huon HOOKE

SILVER RIBBON Awarded #105 of 266 2012 Nebbiolo: A bouquet of fresh earth, dried herbs and pot-pourri. Soft, mellow, forward palate, with gentle tannins and good depth; star anise flavours again.

SILVER RIBBON Awarded #104 of 266 2012 Nebbiolo: Spicy, smoky, dried herb aromas; a big, powerful wine with massive tannins and solid grip. Superb balance and texture all the same. This will be rewarding in time. (Western exposure, more sun, big wines!)

Fresh earth and leather bouquet; intense and soft in the mouth, mellow and gently drying. Dried flowers. Warmth of alcohol and tannin resonates on the aftertaste. Long finish.

Leather and meaty charcuterie bouquet; richer, denser palate with good fleshiness and texture. Sweeter fruit and more charm than the 2012, and very long. A real charmer.

(100% nebbiolo but the law permits as little as 80%; stainless steel only, no wood) Pale red/purple hue and a bouquet of rose petals: lovely floral perfumes. Light-bodied, lean and fine-boned, fresh and balanced with light, soft tannins.

A really harmonious Barolo; soft, rounded and gentle of structure. The tannins are supple and the wine is beautifully balanced. A lovely drink.

Shy bouquet of leather and dried-blood mineral notes; floral later. The wine is very big and chunky, with massive tannin and alcohol. Dense and weighty, but soft and rounded - the tannins are nice and ripe. It's a fraction stolid and straightforward just now and demands more time

GOLD RIBBON, TOP RANKED Awarded #4 of 278 2012 Nebbiolo: Earth, dried herbs and potpourri in the bouquet, with a trace of charcuterie. A big, solid, slightly chewy-textured wine, with lots of flesh and richness, the tannins soft, mellow and round. Very good.

Medium red colour with brick rim, and a slightly watery appearance; some dried herb aromas add savoury complexities, chocolate too. The palate is smooth and savoury with a firm and fleshy tannin structure. Rich, full-bodied, dense wine, with serious flavour and structure. Lots of energy. Long finish assisted by some alcohol warmth. Acceptable balance, but the more it warmed the more syrupy and alcoholic it looked.