There were no donuts in this wine – good Cabernet from McLaren Vale from Dowie Doole. Check out the video to see what I mean……
http://youtu.be/mQjU39Frdg8
Lonely Grape TV Episode # 87 Dowie Doole 2009 Cabernet
3 10 2011Comments : Leave a Comment »
Tags: Australia, Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mclaren Vale, McLaren Vale Wine, South Australia, wine, wine McLaren Vale
Categories : Mclaren Vale, wine
McLaren Vale Wines – well nearly – 90 Mile Wines
19 06 201190 Mile Wines opened a cellar door in June 2010 in Middleton (between Victor Harbor and Goolwa) in the same complex as Blues Restaurant and Beach Huts. I was lucky enough to catch up with these wines at the McLaren Vale Visitors Centre. Steve is the usual cellar door host – if you visit say hello from the Lonely Grape.
The enterprise is the brain child from 3 mates – a vineyard owner, a marketing guy and a business tragic. Their aim is to produce low cost wines that would appeal to every day drinking public, even to those new to wine drinking. They also seem to be honing into the function market – so pricing is very important to this area.
90 Mile wines also have a wine club, called funnily enough the 90 Mile Club. Membership is $20 per year and you get 25% discount on all wines purchased plus invitations to exclusive events (such as pre-release tastings). Based on purchasing the Destination Shiraz all you need to do is purchase more than 2 bottles and your membership pays for it’s self.
Their web site link is here.
My take on the wines is that apart from the Destination Shiraz, the wines are clean and easy to drink. I can see this maybe appealing to the younger set where wine is a new fashionable drink. Maybe a semi sweet wine would be an addition to this range, if in fact that is what they are aiming for. There are 3 ranges. A cleanskin range which is priced to move high volumes. The Beeamma Range from Padthaway and the 90 Mile Range from Fleurieu region (McLaren Vale, Currency Creek and Langhorn Creek).
Cleanskin Range
There was a couple of whites a rose and a couple of reds – I only tried one of the reds.
2009 Cabernet ($A78/dozen)
Good clean blackbery fruit with very soft tannins. Nothing exciting here, but I have been told that at the price the wine has been walking out of the door.
90 Mile Range
This range is produced from grapes that come from the Southern Fleurieu Peninsula (Currency Creek, Mt Compass and down to Victor Harbor).
NV Brut Cuvee ($A14)
Made from McLaren Vale fruit with the aromas of clean stone fruit – which makes me think this wine is made from Chardonnay. The flavors are clean and crisp stone fruit that will be drunk very cold at (as I have been told) many local weddings. It is obvious that the wine is targeted to celebration events at a very reasonable price.
2010 Riesling ($A17)
I have had very few Rieslings from the region that I consider are good expression of the variety and this continues the trend. Some orange rind and floral aromas that had little to consider for flavor. Definitely a leave for me.
2010 Shiraz ($A20)
Made from Currency Creek fruit showing the lower end of the ripening scale. Here the wine is all about cherries and spice to make it a little nice. Nothing spectacular here but a number of people who are new to red wines may find this interesting.
2006 Destination Shiraz ($A40)
Hold the fort – this is a major step up and what a surprise after the rest of the range. There is a level of complexity and interest not seen in the other wines. 16.5% alcohol and 2 years in American oak leave their mark. Aromas seem to be loosing their fruit characters and are more leather and coconut. The alcohol is not causing the nose to tingle – indicating a strength in the wine that helps balance the alcohol. The flavors have lots going on – stewed satsuma plums, pepper, chocolate with that hint of coconut. Again the alcohol is not prominent as the complexity copes so well with it. Especially at the discounted price this wine is worth checking out.
Beeamma Range
They have a vineyard in Padthaway in the South East of South Australia. The soils there are rich Terra Rossa soil on a limestone base – typical soil types for the Coonawarra and Padthaway regions.
2008 Chardonnay ($A14)
Straight from the fridge the aromas were masked, but as the wine warmed up I got some peaches and rockmelon. I did not get any oak characters from this soft and easy drinking wine. As expected there is melons and stone fruits here – not intensive fruit but at this cost one would next expect it either.
2008 Shiraz ($A14)
I got a greenness in the aroma profile of this wine that I do not normally find in Shiraz. the greenness was combined with fresh plums, white pepper and cedar oak. The wine has soft tannins though these tannins are quite drying on the teeth. This continues the trend of soft easy drinking wine from the range.
2008 Cabernet ($A14)
Just lots of cherries and ribena (blackcurrent) fruit with the same soft tannins – just an easy drinking style.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($A14)
This wine seems more complex than the 2008 wine. Starting with some eucalypt aromas combining with plums (not what I would expect from a Cabernet). Good black fruits (both blackberry and blackcurrent) with soft oak notes, that again have teeth drying tannins on the finish.
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Tags: Australia, Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, cellar door, Chardonnay, Oak, Riesling, Shiraz, Small Producer, South Australia, sparkling wine, wine, Wine tasting descriptors, Winery
Categories : Mclaren Vale, wine
McLaren Vale Wine – Shingleback Wines (Part 2)
6 03 2011
Vineyard Kitchen
Check out part 1 of this review here.
The restaurant associated with the Shingleback complex has recently re-opened and has been getting some good reviews. See the attached menu. There is a real effort going on here at the Vineyard Kitchen to provide an experience as well as good food. There is live music provided on Sunday and Friday evening. The portion size feedback has been 3 Tapas plates have been enough for 2 people – so I am also hearing value plus quality is bringing people back.
Wines are mainly Shingleback wines plus a “Winery of the Month”.
Shingleback Range
NV Sparkling Chardonnay / Pinot Noir ($A22/bottle or $A44 for 3)
Good clean drink with yeast characters with up front chardonnay flavors (melon and peach). There is a real acid hit here that I just makes the mouth water for more. Starting the meal off with this would not disappoint.
2010 Chardonnay ($A22/bottle or $A44 for 3)
The most unusual aroma of french onion soup starts one off on a wine that has the complexity driven by fruit quality combined with frech oak. There is the creaminess from the malolactic fermentation and an acid backbone that is characteristic of the Shingleback whites. Seeing the wine smells like french onion soup why not drink this wine with the soup. Add some fresh crusty bread with lashings of butter (to match with the creamy mouthfeel) and you might just be on a winner.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($30/bottle or $60 for 3)
As expected this wine is a step up from the other red wines (see part 1 of my review). The aromas were a little closed (probably due to the bottle only just opened prior to the tasting). The tastes were far from closed. There was some black current expected for Cabernet but the mouthfeel was just BIG. There was obviously some excellent fruit here and aged in good oak as the tannin structure was well balanced but neither was obviously overpowering the other. Cabernets are known for lacking character on the mid palate – not so here, McLaren Vale flavor is here in abundance. I am thinking of drinking this wine with a plate of Irish Stew.
2007 Shiraz ($A30/bottle or $60 for 3)
Straight away I get cigar box and french oak aromas – even before my nose was embedded into the glass. I really enjoyed the fruit depth here – satsuma plums and black fruits together with the fruit sweetness makes the experience like drinking a complex fruit cake. Again there was acid depth creating a backbone for all the fruit and oak structure. I am thinking of a steak with mushroom sauce – you never know I may even share the wine.
2007 “Show Reserve” Shiraz ($A30/bottle or $60 for 3)
This wine was being groomed for “The Gate” range and it was changed at the last minute. This is good for the consumer as the wine is cheaper! For me this wine is another step up from the standard Shiraz, however I can see a lot of people liking the fruit of the standard wine. Here, there is lots of plums (both dark and red) and cherries combined with quite smooth fine tannin structure. A couple of slices of Beef Wellington would see me very happy while drinking this wine.
NV “Black Bubbles” Sparkling Shiraz ($A30/bottle or $60 for 3)
Regular readers of “The Lonely Grape” know I like a good sparkling red and I do like this one. I can best describe it as “liquid black forest cake with bubbles and a drying finish”. I enjoyed this with a meal of pan fried marinated chicken breast fillet and a Caesar salad. It worked well so why not try it as well.
Reserve Wines ($A55/bottle)
2006 D Block Cabernet Sauvignon
The wine was just opened when I arrived, however I got lots of dusty characters from the oak treatment here – I was immediately concerned about the oak monster about to appear here. The flavors showed intense fruit of which only some was the expected black currents – so McLaren Vale character just shines through again. The tannins are dry, dusty, soft and a little grainy which indicates to me the wine needs some more time to see it’s best. There was certainly layers of structure here so you need full flavored food maybe slowly braised lamb shanks.
2006 D Block Shiraz
The aromas start you off with interesting inky or iodine, through to earthy and then a slight perfume hint at the end. Quite complex already. The flavors are all about the fruit with just a little oak supporting the structure. Layered fruit cake (plum and sultanas) are hear to give a you the McLaren Vale Shiraz experience. Drinking now better than the Cabernet above, but it will still last for a while – if you have the patience. With all this structure how about trying this with a Beef & Guinness Pie.
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Tags: Australia, Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, cellar door, Chardonnay, Mclaren Vale, McLaren Vale Wine, Oak, Shiraz, wine, wine McLaren Vale, Wine tasting descriptors
Categories : Mclaren Vale, wine
McLaren Vale Wine – Penny”s Hill & The Black Chook
27 12 2010
Penny's Hill Cellar Door
Penny’s Hill cellar door is between the towns of McLaren Vale and Willunga and can only be considered as a success story for McLaren Vale from their 1988 beginnings. A very smart set of packaging where the red dot is a take off of the sold stickers on art works in a gallery. The winery slogan – Proudly Australian – more so McLaren Vale is also clever for the overseas market. They have 3 owned vineyards – Malpas Road and Goss Corner are near the cellar door plus the Penny Hill Vineyard on the foothills east of McLaren Vale. Viticulture is an important part of the Penny’s Hill way and there is interesting practices with the aim to produce the best fruit. On this visit I missed out on the Grenache – but I am told it is a beauty, so I will have to return when I find out the next release.
The cellar door complex has an interesting mix of the old and new with the original homestead next to the corrugated iron based cellar door building. Also there is a chook yard and an area for such activities as Bocce. The restaurant as part of the cellar door complex has a great reputation and if you want to check it out I suggest you book. The last few times I have been there the place has been full.
Check out their web site at www.pennyshill.com.au.
Penny's Hill Cellar Door & Resturant
There is a large line up of wines to taste so be careful on how much you consume during your tasting.
And now the wines………
Penny’s Hill Wines
2010 Adelaide Hills “The Agreement” Sauvignon Blanc ($A19)
All the things that draw some people to this variety are here – passionfruit & gooseberry with clean acid finish. One thing I did like was dry finish combined with this good acid. It would not have surprised me if there was a few bottles of this was consumed Xmas Day with the smoked ham.
2009 McLaren Vale “Malpas Road” Merlot ($A19)
Mulberries in a glass. Made from vines whose roots are spread out into the black soils on the flat between McLaren Vale and Willunga. The wine is good but not inspiring so it is not one I will be opening any time soon.
2009 McLaren Vale “The Specialized” Shiraz / Cabernet / Merlot ($A22)
The Cabernet seems to dominate this wine even though it is almost 1/3 of each variety in this blend – lots of juicy black fruits with dusty dry oak tannins. Again s good wine but just seems to be lacking something to make me want to drink it.
2009 McLaren Vale “Edwards Road” Cabernet Sauvignon ($A24)
The aromas were almost non-existent – what was there were smoky blackcurrents. The flavors were up front blackcurrent sweetness with just a touch of smoky oak and the dry tannin finish. Again a good wine but just something missing to say it was one I would want to take home with me.
2009 McLaren Vale “Cracking Black” Shiraz ($A22)
The Cracking Black refers to the Bay of Biscay soils that the vineyard is planted on – when dried out these clays often crack on the surface. These soils must provide a good basis as this wine had the spark I was hoping for from this stable. Typically plum aromas with a hint of fairy floss (or cotton candy). The flavors had juicy fruit and American oak (almost coconut) sweetness. There was a denseness here that my notes just defined as “Black”. I am thinking of the charred meats of the good old fashioned Aussie BBQ.
NV Penny”s Hill Almond Liqueur ($A22 200 mL)
There is only one way to describe this liqueur – marzipan with a strong alcohol tingle in a glass. Made in a similar way as Limoncello where crushed almonds and sugar is added to alcohol. This one will divide the masses you will either love it or hate it! A small shot during winter to warm the senses with those that love it would be the way to go.
NV Penny”s Hill “Veteran” Very Old Fortified ($A27 500 mL)
This is the real deal and is worth every cent for this 500 mL of Barossa magic – yes this 20 year old fortified wine is made and matured in the Barossa. It is so good I did not even care it did not come from McLaren Vale. The aromas have an alcohol tingle that you would expect mixed with dates and toffee. The flavors have the same toffee & dates plus combined with the nuttiness of cashews – and ooh so smooth. I can see one being consumed while sharing it with your loved one, during the cold months of winter and eating a plate full of great soft cheeses.
The Black Chook
2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($A17)
Little aromas combined with slightly bitter passionfruit flavors just strengthens my view that even though wine labeled as Sauvignon Blanc sells, it is not always a good wine.
2010 Pinot Grigio ($A17)
Some light fruit on the nose – so light I could not make out what it was. The flavors were a mix of passionfruit (somewhat different for Pinot Grigio’s I have tasted so far), pears and acid minerallity. As the wine is on the light side, I think this is more of a Sunday afternoon wine to be consumed with friends, more than a food wine.
2008 GSV ($A17)
The wine shows a trend for wineries that produce Viognier – co-fermenting Viognier skins with red grapes (in this case Grenache). A blend of 50% Grenache, 45% Shiraz plus 5% Viognier. The result shows some lifted red fruit aromas that transform into red fruit sweetness with apricot flavors. The apricot was a tad too obvious for me. The wine represents good value if you like the it’s apricot nature.
2009 Shiraz ($A17)
The wine has about 6% Viognier – the winemaker seems to like the Shiraz / Viognier as it appears across the whole range (including Mr Riggs wines). The wine showed purple tinges so I thought straight away I thought was there enough acid in this wine. The alcohol tingle on the nose indicated a reasonably high alcohol level. I got bitter plumy apricots flavors which were not appealing – so a big leave for me.
NV Sparkling Shiraz ($A17 or $A12 375 mL)
As some of you will know I like this style. This example is a sweet plum bubbly infusion. A wine that is not too serious and is easy to drink – and at this price why not.
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Tags: Adelaide Hills, Australia, Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, cellar door, Chardonnay, liqueur, Mclaren Vale, McLaren Vale Wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, wine, wine McLaren Vale
Categories : Mclaren Vale, wine
Lonely Grape TV Episode # 62 Wolf Blass Yellow Labels
11 12 2010Check out my review of Wolf Blass Yellow Label wines – Chardonnay and Cabernet.
Wolf Blass are running an in-store promotion for a chance to win tickets to this year’s Boxing Day Cricket Test.
They also have an on line cricket game at http://www.wolfblass.com.au/ultimatec…
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Tags: Australia, Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, wine
Categories : Mclaren Vale, wine
McLaren Vale Wines – Possoms Wines
15 10 2010First of all I thought Possum wines was born from a couple of folks that liked possums – well that maybe the case but the name came from parts of the names from the founding couple. Dr John Possingham and Carol Summers. They have 2 vineyards. 30 Ha in Blewitt Springs on the rolling sandy hills with some vines over 80 years old. Another 30 Ha are in Willunga – between town of Willunga and Sellicks Beach. The 2 different vineyards produce wines of very different charachter.
Their winery is on Adams Road near the Blewitt Springs vineyard and a full time winemaker is now employed. Cellar Door tastings can be arranged by appointment. Their web site is www.possumswines.com.au.
As a general comment I was surprised at the vast range of wines – some of them form older vintages than are normally found for sale in McLaren Vale. Also, I found their wines were good value. I was surprised at how good most of the wines were – particularly for the price, so I would recommend checking them out.
Anyway, now for the wines…….
2008 The Springs Unwooded Chardonnay ($A10 or $8 on dozen buys)
What value here – particularly with dozen buys. The price probably reflects that Chardonnay can be difficult to sell at the moment. There are melon and peaches here that are not over the top like some of these style wines can be. There was a level of bitterness apparent on the after taste that made me think of sulphur. Not for me but for those that are price conscience then “drink up”.
2008 Viognier ($A15)
Blewitt Springs fruit has produced a very pleasant drink that is true to the peach and apricot flavors and aromas one expects from this variety. I was particularly happy with the acid length of this wine. To me this shows excellent value for money and would be a good one to drink cold on a hot day and sharing it with friends.
2008 Two in the Pouch White ($A13 or $A10 on Dozen buys)
A blend I have not tried too many times and I was not disappointed. The value for money quotient here was very high. A well made wine with good varietal characters for this price – I had to look twice at the price list to make sure I had not mad a mistake. The stone fruit of peaches and nectarines are hear in spades. Again a wine more made for casual consumption instead of food – why not and “pass me a glass”!
2010 Dr Johns Single Vineyard Pinot Gris ($A28)
A new label that shows the new direction of the marketing people. Different labels and almost no reference to Possoms wines on the label. It must be that possms are not fashionable!
One of the better Pinot Gris wines I have tried. Made from Blewitt Springs fruit the wine has really good passionfruit and acid length characters. I was also pleasantly surprised that the wine was quite dry. So good with a warm chicken salad dish – just right for the coming summer months.
2006 Willunga Chardonnay ($A13)
This wine has seen a bit of French oak and is just starting to show some developed citrus peel characters combined with nectarines and this really good nutty finish. The wine probably is getting close to it’s time so drink it right now.
2009 Pink Possum ($A15)
This Cabernet Sauvignon Rose has the usual strawberries and cream aromas and flavors with an added effect from Turkish Delight on the nose and cherries added on the palate. This wine has a dry finish – much drier that I expected from the aroma. Bring on Sunday lunch with Willunga Almond Dukkah some Coriole EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) and some fresh crusty bread – oh and maybe some friends to share it with.
2008 Two in the Pouch Shiraz/Cabernet ($A13 or $10 for dozen buys)
There is fruit here from both the Willunga and Blewitt Springs vineyards. The Blewitt Springs component shows through particularly with the aromas of peatyness that combines with both red and black fruits. The flavors are initially dominated by sweet cherries and plums with some spices and some chocolate on the finish. At this price give me a bottle or 2 at any BBQ as it will go with charred meats.
2006 Grenache (A$15)
A lighter that expected offering from the Blewitt Springs vineyard. The peatyness comes through again on the nose with red spicy fruits – Yum. The flavors are a medium bodied mixture of raspberries, cherries & spice with just a hint of oak. Sorry, it is unlikely I will be sharing this.
2008 Willunga Shiraz ($A15)
I found the aromas somewhat closed – all I got was a hint of vanilla. The flavors are a meld of plums, mixed spice, chocolate and licorice. Not a classical McLaren Vale offering but at that price …….
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon ($A20)
Well how interesting is this – a 2005 red wine being offered for $20! A proportion of the wine was made from 80 year old vines at the Blewitt Springs vineyard. As readers of the Lonely Grape would know that Cabernet Sauvignon is not always my favorite wine variety – but this was different. So much so I left the tasting with some.
The aromas have the traditional blackcurrent fruit but there was also blackberry and an interesting tobacco leaf hint. The flavors were rich black fruits, this tobacco again and spices to leave a lingering finish. All I could think about as I tasted this was eating pork chops with this (I had pork chops last night with another Cabernet last nigh and it was a wonderful match).
2006 Possums Vineyard Shiraz ($A25)
This Blewitt Springs wine was the real deal and I have tasted a lot of comparable McLaren Vale wines for much more money, so this wine has to be seen as good value.
The aromas were of fruit cake with a touch of vanilla and some fresh plums on the side. The flavors just showed such layered complexity – the usual peatyness of Blewitt Springs, the typical McLaren Vale plums, cinnamon spice with a lingering chocolate finish. Just “Yum” in a bottle – yes I took some of this home as well. I can feel a steak coming on…..
Not Tasted
2006 Dr Johns Single Vineyard Shiraz ($A35)
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Tags: Australia, Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Drink, Grenache, Mclaren Vale, McLaren Vale Wine, Pinot gris, Shiraz, Small Producer, Viognier, wine, wine McLaren Vale
Categories : Mclaren Vale, wine
McLaren Vale Wines – Gemtree
9 10 2010
Salopian Inn - Gentree's Cellar Door
Gemtree shares it’s cellar door with Dowie Doole – at the Salopian Inn – check out my review of Dowie Doole.
The cellar door offers wine flights with cheese & lavosh breads and 6 wines. The wines are from both Gentree & Dowie Doole with either 6 reds or 5 whites and the sparkling red. You also get tasting notes of the wines and a run down of information from the cellar door staff.
For those visiting during winter there is an open fireplace for that wonderful warmth you get from smoldering wood.
Gemtree is getting a name for promoting organic and in particular biodynamic wines and it will be interesting seeing their development in the coming years.
2010 Moonshine Savagnin ($A16)
A biodynamic vineyard producing a wine variety that I have hardly tried before – well this was an interesting start. The interest continued as I thoroughly enjoyed this wine. There was lots of stone fruits here (peaches and nectarines) that makes way for a lingering acid finish. My understanding is that this variety is of interest in Australia as the grapes produce a good flavor / acid balance in hotter climates. I must say this wine makes me want to know more about the variety. The great acid balance in the wine makes me think it would go well with tomato based sauces and pasta.
2009 Citrine Chardonnay ($A16)
Who said Chardy is dead? Another reasonably priced Chardonnay that has good oak integration (from 100 days in oak) – all the melons, cedar and acid one expects from this variety. Again the McLaren Vale region and chardonnay makes a good mix – I still wonder why McLaren Vale tries to make white wines of inferior quality.
2009 Luna Raja Tempranillo ($A25)
Bring on the biodynamic vineyards – this wine exhibits some of what is good about Tempranillo – earthy, spices and a lovely tannin structure.
2009 Bloodstone Shiraz ($A16)
Straight away the aromas showed over ripe and even stewed fruit. This theme continued onto the flavors sweet plums, black cherries with a tannic finish. Keep your money – there are better wines for this price.
2008 Uncut Shiraz ($A19)
Ripe fruits shown by the licorice, anise and plum aromas followed by ripe plums and black fruits with a distinct licorice finish. Another 2008 red wine that shows how difficult this vintage was.
2009 The Red Phantom Red Blend 1 ($A25)
When they say a red blend they mean it – Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot & Petit Verdot. I get aromas of Floral (mainly violets) – quite probably from the Petit Verdot. Then the aroma profile of herbecous with with real green capsicums – all from the Cabernet. The cabernet dominates in the flavor spectrum – blackcurrents, little mint and some greenness. The finish is so dry it leaves you teeth feeling like they are fir coated.
2007 White Lees Shiraz ($A45)
Now here was a surprise – the aromas are dominated by violets. Not what I expected from Shiraz – particularly from McLaren Vale Shiraz. There is just lots and lots of complexity here – layers of fruit, tannin structure and French oak characters. Leave this alone for a few years and try it with seared Kangaroo.
2008 Petit Verdot ($A25)
The floral notes I quite often find in this variety are here again. I also get plums, pepper and just a little blackberry. For those Petit Verdot fans out there this is one to try.
Not Tasted
2007 Obsidian Shiraz
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Tags: Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, cellar door, Chardonnay, Grenache, Mclaren Vale, McLaren Vale Wine, Merlot, Shiraz, Small Producer, tempranillo, wine, wine McLaren Vale
Categories : Mclaren Vale, wine
McLaren Vale Wines – Dowie Doole
3 10 2010
Dowie Doole & Gemtree Cellar Door
Dowie Doole has their cellar door combined with Gemtree Wines in one of McLaren Vale‘s historic landmarks – the Salopian Inn. The Salopian Inn has been famous for it’s high quality food using regional Fleurieu produce. Under new management this historical McLaren Vale landmark now is not only the home to a quality regional produce dining experience, there is a wine list sourced by a Master of Wine, the home for Vale Ale (a new beer branded around McLaren Vale) plus the combined cellar door.
Salopian Inn
Check out the Lonely Grape cellar door map for the location of this cellar door.
2009 Second Nature Sauvingnon Blanc ($A18)
This wine was unusual for it’s restrained aromas unlike the norm for this variety. When you drink it there is the usual cut grass and the ripe passionfruit that is typical for the riper fruit sourced from McLaren Vale. It is not for me but I can see the wine being a big seller so why not!
2008 Tintookie Chenin Blanc ($A30)
Dowie Doole is known for this variety and is up there with Coriole as McLaren Vale’s quality producer of wine from this often frowned upon variety. The aromas were restrained – almost like the wine is moving from a fruit based phase to a more mature style. Thus I was looking forward to drinking this wine. The flavors were like drinking essence of Nashi pear with a lingering acid length. There is plenty and body here to still have a long life. The wine did not disappoint – it does show what Chenin Blanc can do.
2009 Merlot ($A22)
Here is the typical Merlot mulberries here in abundance with some mild influences of cedary oak. There is 10% Cabernet Sauvignon here that gives the wine some extra backbone that I suspect the wine would not have had without it. The softness here will appeal to many people, but me ……..
2009 Garnacha & Tempranillo ($A25)
I was looking forward to this wine as the boys from Qwoff spoke of it so highly – by the way Garnacha is Grenache and a very different G & T indeed.
The red fruits of the 65% Grenache really shows through on the nose and the 35% Tempranillo’s earthyness is the dominant flavors. As should be the case with Grenache based wines the tannins are soft but still structured. I have not had this blend before and I hope this is not the last time. Roll out a wood fired oven backed pizza.
2008 Second Nature Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz & Merlot ($A18)
Sweet black fruits here in both aromas and flavors with just a little oak. Maybe the product of a very difficult vintage but the sweet fruit character was not in line with what I would look for in a red wine, so this one is not for me.
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon ($A22)
Minimal aromas were followed by an interesting black cherry flavor that I was not expecting from a Cabernet Sauvignon. The rest of the flavors were typical of Cabernet – blackcurrent and dusty oak integration with a nice length. This is a nice Cabernet at the price point and would go well with a Rogan Josh.
2008 Shiraz ($A25)
All the elements of a McLaren Vale Shiraz are here – plums plus the spices of pepper, cardamon. There is a slightly bitter finish – maybe indicating high alcohol. Again something did not seem right with the overall potential enjoyment of this wine – the elements are there but the whole does not do justice to what the variety can do in McLaren Vale.
2008 California Road Shiraz ($A35)
Hold the fort – this single vineyard wine is such a large jump in quality and after the previous wine, my faith is restored! The aromas were plums, plums and more plums with that hint of dusty oak. Flavors were just like “essence of McLaren Vale Shiraz in a glass”. Plums again with vanilla characters that move apart for the dusty tannins to make their entrance. There is length here and not just the tannins – the fruit just seems to go on and on for miles. This was definately the best wine I tried from this stable and it is worth every cent. A high quality steak with a porchini mushroom sauce would be a spectacular combination.
Not tasted
2006 Reserve Shiraz
N/V Moxie Sparkling Red
2006 Sticky Bits Botytris Semillon
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Tags: Cabernet, Cabernet Sauvignon, cellar door, Chardonnay, Grenache, Mclaren Vale, McLaren Vale Wine, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, tempranillo, wine, wine McLaren Vale
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