New Release Highlights: May 2022
Wine Reviews by Barry Weinman: 15th June 2022
The highlights of my tasting month were a pair of Cabernets that were both spectacular, with their different regional characteristics stamped on each, along with another bargain from Aldi.
Wynns 2018 Harold is a superb example of Coonawarra Cabernet. Great purity of fruit combined with subtle, sympathetic winemaking. Peppermint and Cassis play key roles. I liked this so much that I immediately ordered a six-pack for the cellar.
Xanadu’s 2020 estate (black label) Cabernet is defined by the red berry fruit that fans out across the palate. This is a joyous expression of Margaret River Cabernet!
Reviewed
Frankland Estate – Alter Weg – Riesling – 2021. Taut, fine with fruit and acid in the lemony spectrum. On the palate, this really shines. Long and near seamless, with high quality fruit that really fills out on the mid-palate with air. This is in a different style to the Australian norm, with gentle phenolics and subtle worked (barrel ferment) characters. Worth trying to see how different Riesling can be. 93pts – $34.
Freya and Jules – Riesling – 2021. This is all floral and pretty, with steely notes, minerals and a hint of pear. There is gentle viscosity which greatly adds to the appeal, yet there are no overt phenolics. Gentle lime acidity adds freshness and vitality. Superb value from Aldi. 92+pts – $9
Leo Buring – Leopold – Riesling – 2021. Bright, fresh and really quite delicious. This is packed full of citrus, with just a hint of residual sugar adding balance and adding to the drinkability. Underpinning the high-quality fruit is fine acidity. Different style to the Leonay and very worthwhile. 94pts – $35.
Terre à Terre – Crayers Vineyards – Sauvignon Blanc – 2020. This is vibrant, powerful and delicious, with gentle passionfruit, pear and musk flavours lingering for some time. Textural notes add to the mouthfeel and overall enjoyment. Excellent drinking. 91pts.
Myattsfield – Vermentino – 2020. Excellent food wine where there is enough fruit to make the wine interesting, yet the savoury components are the main feature, making this a great all-purpose wine that would be very enjoyable with, or without food. Could be described as semi-aromatic. 91pts
A.C. Byrne – Organic – Shiraz – 2021. The fruit here is supple, succulent and morish. This is supported by excellent structure, good balance and impressive persistence/ length of flavours. At $12, this is great value and could be the perfect mid-week pasta wine for those on a budget. This scored a gold medal from one panellist. 91pts.
Ata Rangi – Pinot Noir – 2019. OMG. This is quite beautiful. Elegant, seductive, succulent, deep, fine, silky and very long. Pristine red berry and cherry fruit. Subtle power emanates from the core, Ethereal. 96+pts
Lost Farm – Pinot Noir – 2021. A lovely wine that combines elegant, ripe fruit, with savoury, earthy notes. Minerality and even a touch of sea spray on the close. Lithe, elegant, supple, this builds depth and a slightly chewy texture with air. Very satisfying, if just a little closed at this early stage. Give it a few years. 94pts – $42.
Yeringburg – Pinot Noir – 2019. This was my pick of a strong bracket of Pinots due to its balance of ripe, supple red berry/cherry fruit and fine, savoury, textural notes. There is excellent length and persistence, with gentle spice notes adding to the appeal. Very satisfying straight out of the bottle but was even better a day later. Do not be put off by the pale colour, this is a serious wine. 94+pts.
Xanadu – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2020. A bit of wow here, with red berry fruit to the fore on the nose. Supple, ripe red berry fruit floods a palate that is long, fine and energetic., with supple oak and tannins providing the textural framework. This is just so morish, with the fruit fanning out across the palate, unrestrained by oak. A joy. 95.5pts.
Wynns – Harold – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2018. The purity of fruit here is outstanding. This does not have the showy vibrancy of some of the Margaret River wines that we are used to, but it has a quiet confidence in the way that it has captured the essence of Cabernet. Peppermint, cassis and gentle spice all evolve on a seamless palate. Great length of flavours. Beautiful now or in 10 – 20 years. 96pts
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