Melbourne Uni Student Wine Society Introduction to Tasting l
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2014 4:36 pm
Hi all, I'm casually involved with the Melbourne Uni student wine soc. Just though I'd share with you the small line-up of wines put out at their Introduction to Tasting session. Most of the attendees were international exchange students, so selection of the wines swayed towards styles that generally represent the "Aussie" style of winemaking.
Be interested to hear what forumites think of the line-up, would you have excluded/included anything? (Keep in mind the student budget!)
((And I also noted how unadventurous they are; volume over quality prevails))
http://simplepalatesseriously.wordpress ... er-1-2014/
Knappstein Riesling 2013, Clare Valley, SA
$17. This is Riesling, clear and simple. There is no subtlety to Australian Riesling. It is the thorny dragon in the Australian Outback. The weather does not permit small white flowers; for that head to Germany. Closed initially, but opens into an intense lemon concentrate, spritzy, roughly grated lime fruit, notes of chalky talc and citrus florals. 12.5% alc. The acidity is bold, it hits you then gives way to the sweet citrus fruit, lemon candy, lime powder. Nice clean finish. Drink now, or 2022-2025. I’d have this with a cucumber/lettuce/poached chicken breast salad, or a melon-centric fruit salad.
Forester Estate Chardonnay 2011, Margaret River, WA
$25. Not from the best of vintages for Margaret River, but representative nonetheless. This might change your mind of oaked Chardonnays if that is your massive turn-off. Oak can work, as long as it is reined in by the fruit. This 2011 vintage is a fruit-driven wine that actually does well sitting on some oaky notes. A youthful nose of peach, lime, cand that touch of slightly toasted oak staves. A medium+ bodied wine, good acidity but it falls over slightly on the broader mouthfeel. Clean stone fruit flavours with that generous squeeze of lemon/lime. Probably better priced <$20. Drink now. Would be nice with a prawn/capsicum/chorizo salad.
Tyrrell’s Single Vineyard Stevens Semillon 2009, Hunter Valley, NSW
$34. If you want to try Semillon in Australia, there is only one winery to go for: Tyrrell’s. 11.5% alc. Pale lemon colour with a green tinge. A developing nose, notes of lemon, mandarin rind, apple sprtiz and slight jasmine florals. A medium-full bodied dry white wine, the sheer acidity is impressive, although a sense that it is softening slightly with age. Lovely rich citrus fruit flavours form an impenetrable core but should mellow out over the next 10 years. Drink now – 2025.
Kooyong Massale Pinot Noir 2011, Mornington Peninsula, VIC
$28. The Massale is the 2nd tier Pinot Noir produced by Sandro Mosele under the Kooyong label. It is accompanied by the Clonale Chardonnay and Buerrot Pinot Gris. They also produce 2 single vineyard Chardonnays and 3 single vineyard Pinot Noirs. Lots of rain in the 2011 vintage, making it difficult to obtain good fruit ripeness and concentration. The 2011 Massale is a pale-medium ruby colour, with notes of red cherry, red currants and earthy undertones. It manages good acidity, with a low level of fine grained tannins. 13% alc, it has a lighter than usual body, with flavours of red berry tart and cherry fruit. Drink now.
Chris Ringland CR shiraz 2012, Barossa Valley, SA
$25. Part of the Parkerisation movement of the late 90s – early naughties, Chris Ringland’s shiraz make for legendary stuff. I had the privilege of meeting this gentle giant of a Kiwi years ago, and the richness of his wines embody the his great passion for winemaking. The $25 CR shiraz is one of the most accessible, easy drinking wines you can find on the market. Fresh blackberry, red plum, purple fruit notes with oak vanillin and slight pepper hints. It’s medium+ to full-bodied, and despite the 15% alc, doesn’t burn out your throat if you have this with a slow-cooked lamb shank or a minced beef pie. Rather weighty on its own, rich dense dark berry fruit with plums, hint of dark chocolate. The fine dusty tannins work well, and persist into the finish. Drink now.
Parker Coonawarra Estate Coonawarra Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Coonawarra, SA
$23. This is the inaugural vintage of the Coonawarra Series Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit comes off vines planted in the earlier ripening northern part of Coonawarra, fermented in static fermenters before maturation in French oak followed by final blending and bottling. Dark ruby-purple colour. Youthful aromas of blackcurrant liquor, dark chocolate, liquorice with flashes of cigar tobacco and violets. Dry, full-bodied wine, high acidity with dry grainy tannins. 14.6% alc. The fruit profile is typical, displaying varietal characteristics of blackcurrants, dark chocolate and spice. Good finish, although lacking that depth to sustain the initial power. Drink now – 2017.
Be interested to hear what forumites think of the line-up, would you have excluded/included anything? (Keep in mind the student budget!)
((And I also noted how unadventurous they are; volume over quality prevails))
http://simplepalatesseriously.wordpress ... er-1-2014/
Knappstein Riesling 2013, Clare Valley, SA
$17. This is Riesling, clear and simple. There is no subtlety to Australian Riesling. It is the thorny dragon in the Australian Outback. The weather does not permit small white flowers; for that head to Germany. Closed initially, but opens into an intense lemon concentrate, spritzy, roughly grated lime fruit, notes of chalky talc and citrus florals. 12.5% alc. The acidity is bold, it hits you then gives way to the sweet citrus fruit, lemon candy, lime powder. Nice clean finish. Drink now, or 2022-2025. I’d have this with a cucumber/lettuce/poached chicken breast salad, or a melon-centric fruit salad.
Forester Estate Chardonnay 2011, Margaret River, WA
$25. Not from the best of vintages for Margaret River, but representative nonetheless. This might change your mind of oaked Chardonnays if that is your massive turn-off. Oak can work, as long as it is reined in by the fruit. This 2011 vintage is a fruit-driven wine that actually does well sitting on some oaky notes. A youthful nose of peach, lime, cand that touch of slightly toasted oak staves. A medium+ bodied wine, good acidity but it falls over slightly on the broader mouthfeel. Clean stone fruit flavours with that generous squeeze of lemon/lime. Probably better priced <$20. Drink now. Would be nice with a prawn/capsicum/chorizo salad.
Tyrrell’s Single Vineyard Stevens Semillon 2009, Hunter Valley, NSW
$34. If you want to try Semillon in Australia, there is only one winery to go for: Tyrrell’s. 11.5% alc. Pale lemon colour with a green tinge. A developing nose, notes of lemon, mandarin rind, apple sprtiz and slight jasmine florals. A medium-full bodied dry white wine, the sheer acidity is impressive, although a sense that it is softening slightly with age. Lovely rich citrus fruit flavours form an impenetrable core but should mellow out over the next 10 years. Drink now – 2025.
Kooyong Massale Pinot Noir 2011, Mornington Peninsula, VIC
$28. The Massale is the 2nd tier Pinot Noir produced by Sandro Mosele under the Kooyong label. It is accompanied by the Clonale Chardonnay and Buerrot Pinot Gris. They also produce 2 single vineyard Chardonnays and 3 single vineyard Pinot Noirs. Lots of rain in the 2011 vintage, making it difficult to obtain good fruit ripeness and concentration. The 2011 Massale is a pale-medium ruby colour, with notes of red cherry, red currants and earthy undertones. It manages good acidity, with a low level of fine grained tannins. 13% alc, it has a lighter than usual body, with flavours of red berry tart and cherry fruit. Drink now.
Chris Ringland CR shiraz 2012, Barossa Valley, SA
$25. Part of the Parkerisation movement of the late 90s – early naughties, Chris Ringland’s shiraz make for legendary stuff. I had the privilege of meeting this gentle giant of a Kiwi years ago, and the richness of his wines embody the his great passion for winemaking. The $25 CR shiraz is one of the most accessible, easy drinking wines you can find on the market. Fresh blackberry, red plum, purple fruit notes with oak vanillin and slight pepper hints. It’s medium+ to full-bodied, and despite the 15% alc, doesn’t burn out your throat if you have this with a slow-cooked lamb shank or a minced beef pie. Rather weighty on its own, rich dense dark berry fruit with plums, hint of dark chocolate. The fine dusty tannins work well, and persist into the finish. Drink now.
Parker Coonawarra Estate Coonawarra Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Coonawarra, SA
$23. This is the inaugural vintage of the Coonawarra Series Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit comes off vines planted in the earlier ripening northern part of Coonawarra, fermented in static fermenters before maturation in French oak followed by final blending and bottling. Dark ruby-purple colour. Youthful aromas of blackcurrant liquor, dark chocolate, liquorice with flashes of cigar tobacco and violets. Dry, full-bodied wine, high acidity with dry grainy tannins. 14.6% alc. The fruit profile is typical, displaying varietal characteristics of blackcurrants, dark chocolate and spice. Good finish, although lacking that depth to sustain the initial power. Drink now – 2017.
