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Updated - Saturday, May 12, 2012
I have written a review of a recent Chateau Coutet tasting which was fantastic. The 2010 vintage is being released on indent*, so speak to your fine wine retailer about securing a few bottles.
*In an indent, you purchase the wine before it is released. You pay half now and half when the wine is delivered in two years.
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Cheers,
Barry Weinman
Wines Of The Week
The best of this week's blind tastings.
Galafrey - Riesling - Dry Land Reserve - 2009 (17.5+).
Intense lime juice over floral fruit. A bright wine that, whilst fresh and vibrant, is just starting to get the viscosity and texture that comes with age. Seamless finish that has real persistence. Minerals and flint on a finish that appears not quite bone-dry and better for it. (21 April 2012).
Windows Estate -
Petit Verdot -
2010 (17.5). Dense and earthy, this is a traditional dry red in style. Medium-bodied, with good depth of flavour, this is a wine that really grew on me. Some new oak adds opulence. Try the winery direct. (21 April 2012).
Calmel & JJoseph - Shiraz/Grenache/Carignan - Faugeres - 2009 (16.5). Light and fresh nose and palate that has plenty of ripe fruit. This wine is uncomplicated by oak and is really juicy. Excellent short term drinking and a bargain. Received high marks from one judge and could easily be mistaken for a quality Cotes Du Rhone. A bargain at $12.99 from Get Wines Direct. (21 April 2012).
Ata Rangi - Pinot Noir - 2010 (18.5). Muscular and structured, there is a surprising degree of restraint to what is a very powerful wine. Almost a touch reductive to start, this has it all. The saying, Iron fist in a velvet glove comes to mind. The most burgundian to date, with superb structure and length. A concentrated wine for the patient. (19 April 2012).
Bass Phillip - Pinot Noir - Premium - 2009 (18.5). Substantial wine. Taut, muscular and structured, this requires a leap of faith or a lot of air. Opens to show great depth and the proverbial peacock's tail finish. Subtlety at its finest. (19 April 2012).
Martinborough Vineyard - Pinot Noir - 2009 (18.5). Superb nose that has spice, leather and earthy notes combined with pristine fruit. The palate is a revelation; subtle, fine, refined, long, elegant, balanced and persistent. Why Martinborough should make more pinot. (19 April 2012).
Bird in Hand – Cabernet Sauvignon – 2010 (18.3). Very dense and powerful yet the fruit is very shy and reserved. The palate follows the theme with great length and very fine texture, but again, the fruit is subdued. Has everything in place for the long haul, but requires patience. Mint and blackcurrant are the dominant fruit characters with a touch of plum on the close. Will appeal to many! (14 April 2012).
Penley – Cabernet Sauvignon – Reserve – 2009 (18+). The nose is redolent of mint and blackberry fruit, though this is taught and more muscular than the HandPicked. Again, very long, though the tannins are more assertive in the mid-palate. The finish is balanced with a touch of coconut and vanilla showing from the oak. Everything is in place here, though ten years is required to see this wine really open up and show its full potential. This will last for a long time. Cork closure. (14 April 2012).
HandPicked – Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot – Selections - By Peter Douglas – 2009 (17.8). Menthol and peppermint typical of Coonawara are a highlight on the nose. This is an attractive wine of some quality. The palate has eucalypt and peppermint over rich fruit that is very dense. There is a silky mouth-feel with prominent, (very fine) fruit and oak tannins. Lovely textural components and good line and length define a finish. This will evolve for many years and represents outstanding value at around $20. The only caveat is the cork closure. (14 April 2012).
Stormflower – Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz – Dry Red – 2009 (17.8). A real surprise here. Mint and eucalypt over red and blackcurrant fruit, with cedar and spice adding interest. An attractive wine that has quite powerful fruit. The finish is totally shut down by very fine tannins and oak, but the high quality fruit is hidden away. Lovely Margaret River cabernet. Points for potential. (14 April 2012).
Just Added
Chateau Coutet
Reviewed: 24th April 2012
I had the pleasure of sitting down to dinner with Aline Baly from Chateau Coutet whilst tasting through a number of vintages back to 1986. It was fantastic to see how the wines evolved over time and also how the different vintage conditions influences the style of a particular wine.
New Release - Mixed
Reviewed: 21 April 2012
Some solid wines here, and many worth a try.
If you are looking for something with a bit of age, then check out the wines from Galafrey. Kim Tyrer has made these wines available for her friends at Fine Wine Club at bargain prices. The 2009 riesling (which is very good) is $120 per case and the 2003 shiraz (a solid wine) is $100 per case
Winesave
Reviewed: 25 April 2012
For years now, I have been going on about the importance of using a good quality glass from which to drink your wine. When you average out the cost of using a good glass, it is a relatively small amount per bottle (even in the most clumsy hands).
"Australasia's Best Pinots"
Reviewed: 19 April 2012
Sometimes you just get lucky. And so it was when I was asked to help run this tasting down at Lamont's in Cottesloe. This is a tasting that really lived up to its title. There were no bad wines in the tasting, though a couple did not make it to this review.
Cabernet and Merlot
14th April 2012
Some very smart wines here, thought there was a variety of styles on display.
Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc
New Release
Reviewed: 25th March 2012
The classic saying "don't judge a book by its cover" came to mind when we were unmasking the wines at the end of this tasting. The opposite is perhaps true with wine. Do judge a wine by its packaging.
Shiraz - New Release
Reviewed: 20 March 2012
We may well have come across the best value wine in Australia right now. The Whiz Bang shiraz from 2010 is, well, Whiz Bang. A brilliantly put together wine that will sell for less than $15. The packaging is pretty smart too.
Recent Additions
Grosset Riesling
Vertical Tasting
Reviewed: 1 March 2012
It is a real treat to be able to taste a great wine. To be able to taste more than a dozen vintages is a rare privilege! My good friend John Ranger must be applauded for putting this event on. It took a great deal of organising to get all the wines there on the night.
Supermarket Specials
Reviewed: 1 March 2012
A couple of weeks ago, all the wines reviewed here were available at either Liquorland or Woolworths for $4.00 - $5.00 per bottle. I had to find out for my self if the wines were actually drinkable.
I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised...
Aged White Wines
Whites – Mixed
Reviewed: 10 February 2011
With Summer in full swing, our group embarked on a tasting of quality whites that were a few years old. We ended up with an eclectic selection of (very) high quality wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon
New Release
Reviewed - 10 March 2012
There was some discussion amongst the panel as to the quality of the 2009 vintage in Margaret River. It is my view that these wines are deceptively easy to drink as the fruit is ripe and approachable. Look beyond this though and there is a fine backbone to the wines that should ensure that they age well. Perhaps, not as long lived as the 2008s, these may provide better drinking in the short to medium term.
I have commented before on how youthful many wines are these days. It was refreshing to see the Clarault from 2007 in this tasting. The extra drinkability that the bottle age confers was enough to get it over the line for a gold medal.
Chardonnay, Pinot and Rose
New Release
Reviewed: 15 February 2012
Is it just me or are wineries releasing their wines earlier and earlier? Many of the wines reviewed here need a year or two to show their best. If you are drinking them young, don't serve them too cold and give them time in the glass to open up.