May 27, 2015 · 4:51 pm

McHenry Hohnen – 18/5/2015

Wines tasted at the McHenry Hohnen Cellar Door in the Margaret River region.

Amigos White (Marsanne, Chardonnay, Roussanne) 2011
Nice oiliness but not too fat or broad, not warm, balanced alcohol. Hints of herbs and spice, nice stone fruit core. Pleasant, not showing its age at all.

Calgardup Brook Chardonnay 2013
Quite soft and gentle, round creamy salted butter, nice rich leesy notes, integrated but also showing a bit of oak.

Rocky Rd Chardonnay 2013
A little flintier aromatically, darker riper stone fruits. Mealier texture on the palate, a little darker in fruit profile, slightly riper notes, a bit bolder, preferred style, more length.

Burnside Chardonnay 2013
Crunchier more graphite mineral notes, quite bold, smokier too. Fuller denser dried stone fruit, earthy density, quite exuberant but not obvious.

Amigos Red (Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro) 2011
Savoury smoked sausage, almost a burnt note, undergrowth. Nice darkness, good fruit, smokiness well-integrated, good grip but still fresh. Not just simple fruit.

Tiger Country (Tempranillo, Graciano, Petit Verdot) 2010
Very dusty red earth notes, tight but soft tannins, nice balance of fruit, quite dense could use some more time.

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McHenry Hohnen Amigos White Blend

 

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May 7, 2015 · 9:00 am

The Vincast with Kim & Tennille Chalmers from Chalmers Wines

I make no secret of my love for Italian wines, and also Italian grape varieties planted in Australia. For this episode of The Vincast I was very honoured and excited to talk to Kim & Tennille Chalmers who with their family have been at the forefront not only of importing Italian grape varieties for their nursery which are then made available for sale, but also for producing their own wine from fruit they grow themselves in Mildura and Heathcote. They joined me to chat about the origins of the business, how the Australian viticultural landscape and wine market has changed, and how they are educating trade, media and consumers alike of the potential many of these grapes have in Australia.

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Kim & Tennille Chalmers from Chalmers Wines (photo courtesy of TimeOut)

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April 30, 2015 · 9:00 am

The Vincast with Kathy Lane from Fireworks PR

Kathy Lane has worked in the wine industry for 25 years, and over the past 12 years she has worked on a range of high-profile, premium global brands, organising launches and events and building media profile for her clients at Fireworks PR. She joins me on this episode of The Vincast to talk about her background, about public relations as it relates to wine, and how she helps her clients – like Australia’s First Families of Wine – reach their audience to tell their unique stories.

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Kathy Lane from Fireworks PR

Kathy Lane from Fireworks PR

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April 23, 2015 · 9:00 am

The Vincast with Dr. Damien Wilson, Professor of Wine Marketing

https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=81380

Have you ever considered a career in wine business & marketing? Did you know that you can study it academically, to a PhD level? Well Damien Wilson did just that, and currently shares his incredible understanding of markets, consumers and branding with students at the Dijon School of Wine & Spirits. He joined me on this episode of The Vincast to talk about how he got into the field and how important understanding about this complicated topic will be in the future.

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Dr. Damien Wilson, Professor of Wine Marketing

Dr. Damien Wilson, Professor of Wine Marketing

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April 16, 2015 · 9:00 am

The Vincast with Nathan Earl from Plonk

Two things in Nathan Earl’s life coalesced for him to create (and star in) the innovative wine program Plonk. The first was growing up in the Hunter Valley and several of his family working in cellar doors, giving him an early appreciation for Australian wine. The second was a career in Australian television, much of which was spent working with comedy “guerrillas” The Chaser. Starring alongside Nathan is university friend Josh Tyler and Chaser member Chris Taylor. Plonk is a tongue-in-cheek look at Australian wine and the creation of a fictional wine program, and how things can so easily go wrong.

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April 13, 2015 · 9:39 pm

Passopisciaro – Mondo Imports Trade Tasting

Contrada Chiappemacine 2012
Dusty earthy subtlety, somewhat closed, a bit dirty red fruits, crunchiness. Very tight lean and focused, precise through the mid palate, intense focused tannins, crunchy slightly sour raspberries.

Contrada Porcaria 2012
A bit more open tomato some meat notes, some sinewy ripe dried herbs. Fleshier but still tight, brighter lighter but fuller too, slightly more approachable but still great tannins.

Contrada Guardiola 2012
Some dried floral notes, nice savoury sour black cherries. Powerful in the mid palate, lifted more generous tannins, slightly rounder, lovely soft finish with focused acids.

Contrada Sciaranuova 2012
Deeper darker fruit, sweet cherry notes, lovely soft florals. Surprising tightness and focus but sweeter tannins, quite expressive on the mid palate.

Contrada Rampante 2012
Very subtle, contained possibly even closed. Tight sinewy lithe tannins, drying out on the back, quite savoury earthy tannins. Chewiness.

Contrada single-vineyard wines from Passopisciaro 2012 vintage

Contrada single-vineyard wines from Passopisciaro 2012 vintage

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April 13, 2015 · 10:17 am

Passopisciaro – Boccaccio Cellars Consumer Tasting

Rosso 2007
Pretty developed on the nose, very open, possibly a reflection of vintage as well? A hint of meatiness to it. Very tight and sharp still on the palate, plenty of exuberance and sharp acids.

Rosso 2009
Not as open but certainly meatier on the nose, earthy red fruits, a touch more vibrant as well. Still lovely tightness and focus, not as crunchy, better balance of structure, better containment and potential longevity.

Rosso 2010
Lighter leaner and prettier, more subtle and complex, but also a bit more closed, meat vegetal red fruits and earth all in harmony. Juicier and softer roundness but still plenty of fresh acids and firm yet supple tannins.

Rosso 2011
Deeper more intense fruits leaning on the dark side, subtle sweet earth notes. Softer juicier fruits, more gentle tannins, more opulence in comparison to other vintages, a more gentle touch.

Rosso 2012
Punchy almost candies red fruits on the nose, a bit closed at the moment but bright crunchy pretty notes, even some florals too. Soft juicy intense sweet red fruits, warm on the palate, a tad unbalanced at the moment, lots and lots of tannin, nice complete finish, way too early. Quite tight.

Letizia Patane from Passopisciaro

Letizia Patane from Passopisciaro

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April 7, 2015 · 5:18 pm

Klinec – Cerea 2015

Gardelin (Pinot Grigio) 2011
A bit light on, plenty fresh though.

Jakot 2011
Quite sulphurous on the nose, brooding earthy intensity. A bit young.

Malvazija 2011
Bright herbal almost gherkin nose, sweet and sour saltiness.

Rebula 2011
Creamy cheesy leesy nose, meaty toasty texture, very serious but seriously fresh. Fantastic wine.

Medana I. Classe Ortodox 2006
Very subtle wheaty biscuity toast notes, quite intense but not bold or aggressive, very complete.

Quela 2010
Very fresh and vibrant, not what I’d expect from a Bordeaux blend from this vintage. Still plenty of tannin but delicate in nature.

Medana I. Classe Mōra 2009
A touch broad on the nose and developed in a barrel way. Very intense and full on the palate, plenty of freshness but intense tannins.

Klinec Medana I. Classe Ortodox 2006

Klinec Medana I. Classe Ortodox 2006

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April 1, 2015 · 5:11 pm

Massa Vecchia – Cerea 2015

Bianco 2012
Honey wattle wax quite herbal. Rich wild textural complex, very fresh but some late tannin.

Rosato 2012
Dirty earthy, a little reductive, closed. Very good on the palate though, fresh mealy meaty bright dark red fruits.

Berace 2012
Stinky wild red red red. Sweet core of dark fruits, currants, dusty cocoa, but wild funk on the back very subtle.

La Querciola 2010
Much more funkified, but still precise fresh fruits, pretty deep. Sweet texture in the front, warmer more intense tannins, some salty chocolate notes.

La Querciola 2011
More closed earthiness, much more intense dense tannins, coating the mouth, prominent.

Passito 2012
Really serious raisining, very intense but exceedingly fresh on the palate, sweetness late but very subtle and integrated. Not as concentrated as I expected.

Francesca Sfrondrini from Massa Vecchia

Francesca Sfrondrini from Massa Vecchia

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April 1, 2015 · 4:59 pm

Cantine Filippi – Villa Favorita 2015

Vigne della Bra 2013
Quite powerful and builds on the palate, quite fresh but lovely citrus pith texture. Richness without excessive warmth.

Monteseroni Garganega 2013
Fresh mineral oxidation. Full yet light? Fresh but mellow? A bit odd.

Turbiana 2013
Nice density concentration still very light and fresh with hints of savoury.

Filippo Filippi

Filippo Filippi

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