Site Contents | Recent Tastings | Wine Touring | Cellars | What's New

Tasting notes from an Australian tasting - Saturday, February 8, 2003, at the Wine Exchange in Orange, CA. Twenty wines were poured for a tasting fee of $28. The wines were double-decanted over a 24-hr period prior to the tasting.

Overall impressions: this was an amazingly good lineup of wines. First, there was an excellent mix of Shiraz' and Cabs. Second, no "warm-up" wines here -- from the very beginning, it was pedal to the metal fruit-powered Aussies. Finding favorites here was as easy (or as difficult) as sticking a nose in a glass. Without exception, every wine in this flight of mostly 2001 Aussies had a lot to like.

Favorites: every last one of them. The entire Clarendon Hills lineup was fabulous, but I especially liked the treatment of the Liandra Vnyd Syrah. Going for elegance over power, winemaker Roman Bratasiuk has struck a fabulous balance of the two. Both Mitolo wines and the Amon Ra were made by Ben Glaetzer, probably best known for his "Bishop" Shiraz. If you're at all fond of his Shiraz, you'll definitely appreciate these. Both Henry's Drive Reserves were excellent; I liked the Cab just a bit better. The Shirvington Cab - well this is a stunner! The nose is from somewhere near heaven, and the only reason it's not on the top of my picks is the slightly reserved mouthfeel. It was really a matter of millimeters.

Disappointments: absolutely none. As usual, I've ranked my favorites by preference - ordinarily not a problem. This time was different, because it was difficult to draw the line. What might appear to be a 2nd tier in my preferences, is really no more than an arbitrary split, since they were all jammed together and I had to pick some sort of order. In fact, it's a bloody shame to have to list the MiItolo "Jester" at the bottom of the list, since it's a very nice wine - something in the 88-89 point range.

Finally, do the $35-45 tags seem too pricey? Well, considering what comparable California Cab and Syrah is running right now, I'd say definitely not.

Tasting Notes

2001 Burge Family The Renoux - Barossa Valley. $28.99. Very dark ruby color. Very jammy nose, with lots of black cherry, raspberry, vanilla and a touch of oak. Jammy as well on the palate, with very nice balance, and long finish. Blend of Shiraz, Merlot and Cab.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Clonakilla Shiraz-Viognier - Canberra District. $31.99. Very dark ruby color. Wow! Nose of wild flowers mingled with perfumed blackberry and sage, very much influenced by the 7% Viognier. Off-sweet jammy mouthfeel, lots of blackberry fruit, accented with a little stemmy nectarine.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Tim Adams Shiraz The Aberfeldy - Clare Valley. $37.99. Very dark ruby color. Well-oaked nose of blackberry, licorice, and toast. Off-sweet mouthfeel, the black fruit has a touch of something bright in flavor - maybe kiwi - with an interesting macerated, and somewhat floral taste to its long finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Possums Vineyard Shiraz - McLaren Vale. $17.99. Very, very dark ruby color. Advance word on this was good, so I was interested to check it out. Nose of spicy blackberry, licorice, and sweet waxy black mustashe (already used the red lips). Thick and chewy, with loads of licorice and blackberry flavors. The flavors get just a bit cloying and a little caramelized about mid-to-latter palate, and finishes toasty and somewhat sweet.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Hazyblur Shiraz - McLaren Vale. $28.99. Very dark ruby color. Beautiful ripeness to the semi-sweet blackberry and licorice nose. Huge, initially off-sweet mouthfeel get a bit sweet-sour by mid-palate, even softening up slightly before the moderately long toasty finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Wild Duck Creek Shiraz - Springflat Heathcote. $35.99. How times have changed. Two or three years ago, this label wouldn't have made the display floor of most wine stores - so hot was this winery. Black ruby color. Dense, almost impenetrable nose of blackberry, stone fruits, licorice, road tar and toast. Very chewy mouthfeel, lots of macerated fresh fruit, sweet-sour taste throughout, with a very long fruit-driven finish. In Pennzoil terms, this is a 50w effort.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Cape d'Estaing Shiraz - Kangaroo Island. $35.99. Black ruby color. Dense and tarry nose of licorice, crushed rose petals, blackberry, flint and minerals. Delicious blackberry and licorice flavors, thick and chewy mouthfeel, with ample oak wandering in and out during long finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Greenock Creek Shiraz Alices' - Barossa Valley. $44.99. Very dark ruby color. Ahh, Barossa. Effusive nose of smoky dark fruits, road tar, licorice, and a hint of peach. Smoky, rich and very tasty, toasty and swet on the palate, with a smooth seductive mouthfeel, and long toasty finish. The Alices' vines were re-grafted from Chardonnay. That's music to my ears.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score:A-

2001 Killibinbin Cabernet Sauvignon - Langhorne Creek. $18.99. Medium dark ruby color. Nose of sweet cassis, charred toast and little fresh bread. Jammy off-sweet chunky fruit, very good balance, long well-oaked finish. Excellent under-$20 Cab.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Barton Vale Shiraz The Changeling - Eden Valley. $32.99. Very dark ruby color. Nose of spicy black and red fruit, shoe polish, and a hint of floral aromas. Very fruity mouthfeel, with a spicy almost apple-cinnamon center, nice balance, and a very modest dose of oak in the long slightly bitter finish. Re-grafted from Gewurtztraminer vines. Apparently, every vine must do its bit for Shiraz.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Mitolo Shiraz Jester - McLaren Vale . $17.99. Dark ruby garnet color. Sweet, smoky and toasty - in fact, very toasty nose. Tasty mouthfeel, with some obvious oak complimenting the blackberry, tar and licorice flavors. Long licorice-infused finish. Oh, this one's got a Screw Cap, too.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2001 Mitolo Shiraz Savitar - McLaren Vale . $44.99. Very dark ruby color. Well, this was certainly a step up from Mitolo's Jester. Lovely complex nose of toasty fruit, licorice, tar, lots of floral components, and a touch of bacon. Sweet, slightly stemmy mouthfeel, with delicious dark fruit and toast melding with the tarry-licorice flavors.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

Favorites - In Order of Preference

2001 Amon Ra Shiraz - Barossa Valley. $39.99.
2001 Clarendon Hills Syrah - Liandra Vnyd. $39.99.
2001 Clarendon Hills Cabernet Sauvignon - Sandown Vnyd. $35.99.
2001 Clarendon Hills Grenache Old Vine - Clarendon Vnyd. $32.99.
2001 Mitolo Shiraz Savitar - McLaren Vale . $44.99.
2001 Henry's Drive Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Padthaway. $36.99.
2001 Henry's Drive Shiraz Reserve - Padthaway. $36.99.
2001 Shirvington Cabernet Sauvignon - McLaren Vale. $39.99.
2000 Greenock Creek Shiraz Alices' - Barossa Valley. $44.99.
2000 Tim Adams Shiraz The Aberfeldy - Clare Valley. $37.99.
--------------------
2001 Cape d'Estaing Shiraz - Kangaroo Island. $35.99.
2001 Clonakilla Shiraz-Viognier - Canberra District. $31.99.
2001 Wild Duck Creek Shiraz - Springflat Heathcote. $35.99.
2001 Hazyblur Shiraz -McLaren Vale. $28.99.

2001 Killibinbin Cabernet Sauvignon - Langhorne Creek. $18.99.
2001 Burge Family The Renoux - Barossa Valley. $28.99.
2001 Possums Vineyard Shiraz - McLaren Vale. $17.99.
2001 Barton Vale Shiraz The Changeling - Eden Valley. $32.99.
2001 Mitolo Shiraz Jester - McLaren Vale . $17.99.
6NV6R.L. Buller & Son Fine Tokay - Rutherglen. $11.99.


2001 Amon Ra Shiraz - Barossa Valley. $39.99. Very dark ruby garnet color. The nose is filled with rose petals, raspberry, blackberry, and licorice - very intoxicating. Quite smooth and round on the palate, with almost CdP-like flavor and texture, very toasty throughout, with a long seamless fruit-driven finish. Made by Ben Glaetzer with fruit from the Ebenezer vineyard. This one IS more about elegance than power.
Aroma score: A Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Clarendon Hills Cabernet Sauvignon - Sandown Vnyd. $35.99. Very dark ruby color. Beautiful toasted cassis nose, with just a hint of herbs. Smooth and sweet mouthfeel, with nice crunchy red fruit, and a long toasty finish with just a bit of oak bite. Delicious aftertaste.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Clarendon Hills Grenache Old Vine - Clarendon Vnyd. $32.99. Medium dark ruby garnet color. Sweet and succulent nose, with just a bit of stems poking through the raspberry veil. Smooth and sinewy texture, very tasty flavor - like raspberry pie crust, with a long delicious finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Clarendon Hills Syrah - Liandra Vnyd. $39.99. Dark garnet color. So, why is this Syrah, instead of Shiraz? Apparently the winemaker wanted to do Syrah in the French style (winemaking, cooperage), but with Australian fruit. Works for me. Nose of blackberry, bacon, tar, toasted herbs and hard wood. A bit reserved on the palate - almost monolithic, but all the toast, tar, and fruit seem very seamless, and the sweet flavors last through the very long finish.
Aroma score: A Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Henry's Drive Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Padthaway. $36.99. Very dark ruby color. Nose of slightly sweet and smoky cassis, with a touch of licorice, tar, and shoe polish. Sweet mouthfeel, really lip-smacking fruit and flavor, very long toasty finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Shirvington Cabernet Sauvignon - McLaren Vale. $39.99. My 1st comment: Whew, that's dark. My 2nd comment (after lifting my nose from the glass): I must have this wine. Black ruby in color. Huge, fat, rich nose of dark fruit, licorice, tar, and vanilla. Big and dense on the palate, with a monolithic core of sweet fruit. Obviously chewy, this is may require a knife and fork for consumption.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2001 Henry's Drive Shiraz Reserve - Padthaway. $36.99. Very ruby color. Nose of toasty blackberry, with floral and stone fruit aromas. Fabulous toasty, smoky, and fruity taste, with lots of licorice and blackberry through the very long finish.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

NV R.L. Buller & Son Fine Tokay - Rutherglen. $11.99. Medium amber-garnet color. Nose of pecan pie and praline. Sweet tasty nutmeats and brown sugar. Slight heat on finish.
Aroma score: A-Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

     

Site Contents | Top of page | Recent Tastings

Copyright © 1993 - 2004, Eric Anderson - All rights reserved
No original material may be reproduced without written consent
Mail & Comments
- Eric Anderson
Last Update 2.12.03