Wine Reviews July 2010

By Franz Scheurer

Holly’s Garden Pinot Gris 2009

It’s always gratifying discovering something new; Holly’s Garden Pinot Gris 2009 is a real cracker. It’s a high altitude wine, grown at the Whitlands high plateau at 750m a/sea level in volcanic soils. Located in the upper reaches of the King Valley in North East Victoria, Whitlands is one of Australia’s highest and coolest vineyards. The wine shows both its terroir and the way it is made leaves a fair amount of residual sugar. It’s a bit like an Alsatian Pinot Gris, without the fattiness and textural oiliness. It’s clean, acid and sugar are perfectly balanced and it’s 100% a food wine. Don’t even try to drink this on its own. I love it and there should be more winemakers out there who aren’t afraid of a bit of residual sugar!

For more information go to the Prentice family’s website http://www.hollysgarden.com.au

Cirillo 1850 Grenache 2006

Might this be Australia’s best Grenache? It’s certainly up there. Grown in the Barossa Valley from a vineyard that was started around the 1850s. It’s full bodied, basket pressed, made in open fermenters and using both French and American oak, this wine will live for at least 8-10 years, but you can happily consume it now and as Marco Crillo suggests: in the true Italian fashion with food, family and friends. I drink to that!

Look out for it at your local bottle shop!

Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2005

Hailing from Margret River this Bordeaux blend is, although typically New World, a very good wine. A cool, coastal strip of land, with lots of red, gravelly soil shapes the wine as much as the blend, which is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 5% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. The Malbec gives it body and the Petit Verdot acts like a perfume, adding high floral notes. Bottled at 14% a/v this is no shrinking violet and it needs to breathe before you serve it. Try it with lamb shanks or a good old-fashioned Irish Stew and you’ll bring out the savoury notes. For more information go to: http://www.voyagerestate.com.au