Great white hunters

Going out to dinner at a friend's house?
Want to take a good wine without spending a motza?
We asked Wayne and Pete from the Headframe Bottle Shop
to pick a selection of whites (we'll do reds next time).
We invited some 'good palates' to taste the wines
and here we bring you their recommendations.

By the time the panel arrived at the Civic Hall, kindly made available to us by the Town Council, the wines were uncorked, the glasses filled and Wombat had laid out the cheese and bickies.
The panel members approached their task diligently and with an air of quiet reverence. It wasn't until about bottle number three that the party livened.
An hour and a half later at bottle number eight, discussion had given way to pronouncement and differences of opinion flowed as freely as the wine.
At the end of the day there was, however, quite a lot of consensus between panel members except in the case of the Verdelho where you will have to decide whose palate you want to trust.
Now read on ...

Blue Pyrenees Estate Chardonnay 1996
from Pyrenees VIC - $25.90
Kim and Kathy:
"The appearance of this wine is a little pale and has a slightly greenish tinge to it. The nose is light, young and fresh and the immediate front palate gives the best effect, although the finish is slightly acidic and doesn't last.
This seems a young wine, two years at the most. It would go with smoked salmon or chicken lightly grilled with a greek salad or even grilled fish. However it doesn't have a great deal of body."
Mandy and Dave:
"The first taste of this wine is much better than the second. It has a fruity taste and a slightly acidic finish. Maybe needs more time to round into the good wine it will become, it is on the change from fruity to mature wine. It appears pale yellow, with the nose being fruity and dry with a hint of wood."
Brolga and Marianne:
"The nose suggests that it is about 2 years old. At first the palate has a bite to it, is medium dry and tangy. The finish also suggests that it is young and tangy. It appears gold but clear, running down the side of the glass slowly, suggesting it is a young wine."
Jan:
"This wine has quite a nice finish, but with a small amount of acid. It is clear and pale, slightly light golden in appearance, with a heavy bouquet nose. It is slightly woody in taste, a reasonable wine, but possibly too heavy if looking for a light wine."

Jamiesons Run Sauvignon Blanc 1997
from Pyrenees VIC - $16.00
Kim and Kathy:
"This wine has a golden touch. The nose is very light and delicate with a hint of straw, suggesting a young hayfield, but is still undeveloped. The front palate is strong and immediate, giving a citric effect. This wine gives a better back palate than the first. The finish suggests this wine is perhaps a little weak, but still promising. Could be immediately used with crepes or perhaps a soft sorbet to compliment."
Mandy and Dave:
"The palate of this wine is full bodied, it's a nice wine."
Brolga and Marianne:
"This wine has a slightly darker shade than the previous wine and runs fast down the glass. The smell is more potent also than the Blue Pyrenees, the flavour is strong, tangy and slightly sour. It has a smooth but strong finish but is refreshing. It gets better after a while."
Jan:
"A very pleasant wine, it's very young with not a great deal of acidity. It appears slightly gold in colour, but is very clear. It is quite a fruity wine and isn't too dry, with the nose being a very light bouquet. It's very moreish and is not heavy."

Blues Point Chardonnay/Semillon 1997
from Barossa Valley SA - $11.50
Kim and Kathy:
" The appearance suggests complexity that promises. It has a rich depth a colour with a green tinge and a touch of golden.
The nose is refreshing and fruity, with a bouquet of soft melon and at the same time being complex. The finish is robust but not prolonged and has a mild front palate whilst having a pleasing overall effect. This wine is nice to drink now with friends as well as with seafood, chicken or a light pork dish. It has a pleasant pre prandial touch."
Mandy and Dave:
"The nose of this wine is grassy and herbaceous also with a bit of oak."
Brolga and Marianne:
"A bloody nice wine that has a sour but smooth taste, as well as tasting cheap. It has a very strong nose and is clear golden in appearance. It goes down well."
Jan:
"This is definitely a fruity wine, a little on the sweet side and with little acidity. It has some depth of colour but is still light and clear. It is very pleasant but maybe a touch too sweet for my taste."

Moondah Brook Verdelho 1997
from Darling Ranges WA - $15.50
Kim and Kathy:
"The appearance is an exceptional pale lemon, almost a washed out watery colour. The nose of the wine suggests it is inviting, complex, strong. It smells mossy, dank and woody. The taste is refreshing and fruity, redolent of bayous and swamps. The back palate is attractive and it's a complex, complicated wine. It needs careful cellaring. It has a sweetish, but not cloyish, long lasting finish, with a lingering aftertaste. Because it is lush and full, it would compliment a richer 'first course' eg onion and spinach pie with say ricotta cheese. Not for the unsophisticated as it could be overpowering - a very pleasing wine indeed."
Mandy and Dave:
"Is this a bad bottle? A poor example of the winemakers' art."
Brolga and Marianne:
"When first poured, this wine is bubbly, it has a very golden appearance and isn't very clear. The smell is not very tempting at all, in fact it's very off-putting. The palate is unpleasant, tasting cheap and as if it's not blended well. It is too strong with a very over powering flavour. We don't like this wine as it leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth and is very rough."
Jan:
"This wine is very young and sweet, too sweet for my taste. It is a wine for those with a sweet tooth, as it has a heavy after taste. It appears light and clear and although it is fruity, it is acidic. I would not buy this wine."

Richmond Grove Classic Dry White 1996
from Hunter Valley N.S.W. - $11.50
Kim and Kathy:
"The finish of this wine lingers, but is neither strong nor pleasing. The appearance is basic golden with a greenish tinge and is extremely fruity with an after taste that is slightly acidic. This wine has a nose to linger over, with a slow impact that soon develops. But is not supported by an overall palate satisfaction."
Mandy and Dave:
"The finish of this wine is slightly acidic."
Brolga and Marianne:
"It appears to have a yellowy tinge and is thick on the side of the glass. The aroma is very strong and it tastes very tangy, a bit fruity and with a touch of dryness. The finish remains quite strong but is tasty. It is a tasty, fruity wine and splashes well over the high school principal's car!"
Jan:
"Once again, a light and clear wine, although very yellow. This wine is slightly on the sweet side, a little acidic and with an overburn. It is perhaps both too sweet and acidic, but with the right meal it would be OK. The nose is quite light, if not floral bouquet, but I would still not buy this wine."

Yarra Ridge Chardonnay 1996
from Yarra Valley VIC - $19.90
Kim and Kathy:
"This wine is not recommended as the palate is rushed and clumsy. It has a rich and bronzish appearance and the finish is tacky and hangs on the palate. The nose is strong - disturbingly so."
Mandy and Dave:
"With a deep golden colour and a hint of green chartreuse, the palate of this wine is full and buttery. It is a middle of the road wine."
Brolga and Marianne:
"The palate of this wine is nothing special, but is quite pleasant with not too much bite. It is very smooth and fruity, with the aroma being so as well. It appears to be very bright but at the time same time deep gold."
Jan:
"This wine is far too sweet and far too woody, it is also very young. The nose is ordinary and the wine appears very clear but with a slightly green tinge. The finish is too sweet and heavy - no, I would not buy this one."

Brown Brothers Chenin Blanc 1996
from Milawa VIC - $11.80
Kim and Kathy:
"The nose on this wine is not a great deal, quite mild. However the palate is an immediately strong fruit bouquet and has a powerful impact. The appearance is light but is more green than most. It is a sweet dessert wine and should be tried with a fruit platter and with perhaps a strawberry dropped in. The finish is abrupt on the side and back palate and this is a very 'rushy' and forceful wine."
Mandy and Dave:
"The nose on this wine is very much in your face, oh! but it's tastes very nice. It appears a straw yellow colour and has a soft and mellow finish. It is a pleasant surprise - gorgeous!"
Brolga and Marianne:
"We enjoyed this wine, it has a pleasant palate with a mild flavour. There is not much bite and it is smooth. It appears very light and clear and the finish has not much of a lingering flavour as it's very mild."
Jan:
"This wine is just far too sweet, cannot make a comment."

Hollick's Terra - Sauvignon Blanc Riesling
1996 from Coonawarra SA - $13.20
Kim and Kathy:
"This strong yellow gold coloured wine is one to enjoy as itself or with a wide range of foods as it does not overpower. It has a gentle and satisfying, lingering and charming finish. It has an immediate but discrete palate and a subtle but promising nose."
Mandy and Dave:
"This wine appears a deeper yellow with a slight tinge of green viscosity."
Brolga and Marianne:
"With a nice finish, the palate is tasty and smooth. There is not much of an aroma but a dark texture, is bright and gold and runs down the glass well, but thick."
Jan:
"An easy drinking wine, is a bit fruity and the finish has no afterburn to it. It has a very pleasant palate and is not too sweet. The appearance is light and clear with a touch of yellow. The nose is a nice bouquet and isn't too woody. Quite nice for a light pleasant meal, I would buy this wine for a light night."

And the winners are...

Moondah BrookVerdelho 1997
Kim: "Young, adventurous ... it had the greatest nose of all of the."
Kathy: "I agree with that."
Kim: "Young, but soon to be developed, not for the unsophisticated!"
Kathy: "Exactly."
Jan: "Without a doubt, one of the best - it's a very pleasant drink."
Dave: "We didn't like it"

Jamiesons Run Sauvignon Blanc 1997
Jan: "Light, not over-woody, very palatable and easy to drink."
Mandy: "Very pleasant drinking."

Brown Bros Chenin Blanc 1996
Dave: "It is one of my picks and Mandy was quite fond of this wine, especially after it was unveiled as a Victorian."
Marianne: "This one is my favourite - it's not over powering."
Brolga: "A lovely wine...we liked it."

Richmond Grove Classic Dry White 1996
Brolga: "We liked this one too."