I have gone to a stars rating system which appears at the end of each review; here’s how those stars break down:
This is the release that comes from a land down under (“where woman glow and men plunder”) … not much else to say after that except: here are my picks from this release …
Wines from the land Down Under …
Thorne-Clarke 2008 Shotfire Shiraz ($23.95 – #018796) - dark purple in colour with pepper on the nose, the palate really shines here: dark chocolate, plum, white pepper, a bit of grit on the tongue, but it’s mostly big fruit and bit pepper with finesse and a long finish. (*****)
Torbreck 2006 Old Vines Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre ($20.95 - #010223) – a nice mineral, coffee, woodsy, peppery, blackberry wine that delivers all that on the nose and as well as the palate. (****½)
Ben Glaetzer 2007 Wallace Shiraz/Grenache ($24.95 - #047605) plum and cherry fruit, easy going down. (****)
Gemtree Vineyards 2007 Uncut Shiraz ($24.95 - #627844) – this Shiraz is loaded with finesse and mineral; white pepper, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, with excellent mouth feel and length on the finish. Not your typical jammy Shiraz – over time this one evolves well. (****½)
Shaw & Smith 2008 Sauvignon Blanc ($24.95 – #965335) – lemony-citrus with nice bracing acidity. (***½)
Tamar Ridge 2007 Pinot Noir, Kayena Vineyard ($26.95 - #962415) – What a gorgeous example of Pinot, from Tasmania no less. Soft fruit with cherry, raspberry and floral aromas; palate is fruit driven with a touch of earth and mineral – delicate and balanced, especially for a Pinot with such elevated alcohol (14%). (****½)
Tamar Ridge 2008 Devil’s Corner Riesling ($18.95) – from the same winery, this is a nice cool climate Riesling that has crisp acidity, petrol, apple, pear and peach; seems simple at first but develops nicely in the mouth. (****½)
Ports for All …
Croft Pink ($19.95 - #140871) – this one is for the youngsters who are not into Port wines, yet: sweet pink cherries (very Shirley Temple-esque) with a slight spice note; quite interesting. (****)
Quinta do Noval Tawny Port ($18.95 - #141119) – black cherry and chocolate with a light spice and delicious smoothness. (****)
Offley Barao de Forrester 10 Years Old Tawny Port ($24.95 - #260091) sweet marmalade, cherry and quite alcoholic; spiced cinnamon finish. (****)
Ferreira 2000 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($19.95 - #675751) – chocolaty rich, and smooth with lots of cherry and plum. (****½)
Sandeman Vau Vintage Port 2000 ($29.95 - #973768) – smooth dark fruit, plum, cherry, chocolate with a long finish; this is a great price for a vintage Port that’s easily a cellar candidate. (****½)
Argentina – Red …
Trivento 2007 Amado Sur ($16.95 - #037036) – spicy, toasty flavours with a mix of blackberry and pepper. (****)
Chile – White …
Casa Lapostelle 2009 Sauvignon Blanc ($13.95 - #396994) – zesty and racy nose with a grapefruit, citrus palate, there’s good acidity backing this one up. (****)
Germany – White …
Dr. Loosen 2008 Dr. L Riesling ($13.95 - #599274) – this is always a good bargain of a wine: delicious apple, a touch of sweetness and some lemon lime on the finish. (****)
Max Ferd. Richter 1992 Riesling Spatlese ($23.95 - #140780) – this 17 year old wine still smells fresh, apple, peach and honeyed petrol notes with a long finish, yummy. (****½)
Italy – Red …
(Tuscany)
La Vite Lucente 2007 ($39.95 - #747030) – big acidity and tannins with lots of dark fruit and a long finish. (****)
South Africa – Red …
Café Culture 2009 Pinotage ($13.95 - #072710) – this is the coffee lovers wine, what it says on the label you get in the glass. (****)
Spain – Red …
Papa Luna 2007 ($16.95 - #039883) – last year’s was better but this one is still very good; black and red fruit, nice tannins, smoky and spicy with mocha notes on the finish; all at a great price. (****)
United States – Red …
(California)
Belle Glos 2007 Meiomi ($27.95 - #130138) – nice mix of flavours: earthy, black fruit, smoked-café with a smoky-earthy finish. (****)
Huntington 2007 California Series Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #994491) – smooth, juicy blackberry, nice tannins and easy drinking; there’s also a nice hint of chocolate on the finish. (****½)
Grape Guy Top 3 … what I’ll be lining up for on October 24, 2009:
Thorne-Clarke 2008 Shotfire Shiraz ($23.95 – #018796) – Australia
Max Ferd. Richter 1992 Riesling Spatlese ($23.95 - #140780) – Germany
Papa Luna 2007 ($16.95 - #039883) – Spain
BONUS: Gemtree Vineyards 2007 Uncut Shiraz ($24.95 - #627844) - Australia
Happy Shopping.
5 = Outstanding … 4.5 = Excellent … 4 = Very Good … 3.5 = Good … 3 = Average
I’m always looking for good values and I’m not afraid to give or take away a half mark for it – I’ll let you know when I’ve done so.This is the release that comes from a land down under (“where woman glow and men plunder”) … not much else to say after that except: here are my picks from this release …
Wines from the land Down Under …
Thorne-Clarke 2008 Shotfire Shiraz ($23.95 – #018796) - dark purple in colour with pepper on the nose, the palate really shines here: dark chocolate, plum, white pepper, a bit of grit on the tongue, but it’s mostly big fruit and bit pepper with finesse and a long finish. (*****)
Torbreck 2006 Old Vines Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre ($20.95 - #010223) – a nice mineral, coffee, woodsy, peppery, blackberry wine that delivers all that on the nose and as well as the palate. (****½)
Ben Glaetzer 2007 Wallace Shiraz/Grenache ($24.95 - #047605) plum and cherry fruit, easy going down. (****)
Gemtree Vineyards 2007 Uncut Shiraz ($24.95 - #627844) – this Shiraz is loaded with finesse and mineral; white pepper, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, with excellent mouth feel and length on the finish. Not your typical jammy Shiraz – over time this one evolves well. (****½)
Shaw & Smith 2008 Sauvignon Blanc ($24.95 – #965335) – lemony-citrus with nice bracing acidity. (***½)
Tamar Ridge 2007 Pinot Noir, Kayena Vineyard ($26.95 - #962415) – What a gorgeous example of Pinot, from Tasmania no less. Soft fruit with cherry, raspberry and floral aromas; palate is fruit driven with a touch of earth and mineral – delicate and balanced, especially for a Pinot with such elevated alcohol (14%). (****½)
Tamar Ridge 2008 Devil’s Corner Riesling ($18.95) – from the same winery, this is a nice cool climate Riesling that has crisp acidity, petrol, apple, pear and peach; seems simple at first but develops nicely in the mouth. (****½)
Ports for All …
Croft Pink ($19.95 - #140871) – this one is for the youngsters who are not into Port wines, yet: sweet pink cherries (very Shirley Temple-esque) with a slight spice note; quite interesting. (****)
Quinta do Noval Tawny Port ($18.95 - #141119) – black cherry and chocolate with a light spice and delicious smoothness. (****)
Offley Barao de Forrester 10 Years Old Tawny Port ($24.95 - #260091) sweet marmalade, cherry and quite alcoholic; spiced cinnamon finish. (****)
Ferreira 2000 Late Bottled Vintage Port ($19.95 - #675751) – chocolaty rich, and smooth with lots of cherry and plum. (****½)
Sandeman Vau Vintage Port 2000 ($29.95 - #973768) – smooth dark fruit, plum, cherry, chocolate with a long finish; this is a great price for a vintage Port that’s easily a cellar candidate. (****½)
Argentina – Red …
Trivento 2007 Amado Sur ($16.95 - #037036) – spicy, toasty flavours with a mix of blackberry and pepper. (****)
Chile – White …
Casa Lapostelle 2009 Sauvignon Blanc ($13.95 - #396994) – zesty and racy nose with a grapefruit, citrus palate, there’s good acidity backing this one up. (****)
Germany – White …
Dr. Loosen 2008 Dr. L Riesling ($13.95 - #599274) – this is always a good bargain of a wine: delicious apple, a touch of sweetness and some lemon lime on the finish. (****)
Max Ferd. Richter 1992 Riesling Spatlese ($23.95 - #140780) – this 17 year old wine still smells fresh, apple, peach and honeyed petrol notes with a long finish, yummy. (****½)
Italy – Red …
(Tuscany)
La Vite Lucente 2007 ($39.95 - #747030) – big acidity and tannins with lots of dark fruit and a long finish. (****)
South Africa – Red …
Café Culture 2009 Pinotage ($13.95 - #072710) – this is the coffee lovers wine, what it says on the label you get in the glass. (****)
Spain – Red …
Papa Luna 2007 ($16.95 - #039883) – last year’s was better but this one is still very good; black and red fruit, nice tannins, smoky and spicy with mocha notes on the finish; all at a great price. (****)
United States – Red …
(California)
Belle Glos 2007 Meiomi ($27.95 - #130138) – nice mix of flavours: earthy, black fruit, smoked-café with a smoky-earthy finish. (****)
Huntington 2007 California Series Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.95 - #994491) – smooth, juicy blackberry, nice tannins and easy drinking; there’s also a nice hint of chocolate on the finish. (****½)
Grape Guy Top 3 … what I’ll be lining up for on October 24, 2009:
Thorne-Clarke 2008 Shotfire Shiraz ($23.95 – #018796) – Australia
Max Ferd. Richter 1992 Riesling Spatlese ($23.95 - #140780) – Germany
Papa Luna 2007 ($16.95 - #039883) – Spain
BONUS: Gemtree Vineyards 2007 Uncut Shiraz ($24.95 - #627844) - Australia
Happy Shopping.
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