Posted: April 4, 2017
Inky hued, very fresh and lively red with impressive density of spicy, plummy flavours, firm tannins, and good ripeness and length. Powerful, tightly structured wine, worth cellaring.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This ‘mystery blend’ is powerful, dark and youthful, with a strong, smoky oak influence and rich, sweet-fruit flavours that linger well. Savoury, supple and harmonious.
Comments Off on Crossroads Talisman Syrah 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Dark, youthful red with concentrated, strongly varietal, ripe plum/spice flavours, seasoned with quality oak, and firm, fine-grained tannins. ‘Brooding,’ noted one panellist. Open 2017+.
Comments Off on Vidal Legacy Series Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Dark, youthful red with good weight and concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours. Dense, spicy and long, but needs time; best drinking 2017+.
Comments Off on Sacred Hill Deerstalkers Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Dark, highly concentrated red with blackcurrant, plum and black pepper flavours, very pure and youthful, finely integrated oak, and supple tannins. Opulent and ageworthy. One judge scored it five stars.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Dark, powerful, tightly structured red with concentrated plum and spice flavours, showing good varietal character, hints of licorice and black pepper, and a floral bouquet. Still very youthful.
Comments Off on Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Bold, rich red, dark and strongly varietal, with dense blackcurrant, plum and black pepper flavours. Powerful, youthful wine, with ripe tannins and impressive concentration and length.
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Fresh and lively, with ripe plum, spice, herb and nut flavours, showing some complexity, and a fairly firm finish.
Comments Off on Osawa Prestige Collection Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This dark Gimblett Gravels blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and malbec is concentrated, with vibrant blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, ripe, nutty and savoury. (One judge scored it five stars.)
Comments Off on Babich The Patriarch Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Smooth and mouthfilling, with plum, berry, spice and nut flavours, showing good complexity and richness.
Comments Off on Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Dark Gimblett Gravels blend of cabernet sauvignon (50%), merlot and cabernet franc, barrel-aged for 18 months. Mouthfilling, it has blackcurrant and spice flavours, with hints of herbs and coffee, fine-grained tannins, and good complexity and richness.
Comments Off on Sacred Hill Helmsman Cabernet Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
This powerful, densely coloured red is concentrated and tightly structured, with beautifully rich blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours. Best drinking 2018+. (One judge scored it five stars.)
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Reserve Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Bold, bright, youthful colour. Rich, ripe plum/spice flavours, with fine-grained tannins. Powerful, dense red, sweet-fruited, soft and long. Rated highly by all judges.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Single Vineyard Braided Gravels Organic Merlot 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Dark, youthful blend with a slightly minty fragrance. Fresh, dense plum, spice and nutty oak flavours, showing excellent ripeness, concentration and complexity, and a long, softly textured finish.
Comments Off on Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Tightly structured, still-youthful wine with mouthfilling body and very good depth of citrusy flavours, fresh and crisp.
Comments Off on Kidnapper Cliffs Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Strong, smoky, ‘struck match’ aromas. Fresh, grapefruit-like flavours, with well-integrated nutty oak and good complexity. Tight, focused and lingering.
Comments Off on Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2014 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Fragrant, youthful wine with peachy, citrusy, slightly smoky and biscuity flavours, a strong seasoning of oak and excellent complexity. Well worth cellaring.
Comments Off on Sacred Hill Riflemans Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2014 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Maturing very gracefully. Fairly youthful, light yellow colour, mouthfilling body and rich, citrusy, complex flavours. Fine, elegant and sweet-fruited, with an attractive maturity. Probably at its peak.
Comments Off on Vidal Legacy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2010 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Earthy menthol bouquet with more of the menthol blending with the sweet fruit flavours.
Comments Off on Penley Estate Tolmer Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
A cassis like bouquet with a hint of mint and more of the mint exhibited on the palate. Good plumy fruit length and massive tannins.
Comments Off on Penley Estate Chertsey Coonawarra Cabernet Blend 2012 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
A well structured wine with good weight of sweet blackberry-like fruit nicely balanced by the creamy vanilla oak and chalky tannins.
Comments Off on Penley Estate Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Still an amazingly fresh wine with powerful dark fruit aromas – no aged characters showing yet. Palate is an elegant seamless balance of blackcurrants, creamy oak and soft tannins.
Comments Off on Patrick of Coonawarra Limited Release Home Block Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Very toasty yeasty complexity of aromas and some hugely powerful flavours and yet it exhibits great elegance and restraint. “It’s very femminine”, thought one judge.
Comments Off on Besserat de Bellefon Millesime Champagne France Brut 2006 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Showing good yeast characters and a degree of toasty age sitting on top of ripe primary fruit characters.
Comments Off on Deutz Classic Champagne France Brut NV / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Good toasty yeasty development seamlessly integrated with rich honeydew melon fruit and refreshing line of citrussy acidity.
Comments Off on Besserat de Bellefon Cuvee de Moines Brut Champagne France Chardonnay Pinot Noir Pinot Meunier NV / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Complex developed style with plenty of character; a perfect marriage between fresh lively citrus fruit and developed yeast flavours underscored by salivating acidity.
Comments Off on Besserat de Bellefon Cuvee de Moines Extra Brut Champagne France Chardonnay Pinot Noir Pinot Meunier NV / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Quite sweet upfront – tasting of melons and peaches layered with very good yeast autolysis and crisp acidity.
Comments Off on Besserat de Bellefon Champagne France Blanc de Blancs NV / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Floral rose-like bouquet and quite a long citrussy palate with a good acid backbone.
Comments Off on Bessarat de Bellefon Cuvee de Moines Champagne France Brut Rosé NV / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
“Overwhelmingly intellectual” was how one judge described this wine. Smells of fig jam and berries with complex layers of flavour.
Comments Off on Umamu Estate Margaret River Sparkling Chardonnay 2005 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Quite strong primary fruit obvious here. Nose opens up with yeasty/toasty aromas and it is soft and creamy in the mouth. 3-5
Comments Off on Heemskerk Coal River Valley Tasmania Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2010 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Fruity and floral on the nose and a very youthful palate with more of those floral characters evident. Reasonable yeastiness.
Comments Off on Pol Roger Champagne France Brut NV / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Another very elegant yet rich style showing excellent complexity on the nose with layers of minerally citrussy aromas and lovely flavours of citrus and brioche.
Comments Off on Drappier Cuvee Grande Sendree Champagne France Brut 2006 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Impossibly youthful for a 10 year-old! Smells of whipped toffee with hints of the barnyard. Upfront sweetness on the palate that’s nicely integrated with the toasty age.
Comments Off on Chandon Prestige Yarra Valley Cuvée 2005 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Quite an aged style – rich and toasty with honeyed notes and some powerful acidity.
Comments Off on Clover Hill Blanc de Blancs Pipers River Tasmania Chardonnay 2010 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
A very youthful wine with minerally chardonnay fruit fragrances and powerful floral/peach flavours layered with lovely yeasty development. “Still a pup”, noted one judge.
Comments Off on Perrier- Jouet Grand Brut Champagne France Chardonnay Pinot Noir Pinot Meunier NV / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
A rich, complex and inviting champagne with a broad developed base showing green fruit overtones and beautiful use of autolysis.
Comments Off on G.H Mumm Vintage Champagne France Pinot Noir Chardonnay 2006 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
A delightfully elegant strawberry and cream style with light toasty/yeasty presence and a hint of sweetness.
Comments Off on G.H Mumm Champagne France Rosé Champagne NV / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
A light refreshing style; some spiciness on the nose and bright citrus flavours with crisp acidity and good yeastiness.
Comments Off on G.H Mumm Cordon Rouge Champagne France Pinot Noir Chardonnay Pinot Meunier NV / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
An elegant wine with a lovely nose that smells of blackcurrant and milk chocolate. Excellent balance between the varietal fruit and tannins on the palate. A touch savory.
Comments Off on Lindeman’s St George Vineyard Coonawarra Trio Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Very deep purple/red hues with a spicy berry nose showing earthy elements. Fresh and vibrant palate with very spicy red fruit flavours and moderate level of tannins.
Comments Off on Lindeman’s Pyrus Coonawarra Trio Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Malbec 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Berry and cream like aromas with earthy spicy touches. Well structured palate with good length of spicy fruit flavours
Comments Off on Lindeman’s Limestone Ridge Vineyard Coonawarra Trio Coonawarra Shiraz Cabernet 2013 / 0 View / April 3, 2017
Posted: April 3, 2017
Very mature golden wine showing beautiful integration between the fruit, the rich yeasty toastiness, the honeyed age and the lovely soft acidity. Offers a lush creamy mouthful of flavours.
Comments Off on Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne Brut NV / 0 View / April 3, 2017