Woodlands 2012 Margaret

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon 74%, Merlot 14% and Malbec 12%
Region/G.I.: South West Australia, Margaret River
Vintage: 2012
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Dark purple with a violet hue
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Blackcurrant, earthy spices (cardamom, turmeric) and hints of mint as well as freshly peeled bark
Flavour: Blackcurrant, some mulberry, earthy spices according to the nice with a lengthy tannins that start in mid-taste. Well rounded. Big.
Points: 89 (3+8+12+8+8+50)
Notes: Extravagant for a Thursday night but supplied by my visitor who tasted it over the weekend. About $40~800Kc

Casa Piedra Alta 2012 Malbec Merlot

Varieties: Malbec Merlot
Region: Mendoza
Vintage: 2012
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: solid purple
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Restrained nose (even on day following opening). Some plum in the nose.
Flavour: Some sour cherry and twiggy/briary flavours. The highlight is the tannin.
Points: 82.5 (3+5+11+7+6.5+50)
Notes:  The second Friday night wine was somewhat disappointing but to be fair, this was not aged. $15.60~281CZK 

Eclectic Wines 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Shiraz

Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz
Region/G.I.: Hunter Valley, HunterVintage: 2006
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Dark purple
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Plums and blackcurrants; hints of eucalypt and mint
Flavour: Nice length, elegant and smooth. Mostly blackcurrant in flavour although some plummy flavours as well. Good drying tannins. No suggestion of Shiraz at all.
Points: 87 (3+7+12+7.5+7.5+50)
Notes: Our Friday night drink at the start of our wine weekend. I've had this for four years. Surprisingly good.

Nugan Estate 2010 Durif

Variety: Durif
Region/G.I.: Riverina
Vintage: 2010
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Dark purple
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: It's meaty nose is equal to the piercing aromas of soft liquorice and sour cherry
Flavour: Excellent tannin which is evident from the first sip through to a long finish. The fruit is more toward Satsuma plum, some acidity of plum skin and some earthy spice (ground coriander, cumin)
Points: 87 (3+7+12+7.5+7.5+50)
Notes: A big red for a week night. Present of my current visitor, this is especially good for the even tannin and length. I've liked wine from this producer previously

Falesco 2013 Grechetto

Variety: Grechetto
Region: UmbriaVintage: 2013
Closure: Cork
Colour: Yellow
Alcohol: 12.0%
Bouquet: Strong nose of lemon-marmalade/preserve
Flavour: Even, lemon pith but more strongly and memorable is the gun-powder/graphite flavours. Balanced and medium bodied
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)

Notes: Very different to how white wine is done in the NW. This bottle brought back by my parents who tasted it in a restaurant in Rome and thought the grape variety novel. Unusual and enjoyable

Domaine La Gamiere 2012 Sancerre

Originally tasted last October, an updated tasting below:

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Sancerre
Vintage: 2012
Closure: Cork
Colour: Yellow/grey
Alcohol: 12.5%
Bouquet: Restrained at first, but opening to ripe rockmelon (cantaloupe) with wet pebble there as well
Flavour: Grapefruit with a lick of mineral sticking to the tongue, this is a relaxed, not in your face, wine. Not overly complex but very pleasant

Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)

Notes: I've scored it a couple of points higher than when tasted in a blind tasting last year. Given time to breath, this may not be earth-shattering but it is a very pleasant wine. $17~310Kc here

Fattoria Di Montagliari 2001 Chianti Classico Riserva

Tasted in June 2013 and again last night at dinner. Notes applicable. An excellent wine. We mayhave to visit the winery

 

Cape Campbell 2011 Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir
Region: Marlborough, sub-region Blind River
Vintage: 2011
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Garnet
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Piercing sour cherry and rotting wood aromas

Flavour: Well integrated, sour cherry and earthy, dusty flavours. No tannin. A bit short at the finish 

Points: 84 (3+7+11+6+7+50)

Notes: I found this too acidic when I tried it in 2013 but I suspect that the wine had not had time to settle. A nice surprise for this Sunday's lunch.

Wily Trout Vineyard 2010 Pinot Noir

Variety: Pinot Noir
Region/G.I: Canberra District
Vintage: 2001
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Garnet
Alcohol: 13.4%
Bouquet: Restrained nose with eventual cardamom and hints of pepper aromas

Flavour: Even, sour cherry accompanied by dusty, spicy flavours according to the nose. A little tannin in existence as well. Medium bodied and reasonable length

Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)

Notes: A pinot enjoyed over the Easter weekend. Bought from the vineyard last year.

 

Mount Langhi Ghiran 2001 Billi Billi

Variety: Riesling
Region/G.I: Western Victoria, Grampians
Vintage: 2001
Closure: Cork
Colour: Brickish red
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Red-currant jubes, coffee and cedar

Flavour: Earthy spice (cinnamon, turmeric), faint cherry and plum fruit. Surprising body in front but it falls away to a small, lingering finish

Points: 88 (5+9+11+6+7+50)

Notes: The last of my brother's old wines. Tasted the 2000 a few years ago. It's past its peak although the nose is spectacular.

The Story 2013 Riesling

Variety: Riesling
Region/G.I: Western Victoria, Henty
Vintage: 2013

Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Pale yellow
Alcohol: 12.0%
Bouquet: Limey aromas with some wet stone in the mix. Sweet (residual sugar) also present

Flavour: Off dry, elegant wine held together with good acidity and a long finish. The fruit flavours up front tend to ripe kiwi fruit and lime. The long finish is embellished with minerality (which is generally uncommon here) 

Points: 87 (3+7+11.5+8+7.5+50)

Notes: One of the nicest Rieslings in a while. Provided by my current visitor.

 

Palatine Hills Winery Estate 2010 Cabernet Franc

Variety: Cabernet Franc
Region: Niagara Lakeshore

Vintage: 2010

Closure: Cork
Colour: Deep purple
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Restrained nose with the eventual emergence of twigs and fruit punch

Flavour: Excellent tannin and length which impressed the group. A little tingle in the finish. Savoury fruit flavours (thyme, rosemary with plum fruit)

Points: 85 (3+6+11+8+7+50)

Notes: This was the winner of our tasting which S. brought with her from Canada. By chance, I tasted it while I was in Toronto and marked it higher. (In comparison to the other wines we tasted, it was closed in the nose and I marked it down on the night). A lovely wine which probably needs some breathing time

Ross Hill Wines 2010 Pinnacle Series Cabernet Franc

Variety: Cabernet Franc
Region/G.I: Central Ranges, Orange

Vintage: 2010

Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Purple with dark brown/purple hue
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: A touch of wet earth and crushed regular cherry

Flavour: Well rounded with sweet, plummy fruit. A very long finish and very nice tannin in the finish

Points: 87 (4+7+11+8+7+50)

Notes: This was my contribution to the Cab Fran night and I rated it second best. It lost to the winner of our tasting by 1/2 point overall, so it was pretty close. Purchased at the cellar door three years ago for $36~700Kc. This winery is famous for this wine.

Fox Creek Wines 2010 James Stanley Malpas

Varieties: Shiraz 78%, Cabernet Sauvignon 16%, Cabernet Franc 6%
Region: Rioja

Vintage: 2010

Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Dark purple
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: Wet cow, minced cherry and cocktail cherry
Flavour: Soft on the palate, new world fruitiness (according to the nose), a touch of tartness and very mild tannins underlying all

Points: 88 (4+8+11+8+7+50)

Notes: My favourite from the evening although technically it contains a very small amount of Cabernet Franc. Shamelessly New World in style. Excels in this style.

Picardy 2010 Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc

Varieties: Merlot 54%, Cabernet Sauvignon 27%, Cabernet Franc 19%
Region/G.I.: South West Australia, Pemberton
Vintage: 2010

Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Dark purple with purple hue
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Wet wood and a touch of wet animal

Flavour: Full mouth, very nice tannin in mid-palate. Soft, fruit is much like ripe plums and prunes. A little short at the end

Points: 84 (3+7+10+7+7+50)

Notes: This came last in our tasting of Cabernet Franc night. Quite good but it was a strong tasting that night.

Faustino Rivero Ulecia 2008 Reserva

 

Variety: Tempranillo, Garnacha
Region: Rioja

Vintage: 2008

Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Deep purple
Alcohol: 13.00%
Bouquet: Piercing sour cherry, rotting/damp twigs on a forest floor
Flavour: Gentle, smooth with just ripe red currants flavours easing into soft tannins for the finish

Points: 85 (4+7+11+6+7+50)

Notes: Solid wine after wondering what $13.00~250Kc buys in terms of entry level reserva at a liquor warehouse. Ready to celebrate the cooler weather with a few reds now.