$78 from Cloudwine, this is a revisit after tasting it not long after bottling at PWS last year. At that time, I felt this was better than the 2004 due to a shift from 100% American oaked to some use of new French oak. The wine has apparently settled down, and is more balanced in terms of aromatics and flavours. While previously you'd have to search past wafts of alcohol, I got no hint of the 14.5% that's held within. Instead, it's crème de cassis, mingled with hints of dark, ripe raspberry and smell of freshly chopped soft wood on a cold morning (a most appealing nose bringing me back to my logging days no doubt!). Silky and elegant, it's got a long way to go due to some residual tannins, but is current vibrant and accessible. Fresh and fruity, there's no overbearing heat. Instead, it's sufficient to make you smile and enjoy. A+ effort! 98/100. Tasted 11/06/2007.
2002 Clancy Fuller Silesian Shiraz
($36 from Cloudwine)
Made by Chris Ringland. Dark plum coloured, but
not reaching the opulent level yet. Very different from the typical aussie
shiraz as it lacks the WOW! factor. It's much tamer, with a nose of cherry,
and hints of mint. Very fresh at when first opened. Well-balanced, it's got
a chew factor, but it doesn't leave too much of an impression. Maybe abit
too much alcohol for this structure. 5 hours later, nothing obvious on the
nose, I suspect it's shutting down as it's only oak-y notes coming through.
Maybe abit of cherry-menthol in the background. White pepper on the pallet,
with the tannins coming out now. After taste not impressionable at all. For
me, it's not worth the $36, more of a $20 bottle. 6/10
Retasted 19th Sept 2007: $25, $180/case. Named as a tribute to the Silesian
settlers who planted the original vines in the 1840s. Mainly a shiraz, just
a touch of cab. The shiraz is 60% Clancy, 40% Fuller. 14% cabernet from Krondorf. Matured in new French oak for 18
months and sits in bottle before release. A good dark colour, great
structure with flavours of black cherry and plum. Good finish. 92/100.
(Note the price difference)
A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Mataro from the Clancy vineyard. Made in
the style of the Rhone roses, so whole bunch presses and minimal skin
contact. Colour is pale salmon pink, light fruity nose of unripe white
peach. Light sweetness, good well balanced flavours and acidity. Only $15 or
$120/case, this is perfect for a warm summer's day. 89-90/100. Tasted 19th
Sept 2007.
Creed Wines is a venture of Mark Creed and Daniel Eggleton, school-board PTA champion and self-taught winemaker. I find their approach and philosophy towards winemaking show full respect to the grape vines and are hence duly rewarded by wines which revel in rich fruity flavours but while having that added touch of finesse. If you haven't heard of them, do yourself a favour and head right down to your local boutique wine store or order direct.
There is no 2004 release of the Bism. Black red with hardly a rim's edge to this one. Complex aromatic profile with dark, black fruit, fleshy plum, crushed granite powder and a hint of acacia flower. Silky, youthful tannins lend a hand in this drink loaded with vibrant fruit flavours. Wow. That's all I'll say about its super elegant finish. So young, this will last 15+ years easily. 98/100.
Tasted at winery: This spent 5 weeks on skins and is currently sitting on 15.8% alc. Inky, black purple in colour, this is loaded with rich, dark fleshy fruit flavours and will no doubt turn into a big, complex drink in due course. 93/100.
Tasted at winery: Straight from the tank, still needs to be clarified but exuding all the right, rich and exciting lemon, citrus aromatics. Powerful fruit load right from the get go, then lovely minerality towards the end. 92-93/100.
Tasted at winery: Straight from the tank as well, down to 1.0g residual sugar and still needs to be fined. More details about this wine can be found in the previous entry. Great, ripe fruit colour, full-bodied ripe with fantastic plump fruit flavours but relieving you with a dry finish. A must have for summer. 91/100.
A dry grown block, tar black purple in colour with a glorious nose of violets and black fruit. This has a robust structure, firm tannins and grippy acid which embrace a core of intense fruit flavours. Daniel reckons this might be good enough to be blended into a future Bism. 94/100.
The fruit for this dried out in 4 days so it spent extra time on skins (2.5 weeks) to allow maximal extraction. Black ruby in colour, lovely mulberry aromatics with sweet, cold black tea. Vibrant fruit flavours with firm youthful tannins and grippy acidity. 93+/100.
The fruit for this comes from vines off the surrounding loamy soils of back of the hill upon which the winery sits. Big and bold, this is rich with fleshly black fruit and expressive tannins. 92/100.
The nose on this exudes sweet black fruit with a touch of spice and savouriness. Fleshy tannins back up vibrant dark red berry flavours with some spice at the end. Great salivating finish. 93-94/100.
Dark ruby colour, lovely aromatics of green peppercorns, dark fruit and Pokka black peach tea. This is a bright and young personality, with firm sappy tannins leading to a great, long finish. 93+/100.
Lovely cigar box aromas with heaps of dark fruit. Structurally elegant and in-balance with softer tannins. 93/100.
Black ruby in colour with some bricking along the rim. Light aromatics, getting the characteristic dark fruit smells coming through. Fantastic in structure, ripe tannins and this would no doubt be a perfect backbone for a blend. Soft, silky finish with light fruit flavours. 93-94/100.
Tasted at winery: Fresh, dark plum fruit aromas laden with flavours of sweet, fleshy black fruit with a reasonable level of spice. The initial wave of tannins easily give way to the rich, intense fruit flavours. This is a great drink, think Matrix slick - black, brooding and powerful. 94-95/100.
Fruit for this creation of Jaysen Collins & Dan Standish was sourced from the Southern family vineyard who have their roots firmly in Barossa history. Aged in old French barrels, it presents as a pure embodiment of the fruit and straight-forward wine making style. Notes of wild strawberry and white summer flower, the 15.0% alcohol is completely masked by the aromatic nature, almost akin to a Grenache style. Light-medium bodied wine has clear raspberry flavours with subtle tannins mingled in-between the simple chewiness. For $22-4, a very nice drink! 92/100. Tasted 29/04/07.
~$20, Produced by Hentschke Pty Ltd under the Hentley Farm label. On my first whiff, ah yes, this is definitely more Grenache than shiraz, confirmed from the bottle label 80% Grenache, 20% shiraz. An earthy-red colour, this has a sweet, perfumed soapy nose, with fresh red and dark berries, overlayed with over-ripe strawberries. Smooth, light-medium bodied drink, sweetish with some spiciness from the shiraz. Little to no hint oakiness, it's a very easy drink. A touch too sweet for my liking, but I can see what the maker is trying to achieve by retaining the primary characters of the fruit. Good with food, I'm visualising a spicy Thai chicken vermicelli salad. 87-88/100. Tasted 28th Jan 2008.
~$20, Produced by Hentschke Pty Ltd under the Hentley Farm label. This has a nice, dense purple colour. Matched by a noseful of ripe plum, purple violets, anise and a light lift of menthol. But also getting a good waft of alcohol as part of the 15.0%. The back palate is well-structured and firm, but the front half packs a meek punch and was quite disappointing. The finish is good, and the aftertaste lingers for awhile. 89/100. Tasted 28th Jan 2008.
A lot of sediment in the bottle. Dark raspberry concentrate colour, nose of vanillin oak and spice with abit of alcohol burn. Velvety texture, lean structure with tannins concentrated tot hemiddle back of the palate. Bit of spicey tinge on tip of tongue. Aftertaste lacking somewhat, hollow taste of the end. Lacks character. 88/100
Next day, there's nothing noteworthy left.
Subtle eucalypt nose with fruity undertones that transform into dense sweet bread. Silky feel with fine tannic structure; tannins will mellow with further aging. Meduim-bodied and warm, has a good lengthed, spicy (black pepper?) aftertaste which resides on the back palate. Should be drinking optimally in about 3 years. 92-94/100
~$95. The top selection of Damien Tscharke's lineup of gob-smacking fruit-driven wines which remains my #1 recommendation if you're looking for wines that will punch you silly. The 2004 is a step-down from the amazing 2005 release but is nonetheless a head-turner. This wine has a shiny, black purple hue and exudes blueberry and violet aromas accompanied by a hint of bacon, liquorice and pepper. Equally enticing is the sense of the finesse and restrained strength within. I think that this is still coming together at present, give it 3-4 years then drink over the next 15+ years. 94-95/100.
Glaymond
Landrace 2004, Barossa Valley
($34-6) 60% shiraz with 40% Mataro. A
whopping 16.5% alcohol. Winemaker Damien Tscharke gives us a wondrous
beast brooding in the bottle, following up the successful 03 release
which garnered accolades from RP (rated 96). The bottle was popped and
left to stand for 2.5 hours before tasting, and an opulent scent of
fruit filled the room in no time especially on a slightly warmer spring
day. Big plum and blackberry notes with refreshing spice, coupled with
strong hints of earthy undergrowth contributed by the Mataro, all coming
together as a seductive perfume. On the palate, rich thick chocolate
with ringing spices lingering on the tip of the tongue with a sweet
liqueur streak. Very well-balanced oak, and alcohol and tannins are in
harmony. Sexy wine which brought an immediate smile to me. After 6 hours
in the glass, the initial waft reminded me of fine Cuban cigars. 1/4
bottle kept into the fridge and still drinking fine the next day.
Initially released at $38, price has dropped to $32. Big value for
money. 8.5/10
A blend of 53% shiraz, 37% cabernet sauvignon and 10% merlot from the Padthaway region made by Chris Ringland. Black red colour, burnt nose with sweet minty and dark berry. Palate is vibrant, with flavours of fleshy raspberry. Aftertaste is ok with soft tannins. Good finish. 88/100.
$39, 14.5%, 17 months in french oak barrels. John Duval has been making waves with his self-named line of wines, with the Entity being quite a favourite with fans of this ex-Grange winemaker. I'm not sure if it's the carryover of styles, but I thought this was exuding slightly too much oaky notes at the present time. There was a lot of fruit bottled within, but I was disappointed with the lack of secondary flavours and characteristics. This is a good wine, but somewhat one-dimensional. 88/100
$39 from Cloudwine, a winning whooper of 15.5% having stewed through 18 months of American and French oak hogsheads. Dark inky, purple colour. Note of sweet blackberry liqueur, crème de cassis and slight funk of meat, almost like fridge cold pork. Intense concentration of pure juice. Smooth and silky, slight touch of tannins on the tongue; ready to be drunk right now but would surely benefit from extended cellaring. One picky flaw I feel about this is that it doesn't last too long in the glass, even with the higher alcohol content, so my take on this is that it doesn't have a strong structure to back up the oomph flavours. 93/100.
Retasted 19th Sept 2007: $38. The 2006 will be released in October. Vibrant ruby colour, nose of fresh red berries and white flowers. Great blend of flavours supported by soft tannins. Excellent aftertaste and finish. 94/100.
The 2003 Johann Georg shiraz is made from vines planted in 1875, hence low yielding vines result in an extremely limited production (100 cases for 2003). Standing at 15.5%, similar to the 04 grenache, I never even thought of the alcohol levels in the glass, as I was mesmerised by the lush aromatics wafting out of my glass and I couldn't wait to get stuck into the drink. Notes of fresh white flowers, roast beef sauce and creme de cassis all melded into a deep inky purple joocey stew. A touch of tannins linger with the mellow warm aftertaste on the upper palate that goes for a good 30+ seconds. A most elegant wine that is unique for the Barossa valley, and does very well in distinguishing itself as an atypical top-notch SA shiraz. This beauty will do well for 10+ years, can't wait to have the 2 more bottles I have! 98/100. Tasted 11th March 2007.
The Kalleske 2004 Old Vine Grenache has all the aromatic qualities one normally associates with a pleasant casual-drinking wine. Troy Kalleske makes this beauty from a single vineyard planted in 1935 by open fermentation, a gentle basket press followed by 2 years in seasoned oak. I was surprised to see the label reading 15.5% alc/vol, because at no time during the 1 hour that it took for this bottle to empty out did I get the heaty feel of any excessive alcohol on the mouth (*cough* greenock creek). Incredible nose of rich raspberry, sweet cherries (not black!) and spice. Medium-bodied drink, great balance of acidity in the mouth with a reasonable-lengthed after-taste. Will do well over the next 5 years. 92-94/100. Tasted 11th March 2007.
~$50, limited to 2 bottles per mail order. Once again, the Kalleske guys haven't failed to impress. Handpicked fruit from a single vineyard planted down in 1935 was open fermented and gently basket-pressed followed by 2 years in seasoned oak hogsheads, giving a complex and graciously aromatic 15.5% drink. My first sniff took me back to the beautiful 2003 Johann Georg. Dark dense purple colour, sweet nose of hot white blossoms with intense dark red fruit with a dash of white pepper. An intense fruity flavour that's clean, well structured with a long aftertaste. Confidently have the other bottle in 5 years and anticipate the smile. 94/100. Tasted July 2007.
Retasted 19th Sept 2007: $45. I don't know, might have been just me but I wasn't captivated like I was with this one.
$20. Black cherry coloured with a shimmery hue. Lovely nose of blackberry, mint and eucalypt is backed up on the flavour profile with notes of mulberry, blackcurrant and cassis that are in balance with a fairly low level of acidity but propped up with a good, firm tannic structure. This is good to go right now, but imagine what it'll be like in 10 years! 91-92/100. A steal at this price. Tasted 20th Sept 2007.
Kay Bros Amery 'The Cuthbert' Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, McLaren Vale
$15. Handpicked on 8th March 2004, this 11% alc drink has a pale straw colour, green tinge, very pleasing uplifting nose of sweet flower, melon and passionfruit. Tropical flavours on the palate of honeydew, ripe melon and passionfruit, but is not overly sweet. The long finish is clean and crisp. 89-90/100. Tasted 20th Sept 2007.
$15. Only ~13tonnes of fruit went into this production. Grapes were treated with open ferment and a basket pressing before maturating in American oak for 1 year, resulting in a 15.5% alc, bright earthy ruby drink that exudes a sullen organic nose of raspberries. This drink is very different from the barossan grenaches as it's not big on the nose or forward on the palate. It's soft, medium-bodied, very rustic style which you'd have matching a nice herby but simple pasta dish. Good berry flavours, soft tannins and a good finish. Drinkable now, but should be good for the next 3-4 years. 89/100. Tasted 20th Sept 2007.
$20. Grapes were treated with an open ferment and basket pressing before maturing for 18 months in American oak. A nice dark black cherry colour that's supported by aromas of plum, quince with a hint of mint. Medium-bodied drink that's got lots of primary fruit flavours, plum and dark cherry to go along with the chewy, dry tannins. Good length and well balanced. 88-89/100. Tasted 20th Sept 2007.
Kay Bros Amery Moscato 2007, McLaren Vale
$17. Another first release, lightly
coloured with a nose of typical muscat grape, white flower and
honeysuckle. Only 7%alc, but flavours are nice and sweet with a slight
fizz but not to the extent of the Italian-style. Bottled under stainless
steel champagne crown seals. Tasted 20th Sept 2007.
$20. Hand-picked grapes from 60 year old dry-grown vines produce a light, lime green coloured wine of 12%alc with citrus-y nose with a touch of minerality. Fresh palate of lime and green apple flavours which linger for a good length of time before finishing up cleanly. 89-90/100. Tasted 20th Sept 2007.
$20. Dark ruby in colour. A prominent nose loaded with black cherry and blackberry with hints of savouriness. Fulfilling flavours of plums, blackberries and spice with a touch of truffle. Well-rounded profile that's not big in anyway, excellently balanced with tannin levels just right. Should last a decade too. 92/100. Another steal. Tasted 20th Sept 2007.
$55. Handpicked grapes from the 4-acre Block 6 vineyard in the 113th vintage of this benchmark McLaren Vale shiraz were of excellent quality and winemaker Colin Kay has made a near perfect beauty. Open ferments following by basket press and matured in 80% new American oak and 20% new Eastern European oak for 28 months for a final product tipping at 16%alc under stelvin. The inky, blackish purple colour gives a hint of the intensity of the nose which is primarily blackberry with dark chocolate undertones. There's also a hint of cinnamon and cool eucalypt. Rich and fulfilling flavours sweep the mouth, this has pure fruit essence, sweet spices, dark berry flavours come at you layer upon layer without let up. The tannins have been worked in very well to give an elegant backbone to this drink, staving away from previously chewy types. This is seamless, what a great drink! Should drink well in 3-4 years, and cellar for 15-20 years. 99/100.
The Kay Bros Hillside is the second tier shiraz to the Block 6. The 2003 exudes notes of toasty american oak. Slightly on the stronger side of medium bodied, with 15% alcohol, it has a good structure with no nasty tannins and is a chewy drink. 92/100. Tasted 05/04/07
$35. The 9th release of this mini-Block 6 shows of the success of replanting of the Eastern hillside of the Amery property with cuttings from the Block 6 vines. Grapes are open fermented and basket pressed before maturing in American and Bulgarian oak casks for 28 months. Coming in at 15.5%alc, this dark purple juice has a great nose of mulberries, touch of chocolate, star anise and a hint of vanilla. Rich flavours of mulberry, cedar oak and darkish chocolate complemented by the soft, ripe, chewy tannins. A long and satisfying aftertaste. Will develop nicely over the next 7-8 years. 93/100. Tasted 20th Sept 2007.
$20. The first release of this wine comes from a tiny 0.7 hectare parcel of 6 year old vines that yielded 4.6 tonnes of hand-picked fruit which were basket-pressed. Light yellowish-green tinge, rich nose of pear, stone fruit and citrus. Flavours back up with pears, stone fruit, citrus and sweet melon that are crisp with light acidity. However, given all that was going on, I was disappointed that the finish ended a little early. 89/100. Tasted 20th Sept 2007.
$25. Black, blood red colour. Velvet nose of savoury cigar box, herbs and liquorice on a core of dark fruit but a hint of raw greenishness. Rich, dense medium-bodied drink, high level of soft dry tannins. Soothing finish. 91/100.
Roger Pike is certainly making headways and raising eye-brows with only a mere 4.5 acreage of vines. Personally, I'm a fan of the single vineyard approach and by doing so, Roger has been able to capture an essence of McLaren Vale shiraz that few consumers have had the pleasure of being exposed to. Given the low production volume, I'd highly recommend anyone to get onto the Marius Wines mailing list since the wines sell out very quickly. While not as big and bold as their Barossa kindred, McLaren Vale shiraz in the proper hands provide profound enjoyment and is definitely worth the time to appreciate.
Mollydooker
Carnival of Love 2005, McLaren Vale
I personally do not feel that the CoL is deserving of RP99; it's too dense,
and the secondary characteristics are struggling to come across. Given that
Sparky Marquis made this to be drunk straight away, it's too imbalanced
currently, and too difficult to determine whether it has the potential to
age; personally I think not. I think it's more of a 92-94/100 wine. You
either love it, or hate it.
It's almost 4 days since I've opened it, and unbelievably, not all the
alcohol has blown off; I mean, my eyes are literally being blown out of
their sockets with each raise of the glass! Because of the excess alcohol,
the nose is still overwhelming, but I'm starting to pick up some subtle
perfumed notes, while it is a mouthful of sweet plummy fruit cake, some
tingle on the tip of the tongue and towards the back, with a great length
for an aftertaste. I stand corrected as to it's potential to age. I think
this will go heaps down the road. I'm still not getting the strong secondary
characteristics that I like in the top-notch frenchies, but I guess that's not typical for an aussie
fruit bomb, so in it's own right, this IS one of the best big aussie wines
that I've had. Do I like the style? Not exactly. Is this good wine? Quite
definately so!
Mollydooker Enchanted Path 2005,
McLaren Vale
$67-80. The Enchanted Path was slightly less sweet and fruity than the CoL,
but tasting both side by side was a torture and I couldn't do more than a
glass each. Into the fridge they went, and they're still good 2 days later.
94-95/100.
Mollydooker The
Boxer
2005,
McLaren Vale
$25,
this needed
a serious 3 hours of decantation. Almost undrinkable straight from the
bottle due to the overt sweetness and overwhelming fumes of alcohol. Darker colour
than Two Left Feet, with a thinner rim. Greenish nose with residual alcohol
still present. Tannins are still quite obvious, leaving a slight dryness in
the mouth. Not as spicy as the Two Left Feet, with flavours concentrated on
the back-mid pallet. Chewy, average lengthed after-taste. Thought of bbq'd
chicken as an accompaniment. Unfortunately, I couldn't quite grasp how these
wines would be able to last in the mid-long term. Because I didn't quite
like them on first impressions, I'm going to refrain from giving them any
score or the likes until I give them another go.
$25, this needed a serious 3 hours of decantation. Almost undrinkable straight from the bottle due to the overt sweetness and overwhelming fumes of alcohol. On the second day, alcohol had blown off, intense blackish-purple colour. The first wafts on the nose reminded me of concentrated cologne and black plum, so there was residual alcohol hidden behind after all. Chewy savoury in the mouth, with a spicy finish on the back pallet. Very good length.
$50, Named after the Marquis' son, Luke, shiraz is sourced from Padthaway, Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale. Did not taste on the first day. Day 2: Ouch! All this alcohol is really starting to get on my nerves and putting me off! It's burns your nose and engulfs the mouth, masking almost all the flavours. I then let the wine sit in the glass for 30mins, blew into the glass to expel the residual alcohol and managed to get a whiff of toastiness, raspberry liquorice and a tail of rice broth. But that's simply too much work for a drink of this price. 82-84/100.
$25, grapes sourced from McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and Padthaway. Blackish purple in colour, this packs 16.0% alcohol which is masked by an exotic and rich aroma of dark black fruit. Smooth into the mouth, it's got a very dense flavour of sweet spice and plummy fruitcake. The downside is that the aftertaste is very blunt, disappearing rather quickly. Again, there was no overt heat from the alcohol, and overall the 2005 was more impressionable. Incidentally, because it's such a brute, I found it better to drink from a broad-rimmed glass like the Reidel Cab/Merlot glasses.
Day 2: Tame light nose of violets and blackberries, but the alcohol is starting to stand out front and centre. Hints of liquorice amongst the plum flavours and maybe a touch of rose syrup right at the end of it all. The aftertaste is still disappointing, lacking the oomph that I was so looking forward to. Stick to the 2005, but I do have one bottle put aside for the distant future as I think this should keep very well and would be a very interesting project to revisit in 7-8 years time. 89/100.
$25, a mix from Padthaway and Langhorne Creek. Savoury nose with wafts of harsh and unfriendly alcohol. A strong liquorice flavour doesn't cover up the strong alcohol heat that lingers. Nothing much here. (Notes scribbled '75-80')
Day 2: Wow! Bursting with lush aromas of violets and plum. What a great transformation from the day before! Silky smooth into the mouth, good spicy plum flavours with the aftertaste lingering on the back palate. However, still a slight touch of heat on the finish. 88/100.
$25, grapes from Padthaway and McLaren Vale. Straight off, this purplish-red drink which bags 15.5% alcohol is very unfriendly, nothing on the nose but harsh alcohol vapours. Another fruity broth, but dominated by alcohol heat. The good thing? This isn't heat-affected cask wine. (At this point, I had scribbled '80?' into my notes)
Day 2: Wow?! What a massive difference 24 hours has made. Clean lovely nose of blueberries and dark cherries. The alcohol has managed to dissipate. Silky smooth into the mouth, there is a sharp bite on the front with plummy flavours, finished with an oaky touch. Elegant with a weighty finish. 87-88/100.
$25. A 16.0% blend of shiraz(68%), Merlot(17%) and Cabernet Sauvignon(15%) from McLaren Vale, Padthaway and Langhorne Creek. Did not taste on the first day. Day 2: Such a dark drink, with notes of vanillin oak and a touch of dark berries. Quite big in flavour, but again it doesn't seem to have it's own personality and is quite uniform with the rest of the wines. There is still a big issue of alcohol heat which refuses to blow away. 86-88/100.
$43. 110yo vines that are dry grown are handpicked for this Barossa flagship. Matured for 27 months in 20% new French oak. "The most structured 'Antiquity' to date." Black earthy purple colour. Nose is a bit inhibited now yet still exudes notes of violets, black plum and beef stock. Velvety palate of black plum and black olives are in brilliant balance with the fine tannins. To be enjoyed in 3-4 years. 93-94/100. Tasted 15th Sept 2007.
Bought from auction. Grapes sourced from Langhorne Creek, this is a 17% blockbuster that comes as an explosion of pure fruity flavours which entice you to go back to the bottle again and again. Deep, brooding inky purple colour with a fantastic nose of black fleshy plum, granite, liquorice and blackcurrant liquor. Seamlessly rich with amazing purity of fruit framed on a backbone of firm tannins. This will no doubt keep for 15+ years, but why wait till then when it can be enjoyed now? 97/100. Tasted 27th Feb 2008.
$12. Fresh straw-golden yellow, fruity aromas of lime and unripe, white stone fruit. A light weight, good clean fruity flavours with a firm finish. Nice with an ice-cold prawn salad with basil leaves. Drink over next 3 years. 88/100. Tasted Feb 2008.
2007: This is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 25% Sangiovese and 5% Shiraz. Sensation of hot mineral earth, toasted plum skins and rich blackberry notes. A slight hint of reduction. An even, balanced wine with mouth coating tannins, rich dark berry fruit with a touch of anise. A long, even finish to this youthful wine. Drink 5-7 years. 91-92/100. Tasted October 2009.
2008: This wine would go perfectly with a Mediterranean salad loaded with black olives and fetta cubes to go along with warm lamb chops. A medium-bodied wine made from co-fermentation of the Tempranillo and Sangiovese followed by blending in of the Shiraz at the end. Notes of ripe berry fruit with a soft waft of pepper, there is rich plum juice and fleshy red berry juice. The tannins are soft and velvety, and the finish is pleasing and persistent. 91/100. Tasted November 2009.
$22, #2623/3900. Cropped at under 3 tonne/acre, 12.0%alc, pale golden yellow colour with clean, crisp aromas of white peach, flint stone and a hint of kerosene. Lime flavours and sweet stone fruit are firmly held together with a decent acidity, but maybe just a touch too primary and sweet. 88-89/100. Tasted Feb 2008.
$28. A small production of 10 French barriques totalling 2900 bottles. Fruit sources from the 1880 plot or the Cuttings plot, both of which are a small 2 acres each. It would be worth the time to source for the 1880 and The Cuttings bottlings to compare these three siblings against each other. A somewhat high 15% alc, black ruby colour, this easy drinking, medium-bodied wine has notes of blackcurrant liquorice, holds up with fleshy tannins, greenish finish and a touch of alcoholic heat. 88/100. Tasted July 2008.
Petaluma Cabernet
Sauvignon 1990, Coonawarra
Bought from PWS for AUD$90. Big, ripe nose typical of a Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon although this had 40% merlot. Greenish nose, earthy ripe berry fruit and plum. Palate is fresh, well-balanced and of a firm structure. Still young for a 1990, well-cellared. But there's something about this that doesn't excite me too much, and I don't expect it to improve much more so start drinking up. 91/100. Tasted 24th Dec 2007.
Bought from PWS for AUD$90. Big, ripe nose typical of a Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon although this had 40% merlot. Greenish nose, earthy ripe berry fruit and plum. Palate is fresh, well-balanced and of a firm structure. Still young for a 1990, well-cellared. But there's something about this that doesn't excite me too much, and I don't expect it to improve much more so start drinking up. 91/100. Tasted 24th Dec 2007.
Bought from PWS for AUD$90. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon as merlot didn't fare too well in this hot vintage. Straight-forward nose of savoury berry fruit. Palate is well-balanced, no major flaws. Finish is muted. On it's way down, drink up. 89/100. Tasted 18th Jan 2008.
~$15. Made by the famed Chris Ringland, the Strong Arms shiraz offers top-notch value for money if you need the spare change. Sweet blackberry dominates the aroma profile with a softer cedar-like edge to round it up. Lush, straight-forward blackberry fruit sweeps the palate. Drink over the next 3-5 years. 89/100.
$18-22. Clear and peary pink colour,
great nose of white stone fruit and flowers. White peach flavours. Crisp,
fresh and a dry, mineraly aftertaste.91-92/100. Tasted 19th Sept 2007.
Radford Dale is a newcomer to the Artisans group, with property in the Eden Valley and run by Gill and Ben Radford. Already receiving rave reviews having been given 5 stars and listed as one of the top ten newest wineries by James Halliday in his 2007 wine companion, as well as praises from Max Allen and Huon Hooke. Their primary focus is Eden Riesling, but also offer a shiraz and there are plans for expanding into the grenache, as well as experimenting with different wine making styles.
More yellowish in colour
than the 2005. Richer and a more intense aromatic profile too. Flavours
of pear and stone fruit. Finishing with crisp minerality. 92-94/100.
Tasted 19th Sept 2007.
Radford Dale is a newcomer to the Artisans group, with property in the Eden Valley and run by Gill and Ben Radford. Already receiving rave reviews having been given 5 stars and listed as one of the top ten newest wineries by James Halliday in his 2007 wine companion, as well as praises from Max Allen and Huon Hooke. Their primary focus is Eden Riesling, but also offer a shiraz and there are plans for expanding into the grenache, as well as experimenting with different wine making styles.
$33-35. Nice deep colour. Nose of
mulberry, white acacia flower. Complex flavours mingling with loads of
primary plum flavours. Intense and dense. For this price, excellent
value for money! 97/100. Tasted 19th Sept 2007.
Radford Dale is a newcomer to the Artisans group, with property in the Eden Valley and run by Gill and Ben Radford. Already receiving rave reviews having been given 5 stars and listed as one of the top ten newest wineries by James Halliday in his 2007 wine companion, as well as praises from Max Allen and Huon Hooke. Their primary focus is Eden Riesling, but also offer a shiraz and there are plans for expanding into the grenache, as well as experimenting with different wine making styles.
$22, A blend of 45% merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc. This spent 20 months in new and older French barriques. A nice dark red colour, soft nose of meaty juices, red berry and aniseed. Dry tannins, this lacks personality, very boring and certainly not worth the price tag. 85/100. Tasted July 2008.
A touch under the usual alcohol level at 14.0%, who cares really?! Seductive acacia /white summer flower with blackberry and hint of new leather. Clean flowing with light tannins lingering. Good drink. 92/100.
Made by Dave Powell (Torbreck) from grapes of the Schulz family vineyard which apparently supplied some of his previous RunRig fruit. 14% a/c, about $24, screwcap. Upon opening, the vivacious fruity smells poured out of the bottle, enhanced probably by the slightly warmer evening air. I decanted for about 4 hours before drinking. The dense fruity nose remained, but was somewhat masked by what I felt was unsettled alcohol (again, the warmer evening weather might have contributed to this). I got a hint of butterscotch at one point in time too. Medium-bodied, this was very much a Rhone-styled wine, doesn't smash into your pallet like alot of other aussie Shiraz of the same price range. Flavour is concentrated to the front of the mouth, no excessive acidity to the back. Finish of about 10+ seconds. Good wine for the price. 91-92/100.
Schwarz Wine Co Nitschke Block Shiraz 2006, Barossa Valley
Incredible nose of raspberry, white chocolate and hint of tobacco. Young tannins present but blend very well with the great plum flavours lingering on towards the finish. 93-94/100. Tasted 19th Sept 2007.
Schwarz Wine
Company Thiele Road Grenache 2005, Barossa Valley
In my recent account of meeting Jason Schwarz, I mentioned that one of his best offerings was the 2006 Thiele Road grenache grown and maintained by his dad. 2005 was just as good as year for grenache, and so it was no surprise that this 15.0% drink was just a bouquet of berries and sweet small flowers in a glass. Light on the palate with no amount of offensive alcohol or acidity whatsoever, this went extremely well with roasted duck breast (I did the wine and duck injustice by overcooking the fillets somewhat), chicken liver terrine and foie gras. $32, worth every cent and definitely one to revisit over the next few years. 93-4/100.
In my recent account of meeting Jason Schwarz, I mentioned that one of his best offerings was the 2006 Thiele Road grenache grown and maintained by his dad. 2005 was just as good as year for grenache, and so it was no surprise that this 15.0% drink was just a bouquet of berries and sweet small flowers in a glass. Light on the palate with no amount of offensive alcohol or acidity whatsoever, this went extremely well with roasted duck breast (I did the wine and duck injustice by overcooking the fillets somewhat), chicken liver terrine and foie gras. $32, worth every cent and definitely one to revisit over the next few years. 93-4/100.
Re-tasted 19th Sept 2007: $26. Hand-picked old vines, 50% destemmed before press. Extended maceration of 8-12 days and 20 months maturation in old French oak. Dark ruby colour. Fresh nose of India summer white flowers, brooding and sullen spices. Great level of intense fruitiness of plum, with ripe tannins and soft acidity. 92-93/100.
Schwarz Wine Co Thiele Rd Grenache 2006
Deeper undertones on the nose with no let up. Intense flavours! 93-94/100.
Tasted 19th Sept 2007.
Deep, murky purple colour. Soft nose of a hot summer's day, dark ripe berries with hints of anise and crushed granite. But there's a touch of alcohol that jarrs the nose. Quite smooth going into the mouth, with clear plum flavours on the mid palate. I think flavour-wise, it's a relative lightweight, and I feel that this could be bigger and bolder. A big wine does not mean a brute and can still retain elements of elegance. There is room to pack in more tannins, to give it a more robust structure. Up to this point, it's a good drink and it was in the aftertaste that left me disappointed as it was weak and left me with an empty feel. 86/100.
Six Gates Majnun Shiraz 2006
$23, 1000 cases produced. The 2006 release is a great improvement over the inaugural 2004. Fruit sourced from Patch 4 of the Six Gates vineyard underwent open ferment followed by 26 months in oak. A deep, black ruby colour, good dark spice and plum aromas with a touch of menthol. A balanced fruit load with the fruit and peppery flavours smoothening out very well, backed by robust toasty tannins. This should develop nicely over the next 3-5 years, and will be interesting to follow-up. 91/100. Tasted Oct 08.
The Slipstream is the project of a trio of winemakers, including Ben Riggs (Tatiarra) and Stephen Pannell (S.C. Pannell). It's 72% shiraz/28% grenache. Lush, aromatic nose of raspberries and liquorice. It's elegant, with a heady silky texture, combined with velvety tannins. However, this medium-bodied wine does lack a substantial aftertaste on the back palate and I feel it's abit hollow. There's a lingering sensation on the tip of the tongue with a white pepper finish. Length of aftertaste is reasonable and leaves a warm sensation. 90/100
$28, 50 cases made, 16.0% alc. This dark ruby coloured medium-bodied wine is fruit-forward with light, red fruit aromatics and ripening raspberry flavours. Good wine for the up-coming BBQ season. 88/100. Tasted July 2009.
$28, 150 cases produced, 15.0% alc. Black cherry compote but a touch of alcohol on the nose. Linear, ripe dark fruit with a hint of savouriness and bitterness. The sensation of sweet spice comes through but the fruit doesn't stand out enough for me. 88/100. Tasted July 2009.
$18, 110 cases produced, 11.0% alc. A style that's closer to my heart. You can taste the residual sugars in this simple yet pleasing wine. This is sweeter than the Eden Valley Riesling and to me, is slightly more complex with the lime, citrus buds and a touch of rose. 88/100. Tasted July 2009.
$18, 175 cases produced, 11.5% alc. This is a good early-summer drink. It's fresh, focussed and offers a lot without the need for thought. Notes of fresh lanolin with sweet fruit built on firm acidity. There is a hint of the 25% new oak treatment but the malolactic acid fades out fast. Drink over the next 2 years. 88-89/100. Tasted July 2009.
700 dozen cases. Grenache 36% Shiraz 34% Mourvèdre 20% Cinsault 10%. Light, waspy and fragrant with characteristics of cinsault coming across. Slight spice and dried herbal tones. Given the age of the wine, I was pleasantly surprised at how drinkable it was, perhaps a tad over-oaked at this point, but the balance of tannin and alcohol was certainly not overwhelming. Medium feel on the pallet, with good length to the aftertaste. I would keep this for another year to allow further development. 6.5/10
Red
blend, primarily grenache. Similar colour to the Papillon but with a richer
nose of red currants and mulberries. Flavours of spicy sweet fruit which are
overall more intense than the Papillon. Once again, this well-structured
drink holds the soft tannins in balance with the fruit. 92/100. Tasted 28
Aug 07.
Retasted 19th Sept 2007: Full throttle version of the Papillon. Blend of five - 40% grenache, 34% shiraz, 12% cinsault, 8% mataro and 6% Carignan, matured for 22 months in French oak. Nice shiny dark red. The aroma profile on this is fantastic, rich in plum, cherry, touch of summer leaf. Flavours of spiced plum stew mingled with fine tannins. Approachable now, but I think optimal drinking in 5-7 years. 92+/100.
300 dozen cases. Mourvèdre 64% Shiraz 36%. Very well made wine, with hints of peachy/stone-fruit on the nose. On taste, it's extremely well-balanced with no hints of new oak. Decent length, with current flavours coming across after the initial swirl, giving way to a combination of slight plum-like white pepper. Accessible now, but I'm interested to see how this might evolve (no idea at the moment!) 7/10
55%
mataro and 45% shiraz. Dark ruby/crimson colour. Shy perfumed nose of red
fruit, hint of vanillin oak and a dash of white pepper. This medium-bodied
wine bring a rich flavour onto the palate and finishes with a wonderful
aftertaste that pleasantly lingers on the tongue. 93/100. Tasted 28 Aug 07.
Retasted 19th Sept 2007: 55% Mataro with 45% shiraz. Excellent blend showcasing the savouriness of mataro with the strength of shiraz. Deep dark colour. Needs time in the cellar, still coming together. Great aromas of black cherry, plums, sweet spice and white flower. Full-bodied, flavours of black plum and bitter dark chocolate. The finish is backed with prominent tannins which should level out over 5-6 years, this looks to go beyond 10. 94-95/100.
2006 Spinifex Papillon, Barossa Valley
($22)
is an interesting blend of grenache, carignan and cinsault, and probably the first
2006 red to hit the market. This is THE red to have over summer, and
certainly one to have slightly chilled with berry sorbet. Lovely floral
nose, with a body suggestive of a slim-ish petit female (maybe slightly on
the thin side). This is definitely one for the girls! 91-93/100.
Red blend of grenache 46%, cinsault 28% and carignan 26% produces a wine of ribena colour together with sweet, fresh aromas of ripening black currants. The tannins are soft, and hold up very nicely with the simple flavours of black and red currants. And the finish is satisfying too. 90-91/100. Tasted 28 Aug 07.
Retasted 19th Sept 2007: A blend of 46% grenache, 28% cinsault, 26% carignan. Great fleshy, lifted nose of raspberry, plum and cherry with perfumed spice undertones. Medium-bodied with plum and dark cherry flavours, a hint of spice and good aftertaste. Drink over 3-4 years. 92/100.
Spinifex 2005 Shiraz Viognier, Eden Valley
$45 from Cloudwine, I'll compare this to the Indigene when I get the chance to, since Cloudwine South Melbourne has sold out of both. Maybe Randall's still has stocks. Anyway.. I didn't buy this last year, but I had the many other wines that Peter Schell brings out under this label. 95% shiraz, 5% viognier. Notes of blueberry (muffin?), abit of cold, freshly crushed mint leaves, dark chocolate undertones. Very subtle gentle nose, none of the exotic overpowering sweetness or what I term 'bottled mistakes' that other similar blends have presented as. Light-medium bodied wine, fruity, fresh flavours. Maybe drinking this too soon.. should revisit in about 4 years. (89-90/100). Tasted 23rd May 2007.
$45 from Cloudwine, I'll compare this to the Indigene when I get the chance to, since Cloudwine South Melbourne has sold out of both. Maybe Randall's still has stocks. Anyway.. I didn't buy this last year, but I had the many other wines that Peter Schell brings out under this label. 95% shiraz, 5% viognier. Notes of blueberry (muffin?), abit of cold, freshly crushed mint leaves, dark chocolate undertones. Very subtle gentle nose, none of the exotic overpowering sweetness or what I term 'bottled mistakes' that other similar blends have presented as. Light-medium bodied wine, fruity, fresh flavours. Maybe drinking this too soon.. should revisit in about 4 years. (89-90/100). Tasted 23rd May 2007.
Retasted 19th Sept 2007: 95% Eden Valley shiraz with 5% viognier. Nice dark red colour. Intense, carpeted perfume of dark berry aromas. Full-bodied, flowing with silky, subtle tannins that hide behind the bold forward flavours of black currant, plum and some smokiness. This will go 8 - 10 years. 94-95/100.
A notch up from the Joshua. Oak adds the extra dimension. Nose is more rounded, like a big velvet cushion to fall on. Quite a dense stock of fruit flavours but the finish is a little soft, falls off a little hollow for me. The back finish might have been aided with a touch more acidity. 91/100. Tasted April 2008.
($25) blend of grenache, mataro and shiraz. Unoaked, represents a CdP style, though much more toned down. Whiff of meat with black olives. Well-balanced, refreshing spicey aftertaste. After O/N in the fridge, opened up slight with bigger meaty characteristics coupled with a smooth olive nose. Organised body and well-balanced aftertaste with velvet finish of spice, and yellow-flesh plum with sweet bitterness. Decided to keep for another day, so O/N on the table. Tight structure, no longer meaty or olive nose. Fresh clear plum overtones. Fleshy smooth aftertaste concentrated on the upper pallet. Excellent value. 7/10
Young! Big on nose and flavours, good for a meaty meal. Simple drink with blackberry, jammy flavours, fresh and chewy structure. Great value. 89-90/100. Tasted April 2008.
I will not attempt to hide the fact that the 2004 Descendent is one of my all-time favourite wines after having spent an entire night and ensuing 4 days savouring and tasting the different flavours it seductively offers like a grape feeder during the time of Nero. It got a mere 98 from Robert Parker, but just to enforce my point, who cares?! When you fall in love with a wine, a subjective numeric scale fails to capture the joy it brings to you. This 14.5% monster in a dress is made from cuttings off the Runrig vines, the viognier skins used for the Runrig, and matured in ex-Runrig barrels. The name now makes complete sense no? At $125 (cellar door), this is one of the few triple-digit wines that I'd gladly pay for. Maroon purple in colour, the room is guaranteed to be filled with a mix of blackberries and hot summer wild white flowers once you pull the cork. Full-bodied, rich and gob-smackingly appetising, all you need is to close your eyes and just drink it to understand! 98+/100
3rd Jan 2010: If my mum can pick this one out, then I reckon we’ve drunk way too much Torbreck over the years. This Shiraz Viognier blend is unassumptious by nature and is straight-forward enough to be enjoyed by anyone and everyone. Toying with perfection and never a let-down, this exudes notes of blackberries and acacia flower. Perfect example of a pure, simple wine that doesn’t try to overdo things. Full-bodied and intense in smell and taste, to be enjoyed for another 10 years. 97/100. Tasted Jan 2010.
Torzi Matthews Frost Dodger Shiraz 2004, Eden Valley
($30 from Cloudwine), bottle #0946/???? . Poured a
glass after opening, capped back the rest (stelvin), tasted after about an
hour. Dark plum, but a sense that it was closed. Tannic, with hints of
bitter chocolate and coffee grains, though neither were obvious. A second
glass at 2 hours was opulent and contained sesame with aniseed undertones,
which quite evolved into sweet cinnamon. Oak, oak, oak! Severely lacking in
aftertaste. Might be good accompanying a tomato based italian dish.
Overnight in the fridge, legs are lost, still a closed structure but has
lost any character. Still oaky on the nose, a little fruit on the pallet,
sweetness even. But absolutely no aftertaste. Very disappointing, and not
worth $30, more like $15. 5/10
**Domenic Torzi has offered to send me another bottle of the 04, AND an 03. He thinks I might had an off bottle**
Tasting notes of 03 & 04 Torzi Matthews Frost Dodger Shiraz: Both bottles were opened and stood to breathe for an hour before pouring. The 04 started showing on the hour, and the 03 took a further 30mins. The 2004 bottle #1804 was markedly different from the previous bottle I had. Dark hunk of colour with a lovely sweet, spicy nose of clove and a mouthful of fruit. Very interesting combination here, excellent joocey drink. 7/10 for the 04
Tscharke 'The Curse' Zinfandel 2004, Barossa Valley
$30 from Cloudwine, an incredible 16.1% alcohol, Damien's vision for the Tscharke line is to make wines with tradition European grape varieties grown in SA conditions and made in a Barossan-style. An excellent piece crafted here, perhaps rivalling US Zin's in terms of QPR. Notes of cinnamon, raspberry and slight white pepper undertones. Fruity and spicy flavours combine with sweet cinnamon pastry. Light bodied wine which left me wondering where all the alcohol was due to the absence of the typical alcohol heat. Pleasant aftertaste. 89/100.
Retasted the next day: Glorious aromas of white flowers (liliums?), almost like walking into a cold room at the nursery, coupled with savoury strawberries. The pepperiness has blown off. Still no sign of the high alcohol. More noticeable, velvety tannins have emerged. 91-93/100. Tasted 22nd May 2007.
$30 from Cloudwine, an incredible 16.1% alcohol, Damien's vision for the Tscharke line is to make wines with tradition European grape varieties grown in SA conditions and made in a Barossan-style. An excellent piece crafted here, perhaps rivalling US Zin's in terms of QPR. Notes of cinnamon, raspberry and slight white pepper undertones. Fruity and spicy flavours combine with sweet cinnamon pastry. Light bodied wine which left me wondering where all the alcohol was due to the absence of the typical alcohol heat. Pleasant aftertaste. 89/100.
Retasted the next day: Glorious aromas of white flowers (liliums?), almost like walking into a cold room at the nursery, coupled with savoury strawberries. The pepperiness has blown off. Still no sign of the high alcohol. More noticeable, velvety tannins have emerged. 91-93/100. Tasted 22nd May 2007.
$22 from Cloudwine. At a mere 14.4% alcohol, notes of light soy sauce with fridge cooled, freshly washed dark cherries. Medium-bodied wine with a spicy finish and a good permeating aftertaste. 88-89/100. Tasted 22nd May 2007
The 2004 Turkey Flat Shiraz is a sweet new car in a bottle! Notes of sweet blackberries slip from the glass with a distinct smell of leather. Full-bodied, it has a robust character with silky tannins and a good-lengthed aftertaste. 94/100. Tasted 05/04/07
NB. Two Hands offers a Rare muscat 'Fait Accompli' made from 20 year base material for $100.
$60. 15.5% alc. Perfume of ripe blackberry and cherry. Youthful tannins which need to be more flowing as they are a distraction to the fruit. The cherry flavours kick back in towards the end for a smooth finish. 89/100. Tasted August 2009.
$27. 15.3% alc. A 60-20-20 blend respectively that on the nose, has the oak apparently covering up the fruit with the Grenache component not too obvious. Cherry, ripe red fruit with the robustness of the shiraz, a savoury touch from the mataro and even tannins but lacks character and is a simplistic wine for me. 88+/100. Tasted August 2009.
$18. Smokey, sweet white peach notes are found in this off-dry, sweet wine reminiscent of the spatlese style. A good aperitif that I'm likely to purchase a 6-pack for keeps. 90/100. Tasted August 2009.
A blend of 52% grenache, 28% mataro and 28% shiraz sourced from the Barossan regions of Greenock, Nurioopta and Angaston. A clear mid ruby-garnet colour with an intense nose of smoked meats, black olive, black raspberry, violets and fresh cherry oak. The high level of vibrant acids with well-rounded youthful tannins couple marry well with the intense flavours of ripe cherry, dark currants and fine ground black pepper, then flow into a long, warm finish. 91-92/100. Drink over next 5-7 years.
$22 from Randall's. 14.5%, dark dense purple colour. Notes of cedar wood, raw tanned leather and a touch of mint. Silky smooth into the mouth, medium bodied with dark plum flavours with rich cigar-like characteristics. Light feel of soft tannins. Good structure and balance, passes the standard for this price. 89-90/100.