TNs: Aussie Dessert Wines by Wendouree, Primo and Petaluma

[Baby Chickpea]

1988 Petaluma Coonawarra Botrytis Riesling Gold Capsule
Two 375ml bottles six weeks apart. Both consistent. 38.4% sugar (TBA level). Alcohol 12.3%. Colour is brown orange onion-like. Core is deep orange with sparkle of gold. Almost burnt aspect. Bouquet is lovely melange of honey, caramel kisses, orange peel and marmalade. Impeccable length on the palate with superb concentration. Just when you thought the length hollows out, another wave surges and envelopes the tongue, dovetailed by a thin stream of acidity keeping the luscious sweetness in check. Lovely structure, texture and will last seemingly for years. Beautiful drinking and one of the finest dessert wines ever made in Australia IMO. I believe this is now called “Essence”.
92/100

1996 Primo Estate La Maggia Botrytis Riesling
Mid gold with orange/brown edging. Bouquet is rich and exotic with honey, marmalade, quince, apricot and mandarins. Awesome! Palate is incredibly concentrated for a Riesling style. Packs a powerful wallop belying its 10.5% A/V/ Lovely cleansing acidity. Layers of depth and complexity and excellent length. Most importantly, balanced. Drinking at its peak. A superb “sticky” and one of the finest I have ever tasted from Australia. Move over Noble One and Patricia!
91/100

1998/99 Wendouree Muscat of Alexandria (Clare Valley)
15.5% A/V. Yellow colour like vitamin-enriched urine. Mid gold centre. Nose is very, well, grapey and sweet, almost like a Moscato d’Asti without the spritz. Intense honey and crème brulee flavours. Palate is very clean. Length is short and alcohol is clearly pronounced. The wine also has a jarring gin-like hard finish and taste that I really, really don’t like and often pick up in this wine. A very peculiar style that you will either love or hate.
85/100

[Adair]

1998/99 Wendouree Muscat of Alexandria (Clare Valley)
15.5% A/V. Yellow colour like vitamin-enriched urine. Mid gold centre. Nose is very, well, grapey and sweet, almost like a Moscato d’Asti without the spritz. Intense honey and crème brulee flavours. Palate is very clean. Length is short and alcohol is clearly pronounced. The wine also has a jarring gin-like hard finish and taste that I really, really don’t like and often pick up in this wine. A very peculiar style that you will either love or hate.
85/100

I find this wine an interesting style and really enjoy it - well, I have only had the 2001, but have consumed numerous bottles. I actually would not call it a desert wine. Although I don't really have a precise descriptor, "desert wine" seems definitely not to fit the bill. You should also note that it is a fortified wine.

Anyway, I find that it shows pretty ordinarily if chilled, but most interesting when at room temperature. I suspect that "hard finish" is due to it being cold. Did you drink it cold?

Thanks for the notes,
Adair

[Baby Chickpea]

Yes, had it cold and at room temperature. I so disliked it when I opened it at room temp that I whacked it in the fridge. I've also had a couple of these before (different vintages) and never been a fan. That fortified spirit - very strong gin to me - I do not like. My problem with the wine is that it is delicate in style (floral, texture, palate, flavours) but the backing fortifying spirit is far to strong for such a delicate style. It's a 'clashing": style to me taht is swamped by the alcohol spirit. Wanna buy my other bottles?

[Adair]

Yep - see PM

[ghobbs]

Petaluma, wendoree, and primo have made stunning wines over many years. For a different style of dessert wine try Hobbs Semillon, Viognier or White Frontignac. All 3 styles made without botrytis or fortification. The grapes after picking are placed into racks and semi-dried to increase the baume and reduce volume and concentate natural flavours. Not a better style simply a different style. Am biased as they are my wines, but definately worth a try. For an independent opinion refer to Torbs notes.

[TORB]

I must admit these Hobbs stickies are some of the better desert wines I ahev tried and as an added bonus they finish bone dry.

The tasting notes can be found here. http://tinyurl.com/af852

[Chuck]

[quote="TORB"]I must admit these Hobbs stickies are some of the better desert wines I ahev tried and as an added bonus they finish bone dry.

The tasting notes can be found here.

Ric,

c-thru wines?

Chuck

[TORB]

Chuck,

Not all of them are c-through. One of them is a GreenAsh! And as I much as I hate to admit it, its very drinkable too.

Red Bigots make exceptions for Frog Bubbles and stickies.