2008 Wynns Coonawarra Estate John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Tony Peters

John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon has been around since 1982 and was produced to be a flagship wine for Wynns Coonawarra Estate.  It is only released in the years when the grapes are of an exceptionally high quality with less than 1% of the top Cabernet grapes considered good enough for this wine.

I will repeat that.  Less than 1% of top Cabernet grapes are considered good enough for this wine.  That should tell you just what sort of quality we are talking about.

It is a deep, dark, glossy, inky looking wine that relished being decanted.  I think even the decanter straightened its back, puffed out it’s chest and raised it’s chin out of pride to be chosen to be part of this wine.

There are dark fruits galore on the nose and palate with every facet (fruit, wood, tannins) playing a part but working beautifully together.

I found it to be quite a concentrated wine but gee it was elegant, silky smooth and long, long, long on the finish.

Okay it’s not cheap (normally) but, with an iconic wine which is given the treatment it deserves, you are paying for what you get.  Quality with a capital ‘Q’.

Region: Coonawarra     Price: $150 (my brother & I paid $75)     Source: Bottle Shop

https://www.wynns.com.au/

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2015 Main & Cherry Grüner Veltliner

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Tony Peters

Main & Cherry kicked off in 2009 with their own single vineyard shiraz from grapes planted in 1996.  Situated on the corner of Main & Cherry Gardens Roads, at Cherry Gardens, in the picturesque Adelaide Hills.

After graduating with an Oenology degree from Adelaide University in 2003, and getting some experience in some McLaren Vale wineries, Mike Sexton was keen to make his own wines including alternative varieties like this one.

Grüner Veltliner does very well in the Adelaide Hills and, coupled with an ethusiastic winemaker, it is no surprise that this is a very good wine.

On the nose, this wine was almost pinot gris/gewurztraminer like with with pear and light turkish delight flavours (something my mother loved) with a touch of spice.  At the family gathering where I shared it, somebody said it was like smelling little white flowers at the beginning of Spring.

This was pretty much how it tasted too (except the flowers bit) and it proved to be a big hit with my family and a few other friends who were there.  I liked that it finished dry and the flavours hung around a fair bit too.  Ticked all the boxes.

Region: Adelaide Hills     Price: $25     Source: Swap

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2015 De Bortoli Bella Riva Sangiovese Rosé

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Tony Peters

The De Bortoli family and their wines need no introduction but what I will say is, they were established in 1928 and are still family owned with the third generation keeping the tradition going producing quality wines in every price range.

Sangiovese is probably the most widely planted grape variety in Italy (155,000 acres) and is used in a wide variety of wine styles.  The most common is in Chianti.  I was surprised to read on Vinodiversity (www.vinodiverity.com) just how many Australian wineries are using and/or growing sangiovese.

We much prefer our rosé dry and this one fits the bill perfectly for us.  It is an inviting blush red colour like the cheeks of my (currently teething) grandson.  The nose was a bit closed but when the wine warmed a little, cherries introduced themselves and it just got better from there.  The palate was savoury and dry and I detected a hint of spice but that may have been due to the bruschetta I was eating at the time.

We opened this wine just after 4.00pm.  We had had a busy day doing things around the house and it was a beautiful afternoon in Hobart.  We wanted something to drink but it needed to be more than a white wine and red wine was not an option because we wanted something refreshing.  My wife got out some olives, cheese and bruschetta and that’s when I remembered I had this wine in the fridge downstairs.  It made for a perfect lead in to our Saturday night at home.

Region: King Valley     Price: $18     Source: Gift

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

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2012 d’Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Tony Peters

In 1912, Joseph Osborn made the difficult decision to sell his most prized horse, Footbolt, to purchase what is now the d’Arenberg property.  I’ve no idea how hard it must have been but, dare I say it, I’m glad he did.

This wine is named in honour of Footbolt.

The cellar door at d’Arenberg is a terrific experience.  If you are driving, make sure you spit most of what you taste because they allow you to try every wine in their portfolio.  Yep, every single one.  My memory is a bit hazy but, I think there were a ‘million’ of them.

The make up of this wine can have fruit from vines up to 100 years old.  Now, I heard a saying once that went something like, “The vines aren’t good because they are old.  They are old because they are good”, and d’Arenberg must have some very good grape vines.

Sometimes I wonder how my mind works but, if you put lots of freshly picked blackberries, blueberries and blood plums into a bowl of full cream vanilla ice cream into a bowl, then a squirt of chocolate ice magic over the top, that about sums this wine up.  It is just so (dark) fruity, creamy and a little chocolatey.

I used to buy this wine regularly because of what you get for such a small price and I have no idea why I haven’t done so lately.  I will have to change that.  Great value.

Region: McLaren Vale     Price: $18     Source: Wine Show box (purchased)

http://www.darenberg.com.au/

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2014 Chapel Hill Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Tony Peters

Michael Fragos, Chief Winemaker at Chapel Hill, has quietly gone about making wine yet most people I know would be oblivious to the fact he has been awarded the Bushing King three times.  The most recent, in 2010, was jointly won with Bryn Richards, also a winemaker at Chapel Hill.

In between being awarded the Bushing King, he was crowned the world’s winemaker of the year at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London in 2007!

I can remember Michael Fragos when he was at Tatachilla in the 1990’s making the Keystone Grenache Shiraz blend.  A wine that was a regular in James Halliday’s Top 100. He clearly has a knack with blending varieties that love each others company.

This grenache (60%), shiraz (30%), mourvèdre (10%) blend is all about enjoying a wine while it is young, fruity and fresh.  It sounds strange I know but, it seems such a happy wine.  It could easily be the life of your next barbeque.  It also has what it takes to cellar for the medium term thanks to having plenty of luscious fruit and just enough tannin but, for a wine that costs $25, why would you.  As it says on the back label, “to be enjoyed with gusto”…and I did with homemade pizza built from the base up.

Region: McLaren Vale     Price: $25 ($20 if you join their wine club)     Source: Swap

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NV DIVICI Prosecco DOC

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Tony Peters

I have no doubt I’m am going to cop some criticism for my next comment and it may well show my naivety with some wines.  I have not bothered with Prosecco because I thought it was in the same category as Moscato just spelt differently.  I also have to admit, I didn’t bother to find out if they were different.

Thanks to a good mate, I received this as a gift and, you know what, it was a very pleasant surprise.  I may well be convinced to try some others.

Firstly, who has heard of the grape variety Glera?  If you answered yes, my reply would be, “Really?”  If you answered no, welcome to my world.  Wikipedia tells me the Romans were great fans.  If the Italians keep making it like this, count me in.

Initially it didn’t impress me but that was my fault.  It was too cold.  I left it out of the fridge for a short while and when it started to ‘warm’ a lot more flavours appeared.  Think of sparkling Chardonnay but with a touch,and I mean a touch, of fruit sweetness.  It was quite delicate and, to quote my wife, “soft to drink”.  A perfect aperitif I must say.

De Bortoli are the main avenue for this wine but, if you google it, you should find it in bottleshops for around $15 which is a damn good price for this well presented, tasty bubbly.

Region: Italy     Price: $15     Source: Gift

http://www.debortoli.com.au

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2015 Chapel Hill Vermentino

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Tony Peters

This is from the Chapel Hill website. “Chapel Hill winery takes its name from the historic ironstone chapel built on the property in 1865. It has served as a local church, then parish school and now, our graceful cellar door and art gallery.” Cheating a little bit I know but, sometimes, there’s no point in reinventing the wheel.

We have visited the cellar door and it is a terrific setting.  The high ceilings and open area for the tasting is very inviting and comfy, the staff are congenial and certainly know their stuff.  When you go there for the first time, there will be subsequent visits, believe me.

I received this wine today as the result of a swap and I couldn’t help myself.  I was keen to try it.

Now, I have had next to no vermentino (except a very good sparkling & still version from Yelland & Papps) in my time so that added to my enthusiasm.  I found it quite interesting.  Thankfully, it wasn’t overly cold which I know helps with showing the true flavours of white wine.

It wasn’t shy at all and was quite aromatic straight up.  It’s a fruity number that definitely wanted to be noticed because there was a very pleasant texture on the palate that seemed to linger long enough to suck you in (but in a good way) for more.  But, sadly, I don’t got no more.

Join the club at http://www.chapelhillwine.com.au and you will only pay $20 for this winner.  Good work Mr Fragos.

Region: McLaren Vale     Price: $25 ($20 if you join their wine club)     Source: Swap

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2014 Taylors Estate Shiraz

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Tony Peters

Everybody knows Taylors so I’m not going to go on too much about them except to say, they are still family owned and would have to be the largest winery in the Clare Valley.

I’m not sure how long this particular wine has been around but I do recall seeing it about when I was, well, a lot younger than I am now.

Check out the label.  There is plenty of gold hanging off this bottle and 3 trophies too. Lucky they didn’t put the 16 silver medals on it otherwise it would end up on the bottom shelf so as not to attract all the attention.

What can’t be overlooked is, it also won the Great Australian Shiraz Challenge.

So, I got home and opened the bottle and I’m sure I could hear the echoes of applause as I did.  So much so, I felt I had to stand up to acknowledge the ovation for the  wine.

This is one complete, polished wine. It has plenty of  flavour, it’s slurpable, it’s approachable, the tannins are harmless and, I couldn’t help myself, I kept going back for more.  I had it with lamb koftas and that seemed to work for me.

Ridiculous value!

Region: Clare Valley     Price: $20 (I’ve seen it for $15)     Source: Local Bottle Shop

http://www.taylorswines.com.au

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2014 Chaffey Bros Evangeline Eden Valley Syrah

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Tony Peters

Co-founded by winemaking brothers-in-law Daniel Chaffey Hartwig and Theo Engela, Chaffey Bros has developed quite a following with their cool labels and very good wines. (Daniel’s great uncle William Chaffey founded Seaview Wines in McLaren Vale so grapes/wine/winemaking/drinking wine was always in the blood)

I had only tried their Rieslings up until a mate brought this one along to a tasting we had on the weekend just gone.

This Single Vineyard Eden Valley Syrah had everybody’s immediate attention, not only due to the striking label but because of the deep dense colour and when I poured it, boy did the aromas burst from the glass.  Someone said blackberries, three or four people said plums, someone said blueberries too I think.

The aromas you experienced were also on the palate but there was plenty more good things going on.  A bit like organised chaos but in a balanced, structured elegant sort of way with a bit of pepper/spice thrown in the mix.  Everybody enjoyed it and were surprised the alcohol level was 13.9%.  I’ve been trying to think of the word that bests describes this wine and the one that springs to mind is ‘plush’.

Evangeline is Greek for “Bearer of Good News” and there is a lot of that tucked under the screwcap for the consumer.

Region: Eden Valley     Price: $35     Source: Tasting

Go to http://www.chaffeybroswine.com.au and make sure you check out their Rieslings too.

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2015 Wobbly Boot Pinot Noir

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Tony Peters

Wobbly Boot Vineyard is owned and operated by Paul, Lynda and Isaac Williams and is in a lovely little spot about 35 kilometres from Hobart in the Coal River Valley.  Their enthusiasm and passion for their vineyards and wines is infectious.

Most people know where Richmond is, right.  Well, head out that way , turn left then set your ‘google maps’ app and you wont miss it.  Make sure you ring them first though.  They are a small, family run, boutique vineyard open by appointment only.

Please don’t be put off by ‘appointment only’ because I know some people can be.  Paul and Lynda do this to make your visit an experience plus you will come away with a couple of new friends.

These guys only produce two wines.  A Sauvignon Blanc and a Pinot Noir but have recently planted some Riesling vines.

I had the pleasure of trying this wine at the cellar door on it’s release day.  

When we walked in, Lynda was aerating and decanting this newly released pinot and, for someone who rarely decants pinot (I’ve only ever done it once), I was a little curious but then Paul told me it had only been in bottle for a little over a week. 

The colour is almost like looking through a translucent cherry skin, if you know what I mean.  The cherry characteristic is there on the nose and palate too with plums making a bit of an appearance.  Tannins?  They quietly slipped in long enough to take some of the credit for being part of this very good wine.

I have to admit, I was hugely surprised when I tasted this wine.  What I expected for such a young Tassie pinot and what I tasted where poles apart.  It was elegant, lush and quite seductive actually.  $36 will get you a bottle of this limited release beauty.

Region: Coal Valley, Tasmania     Price: $36     Source: Cellar Door

http://www.wobblybootvineyard.com.au/

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