Tag Archives: south australia

Rawson’s Retreat Collection Shiraz – Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, South Australia

08 Saturday Dec 2018

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Medium opacity with good color and nice legs.  On the nose I get blueberry jam, cedar, juniper.  On the palate there are notes of blue fruit, cinnamon stick and that woody, cedar note I got on the nose.  The mid palate introduces some acidity along with- dare I say- wintergreen?  Tannins are mild and unobtrusive, giving the wine a bit of astringency on the finish.  The wine drinks nicely, what it lacks in depth it makes up for in mouthfeel.  88 points and 3 stars for this $20 wine.  Drink till 2022 with meat, tapas or stew.  Salut….

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Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz 2011 revisited

03 Saturday Dec 2016

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I’m a huge fan of this winery and am working my way through their offerings and revisiting some that I have had a chance to cellar.  I keep a stash of wines in my locker at ‘work’.  Those of you that know me will realize that my locker is half way around the world from home, but I have some gems in there that have been sitting patiently in near perfect conditions- 60 F, humid and dark.  I met up with a mate from downunda, whom we shall call Mr. Rangley and I pulled this one out for a tasting.  The last time I drank the 2011 Blue Eyed Boy it was delicious so I was really looking forward to it.

Blueberry nose with plum ganache- delicious.  On the palate is a thick, long blueberry note with dark chocolate and graphite.  The mid palate involves a full blown explosion of more blue fruits, vanilla bean and rolling tannins.  I detect some heat which makes sense as this one packs 16% alcohol.  The finish is long and full of blueberry pie, 92 points all day long.  I did not notice too much evolution over the past three years which is interesting.  I’m not sure where this wine is going over its life span but it is built for the long haul and may yet develop nuances of age and secondary flavors.  If it doesn’t that is fine too – a unique tasting Shiraz that is well made and a treat.  5 stars at $40.  Drink all by itself for the ultimate experience of this wine but if you must pair it- Filet Mignon with Bearnaise sauce and some asparagus will do the trick.  Salut….

blue eyed boy shiraz

 

 

 

Mollydooker Miss Molly Sparkling Shiraz, South Australia 2010

31 Wednesday Aug 2016

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I first opened a Miss Molly in January of 2014.  This second bottle has been cellared in hopes of seeing evolution.  I only drank it in a flute, rather than tasting it as I did the first time.

Nose of cassis syrup, with an effervescent plum component.  On the palate is where it all starts- pepper, spice, black berries, plum jam and cassis.  The mousse keeps bringing back the blackberry and cassis throughout the mid palate and on to the finish.  The wine ends with a white pepper and cassis note in a somewhat short fashion.  I don’t detect any tannins but there is a definite acidity that keeps the wine fresh and bracing.  I previously gave this wine 90 points, but at this stage it gets 88 points.  We drank it with grilled salmon and Caeser salad.  It would rock some raw clams or perhaps roasted quail.  3 stars for this $25 offering.  Salut….
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Clarendon Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Sandown 2006

12 Tuesday Aug 2014

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If you have read any of my Clarendon posts you will know that I love this winery and can’t get enough of their subtle yet complex Syrahs, Cabernets and Grenaches.  This particular Mclaren Vale offering was opened to go along with my new favorite grilled meat- Chorizo.  I loaded up two giant Ribeye steaks (the butcher had labelled them Delmonico’s, all hoity toity) some onions and a half dozen of the Mexican sausages on the charcoal grill and opened this beauty to sip while I got the rest of dinner ready.

Thick purple color is always a good start for Cabernet Sauvignon.  Fresh blue fruits with some mint greeted my flaring nostrils- perhaps a touch of alcohol was coming off the glass.  Unique plum compote and blueberry coulis flavors were my initial impression but I began to think the wine is still primal with full fruit and a whiff of heat attacking the mid palate.  Moderate tannins and cutting acidity belie a still young wine waiting to mature.  Eucalyptus and mulberry came into being on the back end with cassis and red fruits adding to the long finish.  The 14.5% alcohol was hidden after a while, blown off from it’s early attack.  The wine is structured, balanced and a joy to drink.  I would imagine it could cellar for another 15 years easily.  $75 and 94 points from me make this a treat of a wine that gets 5 stars for a special occasion.  Salut….

clarendon hills sandown

 

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Shiraz 2012

18 Sunday May 2014

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The third varietal in the Wolf Blass trilogy that was recently on sale is this Shiraz.  I enjoyed the Merlot and was impressed by the Cab Sav so I did not hesitate to buy this one for $10, list price being $17.  It opened up with plums and licorice on the nose, an interesting combo for this varietal. Blueberry and sour cherries came across on the palate with some nutmeg and leather rounding it out.  I was concerned about the balance and noticed some greenness in the tannins.  Whilst neither Rhone-like nor typical Aussie Shiraz, it had an interesting edge to it.  I think the tannin component has lowered the score and contributed to it’s imbalance.  Im going with 87 points and 3 stars.  Salut….

wolf glass yellow label shiraz

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

17 Saturday May 2014

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Originally priced at $17, this was the other Wolf Blass I mentioned yesterday that was on sale for $10.  A steal, and tasty to boot.  This one came out of the gate with all cylinders firing.  It was inky purple in the glass and showed off a delightful nose of black currants and star anise.  My initial impression was very positive when I got Blackberry pie and some interesting vanilla on the first sip.  I enjoyed the ‘crispy’ tannins as they carried the wine to the mid palate where I tasted plums with a touch of acidity.  A very enjoyable wine that is a good buy at it’s regular price, making it a steal at the sale price.  It had a good amount of length and the mouthfeel was just right.  I would easily serve this up with beef stew on a cold night, or a juicy NY strip on the grill in the summer time.  I am going 90 points and 4 stars for this easy to find wine.  Salut….

wolf glass yellow label cabernet sauvignon

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Merlot 2012

16 Friday May 2014

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I got a good deal on two bottles of Yellow Label, this Merlot and a Cab Sav.  I have had this line before and recall it’s consistency and value for money.  I was not disappointed, and was happy to spend $10 each (RRP $17).

The wine was a deep purple in the glass which was a good start.  On the nose I got a very interesting mix of ripe plums and oak which carried through on the palate.  I also got a strange yet intriguing taste that I noted ‘woodsy component like green tree branches’.  Transitioning to the mid palate is where the Kirsch and sour cherries kicked in with some nutmeg and cola.  I feel this wine is slightly backward right now but expect it will sort itself out in the near future.  The tannins are gentle and the acidity is present in this South Australia wine.  I’m going with 89 points and 4 stars for the price.  Salut….

wolf glass yellow label merlot