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Wolf_Blass_Winemaker_Lunch_March_2015

Sean O'Regan

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Wolf Blass Gold Label Riesling 2013, Australia: This gorgeous Australian riesling is all about freshness, brightness and fruit purity. It's bone-dry, mouth-watering and ready for so many dishes. Did you know that 99% of Australian rieslings are dry? While winemakers tried to make off-dry, and even sweet versions, they didn't work in the market with consumers who had grown to love dry styles of wine.The Riesling grapes for this wine are sourced both from the Eden Valley, which tends to lend aromas of lavender and other florals, and from the Clare Valley, which imparts more lime citrus notes. Fruit freshness is preserved with a cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks with only a very small less contact for some mouth-feel. As winemaker Chris Hatch says, Riesling is a winemaker's wine. This wine will age well, but why wait? It's ready to drink now with fresh halibut. Drink: 2013-2019. 98137333498 11.50% D 750 mL  $20.95 Score: 91/100. March 4, 2015 Top Rated White Wine. Sensational Shellfish Wine Full Review
Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz 2012, Barossa, South Australia, Australia: This full-bodied red wine offers signature aromas of dark, fleshy ripe blackberries, a hint of oak and a mouth-watering juiciness. Terrific Australian shiraz, especially for this price. Loaded with delicious dark fruit flavours, incredible depth, concentration and length. Drink: 2013-2018. 590273 14% XD 750 mL  $28.95 Score: 92/100. March 4, 2015 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review
Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnay 2013, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia: A rich, round Australian Chardonnay with lovely aromas of green apple, almond and light spices. The palate is mouth-filling and expansive, yet balanced. Finishes with attractive orchard fruit and some smoke. Full-bodied goodness is perfect for roast chicken. Drink: 2014-2019. 399543 13% D 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 92/100. April 15, 2015 Top Rated White Wine. Terrific Turkey Wine Full Review
Wolf Blass Gold Label Pinot Noir 2012, Adelaide Hills, Australia: A supple, smooth, medium-bodied Australian Pinot Noir with aromas of tart cherry and a hint of smoke. Winemaker Chris Hatcher believes that the 2012 vintage was the best one since 2002, especially for Pinot Noir. All of the Wolf Blass Gold Label wines are aged on in French oak barrels (when oak aging is involved), for more of a French style, and no American barrels, which can impart vanilla bean and coconut aromas. Drink: 2013-2017. 599787 14% XD 750 mL  $27.95 Score: 90/100. March 4, 2015 Full Review
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Langhorne Creek McLaren Vale, Australia: Wolf Blass first made 250 cases of the Grey Label Shiraz, but realized he could not earn a living based on such a small production of a premium-priced wine. Thus was born Yellow Label in 1966. It was created to be a crowd pleaser with the goal of quality, character and consistency, according to current winemaker Chris Matcher. Consistency is key as Yellow Label is designed to give consumers confidence that they are getting the same signature taste each time. That was the challenge to maintain when Yellow Label moved to regional selection of grapes for this vintage rather than widespread blending. Chris says that they achieve it through careful vineyard management and barrel selection. This Cabernet offers great value and attractive aromas of blackcurrant and cassis. Pair with a juicy steak. Drink: 2014-2018. 251876 13.50% D 750 mL  $17.95 Score: 89/100. March 4, 2015 Best Value Red Wine. Full Review
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Chardonnay 2014, Padthaway Adelaide Hills, Australia: A staggeringly great value for full-bodied Australian chardonnay. The grapes for this wine are sourced from the cool climate regions of the Padthaway and Adelaide Hills, both southern regions so in this southern hemisphere that means cool climate fruit freshness. This wine is mouth-filling without being hey, and there's some faint buttery notes from 30% malolactic fermentation, but its subtle. Pair with value-priced wine with roast chicken or seafood in a ream sauce. Drink: 2014-2017. 226860 14% D 750 mL  $18.00 Score: 89/100. March 4, 2015 Best Value White Wine. Full Review
Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz 2013, Mclaren Vale, Australia: A voluptuous, mouth-filling Australian Shiraz that tastes twice as expensive as it costs = bargain. The grapes are grown in the cool climate of the Mclaren Vale, which results in both freshness and complex depth of flavour. Winemaker Chris Hatcher manages the vineyards for his wines very intensely, even using overhead infrared mapping to determine which soils are best for which grapes, and how much to water or not. Drink: 2015-2025. 390872 14.50% XD 750 mL  $34.95 Score: 94/100. December 15, 2020 Top Rated Red Wine. Heavenly Hamburger Wine Full Review
Wolf Blass Black Label 2010, South Australia, Australia: A spectacular red wine in every dimension: complexity, concentration of flavour, layering, and length of finish. The power and intensity is here but not any heaviness or extraction of harsh flavour or tannin. This robust red wine Australian blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec grapes. The 1998 vintage of this wine won Australia's most coveted wine award, Jimmy Watson Trophy. This is a cellar-worthy wine, but it will also drink well now. Highly recommended. Drink: 2012-2019. 960468 14% XD 750 mL  $99.95 Score: 95/100. March 4, 2015 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review
Wolf Blass Gold Label Syrah 2012, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia: This liquid satin red wine is mostly Syrah, but there's also 3% Viognier in the blend, as is traditional in the Rhone Valley. The splash of Viognier adds mid-palate depth where cool-climate Syrah can be lean. Winemaker Chris Matcher says that 5% or more Viognier starts to be noticeable with its apricot notes: something you don't want on Syrah. However, 5% is the minimum required by Australian law to put the grape on the label, so therefore you don't see any mention of Viognier. This Syrah offers spicy depth and an incredibly velvety mouth-feel. Pair with a rack of lamb. Drink: 2013-2019. 399477 14% XD 750 mL  $24.95 Score: 92/100. January 26, 2017 Top Rated Red Wine. Full Review

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