WINE PICKS OF THE WEEK
Oxford Landing Estate Viognier 2013, South Australia
Price: $13 | Score: 87/100
UPC: 9311789000473
Ginger, spicy, grapefruit, light lees, orange rind and anise aromas. Fresh, creamy, slightly sweet palate but juicy with mandarin, ginger, butter, pear, floral, melon flavours. Good solid consumer style on the lighter side but very good value.
Cono Sur Single Vineyard Riesling Block 23 Rulos del Alto 2013, Valle de San Antonio, Chile
Price: $20 | Score: 88/100
UPC: 7804320066912
Made with some of the oldest vines in Bio Bio Block, 23 opens with an herbaceous/ sage pears and baked apple nose. The attack is slightly phenolic with a touch of diesel and more pears, honey and a touch of lemon grass. Mostly dry and food friendly.
Domaine Christian Moreau Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon Cuvée Guy Moreau 2012, Chablis, Burgundy, France
Price: $45 | Score: 91/100
UPC: 089744423528
Fresh, creamy, juicy, elegant palate with green apple skin, lime, light butter, lees, seashell, grassy, lemon rind flavours. Fabulous intensity, flavourful and still with firm acidity on the finish to allow some further aging. Delicious bottle of Chardonnay.
Sandhill Syrah Sandhill Estate Vineyard 2012, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Price: $20 | Score: 88/100
UPC: 058976500796
Dry, fresh, slightly austere but full palate with light, gritty tannins. Smoky, espresso, vanilla, peppery, meaty, savoury, prune and leather flavours. A bit dry and oaky but lots of intensity. Needs a few years in bottle but offers terrific value. Drink now with hearty fall dishes.
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2012, Côtes du Rhône, Rhone Valley, France
Price: $23 | Score: 89/100
UPC: 3483812150106
Big Black pepper, savoury, licorice, black cherry jam nose previews a fresh, juicy, ripe palate with some young tannins. Black cherry, peppery, savoury, licorice, coffee, garrigue, gamy, smoky flavours. Will improve over the next two to three years. Fine value here. Buy this by the case.
Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2011, Clare Valley, South Australia
Price: $30 | Score: 88/100
UPC: 9314487457013
Open savoury smoky, tobacco, peppery nose with meaty, licorice curry, blackberry aromas. The attack is round, with some mid-palate acidity and cedar notes with light tannins. A lighter version of this wine that is ready to drink. Try this with grilled lamb chops.