Fine Wine Partners - Reviews

Stonier Windmill Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2009

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:52:51 GMT

Weekend Australian, James Halliday (Australia), 21 Jan 12
94 Points
"It takes courage to include one's own wine in a blind tasting such as this, but not for the first time it paid off. The brilliantly bright and clear colour lead into a complex bouquet of red fruits and integrated new oak, then a palate with powerful drive, texture and weight."

Croser NV, NV

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:43:45 GMT

Australian Women's Health, Alice Treloar (Australia), 01 Feb 12
"Who doesn't love to sip on sparkling in the summer? "One of the stalwarts of the Aussie sparkling scene, this wine displays plenty of apple and lemony brioche elements and finishes long, creamy and clean, preparing the palate for another morsel of something delish,” says Brasher. Well, we reckon that something should be another glass..."

Wither Hills Pinot Noir, 2008

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:13:38 GMT

www.winefront.com.au, Mike Bennie (Australia), 11 Jan 12
91 Points
"Vibrant red colour, deeply fruited, dark berry aromas with graphite and flint and earth. The palate shows great concentration, more graphite and flint and earth with a chocolate and smoke trail in the finish. Very plush and comforting in weight and style, but shows great detail and complexity. Well composed."

Knappstein Hand Picked Riesling, 2011

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:27:17 GMT

www.winefront.com.au, Gary Walsh (Australia), 08 Jan 12
87 Points
"Orange, spice and a little grapefruit. Flavour’s here, but it’s a bit coarse with slightly harsh acid and lacks finesse and shape. Decent finish. "

Wither Hills Chardonnay, 2009

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:13:05 GMT

www.winefront.com.au, Mike Bennie (Australia), 11 Jan 12
92 Points
"Almond, cedar, peanut husks, rockmelon. The palate is tightly wound but shows nut and honey complexity. Very fine fruit character looks like ripe apple and nectarine, but the show is in the nuttiness and faint minerality. Great length and intensity, fine finish and reserved and elegant in style. Liked."

Petaluma Coonawarra (Cabernet Merlot), 2008

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:15:44 GMT

www.huonhooke.com, Huon Hooke (Australia), 11 Oct 11
97 Points
"Deep purple-red, very youthful, bright and fresh colour. Excellent young cabernet nose of blackberry, cassis, raspberry and blueberry, with fruit out-competing oak and anything else. Powerful in the mouth; lots of density and texture, sweet core of fruit and lush, but much more than simple fruit. Profound palate; great persistence and carry, with an expanding finish that really impresses. Hints of vanilla and chocolate buried in the palate. Great wine in the making. Best in 6 to 30 years."

Wither Hills Chardonnay, 2010

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:07:52 GMT

Marlborough Wine Show 2011 (Australia, New Zealand), 01 Oct 11
Trophy
"Trophy for Champion Chardonnay, Gold Medal - Marlborough Wine Show 2011"

Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc, 2011

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:00:13 GMT

www.huonhooke.com, Huon Hooke (Australia), 13 Oct 11
88 Points
"Bright, light yellow; good colour. Salad leaf aromas, clean and fresh. Trace of sweetness early on palate, which continues through to the juicy finish where it cloys ever so slightly. Acid is tangy and verges on the sour, but just gets away with it. Has flavour and presence."

Croser Late Disgorged, 2000

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:42:54 GMT

The Week, James Halliday (Australia), 30 Dec 11
The best drops of 2011
"This 63% pinot noir, 37% chardonnay traditional method blend spent nine years on lees, says James Halliday in The Weekend Australian. It's straw-green, with citrus, honey and brioche on the palate. "Its freshness is as outstanding as its complexity.""

Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc, 2011

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:06:35 GMT

International Wine Cellar (USA), Stephen Tanzer (USA), 01 Oct 11
90 Points
"Pale, bright yellow. Musky nose dominated by ginger. Suave and juicy on the palate, with ripe citrus fruit and spice flowers complemented by a touch of sweetness. Builds nicely on the back half, finishing with subtle length. Combines very good depth with an attractive light touch. Nothing extreme about this nicely balanced wine. A STEAL AT THE PRICE."

Wither Hills Sauvignon Blanc, 2010

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:05:07 GMT

Wine Spectator (USA), Harvey Steiman (Global, USA), 30 Jun 11
87 Points
"Citrus and herbal notes are enhanced by ripe peach and nectarine flavors, with juicy acidity and a fleshy texture. Drink now. "

St Hallett Eden Valley Riesling, 2007

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:29:06 GMT

Restaurant Wine (US) (USA), 10 Jan 12
4 Stars
"Medium full bodied, dry, crisp, and finely flavoured (peach, jasmine, lime), with a long finish. Great value. "

St Hallett Gamekeeper's Shiraz Cabernet, 2008

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:22:50 GMT

Wine Enthusiast (USA), Joe Czerwinski (USA), 01 Nov 11
Best Buy
88 Points
"This entry-level red from St Hallett displays ample cedar and cinnamon spice, cassis and plum fruit and judicious touches of mocha and vanilla, all framed by soft tannins and crisp, tangy acids. Drink now. Best Buy."

St Hallett Gamekeeper's Shiraz Grenache, 2009

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:10:24 GMT

Wine Spectator (USA), Harvey Steiman (Global, USA), 31 Jul 11
85 Points
"Velvety, open-textured and appealing for its blackberry, tar and tomato leaf flavors, lingering gently with a slight metallic note. Shiraz, Grenache and Touriga Nacional. Drink now."

St Hallett Gamekeeper's Shiraz, 2008

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:31:47 GMT

Wine Enthusiast (USA), Joe Czerwinski (USA), 01 Jul 11
Best Buy
89 Points
"Full bodied and supple, this nicely balanced Barossa Shiraz shows that value still exists even in big-name regions of Australia. Intense blueberry and spice aromas give way to mixed berries and vanilla on the palate, and if it’s not overly complex, it’s a still a concentrated mouthful of Shiraz at a bargain price. Best Buy."

St Hallett Poacher's, 2009

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:26:12 GMT

Wine & Spirits (US) (USA), 01 Jul 11
Best Buy
86 Points

St Hallett Poacher's, 2009

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:23:13 GMT

Wine Spectator (USA), Harvey Steiman (Global, USA), 31 Jul 11
85 Points
"Light and appealing for its modest pear and grapefruit flavors. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. Drink now. "

Argyle Spirithouse Pinot Noir, 2009

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:12:42 GMT

Wine Spectator (USA), Harvey Steiman (Global, USA), 26 Oct 11
93 Points
"Light, with a savory edge to the panoply of raspberry, chamomile and floral flavors, remaining vivid and focused through the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2019."

Argyle Knudsen Vineyard Blanc de Blancs, 2007

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:10:55 GMT

Wine Spectator (USA), Harvey Steiman (Global, USA), 26 Oct 11
90 Points
"Bright and spicy, this is crisp in texture and taut, with ginger and clove overtones to the pear flavors, lingering easily. Drink now."

Argyle Extended Tirage Brut, 2001

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:08:20 GMT

Wine Spectator (USA), Harvey Steiman (Global, USA), 26 Oct 11
93 Points
"Lithe and silky, elegant and refined, with subtle white pepper and spicy floral hints weaving through the grapefruit and pineapple flavors. Finishes with deft balance. Impressive for its length. Drink now."

Argyle Reserve Pinot Noir, 2009

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:54:28 GMT

Wine Advocate, Jay Miller (USA), 01 Oct 11
90 Points
"The 2009 Pinot Noir Reserve is a more expressive, structured effort, darker in color with aromas of violets, incense, cinnamon, black cherry, and black raspberry. Richer and more structured than the Willamette Valley cuvee, it will evolve for 2-3 years and offer prime drinking from 2012 to 2019."

Argyle Spirithouse Pinot Noir, 2009

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:52:04 GMT

Wine Advocate, Jay Miller (USA), 01 Oct 11
92 Points
"The fruit for 2009 Pinot Noir Spirithouse was sourced from the Knudsen Vineyard in Dundee Hills. It is rounder, richer, and more unctuous than the Nuthouse bottling but not with the latter’s precision focus. All about pleasure, it will drink well though 2019."

Argyle Nuthouse Chardonnay, 2009

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:49:09 GMT

Wine Advocate, Jay Miller (USA), 01 Oct 11
91 Points
"Argyle’s 2009 Chardonnay Nuthouse exhibits aromas of ripe pear, melon, baking spices, and hazelnuts. In the glass it displays excellent acidity, savory flavors, and a voluptuous personality. Nicely balanced and lengthy, it will provide pleasure over the next 5-6 years if not longer. I tasted a range of older Chardonnays during my Argyle visit and it seems clear that my aging estimate is on the conservative side."

Argyle Brut Rosé, 2008

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:48:24 GMT

Wine Advocate, Jay Miller (USA), 01 Oct 11
92 Points
"The salmon pink 2008 Brut Rose is superb. According to winemaker Rollin Soles, Pinot Meunier is the key to producing an elegant, light-on-its-feet Rose sparkling wine along with a small amount of Chardonnay and the requisite Pinot Noir. Flavorful, complex, and lengthy, it is the perfect match for Jamon Iberico. "

Argyle Brut, 2008

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:45:35 GMT

Wine Advocate, Jay Miller (USA), 01 Oct 11
90 Points
"The 2008 Brut spent 3 years sur lie and received a dosage of 12 g/l. It displays a bouquet of brioche, pear, apple, and white peach. Crisp, balanced, and lengthy, this excellent value is meant for drinking over the next several years. "