Handpicked Wines have released their 2015 range for autumn and winter at a trade tasting held at QT Sydney.
Each region’s wine was paired with canapés starting with Cured Tuna Belly and Avocado Mousse for the Winter Whites, Air Dried Bresaola on toasted brioche with roasted eggplant and horseradish for South Australia, Wild Mushroom Frittata for Western Australia and a selection of Victorian cheeses with truffle grissini for Victoria.
Handpicked Wines Autumn Winter Collection
The pick of the whites was the 2014 Highbow Hill Vineyard Yarra Valley Chardonnay ($59.95AUD), a single vineyard chardonnay with a blend of two blocks on the hill. The wine is barrel fermented for 6 months then rested for 11 months in French oak. The wine has seductive aromatics with vibrant citrus and oak along with a meringue pie character. On the palate, it is crisp with a fine balance of acid and citrus.
The pick of the reds was also from the same vineyard. The 2013 Highbow Hill Vineyard Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($109.99 AUD) comes from a single vineyard, single bloc and single clone. The wine is aged in 40 per cent new French oak barriques for 15 months. This is an exceptional wine, superbly perfumed with red berries with an elegant, smooth velvety mouth feel and supple tannins. It drinks very well now and will age well over 20 years.
Also worthy of a mention is the 2014 Highbow Hill Vineyard Yarra Valley Marsanne ($59.95AUD), barrel-fermented in old oak to minimise and aged on lees for 10 months. The nose is highly floral with bold, buttery notes on the palate and some residual astringency on the finish.
Handpicked Wines autumn/winter collection included 2014 Highbow Hill Vineyard Yarra Valley Marsanne, 2012 Collection Margaret River Cabernet Merlot, 2012 Collection Barossa Valley Shiraz, 2012 Collection Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 Collection Heathcote Shiraz and 2013 Collection Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
The tasting was held at QT Sydney on Tuesday 2 June, 2015.
