Tasting Note No.10
This low priced wine was the first one in a more sophisticated line up of five newly released sauvignon blancs. I thought that I'll quickly pass over this and taste the more expensive others, however in the end I HAD TO come back and admit that this AU $11+ wine is the star of the night, a little cracker of a wine.
Colour clear with green tinges. Nose of freshly watered lawn, cut green grass and melon. The palate is beautifully fresh and ALIVE with lovely sweet fruit, excellent long afterstaste and balanced acids. Classic Marlborough sauvignon blanc, light and delicious. A joy to drink, it's one of those bottles that I'd finish in half hour. Drink it now and over the next 8 months for it's LIFE and clean fresh energy.
also tasted:
2000 CHATEAU de VILLEGEORGE-Haut Médoc (Cru Bourgeois)
One of those affordable reds at AU $33+ to come out of Bordeaux. Colour is very bright red with purple edges. Looks very young. The nose promises red berries, black cherries. It's reserved right now, this wine beginning to close up. The merlot dominant palate is rich with lovely berry fruits and well judged grainy oak. Medium bodied, classic 'claret' style full of ripe, fruity taste. A good wine that worth the money. Can be drunk now but in 3 years time it will be better, mature and ready by 2009. Those seeking the magic of 2000, will not find it here. Chateau 'Georgetown' is nice and a pretty good wine that compares with Aussie merlot/cabernet blends at the same price but lacks real excitement for the connoisseur.
2001 FORESTER ESTATE Margaret River Shiraz
The most exciting wine in the current line up of this fairly new W.A. winery. Fresh, dark plum colour. Reserved nose of spicy plum and dark fruits mixed with vanilla. The palate is medium bodied with long and flavourful tastes of juicy shiraz flavours that are well balanced with the grainy oak. The wine spent 18 months in new french barrels. It cost AU $28 but I believe the $20 pricetag would be more realistic. Please note, the 2001 Merlot must be avoided, it's a very disappointing wine at AU $21.
2003 FORESTER ESTATE Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc
Apparently the very succesful 2002 vintage sold out quickly. This wine is a light, absolutely delicious summer drink that goes well with seafood. Fresh, tasty and easy grass and white peach flavours, nice dry finish. Drink it now. Cost AU $18 and it's worth it.
2000 YARRA RIDGE Pinot Noir
Once a blue-gold medal winner, this wine is FADING fast. It's the third time that I've tasted it this year and it's consistently heading downhill. Light to medium bodied, it had developed some wild smoked ham aromas but other than that it has not much to offer. Those still have it in their cellars, drink up. AU $19. Please note, I found the 2001 a really lovely wine that is drinking well now.
2000 YARRA RIDGE Shiraz
A medium bodied Victorian shiraz, soft and generous, it spent 18 months in French and American oak. Nothing too exciting here, this savoury and soft red is well balanced and I wish the pinot noir looked like this. Drink now to 2005. Cost AU $19.
2001 ROBERTS ESTATE Victoria Merlot
Suprising cheapie. Authentic, rich merlot taste, well balanced, lot's of vanilla oak(chips). Now-2005. Well worth the price at AU $10.
Tasted:October 2003.