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For Your Pleasure
"For your pleasure
In our present state
Part false part true
Like anything
We present ourselvesThe words we use tumble
All over your shoulder
Gravel hard and looseThere all night lying
With your dark horse hiding
Abhorring such extremes" - Bryan FerryCategories
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Category Archives: Great Southern
2013 Snake + Herring Tough Love Chardonnay
Incorporates fruit from both the Margaret River and Porongurup areas of Western Australia. Perhaps slightly more generous than the previous vintage. Light funk on the nose. Nectarine, lime and spiced pears are supported by a restrained veneer of oak. Hints … Continue reading
2012 Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge Vineyard Shiraz
My fascination with Shiraz from the Great Southern GI continues unabated. Its isolation may slow progress to an extent but I feel strongly that it will one day produce some of the leading examples of the grape in Australia. Deep, … Continue reading
2013 Frankland Estate Isolation Ridge Vineyard Riesling
The most famous of the Frankland Estate Rieslings and one of the better known Great Southern examples of the variety full stop. Slatey and pure. Green apple skins, lemons, basil and citrus zest. Sheer mineral precision and extension. One for … Continue reading
2013 Frankland Estate Poison Hill Vineyard Riesling
Each of these three Frankland Estate single vineyard Rieslings lie within a 25km radius. Another exercise in distilled terroir. Australian Riesling is an easier grape to apply the ‘minimal intervention’ tagline to…for the most part. Granular pear marks the wine. … Continue reading
2013 Frankland Estate Netley Road Vineyard Riesling
From vines planted in 1968 according to the bottle and 1966 according to the website. Apparently recently renamed Justin’s Vineyard in honour of founder John Justice Roche. I wonder if the Netley Road moniker will be dropped come future vintages. … Continue reading
2011 Xabregas Estate Shiraz
From Mount Barker as is the case with the two wines reviewed below. Less savoury, more traditional, predominantly red-fruited. Easy access. Savouries up as it moves down the line while adding some plums, aniseedy herbs and French vanilla oak. A … Continue reading
2010 Xabregas Artisan Syrah
Cofermented with some whole bunch Roussanne all in large vats “for funk.” Oh yes, the colour. I don’t really care much about it but it’s undeniably vivid. Busy wine. Very wild and savoury. Violets, notes of sauvage/game meats, dusty spices, … Continue reading
2010 X by Xabregas Spencer Syrah
I’m late to the party on these Xabregas Great Southern Syrahs but the quality is very high and they both have an X-factor. Seductive, silky mouthfeel. Gunsmoke, deli meats, blackberries, fennel seeds and dark cherries. Sanguine, dried herb finish. Luscious … Continue reading
2012 Howard Park Flint Rock Chardonnay
Grapes are from the Mount Barker subregion of the Great Southern. Indigenous ferment in tank and older oak. Some wildness on the nose but it’s like biting into a hybrid of fresh nectarine and white peach on entry. Love the … Continue reading
2013 Howard Park Flint Rock Great Southern Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir from the Great Southern in Western Australia has never impressed me greatly. Worth noting that it’s early days yet though. Grapes are from the higher altitude of the Mount Barrow Vineyard in the Mount Barker subregion. A wine … Continue reading