Taste of Tasmania 2007

Random tastings from the waterfront shed.

• 2003 Craigow Riesling

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  {screwcap, A$23} Clean lemon and slate aromas. A light-bodied ripe fresh wine, with a faintly sweet, yet still short finish. Acceptable but underwhelming.

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• 2004 Bream Creek Schönburger Late Harvest

  Australia, Tasmania, Southern Tasmania

  {375ml, Diam, 10.4%, $A23} Clear lemon, with plenty of legs. Slightly developing aromas of mixed citrus, lychees, a dash of passionfuit and a distinct steeliness precedes a palate of greater richness than the nose suggests. Among the clean but sweet citric fruit lies a beguiling tanginess and a lime twist on the finish. With a decently long finish despite only just enough acidity to hold it together, medium bodied weight, and medium sweetness without ever being cloying, it’s a fascinating example of a rare grape put to great use. Bought some of this, hence the more detailed note.

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• 2006 Bream Creek Schönburger

  Australia, Tasmania, Southern Tasmania

  The dry version of the 2006 Schönburger {screwcap, $21} is rather gewürztraminer-like in its aromatic profile, but a little less oily and more steely on the palate.

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• 2005 Bream Creek Pinot Noir Reserve

  Australia, Tasmania, Southern Tasmania

  I was also impressed with the 2005 Reserve Pinot Noir {Diam, $34}, which showed ripe spicy pinot fruitiness, with soft tannins and a balanced lingering finish.

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• 2007 Spring Vale Gewürztraminer

  Australia, Tasmania, Freycinet Coast

  {screwcap, $28} A delicate wine. Varietally correct aromas. Soft acid, but avoids oiliness. Weight of fruit falls on front palate. Short finish fades fast. Acceptable but overpriced.

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• 2006 Spring Vale Chardonnay

  Australia, Tasmania, Freycinet Coast

  {screwcap, A$30} Peach and stone fruits. Finely-featured wine. Nice balance of oak and quality fruit. Some midpalate here, but again the finish is a bit of a let-down.

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• 2006 Spring Vale Pinot Noir

  Australia, Tasmania, Freycinet Coast

  {screwcap, A$40} Quite a soft, plump wine. Ripe fruits with minimal stalkiness. Spiky acid and soft tannins. Satisfying enough, but lacks length depth and complexity to be of real interest.

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• 2006 Holm Oak Riesling

  Australia, Tasmania, Tamar Valley

  Another wine which sticks in my mind from the Taste was a 2006 Holm Oak Riesling for it’s searing acidity and citric profile. I’ve been impressed with their wines in the past, and hope a recent change of ownership won’t be for the worse…

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• 2005 Frogmore Creek Riesling

  Australia, Tasmania

  Citric and lime fruits on the nose. More of a mainland style than the usual Tasmanian floral character. Zippy acid, with waves of sharp fruit on the palate, and yet still somewhat austere and forbidding. Time is its friend I think.

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• 2006 Frogmore Creek Riesling FGR

  Australia, Tasmania

  FGR = 40 grams of residual sugar. There are now a number of Australians making Rieslings with an eye on German styles, although none of them is likely to admit that the finished results are nearere to a typical New Zealand style. This has vague aromas of white flowers, with a palate of noticeably sweet fruit, but without the structural integrity to keep it really interesting. A bit of a lollywater effort in other words.

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• 2007 Frogmore Creek Riesling Iced

  Australia, Tasmania

  Youthful nose of indeterminate white fruits. A richly sweet enough palate, but not enough acidity to keep this interesting or from cloying. Mediocre.

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