Monday, October 26, 2009

Rockridge 2009 Watervale Riesling


Up to about 10 years ago it was easy to rave about Riesling and smugly buy up the bargains because the variety offered such great value compared to chardonnay. But those days are long gone and I wondered if I'd ever find another great value riesling that wasn't a producer's stuff up [like Simon Pemberton Pearse and the unlabelled Palandri].

Well I have and it's from Watervale, that classic riesling region, in South Australia's Clare Valley. The intensity on the nose is almost overwhelming and the same fruit flavour carries through on the palate. Which goes on and on and on with lovely crisp acidity completing the experience.
This doesn't have the steely minerality that some of you love. This one's all about intense fruit in the citrus/honeysuckle spectrum. While it has the acidity to warrant cellaring I can't see the point. This is THE wine for this summer if you're a little bit over sauvignon blancs. It has the flavour to both handle a serious chill and justify a $20+ price tag.


RRP: Should be $20
Our Price: $12 per bottle by the doz

SOLD OUT

Friday, October 2, 2009

Buller 2007 Beverford Durif


Please don't be fooled by the price of this. It's a very classy, quality red wine that has been grossly underpriced by its maker. [Something that Buller also do with their fortifieds].
Colour is a dazzling deep purple and there's enticing sweet fruit on the nose and then the really interesting stuff starts. I often write about "quality fruit supported by underlying tannins". But this is all about really appealing tannins supported by underlying fruit. It may sound weird but it works beautifully. Alcohol is 15% but there's no hint of overextraction and it's just not an issue with this one
Three days after opening the wine is drinking even better and I suspect the back label "cellar to 2012" recommendation may be well short of the mark. I'm whacking some in the cellar to see how it evolves.

Our Price: $12 per bottle by the doz

SOLD OUT