New Australian wine has arrived on our shores after a hiatus, in part due to COVID. I attended a tasting of these new arrivals. Some are new to BC while other wines are new vintages of wines that we already enjoy. I missed out on a seminar, so have no additional pearls of wisdom for you, but here are my tasting notes for the wines that I enjoyed the most.
My Wine Tasting Notes
d’Arenberg “The Hermit Crab” McLaren Vale Viognier Marsanne 2022 – A pale straw colour. A very light stone fruit nose. Light body with a soft, round mouthfeel. Light pine needle and stone fruit flavour. Medium-plus acidity. Medium-plus length with honey at the very end. This is a subtle wine. 
d’Arenberg “The Twenty Eight Road” McLaren Vale Mourvedre 2018 – It has a medium-plus dull garnet. Light red fruit, red cherries and sweet spices on the nose. Medium-minus body, smooth but has an acidic backbone. Medium tannins. Red cherries and candied cherries plus sweet spices on the palate. The wine gets tart toward the finish.
Fourth Wave Wines Cowpunk “Amphora” Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2023 – this wine spends 6 months in clay amphora, so could be classified as a natural wine. It has a medium lemon colour. A light stony and stone fruit nose. Medium-plus body with a smooth, round, thicker mouthfeel. It has ripe stone fruit and honey flavour with a lean, drying edge. Medium acidity. Medium length with some bitterness and lightly drying tannins. 
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Henschke “Peggy’s Hill” Eden Valley Riesling 2023 – It has a pale lemon colour. Light lemon, honeysuckle and petrol aromas. I enjoyed the aromas of this wine. It is dry with a medium body and a smooth lean mouthfeel. Medium-plus acidity. Medium-intensity flavours of petrol, lemon and citrus rind. Medium-plus length with a very tart finish.
Xanadu Margaret River Chardonnay 2023 – Pale lemon colour. L-ght apple aromas. Medium body with a smooth, round mouthfeel. Apples and sweet spices on the palate. Sweet fruit flavours. Medium-plus acidity. Medium-plus length with a touch of pepperiness on the finish. Elegant.
Xanadu Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 – Medium-plus, dull ruby colour. Medium-intensity aromas of juicy berries and a touch of capsicum. Dry, medium body with a soft smooth mouthfeel. Juicy sweet berry flavours. Medium acidity and light tannins. An easy sipper, but has little tannic structure. –
Koerner “Rolle” Clare Valley Vermentino 2022 – A pale colour. Nice light, fresh, floral and sweet spice nose. Dry with a medium body. High acidity. Sweet spices peppery and stone fruit flavours. An interesting wine.
Koerner “The Clare 22” Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Grenache 2022 – It has a light, clear garnet colour. Light red fruit and cherry nose. Dry, medium-plus body with a lean mouthfeel. Medium tannins and medium-plus acidity. Juicy red fruit and red cherry flavours are exciting on the palate.
Leko Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2022 – A pale lemon colour. It has light apple and toasty aromas. Subtle nose. Medium body with a silky, smooth mouthfeel. Medium acidity. Apple with some pepperiness on the palate. Medium length. –
Giant Steps “Fatal Shore” Tasmania Pinot Noir 2020 – A light, clear garnet colour. Floral and sweet red fruit aromas. Off-dry with a light body and soft mouthfeel. Floral, sweet and tart red fruit flavours. High acidity and light tannins. –
Vasse Felix “Premier” Margaret River Chardonnay 2021 – A lighter lemon colour. Medium-intensity toast, sweet spices, vanilla and apple aromas. Medium-plus body with a round, smooth mouthfeel. Medium-intensity flavours of apple and sweet spices. Also some tart flavours. Medium-plus length. –
Wynns ‘Black Label” Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 – It has a deep, opaque ruby colour. A medium-intensity deep, ripe, juicy berry nose. Off-dry with a lighter body. A soft, smooth, lean mouthfeel. Juicy berries with some cassis and pepper on the finish. Light tannins. Medium length.
