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Overall impressions: this was another mixed flight of currently released Aussies. Mostly Shiraz, there were a few "ringers" included as well - that is, if you want to call Cab and Merlot "ringers." The Standish stole the show for me. Smooth, spicy and chocolate-edged, this is a beautiful Shiraz made at least partially from a vineyard planted in 1914, and the source for some of the Grange fruit. Following closely behind, the Greenock Creek, Turkey Flat and Clonakilla were all outstanding. In the value column, the Morambro Creek delivers an excellent wine for $15. On the down side, I just couldn't get with the Elderton Shiraz at all. Oddly fruity, it seemed to be more about figs and prunes, than about berries. And the Riesling...well, Mates, don't give up - just keep trying, you'll get it! |
2003 Kilikanoon Riesling - Mort's Block, Watervale. $13.99. Light lemon color. Citrusy nose, with a light raisin note. A bit tart and lean in the mouth, good balance, long finish. Made from 29 yr-old vines. Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B Overall score: B 2002
Penfolds Shiraz/Cabernet - Koonunga Hill, So. Eastern Australia.
$7.99. Very dark ruby color. Nose of spicy blueberry and cassis,
with a creamy vanilla accent, and just a touch of toast. Slightly
soft mouthfeel, good fruit, gets a little pinch of oak on the finish. 2002
Brothers in Arms Shiraz/Cabernet #6 - Langhorne Creek. $15.99.
Dark ruby garnet color. Lots of toasty dark fruit, shoe wax, and
spices in the nose. Initially sweet mouthfeel, lots of blackberry
fruit, gets a bit more oak-driven toward the long, slightly bitter
finish. 2002
Teusner Grenache/Mataro/Shiraz Avatar - Barossa Valley. $34.99.
Dark ruby garnet color. Seductive nose of black raspberry, licorice,
and spice, with minor notes of tar and earth. Sweet and chewy mouthfeel,
very tasty with lots of licorice-infused dark fruit, and a long
gripping finish. 2002
Hewitson Mourvedre Old Garden - Barossa Valley. $25.99.
Medium-dark ruby color. Beautifully ripe nose of sweet raspberry
and pomegranate. Off-sweet chewy mouthfeel, lots of freshly macerated
fruit, nice balance, and very long finish. Nice work here! 2002
Rusden Cabernet/Shiraz Ripper Creek - Barossa. $31.99.
Dark ruby color. Ripe and minerally, the nose also has an annoying
green streak that steals some of the attractiveness of the aromatics.
Nice ripe mouthfeel, with a round chewy center and a big finish
just packed with fruit and mocha. 2002
Craneford Merlot - Barossa Valley . $n/a. Dark ruby
color. Very ripe and concentrated cassis-plum nose, also slightly
minty, with a chocolate-Ovaltine aroma quality. Very ripe in mouthfeel,
with massive concentration, and a bit of heat on the finish. Probably
not for everybody, this is a huge wine that stresses ripeness above
all. 2002
Craneford Cabernet Adelaide Hills - Barossa Valley. $23.99.
Very dark ruby-garnet color. Nose of chalky cassis and minerals,
with background notes of leather and steak. Full and rich on the
palate, with very nice fruit and balance, and a very long finish. 2001
Barton Vale Cabernet Sauvignon The Lazarus - Eden Valley.
$34.99. Dark ruby color. Accents of eucalytus and mint add to
the vanilla-laced cassis in the nose. Sweet mouthfeel with very
nice cassis fruit and a touch of toast. Seems a bit underfilled
in mid-palate, but finishes very long and seamless. 2002
Blackwing Shiraz - South Australia. $6.99. Dark garnet color.
Espresso and toast dominate the nose, with lesser amounts of minerally
qualities, charcoal, and a faint hint of mercaptains (think Heineken).
Surprisingly oaky initially, yet filled with dense sweet blackberry
fruit, that finally gives way to the oak again. Hey, it's 7-buck
Blackwing! 1999
M. Brown Shiraz - Barossa. $9.99. Dark
ruby-garnet color. Nose of ripe blackberry, chocolate, and mint,
with just a hint of celery seed. Ripe mouthfeel, very nice balance,
with lots of chocolate, and spiced blackberry. It's not the most
complex Shiraz you'll try, but there's an interesting story behind
this label. It's made by a transplanted Aussie, Mike Brown, who's
also the winemaker for Buttonwood and Kalyra labels in the Santa
Ynez Valley. Mike brings over the juice in stainless steel, and
makes the wine here. 2002
Kirralaa Shiraz Bushvine - Eastern Australia. $10.99.
Very dark ruby color. Sweet ripe blackberry, nice and toasty, and
a bit candied in the nose. Initially sweet and smooth in mouthfeel,
the
spiced blackberry fruit
slowly fades away revealing a simpler wine. This very nice quaffer
is apparently the first production of a joint venture with Mondavi. |
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2002 Morambro Creek Shiraz - Padthaway. $14.99. Very, very dark ruby color. Very hi-toned nose of red and black fruits, with background notes of spice and minerals. Quite ripe on the palate, with lots of chocolate and spice overlaying the ample blackberry fruit. Surprising value! Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A- 2002
Elderton Shiraz - Barossa. $22.99. Dark ruby garnet color.
Slightly herbaceous nose of black fruit, herbs, figs and bark. Ripe
mouthfeel, with very much a similar profile to the nose. Probably
satisfying by itself, it getsleft behind in this lineup. 2001
Turkey Flat Vineyards Shiraz - Barossa Valley. $31.99. Very
dark ruby-garnet color. Complex nose of black fruit, pie crust-like
toastiness, licorice and tar. Smooth as velvet on the palate, full
and rich, with fabulous balance, and seamless finish. Like velvet! 2002
Clonakilla Shiraz/Viognier - Canberra District. $36.99. Dark
ruby garnet color. Stunning nose! Floral notes of violet and rose
petal accent the blackberrry and cranberry-apple spices, with a
hint of raspberry and chocolate. Chewy, spicy black fruit, with
excellent balance and structure, and a very long finish. 2001
The Standish Shiraz - Barossa Valley. $54.99. Medium dark ruby
color. Ripe and spicy in the nose, with a nice brambly and toasty
quality to the chocolate-edged blackberry fruit. Full, concentrated
and very smooth on the palate, with excellent balance, lots of dark
fruit, very fine grained tannins, and a very long tasty finish.
Terrific! 2002
Branson Coach House Shiraz Greenock Block - Barossa Valley.
$37.99. Very dark ruby in color. Quite ripe in the nose, yet
seems a bit hi-toned, with a slight floral accent. Rich sweet mouthfeel,
with just a touch of licorice and chocolate framing the blackberry-black
cherry fruit. 2002
Mitolo Shiraz Savitar - McLaren Vale. $58.99. Very dark
ruby color. Packed with blackberry and a touch of blueberry, floating
in espresso and chocolate aromas. Smooth mouthfeel - almost soft
in texture, with similar flavor profile to the nose, and a long
finish. 2001
Greenock Creek Shiraz Seven Acre - Barossa Valley. $79.99.
Very very dark ruby color. Hi-toned black fruit, with lots of licorice
and toast. Chewy and full in mouthfeel, the fruit absolutely pours
over the palate from beginning until the very smooth long finish. |
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© 1993 - 2004, Eric Anderson - All rights reserved |