Cooks Lot 2012 whites

2012 was a tricky vintage in Orange, the rainy summer impacting the reds much more than the whites. Duncan Cook has done well with the Pinot Gris in particular (a variety that I think has a lot of future in Orange. Gris, Chardonnay and Sauv Blanc – Orange’s hero varieties).

Cooks Lot Pinot Gris 2012 (Orange, NSW)
13.2%, Screwcap, $19.95

Yields were down some 40% across most varieties in the Cooks Lot vineyard apparently, largely due to disease pressures. No disease on this Gris though, which was mainly fermented in stainless steel with a portion seeing oak.

Its a very pure and very clean wine with a real overt sense of cleanliness and freshness with a light touch of of floral pear and grapefruit. Lovely dry and fresh palate with bristling snappy acidity. So epically fresh and only just ripe. The freshness here is excellent, that angular palate a little firm. Regardless, this an excellent alternative to Kiwi Sauv. 17.5/20 91/100

Cooks Lot Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2012 (Orange, SA)
12%, Screwcap, $19.95

Whilst Duncan (Mr Cooks Lot) prefers the minerality of this SSB I personally think this looks a little too green. Horses for courses.

Really green and snappy nose of just picked fruit with hints of Sauv passionfruit juiciness. Its sour, fresh, very dry and rather lean, the herbal bits jutting through the mid palate. Nice freshness, just looking for a little more fruit ripeness. 16/20 87/100