QWine Reviews : November 2017

Golden Grove Estate The Little White Box GSM 2016

A great story this... Created by winemaker Ray Costanzo for his father Sam, founder of Golden Grove Estate. "Dad loves Grenache and finally got his way and grafted two rows of Merlot over. Finally we got a good crop and decided to make a wine behind his back. We told him that the Grenache had been a failure and that we blended it away but secretly we blended up this GSM. The Little White Box is dad's grafting box which he made when he was 17 and he used it to graft vines all over the state when he was young. He still uses it today."

Iron Cloud Rock of Solitude Purple Patch GSM 2016

A new label to me coming off a single vineyard in the Ferguson Valley.
As per the label, "The 'rock of solitude' is a single rock in the vineyard, facing west overlooking Geographe Bay."
This is a more than approachable GSM.

Angove Alternatus Rosé 2017

A dry, Spanish inspired Rosé made up of Grenache (36%) Tempranillo (26%) Vermentino (18%) Graciano (10%) and Carignan (10%).

Shaw Vineyard Estate Cabernet Shiraz 2015

Only the third time this blend has been made, others include 2004 and 2009. Winemaker Graeme Shaw says he tried a number of blends before he came to what he feels is a wine, "to be optimum balance of the richness and depth of the Cabernet with the elegance and spiciness of the Shiraz."
He's hit the nail on the head.

d'Arenberg The Olive Grove Chardonnay 2016

A good Chardy sitting on the old school side of the ledger.

La La Land Pinot Gris 2017

A fair Pinot Gris. Some texture but it seems broad and a little top heavy.

Heartland Spice Trader Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Value+. I was impressed by the Shiraz Cabernet 2014 sampled recently, and this straight Cabernet stacks up just as well.

The Wishing Tree Unoaked Chardonnay 2016

Nothing fancy here - Chardonnay less the oak.

Angove Alternatus Fiano 2017

I've been quite a fan of this Alternatus range. This Fiano ticks the boxes. Classy stuff.

Blackbilly Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Good drinking Sauvignon Blanc from the Adelaide Hills and surrounds.

Meerea Park Hell Hole Semillon 2016

The fruit for this wine comes off a 40 year old vineyard in Pokolbin.

Schwarz Wine Co GSM 2016

Every wine tells a story, no different here. As per the label:
"I have trodden the soil along countless rows of vines in search of fruit that captures the essence of the Barossa. An ode to my well worn, slightly battered boots which have served me well."
GSM in the slot!

Eldridge Estate PTG 2017

Such a versatile red. So delicious - dare I use the word smashable.

A 60/40 blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay. It's a slight shift from the usual 50/50 but the quality and satisfaction delivered certainly haven't wavered.

Schwarz Wine Co Meta Mataro 2017

Mataro with street wise attitude. I love it!
Handpicked, wild yeast fermented, 20% whole bunches, unfined and unfiltered.

Irrewarra Chardonnay 2016

Irrewarra is an Aboriginal word meaning 'long spear throw'.
This label comes from the hands of Nick Farr and I was thrilled when he got in touch asking if I'd like a sample. This is a peach.

Meerea Park Indie Shiraz Pinot 2015

Good drinkin' without the need for thinkin'. A 70/30 blend co-fermented.

d'Arenberg The Lucky Lizard Chardonnay 2016

Adelaide Hills Chardonnay from McLaren Vale's d'Arenberg. Fermented and aged in French oak for seven months.

Robert Stein Shiraz 2014

Made from a range of blocks and aged for 14 months in new and old oak.

Golden Grove Estate Vermentino 2017

Ray Costanzo is turning Vermentino into a mean beast. This is a ripping rendition of the Italian varietal. Take a bow for going next level and producing a rock star. It's by far the best Vermentino I have had the privilege to taste.

Oliver's Taranga HJ Shiraz 2014

Dense. Luscious. Generous. Food for the soul.

Eldridge Estate Fumé Blanc 2017

From one of the prettiest and oldest vineyards in the Mornington Peninsula region, this comes from a 3 hectare site. David Lloyd doesn't make a bad wine. It's not in his DNA. Here's a delicious take on Sauvignon Blanc.

d'Arenberg The Broken Fishplate Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Partial fermentation in old French oak for three weeks has imparted some texture and complexity to this tropical fruit driven wine.

Schwarz Wine Co Chenin Blanc 2017

Tight, vibrant and fresh. There's few Chenin Blanc produced in the Barossa and not many more in Australia with the main players coming from the west.

Gartelmann Dietrich Shiraz 2015

One of the best Shiraz releases from Orange I've seen in recent memory. The best wine I've seen from Gartelmann too. The brand's icon Shiraz named after owner Jorg Gartelmann's grandfather.

Meerea Park Alexander Munro Chardonnay 2016

Handpicked, whole bunch pressed and barrel fermented in French oak - 40% of which was new.

Rowlee Wines Chardonnay 2016

My first look at Rowlee Wines from Orange. David Cummings from Define Wine does an excellent job bringing wines from Orange and Mudgee (plus various other regions) to writers' attention. It's always good to see what the little guys have to offer too and there are always gems uncovered.

Established in 2000, the eight hectare vineyard sits at 950m above. Winemaking commenced in 2013. The wines are made by former sommelier Nicole Samodol with PJ Chateris overseeing things as a mentor winemaker.

Schwarz Wine Co Meta Grenache 2017

Lots to ponder here - hand picked, 91% whole bunch, wild yeast fermentation, unfined, unfiltered...
I just want to get knee deep in this. Hardcore Barossa Pinot (a local reference to Barossa Grenache).

Penley Estate Wild Ferment Shiraz 2016

Penley Estate have been cranking the interest factor high of late. Tick that box here once more. A super slurpable Shiraz from the hands of Kate Goodman. There are so many exciting wines coming out of Coonawarra at the moment, add this to that growing list.

Robert Stein Mudgee Reserve Chardonnay 2016

Mudgee's Robert Stein Wines planted their vines in 1976. These Chardonnay vines come from those original platings. Handpicked and whole bunch pressed, 50% new French oak was used with a small portion of malolactic fermentation.

Meerea Park Indie Marsanne Roussanne 2016

A 70/30 blend which underwent barrel fermentation for ten months, 25% of which was new oak. 230 dozen made. Great drinking.

Steels Gate Chardonnay 2016

A good Yarra Valley Chardonnay at a competitive price.

Singlefile Run Free Riesling 2017

A neat Riesling match for fish and chips.

Vinifera Organic Tempranillo 2015

Organic Tempranillo from Mudgee. Good tapas drinking.

Behind the Brand - Tellurian Wines

General Manager - Daniel Hopkins

Ian Hopkins went for a relaxing drive and came home having bought a vineyard. And that was that. When Ian rang to inform his son of the news, the first question Daniel spat out was, "How long have you been thinking about this for?" His father's response caught him by surprise, "Three hours!" The rest is history.

From humble days of buying land with the provision to plant a vineyard in 2002, Heathcote's Tellurian Wines has boomed. Bricks have gradually been put in the wall (so to speak) and the onsite winery was only completed in 2012. Prior to then, the wines were contract made.

Grant Burge Miamba Shiraz 2015

I don't see many Grant Burge wines. A glass of this was plonked in front of me at a pub as we sat around having a steak. After then being handed the wine list, on paper this appeared the best wine on offer.

Golden Grove Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Sauvignon Blanc to make the sun shine a little bit brighter and your seafood taste a little more indulgent. Good stuff here.

Redman Wines Coonawarra Cabernet 2015

The Redman gang have found their mojo of late. Some super impressive wines are being released. One to stick in the black book, this will take you to happy places.

Gartelmann Benjamin Semillon 2017

A summer time pleaser. Be my guest to indulge - delicious Semillon sourced off 77 year-old dry grown vines.

Airlie Bank Gris 2017

As per the back label: "Pulling apart Gris and putting it back together one piece at a time. Lairizing. Fermented on skins and bunches for two weeks. Pressed to old hogsheads. No finings... As always, we appreciate your time and indulgence."

Dirt Candy The Natural Riesling 2017

Scrumptious Organic Riesling from Orange. A dicey choice of wording on the label though - 'The Natural' could be misread by the uninformed as a natural wine but it's far from that. There's no funky skin contact creation here, just lots of slurp factor for those with a thirst to quench.