The NLC’s Down Under Wine Show at the Delta was sold out, but not jammed with people. There were a few busy spots at times, but generally there was no problem getting your next pour.
There were 140 wines from Australia and New Zealand available for tasting, so of course it was not possible to try them all! I prepared a list in advance based on looking for value wines, tasting some of the better offerings, and checking out the less common varietals.
New Zealand means a heavy dose of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, and while Australia offers a wider grape selection, you know you will be tasting a lot of Shiraz and Shiraz blends. It was interesting to note the differences within these varietal offerings at different price points.
I managed to taste 48 wines in total, and missed one on my list – Alkoomi White Label Late Harvest ($19.44) – which rapidly sold out for both tasting and in the store. I am sure that I missed tasting some lovely and good value wines. Below I present my notes on those tasted. ♥ and + are shorthand for how much I liked the wine. GV means “good value” purchase.
Down the Lane Pinot Grigio Arneis, Aus ($17.99) – plentiful appley fruit with some substance perhaps offered by the Arneis. ♥+
Astrolabe Province Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, NZ ($25.99) – quite characteristic kiwi Sauv Bl but with a delightful understated aromatic attack. ♥♥+
Yalumba Y Series Viognier, Aus ($17.99) – a good example of the varietal, but needed a touch more acidity. ♥+
Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Pinot Grigio, Aus ($19.98) – fruit starts well, but fades. ♥
Mount Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Riesling, Aus ($24.98) – good varietal character, fades a little on the finish. ♥+
Thornbury Chardonnay, NZ ($20.73) – a healthy dollop of oak which is well integrated with delicious fruit. ♥♥ GV
Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc, NZ ($24.98) – excellent example of this style and varietal. ♥♥+
Alkoomi White Label Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Aus ($19.44) – easily reminds you of a simple white Bordeaux with an emphasis on the Sauv Bl. ♥♥
Alkoomi Black Label Chardonnay, Aus ($24.49) – very well balanced Chardonnay with all the right stuffing. ♥♥+
Alkoomi Black Label Sauvignon Blanc, Aus ($24.49) – the more subdues style of Aussie Sauv Bl versus NZ, very well done. ♥♥+
Pertaringa Scarecrow Sauvignon Blanc, Aus ($23.48) – good varietal character, but a little light and lacking zip. ♥+
Pertaringa Regional Series Gruner Veltliner, Aus ($23.48) – Not quite the intensity or zip of great Austrian versions, but a good example nonetheless. ♥♥
Tinpot Hut Sauvignon Blanc, NZ ($23.78) – quintessential kiwi Sauv Bl done very well. ♥♥+
Tinpot Hut Gruner Veltliner, NZ ($27.90) – light aroma, almost sweet, lacked zip. ♥
Foxes Sur Lie Aged Sauvignon Blanc, NZ ($34.94) – frankly, I was expecting more, alhough it did show some lees character and weight in the mouth. ♥+
Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc, NZ ($29.65) – the Greywacke selections were clearly the best wines I tasted at the show, including the Pinot Noir in the red selections. The Sauv Bl was just one of the stand outs. ♥♥+
Greywacke Wild Sauvignon, NZ ($39.83) – made from wild yeast from the vineyards, this is an interesting contrast to regular NZ Sauv Bl with a softer attack and similar rounder fruit flavours. ♥♥+
Greywacke Chardonnay, NZ ($44.99) – huge Chardonnay showing veils of oak which I expect to fully integrate as this wine gains some necessary age, my top white for the show. ♥♥♥
McGuigan The Plan Riesling, Aus ($16.98) – a quite light version of the grape. ♥
McGuigan The Plan Chardonnay, Aus ($16.98) – light on the aroma but pleasant in the mouth, a decent summer sipper which was also offered as one of the free bottles with a purchase of more than $100. ♥+ GV
Kilikanoon Mort’s Block Riesling, Aus ($23.98) – abundant and appealing on the nose and very obviously Riesling, quite delicious. ♥♥+ GV
Clare Wine Co. Riesling, Aus ($21.99) – light aroma (maybe too cold) but tasty in the mouth. ♥+
Kaesler Old Vine Semillon, Aus ($31.66) – lemony with medium body, enjoyable. ♥♥
MOKO Black Sauvignon Blanc, NZ ($23.98) – light aroma (chilled too much) but a good example of the style in the mouth. ♥♥
Stratum Sauvignon Blanc, NZ ($22.99) – varietally and stylistically correct, but no wow – also may have been too cold. ♥♥
Glenlofty Estate Marsanne Rousanne, Aus ($34.99) – enticing aroma and flavour. ♥♥+
Astrolabe Province Marlborough Pinot Noir, NZ ($40.98) – runner up for my best red this was bright and shiny in the glass, with red and black cherry fruit, and perhaps beet root. ♥♥♥
Opawa Pinot Noir, NZ ($27.79) – smoky aroma with a touch of sulphur, but well made. ♥+
Woods Crampton “The Big Show” Barossa Shiraz Mataro, Aus ($23.98) – flavours fill the entire range of the palate, smooth and fruity. ♥♥+
The Alchemists Twin Cellars Malbec, Aus ($22.37) – juicy and quite delicious. ♥♥
Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Shiraz, Aus ($19.98) – lovely sweet fruit and soft tannins, good sipper. ♥♥+ GV
Alkoomi White Label Cabernet Merlot, Aus ($19.44) – a solid, everyday red wine. ♥♥
Pertaringa Two Gentleman’s GSM, Aus ($23.45) – hits well above its price tag, excellent. ♥♥+ GV
Pertaringa Rifle & Hunt Cabernet Sauvignon, Aus ($47.79) – restrained fruit with pure cabernet nose, smooth. ♥♥+
Z Force Shiraz Petite Sirah, Aus ($55.14) – huge fruit, soft tannins, hits that massive style right on. ♥♥
Tinpot Hut Pinot Noir, NZ ($28.97) – perfect pinot nose, but a touch thin in the mouth perhaps. ♥♥
Greywacke Pinot Noir, NZ ($49.93) – my top red for the show, sweet fruit nose, brilliant. ♥♥♥
Kilikanoon Killerman’s Run GSM, Aus ($19.98) – sweet and tasty, excellent example of an Aussie specialty. ♥♥+ GV
Listening Station Malbec, Aus ($18.99) – juicy sipper. ♥+
Sixty Clicks Cabernet Sauvignon, Aus ($19.98) – hint of green/mint in nose, tasty in the mouth, nice sipper. ♥+
Clare Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon, Aus ($21.99) – good cab characteristics, although a reticent nose, another good sipper. ♥♥
Clare Wine Co. Shiraz, Aus ($21.99) – perhaps my top choice for an affordable red, lots of fruit character, spice, and length, but still smooth and present tannins. ♥♥+ GV
Hopes End Red Blend, Aus ($17.99) – soft, juicy, sipper. ♥+
Kaesler Avignon, Aus ($34.54) – named to emulate the Chateauneuf-de-Pape region of France with which this wine shares some similarities. A sweet cherry nose is the highlight. ♥♥
Kaesler the Bogan Shiraz, Aus ($51.03) – rich, heavy, but smooth. Yum! ♥♥+
Stratum Pinot Noir, NZ ($24.98) – sweet cherry nose with hints of smoke is quite attractive. ♥♥+
Glenlofty Cabernet Sauvignon, Aus ($29.97) – ripe blackberry fruit, pencil lead, sweet smooth tannins, dark black colour. ♥♥+
Glenlofty Estate Merlot, Aus ($34.99) – warm plummy nose, lighter colour than the cab, a little short. ♥♥
Some of these wines had been pre-selected last September by the NLC to become new listings, so they will be showing up on shelves soon. Some of those only available at the show, and which didn’t sell at the show itself, will find there way to various stores. Poke around the NLC web site and your local store to see if you can find any of the more interesting selections.
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Great tasting notes Steve – thank you. Great basis for searching out those which do make the NLC shelves.