QWine - Australian Wine Reviews: July 2018

Monday, 23 July 2018

Punt Road Gamay 2017

Gamay is bringing sexy back. More and more wineries are dropping it in the dirt, and deservedly so. There's so much pleasure to draw out of its simplicity and soft touch. Lazy Sundays and sunsets with a glass or two of this for the win.

Devilishly delish. So much personality and charisma to sink your teeth into. The highlight for me is easily the savoury deliciousness courtesy of the whole bunches (25%).

Quite a taut example of Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay.

Tyrrell's Wines Vat 9 Shiraz 2016

Not a great year for Hunter red wines but it's those tough years are when the great winemakers stand up. Wrap your arms around this superb rendition of Hunter Valley Shiraz.

Hunter Valley Shiraz - medium bodied pleasure awaits. Step right up to another respectable example.

Gundog Estate Wild Semillon 2018

What you want to drink with Asian inspired dishes. The back labels says, "This exciting wine pushes the boundaries of conventional Semillon production with the use of indigenous yeast, fermentation on skins, and an off-dry finish." Well, the KPIs have been nailed.

Exciting things are happening at Hayes Family Wines at the moment. The newly built cellar door is nearing its opening day and the wines are continuing to make the right noises.

From a Canberra district vintage said to be the best since the 70s, this is a great example of cool climate Cabernet. The list of trophies and medals awarded to this wine already is quite impressive.

I do like these Windowrie wines. Find a steak and you have a perfect partner in this wine.

Tyrrell's Wines Vat 63 Chardonnay Semillon 2017

I was talking to a wine rep (not related to Tyrrell's) about wine varieties making waves. Talk shifted to blends and he made the point, "No one drinks white blends anymore. Why waste your time with stuff like Chardonnay Semillon blends?" Funny how things unfold - this came across my table not too long after that conversation. He will be reading this and perhaps this is a good place for him and others to restart their relationship with Chardonnay Semillon blends.

Mornington Peninsula Pinot Gris - what's not to like? Such a beautiful drink and a great region for the variety. A delicious wine for your drinking pleasure.

I don't like Sauvignon Blanc as a general rule. Put it in the right hands and make an effort = great results. Wild fermentation in old oak is a great start.

Punt Road Shiraz 2017

A damn good slurp of cool climate Shiraz. A spicy sucker too.

Classy Chardonnay. I'm sure I've said recently that the wines coming from Singlefile are brimming with enthusiasm with the quality high - here we go again.

The Lane's entry-level Chardonnay.

Singlefile Wines Great Southern Chardonnay 2017

A good example of Chardonnay which oozes easy drinking. I could have a glass or two no sweat. Well made, varietal characters tick away effortlessly.

Gundog Estate Hunter's Semillon 2018

So fresh. Hurry up summer already!

Great Cabernet outta Cowra - who wouldda thought? This is rock n roll time - so much enthusiasm and energy well worth embracing.

I was invited along to the Huntington Estate wine lunch on the weekend. Impressive food matched with well-crafted wines. This 2018 Semillon is hot off the press. A great wine to slurp on during warmer months, this is what I consider 'pool wine'.

Giant Steps Yarra Valley Syrah 2017

Cool climate Syrah on point. Damn, Steve Flamsteed has nailed this style. Run to this!

A tribute to Angela Crema, mother of Mary Puglisi, the wife of Ballandean Estate founder Angelo Puglisi. Cool nights and cheese boards will warm the soul with a nip or two.

A Cabernet that doesn't get the juices flowing. Sure it does the job, but the depth for this one is something that seems to be lacking.

Yangarra Estate Shiraz 2016

A great Shiraz - I just want more. The generous fruit and super smooth feels ensuring this is a luxurious ride to happiness.

Tempranillo from Western Australia isn't something I see much of. Here's a good match for a range of casual meals.

An earthy and spicy Pinot from Western Australia's Pemberton region. A cool climate region, this medium bodied wine demonstrates varietal characters which linger long.

Yelland & Papps Devote Greenock Shiraz 2016

Slurp factor is high. Smokey, dense, alluring - I just want in. A great Barossa Valley Shiraz.

The name comes from the small bush vines used to grow the Grenache fruit. These vines are small for their age and grow on shallow soils and hard rock with their tiny shoots giving them a bonsai appearance.

Yangarra Estate Old Vine Grenache 2016

A cracking Grenache from the McLaren Vale subregion of Blewitt Springs. So fine, layers of interest keep you enthused. Vibrant and elegant, a beautifully structured piece of art from Peter Fraser.

A reliable red blend that can be found in retail land for under $20. It ticks the boxes for barbecues and causal meals.

An intriguing blend which just works. How this blend ever came to be would be an interesting tale Chester Osborn will undoubtedly love to share, but the bold experimentation is worthy of credit.

Samuels Gorge Comet Trail Sparkling Shiraz 2015

Some wines are meant for drinking, not thinking. Slot this into that category. I reckon I could drink a gallon of this stuff. It's not sweet. It's not overly dry, but damn, gee it has delish factor written all over it.

I was thrown a bottle of this by good mate Tony Peters. He's a passionate Taswegian and we swap wines often. He loves trying new things but his go-to is always Tassie wine - he loves a Pinot. It's worth reading his views on what he comes across too - check his site here.

Alas, I enjoyed this bottle on a weekend away recently - an excellent example of Tassie Pinot. We watched a movie by the fire and the bottle was empty in no time.

An easy drinking Pinot, straight down the line showing good varietal characters.

Vinomofo The Homeless Grapes Project Shiraz 2017

In some respects, this project could rightly be called the Selfless Grapes Project. So many people have given their time and resources to ensure it gets off the ground, all for the benefit of others. In the end, it's a brilliant story of a vast community coming together for those less fortunate - namely the Hutt Street Centre in Adelaide. Get the full rundown here.

Every cent raised will be donated to the centre - 2000 bottles have already been sold (333 cases) with a total of $44 000 already in the bag, and no doubt, this number will continue to rise. Quite an incredible feat really.

This is the first release of the Upper Ngumby Vineyard Chardonnay and what an entry! Finesse, power and poise - yes please!

Bright as a button, it looks like Ribena and is damn smashable. Such a juicy and vibrant release for immediate enjoyment.

Quality Chardonnay. This the eighth release of the Hexham Vineyard. Handpicked and pressed to French oak (22% new) for wild fermentation. Eight months on lees before bottling.