Three International Wines from Great Little Vineyards

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Chene Bleu Vaucluse Viognier 2015
  Viognier from France - Rhone

  Review Date : 23-Apr-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, golden-yellow colour with some depth, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is elegantly presented with softly concentrated, ripe fruit aromas of apricots and yellow stonefruits, along with savoury apricot kernels, nutty elements and suggestions of earthy complexities. Yellow floral and citrus zest nuances emerge to add detail. Dry to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate has vibrant and lively fruit flavours of apricots and yellow stonefruits entwined with yellow florals, savoury stonefruit kernels, nutty elements and a hint of earth. The fruit possesses a degree of opulence. The palate has plenty of energy and poise, and is underlined by some alcohol drive, with fresh acidity lending vibrancy. The wine flows along a smooth line, leading to an elegant finish of stonefruits, florals and nuts. This is a vibrant and lively, well-concentrated and flavoursome dry Viognier with apricot, stonefruit, kernel and nutty notes on a well-driven palate. Match with Middle Eastern and Asian cuisine over the next 3+ years. 100% Viognier from 13 y.o. vines in Vaucluse, Southern Rhone, fermented to 14.0% alc. and 2.7 g/L RS, the wine aged 7 months in oak. 18.5/20 Apr 2018 RRP $69.90
• Cellers Can Blau Montsant 2016
  Blended Red from Spain

  Review Date : 23-Apr-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very dark, deep, near impenetrable black-hued ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is fresh, bright and primary, with up-front vibrant fruit aromas of ripe blackberries and boysenberries and notes of blueberry jam. The aromatics are well-concentrated and soft in density, unfolding violet floral elements. Medium-full bodied, the palate is elegant in proportion with intense and deep, vibrantly up-front primary fruit flavours of ripe blackberries, boysenberries, plums and blueberry jam, unfolding floral detail. The fruit is supported by fine tannin structure lending body, mouthfeel and linearity, with balanced, integrated acidity. The flavours carry to a long, lingering, concentrate finish of sweet, ripe black fruits. This is a bright, vibrant and intense primary-fruited Montsant with ripe black fruits, jam flavours and fine tannin grip. Match with barbecued, grilled and roasted red meats over the next 4-5+ years. A blend of Carignan, Garnacha and Syrah from Montsant, Spain, fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 4 months in French oak. 18.0/20 Apr 2018 RRP $25.50
• Vinteloper Langhorne Creek Touriga Nacional 2017
  Other Red from Australia - South Australia

  Review Date : 23-Apr-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, deep, near-saturated black-hued purple-res colour, a little lighter on the edge, and youthful in appearance. The nose is very tightly concentrated and elegant in proportion with deep and intensely penetrating aromas of ripe blackberry fruit with an amalgam of blackcurrants, boysenberries, dark herbs, and black minerals, unfolding some spice and liquorice notes. Medium-full bodied, the flavours are well-proportioned with deep and intense, finely concentrated ripe blackberry and cassis fruit, along with boysenberries melded with black minerals and herbs. The fruit is supported by very fine-grained, flowery tannin extraction and grip, with balanced, lacy acidity. The wine has positive linearity and carries to a long and sustained finish of black fruits, herbs and minerals. This is a finely proportioned, intense and concentrated Touriga Nacional with ripe flavours of blackberries and cassis, black minerals and herbs on a fine-grained palate. Match with slow-cooked game meats and semi-hard cheeses over the next 7-8+ years. Langhorne Creek fruit from the ‘Widdop’ vineyard, vines planted in 1993, indigenous yeast fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 11 months in French oak. 18.0+/20 Apr 2018 RRP $39.90