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Lunch with the wine ark boys
McLeay Street Bistro, Potts Point
Tasted July 2, 2023 by chatters with 98 views
Introduction
A new rule of he who books chooses the theme has been instigated so Ben went with less than 2yo Australian Chardonnay and over 10yo Australian Pinot. Wayne misread the brief so bought a Kiwi instead
Flight 1 (9 notes)
White
2021 Hoddles Creek Chardonnay
Pretty peachy fruit, a little sweet spice, very slight struck match, simple, pretty nose. Tangy, juicy, quite lean and linear, a touch of unripe peach, citrus with a slight rasp.
White
2022 Patrick Sullivan Chardonnay Bull Swamp
Medium minus intensity of a little melon, stone fruit. In the mouth, though, it's quite citric with quite sharp, though not intense, acidity, a little creamy lees after this and a sense of softness - actually it's more sour than sharp. Short. Hmm
White
2021 Serengale Chardonnay
medium minus intensity of stone fruit, touch of bacon fat. Simple nose. Juicy, very slightly sour fruit, a little butter, touch of texture, medium plus length. I find this quite simple. Hmm
White
2021 Fighting Gully Road Chardonnay Black Label Smith's Vineyard
A little struck match, touch of polished oak, nectarine, slight mandarin, smidge of lemon. Juicy, tangy, textured burr has a slightly woody underpin. Similar flavour profile. Yum
Red
2010 Mac Forbes Pinot Noir Woori Yallock
Pretty cherry, a little sweet spice, slightly earthy, tiny touch of mushroom but this hasn't moved much under screwcap on the nose. In the mouth it's juicy, savoury, similar fruit profile, a touch of talc textured burr, earth and forest floor on the palate. This is pretty good.
Red
2003 Neudorf Pinot Noir Moutere
Quite savoury, meaty notes after agitation sour black fruit splash on the nose, tiny smidge of wood glue. Medium plus intensity acidity, quite textured grip is a little drying fruit slightly faded and dried out here unfortunately, a little cream and raspberry joins on the finish. Hmm
Red
2006 Curly Flat Pinot Noir
Cream, butter, a touch of sweet spice, with time a little wood glue, savoury underpin, not much fruit, touch of blood and a very slight herbaceous underpin. Feels slightly adjusted acidity here, lends a certain crispness to the palate, plenty of textured grip is slightly coarse, it's a bit tired and flat for me. Meh
Red
2008 Curly Flat Pinot Noir
Slight red cherry, berry, sweet spice, touch of jubey fruit lozenge here as well. With time a touch of mushroom and forest floor. Sourly juicy (like the 2006 I wonder if this has been adjusted from an acid perspective) and, like the 2006, grainy drying, slightly coarse tannins, fruit is slightly muted muted, better than the 2006 but still slightly out of whack. Hmm
Red
2002 Brokenwood Pinot Noir Indigo Vineyard
Quite ripe, concentrated but also with a touch of oxidation, dark hued fruits. Equally concentrated on the palate, almost to the point of savouriness, the alcohol warmth is present but well managed, touch of woody texture. It's a bit on the large side for me and I find this surprisingly simple considering it's age. Hmm
Closing
This was an interesting & slightly disappointing lunch, I must confess I wanted more from the Chardonnay's (which underperformed for me with the exception of the Fighting Gully). The Pinot's, again with an exception - the Mac Forbes - all felt a little tired as well.