Zonin ICE Spumante Demi Sec NV Prosecco


Zonin is Italy's largest Prosecco brand in Australia and this new release is timed for Christmas and the summer holidays. More on the medium sweet Moscato style wine than last year's release of the dryer NV Zonin Prosecco, it is designed to drink on the rocks.

Pale straw yellow colour with a well defined mousse and fine perlage. Notes of lifted pear, citrus and light herbs on the aromatics.

Palate flavour is golden delicious apple and lime, which underlines the refreshing acidity. Pleasant aftertaste of honey and pear.


Without the rocks the wine lacks that extra zingy edge to it. Serve in a large stem glass as an aperitif on a warm summer's evening.


Good value bubbly available from Dan Murphy's and BWS.



Source: Sample courtesy of UMM Communications https://umm.com.au ABV: 11.0%. Closure: Cork. 
Price: $12.99. Rating: 88 Points. Website: http://www.zoninprosecco.com

  

2016 Mallaluka Wines Riesling

Whoa, this is not your average classical style of Riesling here. It doesn't have those citrussy fruit characters, that flinty minerality or zippy acidity the wine is renown for. Naturally fermented with no additives but sulphur dioxide has given this small batch Riesling from the high, cool climate Yass Plains a beguiling interest.


Mallaluka winemaker John Leyshon explained, "It is a skin fermented Riesling. We treated half the fruit in the traditional way (whole bunch press then fermentation in stainless steel under CO2). The other half we fermented as whole bunches in a pot for about 3 weeks, then pressed into stainless steel under CO2."  He continued, "After about a month we blended the two to produce an 'orange' wine. "We are very happy with the result."

It appears as a vibrant yet cloudy pale yellow colour in the glass.

There are lifted aromas of spicy raisin, apple cider and candle wax.



Through to the mid palate it offers a feisty blend of sour apple, honey scents, ginger and crunchy tannins after which the length fades somewhat but this was something I was prepared to overlook, it was so good.
Palate is juicy and textural. It has a smooth mouthfeel throughout that provides a lovely drinking experience. The only caveat is that the wine needs food like turkey or pork and as it's close to the holiday season ...  

Should find much appeal with the adventurous, the explorers, the boundary pushers and the dreamers. It's out there, idiosyncratic and not what you'd expect from a Canberra Riesling. Will cellar for 5+ years.


Source: Sample courtesy of Mallaluka Wines. ABV: 11.0%. Closure: Screw Cap. Price: $27.00. 
Rating: 92 Points. Website: http://www.mallaluka.com.au


2016 Mallaluka Wines Rosé

Mallaluka Wines is a boutique operation at Yass in the cool climate Canberra Wine District. Vineyard plantings began in 2004 on the deep granitic soils of the Yass Plains, northwest of Canberra.. 


This small batch rosé is naturally-fermented and is produced from Pinot Gris, Sangiovese and Cinsault (60/35/5). Not often does Pinot Gris get the lead role in a rosé but here skin fermented Pinot Gris is combined with Sangiovese and Cinsault to produce an eclectic, dry and grippy wine.

Light salmon pink in colour.
The nose is dominated by pear with red cherry and strawberry aromas and a whiff of dry herbs.

These flavours combine on a texturally silky palate with some light grainy tannins and juicy acidity to go with the well-balanced red berry and pear flavours. Fresh and vibrant with a long and savoury finish. 

Winemaker and ex-Clonakilla alumni Sam Leyshon manages to get the sum of its parts to work together nicely.
Although it is not a complex wine by any stretch, the drinkability and interest factors are high here. Enjoyably different. 


Source: Sample courtesy of Mallaluka Wines. ABV: 12.0%. Closure: Screw Cap. Price: $27.00. Rating: 90 Points. Website: http://www.mallaluka.com.au