Category Archives: New Release – Wine Reviews

Bargain Winter Reds – May 2015

17th May 2015

As the cold weather approaches, my thoughts turn to hearty casseroles, fragrant curries and spaghetti in all its forms. There is nothing better to wash down a delicious midweek meal than a good bottle of red that will not break the bank.

Whilst there are numerous wines that fit this bill, the wines recommended below stand out as they are affordable AND delicious.

Reviewed

La Vieille Ferme – Rhone Blend – Ventoux – 2013 (17.5+). A finer, more restrained style, with savoury characters over currants, plum and floral berry notes. There is a lick of aniseed to close. Fine tannins frame the fruit nicely, with little in the way of oak to get in the way. Excellent balance and texture, with souring acidity adding to the long finish. Succulent, easy drinking, and great value! Made by the Perrin family. (RRP $18).

Shingleback – Shiraz – Vin Vale – 2013 (17.3). Plush and succulent fruit on the nose. Not dense or pretentious: a delicious quaff. The palate is soft, supple and has decent tannin structure to keep the fruit in check. Exclusive to 1st Choice and Liquorland (RRP $15).

Whiz Bang – Shiraz – 2014 (17). Aromas of chocolate and spice, with hints of fruitcake. Licorice- infused fruit on the palate, with decent texture. Not overly concentrated, but mouth-filling and a joy to drink. (RRP $16).

De Bortoli – Sangiovese – Bella Riva – 2012 (17). Savoury fruit on the nose, with blueberry and spice notes. The palate is defined by the acid/tannin structure, which confers length and drive. Only mid weight, but a good drink

Sittella Winery

New meets Old

May 2015

Sittella, situated in the Swan Valley on the outskirts of Perth, is owned and run by the Berns family. The winery was built in 1997, with the cellar door and restaurant opening the following year.

Fruit is primarily sourced from the family’s vineyards in the Swan Valley and Margaret River, supplemented by purchased fruit from these regions as well as Frankland.

Senior winemaker Colby Quirk is ably assisted by the next generation of the Berns family – Yuri. The focus here is clearly on quality. 40% of production is sparkling wine, with the sparkling Chenin Blanc being the winery’s largest volume wine.

The quality focus is not only in the vineyard, but also in the winery. The sparkling wines are made in the traditional method (secondary fermentation in bottle), and are fairly dry in style (all under 10gm/l residual sugar). All fermentation tanks are refrigerated and the winery has gyro-pallets installed to assist with the riddling of the sparkling wines prior to disgorgement (they are one of only a few facilities in WA that are able to produce quality sparkling wines in quantity).

Whilst the focus is on the sparkling wines, it is the Chardonnays that shone in this tasting. That said, their yet to be released Coffee Rock Shiraz from 2013 was the most interesting wine that I tried. Whilst different in style to Faber’s Shiraz for example, it is an excellent illustration of what the Swan Valley can do with this most versatile variety.

Reviewed

Sittella – Chenin Blanc – NV (NR). Made entirely from Swan Valley fruit, even the entry level offering has low dosage (less than 10g/l of residual sugar) and is made in the traditional method. It is the vibrant, floral fruit that is the feature here. Great Sunday afternoon wine. (RRP $24).

Sittella – Chardonnay – Blanc de Blanc – NV (17-17.5). Refined and elegant nose, with white peach and nectarine. The palate is dry and restrained, with the taut chardonnay fruit coming to the fore, with lemon-like acidity to close. Long and fine, this is a serious effort. Fruit from Pemberton. (RRP $29).

Sittella – Chardonnay – Reserve – Wilyabrup – 2014 (18+). Melon, peach and grapefruit on the nose, with supple oak. Powerful, complex and worked, yet refined and with a degree of restraint on the finish. This is youthful and fresh, with lemony acid to close. Long and supple, but will be even better in a year or two. Not yet released.

Sittella – Chardonnay – Reserve – 2013 (18). Tighter and more refined than the 2014, but still with high quality fruit apparent. A modern iteration of Chardonnay, this needs a few years to open up and build. With air; flint, minerals, spice notes evolve. The taut oak is apparent, but in no way overt. The textural components build and are a highlight. Value for money. (RRP $29).

Sittella – Cabernet Sauvignon – Margaret River – 2011 (17.2). Decent concentration of fruit here, though it is in the cooler spectrum, with mint and herbal notes. The palate is chewy and dense, with fine tannins from the fruit and oak. The textured finish is a treat. Remarkably approachable now, but will live for years. (Available for under $12 from the cellar door!)

Sittella – Shiraz/Grenache/Tempranillo – 2014 (17.3). Fleshy, ripe and delicious, I like this. Decent fruit quality in a riper style. Long and mouth-filling, what this lacks in elegance, it makes up for in richness. Good balance to close. (RRP $18).

Sittella – Shiraz – Coffee Rock – 2013 (18). Chocolate, mint, spice and aniseed all vie for attention on the nose. The palate is balanced, textured, refined and very long. The tannins are polished and supple. Succulent fruit, but will live for years, courtesy of the acid balance. Good now, but will be even better in a few years. This comes from old vines, grown in coffee rock in the Swan Valley. Despite being 15.5% alc, this shows no signs of being hot in the mouth.

Aromatic Whites – Current Release – May 2014

Reviewed: May 18th 2014

There was an eclectic collection of wines at this tasting which presented some significant challenges. Not knowing the variety, or even the style avoided any preconceptions, but it also meant that there were some style clashes. A bone-dry riesling is always going to be difficult to taste after an SSB that has a degree of residual sugar.

That said, the two rieslings mentioned are well worth a look.

Reviewed

Willoughby Park – Riesling – Ironrock – 2013 (18). Restrained and taut, with steely minerality. This continues on the palate, with lovely lime juice and superb acidity that carries the finish. Slightly dumb on the mid palate, but with air this became wonderfully fragrant. Ideally this needs a few years to flesh out, but is a superb wine.

Zarephath – Riesling – 2013 (17.5 – 18). Very pale colour. Fresh and floral, with lime and lemon juice notes. The palate has fresh acidity, yet is soft, supple and quite delicious. A sublime wine with excellent length and a near seamless finish.

Hay Shed Hill – Chardonnay – 2013 ( 17.5). Initially quite neutral on the nose. The palate has barrel ferment and lees characters over quality fruit. Think pineapple and nectarine. Quite a serious wine that has been well handled. The finish is almost chewy and textured, but the lemony fruit and crisp acidity makes for an excellent wine.

Stella Bella – Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon – Skuttlebutt – 2013 (17). A very drinkable wine here. This is characterised by lovely mouth-feel and texture. Excellent length with focused acidity to balance the fruit on the drying finish. An excellent wine with, or without food.

Millbrook – Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon – Barking Owl – 2013 (17). I like the balance here. Floral fruit and citrus blossom is set against a background of minerals and flinty acidity. Good length, the touch of phenolic grip adds to the mouth-feel and finish.

Yilgarnia – Semillon – 2013 (17). Quite a smart wine that has fresh, vibrant fruit set against complex minerality. There is depth and presence here. This is not a quaffing wine. The complex array of flavours include lemon-like fruit and just a hint of minerals.

Vasse Felix

Reviewed: 14th May 2014

Situated in the Willyabrup sub-region of Margaret River, Vasse Felix can lay claim to being the oldest producer of wines in this prestigious region. Established in 1967 by Dr Tom Cullity, the first release was the 1972 vintage.

Since then, the winery has gone from strength to strength as the range has been refined and stratified. The focus is now on three distinct pillars, Cabernet Sauvignon based wines, Chardonnay and Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blends. A consistent approach to stratification is also being gradually adopted.

At the top of the quality tree is the Heytesbury, (gold peregrine on the label). Currently, this is limited to the Cabernet and the Chardonnay. That said, Virginia Willcock and the team are working towards a Heytesbury SSB. A small batch was released from the 2011 vintage and the wine produced in 2013 is excellent. Time will tell if this will end up under the Heytesbury label.

Sitting just below this, from a quality perspective, is the Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. These are set to be joined by a chardonnay from the 2013 vintage. (These wines have the burgundy coloured peregrine on the label and a burgundy capsule). The Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot and “standard” Chardonnay sit below this. These wines will be re-labelled Filius from the next vintage to avoid confusion.

Finally, there is the Classic range with a Dry White and a Dry Red.

I rate Vasse Felix in the top five wineries in the region. Their wines are consistently outstanding. If you ask nicely, they may even give you a 20% discount for dozen lots at the cellar door, which makes the wines extraordinary value.

A special thanks must go to Francine and the team at Vasse Felix for making our visit so enjoyable.

Reviewed

Vasse Felix – Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon – 2013. Fragrant and complex with lovely lemon and lanolin notes. The grassy notes come out with air. Whilst fresh and lively, there is an undertone of complexity that comes from the 19% of fruit that was fermented in new oak. A small portion was also fermented on skins which helps to add depth to the palate.

Vasse Felix – Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc – “White Cap” – 2012. Made in a similar way to white Bordeaux: All fruit was fermented/aged in new oak for nine months with a further six months in older oak. 60% Semillon, a portion of the SB was fermented on skins. This is a powerful wine that is creamy and textured, with lemon curd, lanolin, minerals and a touch of struck match/flintiness. That said, this is a fine wine that will take some years in the bottle. Destined to become Heytesbury?

Vasse Felix – Chardonnay – 2012. A very fine and delicate style that has lovely, peach-like stone fruit aromas. The palate is quite linear at present, reflecting the youthful nature of this wine. The limey acid provides excellent drive on the finish. Matured in a mix of new, one and two year old oak, though this is just a whisper on the finish. Really needs a year or two to fill out and open up. (Will be labelled Filius from 2013).

Vasse Felix – Chardonnay – Burgundy Capsule – 2013. Very tight and restrained, with bright fruit and refreshing acidity. The palate is creamy, though the fruit is shy at present. The finish is near seamless, with supple oak adding depth and mouth-feel. Needs a few years, but will be worth the wait. Soon to be released, this is destined to be the first “burgundy capsuled” chardonnay.

Vasse Felix – Chardonnay – Heytesbury – 2012. Very powerful nose blending stone fruit, pineapple and complex winemaker’s inputs (struck match minerality and creamy barrel ferment and lees aromas). The powerful fruit continues on a palate that is complex, balanced and very long. Seamless palate transition, with the texture really building on the close. A superb effort that retains freshness and poise. Lovely now, but better in a few years.

Vasse Felix – Semillon – 2012. Always a delight to drink as this wine balances approachable fruit characters with a finish that is supple, textural and long. Destined to be the last semillon made by Vasse Felix as the fruit used in this wine will be used in the SSB going forward.

Vasse Felix – Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot – 2011. An excellent expression of this style, showing perfumed fruit with hints of violet and summer berries. The palate adds hints of leather, spice and earthy notes to the red fruits, with herbal notes and fine, supple tannins to close. Like many wines made from this blend in the region, this is made in a more approachable style. (Will be labelled Filius in future years).

Vasse Felix – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2011. Classic minty, blackcurrant fruit on the nose over spice and cedary oak. The palate is silky and very long, though this needs years to reach its peak. A very fine wine.

Vasse Felix – Cabernet Sauvignon – Heytesbury – 2011. The fruit and winemaking here is nothing short of spectacular. The nose is filled with fragrant fruit over supple savoury/spicy notes. This is a very complex wine. The palate is breathtaking, displaying fruit that is very powerful, yet refined and very elegant. The chewy, structural notes build on a finish that is silky, balanced and very long. An iron fist in a velvet glove. A brilliant wine that will comfortably take 20 years in the cellar.

 

New Release Reds – May 2014

Reviewed: 8th May 2014

There was an eclectic selection of pinot and shiraz here from a variety of countries.

The reviewed wines stood out for their balance, providing short term drinking pleasure, but also being capable of rewarding cellaring.

Reviewed

Leeuwin Estate – Shiraz – Art Series – 2011 (18). A lovely wine that balances perfectly ripe, though cooler region, fruit with supple winemaking. Hints of spice and cedar add complexity, but do not detract from the fruit. The finish is silky and very fine, with superb length and mouth-feel. Very well made.

Saltram – Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon – Metala – 2012 (18). This is a really smart wine that combines quality fruit and slick winemaking. Lovely depth and intensity to the fruit with mint, eucalyptus and blackberry from the cabernet sitting over the ripe, plum-like shiraz. Cedary oak complements nicely. The finish is firm, suggesting that 5 – 10 years in the cellar will be rewarded.

Singlefile – Pinot Noir – 2013 (17.5 – 18). Quite firm, but with delicious red fruits. Cherry and supple spice to the fore on the palate. Long and balanced, this just needs a year or two for the grippy finish to settle and to really hit its straps. ($33).

Soumah – Shiraz – 2012 (17.8). Another cracking wine from the 2012 vintage in Victoria. The vibrant, ripe fruit leaps out of the glass, with cedar and spice to follow. The palate is fragrant, vibrant and supple with white pepper highlights. The fine tannins, whilst allowing the fruit to speak, build on the finish. An intense, youthful wine that should age well. (RRP $33).

Arivina Estate – Shiraz – 2012 (17.7). Dense, though not thick, chocolaty fruit here with savoury highlights. This is a rich, textured wine that has been well put together. The balance is maintained via fine tannins and supple oak, and there is excellent length. Will have broad appeal as it straddles the line between warm and cool climate fruit.

Great Southern – New Release Wines – April 2014

Reviewed: 29th April 2014

The Great Southern region of Western Australia comprises a number of subregions, including Mt Barker, Denmark and Frankland River. The region is rightly famous for its rieslings, but also produces exceptional wines from a number of other varieties. Some of the state’s most prominent producers make their top cabernet based wines from the region including Houghton (Jack Mann) and Howard Park (Abercrombie).

This tasting aptly demonstrated the variety of styles that are produce within the region.

Reviewed

Singlefile – Chardonnay – Family Reserve – 2013 (18). Very supple nose that combines gentle, ripe fruit with subtle oak and lees/barrel ferment characters. There is lovely minerality, which aids depth and complexity. There is stone fruit and citrus characters on the palate with just a hint of tropical fruit (pineapple and melon). The balance and finesse makes this wine a standout. A delicious, beautifully worked chardonnay from the Singlefile vineyard. (RRP $50).

Ferngrove – Riesling – Cossack – 2013 (17.5 – 18+). Lovely lime curd and lemon zest fruit here. This is a powerful wine, with taut minerality cutting through the fresh lemon and lime fruit on the palate. Excellent length and persistence, with fresh, brisk acidity that adds drive. Bone dry, this is a lively riesling that will age well. (RRP $23).

Xabregas – Shiraz – 2011 (17.7). Closed and shy, though the fruit here is of high quality. Coffee, mocha, chocolate, spice and cedar evolve on the palate. Very long with white pepper over dark plum and blackberry. There is latent power here and the texture builds, though time is needed to let it evolve. Deft use of oak adds to the package.

Singlefile – Sauvignon Blanc – Fume Blanc – Stoney Crossing Vineyard – 2013 (17.5+). A very complex nose that has lovely worked characters. The grassy fruit is overlaid with minerals, flint, struck match and lemony oak. Very youthful, though very long, this would be best with another year or two in bottle. (RRP $30).

Cotes Du Rhone – New Release

Reviewed: 11th December 2013

Cotes Du Rhone to me is synonymous with spicy grenache-based red wines that offer immediate drinking pleasure and, in some cases, are also capable of short-term cellaring.

The region is quite diverse, with wines from the better sites able to carry the village appellation as part of the name.

In general, I would recommend consuming these wines young, so as to enjoy the fresh/vibrant fruit and spicy overtones.

Many of the better wines for this tasting are imported by Lamont’s in Cottesloe.  They appear to offer excellent value at +/- $20 and are worth seeking out.

La Cabotte – Massif d’Uchaux – Cotes Du Rhone Villages – 2011 (17.8).  Wow, this could easily be from the McLaren Vale.  Gorgeous, fleshy, ripe fruit that is dense and vibrant.  This follows on to the palate, where it is only on the finish that the wine gives away its Rhone heritage, with pepper and spicy notes.  Souring tannins add life to the vibrant fruit, making this my pick for the tasting.

Pas Des Roches – Grenache – Cotes Du Rhone – Old Vine – 2012 (17.5).  An impressive wine that is in a more traditional style, with savoury characters melding well with the mid-weight fruit.  Ripe, precise and focused, the palate has decent depth and good mouth-feel.  Juicy, grenache-like fruit carries the fine tannins well on the finish.  Was even better after being open for a couple of days.

Domaine Magellan – Shiraz/Grenache/Carignan – L’Herault – Vin de Pays – 2010 (17-17.5).  Significantly more depth and power here.  A savoury, spicy wine that has serious fruit and decent texture.  A serious effort, with tannins that cut through the fruit richness on the finish, conferring drive to the palate.  Could even take some bottle age.

Able’s  Tempest – Pinot Noir/Chardonnay – 2010 (17).  Light and fresh though initially, this appears a touch straightforward.  In the glass this showed apple blossom and hints of citrus.  The palate is nicely textured, clean, fresh and refreshing.  The dosage has been very well handled.  At around $30, this is not exactly cheap, but I have seen it advertised for under $20 and, at this price, it will make an excellent aperitif this festive season.

La Cabotte – Cotes Du Rhone – Colline – 2011 (17).  Attractive nose combining plump, ripe fruit and sweet vanilla highlights.  Spicy/earthy notes add complexity.  Only medium-bodied, with little in the way of oak on the palate, this is supple, savoury and long.  Quite a delicious red that will take food well.  Do not be afraid to give this time in a decanter prior to drinking.

 

Guigal – Cotes Du Rhone – 2010 (16.6).  Clean/fresh nose that has attractive fruit and subtle spicy notes.  The palate is light and fresh, with souring acidity adding drive.  A fruit-driven, easy-drinking style without strong characters.  With air, the fleshy fruit opens up and is complemented by black pepper and spice.

Domaine La Vitalis – Cotes Du Rhone – Villages – Cairanne – 2011 (17).  Quite closed on the nose, but the palate is a riot of ripe fruit and spice.  Medium bodied, but with delicious pepper and spice over juicy plum.  Perhaps a bit more new-world in its approach, but this will appeal to those who like a good value, fleshy red.

Chalkboard – Cotes Du Rhone – 2012 (16.5).  Pretty, floral, red fruits and supple white pepper on both the nose and the palate.  There are also spicy notes and a hint of celery.  Supple and textured, the spicy fruit is the predominant character on the finish, though the fine tannins build on the close.  A versatile wine that is excellent value at around $13 from Vinatge Cellars.

 

 

Chardonnay – New Release

Reviewed: 8th November 2013

This was a fascinating tasting that highlighted the quality and diversity of chardonnays being made in Australia.  From the taut austerity of the Devils Lair, the balance of the Frankland Estate, to the richness and depth of the Singlefile, they are all quality wines.

Interestingly, there were a couple of wines from 2013 in the tasting.  These have not been reviewed, as they were just too young to properly assess them at this point.

Reviewed.

Devils Lair – Chardonnay – 2012 (18).  A very fine wine made in a lighter style.  The fruit has been picked early to retain freshness and vitality, though this comes at the cost of immediate drinkability.  There is no denying the quality of the  fruit, and this has been very well handled.  The key feature here is the excellent length and persistence.  This wine took four days to really open up and shine, so cellaring is recommended.

Singlefile – Chardonnay – Reserve – 2012 (18).  Wow, superb nose that has powerful fruit combined with complex winemaker’s inputs that adds a struck match character to the minerals and quality oak.  The palate is rich, dense and very long.  The oak sits well with the fruit, though a year or two should see this settle back a little and allow the fruit to really shine.  The finish is very long and complex, with curry leaf and spice to close.  Expensively made.

Frankland Estate – Chardonnay – Isolation Ridge – 2012 (17.9).  This wine takes the middle ground between the Devils Lair and Singlefile.  The fruit is attractive and well matched to the subtle winemaking notes.  Aroma wise, there is lemon, stonefruit, melon and a hint of tropical fruit.  The palate is supple, creamy and quite savoury.  The finish is very balanced and near seamless, though the acid cuts a swath through the creamy texture.  A smart wine that will be even better in 2 – 3 years.

Xanadu – Chardonnay – DJL – 2012 (17.4).  Fresh, vibrant and very smart.  A modern style that has a portion of earlier picked fruit to retain freshness.  Good quality fruit is matched by lovely, citrus-like acidity, with the oak adding texture to the palate.  Well made.

Willow Bridge – Chardonnay – G1-10 – 2012 (17.5).  Lovely wine this, in a subtly worked style.  There is excellent fruit and winemaking and quite a seamless finish.  The oak sits nicely with the fruit and adds texturally.  Good mouth-feel and length to close.

 

S.C. Pannell – Current Release

Reviewed:  28th September 2013

When Bill Pannell first established Moss Wood in the early 1970’s I am sure that not even he could predict the impact his family would have on the Australian wine industry.  After entrenching Moss Wood’s reputation, Bill went on to establish Picardy winery in Pemberton where he and his son Dan are producing world class wines.

Whilst Bill and Dan are household names in Western Australia, the fortunes of another Pannell winemaker are somewhat overlooked.  Steve Pannell (Bill’s son) was instrumental in producing some of the great wines of Hardy’s, where he was chief winemaker from 1999 – 2003.

S.C. Pannell was established in 2004 and produces an array of both Red and White wines.  These range in style from softer, more approachable (and affordable) wines to the serious and age-worthy.  Time prevented me from reviewing their white wines, so these will have to wait for another day and, perhaps, a trip to McLaren Vale.

The current release wines served to underscore the quality of the operation, with the 2011 reds demonstrating just how good wines from this vintage can be.

NB:  This was not a blind tasting.  My points are best used as a guide only.

Reviewed:

S.C. Pannell – Grenache Blend – Tinto – 2011 (16.8).  This has a lovely, bright red colour that seems the perfect match to the floral fruit notes on the nose.  There is bright fruit on a palate that has cherry and hints of tar and spice.  Simple, easy to drink and food friendly.

S.C. Pannell – Tempranilo\Touriga – 2012 (17.3).  I like this a lot!  There is plenty of dense, ripe fruit that is succulent and deliciously juicy.  Long and sappy acid on the finish adds life.  Really good wine that would be a great mid-week wine served with a bowl of pasta.

S.C. Pannell – Shiraz – Adelaide Hills – Syrah – 2012 (17.7).  Spectacular red/purple colour.  Dense, tannic, ripe, chewy, long, lean, angular.  A wine of real potential, with lovely peppery fruit to close.  Fine, silky tannins are firm and plentiful.  A textural treat.

S.C. Pannell – Grenache/Shiraz – 2010 (17.7).  Gorgeous, fragrant and lifted red berry fruit on the nose, courtesy of the grenache.  The palate is flooded with redcurrant and spice, with silky, texturing oak and tannins.  Long and savoury, this will be best in 5 – 10 years, once it has had time to open up and evolve.

S.C. Pannell – Nebbiolo – 2008 (18).  The colour alone stands this apart from the rest of the range, tending to rusty orange at the rim.  A superb rendition of nebbiolo that is true to its Italian heritage, with hints of floral fruit and tar-like characters building on the finish.

S.C. Pannell – Grenache – 2011 (18).  The colour is fantastic.  There is ripe, perfumed fruit, though this is subdued and cloaked in structure.  The palate is powerful, ripe, and precise.  The tannins are silky and fine, while the oak is there primarily for texture.  Excellent length and mouth-feel.  This is a superb effort.

S.C. Pannell – Shiraz – 2011 (18.5).  Remarkably restrained and tight.  There is a density to the fruit on the nose, with the McLaren Vale fruit characters developing in the glass with air.  The palate is restrained and near seamless, with great precision and focus.  Again, the latent power starts to express itself as the wine opens in the glass and on the palate.  Near seamless, this is a wine that can be consumed now or any time to 2030.

 

Scorpo – Current Release

Reviewed:  22nd September 2013

Situated in the Mornington Peninsula, Scorpo wines has quietly established a reputation for producing some of the region’s finest, though understated, wines from pinot noir, chardonnay and shiraz.  Winemaking is headed up by Sandro Mosele, whom, along with the Scorpo family, endeavours to produce wines that speak of the region, with as little intervention as possible in the winery.

This tasting allowed me to look through the current range and the wines were right on form.  That the estate wines (chardonnay, shiraz and pinot noir) were on form is no surprise, given the reputation that these wines command on the east coast.  It was the pinot gris and norien pinot noir that were the biggest surprise.

The pinot gris is delicious, with crunchy pear and creamy, barrel ferment characters, while the pinot noir is excellent current drinking.

The wines from Scorpo tend to slip under the radar, but the quality makes finding them worth the effort.

NB:  This was not a blind tasting.  My points are best used as a guide only.

Reviewed

Scorpo – Pinot Gris – 2012 (17.5).  The nose opens with creamy barrel-ferment notes.  The lifted fruit is reminiscent of pear skin, with a lovely, musk-like edge.  On the palate, the fruit is ripe and creamy, with an almost crunchy pear texture on the finish.  This wine is fermented in older oak and sees batonage/lees stirring and wild yeast fermentation.  Delicious.

Scorpo – Chardonnay – 2008 (17.8).  Closed and creamy on the nose, but the palate is full of life and vigour.  Bright acidity, supple oak, creamy texture and a struck match minerality on the finish.  Tight and modern, the acidity is very refreshing.

Scorpo – Pinot Noir – Norien – 2012 (17.7).  Beautiful nose here, showing bright, fresh cherry fruit and lovely spice.  Typical, approachable and succulent.  Not overly complex, but has excellent length and tannin integration.  Delicious.

Scorpo – Pinot Noir – Estate – Single Vineyard – 2011 (18).  Closed and restrained, yet supple and inviting.  Picked in early April (one month later than normal) with great care taken in the vineyard to ensure that the fruit coming off was top notch.  Initially, this appears tight and grippy, though it opens nicely with air.  Very long and refined, this is a delight to drink now, but will be even better in 5 years.  A great result.

Scorpo – Shiraz – 2008 – (18).  Some earthy, dusty notes to start, but there is a core of ripe red fruits over supple white pepper and silky tannins.  All fruit was de-stemmed and cold soaked prior to fermentation.  A superb wine that is restrained and very fine, yet the power starts to build on the very long finish.  Hard to resist.