Purple ruby color almost fuschia, from organically grown grapes. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, plum, raspberry, blackberry cobbler, cocoa, leather, with some oak, and no earth to speak to. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, ripe black fruit, cocoa, with a creamy milkshake component, and a silky finish. Why don’t more restaurants and bars pour this by the glass?
Category Archives: Australia
2009 Spring Seed Wine Co Scarlett Runner
2006 Massena The Moonlight Run
Ruby garnet color. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, plum, blackberry, mulberry, strawberry, leather, old tire, cracked pepper, meat, mint, with oak, and subtle but present earth. On the palate, dry, medium+ intensity, medium tannin, medium+ body, rocking a granite and iron element, luscious texture, milky mouth feel, medium acidity, with a good length to the finish. There’s something special here, mineraly and earthy with more than enough perfectly ripened fruit to balance this architypical Aussie GSM blend, and I’m looking forward to my next visit with this wine.
2004 Penfold’s Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon South Australia
I opened this last night to share with some steaks to assess its progress, I think I have 3 bottles left. Purple ruby color. On the nose, youthful, bright and opulent, medium+ intensity, black cherry, cassis, plum, mint, cigar, lots of spice, no earth, and subtle oak. On the palate, dry, medium tannin, medium acidity, very balanced, polished, still bright fruit, with savory spice, and pretty mint flavors, on a solid finish.
2005 Glen Eldon Riesling Eden Valley
Golden platinum color. On the nose, developed, medium intensity, flowers, lime, peach, nectarine, subtle petrol not, no oak, and not all that earthy either. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, medium acidity, light body, some fruit, but mainly flowers, and a short finish. This wine tasted good, but the flavors fade fast, the kind of wine one could easily enjoy a few bottles of on a hot day. Close out special, and I picked up a case.
2008 Heartland Stickleback White
35% Verdelho, 24% Semillon, 23% Viognier and 18% Pinot Gris. Platinum color. On the nose, youthful, medium+ intensity, melon, apricot, nectarine, honeycomb, very pretty floral component, with no oak or earth to speak to. On the palate, dry, medium+ intensity, crisp acidity, and balance, a bright, fruit explosion, with plenty of flowers and herbs, very clean finish of moderate length. Kick ass value white we should all be drinking with fresh Halibut.
2008 Winners Tank Shiraz
Black purple in color. On the nose, youthful, medium+ intensity, blueberry, blackberry, leather, meat, mint, black pepper, chocolate, no earth, and moderate oak. On the palate, dry, medium+ intensity, medium tannin, medium acidity, layered, black and blue fruit, meaty, leathery, spice driven finish. Solid inky Shiraz.
2003 Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay
I tried this fully blind. I was able to deduce it was a white wine based on color, which was straw at best. On the nose, youthful, medium intensity, lots of apple, some mineral, cooking spices, butterscotch, some oak, and some earth. On the palate, dry, medium intensity, nice pure apple fruit, with brilliant acidity, medium+ acidity, lots of mineral, lots of spice, lots of flavor. Yet I called this a moderately complex wine that should cost $42 on a restaurant menu, yet it costs $120 around town.
2006 Massena The 11th Hour Shiraz
This 90+ year old vineyard was saved from destruction at the last minute, hence the title. Ruby to purple in color. On the nose, youthful, lots of rubber tire, funk, mushroom, cracked pepper, meat, leather, dried herbs, plum and figs, moderate, oak, and plenty of earth. On the palate, dry, medium+ intensity, medium tannin, medium+ acidity, nice balance, loaded with black pepper, meat, and tire component, this reminded me of the Grange without all that new American Oak. the 11th Hour drank like a well made Northern Rhone.