• Grape Observer
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • New releases
  • Wine reviews
  • Wine articles
  • Blind taste better
  • Fine Print
Grape Observer

Grape Observer

A fine wine review focussing on wines from Australia and France (c)

  • Jean-Paul’s de Castella Wines Shiraz 2016

    With no bottles taking its place on the local wine shelf, I feared that I may have tasted the last of this producer’s wax sealed wines from the 2014 vintage and the Yea region.  I recently however spotted a 2016 vintage for sale (in 2022). Unlike the 2014 vintage, this wine is more syrah than […]

    Sean Mitchell

    May 11, 2022
    Wine Reviews
    Australia, Shiraz, Syrah, Victoria, Yea
  • Medhurst Shiraz Yarra Valley 2005

    I think of cool climate syrah as a more recent trend. But it is not really. This 2005 vintage shiraz from the Yarra Valley provided very good drinking at 17 years of age. Deeply coloured, it has plenty of green aromas; in particular, rosemary, seaweed and bouquet garnis. The palate is fully mature and medium […]

    Sean Mitchell

    March 30, 2022
    Wine Reviews
    Australia, Shiraz, Syrah, Victoria, Yarra Valley
  • Domaine Rostaing Côte Rôtie 2016 Wine Review

    This wine review is of a Côte Rôtie from Domaine Rostaing and the 2016 vintage. It’s an outstanding expression of syrah and viognier. In the glass, it is a medium bodied wine that is earthy, spicy and has well integrated and subtle oak that does not present as new barrels. The wine finishes on tannins […]

    Sean Mitchell

    May 8, 2021
    Wine Reviews
    Côte Rôtie, France, Rhône Valley, Syrah, Viognier
  • Château des Crès Ricards Oenothera 2018 Wine Review

    This wine review is of the Château des Crès Ricards Oenothera Terrasses du Larzac from the 2018 vintage. The Terrasses du Larzac is a recently recognised appellation from within the Languedoc in the south of France and a source of grenache, syrah and mourvèdre blends. This wine is true to the regional style. It has […]

    Sean Mitchell

    March 15, 2021
    Wine Reviews
    France, Grenache, Mourvèdre, South of France, Syrah, Terrasses du Larzac
  • Maison de Vigneron Grenache Syrah 2018 Wine Review

    This wine review is of Maison de Vigneron’s 2018 grenache syrah from Vaucluse in the southern Rhône Valley in France. It is a modest wine with fruity aromas of red berries that are true to grenache. The palate is full bodied, unoaked, the acidity low to medium and the tannins soft. The focus is on […]

    Sean Mitchell

    January 10, 2021
    Wine Reviews
    France, Grenache, Rhône Valley, Syrah, Vaucluse
  • Thalvin Alain Graillot Syrocco Syrah 2017

    This wine from Morocco proved interesting at multiple levels.  First, it is, well, from Morocco and the wine is in Australia.  Second, as a syrah, it shows some resemblance to a Rhône style wine.   Third, the wine is very good and not just a novelty. The aroma is quite attractive, with plum notes interlaced […]

    Sean Mitchell

    August 24, 2020
    Wine Reviews
    Morocco, Northern Africa, Syrah
  • Pepe Mendoza Casa Agricola Alicante 2018

    From Alicante in the south of Spain, this is a full bodied, spicey and edgeless blend. The grape varieties are monastrell (mouvèrdre), syrah, alicante bouschét (a red variety that also unusually has red flesh) and giró (a red variety found in Spain and Sardinia). This pleasant wine is ready to drink now. Rating: Good. Website: […]

    Sean Mitchell

    August 19, 2020
    Wine Reviews
    Alicante, Alicante Bouschét, Giró, Monastrell, Mourvèdre, Spain, Syrah
  • Domaine La Roubine La Grange des Briguières Sablet 2017

    Sablet is one of the Côtes du Rhône Villages appellations in the southern Rhône Valley in France. This wine from Domaine de la Roubine is a blend of 70% grenache, 25% syrah and 5% cinsault. It has aromas of stalk, rosemary and a green bouquet garnis character. The palate is full bodied, with medium tannins […]

    Sean Mitchell

    July 17, 2020
    Wine Reviews
    Côtes du Rhône Villages, Cinsault, France, Grenache, Rhône Valley, Sablet, Syrah
  • Cave de Tain Première Note Syrah 2018

    I’ve tasted a couple of vintages now of this entry level syrah from the Cave de Tain and the Collines Rodaniennes IGP in the Rhône Valley, France. The 2016 vintage is reviewed here. The 2018 vintage is also of good quality. It has typical syrah aromas of wet rosemary, spice and bouquet garnis. The Australian […]

    Sean Mitchell

    July 17, 2020
    Wine Reviews
    Collines Rhodaniennes IGP, France, Rhône Valley, Syrah
  • Yann Chave Le Rouvre Crozes Hermitage 2016

    This is an excellent expression of Crozes-Hermitage from Jann Chave in the northern Rhône Valley, one of the region’s stronger producers.  It has cedar and spice aromatics.  The palate reminds of syrah with its pepper and spice character.  Some pastille notes express themselves at intervals.  Overall, this is a very good wine that is enjoyable […]

    Sean Mitchell

    June 20, 2020
    Wine Reviews
    Crozes Hermitage, France, Rhône Valley, Syrah
  • Tardieu-Laurent Côtes du Rhône Villages Les Becs Fins 2017

    This is a heady Côtes du Rhône Villages wine. It opens to spicy and peppery aromatics.  The palate is full bodied and the length on the finish medium. Spices, rosemary and some raisined, but savoury, fruit emerges with time.  Ready to drink now.  Rating: Good. Abv: 14.0.  Price:  $20.  Website:  http://tardieu-laurent.fr/en/la-maison-2/.  Reviewed:  May 2020. 

    Sean Mitchell

    May 28, 2020
    Wine Reviews
    Côtes du Rhône, France, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Rhône Valley, Syrah
  • Château Paul Mas Languedoc 2018

    Château Paul Mas Languedoc 2018 Wine Review

    Sean Mitchell

    April 16, 2020
    Wine Reviews
    Grenache, Languedoc, South of France, Syrah
1 2
Next Page

Powered by WordPress

 

Loading Comments...