Thursday, 26 August 2010
Yes, we went there because of the Art Series, but there’s more than one string to their bow.
2006 Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay (4*, $33 or $181.50/6) Quite acceptable nicely yeasty drop in a style that doesn't turn up too often in Margaret River or in the Little House of Concrete sampling repertoire, Soft well balanced easy drinking to bear in mind as part of a mixed dozen when current stock of bubbles runs down..
2008 Art Series Riesling (4.5* $22 $242/dozen) Lighter on the citrus and minerality than the South Australian equivalents, but still quite excellent. In stock at home and now sold out.
2009 Siblings Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (4*, $23 $252/dozen) One of the best expressions of the blend I tried in the area, with a melange of fruit notes on the nose and across the palate.
2009 Art Series Sauvignon Blanc (5* $30 $330/dozen) Unbelievably good and had me shaking my head at the continuing cut-price Kiwi Savalanche (think I'm joking? Halliday gave it 96 points and described it as an exceptionally fine and elegant rendition of sauvignon blanc).
2009 Classic Dry White (4* $17.95 $197.50/case) Great value at the price. The Cellar Door attendant described it as fruit salad in a glass, and wasn't far wide of the mark.
2007 Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay (4.5* $31.50 $346.50/case) Great example of the direction Australian Chardonnay is taking, with pronounced grapefruit and pear notes on the nose but paled alongside its big brother.
2007 Art Series Chardonnay (5* $89 $979/case) Absolutely sublime. My tasting note reads Wish I could afford it by the case. If I could it would be difficult to buy too much of anything else!
2007 Siblings Shiraz (4* $23 $253/case) Excellent value for money lighter everyday drinking style, soft and balanced.
2007 Art Series Shiraz (4.5* $36.50 $401.50/case) Fragrant, full-bodied with fine tannins.
2005 Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon (4.5* $59 $654.50/case) Nose on the Cabernet was particularly delightful. Succulent, lush and elegantly refined.
2004 Prelude Vineyards Cabernet Merlot (4* $28.50 $313.50/case) Not quite as impressed, but that's probably as much about my reaction to the blend as the embarrassment of riches that preceded it.
Ordering? Five Art Series (current vintage of the Riesling is the ’09, but I’ve got the ’08 in stock) plus the Siblings SSB. Three bottles of the Sauvignon Blanc if the funds don’t stretch to two of the Chardonnay. ($460 or $519).