This is an enjoyable and interesting barbera from Angullong in the Orange wine region. Quite savoury and Italian in bearing, it opens to aromas of red currant and sour cherry. The palate is fresh, stoney and has good length on the finish. Ready to drink now, this is a good release. Rating: Good. Abv: 14.5%. Price: $26. Website: www.angullong.com.au. Source: Sample.
A second wine from Patina. This time a dry riesling from Orange and the 2016 vintage. The aroma of this wine is quite muted with earth, stones and minerals evident with effort. The palate reminds of lemon, yellow grapefruit and is bound together with high acidity. Austere in bearing, this wine will reward time in the cellar. Rating: Good. Abv: 11.1%. Price: $25. Source: Sample.
Gee, there’s a lot of competition in chardonnay at the $20-$25 price bracket. Most of them are good too, which is great perhaps only for the consumer. The aroma of this wine from Angullong in the glass is immediately and appealingly mineral and citrus like. The palate has a good balance between its light touch oak, racy acidity and fruit flavours of lemon and grapefruit. This is good value at $20. Rating: Good. Abv: 13.5%. Price: $20. Source: Sample.
This wine from Patina has very pure aromas of candied lemons and lime. The palate is clean in bearing and style, off dry, the acidity high and the balance in the glass very good. Overall, this is a very good riesling. The label doesn’t in my view make the geographic indication (GI) claim obvious but I presume the region of origin is Orange or the broader Central Ranges Zone. Rating: Good to Very Good. Abv: 11.1%. Price: $25. Source: Sample.
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| The vintage shown in the picture is the 2015. This review is of the 2016 vintage. |
A 100% tempranillo from the Orange region, this wine from Angullong in the Orange region opens to aromas of red fruits and leather. The palate is medium bodied with chocolate and cherry characters, mid weight tannins and some well judged cedar influence. It resembles a modern Crianza style of tempranillo and is recommended. Rating: Good to Very Good. Abv: 14%. Price: $26. Source: Sample.
This is a good rendition of a nebbiolo from Rowlee in Orange. It has restrained aromatics that remind of actual cherries. Decant this wine, as the palate really improves with time in the glass. There are quite firm fine tannins and good length and balance, and – no mean feat – the impression is varietal. A well made local nebbiolo. Rating: Good. Abv: 14%. Price: $40. Source: Sample.
I tasted today through five Australian new release chardonnays, all blind, with prices ranging from $22 to $68. The average quality level in Australian chardonnay is very good indeed if you are able to spend $20 or more per bottle. The cooler climate regions of the Mornington Peninsula and Orange shone more brightly than the warmer regions, and Ten Minutes by Tractor’s Mornington Peninsula McCutcheon chardonnay shone brightest.
Huntington Estate Mudgee Chardonnay 2017
This wine has restrained aromatics that remind of lemon, pear and talc. The palate is dry, with firm acidity, a medium to full body, some depth of flavour, a heated spice expression and a medium length, warm finish. Rating: Acceptable to Good. Abv: 13.1%. Price: $22. Source: Sample.
Rowlee Single Vineyard Orange Chardonnay 2016
This wine has pronounced aromatics of lemon, nectarine, cedar and, initially only, smoke and struck match. There is some evidence of oak. The palate is dry, with medium to firm acidity, medium to full body, long length on the finish, and a mineral and crystalline character. From a hitherto unseen label, this is good drinking. Rating: Very Good. Abv: 13.5%. Price: $40. Source: Sample.
Ten Minutes by Tractor Chardonnay McCutcheon Single Vineyard 2015
This wine has restrained aromatics of almond meal and cedar and a golden colour in the glass. There is evidence of good quality new oak. The palate is dry, and the acidity quite linear and zingy. It has refined bones of lemon and minerals, a medium body, good length and quite a subtle bearing. This is an outstanding chardonnay release, and I was not surprised to see this very good producer’s name on the reveal. Rating: Very Good to Outstanding. Abv: 13.8%. Price: $68. Source: Sample.
Pig in the House Organic Chardonnay Cowra 2017
This wine presented with unusual and pronounced aromatics that reminded of dust and green capsicum. The palate is medium to full bodied. There is a roundness to the acidity, but it is not portly. Rating: Acceptable. Abv: 13%. Price: $25. Source: Sample.
Heggies Vineyard Estate Chardonnay Eden Valley 2015
This wine has restrained but primary fruited aromatics of stones, almond meal and lemon zest. There is some evidence of oak and the acidity is quite zingy, spritzy and almost a little hard. The body medium to full and the length quite subtle but persistent. This is a good chardonnay. Rating: Good to Very Good. Abv: 13%. Price: $31. Source: Sample.
This is a very cool climate expression of pinot gris from Gartelmann in the Orange region. In the glass, it resembles the Italian version of this grape variety rather than the French. The aromatics are quite floral with orange rind and zest notes. The acidity on the palate is very firm, maybe a little too much so, with expressions of pear, stones, minerals and some youthful spritz. (Alc: 13.1%, Region: Orange, New South Wales, Rating: Acceptable to Good, Drink: now, Price: $25, Tasted: October, 2017, Source: Sample)
Read more:
gartelmann.com.au
Other vintages reviewed:
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