Wine Talk, September 2005

Beechtree Arneis 2004

Arneis is a white grape varietal that predominates from North West Italy and one that has adapted well in Australia both to the growing conditions and has also has been embraced by the Australian wine consumer for its drinkability and for providing an alternative for those white wine viniste who want to embrace more than just Chardonnay. Sourced from Waikerie in South Australia, this is a lusciously aromatically wine reminiscent of being transposed into an orchard of ripe resplendent pears. Floral, fresh and upfront, an inviting potent fruit driven style. A touch of honey on the nose with a lovely mouth feel of tropical fruit and gushy pears with hints of lychee and spicy musk. Around $16. www.beechtreewines.com.au

Broke Estate On Monkey Place Creek Semillon 2001

A quality Hunter Valley outfit that has produced a very good Semillon with the amount of bottle age that this varietal requires to show its true form. The Ryan family make this drop which is a gorgeous lemon yellow with green tinges. The aromas are restrained, slightly herbaceous and quite citrus with ripe lemon fragrances dominating. The persistent fruit is accompanied by a good acid structure and softness on the palate. Tastes quite young still. Should cellar 5 years plus. Well priced at around $22. www.ryanwines.com.au

Cardinham Cabernet Merlot 2003

Coming from the Smith Family Vineyards in the Clare Valley of South Australia, this is one very good red wine blend. Broodingly dark crimson purple in colour, with beautifully rich plum, ripe blackberry, cassis and black tea leaf aromas. Deep and intensely fruit driven. Soft smooth and plummy on the palate with some well blended sweet oak and long lingering fine yet firm tannins. Perfectly matched with roast pork. Not an over the top wine but one that is drinking respectably well right now and has 5-7 years ahead of it. Around $20, and a bargain. www.cardinham.com

Early Harvest - Chardonnay 2005 and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2005

This newly released brand by the Berringer Blass stable has been especially targeted towards women. Its two wines are made from the first picked grapes of the season and because of this they are naturally lower in sugar content. The goal has been to create light refreshing "drink now" wines that are easy drinking, fun and a good accompaniment with food. The Semillon Sauvignon Blanc is a lovely lemony colour that has alluring aromatic citrus and herbal aromas accompanied by good upfront fruit acidity and vibrancy whilst also delivering a range of lovely clean and crisp tropical fruit salad flavours onto the palate. Have with chicken Caesar salad. The Chardonnay is a pale yellow with a pleasant nose showing off plenty of persistent fruit and supporting young fresh acidity. Made in dry style and lean bodied, there are lots of peach, melon and tropical fruit characters to this wine and it is very easy drinking. Enjoy this with king prawn risotto. These are good wines that are not gimmicky in either presentation or content. Both wines retail for circa $15-17 and are available nationally. And yes, even blokes can drink them!

Heggies Vineyard Eden Valley Chardonnay 2004

This is one very very nice wine. A gorgeous pale straw lemony yellow, reflecting the cool climate fruit source. Aromas of classic white peach, melon, green olive, whiffs of cashew, with a swirl of butterscotch. Complex and alluring, it is also luscious in a subtle manner and is elegant in structure. A medium dry bodied wine with a lingering length. Perfectly balanced in its various elements, the vanillan oak treatment is in harmony with the fruit and acid structure. Some lovely creamy mouth feel making it eminently drinkable. I thoroughly enjoyed this wine. Have with smoked salmon and abundantly at the meagre price of less than $25. Should cellar 3-5 years at least. An excellent wine, no, actually it is superb.

Kilikanoon "Killerman's Run" Shiraz 2002

This South Australian Clare Valley winery is also on my winery watch list. Some very good solid wines have been emanating from here lately. A deep purple black with some crimson hues, reflecting its solid nature. The aromas are just beautiful with lusciously smooth intoxicating berry fruit and also ripe rich plums accompanied by lashings of dark chocolate and fresh black sweet liquorice bounding from the glass. Whilst quite dominant sweet ripe fruit, high alcohol and integrated oak characters ensue, there is also a savoury dimension and a certain elegancy to this wine that doesn't make it over the top. Silky smooth blackberry juice gliding effortlessly around the mouth and coating the throat lusciously. A top drop. Have this with oven baked penne and tomato sauce with Italian sausages. Should cellar 5-7 years plus. The price, around $20 - yes not a misprint. www.kilikanoon.com.au

Petaluma Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2003

This is one serious Chardonnay from South Australia. It is a tight and elegant wine that is quite minerally in nature. Classic varietal aromas with predominant white peach, ripe melon and cashew. Quite toasty and providing very good acid structure to support the restrained fruit. Just spectacular on the palate where you get a smooth mellow finish with a touch of creamy texture. The oak provides nuttiness and is integrated exceptionally well. The three components of fruit, acid and oak together promise much for the future. Lingers long in length. An exceptional wine with a cellaring window of about 5 years plus. Perfect with lobster. Priced at around $35.

Shaw and Smith Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2005

This wine is the archetypal Sauvignon Blanc with zingy vibrant flavours and a crisp finish. How do I know? Because I read it on the label as I was guzzling the glass after glass of this wine down. Guzzling you say, yes this is one of those wines you just seem to have glass after glass without realising it. Just seamless on the palate with gorgeously fresh tropical fruit flavours abound, soft yet just right crisp acidity on the palate all delivered with a well rounded mouth feel. This is a top wine that Michael Hill Smith and Martin Shaw have put together to express what Adelaide Hills is capable of doing with the Sauvignon Blanc varietal. Did I like this wine or what! Yes I did, and at around $25 it represents value drinking.

Tahbilk Viognier 2004

This Victorian winery from the Nagambie Lakes region has a long history of developing wine from alternative white grape varietal. Indeed it was one of the pioneers of the varietal, Marsanne which it has mastered into an aged classic. Viognier is the next hip happening wine varietal that has taken Australia by storm. It has French Alsatian origins and is well suited to certain Australian growing conditions and is food friendly as well. This is one from Tahbilk is a lovely yellow colour, emanating a pleasant subtle vibrancy of fruit character with clean and attractive features. Dry yet quite ample bodied, it positively espouses its citrus fruit characters and particularly fragrant lemon and crisp apples. A drink now proposition that would suit a range of seafood. At around $19, represents good value.

Yalumba Barossa Shiraz Viognier 2003

What more do you want out of this wine. It is made by Yalumba, Australia's oldest Family owned winery. It also comes from the world renowned red wine region of the Barossa Valley in South Australia, where its Shiraz is one of its finest varietal products. This Shiraz Viognier is a modern trendy blend of two grape varietals that are setting the wine world ablaze both from a stylistic and quality perspective. All of this for just over $15 a bottle. This wine is made in the French Rhone style delivers the goods well with a gorgeously dark brooding purple colour, with lots of delicious succulent blackberry fruit on the nose, with a good whiff of aromatic apricot emanating as well. Typically fruit spice characters on the palate along with a soft smooth velvety berry laden silky fine finish. Very drinkable now, but should hold for 3-5 years plus. Affordable quality.

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Paul Ippolito writes about wine for publications across Australia, overseas and the Internet. He speaks on radio and writes a free monthly wine newsletter for consumers. Paul can be contacted by email at Paul_Ippolito@hotmail.com where you can also request to be placed on his mailing list for his newsletter. or visit his website at: www.paulippolito.com.au

2007 Reviews

Wine Talk - January 2007
Wine Talk - February 2007
Wine Talk - March 2007
Wine Talk - April 2007

2006 Reviews

Wine Talk - January 06
Wine Talk - February 06
Wine Talk - March 06
Wine Talk - April 06
Wine Talk - May 06
Wine Talk - June 06
Wine Talk - July 06
Wine Talk - August 06
Wine Talk - September 06
Wine Talk - October 06
Wine Talk - November 06
Wine Talk - December 06

2005 Reviews

Wine Talk - March 05
Wine Talk - April 05
Wine Talk - May 05
Wine Talk - June 05
Wine Talk - July 05
Wine Talk - August 05
Wine Talk - September 05
Wine Talk - October 05
Wine Talk - November 05
Wine Talk - December 05

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