Great white hunters
Going out to dinner at a friend's house?
Want to take a good wine without spending a motza?
We asked Wayne and Pete from the Headframe Bottle Shop
to pick a selection of whites (we'll do reds next time).
We invited some 'good palates' to taste the wines
and here we bring you their recommendations.
By the time the panel arrived at the Civic Hall, kindly made available
to us by the Town Council, the wines were uncorked, the glasses filled
and Wombat had laid out the cheese and bickies.
The panel members approached their task diligently and with an air of
quiet reverence. It wasn't until about bottle number three that the
party livened.
An hour and a half later at bottle number eight, discussion had given
way to pronouncement and differences of opinion flowed as freely as
the wine.
At the end of the day there was, however, quite a lot of consensus between
panel members except in the case of the Verdelho where you will have
to decide whose palate you want to trust.
Now read on ...
Blue Pyrenees Estate Chardonnay 1996
from Pyrenees VIC - $25.90
Kim and Kathy:
"The appearance of this wine is a little pale and has a slightly
greenish tinge to it. The nose is light, young and fresh and the immediate
front palate gives the best effect, although the finish is slightly
acidic and doesn't last.
This seems a young wine, two years at the most. It would go with smoked
salmon or chicken lightly grilled with a greek salad or even grilled
fish. However it doesn't have a great deal of body."
Mandy and Dave:
"The first taste of this wine is much better than the second. It
has a fruity taste and a slightly acidic finish. Maybe needs more time
to round into the good wine it will become, it is on the change from
fruity to mature wine. It appears pale yellow, with the nose being fruity
and dry with a hint of wood."
Brolga and Marianne:
"The nose suggests that it is about 2 years old. At first the palate
has a bite to it, is medium dry and tangy. The finish also suggests
that it is young and tangy. It appears gold but clear, running down
the side of the glass slowly, suggesting it is a young wine."
Jan:
"This wine has quite a nice finish, but with a small amount of
acid. It is clear and pale, slightly light golden in appearance, with
a heavy bouquet nose. It is slightly woody in taste, a reasonable wine,
but possibly too heavy if looking for a light wine."
Jamiesons Run Sauvignon Blanc 1997
from Pyrenees VIC - $16.00
Kim and Kathy:
"This wine has a golden touch. The nose is very light and delicate
with a hint of straw, suggesting a young hayfield, but is still undeveloped.
The front palate is strong and immediate, giving a citric effect. This
wine gives a better back palate than the first. The finish suggests
this wine is perhaps a little weak, but still promising. Could be immediately
used with crepes or perhaps a soft sorbet to compliment."
Mandy and Dave:
"The palate of this wine is full bodied, it's a nice wine."
Brolga and Marianne:
"This wine has a slightly darker shade than the previous wine and
runs fast down the glass. The smell is more potent also than the Blue
Pyrenees, the flavour is strong, tangy and slightly sour. It has a smooth
but strong finish but is refreshing. It gets better after a while."
Jan:
"A very pleasant wine, it's very young with not a great deal of
acidity. It appears slightly gold in colour, but is very clear. It is
quite a fruity wine and isn't too dry, with the nose being a very light
bouquet. It's very moreish and is not heavy."
Blues Point Chardonnay/Semillon 1997
from Barossa Valley SA - $11.50
Kim and Kathy:
" The appearance suggests complexity that promises. It has a rich
depth a colour with a green tinge and a touch of golden.
The nose is refreshing and fruity, with a bouquet of soft melon and
at the same time being complex. The finish is robust but not prolonged
and has a mild front palate whilst having a pleasing overall effect.
This wine is nice to drink now with friends as well as with seafood,
chicken or a light pork dish. It has a pleasant pre prandial touch."
Mandy and Dave:
"The nose of this wine is grassy and herbaceous also with a bit
of oak."
Brolga and Marianne:
"A bloody nice wine that has a sour but smooth taste, as well as
tasting cheap. It has a very strong nose and is clear golden in appearance.
It goes down well."
Jan:
"This is definitely a fruity wine, a little on the sweet side and
with little acidity. It has some depth of colour but is still light
and clear. It is very pleasant but maybe a touch too sweet for my taste."
Moondah Brook Verdelho 1997
from Darling Ranges WA - $15.50
Kim and Kathy:
"The appearance is an exceptional pale lemon, almost a washed out
watery colour. The nose of the wine suggests it is inviting, complex,
strong. It smells mossy, dank and woody. The taste is refreshing and
fruity, redolent of bayous and swamps. The back palate is attractive
and it's a complex, complicated wine. It needs careful cellaring. It
has a sweetish, but not cloyish, long lasting finish, with a lingering
aftertaste. Because it is lush and full, it would compliment a richer
'first course' eg onion and spinach pie with say ricotta cheese. Not
for the unsophisticated as it could be overpowering - a very pleasing
wine indeed."
Mandy and Dave:
"Is this a bad bottle? A poor example of the winemakers' art."
Brolga and Marianne:
"When first poured, this wine is bubbly, it has a very golden appearance
and isn't very clear. The smell is not very tempting at all, in fact
it's very off-putting. The palate is unpleasant, tasting cheap and as
if it's not blended well. It is too strong with a very over powering
flavour. We don't like this wine as it leaves an unpleasant taste in
the mouth and is very rough."
Jan:
"This wine is very young and sweet, too sweet for my taste. It
is a wine for those with a sweet tooth, as it has a heavy after taste.
It appears light and clear and although it is fruity, it is acidic.
I would not buy this wine."
Richmond Grove Classic Dry White 1996
from Hunter Valley N.S.W. - $11.50
Kim and Kathy:
"The finish of this wine lingers, but is neither strong nor pleasing.
The appearance is basic golden with a greenish tinge and is extremely
fruity with an after taste that is slightly acidic. This wine has a
nose to linger over, with a slow impact that soon develops. But is not
supported by an overall palate satisfaction."
Mandy and Dave:
"The finish of this wine is slightly acidic."
Brolga and Marianne:
"It appears to have a yellowy tinge and is thick on the side of
the glass. The aroma is very strong and it tastes very tangy, a bit
fruity and with a touch of dryness. The finish remains quite strong
but is tasty. It is a tasty, fruity wine and splashes well over the
high school principal's car!"
Jan:
"Once again, a light and clear wine, although very yellow. This
wine is slightly on the sweet side, a little acidic and with an overburn.
It is perhaps both too sweet and acidic, but with the right meal it
would be OK. The nose is quite light, if not floral bouquet, but I would
still not buy this wine."
Yarra Ridge Chardonnay 1996
from Yarra Valley VIC - $19.90
Kim and Kathy:
"This wine is not recommended as the palate is rushed and clumsy.
It has a rich and bronzish appearance and the finish is tacky and hangs
on the palate. The nose is strong - disturbingly so."
Mandy and Dave:
"With a deep golden colour and a hint of green chartreuse, the
palate of this wine is full and buttery. It is a middle of the road
wine."
Brolga and Marianne:
"The palate of this wine is nothing special, but is quite pleasant
with not too much bite. It is very smooth and fruity, with the aroma
being so as well. It appears to be very bright but at the time same
time deep gold."
Jan:
"This wine is far too sweet and far too woody, it is also very
young. The nose is ordinary and the wine appears very clear but with
a slightly green tinge. The finish is too sweet and heavy - no, I would
not buy this one."
Brown Brothers Chenin Blanc 1996
from Milawa VIC - $11.80
Kim and Kathy:
"The nose on this wine is not a great deal, quite mild. However
the palate is an immediately strong fruit bouquet and has a powerful
impact. The appearance is light but is more green than most. It is a
sweet dessert wine and should be tried with a fruit platter and with
perhaps a strawberry dropped in. The finish is abrupt on the side and
back palate and this is a very 'rushy' and forceful wine."
Mandy and Dave:
"The nose on this wine is very much in your face, oh! but it's
tastes very nice. It appears a straw yellow colour and has a soft and
mellow finish. It is a pleasant surprise - gorgeous!"
Brolga and Marianne:
"We enjoyed this wine, it has a pleasant palate with a mild flavour.
There is not much bite and it is smooth. It appears very light and clear
and the finish has not much of a lingering flavour as it's very mild."
Jan:
"This wine is just far too sweet, cannot make a comment."
Hollick's Terra - Sauvignon Blanc Riesling
1996 from Coonawarra SA - $13.20
Kim and Kathy:
"This strong yellow gold coloured wine is one to enjoy as itself
or with a wide range of foods as it does not overpower. It has a gentle
and satisfying, lingering and charming finish. It has an immediate but
discrete palate and a subtle but promising nose."
Mandy and Dave:
"This wine appears a deeper yellow with a slight tinge of green
viscosity."
Brolga and Marianne:
"With a nice finish, the palate is tasty and smooth. There is not
much of an aroma but a dark texture, is bright and gold and runs down
the glass well, but thick."
Jan:
"An easy drinking wine, is a bit fruity and the finish has no afterburn
to it. It has a very pleasant palate and is not too sweet. The appearance
is light and clear with a touch of yellow. The nose is a nice bouquet
and isn't too woody. Quite nice for a light pleasant meal, I would buy
this wine for a light night."
And the winners are...
Moondah BrookVerdelho 1997
Kim: "Young, adventurous ... it had the greatest nose of
all of the."
Kathy: "I agree with that."
Kim: "Young, but soon to be developed, not for the unsophisticated!"
Kathy: "Exactly."
Jan: "Without a doubt, one of the best - it's a very pleasant
drink."
Dave: "We didn't like it"
Jamiesons Run Sauvignon Blanc 1997
Jan: "Light, not over-woody, very palatable and easy to
drink."
Mandy: "Very pleasant drinking."
Brown Bros Chenin Blanc 1996
Dave: "It is one of my picks and Mandy was quite fond of
this wine, especially after it was unveiled as a Victorian."
Marianne: "This one is my favourite - it's not over powering."
Brolga: "A lovely wine...we liked it."
Richmond Grove Classic Dry White 1996
Brolga: "We liked this one too."