Date: 4 August,
2012
What: 2008 Mount Mary Pinot Noir, Yarray Valley
Purchased: probably $85, I think
Food: Braised lamb, roast potatoes, sauteed cale
Comments: Two observations - plenty of structure, plenty of time required. Quite concerned at the start - very flat. Light colour but a bit murky. Had little on the palate early and took a couple of hours to open up. Nose is a bit spicy and has a hint of the tightly coiled anger that emerges later. Gets a bit more friendly in the mouth, with an underlying smoothness with some fresh cherry and a sort of lighter version of forest fruits adding to the spice. No shortage of length, and good structure with the underlying fruit that will provide some elegance with once the tannins that rattle around the gob grow up. Just seems like an energetic, edgy young colt that catches the eye when running a maiden (starting in the city, of course, given good breeding, trainer and money spent on it) - might not be a cup runner just yet, but there is a significant future here, and you can see some of the class (great sectionals) but just needs a season or two to really hit its stride. Pleasingly, I have a couple of these bad boys snoozing in the cellar. See you in five (years), kids!
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Friday, 13 July 2012
Sevenhill Cellars Inigo Grenache
Date: 13 July,
2012
What: 2010 Sevenhill Cellars Inigo Grenache, Clare Valley
Purchased: n/a; around $25 I think
Food: Chilli con carne (followed by chocolate)
Comments: I have had a mixed relationship with grenache - too often it seems sweet and cloying. So it was with a bit of trepidation I hooked into this one, but need not have feared. Just after pouring it is nice but without being special to look at. Bit of mixed fruit and spice on the nose. But this is all about the mouth. Just really good quaffing gear. Nice fruits (a bit darker than the red fruits and almost sweet plum thing I sometimes associate with grenache) and some good spice to balance it. Sort of verges on the too sweet but those spices rein it in. Probably has a couple of years left in it, but no need to wait. Will go with a bunch of different foods - various meaty/tomato casseroles, roast lamb, good barbie stuff. Put it on the midweek quaffer rotation and you won't be disappointed.
What: 2010 Sevenhill Cellars Inigo Grenache, Clare Valley
Purchased: n/a; around $25 I think
Food: Chilli con carne (followed by chocolate)
Comments: I have had a mixed relationship with grenache - too often it seems sweet and cloying. So it was with a bit of trepidation I hooked into this one, but need not have feared. Just after pouring it is nice but without being special to look at. Bit of mixed fruit and spice on the nose. But this is all about the mouth. Just really good quaffing gear. Nice fruits (a bit darker than the red fruits and almost sweet plum thing I sometimes associate with grenache) and some good spice to balance it. Sort of verges on the too sweet but those spices rein it in. Probably has a couple of years left in it, but no need to wait. Will go with a bunch of different foods - various meaty/tomato casseroles, roast lamb, good barbie stuff. Put it on the midweek quaffer rotation and you won't be disappointed.
Saturday, 23 June 2012
Box Stallion The Enclosure PInot Noir
Date: 23 June,
2012
What: 2008 Box Stallion Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula
Purchased: Cellar door, around $30, I think
Food: Shepherd's pie
Comments: "Be in the game, but not of the game." This is tasty, knock it down gear. Has a light colour, with the slightest brown tinge. Goes savoury, fruity and then savoury - nose is savoury if non specific, then onto an initially classic (as I see it!) Peninsula flavour of stewed cherries and background red fruits but then gets quite savoury as it ends and finishes quite long. It has a sort of refined muscularity. Has some Central Otago qualities in that regard. "From the Peninsula, but not of the Peninsula". Ultimately, this a fun, quaffing pinot, not a wine wanker one (although far more than a bbq red, for sure). I would happily tuck into this again.
What: 2008 Box Stallion Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula
Purchased: Cellar door, around $30, I think
Food: Shepherd's pie
Comments: "Be in the game, but not of the game." This is tasty, knock it down gear. Has a light colour, with the slightest brown tinge. Goes savoury, fruity and then savoury - nose is savoury if non specific, then onto an initially classic (as I see it!) Peninsula flavour of stewed cherries and background red fruits but then gets quite savoury as it ends and finishes quite long. It has a sort of refined muscularity. Has some Central Otago qualities in that regard. "From the Peninsula, but not of the Peninsula". Ultimately, this a fun, quaffing pinot, not a wine wanker one (although far more than a bbq red, for sure). I would happily tuck into this again.
Friday, 1 June 2012
Clonakila Hilltops Shiraz
Date: 1 June,
2012
What: 2010 Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz, Hilltops Region, NSW
Purchased: Gift (many thanks, A!)
Food: Chorizo, prawn, chilli and porcini pizza
Comments: Possible ripper. Deep, dark colour. Sort of tight nose although has a bit of spice to it; kind of there but not. Enough of the preliminary garbage. This announces itself in the mouth. Dense, chewy tannins with a brambly, blackberry flavour with almost an deep, angry Christmas pudding thing. Bit of spice to add depth. Finish is interesting. It is sort of like there is an aria being sung and then it drops an octave straight away. That said, it continues to belt out solid tune, albeit slightly softer. Think I need to put some of this in the cellar to have a snooze for say 3 years and it will be outstanding, although quite enjoying it now. Good stuff.
What: 2010 Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz, Hilltops Region, NSW
Purchased: Gift (many thanks, A!)
Food: Chorizo, prawn, chilli and porcini pizza
Comments: Possible ripper. Deep, dark colour. Sort of tight nose although has a bit of spice to it; kind of there but not. Enough of the preliminary garbage. This announces itself in the mouth. Dense, chewy tannins with a brambly, blackberry flavour with almost an deep, angry Christmas pudding thing. Bit of spice to add depth. Finish is interesting. It is sort of like there is an aria being sung and then it drops an octave straight away. That said, it continues to belt out solid tune, albeit slightly softer. Think I need to put some of this in the cellar to have a snooze for say 3 years and it will be outstanding, although quite enjoying it now. Good stuff.
Saturday, 26 May 2012
Box Stallion Tempranillo
Date: 26 May, 2012
What: 2008 Box Stallion Tempranillo, Mornington Peninsula
Purchased: Cellar Door, around $40, I think
Food: Chilli con carne (but not a spicy one)
Comments: bright colour and spicy, assertive nose, albeit "lean" rather than fullsome. This is all about tannins. Soft, powdery, mouth coating ones. Reminded me of a really high end Belgian milk chocolate that after two chews is just painting your mouth. Bouncy red fruits (cherry, strawberry) as well. Length is an interesting one. Yes, it goes for a bit, but stays softly rather than strongly. For the second glass, the tannins get slightly more assertive and suck the cheeks in a bit. Goes well with food, with a bit of spice coming into play - much more assertive. Would be fascinated to see a vertical of this. Does it start out soft and powdery or does it evolve that way? Either way, another winner from Box Stallion (I rate their shiraz and pinot). Quite underrated, I think.
Postscript: have had another glass 24 hours later. Tannins to the fore, a bit of darker fruit, but noticeable also is a bit of spice. Clove? Allspice? Mouthfeel still on the supple end but just a bit more assertive. Suggests a good future lying down. Wish I had some more to revisit in say 2015.
What: 2008 Box Stallion Tempranillo, Mornington Peninsula
Purchased: Cellar Door, around $40, I think
Food: Chilli con carne (but not a spicy one)
Comments: bright colour and spicy, assertive nose, albeit "lean" rather than fullsome. This is all about tannins. Soft, powdery, mouth coating ones. Reminded me of a really high end Belgian milk chocolate that after two chews is just painting your mouth. Bouncy red fruits (cherry, strawberry) as well. Length is an interesting one. Yes, it goes for a bit, but stays softly rather than strongly. For the second glass, the tannins get slightly more assertive and suck the cheeks in a bit. Goes well with food, with a bit of spice coming into play - much more assertive. Would be fascinated to see a vertical of this. Does it start out soft and powdery or does it evolve that way? Either way, another winner from Box Stallion (I rate their shiraz and pinot). Quite underrated, I think.
Postscript: have had another glass 24 hours later. Tannins to the fore, a bit of darker fruit, but noticeable also is a bit of spice. Clove? Allspice? Mouthfeel still on the supple end but just a bit more assertive. Suggests a good future lying down. Wish I had some more to revisit in say 2015.
Wednesday, 25 April 2012
Garagiste Syrah
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.
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.
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!
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