Giammarino Wines

[Stomper]

Hi all

Giammarino’s winery is situated in St Andrews within the Artisan Hills sub-region of the Yarra Valley. I live only 20 minutes away from most of the wineries and for many years I’ve been a big fan of the Chardonnay that comes from the area. I’m currently working my way through a mixed 6 pack of Giammarino’s wines and here are some tasting notes. I note that this is my first experience with this winery.

2016 Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

The alcohol is 13.5% and it’s bottled under diam. The colour is a brilliant deep purple, the nose is all dark fruits consisting of blackberries, plum, black grapes and black pepper. On the palate this is, somewhat surprisingly a medium bodied wine with soft tannins and the same descriptors as the nose. This is an absolutely delicious wine that would work exceptionally well with food. There was a small trace of sediment at the bottom of the bottle which also surprised me for a wine so young. My final thoughts are that I need to get some more of this wine and to drink within 5 years but delicious now.

2017 Yarra Valley Chardonnay

Bottled under screw cap and the alcohol content is 13.1%. The colour is a brilliant pale yellow, the nose is peach, rockmelon, cantaloupe, pawpaw and fig. The palate is smooth with cantaloupe, bailon and honeydew as the main descriptors with a balanced line of acidity supporting the structure. This wine is complex, delicious and everything I love about Artisan Hills Chardonnay. My collection needs more of these, drink now to 8 years.

Notes still to come are for the Yarra Valley Pinot, Yarra Valley Shiraz, Mornington Shiraz and Heathcote Sangiovese. On the basis of the tastings so far I look forward to them all.

2017 Pinot

Bottled under diam and 12.5% alcohol. The colour is cherry red, the nose is cherry, raspberry, beetroot and violet. The palate is light, spicy, cherry, rhubarb and blackcurrant. A lovely wine that should gain greater complexity with a few years bottle age. Drinking well now and should show better with 2-3 years of bottle age. I’ll get some more to age to provide some greater insights into this wine.

[Michael McNally]

Nice notes Stomper!

Cheers

Michael

[Stomper]

Thanks Michael.

Here’s another one.

2016 Yarra Valley Shiraz

Bottled under cork, with alcohol at 13.6%. This spent 18 months maturing on French oak. The colour is a brilliant purple bordering on mulberry. The nose is blackberry and cloves with a hint of dark chocolate. The palate is silky, the weight is medium to full with plum, blackberries, cinnamon, black pepper, tobacco and cloves. A nice mix. The back palate has a little initial heat but it dissipates quickly. Overall, a very nice drop that would go well with food and a long table of friends. Needs a little time in bottle and should be be drinking very well in 3-5 years from now.

Cheers
Paul