Mike Bennie says:
From the husband and wife combo of Xavier Bizot and Lucy Croser comes this lees aged, barrel fermented sauvignon blanc that comes off the same limestone ridge that the impressive Whalebone Vineyard is on in Wrattonbully. Interesting countryside up there, lots of native vegetation around – and like the Whalebone Vineyard the Terre à Terre vineyard was established in that viticulturists purgatory of high density close planting. The sauvignon blanc was planted in 2004.
Immediately the extensive barrel and lees work shows its hand – nutty-edged savouriness, vanilla-and-spice oak, toast – but the flavours are more enmeshed, sharing the creaminess of the fume-style with a piercing, crispness of pure fruitiness and lilt of herbaceousness. It’s certainly not a shy, delicate style and it feels brusquely refreshing at this stage, but I like soothsaying where the wine will be with time as it opens up in glass and it certainly offers complexity. Interesting drinking.
Rated: 89+ points
Drink: 2013 – 2019
Gary Walsh says:
Draft note
Ginger and spice, subdued pineapple and grapefruit, bit of toast/earthiness. Quite tart and tangy, chalky mouth-feel, gooseberry and passionfruit and citrus, spice and oak through on finish. Interesting. Good wine. Bit of herbal bitterness – quinine-like. Good finish. Stylish.
Rated: 92 points
Author: Mike Bennie / Garry Walsh
Source: winefront.com.au
Review Date: Thursday, January 17, 2013
