New Release Wines Reviewed
Reviewed: 30 December 2011
Another smart tasting, with over half the wines tasted making it to these pages. The cooler region wines presented a bit of a challenge, as they were typically tight and austere when first opened. I taste almost all wines at a temperature of 20 degrees, which is an excellent temperature to drink red wine. With these cooler region wines however, they do take a bit of time to open up when young, making assessment a bit harder.
There are a couple of new release wines from Penfolds that I have not seen before (Bin 2 & Bin 8). The quality seems to be up there with the other bin wines, so they are definitely worth a try if you see one in a restaurant. Make sure you give them some air (or decant) before drinking in the short term.
Reviewed
Leeuwin Estate – Shiraz – Art Series – 2009 (18). Pepper and spice in a silky and elegant package. Very long and fine, this is really classy. The length is superb and the fruit quality is outstanding. Seductive nose with great oak integration. High in acidity right now, this needs time to show its best and may get a gold medal in years to come.
Penfolds – Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz – Bin 8 – 2010 (18). More austere than the last wine initially. This has drying tannins and acidity, though the fruit does build on the finish. Textured and long, this also needs some time to show its best. Balance the key here. With air, this shows lifted, complex fruit with menthol, mint and eucalypt. Mid-weight for the style. One panellist commented on the similarities between the Bin 2 and the Bin 389.
Angove – Shiraz – Vineyard Select – 2010 (17.8). I like this wine. Bright, peppery fruit to the max. This is elegant and refined, but there is real thrust to the palate. The oak is very well handled and the tannins fine. The peppery fruit carries the palate and imbues superb length. Chewy, almost licorice fruit, with spicy fruitcake notes to close. Value!
Mt Langi Ghiran – Shiraz – Cliff Edge – 2008 (17-18+). This wine was the sleeper of the tasting. It took two days on the bench for the fruit to open up, but the result was amazing. The wine developed beautiful floral and perfumed notes with great intensity and purity. One for the cellar.
Penfolds – Shiraz/Mouvedre – Bin 2 – 2010 (17.8). Menthol, spice, aniseed with texture and length on the palate. This is an interesting wine. There are hints of spiced Christmas cake, along with floral, perfumed characters. The fruit is dense, but the acidity is very high. Lets give it a couple of years to see how it develops.
Swinney – Shiraz – Ingenue – 2010 (17.5+). Amazing purple colour that is almost iridescent. This is a cooler region wine of some note that is elegant, refined and very long. There are peppery overtones and fresh raspberries, with quality oak present in the background. This is a very modern wine that is very linear now. I would love to see it again in five years to see how it develops. From Frankland.
Shingleback – Shiraz – Haycutters – 2009 (17.2). Quite an elegant, fruit-driven wine. The palate is peppery and quite long. In fact, there is white pepper, good weight and persistence. Needs a year or two.
Laurance – Shiraz – 2010 (17). Plum compote and a hint of tobacco opening into vibrant fruit. The palate is quite austere and tannic at present, but this will flesh out with time. Opens to show plum and blackcurrant.
West Cape Howe – Shiraz – 2010 (17). Leathery, silky, long and reasonable complex. This is a smart wine, with plumy fruit and a touch of stewed rhubarb to close.
Under & Over – Shiraz – 2010 (16.9). A rich and velvety wine. This has plummy fruit with cedary oak overtones. The palate is long, though the tannins are quite drying at present. This should soften and flesh out with time.
Angove – Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon – Butterfly Ridge – 2010 (16.3). This is a lovely wine for the price. Dense, silky and refined, the fruit is on the plummy side with hints of Christmas cake. Fruit-driven, this is an easy wine to drink young.