Gismondi reviews Heartland Wines

Anthony Gismondi, Wine Access
 Nov 2006

All wines produced by: Heartland Wines & distributed by: Free House Wine & Spirits Ltd.

2006 Stickleback White

Clean fresh apple, melon, floral, grapefruit aromas spiked with mineral notes. A bit rind-y and dry on entry but with plenty of green melon, floral, mineral, grapefruit flavours. A well made inexpensive white.

2005 Stickleback Red

The '05 Stickleback Red delivers with upfront spicy, black cherry, cassis, olive and coffee aromas. The texture is dry and supple with just a hint of acidity. He flavours are a mouth-filling mix of peppery, cassis, raspberry notes streaked with spicy, olive, orange and tobacco leaf flavours. Good fruit if a little herbaceous in the finish.

2006 Heartland Viognier Pinot Gris

There's 32 per cent pinot gris in the '06 blend that appears to freshen its floral, peach, honey, ginger nose. It has a slightly oily, palate with apple, ginger, green peach, mineral and grapefruit flavours with and a buttery, honey finish. Good balance if a bit warm. An unusual blend that makes for an exciting blend.

2005 Heartland Dolcetto Lagrein

Winemaker Ben Glaetzer refers to his 70% dolcetto 30% lagrein blend as a savoury wine. Look for blueberry, cherry, floral, savoury, saddle leather notes on the nose spiked with olive, white pepper and tobacco. It's fun and fresh with a velvety style and cherry, blueberry, coffee, spicy, plum licorice and tobacco. A bit acidic and warm, but that's oz red wine at the moment. Well made.

2005 Heartland Shiraz

Not quite the wine we had in 2004 but solid. The nose is rich and spicy with floral, white pepper, black berry and rootsy aromas. Dry, slightly lean and tart palate with blueberry, tobacco, roasted pepper, black cherry flavours with some mint and sausage on the finish. Fine flavours and fresh fruit but the finish is bit too tart for the price.

2005 Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon

Attractive spicy, olive, tobacco nose mixed with clove and menthol aromas. The textures are soft and smooth with light tannins. The fruit is a ripe mix of cassis, blueberry, black olive, minty, coffee, tobacco and leather flavours. Solid if alcoholic with a touch of acidity coming through the finish.