Tag Archives: australia

Mac Forbes Pinot Noir 2016, Yarra Valley, Australia

27 Tuesday Jul 2021

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When I drank this wine at my mates place, I was thinking of my wine course so I used the standard lexicon to describe it.  Having said that, I will add a few personal notes.  I’ve never had a wine from Yarra Valley.  A cooler climate area that allows Pinot to grow, I found this wine to be well developed, almost over the hill at a mere 6 years of age.  Perhaps my mate Johny stored it incorrectly?  It was tasty to be sure, but was very much ripe and stewed.  It may have a few years left but drink now to enjoy it the most.  I give it 90 points even though it got upwards of 93 from the pros.  At $30 plus, it gets 3 stars from me.  Salut…

  • Pale tawny
  • Nose- medium intensity strawberry, cranberry, red cherry, earth and game.  Developing
  • Palate-dry, medium – acidity, medium – body, medium – tannins, medium intensity flavors of strawberry, red cherry, earth, cooked strawberry and sour?.  Medium finish.
  • Conclusion- acceptable quality to be drunk now, but has potential for ageing.

Clarendon Hills Romas Grenache 2011, McLaren Vale, Australia

19 Monday Jul 2021

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This week I am focusing on New World wines for my course. I have selected this bottle to kick off the festivities and here is my official tasting note for class:

Clarendon Hills Grenache ‘Romas’ 2011, Australia 14.5% ABV

  • Appearance- Deep ruby with thick legs.
  • Nose- Pronounced aromas of red plum, raspberry, blackcurrants, chocolate, coffee and smoke. Developing.
  • Palate- Dry, medium acidity, medium+ tannins, high alcohol, medium+ body, medium+ intensity flavors of raspberry, red plum, chocolate, coffee, licorice. Medium finish.
  • Conclusion- good quality, drink now but has potential for aging.

I have drunk many different vintages and varietals from this winery.  Their Syrah mimics Rhone wines rather than jammy Shiraz.  This particular bottle of Grenache was somewhat one-dimensional and lacked much development, even with 10+ years of aging.  It was very tasty but had a bit of astringency that bothered me.  

It ran me $30 per bottle and I am going with 89 points- kind of disappointing, I know. 2 stars, hopefully the other bottles show better as the original pro review gave it upwards of 95 points. Drink till 2030, served mine with grilled Hangar steak and Chimichurri. Salut….

Gemtree Vineyards ‘Uncut’ Shiraz 2018, McLaren Vale, Australia

07 Monday Jun 2021

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I was reading about Biodynamic farming today in my wine course so naturally I was tempted to try one. This particular wine is an Aussie Shiraz from McLaren Vale that runs 14.5% ABV, typical. They like to wring the heck out of the juice downunda. It shows in the glass- deep purple with big tears. The nose has rich plum, bakers spice, blackcurrant and a whiff of the heat. On the palate it reverberates the dark fruit theme with spiciness alongside chocolate powder hints. It is opulent yet not overly jammy, as can be the case too often in Shiraz. The mouthfeel is very round and warm, the alcohol noticeable on the mid-palate. There are some lithe tannins and a modicum of acidity – very balanced in my opinion, even if on a smaller scale. The finish is short to medium and certainly fruit forward, it’s nice. This wine will drink nicely till 2026 and pair well with roasted meats. 89 points from me and at $18 per bottle, its gets 3 stars. Salut….

Two Hands Wines Fields of Joy Shiraz 2016, Clare Valley, Australia

20 Thursday May 2021

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Inky AF and fully opaque, a very rich purple in the glass with thick legs belying the 14.2% kick.  Rich, layered notes of red currants, very ripe cherry, cigar box, blueberry ganache and blackberry.  The palate is full bodied, showing medium tannins and juicy acidity.  The red and blue fruit flavors are complemented by the cedar and I also get some menthol.  There is a hint of Brazilian roasted coffee bean to boot. There is another, indescribable note I’m having a tough time pinpointing that I’m enamored with.  The tannic structure is very good, integrated yet still fresh it coats my gums but is not too dry.  The finish is of good length with a nice mouthfeel.  This is a really delicious wine that gets 92 points from me.  Serve it with lamb, game meat or juicy ribeyes.  It has the flavors and backbone to pair with rich dishes.  $30 is a decent price for such a blockbuster that gets 5 stars from me. Drink till 2027. Salut….

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Alkoomi Riesling 2019, Western Australia

06 Thursday May 2021

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In my wine course there is a definitive method to tasting wines. This week our task has been to compare an Australian Riesling with an Auslese version from Germany. Here are the notes, in the correct format, for the Aussie one.

Alkoomi Riesling 2019, Western Australia.  12.0% ABV

Appearance : 

  • Intensity : Pale
  • Colour : Lemon

Nose : 

  • Intensity : Medium 
  • Aroma characteristics : Primary notes of Grapefruit, Quince and Lemon.  Secondary notes of Papier Machè and bread dough.

Palate : 

  • Sweetness : Off-Dry
  • Acidity : High
  • Alcohol : Medium
  • Body : Medium
  • Flavor intensity : Medium with Primary flavors of  Lemon, Pink Grapefruit and Peach.   
  • Finish : Long

Conclusions : Good Quality

For $17, this 90 point wine is a 5 star effort if you are in the market for a crisp, juicy Riesling to pair with grilled Mackerel or Oysters on the half shell. Drink till 2025. Salut….

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Scissor Kick Cellars Shiraz 2015, Clare Valley, Australia

01 Thursday Apr 2021

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Shiraz is typically dark and brooding and this one is no exception, really rich purple and 75% opaque in the glass.
The label states a 15.3% alcohol so buyer beware. The nose has that jammy raspberry/cherry twizzler profile which I’m not a huge fan of- I hope the palate is a little bit more in my style. So, turns out this is quite a rich and reduced raspberry offering with toasty oak and red currants on the initial palate. As I drink this wine I’m starting to really enjoy it- the candy element long gone. The mid palate has juicy red fruits with a modicum of tannic dryness.  The finish is relatively straightforward with good fruit, gentle acidity and a touch of tannin.  There’s a nice mouthfeel that makes it easy to drink.  Overall this is an 88 point wine that should be drunk by 2027.  Ps.  I did not get a hint of the alcohol, well disguised! For $19 it gets 3 stars from me. Pair with Lasagna, grilled sirloin or even roast duck. Salut….

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Clarendon Hills Brookman Merlot 2011, South Australia

02 Tuesday Feb 2021

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I tasted the 2010 Brookman Merlot back in 2020. I’m a huge fan of this winery so when I see it- I buy it. This version is inky and opaque in the glass. On the nose- rich plum compote, cassis and singed alder. The palate is rich, mouth-coating and delicious. Layers of plum, blackberry, charred oak and coffee hit me. There is no room for the tannins to make themselves known, it’s a fruit driven explosion. They appear on the midpalate but are very well ingrained. The dark fruit theme continues and now I get the structure- the grip is medium in intensity and there is a nice balanced acidic component. The finish is where the acidity takes over, very juicy but I still get good primal fruit. This wine is young at 9 years, it will hopefully develop some tertiary notes and the tannins should meld in the next few years. Drink till 2030 with rich steaks, heavy sauces or a big bowl of Pasta. 92 points from me and for $25 it’s a home run with 5 stars. Salut….

First Drop Mother’s Milk Shiraz 2018, Barossa, Australia

04 Monday Jan 2021

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It’s been four years since I had a drop of Mothers Milk, I was super excited to see it in my local wine shop. I’m cooking Venison Tenderloins in a mushroom sauce and think this might be the perfect match. It’s about 80% opaque and a medium shade of murky purple. On the nose it is spicy, peppery and has notes of licorice, blackberry and charred oak. On the palate it is really smooth and flavorful. Blackberry, anise and cola flavors shine through alongside some juicy acid. The mid palate is very fruity and has gobs of acidity to go along with lithe tannins. The fruit is working hard at this point to remain center stage. The finish is quite tart from the structural components but I do get more flavors right at the end. Black fruit melange, that licorice note and the acidity go on for ages. This is a very fresh wine that is drinking nicely and will do so till 2025. I’m going with 89 points and for $20 it gets 4 stars. (Ps. one of the pros went as high as 96!). Glad I re-discovered it! Salut….

Jen Pfeiffer The Rebel Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Australia

26 Saturday Dec 2020

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It’s Boxing Day, aka the day after Christmas. We have started a new tradition of eating Fondue on the 25th, it’s easy requires very little effort. As usual, we had tons of leftovers, so I am grilling the remaining Filet. I put the chicken in the crock pot and let it slow cook in Buffalo sauce which I’ll be shredding in a few minutes as a precursor to the main dish. I needed something light, lively and hopefully a touch acidic to pair with the spicy heat I am anticipating with the chicken. Out came this Aussie Sav Blanc.

It’s a very pale shade of yellow with a hint of green in the glass. On the nose it bursts with citrus notes, pineapple and green apple. The palate is delicious with great floral hints, juicy lemon/lime/tangerine notes and some lithe acidity. I was hoping for more for this particular pairing but it’s fine as is. The mid palate has a touch of lanolin and yet more lemon. The acidity kicks in on the mid length finish- it’s not overly juicy but I like the cut. It is refreshing and keeps the wine lean. Enjoyable, quaffable and versatile. I really enjoy this varietal and feel it has so much to offer as far as pairing ability. 88 points from me for this yummy bottle that runs $10. 5 stars, stock up for the summer. Salut….

Rabbit and Spaghetti Tempranillo – Mataro – Grenache 2018, Clare Valley, Australia

18 Wednesday Nov 2020

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This is an interesting blend out of Oz, it’s more Spanish in composition but here goes! Semi opaque and light purple in the glass. The nose is red in nature… currants, raspberry and orange peel. On the palate it’s a racy wine, if not a touch thin. Sour cherry, red currants and judicious oak are all present. The mid palate continues the sour theme and some very fine grained tannins start to coat the gums. The acid component is really making my jaw water. The finish is short in length and pleasant with more red fruit and an intro to some rhubarb. It’s an interesting blend that unfortunately was a little too thin for my liking. Technically I would give it an 86 point score and 2 stars for its $30 retail price. Drink now. Salut….