New Releases - April

Cabernet & Blends
Charles Sturt Cabernet Merlot 2004 $13 (Central NSW)
Glaymond "As if" Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $33

Chardonnay
Charles Sturt 2007 $13 (Central NSW)
Dog Point 2006 $32 (Marlborough)
Tomboy Hill "Rebellion" 2005 $29 (Ballarat)

Grenache & Blends
Maverick Twins GSM 2006 $25 (Barossa Valley)

Gruner Veltliner
Emmerich Knoll "Loibner Federspiel" 2006 $35 (Austria)

Merlot
Printhie 2006 $16 (Orange)

Pinot Gris / Grigio
Carrick Pinot Gris 2007 $30 (Central Otago)

Pinot Noir
Bream Creek 2006 $27 (Tasmania)
Finn 2005 $16 (King Valley & Gippsland)
Tomboy Hill "Smythes Creek" 2006 $46 (Ballarat)

Red Blends
Muddy Water Pinotage 2006 $35 (Waipara)
Schwarz Wine Company "The Dust Kicker" 2006 $21 (Barossa Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc
Clos Henri 2007 $36 (Marlborough)
Torrent Bay 2007 $20 (Nelson)
Virgin Block 2007 $22 (Margaret River)
Woollaston "Nelson" 2007 $20 (Nelson, NZ)
Woollaston "Tussock" 2007 $19 (Marlborough)

Shiraz
Charles Sturt 2005 $13 (Central NSW)
Domain Barossa "Black Tongue" 2005 $19 (Barossa Valley)
Maverick Twins 2006 $25 (Barossa Valley)
Mount Langi Ghiran 2005 $64 (Grampians)
Oliverhill "Jimmy Section" 2006 $27 (McLaren Vale)
Poonawatta 'Monties Block' 2006 $27 (Barossa Valley)

Sparkling White
Knight Granite Hills 1999 $38 (Macedon)
Mantons Creek Sparkling Pinots 2001 $25 (Mornington Peninsula)

New Releases - April Pt.3

Cabernet & Blends
Peppermint Grove Cabernet Merlot 2004 $14 (Western Australia)

Chardonnay
Bress Harcourt Valley 2006 $29 (Bendigo)
Craggy Range 'Kidnappers' 2007 $30 (Hawkes Bay)
Mount Horrocks 2006 $24 (Clare Valley)
Wild Dog Winery "Parnassus" 2005 $22 (Gippsland)

Merlot
Leabrook Estate 2005 $29 (Adelaide Hills)

Pinot Noir
Cannibal Creek "Hardiker" 2006 $17 (Gippsland)

Riesling
Dr Loosen "Dr L Dry" $22 (Germany)

Rose
Outlook Hill 2006 $17 (Yarra Valley)

Semillon
Mount Horrocks 2006 $27 (Clare Valley)

Shiraz
Amherst "Daisy Creek" Shiraz Cabernet 2006 $15 (Pyrenees)
Koltz "Pagan" 2006 $49 (McLaren Vale)
Schulz "Marcus Old Vine" 2004 $67 (Barossa Valley)
Syrahmi "Petit Priere" 2006 $38 (Heathcote)
Teusner "Albert" 2005 $43 (Barossa Valley)

Sparkling White
Wild Dog Winery Pinot Noir Chardonnay 1999 $23 (Gippsland)

Tempranillo
Hewitson 'Private Cellar' 2006 $65 (McLaren Vale)

Viognier
Peerick 2006 $24 (Pyrenees)

New Releases - April Pt.2

Cabernet & Blends
Grosset "Gaia" 2005 $55 (Clare Valley)
Mills Reef Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $43 (Hawkes Bay)

Chardonnay
Deviation Road 2006 $19 (Adelaide Hills)
Grosset 2006 $50 (Adelaide Hills)
Saint Claire "Premium" 2006 $21 (Marlborough)
Te Whare Ra 2006 $30 (Marlborough)
Woodlands Estate 2007 $20 (Margaret River)

Grenache & Blends
Brini Grenache Shiraz 2004 $14 (McLaren Vale)
Rolf Binder "Christa Rolf" Shiraz Grenache 2005 $20 (Barossa Valley)
Rolf Binder "Heinrich" GSM 2005 $26 (Barossa Valley)

Merlot
Bird in Hand 2006 $25 (Adelaide Hills)

Pinot Gris / Grigio
Deviation Road Pinot Gris 2007 $20 (Adelaide Hills)

Pinot Noir
Domaine A 2005 $67 (Tasmania)
Moranghurk 2004 $16 (Geelong)
Prince Albert 2005 $33 (Geelong)
Stefano Lubiana "Primevera" 2007 $27 (Tasmania)

Riesling
Austins 2006 $19 (Geelong)

Shiraz
Pondalowie Shiraz Viognier 2005 $29 (Bendigo)
Tardieu Laurent "Cornas Coteaux" 2005 $68 (Northern Rhone, France)

Sparkling White
Guerrieri Rizzardi Prosecco NV $28 (Veneto, Italy)

Other Reds
Mac Forbes Blaufrankish 2006 $25 (Austria)

Other Whites
Mac Forbes Gruner Veltliner 2006 $25 (Austria)

Tasting Notes - Castle Rock Riesling 2003 (Recommended)

Good kit this. I haven't had a Castle Rock riesling in years but this 5yr old proves (again) a couple of well known truths - Great Southern is perhaps Australia's most consistent region for premium wine in the $20 to $30 market, and Castle Rock remains in a leadership position for riesling in this region. Showing very well in middle age; quite juicy and fresh early but soon mellows with mild honey and just the faintest hint of kero coming through. Great balance, relatively soft structure for the varity, although a lick of acid persists on the finish. Should go another 3yrs without any problem.

Tasting Notes - Yarra Valley Showcase - Shiraz

Overall
Interestingly I thought there was more emphasis placed on shiraz / syrah than cabernet at this tasting. In my opinion the focus needs to be on both, and maybe less on pinot. Shiraz could be a real growth story here as the Valley strikes a very good middle ground b/w the oft-one dimensional SA hot climate style and the marginal cool climate styles from Macedon / Sunbury. The winemakers present were (are) very bullish on this medium climate style and the opportunities it represents.

Seville Estate 'Old Vine Reserve' 2005
35yr old vines, 19 months oak.
Dark blood red / blackberry in colour. Dancing, energetic nose loaded with mild pepper and spice, very identifiable as a cool climate style. Not unlike pinot noir. Great mouthful; quite simple and sweet early, but then builds with acid, mild funk and spice.

Yering Station 'Reserve' 2005
Mild berries, nervy acid, talcum powder (riesling-like). Not your typical shiraz aromas but works ok. Berry weight seems light, plenty of acid and supporting tannin; good presence but not moorish.

Punt Road 2005 (Recommended)
Coldstream fruit, 22yr old vines, 2tns / acre.
Just a fraction darker that the Seville. Pepper and mild oak toast, some sweetness; a friendly nose. Dirty fruits, a faint lick of brett; long finish driven by spice. Young and lively.

Giant Steps 'Millers Vineyard' 2005
12yr old fruit with 5% viognier.
Very dark red, tending to black. Fruit is a touch dull (over-ripe and dead?), maybe the oak handling is a touch heavy. Palate structure is tight with a fair bit of spicy oak. Clearly will live a while but I question whether the fruit can live through the oak.

DeBortolio 2005 (Recommended)
3% viognier, 100% French oak, 35% new oak.
Aromatic red berries early; simple but it works well. Straightforward palate; red fruits and zingy acid. Kinda simple but very effective.

Delas Cote Rotie 'La Landonne' 2004 (Recommended)
The Rhone ring-in. Lifted perfumed nose; very lively, violets, fluffy, very attractive and probably the best aromas of the 2 days. All this character flows through quite well to the palate although the fruit weight is greater than expected. Pepper kicks in mid-palate with a big funky tang. Some pinot-like character as well.

Yarra Yering 'Underhill' 2005 (Recommended)
Small % of marsanne.
Dark red centre and a fraction lighter at the rim. Dirty, old-fashioned nose; meaty, peppery, euro-like. Shows good complexity. Touches of old wood; really quite good. Front palate is loaded with sweet fruit; quite powerful, soft tannins and acid drives a long finish. Mild brett note. Despite the overt ripeness this is good fun.

Coldstream Hills 2005 (Recommended)
Tiny portion of viognier, 40% new oak.
Low key fruit nose; spice, settled. Has good presence. Big fruit flavours on palate, very bright; simple, very ripe yet not heavy; needs time. I expect this will settle nicely.

Oakridge 2005 (Recommended)
Young vines, 1% viognier, dry grown.
Hard to pick any defining character off the nose; red berries perhaps? Very clean and straightforward. Very well balanced and settled palate with medium strength red fruits. Awesome balance right through the palate. A simple wine that is exceptionally well made.

Greenpoint 2005 (Recommended)
100% de-stemmed, 1.5% viognier
Again a mild nose; plums lurk, subtle yet very good. Sweet early in the palate but quickly builds with funky bretty notes (mild) and a firming structure as tannins kick in.

Tasting Notes - Goose Island Shiraz 2005 (Recommended)

This wine is exceptional value at only $14 it delivers a a dark black red colour, a heady mix of pencil shavings and ripe berry fruit on the nose, great mouth feel with ripe fruit flavour countered by an earthiness, some bitter chocolate and coffee. It travels well across the palate and has a vanilla and cherry finish. It is very McLaren Vale and very delicious!

Tasting Notes - John Gehrig Gamay 2006

There isn't a lot of Gamay grown in Australia. There is some up at Beechworth made by Sorrenberg and Mt Burrumboot make one in Heathcote and I believe Eldridge Estate have one but I haven't tasted it. However it is hardly a mainstream grape variety in this country. John Gehrig wines are made by son Ross Gehrig these days. He has spent time in Beaujolais perfecting his expertise with this grape and it shows in the resultant wine. A bit heavier than your average Pinot Noir but I think Pinot fans would like this. It is more reminiscent of Beaujolais Village than nouveau with a cherry and spice nose and a creamy palate of dark cherry fruit with some prune and apple in the background. Interesting.

Tasting Notes - Fighting Gully Road Cab Merlot 2002

From a wine retailer's point of view you'd go nowhere near this wine at face value. $37 cabernet from 5yr old vines; typical over-priced Beechworth wine right?. Problem is that the region keeps kicking up great wines that show genuine terroir (a rarity in Oz) and this wine is another example. Super balance and construct in the early and mid palate with soft cassis and plum. Elegant in terms of weight but very varietal and smooth. Firming tannins to finish that do get a tad rough but I'm mostly willing to overlook. Drinking very well as a 6 year old (noting that the vines were planted in 1997) but unlikely to get much better.