Paul Ippolito Talks Wine

With Paul Ippolito

Summertime Drinking

Wirra Wirra Mrs Wigley Rose 2006

Fire engine red with lashings of strawberries, raspberries and watermelon ensuing. Upfront ripe and luscious making for a well rounded delicious mouthfeel and with lingering fresh lively acidity. Seamless McLaren Vale red berry fruit mouthwatering Summer drinking. Try it with bbq grilled Tassie scallops.

Drink Now. About $18. 88/100-Very Good. 

Time For Celebrating

Seppelt Fleur De Lys 2004

Consisting of the classic Pinot Noir Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes, this is excellent classy fizz at an affordable price. Tightly knit and well structured it is light and breezy on one hand and elegant and varietal in another. Toasty, lemons and pears, with lingering effervescence and an evocativeness in mouthfeel, it has that celebratory character to it.

Drink Now. About $17. 91/100- Excellent.

Boutique Drinking

Tilbrook Estate Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Green olives, a hint of honey, citrus lemons, green herbs and asparagus. A touch dry and savoury yet smooth through its soft lively acidity. Good fruit yet balanced with a touch of minerality and chalkiness.

Drink Now. About $15. 87/100- Good.

Hunter Valley Imbibing 

Tulloch Verdelho 2007

This is a Hunter Valley classic varietal that has long been held up as one of the standards for Hunter Verdelho. Tropical fruit abounds along with pears, pineapples, passionfruit, musk – all ripe and fresh and lively. Just right soft supporting acidity ensues, resulting in a well roundness that makes for a delicious long creamy finish.

Drink Now. About $15. 89/100- Very Good.

Quality Red Drinking

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Michael Coonawarra Shiraz 2004

Tight and elegant. Quite restrained at first. Classic dark fruit, cedary oak with mocha and liquorice nuances all mixed together. Dark bitter chocolate and aniseed hints as well. Complexity abounds, revealing in layers, pure, polished deep black fruits with long soft plums, blackberries and blackcurrants. Ripe tannins and seamless oak ensue as well making for a complete wine. Try this with roast beef.

Drink to 2024. About $75. 94/100-Excellent.

West Australian Riesling

Howard Park West Australian Riesling 2007

Classic pears, pure and developed. Refined minerality accompanies the fruit giving it structure and elegance. Vibrant and luscious, aromatic and classy with a hint of spice. Fresh lively acidity supports it all well and with distinction. A really deliciously drinking Riesling with a soft supple lemon and lime laden finish. Try this with bbq chicken salad.

Drink to 2015. About $25. 92/100- Excellent. 

For The Cellar

Seppelt Benno Bendigo Shiraz 2005

Tight and elegant. Restrained and slowly unwinding. Red fruits abound – raspberries, cherries, then black fruits - plums, blackcurrants and blackberries – pure and succulent. A well rounded fleshy mouthfeel of luscious warm fruit, hints of aniseed and milk chocolate follow – seamless, well integrated oak and a deliciously smooth finish. Try this with char grilled New York cut.

Drink now to 2020. About $65. 95/100 – Superb.

For A Special Occasion

Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon 2002

Translucent youthful fresh and greeny straw. Opulent and indulgent in aroma profile. Fresh, lively, evocative and invigorating. Grassy herbs, citrine lemons, a hint of honey, toastiness and green apples complete the palate of aromas and flavours in this well melded integrated wine of glorious mouthfeel and medium dry finish. Still has years to go. Drink with pan-fried calamari.

Drink to 2017. About $35. 96/100- Superb.

Premium Chardonnay

Cape Mentelle Chardonnay 2006

Complex, impressive and superb were my first utterances. Vibrant polished distinctive deep pure fruit characters ensue and how. Developed stone fruits and tangy citrus lemons and limes dominate. Fresh soft and lively acidity ensues – serious and mouthwatering, all impressively delivered. The oak is there, vanillan and discerningly applied and in balance and sync with the fruit and acidity. A stylish Chardonnay that should develop very well and which leaves you with a light deliciously tangy finish at the end, that calls out for more. Try this with char gilled baby octupus.

Drink to 2016. About $43. 96/100-Superb.

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.