Archive for the ‘up to $20’ Category
Thursday, August 19th, 2010
I am slowly finishing off all my Tahbilks. Very slowly. I think I like the idea of them more than the actual drinking. You know, the old skool label, the tradition, low-ish alcohol levels, no fancy oak treatments, no silly names like the Swamp Frog Cabernet, or the Masked Egret Shiraz. All that kind of stuff. Though apparently with the recent releases there have been some changes and the wines themselves are crackers, so perhaps I should re-assess. This one was consumed over 2 nights. Initially, a nose showing bacon fat, eucalypt, savoury cherry and plummy fruits, followed by a truly weird palate: raspberries and an intense confection like those old Allens Redskin sticks I used to scoff waiting for the 160 bus to take me home after school. Also showed quite a bit of acid, and certainly looked a lot better with food. Much in the same way a Beaujolais does. After a while it cleaned up a bit, showing black cherries, mint and eucalypt with a lick of liquorice, but it still had that confected edge. 85 points is about right I think. 13.0% abv. Sealed under cork. Drink now, but should hold a while.
Posted in Australia, Cabernet Sauvignon, Nagambie Lakes, Notes, Price, Varietal/Style, up to $20 | 3 Comments »
Wednesday, May 12th, 2010
I don’t drink a lot of white wines, but when I saw some positive reviews of this wine I asked for a sample bottle. From the Awatere Valley in Marlborough, and a winner of a Blue-Gold Award at the Sydney International Wine Competition in addition to being one of the top 100 wines at the show.
An interesting nose, with white asparagus, lemons, sherbet and a touch of tropical fruits too. The palate showed some herbaceousness, with lemons, limes, grapefruit and a touch of minerals and herbs. Citrus acids drive the palate and there is a pleasant fruit concentration. Sealed under screwcap. 13.0% abv. Winery sample. RRP $16.99. Drink 2010-2012. 88 points.
Posted in Marlborough, New Zealand, Notes, Price, Sauvignon Blanc, Varietal/Style, up to $20 | No Comments »
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 »
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 »
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 | 2 Comments »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
I bought another bottle of the Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 because of the mixed reviews and I thought I should try it again. Anyhoo, I like getting the six bottle discount so this guy hitched a ride home. A medium red. A peculiar nose, with plums and spice, old wood, dusty cherries, and an oddness that I just couldn’t quite pin down. On the palate, bland fruits with dry spices and a savouriness. Okay length, but a bit too dry for my liking; your mileage might vary.
Rated : 83 Points
Tasted : Nov09
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $16.15
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2011
Source : Dan Murphys
Posted in Dolcetto, Italy, Notes, Piedmont, Price, Varietal/Style, up to $20 | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009
I’ve had a couple of bottles of this now. A delicate nose, lightly spiced, with cherry fruits, a touch of strawberry and some wood spices. The palate is delicate too, red fruits and rose petals, a touch milky and sappy at the same time, with a squeeze of spice. Poised and balanced, not particularly complex (perhaps this will come with more bottle age), but you cannot argue with the price, nor the lovely clean fruits. Refreshing, and a remarkably different wine to the 2007, and certainly a style I prefer.
Rated : 86 Points
Tasted : Sep09
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $15
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2009-2013
Source : Boccaccio Cellars
Website : Wickhams Road
Posted in Australia, Notes, Pinot Noir, Price, Varietal/Style, Yarra Valley, up to $20 | No Comments »