Bremerton Special Release Malbec 2013

Langhorne Creek makes some very appealing easy drinking wine at attractive prices. 

Bremerton Special Release Malbec 2013

Boya this is a big red with a grunt of flavour and ripe tannins to boot. I liked it but I could see potential as I thought this was more a solid dry red rather than a top quality Malbec. On the nose there was earth and redcurrants with dried plum skin and roasted spices. The flavours burst from the seam in a thick and silky manner with some ripe tannins melting on my tongue. I could see that Bremerton are trying to make their mark with this variety and I think it will do well as they are making an appealing wine that would fit with the Shiraz drinker yet are able to retain some of the goodness that is associated with the variety.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $24
Rated: 88
Drink: Now – 2019

Bremerton Battonage Chardonnay 2013

Langhorne Creek Chardonnay who has heard of such a thing. Well I haven’t tried any of this variety from this region but I was looking forward to the proposition. 

Bremerton Battonage Chardonnay 2013

At first it smells very cool climate, more like an Adelaide Hills version, and then the winemaker aspects kick in. The flavours on impact are full of complex Chardy by a skilled maker with moments of peach and melon combined with roasted nuts and cream. From the mid-palate on that is where it starts to drop off as they just don’t keep up with the initial pace of things. Don’t get me wrong I liked the idea behind the wine and how it was put together but the length and depth from the mid-palate was just off the mark. 

Alcohol:12.5%
Price: $32
Rated: 86
Drink: Now – 2017

Bremerton Wines Special Release Vermentino 2014

The Italians are taking over and rightly so as the climate fits well with so many of the varieties. Generally the wines from this variety are more savoury in flavour spectrum with a wedge of texture running throughout. The vines seem to handle the heat well and produce lovely aromatics and lower alcohol than their French counterpart.

 Bremerton Wines Special Release Vermentino 2014

I struggle with getting my head around this variety but this wine was easy to review. Just open and go for it! It opens with a burst of orange peel, salted mixed nuts and lemon rind before the real fun begins.  The texture is the cannon that takes it up a level as it feels heavier but is balanced by the acidity. I wouldn't recommend stashing these away in the cellar, just crank them out with some fresh sardines or even a fish salad.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $24
Rated: 88
Drink: Now - 2017 

Noon Winery Cabernet & Shiraz 2012 vintage release

I’ve been looking forward to the 2012 vintage release from Drew and Raegan Noon for some time now so it was interesting to sit down over the four days and have a look at these.  What I will say is that they are not as over the top as I was expecting. They are full bodied wines with elegance, structure and big oak, especially the Shiraz.

 

Noon Winery Reserve Shiraz 2012

 

The wine starts out with mostly Asian spices that have been pummelled over an open fire. That smokiness is infused with the exotic aromatic nature of cardamom, cassia, black cumin and cloves which make it feel like a good Indian curry house. On the palate the vanilla oak comes through but the fruit manages to work its way out over the course of the four days. The fruit flavours come in the form of raspberry coulis, smoked coconut, burnt sugar and blackberries with a nice fine bone of acidity holding it together. The palate feels soft and cosy yet it still takes its time to fully unfurl. I could still drink this now without any problem but it will keep for many years.

 

Alcohol: 15.2%

Price: Cellar door $27 – Online retailers $120
Rated: 91
Drink: Now – 2024

 

 

 

Noon Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

 

Full bodied with masses of blackcurrants and fragrant violets cascading out if the bottle once the screw cap is open. The oak smells like it is not even there but I can feel it once I place the liquid to my mouth. The oak is well integrated at this stage of the wines life with the profile firmly sitting more savoury than the Reserve Shiraz. There are moments of tomato leaf, dried mint, bold blackcurrant, spice, fresh cut violets with smoked cedar underneath. While this wine is full boded it isn’t as big as normal which makes it easier to pair with food or just enjoy a few glasses after work.  You could say that it is a Holden Cruze with a V8 engine in nature as it smells big but has the energy contained well.

 

Alcohol: 16%

Price: Cellar door $27 – Online retailer $80
Rated: 93
Drink: Now - 2027

Bremerton Selkirk Shiraz 2010

This wine is the entry level of the top quality wines from Bremerton and is priced far below what a wine of the same quality would be priced from the Barossa or McLaren Vale.


Bremerton Selkirk Shiraz 2010

You either have to be patient with this wine or love oak as it is a major component of this wine. The oak is charry and plush but it does mask the fruit for 5 days. After that the exotic and just ripe flavours start to win the battle. All the right elements of acidity, tannin and flavour are composed within this wine so I have no trouble recommending it but I do warn people that want to be loved right now away from this wine.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $22
Rated: 87
Drink: in ten years

Bremerton Old Adam Shiraz 2009

The Langhorne Creek agricultural area was first founded as it was close to the Bremer and Angus Rivers which allowed for people to utilise the watering capacity around the critical periods over the growing season. While many would think of the Barossa or McLaren Vale as the best tourist destinations, Langhorne Creek provides brilliant value wines from top to bottom plus some spectacular historical buildings such as the hotel which was built in 1850s and you can still have a meal at the bar today.

Bremerton Old Adam Shiraz 2009

Boom, boom, boom, boom goes the heart of this wine. This is a big gun of a wine with plenty of bourbon, smoked plum and molasses flavours mixing with chocolate and marshmallow fruits. The power of the fruit can deal with the level of oak but it still took two days for the balance to come around which suggests you shouldn't open this now. Repeat Do Not Open This Now! I really liked this wine but only a little more than the 2010 Selkirk which makes me think I should watch out for the 2010 version of the Old Adam. It is a little unfair to judge two different vintages against each other, especially when 2010 is such a brilliant vintage.

Alcohol: 15%
Price: $50
Rated: 88 +
Drink: 2017 - 2026

Penfolds St Henri 2008

I am a huge fan of this label and have written about the experiences that I have had with this label recently so I shall add the links to them below.

http://vino-review.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/penfolds-st-henri-1969.html

http://vino-review.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/penfolds-st-henri-1996.html

http://vino-review.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/penfolds-st-henri-1999.html

http://vino-review.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/penfolds-st-henri-2001.html

So what was 2008 like as a vintage? In a word hot. Many of the wines from this vintage are starting to show secondary flavours and many lack the structure to see them last in the bottle past their 10th birthday.

Penfolds St Henri 2008

This years St Henri shows that this is the heart and soul of the Penfolds team as it is fresh and lively in the glass with a little more plush flavours than is normal but for a hot vintage shows restraint. The wine is more blue and red fruits with a elbow in the face full of spice thrown in to keep you on your toes.  While these flavours are soothing the acidity and tannins are one that leave the lasting impression. They are so unlike the normal 08s which is a delight.  Some would say it is an afternoon delight wine but lets not get a head of ourselves. The velvet like palate starts with Shiraz but a little blackcurrant and olive tapenade from the little amount of Cabernet comes into the mix from the mid-palate on. Even though the Cabernets from Penfolds in 2012 are the leading lights I would be inclined to stash a few St Henri's away in a dark cellar. It is always a big event wine that holds a special place in so many Australian wine connoisseurs that this vintage deserves to be included in the must buy section.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: Street price $70
Rated: 93+
Drink: 2016 - 2030

Amadio Vino di Famiglia 2009

Amadio have a long history of grape growing and wine-making but they may not exposure in Australia that they deserve.  The Amadio cellar door is locked in Felixstow which is almost in the centre of Adelaide. They produce a large array of wines with an emphasis on drink-ability and value.

Amadio Vino di Famiglia 2009

Now I have never had a wine that has contained Lagrein so I didn't know what to expect here. What I got was masses of red fruits, think sour cranberries, raspberries and dark cherries, rambunctiously playing my tongue like it was a guitar. The song that they were playing was we will, we will rock you by Queen. The flavours then move into the dirty darker and spicier end of the spectrum and it finishes with a waterfall of acidity and tannic loving. Its a wine to drink any day of the week with a big smile on your face.

Alcohol: 14.2%
Price: $13 or 10 as a member of Amadio (join up as all their wines offer great value)
Rated: 84
Drink: Now - 2014

 

Bleasdale The Mulberry Tree 2010

I don't really taste too many wines from Langhorne Creek but what I have tasted offers great value from top to bottom.   This winery is one of the first to plant vines in the Langhorne Creek area and still uses a basket press that was built in 1870. History in a bottle some would say.

Bleasdale The Mulberry Tree 2010

The Mulberry Tree is an entry level Cabernet that punches well above its weight.  What is most exciting about the wine is the entry as the fluid liquid touches the front of my tongue.  Boom goes the flavours of mint and blackcurrant while they dance with the green herbs and smoked capsicum.  It is a delight to see these elegant yet ripe flavours as the wine introduces itself. The mid palate is a little muddled as the tannins forget to make an appearance but they do come back for the encore. I would be happy to put this in my quaffer rack to pull out for a hit of Cabernet fun, especially at the street price.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $12
Rated: 84
Drink: Now - 2015

 

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.

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

Zontes Footstep Avalon Tree Cabernet Savignon 2010

Zontes footstep make a variety of low to mid price wines that reflect their region and variety rather well.  Generally, I can struggle with the amount of mint flavours that come from Langhorne Creek wines but it isn't an issue with this Cabernet .

Zontes Footstep Avalon Tree Cabernet Savignon 2010

This is unadulterated grape juice, unshackled by oak influences.  The alcohol warms your cockles just a little on the back palate but its the tannins that add most interest, especially for this price point.  Easy going and bursting from the bottle comes to mind. The flavours of minty blackcurrant, shaved Cadbury chocolate and cherry jam, which takes it up the sweetness scale, sit beautifully on a good length palate with a bright acidity holding everything together.

Alcohol: 13.5%
Price: $15
Rated: 85
Drink: now - 2016

Killibinbin Shiraz 2007

The label makes this wine.  It is packaged very smartly with a bit of fun or tongue-in-cheek sophistication adding appeal.  The wine on the other hand left me feeling under whelmed.

Killibinbin Shiraz 2007
This wine attacks my palate with fruit that tastes charcoaled.  If I had to nail down flavours, I would say prunes and raisins with a little mint coming through that refreshes me, but all in all my palate was left feeling tired.  I was expecting this to taste plush with a nudge of vanilla oak but all I got was a spiky sensation on my tongue.

Alcohol: 15.5%
Price: $30
Rated: 75
Drink: now

Noons Twelve Bells 2009

Drew Noon has been pushing out unique wines from McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek for a while now but until the USA critics got a hold of him he was relatively unheard of in the Australian market.  Has this gone to his head? No, he would be one of the most down to earth and thoughtful winemakers that I've spoken to.  His wines are big but they remain balanced and structured.  I've been collecting them since 2002 and since I've been opening them now I've come to the conclusion that they require a fair bit of age to show their best.  My 2002 Eclipse taste the same as the day that i bought them.  A few years ago he sent a letter saying that he would like to sponsor 10 more kids in Africa so a 2 dollar per bottle increase will be applied.   

Noons Twelve Bells  2009

Now I normally don't like reaching for a wine with 15.5% alcohol on the label but in the colder months i find it calling to me.  It is at the big end of town but there is a degree of elegance and control for its size. What you get is an easy drink with flavours of sour plums, red hum bugs (the ones your Gran used to give you at Christmas time), red liquorish, BBQ meats and a spicy cranberry sorbet.  There is a little heat on the back end, but on a week night for a wine that's 10 bucks this is hard to beat.  Actually I've had wines not up to this standard for three times the price.  It satisfies the monster within me that only big wines can quench.

Alcohol: 15.5%
Price: $10
Rated: 85
Drink: now - 2014

Sangiovese

I’ve decided to be creative this year so I’m taking the plunge and starting my own wine label.  I’ve just picked my sangiovese and its looks a little concerning to say the least.  I’ll take some photo’s of the ferment over the week end and post them early next week but below is some shots of the vineyard a month before we picked.  It took 3 of us 6 hours to pick 150 kg due to the botyris. In white wine this can be a very desirable character but in red wine is causes an oxidative enzyme called laccase to enter the berry and the end wine tastes flat.