Wellington ìIced
Rieslingî 2003.
Cleverly made using a technique of freeze
concentration, this magnificent trophy winning dessert wine will take its
place in Tasmaniaís wine making history. Brilliant with fresh peaches,
summer pudding, cream caramel or blue cheese. Serve chilled.
Bronze Medal: 2004 Tasmanian Wine Show.
$22.00 per bottle.
Providence Gold
2001 Botrytis Semillon 375mL
Yes we have done it again but the hard
way, as usual. We waited until it was too late to make a dry Semillon
and watched as about one third of each bunch succumbed to Botrytis - and
then it all stopped for about a month! Following two bouts of light
rain about three days apart all the fruit went through, reaching 42o
Brix. Bronze medal at the 2002 Tasmanian Wine Show. By the
way - this is the last as the Semillon at Providence is no more!
$22.50 per bottle.
Providence Gold
1998 Botrytis Semillon 750 ml
We have been hiding a few bottles of
this magnificent, luscious Gold Medal wine, and all I can say is that age
has been more than kind to its development. Absolutely stunning with
sharp blue vein cheese and quince paste, as well as desserts like creme
broulee and creme caramel. When I say we have been hiding a few bottles
I mean exactly that!
$53.00 per bottle.
Fortified
Wine
Wellington Ruby
Port.
This wine puts an end to the statement
ìyou canít make port in Tasmaniaî. Made initially as an experiment
by Andrew Hood, Hobart Port presents as a fine example of a Portuguese
ruby port - light in colour, very fruity exhibiting good quality brandy
spirit. Surprisingly, the wine is made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes.
Bronze medal winner at the 2001 Tasmanian Wine Show.
$22.00 per bottle.
Wellington Sauvignon
Blanc 2003
This is the second Sauvignon Blanc from
the Hood stable and its quality is consistent with its predecessors. This
is a lovely wine, again lacking the over-the-top herbaceous intensity that
turns me off so many Sauvignon Blanc wines. Beautifully balanced,
lovely aroma and good length of palate. What more is there to say
- other than it won a Silver Medal at the 2004 Tasmanian Wine Show.
$21.00 per bottle (Release date:
October 2003)
Coombend Sauvignon
Blanc 2003.
This wine, made by Andrew Hood, is a
similar style to his own label. The departure from the extreme herbaceousness
seen in many NZ wines makes these wines far more food friendly. Try
it with cold meat collations, light seafood and a Caesar salad.
$20.50 per bottle
Providence 2000
Semillon
A product of a long dry summer predicating
the production of a dry wine rather than a botrytised style. We were
very pleased with the Semillon crop this year (something that is rare for
us!). The wine is typical Semillon which is showing wisdom in its
age. Lightly oaked it is magnificent with seafoods, such as scallops
in a lemon sauce or a Caesar salad.
$18.50 per bottle.
Bream Creek Schonburger
2000.
made by Stefano Lubiana and exhibiting
his usual finesse this wine is quite unique, being produced from a private
clone. Similar in style to Pinot Gris the wine is an excellent partner
to spicy Asian food, particularly Thai green curries and hot Indian food.
$18.00 per bottle.
Grey Sands 2000
Pinot Gris.
Rob and Rita Richter's Pinot Gris has
always been a firm favourite of Brenda's and mine and possesses a richness
that stood out in a tasting of this class on 25 October 2001. Halliday
refers to the "honeysuckle fruit" with which I agree is in abundance.
Made by Greg O'Keefe this is the star in his crown!
$22.00 per bottle.
Sharman's Sauvignon
Blanc 2002.
I guess there are two styles of S-B:
the "in your face' NZ style and this more subtle wine which is very easy
to drink. The Sauvignon Blanc character is certainly evident, without
being "over the top". the fruit is soft and well balanced against
the acidity. Again, I do enjoy this with spicy food but also with
salads.
17.00 per bottle.
Stefano Lubiana
2003 Sauvignon Blanc
This wine is more austere and steely
that the previous vintage. But that is not to demean it in any way.
Typical of Steve's winemaking this wine is very clean and fresh and a great
partner to light seafood, a Caesar salad or a cold meat collation.
$24.00 per bottle.
Barringwoood Park
2003 Pinot Gris.
As with their Pinot Noir, the wine is
made by Tamar Ridge from fruit grown at the vineyard in the hills near
Lake Barrington. This is a very clean, crisp wine that is great with
Asian food. Bronze Medal: 2004 Tasmanian Wine Show.
$22.00 per bottle.
Barringwood Park
2003 Schonburger.
This wine has been made deliberately
to leave some sweetness on the palate. Sweet, but not overly so and
certainly not clawing as the acid in the wine is very well balanced.
$22.00 per bottle.
Meadowbank 2003
Sauvignon Blanc
This is the third vintage of the outstanding
wine. There are many views about Sauvignon Blanc but my view of this
wine is that it is not overdone and concentrates more on primary fruit
character than it does on green herbaceousness. I am not a Sauvignon
Blanc drinker but I have sat in Meadowbank's restaurant and drank this
wine on many occasions. It goes well with their beetroot ravioli.
Bronze Medal: 2004 Tasmanian Wine Show.
$26.00 per bottle.
Pinot Noir
Golders Reserve
2001 Pinot Noir
Made by Richard Crabtree this is a fuller
style Pinot without going over the top. The nose is fresh, exhibiting
some traces of violets, developed fruit and balanced oak. This follows
through to the palate which is full with a medium length. The wine
has been cold settled only and therefore not filtered.
$28.00 per bottle
Providence "Miguet"
2001 Pinot Noir.
Described by Peter Althaus as "a wine
of the season" the 2001 Miguet has lovely elegant fruit character full
of ripe cherries with a touch of black plum. There are many similarities
between this wine and the multi-award winning 1999 vintage. The predominance
of new oak has now fully integrated and the wine has a similar length of
palate to its famous predecessor. Listed as one of Australia's top
wines of the future in The Bulletin December 2003. Available only
in magnums at
$100.00 per magnum.
Providence "Monet"
1998 Pinot Noir.
From the same stable as our award winning
CRV the 1998 vintage is a delightful medium weight Pinot Noir with a lovely
developed fruit nose which betrays the palate precisely. I regret
that a lot of this wine has been consumed by us while waiting for approval
and printing of the labels. the "Monet" range is new and represents
Providence's "drink now" wines. There is a matching Chardonnay,
both wines were written up in the Weekend Australian 15/16 May 2004
by James Halliday who awarded the Pinot 90 points and that is Gold Medal
standard!
$22.00 per bottle.
Domaine A Stoney
Pinot Noir 2001.
I have often commented on the spicy
overlay that is characteristic of Peter Althaus' Pinots from Campania and
this is no exception. As Peter explains, it is a vineyard characteristic
and one I have not seen on other Tasmanian Pinots. It certainly adds
a greater depth to the wine, which is generous in rich fruit flavours with
well balanced acidity, oak and tannin. It seems like a terrible admission
but I have always liked these Pinots - in most cases more than my own!
$32.00 per bottle.
Domaine A "Reserve
du Patron" Pinot Noir 2000
This is certainly one wine out of the
box! My comments on the Stoney Pinot above stand, but this wine,
in very limited quantity, reflects precisely Peter Althaus's passion for
excellence. Full bodied, true Pinot style that drinks like silk.
Every element is completely integrated to produce a seamless experience.
This is a wine for special occasions
$160.00 per bottle.
Wellington Pinot
Noir 2000.
This magnificent Pinot Noir won a silver
medal at the 2002 Tasmanian Regional Wine Show in one of the toughest Pinot
Noir classes ever judged by James Halliday. The wine also won a Blue
Gold medal at the Sydney International Wine Competition (wine judged with
food). Now that the captains and the kings have departed, this is
our biggest seller and a steal at
$35.00 per bottle. (and
going fast!! We have the only remaining stocks of this wine)
Bream Creek Pinot
Noir 2001
Grown by Fred Peacock and made by Stefano
Lubiana, this is a wine of elegance and mid-weight in style. A great
food wine that would compliment light meats, such as veal and lamb.
great with pasta and, of course, Atlantic salmon. Judged as Pinot
Noir of the Show - Rutherglen Wine Show 2003.
$26.00 per bottle.
Sharmans 2003 Pinot
Noir
This is a very soft, fruit driven Pinot
Noir, true to style withh well balanced oak and tannin. Like most
of Sharmans wines, they present as very good value for money.
$23.00 per bottle.
Jinglers Creek
2001 Pinot Noir
From the Vineyard of Irving and Kim Fong
at Relbia and made by the father of Pinot Noir in Tasmania, Graham Wiltshire
this wine is medium weight, exhibiting fresh fruit, balanced oak, firm
acid and medium length.
$19.00 per bottle.
Old Stornaway 2001
Pinot Noir.
The first release from this new vineyard
at Relbia. Made by Andrew Hood the wine is best described as exhibiting
Burgundian elegance with lovely clean fruit and well balanced acid, oak
and tannin. great to drink now or keep for about five years.
$25.00 per bottle.
Barringwood Park
Pinot Noir 2001.
Grown at Ian and Judy Robinson's picturesque
vineyard in the hills overlooking Devonport this wine, from young vines
is showing great promise and we can expect some development in the style
in ensuing years. The wine has been made by Michael Fogarty at Tamar
Ridge. Great food wine.
$20.50 per bottle.
