Category Archives: Tasting Notes

Notes on wines I have tasted

Let’s Taste – Pewsey Vale 2017 Rieslings

Very excited on this edition of Let’s Taste to look at the 2017 rieslings from Pewsey Vale, particularly having tasted across the 2016 wines previously. The big difference on this occasion is there is a new wine to the range, and it was fascinating seeing how it fit in with the other wines of the same vintage. Let me know what you think in the comments below, and stand by for a part two looking at two different vintages of The Contours Riesling.

Wines tasted;
Pewsey Vale Riesling 2017 – RRP $20.00
Pewsey Vale 1961 Block Riesling 2017 – RRP N/A
Pewsey Vale Prima 22gr Riesling 2017 – RRP $25.00

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Let’s Taste – Topper’s Mountain Bricolage Blanc 2015 & Tannat 2013

Not for the first time I’m tasting samples sent from Topper’s Mountain, New England NSW based producer of some alternative wines. I’m fascinated by this region as I don’t see much else from there, and the TM crew are doing some really cool things up there. Let me know what you think of the latest edition of Let’s Taste, I’d love to hear from you and appreciate you subscribing to the Intrepid Wino channel.

Wines tasted;
Topper’s Mountain Bricolage Blanc 2015 – RRP $30.00
Topper’s Mountain Wild Ferment Tannat 2013 – RRP $38.00

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March 28, 2018 · 11:50 am

Let’s Taste – Mitchell McNicol Riesling 2009 & Shiraz 2007

This is the final in a three-part series looking at wines from Mitchell Winery in the Clare Valley. On previous editions I have looked at current release Mitchell wines compared with museum releases, but they also have a specific late release range under the McNicol branding. Here I look at the riesling and shiraz from this range. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Wines tasted;
Mitchell McNicol Riesling 2009 – RRP $45.00
Mitchell McNicol Shiraz 2007 – RRP $50.00

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March 27, 2018 · 10:10 am

Let’s Taste – Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ 2017 Whites & Rosé

Hard to believe, but this is actually the first recorded edition of Let’s Taste for 2018, and it happens to be at an entirely new location. My young family have just moved house (a fun exercise during vintage to say the least), and I was excited to taste some perennial favourites at the new address!

Yalumba is one of Australia’s most important wine producers, with an incredible range from iconic to approachable. The ‘Y Series’ range has always represented outstanding value, and I happily opened the range of chilled wines from the 2017 vintage. Let me know what you think in the comments below, many thanks to Yalumba for sending the samples!

Wines tasted;
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Sauvignon Blanc 2017 – RRP $15.00
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Riesling 2017 – RRP $15.00
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Pinot Grigio 2017 – RRP $15.00
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Chardonnay 2017 – RRP $15.00
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Viognier 2017 – RRP $15.00
Yalumba ‘The Y Series’ Sangiovese Rosé 2017 – RRP $15.00

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Let’s Taste – Moss Wood Sauvignon Blanc Semillon & Semillon 2017

The last recorded edition of Let’s Taste for 2017 was on New Year’s Eve, and it was for two 2017 white wines from Moss Wood. Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc are varieties that have a rich and important history in Margaret River, but possibly don’t get as much love as other grapes. I was very interested to see what the 2017 vintage offered in the west, let me know what you think in the comments below!

Wines tasted;
Moss Wood Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2017 – RRP $32.00
Moss Wood Semillon 2017 – RRP $35.00

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January 10, 2018 · 10:56 am

The Intrepid Wine Awards 2017

This past year, not unlike the previous one, was both momentous and often challenging. There were a number of life-changing events in 2017, most importantly the birth of my son which put a hold on podcast episodes and Let’s Taste videos. What his birth couldn’t change was the second vintage of the now named and released Vino Intrepido brand, and it was very difficult to leave home in the months after to visit the winery. Balancing work and personal became even more challenging starting a new position with importer Enoteca Sydney, and I was contemplating putting the podcast on indefinite hiatus. That was until I was invited to be part of the Melbourne podcast network Ear Buds, which saw me get The Vincast out to a bigger audience, and also hold the first ever live recording at Noisy Ritual in Brunswick East. I’ve got big plans for 2018; more wine, more podcast episodes, more live events, more everything!

Of course many more bottles were opened on the IntrepidWino YouTube channel, and as always I feel incredibly privileged to share my impressions of how awesome Australian wine is. Many thanks to those individuals and companies who submitted samples, and thanks to the growers and winemakers who put in so much hard work to get such incredible booze into the bottle. The following wines were some of the most impactful that I opened for Let’s Taste in 2017, please let me know what you think in the comments below.

The newest addition to the Let’s Taste couch!

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Let’s Taste – Sanglier Shiraz 2016

On a recent edition of Let’s Taste I looked at a few wines from the Vanguardist range, made by Michael John Corbett in South Australia. Sanglier is a different brand they make, slightly wilder in style, and he gave me a bottle of the 2016 Shiraz to taste. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Wine tasted;
Sanglier Shiraz 2016 – RRP $30.00

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December 18, 2017 · 10:42 am

Let’s Taste – Vanguardist ‘CVR’ Riesling 2016 & La Petite Vanguard Grenache 2017

I recently bumped into Michael John Corbett in Melbourne as we happen to share some warehouse space. I’d seen the Vanguardist wines out and about in my travels as a wine rep, and had noticed them not far from mine tucked away in inner Melbourne ready for delivery. Michale mentioned that he would love to be involved with The Vincast, and generously offered me some wines to taste. Please let me know what you think in the comments below!

Wines tasted;
Vanguardist ‘CVR’ Riesling 2016 – RRP $40.00
La Petite Vanguard Grenache 2017 – RRP $27.00
Website – https://www.vanguardistwines.com

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December 16, 2017 · 11:58 am

Let’s Taste – d’Arenberg 2016 Chardonnays

The third and final in another series of Let’s Taste d’Arenberg wines, this time looking at two chardonnays from the 2016 vintage. McLaren Vale, although considered a warmer climate ideal for red varieties, still has a lot of chardonnay, as there are cooler parts of the region suited to white varieties. The Adelaide Hills is possibly considered the best region in South Australia for chardonnay, so it makes sense they should use fruit from here. Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below!

Wines tasted;
d’Arenberg ‘The Olive Grove’ Chardonnay 2016 – RRP $15.00
d’Arenberg ‘The Lucky Lizard’ Chardonnay 2016 – RRP $25.00

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December 16, 2017 · 11:32 am

Let’s Taste – d’Arenberg Reds December 2017

An intriguing tasting of d’Arenberg wines on this edition of Let’s Taste, comparing a classic blend for the McLaren Vale, and a variety that has recently gained a new following. Let me know what you think in the comments below!

Wines tasted;
d’Arenberg ‘The Anthropocene Epoch’ Mencia 2017 – RRP $29.00
d’Arenberg ‘The Bonsai Vine’ Grenache Shiraz Mouvedre 2015 – RRP $29.00

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December 13, 2017 · 10:17 pm