TASTING NOTES ON CURRENT WINES

PIERRE'S CUVEE PRESTIGE
An elegant and unique sparkling wine with a slight pink tinge! Vibrant fruity Pinot Noir combined with the toasted buttery complexity of Chardonnay, create a montage of taste sensations. This sparkling wine has been hand crafted using the Traditional Methode Champenois technique and is the perfect accompaniment to any occasion worth celebrating. Only available at Bellarine Estate Cellar Door or in the restaurant.

2008 ‘SHARON’S VINEYARD’ RIESLING
From a fully mature 30 year old vineyard comes this distinguished and stylish Riesling. It is a delightfully pungent and aromatic Riesling nose consisting of green apples, lime talc and a floral musk character that float effortlessly from the glass. The palate is tightly focused with an intense flavour spectrum of lime, minerals, green pawpaw, with some floral powdery talc notes and a long fine drying finish, that lingers on and on and on! A super fresh and texturally expressive style of Riesling. Drink with crunchy thai flavoured salads or prawns.

2008 'NINE LIVES' SAUVIGNON BLANC
Imagine if you could have 9 lives, that’s 9 times longer to drink a wine like this- it’s a cracker!! This sav blanc shows some funky barrel ferment characters supported by pungent gooseberries, lychee and lime. The palate provides some real interest with a mouth filling textural element giving the wine a great structure with a grassy mineral character that adds to complexity. Enjoy this wine now when consuming Antipasto by the sea.

2008 'O.M.K.' VIOGNIER
A layered nose of honeysuckle, mandarins, candied ginger and lemon. The palate has a softness and roundness from old French oak barrel fermentation which adds a lovely texture and complexity. It is full of citrus, honey and tropical flavours before a spicy and fresh cleansing finish.

2008 UNWOODED CHARDONNAY
Light straw yellow in colour, this is Chardonnay in its birthday suit- pure naked and undressed. No tricks, no winemaking or oak inputs, just pure spotlessly clean chardonnay. Aromas of honeydew melons, tropical fruit’s, lemon and fresh straw leap from the glass before effortlessly rolling across the palate finishing with a fresh lively finish. Enjoy the purity with some amazingly fresh seafood from The Bellarine.

2008 'JAMES’ PADDOCK' CHARDONNAY
A brilliant pale straw yellow in colour, the combination of limestone soils, a cool maritime climate and thoughtful winemaking have produced this classic, elegant Chardonnay. Barrel fermented in French Oak and matured for 10 months, this wine exhibits fresh citrus, white peach and almond meal characters with a supportive creamy palate and an elegant oak influence. For lovers of fine chardonnay and seafood. Rated 91 Points by WineFront (Sept 09)

2008 'PHIL’S FETISH' PINOT NOIR
Dark ruby red in color, this pure fruited beauty has an aromatic and intense nose of red berries, cherries and summer pudding with some savoury, mocha characters. The palate is vibrant and alive consisting of a sweet ripe fruit driven freshness. These flavours fill the front palate, with more red fruits, mocha and earth characters on the mid palate combining with fine tannins and the mystical pinot character to provide a long soft finish. An exquisite Pinot. Best enjoyed in the company of great food and good friends now, or cellar for 6-8 years. Bronze at 2009 Federation Square Wine Show. Rated 4 stars Winestate Magazine.

2007 'JULIAN’S' MERLOT
The best Merlot yet from Bellarine Estate. Alluring aromas of plums, raisons and grandmas brandied fruitcake, supported by some spicy, savory French oak characters. The palate has Bordeaux like fineness with soft supple plum and red berry characters supported by a fine linear tannin structure giving the wine lovely length and a drying finish. Very subtle French oak adds complexity. A mighty fine wine!! Drink now with pork chops and spiced cabbage or cellar for 3-4 years Won Bronze at 2009 Federation Square Wine Show. Rated 4.5/5 stars by Paddy Kendler in Herald Sun 'Drink'.

2008 'TWO WIVES' SHIRAZ
A complex and aromatic nose with savory and red fruit characters. Flavours of boysenberry, cranberries, and black cherries are mingled with smoked charcuterie, savory spice and soy characters. The palate is distinctly cool climate Shiraz, being medium bodied with vibrant and juicy red and blue fruit flavours complemented by fine tannin and white pepper, cinnamon and clove flavours on the finish. A long drying finish gives the wine great length and balance. Decant for early consumption or cellar for up to 10 years for secondary development.

2007 CELLAR RESERVE SHIRAZ-VIOGNIER
The colour is deep and intense yet vibrant and pretty - a wine of grace and power! It is beautiful cool climate Shiraz co-fermented with 3.5% of the seductive Viognier variety to loft the perfume and soften the palate. The nose displays layers of complex aromas; dark blackberries, blueberries, spice, smoke, rose petals and chocolate oak characters. The Viognier gives the aromas a pretty floral lift. The palate is structured around a core of dense and soft red berries,with bitter chocolate and black pepper flavours,with some savoury earthy overtones before a wave of fine grained tannins provide length and structure and a long expansive finish. This is what cool climate Shiraz Viognier blends are all about. Elegant, complex, powerful whilst maintaining balance. Drinking well now but will develop for a further 10 years in the cellar. This wine would be suitable for any occasion worth celebrating! James Halliday rated 94 points.

'THE CURE' FORTIFIED PINOT NOIR
Light crimson in colour, this lively fortified pinot noir made from estate grown fruit and matured in French oak displays an alluring fruity and raspberry nose with a light raisin and Christmas pudding palate. Perfect for drinking around the fire with friends on a cool winter night.