WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING
2005 Curly Flat Pinot Noir
Adam Foster, sommelier at Melbourne’s Restaurant 312, was one of the leading sommeliers who contributed to the latest edition of Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine, and he had this to say about the 2005 Curly Flat Pinot Noir “It’s a stunner! Their best yet”.
2005 Curly Flat Chardonnay
Campbell Mattinson of WINEFRONT said “Intense, long, cutting wine, ripped with green apple flavour and white peach power. Packs a punch - and lingers. Cedary, seasoned oak adds aroma, but barely touches the palate. Despite its power, it needs time to build breadth ... this should perform very well. Drink: 2009-2014.”
2004 Curly Flat Pinot Noir
Jancis Robinson M.W “Really lively with lots of lift and a kick … Miraculously transparent and pure - great balance though not quite ready yet” (Jancis tasted this wine in August 2006).
Lester Jesberg of Winewise, in his write up of Mornington International Pinot Noir Celebration - “This Macedon Ranges wine was one of the brilliant performers. It’s an opulent pinot, scented of raspberries, and the palate is long and fine and silky. Outstanding.”
James Halliday, The Australian feature article on Curly Flat simply described the 2004 Pinot Noir as “a terrific wine”
Ken Gargett in The Brisbane Courier Mail – “The 2004 Pinot has a striking intensity and flavour”
Huon Hooke in The Age – “The 2003 and 2004 vintages of both varieties are superb”
Campbell Mattinson of The Wine Front – “The 2004 and 2005 Pinots will be wines to seek out.”
Winewise Oct 2006 –“The vibrancy of colour is matched by that of the exceptional nose that carries the combined perfumes of cherry and violets. After that, the palate certainly doesn’t disappoint. Framed by fine, firm tannins, it’s impressively long. One of Australia’s best. Outstanding”
Chris Shanahan in The Canberra Times – “a succulent and serious red that deserves to be on every Pinot lovers radar.”
2003 Curly Flat Pinot Noir
"The current releases are some of the best wines Moraghan has made ... ... It needs a year or two cellaring to show its best - as does the 2003 Pinot Noir which is tight, slightly herbal, with clove-like aromas, but a core of succulent red berry fruit that should fill out the wine with time." Max Allen in Weekend Australian 25 March 2006.
“Has complexity and power, but is not heavy; plum and spice fruit; excellent structure and balance; long finish. Rating 93” James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion 2006
Peoples’ Choice Award for Best Pinot Noir - 2005 Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition
“The intensity and structure of this wine are particularly impressive. It’s packed with rich dark cherry flavour supported by complex notes and very well handled oak.” WINEWISE
2004 Curly Flat Chardonnay
“The 2004 Chardonnay is a game of two halves; aromatic, wheat and hay smells, some honeyed lemon fruit, then lean, austere and dry in the mouth. It needs a year or two cellaring to show its best” – Max Allen in Weekend Australian 25 March 2006.
2003 Curly Flat Chardonnay
“Curly Flat has continued to improve in leaps and bounds…this powerful, structured, balanced and long wine will continue to improve” – Philip Rich in The Australian Financial Review’s Top Twenty Wines of 2005
“The 2003 Chardonnay is the best yet, exhibiting intense floral and ginger spice over a crystalline lemon-lime palate” – The Bulletin/Newsweek
“A powerful wine, with good intensity, line and length. Will develop further.”
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion 2006
“fully ripe flavour with intensity and persistence. The finish is long and fresh, and the oak handling is near perfection.” WINEWISE
Peoples’ Choice Award for Best Chardonnay and Peoples’ Choice Trophy for Best Wine of Show - 2005 Macedon Ranges Wine Exhibition
Lester Jesberg - Winewise
“Curly Flat is definitely a name to watch because the quality of fruit coming into the winery is high, and that quality is already being carried through to bottle”
Tim White – Australian Financial Review
On the 2001 Pinot
“A pretty, fragrant nose of cherries and strawberries….In the mouth there is plenty of silky, juicy loganberry pip fruit …while the tannin is fine and dry”
Simon & Alex Chlebnikowski – Vintage Direct
On the 2001 Chardonnay
“Excellent palate weight and mouthfeel with flavours of roast almond, toasted oak and yeast lees dominant. Creamy texture followed by a very long spice, cashew, biscuit and yeast lees aftertaste with the spicy characteristic persisting. Cellar 3-4 years (2006 - 2007). RATING: 96 VALUE: 5 Stars”
Winewise – on the 2001 Pinot
“It is strongly varietal, reflecting perfectly ripe fruit and has a classically silky mouthfeel within a fine, firm tannin structure. Right up there with Australia’s best pinots. Outstanding”
Sophie Otton - The Bulletin - On the 2001 Chardonnay
“Chardonnay, a wine of the future? You bet!…A number of Australian Winemakers are making kick-arse world class Chardonnay with depth complexity and finesse. Curly Flat Chardonnay 2001 is a good example: tightly wound layers of pristine fruit, tasteful oak and graceful length.”
Franz Scheurer - Australian Gourmet Pages - On the 2000 Lacuna Chardonnay (Unwooded)
“….probably my favourite unwooded Chardonnay made in Australia…….You’d better be quick”
Huon Hooke – Sydney Morning Herald - On the 2000 Pinot
“It’s a pinot of great finesse and style….Its smooth, mellow and succulent”
Philip White – Adelaide Advertiser’s Top 100 for 2003 - On the 2000 Pinot
“Complex, accomplished, balanced nuts and cherries swish around in its harmonious palate. ….lush, slurpy and sensual”
Lester Jesberg – Winewise - On the 1999 Pinot Noir
“Quite gamey and earthy….palate is well structured and persistent….keep another year or two. Highly Recommended
Lester Jesberg – Winewise - On the 1998 Pinot
“A very youthful, powerful wine which indicates what can be done by this producer…Without doubt, it ranks among Australia’s best Pinots to date. Outstanding”
Asia Cuisine – on the 1998 Chardonnay
“…..being luscious on the palate. With slight apples, lemons and spices on the nose, this is a fruit-focuses wine, with at least five years left.”
Philip White of The Advertiser (Adelaide) selected 1998 Curly Flat Chardonnay and 1999 Curly Flat Pinot in Australia's Top 100 Wines for 2002 (The Advertiser 20 November 2002)
Curly Flat 1998 Chardonnay
93+ points
"This is (Phillip Moraghan's) first chardonnay, and it's a heartbreaker. It reeks of the mellow earth and its fruits, being stacked with peach and fresh vanilla beans, even delicate honey. Each year, there's less reason to look to Burgundy for grand chardonnay, and this one knocks another big hole in the French defence. It's a long, smooth, lush, silky treasure."
Curly Flat 1999 Pinot Noir
92++points
"Only the second vintage from Phillip Moraghan's brave new vineyard near Mt Macedon, this characterful, sensual and plush pinot reeks of the fruits of the earth, with some sarth thrown in as well. It's a soulful wine that starts off a little green, with fireplace oak. But with some breathing, that rich, figgy fruit climbs out, rich, opulent and silky, not yet complex, but deeply satisfying, and finishing with good tight tannins that should see it age rewardingly in the right cellar."
Wine Spectator on the Curly Flat 1998 Pinot
"Light creamy and delicious for its peppery, minty, berry flavours, which arc nicely across a smoothly polished frame, echoing on the finish with a touch of chocolate. ...."
Wine Spectator on the 1998 Chardonnay
“………Mature, ripe, supple and subtle, with distinctive ginger and caramel notes around a nice core of pineapple and orange fruit. Polished and refined finish.”
Wine Spectator on the 1999 Pinot
“………. a mineral edge to the plum and game flavors, echoing on the firm, earthy finish."
Wine Spectator on the 1999 Chardonnay
" ……..smooth, polished and appealing for its spicy pear flavors on a supple frame, echoing nicely on the finish with a touch of quince." |
