Destined for Hong Kong
Monday, October 5th: Tasted a wine that will be presented at the dinner in Hong Kong:
Southbrook Estate Sol & Luna Merlot 2021
Deep purple in colour, holding to the rim; cedary, black plum bouquet with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, richly extracted plum and black cherry flavours carried on lively acidity; well-balanced, well-integrated oak and a lovely mouth-feel. (93)
Tuesday, October 6th: Deborah and I dined at Bolete. We had a dozen oysters and shared a burrata salad with grilled peach. A glass of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Blanc respectively.
Wednesday, October 7th: Dinner: blackened scallops with Squealing Pig Sauvignon Blanc (NV) from Marlborough, New Zealand.
Thursday, October 8th: Jill Troyer came over and we tasted the following wines:
Township 7 Interlude Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2024 (Washington grapes)
Deep ruby in colour; blackcurrant bouquet with vanilla oak notes; full-bodied, dry, gripping tannins masking savoury blackcurrant and plum flavours; firmly structured with a tight finish. (89)
Township 7 Interlude Series Interlude Red 2024 (Washington and California grapes)
Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah. Purple-ruby colour; cedary, spicy nose of currants and plums; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted strawberry and plum flavours; earthy and tannic. Needs time. (89)
Township 7 Interlude Series Merlot 2024 (Washington grapes)
Deep ruby-purple in colour; intense black plum bouquet with oak spice; full-bodied, dry, richly extracted black fruit flavours; well-balanced with evident tannins that tend to dry the finish. (88)
Township 7 Interlude Series Syrah 2024 (Washington and California grapes)
Deep purple in colour; lifted blackberry and vanilla nose with hints of white pepper; full-bodied dry, richly extracted black fruit flavours carried on racy acidity. Firmly structured with ripe tannins. (90)
Jill brought with her the following Liebling wines:
Liebling Family Select Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (Andrews Vineyard, Four Mile Creek)
Pale straw in colour with a touch of lime; grassy, green plum and lanolin nose; medium-bodied, dry, racy lemony and green plum flavours. Great length. (90)
Liebling Riesling 2025 (Lingrad Vineyard, St. David’s Bench)
Very pale straw colour; lightly floral, minerally nose of grapefruit; light-bodied, crisply dry, grapefruit flavour with bright acidity. Great length. (90)
Liebling Gamay Creek Road Vineyard 2024 (Creek Road Vineyard, Four Mile Creek)
Light ruby in colour; lifted, chedary, cherry nose; medium-bodied, dry, sour cherry flavour with a firm tannic finish, (86)
Dinner: lamb chops with One Pound Per Acre Shiraz 2024 from South Australia.
Friday, October 9th: Andrzej Lipinski brought me to Big Head Winery to taste his newly bottled wines – and an old favourite.
Andrzej Lipinski
Lipinski Family Chardonnay 2024
Deep golden in colour; caramel and apple bouquet with vanilla oak notes; full-bodied, dry, intense, creamy, caramel, pineapple and lemon flavours. Lovely mouth-feel, beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak. (95)
Lipinski Family Chenin Blanc “Perpetual Reserve” (a solera wine with vintages 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025)
Golden straw colour; peach and apple bouquet with oak spice and a note of honey; full-bodied, dry, with racy acidity and amazing length. Rich, voluptuous mouth-feel that belies the alcohol strength (14.9%). (92)
Lipinski Family Viognier 2024 (1 year in terracotta/1 year in older French oak)
Old gold in colour; honeysuckle and peach nose with oak spice; full-bodied, richly extracted peach and ripe melon flavours; well-balanced, harmonious; lovely mouth-feel and a lingering fresh finish. (92)
Lipinski Family Genia 2023 (32 months in new French oak – 70% in 500 litre, 30% in 225 litre)
59% Merlot, 24% Malbec, 17% Petit Verdot. Opaque purple-black in colour; intense black plum and currant bouquet with a tarry note; full-bodied, dry, savoury with evident but ripe tannins. Still tight, needs 2–3 years bottle age. (97)
Lipinski Family Lonia 2023
43% Syrah, 40% Malbec, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. Dense purple-ruby in colour; cedary, toasty, black fruit nose with vanilla oak spice; full-bodied, full-bodied, dry, firmly structured, juicy and fleshy, sweet black fruit flavours; mouth-filling and firmly structured with balancing acidity and well-integrated oak; needs cellaring 2–3 years. (97–98)
Big Head Biggest 2023 (32 months in new oak)
44% Cabernet Franc, 33% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon – all co-fermented. Opaque purple-black in colour; concentrated nose of blackcurrant, black plum and black cherry; full-bodied, dry, juicy blackcurrant and blackberry flavours carried on lively acidity with a firm tannic finish. A keeper, 2–3 years will soften the tannins. (95)
Lipinski Family Reserve Syrah 2023
This is the same wine I gave 100 points to, but after its fermentation in terracotta it was aged 32 months in new oak.
Dense purple in colour; a rich bouquet of mulberry, rose petal and vanilla oak spice; full-bodied, dry, firmly structured and beautifully balanced. A powerful, majestic wine that can stand proudly beside its sister wine of the same vintage. (100 points!)
My two 100-point wines
Lipinski Family Chenin Blanc Sparkling 2023
Straw colour with greenish tint; active mousse of tiny bubbles; peachy, minerally bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, elegant peach and nectarine flavours. Great length. (91)
Lipinski Family Olusia Sparkling (100% Pinot Noir)
Old gold colour; active musse of tiny bubbles; toasty, apple nose; full-bodied and mouth-filling, dry, biscuity flavour; beautifully balanced and seamless. (93)
Saturday, October 10th: Dinner: lemon shrimp pasta with a bottle of Flat Rock Twisted 2008 (still alive and kicking!).
