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.