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/

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Meerea Park XYZ Shiraz 2010

Meerea Park XYZ Shiraz 2010

  10:57    Stu.

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XYZ is a sub-brand of Hunter winemakers par excellence Meerea Park.  The brand is intended to represent a more modern take on the Hunter style.

10% of the Shiraz portion was left as whole bunches, the wine also saw inclusion of 4% Viognier co-fermented.  Spends 18 months in big-format oak (500 litre Puncheons), of which 20% was new.  So basically big format oak, minimal new - intend being to moderate influence of oak.

Smells earthen, meaty and gamey.  Hints of rose, red fruits with the added aromatic elevation of the Viognier providing Violets and Blueberries.

Saw sharp acid early on in the palate, subsiding to give way to black fruits and a modicum of sweetness.  Squarely medium bodied, soft tannins and moderate length.  88 - Good



Tasted on: Saturday 17th November, a Fruit Day
Source: Gift
Price: $16.95
Alcohol:13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.meereapark.com.au

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Taylors Estate Clare Valley Riesling 2012

Taylors Estate Clare Valley Riesling 2012

  13:18    Stu.

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Fresh. lemon and lime sorbet.  Not much to shout about aromatically but things liven up where it counts.  A richer palate, fuller, zesty with pithy lemon. 

Full - again that word - rather than racy and linear like many a Riesling.  Citrus moves toward the finish, a hint of orange oil.  Good length, a good wine.  89 - Good

Tasted on: Monday 12th November, a Root Day
Source: Sample
Price: $19
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.taylorswines.com.au

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Cook's Lot Mudgee Riesling 2010

Cook's Lot Mudgee Riesling 2010

  08:30    Stu.

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Aromatically showing some signs of development with toasty, petrol hints - background citrus and light tropicals add to the picture.

On the palate there's honeysuckle and zesty, lively, zippy acid - together with good mineral resolve it adds an extra dimension to the lime and tart citrus before finishing nicely crisp and dry.  89 - Good

Tasted on: Monday 12th November, a Root Day
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website:http://www.cookslot.com.au

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Yarran Pinot Grigio 2012

Yarran Pinot Grigio 2012

  21:13    Stu.

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The fresh crunch of green apple, hints of florals, a little hint of banana lollies and gentle tropical fruits serve as the aromatic introduction.

There's a touch of palate weight here, mineral and (perceived) fruit sweetness.  A little cloying, hints of texture and feel.  Offers good drinking at the price point.  86 - Average

Tasted on: Monday 12th November, a Root Day
Source: Sample
Price: $12
Alcohol:12%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.yarranwines.com.au

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Best's Bin 0 Shiraz 2000

Best's Bin 0 Shiraz 2000

  12:49    Stu.

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It had sat in the fridge for a while, each time I looked in there it whispered a gentle reminder for us to get together.  A birthday - mine - seemed an appropriate occasion to open it, to entrust in the cork gods, and hopefully revel in its beauty.

I decanted it, placed the glass on the table adjoining the sofa.  From some two feet away the good lady could smell the wine, its aromatic calling card at play.  I didn't need any further excuse.

Hints of bright fruit wafted their way out - a surprise for a 13 year old wine.  Fresh and vibrant, marzipan with cherry and baked plum.  The palate showed more maturity: leathery and earthen, peppery and showing excellent refreshing acid structure.  A pleasure to savour, a delight to drink.  The acid lay the foundation for exquisite length.

Tannins crept and built up carefully, a stealthy approach.  Lingering peppery feel added to the experience, seemingly efortless, certainly alluring.  A pleasure to drink.  92 - Very Good

Tasted on: Sunday 11th November, a Root Day
Source: Retail, Nicks.com.au
Price: $ 70
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Cork
Website: http://www.bestswines.com/
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Chapel Hill Bush Vine Grenache 2010

Chapel Hill Bush Vine Grenache 2010

  05:43    Stu.

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Sometimes it's easier to describe something by virtue of what it isn't, than what it is.  Too often Grenache in Australia can be a confected, sweet mass of raspberry jam.  This isn't like those Grenache.

Savoury and sweet edges.  Black and red fruits, some baked plum.  Old oak, spicy and earthen.  As Grenache should be.  Exhibits a depth, a brooding menace, coffee-edged with fine-grained, textured tannin.  The faint hint of warmth that reveal its 15%, a mere bump on an otherwise excellent road.  93 - Very Good

Tasted on: Thursday 8th April, a Fruit Day
Source: Sample
Price: $35
Alcohol: 15%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.chapelhillwine.com.au/

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