Teusner Empress Eden Valley Riesling 2015 $21.90–$23 Bateman Bay’s Starfish Deli very sensibly offers good riesling by the glass. The current tipple, Barossa-based Kym Teusner’s Empress riesling, comes from two Eden Valley vineyards, one of them 50 years old. Teusner takes riesling in a lean, taut direction, sometimes described as “minerally” – well away from … Continue reading Wine reviews – Teusner, Craggy Range, Jacob’s Cree
Tellurian Viognier 2014 Eastern Mount Camel Ranges, Heathcote, Victoria $27 Tellurian Viognier 2014 topped the “other whites varietals and blends” section in February’s Winewise Championship. The Canberra-based championship rates gold-medallists from other Australian wine shows – a sort of best-of-best taste-off, judged in small groups of no more than seven wines. Tullurian topped the viognier … Continue reading Wine review – Tellurian, Josef Chromy, Stockman’s Ridge, Redbank, Saltram, Tim Adams
Logan Weemala Orange Riesling 2015 $16–$20 Mudgee-based Logan wines sources grapes from a range of altitudes across a swathe of the NSW central ranges, including Orange. Winemaker Peter Logan writes, “Logan’s vineyards sit particularly high above Orange. At altitudes ranging from 850 to 1,050 metres above sea level these are some of the highest vineyards … Continue reading Wine review – Logan, Shaw Vineyard Estate, Ad Hoc
McWilliams Mount Pleasant Cellar Aged Hunter Semillon 2007 $17–$20 One of the best wines encountered over the festive season cost a mere $17, despite coming up for its ninth birthday, and having been perfectly cellared before release. Mt Pleasant Elizabeth held its own against many considerably more expensive whites. And every mouthful thrilled, almost distracting … Continue reading Wine reviews – McWilliams Mount Pleasant, Long Rail Gully, Capital Wines
Tyrrell’s Lost Block Heathcote Shiraz 2013 $18 Tyrrell’s Lost Block range presents Australian regional specialties in a drink-now style. This could be a hard ask for Heathcote shiraz as the wines tend to mouth puckering in the tannin department. The winemakers soften this one with a small addition of the white variety, viognier – which … Continue reading Wine review – Tyrrell’s, De Bortoli, Domaine Chandon
Bay of Fires Riesling 2015 Derwent and Coal River Valleys, Tasmania $28.49–$35 The Bay of Fires winery at Pipers River, northern Tasmania, sources grapes for this wine from the Derwent and Coal River Valleys to the south. In a masked tasting alongside the other two rieslings reviewed today, it revealed a unique combination of Germanic … Continue reading Wine review – Bay of Fires, Pikes, Seppelt, Moppity, Tscharke, Kirrihill
Jacob’s Creek Classic Riesling 2015 $7.85–$12 Humble Jacob’s Creek often upstages more expensive wines in Australian wine shows. In the recent National Wine Show of Australia, for example, this riesling’s cellar-mate, Classic Pinot Gris, topped the pinot gris class and won the trophy as the best “Dry white, other variety” in the show. Jacob’s Classic … Continue reading Wine review – Jacob’s Creek, Andrew Thomas, Charles Cimicky
Riesling and shiraz remain Canberra’s trump cards by a country mile, so they feature prominently in my 2015 selections. While each comes in a regional style, the wines selected represent various hues along that style spectrum. When we extend our search to neighbouring regions along the Great Divide, the palate of mainstream varieties opens considerably. … Continue reading Top 20 Canberra and region wines of 2015
Sancerre (Domaine des Grosses Pierres) 2013 $19–$28 This delightful unoaked French sauvignon blanc showed up in a masked tasting alongside oak-fermented 10X Mornington Peninsula Sauvignon Blanc 2014 ($28). They’re both comparatively delicate sauvignons, though poles apart in style. The 10X wine showed varietal tang and herbaceousness, overlaid with the rich texture and charry aroma derived … Continue reading Wine review – Domaine des Grosses Pierres, Mr Mick, Richmond Grove
Simao and Co Vintage Fortified 2014 Alpine Valleys and Glenrowan, Victoria $48 This is the story of a seventh generation winemaker, six grape varieties, purple feet and a totally slurpy wine inspired by Portugal’s vintage ports. In 2013, winemaker Simon Killeen left the old family business, Stanton and Killeen, and shortly afterwards struck out on … Continue reading Wine review – Simao and Co, Vickery, West Cape Howe, Toolangi, Schild Estate and Willow Creek