Chateau Sociando Mallet 2003

I had intended to grab a bottle of 2003 Grand Puy Lacoste but I could not pry the wooden case open using only my bare hands - not for want of trying - so I grabbed this Haut Medoc instead. I am a bugger for trying stuff as soon as I can. I like to form my own opinion of them as young wines. It is costly and most likely foolish but sometimes someone has to take one for the team. The last Sociando I had recently was the ‘85 which at twenty years is still drinking very well.

Aromas of blackberry/raspberry, mineral, flowers, aniseed and toasty pencilly oak. Nice smelling wine. On the palate flavours of blackberry/raspberry, cedar, pencil and a handful of dried herbs. Fine but firm strong tannins and quite fresh and lively. Linear palate - no flush of fruit or fatness. Strong finish. This should turn out to be a beauty.

Tasted : Aug06
Alcohol : 13%
Price : $70
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2013 - 2023+
Source : www.winestar.com.au

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Hillcrest Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

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Price : $37
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Henschke Eden Valley Mount Edelstone Shiraz 2003

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Price : $95
Closure : Screwcap
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Haselgrove McLaren Vale MVS Chardonnay 2004

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Price : $15
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2005 - 2006
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Haselgrove McLaren Vale HRS Reserve Shiraz 2003

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Price : $25
Closure : Cork
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Meerea Park Cabernet Merlot 2003

I have been a bit tardy getting a note up on this wine. It has been in the inbox for a while and now it is in the outbox. I would have loved to have been a bureaucrat - especially if it involved using a big stamp that says ‘TASTED’ and then I could fill in the date and stuff. That would be exciting.

This has a certain cool blackcurrant/blackberry aroma with mint, cedar and tobacco. On the palate medium bodied with smooth fine grained tannins and flavours of blackcurrant, chocolate, tobacco and mint. Finishes with firm creamy tannins and a tobacco and blackcurrant aftertaste. This has excellent poise and balance. A lovely and very affordable cabernet.

Tasted : Aug06
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $20
Closure : Diam
Drink : 2006 - 2009
Source : Winery Sample
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Brokenwood Beechworth Pinot Noir 2005

The fruit is from young vines with the first crop in 2002. If you are into these sorts of things I might mention that this undergoes a cold soak with about 10% whole bunches. No post ferment maceration. Oak maturation in mainly old French. Clones are 114, 115 and MV6. My problem is that when I think of Beechworth these days (as I often don’t) I usually find myself thinking of shiraz.

Full red colour. Aromas of dark cherry/plum, cola, earth and a touch of spicy cinnamon/vanilla oak. Attractive smelling wine - a bit like a lighter Central Otago number. On the palate medium bodied with dark cherry, spice and warm brandy snap flavours. Loose knit lightly sandy tannins and good length of flavour. This is a good wine and I like it a lot but in the increasingly crowded “I’ve got twenty bucks to spend and I want a good pinot” market it faces some pretty stiff competition.

Tasted : Aug06
Alcohol : 14%
Price : $24
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2006 - 2009
Source : Winery Sample
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Montana Pinot Noir 2005

I have had a fair few vintages of the standard Montana pinot over the years and reckon that this is one of the better ones. Some years are a little tough and green but this one is pretty good. Contrary to the opinion of many I think that Marlborough does a good line in pinot - often better than some of the more glamorous NZ regions.

This is light red in colour and smells fresh and sappy with red fruit, tamarillo and light veneer of spicy oak. A light bodied palate with tart and tangy slightly herbal red fruit flavours, dry light grainy tannins and a dry finish. It tastes like a pinot and I used the word light at least four times (well five if you count that one) which I think is a rather good thing. I’d be pretty happy with my purchase if I grabbed a bottle to drink over dinner on a school night.

Tasted : Aug06
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $17.99
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2006 - 2008
Source : Winery Sample
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Hanging Rock Heathcote Shiraz 2002

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Price : $55
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2006 - 2012
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Groom Barossa Valley Shiraz 2004

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Alcohol : 13.8%
Price : $55
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2006 - 2013
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