David Franz 1979 AD VP

David Franz 1979 AD VP

  22:43    Stu.

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"Shakedown 1979, cool kids never have the time" ~ Smashing Pumpkins, 1979 The tag 'legend' is all too often bandied around these days. The actions of Peter Lehmann on hearing that, then employer, Saltram would not honour "my word is my bond" contracts to fruit growers...

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Cape Mentelle Shiraz 2006

Cape Mentelle Shiraz 2006

  22:22    Stu.

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Sees 18 months in a mix of French and American oak, unsure of the age mix, some whole berry use too. From an awkward vintage*, and at now 7 years of age is showing itself in a savoury guise: hints of old leather, a touch of beef stew. Medium bodied, black pepper flecked...

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Tscharke Barossa Grounds Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Tscharke Barossa Grounds Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

  22:08    Stu.

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Barossan Cabernet doesn't get as much exposure as its, rather more well known, friend Shiraz. When Barossa Cabernet is good, it sings. This example from Damien Tscharke falls into that camp. Seeing an extended maceration post-ferment, some 60 days, along with 50% new oak...

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d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2009

d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2009

  21:54    Stu.

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Black fruit, hint of tapenade, touch of licorice - in short a dark brooding, sullen wine. Smooth on entry, a little short; pastille like fruit presence, but somewhat lacking in firmness and fullness. Feels a little dried out, heat makes itself known. Finishes with drying...

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Mike Press Shiraz 2009

Mike Press Shiraz 2009

  06:23    Stu.

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2013 marks Mike Press' 50th year in the wine game. This 2009 was released around 3 years ago, long since sold out. A warmer year was 2009, but that actually helped Mike up on a cool site in them thar Adelaide Hills. I didn't realise that I'd actually written this up before,...

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Ballycroft Small Berry 'French' Shiraz 2010

Ballycroft Small Berry 'French' Shiraz 2010

  08:00    Stu.

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Ballycroft is a winery based in Greenock in the Barossa's North-west. Owned and run by Joseph and Susan Evans, Ballycroft is Gaelic for village farm. Picked on Valentine's day in 2010, the harvest yielded a tad over 1300KG from 1 acre planted in 1999. Vines are hitting...

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Yelland & Papps Second Take Grenache 2012

Yelland & Papps Second Take Grenache 2012

  06:48    Stu.

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The third wine in the Yelland & Papps Second Take range (after the Roussanne and Shiraz). Sees a fair use of whole bunch, 20% and a slightly extended period on skins of 14 days. Oak use is 17% new French and 83% 1-2 year old American. Pristine fruit shines through...

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Tyrrell's Belford Chardonnay 2009

Tyrrell's Belford Chardonnay 2009

  06:47    Stu.

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The story goes that in the 80's Murray Tyrrell persuaded the vineyard owner to pull out some Shiraz in the Belford vineyard, a variety that didn't fair so well in the sandy soils in a wet year. The trade-off was some plantings of Chardonnay from the renowned HVD vineyard. ...

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Telmo Rodriguez Tinto Joven A1 Muvedre 2010

Telmo Rodriguez Tinto Joven A1 Muvedre 2010

  11:28    Stu.

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Opens beefy and meaty, a hint of sun baked earth and old leather. So far, so good. Tastes tart, excessively so. Not good. Bottle meet sink, sink meet bottle. End of. Life's too short to drink this. Poor Tasted on: Saturday 4th May, a Flower Day Source: Retail, XO Cellars Price:...

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Yalumba Y Series Merlot 2011

Yalumba Y Series Merlot 2011

  11:19    Stu.

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The Yalumba Y series range represent extraordinary value. It's fair to say the reds from 2011 struggled a little. Still, I found this example to speak of its variety.   Opens with hints of plum, fruitcake and a touch of herb and tar. The palate lacks somewhat...

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d'Arenberg Ironstone Pressings 2009

d'Arenberg Ironstone Pressings 2009

  07:26    Stu.

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The name stems from the sedimentary rock containing iron, freshly cleaved it is grey in appearance, but oxidises with exposure, giving it a red-brown colour. You can see it in use as a building material at d'Arenberg. Opens with a dense concoction of red and black fruit...

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Glenayr Riesling 2009

Glenayr Riesling 2009

  21:35    Stu.

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From a vineyard planted in 1975, the second oldest in the Coal River area. The Glenayr site contains a nice link for students of trade unions, collective bargaining, (and of course transportation), for the building that now serves as the administration office was the former...

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Alkoomi Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Alkoomi Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

  14:52    Stu.

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Tasted alongside it's 'Icon' stablemate that Blackbutt, and in many ways, as a drink, I preferred the more forward nature of this wine. Cassis dominant, black fruit supporting; slight dusty character present here too, cedar and hints of coffee-oak. A little tarry with...

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Alkoomi Blackbutt 2008

Alkoomi Blackbutt 2008

  14:34    Stu.

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Subtle perfume initially - a little dusty, violets and a smokey edge - faint. Constituent varieties are writ large on the palate: creme de cassis, a little pastille; tannin is minimal, yet present, a drying chalky tannin.  Wine shows a little iron/ ferrous note too....

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Vinteloper Adelo 2012

Vinteloper Adelo 2012

  18:39    Stu.

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I first tasted the Adelo with its debut release in 2010, and this 2012 sees the wine as a blend of Touriga Nacional (65%), Shiraz (25%), Pinot Noir (6%) and a little of the Grenache (4%) that didn't make the cut for the Urban Winery Project release. Over an hour or so,...

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