2008 Grey Sands Merlot

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Tony Peters

This wine is not trying to be anything other than what it is.  A damn good expression of Australian merlot.  The other thing I have to clarify, this is the current release for Grey Sands.

This is a merlot that does not disappoint right from the start.  It is a beautiful garnet colour.  No, let me rephrase that.  Royal garnet in colour and still showing some youthfulness.

Poke your nose in the glass it’s all plush plums, a touch of spicy black cherry and other black fruits.  I felt a bit weird because I realised everyone was watching me swirl and sniff this wine for, what seemed to them, like a hell of a long time.

All that yumminess is there too when you finally decide you’d better have a taste or a drink (before the guests start thinking you’re a bit odd).  The oak and tannins have become very comfortable and relaxed while wrapped in a doona of dark fruits that this wine seems to possess in spades.  This wine has a warm, friendly feel about it and you can’t help but like it.

I have been a fan of this wine for a number of years but don’t drink enough of it but only because I can see it’s potential and tend to put it away for a rainy, roast lamb, kinda day.

Region: Glengarry, Tasmania     Cost: $40     Source: Sample

http://greysands.com.au

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2015 Guthrie Wild Grüner (Veltliner)

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Tony Peters

There is a lot we have to thank Austria for.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (debatable).  Weiner Schnitzel (a given).  Apple Strudel (goes without saying).  Sachertorte (yes, yes, yes).  And of course, Grüner Veltliner.

I’ve had some wines lately with very trippy labels and this is certainly up there.  You have to admit it is great.  And so is the wine.

It took a bit of teasing to get something out of it that would fire up the senses and when it did, it was like scooping out the contents of a cool, sugarless, spicy apple and pear pie.

After this, everything starts to get interesting with this wine!  Plenty of flavour with the pears taking the driver’s seat with the apples happy to be the passenger.

But!  It is all about the mouth feel with this Grüner Veltliner.

It was the creamy texture that was a (big) hit with the (small) crowd here.  The response? “I didn’t know I liked Grüner Veltliner.”(it was on the tip of my tongue to say, “Of course not because you’ve probably never heard of it” but I let that slide).

I have to admit I haven’t tried many (read 3) Grüner Veltliners and they were good, don’t get me wrong, but I really like this style.  It just seems to have that funky, cool, ‘different’ factor that keeps you feeling funky, cool and ‘different’ from the rest of the GruVe (I can’t take credit for that) crowd.

Region: Adelaide Hills     Cost: $27 (?)     Source: Online purchase

http://www.guthriewines.com.au/

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2010 Taylors St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Tony Peters

My brother has developed quite a taste for red wine and he blames me for that.  The upside to this is, he has developed a taste for good quality wine.  When you think about the old adage of, “life’s too short to drink bad wine”, you can’t blame him.

When he contacted me (about a week ago now) to tell me he was opening this one and would I like to try it,  the google maps app on my phone automatically came up with the fastest way to get to his house.

The wine had been opened for about an hour by the time I got there but I didn’t pick that.  I thought he had opened it as I flew up his driveway.  It was just so…what’s the word…great!

Rich but elegant (even on the nose) black fruits rise from the glass telling you, you are in for a treat.

Those rich black fruits are still abundant in the mouth but this time the richness & elegance transitioned into power, opulence and smoothness.  There are very subtle flavours and aromas of oak but they are playing the supporting role perfectly.  Yes the tannins are there but they are velvety and, coupled with the fruit, so so long on the palate.  There is still so much life in this wine.

A truly delicious wine that deserves its 8 gold medals and The Warren Winiarski trophy for the World’s Best Cabernet at the International Wine & Spirits Competition.

Put some away if you can still get your hands on it.

Region: Clare Valley     Price: $65 (?)     Source: Generous sibling

http://www.taylorswines.com.au/

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2013 Paddy Borthwick Paper Road Pinot Noir

Posted on March 20, 2016 by Tony Peters

The Borthwick family’s involvement in farming goes back a long way but the extension into viticulture kicked off in 1996 when Paddy and his dad planted 27 hectares of vines.  Mind you, Paddy already had the credentials to get involved in the wine side of things having trained in viticulture and winemaking at Roseworthy College.  He then honed his craft in “…five countries and three continents..” (from the website) before heading back to Wairarapa to do his own thing.

I have to admit, prior to a bit of a jaunt around the south island of New Zealand (NZ) a few years ago, my experience with NZ pinot noir was, well, to be honest, zero.  I remember being very impressed but, when I returned home, I didn’t continue to explore them.  I mean let’s face it, I had Tassie pinot at my finger tips.

This wine has reinvigorated my interest big time.  It is such a lively little number right from the start. Bright, fresh and juicy and, after seeing the colour, what it does on the palate will surprise you.

The surprise is, it’s knocking on the door of medium bodied but the sweet & sour cherries and red fruits keep it a smidgen under that.  And, that’s the other thing about this wine, it is all about the fruit (which I assume is deliberate).  I detect a soft spiciness, almost a pepperiness to it as well but, as I mentioned earlier, the fruit carries all of this on it’s shoulders with ease.

I loved this NZ pinot noir and that’s saying something coming from somebody who extols the virtues of Tasmanian pinot noir.

Region: North Island, New Zealand     Price: $30     Source: Gift

http://borthwick.co.nz/

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2010 PHI Lusatia Park Sauvignon

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Tony Peters

I have an announcement to make.  I’ve decided to admit I like Sauvignon Blanc.

To clarify that, certain styles of Sauvignon Blanc.  This style of Sauvignon Blanc.

I’ve also tried three (so far) from the Adelaide Hills made by Guthrie, Chain of Ponds and Main & Cherry, and a couple of Tasmanian  fumé blancs that have hit the mark for me.

Anyway, I really liked this Sauvignon.  Even at 6 years of age, for me this wine still had some juicy pear flavours whereas my wife thought it was tropical fruit/fruit salad like.  But it was the texture, richness and length that surprised me and it was quite viscous too.  The thing that pleased me about the wine was there was no sweetness or acid poking out.

A beautifully balanced, scrumptious wine that I would buy.  There you go, I said it.

Region: Yarra Valley     Cost: $36 (online)     Source: Gift

http://www.debortoli.com.au/

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A 2014 Terrific Teusner Twosome

Posted on March 18, 2016 by Tony Peters

The first thing I did was read the Teusner story.  It is a great read but also a relaxed read and a really interesting read.  You have to read it.

I have always been a fan of their wines but have always seemed to have gravitated toward the Reibke or the Joshua & Avatar.  I haven’t consciously avoided these wines.  I am now wishing I had consciously bought these wines.

2014 The Independent Shiraz Mataro

It appears these guys did not want to show favouritism when it came to blending this wine so they made it “about 50/50” and it works for me and no doubt many vinophiles.  The Shiraz gives it plenty of oomph but the savouriness of Mataro, for me anyway, balanced out the sweet blackberry and pluminess of the Shiraz in this mix.  Silky bloody smooth too.

2014 Bilmore Shiraz

I remember reading a Winestar newsletter late last year with it saying that this wine was their wine of the year.  I made a decision to speak to my mates and see if we should all throw in a buy some because I wanted to try it.  Needless to say, it never happened so I kicked myself in the shins.

The thing about this wine was it seemed so delicate but ballsy too.  I know that is an oxymoron but, taste this wine and you will understand.  Lotsa fruit, lotsa flavour.  I think I luvs Blimore too!

I genuinely struggled to pick my favourite out of these two wines.  If I had to choose, I’d go the Teusner.

Region: Barossa Valley     Cost: $27 (I paid $40 for the two)   Source: Bottle Shop purchase

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

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2012 Yelland & Papps Devote Rousanne

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Tony Peters

Prior to heading out the door to go to work this morning, I was having a look in my wine racks to find something nice to have when I got home and I came across this wine.  It proved to be a gem of a find let me tell you!

I just had to use a photo of the wine in the glass, with the bottle, to show off how good the colour is!

When we tasted it, my wife thought it was a (slightly) aged chardonnay because it was textural, rich and delicious but still quite delicate and smooth.  Fresh bread, toasted, real butter and a slither of honey (sounds like an aged Semillon).  The message we received from this wine was hazelnuts, cashews, oven roasted almonds enveloped in a nut shell.

A truly delicious wine at maturity (my opinion only of course) of which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Region: Barossa Valley     Price: $40     Source: Swap

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2014 Kinvarra Estate Riesling

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Tony Peters

I have mentioned before that part of the vineyard at Kinvarra Estate was planted in 1990, some of it to Riesling.  I can distinctly recall tasting some old Rieslings from here at a wine expo (for want of a better word) and they were superb.  That was some time ago.

To say I was chuffed to see Riesling under the Kinvarra Estate label again is an understatement.  They have cleverly given the fruit to Kate Hill to weave her Riesling wand and it must have been so easy for her to produce such a lovely wine.

I picked it up chilled but I think it benefited from the 15 minutes drive home out of the fridge.  I loved the aromatics.  It was like the lemon/lime aromas were standing over the stone fruit aromas but not enough for them to show their worth and textural contribution to this wine.

There is a hint of residual sugar on the palate but with a nice fine acid line, an almost dry finish tells you this is Tasmanian Riesling at its best.

Delicate, elegant, smooth and rich.  The label doesn’t say much but this is a classy Riesling.

Region: Derwent Valley, Tasmania     Price: $32     Source: Sample

http://www.kinvarraestate.com/

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2013 Grey Sands Romanesque

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Tony Peters

A blend of Aglianico, Petit Verdot and Touriga Francesa, this is a delicious, more-ish wine.

The aromas are what mesmerises you at first.  Give this wine plenty of air and you’ll get a lovely hit of red fruits and white pepper which segues so easily onto the palate.  Here you are delivered even more with lush spicy cherry flavours.

The tannins are a little dry but the fruit was a big help with those and when we had it with a (partly) charcuterie spread (not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon I must say) it came into its own.

Julius Ceasar is quoted as saying, “It is better to create than to learn! Creating is the essence of life”.

Bob and Rita have created a lovely wine right here so, grab a Roman beaker or a wine glass, whichever you have handy, then drink and enjoy.

Region: West Tamar, Tasmania     Price: $40     Source: Sample

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

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2015 Rymill The Yearling Shiraz

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Tony Peters

Let’s be honest.  Sometimes, when you pay $15 for a young Shiraz, your expectations are not high. They can be a thin, fruit bomb of a wine that hangs around as long as Clive Palmer in an administrators meeting about his nickel mine.

This $15 Coonawarra Shiraz is very different.

Juicy red fruits, plummy mid palate with a nice sprinkling of spice and pepper, it’s a lively little wine.  Thanks to the soft tannins, the flavours hang around long enough for you to google check the price.  Yep, only $15.

I’m not going to call this a barbecue wine.  It is better than that.  Have I mentioned it is only $15?

Region: Coonawarra     Price: $15     Source: Swap

http://www.rymill.com.au/

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