Australia
Tasted Saturday, March 25, 2017 - Monday, April 10, 2017 by pavel_p with 493 views
Spent two weeks with family in Australia and visited a fair number of wineries in Western Australia and wines. Overall the whites seem a bit more consistent. While there is a number of good reds, the truly great reds are very few.
Had an opportunity to try quite a number of Australian whites (and a few NZ too) and reds over lunches and dinners. Plenty of nice whites as mentioned initially, out of the reds I only really liked Juniper which produces a Cab Sauv of impressive quality at an excellent price.
A grand estate with an impressive restaurant and plenty of nice wines, the Chardonnay Art Series is however still the only truly great wine.
A lovely tour of the estate with plenty of barrel samples and even unfermented grape juice. The best winery tour we had in Margaret River, and a great Cabernet Suavignon of course.
This is the benchmark Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River in my eyes. While both the 13 and 14 Cab Sauv at the estate were excellent, it was the more mature 2011 from the local bottle shop which really blew me away. World class Cabernet Sauvignon.
Big name in WA, beautiful estate and the best restaurant we have been to in WA. Merits one if not two Michelin stars, and a must go in the region. Very good the wines as well but overpriced, especially their Vanya, compared to what Moss Wood and Woodlands have to offer.
2014 Dog Point Vineyard Chardonnay 92 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
(3/27/2017)
Pale yellow. Has this strong herbal note reminding me of the Greywacke. Have not seen this outside NZ Chardonnay. Anyway this is crisp while being both complex and with decent length. Excellent Chardonnay.
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2016 Henschke Riesling Julius 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
(3/27/2017)
Bought a bottle in Sydney and drank over two days. Typical Riesling on nose and attack, mid-palate with plenty of citrus. Fresh and pleasant. Do not have enough experience with (new world) whites to have a view on the ability for this wine to age and improve (Henschke calls this an exceptional Julius vintage with 25 years ahead of it), it certainly seems open and not tight like some big old world whites at such a young age. Did not improve over night in fridge. 90+
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2011 Devil's Lair Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
(3/30/2017)
Bought a bottle in Sydney and pnp (screwcap though). A nice transparent garnet in the glass. On the nose plenty of wood spices, medium body with too much wood that the red and dark fruit will not absorb, fine to medium tannins, slightly drying. Pretty finish. I guess this is 100% new oak, some restraint here would have greatly benefited this wine. 87-88
PS: Gains considerably in weight and tannins soften with about 1h of air, medium to full body with plenty of (overripe) dark fruit, still the oak remains very present and the wine is lacking structure. 88
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2014 Parker Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Terra Rossa 91 Points
Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
(4/4/2017)
Bought a bottle in WA and drank over dinner. Dark garnet. Soft and round with plenty of ripe dark fruit, some eucalyptus and fully integrated tannins. Integrated oak. Unlike most of the WA Cabs, the SA Cabs have no problem handling the new oak given their richer and bigger fruit
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2015 Pierro Semillon Sauvignon Blanc L.T.C. 90 Points
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
(4/4/2017)
At restaurant in Perth. I liked this and confirms my preference for blended Sauv Blanc as this comes across less herbal and grassy and more balanced while maintaining the freshness.
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2012 Juniper Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
(4/5/2017)
Drank over dinner in Margaret River. This is the Cab I like most on this trip so far. Translucent garnet. Good freshness and also good balance on a medium body with dark fruit, some eucalyptus and green, tobacco and only a touch of oak. Fine tannins. Should improve over the next 5-10 years, not sure this is a 20-30 year wine though. Very well done and prefer it at this point in time over the 2012 Leeuwin and 2013 Moss Wood Cab, and at $55 better value too. 92-93
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2013 Voyager Estate Chardonnay 92 Points
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
(4/5/2017)
Drank over dinner in Margaret River. Pale yellow. White fruit, fine and non obtrusive oak and wood spices, citrus and flowers. Fine texture and good length. An excellent Chardonnay.
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2012 Silverstream Riesling 92 Points
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Denmark
(4/8/2017)
Drank over lunch in Perth. The best Riesling on this trip. Pale yellow, pretty petrol nose, good aromatic concentration on the palate, nice balance of acidity and sweetness (this is dry). Well done!
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