Wine Talk, July 2005

Arrowfield Simon Pemberton Pearce Simons Riesling 2004

This Hunter Valley winery has sourced some excellent Western Australian Great Southern region grape stock for this wine. A lovely water white pale straw colour. Aromatically vibrant with a young fresh spicy nose of fruit driven potency. Quite minerally and restrained initially, with lots of apple and tropical fruit salad aromas. Fresh young crisp acidity supports these primary fruit characters. A lean bodied wine with a medium length. Should cellar 5 years plus. Have with some sashimi or oysters natural. At around $15, excellent value.

Ladbroke Grove Coonawarra Shiraz Viognier 2002

A gorgeous crimson violet ripe plum colour. Alluringly elegant. Persistent and potent upfront fruit characters. Think rich ripe blackberries and succulent plums from the Shiraz and spicy apricot from the Viognier. Supported by smooth silky well rounded oak tannins making the wine approachable. Liquorice and spice abound on the palate. Medium to ample bodied with a long finish and refined complexity. Well integrated oak and very good blending here. Perfect with a lamb curry. Drinking now and should improve for at least up to 3-4 years plus. A smooth and very easy drinking red wine. At around $25 it is well priced. Go to www.ladbrokegrove.com.au

Lake Breeze Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Lovely crimsony ripe plum colour. Vibrant and intensely fruit spice driven nose with a good dose of alcohol. Quite upfront in its fruit component but yet retains an elegance. The fruit flavours are persistent, deep and concentrated. Aromas are all blackberry, blackcurrant, plum and mint. This is varietal cabernet sauvignon at its best, complete with some maturity. The fruit and oak tannins are fine, silky, well integrated and produce a well rounded wine. Ample bodied with a lovely mouth feel, resulting in a robust character. Some lovely cedary, tobacco and cigar box characters with some smoky hints on the back palate. Have this with a nice piece of aged rump steak and some crushed potatoes. Should cellar 5 plus years. Overall a smooth, well developed and easy drinking wine. Well priced at around $20. Go to www.lakebreeze.com.au

Mount Majura Cabernet Franc Merlot 2001

Canberra winemaker Dr Frank Van De Loo has crafted this gorgeous ruby brick red coloured wine. Its fruit characters are all alluring and luscious. Vibrancy and intensity emanates from the mature nose. Spicy berry fruit driven with lots of cherry, blackcurrant and mulberries. Fine soft silky tannins which are well rounded and approachable support the fruit component. Medium bodied with a mid length of finish. Loads of cherry on the palate. Good balance of different grape blend components with a touch of cedar oak maturation. Perfect with gourmet pizza. Drink now for up to 2-3 years. At around $17, well priced. Go to www.mountmajura.com.au

Tintagel Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2004

A lovely quite complex wine from a winery located in the Margaret River region of Western Australia. Lovely lemony straw yellow in colour. An upfront powerful nose ensues with luscious vibrant intense aromas emanating. A plethora of tropical fruit, gooseberry, cut grass and light capsicum as well as asparagus components abound. Pure distinct fruit of good weight and mouth feel on the palate. Young fresh and lively yet soft acidity accompanies the fruit. Very well blended. Medium bodied dry style with an extended length. Have this with some tender braised squid or tempura prawns. Drink now and up to 2 years. Excellent value for money at around the mid $20's. Go to www.tintagelwines.com.au

Zilzie Unwooded Chardonnay 2004

This North Western Victorian winery has produced a lovely pale straw coloured wine with a pleasant nose. Typically fruit driven with loads of fresh pineapple, white peach, honey dew melon and tropical fruit characters. No oak. Lots of soft acid flavours. Lean bodied and made in the dry style with a medium length. A very good quaffer that drinks well now and would be a perfect accompaniment with some Sydney Rock oysters or a good Italian antipasto. Well priced at around $12.

Westend Estate Francesco Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2002

A gorgeous garnet red salmon colour. Aromas that are both fruit driven but also reflect the ageing of the wine through fruit such as cranberry and plum but also bouquet elements such as truffle, game, cigar box and earthiness. Mature, complex, alluring and vibrant all perfectly describe this wine. Spicy and lightly smoky oak treatment has integrated well with the persistent distinct fruit and the silky approachable tannins. Lean bodied with a long length and aftertaste. Quite well balanced. Have this with fillet of kangaroo, medium to well done. Drink now for up to 1-2 years. An excellent wine. Widely available at around $25.

Cullen Margaret River Chardonnay 2003

This wine is outstanding. From each of the moments you nose then taste it, it delivers unrivalled elegance, class, complexity and excellence in winemaking. A brilliant pale straw lemon in colour, it projects subtle delicate yet persistent and pure fruit through its aroma. You get lovely crisp apple, fig, white peach and tropical fruit. The palate delivers in a soft creamy finish with cashew and fig as well as subtle oak. Young soft acidity with a good firm backbone supports the fruit. A medium bodied tight elegant style with a long complex finish of flavours. Very well balanced with subtle French oak influence. Serve with Tasmanian scallops. Should cellar at least 5-7 years. A wine of this calibre is well priced at around $55. Go to www.cullenwines.com.au

Tyrrells Old Winery Semillon 2004

Top notch Hunter Valley Semillon. A brilliant pale straw young gun. Vibrant and attractive in its aromas of fresh limes, ripe lemons and crisp green apple. Quite flinty and steely characters that are showing off the wines youth well. Accompanied by young fresh and lively acidity that constitutes a firm backbone to the wine promising in turn a prosperous future when considered and integrated with the fruit characters. Almost bone dry, this lean bodied wine has quite an extended length. Have this with marinated king prawn salad. Should cellar 5-7 years. At about $14, very well priced.

Pirramimma Petit Verdot Reserve 2002

Coming from a vintage of exceptional quality, this McLaren Vale winemaker (Geoff Johnston) has made another one of those reds that leaves you shaking your head in disbelief, saying how do they do it for the price? Petit Verdot is a robust feisty spicy fruit driven varietal which is not for the faint hearted. The Reserve range sources the very best grapes available and this wine shows them off very well. A gorgeous deep dark mix of crimson, violet and ripe plum colours. Powerful big and assertive on the nose. A strong concentrated potent array of fruit characters ensue. Think blackberry and intense blackcurrants. Supported by fine persistent and gripping oak tannins, this is a full bodied red with a lingering mouth feel of explosive berry fruit flavours. Should cellar at least 5-7 years and will continue to improve and develop good secondary characters over this time. At around $26, outstanding value. Had this with a char grilled scotch fillet. Go to www.pirramimma.com.au

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