2017 Raidis Estate Cheeky Goat Pinot Gris

Posted on September 9, 2017 by Tony Peters

Over the last 10 days I have tasted or drank five different pinot gris’ (is that the plural for gris?).  I realise that does not sound particularly healthy but I will clarify that by saying, tasted three, assisted with the consumption of two…mainly because I was enjoying a glass with my wife but also for research purposes.

Of those five, four of them had various shades of a coppery tone to them.  One of them was almost rosé like in appearance!  This appearance in a Gris can, and does, polarise opinion among wine show judges and punters alike.  Well, I’m more than happy to see Gris left on skins a bit longer to grab some of that colour out of the skins to give it a point of difference compared to other white varieties.  I hope you a-Gris (sorry, couldn’t help myself).

This is Gris from head to toe and unashamedly so.  Pears on the nose, pears on the palate, pears to finish off but juicy and delicious with a lovely textural mouthfeel.  Balanced nicely with a touch of sweetness and spice, it’s pretty obvious that Steve Raidis has paid particular attention to making sure everything has lined up perfectly.  I liked this a lot! No wonder this wine sells out.

www.raidis.com.au

Region: Coonawarra     Price: $24     Source: Cellar door purchase

CheekyGoatNV111

Posted in Other Whites | 1 Comment

2016 Yelland & Papps Shiraz & Vin De Soif

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Tony Peters

I have been reading a series of articles in The Australian newspaper about Captain James Cook.  You know, that bloke who sailed from the mother land and explored the east coast of Australia a couple of hundred years ago.  Anyway, when he set out on his expedition, he didn’t know what he was in for but he knew what he wanted to achieve.  With plenty of confidence, a dash of skill and the best equipment on offer at the time, off he went. The rest is history.

With confidence, skill and the best equipment they could muster up at the beginning of their expedition, Michael and Susan set sail on a journey a few years ago in an Endeavour (did you like that) to provide a range of wines that will have any discerning palate sailing the seven seas to discover the uncharted territory that is Yelland & Papps.

Here are two of their wines that are easy to find via the internet rather than having to climb Jacob’s Ladder and perch in the Crow’s nest to keep a look out.

2016 Barossa Valley Shiraz: Fresh berries on the nose. Plums and dark fruits provide carry on the palate with a nice little hint of spice.  Plenty of flavour doesn’t come as a surprise considering the alluring and spiffy colour.  This is an easy wine to like and one glass just doesn’t seem enough.

2016 Barossa Valley Vin De Soif: A very cool and ever popular blend of Grenache, Mataro and Carignan. Lively on the nose, it smells of fresh red berries.  Medium bodied (as the colour purveys) it still provides plenty of character with savouryness, cherriness (it’s not a word but I like it) and soft tannins. This is juicy, fruity and downright moreish to say the least.

yellandandpapps.com

Region: Barossa Valley     Price: $25     Source: Sample courtesy of Yelland & Papps

IMG_8042 (1)

 

Posted in Red Blends, Shiraz | 1 Comment

2014 Di Giorgio Emporium Red Blend

Posted on August 27, 2017 by Tony Peters

They’re a pretty smart lot the Di Giorgio family.  15 years ago they decided to buy the Rouge Homme vineyard in Coonawarra that had been in the terra rossa soils of the region since the 1950’s.  Now, I’m not a young fella and this is before my mum decided it’s best I enter the world.

I’ve visited their cellar door, I’ve experienced their hospitality, I’ve tasted and drank their wines.  They are a lovely bunch of people and visiting Di Giorgio should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Thanks to these guys being part of the Coonawarra Roadshow and sending the lovely Anna to Hobart, I got to try this wine.  It’s predominately Merlot but you’d be forgiven for thinking otherwise.  It’s a rich, juicy, flavoursome wine and you know this even from sticking you nose in the glass let alone tasting it.

It gives plenty of flavour but quite gently and in a subtle way so you don’t start retreating and finding a place to hide from the attack of dark and red fruits combining into a smooth, creamy, textured wine with supple tannins.  Oak is ridiculously complimentary that you just feel like telling it to stop being so kind!

A truly enjoyable wine for any red meat dish for sure.  Sit it up alongside some cheese as well.  It enjoys this sort of company too.

digiorgio.com.au

Region:  Coonawarra, South Australia     Price: $26     Source: Tasting

DiGiorgio Emporio

Posted in Red Blends | Leave a comment

2015 Penley Estate Atlas Coonawarra Shiraz

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Tony Peters

Some things frustrate me when it comes to Coonawarra shiraz.  The main one is that it seems to continually take second place behind Cabernet as the favoured red wine of the region.  I’m not saying it should be first place but people forget that Coonawarra was planted with predominately Shiraz before Cabernet.

Colour has never been an issue with shiraz from this region and it’s no different here. Plenty to lure you in.

The nose is where you start to question the price tag and I mean that in a good way.  This is where I moved on to the good bit.  Tasting it.  Sorry, I mean drinking it!

Lots of (expected) youthful characters straight up.  Black fruits and dark cherries that sit briefly on the mid palate but they hang longer and perfectly on the back palate.  Tannins are kind enough to support the fruit so as not to compromise the finish and enjoyment of this wine.

I realise I haven’t mentioned the impressive new labels and, when it comes to the contents, I don’t think it matters.  The wine is what people are interested in and this will generate a lot of interest, especially at the price.

penley.com.au

Region: Coonawarra, South Australia     Price: $20     Source: Sample

PenleyAtlas_product1

Posted in Shiraz | Leave a comment

2016 Bailey Wine Co Grampians Shiraz

Posted on August 22, 2017 by Tony Peters

I’m not going to mince words here.  The only reason I decided to buy this wine is because I saw it posted on Instagram by the winemaker himself Tim Bailey (@bazwine).  I knew he made wine at Leconfield and I was lucky enough to meet him back in 2014.  Tim is a terrific fellow, he knows his stuff and this is a bloody good wine.

It’s an attractive, beautiful, deep, youthful colour.  Vivacious dark fruit aromas will bring you into its Grampians grasp and you’re hooked.  It offers a heap more on the palate too with rich juicy plums, blackberries and a smooth creamy oak finish that doesn’t seem to let go.

The guys that I gave a (blind) taste were mighty impressed and one was a wine rep for a well know group, another has been around booze for a heap of years.  I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that anyone who tries this wine is going to like this wine.

baileywineco.com

Region: Grampians, Victoria     Price: $30     Source: Online Purchase

Bailey Grampians shiraz

Posted in Shiraz | Leave a comment

Penley Estate Echo Sparkling Pinot Noir

Posted on August 20, 2017 by Tony Peters

Living in a place known for its Pinot Noir and sparkling wine has, unfortunately, made me a bit skeptical about mainland versions, more so when it’s Sparkling Pinot Noir!  It appears I may have wasted my ‘skeptical’ time and energy on this one.

There’s a bit to like right from when you pour this into the glass.  It’s all Pinot Noir with the colour but the soft pink bubbles hovering over the top of the juicy looking red cherry liquid just added to the romance of Pinot Noir fizz for me.

I found it a bit shy on the nose to start with but things changed pretty quickly.  No point asking me why because I’ve no idea but hello red fruits!  This is echoed on the palate but in comes some darker fruits and a touch of savouriness.  I said to others who were also trying it how I reckon it would be “multi culinary compatible”.  I hope that is a ‘thing’.

Easy on the wallet, easy to open, easy to pour, easy to drink…on any day of the week with anything you want to serve up.

penley.com.au/product/Echo

Region: Coonawarra     Price: $20 (seriously)     Source: Sample

PenleyEcho_product

Posted in Sparkling Wine | Leave a comment

2017 Coriole Picpoul

Posted on August 19, 2017 by Tony Peters

This is going to make me sound so stupid but, when I saw the name Picpoul, I thought it was a reference to sewing or knitting or something similar.  Thankfully, we were at Coriole cellar door at the time and the lovely Velvet pulled out a bottle of this and set me straight.

It shows youth from the outset with a very pale straw colour.  Great aromatics!  If you didn’t know, you’d swear you were smelling a blended white.  Gewurztraminer’s rose water mixed with Riesling’s lemon citrus.  The palate is similar, but add some of Chardonnay’s stone fruit texture and you have a very nice, delicious wine that apparently partners well with oysters.  I don’t do oysters but I can see this going very well with Thai food easily!  It is truly a delightful little wine.

We thoroughly enjoyed this wine and it will easily invoke fun and frivolity with family and friends alike, I guarantee it.

coriole.com

Region: McLaren Vale     Price: $27     Source: Swap

Coriole Picpoul

Posted in Other Whites | Leave a comment

2014 Coriole Galaxidia Shiraz

Posted on August 12, 2017 by Tony Peters

I’m happy to admit to being one of the ‘older’ generation.

I saw Star Wars when it was shown in cinemas in 1977, Star Trek in 1979 and of course, Battle Star Galactica television series in 1978.  Galaxidia was the prompt that took me back to those bygone years simply, and quite basically, because of the name.  It’s doing the same to you right now, isn’t it?

However, this wine is contemporary but has been made so as not to forget the terroir and more importantly, the bones of McLaren Vale, and presented by a ‘new generation’ of the regions winemakers, Alex Sherrah.

It’s a brilliant deep colour that prepares you for what is to follow.  Lovely aromas of fresh dark fruits that exemplify the region.  Plush, lush and rich black fruits galore on the palate complimented beautifully with those typical silky McLaren Vale chocolatey notes. And the finish?  Well, it goes on for as long as the prelude to that first Star Wars movie.

This is certainly more Starship Enterprise than it is Millennium Falcon that’s for sure and it is going to survive for the next generation to look back on and enjoy.

I picked this up at cellar door and, to quote Captain Lee ‘Apollo’ Adama from Battlestar Galactica, “Boy, when you take a souvenir, you don’t screw around.”

www.coriole.com

Region: McLaren Vale     Price: $60     Source: Swap

Galaxidia

Posted in Shiraz | Leave a comment

2016 De Bortoli Woodfired Heathcote Shiraz

Posted on July 30, 2017 by Tony Peters

It’s not uncommon to have wines recommended to me and I don’t mind it even more so when it comes from someone in the know.

I must say though, I was not particularly enthralled when I saw the label.  In one word, dark.  ‘Woodfired’ was there for all to see.

In the glass is where the darkness continues.  It’s certainly a deep colour but with a youthful vibrancy and the aromas, Bang!  Full on, delicious, mouth-watering.

I was a little surprised when I tried it though.  I expected that punch to continue but, while it’s rich, it is still quite smooth, mellow and damn approachable.

Black fruits aplenty, a hint of licorice allsorts in there balanced out thanks also to a touch of cool climate spice/pepperiness.  All in all a nicely rounded, generous, no nonsense wine at a very reasonable price.

shop.debortoli.com.au

Region: Heathcote, Victoria     Price: $20 (retail)     Source: Retail Purchase

400x400_de_bortoli_woodfired_heathcote_shiraz_nv

Posted in Shiraz | Leave a comment

2015 Angoves Organic Shiraz Cabernet

Posted on July 24, 2017 by Tony Peters

Hands up those who love tradition.  Okay, those who put their hands up, put your hands down…please.  If I asked you about something your family has repeatedly done for years, you’d be able to tell me a story about it AND how you wouldn’t change it.  That’s tradition.

I can’t use the word ‘tradition’ when it comes to the Angoves family because they are based on generations.  Tradition comes naturally to them.

Claret is traditional, and as much as Aussie wineries can’t use that term, Shiraz/Cabernet will remain in the psyche of punters thanks to this wine.

It has a dense colour that defies it’s aromas and flavours.  That doesn’t sound right i know but you’ll know what I mean when you smell and taste it.  It’s red fruit specific on the nose but in a cheery, fresh way.  The palate is where it speaks to all and sundry.  Those red fruits hang around but add blackcurrants and plums, a hint of oak and spice (they are probably joined at the hip) and you have a bargain wine.  I’ve heard and read great things about the rest of the range too.

Okay so it doesn’t say much about where the fruit was sourced but I think you should ignore this and enjoy it for what it is.  A very good wine at a very good price.

www.angove.com.au

Region: South Australia     Price: $15     Source: Retail Purchase

shopping

Posted in Red Blends | Leave a comment