Dinner with Mervyn and Jerming (Casa Esperanza): It has been 14 years since the last bottle I had. It has certainly developed nicely with an intriguing and quite yummy maturity. Golden hued, almost old Sauternes in colour, it had a very expressive nose of golden honey, some bits of caramel and the ripest apple aromas, with just a little shade of spice at the sides. Very attractive. The palate was really interesting too. A little mute when served too chilled, it unfolded nicely to show a quietly complex mouthful of red apples lined with a really nice spine of spice and mineral and lemon zesty acidity, all trailing away into a long, fresh finish that had that tiniest bit of bitter-sweetness that gave it a really nice length. There was a lovely savoury note that came out with time too - reminded a bit of preserved lime. I do not think it is qualitatively better now than it was in its youth, but it is definitely very different. While maybe just starting to thin out at the edges, this was still really lovely on the night.
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Grapemates Christmas Party 2016: Bottle 2. Less expressive on the nose, there is toast, caramel and lemon. The palate shows better acid balance and the fruit presents itself nicely. Drink now based on these two bottles.
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Grapemates Christmas Party 2016: Bottle 1. Expressive nose with floral, lemon, popcorn and musk. The palate has a slight oxidative twang to it that throws things off slightly. Still decent drinking.
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Everything it says on the tin. Oak, malo, battonage. Pale gold. Slight oxidation on this one as well - which is not a problem with me - apricot rolling gently into tropical fruit especially pineapple. I also get hazelnut and an almost butterscothcy quality - both of which sit under, and integrate with, the aforementioned fruit. In the mouth the lees and oak are more to the fore, a reasonable level of acidic bite helps too offset this and the fruit carries through on the long finish. Very nice.
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Dinner with Lionel and Rachel (Buko Nero, Singapore): This was really excellent - far better than when I tried it at the Cellar Door. I think the winemaker Rodney Kemp was being modest when he told me that it is one level down from the Leeuwin Art Series. When served rather too cold from the ice-bucket, it showed really fresh, Semillion like nuances of grass, hay, lemon, citrus and notes, with the Chard only showing in some bread and yeast scents. Once the food came, and the wine took in some air and warmed up slightly, the grassiness came down to show lovely melon and pear flavours, with just the smallest flirtation with tropical notes and a hint of flint. Positively Burgundian. The palate had a light layering of butter, flavours of green apple, melon and pear with just a touch of lemon. It was not a blockbuster Aussie style, certainly more subtle than the Margaret River types. Sufficiently rich and creamy, yet this wine was really fresh and very refined, it had round, juicy acidity that filled the mouth, coupled with a really nice sense of focus and delineation. A lightly mineral backbone, with flecks of slate showing at the edges of the palate, and a juicy finish that ended with twist of almond skin and mineral added interesting nuances. It went well with a whole variety of appetisers that we had. Maybe just lacking a bit of stuffing to make it a great wine. However, this is drinking beautifully in its youth and should take on greater complexity with a couple of years in bottle. Pity about the super-limited release!
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5/15/2022 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
Dinner with Mervyn and Jerming (Casa Esperanza): It has been 14 years since the last bottle I had. It has certainly developed nicely with an intriguing and quite yummy maturity. Golden hued, almost old Sauternes in colour, it had a very expressive nose of golden honey, some bits of caramel and the ripest apple aromas, with just a little shade of spice at the sides. Very attractive. The palate was really interesting too. A little mute when served too chilled, it unfolded nicely to show a quietly complex mouthful of red apples lined with a really nice spine of spice and mineral and lemon zesty acidity, all trailing away into a long, fresh finish that had that tiniest bit of bitter-sweetness that gave it a really nice length. There was a lovely savoury note that came out with time too - reminded a bit of preserved lime. I do not think it is qualitatively better now than it was in its youth, but it is definitely very different. While maybe just starting to thin out at the edges, this was still really lovely on the night.
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5/14/2022 - JerM wrote:
(Paul's) Bright, cookie, toasted butter, crisp acidity. Woodsy, clean, aged, juicy.
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12/23/2017 - ddwestaway Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rich, golden colour. Honey and raisin aromas. Well balanced, good length for a chardonnay. Drink now.
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12/21/2016 - CamWheeler wrote: 88 Points
Grapemates Christmas Party 2016: Bottle 2. Less expressive on the nose, there is toast, caramel and lemon. The palate shows better acid balance and the fruit presents itself nicely. Drink now based on these two bottles.
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12/21/2016 - CamWheeler wrote: 86 Points
Grapemates Christmas Party 2016: Bottle 1. Expressive nose with floral, lemon, popcorn and musk. The palate has a slight oxidative twang to it that throws things off slightly. Still decent drinking.
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1/20/2013 - Georgewoods wrote: 93 Points
Lovely deep yellow-gold colour. Drinking beautifully now, and will last a good while yet, I bet.
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1/26/2012 - chatters wrote:
Everything it says on the tin. Oak, malo, battonage. Pale gold. Slight oxidation on this one as well - which is not a problem with me - apricot rolling gently into tropical fruit especially pineapple. I also get hazelnut and an almost butterscothcy quality - both of which sit under, and integrate with, the aforementioned fruit. In the mouth the lees and oak are more to the fore, a reasonable level of acidic bite helps too offset this and the fruit carries through on the long finish. Very nice.
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9/17/2008 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
Dinner with Lionel and Rachel (Buko Nero, Singapore): This was really excellent - far better than when I tried it at the Cellar Door. I think the winemaker Rodney Kemp was being modest when he told me that it is one level down from the Leeuwin Art Series. When served rather too cold from the ice-bucket, it showed really fresh, Semillion like nuances of grass, hay, lemon, citrus and notes, with the Chard only showing in some bread and yeast scents. Once the food came, and the wine took in some air and warmed up slightly, the grassiness came down to show lovely melon and pear flavours, with just the smallest flirtation with tropical notes and a hint of flint. Positively Burgundian. The palate had a light layering of butter, flavours of green apple, melon and pear with just a touch of lemon. It was not a blockbuster Aussie style, certainly more subtle than the Margaret River types. Sufficiently rich and creamy, yet this wine was really fresh and very refined, it had round, juicy acidity that filled the mouth, coupled with a really nice sense of focus and delineation. A lightly mineral backbone, with flecks of slate showing at the edges of the palate, and a juicy finish that ended with twist of almond skin and mineral added interesting nuances. It went well with a whole variety of appetisers that we had. Maybe just lacking a bit of stuffing to make it a great wine. However, this is drinking beautifully in its youth and should take on greater complexity with a couple of years in bottle. Pity about the super-limited release!
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3/29/2008 - CamWheeler wrote: 89 Points
Mealy, spice, lemon and oak. Nice mouthfeel - quite rounded but there is good depth to it as well.
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