Tasting Notes - New Releases from Mac Forbes

Strathbogie Ranges Riesling 2007
Plenty of residual sugar (31g - deliberate). Good zingy lift from the acid. 6 barrels made.

Strathbogie Ranges Riesling 2005
Extra grams of the residual show (44g) but it swaps the acid just a fraction. A touch clumsy compared to the 2007. This style just ain't my bag.

Gruner Veltliner 2006 (Recommended)
Austrian sourced and made. Weird at first glance. Nice sweet hints in the nose, gris-like perhaps with a mineral character. Palate is an about face; tart, bitter, plenty of slatey bite. Forces to be noticed at $25. Well worth a look. 3 barrels made.

EB1 Chardonnay 2007
Sourced from Strathbogie fruit. Soft nose, approachable tropical fruits, some power. Palate is dry, zingy, lean and minerally. Surprising given the generosity of the nose. 3 barrels made.

Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2006
Low, old oak style (7yrs old). Fruit comes from the same vineyard as the Woori Yallock. Dirty fruits on the nose, European-like, and a mild sulphur hint. Broad palate, quite anti-fruit, zingy with lemon and acid. Very different from a structural perspective but lacks obvious appeal. 2 barrels made.

Woori Yallock Chardonnay 2006
Very similar to the YV in most facets although the palate contains more obvious forward fruit. Oak is understated. Solid buy doesn't jump out. 6 barrels made.

Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2006
Sweetish nose with cherry and a 'sweet' sour overtone. Palate is light and fluffy before a raspy dry spice kicks in. Lacks intensity but not a bad drop. 10 barrels made.

Coldstream Pinot Noir 2006
Single vineyard wine from a warmer site. Mainstream / line & length flavours early with straightforward cherry fruit but the back end picks up with good sour and spice intensity. 12 barrels made.

Woori Yallock Pinot Noir 2006
Same vineyard as the WY chard. Longer hang time given the protected nature of the site. Good depth and again a drying spice note kicks in late. I can see the jump in quality but question the value at $47. 7 cases made.

'Hugh' Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Yarra Valley blend. Light (12.5%), classic with spice, tobacco, black berries. All quite elegant (bravo) but lacks intensity. 15 barrels made.

Blaufrankisch 2006 (Recommended)
My first look at this Austrian red. Dry early with rose-like fruits lurking, and a fraction spicy. Would work very well with food and worth a look at the price ($25). 3 barrels made.