Second tier Yering Station which means still means very decent drinking may I say. Drawn from 100% Yarra Valley Chardonnay, this is respectable Chardonnay for the price, but hey when you are sourcing it from the quality of existing Yering resources, this hardly comes as a surprise. Oak yes, but subtle albeit lightly spicy, fruit – classic, varietal but not over the top, everything in its place, seamless soft and smooth – very nice may I say. Well done team.
Food Match: Thai seafood
RRP: $19
Cellar: Drink Now to 2012.
Rating: 89/100 – Very Good
7 February 2010
Guinness Extra Stout
This legendary Irish stout is brewed here under licence in Australia and yes whilst I know there is nothing better than the real Irish stuff on tap drunk in a bar in Dublin, if you want to have a glass or two at home, here in the land of Oz, you have to do it this way. Deep dark blackish brown, it is strong and heady from the first pour, the deep broodingness of it just resonates up your nose with vigour. Soy, deep rice wine like, the maltiness really comes through, sweetish on one hand yet savoury and crisp on the other, with a linealness on the palate leading to a gloriously delicious smooth finish. Gee I like my Guinness.
Alc: 6.0%
Food Match: Pie
RRP: $ About $19 for a six pack
Rating: Excellent
Sandalford Cabernet Merlot 2008
I’d be lying if I said it is either easy or enjoyable tasting reds in oppressively hot humid tropical Summer weather. Give me a beer or chilled white any day. But this Cabernet Merlot from the MR in WA really pressed my buttons the other day whilst I persevered with my red wine tasting duties, yes I am a trouper aren’t I. Seriously though it is really edgy, well blended, has a good structure that doesn’t overemphasise the fruit, yet delivers it in a clean crisp way even for a red. Liquorice, plums, cherries abound, with a fine set of tannins and a long cool finish.
Food Match: Beef and Guinness pie
RRP: $17
Cellar: Drink Now to 2012.
Rating: 92/100 – Excellent.
6th February 2010
Moss Wood Semillon 2009
A cracking white wine Semillon from this highly respected WA producer with stunning and enticing aromas – frangipani, straw, musk, citrus limes and lemons, I really like the nose, lots of swirling going on and it captivates me bigtime. I also like the freshness and delicacy of this white. It’s then all happening on the palate with a softness and balance that makes it very moreish and the flavours go on, and on and on..
Food Match: Vietnamese seafood
RRP: $30
Cellar: Drink Now to 2012.
Rating: 92/100 – Excellent.
5th February 2010
Schild Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Deep bold brooding fruit, quite robust and substantial, with a bit of warm alcohol on the palate. It makes an impression with melded cold meats, raspberry fruit, aniseed and liquorice, with coffee oak and a velvety mouth feel with furry tannins right to the end. Drinking well now, it demands solid robust food.
Food Match: sausages with mash
Alc: 14.5%
RRP: $18
Cellar: Drink Now to 2013..
Rating: 88/100 – Very Good.
3 February 2010
Scarborough Hunter Valley Semillon 2009
Light delicately ever so light yellow in colour is this Hunter boutique white. The nose is distinctively Semillon and Hunter Semillon at that. Evocative forward upfront green lush herbs, take no prisoners in style – here I am, I am Semillon. An inherent earthiness and minerality joins together with limes and lemons, melded together really well. Fresh lively and crisp yet with a drinkability now that is not sharp or overdone. Balanced and crisp I say, in an obvious contradiction of descriptors but yet the structure is so well defined here but so drinkable in the other dimension. Watch this space in a few years time. Oh and on its second day, the mouth feel was obviously more luxuriant and softer, yet the crisp undercurrents are still there. Again watch this space.
Food Match: baked pork
Alc: 10.0%
Drink: Now to 2016.
Price: About $25.
Rating: 91/100 – Excellent
1 February 2010
Robert Stein Reserve Shiraz 2007
Jacob Stein is the winemaker of this estate grown and bottled Reserve Shiraz from the N Block up at Mudgee. It has been given the winemaking works treatment with hand picking, small open fermenters, hand plunging and with minimal filtering. I like the velvety plushness of it, the well rounded mouthfeel, leaving a long luxuriant set of black fruit flavours, along with liqourice and cedary notes. Highly drinkable and demanding of good solid food. Should develop nicely with age as well.
Food Match: roast pork knuckle
Alc: 13.5%
Drink: Now to 2014.
Price: About $30.
Rating: 90/100 – Very Good.
31 January 2010
Pikes Luccio Sangiovese 2006
The Italianness of this wine is apparent as soon as you open it. You find yourself wafting across the Mediterranean contemplating your next meal, be it spaghetti puttanesca or lasagna or even osso buco, this is a foodie’s wine, one that has been well blended with Merlot and Cabernet and one that has benefited from its origins being of the Clare Valley. Soft fleshy ripe yet also elegant and with a tailored stature.
Food Match: Italian
Alc: 14.5%
Drink: Now.
Price: About $18.
Rating: 89/100 – Very Good.
30 January 2010
Wandin Valley Estate Verdelho 2009
I don’t mind this fresh youthful vibrant Verdelho from our Hunter, made by winemaker Matt Burton. Sweet fresh limes resonate underpinned by tropical fruits, citrus lemons and light musk. The acidity is tangy and has a light bite to it. Refreshing on a hot humid day. Perfect with Thai lemongrass chicken.
Alc: 13.5%
RRP: $18
Cellar: Drink Now.
Rating: 89/100 – Very Good
The Accomplice Shiraz 2009
An easy quaffing young fresh red from the De Bortoli stable (Riverina) I understand. Light lean, spicy with good red fruit and a fine tannin finish. Tad young but as I said for a red wine quaffer, it does the trick.
Alc: 13.5%
RRP: $8?
Cellar: Drink Now.
Rating: 85/100 – Good
29 January 2010
Cape Mentelle Chardonnay 2008
Poised, elegant and classy – unsurprising words to describe a Cape Mentelle wine eh?, but seriously this delivers in such a polished and refined way and yet delivers its substance with such clarity as well. Yes there is classic fruit, yes there is a fair bit of oak, but it is melded together in a way that adds to the wine’s overall synergy than in any distractive sense. Drinking superbly now, it delivers along with a underpinned minerality as well as a smoothness all the way to the last taste. A moreish Margaret River white.
Food Match: Seafood risotto
Alc: 13.0%
RRP: $42
Cellar: Drink Now to 2014.
Rating: 93-94/100 – Excellent
28 January 2010
Higher Plane South By Southwest Shiraz 2007
The co-fermenting with Viognier has made this Margaret River red really smooth and seductive. I enjoyed the balance between the red and black fruit as well as the spiciness tempered with integrated oak and the overall smoothness in mouthfeel that then followed in a lineal cool long palate. Ripe and yet elegant at the same time. Delicious moreish and very good value for a MR red.
Food Match: lasagna
Alc: 14.0%
RRP: $22
Cellar: Drink to 2015.
Rating: 91/100 – Excellent.
26 January 2010
Peroni Leggera
An Italian import. Leggera means light. Might be light, a glorious light ever so light yellow in colour, in carbs and in calories perhaps but certainly not in flavour and this is a mid strength rather than a light beer. A crisp dry lager with a good semblance to Nastro Azzurro. The flavour lingers long with a nice bite to it and a refreshing lightly bitter aftertaste. A stylish beer that has captured and will continue to capture Australian beer drinkers attention.
Alc: 3.5%
Price: About $13.99 for a six pack.
Rating: Very Good.
25 January 2010
Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
This is stunning Savvy Blanc. The aromatics are evocative and positively dazzling. It just leaps tropical and crisp citrus fruit from the glass, sending the glorious fruit characters all over the place. The fresh clear deep and distinctiveness of the wine says Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand Savvy Blanc at that all over. It delivers deliciousness and is moreish to the extreme.
Food Match: Roast Pork.
Alc: 13.0%
Drink: Now to 2011.
Price: About $22.
Rating: 92-93/100 – Excellent.
24 January 2010
Gundog Estate Rose 2009
This Canberra district wine made from Gundaroo Cabernet grapes delivers on the flavour front big-time. Ripe juicy full flavoured red berry with strawberry, raspberry and cherries, along with soft dry acidity and some savoury character that gives the right backbone to it all to make it a really food focussed Rose. Matt Burton is the winemaker and watch this space as this and the Shiraz are the first releases from this boutique Canberra establishment.
Food Match: Pork stir fry
Alc: 13.0%
Drink: Now.
Price: About $20.
Rating: 90/100 – Very Good.
23 January 2010
Moss Wood Chardonnay 2008
The nose is perfumed tropical fruit, mango, banana, guava and pineapple, along with classic peach melon, mellow soft yet with discernible oak, not overly distracting but there making its statement. The acidity is soft and well rounded, the alcohol is there with good legs on the glass, the mouth feel luxuriant, delicious and smooth and long and lingering. A stylish Margaret River Chardonnay with substance class and gravitas. Drinking seamlessly now and with a good future ahead of it. On its second day of tasting you get lovely soft butterscotch textures that just add and add to it. Another excellent wine from the Moss Wood stable.
Food Match: Chicken stuffed with mango
Alc: 14.5%
RRP: $55
Cellar: Now to 2014.
Rating: 92-93/100- Excellent.
22 January 2010
Angullong Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Cool climate Orange delivers on the Savvy Blanc front. But this is different in style to our Kiwi cousins, more subdued in the overall flavour stakes but I do like the noticeable tropical characters in this along with the usual characters you'd expect of SB. Dry sharp crisp yet with a good fruit dimension to it.
Food Match: pasta with cream sauce
Alc: 13.0%
RRP: $15
Cellar: Drink Now.
Rating: 88/100 – Very Good.
21 January 2010
Water Wheel Memsie Shiraz Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
I know we talk up consistency, value and quality quite a lot in the world of wine but Water Wheel really represents these principles, time and time again with its range of wines that are predictably good, well priced and taste like you expect them to. This red Bendigo blend full of classic berry fruit is no exception. Well blended it is dominant Shiraz but the other two red varietals have done their supporting role jobs as well. It drinks a treat.
Food Match: grilled pork
Alc: 14.0%
RRP: $14
Cellar: Drink Now.
Rating: 90/100 – Very Good.
20 January 2010
Yarrabank Cuvee 2005
This is produced in an ongoing joint venture between Champagne Veuve A. Devaux and Yering Station in the Yarra Valley and is made in the traditional method, using a complex winemaking which takes at least 4 years to complete. Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes and hand picked to ensure the right balance, this is a very classy and elegant sparkling of substance and character. The citrine influences are strong and firm, tight, lively and evolving yet on the palate deliver with a richness and stature as well as crisp acidity that delivers in the flavour and drinkability stakes.
Food Match: crisp pork belly.
Drink: to 2015.
Price: About $38
Rating: 93/100 – Excellent.
19 January 2010
De Bortoli Vat 2 Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Those around me left half a glass for me so that I could validate their ooo’s and arrr’s about this affordable and obviously decent Savvy Blanc. No surprises as the De Bortoli’s have been doing this for so long with their wines and even the ones at the lower end of the range still manage to elicit this response. Classic and varietal as well as deliciously drinking, yeh, I can tell what the fuss was about.
Food Match: Thai beef salad
Alc: 12.0%
RRP: $12
Cellar: Drink Now.
Rating: 90/100 – Very Good.
18 January 2010
Schild Estate Riesling 2008.
The Schilds do reds in the main, Barossa reds and they do them really well. But these guys also make a few whites, that deserve some of our attention. This Riesling is pretty, floral and quite fruity. Sure the acidity is there and cuts into it making it balanced drinking, but the overall impressions are mostly about lightness and a springiness to the palate and easy drinking.
Food Match: Fresh Vietnamese spring rolls
Alc: 12.5.%
RRP: $15
Cellar: to 2012.
Rating: 87/100 – Good.
17 January 2010
D’Arenberg The Ironstone Pressings GSM 2006
I love the bigness the largesse of this McLaren Vale red. It is huge, robust, deep and brings tears to the eyes. Spice filled with up there alcohol, the rich ripe fruit resonates in its concentrated form. The earthiness is so obvious. The coffee oak makes its presence felt and the palate subsumes with spicy plums, mulberries, raspberries and cloves. Smooth long and warm, it goes on and on.
Food Match: a big slab of beef
Alc: 15.%
RRP: $65
Cellar: to 2025.
Rating: 90/100 – Very Good.
16 January 2010
Gracebrook Rosato
A rose` made from three Italian grape varieties – Sangiovese, Dolcetto and Sagrantino, from this King Valley Victorian producer. Love the glorious fire engine red colour that when swirled spins eloquently round the glass and provides a dazzling effect. Full of berries on one level, soft and dry in another dimension, a perfect addition to the end of a hot humid day.
Food Match: Vietnamese
Alc: 13.1%
RRP: $15
Rating: 90/100 – Very Good.
15 January 2010
James Squire Pilsener
I enjoyed the fruity freshness of this golden brazenly sun coloured Pilsener. It is a cracking cool fermented beer made from Pale and Munich malts, Saaz hops. With a beautiful thick creamy head, it has a smooth long thirst quenching quality as it goes down the throat. The fruity characters add sweetness to the flavours yet are balanced with a light bitterness and a spiciness as well. Goes well with a range of cuisine.
Alc: 5%
Price: About $22 for a six pack
Rating: Excellent.
14 January 2010
Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2009
Hot weather wine this, it cuts to the chase really well. Dry, slaty with classic gooseberry, marble, green herbs and citrus all over. Lively and fresh, the minerally undertones and its acidity cut neatlty to deliver a very focused Margaret River white blend.
Food Match: Tortellini alla panna
Alc: 13.%
RRP: $28
Rating: 91/100 – Excellent.
16 December 2009 (pm edition)
Dowie Doole Chenin Blanc 2009
Chenin Blanc cops a hard time in the wine fashionista stakes – you see its not trendy hip and happening as Pinot Gris/ Grigio or even Savvy Blanc. Even Riesling is higher than it in the sex appeal stakes. Poor Chenin Blanc – why is this so you ask? Well probably because there is Chenin blanc and there is Chenin blanc and producer by producer – it can be very different. Anyway what I am saying is this is the good stuff, the stuff that evokes florallness fruit and flavour. Indeed the deepness of the character of all of these is what really draws you right onto the Chenin Blanc team. Like the crispness on the finish as well calling out for Asian cuisine. Try a bottle this Summer.
Food Match: bbq pork with flat noodles
Alc: 13.5%
Price: About $17
Rating: 88/100 – Very Good.
Drayton’s Vineyard Reserve Pokolbin Shiraz 2007
Bottle No 3117 I salute you because you have done the Drayton’s team proud. Shiraz, Pokolbin and Hunter – Drayton’s, at that, that’s what you really and truly are – true to your roots. Still a youngster and with loads of potential, the red fresh berry fruit jumps out, along with the liquorice, a certain meatiness, roast meats juicy ones, cedary coffee oak, youthfully so and very fine tannins on a berry ridden finish that has an elegance and leanness to it.
Food Match: roast chicken
Alc: 14.0%
Price: About $15
Rating: 91/100 – Excellent.
16 December 2009 (am edition)
Howard Park Great Southern Riesling 2009
The aromatics are unbelievable on this top quality white. You get the passionfruit, you get the musk, the glorious frangipani and a litany of tropical fruits. The nose is crisp and attractive, yet the palate surprises with its soft smooth effortless well rounded finish. Soft acidity, making for an overall well balanced Riesling, fresh and lively to the end.
Food Match: grilled pork chops
Alc: 12.5%
Drink: Now to 2013.
Rating : 92/100 – Excellent.
Campbells Rutherglen Muscat
An interesting Muscat – not as intense as I expected. Lashings of coffee mocha, then the toffee and honey, then more coffee which really shines through in it. And then a tanginess follows, with a light bite and even a saltiness to it. Actually it all works well together very nicely.
Food Match: Blueberry Cheesecake
Alc: 17.5%
Drink: Now
Rating: 87-88/100 – Good - Very Good.
14 December 2009 (pm edition)
Carlton Cold
It may not be trendy to review mass produced beer. Esoteric and boutique and imported maybe so but not a cold filtered mass produced beer from Fosters. Well there are no rules here folks so here it is – my views on Cold. Anyway this beer demands respect, as it stormed the market many years ago trumping cold filtered beer onto the Aussie market. Earlier this year, they lowered the alcohol content down to 4.0% I understand. Anyway it has a glorious amberness to it, a nice head with quite spirited hop aromas. It is clean and crisp on the flavour palate with an inherent bitterness, light but noticeable. It is medium bodied with a lightness to it as opposed to any robustness, and it lingers but not for long. It is what is purports to be and does the job quite well.
Alc: 4%
Price: About $13 for a six pack.
Rating: Good.
Croser NV
Heard someone on the radio waxing lyrically about this sparkling being one of the best NV’s in the country the other day and anyway this set me off into the samples room, and after a fair bit of time, I emerged with it firmly within my tasting sights – as I haven’t had much of it in recent years. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced from the cool climate Adelaide Hills, it came across quite florally yet tight and elegant as well at first – wild flowers I said – authoritatively so, then light citrus, wet stones – whatever that means, a dryness and thereafter a seamlessness making it well structured long yet crisp. I didn’t mind this at all, I don’t know if it’s the best, but it’s up there in the top shelf NV stakes.
Food Match: oysters
Alc: 13.5%
Price: About $25
Rating: 94/100 - Excellent
13 December 2009
Higher Plane South By SouthWest Chardonnay 2006
I don’t often use the word luscious often to describe a Margaret River Chardonnay but luscious does it for this one. Not overly luscious may I add. No just right luscious it is. And along with classic varietal peach, melon, citrus lemons and limes, you get a well rounded soft flavoursome real Chardonnay, imparted with a light spiciness and a simple acidity that just glides along with the fruit to make it ever so user friendly right til the end. I am sure the 07 and 08 samples are floating around the samples room somewhere but this is pressing my wine buttons right now.
Food Match: grilled fish, thai herbs
Alc: 13.0%
Price: About $30
Rating: 93/100 – Excellent.
Deen De Bortoli Vat 7 Chardonnay 2008
This De Borts Vat 7 Chardonnay is just right in the price (sub-$15) and value stakes – it delivers what you would expect of a Chardonnay at this price, namely varietal fruit, judicious oak treatment, balanced flavours reflecting the diversity of the fruits origins. The alcohol is lighter and thus the wine is more vibrant – but still unmistakably Chardonnay. Very good likeable stuff at a decent price that won’t break the bank nor does it pretend to be anything more than what it is.
Food Match: lamb cutlets
Alc: 12.5%
Drink: Now
Rating: 90/100 – Very Good.
12 December 2009
Barons Lager
The crispness of flavour is what really took me in with this locally made premium lager. I like it’s refreshing clean invigorating replenishing qualities. Its aromas are deep earthy and vibrant making it quite complex. Pours a lovely deep white head on top of a light amber yellowness. The balance of the flavours on the clean long crisp palate are fulsome and robust in flavour on one hand yet are backed with a structure that keeps it right and relatively light on the other. Indeed there is a light bitterness and tang right at the end, as I said before which makes it quite a complex beer. Tasted first thing on a late Friday evening, for me, it was ever so good!
Drink Now.
Alc: about 4.9%
Price: About $16 for a six pack.
Rating: Excellent
11 December 2009 (pm edition)
Yalumba Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2008
The wild ferment techniques that allow the natural yeasts in the vineyard to initiate fermentation for this wine really do add such a complexity level to this overall status as a mid bodied robust Chardonnay. This wild yeast starts the winemaking off here with the extended lees contact and lees stirring then adding to the overall end palate delivery. And what a delivery it is. Tropical fruits, peaches and cream and melons all make for quite a robust nose of fruit characters, yet there also is a good solid acid structure and then follows a smooth deliciously long mouth feel that just delivers so beautifully. The oak is in sync with the fruit. This is not a Chardonnay for the faint-hearted, indeed it is full of charisma, character and has its on distinct personality.
Drink : Now.
Food Match: Fresh bowl of prawns
Alc: 13.5%
Price: About $25
Rating: 92/100 - Excellent.
11 December 2009
Domaine Chandon Sauvignon Blanc 2009
A seriously good Yarra Valley Victorian white with plenty of cool climate varietal character yet with a interesting array of flavours that reflect clever winemaking practices. I was trying to think of what the right descriptor was and the word pungent popped up and stuck out on the back label, and pungent it is. Probably not the word I was after myself but contemplating the wine at the time, it was indeed the right word at the right time. Anyway, the balance on this Savvy Blanc is also right on the mark, the palate is light and smooth – together it delivers deliciously as well. All dimensions in check for me makes for a memorable drinking experience and this bottle emptied in extraordinary fast time.
Food Match: Grilled barramundi
Drink: Now.
Alc: 12.0%.
Price: About $25.
Rating: 92/100 – Excellent.
8 December 2009
Brokenwood Forest Edge Sauvignon Blanc 2009 An almost clear water white with pale straw tinges. Polished, vibrant, delicate and pure, this stylish Savvy Blanc delivers long and dry on the palate with a lovely overall balance. A wine sourced from NSW cool climate Orange fruit with a finesse to it and a classic set of aromas such as tropical fruit, gooseberry and citrus lemons. It also delivers the fruit with tanginess and zest that adds overall to the wine’s attractiveness.
Food Match: fish
Alc: 13.5%
Price: About $25
Rating: 92/100 - Excellent
6 December 2009
Sirromet Seven Scenes Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Soft and approachable are the keywords here. This violet youthful Queensland Cabernet is so aromatic and luscious as well as vibrantly full of spicy deep fragrant fruit. Fresh and lively fruit at that, not over done, overripe or over with alcohol. Yes there is ample sweet ripe fruit as you would expect but not in an overly solid way. It is the balance of this red that makes it so appealing. Plums, blackcurrants and mulberry yes but also with black olive, menthol, tobacco making it quite a complex array of characters and flavours.
Food Match: bbq pork chops
Drink: Now to 2012.
Alc: 13.2%
Rating: 90/100 – Very Good.
5 December 2009
Pepperjack Stylus 2008
I like the youthful exuberance of this red. Saltram of Barossa makes it and from what I can gather it is an amalgam of red grape varieties blended together. Youthful vibrant bright purple, deep spicy and intense – the blue fruits just ooze through – plums and blueberries abound, ensue and subsume the senses. Smooth pure and long, this hits the right buttons on the seamlessness and well balanced stakes.
Food Match: Roast lamb.
Alc: 12.0%!
Drink: Now to 2013.
Price: $25.
Rating: 91/100 – Excellent.
3 December 2009
Centennial Vineyards Woodside Pinot Noir 2008
This Southern Highlands Bowral produced unfiltered Pinot has really prominent primary fruit characters. Yes the aromatics are deep persistent and obvious on one hand, however it still retains it poise with a mid body delicacy, a long dry finish and deliciousness through an array of intermingled rhubarb, cranberry and dusty cherries.
Winemaker: Tony Cosgriff.
Food Match: grilled lamb steaks marinated in hoi sin.
Alc: 13.5%
Drink: Now
Price: $23
Rating: 88/100 – Very Good.
Kilikanoon Prodigal Grenache 2006
The smell of this wine resonates Grenache – it is so unmistakably Grenache made from low yielding dry grown grapes. It delivers the requisite cool climate subtle pepper, spice, raspberry, cherry savoury dimension and then plums, game and earthiness then followed by a meatiness. Wow what an array of descriptors – all Grenache – all varietal to the core. It drinks deliciously with an edginess that entices and makes it all interesting to savour. A really good food wine as well.
The colour on this is dazzling youthful ink staining blood plum vivid purple – concentrated deep and obvious. Sorry, I spent far too much time gazing this one I think. My nose finally went into the glass, and the spiciness, gloriously so took over. Cool classic blackcurrants flow through, mint menthol eucalyptus Coonawarra so with mulberries and spicy plums all doing their thing. Velvety smooth mid to full bodied and quite stylish in presentation, this is a polished red blend, judiciously oaked and blended (65/35) so that the varietal characters really come through.This is a versatile food wine that delivers the goods at an affordable price.
Winemaker: Peter Douglas
Food Match: Italian sausages
Alc: 14.0%
Drink: Now to 2013
Price: $19
Rating: 88-89/100 – Very Good.
1 December 2009
LeridaEstateLake George Pinot Gris 2009
It’s that time if the year where I am happy to make some Wine of the Year type calls. And I reckon the Pinot Gris of the year type contender is one that well and truly deserves that accolade. Anyway I love this Pinot Gris. Why – well a couple of reasons – one it is varietally perfect – which is damn hard for Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio. Two, it is just so hard to make a really top notch Pinot Gris that sticks true to its roots and has popular appeal and that perfect sense of balance. The opulence of this Gris is just so right. Impressive delicious polished and pure, the aromas and flavours are classically so. Think perfumed musk, lychee, pears, light tropical fruit, hints of spice and a delicious array of overall fruit flavours – delicious, balanced, smooth and soft, beautifully poised and balanced to the very end. Big words, big call but as far as I am concerned – totally justified.
