Smoking Loon 2015 Pinot Grigio, 2014 Chardonnay, Merlot and Malbec

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Smoking Loon California Pinot Grigio 2015
  Pinot Gris from USA

  Review Date : 12-Oct-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, light straw-yellow colour, pale on the rim. The nose is softly fresh with aromas of white stonefruits entwined with subtle layers of nuts and flinty lees suggestions and mouthwatering minerals. The aromatics build in depth with aeration. Dry to taste and light-medium bodied, the palate is bright, clean and refreshing with light flavours of white stonefruits and gentle layers of nuts and minerals. The wine is smooth-flowing with a fine and soft mouthfeel and refreshing, crisp, thirst-quenching acidity. The palate leads to a light, white stonefruited finish with a little dry grip. This is a clean, crisp, light, white stonefruited Pinot Grigio with subtle nutty and mineral notes and some mouthwatering mineral detail. Serve as an aperitif, with seafood and poultry over the next 2-3 years. California fruit fermented to 12.5% alc. 16.5/20 Oct 2016 RRP $25.00
• Smoking Loon California Chardonnay 2014
  Chardonnay from USA

  Review Date : 12-Oct-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, moderately deep golden-yellow colour, lighter edged. The nose is elegantly proportioned and rounded with-concentrated aromas of ripe, savoury yellow stonefruits and citrus fruits, harmoniously entwined with nutty oak, and the beginnings of secondary development. Medium-full bodied, the palate possesses concentrated flavours of savoury citrus and stonefruits at the core along with subtle nutty oak notes. The mouthfeel is soft in texture with light, lacy acidity lending a fresh and steely flow. This has linearity, carrying the firmly packed fruit flavours to a lingering finish. This is an elegant Chardonnay with savoury citrus and stonefruit flavours and balanced oaking, just beginning to develop secondary detail, on a soft-textured but refreshing palate. Match with seafood, poultry and pork over the next 2-3 years. California fruit fermented to 13.0% alc., the wine aged 5 months in 100% new French oak. 16.5+/20 Oct 2016 RRP $25.00
• Smoking Loon California Merlot 2014
  Merlot from USA

  Review Date : 12-Oct-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Even, dark ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues. This has light, accessible aromas of dark-red berry and plum fruit along with notes of sappy stalks and fresh herbs in the cooler spectrum, revealing red florals, hints of whole berry fermentation fruit pastille and jam elements and cedary oak. Medium-bodied, the palate shows up-front and easy flavours of sweet red berry fruits with redcurrants, plums and notes of strawberry jam. The palate is open and accessible with grainy tannin textures that fill the mouth, allied to fresh, brisk acidity. The wine carries to a dry, light finish with aromatic red berry, herb and jam nuances. This is an up-front, sweet-fruited Merlot with plum, currant and herb flavours along with jam nuances on a dry-textured, lively palate. Serve with pasta, pizza and barbecued fare over the next 2-3 years. California fruit fermented to 13.5% alc, the wine aged 8 months in French and American oak, 80% new. 16.5/20 Oct 2016 RRP $25.00
• Smoking Loon ‘El Carancho’ Valle Central Malbec 2014
  Malbec from Chile

  Review Date : 12-Oct-2016

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very dark, deep black-hued ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues, lighter on the rim. The nose is fresh with light aromas of dark-red berry fruit entwined with notes of dark herbs, green olives and subtle stalky nuances, unfolding boysenberry elements, lifted violet florals and oak toast. Medium-bodied, bright, lively and juicy flavours of dark-red berry fruits and boysenberry jam are melded with dark herbs, stalk and olive flavours. The mouthfeel features vibrant and sweet fruit underlined by fine-grained tannin that build to provide balancing dryness and grip. Fresh underlying lacy acidity lends energy, and the wine flow to an elegant, light-flavoured finish of sweet red berry fruits with notes of herbs and stalk. This is a fresh and juicy Malbec with red berry and jam flavours alongside herb and stalk note on a light, structured palate. Serve with antipasto, tapas and barbecued fare over the next 3 years. Malbec fruit from the Valle Central, Chile, fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 14 months in 70% French, 20% American and 10% Hungarian oak. 17.0-/20 Oct 2016 RRP $25.00