Steve scored this wine: 91/100

BROWN BROTHERS, Tasmania, Australia 2010 PATRICIA CHARDONNAY I enjoyed tasting wine from Brown Brothers at an industry tasting promotion showcasing Australia’s First Families of Wine. There is more information on Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) available at the end of the review. Brown Brothers is one of Australia’s leading family-owned wine companies, with the family making wine in Victoria for over 120 years. Founded in 1889 by John Francis Brown, it was under the guidance of his son, John Charles Brown that Brown Brothers established its reputation as a producer willing to experiment with innovative grape varieties. This experimentation and sense of adventure carries across the whole business and can be seen at our cellar doors from Milawa to Tasmania. The Brown family is proud to have forged a reputation, locally and abroad, as varietal wine specialists and winemaking innovators. Over the years we’ve seen many changes in the Australian Wine industry, yet the cornerstones of Brown Brothers remain constant. We’re still a family business; still hand-crafting wines. From the Winery: The Patricia range is dedicated to matriarch Patricia Brown, whose hard work, love and vision has made Brown Brothers the success it is today. This wine is sourced from fruit from the Whitlands and Banksdale vineyards in North Eastern Victoria, and the Coombie Farm vineyard in Yarra Valley. The fruit was hand-picked and whole bunch pressed, fermented in barrel, with 20% of the wine undergoing malolactic fermentation to add complexity. My Tasting Notes: 90-92 Points: The Patricia Chardonnay greats you with aromas of stone fruit and nuts. This is an elegant white offering a nice balance of stone fruit, minerality and acidity that carries on to a lasting finish and should appeal to a wide ranging Chardonnay audience. The Patricia Chardonnay is reminiscent to some Burgundy whites in its structure and balance. You definitely can enjoy sipping this wine on the patio or try pairing it with roasted lamb and cucumber sandwiches, salmon carbonara or Pad Thai Asian noodles. This vintage should be consumed now and for the next 6 or 7 years. Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay Appellations: North Eastern Victoria and Yarra Valley, Victoria Vintage: 2010 Alcohol: 13.0% pH: 3.27 Acidity: 6.0 g/L Sweetness Level: Dry (00) Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW): AFFW together represent seventeen wine-growing regions across Australia and forty-eight generations of winemakers. The inaugural twelve-member alliance includes Brown Brothers, Campbells, Taylors, DeBortoli, McWilliam's, Tahbilk, Tyrell's, Yalumba, D'Arenberg, Jim Barry, Howard Park, and Henschke. The aim of Australia's First Families of Wine is to showcase a representative and diverse range of the best of Australian wine with a focus on regional and iconic drops. The collective is working to engage and educate consumers, retailers, restaurants and the wine industry across the globe about the real character and personality of Australian wine, and about the unique characters and personalities behind it. There is ore information on AFFW here: http://www.australiasfirstfamiliesofwine.com.au/ You can follow me on twitter: @stevekubota

Steve scored this wine: 88/100

BROWN BROTHERS, Tasmania, Australia 2013 DEVIL’S CORNER PINOT NOIR From the Winery: At Brown Brothers we have tradition but we are not the traditional wine company. We are steeped in our family heritage and we have a history of innovation that inspires our future direction. Brown Brothers is one of Australia’s leading family-owned wine companies, with the family making wine in Victoria for over 120 years. Founded in 1889 by John Francis Brown, it was under the guidance of his son, John Charles Brown that Brown Brothers established its reputation as a producer willing to experiment with innovative grape varieties. This experimentation and sense of adventure carries across the whole business and can be seen at our cellar doors from Milawa to Tasmania. The Brown family is proud to have forged a reputation, locally and abroad, as varietal wine specialists and winemaking innovators. Over the years we’ve seen many changes in the Australian Wine industry, yet the cornerstones of Brown Brothers remain constant. We’re still a family business; still hand-crafting wines. My Tasting Notes: 88 Points: The Devil’s Corner Pinot Noir is bright purple in colour and has youthful aromas of cherries, blueberries and raspberries. There is a semi-sweet to tart cherry and grippy acidity that tighten up in the finish. The wine has very good structure, crisp (acidity) and dry (tannins). The Devil’s Corner is best consumed with food pairing partners such as rack of lamb, braised pork belly or Chinese BBQ duck. This is one of the first an un oaked Pinot Noir I have tried. This vintage should be consumed now and for the next 4 to 5 years. Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir Appellation: The Hazards Vineyard Vintage: 2013 Alcohol: 14.0% Sweetness Level: Dry (00) Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW): AFFW together represent seventeen wine-growing regions across Australia and forty-eight generations of winemakers. The inaugural twelve-member alliance includes Brown Brothers, Campbells, Taylors, DeBortoli, McWilliam's, Tahbilk, Tyrell's, Yalumba, D'Arenberg, Jim Barry, Howard Park, and Henschke. The aim of Australia's First Families of Wine is to showcase a representative and diverse range of the best of Australian wine with a focus on regional and iconic drops. The collective is working to engage and educate consumers, retailers, restaurants and the wine industry across the globe about the real character and personality of Australian wine, and about the unique characters and personalities behind it. The Brown Brother’s Devils’ Corner Pinot Noir was tasted in May, 2015 in Vancouver, BC. You can follow me on twitter: @stevekubota

Steve scored this wine: 86/100

TAHBILK WINERY, Victoria, Australia 2008 Museum Release Marsanne I enjoyed tasting wine from Tahbilk at an industry tasting promotion showcasing Australia’s First Families of Wine. There is more information on Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) available at the end of this review. From the Winery: Established in 1860 Tahbilk is one of Australia's most beautiful and historic family owned wineries. Located in the Nagambie Lakes region of central Victoria (120kms north of Melbourne), one of the nation's premium viticultural areas, the property comprises some 1,214 hectares of rich river flats with a frontage of 11 kms to the Goulburn River and 8 kms of permanent backwaters and creeks. Purchased by the Purbrick family is 1925, Tahbilk is now home to 5 generations. One of the world's rarest grape varieties originating in the Northern Rhone & Hermitage regions of France it is grown in only 3 other countries, Australia, America & Switzerland. Tahbilk holds the largest and oldest single holding of the variety in the world. Tahbilk's history with Marsanne is traced back to the 1860's with the sourcing of 'White Hermitage' cuttings from the 'St Hubert’s' Vineyard in Victoria's Yarra Valley. The grape was Marsanne and although none of these plantings have survived, the Estate still produces Marsanne from plantings dating back to 1927. My Tasting Notes: 86 Points – The 2008 Marsanne has balanced aromas and flavours of lemon and tropical fruit. There’s a nice mid-palette weighting with a crisp mineral finish of decent proportions. There is high acidity but the wine still remains balanced. The Marsanne is enjoyed best with a watercress or chestnut salad topped with goat cheese. Best enjoyed now and for the next 2-years. Varietal Composition: 100% Marsanne Appellations: Nagambie Lakes Vintage: 2008 Alcohol: 13.5% pH: 3.22 Total acid: 6.4 g/L Sweetness Level: Dry (00) Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW): AFFW together represent seventeen wine-growing regions across Australia and forty-eight generations of winemakers. The inaugural twelve-member alliance includes Brown Brothers, Campbells, Taylors, DeBortoli, McWilliam's, Tahbilk, Tyrell's, Yalumba, D'Arenberg, Jim Barry, Howard Park, and Henschke. The aim of Australia's First Families of Wine is to showcase a representative and diverse range of the best of Australian wine with a focus on regional and iconic drops. The collective is working to engage and educate consumers, retailers, restaurants and the wine industry across the globe about the real character and personality of Australian wine, and about the unique characters and personalities behind it. The 2008 Tahbilk Museum Release Marsanne was tasted in May, 2015 in Vancouver, BC. You can follow me on twitter: @stevekubota

Steve scored this wine: 91/100

TYRRELL’S WINES, Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia 2011 VAT 47 CHARDONNAY I enjoyed tasting wine from Tyrrell’s at an industry tasting promotion showcasing Australia’s First Families of Wine. There is more information on Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) available at the end of this review. Established in 1858 by English immigrant Edward Tyrrell, Tyrrell’s Wines is one of Australia’s pre-eminent family owned wine companies with vineyards extending from their historic home in the Hunter Valley to the Limestone Coast (South Australia) and Heathcote (Victoria). With the fifth generation, Chris, Jane and John, involved in the business, Tyrrell’s will continue to remain family owned with the simple philosophy of producing high quality wine that people love to drink. From the Winery: Made entirely from grapes grown on the Short Flat vineyards, the vines were grown on alluvial sandy loams. The grapes were handpicked then a portion were basket pressed, before the fermenting juice was transferred to French oak barriques. With the absence of malolactic fermentation, the wine shows its citrus and acid backbone. My Tasting Notes: 90-92 Points – The 2010 Vat 47 Chardonnay has prominent aromas of lemon and lime notes with underlying nut and oak in the background. There’s a nice core of citrus and mineral flavours and a lengthy finish. There is great acidity but the wine still remains balanced, crisp and dry. Tyrrell’s Vat 47 Chardonnay is pleasing on its own or, you could try pairing briny oysters on the half shell, Asian curries or roasted rack of lamb. This vintage is best from 2017 to 2024. Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay Appellations: Short Flat Vineyards Vintage: 2011 Alcohol: 13.5% pH: 3.25 Total acid: 7.05 g/L Sweetness Level: Dry (00) Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW): AFFW together represent seventeen wine-growing regions across Australia and forty-eight generations of winemakers. The inaugural twelve-member alliance includes Brown Brothers, Campbells, Taylors, DeBortoli, McWilliam's, Tahbilk, Tyrell's, Yalumba, D'Arenberg, Jim Barry, Howard Park, and Henschke. The aim of Australia's First Families of Wine is to showcase a representative and diverse range of the best of Australian wine with a focus on regional and iconic drops. The collective is working to engage and educate consumers, retailers, restaurants and the wine industry across the globe about the real character and personality of Australian wine, and about the unique characters and personalities behind it. The 2011 Tyrrell’s Vat 47 Chardonnay was tasted in May, 2015 in Vancouver, BC. You can follow me on twitter: @stevekubota

Steve scored this wine: 94/100

TYRRELL’S WINES, Hunter Valley, NSW, Australia 2010 VAT 1 SEMILLON I enjoyed tasting wine from Tyrrell’s at an industry tasting promotion showcasing Australia’s First Families of Wine. There is more information on Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) available at the end of this review. Established in 1858 by English immigrant Edward Tyrrell, Tyrrell’s Wines is one of Australia’s pre-eminent family owned wine companies with vineyards extending from their historic home in the Hunter Valley to the Limestone Coast (SA) and Heathcote (VIC). Headed up by fourth generation family member Bruce Tyrrell, Tyrrell’s is home to some of Australia’s most awarded wines including the iconic Vat 1 Semillon. Since 1971, Tyrrell’s has been awarded over 5,000 trophies and medals and in 2010 was named “Winery of the Year” in James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion. With the fifth generation, Chris, Jane and John, involved in the business, Tyrrell’s will continue to remain family owned with the simple philosophy of producing high quality wine that people love to drink. From the Winery: Vat 1 Hunter Semillon epitomized the benefits of patient bottle ageing that transforms this unoaked wine into a masterpiece. First produced in 1963, the Vat 1 is fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks before it quietly spends a few years 'resting' in bottles. It is a classic Hunter Valley Semillon showing a tightly structured palate with considerable length and breadth of citrus fruit flavours. This wine is only just beginning to evolve and show a hint of toasty, bottle aged complexity. An iconic Australian wine from what is a classic vintage for Hunter Valley semillon. My Tasting Notes: The 2010 Vat 1 Semillon has enticing, youthful aromas of lemon, lime and grass as well as pink grapefruit. It has excellent concentration of citrus and mineral flavours and a lengthy finish. The wine has very good structure, is very crisp and dry. Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon is very good on its own, for pairing partners I suggest pairing it with large shrimp (10-16/pound) baked lightly on coarse sea salt or, with creamy species of oysters on the half shell. This vintage is perfect now and for the next 15 years or more. Varietal Composition: 100% Semillon Appellations: Short Flat, Johnno’s Vineyards Vintage: 2010 Alcohol: 11.0% Sweetness Level: Dry (00) Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW): AFFW together represent seventeen wine-growing regions across Australia and forty-eight generations of winemakers. The inaugural twelve-member alliance includes Brown Brothers, Campbells, Taylors, DeBortoli, McWilliam's, Tahbilk, Tyrell's, Yalumba, D'Arenberg, Jim Barry, Howard Park, and Henschke. The aim of Australia's First Families of Wine is to showcase a representative and diverse range of the best of Australian wine with a focus on regional and iconic drops. The collective is working to engage and educate consumers, retailers, restaurants and the wine industry across the globe about the real character and personality of Australian wine, and about the unique characters and personalities behind it. The 2010 Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon was tasted in May, 2015 in Vancouver, BC. You can follow me on twitter: @stevekubota