Kirrihill Grenache Sangiovese Tempranillo 2012

Kirrihill Grenache Sangiovese Tempranillo 2012

  11:55    Stu.

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Opened this on a Saturday evening, pairing it with a chorizo and bean stew, thinking it would work. It didn't. It just exaggerated a bitterness that wasn't there when consumed on its own. Live and learn.

All sorts of aromas flying out here, initially more savoury but over time prettier with blueberry and raspberry flowing out.

Smooth entry, tannin was a little grainy/ sandy coming on early, gives a pretty long tail. Savoury hints here too: a little fennel; when it softens, it's a touch woody with blue fruits - fills out with a bit of flesh. Enjoyed this, just not with my chorizo stew. 91
Tasted on: Saturday 2nd November, Root moving to Flower Day
Source: Sample
Price: $28
Alcohol: 14.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.kirrihillwines.com.au

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Torzi Matthews Vigna Cantina Sangiovese 2012

Torzi Matthews Vigna Cantina Sangiovese 2012

  14:20    Stu.

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"The go to wine in our house when family & friends swarm to eat." ~ Dom Torzi

Opted to open this with a lazy bolognese, the kind where - as a family - we have to sneak in some veggies to increase the intake of same into our increasingly fussy 3 year old. I'm sure if she could get into this wine she'd be pounding the meal back.

Cherry pie-esque, not cherry per se, more of a jammy cherry topping, the kind found on a pie, or cheesecake. Sweet accents of dark fruit, think black fruit crumble - get the picture?

Rich and concentrated, a creaminess and sweetness with a minor savoury undertow. Of its place and latterly its variety. Offers a light rub of tannin, a tickle of acid towards the back end, carrying the flavour - caress of aniseed.

Concludes with a touch of drying tannin, coating the mouth, good flow across the tongue and toward a conclusion. I've sen it said that Sangiovese adapts to its surroundings, this speaks of them first, variety second. 91

Tasted on: Monday 4th November, Flower transitioning to Leaf
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13.9%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.torzimatthews.com.au/home/

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Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

  12:36    Stu.

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Mint, eucalypt with a little chocolate. Mulberry taking a back seat, but making itself known. Glossy and polished, tannin firm and grainy. 

Acid too high for my liking - eroding my enamel - that said it will aid longevity if the rest of the wine can hold its end up. 

Good length, go 5-10 in the cellar. A good wine, I just found the acid a little too challenging at this early juncture. 89

Tasted on: Saturday 2nd November, Root moving to Flower Day
Source: Sample
Price: $24.80
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

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Cook's Lot Lot 9999 Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Cook's Lot Lot 9999 Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

  12:27    Stu.

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I've a limited frame of reference for Cabernet Sauvignon from Orange, and I am undecided here.

Opens dusty, a touch of plum and baked raspberry. Faint, hints of cedar and a touch of tapenade - something I am more used to seeing in Merlot. Still, it exhibits some depth to the palate with blood plum, damson/ mulberry. Sweet fruit and spice with rubbery tannin make up the composition - the latter giving a bit to chew on, added interest.

There's good length of flavour, fairly persistent. Lacks a final kick to see it home down the final straight, strays into dry red territory. Varietal at least, no quibbles given the price. 88

Tasted on: Saturday 2nd November, Root transitioning to Flower
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.cookslot.com.au

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Alkoomi Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Alkoomi Frankland River Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

  08:52    Stu.

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Initially very aromatically expressive, pretty you might say, given a little time it takes on a more savoury bent. Core to the variety and the cooler expressions thus from the Frankland River region, the wine exhibited mineral and graphite with violets, lilac and dusky rose in support.

An elegant wine, it offered good drinking from the off, and maintained such over the time I had to open to suggest cellaring potential in the short to medium term, suggest 5-10 years. Tannin is fine-grained and persistent, the wine medium-bodied. Over time it took on a grace and elegance, a composure - the wine holding itself.

A wine of its place. Good drinking at the price. 91

Tasted on: Thursday 31st October, a Root Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $24
Alcohol: 13.8%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://alkoomiwines.com.au/

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Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

  08:32    Stu.

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Vintage 2011 is not exactly the elephant in the room not talked of, but there is a tendency for the vintage to be written off with a broad stroke that covers all regions and producers. Following that English idiom, one must doff one's cap to the team at Chapel Hill for the considerately crafted range of reds out of the vintage. The cooler rendition of the Shiraz from McLaren Vale, the lighter touch of the Mourvédre - all are good drinking. Here to those we can add the Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cedar, creamy oak, a touch dusty with hints of red fruit. Given some time to explore, we see a little more char, toasty, black fruit and hints of dark chocolate. Medium to full bodied, tannin is fine-grained. Slight hint of chicory bitterness initially, that makes way for creamy oak. 

Length is good. It's a wine that certainly grew in appeal as it settled into itself. It's a clean rendition, a touch chewy at times, something to get into. 89 - could happily go a point higher.
Tasted on: Thursday 31st October, a Root Day
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 14.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.chapelhillwine.com.au/

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Torzi Matthews Schist Rock Shiraz 2012

Torzi Matthews Schist Rock Shiraz 2012

  12:19    Stu.

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The son of Frost Dodger. Fruit comes off of Dom Torzi and Tracey Matthews Mount McKenzie (Eden Valley) vineyard, the majority of which goes into this wine, with a smaller portion reserved for the appasimento Frost Dodger.

Believe the high regard that that the wines of Torzi Matthews are held in by a wide circle of commentators, reviewers and scribes. They deliver.

Initially offers depth with alluring prettiness before the latter wins out. Touches of plum, lilac, violets but with a dark heart of fruit. There's mint, but you wouldn't say it is minty.

It shifts quite a bit over two days, yet it's so damn gluggable that one doubts whether it would last that long in the hands of one who imbibes. Initially its dark and spicy with a little warmth; dried herb even a touch of aniseed present too. 

Composed, layered - over time it settles to a 'fuller' wine, smooth with hints of chocolate. Its generous with fruit, you wouldn't say it is fruity. Gorgeous tannin, not domineering, aid and abet length. Balanced. How does they do it? 91

Tasted on: Wednesday 30th October, a Fruit Day
Source: Sample
Price: $20
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.torzimatthews.com.au

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