- Lower Hunter Valley, NSW - $40-$66
- Screwcap
- 11.5%alc
In addition to a slightly altered bottle shape and a recent Langton's promotion, Mount Pleasant's acclaimed Lovedale has also experienced a slight increase in 'retail' price, although its 'discount' price seems to have remained much the same. At $65, it must now go pretty close to being Australia's most expensive white wine which isn't a chardonnay. Of that tag, it's reasonably deserving...
As one would expect of the label and its vintage, the 2005 is pure Lovedale. Its emerging hints of straw and lemon butter are given a real lift by a mineral tinged note of citrus zest. With no aromatic element claiming dominance, it's expressed with refreshing harmony. Smooth and rich to commence yet electrifying to drive, the palate announces a softly spread push of lemon butter which becomes greener and more vegetal as it tightens, perhaps reflecting green beans or capsicum. Like many from the 2005 vintage, its acid structure maintains mouth-filling impact and waves of intensity, but in a show of strength, the Lovedale's sharp edges seem to be cloaked somewhat by an incredibly persistent onslaught of rich, deep, old-vine semillon flavour, which pushes on with careless abandon towards a finish of spectacular length and balance.
ü+ Considering the noted price hike, Mount Pleasant's utterly brilliant 2005 Lovedale couldn't have come at a much better time. Let's hope future vintages maintain the standard. Drink to 2020.
95 points
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