Some Australian fine wines from Berkmannn Wine Cellars
Website: https://www.berkmann.co.uk/
Berkmann are a respected UK importer who have built up a portfolio of really interesting Australian wines, among other things. Here I tasted through a range of them. Not included here are my notes on Yarra Yering, which are written up separately after a recent visit.
La La Land Pinot Noir 2022 Victoria, Australia
13% alcohol. This is a lighter-style Pinot that’s juicy and supple with sweet cherries and some herbs. 89/100
Domaine Tournon Mathilda Viognier Marsanne 2021 Victoria, Australia
13.5% alcohol. This is Chapoutier’s Australian venture. Textured and powerul with nice weight, and notes of aniseed, peach, pear and a bit of pithy structure. Very fine with a lovely mouthfeel and density. 93/100
Domaine Tournon Shay’s Flat Vineyard Shiraz 2017 Victoria, Australia
14.5% alcohol. Fresh, fine and a bit minty with some meaty hints. Good structure with seet cherry fruit, finishing spicy. 92/100
Unico Zelo
Website: https://www.unicozelo.com.au/
This is a really interesting project based in the Adelaide Hills, with distinctive labelling and a fresh approach. They aim to work with sustainably grown, drought-resistant varieties and buy from a range of regions, including the Riverland.
Unico Zelo ‘Pollen’ Gewurztraminer 2023 Clare Valley, Australia
11.5% alcohol. Very perfumed with appealing apricot, pear, melon and spice notes. Powerful palate with a hint of mint and some grapey richness. Lovely wine. 93/100
Unico Zelo Esoterico Orange Wine 2021 Australia
12.5% alcohol. This is a blend of Clare and Riverland fruit and includes Fiano, Gewurztraminer, Greco and Zibibbo. Powerful aromatics with lime, honey and spice, as well as table grape and a twist of mint. It’s fresh, minty and pithy on the palate with nice tannins. Impactful. 93/100
Unico Zelo Fresh AF 2022 Riverland, Australia
13% alcohol. This is a blend of Nero d’Avola and Zibibbo. Disinctive and grapey with apples and cherries on the nose. The palate is appley and lively with some grapey notes. Fruity and unusual. 90/100
Brash Higgins FNRC Cabernet Franc 2022 McLaren Vale, Australia
12.8% alcohol. Juicy, lively and fruity with cherries and raspberries. Very brigh and lively with nice juicy fruit. Light, stony and elegant. 94/100
Brash Higgins MCC Carignan, Cinsault, Mataro 2019 McLaren Vale, Australia
13.5% alcohol. Supple and fresh with a core of sweet cherry and strawberry fruit with nice freshness, brightness and good acidity. Joyful. 93/100
Lethbridge Allegra Chardonnay 2016 Geelong, Australia
14.5% alcohol. Powerful and intense with toast, pear and citrus. Lovely weight on the palate with some spice and marmalade, with nice acidity. So much flavour here, and evolving beautifully. 95/100
Between Five Bells Amber Wine 2021 Southeast Australia
12.5% alcohol. Made by Lethbridge, this is a blend of Pino Gris, Greco, Mosacato, Riesling and Vermentino, skin fermented. Fresh and distinctive, and quite grippy, with appealing pear, melon and lime fruit. Rich but fresh, with the volume turned up to 11. 94/100
Lethbridge Pinot Noir 2021 Geelong, Australia
13% alcohol. Supple and pure with nice bright cherry and raspberry fruit, showing good structure and some elegance. This has an appealing sappy edge, and it combines elegance and structure really well. 94/100
Langmeil Wattle Brae Eden Valley Riesling 2023 Barossa, Australia
11.5% alcohol. Pithy and limey. Bright and precise with lovely freshness and focus. Such a blast of citrus. 92/100
Langmeil Valley Floor Shiraz 2020 Barossa, Australia
14.5% alcohol. Ripe and sweetly fruited. Juicy with bright cherries, blackberries and plums. Textural in a ripe style with a sweet core of fruit. 93/100
Langmeil Orphan Bank Shiraz 2019 Barossa, Australia
15% alcohol. Ripe and richly textured with appealing sweet black fruits and a salty edge on the palate. Very smooth, concentrated and lush. 93/100
Woodlands Brook Chardonnay 2020 Margaret River, Australia
12.5% alcohol. Powerful, fresh and textural with notes of nuts, honey, peach and citrus. Rich but focused with a nice spicy edge. Serious stuff. 95/100
Woodlands Clémentine 2017 Margaret River, Australia
13.5% alcohol. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. Refined and focused with a classic style to it. Sweet blackcurrant fruit with some red berries, good structure, and notes of gravel and chalk. 95/100
Woodlands Russell Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 Margaret River, Australia
13.5% alcohol. Savoury, grainy, gravelly edge to the nose. Powerful sweet blackcurrant fruit with some spice, and some grippy structure. Such concentration and refinement: very fine. 96/100
