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It’s certainly aromatically complex and fragrant with ripe dark cherry, menthol, brown spices, mint, leather, coffee and coconut ice all contributing to the riot of smells. Medium to full bodied with a mix of sweet dark fruit, spice, aniseed, coffee and malty scorched peanut giving a distinctly dry savoury impression rather than a plump fruity one. It has fine light grainy tannins, fairly prominent sappy acidity and a finish of decent length. Offering a degree of complexity and finesse rarely found in wines under twenty dollars, it’s a very successful follow up to the debut vintage.

Other vintages: 2006

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It’s admittedly not my preferred style, but it’s very very good wine nonetheless. Incredible value too. I particularly like the names of the vineyards it comes off - Gagliardi, Notto, Trombetta and Manno, although I’m more than half expecting to find a horse’s head in my bed if I don’t give it over 90 pointas!

It’s fully loaded with spice, macerated dark cherry, leather and liquorice - complex and vinous way beyond its price point. On the palate full bodied and deep with spice, cherry liqueur, leather and good freshness even though it’s fully rich and ripe. Fine grained supple tannins and excellent texture - hale and hearty yet not without sophistication. Long finish. Outstanding value. Top wine.

Other vintages: 2006

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Hmmm well I think I like this one a little more than the 2005 vintage (more length) so logically I need to give it a slightly higher score, even though I have both 92 and 93 written on my pad (a trend you might begin to notice). I’d need to taste them side by side to be absolutely sure, rather than many months apart, but I’m as confident as you can ever be when dealing in absolutes. Well that’s my story anyway, and I’m sticking to it.

It’s fragrant and creamy with spice and pepper over dark cherry and fresh blackberry and a bit of the old liquorice coming up with air. It feels medium bodied in the mouth with excellent flow and nice fine smooth tannins, acidity perhaps a little unsettled at this early age, but set for a long future. There’s no heat or over-ripeness - just beautiful blackberry/dark cherry fruit seasoned with pepper, spice and subtle creamy oak running onto a good long finish. A boastful advertisement for stylish Grampians Shiraz at a painfully modest price.

Other vintages : 2005

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I have all the Elderton Estate wines lined up for tasting, including a new (I think) 2007 Zinfandel. I thought I’d kick things off with the Shiraz and I don’t mind telling you this is the vinous equivalent of a torp from 60 metres straight through the posts. I was expecting something pretty decent, but this is a bit special.

It smells rich and fruity, but not heavy, offering up blackberry, violet, spice, vanilla, aniseed and mocha. On the palate full bodied but fresh with lush dark fruit, aniseed, brown spices and vanilla coffee oak - nothing over played with exemplary fruit and oak balance. It has ultra-smooth velveteen tannins, a gorgeous seductive mouthfeel and a long spicy finish. It’s a complete wine of breed and enormous drinkablity at a bargain price…and I’m a huge fan.

Other vintages : 2004

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Gee this is good for $25. I suppose Cabernet Sauvignon is not the most fashionable variety for the Yarra Valley any more but it’s the one with the most runs on the board (so far). So if you are looking for a top cabernet, with an abundance of style, for not a lot money, then you’d be foolish not to take a punt on this.

It’s ripe and luscious but not overly so with blackcurrant, cedar, violet, earthy tobaccoey things, bayleaf and spice. On the palate medium to full bodied with a flood of cassis, briar, earth and spice - sweet fruit and savoury interest. It feels supple and fluid with fine grained powdery tannins and flows through the mouth in a most appealing and seductive manner. Good long finish too. Very highly recommended.

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This arrived yesterday, in amongst a couple of dozen other samples, and because I am a Cabernet man I wasted no time in tucking in. Too much Margaret River Cabernet is barely enough if you ask me. Anyway, I really like this and I have 92 or 93 scribbled on my pad, but as we all know (I hope) the score is only a small part of the story, so just to make it perfectly clear, this comes with my emphatic approval in all departments - value, quality, style etc.

It has a delightful violet and gum leaf perfume over mulberry, blackcurrant and chocolate with a handful of gravel thrown in for good measure. On the palate medium to full bodied with perfectly ripe fruit offering blackcurrant, mulberry, chocolate, some more earthy flavours and a touch of leafiness. It has fine firm tannins and feels beautifully balanced from start to finish. A delightful wine of considerable grace and sophistication.

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Is there a mental asylum on Wickhams Road by any chance? The fruit for this beautiful wine comes off a vineyard managed by Hoddles Creek Estate who control the complete process from vine to retail. Winemaker/inmate Franco d’Anna says

Cropped at 1.3 tonnes per acre, only shoot thinned as bunch thinning was not required. Minimal irrigation, hand picked in the morning then cooled overnight. Made the same way as Hoddles Creek, mixture of yeasts, no fining, no enzymes, no acid adjustments and only 20% new oak instead of 30%.

Left in barrel for 12 months, with occasional lees stirring. Filtered and bottled.

Aromas of citrus, nectarine, a touch of struck match and vanilla and almond essence jump out of the glass. On the palate light to medium bodied with flavours of ruby red grapefruit, tangerine, preserved lemon and a little spice. It’s bursting with intense fruit, and has incredible focus and line courtesy of a spine of strong yet fine acidity - tight, crisp, pure and lengthy. And while perhaps it’s not especially complex (and it’s still a very young wine mind you), the clarity, precision and flavour overwhelmingly persuade me to bump this up to an outstanding rating. I love it and I’ll be buying it.

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The name “Pirathon” celebrates a famous punch up (known locally as the battle of Pirathon) that happened outside the Tanunda pub circa 2005AD (around 9.30PM) between Helen of Troy Kalleske and visiting celebrity Paris Hilton. The trouble started when the wily Hector (of Tulloch) claimed his one dollar coin was next in line for a go on the pool table but Troy’s mate Achilles (owner of the local kebab shop) would have none of it. Paris had kept a lazy eye on the dashing Hector for most of the evening, and in a show of support and quite possibly with the intention of blowing the froth off a couple with him later on, set her dog onto Achilles. Although small in stature, he was both plucky and smart, and went straight for Achillies’ heel. “Struth!”, yelped Achillies, “It bloody bit me.”..and after that is was on for young and old….

Fabulous smelling wine packed with dark Barossan goodness and offering things like black fruit, dark chocolate, baking spices (nutmeg, cloves, allspice), roses, tar and a little menthol lift. The oak is unobtrusive and beautifully folded into the wine. On the palate full bodied with rich black fruit, a little raspberry, dark chocolate and spicy flavours. It’s smooth, ripe and long and enormously satisfying to drink. I think it’s probably even better than the 2005…so perhaps I should score it higher. Regardless, I’d recommend getting onto and into a bit of this gear without reservation.

Other vintages : 2005

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Yet again I have lost the press release but using the powers of my mind I can tell you this is made by Domenic Torzi from parcels of fruit sourced from across the Barossa Valley. Lyndoch, Eden Valley and hmmm might have been Greenock. I’m sure someone will let me know.

Grapes come from Lyndoch old vine Shiraz owned by a 6th generation Lyndoch family. This site lies in Rowland Flat along the foothills behind the original plantings by Colin Gramp. The Shiraz fruit once supplied Grant Burge for his Meshach…a truly flavour punch site.

Greenock site which is surrounded by Grange Shiraz..not his block though..it was full of plums, peaches and apricots..up rooted they went and in went Grange cuttings from next door. It’s a remarkable block for its youth.

Old vine Angaston Shiraz owned by a 4th generation Angaston grape grower. This site lies along side Henschke sourced old vine shiraz fruit. This fruit for many years supplied Barossa Valley Estate for its E & E Shiraz…it’s a super site with thin soil of iron stone.

Rich and black with cherry jam, black fruits, menthol, liquorice, Bounty Bars and vanilla oak. Flamboyant, not exactly subtle, but very winning. On the palate full bodied but not heavy; it drinks beautifully with its flavours of sweet black fruit, cherry and dark chocolate. It has smooth ripe tannin and an even flow through the mouth. It’s a gorgeous easy going crowd pleaser of the very highest quality.

Other vintages : 2005

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I’d guess this can be had for under the quoted RRP which makes it a fair old bargain. It is also nice to see a red wine from the 2007 Yarra Vintage. There can’t be too much about.

A good mix of bright cherry fruit, leaf litter, smoke, stem and spice make this both attractive and varietal. On the palate light to medium bodied with red fruit, sour cherry and spice that reminds me a little of sweet and sour sauce. There is a bit of stemmy strictness in there to give backbone and fresh and refreshing acidity that carries on to a finish of good length closing with spice and tangy red fruits. You could say this is an excellent weekday quaffing pinot, which may be damning it with faint praise, but it’s packed with pinot satisfaction, especially considering the price.

Other vintages : 2005, 2005

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I have been quite busy tasting stuff recently. Lots of good wines too, but here’s the trick, here’s one that I really wanted to drink. So I did. It’s a drinking wine. A wine for drinking. Easy to lose sight of this sometimes. And while I have you I’d suggest that both 2006 and 2004 are (generally) looking like better red vintages in both the Barossa and McLaren Vale than 2005.

It’s all black fruits, warm earth, dark chocolate and brazil nut with just a little floral lift. On the palate full bodied with a mix of red and black fruits, some earthiness and again dark chocolate with nuts. Smooth but still chewy and satisfying with fine grained tannins and lovely balance throughout. Rich but not heavy or Porty. Long dark chocolate and nut finish. Beautifully done. An irresistible wine.

Other vintages: 2005, 2004

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Better than the 2005 I think.

Very fragrant offering a mix of sweet small berries, pepper, grilled meat and an aniseed perfume. On the palate medium bodied and a little more serious than first impressions suggest. It’s meaty, spicy and peppery with tangy red berries, stalks and a little dollop of vanilla oak. Dry and lightly grippy tannins coupled with sappy acid give this real vigour and energy in the mouth. Finishes dry and long with a redcurrant and dried herb aftertaste. How do they do it at the price?

Other vintages : 2005

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Now then, I have tasted this thrice now, the first blind in amongst a raft of 2005 Huntervas, the second from a whole bottle and the last benchmarking it against the previous vintage (also under screwcap which is 2004 if you can’t subtract) with both of the bottle tastings looking better the next day. A sub twenty dollar (often sub $15) wine that requires decanting or cellaring? Well well. This is a very rich chocolatey wine by Hunter standards, as much like Barossa as anything else, but is still medium weight and I suspect that more regional character will emerge with careful cellaring. Best of all is no longer having to play that tense and scary game of ‘Mount Pleasant roulette’ with your case load of twelve (licorice) bullets; the screwcap ensuring a long and untroubled life.

Rich and tarry with blackberry, licorice and chocolate dominating, a little black pepper and some brighter raspberry fruit peering up through the darkness. On the palate medium to full bodied with blackberry and raspberry, licorice and earthy leathery flavours. It is dry (almost porty) and savoury with fairly strong but appropriate tannin and a good dry finish. It freshened, brightened and sweetened up after being left for a day and I’d really suggest leaving this alone for a couple of years yet at which stage I suspect it could rate a little higher. Certainly I think there is a bit of X-Factor at play here. A big wine by Hunter standards but it’s authentic and honest and I chose to drink it over several (some considerably) more expensive bottles I had open at the time.

Other vintages reviewed : 2004,2003, 2002, 2000

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No wines ever arrive on my doorstep from Yalumba unannounced as I have a highly satisfactory Biblical arrangement with them. It goes something along the lines of ‘Ask and ye shall receive’, so when I heard that a new vintage of the FDW was out, I wasted no time in touching them up for a bottle.

Aromas of preserved lemon, nectarine, nuts and cream with fine spicy oak. Intense and a little wild and funky. On the palate medium weight with concentrated flavours of nectarine, citrus and mango, oatmeal and spice. It has mouthwatering bright acidity running through the lightly creamy glossy texture and closes with a bit of grip on a long spicy fruity finish. Power without heaviness. This is a top wine offering incredible value for under $25.

Other vintages : 2005

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This comes from a block of vines planted in the 1860’s and is a make of 800 cases. Due for release April 2008.

Aromas of black fruit, almond nougat, pepper and toast. It has subtle French oak and a very attractive sort of fresh bread dough smell. On the palate medium to full bodied with flavours of cherry, dark berries, chocolate and coffee with a touch of earthiness. Seductive and mouth filling with saturating smooth tannins, good balance and a long toasty black fruited finish. A rich and satisfying McLaren shiraz of classic style offering absurdly good value.

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I have done a surprising amount of tasting this weekend, and I’ll write some of the others up later, but this one makes me want to put fingers (I can touch type in a very awkward kind of way) to keyboard immediately. A crty rxciynh rine.

Aromas of lime, fresh pineapple, cashew nut ice cream, spice and mineral. Light and fragrant. On the palate tight but juicy with pine-lime, vanilla nougat, mineral and spice flavours. It has a fine dry texture with a bright clean acid backbone. Finishes clean, crisp and dry with a spicy lime aftertaste. Complexity and finesse at a bargain price.

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I tasted this alongside the 2005 vintage and while they share many similarities, the 2006 looks a little fresher and finer boned. The cépage (being a poncey way of saying which grapes are used) is a little different from the 2005 with the quartet of varieties falling in the following order : Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot and Petit Verdot. I think that Cabernet blends from the Barossa are generally under-rated. More proof follows.

Aromas of crushed red berry, blackcurrant, violet, cocoa, earth and pencilly oak. Fragrant and clean with a slightly grassy lift. On the palate medium to full bodied with red cherry, plum and blackcurrant fruit, cocoa and vanilla and an attractive sweet grassy character (maybe from the Franc). It has lively fresh acidity, firm grainy tannins and a juicy briary finish. An excellent follow up to the 2005 and perhaps even better given a little more time in bottle.

Other vintages:2005, 2004

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Well well, do do do do do (as John Lennon sang), this is a great bargain for sure.

Aromas of sweet berry, plum, menthol, licorice, a touch of black pepper and toasty coconut marshmallow oak. Classic old school shiraz - obvious but very Yum. On the palate medium to full bodied with rich plum and berry fruit, milk chocolate, mint and coconut flavours. It has soft fine tannin, feels supple and soft, and drinks like a champion. Finishes with juicy berry and chocolate flavours. In short, it (over) delivers the goods.

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I am not sure what the whole ‘Over The Shoulder’ thing is all about. It all seems a bit enigmatic but then again that’s probably the point.

Aromas of blackcurrant, red fruits, damp earth and light spicy cedar with a bit of licorice. A delicious mix of earthiness and perfume. On the palate medium bodied with juicy plum, raspberry and blackcurrant fruit, wet earth and cedar oak. Lovely fresh vibrant fruit. It has very fine smooth tannins and a round soft texture. Finishes with lip smacking length that makes you come right back for more. You can’t go past this for quality, value and character. An absolute cracker.

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I was having a little read of Max Allen’s website on Biodynamic wines the other day and did not realise that Paxton are a ‘Biodynamic practice, not certified’ vineyard. I don’t know if I am sold on all the bits of Biodynamism (it seems too pseudo-science for me) but do know that the proof is in the pudding. So while I am not totally convinced by the theory (at least until some real science is put behind it), I do think the end result is great. I suspect that the results may be down to extra care and attention to detail as much as anything else though.

Aromas of cherry, fresh berries and chocolate with meat and mineral characters. It smells as much like Spanish wine as Australian and has a barely perceptible oak influence. On the palate medium bodied with lively raspberry and black cherry fruit and a rich choc-licorice flavour. It has a most attractive mineral and earthy aspect too. There are smooth fine grained tannins contributing to a supple and generous mouthfeel and a persistent savoury choc-licorice aftertaste that makes you fancy another taste. It looks very young at the moment so give it a good splash round if you drink it now. A big buy recommendation from me.

Other vintages : 2005

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