Candied apricots, hazelnuts, brûléed oranges. — a month ago
Unscrewed and poured; no formal notes. These friggen Chardonnays from Margaret River. I’ve been blinded on them too many times to count and I never call it right. Instead, I always seem to call a high acid grape like Riesling of Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit is sometimes tropical, always with citrus and sometimes is shows green apple and always with awesome minerals. Acid is squarely in the high category. They are lovely wines that just seem to throw me for a loop. If Chablis, the Mosel and Sancerre had a love child. Drink now and through 2036 easy. A fabulous pairing with lamb massaman, larb and papaya salad. How can they hide the 100% new French oak so well?! — 2 months ago
Double blind wine tasting. 3 Whites and 3 Reds:
1. ‘18 Hamilton Russell Chard - WOTN across both whites and reds - complex, refined, fruit integrated with honey, oak, butter, cream, camomile.
2. ‘20 Hartenberg The Eleanor Chard - big wine that could use a few years. Nice fruit and lovely acidity. Mix between a White Burg and Rhone Blend.
3. ‘22 Far Niente Chard - potential, very young, not the best QPR. Reminded me of young Paul Hobbs single vineyard Chards.
1. ‘12 Giacomo Fenocchio 90 di Riserva Barolo - aged showed through nicely, but still lively with dark cherries and ample tannins.
2. ‘20 Vilafonte - decanted, but young and an absolutely massive wine. Black fruit, chewy, with decent sweetness.
3. ‘02 Origin Red Blend - nose of black tar and cigars. Zero fruit and big tar, tobacco, and bbq flavors. Bigger wine than I was expecting.
Great night with great friends!
— 17 days ago
No headache! 2 glasses with steak dinner - taste pretty good not great, but safe!! — 23 days ago
Orange tinged gold colour . Very fruit driven still , lots of yellow fruits , crystallised orange peel , clementines , vanilla , spiced apricots . On the palate quite rich and decadent , lots of ripe yellow fruits , apricot , peach and then mandarin and caramelised orange . Touches of honey , vanilla , creme brûlée. Slightly bitter caramel tinged finish , with good vibrant acidity, balanced alcohol , long and elegant finish . Tastes so young still , maybe having been recorked in 2005 has something to do with that . Drinking well now but will still be perfect in another 20-30 years — a month ago
Pale straw . Lemon and lime with some petrol hints ,green herbs , white flower notes as well . Light bodied with high acidity , green apple , lime and grapefruit . Very fresh , high acidity , leaves the palate very fresh , lively . Touch of fresh green herbs on the ok length finish . Would prefer to leave this 2 or 3 years , just to fill out a little more in the bottle and will last well a further 10 or so . — 15 days ago
So pleasantly surprised by this!! — 4 hours ago
Meaty, charcuterie notes together with black and blue fruits. The palate is rich and savoury - full bodied on the earthy spectrum with ripe plum. Bests are an under the radar Gem in the Grampians. It should be a regular purchase particularly at the price. An average price of around $30. — 2 months ago
Jan de Weerd
Great structure and so balanced 🤤 Dark fruit with hints of leather and tobacco. Built to this crescendo in the finish. Incredible — 13 days ago