2002 Brothers In Arms Shiraz Tasting Notes

This has been sitting in the cellar with its twin 'Brother' for long enough; although the back label says hang on for up to 20 years tonight was the night.

This is another Langhorne Creek wine that happily sails under the radar and excels in all respects. We bought this wine at way less than $40 at the time and it is still available online from the winery at not much more. Not a bad prospect because it now has some age and is perfectly ready to drink right now. Langhorne Creek area is seriously under threat from lack of water so you should make an effort to get your hands on some LC wines before you miss out.

This has a colour of deep red with just a touch of brick appearing.
The nose has dark chocolate, stewed plums and rich, sweet vanillan oak.
Palate has the chocolate, vanillan oak, plums and lovely soft spices and sweet fruit. Soft, savoury tannins gently coat the mouth, and the 15% alcohol is perfectly hidden. There is a supple and silky texture and the finish is smooth, rich and long.

In the 2007 Australian Wine Companion James Halliday writes ' Deep dense red-purple; layer upon layer of black cherry, plum, bitter chocolate, ripe tannins and oak-carries the 15% alcohol very well. 95 points.'

So it has moved on over the years from the the purple colour and black cherry and ripe tannins to the beautiful example of Langhorne Creek shiraz that it now is. Many of the back labels of our Aussie wines suggest cellaring for up to 10 and 20 years and sometimes more. I suggest that, unless perfectly cellared, go a little early rather than late.

2007 Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting Notes

Just another Margaret River Cabernet from the 2007 vintage that, although not rated as a 'best ever' vintage, is nonetheless turning up some extraordinary wines. The bonus for us lovers of cab and cab blends is that several of these wines are on sale at less than $30, this wine at less than $20. The other advantage is that, generally speaking, they will improve in your cellar for at least another 10 years.

Ringbolt is actually from the giant Yalumba stable although you would not find out by reading the label.

Colour is deep plummy red. The nose has blackberry, cedar, some savoury spice with oak in the background. There is a lovely tinge of violets overlaying all of these.
The palate is medium to full bodied, elegant and smooth. a lovely mouthfeel with all of the above and the bonus of a long and satisfying finish. The tannins are fine grained, smooth and mouth coating, providing the structure and balance that sets this number apart. There is also an alluring savoury edge to the wine that adds another appeal to every mouthful.

In the 2010 'Australian Wine Companion ' James Halliday writes "A poised bouquet of cassis and cedar and a lovely note of violets; equally as attractive on the palate, the balance between fruit, acid, oak and tannin is impeccable; very long and varietal, with refreshing tannin and fruit. 95 pts."

After reading Halliday you can go back to the wine and certainly find the cassis (ribena)

This wine has flown in somewhat under the radar so my advice is get yourself some while the price is still under $20. After Halliday awarded 97 points to the Forest Hill Cabernet it suddenly became hard to find, and also suddenly jumped from $20 to $30, an overnight rise of 50%. I have managed to get some of the Forest Hill and will review it on the next blog.

Voyager Estate Girt By Sea Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2007 Tasting Notes

Huon Hooke's SMH wine of the week this week is the Voyager Estate Girt By Sea Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2007. Huon writes:

'Long-serving winemaker Cliff Royle and viticulturist Steve James made a great double act at Voyager, until Royle departed recently. But he's left this gem as his legacy. It's a seriously good red and great value at the price.

Quality cabernet aromas of blackberry and blackcurrant laced with spice; oak is barely perceptible and the fruit does the talking. It's deep and elegant with fine balance and intensity. Markedly varietal but properly ripe and of pristine quality. From a very successful red year in the Margaret River region. Drink now to 15 years-plus. 94/100.

Food - Pink roast leg of lamb; vitello tonnato; casseroled kid; hard cheeses such as parmesan, compte and cheddar.

Mt Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Shiraz 2003 Tasting Notes

You know which your favourite wines are when you are always looking for an excuse to bring one out of the cellar for some dinner guests.

This was tasted with said guests, and a seasoned webber roasted whole fillet of beef accompanied by a roast vegetable one-pot.

The wine is deep red in colour and has a nose of earth, leather, spices and blackberry.
The palate is surprisingly elegant, but with wonderful structure and texture. It has all the above spice, leather, earth and blackberries, overlaid with fine grained tannins. The finish is long, luscious, graceful and velvety. Alcohol at 14.5% is in harmony with the whole.

This is just another in the long line of Maurice O'Sheas that are a sheer joy to drink. Sure there has been some vintage variation over the years (James Halliday in his Wine Companion once pointed it higher than Grange), however these wines are really the very essence of Hunter Valley and a perfectly true reflection of that region.

Wanted Man Shiraz/Dolcetto 2006 Tasting Notes

This was tasted recently Prior to a dinner, so it was quite a price to pay for a pre- dinner quaff.

The colour is deep crimson with purple hue. Nose has some pretty evident sweet vanillan oak right up front which might need some time to get soaked up by the fruit. There are some plums, jube-like blueberry, and some pleasant soft spices.
The palate reflects the nose; there is a little raspberry/lolly note, as well as some lovely soft tannins and the finish is quite long. Alcohol is not an issue, at 13.8% and quite restrained (for the Heathcote area).

While very enjoyable to drink, I would question the rather high price tag on this wine. This probably needs to left alone in the cellar for a couple more years to see what happens.