Different Drop Blog March / April Reviews

Here is a selection of great write-ups for many of our favourite wines from March and April. Many of the below wines are very limited so if something sounds up your alley, don't pause!WHITE2016 Clonakilla Riesling ($20)96 points, "accelerates continuously through to the aftertaste; the mid-palate progressively builds ripe lime flavours as the wine is retasted, but is matched by the fine acidity of the finish and lingering aftertaste. Sustained by that acidity, it has an outstanding future." - James Halliday (Australian Wine Companion)2016 Castelli Estate Riesling ($25)95 points, "the bouquet is pungently floral, with wild flower aromas joining citrus and apple blossom. The palate moves decisively to lime juice within the framework of talcy acidity, the aftertaste little short of spectacular." - James Halliday (Australian Wine Companion)2016 Amato Vino Mantra Barrel Aged Sauvignon Blanc ($35)94 points, "Just-ripe pineapple, spice and smoke, slight acetone perkiness, vanilla, lime and apple. Complex. Very good too. Has a silky smooth feel, unobtrusive acidity, juiciness, savoury elements, and a ripe grapefruit tang in the finish. Such a good drink. It's subdued, and very tasty." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)2016 Billy Button The Versatile Vermentino ($25)94 points, "The aftertaste welds together the citrus, spice and ginger notes of the bouquet and palate thanks to intense, refreshing acidity." - James Halliday (Australian Wine Companion)2016 Murdoch Hill Chardonnay ($28)92 points, "White peach, ripe grapefruit, white chocolate, spice and mint, with a little flick of struck match. Medium bodied, juicy flavour, almost to lime juice acidity and flavour, a little flint and chalk, good intensity and length. Satisfaction from start to finish. Spot on." - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)2016 Giovanni Armani Giorgio Bianco Superioré ($25)91 points, "What a cracker. Stacks of personality. Screeching sideways into the palate with orange zest, chalky apple character, bergamot tea vibes. Bouquet is orangey, farmhouse cidery. Colour is orange... Chilled tumblers and carafe and away you go with sunshine and salads. Unreal." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)ROSE2016 Montalto Pennon Hill Rosé ($25)96 points, "It's doubtful that any other rose on the market today receives such complex vinification. The bouquet radiates red cherry and plum fruits with a subtext of the gently spicy/savoury nuances that take form and shape on the bone dry palate - a dryness that is absolute yet doesn't imperil the fluid, almost slippery, character of the palate. Bravo." - James Halliday (Australian Wine Companion)2016 Farr Rising Saignée ($25)95 points, "Rose petal, cherry blossom and spice aromas lead into a supple, long palate raising the bar on its complex web of spices. The magic lies in the retention of pinot varietal fruit. One of the best roses going around, year in, year out." - James Halliday (Australian Wine Companion)2016 Oakridge Over the Shoulder Rosé ($25)94 points, "Pink tinged with salmon, the bouquet is redolent of rose petals and spice, leading into a long, dry palate with red berry/cherry fruits; very good length and balance." - James Halliday (Australian Wine Companion) RED2015 Jamsheed 'Asylum Seeker Resource Centre' Syrah ($20)"Indeed, punches above its weight for rosy, cheery, cherry fruit scents and flavours, touch of that 'Jamsheed' green herb and peppery spice, crisp, crunchy texture. Light yet flavoursome, gently sweet-sour, vibrant as all get out, will take a chill as it will warm your cockles. Good palate smudge of tannins and fresh acidity to close. Spot on for ease of drinking. No brainer." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)2015 Henty Farm Pinot Meunier ($35)95 points, "There is ample depth (and clarity) to the colour, and exceptional energy to the palate with its plum and black cherry fruit. Savoury complexity builds through to the finish and lingering aftertaste." - James Halliday (Australian Wine Companion)2015 Mayford Tempranillo ($36)95 points, "Tempranillo was the wine that gained fame for Mayford, and this is a worthy member of the following vintages. It is bright, juicy and fresh, with red cherry fruit to the fore, and a long, convincing finish." - James Halliday (Australian Wine Companion)2015 Mount Majura TSG ($34)93 points, "The good thing here is that it delivers straight-out juicy drinkability, both delicious and honest, but then folds firm, almost slatey tannin beneath and so, in the process, adds a sense of substance, of structural control. It's a jubey red, spicy, perfumed and well polished. It's one of those you-cannot-go-wrong-here reds." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)2016 Brash Higgins FRNC Cabernet Franc ($38)93 points, "This is the way it's done. It's beautifully fruited, structured, presented and finessed. It tastes of anise, boysenberry, dried herbs and dust, with clove, dark choc and earth characters floating throughout as well... I'd reach for this every or any day of the week." - Campbell Mattinson (The Wine Front)2016 Brave New Wine Pi' Oui Pinot Noir ($25)93 points, "Wild style perfume for pinot noir, loads of briar, loads of Campari/amaro kind of character, whiffs of pickled cherry. Texture is incredible - jangly, nervous, but then there's this softness, suede-like feel, subtle pinosity with quietly powerful fruit character, but it's all about savouriness. Really outstanding! So much going on. Delight." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)2016 Express Winemakers Drinking Wine ($25)92 points, "It's wonderfully perfumed showing rose petal, game meat, red cherry, lavender. The palate is joyous, gently sweet but peppered with spice, almost corduroy in texture but shows a bristling acid edge that keeps the wine perky and fresh. There's stacks going on for those wanting to swirl in big glasses, but I'm taking this wine down in a tumbler in big gulps." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)2016 Farr Rising Gamay ($38)92 points, "Quite mellow, spicy scents, warm cinnamon, undergrowth, pickled cherries, kirsch. Juicy feel here, bright acidity under mellow weave of just-ripe cherry, succulent through its bitey, fresh finish. Like the sour-sweet vibe here. Nice drink, yep." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)2016 Gentle Folk Positive Vibrations ($36)92 points, "Peppery, pretty, rose petal and red currants, cherry jam, rose hip tea. Hello! Brisk and bright, light pretty wine to drink, gentle, sleek tannins and faint herbal character, with fine, frisky acidity. Like the tightness to close. This feels good. Real good." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)Murdoch Hill Pinot Noir 2016 ($36)91 points, "Cherry pip, rose hip, musk and pot pourri. A pretty start from first sniff. Lithe and yet frisky in the palate. More of the red cherry and rose hip jostle going on, a swish of faint, feathery tannins and a brisk, cool acid freshness that drags the pure, fresh fruit flavours long. It's such a lovely wine to drink, easy as, fun, fresh and vital. No brainer." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)