Category: wine reviews

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Lillypilly Tramillon 2008

Mr Whirly says

”  This exciting blend that has now been in the UK top end “ on-trade” and private client market for six years. Lychee, floral and spicy with a stronger hint of elderflower this year.”

75% Gewurtztraminer and 25% Semillon. Floral, limes and elderflower on the nose, with extra depth given by the Semillon. This wine looks after the “ off Dry” crowd that are sometimes so hard to look after ( that means there is very little of quality to look after you!). Great pouring wine for all year round, especially the summer and a wonderful alternative to Champagne.

Press article:

” The 2005 Tramillon is a great partner on the table with Indian food, its perfumed bouquet, fruitiness, slight sweetness and crisp finish making it an ideal match for this and other Asian dishes”

David Ellis, Melbourne Observer, March 29th 2006

Alcohol: 10.5%

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Lillypilly Noble Harvest 2006

2006 Noble Harvest

Please see the 2002 notes on the website for this wine. However,this year, the 2006 is made from a slightly different makeup of grapes, with Chardonnay replacing the Muscat and there’s a little more Semillon and Riesling in this wine and a little less Sauvignon blanc:

35% Semillon

25% Sauvignon Blanc

30% Riesling

10% Chardonnay

Robert Fiumara, winemaker:

“Even at 10% the Chardonnay definitely builds complexity in the wine, adding stone fruits to the bouquet and an extra dimension to palate texture, The aromatic varieties give real lift to the bouquet and there is plenty of zestiness and freshness on the palate.”

Mr Whirly says

“Its very similar to the 2002, a little fresher and not quite so rich but still the tropical fruits shine through like Mango, Kumquat and passion fruit. The alcohol is low at 12.5% and the wine is still a great match with more acidic puddings like Tarte Tatin and Lemon tart.”

Alcohol: 12.5%

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Lillypilly Noble Blend 2002

2002 Noble Blend:

See www.Lillypilly.com to see awards. 80% Sauvignon, 10% Semillon, 5% Muscat of Alexandria, 5% Riesling. Beautifully structured, more Coteaux de Layon than Sauterne, rich honey middle with passion fruit finish that goes on and on. Classic Tarte Tatin wine, multi faceted and talented and would match also summer fruit puddings, lemon tarts, mango sorbet and most tropical fruits.

Mr whirly says:

“This wine has received many accolades over the last 3 years and this has meant that the wine has sold very easily. The stock of this wine has now been reserved as a Museum wine here in the UK since there  is only a very small amount still available.”

Alcohol: 12.5 %

Austria

Austria: Wagram

“Mehofer”, Neudeggerhof, ( certified Organic wines)

mehofer_logo_2013_klein

My first wines from this country and what a find they are too!

I visited the vineyard in April 2013 and it was a lovely experience indeed. Stephan is a young winemaker, taken over the mantle from his father a few years ago of a family business established early in the Eighteenth Century ( do have peek at the film on You tube link on the ‘Why Whirly” page)

What amazed me was the quality, balance and structure of the wines given that six months earlier they were only grapes on the vines. They have great acidity and freshness with low alcohol levels too ranging between 10.5% and 12.5%. These are beautifully structured wines, full of joy and clarity and they know exactly what direction they are going in!

P1000224A picture of the vineyards of Mehofer from the gentle undulating hills above the valley near Neudegg

I will write in more details soon about these wines and give you more detailed tasting notes, but below are the wines I have imported from Stephan Mehofer, all the whites are 2012 and the Zweigelt is a 2010 vintage.

Mehofer Klassik Weib
2012 Wagram Gruner Veltliner Klassik: £7.95

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Mr whirly says: “ really fresh and young Gruner Veltliner with hints of green apple. Wonderful value for an Organic Gruner. ”

2012 Wagram Riesling Klassik: £10.50

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Mr Whirly says “ Another delight from Stefan Mehofer, young fresh Riesling ready for drinking now.

Mehofer Lagen

2012 Wagram Roter Veltliner Riesmein:

Mr Whirly says: “ much fuller than the Gruner this is the red version of that grape. Fleshy with red apples and a little Strawberry” : £10.95

2010 Wagram Zweigelt-Cabernet Sauvignon: £10.95

Mr Whirly says: “ A lovely `Autumn wine, smokey wild strawberries on the nose with some lovely farmyard essences too. The Cabernet gives the wine a little weight but this is a light red almost like a Pinot Noir or Gamay.”

P1000229A picture of Stephan in the “road” cellar that runs underneath the courtyard of his 18th century family home

Spain

Spain: Ribeiro

FactSheetWhiteWineValdeSouto2012

In August 2013 I imported my first mainland Spainish wine! Yipee! At last!

I have some lovely wines from Mallorca already, if you would like to see these please click on the link below;

Spain has been at the forefront of production from the smaller vineyard of some outrageously good wines in the last few years so it was about time Mr Whirly got involved!

So here we have it, my first wine and from the very north-west of the country, the very fashionable region of Ribeiro.

I have an admission here, I have yet to visit the vineyard, being that I simply have not had time yet, but the Owners of “ Val de Souto” invited me to get take a look at their wine and once I had done this I couldn’t refuse the invitation. I shall be on way out there in the Autumn.

This wine is made by Jose manuel Blanco Perez and its a combination of Triexadura; Godello and Loneira. Once tasted I simply had to have it since it was such an easy wine to drink: lovely fruit, not too overpowering though and a relly intense yet suble mounthfeel.

Athila Roos, Head sommelier at the arts clud, Dover street, London W1 described the wine on his list as:

“Intense and complex aromas of wild herbs and citrus fruit leading to a fresh palate that is structured and aromatic”

“Mr whirly says”:

“ From a family run business this is the only wine they make! A blend of Treixadura, Godello and  Loureira, herbaceous and aromatic.  Coriander, parsley, freshly cut mint fill the nose and the palate is filled with clean minerality and freshness,  beautifully balanced.and clean. Stonking value for the quality of the wine.”

Alc vol” 12.5%

Price: £7.95

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