Tasting Notes - La Corte Anfora Zinfandel 2002

Region: Puglia

La Corte is Chris Ringland's Puglia project in the south of Italy. Sourced from 35yr old vines.Light dry red nose, not great, but not poor. Nice mouthfeel, quite savoury and a touch dirty. Fruit broadens in the back palate, loses a little intensity, but not a deal breaker. Ok wine but won't blow you away.

Tasting Notes - Turramurra Chardonnay 2000

It's hard to fathom how a winery can sit on 5+ years of stock across 5 varieties, as is the case with Turramurra. I haven't tried the wines for some time but the 2000's, last tasted in 2002? looked quite good.

Anyway, fast forward to 2005 and the 2000 chard. This wine may have been a former Epicure Uncorked 'Best White Wine' but is now definately joining the 'fallen angel' brigade. Colour is holding up well, a slightly deep colour gold. Funky nose, developed, rich, lucoszade (??) notes. A bit bretty maybe. Drinks as expected in the mouth. More dirty developed notes and a hint of 'burn' in the back palate. Finishes quite well and is supported throughout with a thick palate structure. Would have been very nice 3 years ago (@ $29) and now struggles @ $17.

Freeman Vineyard Rondinella Corvina 2002 (Recommended)

Very unique in the Australian market, a blend of northern Italian grapes. Uses a portion of amarone style grapes.

Deep ruby red, vibrant, looks young. Nose has a good deal of interest, quite expressive, edgy, a touch of mint.Thinking man's palate. Comes across a bit light initially in the fruit department. Very good structure, quite tannic and very dry, serious. Savoury palate, shows good dry drive in a lighter weight style. A very interesting wine but you need to give it every chance to demonstate its appeal.

Tasting Notes - Gravitas Pinot Noir 2004

Our first look at 2004 pinot from NZ. Crystal clear in the glass, in a ruby coloured kinda way. Nose is quite varietal but tends to the sweeter end, a bit simple, with spice and rhubarb. Palate gives away the wines age; quite light, shy on the fruit and seems tight. More spice on the back palate and some drive from the acid. Not enough fruit action right now but may be just way too young and raw. Re-taste in 12 months?

Tasting Notes - Fermoy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Serious, oaky cab from Margaret River. Not cheap at $39ish but certainly imparts a feeling that the wine plays fairly at this price point. Nose is slightly gamey and has some toasty oak notes. Palate is quite tight right now and seems young at 5 years. Spicy oak dominates a but right now and the wine needs a few years to show it's best....but I have a little question mark over the fruit power. Will it last the distance? Classy tannins drive a longish finish.

Tasting Notes - Allinda Riesling 2005 (Recommended)

A rare tasting of a Yarra Valley riesling, at least for us. Quite pale in the glass, a smidgen of pale gold, but only just. Generous nose considering the wine's youth, lifted soft lime notes, favouring the tropical fruit side. More soft subtle fruity notes in the mouth but is well underpinned with more lime and an appropriate plank of acid. Whilst young, and a touch shy, you would not be disappointed drinking this over the next 12 months. Perhaps not a classic cellaring style but will look good over the next 3 to 5 years.

Tasting Notes - Symphonia Tempranillo 2003

Big lifted nose of toasty oak and a slight varnish touch...kind of attractive but I know I shouldn't feel this way! Dry palate, again swamped with oak. Hard for any fruit to get out. Structure seems ok with driving tannin. One for oak freaks only at this stage and thus a bit tough to recommend right now.

Tasting Notes - Hunters Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2003

Flagship white from this well regarded Marlborough producer. Key diff to the standard savvy is the use of a barrel ferment component and the inclusion of the ripest fruit of each vintage. Attractive nose, quite ripe yet shows nice herbal, green edged notes. A let down in the mouth; tight, a bit acidic, dry....not friendly. Feels very young and clearly has some structure to age (a plus I guess) but question mark over whether the fruit will last. I really miss the roundness, generosity and complexity evident in the the 2002.

Tasting Notes - Maxwell Verdelho 2005 (Recommended)

We've had a good look at the line since 2003 and can report that the 2005 is generally in line with the house style. Medium bodied nose with some tropical fruits. Feels quite full bodied and a touch 'oily'. A bit lighter in the mouth than the nose suggests but still very much a bigger style of white. More tropical fruits with a reasonable thick base underpinning the palate. Primary fruits are a touch muted when compared to the 2004 and 2003, and this may be a product of the vintage. Regardless shows solid value at $14 and frankly, this wine doesn't see much decent QPR competition in the sub $15 market. Maxwell has again delivered what one looks for in a cheap verdelho.

Iron Bark Forest Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 (Recommended)

Sourced off what must be some of the region's oldest cabernet vineyards at 30yrs. Lively nose with good fruit depth. Ripe berries and some vapour from the 'heat'. Good follow-up in the palate; more ripe berry fruit that is well backed with some noticable tannin and more heat. Nice lick of licorice (ahla McLaren Vale) but some regional mint keeps the Bendigo theme going, and nicely done too. A touch aggressive right now and I'm a little surprised that this only weighs in at 13%. Fruit weight tails a little in the back half but regardless looking very good for a 4 year old.

Tasting Notes - Hewitson Lou Lou Sauvignon Blanc (Recommended)

Very pale lemon gold. Big nose with a herbal, grassy lick and good underlying ripeness. Aromas leap off the glass. High acid, zingy style in the mouth. Quite lean, and tending to the grassy spectrum, but but very nicely. Good length. Only quibble (minor) is that it needs a touch more obvious fruit.

Tasting Notes - Flaxman Riesling 2005 (Recommended)

Tiny run of 200 cases sourced from a single 40yr old, dry grown block in Eden Valley. Made by Tim Smith of, well, Tim Smith Fame!

Pale gold in the glass. Subtle nose, quite regional with hints of citrus and lime. Seemingly a bit underwhelming in the mouth; very shy. Comes off almost as a generic dry white but opened up materially over time with citrus and lime starting to shine. Quite dry, nice acid levels and good length. Drinks very well now but won't be a keep beyond say 7 years.