1st August 2009
A smaller tasting this week saw a bracket of rieslings and then shiraz/blends. The highlight for me was the Leo buring rieslings. These wines make the back bone of many Australians and I was reminded just how good these wines can be and what good value they remain. The current release is 2008 and they can be picked up for around $15. If you want to try a bottle of the 2003s, let me know as I have quite a bit in the cellar.
The reds were generally good, with a couple of labels that I know little about (Windance and Both Barrels) showing very well. If you get the chance, try the “Both Barrels” and let me know what you think.
I was unfortantely reminded of the vagaries of cork. The Silkwood had a dry cork that broke as I was taking it out, and the wine was BAD. Thank God for screw caps.
Tasted
Leo Buring – Clare Valley – Riesling – 2003 (18). Lime fruit to open, but with some developed characters starting to show on the nose. Becomes quite overt with air. The palate is long elegant, and fine. Lemony acid to close. This is just starting to open up, though the finish remains quite tight.
Leo Buring – Eden Valley – Riesling – 2003 (18). Developed edge on the nose, but lime to follow. This is long, fine, elegant and quite steely. Really builds in the mouth. Still in its youth.
Spy Valley – Riesling – 2006 – (18). Lime (citrus) and a touch of brulee on the nose. The palate has lovely sherbety fruit but finishes quite dry. The backbone of sweet limey fruit is a highlight. The finish is quite viscous with a touch of minerals. Good length and aftertaste.
Clairault – Riesling – 2008 (17.2). Sweet floral fruit that is soft and appealing. The palate is round and textured, and the finish is long with lemony fruit. There is a touch of musk to close. The acid builds on the finish, and this needs a little time to settle. An elegant wine.
Rosemount – Mountain Blue – Shiraz Cabernet – 2006 (18.3+). A serious and powerful wine. The fruit is shy,but is aided by sympathetic oak use. The palate is elegant, very long and oh so fine. Needs many years to develop. This really opened up over 3 nights, but still had a way to go. Not your average pizza wine. (Terry tells me the 1997 is really hitting its straps now, so I will try this on the weekend.)
Both Barrels – Frankland – Shiraz – 2005 (17.8+) Dense, ripe, sweet fruit that are dark but perfumed. . Liquorice and spice are evident on a very tight palate. Seamless, with lovely fine tannins and well-integrated oak (these shut down the fruit right now). Some leather to close. Give it a few years.
Teusner – Avatar – Grenache/Shiraz/Mouvedre – 2005 (17.5). This is a complex wine that has lots of brambly fruit. The finish is all structure and the texture and mouth feel. This is very good but is not easy to drink. Could improve.
Tapestry – The Vincent – Shiraz – 2006 (17. 5) this is a big wine. Opens with a touch of volatility, but has brooding black fruit and a touch of coconut oil oak. The palate is rich, dense, ripe and structured. The finish is long and relatively fine. One for the brave.
Windance – Reserve – Shiraz – 2007 (17.5) closed to start with, but opens, showing bright red fruit with cherries and white pepper. The firm finish is long, with fine but grippy tannins. This will take quite a bit of aging in the cellar.
Picardy – Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc – 2007 (17.3). Plummy fruit that is dense, soft and plush. Continues the theme with plush, soft, round, fruit. Very fine finish that lingers and builds.
Hentley Farm – The Stray Mongrel – Grenache/Shiraz/Zinfandel – 2007 (16.8). Red fruits and ripe plums dominate the nose. This continues on a soft round palate with nice grip to close. Appealing drinking over the next 5 years.
The Vicarage – Shiraz – 2007 (16.4). Really sweet smelling fruit but then flooded with lifted coconut oak. Masses of red fruit and oak bordering on cordial like. Not my style.