Grove Estate Wherehaveyou Bin MCB

Grove Estate Wherehaveyou Bin MCB

  12:31    Stu.

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An easy drinking, savoury blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Barbera.  The wine in glass had me feeling pleasantly schizophrenic, offering in turn Merlot plumminess with Cabernet blackcurrant and cedary notes.  In the background there further lurked some ripe fruit notes from the Barbera and even a touch of mint sauce.

Entry immediately showed a smooth, medium bodied wine.  There wasn't much fruit showing in the palate, yet some oak provided some interest.  On the finish, there was some good mouth coating tannin, a hint of coffee-ish oak - this all fell away rather quickly.  Made for drink now pleasure indeed.

Source: Sample

Price: $15 (via wineboss.com.au)

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Screwcap

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

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The Wine List

The Wine List

  09:18    Stu.

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A holiday in 2009 was a major turning point for me.  I finally managed to visit some of Australia's great wine regions and taste some of its great wines. 

On that holiday, with my travelling companions, we took to photographing each day the wines that we consumed.  What follows is, hopefully, the full chronological list of the wines (full bottles only, not covering tastings at Cellar Doors) consumed on that holiday in 2009.  All bottles (with the exception of those consumed in Katoomba; the Bannockburns and Yering Station) were purchased at the Cellar Door of the winery listed.

Katoomba, NSW - Monday 16th February

1. Two Churches, Barossa Valley Rose, 2007

2. Banrock Station, Sparkling White Shiraz, NV

3. Penfolds, Thomas Hyland Shiraz, 2006

4. Mount Pleasant Philip Shiraz. 2006

5. Dalfarras, Shiraz Viognier, 2004

6. d'Arenberg, "d'Arry's Original" Shiraz Grenache, 2006

7. d'Arenberg, "Laughing Magpie" Shiraz Viognier, 2006

Apollo Bay, VIC - Thursday 19th February

1. Shadowfax, Riesling, 2008

2. Shadowfax, Werribee Shiraz, 2005

3. Shadowfax, Heathcote "One Eye" Shiraz, 2005

4. Yering Station, Shiraz Viognier, 2006

Robe, SA - Saturday 21st February

1. Balnaves, Sparkling Cabernet, NV

2. Shadowfax, Sauvignon Blanc, 2008

3. Balnaves, "Cheeky Red", 2008

4. di Giorgio, "Sterita" Shiraz, 2005

McLaren Vale, SA - Sunday 22nd February

1. Katnook Estate, Sauvignon Blanc, 2008

2. Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Coonawarra Riesling, 2008

3. Bannockburn Geelong, Shiraz, 2004

4. Wynns Coonawarra Estate, "Black Label" Shiraz, 2006

McLaren Vale, SA - Monday 23rd February

1. Gemtree, "Cadenzia" Grenache Tempranillo Shiraz, 2007

2. Red Heads. The Back Shed Shiraz Grenache, 2006

3. Tapestry. "Cadenzia" Old Vine Grenache, 2007

4. d'Arenberg, "Sticks & Stones" Tempranillo Grenache Shiraz. 2005

5. d'Arenberg, "The Last Ditch" Viognier, 2008

Barossa Valley, SA - Tuesday 24th February

1. "Lazy Ballerina" Shiraz Viognier, 2006

2. Red Heads, "The Back Shed" Shiraz Grenache, 2006

3. Wirra Wirra, "Sparrow's Lodge" Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006

Appelation Restaurant, Barossa Valley, SA Wednesday 25th February

1. Pelorus, Sparkling, NV

2. Radford Dale, Eden Valley Riesling, 2007

3. Cooper Burns, Barossa Valley Grenache, 2006

4. Deisen, Barossa Shiraz, 2005

Bay of Shoals, KI - Thursday 26th February

1. Wirra Wirra "Scrubby Rise" Unwooded Chardonnay, 2008

2. d'Arenberg, "The Stump Jump" Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne, Viognier, Chardonnay, 2007

3. Hardy's, Oomoo Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre, 2006

4. Pertaringa, "Over The Top" Shiraz, 2006

Bay of Shoals, KI - Friday 27th February

1. Majella, "Melody" Rose, 2008

2. Bannockburn Geelong, Pinot Noir, 2005

3. Gemtree, "Obsidian" Shiraz, 2005

4. Peter Lehmann, "Clancy's" Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (Magnum), 2004

5. d'arenberg, "The Noble Mud Pie", Viognier Pinot Gris Marsanne, 2008

Bay of Shoals, KI - Saturday 28th February

1. Two Hands, Gnarly Dudes Shiraz, 2007

2. Turkey Flat, Rose, 2008

3. Pertaringa, "Scarecrow" Sauvignon Blanc, 2008

4. Woop Woop, Verdelho, 2008

5. Katnook Estate, Chardonnay Brut Blanc de Blancs, 2007

6. Chateau Tanunda, Terroirs Ebenezer Shiraz, 200?

7. Kaesler, "Reid's Rasp" Shiraz, 2008

8. Wynn's, Samuel Port, NV

Brisbane, QLD - Sunday 1st March

1. Langmeil, "Fifth Wave" Grenache, 2006

2. Langmeil, "Orphan Bank" Shiraz, 2006

Brisbane, QLD - Monday 2nd March

1. Isabel, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2008

2. Turkey Flat, Rose, 2008

3. The Black Chook, Sparkling Shiraz, NV

4. Two Hands, Bella's Garden Shiraz, 2006

5. Red Heads, "Yard Dog" Petit Verdot merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006

6. Wirra Wirra, "Catapult" Shiraz Viognier, 2006

7. Langmeil, Fortified Shiraz

8. Wynns, Samuel Port

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Witches Falls Classic Tawny

Witches Falls Classic Tawny

  15:33    Stu.

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I've already written at fair length about my visit to the Witches Falls cellar door.  It seems funny to think back to that weekend now, for it was the weekend immediately prior to the Brisbane floods.  It seemed like it hadn't stopped raining for months, we were worried about access to the cellar door for I know that some roads in the local area have a tendency to ford with large volumes of rain.

So to the wine itself, it was consumed as part of my OTBN dinner -  as the liquid accompaniment to a cheese course.

It exhibits aromas of candid orange peel and black cherry.  In the mouth it is rather smooth, offering chocolate coated berries, chai latte and some porty raisiny notes.  The finish is spicy, more of that Chai/ cinnamon, and it has a fair reach to it.

Yet another reason to get yourself to Witches Falls Cellar Door.

Source: Cellar Door

Price: $28 ($23 Members)

Alcohol: 18%

Closure: Cork Stopper

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

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Grove Estate The Italian Sangiovese Barbera 2008

Grove Estate The Italian Sangiovese Barbera 2008

  12:26    Stu.

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From the Hilltops region of NSW, this 50/50 blend of varietals of Italian origin Sangiovese and Barbera, is a balanced representation of its constituent parts.

The Sangiovese provides savoury aromas and these are readily apparent on introduction to the wine, where earthen notes strike you -  to then be supported by some plum and cherry from the fruit-driven Barbera.

In the mouth, the wine is smooth, medium bodied.  There's some black pepper and mouth-filling spice.  A good touch of oak provides some background interest and also a coffee-ish conclusion.  The finish shows some fine tannin but it really is a bit part to those aromas and peppery spice spoken of earlier.

Source: Sample

Price: $20 (CD Price)

Alcohol: 14.5%

Closure: Screwcap

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

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Icely Road Rose 2009 Rosé

Icely Road Rose 2009 Rosé

  21:04    Stu.

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Icely Road is a brand of Mayfield Vineyard, which is located some 10KM from the town of Orange.

The wine, a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, leads with aromas of delicate, not overtly pronounced, berry fruits which serve as an introduction to more of the same on the palate. In the mouth the wine offers a smooth concentration of the same berry flavours that conclude with a dry savoury finish.

In summary, a light refreshing, fairly linear style that works well with food.

Source: Sample

Price: $17.99

Alcohol: 12.2%

Closure: Screwcap

Website: http://www.mayfieldvineyard.com/

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4 Orange Rosé 2009

4 Orange Rosé 2009

  11:04    Stu.

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The Orange wine region has two advantages: it has consistently produced a series of very good wines in recent years, and has an active PR business supporting it (David Cumming of Define Wine).

~ James Halliday, Wine Companion

David was a crucial supporter of the Rosé Revolution and instrumental - for me at least - in raising the profile of some excellent wines coming out of Orange.

This particular wine is crafted by 4 friends who work in the Orange wine community.  Very little about it appears on the internet and the address on the label leads me to the Union Bank Wine Bar in Orange.  A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grown specifically for the wine, it opens with juicy red berry aromas and a hint of some drying cranberry.  

The palate shows no breadth or depth to speak of - not uncommon in Rosés - instead the finish is where the action happens.  It shows the typical savoury, drying finish of the type of wines the Rose Revolution was promoting.  There's a touch of bitter acid at the conclusion and even a touch of tannin in there too.  That said, it is not a complex wine.

Tip: don't serve too cold as this masks some of the concentrated flavours that were revealed once it came to life.   Still it should be chilled, enjoyed with friends and food as befits the ethos of the wine made by the four friends. 

Source: Sample
Price: $14.99
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.unionbank.com.au/


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New Zealand In A Glass

New Zealand In A Glass

  13:09    Stu.

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First up, I want to commend the organisers on a well put together event.  Each attendee was presented on arrival with a Riedel tasting glass, a bottle of water, pen, paper exhibitor list along with a full colour high-quality booklet listing all exhibitors with contact information.  Inside the event, there was plenty more water available along with bread, crackers and even some sandwiches available.  My only gripes being the spit buckets being on the floor, the members of the public wearing their ropey colognes/ perfumes and ruining the beautiful perfumes of the products on show and the exhibitor who didn't know the Residual Sugar (RS) of the Riesling they were pouring!

My focus for the event: Waiheke and Hawkes Bay reds (and maybe a little else of what took my fancy). 

Man O'War

Standout wines: Valhalla Reserve Chardonnay 2009, 100% barrel fermented - 40% new French, wild yeast fermented. Some yeasty notes on the nose with good supporting Oak.  Typical riper characteristics of good quality Chardonnay.  Savoury conclusion.

Ironclad 2008: Blend of Merlot (52%), Cabernet Franc (27%), Malbec (10.5%), Petit Verdot (9.1%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (1.4%).  Beautiful lifted berry aromatics, well integrated on the palate and some concluding earthiness supported by fine drying tannin. 

Cable Bay

Merlot Malbec Cabernet: A blend of Merlot (45%), Cabernet Sauvignon (24%), Malbec (20%) and Cabernet Franc (11%).  600 cases made.  Beautifully perfumed, plumminess exhbited from the Merlot along with some dreid herb notes.  Typical cassis along with some of the earthen, leathery notes one would expect.  Fine tannin concludes the experience. 

Trinity Hill

The Gimlett 2008: Another 'Bordeaux' blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (43%), Merlot (41%), Petit Verdot (7%), Malbec (6%) and Cabernet Franc.  There's a pattern forming here: beautiful perfume with blackcurrant and cassis notes dominant.  But it's the gentleness that makes the wine stand out.  It has fine tannins and is of moderate length, but on the palate it has a fullness to it that has you yearning for more..

Source: New Zealand

Price: $45

Closure: About 9PM

Website: http://www.nzwine.com/

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