Date: 24 and 25 April,
2012
What: 2010 Garagiste Syrah, Heathcote
Purchased: Blackhearts
& Sparrows, $46
Food: Chicken and leek pie (24/4), lamb and salad (25/4)
Comments: errrrmmm. Ok. Great colour - vibrant deep ruby. A tasting in two parts.
First night: what is this? Little on the nose. Perhaps some spice, and a bit of forest floor. Weird melange of forest fruits and cloves, but nothing really consistent and more to the point, nothing particularly meaningful to taste. Very tannic and had the cheeks being sucked well in.
Second night: has opened up, with spices coming a bit more to the fore, but still somewhat thin. A touch flinty on the nose along with the spice.
So, what to make of it? Would not pick it as Heathcote in a million years. The first thing that popped into my head was an obscure arthouse movie. You know the type - a black and white effort filmed on location in Albania by an "acclaimed" Estonian director, which tells the tale of a widowed goat herder and his struggles against globalism. Why anyone would watch it over the many other films floating around is anyone's guess. No doubt, a select few pseudo intellectuals will find my views that of a boorish fool who doesn't know a classic when he tastes one. But what exactly have I tasted? I am more sympathetic on the second night but this is not something to be trotted out in anything other than the most select of wine wank types.
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Glaetzer-Dixon Mon Pere Shiraz
Date: 14 April, 2012
What: 2009 Glaetzer-Dixon Mon Pere Shiraz, Tasmania
Purchased: Blackhearts & Sparrows, $40
Food: Home made pizza
Comments: lot of wraps on this, so I was keen to try - but always presents a difficulty in reviewing as wanting to be unbiased. Nice clean, bright colour - lighter side of things. Closed on the nose early. Into the gob and...pepper, anyone? White and black, both at once, and dominating. I love pepper in my cool climate shirazes, but this is almost taking the piss. Cool climate shiraz as an extreme sport. After a while the nose starts to open, with some berry fruits/plum, forest floor and perhaps a bit of porcini mushroom popping in to say hello. Palate also starts to open up and the pepper softens (although much in the same way a Mike Tyson's punch softens after 10 rounds - it's still a punch) and makes way for plums and some nice soft tannins; a bit more rounded, and stylish, almost some Frenchiness creeping in. Will be interested to drink more tomorrow and see how it progresses. Worth the hype? Not quite, but a handy drop.
Post script: had another glass today, the day after. Much more going on - fuller in the mouth and a lot more fruit working with the pepper. Good length. Shall decant the next bottle for a couple of hours before drinking as it really needs the time!
What: 2009 Glaetzer-Dixon Mon Pere Shiraz, Tasmania
Purchased: Blackhearts & Sparrows, $40
Food: Home made pizza
Comments: lot of wraps on this, so I was keen to try - but always presents a difficulty in reviewing as wanting to be unbiased. Nice clean, bright colour - lighter side of things. Closed on the nose early. Into the gob and...pepper, anyone? White and black, both at once, and dominating. I love pepper in my cool climate shirazes, but this is almost taking the piss. Cool climate shiraz as an extreme sport. After a while the nose starts to open, with some berry fruits/plum, forest floor and perhaps a bit of porcini mushroom popping in to say hello. Palate also starts to open up and the pepper softens (although much in the same way a Mike Tyson's punch softens after 10 rounds - it's still a punch) and makes way for plums and some nice soft tannins; a bit more rounded, and stylish, almost some Frenchiness creeping in. Will be interested to drink more tomorrow and see how it progresses. Worth the hype? Not quite, but a handy drop.
Post script: had another glass today, the day after. Much more going on - fuller in the mouth and a lot more fruit working with the pepper. Good length. Shall decant the next bottle for a couple of hours before drinking as it really needs the time!
Friday, 30 March 2012
Omaha Bay Vineyard Malbec
Date: 30 March, 2012
What: 2010 Omaha Bay Vineyard Malbec, Matakana, New Zealand
Purchased: Cellar door, around NZD$30, I think
Food: Pizza
Comments: not a grape I have had much of as a straight varietal, but they were everywhere in NZ! This is on the more linear end (c.f. Kidnapper Cliffs, a more round and filling wine that I am keen to hunt down and blog about). In a blind tasting you might go with a cool climate shiraz - spicy, peppery and a bit of dark fruit, both in the shozz and in the gob. Something else, too...licorice? Not in a sharp aniseed sense, but a more general, Darrel Lea soft licorice thing. Background only, so let's not get too carried away. Enjoyable drop without being a blockbuster. Friday night pizza is indeed the slot for it, but would be an interesting thing to sneak into a cool climate shiraz line up.
What: 2010 Omaha Bay Vineyard Malbec, Matakana, New Zealand
Purchased: Cellar door, around NZD$30, I think
Food: Pizza
Comments: not a grape I have had much of as a straight varietal, but they were everywhere in NZ! This is on the more linear end (c.f. Kidnapper Cliffs, a more round and filling wine that I am keen to hunt down and blog about). In a blind tasting you might go with a cool climate shiraz - spicy, peppery and a bit of dark fruit, both in the shozz and in the gob. Something else, too...licorice? Not in a sharp aniseed sense, but a more general, Darrel Lea soft licorice thing. Background only, so let's not get too carried away. Enjoyable drop without being a blockbuster. Friday night pizza is indeed the slot for it, but would be an interesting thing to sneak into a cool climate shiraz line up.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Curly Flat Pinot Noir
Date: 11 February, 2012
What: 2005 Curly Flat Pinot Noir, Macedon Ranges
Purchased: Dan's, I think. Dont recall price but current vintage $48 on website
Food: Rabbit and mushroom pie, green beans
Comments: wow. Just travelling beautifully. Nice and crisp look. Earthy, spare nose early doors but opens up after a glass. Forest floor. Mushrooms - but am I just thinking of what was on the menu? No, it is in fact a good match. Pine nuts. Very Burgundian, or at least what I think of as Burgundian. Nice stink. Keep coming back to forest floor. Keep coming back to swirling and sniffing, for that matter. Loving it. Some slight red fruits but a bit of spice with more mushrooms; soft but defined tannins. Good length. Linear although in a positive structural sense - no lack of flesh here. Quite tasty indeed.
What: 2005 Curly Flat Pinot Noir, Macedon Ranges
Purchased: Dan's, I think. Dont recall price but current vintage $48 on website
Food: Rabbit and mushroom pie, green beans
Comments: wow. Just travelling beautifully. Nice and crisp look. Earthy, spare nose early doors but opens up after a glass. Forest floor. Mushrooms - but am I just thinking of what was on the menu? No, it is in fact a good match. Pine nuts. Very Burgundian, or at least what I think of as Burgundian. Nice stink. Keep coming back to forest floor. Keep coming back to swirling and sniffing, for that matter. Loving it. Some slight red fruits but a bit of spice with more mushrooms; soft but defined tannins. Good length. Linear although in a positive structural sense - no lack of flesh here. Quite tasty indeed.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Savaterre Chardonnay
Date: 4 February, 2012
What: 2008 Savaterre Chardonnay, Beechworth
Purchased: cellar door, about $70
Food: BBQ honey prawns, Thai-inspired mango and bean shoot salad
Comments: last one we spoke about balance. This is more about being on the precipice of what I like without going over the edge. I prefer my chardonnays more linear and minerally, rather than the oaky/buttery end. This peers into the buttery abyss but stays just outside. Just. Bright straw yellow colour. Classic argument in favour of drinking whites above fridge temperature. Opens up and delivers more (albeit closer to the edge per above) when a touch warmer. Apricot, lychee flavours; a bit chewy and coats the mouth nicely but with enough acid to cut through. Kind of hangs around for a chat after the fact, too. I suspect those more in favour of chardonnay will be all over it. I like it but partly driven by the wine wank side of things as much as general drinking enjoyment.
What: 2008 Savaterre Chardonnay, Beechworth
Purchased: cellar door, about $70
Food: BBQ honey prawns, Thai-inspired mango and bean shoot salad
Comments: last one we spoke about balance. This is more about being on the precipice of what I like without going over the edge. I prefer my chardonnays more linear and minerally, rather than the oaky/buttery end. This peers into the buttery abyss but stays just outside. Just. Bright straw yellow colour. Classic argument in favour of drinking whites above fridge temperature. Opens up and delivers more (albeit closer to the edge per above) when a touch warmer. Apricot, lychee flavours; a bit chewy and coats the mouth nicely but with enough acid to cut through. Kind of hangs around for a chat after the fact, too. I suspect those more in favour of chardonnay will be all over it. I like it but partly driven by the wine wank side of things as much as general drinking enjoyment.
Friday, 27 January 2012
Pyramid Valley Pinot Noir
Date: 27 January, 2011 (I'm back!)
What: 2007 Pyramid Valley Growers Collection Eaton Family Vineyard Pinot Noir, Marlborough
Purchased: by a Freo supporter who lost this in a bet (go Tigers!) but I suspect not on the budget end of proceedings
Food: Eye fillet (lighter one!), couple of excellent summery salads
Comments: lovely open. No need to spend too much time waiting for it to wake up. Darker colour with a bit of the browny/aged colour on the edges; quite vibrant given unfiltered. Balance is the word here. Excellent balance between (red) fruity flavours, tannins (smooth, nice mouth feel) and a sharper version of the forest floor nose. Also strikes a nice balance between chunky/solid Otago pinot and the stewed cherry end of Marlborough. Finishes with a vaguely chocolate (milk) and vanilla flavour mixing in with the more classic PN. Cinnamon? Very enjoyable and a much more grown-up version of the Marlborough standard.
What: 2007 Pyramid Valley Growers Collection Eaton Family Vineyard Pinot Noir, Marlborough
Purchased: by a Freo supporter who lost this in a bet (go Tigers!) but I suspect not on the budget end of proceedings
Food: Eye fillet (lighter one!), couple of excellent summery salads
Comments: lovely open. No need to spend too much time waiting for it to wake up. Darker colour with a bit of the browny/aged colour on the edges; quite vibrant given unfiltered. Balance is the word here. Excellent balance between (red) fruity flavours, tannins (smooth, nice mouth feel) and a sharper version of the forest floor nose. Also strikes a nice balance between chunky/solid Otago pinot and the stewed cherry end of Marlborough. Finishes with a vaguely chocolate (milk) and vanilla flavour mixing in with the more classic PN. Cinnamon? Very enjoyable and a much more grown-up version of the Marlborough standard.
Saturday, 22 October 2011
Mac Forbes Gruyere Syrah
Date: 22 October, 2011
What: 2009 Mac Forbes Gruyere Syrah, Yarra Valley
Purchased: cellar door, $36
Food: Welsh rarebit
Comments: bought this one this arvo at Mac Forbe's "urban cellar door" in Collingwood. Good not to have to travel far for cellar door-style tastings! The syrah struck me as a bit fleshier then compared to now. Why is it that tastings are always different to the bottle at home? It has a really funky, earthy, rustic nose. Gets a touch of spice as it opens up, but still more of a (bullish) pinot stink rather than what I might expect from syrah. Bit of a linear mouthfeel. Has some damp wood, forest floor gear in the mouth with a hint of chocolate to go with some more spices (think cloves etc) but interestingly for a cool climate shiraz/syrah there is no pepper to speak of. Finishes with some length although still in the linear mould - not a fleshy finish. These wines are not quaffers in my world. This is one the wine wank, thought provoking end of the spectrum. Provoked thoughts might include "what food would I have with this next time"? And answers might be lamb (roasted), or perhaps an aged cheddar.
What: 2009 Mac Forbes Gruyere Syrah, Yarra Valley
Purchased: cellar door, $36
Food: Welsh rarebit
Comments: bought this one this arvo at Mac Forbe's "urban cellar door" in Collingwood. Good not to have to travel far for cellar door-style tastings! The syrah struck me as a bit fleshier then compared to now. Why is it that tastings are always different to the bottle at home? It has a really funky, earthy, rustic nose. Gets a touch of spice as it opens up, but still more of a (bullish) pinot stink rather than what I might expect from syrah. Bit of a linear mouthfeel. Has some damp wood, forest floor gear in the mouth with a hint of chocolate to go with some more spices (think cloves etc) but interestingly for a cool climate shiraz/syrah there is no pepper to speak of. Finishes with some length although still in the linear mould - not a fleshy finish. These wines are not quaffers in my world. This is one the wine wank, thought provoking end of the spectrum. Provoked thoughts might include "what food would I have with this next time"? And answers might be lamb (roasted), or perhaps an aged cheddar.
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