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This wine is blended from several base wines from different sites around Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. These sites grow different clones and with different soil profiles there is an intention to produce a complex and structured wine. It is aged for 9 months in a mixture of new and seasoned French barriques, then fined and filtered and bottled under screwcap.

A light cherry red. On the nose, cherry fruit and raspberries, and hints of mushroom and spice. The palate is clean and rounded, red cherry fruit and some game, nicely balanced and with pretty good length. And then with some time in the glass, it showed oyster shells and appeared a little salty and minerally. Very odd indeed, but overall a very pleasant wine.

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Nugan Estate is based in Griffith, but they source grapes from Darlington Point (near Griffith), Coonawarra, McLaren Vale and King Valley. This wine is made from King Valley fruit, not surprisingly - it is a very sensible place to grow Pinot Grigio.

Aromas of pears and apples, with lemon and spice, and a hint of minerals. The palate is quite lean, citrus fruits and unripe pears, with a lick of minerals and some brisk acidity. Excellent length, and some pith on the finish. A wine that is full flavoured but not sweet, tending more towards the savoury and minerally; quite a drying experience really. A great food wine.

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The Loose End range of wines is the brainchild of Barossa winemaker Rob Gibson, also of Barossavale. Each year, Rob cherry picks the “loose ends” of the Barossa harvest, assembling a range of wines intended to be both contemporary and truly reflective of Barossa character.

An inky red/purple in colour, with a lifted nose showing florals, black fruits and black liquorice, cinnamon and plums, spice, blackcurrants, a hint of dried apricots and a bit of bitumen too. The palate is big and bulky, lots of fat and juicy fruits, blackberries, cherries and plums, spice and a bit of char. There is a plumpness, but also some suppleness too, and enough acid to keep the package in balance. A wine showing some good length; it would make a perfect candidate for something to cuddle on a winter’s evening.

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A nose that shows aromas of strawberry conserve, cranberries, sticky florals and faint spices. The palate is sweet and lightly bodied, softly crushed strawberries, juicy berry fruit, and a rounded sweetness that flows through the palate and gives the impression of some credible length. My wife says it is lolly water, but not in a bad way I think. Well it didn’t stop her finishing the bottle, which at 12.0% abv was not an onerous task.

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I was mightily impressed with the 2003, so had high expectations for this new vintage. A vivid purple/black in colour, and a simply gorgeous nose: blackberry liqueur, roasted nuts, baked cinnamon, red liquorice, red stones and a bit of clay, black boulders. The palate is beautiful, ripe black fruits with a stony savouriness, an amazing concentration, supple and sexy tannins, so much so that they should entry a beauty contest. So drinkable now, but has potential to get better I reckon. And there is so much happening, a wine to swirl and become immersed in. And can you believe this is their entry level wine: they have two “better” wines: the Idus and eponymous Vall Llach. Imported by Negociants.

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This has been in the bottle for over 3 years now. Perhaps this is a sign of the times - some people are doing it a bit tough. A lovely nose, showing red currants and black olives, a bit of tomato and tobacco leaf, with some capsicum. The palate displayed an engaging richness without being too sweet, with ripe blackcurrants, some tobacco and herbs, and a leafiness too. The length is good, and though there does seem to be a bit of green hardness on the finish, it is a very tidy wine at a good price.

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This is a wine that is made in very large quantites, and though the blend varies from year to year, it generally includes approximately 50% Syrah, 30-40% Grenache, and the rest Mourvedre et al. It currently retails for about $20, and at that price is a cheap Rhone. Very cheap. An interesting nose: red cherries with a minerality that goes almost to the point of being metallic, pepper and dried herbs, a dry leafiness, animal hide and after some time in the glass it also showed blackberries. The palate offered rich red fruits, sour cherries and black fruits, all matched by graphite, animale and a drying bitumen character: a fruit sweet wine with a certain savouriness and a steely length. Not a wine to be judged out of context, and I reckon it will look better with a couple more years bottle age.

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The Coonawarra 2004 feature is not over just yet. I have a few more up my sleeve don’t you worry about that. I have just been tardy. This came with the cabernet from the same vintage and from what I can gather is a very small make of around 100 cases. I do like merlot. I am a Merlotiste and being of a generally optimistic nature I always open a bottle looking to be delighted. No crestfallen little face this time though because this is an excellent example of the noble grape. Pre-release sample.

A complex earthy smelling wine offering up plum, blackcurrant, mint, tobacco, licorice and high quality cedar oak. On the palate medium bodied with blackcurrant and red fruit, tobacco and other pleasantly varietal herbal flavours. Firm dry tannins and clean acidity further the impression of freshness and vitality. Long dry savoury finish. Not a blockbuster by any means. This is a wine of considerable charm and poise and one that needs more time in the cellar to show its best.

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This is 100% Tempranillo from Bodegas Valdubon in Ribera del Duero. I actually bought this as a taster 8 months ago from Boccaccio and am only now getting around to trying it. I am slow sometimes, and some people aren’t shy in telling me so. The nose showed red fruits and leather, creamy oak, red currants, spicy earth and some pink florals. The palate was savoury and spicy, red fruits, liquorice, a touch of feralness with a drying finish and some pokey acid. There is also a touch of grip, but the key character here is savouriness. A great match for pizza, and perhaps not for those who live on super juicy Barossa and McLaren wines.

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I am never nearly as impressed by the chardonnay as I am with the pinot from Coldstream Hills. This is an excellent wine although not especially exciting for me. I always really like the labels on Coldstream Hills. A new picture with every vintage is a nice touch.

Aromas of stonefruit, a little citrus, a light glaze of honey and some toasty oak. On the palate flavours of peach, citrus and some slightly savoury barrel ferment characters backed with sensible use of toasty spicy oak. Quite pronounced acidity on a dry lightly creamy base. Good solid chardonnay. Showed no sign of tiring over a few days in the fridge so it should age pretty well too.

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Yes I have been poorly, but here is a note from a few nights ago. A medium red in colour with red fruits and wet cardboard on the nose. Oh, hold on, that was the first bottle. Grrrrr.

Pop! Raspberries, red cherries, cinnamon quill, dusty spices and minerals. The palate is light in weight, somewhere between a Pinot and Rose I suppose, with raspberries again, a hint of blackberries, bubblegum, spices, dried meat and minerals. The length is pretty good and the finish is drying. There is also a bit of an acid kick that makes it food-friendly. Drink over the short term, but perhaps it will go 5 years.

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it’s oh. so still
you’re all alone
and so peaceful until…

It has been a bit moribund at Winorama over the last few days; at least by our normal standards anyway. David is flat chat with vintage, Lincoln is poorly sicks and I have had a nice little alcohol free spell since Saturday! Normal transmission will resume very shortly. You can be sure of it.

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A blend of Shiraz and Grenache from the Barossa Valley. The wine spent 10 months in predominantly old French oak hogsheads. I couldn’t remember if I had reviewed this or not so I did a search and found that Linc reviewed this wine a year ago. I am sure that I have probably had several bottles over this time as I like wines based around Grenache. They have the reputation as short term cellar wines but I remember having several at about ten years of age that were delicious. I reckon this wine will benefit from more time in the cellar too. It has opened up a bit over the last 12 months to show more of the sweet fruited/blackberry flavours that I associate with Grenache. The length was medium and the tannins are almost silky. A lovely package. Pity it was my last bottle.

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This talk of a Mount Langi Ghiran tasting has made me realise that the Langi Shiraz has been off my radar for a few years now. In fact, 1999 was the last vintage I bought, and after drinking my last bottle last night I can hear a ‘bip’ ‘bip’ ‘bip’, because this is just my type of wine (when I’m in a Shiraz mood). Sure, there is a core of cracked white pepper that some find distracting, but there is also lots of fruit and interest: red plums and blackberries, red cherries, cinnamon, vanilla pod and even some meatiness. The palate is beautiful, all those red and black fruits, fine fine tannins and then some creaminess and raspberries, pepper and dry spices. The length is excellent - a very satisfying wine, and better than my previous bottle a few years ago. Drink over the short term I think, as it dried out a touch after a few hours.

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Plums and spice, nutty and creamy, liqueured cherries, mocha and a touch of a stewed quality. There is a lovely richness on the palate, mocha and nuts, creamy, but also possesses a savoury leathery chewiness and a dried spice character like nutmeg. A wine with great concentration and intensity, ripe ripe tannins ably supported by some quality oak. As with the Viognier, its character emerged with time, so give it a decant. Drink over the medium term.

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A multi-region blend from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, and aged in a combination of Hungarian, French and American oak. A purpley red in colour, like a bruise from the schoolyard bully. Dusty red fruits, cherries, blackberries and a touch of vanilla, a meaty character and some spices. On the palate, there are black fruits and a seam of fruity richness, finishing with dry spices and just a hint of char. The length is pretty good really; a wine that speaks of barbeques and jocularity; great value at around $10.

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I have been flat out and hit with what friends call vintage cough. Some of them thought I needed a break and had us over for dinner with the usual masked bottles across food. I will write them up over the next few days. Suffice to say this was served blind accompanied by what turned out to be Diamond Valley Close Planted PN 2000, Epis PN 2000, Bass Phillip Premium 97 and a 2004 Vosne Romanee by Jean Tardy. I mention all these because the Beaujolais did not look out of place and was highly rated by all present. By coincidence, the next day I was offered a taste of the ‘04 at Souk restaurant who have it on pour and it looked pretty good too. The colour of this wine was bright and a hint more crimson than red. The aromas were a complex mix of cherry, violets, bit of raspberry and a hint of cinnamon style spice. The palate was very rich and long. Once again the red berry fruits with a bit of cinnamon and raspberry. A pity it was my last bottle.

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I can remember talking at winemaker Cliff Royle while he manned the Voyager stand during the last Wine Australia event and letting him know that including any viognier in his shiraz ,was in my opinion, a dreadful mistake. He had a patient, yet slightly weary look, coupled with a light glazing over of the eyes that comes with having to deal with so (too) many experts in one day. I am sure I’d not be nearly so calm and polite in such trying circumstances. I think I would most likely offer up a couple of words, one starting with the letter ‘F’ and the second being ‘off’. Anyway, this has only one percent viognier and the effect is largely textural.

Aromas of red berry, dark cherry, licorice, pepper, flowers, light cedar oak and savoury gamey overtones. On the palate this is fine and medium bodied with tight fine tannins and flavours of blackberry, dark cherry, aniseed, tomato, leather and cedar oak. It is not showy or sweet and finishes dry and meaty. Very stylish and really quite Rhoney.

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Last Monday night I was lucky enough to tuck into a glittering array of outstanding homemade pig products at Casa Basilone. This was my wine of the evening. A great wine and more importantly a great drink. It made the 2004 Petaluma shiraz/viognier look more like an ice cream topping than a wine…

Aromas of licorice, leather, dried red fruit and cedar. Not fruity but rich and satisfying to smell. On the palate seamless and svelte with red fruit, licorice and tobacco flavours. Very fine supple tannins. Balanced throughout. Long dry finish. A wine to enjoy at the table with fine friends, fine food and much vigorous waving of the hands. Cheparello!

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As much as I do like Coonawarra and Yarra cabernet I still like Margaret River the best and Voyager Estate is one of the best of the best. We bought plenty of the 98, 99 and 01 vintages but seem to have missed 00 and 02. Won’t be missing out on this vintage though. Half a dozen will be going straight to the pool room.

A great smelling wine offering up blackcurrant, cherry, dark chocolate, tobacco and pencilly oak. Classic cabernet. On the palate medium to full bodied with firm ripe long grained tannins. The tannins are particularly good and sit beautifully within the wine. It has rich blackcurrant and cherry fruit balanced with more earthy tobacco, dark chocolate and cedar flavours and blah blah blah… at this point I stopped analysing and starting drinking because all you really need to know is that this is a top shelf Margaret River cabernet. Fill your boots.

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