Reviews / Awards

Adelaide Advertiser 5th September 2012 - FIANO 2012, Review by Tony Love

Lingering Finish  - 

A VARIETY we'll see more and more of grown here and getting better with every outing across the board. This shows deliacate floral, hay and field grass aromas with fait wafts of spiced apples and an attractive powdery mouthfeel that encourages a lingering finish. Simply fine with a bowl of creamy pasta, pizza blanco or spring vegie soup.

 

Sumptuous Magazine Aug/Sept 2012 - FIANO 2012, Review by Louise Radman

Husband and wife team Judy & Glen Kelly have triumphed with this crisp and spicy white. This traditional southern Italian variety of Campania and Sicily is a first for Clare Valley. It's from a small acreage on Springfarm Road that's blooming with pure lemony flavour, evergreen, cardamon and five-spice top notes. A cracking combination of foodworthy texture and acidity.  Cellar 3-5 years.

Drunk.com - July 2012

I'm just about over the winter lurgy for this year and pleased to be drinking interesting wines again. This is one of those wines that I found without looking, an alternative varietal from a familiar place, the ArtWine Graciano 2010.............In the glass the wine is clear and bright, a medium ruby colour with quick, thick and coloured legs. On the nose it's clean, youthful, with plenty of perfume and plum notes.It has a high intensity of violets and blueberries. On the palate, its dry, with medium plus acidity, medium minus tannins, medium plus alcohol, medium body and medium length. There are notes of somewhat tart blueberries, a little sweet spice and some red fruit as well but not much.

I'm rating this wine as good. It certainly is very intense, but in an odd way in that it's fruit driven, but very tart, cool climate fruit. This is the first varietal Graciano I've tried so I can't really score it on typicality and while its young and fresh, I can't really say if it would get better with time or if it is at its best now. Still an interesting wine and I look forward to trying some other varietal Gracianos so I have a better idea as how to judge this one.

See http://www.drunk.com/wine/artwine-graciano-2010/ for the full story.

Adelaide Hills Courier -  March 2012

Riesling 2011

STYLISH: Winemaker Joane Irvine with ArtWine Clare Valley Riesling 2011 goes for the dry style which is indicated on the back label as a guide to the customer. It's a good idea and a pity it is not universal. Lemony with a hint of honeysuckle, the wine is flavorsome with the potential to gain more honeysuckle as it ages.

James Halliday's Wine Companion Magazine - March 2012

"Best of 2011 - Worth another look" March 2012

Tempranillo 2010 - 93 Points

James Halliday 1001 Wines $200 and under, 2012 Edition

Riesling 2011

93 Points. The back label explains that ArtWine specialises in estate-grown alternative varieties, which makes this a very obvious exception. This, I suspect, will be one of many Clare Valley rieslings that enjoyed the cool, wet vintage, for it is classically pure. The bouquet and palate have clearly defined lime, lemon and a touch of ripe apple aromas and flavours. The line, length and balance are impeccable. Made by Joanne Irvine, this wine will still be full of life 10 years from now.

James Halliday Wine Companion 2012
www.winecompanion.com.au

Tempranillo 2010

93 Points. Bright purple-red; few richer and fuller-bodied Tempranillos on the scene than this, even if it is (as it may be) ex tank prior to bottling. Black cherry fruits abound and the palate has a velvety mouth feel. 14.2% alc. Drink to 2018

Clare Valley Riesling 2009

Light straw-green; the 18 months in the bottle, plus some skin contact, introduces layers of complexity; with spiced lime fruit and highly unusual touches of honeysuckle. Demands to be drunk soon. Screwcap 13.7% alc. 92 Points Drink to 2014

Huon Hooke, The Melbourne Age & Sydney Morning Herald, 7th December 2011
www.huonhooke.com  www.theage.com.au www.smh.com.au

Riesling 2011

A new producer with a very colourful label. The youthful, spicy aromas are restrained and subtle, offering an array of lemon, lime and wildflower. The flavour in the mouth is superb with fine texture and softness. 93/100

Louise Radman, The Adelaide Magazine
www.radvine.com

Tres Amigos – 2009

Jan 2011. A glossy Spanish inspired blend of tempranillo, graciano and garnacha. Opens with tempting wild strawberry, peony and sage aromas. Juicy medium weight cherry pit, plum and currant flavours with green peppercorn spiciness. Easy drinking for relaxed summer days. Match with tapas, chorizo or duck. Drink now to 2013

David Sly, SA Life

September 2011- Graciano 2010

Since starting their small label ArtWine several years ago, Glen and Judy Kelly have been dabbling with a mix of alternative European grape varieties at their two vineyards in Clare. Among them is graciano, a generous, fleshy Spanish varietal that is usually a blending agent and rarely used as a straight varietal due to pronounced tannins showing in its youth (its most often featured as a rich component in Rioja’s tempranillo and grenache driven wines). However, this wine made by Jo Irvine and showing the deepest velvet red colour, shows terrific balance. Soft rounded tannins complement a light, bright palate with juice cherry flavours and spicy sparks of star anise and cinnamon, giving rich, savoury tones that make this wine nicely suited to meals of roasted game birds.

Tyson Stelzer, Wine Taste Weekly
www.tysonstelzer.com

December 2011 - Graciano 2010

I would never expect young vine graciano to rise to the calibre of this esteemed list, but such is the beauty of the pure morello cherry bouquet and elegant-bodied fresh cherry palate of this stylishly crafted wine that its position is secure. Finely structured, textural tannins add to its fresh appeal and drinkability. Give it a light chill and roll it out for summer lunches. $22 at The Edinburgh. 91 Points.

Winestate Magazine
www.winestate.com.au

August 2011 - 2009 Tres Amigos

Tempranillo, Graciano & Garnacha  - 4 Stars Silver

Bold minty/chocolaty nose quite tarry and complex – with a delicious mouthful of fruit seamlessly blended with the oak and youthful tannins.

May/June 2011 - ArtWine Viognier 2010

Lovely bright and light austere style with preserved apricot-like fruit characters. Drink 3-5 years.