Tintara 2011 Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz
Region/G.I.: Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Vintage: 2011
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Deep purple
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Plum, Christmas cake
Flavour: Excellent fruit and tarry tannin. Weighty. Christmas cake flavours of cocktail cherries, cinnamon, raisons and plum. Very nice length as well
Points: 87 (3+7+12+7.5+7.5+50)
Notes: The clear winner of our Shiraz tasting and it didn't come from the Barossa

Pepperjack 2013 Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz
Region/G.I.: Barossa Valley, BarossaVintage: 2013
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Deep purple
Alcohol: 15.0%
Bouquet: Brambly and raspberry aromas
Flavour: Liquorice, chewy, dry finish without tannin. A little light in the middle. Tasted a day later, the juicey raspberry flavours dominate
Points: 84 (3+7+11+6+7+50)
Notes: The other equal 3rd. Much more enjoyable a day later 

Saltram 2011 Mamre Brook Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz
Region/G.I.: Barossa Valley, Barossa
Vintage: 2011
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Deep purple
Alcohol: 14.0%
Bouquet: Plum, some smoke and charred aromas
Flavour: A big, fruity new world Shiraz with flavours according to the nose
Points: 82 (3+6+10+6.5+6.5+50)
Notes: On the evening, we thought this came equal third for the group and for my scoring. On adding again, I realise I added incorrectly. This was the weakest of the wines tasted. I recently had a stablemate of this wine 

Penola Estate 2006 Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz
Region/G.I.: Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Vintage: 2006
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Purple brown
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Tar, raspberry, plum jam (and after an hour, milk chocolate)
Flavour: Light bodied and very even, suggesting age as it was tasted blind. Flavours according to the nose. Some spicy tannin but very gentle at the end
Points: 86 (4+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: This came second from four in our Shiraz tasting. One of the first bottles I bought on returning to Australia in 2009 and it has aged well. From a region renowned for Cabernet Sauvignon. Bought for $9.09~170Kc on special

Franklin Estate 2013 Vintage Cellars Chalkboard Riesling

Variety: Riesling
Region/G.I.: South West Australia, Great Southern, Franklin River
Vintage: 2013
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Lime yellow
Alcohol: 12.0%
Bouquet: Excellent nose of lush lime, petroleum and wet slate
Flavour: Nice acidity. A little more weight to the body than expected although fairly straightforward with lemon and ginger flavours
Points: 85 (3+8+11+6+7+50)
Notes: This chain carries these entry level wines under the chalkboard label. For $12.21~230Kc, this is great value locally. Actually bought to help with a risotto

Pfeifer Wines 2009 Shiraz

Variety: Shiraz
Region/G.I.: North East VictoriaVintage: 2009
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Silver yellow
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: Plummy with the smallest hint of earthy spice
Flavour: No wow factor or huge complexity. A little lighter than I would have expected, with flavours according to the nose. No strong pepper or huge fruit to suggest the local style of Shiraz
Points: 81 (3+6+10+6+6+50)
Notes: I wasn't a fan of this wine and I took it to friends for a lunch who like Shiraz. They described it as "not that bad" which isn't exactly an endorsement

Wolfberger 2013 Pinot Gris

Variety: Pinot Gris
Region: Alsace
Vintage: 2013
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Silver yellow
Alcohol: 12.5%
Bouquet: Ripe, fleshy grapefruit in the nose
Flavour: Lemon, lemon peel and chalky flavours. A medium body, good acidity and finish.
Points: 84 (3+7+11+6+7+50)
Notes: I liked the weight in this. $15~300Kc is pretty good value for this stuff.
 

Marques de Valdecanas 2007 Gran Reserva

Varieties: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon and Garnacha
Region: Carinena
Vintage: 2007
Closure: Cork
Colour: Dark purple
Alcohol: 13.0%
Bouquet: Rich, sour cherry and cherry ripe aromas, red currant
Flavour: Excellent, even fruit according to nose, dry leaf and spicey/woody flavours with a tannin that lifts at the end.
Points: 88 (3+7+12+8+8+50)
Notes: A bit of a treat for a Sunday night getting ready for the work week ahead. The bottle comes without wire. $17~300Kc

Nugan Estate 2012 Alcira Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Region/G.I.: Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Vintage: 2012
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Dark purple
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: Strong menthol/mint in the with the fruit, although powerful, somewhat in the background. Fruit aromas of blackcurrant.
Flavour: A big wine, with rich, ripe blackcurrant, some cedar and youngish, even tannin that coats the tongue and mouth, giving it a long finish.
Points: 86 (3+6+12+7.5+7.5+50)
Notes: I really liked this, although it is clearly young. I tasted the 2009 and was a fan, and only last month we tried their Durif. I am sensitive to green flavours in Cab, but this is nice and ripe. I'm not a fan of mint/eucaplypt which on first opening the bottle is present but it diminishes with time. A personal preference.

Vina Eguia 2008 Rioja

Varieties: Tempranillo
Region: Rioja

Vintage: 2008 Crianza
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Garnet
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Dense sour cherry, some liquorice, hints of tar

Flavour: Fruit according to the nose with some spice, like cardarmon giving it a kick along. Very mild tannin, good even length and a tasty but even finish.

Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: As expected, a treat. Bought a few months ago for $17~320Kc, which locally, is decent value for this dependable drop

 

 

Donaldson Family 2007 Pegasus Bay Encore Noble Riesling

Varieties: Riesling
Region: Waipara Valley, Canterbury NZ
Vintage: 2007
Closure: Cork
Colour: Golden yellow
Alcohol: 9.0%
Bouquet: Honey and caramel is equal measure
Flavour: Gluggy but even, in addition to the honey flavours there was some burnt orange peel in their as well
Points: 86 (4+8+11+6+7+50)
Notes: A nice finish to the evening. Not overly complex or long but done very nicely all the same

Saltram of Barossa 2004 No 1 Shiraz

Varieties: Shiraz
Region/G.I.: Barossa, Barossa Valley
Vintage: 2004
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Dark purple with a marginally lighter hue
Alcohol: 14.5%
Bouquet: Dense mulberry and blueberry jam aromas; a hint of menthol
Flavour: Big fruity according to the nose. Some stemmy flavours as well as some cedar.
Points: 85 (3+7+11+7+7+50)
Notes: Another of V's and the group thought it tasted much younger. I found it a bit short, probably not helped by the two wines which preceded it.

Domaine Durieu 2005 Cuvee Reserve Lucile Avril Chateauneuf du Pape

Varieties: Grenache 90%, Mourvedre 6% and Syrah 4%
Region: Chateauneuf du Pape
Vintage: 2005
Closure: Cork
Colour: Dark purple and a lighter purple hue
Alcohol: 15.0%
Bouquet: Graphite, smoke and gravel
Flavour: A big wine with the highlight being the stewed plum and stewed beef/meaty flavours which form a strong underlay to the wine. I also tasted bay leaf and pepper as well. Very nice lengthPoints: 89 (3+8+12+8+8+50)
Notes: The highlight of our evening. Big and balanced. One of V's.

Pipers Brook Vineyard 2003 Estate Pinot Noir

Varieties: Pinot Noir
Region/G.I.: Tasmania (Tamar Valley)
Vintage: 2003
Closure: Cork
Colour: Purple-copper
Alcohol: 13.5%
Bouquet: Leather and a hint of wet cow; stewed cherries
Flavour: Forest floor and stewed fruit which builds to gentle tannins still in existence. Very elegant and nice length.
Points: 88 (4+8+11.5+7+7.5+50)
Notes: One of V's who hosted dinner. I've tasted young Pinot from this producer at bbqs and have not been impressed (their white wines are lovely). This clearly had potential and aged very nicely

Pizzini 2009 Sangiovese Shiraz

Varieties: Sangiovese and Shiraz
Region/G.I.: North East Victoria, King ValleyVintage: 2009
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Cherry skin purple
Alcohol: 13.6%Bouquet: Briary (twigs) smokey and peppery aromas
Flavour: A flurry of smokey, sour cherry flavour, then a drop in the mid-palate before transitioning to a light, but long dry finish. Well balanced and overall, light bodied and interesting
Points: 84.5 (3+6.5+11+7+7+50)
Notes: An enjoyable, untypical style of wine. Very light so it lacks punch but very interesting in flavour. Bought four years ago for about $16.00~300 Kc

Jacob's Creek 2007 Three Vines

Varieties: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo
Region/G.I.: South West Australia
Vintage: 2007
Closure: Screwcap
Colour: Fading purple with a violet hue
Alcohol: 12.5%
Bouquet: Weak nose with distant wet animal and almost rotting plum in mud aromas
Flavour: Not much at the start but develops into some plum conserve (povidla) and some plucky tannin that sticks to the top of one's mouth roof. A bit clunky/ not so well integrated. Medium body and length.
Points: 76 (3+3+9+6+5+50)
Notes: I bought this out of interest in 2009 and luckily only bought one. Plenty of tempranillo on offer now and interestingly this juggernaut no longer makes Three Vines
 

landsdale 2010 cabernet sauvignon

Discovered this in my stash down the coast only to learn that it is bad like its twin which I tasted years ago. Not sure if the wine club takes them back after so long. Damaged. Undrinkable.