From Castle Rock Estate and Porongurup in Western Australia, this is a fine, chiselled, emphatically dry riesling in style. In the glass, there is a firm aroma of lemon and stones. The palate has fresh, biting acidity and a mineral edge. Ready to drink now, this should improve with 4 to 5 years in the cellar. Rating: Good. Abv: 11.5%. Price: $25. Website: https://castlerockestate.com.au. Source: Sample. Reviewed: January 2020.
This is a bright pinot noir from Castle Rock Estate in the Porongurup region in Western Australia. It has a primary fruited aroma of cherries and spice. There is evident CO2 on the palate, which complements its chirpy acidity and gentle cedar influence. Ready to drink now, this is an approachable wine. Rating: Good. Abv: 13%. Price $38. Website: https://castlerockestate.com.au. Source: Sample.
Robert Oatley’s Finisterre riesling is the second very good riesling from Great Southern I’ve tasted in recent times and has a piercing mineral and saline character that I am hoping is an expression of terroir. The other riesling – an outstanding one at that – was from Frankland Estate (reviewed here).
I remain unsure why I had not discovered this region earlier, although obscurity is a candidate. The Great Southern wine region – already in a remote part of south western Australia – is further divided into five subregions, namely Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mt Barker and Porongurup. You can read more here from the Great Southern Wine Producers Association. Were I in charge, and I am most certainly not, I would just call them all Great Southern. In my humble opinion, the world has too many subregions to meaningfully remember them all.
Oh, and the second wine reviewed is a nice refreshing rosé from De Bortoli in the Yarra Valley. Both wines suit warmer weather.
Robert Oatley Finisterre Riesling 2013, Porongurup
Pure, lemon and mineral nose. The palate is fresh, with a piercing saline core and finish. Terroir characters? I hope so. Rating: Good to Very Good
La Bohème Act Two Dry Pinot Noir Rosé 2016, Yarra Valley
Baroquely labelled, this pinot noir rosé is from the De Bortoli stable. It’s a good one too. A light towards salmon pink in colour, this is a dry, fruity and medium bodied rosé style. Rating: Good
Read more:
robertoatley.com.au
www.debortoli.com.au