Canberra districts whistlestop tour
Canberra Districts
Tasted Friday, October 17, 2025 by chatters with 32 views
Introduction
Skipped work early to zip around Canberra districts and check out a couple of wineries courtesy of Jordan
Flight 1 - Helm (8 Notes)
Haven't been here for ages, rather pleasant rieslings, the reds were pretty average though
Flight 2 - McKellar Ridge (3 Notes)
Jordan new the winemaker/owner so we had a quick tiny tasting. I did enjoy the Cabernet.
Closing
What a lovely mini trip
2025 Helm Riesling Classic Dry
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
Slight sulphur, orchard fruit, a little orange and honeysuckle. Medium plus intensity acidity, it's quite linear; front to back of the palate, whisper of almost skinsy textured, citrus, a little hint of lemongrass, touch of apple skin bitterness. Nose offers ore than the palate delivers but it might the heftiness of the sulphur that is shutting things down. Hmm
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2025 Helm Riesling Premium
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
A marginally more concentrated version of the classic dry with a lot more florality (is that even a word?), the fruit feel s more integrated as well, the sulphur less obvious. Medium plus intensity acidity on the palate, a little more textured, initial fruit burst is in the citrusy space, touch of sherbet here as well. Long. Pleasant.
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2024 Helm Riesling Tumbarumba
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Tumbarumba
A little struck flight, touches of lemon, slight mandarin but also a little unripe stone fruit offers nectarine. The acidity is slightly sharper, leaner, tangy, juicy, mouthwatering, more minerality here as well, touch of wet stone texture, fruit present but behind this. Interesting.
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2024 Helm Riesling Central Ranges (Orange)
Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange
Clean, lightweight, citrus driven but orange rather that yellow (appropriate considering the source of the grapes), a little leesy note with time, touch of blossom. Pronounced acidity but not tart per se, again those orange notes, fruit is slightly dilute, tiny little green notes on the finish. Hmm.
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2025 Helm Riesling Rosé
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
Riesling with some Cabernet skin exposure for a little colour and body. On the nose chalky minerality accompanies a little lime, lemon and mandarin, bout of earthy underpin and a sherbet dusting. In the mouth it's juicy, fleshy, fruit as per the nose offering a pleasing mid palate dollop, smidge of textured and a tiny touch of bitterness on the finish keeps things interesting. This would be a great by the glass pour at a wine bar.
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2024 Helm Riesling Half Dry
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
Low intensity aromas show a touch of muted non delineated muted citrus and orchard fruit; simple nose. Medium plus intensity acidity rolls around the palate, textured butt in the middle of the mouth, fruit is a little muted here as well and, though there is some residual sugar, it doesn't really show here - guessing 8-12g maximum though possibly less. A little sulphur on the nose and palate as well. Meh
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2022 Helm Cabernet Sauvignon
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Hilltops
Despite declared 13% a bit of alcohol warmth opens greets the nose accompanied by a little chocolate, oak, slightly jammy blackcurrant with a little pyrazine, pencil shavings and graphite. Slightly tart acidity, touch of bitterness, that chocolate oak note but with a fair lick of alcohol warmth on the finish, Tannins are tacky and slightly green. It's a bit confusing. Nah.
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2008 Helm Cabernet Sauvignon Premium
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
Alcohol prickle again, touches of earthy leathery notes, sweet spice smidge of reductiveness, muted blackcurrant is slightly dried out, a little jammy concentration. Palate a lot better; integrated oak offers some chocolate and accompanies blackcurrant fruits with a little leathery underpin. Alcohol warmth helps carry the finish.
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