got a decent length on it, the firm and bold flavours lingering on the palate. 88 

Tasted on: Friday 31st March, a Fruit to Root day 
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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Ferngrove Independence Shiraz 2017

Ferngrove Independence Shiraz 2017

  17:33    Stu.

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[with a touch of Pinot Noir]

Mash of black fruit, briary/hedgerow, a mere suggestion of stemmy funkiness. Sweeter accents of entry, blackcurrant pastilles and hints of cherry. Pretty solid, fine rub of tannin. 

Solid drinking proposition. 89 

Tasted on: Friday 1st June, a Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $23
Alcohol: 14.1%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

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Ferngrove Symbols Cabernet Merlot 2011

Ferngrove Symbols Cabernet Merlot 2011

  13:24    Stu.

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Attractively packaged, solid contents, delivers well at its price-point.

Bay, tapenade, touch of pencil shavings - essentially savoury with a mere suggestion of underlying black fruit.

A little graphite quality, grainy tannin, little fruit presence on the palate. Touch astringent toward the back palate, short-moderate length. 87

Tasted on: Tuesday 10th June, a Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $16.50
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.ferngrove.com.au/

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Ferngrove Frankland River Shiraz 2015

Ferngrove Frankland River Shiraz 2015

  14:30    Stu.

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Give it some air is my recommendation, the '15 releases have shown reductive characters.

Slowly it gives glimpses of the bright and fresh fruit within, but it is certainly showing it's reductive side here. 

Tannin is nicely composed, a grip that yields to little. One to come back to. 86

Tasted on: Thursday 22nd February, a Fruit day
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

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Ferngrove Dragon Shiraz 2015

Ferngrove Dragon Shiraz 2015

  08:30    Stu.

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Interesting mix of aromatics here, bit reductive, combining the fruit and the savoury. Inherently black fruited at its heart, blackcurrant purple florals thrown in. The savoury is in the form of woody spice. 

It's a mix seen on the palate too: sweet black fruit dominates, possibly too sweet. Oak derived tannin flows mid-palate and bolsters the wine in its final third. But it needs air and time. 88  

Tasted on: Monday 18th September, a Leaf to Fruit day

Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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Ferngrove King Malbec 2016

Ferngrove King Malbec 2016

  19:26    Stu.

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I was all too ready to dismiss this, it seemingly offering a reductive, sulphurous pong on first opening. It was meaty, gamey - smelling more like a Pinotage.

This was just in need of some air. From the reductive to the sublime, now more like an old school Grenache, singing its delicious Berry coulis tune. 

Seduction becomes its play, the soft texture bringing with it the red currant and nigh-raspberry flavour married to a graphite like tannin. 

What a transformation! 91 

Tasted on: Monday 24th September 
Source: Sample
Price: $32
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ferngrove.com.au

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Ferngrove Diamond Chardonnay 2017

Ferngrove Diamond Chardonnay 2017

  08:30    Stu.

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More lavish than I recall it being, observation nothing more. Sets the tone and lets the reader know what to expect, one suggests. 

So yes, somewhat butter and toast - compounds that, certainly in the case of the latter, persist across the length of the palate. Smokey hints, touch of grilled peach. 

Textural nuances, a gloss adding a waxy feel; subtle phenolics, a little bittering. Good wine. 91

Tasted on: Monday 10th June, a Fruit day 
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: www.ferngrove.com.au

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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Ferngrove Black Label Merlot 2016

Ferngrove Black Label Merlot 2016

  12:57    Stu.

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Darn good Merlot for the dollar. Carries a freshness from the off, reminds of stewing plums in a kitchen - as a preamble to assembling some form of pie. A slight menthol hint adding to that aromatic profile. 

It's rather light in colour, almost garnet-like with a shimmering irresdesence. Firmer than one might suspect, given the colour and aroma. Elements of licorice lift the wine beyond the plum, raspberry and kiss of vanilla - again it reminds of a summer Plum pudding, a suggestion of grainy tannin bolstering the wine through the final third. 90 

Tasted on: Sunday 28th October 
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.ferngrove.com.au

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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