4th October 2009

I approached this tasting with a sense of anticipation. I knew there were several high quality shirazes from Western Australian , and an interesting bracket of Rhone Valley reds. I put the Rhone bracket together after reading Tim White’s review of the Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone in the financial review on the weekend. The local Vintage Cellars store had three Cotes du Rhone reds available, so I put them all in.

I was very pleasantly surprised by the quality of these wines. The Saint Cosme is fantastic. Great quality and a real bargain. With the current 30% off sale at VC’s this comes in at $14 per bottle. An equal bargain was the Vintage Cellars own brand Cotes du Rhone. This is full of succulent sweet fruit, but with enough spice to make its origins known. If you are looking for an everyday drinking red, then look no further. (On sale for $11).

Of the Australian wines, the Willow Bridge was a highlight. At around $30 this is excellent value for a wine of real class. A few of the Western Australian wines lacked a bit of generosity and the oak was a little grippy. I am sure these wines will improve significantly in time, but they are a little hard to judge right now.

Willow Bridge – Gravel Pit – Shiraz Viognier – 2007 (18). Serious fruit here and quality winemaking. Sweet ripe fruit and floral notes with lifted oak in support. Succulent and dense, this is a big wine. The palate is long and supple with ripe black fruits, anise and spice. Textured finish. Tasted twice with consistent marks. Excellent value.

Saint Cosme – Cotes du Rhone – 2008 (18). Closed and serious, but some ripe fruit is apparent underneath. Opens with some aromatic scented fruit. Really closed and dense on the palate, with chewy, dusty tannins to close. This really improved the next day, and was great with a pork curry. A bargain that I will be putting in the cellar.

Head – The Blonde – Shiraz – 2008 (17.5). Cherries and plums on the nose. The theme continues on the palate with fresh cherries, ripe plums, cedar and spice. The finish is long, but the tannins are a touch forward now. A quality textured finish and the alcohol does not get intrusive. Try in 3-5 years.

Capel Vale – Whispering Hill – Shiraz – 2007 (17.4). Complex and ripe with some cedary oak on the nose. The fruit is dense red fruit with a touch of floral/candied peel. The palate is defined by savoury and silky fruit. There is anise to close, but the fine tannins shut down the finish. Needs 3-5 years for the oak to settle and will score better. (Will drink well for many years).

Vidal Fleury – Ventoux – 2007 (17). Deeper smelling and closed. Earthy, but with some sweet fruit underneath. The palate is dense and firm (borders on aggressive). Chewy and savoury, this needs some time to soften out.

Vintage Cellars – Chalk Board – Cotes du Rhone – 2007 (17). Succulent cherries and licorice, with cloves and spice on the nose. Not complex but juicy, the palate is flooded with juicy red fruit. The finish is soft, plush, balanced and round. Not complex but lovely quaffing. Tremendous value. Drink now.

Forest Hill – Forest Hill Vineyard – Shiraz – 2007 (17). Lifted floral notes with some apricot too. The palate is sturdy but lacking finesse. Mid palate lacking depth but opens up. Seriously closed. May improve with 5 -10 years cellaring.

Castelli – Shiraz – 2007 (16.8). Dense and deep smelling. Cooler fruit with blackcurrant and menthol defining the palate. The tannins are ripe, but the wine lacks generosity now. Give it 5 years.

Massena – The Eleventh Hour – Shiraz – 2006 (16.7). Complex and earthy with a touch of leather and spice too. High quality sweet fruit underneath. The palate is a little old fashioned in style, but great fruit. May come together and get higher points in the future.

Les Nuages – Touraine – Sauvignon Blanc – 2008 (16.3). Lifted grassy fruit. Musk, pea, lime and talc on the nose. Grippy and firm to start, with some pineapple fruit. Savoury style but quite broad.

Vintage Cellars – Chalk Board – Shiraz – 2006 (16). Very ripe and sweet with vanillin oak too. A bit too much for me, but great value at $8-10.