Back from a trip back to Canberra and while I didn’t drink that many local wines this was the standout from a few winery tours; and especially so as Australia generally can’t make white Rhone blends very well at all!
However, this Canberra District Marsanne, Roussanne & Viognier blend is an exception. Unique (to Oz I suspect) due to the skin contact with the Marsanne pressings which gives those unique tannins, slightly viscous texture and super umami character. Overall beautifully balanced with its multi layered cool climate complexity this’ll probably age well but when it presents it’s self so handsomely young why bother. 13.5%vol. 91pts
Some of the 2015 Marsanne juice being pumped onto skins-
Lark Hill is one quality operation isn't it? I came to them through their superb gruner veltliner, and then enjoyed the shiraz viognier, which is 2009 was as good as it gets.
And then we enjoyed a Lark Hill sangiovese last week that would stand up well to the ones I drink in Italy.
I've always had a soft spot for Lark Hill wines and what a diverse range make there now which sadly none of which is exported to UK/Europe anymore, mainly due to EU bureaucratic polices & small production I suspect. Funnily enough it was the Gruner Veltliner I wanted to try as I've never had a version make outside Austria. I'm a big fan of the Wachau in particular (FX Pichler, Emmerich Knoll, Franz Hirtzberger etc) and while I enjoyed the Lark Hill GV it was certainly toward the lighter, lower alcohol Steinfeder/Federspiel end than the bigger, more alcoholic Smaragd versions so not worth my $45. Also my GV pour was a little on the cold side too. I completely agree with you on the Sangiovese which was a great bottle.
I'd like to find more Australian versions of Mr.V and the closest I've come to is the Turkey Flat Butchers Block white blend and although it has lees stirring I'm not sure if there is any skin contact here.
No questioning their wines but how about attitude of the owner. In my entire wine drinking life of 35 years it is the only winery that I was questioned by the owner for not buying any wine after tasting some of their wines at the cellar door I heard similar stories from others too. I used to buy their wines from retail shops not anymore after the incident.
I will never forget ordering a range of wines and saying dont ship - bill me no problem. they shipped them to Brisbane and they sat in a warehouse at 40 degrees and arrived a week later When I rang them they were auwful to deal with - I can still recall the name of the Carpenter family member whom was most unpleasant Never ordered from them again
I heard similar stories from others too. I used to buy their wines from retail shops not anymore after the incident.