How do I know what I'm drinking?

I've seen this question pop up quite a few times...how do I know what I'm drinking?  Are there any characteristics that tell you what you're drinking if you're drinking it blind?

Yes and no...

Sometimes you'll find wine that fits into a nice box and sometimes you don't....Even the best at doing it, which IMO is probably Master Sommeliers, make mistakes (A lot)....I think watching blind tasting by very qualified professionals is extremely interesting and you'd be shocked to see how often they get the variety, region, etc, all wrong....Other people might not feel it is interesting at all but to me, I enjoy watching how they break down certain characteristics and come up with a good guess...

So rather than trying to identify a particular varietal of a wine...I think it is easier to start off w/ identifying the basics...

Acid
Tannin
Oak
Residual Sugar
Alcohol

Then move on to:
Malolactic Fermentation
Stems
Skin Contact (for whites)
Lees contact

I'm sure I'm missing some stuff...but these things are relatively objective characteristics of a wine...You can then move on to particular flavor characteristics along w/ the base information to help lead you to a grape variety and/or region....

It is still really really tough though....Even slight hints from other people can easily throw you off....

For me personally, my best blind tastings have been when I'm totally distracted and not listening to anything anyone else is saying...My worst have been when I'm already guessing the wine prior to even tasting it..

Australia Pinot Day

Not a big fan of Australian Pinot Noir but I know there are some pretty decent wines out there so I attended this event with the aim to try to find some...

What I found was a few producers I hadn't seen...and a few more good BIG Australian Pinots...and a few other Pinots that I thought were really interesting....

Curly Flat "The Curly" 2010
Well known Pinot Noir in Australia...very good structure, decent acidity, but really quite a big fruity Pinot Noir.  Well made, good fruit...but I'm not sure I like this style.  I had this at an offline and I had the same impression...Good wine, not what  I'd buy..

Hillcrest Estate Pinot Noir 2010
Good acid but a bit of a fruity Pinot.  Well made.  Another relatively big Pinot.  I can see what people are trying to do...and yes, this is an enjoyable style...I'm not sure it is what I'm looking for but still well made.

Hillcrest Premium Pinot Noir 2011
I've had the 2010..this was a bit lighter.  In general, I think their Pinots are BIG fruit, high acid which gives them the impression they're more medium bodied.  They're quite enjoyable...the Premium being a step up in fruit and a step up in acidity and balance as well as complexity. 

William Downie Gippsland 2011
Very well balanced Pinot with earthy tones, red fruits, a much more medium bodied but still a little bit on the fuller side.  Really nice acidity...This was one of my favorites for the night.  Pretty good buy but I they're fairly hard to find as well.

Marchand & Burch "Mt Barrow" 2010
A label made with a Frenchmen bringing Burgundy to WA...they also make a  number of Burgundies they bring into Australia.  I was a bit surprised as I hadn't had too many Great Southern Pinots..but they're actually quite nice and this is a region to look out for. Really nice complexity, mouthfeel and balance.  I bit heavy on the oak but overall, quite nice. 

They also had Bannockburn, Lethbridge and a few others...but since I've covered those already I won't cover them here...

On the WEIRD side...

Moss Wood Margaret River Pinot 2009
I have no idea what this is.  BIG BIG Fruit, BIG BIG OAK.  Medium minus to low acidity...I have no idea what they're doing here...It is a really weird style.  The wine is well made in that there aren't any weird flaws..but the style is really odd....I wouldn't call it a Pinot...it is something...

Moss Wood Mornington Peninsula 2010
I'm getting a bit more acid from this but not really....It could be because it isn't quite as big as the MR one...either way, these are really odd wines...They're for people that don't like Pinot Noir and want a big Cab instead......Actually, I'm not sure what the point of these wines are...experimental?  I have no idea....

On this night these two out Domaine A'd the Domaine A Pinot..partially cause the Domaine A was probably a little bit corked or something was stripping out some of the fruit...either way....If you like that style of Pinot, there you go...

Central Otago 2013

A store called NZwinesonline hosts a Central Otago show each year....expecting 15+ wineries and 80+ wines....so it is a bit disappointing when they have 13 wineries and 56 wines (I think it was actually less)...not to mention it was one of the more expensive events to attend....Even compared to previous ones, this one was a bit of a stinker and pretty much a waste of time...

On the plus side I did find a new winery called Valli....

They had three pretty good Pinots available...they actually have more based on their website.

Valli

Valli Gibbston Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011

Really good acidity (best of the three), clean red fruit, some herbs, slight minerality...very good texture and depth....Lighter in mouthfeel than the other two and my favorite of the three.

Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011

Slightly fuller mouthfeel than the Gibbston...good acidity, not quite as good as the Gibbston...bit bigger fruit and a bit more tannin structure...although they're relatively soft...Good overall Pinot...

Valli Bendigo Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011

Similar mouthfeel to the Bannockburn Vineyard....good acidity although less than the Bannockburn...Bigger fruit than the other two...Bigger tannins than the other two...It actually had some Aussie PN flavors to it...My least favorite of the three but still pretty decent overall.  

Pretty good set of Pinots and according to their website they have a Waitaki which sounds like it something I would like to try.   The downside? At 60 it is in territory where there are some other pretty good alternatives....although not many...

Wooing Tree Sandstorm Reserve Pinot Noir 2009

I tried this probably six months back and it was a bit of a monster. Really big harsh tannins...you could sense a pretty good wine underneath but the tannins were ripping my face off.  To my surprise, this has really softened quite a bit since then and it was looking really really good.  Biggish red fruit but with a lot of different things going on...really good acidity...with the softer tannins the wine had really good texture...fantastic complexity...Cranberries, sour cherry, some herbs...hints of dark chocolate...It is good to see this wine come around....Overall probably the best wine of the show...but at 100+AUD...it is probably a bit overpriced...

Probably the biggest disappointment at the show (for me) was Mt. Difficulty...I haven't really liked any of their stuff in awhile...but they have an overall good reputation....but the best way to describe where they're going is looking at their reserves...Pipeclay and Long Gully....Both were really quite sweet....good complexity...but really, a fruit bomb of a Pinot Noir...it was really quite meh with lowish acidity....Apparently there is no residual sugar...I find that almost impossible to believe..

Coonawarra

Coonawarra has a roadshow each year....and since I was in Melbourne at the time, it seemed like a pretty good opportunity to see what is happening in Coonawarra...

First off...They know their whites aren't great...I know their whites aren't great...there aren't a lot of them.  The riesling was quite disappointing overall...I actually felt like it went through Malo...a bit flat...flabby..I dunno, it was really odd...

Overall, I was actually slightly disappointed....Maybe it was the environment....or maybe I'm just getting annoyingly picky...Either way, a lot of good wines there...not a lot of great wines there.

Just a few highlights...

Reschke Bos 2004
Good overall balance.  Mulberry, blueberry, spices on the nose...Reasonably good acidity, some earthy notes, leather.  Felt a bit different than the typical Coonawarra Cab..I'm a bit surprised they haven't sold out of this and releasing their 2005....it is a pretty fair price..pretty decent wine...

Brand Laira Tall Vines shiraz 2010
Dark and red fruits, good acid, good texture...reasonably complex..pretty good Coonawarra Shiraz overall.

Brand Laira 171 Cabernet 2009
This is one of their flagship wines so I'm expecting something pretty big but at the same time, I've been pretty happy with how they do their wines with reasonably good acidity.  This one is no different...might've been my favorite wine of the night having struck a good balance between a dark brooding Coonawarra Cab and something a bit lighter on it's feet showing good acidity, reasonably good mid palate, good length, complexity and depth.

Brand Laira 171 Cabernet 2010
Not yet released and still a bit on the young side compared to the 2009 but still, very good...I think this might end up being better than the 2009 but hard to say...good acidity, dark and red fruits, earth, some herbs..bigger tannins but not ridiculously big..nice fine approachable tannins contrast with good acidity..

Highbank - They had a few wines there...A red blend, their Cabernet reserve...all were quite interesting...different than the typical Coonawarra Cab..well made...I'm a bit on the fence about them though.  I hadn't heard of them and thought they were a small producer...had a boutique wine that I could pick up for somewhere in the 20s...then I looked it up....nope.....50, 60 for the blends..80+ for the reserve...well made wines, fairly interesting...but a bit too expensive...

Scores?

I've had some questions about scoring and why not include scores, etc...and it is a question I've thought about a lot....

I think one issue I have is, my scores would be significantly lower than most other critics..especially Australian wine critics....It isn't that I'm negative on the wines or I'm a harder scorer...but I'm pretty well convinced that the escalation of scores in the wine industry as a whole, is mostly due to wine writers wanting to establish their brand..they'll never admit it but I firmly believe most of them know that higher scores will get them quoted by stores, in ads, etc...If you're not quoted, your brand is losing out.  Not to mention that higher scores means you'll get sent more wine to try and the reverse being true, low scores means you won't get more wine to try....

I also feel I'll struggle with the idea that I should be trying to be as objective as possible about each wine...and some people feel you shouldn't because what I enjoy as a style should be reflected in the score....

So do I publish scores?   Probably needs a bit more thought...

Tasmania Unbottled 2013

I've been relatively disappointed in Tasmania the last few years but this was a good opportunity to see what they're doing in the region, try the new releases...and Australians are some of the best at changing styles (to their credit and detriment).

Overall impressions:  I was quite impressed with the different things a lot of the winemakers were trying to do...A lot more skin exposure, a lot more time on lees...mixing up different oak treatments, malo treatements..some residual sugar in some of the Rieslings...some lighter Pinots as well...I'm not sure Pinot Noir is the right grape for Tassie...Maybe it is the soil..not sure..but the Riesling and Chardonnay is definitely quite interesting...they even had a couple of different Pinot Grigios..it'll be interesting to see how this turns out for them.....I know that their pricing structure is a bit messed up...I believe in part because things are expensive there and shipping the wine out of Tassie is really expensive...I don't think that is an excuse though...I think they really need to start making wine that competes and whatever price levels are out there...


Josef Chromy
Always an interesting mix of wine out of Josef Chromy...a typical Aussie Pinot at different price points that most will be very happy with.  However, I was far more interesting in their Riesling..

Josef Chromy Zdar Riesling 2008
Only made in the best years and in very limited quantity, this had very good acidity, good development on the nose and texture wise, it was really nice.  Toasty notes, lemon pith, some minerality, lemon curd, sour apple notes, a bit of petrol...First time I've had this.  At 40RRP though, I'm not sure what space this fits in...It is basically Grosset type territory...Pikes Merle..more than Lethbridge, more than Leo Buring Leonay and Peter Lehmann Wigan....This IS good though....but the RRP is a bit of a stretch (coming back to being price competitive).

Josef Chromy SGR delikat Riesling
More of a Kabinett style of Riesling...so a bit of RS with really high acidity...I like that they even made something like this since some Aussies are so adamant they must have bone dry wine...but the fact is, the acidity in Tassie is really high...they really do need a slight bit of RS to soften it a bit...it really does not make it sweet....

Stefano Lubiana
An excellent range overall....and doing a lot of good things with their wine...Price pretty fairly for the quality.

Stefano Lubiana Riesling 2011
Really interesting nose...Oak?  Interesting...I'm also picking up a bit of tightness in my gums so I suspect even some skin contact?  Really interesting texture for this...good depth for a young Riesling...quite enjoyable with the very good acidity....How will this look in a few years?  Not sure...but I'm excited to find out....If you like Riesling, this is a great one to try for something different....If you don't like Riesling..this is a great one to try..you may just like it...

Stefano Lubiana Chardonay
I'm a bit biased after the very interesting Riesling....the Chardonnay is show really nice depth...good acidity in contrast to the oak and what seems like Malo (really hard to tell because the acidity is so high).  A very well made Chardonnay, at a fair price...

Honorable mentions..

Sparkling:

House of Arras was impressive.  Yeasty, very champagne like..a bit brighter fruit wise...I like both their Grand Vintage 2004 and Vintage Rose 2004.

Jansz - Normally I'm not a fan...their vintage Cuvee and Rose were quite good though...as was the late disgorged 2004.

Glaetzer-Dixon.  Two really interesting Rielsings Uberblanc Goldpunkt and Uberblanc (Red Dot).

Geelong - Bannockburn - Part 2

Bannockburn

I wasn't originally going to go to Bannockburn because it was a bit of a last minute attempt at an appointment (I didn't even know they allowed for visitors until the day before)...but I'm very glad I did.  I've had a few of their wines before and was always impressed...To me it was always a divisive style either you love it or hate it......I think it is one that appeals to most Pinot Noir geeks.....It is nothing like a typical Australian Pinot (which I think is great).

Michael Glover is the winemaker at Bannockburn and to me, he has brought the winery to new heights.   He is not ashamed to tell you his philosophy and he is very passionate about what he is trying to do at Bannockburn.   He has very strong opinions about irrigation (there shouldn't be any), what yields he'd like to see, what yields you want to get in order to show true terroir...He also wants his wine to be uniquely Bannockburn.  To me, all of the reds show this vegetal characteristic that I associate with Bannockburn...to me that is their signature.  Their Pinots, which are medium bodied and high in acidity might remind many of Burgundy...and you wouldn't be wrong to say that...but at the same time the fruit is most definitely new world.  They have that Bannockburn signature...they have that Bannockburn texture....Michael will change up what he does each year, not because he's haphazardly experimenting because based on conditions he's trying to achieve certain things in the wine.  Each vintage he tries to improve the wine and make them uniquely Bannockburn.

I also had the opportunity to see their new plantings (planted in 2007) which was 10,000 vines per ha.  No irrigation and yield target of 500g per vine.  Michael's feeling that the low yield and the vines needing to compete for resources it what helps them show their terroir.  This is similar in theory to what is done at some of the best parts of Burgundy.    The new vineyard is called De La Terre and it looks like a winner..

It was very interesting to see the contrast with Bannockburn and Lethbridge.  Michael wants to make the best wine possible but wants to make sure they're uniquely Bannockburn...that they have their own particular style (and I think they succeed). Ray at Lethbridge wants to make the best wine possible, what he likes to drink, but I wouldn't necessarily say there is a unique style to Lethbridge..it is just he's doing a lot of good things making fantastic wine.  Different ways of approaching winemaking...both are winners in my opinion.

Bannockburn Sauvignon Blanc 2012
The first thing that hits you on the nose is this is NOT a typical Sauvignon Blanc...There is a difference in depth, just on the nose.  I find out that it has a bit of Riesling, a bit of Chardonnay...has spent time in oak, on lees and with a bit of skin contact....Great acidity, great depth, really nice texture.  It has a bit of grass, hints of passion fruit, lemons, a bit of herbs and earthiness..a bit of spice.  RRP is 27 which I think represents really great value.  I haven't heard much about their SB but this is one of the most unique SB's I've had and at a fantastic price.

Bannockburn Chardonnay 2011
A very well made Chardonnay....good use of oak..and has undergone full malo so you still get that full Chardonnay mouthfeel.  Really good acidity....Peaches, grapefruit, a hint of spice...I thought it was interesting that Michael didn't think this one would be good long term while Ray at Lethbridge, who had a very similar 2011 Chardonnay, thought the higher acidity would allow it to go long....Both are actually quite similar but different.  I feel like this is a bit much at 57 RRP but still a very good Chard.

Bannockburn SRH Chardonnay 2009
A step up from the estate Chardonnay....Greater depth, deeper fruit (which is also because of the year).  A very full bodied Chardonnay with a lot of class.  This easily fits in with any of the top Chardonnays in Australia.  Good acidity, good structure...great texture...

Bannockburn 1314 AD Pinot 2011
A good intro into Bannockburn..with a bit of that Bannockburn funk/vegetal that comes through..although a bit toned down.  Lighter fruit than their normal line which makes for a much lighter Pinot than you'll normally see in Australia but I think that is a good thing.  Red fruits, a bit of spice...something in there hints to me this is a cheaper Pinot but it really is a good buy at 27....and Michael suggests the 2013 will be fantastic..

Bannockburn 1314 AD Pinor 2013 (Barrel Sample)
I was lucky enough to get to try this....It has that Bannockburn vegetal characteristic..but the fruit seems very pure...clean lines, pretty good depth and texture considering this isn't even ready to be sold yet...  Red fruits, a bit of spice....If this sells for 27, it will be an absolute steal.  It will be a good gateway wine into the rest of the Bannockburn line...

Bannockburn Stuart Pinot Noir 2011
A bit more fruit forward than the rest of their line and less vegetal characteristics than the rest..but still shows that Bannockburn character.  Darker red fruits, some spice, herbs, earth...Good acidity, good texture.  This is a good intro to Bannockburn (even though it is slightly more expensive than the De La Terre..for now).

Bannockburn Estate Pinot Noir 2010
Very typical Bannockburn smell, texture and vegetal characteristics on the Palate.  Good acidity, very well made.  I think the only thing I dislike is that price wise, it is pretty close to say, the De La Terre...and basically 10 out of 10 times I'd probably prefer the De La Terre...(57 vs. 65RRP).

Bannockburn De La Terre Pinot Noir 2011
Made from their newly planted vineyard in the same fashion as Serre (although my understanding is it has slightly more dense plantings than the Serre), no irrigation, low yield (500g per vine).  My feelings on this was, this was Michael's own project...so while similar to Serre, this was done under his tenure, it has his stamp, his way of expressing the terroir, expressing Bannockburn....Really good acidity, which is consistent across all of their Pinots and partially because 2011 was on the wet side...but also really fantastic texture, depth and complexity.  Young vines but they're really doing a good job of showing you Bannockburn.  Red fruits, spice, herbs, earthiness...that Bannockburn vegetal character...really fine tannis.  Structure is there but it is still very approachable (as are all of their Pinots really).

Bannockburn Serre Pinot Noir 2010
A bit more weight and fruit on the Serre compared to the De La Terre...you get the sense this is made to cellar a bit longer....Very good acid, nice red fruits...tremendous depth..fantastic texture....I actually preferred the De La Terre mainly because I felt it was a bit lighter in texture and had slightly better acidity..but I can see just as many people preferring this.  The Serre has been around awhile and it is Bannockburn's iconic wine....

Bannockburn Shiraz 2008
Medium bodied, good acidity...red fruits...and still that signature vegetal character...good overall structure and one more Shiraz from this region that makes me wonder why were not seeing more from here.  I'm not as enamored with the Shiraz (either one) as I am the Pinots..but still very good..

Bannockburn Douglas 2009
Michael's own blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Pinot Noir....I believe this used to be their Cabernet Merlot...Has that same Bannockburn Vegetal character...darker fruits...it actually has a bit more tannin but still good acidity...Good texture and depth to this wine...and for 27, it really is a steal..great value.  I've had some Cabernet Merlots from Bannockburn in the past and they weren't nearly as polished.  There are a couple of rough edges there but still, really good value..a unique blend....


Halliday seems to suggest that the only thing from here that is vegetal and gamey is the Cabernet Merlot..but really, all of the reds show that same vegetal/gamey character..to me that is their signature..Each of the wines is carefully thought out and tweaked here and there (100% whole bunch vs. 50% whole bunch, etc) to adjust it to vintage/fruit conditions...Yes their wines are a bit divisive...Even with wine geeks, some will really enjoy that uniqueness..and some will not.   But you can not deny the quality of the winemaking and the distinctiveness..

Geelong - Lethbridge, Eagle Rise part 1

I've always been a fan of Lethbridge which is in Geelong.  I've only had the chance to try some Bannockburn Pinot once before and was really impressed...so when it came time to go to Melbourne with a free day on the weekend...there was really only one region that I wanted to visit...Geelong...

Geelong actually has three different regions...Moorabool, Surf Coast and Bellarine.  Since both Bannockburn and Lethbridge were in Moorabool, that was my obvious choice although out of the three, it is the smallest and most spread out...

Lethbridge

Ray Nadeson is the owner and winemaker at Lethbridge.  From my talks with him and from others, Ray was in the medical field, developed a device that he patented and then sold off the rights...so what does a guy with enough money to retire on do?  He opens a winery and makes what he loves. 

Every winemaker says this..but very few often do this....Ray makes wines he loves to drink..the way HE wants to make them.  While everyone else may be going to the left, he's going to the right.  He has true passion for what he is doing, he even goes to see the trees that are going to be used to make the barrels he will be using for his wine.....He has his hands in every aspects of his wine and you have to really respect a guy that has such passion for what he is doing.

Lethbridge Dr. Nadeson Riesling 2012.

I love what they're doing to their Riesling.. Some residual sugar (10g/L), low ph (3.00) and really high acid (13g/L)...While that style is not completely unique globally...I don't see a lot of it...and it is completely unusual in Australia (although I have seen one or two others recently do something similar).  That high high acid combined with a bit of residual sugar to soften it, is a fantastic combination.  Lime pith, minerality, tart apples....Great complexity, great mouthfeel.  I believe these are fermented in oak with a bit of lees stirring......It will really be interesting to see how these develop in 5 or so years..and if it gains some of that weight and secondary notes that Aussie riesling tends to...I think my only issue is I'm not sure how to keep my hands off the stuff long enough to wait that long and Ray doesn't make enough of it to really have a museum stock (I think he said he makes 100-150 cases).  In any case, one of my favorite Aussie Rieslings if not my absolute favorite.  RRP is 30 and it is a great buy at that.  

Lethbridge Kabinett Riesling 2010.

This is something you won't see anywhere but the Cellar door, I believe they only make about 30 cases of it.  Made in a Germanic style called Kabinett so I'm expecting to have a good amount of RS but not a huge amount.   Made basically in the same style as his Nadeson, this too is also just absolutely fantastic.  To compare it to German Kabinett, to me it feels like the RS and the fruit are not as seamless together as they are with a German Riesling..but I don't consider that a downside..it is just different....In many aspects it does remind you of a German Kabinett but I feel like the acid is showing better, I think there is greater depth at this age than you see from a German Kabinett....This is really very enjoyable and one I think my wife would actually drink as well.  A bit of crushed rock, lime, apples, lemon peel...Texture is great with really high acidity to balance out the 30g/L of RS....This isn't made to appeal to most Aussies because many are adamant Riesling needs to be bone bone dry (Blue Nun did serious damage to the psyches of Aussies)...but it will appeal to anyone that enjoys German Rieslings...

Lethbridge Botrytis Riesling 2011.

I pretty much never talk about dessert wines.  I enjoy them but in Australia, most of them are very straightforward - Sweet.  Some have  better acidity, some better complexity...but Australians iconic Botrytis Semillon, Noble One, I would hardly compare to a good Sauternes...There is a depth and complexity it just doesn't have (although Noble One is pretty good).  THIS wine however, is one that had me just amazed.  

Hand Picked Berry by Berry...as each individual berry was infected by Botrytis, they hand picked each individual one off the vine.  I think Ray said it took them 6 weeks to pick the fruit and they only made about 25 half cases of the wine...so you can imagine all the time and effort it took to make this.  Ray says they may never make another one again because of how much time and effort it took..but I have a feeling at some point, when conditions are right, they'll do it again.  

My first impression of the wine were..wow, what else is going on in here?  A real depth to the nose, not just sweet but something else...I then find out this has had time in oak which seems to really have given this weight, complexity and just that extra oomph that is really contributing to the nose.  Palate - Sweet but not sticky sweet...really high acidity is helping to balance this out.  Lime, lemon peel, some nuttiness coming out as well, a tad bit of rock, some vanilla....Really quite wonderful....My favorite dessert wine made in Australia (if you don't count 100 year old Para)....

Lethbridge Chardonnay 2010
A good % of new oak and full malo...This isn't your fat buttery oaky chardonnay but it is most definitely a more traditional, non Chablis like Chardonnay.  A bit of peach, some nice creaminess and complexity.   Good acidity but not as much as I'm looking for at this stage.  A very good Chardonnay but I feel like it needs more time.

Lethbridge Chardonnay 2011
A cooler year in 2011, new oak, full malo, but a lot of really great acidity.  Some peachiness, a bit of minerality, stone fruit...good depth and complexity.  It fits more into what I'd like to drink but still carries that fullness that a chardonnay can carry..really quite nice..

Lethbridge Allegra Chardonnay 2008

Texture wise, this and the 2011 estate Chardonnay felt really similar..but this one had a LOT more depth, a LOT more complexity....Layer by layer it would unfold as I was tasting it.  Stone fruits, lemon pith, stone fruit....Acidity with a bit of fatness to it...This is probably my favorite chardonnay in Australia right now...

Lethbridge Pinot Noir 2011
Really nice acidity, earth, forest floor, red fruits, a bit of spice...really quite nice but I'm not sure I like this as much as the 2010.  Still, really great mouthfeel, really good texture, good depth, and nothing like a typical Australian Pinot...which is great.
Lethbridge Mietta Pinot Noir 2009
Greater depth than the regular estate...A bit more fruit but a bit more stuffing..good acidity, fine tannins, spicy red fruits, some vegetal flavors, some spice, herbs, some earthy tones, mushrooms...really quite nice.  Definitely one of the better Australian Pinots out there....I think the 2008 had a bit more structure to it..it would have been nice to see these side by side.

Lethbridge Mietta Pinot Noir 2013 (barrel Sample)
I don't really get a chance to try barrel samples so this was a great opportunity.  Good acidity, clean fruit, but still development going on...I have no way to properly evaluate this but the fruit seemed very pure....I'm looking forward to trying this when they release it.

Lethbridge Nebbiolo 2013 (barrel Sample)
Most of the Nebbiolo in Australia that I've had have been underwhelming...this was definitely NOT.  The difference to me is the correct structure and mouthfeel was there that I'm looking for in Nebbiolo.  Proper tannin structure, good acidity, definitely still a baby at this point and still developing but this looks like it'll be a really good Nebbiolo and probably the best in Australia...Ray says it is because most winemakers don't have enough patience as he shows me the barrels they've modded to allow the juice to have contact with the skins for over 100 days....Really old school, really smart guy...really good wine.

Lethbridge Shiraz 2010
Geelong Shiraz is really underrated....Good acidity, red fruits, herbs, some meaty characters, a bit of earth...Medium bodied...Not quite the acidity of a Hunter Shiraz but the fruit is a bit cleaner, less earthy characters...I think a lot of people would enjoy this style.

Lethbridge Heathcote Shiraz 2010
This is actually a Shiraz Mouvedre...and the Shiraz fruit from Heathcote.... a bit more fruit forward initially than the Geelong..good acidity...Some meat and chocolate...nice medium bodied feel...Nice texture and depth...finishes with a typical Mouvedre finish...really quite a nice wine...I've seen this blend before in Australia...this is one of the most successful versions of this that I've tried in AU.

Lethbridge Indra Shiraz 2008
This is like their estate Shiraz but with a lot more depth and lot more complexity.  The oak is well integrated, good acidity...Medium bodied with red fruits, herbs, earth and fine tannins.  A really great version of a Geelong Shiraz....I think the only downside is for the same price do I want an Allegra, Mietta or Indra?  To me the Mietta and Allegra sit as top tier Chard/Pinot in Australia...Indra is great but not quite top tier....

Lethbridge Hugo George 2009
Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Franc....A Tuscan style wine....fine tannins, great depth, good acidity with a great mid palate.  A very interesting blend that I think would be fantastic with food.  Red fruits, some green pepper, herbs, some vegetal notes.....Really quite an interesting wine.  I'm not sure this hits the heights of their other premiums...but a VERY interesting wine.


Eagles Rise
Small producer who makes about 500 cases of each wine.  What differentiates them from their competitors is they like to hold back their releases until they feel they're ready to drink.  Available for tasting was a Pinot Grigio, dessert Pinot Grigio, a Shiraz and a Cabernet Sauvignon.  They do have some reserves and other versions but they weren't available to try...

Eagles Rise Shiraz 2005.
My favorite of those available for tasting.  Redder fruits, good acidity, some herbs and some vegetal characteristics coming through...A bit of age so a few other secondary characteristics coming through....a bit of meatiness...mdushroms, earth....RRP is only 20 on this...I don't think it is easily available..

The vineyard is also for sale..for just under 1 million AUD...dreams dreams dreams....

Yarra Yering 2011 vintage

I had the opportunity to try Yarra Yerings 2011 release...

I've always been a Yarra Yering fan...really nice wines..had their own style...well made..a bit on the pricey side but always good wines even though I thought some things were a bit odd (like their Pinot which I liked but would hardly have called it a Pinot). 

2011 was a cold and wet year...I think for large chunks of Australia (SA and Vic) it wasn't a great year..in some cases really bad..some places didn't even make their flagships and just declassified everything into their lower end wines...

My overall impression?   Declassification is what Yarra Yering SHOULD have done but didn't.  I actually like a bit of green in my wine but this was not just bordering on Ripe/Underripe..this was just underripe....

Yarra Yering Dry White No. 1 2011
A blend of Semillon with a tad bit of Chardonnay...18 months in old French oak...it has also undergone Malo....To me it feels really oaky...which I think it odd because they've used 10 year old oak barrels....But that said, pretty decent mouthfeel...it definitely needs some time to come down.  Decent acidity..interesting flavor profile.   Definitely far too expensive though for what you're getting at 84 RRP.  I'm not sure they realize this is a white wine (same price as their reds) and what 84 gets you out there. 

Yarra Yering Chardonnay 2011
Good acidity, a bit tight on the nose and on the palate.  This has gone through malo and oak for 19 months (40% new) but I'm not getting  a lot from it.  A lot of the fruit seems stripped out...well made wine..no flaws..but really not getting a whole lot..

Yarra Yering Chardonnay 2002
This was there to show what the wine will be like with some age...given similar vintage conditions...To me the 2002 seemed almost like it has been oxidized...but I don't think  it is because I'm getting something from the wine..but in the background there seems to me something really weird about the wine...I'm not sure...this isn't really a good example to be showing though..

Yarra Yering Carrodus Viognier 2011
One of their flagships but not one I've generally been impressed with.  Basically 4 times the price of a Clonakilla Viognier...and 8 times the price of nearly every other Viognier in Australia....Has a full bodied mouthfeel to it....woody notes....some yeasty notes to it....feels like it needs at least a few more years before drinking...it might be quite a bit better then..I've only tried this new so I don't know...

Yarra Yering Pinot Noir 2011
So I've had their Pinot several times..and while they tend to be made like a Shiraz...it is actually still quite enjoyable...Big fruit, vanilla, but pretty decent acidity as well....quite an unusual style of Pinot..but THIS year...I don't know what they've done.  Good acidity, far more medium bodied, much more Pinot like...but with that Aussie rubber flavor (so not really a good thing).  Very little fruit on this...so while the mouthfeel is more Pinot like...the wine itself is just not right.  Very green (which isn't always a bad thing).  Something is not right..  A failed attempt at trying to make a Burgundy is the best description.  Granted, vintages conditions didn't allow them to make the very ripe, shiraz like pinot they have been making before..but this was not a good attempt either....It tastes like a not so great 10 dollar village burg in a bad year except without the flaws...Maybe in 10 years I'll be proven wrong...

Yarra Yering Underhill 2011
On the nose I would have guess Shiraz Viognier..which I thought was interesting because I heard some other people comment on that as well.  Apparently it is 100% Shiraz.  Medium body, medium minus acidity (sorry, I just watched Somm (wine documentary)).  On the palate I still feel like this is a SV..red fruits but not a lot..some floral notes...but really quite green and herby.  Maybe that is where it is making me think of SV...but overall, the greenies is really making this quite disappointing.  What is odd about this and other wines is even though they're "green", the acidity doesn't seem to be as high as I'd expect..really quite odd..

Yarra Yering Underhill 2002
This seems far more fleshed out compared to the 2011...a bit more depth to this...some secondary characteristics but this wine is still pretty green..maybe not as much as the 2011 but I think this really hampers the wine.  The 2002 was more enjoyable than the 2011...but I don't think it is something to look forward to either...

Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 2 2011
I generally like this blend...this year it is a Shiraz, Mataro, Viognier, Marsanne.  Light red fruits, medium bodied...medium minus acidity....this is still a bit green as well....At this point I'm actually a bit annoyed at the whole thing...

Yarra Yering Carrodus Shiraz 2011
Definitely more fruit on this compared to the ones I've had so far at this tasting...medium bodied, medium acidity...good depth, clean fruit flavors...very nice mouthfeel...Far fewer green notes on this wine..and this wine is well made...but for 250...I'm expecting a LOT more.  To put it in perspective...this is the same price (more actually) than a Torbrek Run Rig...more than twice as expensive as a Mt Edelstone...4-5 times more expensive than Wendouree and Tyrrels Vat 9, Four Acres, etc...In good years this wine might be great...This year it isn't.  I have no idea why this isn't just used to make up for their underperforming lower end wines....there is no way this wine justifies the price...it is actually making me even more annoyed and it is actually borderline insulting...

Yarra Yering Agincourt Cabernet Malbec 2011
Good mouthfeel, still a bit green.  Not as apparent as some of the other wines but not quite ripe.  Far  lighter than I'd expect a Cab Malbec to be....this wine has turned out ok...but not for 84RRP.

Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 2011
Big fan of this wine normally....which is a Bordeaux blend....Cab Sav, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot....100% new French oak.. More fruit in this wine compared to previous ones..nice medium body...medium acidity.  Good depth to the wine, and good mouthfeel.  Some greenies coming out but not too bad..some herbs....This is one of the better reds today...but not quite where it should be...probably my least favorite Red No 1 ever.

Yarra Yering Carrodus Cabernet Merlot 2011
Fruit is showing a bit better here..good mouthfeel..medium bodied, medium/medium minus acidity....pretty good depth and complexity given the lack of fruit...some greenies and herbs coming out but not too bad.  A pretty decent wine...just nowhere near the 250 they're asking for it.  In all seriousness, it is stupidly priced.  250 still gets you a 2009 Pontet Canet which RP scored 100 pts (not that I care).  250 gets you into the different Bordeaux Growths....It gets you into GC Burgs easily (for some anyways)....Just as the Shiraz..this is actually insulting...Maybe some years this is utterly fantastic...but for a bad year like 2011...come on...

Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 3 2011
A blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cao, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Alvarelhao and Sousao.  I've always had mixed feelings on this...it is generally quite interesting although doesn't always seem to go.  Mediumish bodied..a bit fuller than most of the other reds....Mediumish acidity...red fruits but still a bit tight..some greenies and herbs...an interesting blend...seems to be working better together this year...although it could be because they're all so underripe they're not showing their true flavors..not sure.  Ok wine, not impressed..not as disappointed as I was with some of the others..

Yarra Yering Barbiolo 2011
A blend of Barbera and Nebbiolo.  I'd actually prefer this to be mainly Nebbiolo and some Barbera but it is the other way around.  Probably the most satisfactory wine of the night for the price....Red fruits..medium bodied..Medium plus acidity...good mouthfeel...overall a decent wine and I was the least disappointed with this (which is half expectations, half the wine).


I don't know if they're  hurting financially or what...but I seriously don't consider this a good choice by them to release their full set of wines even though the year was not a good one.  Coming from someone that actually enjoys cooler climate and even slightly green wine...for me to not really enjoy these really doesn't bode well for them.  I heard a good number of other comments as well that basically confirmed what I was thinking...the fruit is just terribly underripe and it is really showing in the wine.   I know bad vintages can really hurt some wineries but that isn't a reason to not seriously consider declassifying your fruit to release something (so get some money back) rather than hurt your brand.  To me their 2011 release has really hurt their brand. 

I rarely post anything really negative...and this isn't to say Yarra Yering, in almost every other year, is a bad buy..they're on the more expensive end but they do make good wine.  2011 though, was not a good year..and the wines aren't very good...all well made..but just not very good...

Good Food and Wine Show - Sydney 2013

That time of year again where we have the Good Food and Wine show....

On the plus side...A couple of new makers that were a bit interesting...

Sticks, The Pawn and Handpicked. 

With sticks that had a nice mix of different Chardonnays and Pinot Noir....With Pinots that were actually medium bodied, good acidity, nice depth of flavor....They even had a couple of Cabernet Sauvignons that were quite medium bodied, good acid, nice red and dark fruits...really quite an elegant style.

I expect to see more of them later.

One other very interesting place was Handpicked wines.  They basically take what they think is the best region or regions for specific varietals and make wines with grapes from those regions.  You end up with things like Riesling from Eden Valley, Shiraz from the Barossa, Cabernet from Coonawarra, Cab Merlot from Margaret River...and Chardonnay from MR and Yarra Valley...

A pretty interesting mix of wines and a really good price point (everything was 25 or below).  I've seen Vintage Cellars do their own thing like this..and I've seen stuff like this before but I actually thought most of their wines were pretty decent....with the Riesling and MR Chardonnay probably standing out as the best examples...and their reds probably being on the weaker end of the spectrum...Still, an interesting concept....I'm not sure it has the same soul as a place specialized into a couple of different types of wine..but still, probably a very good business concept.


This years show was probably the best run out of all the last 4 or 5 I've been to.  Best layout, best options as far as what you can do and when....but at the same time, I'm not sure I'll be going back or if I do it'll be more centered around the food.

Wendouree Wendouree

I had a chance to meet up with some fellow wine geeks for a Wendouree night...

Wendouree is located in the Clare Valley and has been making wine in basically the same way since the 1893....An iconic Australian producer that is known for making very unyielding wines that eventually bloom some 20+ years later.  The only way to buy them is to be on their mailing list or buy them aftermarket either retail or auction. Amazingly enough, the people at Wendouree have kept their prices way down, especially for the quality...They don't have a website, they don't really have any presence other than their mailing list.  They are definitely a throwback and in my opinion, very much an Australian treasure. 

Although the last few vintages have been very approachable, previous ones generally have not been...the few I've tried in the past were quite the monsters so it was a great opportunity to try a nice spread of different vintages....

Wendouree Cabernet Malbec 1990
Unfortunately for me, this is the oldest Wendouree I've had a chance to try.  It is also the first Wendouree I've had that has hit its stride where everything was fully integrated....This was truly a great wine...menthol, red fruits, earth, herbs, and slight bell pepper on the nose.  The wine at this stage was truly quite balanced...smooth fine tannins but you can tell the structure was still there to give the wine much more life after this.  Acidity was there but it had definitely softened a bit.  A bit of mocha, some darker fruits coming in on the palate, a lot of earth but still some nice brightness to the fruit.  Layers and layers of complexity and depth from this wine...This was the first wine we tried (after a very good Champagne by Cedric Bouchard) and people were already saying this was going to be Wine of the Night....

Wendouree Shiraz 1994
This smacked me back to what I normally see with Wendouree..but still very very approachable and while it didn't get a lot of comments, to me this might've been my favorite wine or very close to.  Bright red fruits on the nose, some menthol and earth..it wasn't as open as the 90 Cab/Malbec but as the night went on, it really started to bloom.  Palate hits you with big acidity (Yay!), some harsh tannins but it is such a wonderful mix.  To me, these tannins aren't the rip your teeth out tannins, they're there giving it structure but still very drinkable....Bright red fruit with layers of complexity..this wine still feels very young but at the same time, has noticeable age on it.  Menthol wasn't as noticeable on this wine but was there...some really nice leather mixed with dirt mixed with some mint....With more time this was really building and building..I really do wish I had more of this on the night.  This really puts into perspective why the Shiraz is considered the one you must buy..with everything else being 2nd best although the Cab/Malbec seems to have gained some followers after this night. 

Wendouree Cabernet Malbec 2004
This was actually considerably more approachable than I was expecting...with nice menthol and relatively big fruit.  It had some aspects of a fruit bomb but without the mouth coating high alocholish feel...AND it had relatively good acidity.  This really helped build in my mind the approachability of Wendouree, even youngish..at least for me..

Wendouree Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
These are supposed to be the harshest of all their wines when young...and while this one was considerably tight, it was still very good although probably my least favorite on this night.  It seemed like it was missing something, maybe because the added Malbec was filling out the wine we had previously....Good tannin structure, not overly mouth drying (to me), good acidity, nice fruit....I'd like to see a straight Cab with 20+ years..that would be interesting indeed. 

Wendouree Shiraz 2002
Maybe a tad bit of VA on the  nose but not a lot.  To me this really gauged where Wendouree will be in 10 or so years..which is, it hasn't moved a bit.  I can see why people say it takes so long to age..because they do. Younger but similar enough to the 1994 and along w/ the 2008, really cemented in my mind what happens to Wendouree.  Regardless,  bright fruit, very good acidity, chalky tannins round out a very nice wine.  I'm not sure I'm seeing a huge difference in this and the 2008 but this was quite approachable and I'd be very happy to drink this and again, puts into my mind this is what I would like to seem more out of Australian wine wise. 

There were a number of others but I think around this point in the evening, it was becoming more difficult to distinguish between the wines so I won't comment on them.

It should suffice to say that Wendouree is unique in Australia...and I would consider it to be one of the best Australia has to offer.  It is, however, NOT for everyone....I doubt most people I know would enjoy these as I did...that doesn't make them wrong..it just means the style will be very polarizing....and not until these wines hit 20+ years does it look like it'll start appealing to a greater breadth of wine drinkers. 

Charles Melton

Charles Melton Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Brighter Reddish fruit that you tend to see from Barossa Cabs.  Strawberry and Cherries on the nose.  A bit of mocha and vanilla.  Palate has really softened from when I first  tried this.  Tannins have smooth out tremendously...Acidity is decent but not great.  Nice smooth reddish fruits on the palate, picking up some mocha...this is a very "clean" cab maybe even a tad bit of sweetness.  I think a vast majority of people would really like this at this stage...for me it wasn't that exciting...Definitely Barossa Cab....A bit much at like 43RRP...but if you like red fruited Barossa Cabs, this one is probably one of the better ones...

Barossa Vally 2013

Had the chance to go to the Barossa after spending some time in McLaren Vale...

Rockford

Hard to go back Rockford when you're looking for an iconic Barossa producer.  Consistent quality each year with a killer price.  Their Basket Press always sells out each year and basically immediately sells for more than retail on auction....

My personal opinion has always been, BP is always really good...but very clean?  It is made up of fruit from like 17 different regions of the Barossa which means it loses a bit of its personality...but makes up for it for having the strength of each of the regions.

I've also always tended to dislike some of their lineup which I think is odd but that is just how it is.

Rockford White Frontignac 2012
A much better wine than it is given credit for.  A lot of nice floral notes, very good acidity, nice citrusy flavors.  A tad bit of residual sugar to give it a little sweetness but it is far from a sickly sweet white.   This is one of their cheaper wines (17?) but probably one of their better ones overall.  It must be because Aussies tend to not like sweet wines or think they're not as good which is really far from reality.

Rockfod Rod and Spur 2010
A Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz blend, this is generally quite good.   A  bit fruit forward but done very much in Rockford style.  Very clean, well made.  Good middle range blend.

Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
One of the nicer Cabernet Sauvignons you'll find in the Barossa.  Clean fruit, reasonably good depth.  Doesn't have strong varietal characters of Cabernet Sauvignon but I don't think anything in the Barossa really does....Not quite the depth of the BP but still a pretty reasonably good buy.

Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2010
One of Australia's iconic Shiraz.  Consistent year in and year out.  The 2010 is probably one of the most approachable and ready releases in a long time..if not ever according to many.  Big fruit but not too big.  Really nice complexity with a variety of red and dark fruits coming through.  A tad bit of mint, herbs and umami flavors.  Fruit is really shining through though.  These wines are definitely nice...I really do crave a bit more acidity and for me, the BP is too "clean" but it is hard to really complain about it..it is just really well made and looking very good.

Rockford Black Shiraz (Sparkling).
Made from different vintages of Basket Press and topped up with a bit of fortified, I really do enjoy a young Black Shiraz.  Really nice  depth, a tad bit of sweetness as well...Probably one of the nicest Sparkling Reds I've had, if not the nicest.  I've had ones with an older disgorgement date but I didn't really think it gained a lot in the bottle..although I've been told they do.  This one had  depth, freshness and really nice pop.  I think the only thing you have to look out for is historically, this wine tends to have a lot of dodgy corks...I'd drink it young..and with how this one is looking, why not?

Artisans of  Barossa
7 Different winemakers (brands) have joined forces to build a single Cellar door.  I really like this concept, I actually wish more places did it.  Not only is it convenient from a visiting standpoint, but you tend to get more resources, more wines, more enjoyment overall.  It consistently becomes a place to drop by to because you know you're going to get different styles and different stuff all the time.
John Duval
Hobbs
Messena
Spinifex
Sons of Eden
Teusner
Schwarz

I'm a big fan of John Duval stuff and have been for awhile...Great line up that keeps expanding.  I've also quite enjoyed stuff from Spinifex, Sons of Eden and Teusner in the past.  Hobbs to me has never been my style of wine and they're incredibly expensive.  I've had a few things from Schwarz and Messena but this was a good opportunity to try some other stuff for them.

They have one of the most impressive Cellar Doors in the Barossa and have a really 1st Class operation going.  I actually think the only thing I dislike is they definitely need more tasting room space or a bigger tasting bench...a lot of space is used up for other stuff which is nice..but I can see it getting crowded if there were a ton of people there...

John Duval Plexus White 2012.
Marsanne Rousanne Viognier.  Really nice balance and depth.  Reasonably good acidity, nice citrus and cream with a tad big of apricot and herbs on the palate.  Really nice white Rhone blend...Definitely one of the better ones in Australia....

John Duval Plexus Red 2011.
Consistently one of the best GSM (SGM in this case) blends in the Barossa and Australia in general. Excellent balance, plums, dark fruit, herbs, meat and leather on the palate.  Very clean fruit with a tad bit of confectionery sugar on the back of my throat..but it is actually quite nice.  Better acidity than some previous vintages.

John Duval Entity Shiraz 2011
Probably my favorite out of his entire lineup each year...For me it seems to be in a bit of an awkward  spot.  I like the style which is medium bodied compared to most of the Barossa...clean fruit...generally quite good depth...For me though, something was missing..Previous vintages I generally preferred by quite a margin...maybe this just needs more time..I'm not really sure...

Hobbs Gregor 2010
Hobbs wines to me have always been big fruit bombs...and the Gregor is even more so because it is made in an Amarone style...Huge fruit, good complexity, big mouth feel.  Reasonable decent acid but I'm not sure it is enough.  A bit crowd pleasing wine but really a bit much for what you're getting.  I haven't been overly impressed with how Hobbs wines cellar..they're not bad...but I actually think they seem to be best drunk very young...

Spinifex Taureau 2009.
Nice dark and red fruits..a bit of a fruit bomb but with good acidity and structure.  Good depth to this...a crowd pleaser but one for the wine geeks as well.  A blend of Tempranillo, Graciano, Carignan and Cabernet Sauvignon.  A pretty good buy IMO. 


Seppeltsfield
We came here mainly for the fortifieds...They do have some wine here but to be fair, I think the wine here is pretty ordinary...

I DID get to try a good number of really nice fortified wines...Including the 100 year....

All of the lower end fortifieds are rather simple in my opinion.  Alcohol, sugar, some flavor but no  depth...Probably not worth buying unless you just want sugary alcohol.

When you get to their Solero series..which is around 30-32 dollars, you start seeing real depth in flavor...real complexity.

Their Para series is what they're known for..specifically they have stuff that was in barrel for 100 years...I had the chance to try the 1913 100 year old...and let me just tell you, it is amazing...AMAZING.  Layers and layers and layers of complexity..you literally could sit there and sniff it all day and not get bored...I actually licked my tasting glass to get every last bit of it out.  How much does that cost?  Oh..about 1,000 a bottle....I also had a chance to try the 30 year old one which is also VERY good.  That'll run you about 100 dollars but it definitely gets somewhat close to the 100 year...they're both amazing.

If you have a chance to go to Seppeltsfield, there is a fee to try the 100 year old..but it is something you should definitely try.  It is on a lot of people's Wine bucket lists...it is really quite extraordinary. 

Peter Lehmann

They had everything for tasting...all the way up through their HV, District Line, Masters line, and the VSV Line and the Stonewell...They really do have a good lineup top to bottom.

Futures Shiraz 2010...A lot better than what it was selling for (23)...some of that is because it had higher acidity (which I preferred)....drinking very nicely now...I'm not sure it has the tannin structure to age but it does have good acidity so it would be interesting to see...nice red fruits on the palate, great mouthfeel.  This drink like like a 30+ dollar bottle easily...

Margaret Semillon 2008– Normally this is pretty good. It is still good but I don't think the current release will age all that well...The acid is just too soft at this stage IMO. I actually thought the H&V Semillon was far better..
H&V Semillon 2012 - Really nice acidity and good development for such a young semillon.  The fruit is definitely show more depth, a bit more like a slightly aged Hunter semillon.  It'll be interesting to see where this goes in 5+ years. 

Wigan Riesling  2008– This is always really good..and it continues to be very good..IMO, year in, year out one of the best Rieslings in Australia...Good development, great depth, great acidity...

The VSV and District Lines were all really interesting in their own way. A good way to taste the different regions and the winemakers interpretation of each one.

Stonewell is really nice for this release (2008).  Not what I think of when I think of a Barossa Shiraz..and nothing like it was a few vintages back...Fruit, complexity, balance...very nice...


Turkey Flat
I've always been a fan of their Grenache and Shiraz...where they have some of the oldest Shiraz vines in Australia (and the world).  

Turkey Flat Butcher's Block Red 2011 - Turkey Flat's GSM blend.  A pretty good GSM blend at a reasonable price (22.50).  Well made, solid, good fruit.  A good buy..but a tad simple.

Turkey Flat Mouvedre 2010
Another good Mouvedre out of the Barossa.  Nice medium body...good acidity...meaty but a bit of fruit.  These have all been quite nice and a nice change of pace in the Barossa.  This would be a good food wine.

Turkey Flat Grenache 2010
Nice deep dark fruit.  Good depth.  Nice overall balance.  Probably one of the nicer Grenaches in the Barossa and a great buy at 25 RRP.

Turkey Flat Shiraz 2011
I wasn't that impressed with this.  Reasonably good shiraz but missing some depth that I normally see from their shiraz.  Not a bad wine by any means and really I'm probably not giving it enough credit...I think my expectations were higher though.

Two  Hands
Two Hands has always made a lot of pretty good wine all with different regional flare.  To me they've always been on the very fruit bomb side of things..highish alcohol, big fruit.  Pretty good balance though..they're definitely all very well made.

Two Hands Angels Share 2011
I've always had mixed reactions to this.  Some years it is pretty good, some years not so good.   This was better than some previous vintages I've had.  Good fruit, very McLaren Vale...reasonably good acidity..very fruit forward but quite enjoyable.  A pretty good effort and reasonably good value.

Two Hands Max's Garden 2010
With fruit source from Heathcote.  Really nice fruit...some spice, earth but really nice balanced fruit.  Heathcote has some pretty good stuff and this is definitely pretty good.  A bit on the pricey side, I'm not sure it has the complexity I want for 60 RRP but it is very solid.

Coach House Block Shiraz 2010
Very big shiraz...really feels like a bit of a fruit bomb but does have some reasonably decent acidity.  Really nice depth and complexity with big dark fruit, spice, herbs and a bit of earthiness.  This really is a big fruity wine though.  Well made, really enjoyable but maybe not the style I want.  Not sure it is worth 100RRP...

Two Hands Ares Shiraz 2009
Big fruit, big oak, big fruit....Pretty good balance but this is a fruit bomb of a wine. The alcohol is definitely in check and this seems to have better acidity than I've seen in the past.  To me this one feels like it'll age better than some of the stuff we've seen before it.  Deep dark fruits with layers of more dark fruit.  Tannins are definitely nowhere near overpowering but you can tell they're there to provide structure.  At 165RRP I'm passing though....

McLaren Vale 2013

I had the opportunity to visit McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills with some friends over the long weekend here in Australia.  It was nice to be able to go back and see how the styles have changed a bit, just in the 4 or so years since I was last there...It isn't that I haven't had McLaren Vale stuff in the last 4 years..but it is more of what I've had and the lack of trying some of the new stuff that is out...


Wirra Wirra 

Makers of "Church Block" which makes up of about 60% of their production, we came here because my friends really wanted to come here.  Last time I was here most of the stuff was relatively unimpressive but this time there were a few surprises...

Church Block 2011 - This is generally a fairly decent drop for the money but the 2011 feels a bit disjointed.  I was pretty unimpressed overall..it could just be it needs more time in the bottle.

Esperanza Monastrell 2011 - This is the same thing as Mataro/Mouvedre.  Good acidity, medium bodied...some savory notes as well.  Quite a nice Mouvedre and a change from what I've seen from McLaren Vale..both in style and quality for this type of wine....

Catapult Shiraz 2011
Woodhenge Shiraz 2011  Both of these were very competent and well made.  I was actually surprised a bit because last time I hated the Catapult...both of these were a bit more medium bodied than I was expecting and overall pretty reasonable buys.

RSW Shiraz 2010 - Far more medium bodied than I've had in the past.  Reasonably good acidity and a well made wine.  I still think this is way overpriced though at 70RRP.

Angelus Cabernet Sauvginon 2010 - Biggish tannins, ok acidity, big fruit but a pretty decent Cab Sav....but woefully overpriced at 70RRP.


Maximus Wines

I'm not sure why they limit you to 6 tastes here..it seems pretty stupid and quite annoying...it could be you could pay to taste more but just the general idea seems stupid..just charge people or don't charge people....That said, the quality here overall was pretty good and the wines here are well priced and provide very good value with a majority being around 25 RRP (Grenache and Mataro is 30).

Maximus Old Vine Grenache 2011 - This has always been pretty consistent.  A good, solid well made Grenache with good depth and complexity.  I'm not sure it ages terribly well but it is drinking well right now.  I'm not sure why this is their most expensive wine, it must be more popular or cost them more to make but it is on the more expensive side for Grenache in McLaren Vale..but it is pretty good..

Maximus Premium GSM 2011.  A very well made GSM with loads of dark fruit, plums, and pretty good acidity too which is probably coming from the Mouvedre...this is drinking quite nicely right now as well..

Maximus Tempranillo 2010.  I'm generally underwhelmed by Australian Tempranillo...but this one is actually quite good.  Good acidity, really good structure with the tannins there but not overpowering.  Great food wine.  Loads of red fruits, herbs, earthy flavors all in a nice medium bodied wine that has really nice balance and great depth.  This was the best Tempranillo I had on this trip....which includes the Samuels Gorge Tempranillo which seems to get a lot more press.

Maximus Premium Shiraz 2011 - biggish fruit but ok acidity.  Not a complete fruit bomb of old McLaren Vale but you still see signs of it.  Good overall wine, very well made...Not sure this will age but it is going great now..no real reason to.

Maximus Mouvedre 2011 - Another nice Mouvedre out of McLaren Vale.  Good acidity, nice medium bodied earthy wine.  These really do surprise me because they're nothing like what I think of when I think of McLaren Vale...I suppose it being a completely different grape from the norm helps.

Maximus Max Out 2011 - This is their Shiraz Viognier where they're messing around with the name for fun.  No a co-fermented, probably one of the few Shiraz Viogniers where you can feel like there are two wines here.  The Viognier adds a distinct floral note (more so than normal) and a very unusual texture to the wine....It isn't bad..it is quite unusual...I'm not sure I enjoy this particular way of doing it..but it is different and something worth trying.

Maximus Cabernet Shiraz 2011 - A bit of a bright fruit bomb.  Dark fruit with notes of red fruits....To me this is lacking something..it almost feels like it is unoaked but it definitely has spent time in oak...My wife liked this and the Winemaker said this was his favorite...I thought it was ok.

Samuels Gorge
Stuff from here is always really solid..well made..good balance.  A lot of people in MV really like his stuff.  Really passionate winemaker and a lot of people at his Cellar Door...

They're set up a bit better now than when I was there last..easier access, more space...same building just better layout and more people to help serve the wine.

Overall the wines here were all good...I'm not sure any of them are really sticking out to me as far as what I want to buy.  The Tempranillo here is pretty good but I still preferred the one at Maximus...The Grenache was solid as were the Mouvedre and Shiraz...Everything to me was on the very ripe side but well made wines...I think a lot of people would enjoy them...

Tintara/Hardys/Reynella
Located right in the middle of the city...it is actually quite a convenient location which is probably why we ended up stopping by.

Tintara Shiraz 2010
A lot better acidity than I was expecting having had this in the past.  It isn't very good acidity but enough to help support the really supple dark McLaren Vale fruit. A pretty reasonable buy.

Hardys HRB D646
A combination of McLaren Vale and Clare Valley fruit, this was actually quite a bit better than I was expecting.  Full bodied but with pretty good acidity to help balance that out...a tad of mint and red fruits on the palate.  Very fruit forward but a good amount of other stuff going on to balance it out.  \



Shingleback

They have several different lines.  I used this opportunity to try their Red Knot and Haycutters line as well as the other higher end ones.

Red Knot is their 12.50 RRP line.  Most of these were just very ok to not very good at all....It was a good contrast to the rest of their stuff though.

Shingleback Haycutters Shiraz 2011.  Made with a touch of Viognier, this has a RRP of 15 but is definitely a much better wine than that and a HUGE jump over the Red Knot which was only 2.50 cheaper.  Good fruit but not overpowering.  Reasonably decent acidity and tannin structure which really made this wine feel like a much more expensive wine than it was.  It didn't have the depth to make it a great wine and you can see the difference between it and higher end wines..but a good drink now or over the new few years and killer value.

Shingleback Davey Estate 2010 Shiraz.  Another very well made shiraz with great value.  Quite a bit more depth and complexity over the Haycutters and really this is probably more like a 30+ dollar bottle of shiraz.  Dark fruit, good balance, very well crafted...

Shingleback "The Gate" Shiraz 2010.
Big dark fruit that is balanced out by the reasonably good acidity.  Good structure and mouthfeel to this one.  I think these are meant to cellar but it is looking good right now...Priced very well at 35RRP.

Shingleback D Block Shiraz 2010
This is much more McLaren Vale than the things before it..Biggish fruit..soft tannins...really full full bodied but with pretty decent acidity.  Very complex, very nice wine.  If you like Big Fruity Shiraz, this is a pretty good one..and not quite on that port like path..

Shingleback D Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
I'm not really much of a McLaren Vale Cab fan but this was still quite nice.  Bigger tannins, bell pepper notes, biggish fruit...Structure is good...wine is well made..not sure this is the way I'd go for 55 RRP though..

Singleback Unedited Shiraz 2011
Part of the "Scarce Earth" project in McLaren Vale..these wines are made by each winemakers using a special block in their vineyards that best represent what they have and the terroir of the McLaren Vale.
Big big wine, really nice complexity but this starts going into the fruit bomb territory for me...Really nice wine though...deep dark fruits, good structure, wonderful nose....Not sure it is worth the 80RRP but it is a good wine.

Margaret River Tasting 2013 - Sydney

This was an event held at Customs House in Circular Quay.  I think the last time I was here was two years ago and while I remember there being significantly more wineries present, on the plus side they weren't limited to the number of wines they could present so that was a nice plus.

I've always been a big fan of Margaret River wine...They have a fantastic climate for growing wine, they have a large range of different things they grow there (Counting the greater WA area) where they basically grow all of the major grapes in Australia...Shiraz, Cab Sav, Merlot, Riesling, Sav Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay...even some Pinot Noir and Petit Verdot....

One of the things I've been less than impressed with as far as MR goes is, they love to make Semillon Sauvignon Blanc...I'm not sure why but they do but they do...but one trend I've seen happen is more and more places are starting to use oak barrels to give SSB a bit more depth and complexity and a much better texture than the watery mess I'm used to seeing from there.

Cowaraump Wines

Cowaramup Wines  Sauvignon Blanc Semillon Reserve 2011
Really nice mouthfeel to this, good depth and complexity...a bit of passion fruit, lemon, grass, herbs...Really good use of oak..it really does at a lot to this wine and for 25 AUD, it is a really good buy.  There is a significant difference between this and their Clownfish line of Sav Blanc Semillon and for only 5 dollars more, it is just a far superior wine.

Cowaramup Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2010
I huge step up from their normal Clownfish Cab, great mouthfeel, good acidity..really nice structure to this wine.  Dark fruits, herbs, a bit of a leather a bit of earth....At 30 AUD RRP, this is one of the better deals out there.

Fraser Gallop

Fraser Gallop Parterre Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2011.
58% Semillon, 42% Sauvignon Blanc, this wine really has great mouthfeel and texture.  The oak really pulls the right flavors out of the Semillon while the Sauvignon Blanc seems to add a bit of lift to it.  Some toasty notes, lemon, herbs...For a SSB this is really quite nice.  RRP is 36 which is definitely a bit much for a SSB but this IS a good one.  I'm also told they only make like 200 cases so this sells out quite quickly.

Fraser Gallop Parterre Chardonnay 2012
Really nice nose, a bit of citrus and nuts...Palate splashes grapefruit, cashews, a bit of honey and lemon.  Really nice minerality in this wine...nice restrained use of oak...has a little bit of creaminess but not from any Malo (unless some happened naturally)..Really nice acidity...This is a nice wine and at 32RRP, it is probably underpriced by a bit...Great value...Great Chardonnay from a consistent performer.

Fraser Gallop Parterre Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
Another really nice wine from their Parterre line...wonderful dark fruit on the nose..some herbs, mint and a bit of earth.  Palate has nice acidity, good tannin structure, nice dark fruits coming through and maybe even a tad of eucalyptus and mint...At 42RRP, this is also a really good value.

Honorable mentions:
Xanadu Chardonnay  2010- Wish the Reserve was here but their normal Estate was still pretty good...

Howard Park Leston Cabernet 2010.  Really solid, tannins are big (I think every Leston I've tried has been like this) but good acidity, good fruit.  Solid wine.

Quinault L'Enclos 2004

Yes, not an Australian wine...but thought I'd talk about it anyways..


Quinault L'Enclos 2004.  St. Emilion.  Mostly Merlot, some Cab Franc and a bit of Cab Sav and Merlot.

2004 wasn't a great year in Bordeaux but I've always been relatively happy with the quality and they always seemed to be pretty good buys because most people wanted 2005....

Popped and Poured...this definitely needed more air but it was still showing fairly well...started off tight but opened up a tad...

A bit of chocolate and pencil lead on the noise...dark fruits...some herbs...Really fine tannins that stayed with your mouth to remind you it still had good structure....Reasonably good acid...Nice dark dark fruits...mocha...Picking up a bit of crushed rock as well.  Nice balance...a certain elegance that you don't really find too often in Australia...With a bit more air it starts to open up a bit more...fruit starts to brighten a bit...finish seems a bit longer...I really do wish I had more time w/ this...

Vintage Cellars International Wine Fair 2013

One of the biggest complaints I have about the Australian wine market is there is a severe lack of imports and when they do import, the stupid pricing associated with it.

On the plus side, in the last couple of years there has been a good number of things brought in at much better price points...

The main thing I noticed was there were probably 2-3 times as many sparkling wines as previous years...with a lot of that coming from Champagne...

Most of the Champagne was very competent..Most of them missed some of the yeasty biscuit I really enjoy from Champagne..or maybe it was just my palate...

A couple of impressions..

Moutard Brut Grand Cuvee NV.  A growers Champagne..VERY solid.  Nice acidity, good balance, some citrus and fruity notes.. a bit of yeast and scones....I wouldn't call it mind blowing..but for 30 some odd AUD, I don't know if there is anything better in this category...Better than Veuve NV (Which embarrassingly costs nearly twice as much) or most of the Moet line up (which is pronounced Moe    - Eht...not Moe Aye or Moe ee).  Really solid, priced right...really good buy.  I know this is an Aussie wine site but for those that are interested in Grower's Champagne..look for RM on the label.  It stands for recoltant-manipulant...which basically means it was made by the same producer of the grape..

Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 2008.  I was a bit shocked by this.  Big fruit but very medium bodied compared to most Australian shiraz.  Tannins were silky but providing structure..and the most shocking thing?  It had very good acidity.     It wasn't Hunter Valley nice..but still, really good acidity...so that combined with the clean Barossa fruit and supple tannins... made for a very good wine.  I've had several of these I thought were fruit bombs or borderline fruit bombs....I've always thought this wine was good but not my style..but the 2008 is really good..really really good.

Georg Breuer Estate Riesling 2010
Really good acidity...and dry for a German Riesling..this was very much borderline Aussie in style but still had good elements of fruit..whereas I generally feel really dry Aussie rieslings tend to strip out most of the fruit...Good complexity and balance..I was really surprised by this.  There were a couple of other Rieslings I thought had better complexity..but not sure I enjoyed them quite as much...and when GG Rieslings are 100+ in Australia..the choice is really easy....This was nearly on par but for 1/3rd the price...

Chalkboard Hunter Semillon 2012.  Made by Tyrrells for Vintage Cellars...this one really shocked me.  I was expecting something really mediocre (the price point is 12 dollars) but what I got was something with excellent acidity and really good development.  I'm not sure this is going to go the long haul...but it is already starting to show some toasty notes which gives is good complexity and helps balance out the strong acidity...I'm sure this will stay excellent for at least a few years and for a daily quaffer, this might be one of the best buys in Australia.  I'm not sure what happened here and if it was just pure luck combined with great winemaking..but this is a steal...

Glorioso Reserva Rioja 2007.  Well made Rioja made entirely of Tempranillo....spent a good time in oak and in bottle before being released...at for 20some odd dollars, this is a very good buy.  Dark fruits, good acidity, nice balance...has the structure to go quite a few more years...a better structured and made wine than this price would suggest..

Some honorable mentions...Saint Cosme Cote Rotie..which was 100% Syrah...it was just priced a bit too high for what you get...really nice wine.  Howard Park Cabernet and Shiraz..all made with big tannins...I thought it was a bit odd that the guy said their mid range (like the Leston) was made to go about 5 years...I don't know if these significantly soften and quickly..but certainly I didn't get the impression these would be peaking in 5...

Etiquette at Tasting Events

So I go to a good number of tasting events each year..public, private and industry...and by far, I enjoy private/industry tastings a lot more...

Why?  Because the place isn't filled with people who are there trying to get drunk and don't know how to behave..

I actually don't mind that people are trying to get pissed drunk..it is that along with wanting to get drunk, they just have no idea how to behave.

IT IS NOT A BAR/PUB OR A CLUB.

You don't go up to a table with your friends, get some wine, and proceed to stand there, in front of the table, gabbing with your friends...

You get your pour of wine and you move away from the table so that other people can get through...or in the least, if you see people around you and you've had your pour, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY.

There are plenty of people that are well behaved and do this..in fact, a majority of people at these events don't stand in front of the table and talk away....they move when they notice people are around you....Granted, sometimes you are waiting behind others which means it is perfectly acceptable to be standing there..but once you have your pour...MOVE.

THIS ALSO APPLIES TO THE SPITTOON..Don't stand there in front of it and block people...I don't know if people really realize what it is for...and plenty of people give you funny looks when you actually spit in the spittoon...as if the person spitting is ignorant..funny how that works..

It seems rather intuitive you should do this...I don't think anyone ever told me or the other 80% of the people to do that...I really don't understand it at all.  I've heard this same complaint over and over from other people both industry and wine geeks alike...as well as some non wine geek people....Am I being a snob?  I don't think so...

Turkish Wine?

While on my trip to Turkey, I've had the chance to try some Turkish wine...

My thoughts....

It is difficult to find a spittoon.  I think the thought of spitting wine doesn't sit right with them...or no one really does it there..I'm not sure.

They serve you tastings in these tiny glasses which is probably not the best way to show your wine.  Basically, you can't swirl, you don't get much on the nose..it just isn't a good way to show off your wine...

I did find a grape, Emir, which was quite interesting.  Good acidity, good texture...quite an interesting wine...Apparently it doesn't age well but this is the first time I've tried so..

There were some other really random grapes that I hadn't heard of and they were not all that pleasing....Like a bad Chambourcin or funny Gamay...

Overall, most of the wine I've tried in Turkey was not very good...I suppose there is a reason why you don't see it outside of Turkey..

New Zealand in a Glass 2013 part 4

I had no idea I'd have 4 parts to this and still have this much left :).  I think the approach of trying to talk about each wine is a bit much but let me know what you think.  I'm thinking of just sticking with highlights and adding bits more...

Matua

I don't remember being overly impressed with them last but this year they had a couple of interesting wines..

Matua Estate Paretai Sauvignon Blanc 2011

Very NZ SB but a different texture to it.  Quite enjoyable and priced right at 25RRP

Matua Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2011

Very nice acid, nice citrus peach, really good balance.  A bit pricey at 50RRP but a very good drop.  Will be looking out for them..

Northburn Station

www.northburn.co.nz

Northburn Station Bill's Blend Pinot Noir 2009.
Good acid, nice bright fruit, good balance...Not terribly complex but at 30RRP, a good buy. 

Tarras Vineyards
www.tarrasvineyards.com


Tarras Vineyards The Steppes Pinot Noir 2008
Good acid, great balance, darker fruit, good complexity.  Quite a nice Pinot...Maybe a bit of a stretch at 50RRP but a pretty reasonable buy.

Wooing Tree
www.wooingtree.co.nz

Wooing Tree Pinot Noir 2009
Usually pretty impressed by this but I just thought it was decent.  Same good acid, good complexity..but just overall not that impressed when RRP is 60.

Wooing Tree Sandstorm Reserve Pinot Noir 2009
Good acid, BIG tannins, you can get hints of the different layers of fruit but still relatively tight.  Not as tight as the last one I tried but still, VERY young.   Looks like it'll be fantastic in 10+ years but hard to say.  At 120RRP there are a lot of good Pinots...

William Murdoch Wines

www.murdochwines.co.nz

One of the more interesting winemakers here.  I hadn't heard of them but they make handcrafted organic wines that are made to age.  All of the wines were quite tannic,

Their Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon/France had big tannins...good complexity, nice fruit...and price nicely at sub 30RRP....

William Murdoch The Guardsman Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2010

BIG TANNINS.  Good acidy, deep dark fruit.  Layers of complexity on this wine and it is definitely made to age 20+ years.  I would love to see this with age.  53RRP