Petaluma

I tried the new Petaluma releases the other day. I must say, I am not the biggest fan of their wines. I find they are very well made, but lack character. For their prices, I need the wow! factor.

However, I have to say the latest releases are very good:
08 Hanlin Riesling: very clean and well made, slightly sweet
07 Viognier: peach & lychees, fairly light, but purposeful, some good acidity
06 Chardonnay: mineral wine, not much fruit character, steely, some oak, still very young
06 Shiraz: cool climate shiraz, very peppery, quite oaky, long finish
04 Merlot: pure fruit, medium weight, some tannin & structure (have seen better)
05 Coonawarra (Cab/Merlot): redcurrant fruit, good concentration, very clean, dry finish with soft tannins

The 05 Coonawarra was the standout, not surprisingly, a serious and well made Cabernet. After that, I enjoyed the Shiraz and the Viognier. Viogniers often taste like fruit salad, but this one was much more linear and would go well with seafood, salads and Asian dishes.

Overall, I enjoyed the wines.