Henschke's Lenswood vineyard in the Adelaide Hills

Tuesday 31 May 2011

Gemtree, Uncut Shiraz (2006)

McLaren Vale, South Australia
14.5%, screwcap, biodynamic, around $23
http://www.gemtreevineyards.com.au/

Deeply scented with a delightful nose of red berries, mulberries and some earthy notes. Soft on the entrance. All the promise of the bouquet is realised on the palate. Powerful fruit flows on and on and on. A wine with incredible balance - 95.

Sunday 1 May 2011

Two Hands, Angel's Share Shiraz (2007)

McLaren Vale, SA
15.5%, screwcap, non organic, RRP $27
www.twohandswines.com

Deep purple. This wine smelt of blackberries, with a sprinkling of forest floor and roasted coffee. The palate was intense with very powerful fruit flavours, supported by pleasant oak, grippy tannins and a nice acid finish. The power of the fruit in this wine was incredible and it will benefit from further cellaring - 95.

Wolf Blass, Gold Label Shiraz (2006)

Barossa Valley, South Australia
15.5%, screwcap, non organic, RRP $25

www.wolfblass.com.au

Deep purple. A bouquet of berries, currants and sweet oak. The bouquet was played out on the palate, which was packed full with juicy fruit with smoky oak in support. I could detect very ripe (some might say over ripe) fruit in the mix (hence the very high alcohol). I thought that the vibrancy and freshness of that fruit was adequate and balanced with the tannins and a nice acid finish. That said, I have had other bottles of this wine that didn't quite pull it off. Judged on this bottle alone - 94, but on average - 92.