Archive for the ‘Notes’ Category
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
I had this wine on the weekend. I have been otherwise drinking all the old Rhones from the cellar. This would not be mistaken as a wine from this region; it has Penfolds written all over it. A blend of 42% Shiraz, 30% Mourvedre and 28% Grenache. A pleasant nose showing cherries, black liquorice, and dry spices like cloves and nutmeg. The palate is little reserved at the moment, with cherry fruits, cloves and pepper, and a dry finish showing minerals and fruity stones. The dry finish persists, even with some time in the decanter; some some sweetness emerges on the palate. A very nice wine, but released a year too early; will probably rate better with time. Sealed under screwcap. 14.5% abv. RRP is $30, but is available for under $20. 88+ points
Posted in Australia, Notes, Price, Shiraz, Varietal/Style, up to $20 | No Comments »
Sunday, March 7th, 2010
No bottle shot, and not really a tasting note either; more of a tasting vibe. My brother, having freshly turned 50 came over for a pizza extravaganza last night, and brought a bottle of this wine along. I provided a bottle of Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 1996, and though it was probably a touch fresher, the McAlister was by no means outclassed. A cabernet-ish nose, with some old curranty fruits, mushrooms, cedar and dry forest mulch. The palate was little dry, mushrooms and old leather, a touch of red currants, mellow and mature, and very easy drinking. Quite balanced and certainly ready to go, which is not surprising for a 17 year old wine. Sealed under cork. 12.5% abv. Probably around $25 on release. Drink now.
Posted in $20 to $50, Australia, Gippsland, Merlot, Notes, Price, Varietal/Style | No Comments »
Friday, March 5th, 2010
It’s that time of the year again, the time when Penfolds release their “Bin” range of wines. I have read that this is probably the pick of the new red wines, so I bought myself a bottle. I also bought singles of the Bin 128, Bin 138 and Bin 389, and will have look at these in the coming weeks. I would also like to try the Bin 23 Pinot Noir, but haven’t seen it around yet. Anyway, this wine was a vibrant dark red in colour. A solid nose, showing coffee beans and mocha, black olives and juicy red berries, spice, and with time, some milkyness and almonds. The palate is tight and savoury, even after 5 hours in a decanter, with berry fruits, hard dry spices, nutmeg and coffee dryness. Good length, though there is a little bit of heat on the finish, but only a touch. Still quite youthful – I would like to see this again in a couple of years. Bottled under screwcap. 14.5% abv. Currently $19.80 from Dan Murphys in a six bottle purchase, but expect to pay around $25 for it from other retailers. Drink 2012-2017+. 89 points.
Posted in Adelaide, Australia, Barossa Valley, Langhorne Creek, Limestone Coast, McLaren Vale, Notes, Price, Shiraz, Varietal/Style, up to $20 | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
I’ve had two bottles of this wine this week with fairly consistent results; the second was a smidge better, but only a smidge. Pleasant aromas of river stones and stewed berries, raspberries and black cherries, summery spices, moss and some leather. The palate also showed the raspberry and cherry fruits, with lovely spices and minerals, and some garrigue. Length was pretty good, but the finish was a little raspy and hot. 2003 was a stinking hot vintage, and I think it shows with the touch of heat. I don’t think time is a friend of this wine, and I will be drinking my remaining bottles as soon as possible. Sealed under cork. Was originally purchased for $46. Drink now. 14.5% abv. 87 points.
Posted in $20 to $50, France, Grenache, Notes, Price, Rhone, Varietal/Style | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
I popped into Stewarts Wine Co at the Barracks complex on Petrie Terrace on the weekend, and can recommend it for a good range of both local and imported wines, and for knowlegdeable and enthusiastic service. Anyway, this wine was pushed my way and I decided to give it a spin round the decanter on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Quite an intense and complex nose, showing dried meats, raspberry fruits, eucalyptus, milk chocolate, coconut and some spices. The palate is quite big at the moment, meaty and textured, with black plums, chocolate and cloves. Excellent length, impressive balance, concentration without any heat, and a lovely dry finish. Drink 2012-2017. 14.5% abv. Sealed under screwcap. RRP $46. 92 points.
Posted in $20 to $50, Australia, McLaren Vale, Notes, Price, Tempranillo, Varietal/Style | 2 Comments »
Monday, March 1st, 2010
I am not sure of the blend for this wine because the back label says it is 60% Tempranillo and 40% Cabernet, whereas the website says it is 70% Adelaide Hills Tempranillo and 30% Clare Valley Shiraz. On tasting I would lean towards to the latter, because I saw more plummy fruits than any Cabernet characters. But I could easily be wrong. A sweet nose, with plums and meat, milk chocolate and deep seated spices. The palate showed black fruits and cola, pastille sweetness, but also an odd chemical character. Soft and fluffy, and for me it really needed some savouryness and a bit more structure. Drink 2010-2014. Sealed under screwcap. 14% abv. RRP $25. 86 points
Posted in $20 to $50, Australia, Notes, Price, Tempranillo, Varietal/Style | No Comments »
Saturday, February 27th, 2010
Last bottle. Still a good red in colour. Red fruits and aromas from the barnyard, with raspberries and cinnamon, a touch of herbs and varnish. On the palate, raspberries and river stones, dried herbs and a bit of the farmyardy rusticity. Full flavoured with decent length, but there is some volatility on the finish. Went well with some goats’ cheese. Sealed under cork. 14.5% abv. Drink now. Was worth $27.29 from Europa Cellars many years ago. 83 points.
Posted in $20 to $50, France, Grenache, Notes, Price, Rhone, Varietal/Style | No Comments »
Friday, February 26th, 2010
I think this has been out for a while. From the Yalumba website, this wine was apparently matured for 12 months in 18% new oak barrels, with the mix of oak being 59% American, 35% French and 6% Hungarian. A powerful nose, and chock full of goodness, blackberries and blackcurrants, spice and cedar, earth, choc-mint and a touch of green olives. The palate is flavoursome, with black fruits and red liquorice, soft chocolateyness, and tannins that initially are soft but seem to harden a bit at the end of the palate. Terrifyingly easy to drink. Sealed under screwcap. $15.19 from Dan Murphys, and at that price I think it warrants at least a six pack purchase. Drink 2010-2013+. 88 points.
Posted in Australia, Barossa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Notes, Price, Varietal/Style, up to $20 | 1 Comment »
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
We went down the road for pizza the other night because it was my birthday, and when I saw this I thought it would go well with the meal. Unfortunately I wasn’t sure of the normal RRP, and ended up paying a 200% markup. Grrrrrrrrrrr. A blend of 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. Red fruits on the nose, with wood spices, stewed plums and a bit of a liqueured character. The palate was lovely and savoury, red cherries, dry spices like cloves, old leather, with a touch of tin on the finish. Medium bodied, if that. A pleasant bistro wine. Sealed under cork. 12% abv (which seems very low). Drink 2010-2012. 87 points. Should be under $20.
Posted in Corvina, Italy, Notes, Price, Varietal/Style, Veneto, up to $20 | 2 Comments »
Friday, February 19th, 2010
2007 was a good year in the Hunter for reds. A blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 14% Petit Verdot. Opened for 4 hours before tasting. Colour-wise, a black core with red edges. Smell-wise, black fruits, cola, cedar, vanilla, herbs and a touch of sarsaparilla. Young. Taste-wise, currants and raspberries, earth and spice, cloves, cedar, savoury fruits with a drying edge. Smooth with good tannins. A touch of something tinny or metallic on the finish, but only a smidge. Lovely drinking now and should do 10 years plus, as is typical for the marque. Sealed under cork. $55. 13% abv. Drink 2010-2017+. 92 points.
Posted in $50 to $100, Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Hunter Valley, Notes, Price, Varietal/Style | 2 Comments »