4 March 2011

I sometimes think that we pay too much attention to cellaring conditions. After all, I have drunk many old wines that have been kept in cupboards and under beds for 20 or more years and they have often been very good. Every now and then, however, I am reminded that temperature can make a big difference.

I included two bottles of one of the wines in this tasting. The first tasted liked stewed plums, the second vibrant and fresh. The fresher bottle had been kept in my cellar, while the tired bottle had been at another venue for a while.

This leads on to the issue of buying wine. Have you checked out the storage conditions at many wine shops or wholesalers recently? Whilst some have refrigerated storage conditions, many are not much more than a tin shed! My advice is to buy wines as close to release as possible, or better still, in winter.

The highlights in this tasting were the wines from Paulmara in the Barossa and the Craggy Range pinot. The pinot was a delight to drink and the Paulmara wines were very impressive. The pick for the tasting on a value basis was the Sandalford Elements shiraz/cabernet. This delivers great drinking at a bargain basement price. You could even cellar it for a couple of years.

Reviewed

Craggy Range – Pinot Noir – Te Muna Road – 2009 (18.5). Dense and a touch meaty. There is a core of sweet fruit with cherry and strawberry accents over a bed of subtle spice. A touch of licorice and tar add interest. The palate is exceptional. Concentrated red fruits entwined with quality oak make for an impressive wine. Silky and seductive, there is enough souring acidity and tannins on the finish to make this excellent drinking. This was even better after being left on the tasting bench for a couple of days.

Paulmara – Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon – The Marriage – 2008 (18-18.5). Incredibly dense, the colour and nose are almost impenetrable. Immensely powerful, with licorice and spice over dark fruits. Whilst this has impeccable balance, the palate is shut down by fine tannins and quality oak. The length is prodigious, but the fruit is shy at present. This took three to four days to show its best.

Paulmara – Shiraz – Syna – 2008 (18+). Licorice and tar to open. The nose is dense and very powerful. The fruit is ripe, serious and textured, with chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, leather and tar. Incredibly dense fruit that floods the palate, yet is surprisingly silky, with genuine length. Nothing out of place, it just needs ten years to show its best. This is not for the light-hearted, but an imposing wine that retains enough elegance to carry food. The bottle (very heavy and large) is a thing of beauty, but an environmental disaster.

Frogmore Creek – Riesling – Iced Riesling – 2008 (17.9). Quite restrained, this has a lovely riesling-like nose. Powerful palate with obvious botrytis. Impressive intensity and length. Viscous and mouth-coating, this develops complexity without being cloying. Very long and enough acidity to keep the balance. (Desert Wine).

Sandalford – Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon – Elements – 2009 (17.8). Floral fruit that is fresh and vibrant. Really lifted nose that has perfumed accents (violets). Hints of blackcurrant and cassis combine with cedar and a touch of cigar box. There is also a touch of mint and eucalypt. There is quality fruit on the palate that is, again, fragrant and a touch spicy. The tannins are fine, as is the gentle oak. Whilst not as complex as some, this is a good wine regardless of the price!

Cherubino – Riesling – Frankland – 2010 (17.7). (Dessert Wine). Quite a complex nose with some almond and apricot notes. A very pretty wine that has apricot, musk and fruit cake flavours. Very long and intense, I would like to see a touch more acid to balance the richness. Will appeal to many, and will go well with rich desserts.

Cherubino – Shiraz – The Yard – Acacia Vineyard – 2009 (17.5). Pretty and perfumed in comparison to the Barossa wines. There is white pepper over pretty red berries with a touch of tomato leaf. I wondered if there was a touch of viognier included in the blend. The palate has some apricot, over the top of raspberries and spice. The oak and tannins are fine and ripe, though they dominate the fruit now.

Amisfield – Pinot Noir – 2008 (17.7). Seductive nose. Taught and racy palate that is full of vitality. There is a density to the fruit that, when combined with the tannins makes this quite closed now. This is a serious wine with significant fruit weight and length. Not as pretty as the Craggy Range now, but will evolve and improve for several years.

Both Barrels – Tempranillo – 2008 (17.5). Fragrant and pretty. Ripe fruit on the palate that is juicy, with chewy tannins to close. Really needs food to show its best, but an authentic style with a good tannin structure. Quite silky, with high quality fruit and wine-making. Deliciously juicy.

Umamu – Shiraz – 2006 (17.1). Dense, yet fragrant, with licorice and spice. White pepper to the fore with silky tannins and oak that add structure. Not particularly open, but a smart wine with potential. Dense palate with length.

Mr Rigg – Tempranillo – Yacca Paddock – 2008 (16.8). Fragrant and spicy, with some earthy notes over the cherry scented fruit. Fresh and vibrant fruit on the palate with very fine tannins which are quite chewy to close. Minimal oak influence.