Josef chromy Tasmania Pinot Noir 2019

 That traditionally beautiful  see-through rose red pinot noir. Smells of salt and sand with come cherry. On the palate it is very dry. A kind of salty sense there too. It's not what I think of as smooth or luscious, thought I know Pinots are not the latter. A little shallow. 

Blustery Banks Rose

 A Tasmanian Rose Blustery Banks, at Muse, Shearwater, Tasmania: lightly tarnished copper in colour, smelling of honey and saltwater, very dry and even tart on the palate:.

Derard Boulay 2018 Chavignol Sancerre

 You could smell the Sancerre as soon as it was poured into the glass. A very soft rose/lavender perfume. In the glass it also has some citrus.  Pale lemon in colour, with a touch of lime, the way limes can be lemon-skinned on tree in long/late ripening. Extraordinary palate of a milky, edged-citrus, later picking up the lavender/floral.  A beautifully subtle and sophisticated wine. 

2019 Nerissimo Puglia Verdeca

 It is always great to go to a new place and discover a new wine ... in an ordinary bottle shop. Here in Port Macquarie it's Nerissimo Verdeca Pugilia 2019. "Verdeca is a famous white varietal native to Pugilia."

Purator Sicilia  2018 Catarratto Pinot Grigio

recycled bottle, parer label, organic wine.  Catarraztto is also indigenous to Sicily. 

Palates: reminiscent of salt water. 

2019 Colpasso Sicillane Fiano + Sardinian Vermentino

This Fiano for me is odd: tart and watery. I think I will stick to Australian versions: Coriole and Elephant in the Room. In King's Cross, Sydney, in the piazza of the El Alamein Fountain, I discovered a restaurant with Vermentino, from Sardinia, and decided it was the best provider of Vermentino ever. In fact, 'Vermentino di Sardegna' is a wine DOC used on the Italian island of Sardinia.

2018 Yalumba Y Series Viognier

A beautiful, clear bright golden colour, it smells of pear, lemon and peanut, and it's like drinking cotton on the end palate. I hope I recognise Viognier in a blind tasting: softer than Vermentino, more romantic. Not a forcefield, though impactful nevertheless, maybe it's an Elizabeth Bennett grape.

Cat among the Pigeons Eden Valley Riesling

I regularly say that Clare Valley Riesling will always be great. Well, Cat Among the Pigeons Eden Valley is also terrif. It smells of sweet pea/lavender/soft green grass, or juicy sweet peas from the garden. Gosh, what a phenomenon: fresh peas from the garden! It is not easy to get fresh peas in the pod anymore. Sometimes I think I last had them last in the Jurassic. Cat Among the Pigeons Riesling is pale-gold melon in colour. The palate is tart, but pleasingly so. It would go well with fish. A great Rielsing: superb, sophisticated, well-crafted. And for the price: exceptional. Elegant. Seriously, someone has come upon a simple gown for the Oscars that is a knockout.