Wine News & Reviews, November 2023

The Cri de Coeur wines have acheived high scores and glowing reviews yet again. This time from the Wine Pilot's Shanteh Wale.

2021 Crittenden Cri de Coeur Chardonnay

Indigenous yeasts, whole bunch pressing and matured on gross lees in new and used French barriques with half going through malolactic fermentation. Yellow peach, lemon oil and cultured butter. Baked madeleines and shortcrust pastry. This wine, like all of Crittenden wines, has a deep well of flavour. The further down you peer the more the wine reveals. There is cracked marble, grated nutmeg and glace ginger and all the components work gracefully together like a harmonious symphony. This is for the true Chardonnay lovers, the loyalists that love the grape for its flesh, its longevity and for echoing sounds of nut brittle, camomile and peppery olive oil. This is so succinct and present. Drink with Dover Sole a la Meunière and bathe in bliss.

98 Points | Reviewed by Shanteh Wale on Wine Pilot.

2021 Crittenden Cri de Coeur Pinot Noir

This wine has been made at Crittenden for as long as I have been on this earth and it displays its earthy wisdom far far better than I do. Clonal separation, micro-fermentation and whole cluster vary between 20%-70% depending on the batch. 11 months maturation in new and seasoned oak barriques before the wine slumbers for 18 months in bottle. That resting time results in a potpourri of delicate rose buds, violets and angelica. Ripe hawthorn, redcurrants and rambutans. A forest floor of autumn leaves and nutmeg. The palate has a succulence with ripe stalky tannins, the pureness of red berries shining through with each sip. The caress of careful winemaking, vine age and clonal diversity means this wine is drinking superbly now and will cellar like a dream upwards of 8-10 years. Drink with Quail and roasted root vegetables.

96 Points | Reviewed by Shanteh Wale on Wine Pilot.
 

2018 Crittenden Cri de Coeur Savagnin Sous Voile

The sixth release of, what was at first, a mistake that evolved to an experiment to what is now one of Australia’s most celebrated, coveted and most delicious wines period. Absolutely impossible not to swoon and fall head over heels with the aromas that waft from the glass in this flor aged Savagnin. The 2018 aged under flor for 4 years and another year in bottle prior to release. Paraffin oil, yellow jasmine and preserved lemon. Crème brulée, roasted pine nuts and candied kumquat. The wine is energetic on the palate with a hint of Picholine olive brine salinity and a savoury Chanterelle mushroom finish. It’s utterly superb. For all of you that don’t love this style of wine I say, “Thank goodness, there isn’t enough to go around anyway”. A hard wine to pair, for the reason the cooking needs to be of elite level. Go with classic Comté cheese or if a chef is at the helm, roast spatchcock with a chanterelle and morel mushroom sauce. Next level yum.

98 Points | Reviewed by Shanteh Wale on Wine Pilot.

Crittenden Cri de Coeur Macvin #4

It’s total indulgence to make Macvin when your Savagnin Sous Voile is in such high demand and so is the experience of tasting it. Unmitigated indulgence. The 2018 Savagnin flor wine is blended with the fresh 2022 juice and then fortified to 17%. To finish a meal, this is as close as it gets to losing yourself into the glass, forgetting where you are, who you are with and floating away on a vinous cloud to beverage heaven. Well it is for me. Pineapple jam, baked quince pie, dried orange and kombucha. Grated candlenut, swaying kelp and shards of hazelnut brittle. Popped mustard seeds, honeysuckle and a palate of baked parsnips, lemon curd and fresh guava. I could go on and on. This is world class Macvin and a celebration of wine. Drink on its own or with homemade bitter honeycomb and ice cream.

97 Points | Reviewed by Shanteh Wale on Wine Pilot.