K&L Saturday Tasting: New Zealand and Australia New Arrivals 2003/4/12

Year	Wine	Price	Rating
2002	Babich Unwooded Chardonnay, Hawkes Bay quite concentrated, full body, citrus, lemon, simple. K&L Notes: From the warmest wine region in NZ, pure chardonnay fruit flavors, no oak and no malo. - so - ws	8.99	***
2002	Jeanneret Riesling, Clare Valley Very acidic, honey, lacking concentration and finish. K&L Notes: a great vintage in Clare Valley, this dry Riesling is from dry grown vines at least 35 years old, and only free-run juice was used for this bottling. - so - ws	14.95	**
2002	Kirkham Peak Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough extraordinary aroma, fresh cut parsley, lemon zest, med body, peach, apricot, lacking finish and body. K&L Notes: our best deal in kiwi Sav Blanc, gorgeous scents and flavors of white peach, lime zest, passion fruit... - so - ws	9.99	***
2002	Huia Pinot Gris, Marlborough full velvety body, lemon lime, a dry and slightly bitter finish. K&L Notes: Anderson Vineyard in the upper Brancott Valley of Marlborough, a powerful example of NZ Pinot Gris. - so - ws	14.99	**
2000	Pipers Brook Reserve Pinot Noir, Tasmania raspberry, bbq smoke aroma, black tea leaves, med to full body, long extracting finish. K&L Notes: Tasmania is the small island in the cool south of Australia, increasingly renowned for aromatic cool climate grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, often for sparkling wine. Pipers Brook is one of the original wineries here, and their 2000 Reserve Pinot Noir is among their best wines so far. - so - ws	34.99	***
2001	Clarendon Hills Old Vines Estate Grenache, McLaren Vale jammy plum and violet, tar like aroma, raisiny finish. K&L Notes: A favorite of Robert Parker, massive made from 80+ year old vines. Will only improve with time. - so - ws	35.99	****
2001	Thorn-Clark Barossa Cuvee "Shotfire Ridge", Barossa jammy plum, dust, leaves, licorice, long finish, lacking aroma, quite complex. This is an amazing deal. A bordeaux like elegance wine at 11.99?? K&L Notes: On order - wine will arrive this week. More earthy, Bordeaux-like richness than most Australian wines, a great deal. - so - ws	11.99	****
2001	Kirralaa Cabernet Sauvignon, Southeast Australia cough syrup cherry, cassis, fully body, vanilla. Not bad for the price. But overshadowed by the Thorn-Clark. K&L Notes: Rosemount Estate and Robert Mondavi. Debut release of this partnership. 100% Cabernet, partial barrel fermentation and 14 months in new and seasoned French oak. A great example of Australian value for money. - so - ws	11.99	***
2000	Cullen "Diana Madeline" Red, Margaret River Elegant bordeaux aroma, earth, vanilla, blackberry, tobacco, very concentrated and jammy, currant finish. K&L Notes: Family winery and the women make the wine - Diana Madeline Cullen and now her daughter, Vanya Cullen, both leading figures in the Australian wine industry. - so - ws	39.99	****
2000	D'Arenberg "The Footbolt" Shiraz, McLaren Vale Smoky, tar, menthol, wood, jammy, plum pepper. med to full body, long finish. K&L Notes: big, dense Shiraz from a great producer, still made using the traditional foot stomping and basket press. - so - ws	14.99	***
2000	Granite Hills Shiraz, Macedon Ranges mint and black pepper, like steak au poivre, extremely big, cherry, raspberry, long aftertaste. K&L Notes: Our favorite producer of Aussie Shiraz right now, cracked black pepper signature, has real character. - so - ws	24.95	****