Tasting by Topic

 

 

Fine Wine Wholesalers

New Release

10th June 2009

Matt Holden, State Manager of Fine Wine Wholesalers, arranged this tasting at Lamont's - East Perth to show some of his premium new releases. There were several varieties on show, including Chardonnay, Pinot, and Shiraz. A highlight are the new wines from Chapel Hill. Winemaker Michael Fragos has been a revelation. Both his wines are outstanding. If you happen to see his 2006 shiraz in the shops, try it before it is gone.

Tasted - In Order

  1. Seresin - Pinot Gris - 2008
  2. Castle Rock - Diletti - Chardonnay - 2008
  3. Lenton Brae - Chardonnay - 2006
  4. Lenton Brae - Willyabrup - Chardonnay - 2007
  5. Castle Rock - Pinot Noir - 2008
  6. Abbey Creek - Pinot Noir - 2006
  7. Seresin - Leah - Pinot Noir - 2006
  8. Port Phillip Estate - Pinot Noir - 2007
  9. Penley Estate - Special Select - Shiraz 2005
  10. Chapel Hill - Shiraz - 2007
  11. Chapel Hill - The Vicar - Shiraz - 2006
  12. Penley Estate - Reserve - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2004
  13. Joseph Phelps - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2005
  14. Kalleske - Greenock Creek - Shiraz - 2006
  15. Poggiopianno - Chianti Classico - 2006

 

Tasted - Ranked

Chapel Hill - The Vicar - Shiraz - 2006. Closed, Inky and very dense. A seamless and very powerful wine, but gives nothing away at present. Great integration of fruit and oak, this wine is seductive and oh so long.(18.5+)

Penley Estate - Reserve - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2004. More forward and ripe, with some leathery spice. Reflects the extra age of the wine. There is a touch of mint and eucalypt on the nose. The palate is dense, closed and tight, the very fine tannins and oak shutting down the fruit. Give it time in the glass or the cellar. (18/18.5)

Lenton Brae - Chardonnay - 2006. A More serious wine. Complex, with some tropical fruit and some barrel ferment characters on the nose. Opens brightly in the mouth and builds. Focused fruit with citrus. The mouth feel is a highlight - textured and viscous. Again, needs a few years to show its best or decant prior to serving. (18)

Chapel Hill - Shiraz - 2007. Quite closed to start. Opens with red forest fruits, with subtle oak to follow. Cherry fruit on the palate is balanced by gentle spices and acid. Some perfume to close. This wine has it all in place, but needs 5 years to settle down. (17.7/18+)

Lenton Brae - Willyabrup - Chardonnay - 2007. Opens with some almond meal, with mineral and citrus fruit. The palate is fresh, long, and quite seamless. Minerally finish to close. Builds and opens. Restrained use of oak. (17.8)

Abbey Creek - Pinot Noir - 2006. More alive with seductive red fruit. On the palate the fruit really sings, with vibrant redcurrant fruit. Builds in the mouth with a long fine finish. Good structure (17.8) NB. Made at Castle Rock, but not distributed by Fine Wine Wholesalers.

Penley Estate - Special Select - Shiraz 2005. A touch dusty to start, but opens with a perfumed, lifted nose that is quite seductive. The palate also shows the sweet seductive fruit, but is shut down by very fine tannins and refreshing acidity. Long and Fine (17.7)

Kalleske - Greenock Creek - Shiraz - 2006. Restrained to start. Opens with licorice and spice, redcurrant and plumy fruit. A blockbuster on the palate, this wine has more of everything (including alcohol). This wine is juicy, plump and ripe, with a fair whack of Vanillin oak. Not for the meek! (17.7) N.B. not distributed by Fine Wine Wholesalers.

Castle Rock - Diletti - Chardonnay - 2008. Closed and tight right now. Quite lemony and citrus on the nose, with subtle oak adding complexity. A lighter style on the palate, with passion fruit and a touch of sherbet. Persistent and long. To young now (17.5)

Castle Rock - Pinot Noir - 2008. Ripe fruit with strawberry notes. some forest floor too. Opens to become a pretty wine. The palate starts quite closed and austere, a reflection of the fine tannins (fruit and oak) shutting down the fruit. Too young (17/17.5)

Seresin - Pinot Gris - 2008. Floral but quite tight at the moment. Touch of Lanolin on the nose. The floral characters come through on the palate, and there is good viscosity. Lacks fruit intensity now, but builds in the mouth. Will improve over the next year or two. (17)

Joseph Phelps - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2005. Cooler style. More restrained but showing a touch of mortien (a good thing) and mint. Palate is persistent, but finished just a touch short. A good wine (17) N.B. not distributed by Fine Wine Wholesalers.

Poggiopianno - Chianti Classico - 2006. Unusual nose in this line up. Perhaps out of context. Quite feminine, long and fresh. Savoury palate with sappy grippy fruit. Needs food (16.9) N.B. not distributed by Fine Wine Wholesalers.

Seresin - Leah - Pinot Noir - 2006. Earthy and gamey, perhaps a touch feral. Not my style. (16.4)

Port Phillip Estate - Pinot Noir - 2007 (16) N.B. not distributed by Fine Wine Wholesalers.