Vino Intrepido Cold Fusion Col Fondo Prosecco 2021

 

Talk about fizz. It was like a raging torrent on opening and I swear I didn't shake the bottle before opening. The non-stop flow reminded me of the old bi-carb soda volcano science experiment.

Vino Intrepido Pound of Flesh Skin Contact Vermentino 2021

 

Let's crank the dial with a skin contact Vermentino. Every effort has been made to deliver a wine of textural pleasure, and that's been achieved, but the mid-palate thins out quicker than hoped.

Vino Intrepido Grey Matter Pinot Grigio 2021

Wonderfully textural, this Pinot Grigio grew on me big time.

Steels Gate Bastardo 2019

I read the variety on the label and can't help but sing, "Bastardo. Why don't you come to your senses..." I digress... Sourced from Victoria's Nagambie region, this is the first Bastardo to come across the Qwine bench in 4200+ reviews. It's quite exciting seeing new varieties emerging in a sea usual suspects.

Steels Gate Graciano 2019

Graciano! This is really enjoyable stuff. I could have a couple of glasses easy.

Alkimi The Good Earth Roussanne 2015

An enjoyable drink. It's rich as you'd expect being Roussanne but it's not over the top. Smells of honey toast, old school cubed cheddar, hay, and peach skin.

A portion went through malo and sat in a mix of stainless steel, a small amount of new oak and some older oak for six months. The acidity is quite tame and fruit is linear in the mouth. There's white fleshed stone fruit feels and apricot kernel at the death wrapped up by some ginger like spice which recedes ever so slowly. Nice touch. I'd have a glass.

Drink now to five years.

88/100 - Good

Region: Nagambie Lakes
RRP: $25
Source: Sample

www.alkimiwines.com

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Mitchelton 'Crescent' Shiraz Mourvedre Grenache 2010

There was something that just wasn't right about this wine. But hello day two! What a metamorphosis.

Gone was the hard and rough edge with a welcome mat thrown out to a delicious drop, all courtesy of some air to resuscitate it.

A blend of Shiraz (44%), Mourvedre (35%) and Grenache (19%), the wine spent sixteen months in new and old French oak. (The percentages came from the website. 2% is unaccounted for).

Earthy, red soil like, black pepper and red berry fruit aromas lead to a filling palate. Dried herbs and peppery spice flavours dance about. I even picked up some burnt caramel elements.

A drying finish, it was hard to stop sipping away at this on day two. Much more smoother. Much more approachable.

Drink to 2020 with a good piece of steak.

Who: Mitchelton Wines
What: Shiraz, Mourvedre, Grenache (14% alc)
Where: Nagambie Lakes
When: 2010
How: $28

http://www.mitchelton.com.au/

Mitchelton 'Airstrip' Marsanne Roussanne Viognier 2011

Those who shy away from fresh and vibrant white wines and seek a one with some body and texture yet not are chardy fans, this perhaps may float your boat.

All fruit parcels for this wine were independently barrel fermented before blending. Eight months on lees has added texture delivering aromas of honeysuckle, citrus blossom and creaming soda.

Apricot flavours are abundant and the palate weight is not too dense yet it is still bold enough. The fruit appears a little firm though and sits predominantly on the front and mid palate.

This wine worked well with a creamy pasta dish. It gets a tick.

Who: Mitchelton Wines
What: Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier (13% alc)
Where: Nagambie Lakes
When: 2011
How: $28

http://www.mitchelton.com.au/

Mitchelton Marsanne 2011

Marsanne is quite an intriguing variety. It can be made to drink fresh and is the perfect aperitif or it can be made for aging.

Coming from the same neighbourhood as Australia's most famous Marsanne, this wine leans towards the aging spectrum. Though there is no glitter to it, its medium to full body delivers a good kick of palate weight.

Some of the wine was barrel fermented and these characteristics nudge their way to the fore. Toasty, almondy and nutty aromas roll out before being met by stone fruit and slight honeyed flavours with a gentle minerality lapping at its foot. I did enjoy the texture which I can only describe as wholesome.

The package will get better with time as the backbone of a good aging wine is all there, and although not overly flavoursome at the minute, I wouldn't be shying away from it if it were in my glass.

Very approachable but patience will reward.

Who: Mitchelton Wines http://www.mitchelton.com.au/
What: Marsanne (13% alc)
Where: Nagambie Lakes
When: 2011
How: $22

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Tahbilk Shiraz 2008

A mission to the bottle shop with twenty bucks saw this make its way home. Admittedly I have had this wine previously but not blogged it, and whilst I didn't intend blogging this one either, I couldn't help but share the bang for buck factor.

Coming from Nagambie Lakes in Victoria, I narrowed down my search to three wines on the shelf. What tipped me towards this wine was the fact it had four years of age already under its belt, not to mention I received twenty cents change!
Super dark colour, a bounty of spice, chocolate, plummy goodness. Plenty of guts here, and the black fruit flavours kick through to the finish with a soft and generous length. Oak was well integrated. A suggestion the fruit was a little over ripe, but this didn't detract from a wine which was still an enjoyable drop.

Go shopping for this and you'll be smiling.

Who: Tahbilk http://www.tahbilk.com.au
What: Shiraz (14.5% alc)
Where: Nagambie Lakes
When: 2008
How: $19.80 (on special at an independent retailer)

Follow them: www.twitter.com/TahbilkWinery
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Tahbilk Viognier 2011

Gold Medal at the Royal Queensland Wine Show for One Year Old Dry White Varietals.

From a producer most popular for the white varietal Marsanne, this is a terrific Viognier from the good folk at Tahbilk.

Aromas of canned peach, fresh apricot and stone fruits and even a little tree sap.

Fresh and cleansing flavours on the palate were a highlight for me along with some fleshy peach goodness. Certainly not dripping in what can be described as apricot nectar which many Viogniers possess.

Delicious. Refreshing. Seventeen dollars is a ripper deal. Get some.

Who: Tahbilk http://www.tahbilk.com.au
What: Viognier (12.5% alc)
Where: Nagambie Lakes
When: 2011
How: $17

Follow them: www.twitter.com/TahbilkWinery
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Mitchelton Print Shiraz 1999

The time had come to rip the top off this wine and I'm pleased I did for two reasons. Firstly, it was brilliant and was a treat to behold! Secondly, the wine's peak was just around the corner so my timing couldn't have been better.

The fruit which contributed came from three regions, those being Mitchelton Estate 71%, Heathcote 18% and the remainder from the Goulburn Valley.

At first look, the reddish hue depicts the earth from where this wine comes from. Dark fruits, plums and a vanilla influence from the French oak all contributed to a super smooth palate giving great length. A touch of pepper adding some welcome spice. The palate was very consistent from nose right through to the lip smacking finish.

A most enjoyable wine which was sipped on slowly. A blind eye was turned to the truckloads of sediment which caked the glass.

Mitchelton Blackwood Park Riesling 2009

Nagambie Lakes is a wine region one and a half hours drive (directly north) from Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport. Unlike many other regions where many cellar doors are within a few metres of each other, there is a short drive required here. The most popular and well known winery in the region is Tahbilk.

I've always been a fan of this Riesling, and this 2009 vintage continues to impress. Let's be honest here... it's excellent!

A golden straw appearance is followed up with toasty and honey characters on the nose, with some nicely developed lemon and lime. The palate also incorporates fantastic lemony and citrus characteristics which ensures a beautifully rounded mouthfeel. An infusion of florally elements play their part in the background too. All this and then you are landed with some great depth and length to finish.

The acid and fruit are married together very well resulting in a wonderful expression of this variety from Nagambie Lakes.

A delight indeed and even more impressive for the price - readily available for just under $20.