A few Australian wines tasted recently:
De Bortoli Wild Vine White Zin 2002 $8.
Light salmon hue. Raisin nose. Fruity light style with a slightly sweet, grapey finish.
Beelgara Estate Pinot Grigio 2004 $12.
Screwcap. South eastern Australia. Light straw. Sweetish pear-like aromas. Pleasing ripeness on the palate and an off-dry finish.
Henschke Innes Pinot Gris 2003 $22.
Screwcap. Adelaide Hills. Very pale yellow, edge of green. Floral perfume with a hint of citrus. Elegant dry style packed with lime-like flavour. Clean mid-acidity to finish. Lovely aperitif.
Gracedale Hills Hill Paddock Chardonnay 2003 $28.
Yarra Valley. First vintage from a family operation in the Valley, 100 cases. Youthful straw. Fragrant flowers, stone fruits and restrained oak on the nose. Hint of just-ripe apricots on the palate with good intensity of flavour and pleasing persistence.
Hanging Rock Macedon Cuvée X $45.
Multi-vintage, 60% pinot noir, 40% chardonnay. Pale gold, lively smallish bead. Delicate yeast lees nose. Full-on bubbly, less fruit driven than many Australian styles with generous secondary wine characters. Very dry, firm finish. Suit main course food.
Morris Rutherglen Durif 2001 $20.
Dark red. Lifted blackberries, oaky vanilla and maybe anise on the nose. Huge, chewy rich style – just a few more grapes in this and they'd have had to put it in a magnum. Powerful, long aftertaste.
Majella Cabernet 2002 $30.
Coonawarra. Deep ruby to purple. Classic Coonawarra 'dusty' blackcurrant nose. Mouthfilling cooler climate berries, understated oak structure and fine, lasting tannins. May be a tad young just yet but will cellar nicely for a few years.
Grant Burge Balthasar Shiraz Viognier 2002 $32.
Barossa Valley. Deep red, violet edge. Ripe berries and subdued oak nose. Rich full palate with fruit sweetness, soft tannins.
Ross Estate North Ridge Shiraz 2002 $18.
Barossa Valley. Vibrant crimson. Ripe plummy nose. Spicy and warm (14% alcohol) showing more plumminess on the palate and medium but lasting tannic astringency.
BlackJack Block 6 Shiraz 2002 $33.
Bendigo. Served blind at the Tuesday lunch – comments included "Red to black, opaque." "Really enjoying this one, spice, berries, pepper, very young." "Cool climate?" "Raw, great big wine, long way to go."
Cheers! Martin