Peter's Picks
2008 Apple Tree Flat Shiraz
Mudgee, A$12
Peter and Hannah Logan offer great inspriation to Australian wine producers. Their wines are of superb quality, modestly priced and attractively packaged. They run an outstanding cellar door where they host fabulous celebrity-chef dinners and energetically involve themselves in all promotional activities. Apple Tree Flat is their entry-level label delivering easy drinking styles such as this spotless shiraz. It's a bright scarlet red with spicy aromas of raspberry and Damson plum. Soft and smooth, with impeccable tannins.
2009 Neagle's Rock Hope Grenache Shiraz
Clare Valley, A$20
Neagle's Rock is one of the Clare Valley's hidden gems created by Jane Willson, who resurrected a run-down vineyard knowsn as Misery. A decade of loving care has seen this 50-year-old vineyard inspiringly renamed Hope as a tribute to its founder , Ali Hope. Clare grenache is finer and juicier than the more robust styles from their Barossa Valley neighbours. This succulent red offers ripe plum and dark cherry flavours with hints of star anise and dried herbs. The tannins are mild mannered and lead to a soft, spicy finish.
2010 Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Dry Riesling
Clare Valley, A$19
Jim Barry founded his eponymous winery in 1959. Following his death in 2004, second son, Peter, now leads the family team with great gusto. Sitting at 480 metres, the elevation of the The Lodge Hill vineyard helps preserve riesling's naturally high acidity. The Lodge offers succulent, fresh fruit flavours of lemon grass, lemon gelato and white nectarine with a nervy acidity that adds tension to the finish. No wonder the wine show judges festooned it with medals and trophies.
2009 Fiore Nero Chianti DOCG
San Gimignano, Italy, A$22
Poggio Scalette is one of Tuscany's great names with their main vineyards at Greve, in the heart of the Chianti hills. However, they travel a little further afield to San Gimignano, to source the fruit for this refreshing chianti. It's a blend of 80% sangiovese, the balance canaiolo and malvasia nero. it's a bright, fresh red with rich, round fruit flavours of dark cherry with Damson plum with a light dusting of warm spices. Fine silken tannins drive the finish of this complete and impeccably mannered wine.
2007 Tenuta di Capezzana Barco Reale di Carmignano DOC
Tuscany, Italy, A$46
In the Bonacossi family's hands for almost 100 years, Capezzana has flourished - as has the status of the Carmignano region, to the north of Florence. Barco Reale is 70% sangiovese, 20% cabernet sauvignon and a balance of canaiolo. It's an intensely savoury red with lots of dark fruit flavours, an earthy complexity with hints of forest floor and porcini mushroons. A fine tannin backbone defines the wine, carrying it to a long- lasting finish.
2009 Ashton Hills Vineyard Reserve Pinot Noir
Adelaide Hills, A$67
Stephen George flies well under the radar, seeking no fame or outlandish fortune. His Ashton Hills Vineyard was planted almost 30 years ago, producing high quality, individualistic wines. The Reserve is the top of the range, its light colour and equally light body belying its depth and intensity. It's been carefully crafted with well-integrated red berry fruits, exotic spices and a deep, savoury complexity. A pleasing acidity frames the picture while a silken texture flows seamlessly to a graceful finale.
