Wine review and journal (c) 2009
Craiglee is an Australian cool climate shiraz institution. From Sunbury in the suburbs of Melbourne, the 2017 vintage tasted here is true to its northern Rhône styling. Elsewhere, even in Australia, it would be labelled as syrah (writing in 2021). It has aromas pepper, game and bacon and a well integrated cedar character. The palate... Continue Reading →
This is Tardieu-Laurent's "Les Becs Fins" Côtes du Rhône blanc from the 2018 vintage. The 2018 is mostly viognier (40%), marsanne (20%) and roussanne (20%) with clairette and grenache blanc making up the balance. It is unoaked, with low acidity, a thick viscous body, is dry and has typical hay and straw like aromas. Ready... Continue Reading →
White Rioja is not easily found in Australia. Made from macabeo (viura), it appears in a couple of styles. This wine is the dry, unoaked and fruity version and is quite floral and aromatic. It might confuse for a sauvignon blanc. The palate however is fuller bodied and the acidity medium, rather than high. The... Continue Reading →
I found this wine filed away under cabernet blends in a wine list. I was pretty sure it wasn’t a Baden cabernet, with spätburgunder being pinot noir and German cabernet being uncommon. A nascent thought was that the confusion might be based in fact, some until now unforeseen German wine label complexity. German wine labels... Continue Reading →
This a pleasant garnacha (grenache) from Navarra in Spain and the 2018 vintage. Lightly coloured as is typical of the variety, the wine is dry, full bodied, has little oak influence (old), has medium and tight tannins that are rocky in texture and red fruit characters. The alcohol is 14.5. This wine is suitable for... Continue Reading →
This is an interesting wine from Greenock Creek in the Barossa Valley. This producer is known for its high octane wines, the alcohols running in the 16s or even higher. These fruit first, second and third styles have their moments and I am not part of the crew that dismisses such styles per se for... Continue Reading →
This wine review is of Salena’s “Twisted Sticks” organic shiraz from South Australia and the 2019 vintage. It is a dry, full bodied wine that is oaked (details not provided, but a small portion seems likely). It is even in its expression, reminding of red fruits, sultana cake and warm cooking spices. This balanced wine... Continue Reading →
This wine review is of Delatite’s riesling from the 2019 vintage. Delatite is situated in north eastern Victoria with stunning views of the local mountains. Its riesling is fashioned in a classic bone dry, minerally style. It has aromas of stones and unripe citrus. The palate is dry, has high acidity, moderate alcohol, a medium... Continue Reading →
This wine review is of Bernard Baudry’s “Les Granges” cabernet franc from Chinon in the Loire Valley and the 2020 vintage. The wine has a purity of red fruits that I have not previously tasted in Baudry’s Les Granges Chinon. It opens to aromas of raspberries and red plums, spice and, consistent with cabernet franc,... Continue Reading →
This wine review is of Henri Naudin Ferrand's Bourgogne Aligoté from the 2018 vintage. Aligoté is an early drinking high acid white grape variety from Burgundy. In terms of repute, it sits quite some margin behind the world famous first white wine of this region, chardonnay. The wine will appeal to those seeking a ready... Continue Reading →