I have decided that I will use my monthly tasting notes post to provide a short review of each of the wines I have sampled in the month, and expand a bit more on the higher rated wines. Of this months top 4, 3 of the wines were consumed at my belated birthday celebrations with my family.
Thomas Wines DJV Shiraz 2010 - 95 ($35 - online)
Beautiful aromas of berry, spice and meat. Before tasting, it is evident that this wine will drink beautifully young. The colour is crimson-red with fantastic clarity. The palate is elegant and smooth, no overt influence of tannin or oak, both integrated seamlessly. The wine is lifted by a 9% semillon verjuice component, which gives it a bright, acidic spine that allows the fruit to shine through. Red berries a-plenty. Perfect example of the progressive nature of modern Hunter shiraz.
Golden colour suggests that the development is going according to schedule. Not a deep yellow-gold, but a lovely tint foretelling the honeyed flavours to come. The nose too is a great waft of honey, buttered toast, still showing a small degree of citrus-fruit indicating that the wine may have a couple of years left in it. A pretty good place for me to be honest, I like when aged semillon still has some lemon and acidicity left in it. The palate was slightly more subtle than I expected, not the intensity of the 1998 or 1999, but still showing the complexity that great Vat 1's can.
Grosset Watervale Off-Dry Riesling 2011 - 94 ($33 - Dan Murphy's)
Masterfully balanced off-dry riesling. The sweetness truly compliments the acidity and powerful flavours. Luscious lime and lemon, with only the suggestion of residual sugar acting as the perfect counter-balance. The most palatable and moreish off-dry riesling I have ever had the pleasure of tasting.
Vintage Cellars Chalkboard Hunter Semillon 2012 - 92 ($10 - Vintage Cellars)
Bought mostly out of curiosity following it's astonishing success at the 2012 Hunter Valley Wine Show. Made by Tyrrell's, and taking out the trophies for best current vintage semillon and best dry white. A tartness that so wonderfully underlines the citrus notes that dominate the nose and palate. Length is solid, and a true bargain at under $10 in a dozen buy. No great ageability, but at this price, well worth getting a case or two and quaffing them over the year.
Tempus Two Botrytis Semillon 2008 - 91 - ($15 - Widely available)
Rich and intense, light golden coloured with apricots and marmalade. A solid acidic spine, good length. Tempus Two really know their stuff with this variety.
Gundog Estate NV Rutherglen Muscat - 90 ($30 - Cellar door)
Well balanced, well rounded. Classic Christmas cake and intense sultana palate. The alcohol is modest, and makes for a wonderfully drinkable fortified.
Four Winds Dessert Riesling NV - 90 ($20 - Cellar door)
Lovely rich fruit flavours, acid well balanced. Great value. This and the riesling are my picks of the Four Winds range.
Tyrrell's Lost Block Sauvignon Blanc 2012 - 89 ($15 - Widely available)
Not the biggest Sauvignon Blanc fan, bought for my wife. The Tyrrell's Lost Block consistently puts forward a leaner, well balanced style that straddles the extremes that turn me off the variety. Not too green and grassy, not too forward and fruity.
Four Winds Canberra District Sangiovese - 88 ($20 - Cellar door)
A light and bright wine. Not overly generous with it's fruit flavours. Perfectly pleasant, but lean and not particularly exceptional. The wine settled after a few hours open, and the fruit came through a little more.
Di Giorgio Lucindale Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - 87 ($20 - Selectors)
A flavoursome Cabernet, that struggled a little bit with balance. The oak was toasty, but too prominent, overpowering the fruit. Unfortunate, as it could have been a very good wine.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2010 - 87 ($15 - Widely available)
A consistent value option, not overly expressive or complex, just solid fruit flavours, well integrated oak. A little short on the finish.
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