New Release
29 July 2010
I am the first to admit that a line up of fresh young white wines is a challenge for the panel. The acidity can be very tiring. However, the diversity of styles here made this tasting easier to cope with.
The highlight for me was the oak aged wines. This is a developing style in the Margaret River region and the wines are loosely based on the white wines of Bordeaux. Some or all of the wine is fermented in oak barrels and a portion will then be matured for a period in oak.
These are often complex and powerful wines. They come with a warning though – they are different. Typically powerful and complex, these wines bear no resemblance to the classic style that drinkers have become used to.
Suckfizzle takes this style to the extreme and has been released with a few years bottle age. The Parterre from Fraser Gallop is more accessible and an excellent example. Both are excellent wines, but they will polarize.
Finally, the Amelia Park is my recommendation in the more traditional fruit driven style. This is great drinking.
Recommended
Fraser Gallop – Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc – Parterre – 2009 (18). More grass and hay characters here. Complex, worked style with a touch of barrel ferment characters. This is a serious wine, but is more approachable than the Suckfizzle. An excellent wine and while it will not appeal to everyone, this is a great example of the style. Don’t be afraid to age this for a few years.
Suckfizzle – Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon – 2007 (17.8). Wow, now this is good. Complex nose with lifted citrus, almond meal and grassy notes overlaying complex barrel ferment, oak and lees aromas. The palate is powerful with more of the worked characters. This displays minerality, texture and oak handling reminiscent of fine chardonnay. Powerful and serious, this is not a wine to quaff on a sunny afternoon. One for the aficionado.
Amelia Park – Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon – 2010 (17.3). A modern, perfumed style. Fresh, balanced and attractive, this is a lovely drink. Not as complicated as the oaked wines, this has lovely passionfruit and tropical flavours and balanced acidity. Not the most striking, but perhaps the best drinking. A wine that will appeal to everyone.
Willow Bridge – Sauvignon Blanc – Wild Ferment 2009 (17). Musk, gooseberry and tropical fruit. Floral fruit on a lifted palate. This is quite viscous and textured. Serious fruit on a long and satisfying finish.
Fraser Gallop – Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc – 2010 (16.9). Lifted aromatic fruit in the tropical/passionfruit spectrum. Fresh and vibrant, there is a talc like minerality under long and quite complex fruit. Good.
Amelia Park – Classic Blend – Mishmash – 2010 (16.7). Musk, sherbet and gooseberry on the nose. The palate is fresh and quite tight. There is excellent length and good texture, in a modern style. Good fruit notes on the finish linger.
Long Flat – Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc – 2008 (16.5). More restrained and steely. Lavender and spice on the palate are attractive, but the finish is firm and dry. Good Value.
Windrush – Rose – 2009 (16.5). Savoury, earthy fruit. Quite complex with good length. One panellist found Rhubarb compote, and berry fruit.
Angove – Rose – Nine Vines – 2010 (16). Savoury and quite smart. Soft fruit and a touch of sugar make for good drinking.