The Wine Advocate – Westend Estate Wines
Robert Parker Reviews 2011
Media release
Winemaker, Bill Calabria, from Griffith winery Westend Estate
International renowned wine critic, Robert Parker, has just released Westend Estate’s 2011 extraordinary 'Parker Points'. These ratings from the Wine Advocate reinforces Westend’s rising claim as a company of distinction.
Parker’s rating system employs a 50-100 point quality scale.
- 90 - 95: An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines.
- 80 - 89: An above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavour as well as character with no noticeable flaws.
*Robert J. Parker, founder of the successful Wine Advocate, reviews Westend's following wines:
2007 3 BRIDGES RESERVE GOLDEN MIST BOTRYTIS – 92 POINTS/100
Made predominately from old vine, botrytised Semillon with a bit of botrytised Pedro Ximenez, the 2007 Three Bridges Reserve Botrytis presents a gold to amber colour and pronounced aromas of dried mandarin peel, acacia honey, orange marmalade, toasted nuts plus whiffs of musk and balsamic. Very crisp, very concentrated and very sweet, it has a wonderfully viscous texture and great richness, with a long honeyed finish.
2008 3 BRIDGES GOLDEN MIST BOTRYTIS – 91 POINTS/100
A medium gold colour with pronounced botrytis aromas of acacia honey and musk with pineapple paste, apricot conserve, toasted cashews, orange blossom and candied ginger. Very sweet, crisp and vibrant on the palate with a wonderful satiny texture and understated opulence. Long finish. Well made.
2008 3 BRIDGES CABERNET SAUVIGNON – 90 POINTS/100
Deep garnet-purple in colour, the 2008 3 Bridges Cabernet Sauvignon presents a pronounced nose of eucalypt, creme de cassis, dark chocolate and warm blackberries with an undercurrent of spice box. Medium to full-bodied, the palate lends crisp acid and a medium-firm level of grainy tannins supporting generous minted blackcurrant flesh. The finish is long. Delicious now, it should cellar and evolve nicely through 2016.
2008 CALABRIA AGLIANICO – 90 POINTS/100
Garnet coloured, the 2008 Calabria Private Bin Aglianico gives scents of mulberries, warm raspberries, underbrush and black pepper with nuances of tobacco and sandalwood. Full-bodied with very crisp acid, it has medium-firm chewy tannins and a good concentration of ripe fruit plus spicy layers continuing into the long finish.
2010 Poker Face Cabernet Merlot – 86 POINTS/100
Deep garnet-purple coloured, the 2010 Poker Face Cabernet Merlot has a good intensity of ripe plum, warm blackcurrant and cinnamon stick aromas with a hint of anise. Medium-bodied with medium-high acid and a medium level of soft tannins, it has a good amount of red berry fruit and a medium-long finish./p>
2009 Westend Cool Climate Riesling – 90 POINTS/100
The 2009 Cool Climate Series Riesling gives a good intensity of lemongrass, lime zest and grapefruit aromas with some honeysuckle and spicy pear nuances. Dry on the palate with crisp, racy acidity that’s in tune with the vibrant citrus and wetstone flavours, finishing long. Also very well priced for this level of quality.
2010 Richland Chardonnay – 86 POINTS/100
The 2010 Chardonnay gives moderately pronounced peaches and cream aromas with an undercurrent of guava and ripe melon. Medium-bodied, it has good concentration and a pleasant silkiness to the texture offset by crisp acidity and finishing long and clean. Drink this one now to 2013.
2010 Richland Sauvignon Blanc – 87 POINTS/100
The 2010 Sauvignon Blanc gives tropical aromas of passion fruit and guava with a hint of fresh sage. Crisp, dry and light to medium body, it fills the mouth with vibrant, if straightforward, flavours, finishing long with notes of lemon / lime and mandarin peel.
2010 Poker Face Semillon Sauvignon Blanc – 86 POINTS/100
The 2010 Poker Face Semillon Sauvignon Blanc has intense notes of grapefruit juice, grass, fresh herbs and orange rind. Crisp, light-bodied and dry, it provides good flavour concentration and a medium-long citrusy finish. Drink it now through 2012.
* Editor's note: Robert Parker is reported to have stated that he no longer tastes Australian wines. This wine may have been tasted by one of his reviewers, such as Lisa Perotti-Brown MW.
Regions
- Explorer Country (NSW)
- Riverina (wine) (NSW)
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Westend Estate was established by Francesco and Elizabeth Calabria, newly arrived migrants from Italy in 1927. They purchased a five acre block of land at the Western ... read more
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