May
5

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Saltram No.1 Shiraz 2012

Category: Barossa Valley, bold reds, One for the Cellar Tags: , Leave a Comment

Saltram-no-1This is one Barossan for the cellar and it delivers some of that finesse that you might find in wines that carry a much higher price tag. Here amongst the coconut, chocolate oak offer up a spicy and smooth background to fresh cherry, cinnamon, mint, dark berry fruit. There are some mint and graphite facets on show too as the wine opens up and finishes on a mocha note. While oak makes its presence known, thanks to some larger format barrels it does not dominate or overwhelm.

While the tannins are shapely and will help keep this wine fresh for the years to come, if you cannot wait for it to mellow then you will find it better with food. Venison sausage, or a roast with all the trimmings.

Quickie review «A smooth, spicy, well cared for Barossan that shows much potential in its youth if you cannot wait for it to gain some maturity.»

Country of Origin: Australia  Date: May 2016 Price: AUD 80+ | £ | Drink: 10+ years Needs food: better with food in its youth Source: tasting

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Mar
18

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d’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Category: McLaren Vale Tags: Leave a Comment

darenberg-hightrellis

If you like generous and fruity Cabernet, this is really very hard to beat. The Osborn family are indefatigable when it comes to looking after the more traditional wines in their vast range, just as they are at trying something new. The High Trellis fruit comes from some very old vineyards in the McLaren Vale and as to its pedigree… the wine has won a Jimmy Watson trophy for the 1969 vintage.

As usual d’Arenberg are all about getting the best out of their fruit, old oak is key here, and this vintage was no different. The red currant fruit sits amongst sage, cedar and earth notes and there is a menthol edge here too. The tannins are fine and shapely in the mouth. As the elegantly bodied wine moves along the palate it finishes long, plush and is quite irresistible.

Quickie review «Flavourful, juicy, and definitely good company.»

Country of Origin: Australia  Date: May 2016    Price: AUD 18 | £ 11 | Drink: Now – 5+ years     Needs food: no   Source: tasting

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Feb
17

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La Bohème Act Two Dry Pinot Noir Rosé 2016

Category: Rose, Yarra Valley Tags: , Leave a Comment

labohemerose

When the De Bortoli family launched this wine in 2010, the Rosé Revolution was also born as a celebration of the dry rosés produced in Australia at a time when this type of rosé was barely on wine lovers radar. Now, when visiting a small local bottle shop in Australia, you have a much greater chance of finding a dry rosé, it may even be pale, in amongst the candy coloured, off dry pinks. There is even a good chance Read More

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Jan
10

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Yalumba Signature 2013

Category: Barossa Valley, elegant reds, One for the Cellar Tags: , Leave a Comment

yalumba-signatureThis 2013 vintage is the 55th Signature and it does not disappoint. Each year Yalumba dedicates this wine to a ‘signatory’ in recognition of their achievements as part of the tight-knit team involved in making the eloquent Yalumba wines. Read More

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Jan
2

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Tolpuddle Chardonnay 2014

Category: savoury whites, Tasmania Tags: Leave a Comment

tolpuddle-chardFor lovers of great Chardonnay, this is a very fine example of the potential that lays in the vineyards in Tasmania. Australia’s ‘Big Apple’, the island state yields some of Australia’s finest produce – wine included. Particularly when in the experienced hands of Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith MW. Their Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay hailing from South Australia’s Adelaide Hills has long been one of the style leaders of modern Australian Chardonnay. Not unusually in the wine world, the story behind the Tolpuddle label started with a moment of compulsive insanity (click here) and the wines Read More

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