Archive for the ‘Australia’ 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Monday, February 15th, 2010
I popped into The Wine Emporium on Friday last week and only walked out with 2 bottles of wine that cost $40 in total. Normally trips to this store are alot more expensive, so I consider myself lucky. This wine has a couple of notable stickers on the label: a Trophy and a Top Gold at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show 2009. I tend to regard show awards with a degree of suspicion, but I think the Adelaide Show is one of the better ones around. Anyways, enough waffle. Thirty minutes in the fridge to give the wine a light chill. Deeply scented with dark cherries and spice. On the palate, black cherries, spices, dark chocolate and cola. Beautiful balance, with soft tannins, and a richness that never seemed heavy. Good length, and good stuff for the price. 13.5% abv. Screwcap. $20 RRP. Drink 2011-2015. 89 points.
Posted in Australia, Barossa Valley, Notes, Price, Tempranillo, Varietal/Style, up to $20 | No Comments »
Thursday, February 4th, 2010
No picture for this wine; it can be a pain in the arse to find bottle shots, then edit and upload them. Anyways, this wine was bottled October-ish last year, and though I did wait a couple of months for it to settle, there was still a touch of sulfur lurking in the corners. Moving on, the nose was gorgeous, big peaches and figs, glossy lemons, with some vanilla and cream. The palate is nicely textured, with peaches and grapefruit, minerals, and finishing with lemony pith. Excellent length. At times the midpalate seemed a bit lean, but this didn’t trouble me as the wine is so young and I don’t like wines that are too fruity. One glass wasn’t enough. 13.5% abv. Drink 2011-2014. 92 points. Screwcap. Finally, the RRP is $22, which surprises me – good value here.
Posted in $20 to $50, Australia, Chardonnay, Hunter Valley, Notes, Price, Varietal/Style | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010
A blend of 85% Shiraz and 15% Sangiovese. Consumed over 3 days and was one of those wines that got better and softened with time. In fact, I found it almost painful to drink on the first night, so most of it was consumed over the two succeeding days. A bulky nose, with rich red fruits, cola, plums, mulberries and spices; packed with fruits and flavours and goodness. The palate is also plummy, but also showed red cherry, black cherry, raspberries, peppery spices and acid. Tannins are ripe but big and plentiful. Should easily take a few years of cellaring.
Other vintages: 2007
Rated : 90 Points
Tasted : Dec09
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $19
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2012-2016
Source : Cellar Door
Website : Primo Estate
Posted in Australia, McLaren Vale, Notes, Price, Shiraz, Varietal/Style, up to $20 | No Comments »