Pepperilly, Purple Patch (2010)

Geographe, Western Australia
Sample, 14.5%, screwcap, RRP $18
www.pepperilly.com

The bouquet tantilised with notes of mulberry, leather, licorice and hints of chocolate. The palate was brimming with powerful fruit, showing characters of blackberry, stewed plums and tar. A blend of Grenache (65%), Mourvedre (20%) and Shiraz (15%), the depth and intensity of the fruit was impressive. Supported by medium-strong acidity and soft but ripe tannins, with the oak barely discernable, this wine showed stunning balance. Great value - 94.  

Tyrrell's Semillon comparison

Earlier this year I took the opportunity to sample some of the latest offerings from several wineries in the Hunter Valley. One of the highlights was Tyrrell's cellar door where I sampled the following Semillon's side by side. I must mention that I appreciated the freedom that the team at the cellar door afforded me during my visit - I essentially pondered over these wines for a very long time.


Tyrrell's Brookdale Semillon (2012)
screwcap, 11%, $20 at the cellar door

Initial impressions were of a typical hunter semillon nose, but the cool 2012 vintage promptly showed its influence with more tropical characteristics dominating the bouquet. On the palate there was floral and citrus notes with tropical overtones - 89.

Tyrrell's Johno's Semillon (2012)
screwcap, 10.5%, available to wine club members

The bouquet of this basket pressed Semillon showed the tropical notes that were typical for this vintage but with some additional lanolin added into the mix. The palate was dominsated by lime with good length and impressive texture - 94.

Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon (2012)
screwcap, 10.5%, available to wine club members

Again the bouquet showed tropical notes that were typical for this vintage, but the intense citrus palate showed extroadinary power with impressive length - 95.

Tyrrell's Stevens Semillon (2008)
screwcap, 11.3%, $33 at the cellar door

A classic Hunter Semillon nose dominated by lime. The palate barely showed its age and consisted of pleasing lemon and lime notes with medium acid and good length - 92.

Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon (2006)
screwcap, 10.5%, $68

A delightful nose that combined classic Hunter Semillon characters with sherbetty, buttery and lanolin notes. The palate was broader than the Stevens Semillon with lemon, lime and impressive length - 93.5

If you're unable to visit the cellar door, wines can also be purchased over the internet: www.tyrrells.com.au

St. Erth, Pinot Noir (2010)

Geelong, Victoria
13%, screwcap, around $18
www.tisdallwines.com.au

Ruby in colour. The bouquet was varietally correct. Notes of cranberry and plum combined to provide a pleasing depth of fruit on the palate, showing nice texture and good balance. That fruit showed a lovely purity with only subtle oak influence. Low acidity. It's difficult to find quality Australian Pinot Noir that's less than $20. Some people might say that this wine was rather simple and easy drinking, but I really liked it - 93.

Wirra Wirra Church Block (2010)

McLaren Vale, South Australia
14.5%, screwcap, biodynamic, around $18
www.wirrawirra.com

2010 was a good year for this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot. Displaying impressive fruit intensity for a wine in this price bracket, the palate was rich and seamless. Good value. - 94.

P.s. Church Block is one of the few wines that are consistently available in 375ml bottles - the perfect size for one person. Why are so few wines released in 375 ml bottles?

Gibson Reserve Shiraz (2010)

Barossa Valley, South Australia
15%, screwcap, $45
www.gibsonwines.com.au

This classic Shiraz from the Barossa is flush with vibrant plums and black cherries set against lovely oak. The palate is incredibly long and smooth, but it is the quality of the fruit and oak that sets this wine apart. Do yourself a favour by grabbing some of this wine and laying it down for six years. A delightful wine - 96.

Coolangatta Estate, Savagnin (2012)

Shoalhaven Coast, New South Wales
12.7%, screwcap, $23
www.coolangattaestate.com.au

This grape variety is rapidly gaining attention and this example is no exception. Picked before the rain came, this Savagnin packs a punch. Its two best cards are its texture and acidity. Like a pair of aces, they bring on a smile regardless of how good your 'poker face' might be. The palate combines delicate citrus notes with fleshy peaches amongst a fascinating textural matrix, finishing with zesty acidity - 94.  

Coolangatta Estate is located on the Shoalhaven Coast, just over 2 hours drive south of Sydney. Whilst it is better known for its award winning Semillons, it also produces alternative varieties such as Tempranillo and Tannat. Anyone that lives in Sydney should take a day trip and check out these wines at the cellar door. Or, do yourself a favour and make a weekend of it so that you can tour the range of cafes and restaurants in nearby Berry. Sample sour dough bread baked in a wood fired oven or graze on African influenced cuisine at savannah cafe (the new kid on the block and rising star by all accounts).

Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz (2004)

Barossa Valley, South Australia
14.5%, cork, around $35
www.grantburgewines.com.au

A delightful bouquet of plums and spice. The type of bouquet that makes you go back again and again, to savour it before taking a sip. The palate displayed a spread of concentrated, rich fruit - notes of blackberry and plum speckled with chocolate and cedar. The fruit combined with ripe tannins and supporting acid to form a delicious wine with good length. A full bodied Shiraz. The type of Shiraz that has made the Barossa Valley world famous - 96. 

P.s. I recently tried a sampe of the 2010 vintage - it's a cracker. Grab some while you still can.

O'Leary Walker Shiraz (2008)

Clare Valley/McLaren Vale, South Australia
14.5%, screwcap, around $22
www.olearywalkerwines.com

As I was pouring this wine into the decanter I was struck by its deep impenetrable dark purple colour. But even with this preview, I didn't predict the potency of this wine. The palate was flush with intense vibrant fruit, covering the spectrum of red all the way through to black. The fruit a blend of Clare Valley (70%) and McLaren Vale (30%), combining two regions famous for Shiraz. The two years in French oak had resulted in a sublime oak influence which perfectly supported the fruit. The tannins were ripe and velvety. The high acid matched the power of the other elements. A lovely wine - 95.

Penfolds BIN 138 Shiraz Mourvedre Grenache (2008)

Barossa Valley, South Australia
14.5%, screwcap, around $20
www.penfolds.com

This wine smelt of dark roasted spices - black pepper, aniseed, sawdust and leaves. The medium bodied palate was muscular, tight, complex and concentrated, yet the mouthfeel was immediately soft. A seamless blend: bright red fruits emerged from the darkness. Medium length and medium to high acidity - 93.5.

Taylors Promised Land Shiraz Cabernet (2008)

South Australia
13.5%, screwcap, around $11
www.taylorswines.com.au

Deep purple. An alluring bouquet of red berries and oak. On the palate there was a scattering of redcurrants and plums mixed with cedary and toasty notes. The firm, medium bodied palate displayed smooth tannins and medium acidity. The blend was seamless and well judged. What struck me about this wine was the power of the fruit and depth of flavour. This was an authentic wine crafted in a traditional mould, unlike many of the other wines under $15 in the marketplace today. Those other wines have been crafted for early consumption and have reached their peak within two years and then experience a quick decline from that point on. There's no smoke and mirrors here, this is a genuine bargain - 93.    

Wynns Coonawarra Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon (2005)

Coonawarra, South Australia
14.5%, cork, around $30
www.wynns.com.au

A complex nose of cigar box and cedar. The medium bodied palate was dense and opulent, with mostly dark fruit, medium length and medium acidity. With time hints of licorice, menthol and tobacco leaf emerged on the nose. Years of bottle age had been kind to this wine and it was drinking really well - 94.

Bimbadgen Estate Shiraz (2010)

Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Sample, 13.5%, screwcap, RRP $23
www.bimbadgen.com.au

Deep red. A medley of dark berries with hints of nutmeg on the bouquet. The palate is clean with good line, quite direct, though there is a softness to the red and black cherry flavours. The oak is barely discernible. Nice acid on the finish - 91.

Try it yourself

The folks at Bimbadgen have provided me with a bottle of this Shiraz to give away. To enter the competition for this bottle, all you have to do is Tweet a link to this post using '#shiraz'. Then send an email to Hemmings_David@yahoo.com. I will randomly select a 'tweet'. Note: to enter this competition you must be of legal drinking age and must have a postal address within Australia. Good luck!

Bimbadgen Sparkling Semillon (NV)

Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Sample, 12%, cork, RRP $15
www.bimbadgen.com.au

I'm always looking for an excuse to celebrate and a bit of 'fizz' is the perfect way to get the party started. If you are looking for a great value Australian sparkling wine, then this is a great place to start. Sourced from the Hunter Valley, a region that is known for top notch Semillon, this sparkling wine is 100% Semillon, made using the charmat tank fermentation method. Light in colour and a shy nose. Gentle citrus flavours combined with biscuity notes to produce a compelling alternative to the varieties that feature more traditionally in sparkling wines. It had fine bead. The small amount of residual sweetness was well judged. I must say I was easily convinced. There's no question about this wine's authenticity and value - 90.   

Bimbadgen Chardonnay (2011)

Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Sample, 13%, screwcap, RRP $22
www.bimbadgen.com.au

Partially fermented in new and used oak, using Indigenous yeasts. A delightful nose of fresh peaches, cashews and vanilla bean. With a little more time some fruit salad aromas emerged. The fruit had generous intensity with all of the promise of the bouquet realised on the palate. The experience of the palate was like gliding along a meandering river - a central theme of nectarine carried me past hints of almonds and vanilla oak notes, with medium length and medium acidity. The malolactic influence was perfectly pitched. The fruit was vibrant and intense, though slightly dominated by the oak - 94. 

I really liked the way this Chardonnay has found a middle ground between the way Chardonnay used to be made and what is currently in fashion. In my view this is a smart move given the flood of Chardonnay made in a lean and minerally style (think thin and weak) that currently dominates the market place. It is so hard to find a Chardonnay that is vibrant and rich. 

Drink with...

Jacket potatoes, topped with sour cream, smoked salmon and a dash of horse radish cream. The richness of this Chardonnay enables it to be partnered with rich creamy dishes and the oak compliments the smoked flavours of the salmon. A perfect match.   

Bimbadgen Estate, Semillon (2011)

Hunter Valley, New South Wales
sample, 10%, screwcap, $20
www.bimbadgen.com.au

The grapes for this wine were sourced from the Howard 'Somerset' and Benwarin vineyards located in Pokolbin (Hunter Valley). Light straw in colour. Some grassy notes with elements of lime blossom on the bouquet. I found the palate to be quite restrained, with a central spine of lime and soft acidity. With a little time some white flowers emerged on the bouquet. A somewhat sappy finish - a case of bottle shock?  - 91. 

Try it yourself

The folks at Bimbadgen have provided me with a bottle of this Semillon to give away. To enter the competition for this bottle, simply start 'following' this blog using the 'Followers' widget in the right hand column - just click 'join this site' and enter your details. I will randomly select a 'follower' in one week's time. To enter this competition you must be of legal drinking age and must have a postal address within Australia. Good luck!

De Bortoli, Vat 8 Shiraz (2008)

South Australia and Victoria, Australia
14%, screwcap, around $14
www.debortoli.com.au

Smells of plums and mulberries. The palate has balance, though it isn't overly complex or long. A dash of oak. Somewhat sharp on the finish. That said, this wine is good value - 86.

Centennial, Barbera (2008)

Orange, New South Wales
15.3%, cork, around $25
www.centennial.net.au

With a nose of prunes and raisins, this medium to full bodied red wine had not benefited from time in the bottle. Notwithstanding the palate of luscious berries and supple tannins, this wine finished with sharp and harsh acidity along with some metallic notes, which tainted the overall impression of the wine - 83.  

Di Lusso, Barberra (2010)

Mudgee, New South Wales
approx 14.5%, around $26
www.dilusso.com.au

This wine displayed immaculate balance, with all components seamlessly blending together in a tight knit fashion. In that context, it was the intense blackberry on the nose and palate that played the staring role, set perfectly within a dry and savoury style. A delightful wine - 94.

Piggs Peake, House of Sticks Shiraz (2007)

Hunter Valley, New South Wales
15.5%, screwcap, around $28
www.piggspeake.com

A nose of prunes and charcoal with some red berries. Upon entrance, the soft mouthfeel was immediately discernible, followed by dull fruit, which then lead to a sharp finish and some warmth from the alcohol. I recall liking it when I sampled it at the cellar door years ago. However, this wine may have been crafted for early consumption as opposed to the five years that I have allowed it to have. Quite disappointing really - 82.

McWilliam's Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon (2005)

Hunter Valley, New South Wales
11.5%, screwcap, around $24
www.mountpleasantwines.com.au

Years ago, I searched a ridiculous number of wine outlets in Sydney looking for this wine. Knowing that 2005 was a grand year for Semillon in the Hunter Valley, I had been waiting for the 2004 vintage to run dry and for 2005 to finally be released. It remains unclear to me just how much was sent to the market place at the time, but I was unable to find one bottle of 2005. Every store had the 2007 vintage instead! Thus it was a case of serendipity, when during a recent holiday on the mid north coast of NSW, I stumbled upon a bottle of Cellar Aged 2005 Elizabeth in the local bottle shop. 

This wine was spectacular. With a lighter colour than would be expected for a seven year old wine, the wine was shrouded in a bouquet of lemony goodness. The bottle age shone through on the palate which showed intense citrus characters and a delightfully creamy texture. Fantastic value - 95. 

P.s. The 2005 vintage is still available from the cellar door for $118 per dozen. I'm told there isn't much left. What a surprise.