McLaren Vale Wine – Battle of Bosworth

14 08 2011

One of only 2 fully organically certified vineyard operations in the McLaren Vale region, that I am aware of.  I have previously reviewed this operation so I refer you to this entry by clicking here.

They have 2 wine ranges, the normal company label (Battle of Bosworth) and the Spring Seed Wine Company.  The Spring Seed Wine Company was a label created for the American market.  With the issues selling into the American market they have decided to release these wines into the domestic market.  With the lower price point and the smart packaging these wines should do well.

Battel of Bosworth Cellar Door First Customer

They opened a new cellar door on 12th August 2011 and I could not resist being there – in fact I had the pleasure of being their first cellar door customer.  The cellar door can be found on Gaffney Road, Willunga.

Battle of Bosworth Cellar Door Roadway Sign

Check out their web sites at:-

www.battleofbosworth.com.au

wwspringseedwineco.com.au

Spring Seed Wine Company

2010 Forget Me Not Sauvignon Blanc – Semillon ($A15)

As expected this 60/40 blend of the 2 varieties is so different to the same blend from say Margaret River.  This is good as we do not want wine clones – different is good.  What I find very interesting here is that the Semillon seems to be dominate.  I get some grass on the nose and some passionfruit on the palate, but the unripe nashi pear seems to me to be dominate.  There is good acid here, which also adds to the overall length of the wine.

2010 Four O’Clock Chardonnay ($A15)

Unwooded Chardonnay with all the melons you would want.  I get honeydew and rockmelon like they were sitting in front of me.  Again the acid length was good.  For an unwooded Chardonnay this had a surprisingly good mouthfeel.  A project of the great vintage and good winery practice.  Chardonnay seems to be making a comeback and this sort of wine will only help.

2011 Sweat Pea Moscato ($A20)

Made from Brown Muscat grape and has a red tinge due to some skin contact when the wine was crushed.  With this introduction, I was looking forward to trying this wine to see if there was a little more complexity than most of the offerings of this type.  I was not disappointed with this spritzig style wine.  The aromas had the expected grape but some really interesting floral characters.  The flavors were just grapes, grapes and more grapes but had a interesting mouthfeel (that I expect was due to the skin contact).  I can see this wine walking out of the cellar door.

2010 Scarlet Runner Shiraz ($A20)

Starting with a very pleasant set of berry aromas (both blueberry and blackberry).  The flavors were the same fruits with a good hit of tannin and acid that means a good length on the wine.  Not over done with either the fruit or the oak, so I can see this wine being quite popular.

Battle of Bosworth

2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($A18)

Regular readers of the Lonely Grape will know that Sauvignon Blanc is not one of my favorite wine varieties.  This offering is not over the top like a lot of these wines.  There is some grass and passionfruit here but not too much.  The acid length is here which shows the vintage was spot on for this variety.

2009 Chardonnay Vioginer ($A18)

The start was lees than expected as the aromas were very closed.  I wondered if it was due to the wine being cold, so I waited for the wine to heat up a little, but it made no real difference.  The flavors show how much a little Viognier (about 5%) can make – the apricot of Viognier is noticeable but not overt.  This unwooded wine will split the wine tasting visitor to this cellar door.  Some will really like it and others will not, and for me …..

2010 Chardonnay ($A25)

Now we are talking.  A Chardonnay with some smart French oak treatment.  There is extra complexity here that the oak brings to this classic grape variety.  Melons mixed with cedar and lovely acid here as well.  The mouthfeel also indicates some lees aging.  This wine is a beauty and brings me hope that the classical lightly wooded Chardonnay is not dead.

2009 War of the Rose Cabernet Rose ($A18)

I have had this wine before and I have been pleasantly surprised over the quality of this rose from Cabernet – not the usual grape variety for Rose.  The aromas of strawberries and a very clean wine with watermelon and blackcurrent fruit.  I hear this wine has not been made since and so I urge you to check it out.  I have had a few bottles during the heat of summer with some crusy bread and soft cheeses – Yum.

2010 Preservative Free Shiraz ($A20)

This wine is very interesting.  Ever heard that people do not drink red wine because they get head aches?  One train of thought about this is that the head aches are due to a wine preservative – sulphur dioxide.  This wine is produced with no wood contact – aging in the wood requires the sulphur dioxide to be added to the wine.  The wine has been made with no additives at all.  I thought the wine may have been like a light red with minimal tannins and character.  I could not have been more wrong.  I got cherries, blackberries and blueberry aromas and the same clean fruit flavors with much more tannins than expected.  If you have trouble with the additives in red wines then try this wine – it will not disappoint.

2009 Shiraz ($A25)

This is why McLaren Vale is known for producing high quality Shiraz.  The aromas were voluminous with plums and dusty French oak.  Here is the great mid palate that McLaren Vale is all about all the fruits from the aromas that just last right across the whole tasting experience right though to a long lasting length.  Yes, I enjoyed this wine.

2010 Cabernet Sauvignon ($A25)

All that you expect from Cabernet – blackcurrent fruits all over the place.  Good acid length and the oak not being over done will mean the Cabernet lovers amongst us will enjoy this one.

2009 White Boar Shiraz ($A45)

An amarone style – the grapes are air dried to concentrate the grape sugars and flavors before the grapes are fermented.  From the few wines made in the style I have tasted, I notice a Current characteristic on both the aromas and flavors.  This wine continues this trend.  Everything about this wine is classy, concentrated flavors, smart use of oak, and good acid length means this wine is one to check out.

2010 Clarence Sticky Semillon ($A15 375mL)

The aromas were typical for this style – sweet tropical fruits with an apricot envelope.  The grass flavor is hear but the striking element of this wine is the level of acid.  The acid cleans the palate of the high levels of sugar so your mouth feels clean and ready for another sip.


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Clare Valley Wines – Jim Barry Wines (Part 1 – Vineyards and White Wines)

27 03 2011

I do not get to Clare Valley very often (about 4 times in the last 20 years) but I have made it to Jim Barry wines a number of times.  Yet again this iconic winery did not disappoint.

Jim Barry Wines Cellar Door

With their new winemaker coming from McLaren Vale we were able to get a tour of the winery – I will elaborate on the tour in Part 2 of this review.

Jim Barry Wines has 4 main vineyards

The Lodge Hill Vineyard on the eastern side of the town of Clare.  Has consistently produced Riesling and Shiraz wines of substance.  One vineyard and 2 soil types – just so suited to the Riesling and Shiraz grape.

The Florita Vineyard has long been considered one of the premium vineyards in Australia – John Vickory from Leo Buring made the famous Rieslings in the 50′s and 60′s from this Watervale vineyard.  Jam Barry bought the vineyard in the 80′s when many vineyards were being ripped up in the government led vine pull scheme.

The Armagh vineyard at the North of the township of Clare and was planted by Jim Barry in 1968 with Shiraz.  These low yielding vines produce highly concentrated fruit.

There is a Coonawarra connection here with a vineyard near Penola that was at one time a cricket ground.  Jim Barry decided to not only keep the cricket theme in the vineyard (by keeping the grandstand but also the cricket pitch has not been planted), but the wines also have a cricket theme.  Very smart marketing play that is used in the mid range wines and the high end Cabernet.

Now for my review of the sparkling and white wines.  You will need to check out Part 2 of this review for the red wines.

2006 The Nancy Sparkling Pinot ($A19)

A yeasty aroma combined with cherry and strawberry flavors wrapped up in a nice crisp acidity that is like a freshly picked Granny Smith Apples.  Not a classical “Champagne” style, but this cellar door only wine is more than just a sense of fun.  I would consider this a drink now and enjoy as an aperitif wine.

2010 The Lodge Hill Dry Riesling ($A19)

This wine does not disappoint.  I get stone fruit aromas with the expected limes.  The flavors – well all the limes mixed with slate minerality that just hangs around with that lovely acid tang.  When I tried this all I could think of was – “Why would you drink Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc when you can get Aussie Riesling like this!”

2010 The Florita Riesling ($A40)

This yet to be released wine is a beauty and all that you would expect.  The citrus and the minerality were here in spades.  What I was not expecting was the layer of floral notes that added considerable complexity.

2009 The Florita Riesling ($A40)

Love it – aromas of grapefruit and it’s zest rubbed all over some of the finest slate.  The flavors are similar with the added acid of limes and lemons.  Drink it now or drink it any time in the next 10 years and I am sure it will be good.

2008 The Florita Riesling ($A40)

So different again – and my favorite of the 3 vintages.  Here the kerosine kicks in with that grapefruit zest aroma and then the kerosine developed flavor with lemon, lime and this time mandarins as well.  If this does not want one to throw away the Sauvy then, well maybe there is no hope.

2010 Silly Mid on Sauvignon Blanc Semillon ($A19)

A 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Semillon blend that starts with aromas of grass, honey dew melon and passionfruit.  The passionfruit continues with the flavors and quite an interesting acid length.  Not a bad wine, but after the Rieslings I can not see why you would.

2009 Riesling Project – Tank 8 Sweet Riesling ($A19)

Each year the winemakers trial different wine styles and sell them at the cellar door to work out what the wine public like.  The 2009 project was a Germanic Riesling – low alcohol and higher acid.  This was all about green apples, grapefruit, lemon and limes with that slatey tang.  Not as sweet as I expected and that was a good thing.  A classy wine that I am told is “walking out of the cellar door”.  We may see more of this wine style from Jim Barry Wines.

Sold out wines

Watervale Riesling

Lavender Hill (Late Picked) Riesling


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Mclaren Vale Wines (really from Adelaide Hills)- Griffin Wines

13 03 2011

Griffin Wines Entrance Views

Griffin Wines are in the hills above McLaren Vale and are classified as Adelaide Hills GI.  I have decided to review them as they are so close to McLaren Vale.  The Griffin’s (Trevor & Val) arrived in Kuitpo in the 70′s with the aim of finding their “place”.  Vines (26.5 ha) were planted in1997 with their first wine made in 2000.  The Sauvignon Blanc is made by Shaw & Smith (Adelaide Hills) and the reds are made by Phil Christiansen with the rest made by various people.  This wine making is not a hands off process for the family – they have a direct input into what happens with their fruit and wine.

Griffin Wines Property View

The wines are not just a reflection of the place they are grown and made but also of the Griffin family – to this end the family adorns their wine labels which have drawn international acclaim.

The house is opened only a few times every year for a “Cellar Door tasting” and they also hold functions at their property.  A once a year they also hold a wine dinner at Waverly House (South Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia) with live musicians and I am told lots of fun.

Their Web site can be found here.

The wines………..

2010 Sauvignon Blanc ($A17)

This is one for the Sauvignon Blanc drinkers out there.  Lots of Sauvy grassyness and passionfruit and as expected from the Adelaide Hills there is a good acid backbone.  Why would you even consider the junk from across the ditch when you can this here at a relatively good price.

2009 Sauvignon Blanc ($A17)

Sorry to say this wine is showing it’s age and is one to miss – goto the 2010 wine and do not pass go!

2009 Chardonnay ($A11)

I stand by my view that Chardonnay needs some oak treatment to provide complexity that many find compelling from this classic variety.  Here is an unwooded version that is pleasant but brings little complexity to the table.  I found the 2008 version so much more appealing.

2008 Chardonnay ($A15)

Some toasty aromas and flavors here – maybe some small amount of oak was showing through.  There is also some creaminess here so I suspect there is some malolactic fermentation action as well.  Both of these mean there is complexity here and one worth checking out.

2006 Pinot Noir ($A29)

Highly enjoyable earthy with cherry notes.  I liked this for the good acid and multi-dimensional fruit and tannin complexity.

2007 Pinot Noir ($A25)

The aromas here were more more vibrant than the 2006 with sweet cherry and floral hints.  I was very interested in the tannin and acid feel on the tongue.

2008 Pinot Noir ($A25)

Compared to the previous wines this was limited.  The aromas were few and far between and the flavors were very short.

2009 Pinot Noir($A26)

I got sweet cherries and nice firm tannins.  I suspect a few more years is needed to see this wine anywhere near it’s best.

2007 Merlot ($A20)

Plumy and earthy aromas combined with blackberry fruit flavors and well balanced tannins.  Not my scene but for those that like this variety it would be one to check out.

2006 Merlot ($A22)

Showing some developed character which made me think the 2007 was better at this time.  There was ribena like fruit that was somewhat one dimensional.

2008 Shiraz ($A19)

Quite different that the McLaren Vale Shiraz wines – due to the cooler ripening environment.  Funny I say that for the 2008 vintage, as it was hot everywhere.  All the spice plums with tannins you would expect.  Compared to the rest of the Shiraz wines below this wine is a little hot on the palate and somewhat raisiny – though neither are over them top.

2007 Shiraz ($A22)

Intense Shiraz aromas with similar fruit sweetness (as per the above wine) and quite soft tannins.  The tannin structure is so lighter than McLaren Vale Shiraz – some will like that and some will not.  Which one are you?

2006 Shiraz ($A23)

The complexity of a good vintage is shown in this wine – particularly after the previous Shiraz offerings that were from drought years.  Here is spice, perfume and cigar box (from the oak) aromas.  The flavors start with the plums and black fruits and show the complexity of good tannins (oak and fruit tannins) wrapped in an envelope of good acid.  I suggest this wine is just showing the integration of the components and give the best indicator yet that these wine need some bottle age to show the real character of the wine.

2005 Shiraz ($A25)

I found this wine a little developed and porty.  I am no expert here, but I suspect that the old barrels used for the aging of this wine had Brett – which means some people will like it and others will be turned off.  I am the latter.

2008 “The Griff” Shiraz ($A115/case of 12 bottles)

This wine is the response to the cleanskin request that most wineries get.  In this case the thoughts were that a cleanskin wine should still be good enough to show which winery the wine has come from and so why not promote your brand.  The 2007 version of “The Griff” sold out quickly and the winery is taking pre-release orders so I suspect the 2008 version will be quick to leave the winery.  The wine has been good enough to win a couple of Bronze medals and even thought the aromas were minimal the flavors of plum, black fruits with dusty oak, this wine is good value.


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McLaren Vale Wine – Shingleback Wines (Part 1)

27 02 2011

Shingleback Cellar Door

Shingleback Wines Cellar Door has the distinction of being the first cellar door you drive past or to as you enter McLaren Vale’s main street.  They moved into the current facility a few years ago after being in the Tourist Infoamtion Centre and have not looked back.  The renovated old building looks great and is set up with lounges and art for those that may want to linger or those who are driving and not wanting to have a drink.  The facility has a lot of room so they can set up well for functions.  For the Sea & Vines Festival they put on a great show.

Shingleback’s vineyards are on the flat between McLaren Vale and Willunga.  They are close to Fox Creek Wines – I used to work for Fox Creek so I like the association.  I found some close flavor profiles – particularly with the sparkling red between Shingleback and Fox Creek.  The tastes of McLaren Vale are here for all to see and taste.

I find one of their marketing ploys as fascinating – they have a buy 2 and get a third wine at equal or lesser value (not for the Show Wines).  This makes their wine seem to be better value to the customer and the winery gets more volume sold -quite simply the potential for a wine – wine situation.  This could be a 2 edged sword as some people may take offense to such a strategy, however I am told that the strategy is seen very favorably at the cellar door so well done guys!

There is now a restaurant open next door to the facility – I will talk about this more next week.

Shingleback Cellar Door - Side Door

Red Knot Range

Fruit driven entry level wines – $15/bottle or $30 for 3.

2009 Unwooded Chardonnay

The aromas are quite distinctly missing – maybe the wine was a bit cold.  The flavors are true to variety (melons) and there was not as much of an acid finish as I was hoping for.  A soft drinking style that is not necessarily a food wine – just drink it with friends on a Sunday lunch.

2010 Rose

Your basic Rose – strawberry and rose water mixed with a real acid backbone.  Another one for a hot weekend lunch wine.

2009 Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre

I got a distinct aroma layer of red fruits (red currents and raspberries) with a perfume ending.  This is a real fruit driven wine with all fruits you expect from this blend – red fruits from the Grenache and some fruit tannin and backbone from the Shiraz and Mourvedre.  If you have not tried this blend before and like fruit driven wines then this is a great start.  The wine is under a Zork closure as part of a trial.

2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

At first I was concerned about this wine as I got almost no aromas from my tasting glass with this wine.  What I tasted was completely different – nice black current fruit (as expected) combined with fruit based tannins (skins etc) that are quite fine.  The real thing that got me here was the acid levels that left the tongue tingling.  I can see my favorite beef and chilli pizza going down well with this one.

2009 Shiraz

Again the aromas were closed here.  The flavors are what you expect from a fruit driven Shiraz – particular emphasis on plums.  The acid level is again nice and high and the tannins are quite fine and smooth.  Soft everyday drinking with a BBQ written all over it.

Haycutters Range

Mid level wines $18/bottle or $36 for 3.

2010 Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon

The grassyness of the Semillon comes through as the dominant aroma with some passionfruit there as well (from the ripe Sauvignon Blanc).  There is a real citrus component here – probably from the Semillon.  I found the wine a bit lacking in the mouthfeel department so it would be a pass for me.  

2007 Shiraz Viognier

The wine saw co-fermentation of Viognier skins and the Shiraz.  The aromas of plum also have a lift that you get from the co-fermentation.  I could definitely taste the apricots one expects from this blend but it was just a little apricotty for me.

Show Wines

2006 “The Gate” Shiraz ($A37.50)

As you would expect this is a step up and the wine delivers.  With a 2006 wine there was a number of developed flavors here mixed with licorice all over the place.  The flavors are what McLaren Vale seems to produce the best – chocolate and licorice.  There is a fruit sweetness here also that goes straight into a mouth full of fresh plum character.  The tannins are fine and not over powering.  With the fruit basis of te wine, I would choose a dish of Chicken in Red Wine.

Check out Part 2 of this review to read all about the Shingleback wines plus the rest of the Show Wines.


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McLaren Vale Wines – Mandelli Estate

13 02 2011

This newly opened cellar door in McLaren Vale has a claim to fame – it is the first South Australian licensed collective cellar door on the new licensing laws.

Mandelli Estate Cellar Door

The cellar door is the reincarnation of the old Clarence Hill premises and has had a total makeover.  This new facility has the following features:-

Inside Mandelli Estate Cellar Door

Cellar Door for Mandelli Wines and Simply Organolecptic Wines

Devonshire teas (lovely hand made scones with jam made from fruit on the property)

Espresso coffee

Art galery

Function centre – private and corporate functions, weddings

Estate grown jams, olives and almonds

Pick your own fruit in season

Oils and balsamic vinegar from The Passionate Foodie

Jewellry

The facility also has WiFi available for those that just want to hang out while checking their Facebook page.

The Mandelli Estate wines are made at Dennis Wines with mentoring assistance from Linda Domas.  The wines are labeled as Diplomats Daughter – simply because Caroline was just that, a Diplomats daughter.

Mandelli Estate Wines

2010 Diplomats Daughter Secret Service Sauvignon Blanc ($A15)

Made from Fleurieu fruit and even though it is very aromatic it is a different Savy.  Minerality and pear aromas combines with a lovely lime acid finish that does not scream Sauvignon Blanc.  Still not for me, however those that like lots of acid in their white wines should give this a try with a big plate of freshly caught and cooked seafood.

2010 Diplomats Daughter A Spy Named Rose ($A18)

A Shiraz wine (Sellicks Beach fruit) made in a dry style.  Aromas of rose and plums with a hint of toffee on the back of the nose.  The flavors are red fruit based but not the normal strawberries and cream one can get with this style.  More of a serious Rose than a lot of lolly water wines of this style.

2004 Diplomats Daughter Spooks Shiraz ($A20)

The first wine made by Caroline and was literally made in the Sellicks Hill vineyard that it was licked.  The wine is all about secondary flavors.  Mushrooms and moss aromas combine with flavors of chocolate covered mushrooms.  If you want to see a wine that is transitional from fruit based to these secondary flavor profiles than this is one to check out.  A forest mushroom risotto with lots of Parmesan cheese.

Simply Organolecptic Wines

2010 Perception ($A15)

Mount Compass fruit is used in this very unusual blend – Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.  It produced a wine with lemongrass, white flower and apple aromas with flavors that scream minerallity with pear and lemongrass.  I enjoyed this blend and would  to try it with grilled chicken breast wrapped in prosciutto.

2010 The Collaboration Cabernet Rose ($A18)

Another dry Rose wine but very different from it’s stable mate.  The aromas are very fruity with perfume wafting around the glass.  There is blackcurrent sweetness flavors with quite an interesting creamy mouthfeel.  Try it with some crusty bread and some runny brie – yum!

2008 Nothing But Cabernet Sauvignon ($20)

McLaren Vale comes to the front yet again – the wine shows all the chocolate aromas and mid palate that this wonderful wine region is known for.  The wine shows blackberries with a dry dusty tannin finish.  One for the Cabernet lovers out there to check out, with a pan fried lamb loin steak.


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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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McLaren Vale Wines – Marienberg and Fern Hill Estate

18 12 2010

Marienberg Cellar Door

The Marienberg Cellar Door has just re-opened after refurbishment of the adjacent restaurant.  They have also moved the cellar door location onto the McLaren Vale Main Street.  This looked like a smart move as previously the outlet was around the corner on Chalk Hill Road.

I was looking forward to visiting the newest cellar door in the area, but that emotion was soon changed to “what am I doing here”.  The cellar door is at the end of the restaurant and it looked like the dumping ground for the items needed to get away from the bar.  There was dirty dishes and generally just stuff all around.  Once directed to use the top of a wine barrel I was then treated to open bottles of wines that had no more than their stelvin caps on – no looking after the wine with oxygen removal options or wine shields.  This made me wonder how long the wines were open and how fresh was the wine.  You can see my comments below are not very complementary and I must say that I found my worst McLaren Vale cellar door.

2008 Marienberg Unwooded Chardonnay ($A16)

Straight away the wine showed aged chemical characters that were unpleasant.

2009 Fern Hill Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc ($A16)

All the typical flavors of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc – strong passionfruit and gooseberry aromas plus passionfruit flavours with an acidic citrus finish.  The wine will probably sell well but for me – why have an overseas wine when we need to support the Australian wine industry.

2009 Marinberg Sauvignon Blanc Semillon ($A16)

Not good – closed aromas with flavors that would be a mixture of cats pee with tropical juice.  No way.

2008 Fern Hill Estate Viognier ($A16)

Toasty, bitter oxidized aromas and flavors.  Again, I could not drink this.

2005 Fern Hill Estate Adelaide Hills Merlot ($A16)

The aromas started with some good mulberry fruit and has a smokiness on the finish.  The flavors were dominated by fruit sweetness, smokey oak and some nice acid on the finish.  There was a slight bitterness that drew you away from the wine – the alcohol on this wine was not high so the bitterness would be seen as a fault in the wine.

2006 Marineberg Cabernet Merlot ($A16)

I could not get any aromas from this wine, even though the bottle had been open before I arrived.  The expected black fruits were here with a dusty tannin finish but nothing else.  There was no lingering effect on the palate – once you have swallowed the wine there is no sensation left.  Yet again, I cannot see why anybody would want to drink this.

2008 Fernhill Estate Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon ($A16)

Aromas were black fruits with a meaty undertone that was concerning.  Classical blackcurrent and cigar box characters with good acid levels and a strong finish.  Clean and basic but not inspiring.

2005 Marinberg Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon ($A22)

This is down right nasty – porty and oxidised so just not right.  I cannot believe this is classified as a Reserve wine.  Keep your money.

2007 Fern Hill Estate McLaren Vale Shiraz ($A16)

This was easily the best wine here – the aromas were hints of plum with lots of vanilla (from the American oak).  The flavors here was real fruit sweetness with some American oak sweetness as well.  The use of oak was much better here and the finish had a slight bitterness that was probably due to high alcohol levels.  Drink this with something fatty (to take the edge away from the bitterness) such as bangers and mash (sausages and mashed potatoes).

2006 Marinberg Reserve Shiraz ($A22)

This was Ok but not as good as the above Shiraz.  Here was a wine that had lots of plums and oak integration.  It has fair components but just not inspiring enough for me to part with  my money.

2004 The Clifton McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon ($A39)

This wine is just nasty – cannot believe this wine is marketed as a premium wine.  Porty and oxidized like a number of the other red wines.


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McLaren Vale Wines – Leconfield (home of Richard Hamilton Wines)

5 12 2010

This cellar door is one of the new classy style – with lots of new wood, stainless steel and glass.  The driveway shows off well manicured vineyards with lots of red roses (the roses also act as a early waring for some vine diseases).

Leconfield Wines Driveway

The grassed area next to the cellar door is used for the McLaren Vale venue for the “A Day on the Green” concerts.  Check out the concert series web site.

The cellar door is open 10 am to 5 pm daily and serves platters (such as ploughman’s lunch) every day as well.  The staff are friendly and I would recommend this as a stop for visitors into the McLaren Vale region.

Leconfield Wines Complex

And now the wines……..

NV Syn Cuvee ($A17.50)

Made mainly from McLaren Vale fruit (with some Coonawarra fruit added) – 79% Chardonnay, 19% Pinot Noir and 2% Riesling.  The wine has been made with yeast in mind – the bready yeast is dominate on both the aromas and flavor profiles.  As you would expect from a Chardonnay dominate wine there is peach characters as well.  I was presently surprised by the refreshing acid length that leaves the mouth and the mind wanting more.  A girl friend of mine just loves this wine, where she drinks it just sitting around chatting to her friends.
2010 Richard Hamilton Sauvignon Blanc Semillon ($A15.50)

The 27% Semillon in this wines makes a marked difference to the overall balance.  The aromas start with the gooseberries (Sauvignon Blanc), goes onto grassyness (from the Semillon) with some lime notes on the finish.  This finish on the nose makes me think the flavors will have a high acid influence – I was right.  The flavors start with tropical notes and then goes to the lime/acid finish.  Overall a much better wine that I would expect if it was Sauvignon Blanc on it’s own.  A nice plate of antipasta that just has to have some home made Pickled Onions.
2010 Richard Hamilton Slate Quarry  Riesling ($A15.50)

This wine has an interesting following – if for no other reason that it is one of the few quality Rieslings made in the McLaren Vale region.  True to variety I get limes and floral aromas.  The wine is drier that I expected (which is good) and it is just a jumble of zesty lemon and limes all over the mouth.  I can see this wine going so well with asian foods as it will compliment the varied flavor profiles and textures of this type of food.
2010 Leconfield Coonawarra Old Vines Riesling ($A24.95)

It has been a while since I have had a Coonawarra Riesling (I used to drink a fair bit of Wynns in years gone by) and after having the pleasure of tasting some Eden Valley Riesling last week and I can confirm that the Coonawarra offering is not quite in the same class but it is a jump up from the McLaren Vale wine.  This wine had more floral than citrus aromas that just moved into this wonderful razor sharp lemon and lime acids.  I feel people that open this wine should have Coffin Bay oysters (natural of course) in their future.
2009 Richard Hamilton Almond Grove Chardonnay ($A15.50)

I know I generalise but this is what Chardonnay should be like – some toasty oak integration from partial barrel fermentation and the textural feel from extended lees contact.  The flavor of nectarines is wrapped with the creaminess all covered in an integrated oak envelope – yes it should be obvious by now that I really like this wine.  At this price the wine should be walking off the shelves to be consumed with chicken dishes like Oven Baked Chicken Breast fillet stuffed with smoked semi dried tomato and brie served with fresh pasta stirred through with home made pesto.
2009 Leconfield Coonawarra Chardonnay ($A24.95)

The aromas were closed but the palate was a mouthful of peaches and slight oakiness.  This wine is more refined and is longer lasting, but my money is on the Richard Hamilton version.
2009 Richard Hamilton Jette’s Viognier ($A15.50)

Again a little closed with just a hint of stone fruit coming through.  30% of the wine was left on lees for 6 weeks and this shows on the flavor profile as there is a layered textural feel with peaches and cream.  The wine has a real soft finish so it is one for people that do not like the acid razor slashing over the tongue.
2010 Richard Hamilton Gida’s Rose ($A15.50)

This is a fist for me – a Rose made from Merlot.  The wine is only slightly sweet and is just dominated by strawberries – lots and lots of them.  I can see a hot day and many people seeing the bottom of a bottle or two of the Gida’s Rose, while consuming a ploughman’s lunch (like those served at the cellar door).
2010 Richard Hamilton Late Harvest Riesling ($A15.50)

The grapes for this were ripened for an extra month compared to the Slate Quarry Riesling and the wine was not as sweet as I thought.  A big winner at the cellar door where I am sure people just need to taste it and there is a large part of the population that will just love it.  All the same floral and citrus notes as the Slate Quarry without the sharp acid that would not be like by a proportion of drinkers – and good luck to them.  The asian food theme fits well here – particularly if one wants to tone down a chilli based meal with a glass or six of this.
NV Syn Rouge ($A17.50)

Sparkling Shiraz – oh how I love you!  This 2008 wine at this price is why I think everybody should be drinking good sparkling reds.  I got Raspberries and cherries with some serious oak tannins on the finish.  There is a little residual sweetness here but not too much like some sparkling reds.  If you are looking for a special match for the traditional Christmas Turkey then look no further than a good Sparkling Red and this one would fit the bill nicely.
2009 Richard Hamilton Lot 148 Merlot ($A18.50)

Plenty of fruit sweetness that fits the plum and cranberry hits one expects from Merlot.  What I did not expect was the cinnamon flavors from the clever use of oak.  Still not my style of wine however I can see a lot of people liking this one.
2009 Richard Hamilton Shiraz ($A18.50)

I was looking forward to this as the 2008 version was highly regarded.  What I found was what I would classify as a “typical McLaren Vale Shiraz”.  This version has seen some American oak action as you get vanilla and coconut action.  The plums and drying tannins are just what this variety shows in McLaren Vale.
2009 Leconfield McLaren Vale Shiraz ($A24.95)

Just to confuse you this Leconfield wine is made from grapes sourced in McLaren Vale (not from Coonawarra).  There is American oak sweetness here with all the nutmeg and cinnamon you would want for.  Plenty of juicy Shiraz fruit here also.  Put it all together and there is a good all round package.  This wine is more refined that the previous and has a greater life expectancy than the above wine but I am still drawn to it.
2009 Richard Hamilton Hut Block Cabernet Sauvignon ($A18.50)

Minimal aromas here with all the flavors one would expect from a McLaren Vale Cabernet – lots of sweet Blackcurrent fruits with fine drying tannins on the finish.  I can see a thick slice of Beef Wellington in this wine’s future.
2009 Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot ($A24.95)

Again the aromas were somewhat closed but the flavors were full of sweet fruits and fine tannins.  True to expectations this wine has a softness imparted in some way from the Merlot – an elegant and refined structure that please those that like this style.
NV Richard Hamilton Lion Heart Tawny ($A18.50)

A lighter mouthfeel and viscosity than I expected however the aromas and flavors are not light.  This has all the warming , sweetness and character of this fortified.  Another style that is not popular but once tried the wine tends to sell its self.  A plate of vintage cheddar, water crackers and dried muscatel grapes and watch this wine just disappear.

Other Wines (Not tasted)
2006 Burton’s Vineyard Grenache Shiraz ($A39.95)
2009 Centurion Old Vines Shiraz ($A59.95)


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McLaren Vale Wines – Minnow Creek Wines

13 11 2010

Minnow Creek Wines comes from 2 friends – Bill who as a businessman enjoyed his wine and thought it would be good to make some plus Tony who was a winemaker friend who had just finished with another winery.  So they got together and Minnow Creek was born.  They do not own any vineyards but instead look to get the best fruit that shows regional characters.  The wines are made at other wineries but under the instruction of Tony.  They try to source their wines from McLaren Vale, but have settled on Sauvignon Blanc from Adelaide Hills and the use of Langhorne Creek as a varietal supplement.

I found the use of wild yeast fermentation on small portions of their wines and then back blended to add complexity and textural feel to some of the wines.

The wines are value for money and I would recommend that one checks out the wines if you get a chance.  The wines are found in some Adelaide restaurants and bottle shops or you can get them on line at www.minnowcreekwines.com.au.

2009 “The Silver Minnow” Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon ($A17 or $A14 by the dozen)

The Semillon makes up a small proportion of the blend but is makes a big difference.  The reason for this is the Semillon has been fermented using wild yeasts in French oak.  The aromas are not over the top like a lot of Sauvignon Blanc’s can be and I get passionfruit and an interesting undertone of stone fruits.  The flavors are arranges in 3 waves.  The first is the immediate hit of tropical fruits, the second on the mid palate is a creaminess that suspect is coming from the oak treatment and then the third component is a strong acid finish that has a citrus feel.  I do not normally like Sauvignon Blanc, however this wine has interest and appeal – I even took a bottle home with me to have with Homemade Pesto Chicken Fettuccine.

2009 Rose ($A14 or $A12.50 by the dozen)

Yes – a dry style Rose wine (less than 5 g/L sugar) and made from Cabernet Sauvignon plus Sangiovese.  Interestingly a portion of the Sangiovese has been fermented with wild yeasts in 3 year old French oak Hogsheads.  The aromas are red berries (mainly cherries with some strawberries) and a creamy finish.  The flavours continue wiyh sour cherries and some earthiness from the Sangiovese.  All in all it is well balanced and would go well with a really creamy Brie on freshly baked crusty bread.

2008 “The Black Minnow” McLaren Vale Sangiovese / Cabernet / Malbec ($A17 or $A15 by the dozen)

This is the largest seller for Minnow Creek with this vintage receiving 4 stars from Winestate Magazine in their Regional McLaren Vale tasting.  The 2008 vintage was difficult and so sourcing quality fruit was also challenging – for this wine some of the grapes were sourced from Langhorne Creek.

The first thing that hit me when I got the glass near my nose was what appeared to me to be a bouquet of different herbs and then the cherries and rhubarb with an interesting dustyness in the background.  The were a ssoft balance of black fruits, anise, spice, soft acids and soft tannins.  It is easy to see this wine being very popular – particularly for the drink now cafe set.  A well made wine and well priced.  The wine would have gone well with the fantastic home made Lasagna my wife made a couple of days ago.

2007 Shiraz ($A24 or $A20 by the dozen)

There must be something right here as this wine won a trophy for the Dry Red Still Wine >$25 in the 2008 McLaren Vale Wine Show.  The wine is a single vineyard from Aldinga fruit with most of seeing 4 – 4 year old oak – both French & American.  The aromas start with black fruits and move into licorice wrapped in a cigar box.  The flavors were interesting as they are dominated by blackberry and not the usual plum and again with some cedary oak.  Nothing is out of balance here so I believe this wine is drinking well now.   There is a finesse here that is sometimes missing from the up front fruit and oak bombs that you sometimes see around.  The structure here means this wine would be at home being served with charred BBQ meats or with a pizza.

2008 Shiraz ($A24 or $A20 by the dozen)

Mostly made from the same vineyard fruit as the 2007 wine but so so different.  Here you immediately get the vanilla sweetness from the American oak.  This continues with aromas based on plums, blackberry & rhubarb.  Interestingly I got red and black fruits on the palate with the fruit and oak sweetness (again developed from the use of the American oak).  I felt the flavors were not as lingering as the 2007 Shiraz.  I can see a lot of people going for this wine even though it lacks the finesse of the 2007 wine.  This wine would go well with richer meat dishes or highly flavored Thai dishes such as Beef Massaman Curry.


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Lonely Grape TV Episode # 54 – 2 whites from somewhere else

26 10 2010

Today I am tasting a Clare Valley Riesling that was made in the Riverland and then a Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc from the Adelaide Hills that was made in McLaren Vale. Hove you enjoy.

Check out these wines and more from www.graysonline.com/wine.


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