2014 Teusner Wark Family Shiraz

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Tony Peters

Switch on…now!!  That’s what the label tells you to do and precisely what happened when I opened then poured this wine.  No muckin’ about with this Barossa Shiraz I gotta say.

Straight up it gives you what you would expect, and want, from a Single Vineyard Barossa Shiraz.  Blackberries dominate the up front, fruit driven nose and palate, no question. Spicy plums give a bit more on the palate with some subtle herbs going about their business.

It seems such a busy wine.  Heaps going on but so diarised.  It knew where it needed to be at a particular time.  I found I wanted to slow the process down while drinking it but it was a struggle.  I thought about putting a Enya CD on but, I don’t own one so I ended up sloshing it into a decanter and it immediately mellowed out (I don’t know if the threat of Enya or the decanter caused this). Tannins were not as hyperactive as expected so I was able to put the phernergan away.

This is an incredibly delicious wine that reminds me of the ‘cat coming out of the dairy’ scenario.  Very satisfying, smug Cheshire cat smiling kinda wine.  Loved it!

Region: Stonewell, Barossa Valley     Price: $29     Source: Gift

https://www.teusner.com.au/

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2014 Josef Chromy Pinot Noir

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Tony Peters

Just because a wine is readily available and easily accessible doesn’t mean it is another mass produced, commercial, cash-crop sort of wine.  Mind you, even some of those wines seem to hit the mark regularly.

Okay, this is a Pinot Noir that is both easily accessible and readily available but it’s still varietal and true blue Tassie.  It’s also one you don’t have to analyse too much.  Unless you want to waste those few minutes.

At this price point,  you expect a little more than a quaffer and, yes you get that but it is so drinkable already and mighty impressive.

Cherries are the obvious fruit in this wine but strawberries and raspberries are partners in crime.  I’m guessing you’re thinking, “that’s what Tassie Pinot is so well known for but what is the point of difference”, especially when it comes to young Tassie Pinot.  That’s a fair comment.

Answer.  Palate weight and length.  Simple as that.

The light-ish colour bluffs you because it is more medium bodied than light, and yeah, those fruits I mentioned earlier are still there but plums chime in to fill the mid palate very nicely indeed.  The oak and tannins?  The only reason you know they played their part is because of the ‘team photo’ taken at the end of the season where they are named as part of the entire line-up.

I have no idea how long this delicious and juicy wine will cellar but, to be honest, I don’t care.  It is very easy to drink now without even thinking about that.  I’ll let you make that decision.

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Region: Relbia, Tasmania     Price: $38     Source: Online purchase

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2010 Grey Sands Pinot Noir

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Tony Peters

Don’t you just love it when a winery is happy to hold back their wines so you get something that has some age.  How many wineries do you know do that?  There wouldn’t be many.

Even though this wine has 6 years under it’s belt, it is still so obviously a young pinot noir. You just have to look at the colour!

Aromas are such that you feel as though you’ve walked into the Kate’s Berry Farm at Swansea (Tasmania) during harvest with your nose in bucket of freshly picked cherries while chewing on a plum.

Tasting this wine is no different.  Gee it seems fresh on the palate too!  We had it with some Italian meatballs and some herbs presented themselves so as not to be overlooked regardless of their small part in proceedings.

This may not sound normal but it has a sweetish but slightly dry finish that tickles the taste buds for quite a long time.

My guess is the ‘Richter’ scale has been gently nudged by this Pinot and will attract the attention of the media and punters alike before too long.  Get in quick people.

http://greysands.com.au/vineyard/

Region: Glengarry, Tasmania     Price: $50     Source: Sample

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2014 Ruckus Estate Shiraz Malbec

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Tony Peters

There are some pretty good, very good, and exceptional Shiraz Malbec blends in Australia. But they had to start somewhere.  Ruckus Estate are no different.

From what I have read, the young Malbec tried to be the dominate one when it came to blending it with the shiraz.  It was easily, and quickly brought back into line by reducing its percentage in the final blend.

Initially, it struggled to show anything on the nose.  I’m guessing that, after a while, again the shiraz had to show who’s boss and demand the Malbec play it’s part.  Spicy cherries showed the way.

It wasn’t as shy or bashful when it came to tasting it.  Bordering on medium bodied it showed the spicy cherries again, some white pepper (cool climate influence?) with a subtle garden fresh beetroot note and there is a bit more on the finish than you would expect even if it finishes a tad short.

A very good first up Shiraz Malbec from Ruckus Estate that is very well priced too.  Give it go. You know you want to.

Region: Wrattonbully, South Australia     Price: $26     Source: Gift

http://www.ruckusestate.com/

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2015 Main & Cherry Sangiovese

Posted on April 22, 2016 by Tony Peters

I know it seems like I drink a lot of Main & Cherry  wines.  Well, as a matter of fact, I do.  To not put too finer point on it, they are well made, easy to drink and both my wife and I like them.  It’s that simple really and nobody I know buys or drinks wines they don’t like.

Open, smell and taste this wine and you will get full on, in your face, but lovely fruit…of course.  It’s a young wine.  Give this wine some time to come out of it’s shell and it reveals itself to be typically Sangiovese.  Savoury, a touch acidic and some herbs sprinkled in there too and it embraces food like a long lost friend.

When it’s had the time to relax it is such an easy, congenial, laid back style of wine you can’t help but want to introduce it to friends and foe alike.  Not that I have any ‘foe’ but, in my job, if I was able to take this wine (or any other Main & Cherry wine for that matter) to certain situations, I’d come away knowing everybody’s happy  and I’d have no paperwork to do.

It’s a lovely, juicy, ‘may I have some more please’ type of wine.  Snap it up folks!

Region: Adelaide Hills     Price: $25     Source: Gift

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2013 Serafino McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Tony Peters

It’s a great story, the one about Serafino (Steve) Maglieri and how he came to Australia in 1964 with a suitcase, about $20 in his pocket and a dream to grow grapes and make wine.  Having tasted this wine, I’m so glad he followed through with his dream.

Most people would associate Cabernet Sauvignon with Coonawarra or Margaret River and McLaren Vale usually gets forgotten about when it comes to this variety.  Well, I can tell you, this may not be the first McLaren Vale Cabernet I’ve had and it definitely won’t be my last that’s for sure.

A group of mates and I found this (and two more bottles) on a wine list at a local restaurant and it was very reasonably priced.  A couple of the fellows thought it smelt ‘new’ like it had just been bottled while another thought it was ‘fresh’.  It certainly is exactly that and what got me was the obvious bold dark fruit aromas that burst from the glass and which were lapped up by my nose and palate.

When it comes to the flavours of this wine, it’s like watching the Umbilical Brothers. There is plenty going on, but what is going on is so well structured and presented.  Plus, at the end of it all, everyone is blown away by  what they have experienced and are pleased with the great return for their dollar.

I have to add, I had enough of my steak left to accompany the wine and it worked perfectly together!  A testament to it winning a couple of gold medals including a blue gold.

Region: McLaren Vale     Price: $28 (on line)     Source: Restaurant purchase

http://serafinowines.com.au/

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2012 Yalumba The Menzies Coonawarra Cabernet

Posted on April 19, 2016 by Tony Peters

It would be easy to mention that this wine is named after Sir Robert Menzies, the longest serving Prime Minister in Australia (18 years total).  I could also mention that such a wine is dedicated to the same man who founded the Liberal Party in 1945.  Sir Robert Menzies was also the recipient of numerous medals and honours during his time (just like this wine).  I suppose it’s worth mentioning he was a fan of red wine.

Not quite sure where to start with this wine.  When I opened it and poured myself a small taste before it went into the decanter, it was quite a harsh wine.  Lots going on, disjointed but with lots of black fruits.  Well, I’m pleased to say, the decanter and the wine combined beautifully to do the job they knew they had to do.

The presentation, if you like, spoke of full on, bold as brass, and rich.  But it wasn’t.  Yes, it showed it’s youthfulness but, for me, it was such that it has lots of flavour but seemed so slinky.  I’d say it sits between medium and full bodied.

This is typical Coonawarra, no doubt.  Blackberries, blackcurrants, plums with a touch of liquorice (maybe) and clearly the tannins are happy to meld into the hint of oak on the finish that seems to go on as long as an election campaign in the United States.

As strange as it sounds, this is a subtle ‘wow’ factor wine.  A contradiction in terms maybe but, that’s how I see it.

The good thing about this wine is, it is going to survive longer than Sir Robert Menzies was Prime Minister of Australia.

Region: Coonawarra, South Australia     Price: $55     Source: Wine Show leftover purchase

https://www.yalumba.com/

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2015 Moores Hill Riesling

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Tony Peters

I have tasted and drunk plenty of Tassie riesling and I don’t remember ever being disappointed with one.  I may have been but I doubt it.

Something that did surprise me, and may surprise you, is that Moores Hill were established in 1997.  For the many years I have visited Launceston, and consequently the Tamar Valley, I did not realise they were there.  In that time, I have only visited twice.  Sad I know.

It will come as no surprise however that this wine greets you with an intense floral nose with a hit of lemons and limes.  Typically Tasmanian I hear you say.  Yes it is but, it still has quite an individual charm to it that will, or should I say does, seduce you.  The citrusy flavours conspire with the lovely, almost spritzy, acid to keep you topping up your glass.

And let’s not forget the hint of residual sugar that I got on the palate.  It’s not a ‘sweetener’ but an equaliser.  To remind the aforementioned co-conspirators that it’s not all about them.  It’s about “the whole is the sum of all its parts”.  All of these parts have combined beautifully to produce a pure, fresh, delicious Riesling.

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Region: Tamar Valley, Tasmania     Price: $30     Source: Retail purchase

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2012 Thompson Estate Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Tony Peters

Looking back over some of the wines I have posted on social media, it became clear to me I do not drink enough wines from Western Australia. Drinking this wine made me realise exactly what I am missing out on.

Now, it goes without saying that when you have Bob Cartwright making the wine, you are always, ALWAYS, going to get a quality product.

This reeked of ‘young’ as soon as I opened it.  So much so I felt I could’ve slapped in on it’s backside and it would have screamed and cried it’s eyes out!  Instead of that I thought it best to pour it into a decanter and let it breathe and come to life over time.  And time is exactly what it needed.

When we (our dinner guests included) tasted this wine, it was obvious to us it was powerful but smooth, (red & black) fruity but spicy/savoury at the same time, mouth-wateringly juicy but ever so slightly dry on the finish.  That all makes it sound a bit unbalanced but, believe me, it wasn’t.

Just out of interest, and for no other reason than that, I tried to find something I didn’t like about this wine.  I don’t know why I bothered wasting my time.  I enjoyed it immensely!

Region: Margaret River, W.A.     Cost: $45     Source: Gift

Thompson Estate

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2013 Grey Sands The Mattock

Posted on April 9, 2016 by Tony Peters

You have to wonder what some people think when the decide to plant grape vines in particular locations.  There must be a certain level of confidence in the environment, soil, location and ability to make something from the resultant fruit.

Bob and Rita Richter are an amazing couple who invested so much time in finding the ideal location to grow alternative varieties, especially when it comes to doing so in Tasmania. Pat on the back, high fives and the clink of glasses.  They’ve certainly achieved it with this wine.

The Merlot stamps it’s 60% authority on the wine with juicy plums while the 30% Malbec and 10% Cab Franc give it the purple edge colour and seems to add to the aromatics.  I’ll even go out on a limb and wonder if there has been an ‘intersection’ with Gewürztraminer because it seems to have a slight pot pourri hint to it (just my opinion of course).

This is no shy 3 year old on the palate I must say.  The plums and red/black fruits are singing out above a chocolatey flavour (so says my wife) but it could well be a sweetish fruit character that I like in these varieties.  There’s that cool/cold climate peppery/savoury character chiming in oh so slightly but adding a nice dimension to the wine.

Not sure what the tannins were doing when the wine was being made but clearly they knew they were not required to add to the intrigue this wine already has.  I loved it!

http://greysands.com.au/

Region: Glengarry, Tasmania     Price: $35     Source: Sample

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