Better … and best
As this is my penultimate column, I thought you might like to know about some of the four-star (excellent) and fivestar (fabulous) wines that have come my way since January.
FOUR-STAR WHITES Mount Langi Ghiran 2014 Cliff Edge riesling $25:
Age is adding touches of gold while the nose and palate are beginning to display the delicious caramel characters that Australian rieslings take on with time.
Kate Hill 2015 riesling $28:
Delicate floral, limey aromas followed by a soft-fruit palate around a dry minerally core and finishing long and crisp.
Robert Stein 2016 riesling $30:
Smells and tastes much sweeter than the back label indicates, with floral, tropical and limecordial-like flavours on a richly textured palate.
Native Point 2014 riesling $30:
Shows how cool climate rieslings can fill out to become more textured, rich with lime essence while retaining wonderful freshness.
Bremerton 2013 Batonnage chardonnay $32:
Intense, creamy texture and nicely balanced, showing nuts, biscuit and toffee-like complexity.
Yering Station 2014 Estate chardonnay $40:
Fruity and oaky with age providing a pleasing mellowness and richness to the ripe, sweetish peach and nectarine flavours
Moss Wood 2015 Wilyabrup chardonnay $65:
Lots of dried figs and nutty, oatmeal, yeasty flavours plus a touch of woody dryness on a tight palate.
Xanadu 2013 Reserve Chardonnay $85:
Honey, nutty, crème brulee and ripe peach aromas with a rich complex palate.
Tim Adams 2014 semillon $24:
A richer semillon than usual with lovely lemon curd flavours combining with the subtle oak.
Huntington Estate 2015 special reserve semillon $28:
Light, fresh, lemon and lime juice aromas and flavours on a tight, long-finishing palate.
Bremerton 2016 fiano $24:
Soft and dry with minerally, spicy aromas and flavours, with more complex citrus and honey touches in the mouth
FIVE-STAR WHITES Scotchmans Hill 2016 late harvest riesling $25 (375ml):
Bright and succulent with botrytis-influenced nectarine, stewed apples and honey flavours balanced by good, zesty acidity.
Gala Estate 2016 late harvest riesling $35:
Less intense and not as sweet as the Scotchmans Hill, but with lime cordial-like flavours and a sort of gingerbeer zesty spiciness.
Morningside 2016 riesling $25:
An absolute Tassie classic, with citrus, floral and green apple aromas and flavours and a delicious minerally crispness and sherbetfresh tang.
Glen Ayr 2013 riesling $30:
A classic aged riesling with all the citrus freshness and toast and lime marmalade flavours you could want.
Glaetzer-Dixon 2016 uberblanc riesling $30:
As much about texture and richness as it is about flavours, with the lusciously ripe apricot and mandarin-like characters carried on a smoothly textured, rounded, juicy and savoury palate.
Yering Station 2015 chardonnay $40:
Bright golden colour with complex ripe fig and citrusy flavours interwoven with cashew and butterscotch notes.
Shaw + Smith 2015 M3 chardonnay $44:
Fronted by lovely rich pear and stone fruit flavours with honey and nutty toffee notes adding depth and complexity.
Brown Brothers 2012 Patricia chardonnay $45:
Brown Bros top-of-the-range chardonnay, with citrus and syrupy fig aromas and flavours on a voluptuous, beautifully structured, mid-weight palate.
Stefano Lubiana 2012 Collina chardonnay $90 (CD):
An exquisite, top French Burgundy-like wine with an intense, mouth-watering complexity of citrus, honey, oatmeal and patisserie cream, silky smooth and balanced.
Hardy’s 2014 Eileen Hardy chardonnay $95:
Intensity, delicious balance and deep complexity with the ripe stone fruit, subtle oak and minerally components.
Gartelmann 2016 Benjamin semillon $25:
A complex array of freshly cut grass, lemon peel and honeysuckle on a beautifully balanced palate.
Inverquharity 2016 gewurztraminer $30:
A cracker gurwurz with all the exotic spice, musk and pungency that you could want.
Grey Sands 2014 Pinot Gris $45:
Previous vintages of Grey Sands’ pinot gris have been acclaimed as the best in Australia. This is as good as their previous best with a delicious savoury core, creamy texture and a dry, nutty finish.