Wine Talk, August 2005

Pike And Joyce Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2004

Watch this space; these guys are doing good things in the world of wine. Try this very good example of Sauvignon Blanc from the premium region of the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. A gorgeous pale straw in colour, the wine is pure and aromatic with lightly fragrant tropical fruits such as passionfruit and guava also coupled with fresh ripe pear juice. Accompanying this is a good firm level of fruit acidity that provides a lively character to the wine. Lovely invigorating crisp tropical fruit flavours on the palate with an excellent length of finish. Drinking now and with salt and pepper calamari and very well priced at around $18. Go to www.pikeswines.com.au

Tyrrell's Old Winery Cabernet Merlot 2003

Sourced from South Australian and Victorian grape stock and made by this Hunter Valley winery, this wine is very well blended to create a soft and fruit driven style of wine. A lovely deep purple red colour, the wine exudes aromatic berry fruit aromas. There is also a spicy plum jam character to the nose that carries through to the palate in a lovely lingering length of finish which are velvety smooth as well as luscious and lingering. Should cellar 3-4 years plus. Have this with lamb shanks. Priced at around $15, this is bargain drinking.

The Little Penguin Shiraz 2004

Long and well established in the USA, this brand from Australian wine producer Southcorp now comes to Australia. Light plum garnet red coloured, this uncomplicated wine gives out lots of berry fruit characters on its aroma with hints of fruit spice on the palate and smooth fine tannins as well as subtle sweet oak accompanied by a good length of flavour. Easy drinking now with pizza and pasta and priced around the $10 mark.

St Hallett Barossa GST - Grenache Shiraz Touriga 2004

Yummy is a very technical vinously related wine term that perfectly encapsulates the description of this wine. Seriously, it has a lovely deep purple crimson colour that when poured oozes an aromatically luscious and alluring range of aromas out of the glass (Riedel, of course). Red cherries, blackcurrants and blackberry abound. This is a vibrant intense upfront wine with plenty of deep dark berry fruit, sweet oak, fruit spice, chocolate and liquorice characters. Velvety ripe smooth well integrated tannins with a robust backbone and a lingering complex length of finish. Very well blended. Perfect with gourmet sausages and onion gravy. Cellaring 3-5 years plus. An outstanding wine that is drinking beautifully now. RRP is around $24. P.S Touriga is the main grape used in Vintage Port of Portugal.

Pirramimma Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

From the great 2002 vintage, this quality McLaren Vale South Australian producer has come up with this impressive Cabernet. A gorgeous crimson ruby ripe plum, the wine is alluring and classy in its delivery. Quite restrained, the wine is made in a more savoury rather than upfront sweet ripe fruit style that usually emanates from the Mclaren Vale region. It has vibrancy in its aroma which is classic blackcurrant that carries through to the palate with grace. Coupled with fine silky tannins this is a dry style of wine that is ample bodied and mouth filling with an extended length of finish. Cigar box American oak maturation is well integrated with the savoury fruit component. Drink with grilled lamb fillets. Should cellar 5 plus years. Well priced at around $26. Go to www.pirramimma.com.au

Meerea Park "Alexander Munro" Chardonnay 2003

Top notch Hunter Valley winemaker Rhys Eather gives us this lovely upfront fruit driven typically varietal Hunter Chardonnay. The wine which is sourced from low cropped old vines in the Pokolbin area, it is given the Rolls Royce treatment from the beginning with its grapes being handpicked, and then nurtured in French oak for 10 months. Gorgeous ripe white peach as well as classic honeydew melon aromas emanate. Its creamy soft texture on the palate can be attributed to the malo-lactic fermentation. This is a really good easy drinking Chardonnay and one that will match your stronger textured foods such as chicken, turkey and pork. At around $25, it is well priced. Go to www.meereapark.com.au

Lillydale Estate Pinot Noir 2004

This Yarra Valley cool climate Pinot Noir exudes a gorgeous ripe plum colour and has a complex nose that is just alluring. Lots of sappy strawberry and deep red cherry characters. A slight earthiness, some gamey textures and vanillan oak subtly as well as soft acidity. The fruit is persistent, deep and varietal Pinot in nature. Supported by smooth tannins, this is a well integrated wine with an extended fruit driven length. Excellent with roast duck. Drinking now for a few years. Screwcapped. Well priced for quality Pinot at around $30.

Kirrihill Estates Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2002

A lovely deep dark broodingly rich purple plum colour. Quite ripe and rich liquery sweet berry aromas coupled with glorious macerated fruit. Accompanied by a good acid backbone and very good fruit/ oak integration. Very smooth on the palate with plum characters dominating. An excellent length and well balanced. Comes from the excellent 2002 vintage from the undervalued Langhorne Creek region in South Australia. A very good drink now proposition but should hold up to 5-7 years. A bargain at around $22.

Killara Park Estate Merlot 2004

In 1987, the Palazzo family bought Killara Park Estate on the banks of the Yarra River near Seville in Victoria, a large land holding in the Yarra Valley and one steeped with history. In the mid-1990s, the Estate was planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet with later additions more recently of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Pinot Grigio. The winemaking philosophy has been one that is committed to quality and this has been achieved through low cropping levels, trellis design and rigorous watering controls. This all led to the launching of the Killara Park label in 2003, when the Palazzos were confident that they had just about everything right in the vineyard. Things are obviously working well as demonstrated by this 2004 Merlot which is a lovely ripe plum garnet red colour and exhibits spicy fruit berry and plum aromas delivered with a fruit driven soft smooth palate and silky tannins as well as subtle French oak treatment. An easy drinking style which will be well matched with Thai style red duck curry. Priced around $22. Go to www.killaraparkestate.com.au

Lark Hill Chardonnay 2004

A lovely wine from the cool climate Canberra region. A gloriously watery white, pale straw colour exhibiting its purity and origins. A young tight elegant and restrained white wine. Lots of lemon, lime and grapefruit citrus aromas that linger. Strong acidity that supports this pure fruit and makes the palate quite refreshing and exhilarating. The citrusy flavours last extensively on the palate with a good finish. Have this with tortellini carbonara. Reasonably priced at around $28. Go to www.larkhillwine.com.au

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Paul Ippolito writes about wine for publications across Australia, overseas and the Internet. He speaks on radio and writes a free monthly wine newsletter for consumers. Paul can be contacted by email at Paul_Ippolito@hotmail.com where you can also request to be placed on his mailing list for his newsletter. or visit his website at: www.paulippolito.com.au

2007 Reviews

Wine Talk - January 2007
Wine Talk - February 2007
Wine Talk - March 2007
Wine Talk - April 2007

2006 Reviews

Wine Talk - January 06
Wine Talk - February 06
Wine Talk - March 06
Wine Talk - April 06
Wine Talk - May 06
Wine Talk - June 06
Wine Talk - July 06
Wine Talk - August 06
Wine Talk - September 06
Wine Talk - October 06
Wine Talk - November 06
Wine Talk - December 06

2005 Reviews

Wine Talk - March 05
Wine Talk - April 05
Wine Talk - May 05
Wine Talk - June 05
Wine Talk - July 05
Wine Talk - August 05
Wine Talk - September 05
Wine Talk - October 05
Wine Talk - November 05
Wine Talk - December 05

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