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.
Archive for the ‘$20 to $50’ Category
McAlister Merlot Noir 1993
Sunday, March 7th, 2010Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Les Olivets” 2003
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.
Penfolds Cellar Reserve Tempranillo 2007
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.
Some Young Punks Double Love Trouble 2008
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
Domaine Santa Duc Côtes du Rhône Les Quatre Terres 2001
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.
Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues 1999
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
I got a few bottles of this wine from the Langton’s Wine Exchange in 2004 for $35 per bottle. Seemed like a good price at the time. I remember trying it when it arrived and it was a real bruiser of a wine: big fruit and big alcohol; it certainly wasn’t a wine to be challenged in single-hand combat. Well six years later some of the fruit has subsided, but the alcohol is still there, and lots of other aromas have evolved. Red fruits and dried herbs, but also a stinkiness, with cheese, farmyard aromas and an underlying tinnyness. The palate showed sweet fruits like mulberries, black cherries and black currants, with leather, minerals and earth, but there is also some varnish, tin and something like rotting compost. Good length, but that is probably a negative, because the sooner the taste is forgotten the better. Neither nose nor palate cleaned up with time. Barely drinkable with obvious faults, but there might be “good” bottles out there somewhere. Approach with caution. 15% abv. $35. Cork. 74 Points.
Meerea Park XYZ Chardonnay 2009
Thursday, February 4th, 2010No 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.
Meerea Park XYZ Shiraz 2008
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
As with the 2007 wine, this wine had 50% whole bunch (stalks included) fermentation and then was treated to 100% new French Hogsheads. Unlike the 2007 wine, this wine was made from fruit from the Canberra District instead of the Hunter Valley. An inky red. Red currants and red plums, neatly interwoven with stalks, spices, red liquorice and smoke. There is also a salty, rockish quality too. After a couple of hours, it also showed some blueberries. A rounded texture, with pervasive stalks, peppery dryness and some sap on the finish. A style I like.
Other vintages: 2007
Rated : 91 Points
Tasted : Nov09
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $40
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2012-2018+
Source : Winery Sample
Website : Meerea Park
Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas 1999
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Red in colour, but with a brownish tinge. A mature nose, leather, pepper, dark cherries, plums, dried herbs and dried spices, with just a touch of alcohol lift. On the palate, red fruits, dried herbs and an earthy savouriness, with a touch of cherry liqueur. Has a soft spirity edge – but nothing aggressive. Some harsh tannins on the finish, though harsh is too strong a word. Where’s my Roget’s when I need it? A pleasant wine, drinking well now but should go a few more years.
Rated : 87 Points
Tasted : Dec09
Alcohol :14,5 %
Price : $35
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2012
Source : Cellar
Website : Domaine Santa Duc
Fromm Clayvin Vineyard Pinot Noir 2001
Sunday, December 13th, 2009
A release direct from the cellar door. And at, as you can see, quite a remarkable price. A complex nose, stewed strawberries, beetroot, red cherries, undergrowth and brown spices, a touch of butter and a bit of varnish. A mellow palate, red cherries, beetrooty earthiness with rounded brown fruits and a pleasant shake of spice. Pretty good length, but the fruit is a bit dull and loose. I think I would have preferred it a couple of years ago. Drink now.
Rated : 88 Points
Tasted : Dec09
Alcohol : 14%
Price : $42
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2011
Source : The Wine Emporium
Website : Fromm