Australia’s Henry’s Drive continues to deliver

I first became aware of Henry’s Drive about a decade or so ago through their well-known blend, Pillar Box Red. Since that time, I’ve had the opportunity to taste their wines on numerous occasions, often with founder/owner Kim Longbottom and/or their winemaker. On a recent trip to Düsseldorf Germany to attend ProWein (the largest Wine & Spirits trade show in the world), I had the pleasure of once again tasting with Kim. We went through their current portfolio. As always, I found quite a bit to like in their wines, as well as plenty of value for my wine dollars. Wines that I have always found to be tasty and well-made have continued to evolve and improve from one vintage to the next. Here’s a look at four of my current favorites.

henrys_drive_2

Henry’s Drive 2014 “H” Chardonnay ($27.99)

Composed from 100% Chardonnay from Padthaway; aging took place in French oak over a period of 10 months. Apple aromas, which are underpinned by bits of vanilla, light up the exuberant nose. Yellow melon, pineapple and toasted nut characteristics are present throughout the palate. Minerals, white pepper and continuing yellow fruit flavors dominate the above-average finish. This is a fine example of Chardonnay that shows off plenty of fresh fruit and good complexity.

Henry’s Drive 2013 Pillar Box Red ($14.99)

Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are blended to create this wine. Each variety is vinified and aged separately. The blend is created just prior to bottling. Red cherry and spice aromas dot the nose. Taking the first sip, I was immediately struck by the mouth-feel of this wine, which is softer than prior vintages. Bits of savory herbs counter-balance oodles of red and black fruit flavors on the substantial palate. Earth, leather and toasty oak are all part of the terrific finish. This wine has been an outstanding value for years. This particular vintage is likely the best version of this wine yet. It’s simply a delicious mouthful of wine that will provide drinking pleasure for the next several years.

Read the rest of this entry »

  

You can follow us on Twitter and Facebook for content updates. Also, sign up for our email list for weekly updates and check us out on Google+ as well.

Robert Oatley is making tasty wines from all over Australia

Although the Robert Oatley Vineyards is located in Mudgee, they don’t limit themselves to fruit from that region. Instead, they look throughout Australia and source grape varieties in the Australian regions where they thrive most. They use sustainable practices and strive to be as organic as possible. They produce a wide swath of wines that show off good varietal character. I recently tasted through a number of their current releases and found a lot to like. Here are some thoughts on a few of my favorites.

Robert Oatley 2014 Signature Series Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc ($18)

Lemon zest aromas inform the welcoming nose; subtle bits of grass and white pepper are present as well. The palate is gently layered with white peach and other stone fruits. A hint of marzipan emerges on the finish, alongside bits of sour yellow melon and grapefruit. This Sauvignon Blanc has a really soft and lovely mouth-feel. It goes down easy and features lots of solid character. It also rides the middle of the Sauvignon Blanc line; it’s not super citrusy, overly grassy, nor extremely tropical. Instead, it draws bits from all of those camps.

Robert Oatley 2014 Signature Series Margaret River Chardonnay ($18)

Anjou pear and wisps of white peach emerge from the nose here. The palate is fruit-forward, while remaining proportionate and lovely. Lots of orchard and stone fruit characteristics are joined by subtle hints of spice. Bits of limestone are present on the above-average finish. There is a nice weight and terrific feel to this wine; I simply didn’t want to put it down. It’s a really expressive and clean Chardonnay that is gently accented by oak.

robert_oatley

Robert Oatley 2014 Signature Series McLaren Vale GSM ($18)

This wine is a blend of Grenache (60 percent), Shiraz (30 percent) and Mourvedre (10 percent). There’s a gentle bit of pleasing tar on the nose, alongside a potpourri of red fruit aromas. Blackberry and forest floor elements are in evidence throughout the palate, while earth, minerals and hints of smoked meat are evident on the finish — which is well above average for the price point. This is a fantastic food wine; pair it with all but the lightest or heartiest fare.

Robert Oatley 2014 Signature Series McLaren Vale Shiraz ($18)

Plum, violet and blueberry aromas are tinged by a tiny hint of charcoal on the lovely nose. There’s a ton of black cherry and pepper spice on the palate, along with more blueberry notes. Bits of espresso and sour black fruits mark the finish. Fleshy tannins and firm acid provide good structure. You’ll have a hard time finding a better wine to pair with a burger.

Robert Oatley 2013 Signature Series Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon ($18)

Toast, vanilla, sage and dark berry fruits are all present on the nose here. The palate is stuffed with black fruit flavors, spice and savory herbs. Bits of earth, black cherry and a dusting of cocoa are all present on the finish.

This quintet of wines from Robert Oatley impresses with the quality in the bottle at under $20. In each case, the wine is typical of the variety in question. In the case of the blend, it’s a pretty classic example of a GSM at a very agreeable price. Besides those qualities, these wines are connected by a purity of fruit and lovely textural elements that keep them on the same stylistic page. These are wines that most can afford to drink on a regular basis, but the quality may inspire you to pour them on special occasions too — and that’s okay; they’re clean tasty wines that will enjoy wide appeal. These wines represent the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Robert Oatley portfolio.

Check out Gabe’s View for more wine reviews, and follow Gabe on Twitter!

  

Variety is king in Australian wine

Australia is a diverse country whose various wine regions and wine styles quite literally offer something for every palate, price range and occasion. Shiraz is what a lot of people think of first, and with good reason — they make a wide array of lovely ones in diverse styles. However, that’s the tip of the iceberg in Australia. Whether it’s white wine or red wine, hot or cool climate, made in gentle or bold and brawny styles, Australia has something to offer. There is also quite a bit of value to be had on our shelves coming from the shores of Australia. Here’s a look at three wildly divergent wines, each delicious in its own right, representing its region and variety well, and all reasonably priced.

australia_1

Brokenwood 2013 Hunter Valley Semillon – This winery has been around for more than 40 years, and they have been featuring Semillon in their portfolio for more than 30 of those years. The fruit for this wine was picked by hand, and is entirely Semillon. Fermentation and aging was handled entirely in stainless steel. This wine has a suggested retail price of $20. Honeydew melon and Granny Smith apple aromas are prominent on the nose. Lemon zest, bits of nectarine and white pepper are all prominent on the palate, along with hints of grapefruit. The finish is crisp, clean and refreshing with continued citrus notes and a gentle hint of brioche. This wine works well as an aperitif or paired with a lighter foods. Semillon in this style is eminently age-worthy — don’t hesitate to lay this one down for a decade or more and watch its fascinating evolution.

Innocent Bystander 2012 Pinot Noir – Winemaker Phil Sexton has been producing wine in the Yarra Valley since the late 1990s. The area, and the fruit it produced, inspired and continue to inform the Innocent Bystander line. The fruit was picked by hand and destemmed. It’s entirely Pinot Noir. Fermentation took place with native yeasts; 60 percent was aged in stainless steel, the balance in oak. This wine was bottled unfiltered. It has a suggested retail price of $20. Ripe strawberry and mushroom aromas light up the gorgeous nose of this Pinot Noir. The palate here is studded with red fruit, tinged with bits of black fruit as well. Cherry is the dominant characteristic and it’s joined by hints of cinnamon. Sour cherry, rhubarb, earthy chicory and black pepper fill out the gentle finish. This is a pretty good example of Pinot Noir that tenderly envelops your senses and keeps you coming back for sip after sip. At less than $20, if you shop around, it’s a terrific Pinot for the price.

australia_2

Imprimata 2012 McLaren Vale Grenache – The relatively new producer has been making wine in McLaren Vale, where owner Ben Hammerschlag started looked for the optimal property in 2006. This offering is 100 percent Grenache. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks, and barrel aging followed over a period of 5 months in 2 to 3-year-old barrels. This wine has a suggested retail price of $25. Raspberry, red plum and a subtle hint of charcoal are all part of the super-engaging nose of this Grenache. Purple and red fruit flavors fill the palate; all manner of berry and plum flavors are on display here. Savory herb, black pepper and hints of stewed red fruits emerge on the finish, which has terrific length. This wine has power, grace and the ability to pair up with an incredibly wide array of foods.

Certainly, we should all keep drinking Australian Shiraz; they do a bang-up job with it. However, if the only thing from Australia you’re drinking is Shiraz you’re missing most of the picture. There’s a whole world of wine out there to enjoy. Think of the trio above as a mini introduction into some of the other wines and styles that Australia offers to the wine lovers of the world. Don’t stop here — keep tasting and drinking your way through the deliciousness. Find a grape you love and explore it from a variety of Australian regions, or find a region and explore various wines from there. In either case you’ll learn a lot and have a tasty time.

Check out Gabe’s View for more wine reviews, and follow Gabe on Twitter!

  

Australia’s Hardys is Killing It at Every Price Point!

Hardys is one of the largest wine brands in the world. They’re so big, in fact, that each day more than two million glasses of Hardys wines are consumed worldwide. It’s no surprise, as they make a lot of wine from a variety of grapes in a broad array of styles, all sold at prices to accommodate just about any budget. I recently had the opportunity to taste a cross-section of their portfolio alongside their chief winemaker Paul Lapsley. He manages a team of 27 winemakers across their vast array of brands. Here’s a look at three of my favorite wines from the evening that, quite frankly, I think everyone should be drinking.

hardys_1

The Hardys 2012 William Hardy Chardonnay was produced from fruit sourced in several different Australian regions; the bulk however comes from Padthaway (57.2 percent) and Riverland (30.1 percent). The fruit was picked at night under cooler conditions to help maximize freshness. Fermentation took place in oak, and the finished produce was aged in stainless steel with some additional oak treatment. This offering is 100 percent Chardonnay. This wine has a suggested retail price of $17. Aromas of pineapple fill the ebullient nose of this Chardonnay. Hints of crème fraiche appear on the palate where they balance juicy peach and orchard fruit flavors. Hints of citrus lead the lengthy finish, along with baker’s spice. This wine has a crisp, clean ending that begs you back to the glass for sip after sip. This is a Chardonnay that has a bit of appealing added oak complexity. However, those notes never overshadow the glorious fruit that shines through. This is a really delicious and appealing Chardonnay.

The Hardys 2012 Nottage Hill Pinot Noir was produced from fruit sourced in South Eastern Australia. The Nottage Hill wines have been part of the overall Hardys line since 1967. This is a wine that is widely available across the country and has a suggested retail price of $13; if you shop around you’re likely to find it for a couple of bucks less. The light red hue of this wine is exceptionally pretty in the glass. Red fruit aromas abound on the nose. Strawberry flavors dominate the palate and they’re underscored by bits of red cherry; a dollop of vanilla bean is present. Black tea, mushrooms and earth are all in abundance on the finish, which has above average length for the category. This wine will pair well will an extraordinarily wide array of foods. It’s hard to find good Pinot in this price range. This one is simply a knockout for the price.

hardys_1

The Tintara McLaren Vale 2010 Shiraz was produced entirely from fruit sourced in the namesake region. Dating back to 1861, Tintara is one of Hardys’ oldest brands. The winery itself is located within McLaren Vale. This offering is 100 percent Shiraz. Different parcels of fruit were harvested, vinified and aged separately. Aging took place over 14 months in oak barriques. The separate lots were blended prior to bottling. This Shiraz, which is widely available, has a suggested retail price of $19; however it often sells for close to $15. Compote of dark fruit aromas fills the nose of this wine. Similar characteristics pick up on the palate where blackberry, raspberry and plum pudding spice rules the day. This is a hefty wine that is layered with layers of flavor. Coffee and chocolate characteristics lead the finish, which is long and lingering. This is a lovely example of Shiraz that is full bodied but not over the top. It’s a proportionate wine that works well on its own but excels when paired with substantial foods.

This group of wines from the overall Hardys umbrella shows off a wide swatch of what is possible in Australia. First, they are each proportionate, varietally correct offerings that will all pair nicely with appropriate food groupings. From a value standpoint they are each fairly priced and provide more than solid quality in their respective categories. The Pinot Noir however sets itself apart. More than being a good value, it’s an absolutely outstanding one. It’s quite simply one of the very best Pinot Noirs in the ever popular $10 to $15 price bracket. There are tons of Pinot selections in this category; nevertheless precious few of them can match the quality of the Hardys Nottage Hill Pinot Noir. If you’re looking to buy a case or two as a house wine to keep on hand for everyday drinking, this Pinot is an absolutely perfect choice. At $13 or less a bottle you’re practically stealing it. Hardys has a host of other wines besides this trio. They are proportionate wines that are true to their varietal. Don’t hesitate to buy anything with their name on it, for it’s a sign of quality and value.

Check out Gabe’s View for more wine reviews, and follow Gabe on Twitter!