So we have the second instalment of the Hatch Mansfield tasting that I went to. Here we are focusing on Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, South America and USA estates.
White Wines
Caliterra Tributo ‘Single Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2020 – Rating 89-91
Gorgeous aromas of exotic fruits, lychee, mango and stone fruits. On the palate extremely vibrant and really fresh. All of those gorgeous aromas transferring beautifully onto the palate with longevity and texture. There is a lovely light minerality to this, with the powerful acidity, this cuts right through the intensity of the fruit and offers a seductive finish. Whilst there is some oak ageing here the vanilla is not over-powering at all and in fact actually merges nicely with the rest of the flavours here. Full bodied, high acidity and just a great wine.
Zuccardi Apelacion Chardonnay 2021 – Rating 88-90
Lots of straw, earthy aromas here, quite different. Good stone fruits and citrus however does eventually come through on the nose. On the palate again a very lovely stone fruit and citrus nuance with good straw and earthy notes. There is a really good, full bodied wine here with great acidity offering longevity and weight in the mouth. A very long finish, I think this just needs a lot of time to get to grips. Possibly will be much better in a few years. However, still showing good, promising, early signs.
Zuccardi Botanico Chardonnay 2021 – Rating 91-93
Great citrus, peaches, nectarines and orange zest here on the nose. Really bold and powerful. There are layers of white stone fruits on the palate with a great texture. Lots of freshness, vivacity and the citrus is really prominent. Nice and zingy acidity, this is a lovely wine and will do well as an aperitif and with lots of light starters. Really enjoying this.
Zuccardi Fosil San Pablo Chardonnay 2021 – Rating 93-95
Citrus, wet slate and chalk with tight nectarines. This is a very crisp and taught wine, lots of tension almost like a Chablis. Med-full bodied, nice and creamy to be fair on the pallet with lots of vibrancy and freshness. Lovely citrus, apples, white stone fruit and lots of minerality. Limes and orange zest certainly taking centre stage with great balance and a very linear and long finish. A really great wine and one I thoroughly enjoyed tasting.
Robert Oatley Finisterre Chardonnay 2019 – Rating 90-92
Lots of flavour here, vanilla, stone fruits and citrus all coming out of the woodwork. On the palate big density of flavour with lots of concentration and mango, apple, lemon and nectarines all working together. Big, powerful body with lots of freshness and vivacity. Pure and linear towards the finish with good balance and a harmonious ending. A full-flavoured big wine. Drinking really well now.
Robert Oatley The Pennant Chardonnay 2020 – Rating 93-95
This has aromas that remind me of a Meursault. Butter, vanilla, nectarines and gorgeous peaches. This is elegant and supple with a beautiful creamy, full bodied texture. Lots of texture here with good layered fruit. Butter and vanilla subtly giving power throughout the wine. There is good freshness here with limes and citrus towards the finish and this will bring good ageing potential to the wine. It is drinking really well now and will continue to offer great pleasure over the next 4-6 years.
Villa Maria Keltern Chardonnay 2021 – Rating 93-95
Lots of straw, hay and earthy notes. Very different here, however vanilla and butter with citrus and stone fruits do come through. On the palate those stone fruit notes really do come through quite strong with an excellent level of acidity giving off great white peaches and citrus fruit. This is a very different wine… what I mean by that is the aromas do completely take you down the wrong path compared to the taste. The palate is fantastic and has lots of creamy butter and vanilla with a full body going all the way down to the long finish. Certainly drinking well now and will go on for another 5-7 years.
Esk Valley Artisanal Collection Chardonnay 2021 – Rating 88-90
Lovely aromas of citrus, orange and stone fruits. On the palate there is a lovely nuances of peaches and nectarines with limes towards the end. Lovely and fresh with vibrancy and quite linear with good minerality. As their entry level Chardonnay this is very good. A nice med-full body with a good finish bring this wine to a nice close. Drink now and over the next 3-4 years.
Esk Valley Seabed Chardonnay 2020 – Rating 89-91
This is quite earthy with straw and hay coming across on the nose, aromas of vanilla and baked bread follow it through. On the palate, lots of bread, yeast and apple tart prominent with stone fruits and citrus coming in towards the end. Not hugely creamy but there is certainly some oomph on the body here with a great freshness and zippy acidity. Certainly needed to cut through these flavours. Definitely one that can age gracefully over the next 7 years.
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc 2022 – Rating 90-92
Citrus, apples, pears, limes and lemon zest with lovely floral notes of orange blossom. We’ve got an entire orchard here… on the palate there is a nice light body with excellent zingy acidity. It is big on flavour and will be very good with food or as an aperitif. A very nice wine with good balance and structure. A nice med-long finish continuing with limes towards the end.
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2021 – Rating 92-94
Citrus, apples and orange on the nose here with good vanilla notes as well. On the palate the concentration of citrus is booming with lots going on. Nice orange, lemon and hints of lime and grapefruit coming through. Lots of power on the palate with a good, weighty body and a lovely balance of fruit and acidity. Nice freshness and good vibrancy. A really great Chenin with a lovely long finish. Continuously evolving I imagine it will age for several years.
Kleine Zalze Project Z Chenin Blanc 2019 – Rating 90-92
Lots of perfume here on the nose, orange blossom, citrus baked fruit and honey. On the palate those baked fruits and honey really come to the fore with very quiet acidity running through. It is very poignant and clean with fruit driving the whole wine forward. This is very much not a wine for the faint-hearted. It has a creamy body with long acidity and fruit, creating a very different wine. This is really good and definitely something different. Drink over the next 5 years.
Resonance Decouverte Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 – Rating 93-95
Gorgeous aromas of biscuit, butter, vanilla, stone fruits and citrus on the nose, this is a gorgeous Chardonnay. Lovely, creamy body with a great mid palate depth of flavour with those stone fruits and biscuit aromas transferring into baked tart notes. This is a lovely wine with fantastic concentration of fruit and those buttery nuances creating a gorgeous, rich mouthfeel. Acidity is present offering nice citrus towards the end with a great, long finish. This is great for drinking now and will certainly age well over the next 6-8 years.
Red Wines
Caliterra Tributo ‘Single Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 – Rating 90-92
Right at the moment this is fruit bombtastic. Lots of fresh strawberries, raspberries, cherries and vegetal notes on the nose. On the palate, again lots of fresh fruit here with spice nuances as well. High tannins, high acidity this is still a bit of a baby in my view and will do well with a bit more time in bottle. It will certainly then shine after another 3-5 years. Lots going on and will certainly become smoother and more supple.
Caliterra Tributo ‘Single Vineyard’ Carmenere 2020 – Rating 91-93
Lovely aromas of redcurrants, dark cherries and black raspberries, there is great fruit here. On the palate the wine is smooth and luscious. Tannins are really nicely embedded giving a good depth of flavour, there is good concentration of both red and dark fruit here with slight peppery notes. Nice acidity running through the wine offering good balance. This is ready for drinking now and is really quite excellent. It does not shout loud but it is silky and elegant. A lovely long finish to top it off as well.
Caliterra Petreo Malbec 2018 – Rating 92-94
Lots of savoury, earthy notes here with nice fruit. Both redcurrants and dark cherries on the nose and palate. Such great earthy, aromatic notes on the palate with a mushroomy, forest floor vibe. Really smooth on the palate with those fine tannins adding great drive and thick mouthfeel. A really gorgeous wine with full bodied power of fruit and a lovely long finish. Really enjoyable.
Zuccardi Apelacion Cabernet Franc 2019 – Rating 90-92
Lots of fresh red and black fruit here. Black cherries, black raspberries with redcurrants and lots of herbaceous notes. There is excellent texture on the palate with strong tannins. They do not overpower however they certainly add a depth of flavour and good concentration. Some very lovely earthy, soil notes coming through across the mid-range palate and there is fantastic balance already. This is a lovely wine and offers good freshness throughout. Certainly something to look out as you will not fin many Cabernet Francs like this.
Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2021 – Rating 94-96
Lovely notes of black cherries, plums, damson and berries. A very complex and lovely bouquet with floral notes and herbs. Right off the bat it is clear to see this is one for ageing. Despite its youth, however, it is singing with so much going on. All of those dark fruits are pure power on the front of the palate. Those flowers and herbaceous notes then hitting the deck on the mid-palate with lovely weighty and luscious texture. A lovely long finish with fantastic age ability. This is a great wine at an even better price. I would highly recommend this to anyone.
Zuccardi Jose Zuccardi Malbec 2018 (in Magnum) – Rating 93-95
Gorgeous red and black fruit mix here with lovely currants, cherries and blackberry leaf. This is lovely and serious, extremely powerful with lots of tannin and acidity. Balance is great with lovely freshness being provided by the acidity and of course those herbaceous and fruity notes enveloping the palate nicely. A really great wine with a persistent and fantastic finish. Certainly will age for another 5-8 years gracefully.
Zuccardi Aluvional Paraje Altamira Malbec 2016 – Rating 93-95
Lots of fresh red fruit, cherries, redcurrants and very savoury. Almost mushroomy in flavour with forest floor nuances on the palate, very subtle in flavour but it is definitely there. Lots of power, both fruit and embedded tannins assisting to create a bold and powerful mouthfeel. Lovely acidity, freshness with an almost salty/savoury finish. This is a great wine and just needs more time in bottle to reach its peak in my humble opinion. Drinking really well now but I would personally leave it another 5-8 years at least.
Zuccardi Aluvional Gualtallery Malbec 2016 – Rating 95-97
Lots of herbaceous notes with blackberry leaf, rosemary, thyme with eucalyptus, blackcurrants and black cherries. Lots going on but all working in seamless harmony on the palate. Lots of complexity and lots of ripeness. This is a big wine, it is pure and elegant with great finesse. I would suggest this could do with another 5-8 years, same as above, before it really starts to hit its peak. This is cracking and fantastic wine from a much cooler climate.
Zuccardi Finca Piedra Infinita 2017 – Rating 96-98
Dark cherries, plums, soil and blackcurrants. This is still a sleeping beauty. It is full bodied with powerful tannins and intense fruit. This really needs to be opened in another 8-10 years just to see how it is developing. It is exuding elegance and balance but the finesse is yet to come. It will get there, that much is clear to see but my word is it a powerhouse. Lots of acidity and lots of tannin which will do the trick nicely. If you can get some, do it, then lay it down for a minimum of 7-8 years.
Robert Oatley Wildflower Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 – Rating 90-92
Lots of fresh red fruit here, redcurrants, raspberries and cherries with a herbaceous twist. Fruit bomb on the palate (I love that word) with all red fruit nicely combining with good leafy/soil notes as well. A slight hint of eucalyptus but honestly it’s very subtle. Lovely rounded body with good tannins that add some nice power and they are well embedded. This is drinking really well now and will continue to evolve over the next 3-5 years.
Robert Oatley Signature Series G-20 Grenache 2020 – Rating 91-93
Pure strawberries, cherries and redcurrants here with lots of herbaceous aromas. The body is lovely and supple with good weight and a mid-palate depth. Good flavour of those fresh red fruits and a beautiful balance between density and freshness. Luscious and lovely and with food this wine will be top notch. There are a lot of winemakers now looking at making a single varietal, open and fresh Grenache red wine and personally I’m all here for it. Long live them!!
Robert Oatley Finisterre Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 – Rating 92-94
Lovely aromas of raspberries, cherries and strawberries, slight vegetal notes as well but very subtle. Lovely body with purity of fruit and excellent density. Really starting to smoothen out and so fresh and vibrant. Lots of fruit with that vegetation ever so slightly giving a savoury flavour towards the end. Really good effort here with a great long finish and ready to drink now over the next 5-8 years.
Robert Oatley Limited Release Shiraz 2018 – Rating 91-93
Good dark fruit here, black cherries, prunes, plums and cedar giving off gorgeous aromas. Lovely med-full body on the palate with lots of texture and layered fruit throughout. A good balance here with tannin and acidity working well together. This, however, is all about the fruit. It is extremely expressive with lots of freshness and vibrancy making your mouth water at the end. A nice long finish, this is drinking well and will do over the next 5-8 years.
Robert Oatley The Pennant Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 – Rating 93-95
Vibrant red fruit here with cherries, raspberries and redcurrants on the nose. This is broody, however, and already looking like a long time in bottle might be required to open its full potential. There is definite fruit quality here and that really comes out towards the end. Across the tasting of this wine it is clear that there is a lot of tanning, though it is embedded, and there is a lot of acidity. This will be a top quality wine in my opinion, it just needs a lot of time.
Cherubino ‘Pemberton’ Sauvignon Blanc 2022 – Rating 91-93
Nice green bell pepper with apples, slight gooseberry and citrus. A lot of minerality and saline here, this is a very direct wine and cuts straight to core. Lovely apples, limes and wet slate on the palate with a creamy, luscious mouthfeel. Lots of acidity, so freshness and balance is great. Incredible structure with a drawn out finish. Drink from 2025 and over the course of the next 6-8 years.
Cherubino ‘Margaret River’ Chardonnay 2021 – Rating 95-97
Butterscotch, peaches, vanilla, butter, caramel apples… lordy this is good. On the palate, there is a beautiful creamy, layered texture here. Perfect mid palate depth of flavour with lots of baked apple and peaches with great vanilla. Extremely powerful and elegant with balance of fruit and freshness just great. I personally really love this wine, the only thing I wanted more of was the complexity of fruit. A great wine from Larry and the team.
Cherubino Pedestal Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 – Rating 91-93
Herbaceous aromas with eucalyptus, redcurrants, raspberries and cherries on the nose. Lovely mouthfeel with good tannin, strong but starting to embed with good integration and balance of acidity and tannin. This is lively and vibrant in the mouth with a good weight to it. Medium length finish offering lovely red fruit towards the end. A really good wine that will drink really well after a couple of years in bottle and then over the next 4-6 years.
Cherubino Laissez Faire ‘Foudre’ Pinot Noir 2022 – Rating 91-93
Pure strawberries and raspberries here offering up lovely aromas. On the palate this is supple, lovely and very light in body. Tannins feel like they are seamlessly integrated and there is good freshness from the acidity (admittedly not that it really needs it). It’s clear that this was made with purity in mind as the clean cut fruit is very much king here. A nice medium length finish and this wine with food will go a long way. Honestly, I don’t see it needing too much time in bottle so I would suggest opening around this year / next year and then drinking over the next 3-5 years.
Cherubino Uovo Cabernet Nebbiolo 2020 – Rating 93-95
Another wine that I was personally a big fan of. This really does give off a lot of ‘mini Barolo’ expressions, as it should do with 14% Nebbiolo in the blend. Strong red fruit on the palate with herbaceous notes going all the way through to the finish. This is still very tight and youthful and deserves a good few years in bottle before it really hits its prime. I would suggest leaving in bottle until 2027 and then starting to open from there. This will give years of pleasure for drinking, certainly through to 2035.
Cherubino Uovo Cabernet Touriga 2021 – Rating 93-95
Gorgeous fresh herbs with eucalyptus, redcurrants and fresh strawberries. Red fruit is king here with aromas of prunes and plums from the Touriga coming through towards the end. Lovely and smooth on the palate with excellent layered fruit. A lovely creamy body with tannins powerful and starting to embed nicely. Lots of fresh fruit and good vibrancy with a lively touch to it. It is still dark and powerful but the balance here really works in its favour. Probably would leave it more time in bottle to ease the tannins so drink from 2026 through to 2035.
Cherubino ‘Margaret River’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 – Rating 95-97
Redcurrants, strawberries and raspberries, lots of fresh red fruit here. On the palate there is a lovely purity of fruit with lots of exuberant red berries and hints of herbaceous notes. Bold tannins here which will smoothen out in time and adding great power and depth of flavour. A luscious and creamy mouthfeel with good weight. Definitely fruit is king here in its youth but I think it will fill out really nicely with more time. A lovely long finish with vibrant acidity proving my point that time will help this become extraordinary. Drink from 2025 through to 2035 without a problem.
Cherubino ‘Frankland River’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 – Rating 94-96
Lots of herbaceous aromas with eucalyptus and hints of red fruit. Fruit is rather languishing at the back, however, with those herbs and eucalyptus really prominent on the nose. On the palate that fruit finally comes forward to shine, lots of redcurrants, red cherries and raspberries. Lots of tannin admittedly, but also a good amount of acidity balancing those powerful tannins. Good freshness and vibrancy. It’s going to be a very good wine but once again it will need time. A lovely long finish with those red fruit qualities really clinging on. Drink from 2025 through to 2035.
Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir 2020 – Rating 90-92
Lots of earthy, savoury and forest floor aromas here. Fresh strawberries and cherries do make an appearance as well but savoury dominates on the opening. On the palate we have a lovely balance of mushrooms and forest floor with those gorgeous red berries and strawberries. The fruit is pure and the body is smooth and easy. Lovely embedded tannins adding nice bite with lingering acidity running throughout. A nice medium length finish, this is a lovely wine and a great representation of Pinot Noir. Drink now and over the next 5 years.
Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2018 – Rating 91-93
Good aromas of red and dark fruit here with strawberries, plums and black cherries. Nice bit of cedar on the nose as well. This is bold and powerful on the palate, lots of ability to age here with lots of tannin and lots of acidity. Nice vibrancy whilst also having good structure and general power throughout. A lovely long finish giving support again for long term ageing. I would start to drink from 2025 then over the next 5-7 years.
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Pinot Noir 2019 – Rating 91-93
Lots of pure red fruit here, as expected, with strawberries and cherries taking centre stage and a nice herbaceous aroma. Fresh, clean cut and vibrant on the palate, all the hallmarks of a really good Pinot Noir. The fruit is really pure and has excellent freshness and combined with the embedded tannins the balance is on point. Lovely structure with those herbs giving a good kick on the mid palate. A nice medium finish, it is not incredible but it is certainly a very good wine. Drink now and over the coming 5-7 years.
Villa Maria Ngakirikiri 2019 – Rating 94-96
Concentrated red fruit here with red cherries, plums and black raspberries. As a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot I’m surprised how much dark fruit is coming through. Lots of power here with precise fruit on the palate, big, bold tannins as well. Certainly a wine for long term ageing. Lots of acidity which at the moment is adding a nice freshness and balancing out the tannins with good complexity and structure. Personally, I’d leave a few more years in bottle before even starting to drink. Drink from 2026 through to 2035.
Esk Valley The Terraces 2016 – Rating 94-96
Gorgeous aromas of dark fruit with plums, prunes and black cherry. Checking in at 40% Malbec, 33% Merlot and 27% Cabernet France this is a big, bold wine full of dark fruit flavour, cedar and tobacco. Bold tannins on the palate that are still ever present, starting to integrate nicely however. Acidity running through the body with nice balance and freshness. This has a lot of potential and in another 5-6 years it will be really impressive to see how this baby is doing. A lovely long finish with that dark fruit continuing to the very end.
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 – Rating 89-91
Lots of fresh red fruit here with dried herbs and vegetation notes. On the palate there is a good depth of flavour with redcurrants, raspberries and cherries all performing well. Those herbal aromas nicely translating in the mouth with a good, rounded body with good structure. There are strong tannins here that will do well with a couple years in bottle and nice acidity that runs throughout the wine. A nice medium – long finish rounds out a very pleasant wine.
Kleine Zalze Vineyard Selection Grenache 2021 – Rating 89-91
Lovely cherries, strawberries with herbaceous aromas, the key difference here from the Cabernet above is the purity of fruit on both the nose and on the palate. This is very smooth with great mid-palate weight and just so much red fruit going on. A nice moment of herbaceous notes really coming through towards the end. Fine tannins across the board with nice freshness and vibrancy being added from the saline acidity running through the wine. A nice medium length finish to end a lovely wine.
Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 – Rating 92-94
Rich aromas of strawberries, cherries and black raspberries, lovely herbal notes with vanilla from the oak ageing. On the palate the body is smooth and weighty with great power and elegance. It is full and frontal with those tannins nicely embedding and really adding to the smoothness of the wine. Great balance here between depth of flavour and vibrancy from the acidity. This is a really lovely wine and perhaps I am being slightly conservative with my scoring, I reckon in 4-6 years this could easily be a 94/95 pointer. More time is needed to see how this develops. A really good wine however.
Kleine Zalze Project Z Cinsault 2021 – Rating 92-94
Good, pure red fruit here with lots of fresh redcurrants, red berries and floral notes. On the palate there is extensive red fruit and lots of floral notes with violets and damson. Fine, embedded tannins with excellent acidity throughout. Lots of freshness, vibrancy and a punchy, medium body. Nice elegance and finesse leading a very long finish. This is a wine for long term ageing and will do well to start drinking from 2028 and over the next 5-8 years.
Visio Vintners Alliance 2020 – Rating 92-94
Visio Vintners is a collaboration between Kleine Zalze and Kleine Zalze Empowerment Trust. The trust is owned by the employees of Kleine Zalze who work in the vineyards, the cellars and all other departments. The trust supports the transfer of skills in wine farming, management and marketing, all of this is to ensure long-term sustainability. They make four wines and the Alliance is their flagship. A blend of 45% Cab Sav, 40% Cab Franc, 10% Pinotage and 5% of Shiraz making up the rest. As some of you may have already guessed it, this is extremely herbaceous with eucalyptus and lots of fresh red and black fruit. The palate is full and weighty with lots of tannin and lots of acidity. Powerful fruit throughout with excellent concentration of flavour, the fruit really sings here with cherries, redcurrants and plums excelling. Really powerful and this will do well with a few years of age and drink nicely for 6-8 years after that. Great stuff from the collaboration here.
Domaine Carneros Avant Garde Pinot Noir 2021 – Rating 89-91
Strawberries pure and simple… and it’s lovely. There is a good amount of fruit here with strawberries king (shock). Some nice rose petal and perfume aromas. On the palate it is smooth and luscious with lots of vanilla, strawberries and rose again. The body is light and supple with nice freshness and vibrancy. A medium length finish with good red fruit to the end. Drink now and over the coming 4-6 years.
Domaine Carneros Famous Gate Pinot Noir 2020 – Rating 93-95
Lots of gorgeous red fruit aromas here with strawberries, cherries and redcurrants. Lots of depth of flavour and concentration. Good weighty body with vanilla notes really prominent as this wine spent around 45% in new oak. Tannins are strong but the body is smooth and they are not over-powering at all. This is luscious and very gourmand and a fantastic Pinot Noir that reminds me of certain villages in Burgundy. A really great wine and really looking forward to how this develops over time. Drink from 2024 over the next 8-10 years.
Resonance Decouverte Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017 – Rating 90-92
Lovely red fruit notes here with strawberries, cherries and redcurrants. Hints of vanilla and with floral notes also come through. On the palate, bursting with red fruit, lots of floral notes with redcurrants and earthy notes coming to the forefront. A nice clean, pure medium body with lovely acidity and the tannins giving a lovely strong bite to this wine. Definitely needs some more time and will do well to age over a long period of time. Drinking nicely now but can certainly age for a decade.
Resonance Resonance Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017 – Rating 92-94
Lots of fresh and vibrant fruit on the nose, redcurrants, red cherries and raspberries. Silky smooth on the palate with a gorgeous mid palate weight and lots of fresh red fruit. There are nice herbal and floral notes as well which bring a lovely savoury moment to the wine. Fine tannins that are really nicely integrating whilst also offering some power and a zippy acidity throughout offering more freshness. This is a really good wine and certainly one that will do well with a few more years under its belt. Drinking well now and will do well over the next decade with ease.
So that’s it from the Hatch Mansfield tasting. Thank you for reading and I trust it was enjoyable even if extensive!
I will be back next week with some 60th Tastings… Mourvedre and Northern Rhone reds up next!
Harry Vernau