Stefani Estate Sangiovese Riserva
The wine is ruby red in colour. It displays notes of warm cherries and forest fruitsThe palate is rich, textural and integrated with notes of blackberry fruit. The addition of 10% Cabernet gives structure and richness. Enjoy now or cellar for up to 10 years.Fruit is entirely grown and hand-picked on the family estate vineyard in the Yarra Valley, Victoria. The wine has been aged in new larger oak format to give subtle structure to the wine.50 dozen Bottled August 2018
Domaine Albert Morot Beaune 1er Cru Les Greves
Here too there is a similar mentholated nose on the spiced plum, dark cherry and warm earth-suffused aromas that are trimmed in enough wood to mention. The delicious and energetic middle weight plus flavors display focused power on the moderately austere finish where a touch of dryness slowly emerges. I suspect that this will round out in time as the dryness is subtle. Drink 2028+.
Domaine Albert Morot Beaune 1er Cru Les Marconnets
Subtle hints of menthol and wood toast can be found on the spicy liqueur-like aromas of plum, cherry and cassis. There is once again fine verve and delineation to the stony medium weight flavors that deliver very good length if less complexity on the very firmly structured finale. This may well surprise to the upside if it can add more depth with time in bottle, which it definitely needs. (Drink starting 2030)
Laurent Ponsot Cuvée de l'Aulne
Cuvée de lAulne Gevrey-Chambertin A blend of grapes purchased from seven or eight growers, across 10 to 12 different communal parcels smattered throughout the village. Again, this is the approach that Ponsot advocates in order to glean the essence of the regional terroir, in this case that of a single lauded village. Red and dark fruit essences mesh with the smoked meat parlayed by Gevreys heavier, ferrous limestone. A richer wine in the context of Burgundy, without the edges and creases that need too much smoothing with time in the cellar. Accessible across the earlier to mid-term.
Domaine Michele & Patrice Rion Vielles Vignes
DOMAINE MICHELE & PATRICE RION Vielles Vignes, Chambolle-Musigny
Pooley Cooinda Vale Oronsay Pinot Noir
POOLEY Cooinda Vale Oronsay Pinot Noir, Coal River Valley, Tasmania
Picardy Tete De Cuvée Pinot Noir
Picardy is one of Australia's leading premium boutique wine producers, established in 1993 in the Pemberton region of Western Australia. Picardy is owned and operated by Bill, Sandra, and Dan Pannell. Tete De Cuvee means the best wine of the vintage. This wine was born through Bill and Dan's love of the great Premier Cru and Grand Cru red wines and their desire to make the best Pinot Noir of which Picardy is capable.
Benjamin Leroux
Hurley Vineyard Garamond Pinot Noir
Tricia Byrnes and Kevin Bell from Hurley first planted vines at their Balnarring property in 1998 with the sole intention of creating three single vineyard pinot noirs. Their philosophy centres around respect of the environment as they see their most important role is viticulture. Briary flavours of raspberries, red and black currents and sage oscillate in the mouth, expressing the pure truth of this vineyard in this vintage. Well structured, generous and creamy. Judicious oak. Very layered with drying tannins giving way to a commanding finish of flaring red fruits and energetic acidity. In a word, complex.
Yarra Yering Dry Red No 1
One of Victoria's true heritage wines, Yarra Yering Dry Red No.1 is primarily a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Malbec and a touch of Petit Verdot. Planted on a historic Yarra Valley site by the late Dr Bailey Carrodus, this wine is full of complex aromas of plum and berry which is followed by rich fruits with an oak and cedar slant. A wine drinking well now and value for the true wine lover.