Lenton Brae 2009 Southside Chardonnay

While February hasn't been a great month for sampling wines I haven't tried before (we'd stocked up on Riesling, Rose and other summer drinking styles and the contents of the wine rack needed to be run down before orders go in to Rockford, Cullen and Pikes between now and Easter.

An email from Lenton Brae earlier in the month complicated matters slightly, offering the No Way Rose for $150/dozen and this one at one-third off the RRP freight free!

Another reason to be grateful we added our details to the mailing list when we were there.

Lenton Brae 2009 Southside Chardonnay (4.5* $25) As opposed to the significantly more expensive Wilyabrup Estate Chardonnay this drink in the medium term style comes from early picked fruit, some malolactic fermentation to tone down the acid and with no obvious oak on the palate the result is an easy drinking style that has a creamy citrus textured tang that's refreshing with a lengthy finish. Ticks all the right boxes as far as new style early drinking Chardonnay is concerned.

Lenton Brae 2009 Cabernet Merlot

I wasn't quite as taken by this one when we were at the Cellar Door, but sitting down with a bottle some six months later I'm starting to wish I'd indulged in, well maybe not a whole case but definitely a few more than a mere three. Still, having jumped on board for dozens of the No Way Rose and the Southside Chardonnay at substantial reductions, lack of space in the rack was an important consideration.

Lenton Brae 2009 Cabernet Merlot (4.5/5 $25) Works very well as a softer, drink now style and that;s definitely the territory this one's aimed towards. Notes on the winery website confirm the intention, and with a fragrant nose, softly rounded palate with the tannins subtly folded into the mix and a lengthy finish. Possibly not one for the long term, but as a medium-bodied style to drink over the next year to eighteen months (which is about all you can expect in this environment unless I can manage a substantial increase in refrigerated cellar capacity) it's hard to see how you could go much better.

Lenton Brae 2010 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

Lenton Brae was the first place we stopped when we were in Margaret River, and yhis was the first wine we tasted there. Not a bad way to start! Subsequent visits to the website revealed references to Gold Medals and Trophies, awards I find much more plausible than a certain other wine reviewed recently in these parts.

Lenton Brae 2010 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (4.5* $22) Not quite half and half (52% Semillon, 48% Sauvignon Blanc), and while the Semillon just comes through on top the varieties blend close to seamlessly. Powerful from the aromatics on the nose to the lingering acid on the finish, and there's an abundance of fruit in between. While it may develop over time there's no way the other two in the order will be getting a chance. In fact, they'll be lucky to see March and April is almost certainly out of the question. Stunningly good, and within a whisker of a 5* rating.