La Spinetta Garetti 2006

La Spinetta Garetti 2006

Sometimes wines fill you with happiness as they tell you stories of their origin and take you to places when you are in the comfort of your own living room. My wife and I travelled to Italy a while ago and this wine reminded me of everything we loved about the country. This wine has a beautiful aroma of crushed fresh roses in a clay pot followed by spicy sour blackberries but it the serious structure that demands your attention.  The balance between the monumental tannins, bright acidity and a pretty flavour profile leave me feeling joyful. The wine is still lock up tight so leave this alone unless you love rolling around in the mud with a body builder. This is the sort of wine you should serve to someone that has become disillusioned with the fruit bombs that were so popular a few years ago.

Alcohol: 14%
Price: $130
rated: 92++
Drink:  2018 - 2029
Importer: Decant Wines

Noon Winery release 2011

So far in all my tastings I haven't tried a 2010 that wasn't at least good quality so I was champing at the bit when these arrived. They are generally at the bigger end of the spectrum but this year they seem so reserved and elegant when compared to the forward wines from last years release. I get the feeling they will require a decade in the cellar to show their best. From next year the Eclipse will be entirely from the vineyards around Drew's house.   Part of the reason for this is that there was no fruit picked from Langhorne Creek from either the Shiraz or Cabernet blocks.

Noon Reserve Shiraz 2010

This has it all with a monumental hug of tannin and mouthwatering acidity. The tannins are perfectly ripe which encompass your mouth adding a velvety texture which is rather remarkable. They are definitely in balance with the spicy flavours of the wine but you do get a smidge of blueberry compote and cherry juice.  Forget the fruits flavours as this wine in more mixed spice with a warm earth character than anything else. One could argue that this is not your typical Noon's wine but I would argue that Drew manages to capture the season with a deft touch.

Alcohol: 14.7
Price: $27
Rated: 94
Drink: 2020 ++


Noon Eclipse 2010

When you compare these two the Eclipse is a lot more perfumed with a red fruit and red licorice component. It feels darker and earthier than the Shiraz but has an equally long palate.  This wine is a little bit easier to understand at this very early stage of the development but I think it will be much better with 7 years under its belt.

Alcohol: 14.7
Price: $27
rated: 93
Drink: 2017 - 2026

Both of these wines offer stupid value.

Croser Sparkling NV

Croser Sparkling NV

You get a lot of impact for your money here but it quickly melts into your tongue.  I think it is the sort of wine that would please the masses but not stretch the fanatic.  I could see this being guzzled over the festive period but at 34 bucks it is starting to get up there in price.  More so when you consider that French Champagne is now coming down in price.

Alcohol: ?

Price: $34

Rated: 85

Drink: When ever you want.

Petaluma Chardonnay 2009

Brina Crozer was one of the first to plant a vineyard in the Adelaide hills and he is definitely the first to plant chardonnay.  While this doesn't come from the Tiers vineyard is does come from seven vineyard around the area.  You could consider him as one of the visionaries in the wine-making business.

Petaluma Chardonnay 2009

There is a massive oak influence running through this wine but the fruit seems to hold its own. Its a war at the moment between peaches and nectarines and the nuts and spice.  I did love the complexity of this beast but you need to think about what you could pair with this. I had it with beggars chicken but it was a little too much for the dish.

Alcohol: 14%
Price: $49
Rated: 91
Drink: 2014 - 2020

Rosemount Estate Nursery Project Fiano 2011

Rosemount would be one of the biggest players so it is fare to say that Fiano has moved into the mainstream.  Both Coriole and Olivers Taranga pioneered the variety in Australia but they are often hard to find in a bottleshop.  Now Rosemount is on board you can expect a larger proportion of people will fall in love with this variety.

Rosemount Estate Nursery Project Fiano 2011

The wine has an immediate appealing fragrance of pear and citrus which is also apparent on the palate. Once you take a sip the wine quickly peels off your tongue.  While the flavours are nice is comes across as a little simple but you are left feeling refreshed as there is a beautiful spike of acidity. This is a good introduction to the variety.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: ?
Rated: 83
Drink: Over summer

Chateau de Sours Reserve de Sours Sparkling Rose NV

It is getting to that time of year where all my wife wants to drink it something with bubbles in it. I must admit that I am the same as whenever I seen to drink the stuff I feel happier. It can be difficult to find something that is cheap and drinkable from France so it was nice when this little number came across my desk.

Chateau de Sours Reserve de Sours Sparkling Rose NV

This is made from merlot and cabernet so its not your traditional sparkling blend but it does work wonders in the glass.  There are vibrant flavours of raspberry coulis, lemon zest with a little spice and fresh baked bread bringing up the rear.  While is doesn't have the texture or length for huge points it is rather good value for the money. Drink it without guilt and with a smile on your face.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $18
Rated: 86
Drink: Whenever you want

First Drop Home of the Brave Arneis 2008

Arneis grew up in the the Piedmont area of Italy where is performs brilliantly wide variety of foods.  It finds its best supporting role with seafood so it is perfect for summer.  The good examples of this variety have a pear and stone fruit flavour spectrum while the best ones can have a richer honey component but they all have a zesty acidity that keep them fresh.

First Drop Home of the Brave Arneis 2008

This smells like an old school chardonnay.  You remember the ones that had full oak treatment with a lot of lees stirring.  Well upon reading the back label I find out that this sees oak and lees stirring.  As a result this tastes nothing like an arneis.  The palate is pretty flat with none of those lovely lively acidity characteristics refreshing the palate.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $35
Rated: 82
Drink: Now

Noon High Noon Rose 2011

Drew Noon crafts some big wines from a few vineyards in Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale.  In a few years the eclipse will be from his vineyards around his homestead while this one is already fully fledged McLaren Vale fruit.

Noon High Noon Rose 2011

This is really light and vibrant with flavours of cherry jam, spice, musk stick and raspberry coulis.  Its the sort of wine that would be dangerous over lunch as you do not notice the alcohol at all.  If it is served too cold the flavour shrinks in your mouth so only lightly chill this or leave it on the bench while you drink it. After I finished reviewing it I put it out for a party that we had that night and I must say it was a huge crowd pleaser.  In fact I had to put 2 extra bottles in the fridge for our guests which are now all gone.  Now back to the wine. The mid-palate of this wine encompasses almost the whole of my tongue while there is a massive acid core which leaves you feeling refreshed . Brilliant but drink it while the sunshine's.

Alcohol: 14.2%
Price: $17
Rated: 88
Drink: Over summer

Andrew Peace Kentish Lane Tempranillo 2009

I really felt like a good quality red last night so I thought I would open up something from a producer that I have never heard of but from a variety that I love. Since I've been having a fare few Spanish examples I thought it might be time for some Aussie versions.

Andrew Peace Kentish Lane Tempranillo 2009

There is a huge amount of sweet oak on this so much so that you couldn't even tell what variety it is. You could have aged water in this oak and I wouldn't have noticed a difference. The palate is very short and rather disappointing.  At least it only costs 12 bucks.

Alcohol: 14%
Price: $12
Rated: 76
Drink: Now

Mount Torrens Vineyard Solstice Viognier 2003

The Mount Torrens Vineyard is situated deep in the heart of the Adelaide Hills. They produce a small number of quality wines from Shiraz and Viognier.  I have never been able to keep these in the cellar for very long and it was nice to see my mate bring this along the other night.

Mount Torrens Vineyard Solstice Viognier 2003

This has aged well with a blend of apricot jam, citrus and glazed ginger leading the charge. It is open and relaxed so I would tuck into these if I had any. This still retains a vibrant acidity that balances out the full flavours of the wine.  This wine would work beautifully with a richer sort of meal.

Alcohol: ?
Price: $30
Rated: 86
Drink: Now

Predictions 2011

There is much talk within the wine community around the quality of the 2011 vintage so I thought I would write down my predictions.  These predictions have been formulated from tasting barrel and tank samples plus talking with winemakers during and after vintage. That said my predictions are only related to the quality of wine in South Australia.

White wine will fare better than red wine.
There will be some stars in the Clare Valley and in general they will be from the Watervale sub-region.
McLaren Vale will produce the best quality red wine in the state.
The Barossa will struggle the most as they picked a lot of diseased fruit.
There won't be much wine from Langhorne Creek as they didn't pick as much.
You will see a rise in Sparkling wines from the Adelaide Hills.
In general the 2011 vintage is a dog of a vintage but you will see some great wine produced from the people that were the most diligent in the vineyard. A lot of people will talk up there white wines and say it was a great vintage all round for them but that is just a marketing tool.
If you are going to slap down some serious cash on a wine purchase, make sure you taste it first.

My two cents

Alkoomi White Label Cabernet Merlot 2010

Cabernet merlot blends have to be considered the top representations of cabernet in the country. In general they offer savoury flavours with a taut tannin structures that with time opens up adding extra complexity and drink ability. This offer from Alkoomi is the entry level drink me while i'm young kind of a wine but still retains some of those savoury profiles.

Alkoomi White Label Cabernet Merlot 2010

Positives: soft fruit flavours of cassis, plum skin and spice on a medium bodied frame.

Negatives: a herbal element that took over.

Alcohol: 13.8%
Price: $13.50
Rated: 84
Drink: Over the next few years.

Deviation Road

I'm sitting down listening to a jivey kind of groove on the radio while I am waiting for the start of a tour to take  a group of trade folk and myself to Deviation Road winery. This gets me thinking about the lifestyle in the Adelaide Hills.  It is definitely a cool morning with thick grey clouds overhead.  You know the kind of morning i'm talking about where you could really go a hot latte to warm every crevice of your body. It seems that this time of year the plants and grass are so lush from the amount of water that they have had over the winter period and for that matter, over last summer. For those that haven't visited Stirling before, which is where I am today, the town has a particular English feel about it with elms, oaks and maple lining the streets.

We all get in the small van and head off along the back roads to get to this lovely little cellar door where Kate and Hamish meet us before they take us up to the winery for our education in the process of making sparkling wines. Hamish is easy to warm to as he has a very open and comforting personality yet you look at him and think that he could play on the back lines for a rugby team. Hamish's wife, Kate, draws you in with a passionate tone of voice and I'm left thinking I could spend hours talking to her about the process making sparkling wine and her vision for Deviation Road. They have crafted a cosy cellar door that serves cheese platter and wines by the glass, if you don't want to go back for the normal tasting, with an out door setting that has spectacular views.  In summer I could see it being packed by locals just wanting to get away from the hustle of Adelaide life so they nibble of some hills cheeses with a glass of bubbles.

They take us through picking times, making the base wine, riddling, disgorging and dosage before we have to disgorge and top a bottle ourselves.  Everything is done by hand by these two where each bottle of bubbles gets touch 25 times by Hamish and Kate before being ready for release.  Now that is one felt up bottle!  They then take us down to taste the current release wines.  If you are in the Adelaide Hills I would recommend popping in and having a look at this small winery. The notes below were done over a short period and I didn't give the wines the time to show their full personality.

Devaition Rd Brut 2009

Strawberries and cream with a vibrant structure.  It only has 8 grams of dosage and would fit perfectly as an aperitif.

Alcohol: 12%?
Price: $34
Rated: 88
Drink: Now

Sauvignon Blanc 2011

This is very light with a huge acid structure so it should keep for a while.  On second thoughts who keeps savvy? I just buy a bottle and crack it that night. With this wine you get gooseberries, cut grass and passion-fruit flowers. Its not your overt savvy which makes it more attractive to buy.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $18
Rated: 86
Drink: Now - 2015

Chardonnay 2009

Masses of hazelnuts and butter overlay a spicy peach palate with a splash of lime cordial thrown in. The flavours are intense!

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $28
Rated: 87
Drink: Now - 2016

  

Domaine Lucci Sangiovese 2010

I thought I'd do two tasting notes of the same wine. One from when the wine was released and one now. I deliberately held back the first tasting note for this reason.

Domaine Lucci Sangiovese 2010

Tasted March 2011

Savoury Christmas cherries mixed with dehydrated potting mix and spicy mixed herbs sit underneath a cinnamon swamp of oak. At the moment the oak is too much for the fruit but hopefully it will come together. All the flavours are positioned on a medium bodied palate of medium length. Give it a bit in the bottle and then go for your life.

Tasted November 2011

The alcohol pokes out a bit but it is the oak that dominates, or maybe it is the fruit that has faded, as all I got over the 3 days was an attractive oak flavour with a little heat. There is a nice element of tannin providing interest but the whole thing fades quickly on the palate.

Alcohol: 13.7%
Price: $25
Rated: 85 March/ 83 Now
Drink: Now

Bodegas Roda I 2005

Bodegas Roda I 2005

This is definitely a serious beast when you compare its stable mate.  It almost reminds me of a party I had at my neighbours place last summer when he had the BBQ cranked up and the meats flying off the hot plate. With this wine you also get violets, shoe polish and plenty of dark fruits rolled in a variety of Christmas spices.  This is supremely inviting stuff on the nose but the palate takes it up a level with the tannins staying until the end of the party. They are invasive yet inviting at the same time.  Whilst I could drink it now, be patient and you will rewarded handsomely.   

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $120
Rated: 94+
Drink: 2015 - 2027
Importer: The Spanish Acquisition

Telmo Rodriguez Delesa Gago Toro G 2005

This wine definitely gets me in the mood for a variety of meats. The grapes for this wine are taken from rediscovered bush vines in the Toro region in Spain. Once the grapes reach the winery they are treated with great care and consideration.  This is ferments naturally in cement casks and then transferred to predominately older oak for a year.  This is ready to go so if you have any get your teeth into them.

Telmo Rodriguez Delhesa Gago Toro G 2005

The alcohol dominates this a little but for what was an extremely dry year, the team at Telmo has pulled out a pearler. There are flavours in the dirty red spectrum but then quickly takes it up into the darkness with dark cherry cola, blackberry compote, dried licorice and an meaty complexity that is beguiling. The tannins spread out on your tongue while the flavours sits nicely in the medium to full bodied territory.

Alcohol: 15%
Price: $50
Rated: 91
Drink: Now to 2014

Prager Thal Steinfeder 2008

Prager is turning into my favourite producer of Gruner Veltliner in a more full bodied style than I am used to.

Prager Thal Steinfeder 2008

The wine has a sweet floral nose with candied apples, spicy lemon and tropical aspects joining the party. It is the sort of wine you could give to a wine nerd and a person who has just started drinking wine and they both would fall in love with this. There is a beautiful length to this svelte beast but it just needs a bit extra breadth for a higher score. That said I could see my wife and I eating lunch this week-end and accidently consuming a bottle with out realising it.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $47
Rated: 89
Drink: Over the next couple of years.
Importer: Decant Wines

Salomon Undhof Kogl Riesling 2010

Riesling in Austria is grown in and around the areas that produce the best Gruner which I hope some Australian wineries in the Clare and Eden Valley take on and run with. Its funny that I really reach for a rizza from Austria yet I found that this was the stand out from the Salomon range. I might have to slap some cash down to try what other winemakers can d with this variety. 

Salomon Undhof Kogl Riesling 2010

The wine starts out with ripe golden delicious apples with a waiter standing over you asking you if you would like more pepper on it. The wine is so attractive now that I hesitate to ask what it will taste like with 5 or so years in the bottle. I find myself saying words like yummo after I have taken a sip. The wine finishes with a massive amount of cuts rocks with a mouth-filling palate that leaves you refreshed.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: ?
Rated: 93
Drink:  Now - 2020

Verdelho

Now Verdelho isn't a variety that I regularly taste but to have two on the bench at the same time got me thinking. What can the variety do and how does it taste? Well it grows up mainly in Portugal and manages to hold a crunchiness and drink-ability in warm climates. I think that is something fits with our climate. In general there is an acid structure evident in all of the wines yet they can be full bodied with flavours in the tropical spectrum. The good ones balance structure and flavour that results in a food friendly wine of interest.

Herdade do Esporao 2009

There are elements of lemon rind and musk stick that pull me in then a spicy passionfruit and papaya flavour holds my interest.  The flavour build on my tongue yet with each sip a mouthwatering acidity pulls me back for the next mouthful.  I feel bright and invigorated as I taste this. Is there more to the complexity of the wine? Yes but I stopped writing and just drank.

Alcohol: 14%
Price: $33
Rated: 90
Drink: over the next couple of years

Tyrrell's Fordwich 2011


This really needs a year or two in the bottle to show its best but what is does have now is a crunchiness and a brilliant vibrancy that bursts from the bottle. There are elements of guava and lemon blossom but they take a day or two to emerge. The wine is zippy as the spicy orange peel unfolds on your tongue. Many would write this off if tasted it over a short tasting period but I let it sit for 4 days. Be calm and it will reward.


Alcohol: 12.5%
Price: $16
Rated: 87
Drink: 2012 - 2016

Miller's Dixon Creek Estate Petit Verdot 2006

So I haven't tried much Dixon Creek or straight Petit Verdot which meant I was into this from the outset. The Yarra must be a big area to be able to fit with so many different varieties. This wine is great to see since this has been held back a couple of years before release.

Miller's Dixon Creek Estate Petit Verdot 2006

As the wine opens up you get a lovely bit of chalky tannins but there so much oak that it dominates the experience. The fruit still comes through with flavours of violets and spicy red and black fruits with a slight metallic element.

Alcohol: 13.3%
Price: $22
Rated: 84
Drink: Now - 2014

Mount Pleasant Elizabeth 2010

I've been looking at reviews from other critics so I thought I'd follow their format. One to two lines to begin followed by a short script about the flavour and intensity of the wine.

Mount Pleasant Elizabeth 2010

The wine starts with lemon grass, bath salt and crisp apples then moves to a rich melon from the mid-palate before showering you with spice. At the moment it is so delicate and mouthwatering but it has length that holds and holds and holds. Do I drink it now? Well I could but it will bet better with time in the bottle.

Alcohol: 11.5%

Price $13

Rated: 90 +

Drink: 2015 - 2022

Interesting Finding

As I haven't been reviewing many wines recently, due to my university commitments, I thought I would look at which wines are generating the most amount of people finding my site. The findings are interesting.

1. Wolf Blass Eaglehawk Merlot 2010 - 1002 people
2. Chateau Saint-Hiliare Medoc 2007 - 705 people
3. Wendouree Shiraz 2009 - 657 people
4. Wild Duck Creek Estate Release 2011 - 640 people
5. Lindeman's Bin 65 Chardonnay 2010 - 571 people

This is not what I expected. For all those out in there was this what you thought would be the most popular wines?

Tyrrell's Vat 1 2003

I love the feeling of opening an aged wine. There is something that stirs inside of me so I was looking forward to tasting this wine, especially as semillon ages you get flavours of honey, toast and lanolin but it is the extra degree of complexity, texture and intensity that is the most beguiling. My wife prefers the razor sharp acidity of the young ones compared to the roundness and pure loveliness of the aged versions.

Tyrrell's Vat 1 2003

So this has turned 8 years of age which I thought implied that is was an aged version but this tastes like a tank sample. It all starts with lime concentrate with a hint of summer flowers and spice coming into play.  The wine is locked up so tight that it was difficult to drink at this stage. I guest you could say that this is how some different sexual experiences develop. Your partner spanks you hard, which might hurt, but you say keep on doing that and we will see what happens. Now back to the wine which has brilliant length so I would put it away for 5 more years before I would start bringing them out.

Alcohol: 10.5%
Price: $70
Rated: 94++
Drink: 2016 - 2027

Alkoomi White Label Shiraz 2010

Western Australia has been having a bit of a good run with their weather condition in recent years so it was interesting to see a cheaper entry level wine.  While I am a fan of the Cabernets from Margaret River I have never tried a Shiraz that has taken me.  That is not to say that they don't do Shiraz well but if given the chance I reach for the bottle of Cabernet.

Alkoomi White Label Shiraz 2010

If I was given this blind, I would have said that this was a Pinot Noir in the $20 price range.  The wine is so light and has the flavour spectrum in the red berry end with a hint of spice. It was a learning experience to taste this to say the least. Whilst the wine doesn't possess the longest palate length going around, it does provide good drinking for the money.  The mouthwatering acidity is the feature of the wine that most put a smile on my face.

Alcohol: 13.9%
Price: $14
Rated: 84
Drink: Good drinking in the short term.

Pirathon by Kalleske Shiraz 2008

The packaging of this wine is something to behold.  The bottle is so impressive with restrained labelling adding to the impression. Do you drink labels? No but it does get you into a nice mood before you have opened the wine.

Pirathon by Kalleske Shiraz 2008

As soon as I heard the crack of the stelvin the aromas filled the room.  There are masses of sweet oak and boiled dark fruits with a hint of candy that assaults your nose and mouth in this wine.  Everything is very plush and easy to like as it flows down my throat.  It is not a sip and contemplate wine, more a smash me now wine. It is the sort of wine that I would drink in the deep of winter but it doesn't have the structure or length of flavour to score higher.

Alcohol: 15%
Price: $20
Rated: 84
Drink: Next winter

Chapel Hill iL Vescovo Savagnin 2010

More wineries have started to plant varieties that suit their climate which is a great start but sometimes they pick the wrong variety.  This is not ones of those.

Chapel Hill iL Vescovo Savagnin 2010

You get a fair amount of fruit but with a dryness that leaves you wanting more.  If you asked me to name the  flavours of the wine i would say, take a fresh glass of orange juice and add water with a squeeze of lime juice. The feel of the wine is very nice but the wine only sits on my tongue for a while.  At this price you can't go wrong so if you are into something different put this on your list.

Alcohol: 13%
Price: $22
Rated: 86
Drink: Over summer

Dandelion Vineyards Twilight of the Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2008

Dandelion Vineyards Twilight of the Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2008

The wine starts out with a hint of nuts and lime juice.  Whilst the wine is zesty think of it as a Chablis with less mineral and more fruit weight.  The only problem I have is it fades in the mid-palate and rebounds towards the back but otherwise it is welcome to fun Chardonnay town.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $20
Rated: 85
Drink: Now - 2016

Oakridge Chardonnay 2010

Oakridge Chardonnay 2010

I am finding that the wines from the Yarra Valley are taking me to a place that I haven't been in a long time.  This wine is no different but it does have a little extra elegance that pulls me in.  The beautiful beverage starts with an expansive vibrant flavour spectrum that unfolds in my mouth that lingers long. It will get better with a little time in the bottle but I will be buying a dozen and drinking them with friends and family over the Christmas period.

Alcohol: 12.8%
Price: $38
Rated: 92
Drink: 2014 - 2020

Tyrrells Stevens Semillon 2011

Tyrrells Stevens Semillon 2011

Pungent lime explodes from the glass like a stick of dynamite has been added to the contents. At the early stages this was difficult to drink as it was soooo tart but it cleaned itself up after two days. There is a lovely lime and sherbet floral component enticing me yet it is the very good length and divine precision that makes me want to come back. The wine starts out intense but withdraws from the mid-palate on so I struggled to give it top marks at this early stage of its development. Do I like it? Yes but the Johnno's left this for dead. I get the feeling that this could be a real surprise packet in the future.

Alcohol: 11%
Price: $22
Rated: 88
Drink: 2018 - 2028