Reviewed: 12 November 2012

Hosted by Sam Badger (Sommelier’s Australia) and Rockpool Bar and Grill – Perth

Shiraz is the great all-rounder of red wine. Grown in cooler climates, it produces wonderfully fragrant, almost perfumed wines that are full of spicy, peppery fruit. In warmer regions, the density of the fruit increases and the flavour profile moves from pepper and spice to red berries and plum. Both styles can produce wines of the highest quality, giving the consumer the choice of which style to drink.

Given the variety of styles on offer, there are wines made from shiraz that will suit almost any palate. The important point here is that the wine must taste good to the person who is about to drink it. When it comes to a collection of wine industry insiders, the focus can be on the technical aspects of the wine rather than drinking enjoyment.

I try to balance this by giving drinkability the attention that it deserves. I try to differentiate between consumer-friendly wines that are great drinking now and those for the connoisseur who has the ability to cellar wines for extended periods. A good example of this is the wine by Chave.

Here is a wine that polarised the assembled tasters. The old fashioned, earthy, leathery, herbal notes strongly suggested that this wine has a bit of brettanomyces. One of the tasters declared that the wine was faulty. But wine is a very personal experience and individual response to brett is varied. There is now doubt that there is a threshold above which the wine becomes less palatable, but this varies from one person to the next.

Anyone who grew up drinking old Hunter Valley reds will have fond memories of those leathery, horsy characters. And, yes, the Chave has plenty of these characters. While the wine is a long way removed from the modern, fresh Australian wines, it is not without interest or charm. My view is let the consumer decide.

Let me know your thoughts!

A special thanks goes out to Rockpool for hosting this event.

Reviewed

Jim Barry – Shiraz – The Armah – 2007. (18.5+). Chocolate, coffee, licorice, tar, earthy notes and sour plum all vie for attention on the nose. The palate is immense and powerful, yet remarkably, remains balanced and fine. The tannins are expertly handled and the fruit really builds on the finish. The oak has been swallowed up by the high quality fruit, imparting gentle texture rather than overt flavour. Plump, ripe and delicious, this develops coffee and licorice on the palate too as it evolves and builds. A highlight.

S.C. Pannell – Shiraz – 2008 (18/18.5+). Attention grabbing nose that blends ripe, fragrant fruit with quality winemaking inputs. Supple, the palate is initially textured up front, though the oak and tannins really shut down the finish. Licorice, plum, tar and chewy (drying) tannins all build on a very long palate. Immense fruit that needs time to unwind from the winemaker’s cocoon. Spectacular!

Te Mata Estate – Shiraz – Bullnose – 2010 (18.5). Austere and firm, this is very unrewarding at present. The closed nose only hints at what lies ahead. The palate is firm, yet the texture and tannins are very well judged. Opens to show mulberry, plum, licorice, spice and high quality oak. There are very firm, yet incredibly fine tannins to close. Ideally, this needs years to come around.

Shaw and Smith – Shiraz – 2009 (18.3). This wine stood out for its blend of high quality fruit and slick winemaking. Whilst powerful, the wine has lovely poise and balance. The finish is chewy and dense, yet there is vitality to the fruit that is captivating. Souring acidity adds life, the length is superb and the balance spot on. Beautifully made, this will live for many years.

Clonakilla – Shiraz/Viognier – 2010 (18.2). Cooler fruit on display here. Lovely spicy fruit on the palate with raspberry and cherry fruit over musk/Turkish delight highlights. Violets, perfume, white pepper, silky texture, near seamless palate, this has it all. The length is excellent and, with air, this really builds depth on the palate. Cracking cool climate shiraz, with the viognier adding a real lift.

Frankland Estate – Isolation Ridge Vineyard – 2009 (18 – 18.5). Lovely ripe fruit showing perfume over floral blueberry and plum. The palate is dense, with the sweet fruit complemented by dense, almost earthy characters. The palate is near seamless, the length prodigious. The finish is silky and the tannins are beautifully polished, adding grip along with the vanillin oak on the finish. Needs ten years to open up and will last for many more.

Henschke – Shiraz – Hill of Grace – 2006 (18 – 18.5+). Lifted fruit over sweet vanillin oak. A heady mix of red fruits over menthol and subtle spice. The palate is powerful and ripe, with tight oak and chewy tannins. There is fantastic length, souring acid and a very textured palate. This is a wine that has had the volume turned right up and the quality fruit builds with air. A clear favourite with some attendees.

Rene Rostaing – Cote Rotie – 2007 (18+). An interesting wine that is noticeably different. Leads off with herbal aromas over cherry and Satsuma plum. On the palate, it is apparent that this wine is more about texture than primary fruit. There is excellent length and depth to the wine, but the fruit is gentle. White pepper, fine tannins and herbal notes carry the finish, with lovely souring acid. The oak is apparent but sympathetic to the style. Really builds with air to show red currents, chocolate and spice and there is real density and depth of flavour.

Yves Cuilleron – Syrah – Cote Rotie – 2010 (18+). Balanced and enticing nose full of supple fruit with hints of savoury complexity. Builds to show black fruits, spice and a touch of anise. With really bright red fruits over white pepper on the palate, this is juicy, succulent and very long. The fine tannins and oak on the finish suggest that this will develop well, but this is so delicious, I would recommend trying a bottle now.

Clape – Shiraz – Cornas – 2009 (18). Ripe and fragrant fruit that, whilst full and dense, has lovely perfume and spice. Pepper, red fruits and spice all meld together with fine oak and a hint of licorice/herbal notes. With air, the wine opens up to show cherries and blueberries. The palate has lively white pepper and fine, though palpable tannins from the fruit and oak. The finish has cedary overtones, is very long, and has dusty tannins to close. A youthful and vibrant old-world shiraz.

J.L. Chave – Shiraz – Hermitage – 2006 (17/18+). A touch more ripe fruit characters here, with hints of fruitcake. There is lovely depth to the nose with aniseed, plum and earthy, forest floor, leathery characters. The palate is very fine, yet rich and textured. The bright fruit is the focus here, with the silky tannins and oak only making their presence felt on a very long finish. (The oak is all about texture rather than flavour and the tannins are really fine). The length is a stand-out. Elegant, medium-bodied and starting to show the first signs of development, you will either love or loath the earthy, forest floor characters. I am a fan!

Brokenwood – Shiraz – Hunter Valley – 2009 (17.8). Yes, this is a big wine, yet it is remarkably elegant and reserved. The souring acidity on the finish adds life and interest, though ideally, this needs a good steak to bring out its best, as it is dense, tight and restrained. The oak is a little obvious now, but will settle in time.

Greenstone – Shiraz – 2009 (17.5 – 18). Lovely nose that blends ripe, succulent fruit with savoury hints and a touch of oak lift. With red fruits to the fore, the palate is remarkable for the fruit-dominant mouth-feel. The structure builds with air. A well-made wine from Heathcote.

Sadie– Shiraz/Mouvedre – Columella– Liberatus in Castro Bonae Spei – 2008 (17.5 – 18). Dense, peppery fruit of some class. Rich and textured, this is a meal in itself. Dense, long and textured, there is weighty, dark fruits, tar, anise, spice and black pepper. There are savoury oak notes and chewy tannins to close. Some thought it just lacked a bit of life, but I thought it was spot on. From South Africa.

Chapoutier – Crozes Hermitage – Les Meyoniers – 2007 (17.5+). I like this a lot. Supple, floral fruit to the fore, showing spice, black pepper, plum, licorice, tar and earthy hints. The oak here is merely a whisper on the finish and the souring acidity carries the palate. Youthful and relatively uncomplicated now, this is a wine to drink or keep.

Pierre Gaillard – St Joseph – 2009 (17.5). Impenetrable nose. This is very closed and tight. The palate is, again, lighter bodied and very fresh, with cherry fruit to the fore over white pepper and spice. Excellent length and texture, the mouth-feel is the key here. Drink now to 10 years.

Reviewed: 26 October 2012

A few excellent reds made it through the tasting to this write up. At the top end, the John Duval Plexus and the Block 7 from Deep Woods were excellent wines. In the middle of the bracket was the Singlefile Pinot Noir. This brilliant wine that stood out like a beacon amongst the heavier bodied wines that it was served with.

Ultimately, the pick of the tasting has to be the Willow Bridge Dragonfly shiraz. A super effort a modest price.

Reviewed

Deep Woods – Shiraz – Block 7 – 2010 (18). Dense and ripe, yet there is fragrant fruit on the nose. The palate is big and powerful, with dense black fruits. This is full of licorice and spice and the palate is balanced and remarkably restrained for a wine of such depth and power. On the finish, there are chewy tannins and the oak is swallowed up by the fruit. Combined, they add depth and texture to the finish. Will last for many years.

John Duval – Shiraz/Grenache/Mouvedre – Plexus – 2010 (18). A lovely nose that is restrained and fine. Dark fruit aromas, with plum and a touch of tar-like complexity. The palate is silky and very long. The generous, though souring fruit is fresh and there is a lovely aniseed component to the finish. Very fine tannins frame the fruit nicely and the oak is a subtle influence on the texture. The layered fruit builds for some time in the glass.

Singlefile – Pinot Noir – Single Vineyard – 2011 (17.8). Much lighter hue than the other wines here (this was accidentally put in to the shiraz bracket). Lovely nose that is fragrant, ripe and supple. The fruit on the palate is remarkably ripe and dense. In fact, there is a degree of viscosity here. The structure and texture are excellent and the flavours linger for a very long time. Silky and fine, this is Burgundy-like in body and structure.

Laughing Jack – Shiraz – Greenock – 2010 (17.5+). The nose is tight and restrained, while the palate is excellent. The fruit is dense and balanced, while the oak is fine, as are the tannins. Lighter bodied with cherry and spice, this is a supple wine. A pretty wine of some charm and likely to improve for some time.

Stormflower – Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz – Dry Red – 2009 (17.5). More concentration to the fruit than many here. Very attractive nose that has ripe, balanced fruit with complimentary oak highlights. There are hints of coffee/mocha, plum and tar. The palate is fresh and vibrant, and quite juicy up front, though the oak and tannins balance this out very well. Well made, using good quality oak.

Willow Bridge Estate – Shiraz – Dragonfly – 2011 (17.5). Tar, spice, cherry and plum combine on the nose. The palate is dense and structured, but the balance is spot on. The surprisingly powerful fruit has been wrapped in a velvet cloth, making this a lovely drink now. Make no mistake though, this is a very good wine that will improve for at least five years and is better than many at the affordable end of the market.

Millbrook – Shiraz – Barking Owl – 2010 (17). Concentrated shiraz fruit on the nose. Licorice and spice with floral, almost peppery highlights. The palate is vibrant, though the fruit is still slightly subdued by the quality oak and fine tannins. This is long and quite elegant. The fruit is supple and dense and the winemaking spot on.

De Bortoli – Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot – La Bossa – 2010 (16.5). Sweet fruit and vanillin oak on the nose, with some chocolate overtones. The palate is simple, fresh and vibrant, with soft tannins and enough acidity to make the finish attractive. Ripe but balanced

Reviewed: 29 September 2012

I have a cross-section of excellent wines on show here at all price points. At the top end, the wines from John Duval are outstanding. The pick for me though was the Nottage Hill from Hardys. 2011 was not a great year for south-eastern Australian wine regions, yet this is a ripper. I suspect that fruit destined for much more expensive wine was declassified to make this superb value red.

Reviewed

John Duval – Shiraz – Eligo – 2009 (18.5 – 19). Dense fruit! Wow, this is spectacular. So tight and closed, yet so silky and soft. The quality of the fruit is outstanding. This builds and evolves for a long time. With a day or two in the bottle, this wine was breathtaking for its balance, power and sophistication.

John Duval – Shiraz – Entity – 2010 (18+). Closed and tight on the nose and only hinting at potential. The palate is remarkable. The depth to the fruit is outstanding and the length prodigious. The oak is there to add texture and depth, without dominating the silky fruit. This is still very tight and restrained, yet the power of the fruit is undeniable. Textured and tannic, this will live for a very long time and continue to improve.

Leeuwin Shiraz – Shiraz – Art Series – 2010 (18). This wine grew on me in the glass and the bottle. Quality fruit that is very long, textured, soft and balanced. This is a modern style that is dense, plump and quite delicious. The fruit is ripe though not overblown. A good drink now, or in 10 years.

Willow Bridge – Shiraz – Gravel Pit – 2011 (17.7+). A beautiful nose that entices with subtle, refined fruit and hints of savoury oak. Textured and dense, with grippy tannins, this is very tight and needs several years in the cellar to show its best. Develops chocolate/mocha fruit and tar and spice to close. Points for potential.

Vinaceous – Shiraz – Snake Charmer – 2010 (17.6). Closed and tight. Attractive palate that is restrained, yet beautifully balanced. The mouth-feel is spot on, with elegant, perfectly judged fruit married to silky tannins. The oak is a mere whisper in the background. From Mclaren Vale.

Forest Hill – Shiraz – 2009 (17.5+). Dusty nose. The palate is refined and elegant with bright red fruits. This is juicy and succulent, with lovely, mouth-watering acidity. Quality oak and the fine tannins add grip and texture to the finish. Excellent length to the fruit.

Fairbrossen – Shiraz/Viognier – Rustic Red – 2010 (17.5). Licorice, plum, earthy overtones and supple, older oak. Juicy and balanced with excellent length, the flavours really persist and the texture is spot on. A good wine for early consumption, though there is surprising depth to the fruit. Deserves food to complement the firm tannins.

Hardys – Shiraz – Nottage Hill – 2011 (17.5). Quite lifted fruit on the nose. The palate is full of mulberry/plum fruit that is dense yet refined, with licorice, cloves and spice to close. Textured and long, the oak has been deftly handled to build texture and depth, without overpowering the fine fruit. Not massive, but convincing. Brilliant winemaking to produce a wine of this quality for the price.

Tyrrels – Shiraz – Lost Block – 2010 (16.5). A more straightforward nose here, with good quality, if somewhat simple fruit and a hint of toast and cedar from the oak. Not that big or dense, but a supple wine for everyday drinking, From Heathcote.

Reviewed: 27th July 2012

The highlight of this tasting was the pair of wines from Xabregas. The way these two wines express their cool climate origins is quite different. Apparently, this relates to the differing soil compositions in the two vineyards. The Figtree is tight, lean and structured, whilst the Spencer displays more obvious fruit and is much more approachable today.

The trio of wines from Shingleback were also very impressive. There was high quality fruit on display in all of them, but for me, The Gate is the pick, combining superb fruit and winemaking with a relatively modest price. ($31 from Wine Box Warehouse).

Reviewed

Xabregas – Shiraz – X – Figtree – Syrah – 2010 (18.5). Wow, really high quality fruit on display here. This is much more subdued than the Spencer, with savoury, spicy fruit characters opening up in the glass. The fruit has been skilfully married to excellent oak. This adds complexity and polish to the finish, without dominating the elegant fruit. The palate is textured and very tight, with peppery fruit being the main attraction. The savoury edges add interest on the finish. This took four days on the tasting bench to show its best, so give it plenty of air if you intend to drink it now. A cool climate star, this is a very fine wine of the highest quality. (13.8% alc)

Shingleback – Shiraz – D Block Reserve – 2009 – Diam (18-18.5). Extraordinarily dense, though very fine. This is all about potential now. The palate is seamless, whilst the very fine tannins and oak separate this from the ordinary. Needs 10 years, but will last much longer.

Shingleback – Shiraz – The Gate – 2009 – Diam (18+). Very finely structured, the fruit on this is more approachable than the D Block Reserve, though this is still very youthful. There is dense fruit on the palate showing coffee and plum overtones, with savoury notes that add interest on the finish. Very smart wine.

Xabregas – Shiraz – X – Spencer – Syrah – 2010 (18). Vibrant cherry and spicy to open, with lovely white pepper highlights. This is a lovely example of cool climate shiraz, where the fruit is able to express more richness than is often the case. The fruit is quite racy in the mouth, while the tannins, oak and acidity are perfectly matched. Good length and texture on the close, this is an excellent wine. (14.5% alc)

Mount Horricks – Shiraz – 2010 (17.9). The word plush comes to mind when tasting this wine. Lovely ripe fruit that is in no way overblown. On the palate, there are rich fruit flavours with hints of mint, spice and licorice to close. Very good length and mouth-feel, the finish is slightly mouth-watering courtesy, of the fine tannins and well managed acidity. More mainstream, but delicious.

Singlefile Estate – Shiraz – Frankland River – 2010 (17.9). Fine fruit on the nose here. A mix of red and black fruits that are fresh and vibrant. Elegance is the key here, with fruit that is balanced, refined, elegant and long. The winemaking supports this with judicious use of quality oak. The tannins are fine and supple and add texture to the close. Modern and elegant, this will benefit from several years in the cellar.

Shingleback – Shiraz – The Davey Estate – 2010 (17.8). Seductive nose and inky colour. Chewy fruit that, whilst not quite as deep as its big brothers here, is of excellent quality. An excellent wine to drink whilst waiting for the big guns to age.

Grant Burge – Shiraz – 5th Generation – 2010 (17.2). This is more medium- =bodied in style, with dark fruit notes on the nose. Quite plummy in the mouth with earthy notes to add interest. Well made, the fruit has been allowed to express itself more fully, with the tannins and the oak only adding texture to the silky finish. Smart wine with good length to close. Should be good value.

Mollydooker – Shiraz – The Boxer – 2010 (17). Sweet smelling fruit with licorice, spice and even a touch of tar. Rich and mouth-filling, this has vibrant, almost lush fruit that floods the palate. Savoury coffee notes on the finish, with sweet, but not aggressive oak on the close. The tannins are prolific, though fine, making this a great drink now, but also ensuring that the wine will age well for a few years. A seducer that at 16% alcohol, is warm without being overblown. Bring on the snow!

Cape Mentelle – Zinfandel – 2010 (17.8). Amazing nose that is packed full of fruit. Think Christmas cake and spice. The palate is a powerhouse of fruit, with plenty of those spicy Christmas cake characters. The length is impressive and the finish is comforting and sympathetic to the style. The vanillin oak is noticeable but in balance. The 14.5% alcohol is an amazing feat given that Zins can often tip the scales at 16%+.

New Release

Reviewed: 15 June 2012

The four wines from Yangarra presented the panel with a fascinating insight into the qualities that shiraz, grenache and mouvedre (mataro) can bring to a GSM blend. In this case, I was surprised to see that the grenache, albeit from a different vintage, was the grape that had the most structure, whilst the mouvedre added perfume to the blend. Ultimately, the shiraz however was my pick.

For me though, the wine of the tasting was the Mandala. This was so enjoyable that I had a glass of this with my dinner after the tasting. (It is very unusual for me to want to drink a new release red, especially on the day it was opened).

Reviewed

Mandala – Shiraz – 2010 (18). Closed on the nose right now, but excellent quality fruit is evident on the palate. This wine possesses a degree of drinkability that is unusual in a wine of this quality. This is due, in part, to the super fine and silky, though ample tannins that have been polished to the point where they merely add textural support to the high quality fruit. Whilst this will easily last for 10+ years, it is superb drinking today.

Yangarra – Shiraz – 2010 (18). Wow, this has amazing depth to the fruit. There is tar, spice, licorice, chocolate and cinnamon on the nose. Evolves in the palate for a very long time, throwing up complex flavours with time and air. This was my preference of the four wines from Yangarra and the fruit reflects the super quality of the 2010 vintage.

Shingleback – Shiraz – Red Knot – 2011 (17.8). Not a lot on the nose at first, but this opened to show plump, ripe fruit with cherry and spice. The palate is precise and focused with a core of bright red fruit. The finish is impressive for both the length and persistence. Silky tannins add to the lovely mouth-feel. Good fruit and oak combined with excellent winemaking – A bargain at $15.

Grant Burge – GSM – Holy Trinity – 2009 (17.5+). The palate here is big, rich and flooded with ripe fruit. Whilst forward, the fruit has been well managed and is in no way over ripe or over done. The palate is all about the fruit, with oak a mere whisper in the background. Quality old vine fruit is what this wine is all about, but do not expect subtlety in the short term. Enjoy anytime over the next 10 years but needs 5 years to approach its best. (Diam closure).

Alkoomi – Shiraz – 2010 (17.5). Richer fruit of substance and depth. This has coffee, tar and even slight medicinal flavours over dense and ripe fruit. It is different in style, but it is good all the same and the tannins and oak have been well managed.

Yangarra – GSM – Cadenzia – 2010 (17.5). More approachable than the straight grenache or shiraz and much juicier to boot. This is fleshy and quite delicious. The mouvedre softens the fruit whilst the grenache adds a tannic kick to the finish. With excellent balance, I suggest drinking this whilst waiting for the shiraz.

Yangarra – Mouvedre – 2010 (17.3). A pretty wine with floral fruit on the nose. The palate is soft and fleshy, making this the most approachable wine of the Yangarra quartet. As the tannins soften in the short to medium term, this will make for good drinking.

Deep Woods – Shiraz/Grenache/Mouvedre – 2010 (17.2). A very well balanced and well made wine. This has elegant fruit and winemaking that is very sympathetic to the fruit weight. Good length to a very enjoyable wine. This is an unusual grape composition for Margaret River, but it works.

Xanadu – Shiraz – 2009 (17). Sweet fruit and silky, sweet oak on the nose, this is very seductive. The palate has quite dense fruit showing licorice and plum. This is a cooler fruit style without any hint of greenness. Long, though a little linear right now, this will improve as the firm tannins soften and integrate.

Yangarra – Grenache – 2009 (17). An interesting wine showing intense coffee and bitter chocolate over dark fruits. The tannins make this very structured and taut, while the quality fruit drives the length on the finish. This is a much bigger/structured wine than I was expecting from a straight grenache and will take some time to reach its drinking window.

Devil’s Lair – Shiraz – 5th Leg – 2011 (16.8). More seductive than many here, with vibrant fruit to the fore. Fresh plum with hints of vanilla and spice from the well judged oak. Not particularly dense, but very easy to enjoy now. Value.

Reviewed: 20 March 2012

We may well have come across the best value wine in Australia right now. The Whiz Bang shiraz from 2010 is, well, Whiz Bang. A brilliantly put together wine that will sell for less than $15. The packaging is pretty smart too.

Speaking of smart, the Brown Brothers Patricia shiraz from 2008 is a pretty special wine. Delicious now, but sure to age for many years.

Finally, at the bargain basement level, the Oxford Landing shiraz 2011 is another great buy if you are after a cheap and cheery everyday red and the new packaging is very smart. It is hard to believe that this will sell for as little as $7 per bottle.

Reviewed

Brown Brothers – Shiraz – Patricia – 2008 (18 – 18.5). A lovely wine that is redolent of floral, fragrant fruit. Whilst the wine is pretty and refined, the flavours really build on the finish. Cherry, plum, pepper, licorice, spice and quality (chocolate) oak all complement each other and build with air. The length and textural components are outstanding. This is a very serious wine that deserves ten – fifteen years in the cellar, yet is totally delicious today. Clearly the best wine in the tasting, it gets a gold medal from me!

Cape Mentelle – Shiraz – 2010 (17.5-18). This took me by surprise. The nose is subdued and refined, but it was in the mouth that this really impressed. Lovely, perfectly weighted fruit that has been very well handled. The flavours kept going and evolving with pepper and very subtle spice. Won’t appeal to everyone, but worth trying.

Grant Burge – Shiraz – Miamba – 2010 (17.6+). Quite closed initially, but shows plenty of pepper and lovely spicy fruit with a bit of air. This is very fine and subtle at the moment, though the finish admirably displays the quality fruit and winemaking. Very long, this is an elegant wine that will age very well. The quality oak compliments the fruit beautifully.

Whiz Bang – Shiraz – 2010 (17.5). Dense and rich, with coffee and chocolate over vanillin oak characters. There is a lot to like here, as everything is up-front and approachable. Without the absolute quality and elegance of the best here, this is very good short term drinking. The palate has chocolate fruit, licorice and spice (from the oak?) and fine tannins which confer the wine a lovely mouth-feel. This will take a few years in the bottle, but it is delicious right now. At $15 RRP (though you should be able to pick it up for less), this would have to be one of the best buys available in Australia.

Juniper Crossing – Shiraz – 2009 (17.2). Superb wine here. There is plenty of plump, ripe fruit on the nose, with some complexity and refinement. The palate follows the theme, with silky tannins over beautifully weighted, dense, ripe fruit. Seductive now, but the wine will benefit from a few years in the cellar to allow the oak to integrate a little more.

Streicker – Shiraz – Bridgeland Block – 2009 (17.2). Bright fruit that has hints of candy, suggesting the fruit was fully ripe for this wine. Chocolate fruit notes over firm, though refined, tannins, with good length and a silky finish. Hints of licorice round out an excellent wine to drink in the short to medium term.

Kangarilla Road – Shiraz – Devils Whiskers – 2009 (17). A lovely fresh wine that has vibrant, uncomplicated fruit, with enough stuffing to make the finish satisfying. Will probably get higher points in a few years.

Yalumba – Shiraz – Organic – 2011 (17). Lighter style that had solid support from the panel. If organic is your thing, then this is your wine!

Oxford Landing Estate – Shiraz – 2011 (16.5). Interesting nose that combines ripe red plum and slightly dusty notes. I like it. Savoury and spicy, with a fairly tight, though somewhat lean fruit core. Very good length for a wine of this price. Not complex, but satisfying. After a couple of days on the tasting bench, the juicy fruit really shone. RRP $9 but will sell for less, this is tremendous value!

Hay Shed Hill – Shiraz – Pitchfork – 2010 (16.3). A correct wine that has plump fruit, but not a lot of depth. Easy to drink and a good mid week wine.

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.

Reviewed: 27 October 2011

Everyone loves a bargain and this tasting has thrown up a couple of great buys.

The Yalumba – Galway is a very good wine and represents a great buy at around $14 (less on discount). This is a wine that even “serious” drinkers could enjoy. The Debut by Capel Vale is another smart wine that will make an excellent everyday wine.

At the other end of the spectrum, The Gate from Shingleback is one for the cellar. This will retail for under $35 which is also a bargain.

Reviewed

Shingleback – Shiraz – The Gate – 2009 (18+). Closed and tight, this is a sleeping giant. The fruit is superb, though it is totally suppressed right now. The wine has real depth to the palate and the tannins are fine and the high quality oak is well integrated. This wine needs 15 years to show its best, so give it plenty of air if you drink it young. A real star from a producer that is at the top of their game!

Haselgrove – Shiraz – Bella Vingna – 2009 (18). Ripe fruit reminiscent of satsuma plum and sour cherries. Complex and really quite delicious, throwing up a variety of aromas in the glass. The palate has supple red berries and noticeable quality vanillin oak, but the balance is pretty good. The tannins close down the finish, but this will be very good. Quality fruit and modern winemaking, this needs time to show its best. (The best wine I have seen from this producer).

Bird in Hand – Shiraz – Two in the Bush – 2010 (17.9). Rich and ripe, with quality vanillin oak. There is mulberry and raspberry to the fore on the nose. The palate is big, but the grape and oak tannins really shut down the fruit. Everything is in place, but it needs time to express itself. Quality fruit and winemaking here. 10yrs+.

Frankland Estate – Shiraz – Isolation Ridge – 2009 (17.8). Interesting nose. Cedar, spice and plenty of pepper on the nose. Very peppery palate too. This is a classy wine that has quality fruit and superior oak. Supple, savoury finish that has some appeal.

Vinaceous – Shiraz – Snake Charmer – 2009 (17.7). I like this. Dense fruit that is in the dark/black spectrum. Some pepper too. Peppery fruit on the palate, with cedar and plenty of spice. This is a complex wine. The palate is flooded with dense fruit, though the fine grained tannins hold it in check right now. Excellent length. This is made to be consumed young so have a go.

Flametree – Shiraz – 2010 (17.5+). Sweet fruit, but with lovely souring fruit notes over the top. Grainy tannins dominate the palate at first, but soften quickly with air. Nice plummy fruit though this is very young. Good length, spicy/savoury finish and quality oak. From the Frankland River.

Hardys – Shiraz – HRB/D641 – 2007 (17.5). Up front fruit on the nose with coffee, mocha and cinnamon over hints of leather and earth. Youthful, but balanced palate that has more of the mocha/earthy flavours. A big wine, and not yet fully together, this should age well in the medium term. A good 2007!

Yalumba – Shiraz – Galway – 2010 (17.5). Sweet, fragrant fruit on the nose. This is really appealing. Dense and ripe, this has good quality fruit with hints of mocha and spice. The palate is primarily fruit driven, making this quite approachable now. Good length and reasonable depth to the fruit on the palate. Good drinking and great value. Great packaging to boot.

Capel Vale – Shiraz – Debut – 2008 (17). Opens with hints of sweet vanillin oak though the fruit is subdued. Silky palate, this has been really well made. The tannins are very fine and this is quite seamless. The fruit is subdued, but this is a classy, if somewhat commercial wine. Not that long, but builds on the finish. Value.