February seems both long ago, yet only recent, with both the rhythm of seasons and life partly frozen and confused by lockdowns. This tasting took place in Napa in February 2020. Writing in September 2020, in Melbourne, we remain in lockdown. In our city, this means being permitted only to travel up to 5 kilometres…Continue readingBordeaux 2015 tasting in Napa
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Wynns Coonawarra tasting
This was a wonderful tasting of a selection of Wynns Black Label and John Riddoch Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon wines from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, with some quite interesting conclusions. Those conclusions were that the Black Label, for most vintages, served blind and side-by-side with the John Riddoch, provided the more compelling current…Continue readingWynns Coonawarra tasting
Here’s the second of my promised posts on the Rutherglen wine region. The first post was on Rutherglen’s renaissance and can be found here. This post is all about what Rutherglen is famous for: fortified muscat (grape: muscat à petits grains) and fortified topaque (grape: muscadelle). Viticulture and winemaking Rather than recite facts from the…Continue readingRutherglen muscat and topaque
Torbreck Woodcutter’s Wine ReviewContinue readingTorbreck Woodcutter’s 2019 Wine Review
This wine review is of a pinot noir rosé from Huntington Estate in warm climate Mudgee. This is not a natural home for pinot noir, but as a rosé from grapes that I expect were early picked, the wine is refreshing and European in style. In the glass, it is a red-orange colour. The aroma…Continue readingHuntington Estate Rosé 2018 Wine Review
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Paul Mas Viognier 2019 Wine Review
This viognier is from Paul Mas and the Pays d’Oc IGP in the south of France. It’s a well made wine. Local Australian versions of viognier can sometimes miss the mark navigating the tension between the high sugar (and alcohol) and low natural acidity of this variety. But here the wine is soft, ripe and…Continue readingPaul Mas Viognier 2019 Wine Review
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Tardieu-Laurent Gigondas 2015
This is a delicious Gigondas from Tardieu Laurent and one of the better wines I have tried from this appellation. It has savoury and immediately appealing aromas of boysenberry, blueberry and well integrated cedar. The palate is full bodied with attractive grippy tannins, a refined balance, medium acidity and ripe boysenberry fruit. Long length on…Continue readingTardieu-Laurent Gigondas 2015
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Chateau La Lagune Haut-Médoc 2010
This is an excellent La Lagune from the outstanding 2010 Bordeaux vintage. It has unmistakeable left bank aromas of cedar and blackcurrant. The palate is between medium and full bodied, the tannins are a little softer than expected for this vintage and the length on the finish is long. This is one of those wines…Continue readingChateau La Lagune Haut-Médoc 2010
This is a very good premier cru chardonnay from Mercurey in the Côte Chalonnaise. In its drinking prime, it has aromas of smoke and minerals. The palate is medium to full bodied, its acidity medium-high and its impression tight, linear and mineral. There is some good complexity here and this wine rewards current drinking. Rating:…Continue readingLes Héritiers Saint-Genys Mercurey Premier Cru Clos Marcilly 2015
I drink little Vinho Verde, and this is not typical of the ones I have tried. It is a fuller style, made from, relative to the plethora of obscure Portuguese grape varieties, the more familiar alvarinho (albarino) and is from the Moncao region in Portugal near the Spanish border. Described as “alvarinho contacto”, the wine…Continue readingAnselmo Mendes Alvarinho Contacto Vinho Verde 2017
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Remelluri Reserva Rioja 2012
This is a high quality Rioja Reserva from Remelluri. It opens to aromas of game, sweet red fruits and cedar. The palate is medium bodied with mid weight tannins. Its principal feature is its saturated red fruit character interlaced with chocolate. Long length on the finish confirms this to be a very good wine that…Continue readingRemelluri Reserva Rioja 2012
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Shaw Riesling Isabella Canberra 2017
From Shaw Vineyard Estate, this is a very precise expression of riesling, a variety that produces excellent wines in the Canberra region. In the glass, the wine has aromas of stones, lemons, white flowers and smoke. The palate gives the impression of dryness with a very lemony expression and high, racy acidity. Drink now and…Continue readingShaw Riesling Isabella Canberra 2017
This wine is from Punters Corner in Coonawarra and is a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and shiraz from the 2002 vintage. It was purchased in South Australia at release, when travel outside of Victoria was a thing. The wine opens to tertiary aromas of cedar, smoke and earth. The palate is full bodied and…Continue readingPunters Corner Coonawarra Triple Crown 2002
This wine, a cabernet sauvignon merlot blend from Paul Mas and the Languedoc in the south of France, over delivers for its price. It has correct varietal aromas of blackcurrant, smoke and leaf. The palate is full bodied with savoury fruit and medium tannins that are ripe. Ready to drink now. Rating: Good. Website: https://www.paulmas.com/en/home/;…Continue readingDomaines Paul Mas Vignes de Nicole Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2019
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Simi Chardonnay Sonoma County 2015
This is a more straightforward expression of Sonoma chardonnay. From the 2015 vintage, it has aromas of cashews and yoghurt. The palate is full bodied, loose knit and viscous. Sound drinking. Rating: Good. Website: https://www.simiwinery.com; wine-searcher.com. Reviewed: September 2020.Continue readingSimi Chardonnay Sonoma County 2015