Late afternoon visit just prior to the Opera Festival - they were really open for wine & tapas sales, not tastings, but were prepared to offer a few tastings from their 13-bottle list if I was discreet! Cool-climate region, winery betting on Chardonnay & Pinot. Other whites are gris, SB, gewurz. Prices reasonable for such small production.
- 2023 Slow Wine Co Riesling Bantry Grove - Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange
{screwcap, A$30} Gentle talc and green apple. Medium acid, medium length finish, but a bit dilute. Dry. Should be good for a few years. - 2021 Slow Wine Co Pinot Noir - Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange
{screwcap, 13.3%, A$38} Cherries and herbs. Light weight, medium acid, soft gritty tannins, not much oak evident. Medium length finish. Dry and savoury. Not bad at all. - 2015 Slow Wine Co Pinot Noir - Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange
{screwcap, 14.3%, A$50} Impressive back-vintage release from the CD. Developing, with meaty and spicy flavours, light-bodied, medium acid, soft spicy tannins, gentle oak. At peak, gentle, beguiling, medium length finish. Tidy, ready to drink now. - 2019 Slow Wine Co Merlot Bantry Grove - Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange
{screwcap, A$30) Seems promising; 6 year old red for a decent price. Not overtly developed on the nose, but has a tobacco touch. Light for flavour; vague black cherries, but without concentration or intensity. Structure is fading a bit; it's light/medium in weight, with a short finish. Doesn't taste unripe, exactly, but seems marginal. I think the vines are being grubbed out; never quite lived up to the expectation. Even at the very fair price this was a pass for me.