CENTRAL & WESTERN VICTORIA

CENTRAL & WESTERN VICTORIA 157 TASTED 110 AWARDED CENTRAL & WESTERN VICTORIA An excellent tasting of wines from these prominent Victorian regions. After some horror years from a few years ago, the regions have bounced back in a big way. Great to see wines that were not green or herbaceous here. Generally winemakers have used appropriate oak across the board. SPARKLING 13 TASTED 10 AWARDED A very solid class showing great diversity of styles and vintages. "Lovely fruit in the sparkling reds," said one judge. "Great to see some age in these wines; winemakers like it - accountants don t!" Rutherford Grampians Sparkling Shiraz 2006 HHHHH An aged velvety smooth style holding together very well for a 9 year-old. Has fruit cake-like characters layered with dusty/leafy oak. A wine with great balance, intensity and length. $160 Midnight Cuvee Chardonnay Toasty creamy yeast characters dominate the nose and it has a bright elegant palate with excellent persistence of nutty citrus flavours with a toasty edge. $36 Brut Rosé NV HHH1/2 Deep red with plenty of raspberry fruit characters and some sweetness. A fresh lively commercial style. $32 Kelly's Welcome Cuvée 2010 HHH1/2 Lovely toasty aged style with a fine bead and plenty of flavour length. Offers very enjoyable drinking. $25 Mitchelton Central Victoria Cuvée NV HHH Simple, fresh, creamy aromas, some good mousse and a short, crisp and lively palate. $19 Luna Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV HHH Lovely aged toasty bouquet with a rich, long and persistent palate showing nice toastiness. $26 Estate Sparkling Shiraz NV HHH A very clean youthful wine with plenty of sweet fruits nicely framed by restrained oak. $32 Jack Barry Central Victoria Sparkling Shiraz NV HHH Very inviting rich fruit/ oak aromas and an elegant and classy rich chocolaty palate. $39.95 Muirhead Grampians Sparkling Rosé 2011 HHH Good commercial style; light pink with sweet strawberry aromas and slightly tart lively flavours. $25 Rutherford Grampians Sparkling Shiraz 2004 HHH Chocolaty oak with a solid core of rich red primary fruit. A sweet style ageing beautifully. $300 OTHER WHITE VARIETALS & 11 TASTED 9 AWARDED Very solid group of Rhone style varietals for which these Victorian regions are renowned. Killercrankie Wines Crankie Pearl Bendigo Viognier H1/2 The nose is a rich complexity of toast, smoke and stonefruit aromas and is followed by a long toasty palate loaded with persistent varietal fruit flavours. $25 Tahbilk Central Victoria Marsanne H Fresh, simple and inviting toasty honeysuckle style with nice citrus line. Very more-ish offering good drinking now or has cellaring potential. $18 Tahbilk Central Victoria Viognier H Lovely quaffer with hints of apricots and quinces on the nose and long, full and juicy in the mouth with delicate lychee/stonefruit flavours. $18 Silver Linings Very Special White Victoria White Blend H A soft and very approachable blend with fresh herbal/perfumed complexity on the nose and a seamless spicy apricot palate. $18.99 MWC Victoria Pinot Gris 1/2 A well-made uncomplicated style with nice hints of orange blossom on the nose and a soft sweet/sour palate. $18.99 Viognier 1/2 More heat and complexity here, leaning towards a Rhone style. Lovely apricot nose and fruit dominant palate.$18 Lome Vineyards Bendigo Marsanne Viognier Roussanne 1/2 Great apricot characters dominate the nose and the palate that has great texture and length and good mouthfeel. $28 Tahbilk Central Victoria Roussanne Marsanne Viognier Delicate fresh floral fragrances and nicely balanced clean, fresh palate. $27.95 62 WINESTATE March/April 2016

regional tasting Mitchelton Airstrip Marsanne Rousanne Viognier 2012 HHH Developing honeyed fruit nose and an even, flavoursome and aged palate. $28 SAUVIGNON BLANC & 6 TASTED 3 AWARDED A surprise packet! "Some lovely drinks here," said one judge. "We saw nice vibrancy and tropical fruit which makes for a better drink than the herbaceous styles." Estate Range Blanc H1/2 Distinct sauvignon blanc characters of gooseberries and passionfruit. Has an estery tropical bouquet and a lovely 'thick' sweet palate that according to one judge - "Has it all". $22.95 Four Sisters Central Victoria Blanc H Estery tropical nose with some herbaceous elements and a beautiful balanced solid crisp palate. Great commercial style. $13.95 Montara Gold Rush Grampians Blanc Slightly pink tinge with smoky/strawberry-like aromas and a clean well-made sweet/sour palate. $25 RIESLING 9 TASTED 7 AWARDED A strong class with a few having some residual sweetness which is a good thing according to the judges. "Riesling dryness in the past went too far," said one judge. "Now we have more balanced wines." AT Richardson Chockstone Grampians Riesling H1/2 Still quite a youthful wine with lovely toasty aged characters developing on the leafy lime fruit nose. Has a solid even palate with good varietal fruit flavour length. $20 Montara Grampians Riesling H "A toast and talc nose." Good sweetness on the nicely rounded, fruit-driven, palate that shows excellent length and balance. $23 Ian Leamon Strathbogie Ranges Riesling H Toasty limes and honeysuckle on the nose. Slightly warm, well balanced palate with good length of varietal fruit flavours. $40 Mitchelton Blackwood Park Central Victoria Riesling 1/2 Golden hues, slightly subdued fruit bouquet and a warm palate with clean simple varietal fruit flavours. $19 Western Riesling 1/2 Bright, intense and powerful style with some solid even varietal fruit and nice acid/sugar balance. $25 Clarnette & Ludvigsen Grampians Riesling Delicate, perfumed and restrained with some residual sugar evident. Very drinkable. $25 Garden Gully Vineyard Grampians Riesling Kero-like aged characters with some toastiness but still has inviting freshness. $22 CHARDONNAY & 7 TASTED 4 AWARDED A mixed bag with the best showing good fruit and length and winemaker input and some borderline wines. Western Chardonnay H Elegant and classy with smoky oak/melon fruit aromas and long firm palate with nicely developing fruit flavours. Very good acid drive. $25 Estate Range Chardonnay Restrained perfumed varietal fruit aromas with sweet oak. Soft, lively and slightly chewy in the mouth. $28.95 Mitchelton Central Victoria Chardonnay Ageing old fashioned style; rich, buttery and leesy with good stonefruit/oak integration. $22 Chardonnay Restrained perfumed/ floral fragrances and long classy palate with simple citrus fruit. $22 ROSÉ 3 TASTED 2 AWARDED A couple of nice lunch wines; not too sweet but fresh. Estate Bone Dry Pinot Noir Rosé 1/2 A lovely fresh summer drink with smoky oak and bright strawberry fruit characters with just a touch of tannin. $22 Glenwillow Bendigo Rosé A dryer style with hints of strawberry and darker fruit characters and some alcohol warmth. $22 OTHER RED VARIETALS & 19 TASTED 13 AWARDED A wide range showing pleasingly strong merlots, GSMs, a nice lagrein and a surprisingly good durif. Estate Range Merlot H1/2 Gorgeous dark inky fruit and lovely chocolaty oak with hints of eucalypt and violets evident on both the bright lifted nose and velvety smooth palate with its chewy tannins. $32.95 Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre H1/2 Somewhat leaner style with savoury oak tending to dominate the blend but there is some lovely sweet spicy black fruit beneath with a very good background of tannins. $27.95 Estate Range Lagrein H1/2 "In a class of its own," said one judge. It has a rich perfumed violet bouquet and lovely powerful fruity palate, almost porty. Still very youthful with good cellaring potential. $39.95 AT Richardson Hard Hill Road Great Western Durif A powerful jammy stunner with loads of fruit cake-like characters and big, solid, rich, ripe berry fruit with raisined notes and tons of vanillin oak to match. $60 March/April 2016 WINESTATE 63

CENTRAL & WESTERN VICTORIA Limited Release Sangiovese 1/2 Ripe fruit and oak aromas and quite a tart and tangy palate dominated by the oak. Still very tight and young. $39.95 GST Grampians Grenache Shiraz Tempranillo 1/2 Lovely warm savoury blend that is somewhat dominated by the oak but has plenty of spicy fruit underneath. $28 Montara Gold Rush Grampians Pinot Noir 1/2 Interesting tarry fruit style. Has a ripe fruit/ oak nose and lovely full, supple palate with some nice spicy sweetness. $28 Mitchelton Crescent Central Victoria Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre 1/2 Funky old world style with ripe plum, berry fruit, leather and mushroom characters. Quite tannic - needs more time. $28 Four Sisters Merlot Dense oaky nose with underlying fruit. An elegant palate with fresh bright flavours and chewy tannins. $13.95 McPherson Wines MWC Shiraz Mourvedre Simple jubey red fruit aromas and very youthful palate with eucalypt notes. Potential! $18.99 Western Pinot Noir Some delicate perfumed mulberry fruit with subtle use of oak. "Very good wine." $25 Merlot A solid core of cherry-like varietal fruit expression nicely framed by the oak and tannins. $25 Moates Lane Avoca Sangiovese 2012 HHH A very enjoyable, definitive, sangiovese with lovely fruit sweetness and toasty oak. $14.95 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 14 TASTED 10 AWARDED Excellent line-up with strong regional fruit and balancing oak. "No eucalypt or herbaceous characters here," noted one judge. "A pleasure to judge." Montara Gold Rush Grampians HH Ripe complex stewed fruit nose with some dusty musky notes. Very long, classy palate with bright briary fruit elegance. It's fairly tannic and needs more time to really shine. $28 Western Cabernet H1/2 Solid concentration of vibrant cassis varietal fruit with a minty edge. Still very youthful and fresh but drinking well now although will be better with some age on it. $25 Back Block H1/2 Lovely sweet fruit nose; a touch jammy with some good complementary oak. Elegant and classy palate full of stewed fruit flavours layered with slightly dusty-like oak. $39.95 Four Sisters H Spicy oak aromas mixed with minty-like notes. Rich tannins tending to dominate the very flavoursome palate. Needs time to open up. $13.95 Maygars Hill H Light perfumed cassis bouquet and a sweet and elegant varietal fruit palate. Good commercial style will be popular with the punters. $28 Cabernet 1/2 A good style - warm and sweet with blackcurrant and cassis fruit and charry oak tending to dominate. Needs time. $25 The Richardson Series 2012 HHH1/2 Firm tight oak dominated cabernet with fruit a touch on the green side and some herbal-like characters. $60 Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes Cabernet Oak tending to dominate the ripe fruit aromas with some lovely ripe fruit flavours. $20.95 Sandhurst Ridge Bendigo Cabernet Some pretty classy blackcurrant/ribena-like fruit characters with light spicy oak notes. $30 Mitchelton Central Victoria Cabernet 2012 HHH A nicely aged oak dominated style that has some sweet ripe fruit underneath. Good drinking. $22 JUDGES John Harris Partner and winemaker for Mitchell Harris Wines & runs own consultancy business. Formerly sparkling winemaker for Domaine Chandon in the Yarra Valley. Regional & state wine show judge. Guest lecturer at Charles Sturt University and Deakin University. Leigh Clarnette Chief winemaker for Montara Wines for the past ten years. Formerly winemaker at Taltarni at both their and Heathcote vineyards, with prior stints at and Seppelt Great Western Vineyards. Alan George Chief winemaker of Tahbilk Winery for the past eight years. Previously was a winemaker at Lindemans, Mitchelton and Rosemount in a winemaking career spanning 34 years. Judge at the Rutherglen wine show. 64 WINESTATE March/April 2016

regional tasting CABERNET 5 TASTED 4 AWARDED Very solid small group of nice blends with cabernet the hero! Black Jack Wines Bendigo Cabernet Merlot Very classy. Rich and long with great oak, very ripe varietal fruit and hints of violets. $28 SHIRAZ 2014 19 TASTED 11 AWARDED Lots of very young raw wines here that were either oak dominated or needs time to settle. Lots of potential for some! Don t Tell Gary Strathbogie Ranges Shiraz H1/2 An elegant and distinctly cool climate shiraz. Has fresh cherries, bell peppers, green herbal notes with a very good acid spine ensuring a long life. $23.99 Inception Heathcote Shiraz H A big sweet juicy shiraz with ripe concentration of plum and blueberrylike fruit layered with some obvious oak. Good length. $39.95 Chapter Three Strathbogie Ranges Shiraz 1/2 Charry oak on the nose tends to hide the fruit. Lean firm palate with smoky sweet flavours and medium weight tannins. $24.99 A lot to love Bendigo s gentle rolling hills unveil 26 winemakers sharing a passion for winemaking excellence. Estate Red Cabernet Blend A very good solid, well made and very youthful wine. Has an abundance of lovely cassis and tobacco-like varietal fruit characters. All it needs is some more time to open up. $42 Tahbilk Old Vines Nagambie Lakes Cabernet Shiraz A lovely mature and very flavoursome oaky blend with a big solid chunky palate showing nice varietal fruit richness, plenty of drying tannins and a touch of alcohol warmth. $44.95 Back Block Cabernet Merlot Nice marriage between the oak and the jammy fruit. Very tannic - needs time to calm down. $39.95 Best's Bin No. 1 Great Western Shiraz 2014 HHHH1/2 Complex ripe plum-like aromas laced with pepper and spice. A very elegant, low tannin style of palate with sweet blueberry fruit persistence. A really good drink. $25 Garners Heritage Wine Strathbogie Ranges Shiraz H Very flavoursome midweight commercial style with lovely sweet blackberry fruit and nice subtle use of oak. Slightly aggressive tannins. $24 Progeny Heathcote Shiraz H Dense dark molasseslike nose and very approachable, sweet and seductive fruit palate. Strong acid backbone with some obvious tannins. $24.95 St Ethel's Grampians Shiraz 1/2 Very oaky, rich and flavoursome with ripe primary blueberry and plum fruit with some spice and pepper notes. $50 Water Wheel Vineyards Memsie Homestead Bendigo Shiraz A youthful wine with lots of drying oak and sweet ripe fruit with earthy/barnyard notes. $11 CD La Vue Shiraz Good drinking nose. The bacony oak tends to dominate the ripe plumy fruit for now. $18.99 Locally grown wines give a true flavour of a region full of winemaking history dating back to the 1850 s. Learn more about us at www.bendigowine.org.au GOGD3764-3 Check us out on March/April 2016 WINESTATE 65

CENTRAL & WESTERN VICTORIA Maygars Hill Central Victoria Shiraz Lovely jubey sweet fruit; some spiciness and sweet sour notes. Very good commercial style. $28 Taltarni Estate Shiraz Oak dominated shiraz with attractive underlying plum fruit and good tannins. $35 SHIRAZ 2013 31 TASTED 21 AWARDED "These are big!" agreed the judges. "The best here were the ones that were elegant with restrained tannins and showing good winemaking skills," said one judge. "Under screw cap you need more approachable wines without the impact of cork ageing benefits. Progeny Heathcote Shiraz HH The dense and jubey nose is loaded with powerful fruit aromas. The palate is dark, dense and sweet with excellent length of long lingering oak/fruit flavours. $24.95 Section One Reserve Shiraz HH A classy wine with delightful aromas of blackberry, pepper and sweet mint. Similar characters echoed on the palate. Has great texture and chewy gravelly tannins. $42 Shiraz H1/2 A ripe inky blackberry fruit bouquet with some minty notes. Big solid palate with loads of sweet ripe fruit flavours and powerful gravelly tannins. $25 Garners Heritage Wines Strathbogie Ranges Shiraz H A dense, inky and slightly metallic character to the nose with a high acid palate but has plenty of sweet plum/cherry fruit. $25 Montara Gold Rush H Lifted aromas of sweet blackberries, varnishy oak and some peppery notes. A good soft sweet palate with a black fruit spine. $28 Clarnette & Ludvigsen H A good concentration of inky, rich and ripe aromas and showing a solid core of fruit on a powerful tannic palate. Nice drink. $35 Mitchelton The Bend Victoria Shiraz 1/2 Very good youthful cool climate shiraz with nice spicy licorice aromas and a classy palate with ripe fruit flavours. $15 Black Estate Vineyard Bendigo Shiraz 1/2 Rich and somewhat porty style. Pleasant earthiness to the nose and a palate that offers lovely mouthfilling flavours. $25 Malakoff Shiraz 1/2 Big, sweet and chocolaty style with lovely length and depth of ripe varietal fruit with a generous fruit palate. $39.95 Old Vine Shiraz 1/2 The smoky bacon nose shows hints of cinnamon with lots of drying tannins dominating a slightly porty palate. $39.95 D'Orsa Heathcote Shiraz 1/2 A big old fashioned ripe shiraz with chocolaty aromas and big drying tannic palate showing nice level of sweet fruit. $59.95 Sanguine Estate Kindred Heathcote Shiraz Dense inky aromas of BEST VALUE BUYS blackberries and oak. Big solid chunky palate with background of sweet fruit. $14.95 Tatiarra Vineyards Culled Barrel A big ripe style with a huge amount of oak and tannins; some fruit underneath. $19.99 Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes Shiraz Slightly oily nose with bacon-like notes and big sweet flavoursome fruit palate. $20.95 Tatiarra Vineyards Cambrian Heathcote Shiraz A rich 'luncheon' wine. Quite porty and tannic with lots of sweet fruit and oak. $29.99 Estate Range Shiraz Spicy herbal fruit aromas with peppery/bacon notes. Light palate - quite tannic but a good drink. $32.95 Inception Heathcote Shiraz Bright slightly stemmy/ peppery fruit nose and sweet, porty, slightly alcoholic palate. $39.95 Killercrankie Wines Bendigo Shiraz Nice cool climate style of shiraz. Lots of drying oak matched with stemmy plum fruit. $40 Mitchelton Closed oaky nose, blackberry and oak palate and tannins underwriting the structure. $40 Tatiarra Vineyards Caravan of Dreams Dense and chocolaty on the nose and very flavoursome, tannic palate with lots going on. $59.99 Best's Bin No. 0 Great Western Shiraz Ripe inky nose and big hit of ripe fruit on the palate that has a long fine finish. $85 SHIRAZ 2012 & OLDER 17 TASTED 13 AWARDED Some amazing older wines here with quite a range of development. "The best maintained vibrancy and character. The 2012s were quite youthful with ageing potential," said the judges whilst older wines showed great consistency (mainly from one company!). 66 WINESTATE March/April 2016

regional tasting Inception Heathcote Shiraz 2012 HHHHH Still fresh, tight and youthful. Some pungency to the primary fruit nose with lovely sweet oak. Sweet, soft and chewy in the mouth with a pretty good palate. Needs more time. $39.95 Sanguine Estate Progeny Nose is herbal, peppery and spicy with barrel ferment notes. The palate is lively and lifted with loads of big ripe fruit flavours and sweet gravelly tannins. $24.95 A T Richardson Chockstone Nose is a lovely complexity of developing fruit and oak with a palate exhibiting great sweet peppery fruit flavours. "A very good drink," said one of the judges. $28 Montara Chalambar Road 2010 HHHH1/2 A big solid and mature style of shiraz with ripe concentration of spicy/ licorice aromas and a drying and inky palate with lovely weight and length of fruit flavours. Time! $70 2008 HHHH1/2 A classic big old barrel oak style underscored with ripe dark developed berry fruit characters, subtle earthy development and quite a high level of acidity. $100 2007 HHHH1/2 Big, solid and ripe with aged fruit aromas and masses of oak. Very good palate development with a long core of raspberry fruit characters. Drinking well now. $100 2003 HHHH1/2 Lovely aged nose; lots of very good brambly fruit development. For a 12 year-old wine there is still plenty of great sweet fruit on the palate. Good drinking. $300 Kindred Heathcote Shiraz 2012 HHH1/2 A peppermint-like edge to the dark berry fruit nose. Tight, elegant palate with lean, slightly sappy fruit with hints of mint. $14.95 Clarnette & Ludvigsen Reserve 2012 HHH1/2 Spicy fruit and oak combination of aromas and a sweet gravelly tannic palate with some slightly raw fruit characters. $35 2005 HHH1/2 Big, soft and nicely developed meaty style. Lovely mature herbal nose and good upfront fruit palate. $120 A T Richardson Hard Hill Road Great Western Shiraz 2012 HHH Blackberries, spices and pepper lift off the nose and has a big sweet tannic palate. $60 Mitchelton Print Shiraz 2012 HHH Closed oaky nose with a big sweet palate that has chewy tannins. Could open up more. $75 D'Orsa Heathcote Shiraz 2009 HHH Inky berry and oak fragrances and a palate offering a sweet indulgence of mouthcoating flavours. $59.95 SWEET WHITE & FORTIFIED 3 TASTED 3 AWARDED Three solid sweeties here! Topaque NV HHHH Lovely fresh toffee/ candied orange-like aromas and good fresh muscatel/raisin sweetness on the young and stylish palate. $24 Grampians Estate Sheepyard Flat BEST VALUE BUYS Reserve Grampians Port NV HHH1/2 Caramelly rancio aromas with nice age and length to the slightly closed old liqueur-like palate. $15 Cordon Cut Blanc 2010 HHH A plain simple sweet white style. Has light vibrancy and acidity. Needs more age. $28.95 March/April 2016 WINESTATE 67