The Home of Renowned Tasting

“Good things come to those who wait”..or so they say..and the same person probably sometimes says “Third time lucky”…but not so lucky this time Mister because I managed to get my hands on it first; it’s supposed to be the third bottle they have sent along. And Pants Pie it’s good. Cork enthusiasts will also be well pleased by the length and smoothness of the bark closure.

It smells of raspberries and dark berries, aniseed, chocolate, new leather, spice and coffee. Beautiful and nothing overdone. On the palate medium to full bodied with outstanding quality fruit - the flavours are of dark berry mixed with fresh pippy raspberry, licorice, chocolate and spice with an underlying dark Barossan savouriness that’s always so appealing. Smooth fine grained tannin, freshness and length of palate are hallmarks of this wine of superb balance and style. It’s so good it made me feel like rushing out and buying some.

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The optimist looks at the donut whilst the pessimist looks at the hole. Could this explain my increasing level of portliness? I know I don’t spend a great deal of time looking at holes; I’m in the wrong profession for that. Anyway, this is a single vineyard wine that sees a bit of oak and barrel ferment action. I like what they are doing here. In fact, I like it a lot. You know you’re talking so hip you’re twisting my melons man.

Plenty going on here with green melon, gin and tonic (with a slice of lemon rind), cucumber, spice, grilled nuts and some smoky barrel ferment characters. On the palate medium to full bodied with crisp acidity, a touch of sweetness to balance and a rich creamy texture - although the overall impression is one of freshness. It tastes a bit like gin and tonic sorbet with additional flavours of melon, green herbs and a little spice. Finishes clean with good length and a lemon rind and spice aftertaste. If a change is as good as a holiday, then I feel positively refreshed.

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Margan usually turn out a softer, more fruity Semillon that’s quite approachable as a young wine and this is no exception, although this looks perhaps a little more serious than usual. It certainly looked good after being open for a few days.

Nice and juicy offering a mix of fruit including ripe citrus and apple with a bit of struck match and dried herb. On the palate crunchy and fairly dry with citrus and some fruit veering towards the tropical spectrum. It has plenty of flavour, an acid balance offering good cut but nothing overbearing and a clean dry finish. All very enjoyable - either now or later.

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..and speaking of wine shows, this copped exactly no medal in class 12 (2006 Chardonnay) at the 2007 Hunter Show. Judges comments were

Many wines lacking fruit weight, propped up by artefact. Some fermentation issues.

with only one wine from First Creek scoring a gold medal. That wine was made by Jim Chatto, as is this. Anyway, it’s easily a silver from me, if that’s what you’re into.

Glowing yellow green with intense aromatics offering things like stonefruit, fig, orange, spice and savoury yeasty lees characters. On the palate juicy and flavour packed with a mix of tropical and stonefruit, lemon oil and savoury lees characters that also contribute to the creamy texture…and creamy and rich it may be, but supported by a spine of beautiful clean acidity. Fruity, vibrant and bursting with vitality - it’s classic Hunter in style and a thoroughly delicious drink.

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I’ve been sitting on this sample for a while - time to write a review…

Lots of pretty florals, a certain delicacy, with lemon, sherbet, and dryness. The palate is tight and quite austere, with lemon and slate, sour fruits, finishing with an acid twang and dryness. This said, it does show a lovely purity of fruit and some good intensity, but it certainly is a style that needs some food. Drink now and over the next few years.

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Prendiville (although it sounds like a character in an Oscar Wilde play) is a selection of the top 40 barrels of cabernet from Sandalford’s 1970 Wilyabrup plantings. It is, therefore, roughly a make of about 500 dozen. Prendiville my dear boy..

I was working on the proof of one of my notes all the morning, and took out a comma. In the afternoon I put it back again.

Beautifully aromatic with the perfume of violets, dark fruit, mulberries, gum leaf, wet cement and fine pencilly oak. On the palate medium to full bodied with flavours of mulberry, violet and that typical (and very attractive) regional wet earth character. Perfectly ripe fruit with just the right amount of leafiness adding Cabernet complexity. It is fine and long through the palate with ripe gravelly tannin and feels fresh and lively throughout. Top end. Perhaps one of the best things I can say of this is that it’s worth the asking price. It’s so well balanced that drinking it now offers great pleasure, although the best is yet to come.

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To the best of my knowledge there are two wines colloquially known as ‘Blackie’ of which this is one. The other comes from McGuigan and is very popular amongst certain sweet-toothed budget conscious Hunter winemakers..but never mind that right now. This is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (58%), Shiraz (33%) and Malbec (9%) with the Cabernet coming from Langhorne and Barossa, the Shiraz from McLaren Vale and the Malbec from Langhorne Creek. Multi-regional blending to create the best wine they can.

Incredibly dense colour with aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, mint, dark chocolate, liquorice and perfumed coconut oak. On the palate full bodied in the fullest sense with essence of blackberry, blackcurrant, mint, chocolate and liberal toasty coffee oak. It has enormous power and density with strong gravely tannins and completely drenches the mouth (and senses) with flavour and extract. Very long tannic finish of black fruits and mint to close. It took at least three days for the bugger to become even vaguely approachable - at which stage it began to reveal its true potential. Scary now. Great later.

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I’m a bit under the pump and the weather at the moment but as everyone knows, vitamin C is good for such things, and seeing as Orange is high in vitamin C I thought I would open this..

Clear bright red in colour and equally pretty to smell with red cherry, strawberry, a little mint, mixed peel, undergrowth and some spicy caramel oak in support. On the palate light to medium bodied with a mix of red fruit, spice and honeycomb (a bit like a Crunchie) flavours although it does feel appropriately dry and fresh. It has light dry tannin and a feathery texture with fruit of good clarity and pinosity and a closes clean and spicy. Flows along very nicely and drinks really well. Very attractive wine.

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Situated on Flaxmans Valley Rd high on top of the Barossa ranges at the very start of the Eden valley. In amongst many famous vineyards is Colin & Fiona Sheppards 7 acre property comprising 45+ year old Riesling, 45+ year old Semillon & 55+year old Shiraz.

I’d not heard of this winery before, and it’s a good story, but best you read it on their website to save me a bit of typing. I’m feeling lazy. 110 cases made.

Nice and fragrant with classic blossom, lime, apple and minerally aromas. On the palate it is fine and soft with excellent flavour and great purity offering a mix of citrus, apple and spice. It has gentle clean acidity and feels slightly slippery although roughed up just a little by some attractive pithy characters. Jumps up and waves goodbye on the long clean dry finish. Absolute magic to drink now.

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I’d say the Yarra Valley is probably the only place in Australia that can knock out perfectly ripe Cabernet at around 12.5% alcohol these days. It’s one of the best qualities of the region and anyone with a taste for Mount Mary might well be advised to get their nose into this little perfumed beauty.

Perfumed, meaty and fruity all at once with blackcurrant and raspberry, black olive and some attractive mint/eucalypt characters floating above. Subtle, non-invasive spicy oak treatment rounds off an aristocratic smelling Cabernet. On the palate light to medium bodied with flavours of raspberry, blackcurrant, briar, black olive and light coffee oak. Perfectly ripe. Fine, tight, fresh and long are the keywords - with fine ripe tannin spreading out through the mouth, fresh acidity and outstanding length of flavour. A sleek classically styled and structured wine of great finesse and refinement. It’s perhaps just what the Doctor ordered.

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After running through some pretty distressing bottles of Sauvignon Blanc I thought a nice cooling glass of Champagne was required in order to lift the spirits.

Quite creamy and sweet to smell with yellow fruit, spice, smoke and some floral notes. On the palate again soft and creamy with brioche, stonefruit, mandarin, mineral and spice. It feels well rounded, more to medium body than full with a touch of sweetness, crisp acid and a fine persistent bubble. Closes with spicy and citrus flavours and decent length. A good vintage Champagne at a fair price.

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The other day I purchased a bottle of the prostigious 1965 Lindemans Bin 3110 Shiraz for an upcoming dinner. It will take my tally up to four tastings of this legendary wine and I’m pretty sure it won’t be the last with any luck. Anyway, the reason I mention it is that the 3110 shows no alcohol heat and is still going strong (and possibly improving) at over 40 years of age. It weighs in at 15.5% alcohol and therefore provides some small amount of proof that high octane Australian shiraz can age beautifully. I hasten to add that I am not making any claims for other ‘big end of town’ wines - just offering a little something to ponder.

Opened up to a big waft of coconut oak which pretty quickly slinks back down into the wine, becoming less intrusive and more toasty, nestling in with mixed berries, dark chocolate, violet, iodine and the peppery notes. Most pleasant. On the palate full bodied with flavours of summer berries, chocolate, toasty spicy oak and some leather. It has a slightly brandied warmth but feels fresh and pure (although large scale). There’s plenty of firm fine grainy tannins lurking beneath the ripe red fruit too, and they pop up again at the end to do a little housekeeping, cleaning up on the moderately long finish. Excellent wine and really enjoyable, if not exactly inexpensive. And you’d have no problem getting wrecked on this (well I had to say it) right now as it already drinks so well.

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This is right on the money for the money (if that makes any sense). It’s a mix of Margaret River (66%) and Fergusson Valley (34%) fruit, sees 10% new oak and offers irresistible drinking at a modest price. I’d be all over this if I was in the market for a drink now dry white.

Crisp and juicy with nectarine, citrus and pineapple, a lick of spicy oak and a bit of struck match. On the palate crisp and juicy with flavours of fresh pineapple, citrus and stonefruit with just a little spicy oak in support. It has fine balance, clean acidity and keeps good shape through the mouth. Closes with a spicy citrus aftertaste. Interesting, highly drinkable and very refreshing. Lovely wine.

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A curious mini-theme this afternoon - 2006 Barossa Merlot. The first wine from Vinecrest ($22) (a fairly ordinary affair offering slightly candied berry and plum fruit, spice and a floral lift with a medium bodied palate lacking in depth and length and closing with a hottish finish) and this grandly named wine with an equally ambitious price.

The colour looks a bit developed but the nose is pleasant enough with a mix of plum, coffee bean, spice and minty pine needle lift. On the palate medium bodied with berry, plum, coffee and some greener flavours running through it. It has mid-palate richness, some powdery tannin and crisp acidity but insufficient stuffing overall. Finishes a little warm with some dried herb flavours. Quirky, nice enough, but grandly over-priced.

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I didn’t think the 2005 Chalambar was much chop (although I only tasted it briefly in amongst a raft of other wines) and the 2005 Moyston I can’t recall tasting at all. This vintage looks to be back on top form mind you and tasting this over two nights I have the scores of both 92 and 93 circled on the madness that is my tasting notes book. If you have a taste for Grampians/Bendigo shiraz then I’d expect that you will be very pleased with this wine. Release date is April 1.

Opens with a little toasty oak and a slightly reduced meatiness but give it some time and a rich mix of berries, plum, pepper, spice and aniseed will be revealed. It delivers all those good things you expect in Victorian Shiraz. On the palate medium bodied with good weight and depth of ripe fruits such as plum and mixed berry but essentially it feels quite dry - certainly spicy, a little bit meaty and has some dark chocolate thrown in too. It has plenty of ripe mouth coating talc-like tannin, unobtrusive acidity and closes with very good length and a slightly bitter chocolate aftertaste. A very good Chalambar. Good news for many because if it’s a staple in your cellar then you can safely bang a few in.

Other vintages: 2005, 2004, 2004, 2003

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I usually introduce Barossa Semillon with a bit of a spiel about it being great value and widely under-appreciated so I’ll give it a miss this time. It is though and this wine comes from vines that are over forty years old.

It smells of green apple skins, lime, lemongrass and fresh pineapple with a little grassiness. On the palate it has plenty of flavour offering apple, citrus, crisp pineapple and a bit of sweet grass. Nice and juicy with excellent weight and texture, quite soft, but not at the expense of clean acidity. It even manages to squeeze in a bit of flintiness and has a good clean finish too. This is tops - a wine of great utility and refreshment.

Other vintages reviewed : 2006, 2005

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Interesting wine this one. It has some greenish characters running through it but they only serve to make the wine better to my tastes. It’s quite exciting really this perky King Valley ‘Super Tuscan’ and more importantly it’s a wine of real personality and impact.

Opens a bit stinky but a good swirl brings up blackcurrant and darker berry fruit, earth, spice and dark chocolate with a pepperminty perfume wafting over the top. On the palate medium to full bodied with very firm grippy tannin and clean acidity with flavours of dark fruit, earth, dark chocolate and mint. Quite rich but also pretty briary and a little bit tart but it really moves through the palate in a most determined manner. Finishes with excellent length and a twiggy minty aftertaste. Charismatic and very enjoyable.

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Well I had to. It’s such a pretty bottle….

Nice and interesting to smell with its pretty plum and strawberry fruit, a bit of spice and a cosmetic lipstick note - although perhaps a little stewed. On the palate light to medium bodied with flavours of slightly sweet red fruits and spicy blood plum sauce offset by tamarillo tartness and supported by a lick of spicy oak. It has dry lightly astringent tannin and a sappy spicy finish of moderate length. It’s not a great wine by any stretch but it has personality and drinks well. I really quite like it.

Other vintages : 2005

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I’ll be honest and tell you that I’d rather not drink wines at 16% alcohol, and indeed this wine does have a bit of the old dragon’s breath™ (Mattinson..damn you), but it really does drink superbly. It’s ripe, smooth and fresh with fully developed flavour and no dead fruit. So ultimately then, and this is undeniably a very high quality wine, it becomes purely a stylistic choice rather than a qualitative one.

Dark, savoury and profound. It smells of crushed black fruit, minerals, liquorice, leather, spice and toasty nougat oak. On the palate full bodied with flavours of plum, black fruit, leather and bitter dark chocolate. Distinctly adult and savoury with a mass of super fine supple tannins, slightly anaesthetic alcohol and no lack of freshness and vigour. Finishes long and spicy with a bitter chocolate aftertaste. It’s a compelling wine, and one of considerable mass and impact, yet surprisingly (and dangerously) easy to drink.

Other vintages reviewed : 2005, 2004

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De Iuliis are going from strength to strength - the 2006 reds look outstanding. This is due for release sometime around June 2008 and it showed no sign of tiring over three days of tasting.

Very strong deep colour and equally intense on the nose with essence of blackberry, liquorice, earth, saddle leather and creamy toasty vanilla oak. On the palate full bodied and dense with rich blackberry fruit, earth and toasty vanilla oak. Impressive fruit weight coupled with strong ripe tannin make this a fine candidate for long term cellaring. Excellent length with some rich earthy flavours to close. Bursting with potential (and there’s a fair chance I’m under-rating it now), I’d love to see this in a couple of years and to this end I will be securing a couple of bottles to pop away in the cellar.

Other vintages : 2005

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