Urlar Riesling 2010 Gladstone. 12.5 % alcohol
N: Lovely varietal beginning with a gentle floral sweetness and aromas reminiscent of sweet pear then sweet lemon, sweet grapefruit and a hint of barley sugar and citrus peel.
P: Just dry, a wine with noticeable texture and fine phenolic balance. The flavours of sweet pear and sweet lemon combine with gentle yellow apple flavours and a memorable Riesling expression. Moderate plus length and fruit sweet finish with a touch of floral. An easy choice for a by the glass aperitif, balanced and well-made. (4 stars).
Urlar Sauvignon Blanc, Gladstone 2010. 14% alcohol
N: Unmistakable Sauvignon Blanc varietal expression: tending towards the tropical fruit spectrum with an undertone of grassy herbaceousness, quite punchy and attention seeking on the nose.
P: A dry and very fruity expression, plenty of texture, but full of flavour and again the tropical fruit spectrum of flavours emerge followed by a hay and mild grassy expression. A long and memorable finish. (3½ stars é).
Urlar Pinot Gris, Gladstone 2010. 14% alcohol
N: A ripe and fruity beginning, golden kiwifruit, sweet pear and Golden delicious apple, a dense clay earthy undertone and hint of white pepper spice.
P: A dry wine with sound fruity appeal, medium weighted and quite round in its texture, spiciness and warmth and some interesting light complexity – a light warm and marmalade aftertaste. An interesting expression and perhaps a food wine. (3 stars).
Urlar Pinot Noir, Gladstone 2009. 14.5% alcohol
N: This is what Pinot Noir from Gladstone is all about – boldly fruity with cherry, strawberry and sweet cranberry with cinnamon and cedar spices. This wine also displays a an organic – earthy expression and developing old rose petal complexity.
P: This wine clearly still finding its feet with an explosion of fruit and tannins: the light red fruits are of a very youthful wine – if you are familiar with mangosteen fruits these are noticeable too; the oak is well managed and will integrate well over the next few years. A balanced and well made wine with a strong future is well cellared. (4½ stars).