Taylor's Estate Shiraz 2009

Taylor's Estate Shiraz 2009

  12:33    Stu.

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Second of two Taylor's (for some reason they shun the possessive form of the family name) wines tasted.  Thought this much better quality and at $10 less than the Jaraman Cabernet. Initially opened a touch reductive before revealing an array of black fruited...

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Taylor's Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Taylor's Jaraman Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

  12:23    Stu.

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From Coonawarra and Clare Valley fruit comes this perfumed and well proportioned Cabernet.  Showing good aromatics of mint, chocolate, with typical dusty, leafy typical Cabernet aroma.   Full bodied on entry, exhibiting plum, and further chocolate.  The...

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Henschke Julius Riesling 2011

Henschke Julius Riesling 2011

  14:03    Stu.

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Another very good wine from what is meant to be a rather crap vintage.  Shows the perils of lumping all regions and producers together on this island continent. Floral aromatics abound, supported by a hint of pear, talcum and hallmark Eden Valley lime citrus....

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Yalumba Single Site Habermann Vineyard Grenache 2005

Yalumba Single Site Habermann Vineyard Grenache 2005

  10:17    Stu.

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Kevin Glastonbury oversees the production of some of my favourite wines out of Yalumba's rather significant portfolio, including this cracker from the Single Vineyard series.  He seems a cracking bloke too - kindly guiding this individual at the Brisbane RNA earlier...

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Agricola Querciabella Chianti Classico 2007

Agricola Querciabella Chianti Classico 2007

  18:53    Stu.

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Length and complexity abound in this wine.  The finish shows this pulsing wave of savoury charm, encircling the mouth, throbbing - beckoning you in for more.  Silky tannins complete the picture of dark cherries, some barbecue meat and new leather. Woody...

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Yelland & Papps Divine Mataro 2009

Yelland & Papps Divine Mataro 2009

  12:09    Stu.

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Yelland & Papps is Michael and Susan Papps (née Yelland), and was established in 2005.  Sourcing fruit from largely old vine material in the Greenock sub-region.  Resultant wines exhibit the characteristics of the locale, rich and full bodied. This Mataro...

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Gumpara Old Vine Semillon 2010

Gumpara Old Vine Semillon 2010

  08:24    Stu.

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The Mader family, along with many others, fled religious persecution in their native Germany and settled in the Barossa in the mid-19th century. Roll forward six generations to Mark Mader who founded Gumpara in 1999, making his first wine in 2000 - a Shiraz- before expanding...

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Murray Street Vineyards Viognier Marsanne 2010

Murray Street Vineyards Viognier Marsanne 2010

  14:25    Stu.

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A 60/40 blend respectively, the wine is a representation of its constituent parts.  Aromatically of Viognier: apricot, peach and a touch of honeysuckle.  It's pretty and very approachable. The palate, in contrast, shows quite a 'nutty' entry - the Marsanne...

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Rusty Mutt Shiraz 2006

Rusty Mutt Shiraz 2006

  08:21    Stu.

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By day, 'Rusty Mutt' is a 20 year career employee, now Senior Winemaker, for an eponymous named Jimmy Watson winning, cricket loving winemaker/ winery.   5 years back, the Rusty Mutt label was born with this release. On the nose an immediate whiff of sweet...

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Hewitson Old Garden Mourvèdre 2002

Hewitson Old Garden Mourvèdre 2002

  09:43    Stu.

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"Making this wine is not a challenge, it's a humbling experience" - Dean Hewitson, CEO & Winemaker, Hewitson Wines  Made from eight rows of Mourvèdre, reputed to be oldest of the variety in the world, approaching 160 years now.  Dry grown, all original - no replants.  From the Rowland Flat sub-region of the Barossa Valley, situated in the perfect soil for Mataro:...

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Nepenthe Pinot Gris 2011

Nepenthe Pinot Gris 2011

  18:39    Stu.

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There's a bit of care that goes into the making of this wine: hand picked, whole bunch pressed, and even some use of one to two year old oak to provide additional complexity. Ticks the right aromatic aromatic boxes with varietal pear, blossom and florals. But for...

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Barossa Muster 'M' Mataro 2007

Barossa Muster 'M' Mataro 2007

  14:41    Stu.

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The winery weren't initially sure what to call the wine, opting for 'M' as its name and consequently using each of Mataro, Monastrell and Mourvèdre on the label. Damp earth, kirsch, a hint of cassis.  Smooth, rounded, plump pillow feel in the mouth; fruit...

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Tempus Two Copper Series Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Tempus Two Copper Series Sauvignon Blanc 2011

  15:20    Stu.

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I'm not a huge Savvy fan, but there are a few producers doing interesting things with the variety like Mitchell Harris, Nepenthe and now Tempus Two. Eschewing standard tank fermentation, they've opted to go 100% French Oak fermentation to create this Savvy with a...

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BK Wines Cult Syrah 2010

BK Wines Cult Syrah 2010

  07:52    Stu.

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I've written up some notes from previous tastings of BK wines here and here, including this wine.  This wine is BK's nod to Crozes-Hermitage, an homage to Crozes-Hermitage if you wish.  Hand harvested, de-stemmed but whole berry.  Pumped over once a...

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Deisen Shiraz 2004

Deisen Shiraz 2004

  07:21    Stu.

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On day 1 it was all about plush, rich chocolate against blueberry and raspberry goodness. Oak was considerate, framing the chocolate and berry.  Roll forward a day and the oak presents itself somewhat more obviously. The palate: smooth, silk scarf smooth on entry.  The mid-palate shows lush, richness which gives way to some cinnamon.  Fair whack of heat coming through.   Looked...

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Hoddles Creek Estate 1er Pinot Blanc 2010

Hoddles Creek Estate 1er Pinot Blanc 2010

  08:50    Stu.

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Winemaker Franco d'Anna is on record as stating that this wine needs a year in bottle to show its true colours.  I wish the economics of running a business could be ignored, enabling it to be released with that time under its belt. It is really quite remarkable. Aromatically...

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Thorn-Clarke William Randell Shiraz 2008

Thorn-Clarke William Randell Shiraz 2008

  20:58    Stu.

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Pumped over for colour, extraction and tannin.  And it shows.  This is Barossan Shiraz as many know it.  It's all about black fruits, liquorice and some intense oak complementing some chocolate.  The oak, 100% new, French.   This...

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Thorn-Clarke Morello Nebbiolo 2008

Thorn-Clarke Morello Nebbiolo 2008

  20:51    Stu.

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Interesting wine this.  Tasted at the Brisbane Good Food and Wine Show, initially it was all about black and red fruits with some good cherry thrown in (and reflecting the Morello name). Roll forward a day, stick it into a Riedel Vinnum Syrah glass and it's...

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Piper's Brook Vineyard Gewürztraminer 2008

Piper's Brook Vineyard Gewürztraminer 2008

  07:33    Stu.

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My first  Gewürz posted up here.  Good balance of fruit, acid and a touch of mineral - aided by the cool climate of Tasmania  - that makes the isle so suited to varieties like Gewürztraminer.  Mostly sourced from a planted in 1974 with the balance...

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Taylors St Andrews Single Vineyard Riesling 2007

Taylors St Andrews Single Vineyard Riesling 2007

  06:37    Stu.

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Possibly the biggest compliment you can pay to a wine is to drink it and to then want to order more and then drink that too.  Suffice to say, this is an impressive wine. It has some history behind it coming, off of the historic St Andrews vineyard....

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BK Wines: Still Hand Made

BK Wines: Still Hand Made

  08:16    Stu.

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Back in July I had the pleasure of tasting through BK's range of wines.  I quoted a paragraph from UK scribe Jamie Goode, the final sentence of which was "I just want them to get the credit they deserve". Even the most talented , whatever their profession, need a helping hand sometimes and some top ratings for the 2010 Cult Syrah (96) and 2010 One Ball Chardonnay (94) from James Halliday had...

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Nepenthe Tempranillo 2010

Nepenthe Tempranillo 2010

  21:43    Stu.

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Great aromatics that contrast between bright, perky, perty blueberry and raspberry, with roasted coffee and woody notes.  It's pleasingly aromatic and inviting. Entry shows some good bright acid with a re-emergence of the fruity notes mentioned.  Medium...

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Tempus Two Cabernet Merlot 2010

Tempus Two Cabernet Merlot 2010

  18:45    Stu.

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Distinctive packaging, approachability, showcasing regional and varietal strengths are some of Tempus Two's brand values. This wine is from the 'varietal' series and offers good aromatics from both grape varieties: some good cigar box from the Cabernet and berry fruit...

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Dutschke St Jakobi 2009

Dutschke St Jakobi 2009

  12:26    Stu.

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I was given the opportunity to try this wine by the guys at Barossa HQ, a fantastic online wine room - and similar in concept to the Adelaide Hills Wine Room - where you can engage in live wine and food tastings.  It's all about the conversation and getting...

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BK Wines Nouveau Syrah 2011

BK Wines Nouveau Syrah 2011

  08:23    Stu.

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I'm going to attempt to get two notes up today.  Two wines made by producers I really respect, two wines from different vintages, two single vineyard wines from sites about 30 KMs apart, two wines that are the anti-thesis of each other.  And two wines that I really enjoyed for two very different reasons. This is the first.  A wine not planned, a consequence of the troublesome 2011...

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Majella Riesling 2009

Majella Riesling 2009

  09:24    Stu.

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From a region renowned for its Cabernet comes this pale, pretty, delicate Riesling of breadth and mineral-laden depth. Florals on the nose, some apple blossom aromatics and a faint whiff on some kero.  Entry shows some stony zing! The minerality radiating, providing textural breadth; the finish delicacy again, yet persistently so.  The minerality continues (did I mention...

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Taylor's Jaraman Shiraz 2009

Taylor's Jaraman Shiraz 2009

  12:47    Stu.

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I used to drink a fair bit of Taylor's in the UK - somewhat unknowingly as it was under the Wakefield brand.  Taylor's is one of Australia's First Families of Wine, and its Jaraman label represents those wines made with a cross-regional composition.  This being...

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Two Sisters Pinot Noir 2006

Two Sisters Pinot Noir 2006

  08:35    Stu.

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Opened this for the Rugby World Cup Final - it was the only Kiwi wine in the house - and it proved rather an apt  metaphor for the All Blacks that night. Whilst, ultimately, the wine delivered, it lacked the finesse and fluidity of some of its peers. Solid,...

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Pattes Loup Chablis 2009

Pattes Loup Chablis 2009

  16:33    Stu.

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This is how I expect French organic growers and wine-producers to look.  Especially ones that oversee a label called Pattes Loup (Wolf's Paw). It was on the basis of this gentleman's photo that I wanted to buy the wine - that it was talked up by the...

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