Grant Burge - Barossa Merlot - 2004

Barossa Valley - Australia
$15 - First Choice Toowong

Grant Burge is now one of the top 10 privately owned wine companies in Australia. Grant Burge is a commited Barossa producer. With an amazing range of wines ranging from world class $100 bottles to $10 dazzlers Grant Burge is everything an Australian winery should be and more. Perfection.

Looks
Deep red, slightly purple edges.
Smells
Plummy, dark cherry, wet folliage and slightly creamy mocha wood.
Taste
Smooth and maybe a touch thin. Sweet red fruits.
Conclusion
Fabulous merlot. The drible of added Cab Sauv gives this wine some depth and complexity. This for me is a real winner merlot.

7 /10

Boireann - The Lurnea - Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot - 2005

Granite Belt - Australia
Cellar Door Boireann
One of the vineyards I visited a few month ago. I found all the Boireann wines out standing. The hardest thing is keeping my hands off them.

Looks
Deep red, slightly purply edges.
Smells
Quite meaty wine. Blackcurrent jam. Woody cigar box.
Taste
Earthy, big dark fruit. Bold but rounded tannins. More blackcurrent with twiggy wood.
Conclusion
Great wine wish I could just keep my mits of it. Young but sumptuous.

7.5 /10

Gabbiano - Chianti - 2005

Tuscany - Italy
$17 - Firstchoice Toowong
A traditional blend of primarily Sangiovese grapes, but also includes small amounts of Canaiolo, Trebbiano, and Colorino grapes. The DOCG means this Chianti meets the winemaking standards set by Italian law and guaranteeing that the wine is produced using the highest quality of traditional winemaking methods.

Looks
Ruby red.
Smells
Cherry. Coffee grinds. Burnt wood or charcoal. Earthy spices.
Taste
Juicy blackcurrent, smokey wood, vegital with good length. Well rounded.
Conclusion
Very enjoyable wine but not classic

6.5 /10

Dr L - Riesling - 2004

Bernkastel - Germany
$19 - First choice
When Ernst Loosen assumed ownership in 1988, he realized that with ungrafted vines averaging 60 years old in some of Germany’s best-rated vineyards, he had the raw materials to create stunningly intense, world-class wines.

Looks
Pale straw with green hints
Smells
Chalky, sherbet lemon. Slightly grassy and floral.
Taste
Elderflower or barley cordial. Tastes almost fizzy. Citrusy but without the acidic tang. More sweet.
Conclusion
Very good riesling. I prefer more tang but this is bursting with character.

6.5 /10

Torres - Coronas Tempranilllo - 2003

Barcelona - Spain
First Choice
A confortable and confident mix of 86% Tempranillo and 14% Cab Sauv.

Looks
Dark red slightly brown.
Smells
Dusty spiced wood. Plummy cherry
Taste
A more earthy fruit taste. Blackberries - hints of liquorice, as fruit fades.
Conclusion
This is another wine that makes me even more interested in tempranillo. Great wine.

6.5 /10

Marques de Caceres - Rioja - 2002

Rioja - Spain
Gift - First Choice Toowong
Made from mainly tempranillo, with a splerge of Garnacha Tinta and Graciano this wine has seen both French and American oak.

Looks
Burgundy, cherry edges.
Smells
Dusty leather. Dried fruit. Slightly tarry casis esq.
Taste
Christmas cake. Oaky, dark, stewed fruit and plums.
Conclusion
Good basic alrounder. But nothing outstanding. Too currenty for my tastes.

5 /10

Yalumba - Bush Vine Grenache - 2004

Barossa Valley - Australia
First Choice - Toowong
I first had this wine a year ago in the UK and thought it was fantastic. When i got to Australia I couldn't find it anywhere - until now. Sourced from Yalumba's low yielding old bush vines. Some upto 70 years old.

Looks
Deep, purply red.
Smells
Red fruit, cherries a touch of plum. Earthy, like compost from a bag.
Taste
Creamy lolly esq fruit. Very smooth. Some spice as the frujit subsides. Great length
Conclusion
I still cant get enough of this wine, smooth yet big and fruity.

7.5 /10

Wolf Blass Gold Label - Cab Sav, Cab Franc, Merlot - 2004

Adelaide Hills - Australia
Gift - Dan Murphy
The three native grapes of Bordeaux. The grapes were sourced through-out the Adalaide hills each parcel was fermented seperatelly in open fermenters then in seasoned french oak. After racking the wine was returned to French oak before blending and bottling.

Looks
Very dark red, with purply edges.
Smells
Blackcurrent, rasberry, twiggy earthyness. Minty edges with a syntheticy plasticy smell
Taste
More blackcurrent and barky twiginess. Some bold acids and a chemically taste, similar to superglue (strange)
Conclusion
Big, fruit, bold acid good wine

6 /10

Maglieri - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2004

McLaren Vale - Australia
Kemmenys - Part of a boxed set
This Mclaren Vale winery was founded by Giovanni Maglieri and his son Steve in 1965. Starting with 40 acres of scrub the two native Italians cleared and planted Maglieri. Originaly named Gully Wines, it was re-christened Maglieri in 1977. With the help of their wine maker John Loxton who joined the ranks in 1981 they have become one of most respected producers in the McLaren Vale.

Looks
Deep, dark red
Smells
Spicy wood, slightly earthy. Dark cherry. Hints of a slightly plasticy arylic smell.
Taste
Big fruit more than the nose would give. Succulent cherry with hints of coffee in the finish.
Conclusion
Very good bold fruity but strapped with firm tannins.

7.5 /10

Jamiesons Run - Cabernet Shiraz Merlot - 2003

Coonawarra - Australia
$17 - McGuires Taringa
Jamiesons Run is another Coonawarra estate. Named after the original 'Jamiesons Run' a remote outback sheep station. Their cabernet, shiraz, merlot has seen over 2 years in both French and American oak and all the fruit was sourced from Coonawarra.


Looks
Dark ruby
Smells
Blackcurrent. Mint. With an earth, vegitalness.
Taste
Smooth, round dark fruits. Cherry with a slightly peppery finish
Conclusion
This wine is great. Simple yet big and fruity.

6.5 /10

Wynns - Coonawarra Estate - Riesling 2002

Coonawarra - Australia
$16 - McGuires Taringa
Wynns is Coonawarra's oldest winery. It was first planted in 1891 by John Riddoch. Coonawarra is famed for its soil. It has a thin of red earth ("terra rossa") lying over limestone.

Looks
Crisp pale yellow
Smells
Minty floral tones, honey dew melon
Taste
Very light citrus flavour slightly sherberty.
Conclusion
Not a great deal to this wine. Very drinkable but it seemed to lack the citrussy tang that I enjoy in Riesling.
5 /10

St Hallet - Faith Shiraz - 2004

Barossa - Australia
$15 - McGuires Taringa
St Hallet is a Barossa based winery, although they are one of Barossa's oldest wine producers their roots lie in Fortified wines. In the late 80s they had a 'rebearth' and re-phocused on high quality wines. All their grapes are sourced from the Barossa alone.

Looks
Dark, purply red.
Smells
Black current, black cherries, coffee grinds. A slightly vegital edge with floral hints (smells a little of Palmo Violets)
Taste
Big and bold but silky smooth. More cherry and hints of blackberry.
Conclusion
Great wine big, fruity shiraz. Excetional value.

7.5 /10

Penfolds Clinic - Brisbane

Today I was fortunate enough to tag along to a Penfolds Clinic.The clinic is an opportunity for those lucky enough to have Penfolds wines over 15 years old to have their bottles opened, sampled, tested and if necessary topped up and resealed.

Penfolds seem to have an aura of class, quality and professionalism and the clinic was no exception. The Treasury Hotel was host and the Penfolds room was decked out with all white walls and rows of crisply clothed white tables, bustled over by white apronned Penfolds staff.

The bottles (all ‘84 Grange) were taken from us and studied in great detail, one bottle was deemed to be perfect and was given back, whilst the wine level in the others was sitting lower. These wines were then opened. Even the opening was done with great skill. The foil cap was scrapped off with a rather expensive looking knife and the cork was removed using two very long corkscrews. Each cork once withdrawn seemed to disintegrate it was incredible to see how far up the cork the wine had got after sitting for over 20 years. The wine neck was flushed out with innert gas and quickly resealed with a temporary cork.

The wine man the poured a large class and took a good swig. The remainder of the glass was passed around (to my joy) and we were given his thoughts. All our wines were perfect. The wines were then resealed, refoiled and even gift wrapped in 2006 ‘wine clinic’ paper.

I found the whole experience fascinating. The staff were a wealth of knowledge and were happy to answer all my questions., even the really annoying ones and I got to sample several glasses of vintage grange.

What really stood out for me was how different each wine from the same vintage tasted. How differently they had aged how miniscule differences in storage, the cork the handling had magnified over such a long time. From the few identical wines i had there were definite stand out bottles. This for me only reinforces what a living thing wine is and what craftsmen Penfolds have always been.

Hats of to Penfolds for their world class after sales service thanks to Anita and Emmy for letting me tag along. More info about Penfolds Clinic

Ninth Island - Pinot Noir - 2005

Tasmania - Australia
$24 - Maguires TaringaNinth Island is a small island off Northern Tasmania near Piper's Brook Wineries Tamar Valley and Pipers River vineyards.

Looks
Deep burgundy
Smells
Woody slightly earthy. Blossomy. Red fruits, strawberries, cherry and hints of sweet spice and cloves.
Taste
Bold, with well rounded tanins. More red fruit although a little more tangy almost citrusy on the pallete.
Conclusion
A very good and enjoyable wine, fruity but not too heavy.

7 /10
More info about Ninth Island

Robertson's Well - Cabernet Sauvignon

Coonawarra - Australia
Gift - The Grape Chapel Hill
A lower end Coonawarra Cabn Sav, this scored Blue-Gold at 98 Sydney Top 100 show and gold at Hobart, it also received a glowing review from Gormet Wine Traveller. This wine has seen over a year in American oak.

Looks
Deep Red
Smells
Inky, earthy, blackberry. Slightly twiggy or woody.
Taste
Quite a bitter middle, tastes like chewing blackberries with the leaves still on. Some liquorish. Once the bitterness fades you are left with some fruity sweetness slightly strawberry like.
Conclusion
Quite a big powerful red (14.5%). Enjoyable and well priced but nothing really fantastic.

5 /10
More info about Robertsons Well

Yalumba - Tricentenary Vines - Grenache - 2001

Barossa Valley - Australia
$35 - The Wine Emporium
All the grapes for this wine were sourced from a single Yalumba vineyard in the Barossa Valley. The grapes were hand picked and left with their skins on for three weeks after fermentation and were then maturated for 12 months in French oak.

Looks
Rich ruby red
Smells
Blackcurrent, pepper, asian spice almost soy saucy and meaty.
Taste
Jammy blackcurrent and cherry, meaty flavouring (like bacon flavour crisps). Slightly spicy.
Conclusion
Perfectlty balanced. Delicious, Smooth wine that seems to grow in the glass.

8 /10
More info about Yalumba

Domain Day - Gargenega - 2005

Mount Crawford - Australia
Gift - The Grape Chapel Hill
Garganega is an Italian white grape grown mainly in Veneto in North East of Italy. It is the main grape used in Soave. Domain Day is believed to be the only vinyard to vinify Gargenega outside of Italy.

Looks
Pale yellow
Smells
Stewed tart apples, slightly sulpphery chemical smell.
Taste
Citrusy, peachy, with a bitter acidic aftertaste (like bitter lemon)
Conclusion
Dissapointing. Soave has a reputation (some might say unfairly) for being very normal, i thought Domain Day would have gone all out to make this an exception.

4.5 /10
More info about Domain Day

d' Arenberg - The Cadenzia - Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre - 2004

McLaren Vale - Australia
Gift - The Grape Chapel Hill
Another d'Arenberg wine. For me it seems these guys can't put a foot wrong the quality of their wine at all levels is astounding.

Looks
Extremely dark red
Smells
Thick tarry blackcurent. Mint. Coffee grinds. A slightly plasticy oily synthtic smell like like new carpet?
Taste
Choclelaty cherry like cherry ripes. Cinneman and cassis.
Conclusion
Big, bold and quite complex. The more you get into this wine the more you get from it. An unusual but spectacular and interesting taste. Robust and flavoursome, i ejoyed this wine very much

8 /10
More info about d'Arenberg

Titolato Strozzi - Chianti DOCG - 2003

Chianti Coli Senesi - Italy
$23 - The Grape Indooropilly
Chianti is one of Italy's eleven DOCG classifeid districts. This bottle comes from the Coli Senesi area. Chianti is primarily made from the Sangiovase Grape, or more spacifcly Sangiovase Grosso, or Sangioveto.

Looks
Deep, dark red.
Smells
Peatty earth. Almost manure like. Plasticy. Leather, tobacco and blackcurrent.
Taste
Simple, smooth, balanced wine some smokey blackcurrent. Not much too much to it firm tannins. I would have expected a little more from the nose.
Conclusion
Simple earthy wine. Most Italian wine comes into its own when served with food and this is a perfect example.

6.5 /10

Ballandeen Estate Wines - Family Reserve Shiraz - 2001

The Granite Belt - Australia
$22 - Cellar Door
Ballendean is Queenslands oldest vinyard oldest family owned and operated winery. It’s first wine was made in 1931 it has become one of Queenlsands famous wineries. This small vine yard produces an astounding variety of quality wine.

Looks
Dark. purplely red. Tinges of brown
Smells
Dark cherry, chocolate, mulled wine spice/sweet spice
Taste
Woody cherry, very smooth. Balanced but firm tanins. Tastes of soaked fruits orangie sangria
Conclusion
Well rounded but seems to lack punctuation. Tricky to pick out specifics in the flavour. Completely drinkable but not really astounding

5.5 /10

Catalina Sounds - Sauvignon Blanc - 2005

Marlbogough - New Zealand
Gift - The Grape Chapel Hill
The name Catalina comes from the Flying Boats used by the New Zealand air force. Catalina Sounds was astablished in 2003 by Ant Moore ( of Isabel Estate fame).

Looks
Pale yellow with tiny green hints
Smells
Passionfruit, tinned appricot, spearmint with something more vegital in the back
Taste
The fruit seems alot more down played than the nose would give. Sweet citrus, melon, peach with a minerally aftertaste.
Conclusion
Surprisingly complex a real treat. Great length very morish.
7 /10

Penley Estate - Pheonix- Cabernet Sauvignon - 2003

Coonawarra - Australia
Gift - The Grape Chapel Hill
Penley is a medium sized winenry based in Coonawarra south australia. With the help of Kym Tolley the long standing wne maker they produce a massive range of hugely popular wines which have come to be great examples of Coonawarra Style wine. The Phoenix name comes from the first Tolley winemaking company purchsed in 1888.

Looks
Very dark red.
Smells
Tarry cassis, ripe blackcurrent. Cold burnt wood
Taste
Big, more earthy black fruits some firm bold tanins. Hints of smokey cherry.
Conclusion
A great Coonawarra wine. Very drinkable everyday red will step up even further in a few years.

6 /10

Paxton AAA - Shiraz Grenache - 2004

McLaren Vale - Australia
$23 - The Grape Indro
Paxton is a rising star of Australian wine. Set in the heart of McLaren Vale on South Australia’s spectacular Fleurieu Peninsula. Founded by Ben Paxton son of David Paxton long time McLaren vale grower. Their AAA Shiraz Grenache is triple award winning their accalades incluce Best Red Blend and Best Red Wine from a Small Producer at the 2005 McLaren Vale Wine Show

Looks
Very dark purply red.
Smells
Smokey coffee blackcurrent some casis.
Taste
Warm full wine. Nice bold ripe blackurrent . Sweet stewed cherries. Spicey woody oak.
Conclusion
Bold but simple. Enjoyable wine. Strong, fruity wine nothing truly outstanding there are alot better at that price.

5.5 /10

Robert Shannon Wines - Singing Lake Verdelho Chardonnay - 2005

Granite Belt, Stanthorpe - Australia
$17 - Cellar Door
Robert Channon is another granite belt winery. Set on the rolling banks of a pristine lake I coudlnt imagine a better location. Their grapes are all under nets, protecting them from hail. Robert Channon wines are famed for their award winning Verdhello and also a legal tiff with Moet Chandon over their wineries name. It was originally called Channon Wines which was deamed too close to Chandon.

Looks
Very light clear.
Smells
Peach, pears, oak something a little chemically like sulpher from burnt matches
Taste
Hints of oaky vanilla but not overpowering. Peach and honedydew melon. Florally perfumy.
Conclusion
Clean and tasty, delicate. Not massive fruit not massive oak. But an all round rather delicious wine.

6 /10