1 July 2010

This week’s new release tasting provided the opportunity to look through all the non-mainstream wines that have come through over the last few weeks. There was a solid bracket of tempranillo, plus some other interesting wines that offered real drinking pleasure.

The Butchers Block red blend from Turkey Flat is another excellent red from the 2008 vintage. I also really enjoyed its sister wine, The Butchers Block white blend. This is an impressive wine that will complement a variety of foods.

The third wine that caught our attention was the tempranillo from Mount Avoca. Unlike a couple of wines here, there was proper varietal definition to the wine with excellent fruit quality and wine-making.

Reviewed

Turkey Flat – Shiraz/Grenache/Mouvedre – Butchers Block – 2008 (18+). Dense yet sweet fruit to open. Plums to the fore on the palate with Ribina and redcurrant too. Driven by fresh, juicy fruit characters, the finish is carried by the acid rather than tannins. Excellent drinking over the next 5 years, but there is enough structure to reward cellaring.

Mount Avoca – Tempranillo – 2008 (18). Quite dense but more herbal and savoury than some. Cough mixture, spice and cherry all vie with the plumy fruit on the palate. A lovely mouth-watering finish adds life. The chewy tannins will evolve and help keep everything in check. A very good wine indeed.

Turkey Flat – Marsanne/Viognier/Rousanne – Butchers Block – 2009 (17.3). Quite aromatic, yet still possessing some structure and texture. Lovely mouth-feel, this is creamy, complex and lemony. Barrel ferment/maturation characters add texture and complexity to what is an excellent wine.

Finca de Arantei – Albarino – 2008 (16.9). Creamy fruit on the nose, with apricot and lychee. These characters follow through on the palate with lovely fresh acid and more tropical fruits. Good length and a touch of viscosity add to the appeal. Good drinking.

Stella Bella – Tempranillo/Blend – Skuttlebutt – Otro Vino – 2007 (16.9). Has more of the minty fruit characters, but backed up by fleshy, ripe fruit. Think plum, raspberry and a touch of blackcurrant, with cedar and spice. The palate is flooded by masses of fresh fruit, and has an easy drinking finish. Coffee and toffee to close.

MadFish – Tempranillo – Gold Turtle – 2008 (16.8). Really deep smelling. Crisp cherry fruit with tar and leather too. The palate is true to variety with cherry/plum and strawberry fruit characters. Not complex, but quite long with dusty tannins to close. Worth a try.

Stella Bella – Tempranillo – 2007 (16.8). Wow. Masses of lifted, ripe fruit on the nose. A big wine with vanillin and cedar overtones. The palate is more restrained than expected, with menthol, tobacco, leather, cinnamon and mouth-coating fine tannins. An impressive wine, but does this accurately reflect the variety?

Willow Bridge – Tempranillo – Solana – 2008 (16.7). Very new world. Spotlessly clean with a touch of vanillin oak to open. The palate is vibrant and plush with mouth-filling fruit and good texture. Hints at the variety with dusty/chewy tannins to close. A well made wine that will appeal to shiraz drinkers.

Angove – Tempranillo/Shiraz – Nine Vines – 2007 (16.6). Savoury and interesting. The palate is full of maraschino cherries and fresh acid. Not complex, but a refreshing wine that would go well with a bowl of pasta.

Stella Bella – Sangiovese/Cabernet – 2007 (16.5). Earthy, savoury, herbal and cool fruit characters on the nose. Minty fruit is the main flavour on the palate, and while the length is good, it is quite angular and lean.

Angove – Moscato – Nine Vines – 2010 (16.5). Musk and grapefruit. Spice and fun. Fresh and sweet, this is great Sunday afternoon quaffing. Not complicated but satisfying. One panellist felt this could have been more grapey, but it is hard to argue with the value.