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Negociants Australia Portfolio Tasting 2017
Tasted September 12, 2017 by CamWheeler with 372 views
Flight 1 (88 notes)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Cuis
90 points
Apple, pear and peach with a light herb note. Light sweetness on the palate with good length.
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Rosé de Blancs Brut
90 points
Cherry, raspberry and pear. A little rounded on the palate but has good cut through and some nice texture. Quite likable.
White - Sparkling
2009 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Fleuron
92 points
Toasty, with lemon and spice. Very clean and controlled palate, a nice mix of minerality and a light dosage kick. Really good length.
White - Sparkling
2010 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Special Club Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay
92 points
Swirling floral aromatics, lime, lemon and pear. Good cut throguh on the palate, very clean and pure. Lovely balance.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Pol Roger Champagne Brut Réserve
89 points
Musk, orange and pear. Simple palate but it is well balanced and finishes with good length. Will develop well over a few years as this wine usually does.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Pol Roger Champagne Pure Extra Brut
88 points
Toast and strawberry. Clean palate, the non-dosage nature showing through. Finishes perhaps a little bitey on the finish and clips the length a touch.
White - Sparkling
2008 Pol Roger Champagne Vintage Brut
90 points
Earthy, vanilla, white florals and pear. Bright on the palate with good lifting acidity. Very youthful but has very good balance and length. Potential to improve evident.
White - Sparkling
2008 Pol Roger Champagne Blanc de Blancs
90 points
Apple, peach and soapy florals. Palate has good energy and balance, flowing well into a good length finish. Ticking along nicely.
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Rosé - Sparkling
2009 Pol Roger Champagne Brut Rosé
89 points
Good lift on the nose - ozone, raspberry and chalk. Fine acidity and good length. Not overly deep, but I still like the style.
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White - Sparkling
2004 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill
92 points
Toasty, yeasty, some honey and pear. Rich fruits on the palate, has some good layers to it and very good length. I like it, but I'm not blown away by this release.
White
2016 Pewsey Vale Vineyard Riesling Prima
88 points
24 g/l residual sugar. Apple, pear and floral on the nose. Nice Kabinett style sweetness, but without the depth of top quality wines in that style. Mid length and nice drinking.
White
2017 Pewsey Vale Vineyard Eden Valley Riesling
90 points
Lemon, apple and lime. Palate is jumping with youthful verve and restrained fruit. Good flavour sitting in the background. This should develop well over the medium term.
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White
2012 Pewsey Vale Vineyard Riesling The Contours Museum Reserve
91 points
Lime, apple, a little toast and pine. Palate has very good depth to go along with the zingy acidity. Carries really well with freshness across its length. Will look forward to seeing this over the next 8-10 years.
White
2015 Kanta Riesling Echunga Vineyard
90 points
Lifted florals, pear and spices. Good texture, nice little grip element there. Pushes through well.
White
2009 Kanta Riesling Balhannah Vineyard
90 points
Light toast, lemon peel, guava and passionfruit. Good restraint on the palate, there is some sweet fruit but it retains a dry profile. Like the composure here.
White
2015 Egon Müller Riesling QbA Scharzhof
89 points
Smoke, earth and pear notes. Fruity and lightly sweet with a good tangy acid line. Not super complex but there is a layer of depth to it. Enjoyable drinking.
White
2015 Egon Müller Scharzhofberger Riesling Kabinett
94 points
Floral, lime and orange. Delicate on the palate but a delicious streak of sweetness and tangy acidity. Super balance.
White - Sparkling
2012 Jansz Wine Company Vintage Cuvée
89 points
Apple, lemon and light spices. Palate has moderate depth, but good flavour intensity and balance. Likable wine in an approachable style.
White - Sparkling
2011 Jansz Wine Company Chardonnay Single Vineyard Pipers Brook
90 points
Good perfume, white and yellow florals, a little toasty note. More depth than the 2012 vintage release, with nice body and balance.
Rosé - Sparkling
2013 Jansz Wine Company Premium Vintage Rosé
89 points
Redcurrant and a little note of roses. Palate has a good mix of sweet and sour elements. Mid length.
White - Sparkling
2009 Jansz Wine Company Premium Vintage Late Disgorged Cuvée
90 points
Apple, toast, earth and yeast. Really nicely balanced, everything feels in place, good acidity and length.
White
2016 Heggies Vineyard Riesling
88 points
Soapy lemon and apple. Mild on the palate, with softer styled edges but still managing to carry into a good length finish. Would like to see more energy here, maybe it was just caught at an awkward time.
White
2016 Heggies Vineyard Chardonnay > 500 m
88 points
5% new oak. Chalk, peach, some slate and orage. Nicely approachable, with good mouthfilling fruit and medium length. Well put together components.
White
2015 Heggies Vineyard Chardonnay
90 points
100% barrel fermented. 35% new oak. Nice aromatic power and lift with spice, red apple and toast. Good texture and balance, with the oak feeling well integrated. This is ripe in style but also shows off good balance. Good short-medium term prospect.
White
2016 Brokenwood Sémillon
89 points
Lemon and mint, with some pear as well. Fresh and clean, with lighter fruit character working well with the youthful acidity. Should be nice over the next 10 or so years.
White
2011 Brokenwood Sémillon ILR Reserve
92 points
Spice, lemon, toast and orange on the nose. Good fruit power on the palate, with nice mouthfeel and depth. I like the flavour intensity, while still showing some spark. Very nice stuff.
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Comments (3)
White
2016 Fromm Sauvignon Blanc La Strada
89 points
Herb and mineral. Palate has some texture to it along with plenty of freshness. Really quite liked how this was showing.
White
2016 Fromm Pinot Gris La Strada
87 points
Smoke, orange peel and apricot. Rich in style, maintains a dry feel but the fruit is a little on the tropical side. Mid-length.
White - Off-dry
2016 Fromm Riesling Spätlese
89 points
Orange, pear and passionfruit. Sweet and bright on the palate, with decent drive to it. Medium length.
White
2015 William Fèvre Petit Chablis
85 points
Slate, lemon and light florals. Palate is rounded without the drive/acid to really lift it up. Drinkable but not of interest to me.
White
2015 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis
88 points
Chalk and pear with a touch of herb on the nose and palate. Medium length, with decent balance and structure.
White
2015 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis 1er Cru Montmains
90 points
Vanilla, herb and earth. Palate shows off crunchy acidity, with lean fruit and good length. Good value.
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White
2015 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons
91 points
Smoke, pear, lemon and mandarin on the nose. Good texture and flavour intensity that remains well balanced. I think this should develop well over the medium term.
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White
2015 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume
91 points
More held back than the Vaillon on the nose for nose, with a more mineral/slate/steely profile. The palate shows more intensity, with good power playing well with the acid line. Very nice wine.
White
2012 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
92 points
Smoke, toast, kiwi fruit and pear. Still young but the fruit feels well settled, this is coming together well, with very nice balance and a promise of more with extra time to develop.
Red
1999 Chateau Musar
92 points
Earth and smoke, raspberry, cherry, violets and meaty elements. Complex but also youthful - very savoury/smoky profile. Excellent!
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Red
2000 Chateau Musar
90 points
Roses, formic acid, raspberry. Palate is quite drying, though the red fruit kicks in towards the finish. Medium length. Maybe in a little awkward phase right now.
Red
2016 Paolo Scavino Vino Rosso
86 points
Raspberry and blueberry. Sweet and plush, with a little grip, but ultimately short in length.
Red
2016 Paolo Scavino Barbera d'Alba
88 points
Strawberry, plum and graphite. Fruity mouthfeel but there is some spice and a little bit of lifting acidity. Nice young drinking wine.
Red
2015 Paolo Scavino Langhe Nebbiolo
89 points
From 2 Barolo vineyards. Violets and graphite with cherries. Plenty of tannins, there is sweet red fruit that provides a nice combo. Could use a couple of years age to fully settle.
Red
2013 Paolo Scavino Barolo
90 points
From 7 vineyards in Barolo. Cherry, spice, earth and violets. Tannins take a step up here but there is also plenty of fruit. This is a wine about structure for the time being, give it time and revisit in 4-5 years.
Red
2012 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bricco Ambrogio
93 points
Heady perfume, ash, cherry, tar, floral and spices. Balanced very well with fine tannins and a smoky savoury streak through it. Deep fruit power along with serious structure. Excellent.
Red
2012 Paolo Scavino Barolo Monvigliero
91 points
Classic tar and roses with some slate. Steps up well in tannins and structure to work with the powerful fruit. Still rather tight and coiled for the moment.
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Red
2012 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Fiasc
93 points
Cherry, woody notes, lifted florals and raspberry. Great mix of fruit power and structure on the palate, leads into a very long finish. Great depth already, with more to come.
Red
2014 Domaine les Pallières Gigondas Les Racines
89 points
Strawberry and raspberry with some herbs as well. Mid length palate with a bit of savoury herbal kick working well with the sweeter fruit.
Red
2014 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Télégramme
90 points
Smoke, slate, bacon and some pretty florals. Moderate fruit weight on the palate, this is relatively light on its feet. 5 years would serve it pretty well, but it is nicely approachable now.
Red
2013 Famille Brunier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Piedlong
88 points
Graphite, ash, stems and blackcurrant. Mid weight and length, probably needs a little more depth to provide some excitement.
Red
2014 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau
91 points
Graphite, cherry, violets and chocolate. Good structure here, with the fruit showing as quite fresh and lifted without being overly ripe. Good length and composure. Well positioned as a medium term wine.
White
2016 Dry River Riesling Craighall
91 points
Lime, orange and a mineral streak. Palate has good texture, with light sweetness and good carry. Very nice wine.
White
2015 Dry River Chardonnay
89 points
Lemon, mint, some oats and honey. Palate is quite honeyed already as well, with fruit richness showing through. Drink over the next few years I think.
White
2016 Dry River Gewürztraminer Amaranth
90 points
Musk, rosewater, lime and lemon. Off dry in style, the sugar balancing the slight bitter note nicely. Good acidity, this is a well made wine.
Red
2015 Dry River Pinot Noir
90 points
Flint, blackberry, earthy and graphite notes with richer fruit siting in the background. Good tannin structure helps to control the fruit and give it good focus.
Red
2011 Dry River Pinot Noir
90 points
Spice and cherry with earthy background notes. Sweet red fruit on the palate, it is bold but the spice gives it some interest and style. Medium length. Drinking pretty well now.
Red
2013 Dry River Syrah Lovat Vineyard
85 points
A pepper bomb with some light florals in behind. Astringent on the palate, plenty of pepper as well - might be better with food, but was rough on its own.
Red
2015 Fromm Pinot Noir La Strada
89 points
Raspberry, cherry, dusty notes and a light herb element. Lighter styled fruit on the palate, with good acidity and tannins. There is already enjoyment here.
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Red
2014 Fromm Syrah La Strada
91 points
Peppery spice, violets, blackberry - a nice mix of the different elements. Good mouthfeel, with more black fruits and tannins supporting well. Very solid showing.
Red
2016 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Crimson
89 points
Black cherry, stems and roses. Good fresh fruit weight with some sour elements giving it interest. Medium length.
Red
2015 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir
91 points
Tight nose with some light oak, spice and red fruits. The palate is more open with good fruit weight and length. There is some spice to bring some interest and very good structure. Leave this alone for a while.
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Comments (1)
White
2017 Dandelion Vineyards Riesling Enchanted Garden of the Eden Valley
90 points
Good aromatics - floral, lime, spice and apple. Really nicely balanced, the fruit shows some sweetness but it is cut through well but the acidity. Really good length.
White
2017 Dandelion Vineyards Riesling Wonderland of the Eden Valley
91 points
More steely than the Enchanted Garden - mineral, lemon, pear and slate. Good acidity but it feels well balanced. Likable now, but should lift a notch in a few years.
White
2017 Chaffey Bros Riesling Zeitpunkt
90 points
Floral, lime and chalk. Lithe on the palate with a lick of fruit sweetness through the middle. Dry and clean, good flavour and acidity. Liked this quite a bit.
White
2017 Chaffey Bros Riesling Tripel Punkt
91 points
Straw, lemon and floral notes. Good texture, with some roundness to the fruit - good drive through and it finishes cleanly. Very good and has interest even when young.
White
2016 Chaffey Bros Dufte Punkt
90 points
Floral, lime, lemon and light herbs. Spices on the palate, with the fruit feeling quite lean and driven. Good intensity and length.
Rosé
2017 Chaffey Bros Not Your Grandma's Rose
88 points
Light nose - strawberry and slate. More intense on the palate, has plenty of acidity and some sweet red fruit. Would be a good food Rose.
Red
2017 Chaffey Bros Grenache Pax Aeterna
88 points
Cherry, stems and lemon. Light flavoured, some floral notes and medium length. A different style for Australian Grenache but not quite coming together just yet.
Red
2015 Chaffey Bros Shiraz Elijah
90 points
Mint and musk, tobacco and redcurrant with some ash as well. Spicy fruit on the palate, good savoury notes and some sweet fruit. Should settle and develop well over the next few years.
Red
2016 Two Paddocks Pinot Noir Picnic
87 points
Light ash and cherry. Medium bodied with sweet fruit and medium length. Easy to drink and nicely positioned for the next couple of years.
Red
2016 Two Paddocks Pinot Noir
88 points
25% whole bunch and 25% new oak. Spice, cherry and toast. More body to the fruit versus the Picnic wine, sweet but has the stems as well which works here. Not complex but well put together.
Red
2015 Two Paddocks Pinot Noir The First Paddock
91 points
A step up in class here - smoky, slate, black cherry and raspberry. Good tannins, nice fruit restraint and length. Has some depth to it already but will develop well over the next 4-5 years.
Red
2015 Two Paddocks Pinot Noir Last Chance
90 points
Dark florals, redcurrant and musk. Composed palate, the fruit is sweet but it has style and shows good acidity to carry into a good length finish.
Red
2015 Two Paddocks Pinot Noir The Fusilier Bannockburn Vineyard
91 points
Very aromatic nose - roses, cherry toast, redcurrant and some earthy notes. Palate is quite savoury in style, with good texture and tannins. Very promising.
White
2017 O'Leary Walker Riesling Watervale
90 points
Lime, floral, pear and minerals. Nice detail and delicacy, good fruit purity and carries well. No hurry to drink.
White
2017 O'Leary Walker Riesling Polish Hill River
89 points
More fruit forward than the Watervale. Lime, orange, pear and mandarin. Quite approachable on the palate with the fleshy fruit character. Will still age well as the acidity is there.
White
2017 Jim Barry Riesling Lodge Hill
89 points
Apple, pear and white floral notes. Good fruit density while still having good kick from the acidity. Tangy on the good length finish. Hope to see it again at some point in the future where I'm sure it will have come along well.
White
2017 Jim Barry Assyrtiko
86 points
Light nose without much coming through. Soft style palate, with fairly shallow depth. Pretty easy drinking, but not too much interest at the moment.
Red
2014 Jim Barry Shiraz The McRae Wood
91 points
Mint, blackcurrant, tar, ash and cherry. Bold on the palate, the fruit is fairly dense, though it does have some lift to it and a cooling element from the mint. Nice length.
Red
2013 Jim Barry Shiraz The Armagh
90 points
Blackcurrant, smoke, cherry, spice and toast. Plenty of fruit on the palate, good structure with medium length. Not as dense as some other Armagh I've had but still in that style.
Red - Sparkling
N.V. Primo Estate Joseph Sparkling Red
91 points
Disgorged July 2017. Cherry and chocolate with some tobacco. Palate is sweet and full, with the acidity cutting in well and helping to balance it out. Has some grip to it as well, will be even better with a few years to settle.
Red
2015 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Volte Toscana IGT
85 points
Musk, violet and cherry. Palate is light on depth with light fruit and structure. Not bad, but not too much substance here.
Red
2013 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove
88 points
Blood and iron, earthy, violets and toast. Palate has good grip and would work well with some food, though feels a little astringent without it. Good without hitting great.
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Red
2014 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia
91 points
Oak, spice, redcurrant and roses, with some iron as well. Oak shows on the palate as well, but the fruit quality is evident and provides hope for the future. Very good length, this feels like it just needs more time to integrate.
Red
2012 Yalumba Grenache Tricentenary Vines Tri-Centenary Vineyard
88 points
Plum and blackcurrant. Sweet fruit on the palate, quite a bit of spice but the sweetness remains at the fore. Decent balance overall.
Red
2013 Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon The Menzies
91 points
Blackcurrant, violets lift with some citrus and oak. Good structure on the palate, the fruit feels well restrained and the balance sits well. Very nice wine.
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Red
2013 Yalumba The Signature
90 points
Blackcurrant and blackberry with some spice from the oak. Palate is black fruited as well, with a decent structure showing through. A bit of interest here, but more to come if you give it time.
Red
2013 Yalumba Shiraz The Octavius
90 points
Oak, violets, black cherry and blackberry. Sweetness of the fruit absorbs the oak well on the palate, this has good length and if the oak continues to integrate it should end up very good in time.
Red - Fortified
N.V. Warre Porto Otima 10 Year Old Tawny
88 points
Woody, spice, charred notes and cherry. Sweet on the palate with some spice coming through as well. Nice as a small sample.
Red - Fortified
2000 Warre Porto Vintage
91 points
Cedar, coconut, vanilla, cherry and raisins. Nice and sweet on the palate with the fruit still coming through well. Good length and shows a good amount of potential for future years.
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Red - Fortified
1980 Warre Porto Vintage
92 points
Bottled in 1982. Youthful red colour - tobacco, spice, cedar and cherry. Sweet with the spirit in equal proportions, leaving a feeling of great balance. Long and persistence, this coats the moth and never feels too heavy. Delightful to try.