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Wine Reviews

Valminor Albariño Rias Baixas 2017

From Rias Baixas in Spain, this proves quite a typical expression of white variety albariño. If you are less familiar with albariño (little is grown in Australia – please chime in if you’ve found a good one), the style of these wines is typically towards full bodied, with high acidity and a saline overlay. An adaptable wine that doesn’t need food, but likes fish. This wine has aromas of orange blossom, florals and salt. The palate is full bodied with piercing acidity that runs through it. Ready to drink now, this is a good example of albariño. Rating: Good. Website: NA. Reviewed: June 2020.

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Wine Reviews

Terre à Terre Piccadilly Rosé 2019

This rosé from Terre à Terre is a blend of pinot noir (70%) and chardonnay (30%) and from the Piccadilly sub region of the Adelaide Hills (above 500m altitude). It’s a well constructed rosé.  It opens to aromas of strawberry and smoke.  The palate is dry, with an expression of light spices, a full body and harmonious balance.  Ready to drink now.   Rating: Good. Website: https://terreaterre.com.au/. Source: sample. Reviewed: June 2020.

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Wine Reviews

Clyde Park Pinot Noir Geelong 2018

I recently reviewed Clyde Park’s single vineyard Block D pinot noir here. This is Clyde Park’s pinot noir blend from Bannockburn in the Geelong region. In the glass, it is lightly coloured, full bodied, with light spice and cherry flavours and fresh acidity.  Overall, this is a restrained pinot noir that provides for enjoyable current drinking.  Rating: Good. Website: https://clydepark.com.au. Source: sample. Reviewed: June 2020.

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Wine Reviews

Paul Jaboulet Ainé Parallèle 45 Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2018

This wine is a blend of grenache blanc, viognier, marsanne and bourboulenc. So a couple of less frequently seen grape varieties in an Australian context (grenache blanc and bourboulenc). The distinctive feature of this wine is its very full bodied, viscous palate. The viognier seemingly tries to break out of the wine and go it alone, revealing its distinctive apricot kernel character and the palate has an at times thick syrup like texture. The finish is dry and the acidity low. A full bodied slightly wobbly wine that is ready to drink now. Rating: Acceptable. Website: https://www.paul-jaboulet-aine.fr. Reviewed: June 2020.

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Wine Reviews

Cave de Tain Première Note Syrah 2018

I’ve tasted a couple of vintages now of this entry level syrah from the Cave de Tain and the Collines Rodaniennes IGP in the Rhône Valley, France. The 2016 vintage is reviewed here. The 2018 vintage is also of good quality. It has typical syrah aromas of wet rosemary, spice and bouquet garnis. The Australian equivalent would include cool climate Yarra syrah although this wine has fewer angles. The palate is full bodied, spicy, has soft tannins and a medium length finish. Ready to drink now. Rating: Good. Website: https://www.cavedetain.com/en/. Reviewed: June 2020.

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Wine Reviews

Escarpment Pinot Noir Martinborough 2017

This is a pleasant pinot noir from Escarpment in Martinborough, New Zealand. It has a subtle aroma of spice, rosemary and green stalks. On the palate, the fruit is ripe and youthful with a gentle petulance at times and the tannins are low to medium and finely knit. The oak is very well integrated (25% new, 11 months) showing only subtly on the finish, which was more medium than long. The fruit character is New Zealand rather than Burgundy. Ready to drink now. Rating: Good. Website: http://escarpment.co.nz. Reviewed: July 2020.

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Wine Reviews

Chateau du Cléray Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie 2017

Muscadet sur Lie is a very particular Loire Valley style white wine from the melon de Bourgogne grape variety that is relatively inexpensive, but consistent in expression. This Muscadet has typical aromas of yeast, lees and yoghurt. The palate is dry, medium bodied and has high and zesty acidity. Ready to drink now. Rating: Good. Website: https://en.sauvion.com. Reviewed: June 2020.

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Telmo Rodriguez Dehesa Gago 2018

From the Toro region in Spain, this is a more full throttle expression of tempranillo, more akin to a Ribera del Duero or Valencia than a Rioja in terms of style.  Its aroma reminds of plum syrup and cooked blueberries.  The palate is dry and full bodied, with sweet ripe fruit, soft tannins and, distinguishing it from a new world wine, a savoury plum finish.  Ready to drink now. Rating: Acceptable to Good. Website: http://www.telmorodriguez.com. Reviewed: July 2020.

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Wine Reviews

Hugel Classic Pinot Gris Alsace 2016

This is a sound pinot gris from Hugel in Alsace. There is not much here in terms of aroma, some pear notes perhaps. The palate is dry and has subtle acidity hidden under its fruit, which adds freshness. A pinot gris paradigm that is ready to drink now. Rating: Good. Website: http://www.hugel.com. Reviewed: June 2020.

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Wine Reviews

Figli Luigi Oddero Rombone Barberesco 2014

The Rombone vineyard is within the Treiso subregion of Barbaresco in Piemonte. Here’s a link to a map that goes into exquisite detail. Treiso is a cooler subregion of Barbaresco with an average altitude of around 350 metres according to the producer, and together with Pajoré, Rombone is of one of its best vineyards. 2014 is a lighter vintage (you can read further vintage references here). In the glass, this nebbiolo wine from Figli Luigi Oddero has aromas of damp cherry and a brooding expression. The palate has chalky but firm tannins with hints of ripeness, the acidity is high and the wine is full bodied. This wine is quite coiled at this stage of its development, and would suit further cellaring of 3-5 years. Rating: Good to Very Good. Website: http://www.figliluigioddero.it/. Reviewed: June 2020.