Winetastic

I was surprised the other day when I spotted the Torzi Matthews Frost Dodger Shiraz in the South Australian aisle at our local Dan Murphy’s. Next door, Jacobs Creek looked busy attempting to clean up their front yard, clearly the Jonses have moved into town.

Inviting ripe fruit aromas of black cherry, plum and a hint of spices had my nose buried in the glass for a good five minutes before even taking a sip. Best of all, it tastes as good as it smells, with pure ripe shiraz fruit supported by a little pepper on mid palate, just enough oak and super fine tannins to dry out the finish. Its lush, full of flavour and exceptionally well balanced.

Even if you plan to drink a bottle of this Shiraz tomorrow, do decant in order to remove the large amount of sediment. I found the wine was still opening up and becoming even more full flavoured after around 4 hours in the air.

Score: 94/100
Price: $30
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.5%
Other Opinions: Vinosense
Would I buy this wine again?
Yes, at $30 I think it is well priced

As summer rapidly approaches, so does the impending tidal wave of Riesling and Semillon which call out for the warmer weather. A squeeky clean new release from Leo Buring is first up, the 2006 Eden Valley Riesling.

Almost transparent with just a hint of lemon colour, this Riesling has a varietal nose of grapes, green apples, pear and lemon sherbet. Lemon zest and nectarine fruit flavours lead into a dry finish with a hint of grassyness. The acid levels in this wine make it a solid drink-now proposition.

Whereas the 2005 vintage had racy acidity and minerality that added complexity and interest, the 2006 release is more fruit forward and a tad simple. It did go down great with Tuesday night Fettucine Boscaiola.

Score: 87/100
Price: $14
Closure: Scewcap
Alcohol: 13%
Other Opinions: Wino Sapien
Would I buy this wine again?
Its a good example of Aussie Riesling for the price, however this variety can pack even more punch if you hunt around. Probably not.

Tasted blind along with the 2005 Eden and Clare Valley Rieslings, the premium “Leonay” was voted by the majority to be the pick of the range, unsurprising considering this wine is only made from the best grapes each vintage.

Citrus on the nose, but nowhere near as bold as the Eden Valley. Outstanding balance between citrus fruits and mineral acidity on the palate, finishes dry without any hint of being sour. The detailed official tasting notes can be found here.

In a nut shell, this is a more refined and exceptionally well balanced version of the 2005 Eden Valley Riesling. The price will unfortunately rule out the average punter, coming in at around $30 a bottle. My advice, try the standard Eden Valley Riesling and if it tickles your fancy, put a bottle or two of the Leonay away for a few years.

Score: 10/10
Would I buy this wine again?
Too expensive to drink every day, I feel obliged to put a couple of bottles away in the cellar as by all reports, this is one of the best Australian Rieslings in recent years .

Gary Walsh at WinoRama gave the Leo Buring 2005 Eden Valley Riesling a great review, so I figured it was worthwhile picking up a bottle. Drank during a scorching hot evening in Sydney, the wine delivered big time on three fronts, refreshment, balance and value for money.

Exceptional clarity in the glass, with floral and citrus scents on the nose. Zesty citrus flavours come to the party followed by a long finish with just a hint of sweetness along with the dry acidity. A wine with excellent balance, perfect if you prefer your whites to have restrained fruit character. If you are so inclined, the “official” tasting notes can be found here.

A 2005 Leo Buring “Leonay” premium riesling has also been released, a comparison is in order if a bottle can be located. Unless the premium offering is truly nectar of the gods, I find it hard to beleive it would present better value for money.

Score: 9/10
Would I buy this wine again?
This is my favorite riesling I have tried to date, furthermore the retail price is only around $13 a bottle and thus presents outstanding value for money. I will be purchasing a case.

A fresh, crisp Riesling from Peter Lehmann, it really is a must taste from his Barossa Range. Peter Lehmann Wines have won the prestigious “Peter Sichel Trophy for best Riesling, World Wide” on no less than four occasions with an Eden Valley Riesling.

A delicate shade of yellow with tints of green this wine is really outstanding when chilled right. Refreshing lemon and lime flavours slide into the mouth with hints of the rich honey tones that will emerge with good cellaring, and the soft citrusy undertones carry across the midde of the palate beautifully. This is an incredibly balanced wine with a good length to it which is enhanced when accompanied by food. This is a great drink now wine, but will mellow and soften with age, once the honeytones are allowed to develop.

Would i buy this wine again? At around $15 a bottle this is a fantastic wine for the money, i’d go as far as to say it’s one of my favourite Rieslings on the market at the moment.