A.Retief Gundagai Shiraz 2009

A.Retief Gundagai Shiraz 2009

  21:33    Stu.

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Aromatically alluring from the off.  Pepper, florals, choc-mint - complexity, further  enhanced by peppery Hunter Stew, all interwoven with fruit character.

Smooth and fluid, a generous medium bodied version of the variety.  Blackcurrant and spice with black pepper adding an edge - marking it out, or rather, preventing it just being about the fruit character.  Familiar and welcoming - a crowd favourite most likely.  

Light fluffy tannin completes the picture, it's well structured - easy to understand and work with.  90 - Good  

Tasted on: Saturday 17th November, a Fruit Day
Source: Sample
Price: $25
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.aretief.com.au/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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A.Retief The Cabernets 2009

A.Retief The Cabernets 2009

  22:16    Stu.

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I initially preferred this wine to the 2008.  On opening the aromatics were much more pronounced, I thought this the wine with the higher percentage of Petit Verdot.  

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) sourced from Gundagai, along with Petit Verdot (10%) and Malbec (5%) from Hilltops.  Aromatically very pronounced on opening; bright, perky, even perty, lifted aromatics coming out of the glass - floral - wild flowers wafting, inviting.  

Smooth on entry, a foundation of oak and tobacco; a resurgent fruit/ floral combination towards the conclusion.  This gives the wine the effect of a secondary movement before good structured tannin provides length, good lingering length.  Very drinkable, you find yourself going back for more.  Fades over a day, one for now.  90 - Good

Source: Sample

Price: $28

Alcohol: 13%

Closure: Screwcap

Website: http://www.aretief.com.au

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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