Hoddles Creek 1er Pinot Blanc 2022

I caught up with Franco D'Anna this week at his Hoddles Creek winery and we had a quick look through a few new releases. This Pinot Blanc is a streetsmart character. For those not familiar with the variety, to sum it up briefly, it's a little bit Pinot Gris and a little bit Chardonnay. But all you need to know is that it is a superb wine.

Sapling Yard The Four Pinots 2019

Quite a unique wine and one I've never previously encountered. Made from the four Pinots - Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier which were all sourced from around the Canberra district.

Paul Blanck Pinot Blanc d'Alsace 2018

Pinot Blanc can be said to deliver quite fruit forward style wines but there's more savoury action on the go here.

De Bortoli The Estate Vineyard Pinot Blanc 2017

Bone dry and crunchy. This Pinot Blanc yearns for seafood.

Yelland & Papps Pinot Blanc 2017

Sun's out, Pinot Blanc out!
Refreshing drinking for your summer pleasure. Chill hard and drop in a straw.

Yelland & Papps BB Pinot Blanc 2016

You're either on board with this or not. It's the variety which won't be everyone's cup of tea. It sits somewhere in between Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.

Calabria Family Wines Private Bin Pinot Bianco 2014

There's a few reasons here which can have you believe that this Pinot Bianco is more Chardonnay like than Pinot Gris, one of its siblings.

The crisp factor of the Pinot Gris is evident but the fuller body gives it those Chardy like feels.

Not overly aromatic though subtle pear skin, melon, and honey aromas wander on by.

Some texture and depth sits on the mid and back palate and drives through to a long finish with a lick of spice for interest.

A wine which needs a wing man - pasta or chicken dishes I'd suggest. A good wine to look at but I doubt I'd have more than a glass.

Drink now.

Good.

Region: Riverina

RRP: $15

Source: Sample

www.calabriawines.com.au

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Hoddles Creek Estate 1er cru Pinot Blanc 2012

It's not hard to warm to Franco D'Anna, and when chatting to him he spits out, "I let the wine live and let the vineyard dictate what the wine looks like." Sense of place and vintage differentiation is something I am a fan of.

My first experience of Pinot Blanc and I must say I want more. There is little of it in Australia and after looking at this I'd be interested to see who else makes it.

Lime cordial and a little musk, the flavours are soft and slightly drying but the wine possesses a lovely depth. Good phenolics deliberately left in the wine, the texture had me in a spin.

As described by Franco, this is a "winemaker's wine".

Limited stocks available nationally from good independent bottle shops.

Grab some if you can.

Who: Hoddles Creek Estate
What: Pinot Blanc (12% alc)
Where: Yarra Valley
When: 2012
How: $40

www.hoodlescreekestate.com.au