November Mixed Dozen 2023 - Spring Drinking With a Twist

Vinden Pokolbin Blanc White Blend 2023

(An)Gus Vinden is the next-gen in charge at the much loved Vinden Estate in the Hunter Valley. He is reimaging his farther estate with a string of exciting new releases and modern interpretation of the wines of the Hunter. This is Part of Gus new experimental range all from a single vineyard in Polkolbin.

A real treat with musky, rose petal and ginger flecked aromatics sprinkled with a little white pepper chalky goodness. Super inviting and open aromatics that entice but with a little intrigue and a certain je ne sais quoi that capture you even more. Its lovely and pure, crispy tree fruits, some quince, a little citrus thrown in. Its thirst quenching stuff that will appeal to many.

The family vineyard in White Hutt always produces wines of great generosity, and the 2023 No.3 is a uniquely balanced wine that exhibits both richness and delicacy. The nose is richly seductive with aromas of candied lemon, yellow peach, toffee apple and fresh mango. The palate is intensely flavoured yet deceptively delicate; with zesty citrus-driven flavours of tangerine and grapefruit complemented by sweet stone fruit and rich tropical notes. The generous and lusciously succulent palate is deftly bound by a tight line of crisp natural acidity that carries through the long, zesty finish.

This crisp, refreshing Riesling captures the elegant and racy characteristics of steep, slate-soil Mosel vineyard. It's produced with grapes from contracted growers throughout the Mosel River valley who work closely with the Loosens to achieve excellent quality and superb concentration. What the team at Loosen have been able to do at this price point is pretty astonishing and this never fails to impress year-in-year-out.

This has everything you need or want in a good rosé, from bountiful red berries, mid-palate textural complexity and a long-running spiciness across the palate to versatility at the table. Quite an accomplishment. And all of that at a reasonable price. JENI PORT, James Halliday 

La Linea is a partnership of several experienced wine industry professionals, including Peter Leske and David LeMire MW. Peter was among the first to recognise the potential of tempranillo in Australia and his knowledge of it is reflected in the three wine styles made from the variety: Tempranillo Rose,Tempranillo blended from several Adelaide Hills vineyards and Norteno, from a single vineyard at the northern end of the Hills.

We were very impressed in a recent line-up of the full La Linea range. These wines have always been good and they just keep getting better and this rose wone us over as the star of the show.
 

This is a relatively new project that was conceived by the Masaveu family after acquiring an old farm and vineyards on the outskirts of Olite, in Navarra. Today on these lands there are 240 hectares of vineyards with different varieties of grapes (tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah) and 14,000 m2 of facilities. They have invested heavily in modern facilities and sustainable farming and are producing a range of wonderful value wines out of Navarra.

This is 60% tempranillo with 40% Garnacha that shines with a sunny warmth and generosity. Cherry pip, pastille fruits, a hint of cola and a good douse of clove and ground sweet spice. Its such an inviting nose and the palate doesn't disappoint with sweet red fruits, raspberry coulis, black forest berries and a lovely lick of wild herbs that closes out the long, lush palate. Its vibrant, zingy and pure

Sam Scott continues to redefine our expectations of Italian varieties grown in Australian soil. His La Prova label has turned out some of the most breathtaking interpretations of Nebbiolo, Pinot Grigio, Aglianico and Prosecco produced here as well as Sam's most adored variety Sangiovese. The Sangiovese from here remains possibly the most compelling version of this variety that we have seen grown in Australia, period.

This is a great example of Aussie sangiovese that captures the warmth and generosity of our warmer Mediterranean climate while holding on to all those elements that make sangiovese great. A touch of cola, some punch sweet spice and combo of red and black cherries. The palate opens with lush morello cherry fruit and black raspberry flavours that coat the mouth then fall away gently revealing hints of leather, fresh tobacco and those wonderful savoury tannins that make the varietal such a great food wine. The warm sunny fruit is snapped back into place with crunchy acidity which comes in waves with the succulent fruit. Cracking little wine.

There's a crunch to the air that you breathe at the highest point of the Pandolfa vineyards, some 300m above the gorgeous 17th century es-tate now owned by Marco Cirese and his wife Alice. It's easy to spot the Adriatic through the hilly terrain of Predappio which no doubt plays its part in the coolness of that breeze and the unique character of the wines from up here.

The winery is a packed with stainless tanks, with some barrels tucked away in a dark corner. Most are large Slavonian 'Botti' but there are a few barriques. Thankfully here at Pandolfa they've worked hard to allow the fruit to do the talking, and we are all the better off for it.
What a ripper this wine is. Text book sangiovese from the Tuscan hills. They nail this pretty much every release  but this has just a little extra stuffing and lurking complexity that surprises in all the right way. Some burnished bing cherry fruit, a little raspberry and some briar patch, dried herbs too. Smells like the Tuscan Hills and tastes it too with some iron, ferrous rocky thing interwoven with sour cherry, red fruits and hint of peppercorn like spice. Savoury tannins, thread the mid-weight, fruits and it finishes with crunch and a little bit of a grunt too. Really like this a lot.

From Jericho and Springs Hill in Blewitt Springs, and Smart in Clarendon.

Bright and frisky, strawberry, fresh raspberry, mint and aniseed. Medium-bodied at most, cranberry acidity, a lot of energy, dusty peppery tannin, maybe at the expense of concentration, but gee it's a lively and good wine to drink. Bright, tight, and very frisky. Great drinking. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

The name for this cracking little producer is Inspired by the Japanese literary masterpiece of the same name, In Praise of Shadows is. For Rob Mack and Brett Trewartha this is somewhat of a  philosophical wine passion project sourcing the best fruit from vineyards around McLaren Vale, many of which are certified organic and bioydnamic. Lo-fi, unfined, unfiltered, and all that jazz. Ultimately though just really flippin delicious.

Full of life, thanks to the healthy tannins and freshness of the blueberry fruit, this has a very satisfying balance of fruit, moderately dry tannins and spicy character, with just a hint of milk chocolate. A blend 49% grenache and 37% syrah, plus small amounts of mourvedre, carignan, marselan and cinsault. Drink now. JAMES SUCKLING

In 2006, the Freys, a family of long standing in the Champagne region and owners of Château La Lagune in Bordeaux, took over Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné. Caroline the eldest daughter of the family, who has a degree in oenology from Bordeaux, works with her teams in a single minded quest for perfection. Their cutting-edge winemaking, combined with the scrupulous care given to vines grown in exceptional terroirs, encourages one to believe that the greatest vintages are yet to come. And if the last few years are anything to go by it has started already.