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 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
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
We see so few Bordeaux wines in Australia that are from the left bank appellations of Pauillac, Saint-Estèphe, Margaux and Saint-Julien and are not a cru classé. This is a mistake, as with the improvements and price increases in Bordeaux, there is wonderful value in these villages at below cru classé level. This wine, from…Continue readingChâteau Capbern Saint-Estèphe 2015
I rather sensed that this producer and vineyard were headed towards producing a fine wine. This wine has seen considerable attention to detail and is outstanding. A blend of 68% cabernet sauvignon, 16% shiraz and 16% cabernet franc, it is from the Crayères vineyard in the Wrattonbully region on the South Australian/Victorian border. In terms…Continue readingTerre à Terre Crayères Vineyard 2016
Having tasted their shiraz, GSM and now their cabernet sauvignon, the house style at Chateau Yaldara is focused on wines that celebrate ripe fruit supported by new oak (but not overwhelmingly so). This Barossa Valley cabernet sauvignon is another high quality wine. It has aromas of iron and cedar. The palate is full bodied with…Continue readingChateau Yaldara Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
From Mudgee in New South Wales and a vineyard at 630 metres, this is a very good cabernet sauvignon merlot blend from Gartelmann. It has attractive leather, leaf and licorice aromas, and a brooding expression. The palate is full bodied with soft tannins, piquant acidity, and a leaf/eucalyuptus character on its long finish. The alcohol…Continue readingGartelmann Cabernet Merlot 2016
This is the current vintage release and early to have opened a Rockford Rifle Range. The wine, a cabernet sauvignon, presents in something of a jumbly fashion. The aroma points in different green directions, none with certainty. Weeds, clove, cedar and green capsicum each present their case. The palate offers medium tannins that are fine…Continue readingRockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
The 1994 vintage of the Pichon Baron is a mature claret that remains in its drinking window at 26 years of age. The 1994s are considered a more modest vintage for left bank Bordeaux, but the better producers produce better wines, as usual. In my experience, drinking modest Bordeaux vintages from good producers (from long…Continue readingChâteau Baron de Pichon-Longueville Pauillac 1994
The 2017 release of Rockford’s Rod & Spur shiraz cabernet has aromas of licorice and cassis. The palate is medium bodied and has fine, almost unnoticeable tannins. This is a very balanced wine and is approachable now. In fact, its principal attribute is balance – this is not a blockbuster Barossa style, and intentionally so.…Continue readingRockford Rod & Spur Shiraz Cabernet 2017
This is a delightful Pauillac from Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande’s second label, the Réserve de la Comtesse. It has an aroma of blackcurrant and refined, unobtrusive cedar. The palate is medium bodied, with subtle length and a refined bearing. Ready to drink now or over the next decade. Rating: Very Good. Abv: 13.0. Price: …Continue readingRéserve de la Comtesse Pauillac 2016