QWine - Australian Wine Reviews: September 2018

Sunday, 30 September 2018

Savina Lane Fiano Classico 2017

Smart wines at Savina Lane. A gorgeous cellar door too with a stunning vista to welcome you. The cellar door is only open a few months of the year as most of the wines sold go to their membership. There's a suggestion from owners Brad and Cheryl Hutchings that the cellar door may not need to be open in the future such is the demand for their wines. Watch this space.

There's those cellar door experiences which take you to higher places where you get caught up in the moment enjoying the scenery or the casual conversations and laughter with the host. Or, you get those which are forgettable leaving a bitter taste in your mouth. Go to Moonrise Estate if you want to experience the latter. What a disappointment.

There is only one Riesling vineyard on the Granite Belt with two producers benefiting. This example from Ridgemill Estate continues to deliver the goods.

I was in the hood and popped into Pyramids Road. It's always great catching up with Warren Smith. A down to earth gentleman, no show, no fuss, just a genuine bloke making solid wines.

A thoroughly enjoyable vintage fizz from Leeuwin Estate.

Cooks Lot Allotment 666 Pinot Gris 2018

Pretty. Attractive aromas here to hook you in. Introduce yourself to Cooks Lot - you won't be disappointed.

Super rizza. I'm sure my innards gave me a high five after this slipped through to the keeper.

Gee this is a tasty drink. Such an easy wine to kick back with, pleasure comes in large pours.

An easy quaff for the money.

de iuliis LDR Shiraz 2017

There's no secret code to LDR - it just stands for Lovedale Road, the site where the fruit comes from and under the watchful eye of Joss de Iuliis - winemaker Mike de Iuliis' father.

Damn these Ricca Terra wines have some shelf appeal. Great colours have been selected to draw the eye away from the onslaught of those white labels that are so common. Stick your snoz into this glass and be drawn away to higher places. Woah!

When Cooks Lot wines come across the bench, I can't help but think value. Well crafted they are at a great price. An energetic Savvy for your trouble, if you don't mind.

TarraWarra Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2016

Such a pretty wine. Delicate and flavoursome with layers of pleasure awaiting you to peruse.

One of eleven Semillons in the Tyrrell's range. It's hard to shake the prestige this winery has for the variety.

A delicious wine for your table bursting with freshness and a bright personality.

A zippy and alive Savvy from the Great Southern region in Western Australia. Fish and chips at the beachside are calling.

Heartland Directors Cut Shiraz 2015

Power and concentration are words that glow on the back label.

I review all wines which come through the door but this was hard going. Heavy oak and weighed down, it's a wine that barely moved out of first gear.

International Grenache Day came and went in its glory. I love the variety but clearly not all are. I received a tweet which described the variety, "...start with raspberry cordial as it would prepare your palate for what was to follow." Clearly not a Grenache fan. You just gotta know how to find the good stuff and here, front and centre, is a cracking wine. The furthermost thing from raspberry cordial and boiled lollies, the savoury characters which sit atop the shoulders of beautiful fruit are adorable.

Ricca Terra Colour of Calmness Rosé 2018

Super attractive packaging. The colours used certainly grab the eye. Good drinking Rosé too.

Here's a good refreshment to wet your insides with during the warmer months as you laze poolside.

Rymill's third release Rosé from a blend of Merlot and Shiraz.

Raidis Estate Cheeky Goat Pinot Gris 2018

Cheeky by name, cheeky by appearance too. I love the blush appearance of this Pinot Gris. The berries are squeezed that touch bit more to get that gorgeous rose gold colour. A super drink all up.

Riesling not keen on putting on its party suit and socialising. Quite reserved and seemingly withholding itself.

Clever Sauv Blanc. A little bit of effort goes a long way and that's proven with dividends paid here.

A cheeky slurp. Super fresh, clean and crisp. Good going for the money.

Raidis Estate The Kelpie Sauvignon Blanc 2018

A sessional type Sauv Blanc. Why swim in the tsunami of New Zealand Sauv when there's tasty wines like this in our backyard?

A 2015 release for around $20 - not often you see a wine at that price point held back that long, but here we are. There's plenty on offer too.

There's an award at the Hunter Valley Wine Show for the winemaker of the best Verdelho - it's a tiara. Make of that what you will. This comes from what is said to be a top Verdelho site.

McLaren Vale Grenache making an enticing start. A few swirls of the glass and pretty aromas greet you.

Soumah The Butcher 2016

If I owned a winery I'd name a wine after me. Why the hell not? That's what Soumah boss Brett Butcher has done here, and good on him. A blend of Syrah, Cabernet and Nebbiolo - I like his style.

Give this a decant and you'll see it at its best. Some air under its wings delivers pretty aromas.

de Iuliis Shiraz 2017

I had a number of Shiraz samples lined up on the bench. Some were double the price of this wine. Some were a little more fancy you could say. But this is what I kept coming back to. It's a wine you just want to drink. No frills. No bells and whistles. Just solid, damn good drinking Shiraz. Zero in on it I say.

I'd love to say I loved this release, but it's not at the lofty heights expected. I was hoping to leap to attention, but not so.

Golden Grove Estate Rosé Brosé 2018

Ray Costanzo has mastered Vermentino by playing around with texture and skin contact. He's applying some of those techniques here, producing a Rosé which cranks the slurp factor high. Bang the bargain drum too - a beauty for $18!

I don't see a lot of Adelaide Hills Shiraz let alone Bird in Hand wines, so it's good to be back in the frame. Shiraz sourced from a range of sites in the region.

de Iuliis LDR Shiraz Touriga 2017

Such a pretty wine - a cracking drop. Rush to this!

Classic Dry White from the west bringing together Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Semillon and Chardonnay (41/33/16/10).

More of a fruit driven style compared to the Single Vineyard Mount Barker Riesling release, but a delish drop nonetheless.

Singlefile Wines Single Vineyard Mount Barker Riesling 2018

Boom time Riesling. Slosh this into your glass and sunshine and smiles will be sure to follow.

Sirromet owner Terry Morris puts his name to this range of wines. Merlot from Queensland's Granite Belt.

Entry level Shiraz from Plantagenet.

Angove Organic Rosé 2018

Pretty in pink, this cheeky Rosé is made from Shiraz fruit. Of the six Organic new releases received, this would be my top pick.

I remember tasting components of this wine in barrel with Peter Fraser a few months ago. It's great to now see all elements coming together as they dance across the mouth.
Fraser doesn't make bad wine - this is a beauty.

Clever summertime drinking here folks. Good value too.

An easy drinking and relatively inexpensive fizz. There's a good chance you could nab it for under $15 too. Organic, vegan-friendly and made with minimal preservatives which is sure to lure a few punters its way.