08 Saturday Sep 2012
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Grenache is a great grape, used in blends and as a standalone. This offering is very smooth, if not a touch hot. Sweetness on the palate from a floral mixture and some red currants. Some plum is evident in the jammy mid palate. I like this wine and think others will too. It’s time to drink up as I think it has about 2-3 years of its peak. 4 stars, perhaps a 90 pointer….
17 Friday Feb 2012
Posted in Wine reviews
The “Red Label” blend of of Shiraz and Grenache has no vintage, a 13.5% alcohol content, and nothing to differentiate it from the masses of ordinary Aussie plonk. On the nose, not much. On the palate, not much. Wait a minute, there is something…. Jammy Shirazy funk. I am really not sure why they bother, except there is a huge market down under for cheap Barbie wine. I’ve had their other lines, the yellow and black labels. This does not merit buying unless you are half-pissed already.
I was hoping for a little bit of interest here, considering the addition of Grenache, but alas, it is no Rhone Ranger. It is smooth though, with no tannins to get in your way, no complexity to make you pause, and an aftertaste that nags at you. Harsh? Perhaps, but life is far too short for cheap and nasty. Spend a little, live a little, and avoid this mass-produced garbage that gives Australian Shiraz a bad name. 1 star, and if I were a pro- 80 points, just because the label looks nice.
04 Wednesday Jan 2012
Posted in Wine reviews
Wow, bang-for-the-buck stuff folks. Run, don’t walk to the nearest place that sells this QPR beast.
From the Rhone region of France, it is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre and Carignan that sings “Drink Me”. On the nose, very good initial flavors typical of the blend, on the first taste, great balance of fruit, tannins and acidity. I did not pay much for this gem, only to find out it got a 90 point pro rating from the boys at WS. A five star effort in my opinion as it delivers everything.
The Rhone blends are a great way to enjoy the variety of grapes that they use. On the mid-palate this wine shows really nice complexity, no doubt from the different grapes. The tannins are very smooth, non-obtrusive and have the strength to hold this wine until 2015 at the earliest. Seriously, this is some good shiz that needs to be searched out. Another gem in the French wine arena that doesn’t over-charge and under-perform. Yay
16 Sunday Oct 2011
Posted in Wine reviews
Here’s an interesting one for you…. In the south of France, vignerons compete to be included in the blend for that year’s offering of Les Douze (translated into the twelve). These 12 wines are blended from Syrah, Carignan and Grenache, all Rhone varietals. Every year the wine changes as the entries are evaluated and blended, producing an eclectic mix from year to year. I had high hopes for this wine, and was not disappointed, even though I drank it way too young. The dryness was a little overpowering, but promises to keep the wine healthy as it ages and develops. A very interesting concept of putting the best wines forward and compiling a unique wine every year. The co-op claims a full bodied effort that offers spice, can’t disagree there. Forward thinkers like these guys are on the front running of giving the boys up north a lesson in quality versus price. When the hype of Bordeaux dies down, they will be left holding the bag while these kinds of wine makers will have stolen the hearts and wallets of the sensible everyday wine drinker. Well done you lot! 5 stars and an enviable 90 pointer from the novice over here.
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