New Products

THE REVIEW

OUR FIRST PANEL OF THE YEAR HAS REVIEWED NEW PRODUCTS AND RELEASES FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET - REGARDLESS OF VARIETAL, CATEGORY OR VINTAGE. IF IT’S NEW AND AVAILABLE IT CAN BE INCLUDED. WE FEEL THIS BETTER REFLECTS THE INFORMATION THAT WILL BE USEFUL FOR YOU IN YOUR STORES AND ACROSS YOUR BARS AS YOU DECIDE WHAT NPD, BRAND LAUNCHES, BOTTLE RE-DESIGNS AND RANGES TO STOCK.

PRODUCTS WERE CONSIDERED ON PACKAGING, PRICE POINT, CATEGORY AND TASTING.

BEER AND SPIRITS

Words Ashley Pini

CULTURE HOUSE Category: Berliner Weisse Beer Raspberry RRP: $20.00 per 4 x pack Tasting Notes: Culture House Raspberry Berliner Weisse is made with a combination of premium malts and Australian raspberries to produce a deliciously delicate beer that is bursting with zingy, zesty flavours, yet is easy going with a cleansing acidity and a dry spritzy finish. LOVER Category: Gin RRP: $55.00 Distributor: James Busby Fine Wines & Spirits Tasting Notes: Orange peel with a touch of sweetness, lemon and coriander with a backbone of juniper. Wins best packaging on the day SAILOR JERRY SAVAGE APPLE (ON-PREMISE ONLY) Category: Rum RRP: $52.00 Distributor: William Grant & Sons Tasting Notes: A big bite of juicy red apple. Fun and approachable, you get notes of vanilla and cinnamon. The packaging is straight from the Sailor Jerry playbook and will stand out on the shelf. This is launched for the ON-PREMISE right now, but hold on for OFFPREMISE availability later in the year.

THE KRAKEN BLACK SPICED RUM & COLA Category: RTD RRP: $22.95 per 4 x pack Distributor: Proximo Tasting Notes: Spiced rum and cola in a bottle. It’s not the first, but expect this to be a hit. 4 PINES DINGO PUP TRANSPACIFIC PALE ALE Category: Pale Ale RRP: $19.95 per 4 pack Comment: Sydney-based brewing company 4 Pines has collaborated with Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles to make Dingo Pup. Both brew with a sand and surf philosophy and Dingo Pup brings the transPacific laid-back vibes together and has created a generously hoppy pale ale made with Australian Galaxy combined with American El Dorado hops. The result is fruity and refreshing.

WINES

TAHBILK - ‘1927 VINES’ MARSANNE Vintage: 2013 RRP: $46.30 Distributor: The Wine Company Tasting Notes: Great bottle age - balanced and generous. Lemons and pears. AFTER FIVE WINE CO. MONTEPULCIANO Vintage: 2018 RRP: $35.00 Distributor: Purple Hands Wines Tasting Notes: A growing varietal with full flavoured fruit forward palate and luxurious texture, PRINCE ESTIVAC BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT RESERVE NV - BLANC DE BLANCS Vintage: NV RRP: $21.99 Distributor: Eurocentric Wine Imports Pty Ltd Tasting Notes: FIne and elegant wine, persistent bubbles, light brioche and crisp balanced acid.

CASTLE ROCK ESTATE - ‘PORONGURUP’ PINOT NOIR Vintage: 2018 RRP: $34.00 Distributor: Define Wine Marketing Tasting Notes: An elegant and silky pinot - displaying integrated oak structure, developing into a genuinely powerful finish.

BREAM CREEK - RIESLING Vintage: 2018 RRP: $31.00 Distributor: Fine Drop Wines (TAS), Fesq & Co (VIC/NSW/QLD) T: 02 9313 1888), Winery Direct (WA/NSW/SA) Tasting Notes: Lemon and limes, bright citrus and green apple flavours and balanced acidity. BROCKENCHACK - ‘JACK HARRISON’ SHIRAZ Vintage: 2016 RRP: $58.00 Distributor: Brockenchack Wines Tasting Notes: Red and blackcurrent with blackberry, vanilla and spice, pepper. Great textural finish.

VIGNERONS D’ESTEZARGUES LA CUVEE DES COPAINS COTES DU RHONE - COMME COCHON Vintage: 2018 RRP: $23.00 Distributor: Eurocentric Wine Imports Tasting Notes: Great value wine at $23. 50-50 Shiraz and Grenache from small vineyards throughout the Southern Rhone.

ROBERT OATLEY - SIGNATURE SERIES - GRENACHE Vintage: 2019 RRP: $19.99 Distributor: Robert Oatley Tasting Notes: We are all talking grenache, so this was the pick. A lively and vibrant grenache that will develop well with time. Still very young. Classic berry flavours. TAYLORS - PINOT NOIR ROSÉ Vintage: 2019 RRP: $20.00 Distributor: Taylors Wines Tasting Notes: Classic, fresh, crisp acidity and genuinely refreshing - Easter sales of Rose and chocolate.

BERESFORD - CHARDONNAY Vintage: 2019 RRP: $25 Distributed by: Vok Beverages Tasting Note: More great juice from the McLaren Vale. Stone fruit palate with a lemon twist. Generous palate - fruit and textures mouthfeel. TAYLORS - THE VISIONARY - CABERNET SAUVIGNON Vintage: 2014 RRP: $200 Distributor: Taylors Wines Tasting Notes: This is a treat, a high end wine developed through the Taylor’s family love of the cabernet style. Black ruby color. Mahogany wood, dark cherries dark chocolate. Sits alongside the great French brands and holds its own in this price point.

CHANDON - LATE DISGORGED ROSÉ Vintage: 2009 RRP: $115.00 Distributor: Moët Hennessy Australia Tasting Notes: Can Chandon take on the might and power of the Tasmanian sparkling winemakers. Their Champagne heritage would point to this being the case, and with this late-disgorged 2009 the runs are on the board. Genuinely a contender, this Rosé is a pale pink with fine bubbles, complex nose - fruit forward and generous.