Paul Ippolito Talks Wine: Wines Of the Week

With Paul Ippolito

Something To Keep You Warm

Morris Of Rutherglen Old Premium Tawny Port

Mocha toffee in colour. Stunningly so. And stunning in aromatics as well. Think molasses, coffee, toffee and rich plump raisins – delivered intensely, deeply and richly. Nuances of nuttiness and white nougat follow. Seamless and succulent on the palate with luscious fruit lingering, not in a cloying fashion. A seamless finish follows – quite simply divine, and quite simply one superb wine.

Drink Now. About $65. 

A Nice Red Blend

Eye Spy By Yarra Ridge Cabernet Merlot 2004

Brooding aromatics of raspberries, blackcurrants and plums all exude in a fruit driven manner. Intense, with a touch of spice – well blended delivering a smooth long finish. Delicious drinking here. All the elements of a good wine being in sync – the fruit, alcohol, oak and tannin structure make for a high value drinkable balanced red. Try it with penne with a tomato and chorizo sauce.

Drink Now to 2012. About $15.

Value Drinking

Taylors Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Mitchell Taylor knows his stuff in producing good quality affordable varietal wines. This Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc is testimony to this. Green herbs and gooseberry strike out at first then the wine opens up to reveal tropical fruit characters. Fresh lively acidity accompanies the pronounced fruit characters and provides a crisp long finish of lemons and limes that linger. A delicious moreish and well produced wine that will drink well with ravioli with spinach and fetta filling.

Drink Now. About $15.

New Vintage Drinking

Charles Melton Rose Of Virginia 2007

Charles Melton of the Barossa Valley makes year in, year out, one of the best Rose` in Australia (as well as a whole raft of high quality reds including the famous Nine Popes). One of the first wine releases for the 2007 vintage season, this one is bright crimson red – all brilliant and glorious in colour. Raspberry cordial aromas flow along with citrus lemons, red cherries and alluring strawberries. Opulent and luscious in mouthfeel with a savoury dry dimension. A soft yet lively finish ensues. Delicious drinking as well as evidenced by the fact that all those around me polished off the bottle as I was writing up my tasting note. Oh and try this with some grilled calamari.

Drink Now. About $25.

A Nice White Blend

Chain Of Ponds “The Red Semi” Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Chain Of Ponds is a boutique Adelaide Hills winery with the respected Neville Falkenberg at the helm of its winemaking efforts. Green herbs, asparagus, lemon and straw characters ensue. A touch of minerality as well. Lively acidity as well supports the fruit flavours. Overall a well blended white with a herbaceous length of finish. A lovely Sunday lunch wine. Try this with grilled octopus.
 
Drink Now. About $18. 

Something From Out West

Xanadu Dragon Unwooded Chardonnay 2006

West Australian and emanating from grapes from the Margaret River region, this is a lovely supple easy drinking Chardonnay, sans oak. Pale copper tinged in colour. Pure and fragrant with pears, stone fruit, nectarine and minerally overtures. Elegant and soft with lively acidity. It lingers long and has a delicious mouthfeel. Try it with bbq Tassie scallops.

Drink Now. About $16.

Something Special To Impress

Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyard Chardonnay 2005

Divine and superb were my first utterances upon tasting this truly wonderful Australian Chardonnay. Elegant, tight and restrained at first – the underlying classic nectarine and honeydew melon aromas then start to evolve right under your nose. The wine opens up into one classy well structured drop with gorgeous classic stone fruit characters, with lees complexity and citrus lemon undertones. The use of judicious oak melds well with the developing luscious fruit along with the lively fresh acidity, all integrating perfectly into one balanced and eminently drinkable Chardonnay. At the price, it is exceptional value and with its quality, it is worth every cent and more. Try it with lobster mornay.

Drink Now to 2012. About $30.

Smooth Special Red Drinking

Bremerton Old Adam Limited Release Shiraz 2004

Deep dark purple red. Youthful, fresh and vibrant in presentation. Red fruits abound – raspberry and red cherry dominating. Hints of red earth and lashings of black liquorice follow. Upfront and tangy acidity on the palate, melding well with the fruit along with ripe fine tannins. Lively and fresh overall with good balanced alcohol and with discernable oak, and well integrated at that. This wine will really show off its truly good colours over the ensuing years. Try this with beef stew.

Drink Now to 2019. About $45.

Good Quaffing White

Barwick Estates Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2006

This one from this WA producer is sourced from vineyards in Margaret River and Pemberton in the South part of that region. Light straw in colour, it is fresh and vibrant. Tropical fruit nuances abound as does pure and fragrant lychee, passionfruit and pineapple. Lively soft acidity supports the fruit characters, with the Semillon providing a supporting role to the primary fruit flavours. Refreshing and invigorating on the finish and very nice easy drinking. A great Summer (or Autumn, or Winter's) afternoon wine. Try it with crab-cakes.

Drink Now. About $15.

Wine Rating Scale - Out Of 100 Points

98-100 – Exceptional – A truly world class wine
95-97 – Superb – A memorable drinking experience
91-94 – Excellent – A wonderful mix of a top wine at a decent price
88-90 - Very Good – Really well made wine that should impress
85-87 – Good – Honest everyday drinking

Paul Ippolito is a Sydney wine writer who writes for publications across Australia, the internet and overseas. Read more of his work at www.paulippolito.com.au

About Paul Ippolito.