Sommeliers Australia | Wine Australia Tasting
18 Australian wines were presented in the last quarter of
2012 by Sommeliers Australia & Wine Australia at the 12 Apostles Hotel in
Camps Bay, courtesy to the newly founded Sommeliers Association of South Africa (SASA).
A great gesture showing the fraternity of Somm’s associations
wherever they are in the world!
The tastings were presented by Australian David Clarke,
secretary of the Association.
It was a great way to understand the wines down under,
especially in terms of new varietal innovation, such as a promising McLaren
Vale Vermentino from Oliver’s Taranga, I can only guess it will be some years
before we see the first South African bottling of this great Mediterranean
variety?
The other revelation was the clarity and purity of white
wines, couples with across the board moderate alcohol averaging 13% - 13.5% abv
with a few under or closer to 12% abv, yet with no sacrifice on flavor, the
wines were bright showing green reflections towards the rim and yes,
considering majority of Australian vineyards are further parallel south than
the Cape, but that does not make them necessarily cooler?
The white wines were impressively fresh, bright, precise and
integrated natural acid, lending pin point linearity, results of lower pH? Probably!
High lighting the essence of minerality (in my view, I reckoned wines with
higher natural acidity contribute and highlights their sense of place, with an
electrifying energy kick.
The revelation was the 2 Chardonnay’s, athletic, bright with
an impressive delicacy, high natural acidity, they were revving with energy and
full of gob smacking flavors. Wow!
The reds were equally impressive, I admired the freshness,
near perfect extraction in most, and the oak regime was spot on, there was
delicacy, drinkability, vibrant acid making the majority of them sexy companion
for a broad spectrum of food pairings (aka high potential for wine lists
purchase).
Thank to the Australian Sommelier Association, for giving us
the opportunity to have a firsthand experience of some of their best drops, you
guys rock.
Individual tastings note to follow,
1 – Seppelt, Henty,
Victoria “Drumborg” Riesling 92 Points
2 – Frankland Estate, Frankland River, Western Australia
“Isolation Ridge” Riesling 2011 90+ Points
3 – Grosset, Clare Valley, South Australia “Polish Hill”
Riesling 2012 90 Points
4 – Oliver’s Taranga McLaren Vale, South Australia
Vermentino 2012 89+ Points
5 – Shaw+Smith, Adelaide Hills, South Australia Sauvignon
Blanc 2012 91 Points
6 – Thomas, Hunter Valley, New South Wales “Braemore”
Semillon 2007 90 Points
7 – Oakridge, Yarra Valley, Victoria “864” Single Block J&J D'Aloisio Vineyard Chardonnay - Charlie's Block Chardonnay 2011 94 Points
8 - Cullen, Margaret River, Western Australia "Kevin John" Chardonnay 2010 94 Points
9 - Bindi, Macedon, Victoria "Original Vineyard" Pinot Noir 2010 91 Points
10 – Mac Forbes, Yarra Valley, Victoria “Woori Yallock”
Pinot Noir 2010 90 Points
11- Yabby Lake, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria “Block 2”
Pinot Noir 2010 85 Points
12- Clonakilla, Canberra District, Australian Capital
Territory Shiraz Viognier 2009 90+ Points
13- Best’s, Great Western, Victoria “Bin 0” Shiraz 2010 95
Points
14-The Standish Wine Company, Barossa Valley, South
Australia “The Standish” Single Vineyard
Shiraz 2009 92 Points
15-Cullen, Margaret River, Western Australia “Diana Madeline”
2010 95 Points
16- Balnaves, Coonawarra, South Australia “The Tally”
Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 93 Points
17 – S C Pannell McLaren Vale, South Australia Nebbiolo 2008
90+ Points
18- Chambers, Rutherglen, Victoria Rosewood Vineyards Grand
Muscat NV 96+ Points
