Glenn makes a trip around his local neighbourhood and brings a case of Canberra wine for us to work through to kick off 2025. Still wines were served in pairs.
- 2022 Lake George Winery Blanc de Blanc - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{zork, 12%} [Glenn] Lemon aromas. On the light-medium palate there’s a touch of detergent flavour, and lemon. No real autolysis character here, with medium sized bubbles, and a front-palate, dry, but fairly short finish. More time on lees would have been a start. - 2023 The Vintner's Daughter Riesling Estate - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{screwcap, 10.6%} [Glenn] The Vintner is Ken Helm, the winemaker his daughter Stephanie. Despite the low alcohol, the wine’s neither unripe nor obviously off-dry. Nose and palate comprise lemon curd, lychee and floral notes, with a tropical hint. Light-bodied, with low/medium acidity. But only a short/medium length finish. Better for the short term I think. - 2023 Nick O'Leary Riesling White Rocks - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{screwcap, 12.5%} [Glenn] Seems not at all fruit-driven – rather it’s about minerals, quartz. The periodic table in Riesling form. Medium weight, with medium/high acidity. Brine and rocky flavours. Medium/long finish, even along the tongue. Was widely considered the wine of the night. Should age very well, given the structure. - 2014 Shaw Wines Riesling Isabella Riesling - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{screwcap, 11.5%} [Glenn] Deep yellow/gold colour. Aged nose of kerosene and marzipan. As someone said, could have passed for a Marsanne on the nose at least. Quite rich palate, off-dry but more in a rich texture sense than overt sweetness. Medium acidity. Some honey quality to the flavours too. A late-pick style that finishes about short/medium for length. Definitely ready to drink, if not a little past best already. - 2015 Helm Riesling Half Dry - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{screwcap, 11.5%} [Glenn] Developing nose of honey and sweet lemon curd. Honey-and-steel palate that’s barely off-dry. Tastes like a Muscat de Baume de Venise but without the alcoholic heat. Light weight body but also with a very short finish. Drink now. - 2017 Mount Majura Riesling - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{screwcap, 11.5%} [Glenn] Austere sort of lemon, lime and grapefruit here. Has a watery clarity to the texture, with subtle flavours. Light/medium weight with medium acidity, but a slightly short finish. Not really convincing, and I’m not convinced time will help any. - 2017 Lark Hill Riesling - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{screwcap, 11.5%} [Glenn] Fairly dark yellow. Honeyed richness on the nose, with a gewurz-like rosewater element. On the palate there’s also some earth, spice and musk. Quite mature, medium/full in weight, with low/medium acidity. Still dry, but the texture is thickening up significantly. Plenty of mid-palate presence. Medium/long finish, quite varietal although I’d have picked it from a warmer climate given its general density. At peak now I think – drink soon. - 2021 The Vintner's Daughter Syrah - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{screwcap} [Glenn] Blackberry and pepper, with a slightly scorched aroma. Palate is better than the nose for freshness, but the flavours and structure are very soft, with low/medium dusty tannins and a light/medium weight overall. Fairly simple wine overall, with a short/medium length finish. Didn’t note the alcohol for some reason but it didn’t stick out at all. Serviceable shiraz for the shorter term. - 2022 The Vintner's Daughter Pinot Noir - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{screwcap} [Glenn] Gosh, this is very light and short. Little tannin evident, quiet acid. It’s not sweet or anything, but very dilute; the gently rotting aromas barely translate to much palate presence and it finishes desperately short. Not at all convincing. I’m not aware that much pinot comes out of the Canberra region – I suspect the temperature extremes over the season might be the major factor. - 2019 Helm Cabernet Sauvignon Premium - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{screwcap, 13%} [Glenn] Big, raisiny nose, hint of volatility. Medium weight palate, tasing of liquefied prunes, blackberry syrup. Sunburnt character to the grapes. Low gritty tannins, medium acidity. Sits on the tip of the tongue before a short/medium length finish. OK wine, not great, but possible the least varietal cabernet I’ve ever had. I’d have picked at least a dozen other grapes if served this blind. Ready to I reckon, unless you’re a fan of volatility. - 2015 Lark Hill Shiraz Viognier - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{screwcap, 13%} [Glenn] Perfumed nose – the viognier really shines through. A blueberry edge frames spicy flavours on the palate, always with a hint of apricot. But the palate’s dry and nicely sour, not sweet. It’s at peak now, with low gritty tannins and low/medium acidity. About medium weight, but with a slightly patchy presence on the tongue, and an almost-medium length finish. The best of tonight’s reds quite clearly though. - 2019 Lerida Estate Sémillon Botrytis - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
{375ml, screwcap, 11%} [Glenn] Gold amber colour – developing aromas of toffee, honey, caramel. Lovely medium-sweet palate, with botrytis interest and honey-to-the-max flavours that keep evolving in the mouth. Vanila bean too. Medium weight, with low/medium acidity the only real sign that this should be drunk soon. Medium/long finish. I thought the pick of the night’s wines.