Angullong Crossing Reserve Harriet 2019

 

All the Italians swing into action here - Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Montepulciano come together in a blend that I can't help but keep going back for.

Fierce III Sagrantino 2019

 

Sagrantino is bold. It just doesn't know any other way. I suspect the three sisters behind this Fierce III label are quite bold too creating a label to celebrate their coming back together in the family business. A smart wine this.

d'Arenberg Stephanie The Gnome With Rose Coloured Glasses 2021

Stephanie might have rose coloured glasses but her wine also possesses the longest name in the history of mankind. Once you've managed to draw breath, hydrate with this, it's quite beautiful.

Golden Grove Estate Rosé Brosé 2021

 

You could see this disappear from your glass in pretty quick time. What a delight this is to throw back. A smashing label and a smashing wine. 

Vino Intrepido Sacred and Profane Sagrantino 2020

 

Big, broad, this is a muscular type. If you like them large, Sagrantino could be your new thing.

Balancing Heart Ambrosial and Lush Sagrantino 2017

From the Granite Belt's oldest Sagrantino vineyard comes this release from Balancing Heart.

Aphelion Welkin Sagrantino Mataro 2020

Don't you just love it when different works? Not your usual bedfellows but this Sagrantino Mataro combo hits the mark. 

Ravens Croft Sagrantino Rosé 2020

 

A Granite Belt vintage ravaged by the elements saw winemakers seek fruit from other regions. This Sagrantino was sourced from Chalmer's vineyards in Mildura. A tasty wine, it seems to have hit the jackpot with the 'sold out' sign nearly posted - not bad considering it was released not too long ago.

d'Arenberg Stephanie the Gnome with Rose Coloured Glasses 2020

I've got sore hands from typing in the name of this wine. Yikes! A blend of Mourvedre, Sangiovese, Sagrantino and Cinsault make up this incredibly long named organic and biodymanic Rosé.

Golden Grove Estate Brosé Rosé 2020

A rough house Granite Belt 2020 vintage has seen an adjustment to the previous couple of releases. Normally a Grenache based blend, this excellent release sees the fusion of Sagrantino and Vermentino. A Rosé well worth diving into.

Sassafras Salita Sangrantino 2017

Lamb and camp fires speak to me when I look at this Sagrantino from the Canberra district.

Chalmers Rosato 2018

The real test for this sample was Sunday lunch. I tasted the wine on Saturday afternoon and shared the remainder on the following day. It went in seconds...

d'Arenberg The Cenosilicaphobic Cat 2012

Here's a big boy. No surprise it's been held back and released at seven years of age. If you like 'em big, give this a shot.

Oliver's Taranga Sagrantino 2016

Oh, hello! Close your eyes and take a whiff and be expected to be lifted to higher places. Such an expressive wine. I'd be happy to just to absorb the aromas.

Balancing Rock Reserve Sagrantino 2015

The flagship wine for Balancing Rock. It's building a steady case of excellence too with significant awards received at the Queensland Wine Awards 2018 and gold medals at the Australian Alternative Varieties Show 2017 and Australian Small Winemakers Show 2017.

Angullong Fossil Hill Sagrantino 2015

Big, intense, smooth, charismatic.

It owns the space like a Hummer dominates the road.

d'Arenberg The Cenosilicaphobic Cat 2009

The name is a mouthful so just go with "fear of an empty glass" for simplicity.

A union of unusual bed fellows in the form of Sagrantino 90% and Cinsault 10% which were blended after two years in old French and Amercan oak.

Stemmy aromas first up but these settle. A good decant and airing fixes that. Loads of mouth drying and puckering tannins dominate the landscape so food is needed. Hang on, I'll rephrase that... It's bloody tannic! Behind that, and you'll need to dig, sit red berries, dark cherry, wallet leather and purple flowers. It's almost a yin and yang effect with bold structure and tannin but some softer fruit qualities.

For all its complexity and the questions tossed up, I keep going back for more. Must be a sign of a decent drop?

Although already five years old, a few more years in the cellar won't hurt to see it at its best.

Region: McLaren Vale

RRP: $30

Source: Sample

www.darenberg.com.au

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Alternative Variety night @SwirlSniffSpit Tuesday 20 March

Another extraordinary night of wines put together for this edition of Swirl Sniff Spit. Props to The Vinsomniac for his research and excellent presentations during the night, and also to Brad Hickey from Brash Higgins for making the effort to attend and share his wines.

The evening showcased a delectable range of wines, many varieties of which have not been seen by most in the room - me included!

In an industry where everyone is looking for a point of difference and a way to stand out from the pack, there were plenty of examples on show.

A quick run through some of the magic....

Fox Gordon Princess Fiano 2011, Adelaide Hills: Green pea/snap pea on nose. Grassy. Zesty. Love it, and represents super value for around $15. Check out my 2010 post here.

Yalumba Y Series Vermentino 2011, Riverland: For a wine available readily for around $10, you'll be hard pressed to find quality like this at that price point. Serve super chilled with a bucket of seafood - ooh la la! Check out my previous post here.

Holm Oak Wine Arneis 2011, Tasmania: Savory and peachy characters. Plenty of fans in the room enjoyed this but I found it a little too tart and acidic for my palate. Would go well with food, a creamy pasta or even fresh seafood.

Lark Hill Winery Gruner Veltliner 2011, Canberra: This vintage has already sold out and the winemaker was kind enough to share this from his personal stash. A runaway early leader in the Wine of the Night for mine. Pear and fresh apple juice characters. This wine was fresh and finished with a tad of almond meal. A seriously good version of this Austrian variety.

K1 by Hardy's Gruner Veltliner 2011, Adelaide Hills: Pears and pear skin. Restrained mid palate due to light fruit weight. A watery, clean finish. Many happy campers with this.

Crittenden Wines II Tributo Savignin 2010: A sherberty nose. Flavours of savory herbs, spice and a crisp minerality and drying finish on the palate. Yum!

919 Wines Petit Manseng 2010, Riverland: Wow! This was a complex piece of work. Honey, spice, floral notes with a slash of apricot and stone fruit flavours. Lovely soft texture and super length.
Only small quantities of Petit Manseng in Australia, four coming from South Australia's Riverland, and one each from north east Victoria and Griffith.

Brash Higgins NDV Nero d'Avola 2011, McLaren Vale: On skins for two weeks. Wild fermented and only 114 cases made (less than 30 available as I write this). Lavender on nose - stunning!! Orange peel and raspberry jam flavours. Drinks like young Gamay. Serve with slight chill and drink now to five years. $37. Did I say how outrageously fantastic the nose was?!?!

Madeline's Nangkita Primitivo 2008, McLaren Vale: Has an appearance of stewed plums in the glass. Cigar, fruit cake and spice characters all going on here. Gentle soft finish.

Mount Majura Graciano 2009, Canberra: Bright in the glass. Spice and cigar notes shining through. A fistful of pepper and balanced acid profile. Load this up with some food and you're happy.

Chalmers Wines Aglianico 2005, Heathcote: Cherries, raspberries and earthy goodness. Some fruit cake elements in there too which I enjoyed. Smooth finish. An eye opener for a variety I looked at for the first time.

Hand Crafted by Geoff Hardy Teroldego 2010, Langhorne Creek: Rhubarb and raspberries leap from the glass along with wild flowers. Some serious kick here on the palate with a handful of dry herbs and flavours which follow through from the nose. The palate is also edged with a brush of pepper. Finish with a dry tannin grip. Matured in 4-7 oak for 18 months - I loved it! Wine of the night, hands down!

Oliver's Taranga Sagrantino 2009, McLaren Vale: A great way to finish off the night with this heavy weight. This wine is the first vintage of Sangrantino made by the winery and it is a mighty fine effort. Violets, black fruits with a tiny herby touch, charred oak and a bucket load of tannin. A big chunk of pork will match perfectly.

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