The Home of Renowned Tasting

I opened this (sort of by accident) at a little soiree round at our house a few weeks ago because it was sitting there in amongst the bottles on the bench awaiting a more official opening, rather than a casual one it received. Not the most technical of tasting environments granted, but some wines are for drinking rather than dissection. Anyway, I squirreled a cheeky half bottle away so I could re-taste in the cool light of day…same result. I like it.

Plump cherries, milk chocolate and requisite earthiness for that element of savoury sophistication that’s so necessary to make these blends a success. In the mouth full bodied with smooth fine grained chocolaty tannin and sweetly fruited yes, but plush and luxurious rather than confectioned and obvious. Lengthy and satisfying it provides a glass and a half of delicious Barossa goodness in every serve.

7 Responses »

This year a blend of Grenache 56%, Mourvedre 12%, Syrah 24%, Cinsaut 6% and Other 2%. I have included a bottle image in the old “Classic” Winorama style - mainly because I’m getting way too lazy to take pictures and format them.

It smells of peanuts, red fruit, mineral, a faint whiff of pastis and it that a little bit of oak I can smell? In the mouth medium bodied and I like the very fine but firm tannins, perhaps a bit boozy but settles down well with extended aeration. Full flavours of red fruits, a bit of dried herb, meat and a stony character that’s probably hard to convey any other way. Nice supple wine with lots of charm and freshness. Looked much better after being open for a day - I think it still has a few tricks up its old Papal sleeve.

Other vintages: 2001, 2000

13 Responses »

I’ve never had a wine from Olivers Taranga before but I’ve certainly heard of them. This is a small batch make of around 250 dozen and includes a splash of Shiraz (5%).

Appetising to smell with milk chocolate, raspberries, a touch of earthiness and some cinnamon oak spice. It’s just medium bodied with flavours of milk chocolate, raspberries, nuts and sort of gentle earthiness. With light sandy tannins and good freshness it has a degree of elegance and finesse and yes, there’s a slight warmth from alcohol on the finish, but it closes dry and long. Sensitively made with plenty of interest - a fine interpretation of Grenache.

7 Responses »

This is an interesting blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Tempranillo and 20% Shiraz and it works very well.

It smells of cherries, spice and old wood (slightly dusty) and a pleasant meatiness. On the palate good grip and extract - a wine that lets you know you are drinking it with flavours of cherries, malt, musk and spice. It’s dry rather than sweet and finishes with a lick of tannin on exit. It’s got character and oomph. I like it.

Comments Off

I’ve always thought that Cadenzia sounds more like something in which you might put your important papers and the like than the name of a regional wine style, but there you go.

Rich and full to smell with plum, chocolate, earth and spice leading on to an equally rich and full bodied palate with the same plum, chocolate and pepper/spice flavours. It’s warmish and quite sweet but pulls it off with aplomb (and possibly a plum). Good texture, a hearty drinkability and a surprisingly dry finish round off an excellent wine.

Comments Off

I don’t know why, I’m not that old really, but I always think of the smash hit album ‘Tapesty’ by singer-songwriter Carole King whenever I see this winery name…and shortly after that I think of the Bayeux Tapestry which explains the events leading up to the Norman invasion of England in 1066, but sadly not my odd word association crazy mind….

It’s not particularly confected and offers more of a sniff of the drawing room with leather, spice and a raspberry lift. On the palate medium bodied but light and fresh (although also a little oxidative) with a mix of raspberry, rhubarb, leather and spice flavours. It has fine tannins that rasp lightly on the finish and overall offers a delightfully moreish drinking experience. A very attractive wine.

Comments Off

Actually, the name of the wine is “Rhône by Roger Sabon”, with the appellation of Côtes-du-Rhône” in a much smaller font. It is a modern label. So it goes. The wine was served blind.

A clear red, with a touch of pink around the rim. A delicate nose, with pink florals, clean earth, red cherries and a touch of dried herbs. The palate is soft, with tangy red fruits in the mid-palate, liquorice and an underlying savouriness. It did seem a bit sweeter with time, but the tannins were consistently soft, which made it very easy drinking. Now Rhône has a reputation for brett, but this one is squeaky clean. One for immediate drinking.

8 Responses »

I’m a bit tardy getting round to this (it came in November 2007), and it’s even more surprising because I really like McLaren Vale Grenache. Maybe I was just saving it for a rainy day (edit: and in a weird bit of synchronicity I just popped downstairs after writing that, splashed a bit in my glass, and read the back label for the first time..which suggested drinking now or saving for a rainy day). Anyway, it came in a box of six “Cadenzia” (being the name that McLaren Vale producers are giving to their Grenache dominant blends) from different producers, and I decided to open the 2005 vintage wines first, of which this is obviously one - the other being a GSM from d’Arenberg.

It smells of raspberry rope, cherry blossom and spice - sweet but rubbed back with a bit of minerality and polished leather. On the palate just medium bodied with raspberry cordial and cranberry juice, spice, a sprinkle of dried herb and some ferrous characters. It has powder fine tannin, clean fresh acidity and excellent line and shape through the mouth, closing with a juicy strawberry aftertaste. Delicate, attractive and very friendly.

One Response »

Red fruits, Provencal herbs, a bit of pepper and merde de ferme. The palate is quite dry, with raspberries, red cherries, dried herbs, dry leather, a bit of plums, and a fair lick of dry stones. Medium to lightly bodied, with reasonable length and a shake of pepper on the finish. A decant quaffer in quality, but certainly does not contain sufficient oomph for the appellation.

9 Responses »

Well I can now admit to being just that bit more knowledgeable than I was after drinking this, and it’s not so often that having a few scoops can actually make you smarter (rather than just thinking you are). Anyway, I now know a bit about John Speke, that plucky Victorian explorer and I’m surprised I had not heard of him before. I tasted this over three days and it showed no sign of tiring, just like Our John on his quest to find the source of the Nile.

There’s a lot going on down in the depths with sweet French oak, menthol, lush sweet grass and flowers, cherry pie, raspberry and cocoa all rubbing up against each other warm and cuddly. It’s a fat textural wine with superb creamy tannins, lashings of ripe red and black fruits and a liberal application of spicy vanilla oak but it’s composed and controlled - balanced, fine and ferrous rather than confected. Warm but not hot, and importantly, looked progressively cooler and better integrated with extended breathing. Long black fruit and spice finish to close. A unique regional style from a great terroir delivering a world class wine.

2 Responses »

It’s a blend of Grenache, Cabernert Sauvignon, Shiraz, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Tempranillo but no kitchen sink.

It smells spicy, meaty, floral and red fruited (with a little slice of raspberry pie thrown in). Light, lively and hinting at a more European style the medium bodied palate is soft and dryish combining spice and red fruit with some more meaty nutty flavours. It has length, drinkability and character - I think it’s a very successful wine.

3 Responses »

I’ve been chuffing through a fair bit of Grenache (and blends) over the last few days and this would have to be king of the playground when it comes to balancing value and quality - like two fat kids battling it out on a see-saw with Tubby Quality just losing out to Portly Value by the slimmest of margarines.

It’s big and dark with blueberry, dried cherry, spice, chocolate and dried herb flavours and perhaps a little menthol lift. Full bodied with soft tannin and a little warmth, it’s sweetly fruited but also appropriately dry and savoury. Chunky and a bit blocky but so spicy and drinkable that you shouldn’t notice. Good long finish too. Massively over-delivers.

Other vintages : 2004

Comments Off

I bought this when we visited McLaren Vale in May last year. I am a fan of the way they handle Grenache and this blend is a good example. The sweet fruit of the Grenache blends really well with a bit of cherry from the Tempranillo which in turn gains some body from the Shiraz. It does show some heat from the alcohol but I love the fruit flavours. We had it with some pasta and it was a perfect match and will probably be good for the shorter term rather than long. It seemed even richer after 24 hours. Yes, it is an old TN but I have quite a backlog.

One Response »

This is a blend of Grenache, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah and it delivers exactly what I expected of a sub $20 Spanish wine. And that’s a bit of character, good fruit and thigh slapping drinkability.

It smells perfumed and pretty with cherry, raspberry, Redskin lollies and a fair shake of pepper. On the palate medium bodied with light, dry and very refreshing tannins. It has juicy cherry and raspberry fruit, a sort of Redskin lolly character that is sweet and appealing (not sickly or confected) that’s balanced out with a tart cranberry dryness and a few dried herbs. Finishes dry and clean. A really attractive weekday table wine with good deal of character.

4 Responses »

I was browsing through a retailer at lunch today and the thought popped into my head that I needed to drink a few inexpensive Spanish wines. Not sure why, it’s not like I need more wine, but I grabbed a few odds and ends anyway. I like a change of pace. I passed by the French, the interesting Cannonau (that’s Grenache) from Sardinia and quite a few other tempting little imports. This is from the DO Catalyud which is in the bigger region of Aragón.

It smells of red fruits, minerals and earth, a little pepper and smoke with a sweeter baked rhubarb character. On the palate distinctly warm and slippery with berries, rhubarb, dried herbs and spicy flavours. Sweet but still quite dry - in part due to the fairly dry sandy tannins. There’s something a bit artificial here that I can’t quite put my finger on and it detracts from my overall enjoyment. Still a nice enough wine - but no better than a local Grenache at the same price point.

4 Responses »

I struggle with the preamble, unlike Gary, who, for those that haven’t met him, can talk and talk and talk and seems to rattle off some introductory text effortlessly. Anyway, I did a quick Google in an attempt to find something interesting about this wine only to discover that David has already reviewed it, and that I paid 40 cents more than him. I feel ripped off.

Initially nothing, but then red fruits, sweat and a stinkiness, but then some black liquorice, leather and old river stones. The palate is medium bodied, with cherries, goat hide and dry dry spices. Inoffensive, and quite simple to be honest, with a thin and woody finish. It filled out with time but the length was unchanged. Not the best value; perhaps better to spend an extra $10 and get the Guigal Cotes-du-Rhone.

Other vintages: 2005

7 Responses »

I always find myself tasting these GSM blends with a little too much enthusiasm. It’s very unprofessional (not that I get paid much..) but they just slip down so easily, despite the alcohol. This is a blend of Grenache (45%), Shiraz (44%) and Mourvedre (11%) and while I have you I’d like to comment on the capitalisation of grape varieties. Some do it. Some don’t. I used not to but now I do. Maybe it’s because I think capitalisation makes the grapes more personal? I think they deserve to be a proper noun.

Pretty smelling. It’s a little floral with bright fresh raspberry and cherry, flyspray, some chocolate, spice and earth. On the palate again fresh and soft with a mix of red berry, spice, earth and dried herb. Medium bodied with light soft dry tannins, cleansing acidity and a little warmth. Finishes with red fruit and a dried herb aftertaste. Not heavy or cloying - just excellent drinking and highly recommended at the price.

3 Responses »

A medium red colour. A balanced and alluring nose, sour cherries, kirsch, pepper, spice box and a touch of garrigue; nothing in excess, nuanced if you want. The palate is most excellent: red cherries, a touch of liqueur, beautiful fruit tannins, gravelly savoury notes, terrific length and a dry finish. The thing that strikes me most is the structure, so balanced, and so drinkable, not sweet or cloying. Looking good at 8 years of age, and still has plenty of time ahead of it. The alcohol might be teetering on the edge for some, but for me it is effortless drinking. And as an aside, I think this is a better wine than many of the Cuvee Prestige Châteauneuf-du-Papes, and it is interesting that Paul Avril doesn’t produce one himself - three cheers to him!

Other vintages: 2004, 2001, 1999

10 Responses »

Not La Crau…La Crau! That little addendum to the name often causes a bit of confusion as to whether there are two old telegraphs…but like the Highlander, there can be only one. There is a second wine now though, mind you, called Vieux Telegramme, and some say this is responsible for a bit of improvement in the more expensive offering. Not so sure of that. Also of note is that both my Vieux Telegraphe T-Shirts are now boot polishing rags after over ten years of trusty service. I bought them at the winery in 1997, one as a gift for a friend, which I decided to keep for myself because they fit me so well. I did tell him I bought one of them for him though. It’s the thought that counts after all.

It smells of raspberry and fresh blackberry, peanut shells, liquorice allsorts, spice and flowers. Beautiful and pure to smell. On the palate medium to full bodied with fresh acidity, firm dry tannins and great vigour. It has flavours of crushed berry, mineral, pepper and pushes through the mouth with great purpose and energy. Very long expansive finish. A great wine, and as usual with a young VT, the last glass is always the very best.

Other vintages : 2000, 1982

4 Responses »

On our Honeymoon, we stayed in a room overlooking the town square of Avignon, and in amongst other reasons I remember it particularly well because it had a slope of about 15 degrees. You could drink half a bottle of this blend of 49% Grenache, 32% Shiraz, and 19% Mataro before going to bed to achieve a similar result - which I'’ll call “the Avignon effect”.

Looks purple and smells purple with ripe plum, cherry, violet, a bit of chocolate and some meaty characters. On the palate medium to full bodied with deliciously dangerous flavours of cherry, plum, mineral, chocolate and new leather. It’s certainly warm (but not hot) and features beautiful fine grained tannin and a good long finish. An excellent wine of complexity, texture and surprisingly high drinkabilty.

Comments Off