Reviewed – 16 April 2011

It is wines like the Kingston Estate and Shingleback that make these tastings worthwhile. To be able to buy a quality wine for $15 is brilliant. Yes, there were better wines in the tasting, but the value equation is a no brainer.

Reviewed

Penfolds – Shiraz – 2008 (18). This really is a complete wine. Closed and austere on the nose with hints of dark fruits. Whilst very spicy, the fruit is almost impenetrable at present. Excellent length here and high quality fruit too. This needs ten years to shine.

Kalleske – Shiraz – Moppa – 2009 (17.5+). A step up in price and a step up in quality. High quality fruit and wine-making here. This is dense, plush and mouth-filling, with ripe, dark fruits. The texture is excellent and there is genuine length of fruit flavours. Silky and refined, this is very smart and will look even better in a few years. Seamless oak adds to the finish.

Kingston Estate – Shiraz – Mount Lofty/Limestone Coast – 2009 (17.5). This starts off closed and tight, but you can sense the potential with licorice, cedar, spice and earth. Ripe yet cool fruit floods the palate. This is quite seamless, yet the vanillin oak and fruit tannins are palpable. Despite the cool climate fruit characters, this is a generous wine that will age well in the short to medium term. This is a fantastic bargain at $15, but will probably get discounted further.

Shingleback – Shiraz – Red Knot – 2009 (17.5). Ripe and lifted fruit on the nose with cherry, satsuma plum, pepper, spice and cedar. Quite lean on the finish, with chewy tannins. but the length is good. The palate should plump out over the next few years. Another terrific bargain from Shingleback!

Stella Bella – Shiraz – 2008 (17.4). Initially closed on the nose. The palate is a revelation, displaying high quality cool climate fruit with white pepper and cherry to the fore. Very fine grained oak complements the fruit and the finish is long and relatively structured. Cedary oak to close.

Rocky Gully – Shiraz – 2009 (17.4). Spicy wine that is technically correct, but is initially subdued. There is plenty of pepper and the palate opens to develop mouth-filling fruit. Chocolate and cedar to close. Good length and persistence and clever use of oak.

Angove – Shiraz – Vineyard Select – 2009 (17.1). Lifted nose displaying plum and tar, with a touch of sour cherry. In the mouth, this is succulent, juicy, round and rich. This has excellent up-front fruit with clever oak handling conferring vanilla and cedar. A medium term prospect.

Greenstone – Shiraz- 2007 (17). Leather, coffee notes, truffle and spice. Silky, ripe and textured. Good length and persistence. Slightly chewy tannins with cedary oak that has a touch of char. I would be interested to see this again in a few years.

Penley Estate – Shiraz – Hyland – 2009 (16.9). Lovely colour here. A pretty wine that is all about purity of fruit. Dense, textured and mouth-filling fruit on the palate with souring acidity that adds balance. Again, minimal oak influence and the vanilla and licorice notes add interest. A youthful wine that is excellent short term drinking.

Fire Gully – Shiraz – 2008 (16.8). Lighter hue with pretty floral fruit. Redcurrant, cherry and spice to the fore. The palate is soft, supple and generous. There is no overt oak influence, making for an approachable every day red that is good drinking.

Bird in Hand – Shiraz – Two in the Bush – 2009 (16.7). Dense wine that has plum and fruitcake aromas. There is a touch of dusty oak and some cedar and fresh herbs. Licorice, cherry, plum and cedary oak all complement each other on the palate and the fruit is ripe and good quality. A solid wine but not as vibrant as the best.

Chapel Hill – Shiraz – The Parson’s Nose – 2009 (16.4). Unusual nose with both sweet and sour components. There are layers of flavour including spice and blueberry with grainy tannins to close. Good drinking.