GrapeScott

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.

Another single bottle taster from many months ago. Might even be more than a year. A rich red in colour, with traces of purple. The nose showed a mass of different aromas, plums, mulberries and blueberries, vanilla and a nuttiness, and lurking in the shadows black fruits and earthy spices. The palate showed bright clean fruit, mulberries and plums, with hints of currants and raspberries, nutty and savoury with a drying finish. Medium bodied, with beautiful tannins – the complete package. A very classy Shiraz. I just wish I had bought more. Sigh. Can be consumed now, but should improve with time.

Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : Aug09
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $60
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2009-2014+
Source : Cellar
Website : Seppelt

The first from a quartet of Langi Shirazes: this wine, the Moyston Hills, the Nowhere Creek and the Cliff Edge. The Gap Vineyard is supposedly a slightly warmer site, and it shows it with aromas of plums and red berries, wood spice, earth, plump fruits, and almost a macerated character. The palate is quite plush, sweet red fruits, cream, and a bit of pencilly oak. There is not a lot of spice or pepper. The length is good and the balance spot on, though I would leave it a couple of years before trying again.

Rated : 89 Points
Tasted : Oct08
Alcohol : 14.0%
Price : $25
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2010-2015
Source : Winery Sample
Website : Mount Langi Ghiran

Mount Langi Ghiran has been off my radar for a few years now. In fact, 1999 was the last vintage I bought, and after drinking my last bottle last night I can hear a ‘bip’, ‘bip’, ‘bip’, ‘bip’, because this is just my type of wine (when I’m in a Shiraz mood). Sure, there is a core of cracked white pepper that some find distracting, but there is also lots of fruit and interest: red plums and blackberries, red cherries, cinnamon, vanilla pod and even some meatiness. The palate is beautiful, all those red and black fruits, fine fine tannins and then some creaminess and raspberries, pepper and dry spices. The length is excellent – a very satisfying wine, and better than my previous bottle a few years ago. Drink over the short term I think, as it dried out a touch after a few hours.

Rated : 93 Points
Tasted : Mar07
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $38.16
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2007 – 2010
Source : Cellar