August 18th, 2010
Raisins, plums, olives, black pepper and warm spice lead through to sweet fruits, raspberries and light plums, blackberries and liquorice, sweet spices and some minerals, with a almost syrupy character. Some warmth on the finish, but its cuddly rather than rasping. Still quite youthful, and perhaps needs a couple more years, though it is very drinkable now. In hindsight, perhaps a bit out of balance. Hmmmm. Showing the vintage characteristics. 86 points. Drink 2010-2015. 14.5% abv. $57.50 from a Langtons auction.
Posted in $50 to $100, France, Grenache, Notes, Price, Rhone, Varietal/Style | No Comments »
August 17th, 2010
Two bottles consumed with identical notes. A lovely nose, dried meats and red fruits, cherries and strawberries, tarry and smoky more than floral. Full bodied palate, dried red fruits, red currants and a touch of cherries, some tar and old leather, seamless and strong tannins, lovely balance and length with a drying finish. Looked a lot better on the second night, and I should have kept some for the 3rd night, but was too greedy on the first. Drink 2014-2019+. 91 points. $120 from The Wine Emporium, recommended by Tony; a tip my hat to you.
Posted in Italy, Nebbiolo, Notes, Piedmont, Price, Varietal/Style, over $100 | No Comments »
August 16th, 2010
Not sure if this should be Benevelli Piero or Piero Benevelli (as it is on the label). Not sure if it matters either. Oh, 3 notes in 3 days…
A lovely nose, initially quite savoury, with restrained tar and roses, but fruitier than you would perhaps expect, also showing some red liquorice, black damp earth, cinnamon and only a touch of varnish. The palate showed cherries and an earthiness, with woody spices, cleansing acid, fine supporting tannins, all nicely balanced and approachable. Has the Nebbiolo characters you would expect but the tannins have been reined in, and there are fruity characters pushing through. Good length and excellent value at $30 from Boccaccio Cellars. Sealed under cork. 89 points. Drink 2010-2014
Posted in $20 to $50, Italy, Nebbiolo, Notes, Piedmont, Price, Varietal/Style | 6 Comments »
August 15th, 2010
I went to The Wine Emporium yesterday to collect some Barolo, as well as the new Crittenden Spanish offerings, and a bottle of this wine. I have enjoyed Bindi wines in the past, and this was also very enjoyable. Pleasantly spiced red fruits, cherries, a touch of rhubarb and tomato flesh, brown sugar and spice. The palate is fresh and fleshy, cherry fruits and spice, relatively simple at the moment, but presenting good flavours. Sealed under Diam. $55. 87+ points. Drink 2012-2016.
Posted in $50 to $100, Australia, Macedon, Notes, Pinot Noir, Price, Varietal/Style | No Comments »
August 14th, 2010
Nothing positive to report here. And I think at the moment it does need a bit of a decant to dissipate some of the more alpine characters. On the nose, pine needles, red berries, plums and red currants followed by some spearmint, and with time, malt and more pine needles. The palate shows some red fruits and liquorice, but is dominated by pine needles and mint. Reasonable fruit flavours and nice acid, but accompanied by the pine refresher goodness. Maybe I am getting more critical, or perhaps I’m losing my marbles (which is a strange expression really), but I think this wine is just tolerable. Sealed under cork. 14.5% abv. 83 points.
Posted in $20 to $50, Australia, Barossa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Notes, Price, Varietal/Style | No Comments »
July 11th, 2010
The diam was half soaked through, and was quite loose in the neck of the bottle. Quite a pleasant nose on the wine, starting with rhubarb, beetroot, earth and bark, and then developing some cherry fruits and perfume, with cream and nuts. Quite nice; the palate however was very disappointing: very dry, with hints of red fruits and spice, but the length was short and the finish bitter. Bleech. 78 points. 13.0% abv. Sealed under Diam. Drink only if you have to.
Posted in $20 to $50, Australia, Mornington Peninsula, Notes, Pinot Noir, Price, Varietal/Style | 4 Comments »
July 3rd, 2010
Not sure where this bottle came from. Hopefully I wasn’t cellaring it for someone else. Still a good red colour. A ripe nose, plums more than cherries, Christmas spices, old dried meat, some spirit and a bit of acetone. An acid driven palate, some lighter fruit, cherries and cranberries, dry woody spices, some alcohol warmth, and a chemically bite on the finish. A bit lumpy with quite simple flavours (compared to the aromatics); more of a dry red style. Cannot see this going anywhere good. Drink now. Sealed under screwcap. 14.5% abv. 85 points.
Posted in $50 to $100, New Zealand, Notes, Otago, Pinot Noir, Price, Varietal/Style | 1 Comment »
July 2nd, 2010
A blend of Tempranillo, Graciano and Garnacha. A complex and intriguing nose, showing red fruits with a touch of mulberries, earth, pretty aromatics like rose petals, and spices like mace, with mushrooms, malt and roasted nuts. A lot going on. The palate follows on from the nose, with terrific balance, beautifully smooth and creamy in texture, slightly nutty and oh so gnawish. On the fuller side of medium bodied and very satisfying with some cooler weather. This is good – can I have some more? $60 on purchase. 14% abc. Drink over the short term, perhaps now-2012 or 2013. 92 points.
Posted in $50 to $100, Grenache, Notes, Price, Rioja, Spain, Tempranillo, Varietal/Style | 1 Comment »
July 1st, 2010
I must say I was pleased to get a sample of this wine recently; it is one of my favourite styles of Shiraz and a tremendous producer. A deep red/purple in colour. A luscious nose, offering red currants, raspberries, cinnamon, peppercorns and some creaminess; nuanced and layered. The palate is similarly impressive, red fruited with a touch of dark plums and cherries, liquorice and a dash of spice; fine tannins, medium bodied and a lovely sense of balance and restraint. Excellent length, and should handle some cellaring. A six pack buy for me, budgetary constraints permitting. Winery sample, with a RRP of $85. 14.5% abv. Drink 2012-2017+. 95 points.
Posted in $50 to $100, Australia, Grampians, Notes, Price, Shiraz, Varietal/Style | 4 Comments »
June 30th, 2010
I have been re-organising the cellar and found a lone bottle of this wine. 2000 was a difficult vintage in South Australia, wasn’t it? Or maybe that was just in the Barossa Valley. Anyway, I decided that this wine’s number was up. Oh, I should mention I also discovered a small enclave of 1996 and 2001 Magill Estate Shiraz – I am planning to cook something nice on the weekend and will crack a bottle or two. But I digress. With the wine swirling in the glass, I see it has a dull red colour, with perhaps a touch of bricking. On the nose, blackberries, milk chocolate, old pepper spices, a sweet confection, with a touch of earthy compost and smoke. The palate is still showing some fruit sweetness, with bouncy black and red fruits, blackberries and raspberries, leathery complexity and a touch of stalkiness; still brightly acidic. No hard or firm tannins; it seems pretty well integrated. Not a classic 389, but still enjoyable. 13.5% abv. 88 points. Drink now to 2014.
Posted in $20 to $50, Australia, Barossa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, Notes, Padthaway, Price, Varietal/Style | 2 Comments »