2010 Benovia Russian River Chardonnay
Sunday, May 12th, 2013
2010 Benovia Russian River Chardonnay can be purchased online through Top Australian Wines from this link for $79.95
2010 Benovia Russian River Chardonnay is from Sonoma County in California, USA.
It was judged by 25 people at Lamaro’s in South Melbourne on Friday May 3, 2013.
The rating system is as follows:
7 – 7.9 – Good Wine
8 – 8.9 – Excellent Wine
9 + – Outstanding Wine
2010 Benovia Russian River Chardonnay scored an average of 7.83
Here are some of the comments:
“This wine is outstanding. It is that good you can frink it on it’s own”
“A lot going on in this wine”
“perfect with food”
“Well balanced and matches well with quail”
“Nice and smokey”
Here are the winemaker’s notes of 2010 Benovia Russian River Chardonnay:
2010 Russian River Chardonnay is bursting with aromas of lemon custard, white peach and Asian pear.
The lively aromatics are followed by equally intense flavours and an elegant finish.
Barrel fermentation and oak aging for 14 months have added hints of vanilla bean, roasted hazelnut and baking spice to this complex and intriguing wine.
2011 By Farr Chardonnay
Saturday, May 11th, 2013
2011 By Farr Chardonnay can be purchased through this link for $64.99 a bottle
2011 By Farr Chardonnay is from Bannockburn in VIC.
It was judged by 25 people at Lamaro’s in South Melbourne on Friday May 3, 2013.
The rating system is as follows:
7 – 7.9 – Good Wine
8 – 8.9 – Excellent Wine
9 + – Outstanding Wine
2011 By Farr Chardonnay scored an average of 7.61
Here are some of the comments:
“Leaves nice aftertaste. A bit going on but pleasant. Nice with cheese”
“Very nice”
“Very smooth”
“light on the palate, very refreshing”
“Lots of character”
“I love wood!! Drink with food”
The By Farr Chardonnay from 2011 is a very fine example of a producer that doesn’t alter their style but allows vintage variation.
“We are very happy with this wine off the back of the 2010 release.
We pressed this fruit very lightly to only extract the finest juice (550 litres per ton rather than 675 litres in a normal vintage) because of the delicate vintage that we experienced.
A little foot stomping was done to the fruit prior to pressing to help extract more phenolics due to the lighter pressing.
There is a more focused acidity line through this wine but still has the sites mineral and complex palate.
The barrel fermented and 100% malo flavours of this wine still show the Farr house style of understated richness even though from an extremely cool vintage” – Nick Farr
2010 Mike Press Pinot Noir
Saturday, May 11th, 2013
2010 Mike Press Pinot Noir can be purchased from this link for $14.99
2010 Mike Press Pinot Noir is from Adelaide Hills in S.A.
It was judged by 30 people at Acqua E Vino in Yarraville on Wednesday April 10.
The rating system is as follows:
7 – 7.9 – Good Wine
8 – 8.9 – Excellent Wine
9 + – Outstanding Wine
2010 Mike Press Pinot Noir scored an average of 8.05
Here are some of the comments:
“A lovely drink, nice nose & great value”
“Lovely wine, great value”
“Wine good, value great”
“Good nose, good legs, very nice wine for the price point”
This is an elegant wine which is easy drinking now but will only improve with age .
An earthy character on the nose, with soft berry fruit on the palate with a fresh violet lift and some spicy complexity on the finish.
Fine tannins give it more definition and structure.
2012 Hickinbotham Chardonnay
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013
2012 Hickinbotham Chardonnay can be purchased through this link for $20
2012 Hickinbotham Chardonnay is from the Mornington Peninsula in VIC.
It was judged by 30 people at Acqua E Vino in Yarraville on Wednesday April 10.
The rating system is as follows:
7 – 7.9 – Good Wine
8 – 8.9 – Excellent Wine
9 + – Outstanding Wine
2012 Hickinbotham Chardonnay scored an average of 7.79
Here are some of the comments:
“Super chardonnay, fruity & refreshing”
“Very nice & fruity”
“Awesome for a non chardonnay drinker”
“I’m not a chardonnay drinker but this is much better. Works very well with hot chilli”
“Aromatic, quite drinkable”
“Not bad at all”
2012 Hickinbotham Chardonnay is an austere style of wine with a clean, balanced palate of apricots of citrus fruit.
The fine vanilla of French oak and partial malolactic fermentation softens the crisp acidity.
Will age well in the bottle for a number of years and will become more buttery in time.
2011 Rieslingfreak No 3
Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
The wine is fruit driven, tangy, with some pineapple notes.
A good fresh crispy style, which drinks well now, or will reward with a number of years cellaring.
2011 Rieslingfreak No 3 can be purchased through this link for $20
2011 Rieslingfreak No 3 was judged by 30 people at Acqua E Vino in Yarraville on Wednesday April 10.
The rating system is as follows:
7 – 7.9 – Good Wine
8 – 8.9 – Excellent Wine
9 + – Outstanding Wine
2011 Rieslingfreak No 3 scored an average of 7.94
Here are some of the comments:
“Nice acid & fruit, Balanced & clean”
“Beautiful riesling”
:I really like this wine. Clean line of acid down the tongue”
“Dry, good acid structure, cellar for 5-6 years”
MasterChef contestant, and winemaker John Hughes captured the hearts and minds of Australia with his honest, top quality cooking along side his now famous gutsy decision to not serve the judges a dish he wasn’t happy with.
John suffers from a condition known as cerbral palsy, which slightly slows down his movement.
Thankfully winemaking requires time and patience, something John has plenty of, so why not allow him the opportunity to recapture your heart, mind an imagination with one of his fine expressions of Clare Valley Riesling?
John makes his Rieslings the same as he does food – serious.
Rieslingfreak is all about excitement and passion.
John Hughes only releases vintages where the style can be perfected hence 2011 Rieslingfreak No.3 is a Top Australian Wine.
The 2011 Rieslingfreak wines were sourced from the family vineyard, situated in the sub region of White Hut, in the Clare Valley .
The grapes were harvested early in the season, resulting in a lower alcohol (11.5%ALC/VOL) than previous vintages, but encompassing the depth of flavour for which the hallmark of the Rieslingfreak wines.
Colour: pale straw with green hues.
Nose: Ripe lemon and grapefruit, with hints of melon and floral aromas.
Palate: Ripe lemon and limes, with some melon and tropical notes.
The wine is fruit driven, tangy, with some pineapple notes.
A good fresh crispy style, which drinks well now, or will reward with a number of years cellaring.
