Wine road test - 2010

See our earlier roadtests here. 

2008 Grey Sands Pinot Gris

Courtesy of Grey Sands

In a word big. In a few more words impressively massive, spectacularly huge and ginourmously humongous. This wine virtually explodes out of the bottle. The smell, the taste and the effect. It is absolutely amazing and just a tad frightening.

Tasting it you find that the acid levels are very good, which is to say they are like the mortar between bricks rather than a cement render. The acid holds the wine up but you still get all the savoury flavour.

What's it like with food?

Pinot Gris is a relaxed variety and the good ones are meant to be either drunk on their own or with casual style food. We had the Grey Sands with a salmon salad sandwich and were impressed with the combination. If you're one of those wine loving corporate over achievers who never takes a break this is the wine to sneak in to have with lunch at your desk. Our tip, go for the large hip flask.

What's it like the next day

Even straight from the fridge this wine delivered a lot of taste. It was a little more laid back than on the previous day. For some of the tasting team, this was a good thing. "It's a little less scary" they said.

Letting the wine warm up a bit saw it become a peary, acidy, savoury package that made you feel like you'd just done a full on yoga class. All the relaxation with none of the funny noises that always get you into trouble.

In summary

Some people continue to argue that pinot gris is tasteless and we keep finding wines that make those people look and sound stupid. Or at least make it obvious they haven't tried the right pinot gris.

This wine is massive and frankly not for those of the sensitive persuasion. That first glass is like being mud wrestled by a Sumo. Every sense is getting the workout of it's life. By the second and third day the Sumo wrestling has become a soothing Sumo relaxation massage. Intense but far less frightening.

Sometimes we recommend opening a wine a day before you drink it to allow the taste and impact to reach it's peak. With the 2008 Grey Sands Pinot Gris however we say the opposite. If you are not used to, and wouldn't enjoy, driving at 200km an hour then leave this wine open for a day and then try it.

Overall this wine is an experience that will leave you a bit breathless. You'll want to tell your friends about it again and again. In fact you'll talk about it so much that they won't return your calls and will cross the street to avoid you.

2007 Grey Sands Chardonnay Viognier

What's it like straight out of the bottle?

07 Grey Sands
Chardonnay
Viognier

After our experience with their pinot gris we approached this wine with just a touch of trepidation. Make no mistake Grey Sands wines are a full on experience. You have to be up for a bit of adventure, or so we thought.

This chardonnay proves that Bob and Rita Richter also know how to produce a wine that calls attention to itself without screaming in your ears.

The first thing you notice is that lovely aged chardonnay look. Everything should be that yellow. This amazing colour is followed by a big, buttery and oaky smell that reminded us of a fresh croissant. It's probably very bad for you but completely irresistible at the same time. Unlike many Tasmanian whites this wine has less acid but enough to give it a framework on which to hang the flavour. It's highlight hits almost immediately and then lets you down nice and easy with a very long finish

The chardonnay is a baby bear wine. It's just right. Vanilla and oak with the trademark Grey Sands savoury highlight. The long lingering oaky finish leaves you looking like you've just been asked a question about quantum physics by a beautiful person who has a lovely accent.

The 'anything but chardonnay' crowd will probably hate this wine but lets face it no one cares what they think. If you like chardonnay then you must try this one.

2005 Grey Sands Merlot

This wine has 13.6% alcohol making 8 std drinks. The label mentions that no grape concentrate has been added but it does contain preservative 220.

05 Grey Sands Merlot

This wine has a cork and we decided that we'd depart somewhat from our usual approach by putting it in a decanter. Asked to justify this departure from our punter approach we replied "ah ... well ... you see ... oh look something shiny!"

From the Decanter

This is a classic merlot. You smell exactly what you expect but you do get more fruit than normal. Its one of those wines that creates a great first impression. "I just know I am going to like this" you think to yourself. 

What's it like with food?

This is a light and bright wine that loved the decantering and couldn't wait to meet some food. We obliged by setting up a blind date with a Greek inspired lamb pastitsio.

The food really brought out the sour cherry and plum flavour. It also seemed to make the smokey backend more pronounced.

What's it like the next day

The taste had rounded out overnight. It was still very silky but the smokey backend had become more earthy. This was offset somewhat by a lifting of the cherry flavour.

We think the second day makes this wine more of a drink alone, it seems more interesting and so deserves more attention from you. Its the perfect wine to drink in a public library.

In summary

2008 Three Wishes Vineyard Pinot

It's been too long since our last road test. Luckily we recently met Peter Whish-Wilson and he kindly gave us a bottle of his 2008 pinot to try. This is our first experience with a Three Wishes Vineyard wine and we can't wait for more. 

08 Three Wishes Pinot

From the Cellar

Being winter the pinot was slightly chilled. Despite this the wine exhibited a rounded blackberry nose and a lively, spiky taste. "Hmmm" we thought "this can only get better from here". Having got our notice the wine then went on to impress with its tingling, lingering finish. Not bad for a 'temperature impaired' pinot.

After being opened for a while

As the wine warmed it lost its spiky nature and took on a mellow fruity flavour. The tannins became more marked and gave this wine a depth it previously lacked. The change was such that you'd think it was a completely different wine. We liked both of them.

What's it like with food?

Since we hadn't done a roadtest for a while we went all out in the food department. Meat has become increasingly expensive of late (shame about the quality, which is going in the opposite direction - Ed) but we thought it was time for some serious rib eye beef. Baked in a homegrown cherry tomato and mushroom sauce with a side of 'smashed' peas this dish was just the right partner for a premium Tassie wine.

Just like Cher and Bono in the good old days (you know before one died and the other turned into plastic - Ed) the wine and meal worked really well with each other.

Interestingly the wine changed again. The fruit flavour increased and the backend mellowed. Maybe this wine should be called the 'Three Wines' pinot.

What's it like the next day

It took all the discipline we possess to leave some of this pinot for the next day. Just as well because it went through another change. From nowhere it developed a fine smoky aroma which wouldn't be out of place in an expensive single malt whiskey. The great fruit flavour was still there but was joined by an earthy taste. We tried it with an open steak sandwich that turned out to be another inspired choice. The Three Wishes does relaxed as well as more formal food.

The Next Next Day

Showing maturity and professionalism beyond our age and experience, somehow a little was left for the next day. We thought we knew this wine by now but .....

Imagine our surprise when we found yet another change in this wine. All the good characteristics we had enjoyed the day before were back but even stronger. The wine tasted even better, in fact we'd go so far as to say it tasted the best it had over the whole test. Incredible.

In summary

This wine changes so much it's like having three, or more, wines in a single bottle. Three by name and definitely Three by nature. Whatever you're doing Peter, keep it up.

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