Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc [ANN DOZ 25]
This Margaret River Sauvignon from the "formidable partnership" (Halliday) of Byron & Harold is "an intriguing mix of the herbal and tropical..."(WinePilot) and "fabulously aromatic..." with "terrific fruit intensity" (Wine Orbit). The fruit here is a combination from two vineyards, one in the north of the Margaret River region and the other close to Augusta in the south. Jane Faulkner in The Halliday Wine Companion gives it 92pts – “Any overt tropical fruit flavours are pared back so this reveals more white stone fruit and citrus – from lemon, lime and grapefruit to makrut lime leaves. There’s a hint of white pepper and coriander seeds with plenty of fresh herbs and bright acidity.92pts.”
Howard Park Riesling
This is truly one of Australia's great Rieslings, and not surprising with the myraid of brilliant examples coming out of the Great Southern region in Western Australia. The Howard Park example has pristine aromas of crisp green apple and citrus flowers and a delicate intensely flavoured palate it is a pleasure to drink now or with bottle age.
Flametree Cabernet Merlot
A lovely example of Margaret River Cabernet Merlot, Flametree Cabernet Merlot is showing big dense fruit characters of blackcurrant and stewed plums. A silky seamless palate with rich fruit concentration and chocolaty complexity. Matured in French oak barrels has softened and rounded this wine.
Rosabrook Dear Father Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Moss Wood Semillon
This is a wonderfully concentrated wine. Complex on the nose with aromas of lemon, green apple and fig the palate shows lively flavours of citrus and melon and a beautifully textured crisp and long finish.
Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay
An elegant, vibrant and fragrant nose with lemon, lime and pear in the foreground. Notes of peach blossom and subtle jasmine create lift and combines with cardamom pod, almond meal and roasted cashew. The palate has immense purity, with power and persistence. Lime and lemon pith define the palate, which carries through to a delicately layered middle, threaded with a fine mineral spine. Sesame seed and blanched almonds enhance complexity, finishing with a sparkling acid structure. This wine has energy in its youth, and will build texture with cellaring.
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling
This stunning Riesling from the West is all limes and citrus with great length and depth of flavour. The only problem with this wine is there is never enough to go around.
Cullen Amber Sauvignon Blanc
Pale Amber colour. Very complex aromas already with orange bitters, almonds and a hint of honeysuckle. This wine has a textural and concentrated palate with great length and persistence. Delightful notes of orange, toffee and gentle saltiness on the finish. It is a tannic wine. This new release of our Amber wine is a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc selected from our certified Biodynamic vineyard. The wine was left on the skins and fermented partially before being pressed off. The skin maceration went from 9 days to 44 days depending on the parcel. The fruit was processed in different vessels: open fermenters, closed tanks as well as amphorae. This explains some of the complexity and the many layers of this wine. We look at it being a natural step in creative as well as artisanal winemaking. On the advice of eminent agronomist Dr. John Gladstones, Dr. Kevin and Diana Cullen planted a trial acre of vines at Wilyabrup, Margaret River in 1966. Commencing in 1971, 18 acres of vines were planted on their sheep and cattle farm, including their first Cabernet Sauvignon vines. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc were planted between 1976 and 1978.
Leeuwin Art Series Shiraz
Nocturne Nebbiolo Rose
The Sangiovese fruit was simply destemmed, chilled and pressed using only the free-run fraction of the juice. It was then fermented at moderate temperatures using as always solely indigenous yeasts. After fermentation it was matured for three months on gross lees to add additional texture. The Nebbiolo fruit was hand-picked and, after chilling, whole bunch-pressed directly to old oak for fermentation. This took close to six weeks, after which the wine received a further four weeks maturation in barrel. At this stage the final blend between Sangiovese and Nebbiolo was decided and the wine was emptied from barrel/tank, settled, filtered, sulphured and bottled in late July.We are super stoked with the final wine!!The texture and acid structure are highlights of what is likely a more approachable and fruit-forward release of Nocturne rosé