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Well there you go. Here’s a Margaret River red where I prefer the 2006 vintage to the 2005 …at least I think so…it has been over a year mind you, so I could be wrong.

Impressive red purple colour then a blackcurrant, spice, mocha and an undercurrent of eucalyptus leaf and stalk. It’s medium to full bodied with firm but fine tannins, clean acidity and good flow and length. Attractive drinking (although admittedly slightly green tinged) - I think they’ve done well here.

Other vintages : 2005

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When Shiraz from the Great Southern region in WA is good, it’s very very good and this wine is all that and a bag of chips.

It offers a riot of smells that shift and mesmerise as you sniff the glass - rubbed fresh lavender, eucalypt, ground spices, black pepper, blackberry, dark cherry and star anise all jumbled together in a spicy fragrant heap. On the palate medium to full bodied yet powerful with a big spread of firm ripe tannin and layers of flavour - chocolate, pepper, black fruit and spice that run out onto a big tannic finish. It’s tight and fairly closed right now but careful (and very enjoyable) tasting over a couple of days allowed the wine to open up and fill out. It’s a wine of impact, exotic dark spiciness and considerable seductive power.

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I like WA Shiraz. But I am not going to break into song about it; I will leave that to Gary. I would however like to mention that this wine was made from a blend of Frankland River and Margaret River fruit, and though it was co-fermented with a dash of Viognier, it is not one for the apricotiste.

Savoury red fruits, cherries and plums and raspberries, with some black plumminess and dry spice, and if you look closely enough some apricot too. But don’t go hurting your eyes. The palate showed plums and dry spices, with raspberries, cherries, cinnamon, a bit of acid and a bit of cinnamon bark too. Dry and savoury, on the light side of medium bodied, and very drinkable.

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A blend of 93% Cabernet, 5% Merlot and 2% Malbec from the Frankland River region.

Instantly appealing with wafts of blackcurrant, black plum, smoke and earth and a light flowery vanilla perfume. It does have some rather outre smells mind you, possibly sulphide related, that won’t please some. On the palate full bodied with sweet black cherry and blackcurrant mixed with spice and more savoury earthy tobacco flavours. It has tannins that offer a manly cabernet grip ably supported by fresh acidity and a good persistent earthy blackcurrant aftertaste. A terrific bargain I think.

Other vintages : 2005

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From the Powderbark vineyard in the Frankland River region. A beautiful colour, not a glass stainer but a lovely vibrant red. It just makes you want to shake the bottle before pouring yourself a glass. Red fruits, plums, slightly dusty and spicy, and just a sliver of fresh vanilla pod. The palate is restrained elegance with dusty red cherries and plums; reminds me of a seldom used dinner jacket. There are also some barky cinnamon spices and a dry nuttiness. Lovely weight and excellent intensity. A classy wine.

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A blend of 93% Cabernet, 5% Merlot and 2% Malbec from the Frankland River region. Plums and dark cherries, inky aromas, green tea leaf, a bit of beetroot, earth and leaf. Admittedly some underlying oddness, but really quite pleasant. The palate is nicely fruited with red currants and blackberries, and also a touch of leaf and some cedar in the background. Nice tannins and good length. A tidy wine at a tidy price.

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This is part of the Fengrove ‘Orchid Series’ which is the top end selection from this particular winery.

Aromas of white peach, lime, yeast, cream and spiced vanilla oak. Pretty wild funky aromatics. On the palate medium bodied with lime zest, peach, vanilla, ginger spice and some skunky lees derived flavours. There is a light creaminess here but balanced with good acidity. Finishes with savoury spiced grapefruit flavours. Nice but a fairly worked style.

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They should include a couple of finger cymbals on the neck of the wine I think. *ching* *ching*..oh hang on this is Symbols. Anyway I used to love the little plastic bulls that came attached to Sangre de Toro from Torres. I do miss them. I used to make them fight each other and everything.

Aromas of black plum, raspberry, apricot kernel, lots of black pepper, burnt toast, meat and spice. Complex for a wine at this price point. On the palate medium bodied with raspberry, cherry, apricot kernel and pepper steak flavours. Dry and distinctly peppery and savoury. Firm lightly abrasive tannins and a dry peppery finish. It is a bit angular but a good interesting drink.

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I opened up two bottles of this just to be sure and as expected, via the magic of screwcap, the bottles are exactly the same.

Aromas of blackberry, mulberry, earth, spice, sewer and bandages. On the palate sweet red fruit, cherry, spice and gamey flavours. Medium bodied with firm grainy tannins and tangy acidity. Missing in action on the back palate with a gamey medicinal finish. Quite fascinating in an outre sort of way.

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The lovely 2003 Stirlings reviewed recently was a cabernet dominant blend but this vintage, like Strangers On a Train, is a criss-cross with shiraz playing the leading role.

Aromas of black cherry, raspberry, licorice, pepper, briar and earth. A captivating mix of ripe fruit, spice and earthy smells. On the palate medium to full bodied with a mix of blackcurrant, cherry and raspberry fruit, pepper, earth and licorice. There is a firm backbone of fine powdery tannins and a pleasing sense of freshness for a ripe wine. Finishes long and dry with a spicy aftertaste. Great wine from the Great Southern.

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Not had a Vasse Felix shiraz since the 2001 vintage and turn your back on a winemaker for more than a minute these days and they’ll slip some viognier in the mix. This one has a modest one percent addition but I think you can tell. It works well here though, adds some fragrance, and lubes up the palate just a little.

A rich smelling wine offering up sweet dark cherry, plum, pepper, white flowers, spice and meaty charry vanilla oak. On the palate full bodied with a compote of sweet plum, blueberry and raspberry, a good dusting of pepper and spice, some earthy flavours and plenty of meaty toasty oak. Firm tannins - really quite a powerhouse. Finishes spicy with a mix of sweet and meaty flavours. Big and juicy but quite delicious.

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I do like a bit of the old Great Southern action. Especially the reds. So much so that I am thinking of doing a regional focus feature in the not too distant. This is 71 percent cabernet and 29 percent shiraz and it’s a top example of the great Australian blend. I have the 2004 on the bench to follow.

Aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, pepper, aniseed, dark chocolate and firm cedar oak. Traces of eucalyptus add interest rather than detract. This is a beautiful smelling wine. On the palate medium to full bodied with black fruit, dark chocolate, a little black olive, cedar and spice. Well oaked and well fruited. Firm lightly grippy chewy tannins and clean fresh acid. Finishes with dark fruit and savoury leafy flavours. Very impressed with this. It presses all the right buttons.

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Xanadu
Xanadu hoooooo
(Now we are here)
I have been prancing round the office singing Xanadu for the last ten minutes which has been quite enjoyable (at least for me anyway).

Aromas of blackcurrant, chocolate, some mint, pepper and light toasty oak. On the palate full bodied with quite coarse drying tannin. There are flavours of black and redcurrant, chocolate and toasty oak. Finishes dry with black olive flavours. Looks a bit too hard and hollow for higher points but it is a nice enough wine really.

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I have always loved the packaging on Xanadu wines. That ambiguous golden dragon that looks like a gnarly old vine really appeals to me. This is a blend of 73% Margaret River and 27% Frankland River shiraz. Dragon is a recent addition to the Xanadu range. It sits above the Secession and below the Estate in the portfolio.

Aromas of crushed boysenberry, cherry jam, spice, meat, pepper and toasty vanilla oak. On the palate medium bodied with fresh fruits of the forest, pepper, spice and meaty toasty oak. Dry quite assertive tannins and very fresh acidity. Good flavour but suffers from some hardness.

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Black/purple in colour. A dark and brooding nose: black tannins, coffee beans, black liquorice, dark spices, vanilla beans, sweet red leather and a touch of eucalypt. A very impressive nose. The palate is firm, lovely fruits with coffee oak, warm spices and sweet black/red fruits. The tannins are meltingly soft, but at the same time still firm. Great length and a dry cinnamon bark finish. I wasn’t that impressed with this a year ago, but I really liked it tonight – top stuff. Still a pup at 7 years of age - I certainly would be interested in seeing it in 5-10 years.

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Boy did I go nuts when this wine was released late in 2002..bought 18 bottles. Interestingly I had a glass of this after drinking a Barbaresco and it looked like peppery fruit syrup with soft tannins…quarantine! I find that Australian wines often look like this after drinking European.

Strong full red colour. Aromas of dark cherry/blackberry, pepper, star anise, vanilla/cedar oak and some meaty overtones. Emphasis on the pepper and spice. On the palate dark cherry/berry fruit, pepper, spice with meaty flavours and fine dry tannins. Mouthfeel is quite hmmm well… I call it soapy and by this I mean it has an alkaline character. Chalky perhaps. Dry tannic spicy finish. A very good wine.

Re-tasted Dec06 - Very horsey bretty bottle with a distinct metallic tang. Not so impressive.

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