From the Ferguson Valley in Western Australia, this chardonnay opens to a restrained aroma of almond meal, custard and cedar. The body is between medium and full and the acidity medium and fine boned. This is a textured chardonnay that is particularly harmonious and ready to drink now. Rating: Good. Read more: https://www.aylesburyestate.com.au; wine-searcher.com. Source: Sample. Reviewed: August 2020.
From the Ferguson Valley in Western Australia, this cabernet sauvignon from Alyesbury Estate opens to aromas of pungent clove, eucalyptus and black fruits. The palate has very firm fine grained tannins, a medium body and integrated acidity. Ready to drink now and over the next few years. Rating: Good. Abv: NA. Price: $20. Website: https://www.aylesburyestate.com.au. Source: Sample. Reviewed: March 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.
The wine inside this bottle is more appealing than its garish label, for me. From tempranillo sourced from Geographe in Western Australia, this rosé is European in styling, with a savoury aroma, medium body and fresh acidity. Rating: Good. Abv: 12.5%. Price: $20. Website: www.vinaceous.com.au.
This is an exciting wine. It is among the best young rieslings I have tasted and is from Frankland Estate in the Frankland River region in Great Southern in Western Australia. And here I was hoping to buy less wine over the next couple of months … Its aromatics are saline, with a mineral and lime overlay. The palate has wonderful length on the finish and is dry with a medium, even slightly plumper, body and flavours reminding of lemon, lime and minerals, bound together by a saline seam of fresh acidity. Utterly delicious.
Rating: Very Good to Outstanding
Price: $28
Read more: http://www.franklandestate.com.au
Tasted: 2016
Houghton’s White Classic is a white wine blend made predominantly from chenin blanc. It has been produced for a number of years, and is currently made by winemaker, Ross Pamment. Tasting the wine, there seems to be a reason for its longevity, namely that an interesting wine is provided at modest price point.
In terms of appearance, it is lemon in colour, with, I thought, an ever so slight pink tinge, but that may have been my glass cleaning ability on show. Its aromatics are clean, with a pronounced intensity, and youthful notes of grass, tropical fruits including guava, lemon citrus and ripe pears. The palate is dry with medium (perhaps a bit higher) acidity, medium body, and lemon citrus and pear flavours, coupled with medium length. There’s some interesting depth and viscosity on the palate, as a well as a youthful petillance. This wine is a good value wine for the price, and punches above its weight. Good
Abv: 13%
Price: $13.99
Source: sample
Vendors: check http://www.wine-searcher.com
Website: http://www.houghton-wines.com.au
Tasted: September 2012