Ridgemill Estate Monastrell Tempranillo 2009

Ridgemill Estate Monastrell Tempranillo 2009

  20:57    Stu.

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A 2:1 blend of Monastrell (note the use of the Spanish name for the grape variety - one of only about four wineries I know of in Australia that do so) and Tempranillo. The Tempranillo on the nose providing attractive, bright pippy-fruit aromatics; the Monastrell black-fruited...

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David Franz Benjamin's Promise Shiraz 2004

David Franz Benjamin's Promise Shiraz 2004

  05:37    Stu.

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Been on a bit of a Barossa kick of late. Having previously sampled the delights of a Peter Lehmann Eight Songs 2004, I thought I'd skip a Lehmann generation and sample in the delights of this offering from David Franz. So, spicy coffee-ish oak with a backdrop...

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Yelland & Papps Divine Grenache 2009

Yelland & Papps Divine Grenache 2009

  14:26    Stu.

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Australia has fantastic old vine resources.  Certainly amongst Grenache, Shiraz, Cabernet and Mataro (see my note on the Y&P Dvine Mataro here) it can lay claim to having the oldest vines of the type in the world. So, this example, from vines 130 years of...

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Chateau de Sours Bordeaux Rosé 2010

Chateau de Sours Bordeaux Rosé 2010

  13:59    Stu.

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Chateau de Sours is located near Libourne and Pomerol, sitting atop a limestone plateau providing free-draining soils.  With a heritage stretching back 200 years, wines such as this are leading a resurgence of interest for Bordeaux Rosé. Delicate berry perfume,...

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Murray Street Vineyards Black Label Mataro 2010

Murray Street Vineyards Black Label Mataro 2010

  21:24    Stu.

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Aromatically complex, akin to driving up a mountain pass, something different greeting you at each turn: chocolate coated black cherries, a baked crumble of red and black fruits; then the savoury elements - coffee compounds, beef consomme, Bovril, a faint whiff of violet....

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Natural Selection Theory: Tom Shobbrook

Natural Selection Theory: Tom Shobbrook

  14:41    Stu.

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A timing error on my part meant I had a limited amount of time at the recent Natural Selection Theory tasting held at Spring Brisbane.  I'd previously tasted some of Anton Van Klopper's Domaine Lucci and Lucy Margaux wines, as I had James Erskine's Jauma wines,...

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Taylor's Winemaker's Project Vermentino 2011

Taylor's Winemaker's Project Vermentino 2011

  21:11    Stu.

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Love the concept: allow your winemaker(s) to play with the varietals they want to, and in the manner they wish.  Push themselves and the boundaries of conventional winemaking, but also telling that story via the little booklet that comes with the wine.   Grower...

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Chapel Hill Mourvèdre 2010

Chapel Hill Mourvèdre 2010

  12:42    Stu.

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On this journey I've often wondered what is Australia's best region for Mataro, or the best region for making wines in the style of Bandol.  I think if I were a Mataro vine, I'd be quite happy facing into the Western sun, with a view out towards the Gulf of St Vincent...

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Domaine La Sarabande Faugéres 2010

Domaine La Sarabande Faugéres 2010

  12:37    Stu.

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Faugéres is an AOC in the Languedoc appellation, in France's South West corner, inland and roughly equidistant between Montpellier and Carcassone.  The majority of its 2,100 hectares are at relative altitude (often greater than 250m/ 800 feet) and planted on Schist...

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Golden Grove Mourvédre 2009

Golden Grove Mourvédre 2009

  17:42    Stu.

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On 2nd February, I had the pleasure of joining James McIlwain of Southern Cross Wines on 4BCs Wine Time segment.  Wine Time is a fortnightly segment on 4BC Commercial Radio that James hosts.  On this particular show, James and I spoke about Project Mataro and...

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Taylor's Jaraman Margaret River and Clare Valley Chardonnay 2011

Taylor's Jaraman Margaret River and Clare Valley Chardonnay 2011

  05:55    Stu.

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More expensive wine of the 3 Taylor's Chardonnay reviewed (the 80 Acres and Estate Chardonnay can be found before this).  The better 'made' wine. Grapefruit and peach on show; mealy with some oak that pops it's head up. Shows some length, with a decent driving line...

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Taylor's Clare Valley Chardonnay 2010

Taylor's Clare Valley Chardonnay 2010

  05:51    Stu.

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More up my street, and of the three Taylor's Chardonnay reviewed - the one I went back to (the 80 Acres and Jaraman follow).  Toasty, nutty, marzipan aromatics. Some work in the form of battonage provides a creamy feel.  Stone fruit and melon support the wine...

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Taylor's 80 Acres Chardonnay 2011

Taylor's 80 Acres Chardonnay 2011

  05:46    Stu.

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Taylor's 80 Acres range is 100% Carbon Neutral.  This is the first of three Taylor's Chardonnays reviewed.  (The 2010 Estate Clare Valley and 2011 Jaraman Chardonnay follow).  Of non-regional definition, this wine offers simple lemon and grapefruit aromatics...

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Flaxman Wines 2009 Mataro

Flaxman Wines 2009 Mataro

  21:23    Stu.

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Project Mataro and this wine share a common link in their source of inspiration.  Col Sheppard and his wife Fiona purchased a small vineyard overlooking Flaxman's Valley.  Vintage experience with Murray Street led to Col making his own wines.  This Mataro of Col's was inspired by Andrew Seppelt's own efforts and Project Mataro was spurred on by Andrew's own love of Mataro (subscription...

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Nepenthe Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Nepenthe Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2011

  14:15    Stu.

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Pretty polarising varietal is Sauvignon Blanc.  Rather maligned amongst the wine-erati, but guzzled by the gallon with a certain type of consumer group.  The latter would certainly like this effort from the 2011 vintage. Regional hallmarks of goosebery,...

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