A couple of weeks the winery conducted a low key trade tasting for most of the new releases. The winery is now handling distribution but unfortunately is asking the trade to pay the same price as cellar door customers. Yep - another producer who thinks retailers are stupid!The wines were a mixed bunch and with the exception of the Dry Red No.1 probably over-priced.
Dry White 1999 (Semillon Sauvignon Blanc) (Recommended)
Nice aged notes on nose and very early signs of marmalade on both nose and palate. Certainly fresher in the mouth, and in the broader Oz context holding up very well at 5 years. Reminds me of a 1995 Triolet drunk in 2000. This is a subtle drop so don't look for the fruit salad bowl.
Chardonnay 2003
Nose is ripe and punchy, almost feels a little cooked. As per the SSB more refined on the palate, very classy with great use of oak combining with restrained tropical notes. Only problem is I'd have to sell it for at least $70!
Sangiovese 2006
Sourced from 8 year old vines. Very fresh nose, quite lively / jumpy. Palate is more restrained and quite savoury, yet fairly bright and very 'clean'. Nice sliver of liquered berries runs right through the middle. Not a bad wine when $$ is ignored.
Pinot Noir 2003
Fruity, dry red nose. Slightly porty. Backs up in the mouth with a firm, slightly extracted structure. Lacks a bit of finesse and polish.
Dry Red No.1 2001 (Cab Sav, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot) (Recommended)
This is the business! Very classy, truly varietal nose with excellent fruit lift. Elegent yet ripe. More balance in the mouth with nice berry notes. Seriously build with good oak and drying tannins (which just overshadows the friut at this stage).
Dry Red No.1 2002
The current vintage is much more cabernet dominant. The nose is similar to the 2001, although more overt with the herbal and blackberry notes. Shows no green tints. Subtle palate, very cab, but seems very tight to the extent the wine seems a bit light on for fruit (which I'm sure it's not). Long, dry finish drives the wine.
Underhill Shiraz 2001
Sweet fruits on nose but a fraction porty. Diry mouthfeel, funky with no obvious fruit. Doesn't seem right - possibly a bad bottle.
Underhill Shiraz 2002 (Recommended)
Nose is similar to the previous vintage but sweet notes seem more delicate. Quite good in the mouth; medium weight with a little bacon and spice; nice spicy finish.Underhill Shiraz 1991Fantastic nose, very pure, licorice and slightly minth lift. Fruit is starting to fade on the palate. More minty notes, slighly hollow fruit profile but retains an excellent acid structure.
Fortified Viognier 2003
Apparently sourced from 26 years estate vines - must be some of Australia's oldest. Note enought grapes for a table wine in 2003 thus the fortified version. Very grapey and spitiy on the nose, smells every bit its 22%. Supercharged palate but dominated but the spirit (to a fault in my view....disappointing).
Potsorts 2002
Sweet on the nose but has some savoury edges. Powerful palate, sweet and savoury notes combine again but again the spirit character is just too abrasive, creating a disjointed wine of 2 halves. I probably just don't get it, and maybe the wine is extremely young???
Wednesday, 1 December 2004
Tasting Notes - Passing Clouds Shiraz Cabernet 1984
Surprise present from a customer. Light blood red in the glass - looks a bit tired. Nose is a bit of a revalation; quite lively, earthy, almost tarry notes and old berry notes....quite old fashioned. Much more subdued in the palate, no bright primary fruit, feels just a touch hot and extracted, tannins still there, a fraction searing and tart. Certainly not buggered but an interesting curio nevertheless.
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