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.
Henschke's Lenswood vineyard in the Adelaide Hills
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Thursday, 11 October 2012
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?
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?
Thursday, 4 October 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
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).
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).
Sunday, 23 September 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, 2 September 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
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.
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.
Monday, 18 June 2012
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.
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.
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