Wine Tasting: Wine fair - Australian Whites (13th Sep 1998)
Assorted Australian white wines from a wine fair in Edinburgh. Wines are not presented in tasting order.
1997 Mount Horrocks Chardonnay
13th Sep 1998 GBP8 Australia Table White
Pale, bright.
Tropical fruits and minerals on the nose with oak and alcohol evident.
Sweet and open with spicy apple and quince fruit, lots of oak, zesty acidity and a long finish with plenty of alcohol.
Very good.
1997 Mount Horrocks Riesling Cordon
13th Sep 1998 GBP10 Australia Dessert White
Deep, bright, gold.
Concentrated, aromatic, oily Riesling nose.
Intensely sweet, clean and pure with a lovely mouthcoating texture. Good acidity and oily, buttery Riesling fruit.
Excellent now but still simple. Give it a few years and it will show a lot more.
1997 Mount Horrocks Riesling Watervale
13th Sep 1998 GBP8 Australia Table White
Pale, bright.
Closed, slightly aromatic nose.
Sweet, mouthcoating fruit - juicy and crisp with spicy notes. Long on the finish.
Very young but still very good. Keep it for 3 or more years.
1997 Penfolds The Valleys Chardonnay
13th Sep 1998 Australia Table White
Bright, pale gold.
Quite closed nose with traces of fresh tropical fruits.
Medium to full bodied with ripe, spicy, sweet fruit. Fresh and tropical with creamy acidity, some oak and a good finish.
Very impressive.
1996 Rosemount Estate Show Reserve Chardonnay
13th Sep 1998 GBP10 Australia Table White
Very pale straw, bright.
Fat, rich leesy nose with plenty of alcohol and oak.
Full bodied with chewy, ripe sweet fruit, lots of alcohol and spicy oak. Rounded and opulent with a long mineral finish.
Outstanding now.
1997 Rothbury Chardonnay
13th Sep 1998 GBP7 Australia Table White
Bright, pale gold.
Muted, elegant nose with some toasted oak.
Medium to full bodied with good balance. Flavours of sweet citrus and apple fruit, vanilla and spicy oak. Minerals and alcohol come through on the finish.
Good now.