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| RATING: 94 |
VALUE:  |
CELLAR: 3 - 4 years (2011 - 2012) |
ALC/VOL: 13.50% |
TASTED: 20 Oct 2008 |
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A couple of decades ago, Australians were slowly becoming acquainted with basket Chianti and
Spumante as inexpensive but lower-quality alternatives to French wines. The range and quality of
Italian wines has since shifted away from bulk wine, yet many remain ignorant of the vast and diverse
Italian vineyards that produce roughly twenty percent of the world's total yearly wine output. Why is this
situation only just beginning to change?
The last three decades of creative ferment and serious commitment to quality have transformed the
Italian wine scene - perhaps no more so than in Tuscany, where the famous serpentine countryside
has made the Sangiovese grape famous. Sun drenched slopes at altitudes between 150m and 500m
above sea level ensure consistent ripening while significant day / night (diurnal) temperature
variations further contribute to the wine's quality. The Tuscan renaissance stems from the 1970's,
when in an attempt to give more body, intensity and longevity to Tuscan red wines, non Italian grape
varieties were introduced into traditional blends and small oak barrels, principally of French origin,
were employed for their maturation (a radical break with the local practice of using large casks of East
European oak).
Apart from marking a movement towards a more 'international' wine style, these innovations were also
the vigneron's way of subverting the Italian appellation system, while proving that world class wines
could be made using 'unofficial' varietals and techniques. The quality guarantee of these producers
now resides in their dedication to excellence, rather than in a somewhat misguided appellation system
which continues to bare the brunt of considerable criticism.
This is a top example of relatively full
bodied Chianti.
Produced from a blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep crimson mauve colour
with crimson mauve hue. Very perfumed nose with aromas of black cherries and blackcurrant,
followed by some spice, tobacco and leather end notes. Medium to full bodied with flavours of dark
cherries, spice, blackcurrant and cedar, followed by some earthy undertones. Fine grained dryish
tannins with long aftertaste of dark cherries, cedar, spice and leather.
Cellar 3-4 years (2012-2013)
13.5% Alc
Other Reviews….
Querciabella occupies a stupendous position in the hills of Greve. With one notable exception, this is
another set of strong releases from an estate that in recent years has made some of the most
beautiful wines in its history.
Gorgeous aromatics waft from the glass as the 2006 Chianti Classico Querciabella (95% Sangiovese
and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) opens to reveal a super-elegant expression of fresh berries, flowers and
tobacco. The plumpness of the fruit makes the wine very appealing today, but there is sufficient tannic
clout to suggest at least medium-term aging potential. In recent years Quericabella’s Chianti Classico
has established a new benchmark for finessed Chianti made in a contemporary style that
nevertheless remains faithful to Sangiovese and the unique qualities of these sites.
Anticipated maturity: 2009-2021.
91 points
Antonio Galloni – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
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Retail
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A$41.68 |
Bottle Price
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A$37.99 |
Dozen Price
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A$444.00 |
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| RATING: 96 |
VALUE: |
CELLAR: 3 - 4 years (2012 - 2013) |
ALC/VOL: 12.50% |
TASTED: 29 Jul 2009 |
The Allinda winery was established in 1990, in the foothills of The Great Dividing Range at the northern end of the Yarra Valley by Al and Linda Fencaros. Al originally graduated from the university of Melbourne as an applied chemist. After a short period in the paint industry, Al decided the odours of paint, whilst often intoxicating, were rarely pleasurable. Naturally, he moved on to wine.
An outstanding Riesling! Bright pale straw colour with pale straw hue. Exotic nose, filled with aromas of ripe mango, ripe mandarine, limes and orange. Superb palate, with flavours of lime, tropical fruit, lemon and spice. Quite mouthfilling. Clean acid finish. Long aftertaste of lime, mandarine and orange.
Cellar 3-4 years (2012-2013)
Alc/Vol: 12.5%
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Retail
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A$17.74 |
Bottle Price
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A$15.99 |
Dozen Price
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A$186.00 |
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| RATING: 97 |
VALUE: |
CELLAR: 3 - 4 years (2012 - 2013) |
ALC/VOL: 14.50% |
TASTED: 28 Jul 2009 |
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The 'Global Financial Crisis' has not stopped people from enjoying wine, but it has made many
people more price-sensitive. Reports from retailers, restauranteurs and industry analysts indicate
that consumers are buying as much wine as they did a year ago, though they're spending much less.
Naturally, the big beneficiaries are those that can offer outstanding wines at bargain prices. Chile
is one of these.
The last five or six vintages have been very good, with many believing that the 2007 vintage reds
will surpass the exceptional 2005 and 2003 vintages in quality. As challenging as this might make
things for Australian and New Zealand producers, it presents an opportunity for Chilean wines to move
up the scale in price and prestige and enter the middle segment of the market, at least so long as
Chile's winemakers can resist the temptation to return to the 'bargain basement'. With land and
labour costs still far below those of 'premier' regions like Bordeaux or the Barossa, Chilean
winemakers have known for some time that if they can focus on quality, they can over-deliver at
almost any price point.
The perception of Chile as a producer solely of inexpensive but pleasant, value for money wines has
been difficult to shrug off. It was abruptly skewed with the release of Eduardo Chadwick's 'Sena' in
1995. Such truly great (and expensive AU$100+) offerings have now placed the country firmly in the
company of the best wines in the world, despite having little track record in comparison to Europe's
greatest estates. Now the vast gap between inexpensive 'quaffers' and 'icon' wines is gradually being
filled, with the emergence of unique, engaging, mid-priced wines from Chile. While these wines may
not be prestigious enough to woo collectors and high rollers, they will certainly appeal to
bargain-hunters. Quite simply, for those desiring wines with more interest and complexity than the
'cheap and cheerfuls', you can now look to Chile for $20 wines that taste like $40.
The grape variety Carmenère [pronounced car-men-YEHR] offers a style of red unlike anything else in
the world. It is the sixth member of the Cabernet Sauvignon family, and one of Chile's signature red
varieties. Once common in Bordeaux, particularly in the Medoc (where it was known as 'Grande
Vidure'), it is now rarely found in France; firstly because most plantings were wiped out in 1867 due
to the vine disease, phylloxera. Secondly, because it is the last of the red grapes to ripen, and in
Bordeaux often does not fully ripen, resulting in green flavours. This combined with its erratic
tendency to develop a condition called 'coulure', (poor fruit set after flowering) and its resultant
low yields have contributed to the demise of Carmenère throughout Europe.
Long thought to be Merlot vines, Chilean cuttings have thrived for 150 years. It was only in 1993
when the renowned viticulturist, Professor Jean-Michel Boursiquit of Ensa de Montpellier, carried out
a detailed scientific survey that winegrowers realized the two similar vines had been growing
together for more than a century. When Chilean winemakers witnessed the colour and taste of the pure
Carmenère, they realized they had been ignoring a huge asset. Along side Cabernet Sauvignon,
Carmenère now represents one of the country's signature varietals.
Last year we tested the waters with a trial shipment from Chadwick's Vina Sena (including Arboleda
and Caliterra vineyards) based in Anconcagua. The shipment was an instant success, and introduced
Australian wine lovers to what we described as Chile's New World vision of pre-phylloxera France.
Tasting Notes: A superb follow up to the 2006. Opaque black crimson colour with deep crimson
mauve hue. Perfumed nose of violets, spice, fresh blackberry and cherry. The palate delivers
excellent weight and mouthfeel. Flavours of dark cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate and spice. Velvet
tannins. Spicy back palate and aftertaste with black pepper emerging. A New World classic!
Cellar 3-4 years (2012-2013)
Alc/Vol: 14.5%
 Click here to learn more about Chilean
Wines.
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Bottle Price
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A$19.99 |
Dozen Price
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A$237.00 |
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| RATING: 95 |
VALUE: |
CELLAR: 2 - 3 years (2011 - 2012) |
ALC/VOL: 14.00% |
TASTED: 18 Mar 2009 |
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Clearly influenced by the wines of legendary Alsation vigneron, Zind Humbrecht, this is a stunning Pinot Gris offering superb weight and mouthfeel. Ashton Hills wine maker, Stephen George comments, 'In warmer years picking Pinot Gris late and leaving a residual grape sugar in the juice has long been a tradition in Alsace. There the style is known as ‘Vendage Tardive’ (late picked) and hence our cheeky use of the word 'Tardy'. The wine was fermented with its natural yeast in seasoned French oak barrels and then shifted to small stainless steel tanks where it fattened up and gained complexity on its lees [dead yeast cells]'.
Winelovers anticipating a repeat of the exceptional 2006 Winchelsea Pinot Gris from Geelong reviewed in August 2006, rest assured that this wine breaks the drought.
Deep pale gold colour with apricot tinge showing classic Zind Humbrecht style skin contact. Pronounced aroma of ripe pear, followed by nuances of lychee and tropical fruit. Excellent palate length and depth of flavour, full bodied, yet avoiding being coarse. Layers of ripe pear, lychee, citrus and tropical fruit. Very spicy back palate. Exceptionally long aftertaste that literally goes on for minutes. This kind of inspired quality only seems to come around every couple of years in Pinot Gris. Get in early!
Cellar 2-3 years (2011-2012)
Alc/Vol: 14%
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Retail
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A$31.93 |
Bottle Price
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A$27.99 |
Dozen Price
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A$330.00 |
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| RATING: 95 |
VALUE: |
CELLAR: 5 - 8 years (2014 - 2017) |
ALC/VOL: 14.50% |
TASTED: 15 Apr 2009 |
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The Balnaves Coonawarra property has been in the same family for 3 generations, but it was not until 1975 that vines were planted, with the first wines produced under the Balnaves label being released in 1990. Today, the vineyard has grown to 58 hectares in size with production normally around the 10,000 case mark. Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the best suited variety to the Terra Rossa soils, accounts for 70% of total vineyard plantings. The rows are planted to a North-South orientation, thus ensuring 22% more sun light which results in perfectly ripe berries without the menacing herbaceous vegetal character that can be found in some cool climate Cabernets.
The 2007 vintage saw unprecedented frosts over Southern Australia with Coonawarra being particularly badly affected – it’s estimated that approximately 70% of the regions vineyards were burnt by the severe frost. Balnaves lost an estimated 90% of their crop, however, fortunately, their two best Cabernet Sauvignon blocks (from which this wine was produced), the Dead Morris and Quarry blocks were under sprinkler frost protection and not adversely affected.
From adversity Balnaves have produced an excellent Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.
This Cabernet has spent 16 months in tight-grain French Oak casks sourced from a variety of coopers.
Opaque, black crimson mauve colour with black crimson hue, Showing excellent cling to the glass. Superb nose - Perfumed with violet top note followed by blackcurrant, dark chocolate and spice. The palate structure is relatively tight knit but fares well for bottle aging. Flavours of cedar, blackcurrant and cigar box over dark chocolate showing excellent varietal character. Fine grained tannins showing excellent balance. Very long aftertaste of cedar, dark chocolate and blackcurrant.
Cellar 5-8 years (2014-2017)
Alc/Vol: 14.5%
Procork
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Retail
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A$40.80 |
Bottle Price
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A$29.99 |
Dozen Price
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A$359.88 |
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