The countdown has started! This week, we highlight Australian legendary producers that would perfectly accompany your end of the year celebrations. We start with an iconic Chardonnay from Tassie legend Tolpuddle, then move to one of Australia’s most famous Rose from Turkey Flat. For the reds, we dive in the Pinot top tier with Mount Mary and finish with a limited museum release from Tapanappa.
Tolpuddle Chardonnay 2019
Future mother in law loves Chardonnay? Perhaps this bottle will put you in the good books… Complex and almost cult-like, this chardonnay is harvested from remarkable vineyards in Coal River (Tasmania). Powerful yet elegant and poised, every sip brings another dimension to this wine. (Not too dissimilar from a top-notch white Burgundy #ohyeahshedidit). Aromas and flavours of citrus (yellow grapefruit – lemon), orchard fruits (white nectarines – peach skin), slight flint and wet chalk, not to forget the oak (sweet spices)…It is almost a lemon meringue tart, with its leesy, creamy mouthfeel combined with a vibrant and vivacious acid line.
As Queen would sing: I want it all.
Turkey Flat Rose 2020
Whether you are spending Christmas day with Rose lovers or future Rose lovers; Turkey Flat (Barossa Valley) is a great addition to the wine stash. Perfect with diving into the prawns whilst listening to your nephew talking about dinosaurs… The style has evolved over the years, going from a rather rich and fruity Shiraz, Cabernet and Grenache blend to a lighter, crisper and drier Grenache dominant goodness. Pronounced aromas and flavours of citrus (tangerine – sumo mandarins), berries (cranberries – raspberries), spice (white pepper – caraway seeds), limey acidity and great palate weight.
What is Christmas without a bucket of prawns?
Mount Mary Pinot Noir 2018
The first thing that strikes with this Victorian Pinot Noir is its elegance. It is light, perfumed, ethereal one may say, and definitively a conversation maker. Plus it’s superb with duck. The Middleton family prefers a more simplistic approach to winemaking; meaning relatively short fermentation (8 to 10 days), followed by 16 months in oak barrels (25% new barriques) and a minimal, if any, fining and filtration prior bottling. It is all about letting the terroir express itself through the wine.
Perfect balance between bright, fresh, primary fruits and darker, earthier secondary notes. According to their release notes; the nose opens with hints of strawberry, blackcurrant, quince, spice and some toasty oak flavours. Many layers to the palate which shows a certain density/viscosity. The palate is packed with flavours of strawberry, cherry, rhubarb along with earthy, spicy complexities. Through all this, is an interwoven soft tannic structure giving the wine grip, length and longevity.
Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Merlot Cabernet Franc 2010
We have less than a case available of this special limited museum release from Tapanappa.
(As well as some of their highly rewarded Tiers Chardonnay 2017, but that’s for another day)
Made by South Australian wine star Brian Croser, the wine is composed of 42% Merlot and 58% Cabernet Franc. 2010 was a warm vintage bringing out all the complexity of both Merlot & Cabernet Franc from the Whalebone Vineyard. The Merlot shows ripe plum and spice with a big blocky tannin structure. The Cabernet Franc brings floral and delicate notes with a whisp of the leafiness for which this variety is renowned, with a silky and fine-grained tannin structure. Blended expertly together, this wine is pure decadence and will be perfect with a large cheese platter.
“the length and persistence of the palate and its aftertaste are striking.” 97 points
James Halliday
“Complex, subtly powerful with smooth, effortless tannins. Impressive.” 96 points
Huon Hooke
Want some of these on your Santa’s list?
Pop by the store or email us val@decanters.com.au
Trivia – Easy
True or False
The legs of swirled wine running down the side of the glass indicate quality.
Email val@decanters.com.au
Notes thanks to
Mountmary.com.au
Tapanappa.com.au
