Capital Wines The Whip Riesling 2011

The third year of receiving these wines from Capital and they have come a long way in terms of quality. They still get the love and attention of the cello taped info labels on the bottles; Jennie Moonie’s very individual version of QR codes. I first tried this earlier in the year when it had just been bottled and it was still not quite there, or meshed as we say.

No problem with Canberra Riesling in 2011 I’m pleased to say, this has a fully charged nose of lime, crisp apple, and entrancing florals and a touch of chalky minerals maybe even a hint of orange blossom. The palate is a like a lime cordial-driven laser, piercing through with pervasive power. It builds in citrus momentum all the way through before leaving a tingling acid tang and a spicy persistence. Crustaceans within a five-metre radius of the wine should get nervous, knowing the inevitable awaits.

Region: Canberra District
Alcohol:11.3%
Cost: $19
Source: Sample

Capital Wines The Swinger Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Keys in the fruit bowl please, the Swinger is back in the house. Elegance and restraint are not normally buzzwords associated with savvy B but this is not an in your face style, it reminds me of a wine with a European accent in some ways. There’s a nostril-twitching minerality at play alongside, citrus, gooseberry, and flinty complexity as well as a herbaceous edge. It’s got a sherberty drive through the palate, it zings and zaps with pristine lemon and gooseberry fruit that’s gently spiced, with clean well delineated acids and a really long finish. Oyster magnet.

Region: Canberra District
Alcohol:11.1%
Cost: $19
Source: Sample

The Back Bencher Merlot 2010

For the past few nights I’ve been trying a few octane wines so a pleasure to be back in cooler climes and lower levels of alcohol. The Back Bencher has always been one of those go-to wines that has a familiarity about it, like a comforting hug from an old friend albeit in liquid form. It smells of plums and chocolate and a hint of earth amongst some charry cola oak. The palate delivers the “I just want to be loved” fruit of Merlot, lots of plum, mixed berry and spice. It’s balanced and medium bodied with a keen mouth-filling presence. As always it persists longer than it should and makes you want another glass. Can’t argue with drinkability like that.

Region: Canberra District
Alcohol:13.5%
Cost: $25
Source: Sample