Autumn Release 2011
2011Autumn TastingsAutumn September 2010 started as August finished with rain recorded most days, however the temperatures remained consistent and this continued through into October. This settled weather and even temperatures delivered not a single frost in this tender time of the season for growth. Vine growth was rapid in October due to the amount of ground moisture combined with the warm temperatures and an early assessment suggested the potential yields would be adequate due to the amount and size of the inflorescences. Flowering conditions were perfect for all varieties and in the lead up to Christmas the winds arrived at the perfect time to help slow vine growth and vigour. January 2011 saw 70mLs of rain fall later in the month and as we don’t irrigate this was helpful to regain energy for the vines coming into verasion. The vineyard has looked immaculate throughout the season and the balanced vines look to deliver a fine quality vintage.
- 2010 Pinot gris
The wine has a glint of light greenish gold and a luscious but primary nose that will evolve as it develops bottle age. Aromas of fresh yellow peach, ripe pear and clover honey are lifted with a faint minerality. The palate is full and displays classic Pinot gris characters of yellow peach, sweet mandarin, quince jelly and an elusive delicate spice giving an exotic nuance to the long lingering finish. The palate is luscious, with a viscous texture, is well balanced and displays clarity of expression that flows through to the finish. Dry River Pinot gris definitely improves with good cellaring and generally drinks well from about 4–5 years with the best examples developing well beyond that.
- 2010 Lovat Gewurztraminer
The appearance is light straw. It has a perfumed nose of old fashioned rose petals, yellow peach, citrus peel and classic lychee. The palate has delicately mingled but buoyant flavours of rose petal, juicy nectarine, crystalline ginger and a sprinkling of cinnamon spice. This is a wine which embraces rather than overpowers the palate, which has a particular gloss that has a coating effect with its aftertaste. Now that these vines are 18 years old, we are finding that the flavour intensity is increasing and hence we are able to achieve balance in the wine in a dryer style. It should be drinking well between 5 & 7 years in a good cellar and I expect its development to continue beyond this.
- 2009 Pinot noir
From early tastings immediately prior to bottling through to its en primeur release in 2010 this wine has shown a very positive and continuing evolution. The colour retains its vibrant ruby and purple lights that proceed right to its edges. The nose has a distinctive perfumed lift which is underpinned by softer longiflorum lily scents, musky spice, black olive and an earthy, forest floor character. A layered nose complements the palate and its flavour profile, which displays minerality, red and black fruits, black olive, dried sage and hints of aromatic spices. The wine has a long spreading palate that is lengthy and slightly textured with a viscosity that contributes to the overall suppleness and elegance of the wine. A wine with what I perceive to have a good long future ahead of it. I recommend re-evaluating its progress in 4 years.
- 2010 Late Harvest Riesling
The long “Indian summer” that we experienced late in the 2010 growing season (prior to harvest) directly contributed to the clean botrytis-free fruit that was left to hang on the vine. The grapes were harvested on the 10th May with a brix reading of 22.5, and were gently whole bunch pressed over five hours. This delicate handling resulted in a wine which is bright greenish straw with a fragrant nose of sweet mandarin, jasmine and lacings of honey. Long, focused and fresh flavours of Meyer lemon sherbet, mandarin and orange dominate the palate. The wine is in a rich spatlese style with a residual sugar of 60g/L – elegant fine nature. When served chilled this wine makes a great aperitif. It has considerable cellaring potential.
- 2006 Lovat Syrah Amaranth (magnums)
he standard 750mL bottles were released in spring 2008. This is the same wine as described previously (see website cellar notes) but now with some bottle age. It continues to retain its richness and concentration in a style, somewhat similar to the 2003 wine. The term ‘Amaranth’ is used for wines that we believe to have an interesting cellaring life ahead and certainly when bottled in magnums, the wine will develop at a slower rate – many maintain at an optimum.
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