This is a very good pinot noir from Bannockburn in Geelong. In the glass, it has a stemmy aroma (there’s 40% whole bunch in use), with twigs, meat and rhubarb undertones. The palate is between medium and full bodied, with a viscous texture, long length, fresh acidity and some appealing bacon and cherry fruit flavours. […]
Tag Archives: Geelong
Vine density
I’ve been having a close look recently at vine density. From the simple and incorrect dogma that denser plantings are better (in fact, this holds it would seem only in some circumstances), it is fascinating to read the various studies. At its simplest, for any given area of land, vine density refers to how many vines […]
Domaine de Bellene Maison Dieu Bourgogne 2014; blind tasting and label thoughts
This is a delicious Bourgogne from Domaine de Bellene. Before I get to the wine, I took away a few of observations from it. First, pinot noir from Burgundy frequently resembles a different grape variety to the vast majority of pinot noirs I taste in Australia. This is not intended as a slight upon Australian […]
Austins & Co Crisp Dry White 2015
I liked this producer’s riesling (see my review here), so it makes a great deal of sense that I also liked this wine too, which is a blend of riesling (76%) and pinot gris (24%). Labelled as a “crisp dry white” from the Geelong region, the wine in the bottle proves to be exactly that. […]
Austins & Co Rosé 2015
Smartly labelled, this is a sound rosé from Austins & Co in the Geelong region. Aromatics of strawberry and nectarine kernels. The palate reminds of florals with more or less neutral flavours, a viscous texture and seemed a little loose. Rating: AcceptableAbv: 14%Price: $25Source: sampleVendors and website: http://www.austinsandco.com.auTasted: 2015
A couple of Geelong pinots: Scotchmans Hill Pinot Noir 2013 and Mt Moriac Estate Pinot Noir 2012
Soils matter for pinot noir, and in Geelong, there are a number of soil types. The Scotchmans Hill pinot noir tasted here is grown (as far as I can tell) on the Bellarine Peninsula east of Geelong on volcanic soils of black clay with a basalt subsoil. Mt Moriac is on the other side of […]
Austins & Co Chardonnay 2014
From the Geelong region, this chardonnay from the 2014 vintage has aromatics of nectarine, lemon and nuts. The palate reminds principally of just picked grapefruit and lemon with medium length and very firm acidity. A bit too firm for me. Rating: AcceptableAbv: 13%Price: $30Source: sampleVendors and website: http://www.austinsandco.com.auTasted: 2015
Austins & Co Riesling 2015
Austin’s from the Moorabool Valley in Geelong is a winery I have not tasted a lot from, and this riesling is a very good start. It’s situated at Sutherlands Creek on the other side of Bannockburn, and will see me shortly delve into the history books to find out a bit more about it. The […]
Lethbridge Ménage a Noir 2013
I think pinot noir from parts of the Geelong region can have an “x factor” that others lack. Perhaps it’s the outcrops of limestone subsoils, the plots of volcanic soils, the region’s long history with the grape, the low rainfall or perhaps it’s just me. Lethbridge are a very good producer located just outside of […]
Bannockburn Chardonnay 2012
The 2012 vintage of Bannockburn’s chardonnay wears its varietal character on its sleeve. It’s highly expressive at this juncture, at a time when many chardonnays grown on Australian soil aren’t. Heady aromatics of cashew, oil, butter and some oak characters promise a full flavoured wine on the palate. And the palate is just that, with […]