Thursday, November 24, 2011

Kooyong 2009 Faultline Chardonnay


There are dozens of great chardonnays out there from the Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley right now, but this one stands out from the crowd with its sheer purity of fruit and delicious minerality. If you are looking for a buttery blockbuster, then go elsewhere, but if you enjoy the Chablis style of chardonnay then I reckon this will ring your bell. An individual vineyard wine from chardonnay maestro Sandro Moselle, it is beautifully integrated with grapefruit and stone fruit flavours in perfect harmony with the restrained oak, which merely adds texture. An elegant wine with just 12.5% alcohol that has immense length and is an absolute pleasure to drink. $60. www.kooyong.com.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Kelvedon Estate 2011 Sauvignon Blanc


One of the stars of the recent White Wine Weekend in Hobart, this Tasmanian East Coast wine has to be regarded as one of Tasmania’s (and the mainland for that matter) best sauvignon blancs. Made in a thoroughly modern style, this is a vivacious young wine, clean and fresh with bright fruit flavours but also some intriguing complexity on the palate thanks to six weeks on lees. Soft and delicate with hints of restrained tropical fruit, it finishes with crisp, appealing acidity. www.kelvedonestate.com.au. $28.