Wine Tasting Notes

Narkoojee - Latrobe Valley (Gippsland)

2019 Sparkling Harriet

Harriet Friend is the granddaughter of Harry and Val Friend.  With her sparkling personality, it is fitting that this wine be named after her.  The fruit is handpicked from our estate plantings and is a blend of 70% pinot noir and 30% chardonnay.  It is a rich, full flavoured style with a crisp acidity, making it an excellent aperitif.

A complex mix of grapefruit, pear and white stone fruits with floral notes and almond kernel.Grapefruit and pear with almond kernel, white stone fruits and notes of honey suckle.

2019 Lily Grace Chardonnay

This wine is vintaged from selected estate plantings and is named after Harry and Val’s first grandchild, Lily Grace Friend.  Another excellent season has produced fruit of exceptional quality which was fermented using wild yeasts, indigenous to our vineyard.  The wine has been matured in older French oak barriques, with a small portion new, to introduce a note of subtle complexity to the varietal fruit.  This is a beautifully balanced wine with a lovely creamy texture, natural mineral acidity and is an ideal accompaniment to seafood.  It will develop further in the bottle over the next five years.

2019 Wild Rose

The cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc grapes for this wine were whole bunch pressed and fermented in older French oak barriques using 100% wild yeasts.  This is an ideal wine for al fresco dining, showing lovely aromas of quince and musk with a lively acidity.

2017 The Athelstan Merlot

This wine is named in honour of Athelstan Friend who originally operated the Narkoojee property as a dairy farm.  The 2017 season has produced fruit of exceptional quality which was hand-picked from our estate vines late in March and fermented by indigenous yeasts.  This is an elegant wine of exceptional character and can be expected to develop further over the next seven years or so.

2018 Cabernet Merlot

The cabernet and merlot varieties from the excellent 2019 season, were assembled after fermentation by indigenous yeasts.  The resulting wine, comprising about 70% cabernet and 30% merlot, has a beautifully balanced palate and integrated French oak, which is expected to develop in the bottle for another seven to ten years.

Lightfoot & Sons - East Gippsland

2017 Myrtle Point Pinot Noir

Small batch winemaking combining traditional methods with some use of wild yeasts and whole bunch ferments. French oak maturation. Bright cherry and plum fruit layered with savoury, earthy elements. Bottled unfiltered.  100% Estate grown, made and bottled.

“Hand-picked, a portion (30% of the total wine) had 30% whole bunches included, open-fermented, hand-plunged, pressed to French oak (15% new). Light colour, but no want of flavour or drive. Satsuma plum and red cherry fruit threaded with tendrils of spicy, savoury palate and tannins.” 94 Points – 2020 Halliday Wine Companion.

2019 Myrtle Point Rosé

An elegant, dry Rosé made from Pinot Noir (60%) and Shiraz (40%) grapes.  Highly aromatic with vibrant fresh strawberry fruit character, bright natural acidity and a crisp, dry finish.

GIPPSLAND WINE COMPANY - South Gippsland

‘HARRIER’ N.V.

Region: South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. A cool climate region, planted on the rolling green hills some 50 metres above sea level, strongly maritime influenced by Westernport Bay and the Bass Coast in the most southerly region of Victoria.

Notes: This Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Methode Champenoise, Harrier N.V. is a classic cool climate sparkling showing citrus blossom on the nose, with jasmine, shelled almonds. Zesty notes of lemon sherbet, granny smith apple and pomelo follow, with richer characters of brioche and cashew, honeysuckle and cupboard spices with a creamy mousse on the lively palate.

Food matches: oysters, calamari, olives, smoked almonds.

2019 RIESLING

Region: South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. A cool climate region, planted on the rolling green hills some 50 metres above sea level, strongly maritime influenced by Westernport Bay and the Bass Coast in the most southerly region of Victoria.

Notes: The 2019 Riesling grown on this established 35-year-old vineyard shows a German Kabinett Riesling inspiration. Its mellifluous 20 g/L residual sugar presents honeydew melon, jasmine and lemon curd aromas following through on the palate with elder flower, Bosc pear, farmhouse cider, lanolin, and warm, nutmeg and ground ginger spice.

Food matches: Baked ham and bratwurst, spicy South East Asian flavours, smoked salmon.

2018 GEWÜRZTRAMINER

Region: East Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. A cool climate region, planted on the rolling green hills some 50 metres above sea level, strongly maritime influenced by the Bass Coast and the Gippsland Lakes near Lakes Entrance in the most southerly region of Victoria.

Notes: The 2018 Gewürztraminer was wild fermented in 20% old oak. It is exotically aromatic of frangipani, rose water, lotus and lychee. Characters of Thai mint, bruised lemongrass, green mango, guava and white peach follow, with spicier notes of cardamom and kaffir lime leaf on the persistent, lush palate.

Food matches: Sri Lankan chicken curry and love cakes, chilli crab stir fry, pistachio gelato.

2019 CABERNET ROSÉ

Region: South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. A cool climate region, planted on the rolling green hills some 50 metres above sea level, strongly maritime influenced by Westernport Bay and the Bass Coast in the most southerly region of Victoria.

Notes: The 2019 Cabernet Rosé is a vibrant red rose colour, with fragrant strawberry patch, fresh picked mint and red rose petal on the nose. Crisp and crunchy cranberry acidity combines with aromatic ripe strawberry and raspberry on the palate, with a twist of cut rhubarb creating a pleasing sweet and sour interplay.

Food matches: watermelon and feta, yum cha dumplings, steamed mussels.

2018 SYRAH

Region: South Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. A cool climate region, planted only metres above sea level, strongly maritime influenced by Westernport Bay and the Bass Coast in the most southerly region of Victoria.

Notes: The 2018 Syrah is a vivid and complex expression of cool climate Shiraz. Blue garnet in colour, the nose is redolent of red rose petal, rosemary, star anise and blackberry. These characters follow onto the palate with black cherry and forest bramble, blood plum and roasted red capsicum, umami sweet soy and mocha notes, finishing with five-spice and pink peppercorn notes. The delicious, supple mouthfeel is perfectly balanced by an excellent acid line, chalky, slightly grippy tannins and persistent length.

Food matches: Smoked brisket, Shanghai pork fried noodles, portobello mushrooms with pine nuts, aged Comté or Gruyere.