Majella Malleea 2004
By Gary Walsh
I had not realised until now that Malleea has an extra ‘e’ in it. It works really well though as those two words have a lovely symmetry when put side by side (or juxtaposed if I wanted to be clever). Just like Cabernet and Shiraz do when put in the same bottle.
Aromas of black and red berries, licorice allsorts, bayleaf, spice, menthol and plenty of cedar oak. It’s a bit earthy and inky too - certainly a lot going on here. On the palate medium to full bodied and packed with fresh berries, cassis, aniseed, spice and cedar oak. Super fine ripe tannins. It’s very smooth and has a real sense of freshness and vibrancy. Beautifully weighted and balanced with a very long aftertaste of juicy berry fruit, aniseed and cedar flavours. Super wine.
Tasted : Jul07Alcohol : 14%
Price : $66
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2010 - 2024
Source : Winery Sample
Visit winery website
Print this article
Email this article
Kooyong Pinot Noir 2005
I like DIAM closures very much but they are very tricky to get back into the bottle. They bulge most uncomfortably in the middle when you try and stuff them back in - a bit like me trying to get into an old pair of pants…
Aromas of cherry, strawberry, soil, mushroom, rose and subtle spicy oak. On the palate medium bodied with cherry, strawberry, a light mineral earthiness and a touch of brown spice. Light fine grained tannin and tangy crisp acidity. Fresh and fine boned rather than fruity. It really flows along the palate in a most lovely gentle manner and finishes long and clean. It’s a really beautiful wine.
Other vintages reviewed : 2004
Tasted : Jul07Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $40
Closure : Diam
Drink : 2007 - 2014
Source : Winery Sample
Visit winery website
Print this article
Email this article
Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
By Gary Walsh
Bugger. I just atomised a Spiegelau Bordeaux glass. It’s the third this week including a Riedel Chianti and a humble ISO. I think I must have been spiked with the infamous “Clumsy Drug”.
Aromas of blackcurrant and red fruits, aniseed, gravel, black olive and cedar oak. Fine and fragrant. On the palate medium to full bodied with blackcurrant, redcurrant, tobacco and cedar oak flavour. Very tight with super clarity and definition. It has strong gravelly but very fine tannins and brisk fresh acidity. Super long red fruit and black olive finish. The quality and pedigree (along with the screwcap closure) almost guaranteeing that this will become one of the Coonawarra greats.
Other vintages reviewed : 1993, 2003, 1999, 1994
Tasted : Jul07Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $75
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2018 - 2030+
Source : Winery Sample
Visit winery website
Print this article
Email this article
Kooyong Massale Pinot Noir 2006
I have had very good experiences with the last few vintages of Massale by Kooyong. This is a good wine but it is a little different from previous releases. It shows the hot early vintage and reminds me a bit of some of the better 2003 red Burgundies.
A vivid clear red colour with aromas of cherry/raspberry, mineral, soil and subtle vanilla oak with a suggestion of licorice richness. No mistaking this for anything other than pinot. On the palate light to medium bodied with clear fresh cherry and raspberry, spice and mineral flavours. Very bright pippy acidity and light slightly sappy grainy tannins. Dry minerally finish. At this stage this is all about structure rather than fruit. It’s one for later rather than now.
Tasted : Jul07Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $28
Closure : Diam
Drink : 2009 - 2015
Source : Winery Sample
Visit winery website
Print this article
Email this article
Tyrrells Vat 63 Chardonnay Semillon 2006
What a good blend this is. The richness and softness of chardonnay cut with the clean fresh taste of semillon. It also has the advantage of being fairly low in alcohol. Not sure how much this cost because it rolled up unexpected and unannounced in a mixed dozen one day much like the dwarves in “The Hobbit”. One of the happy advantages of being a forgetful Private Bin member.
Aromas of peach, lime, struck flint and a whisper of spicy vanilla oak. On the palate light to medium bodied with fresh hard pineapple, lime and peach with a little mineral and faint spiced oak. Very clean refreshing flavours combined with considerable finesse, balance and length make for a wine that is an absolute pleasure to drink.
Tasted : Jul07Alcohol : 13%
Price : $17.50
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2007 - 2012
Source : Cellar Door
Visit winery website
Print this article
Email this article
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Single Vineyard Johnson’s Block Shiraz Cabernet 2004 ($35) screwcap:
You need a subscription to The Wine Front to see this part of the post
Print this article
Email this article
Inkwell McLaren Vale Shiraz 2005
Dudley Brown and his wife Karen arrived in McLaren Vale ex-California in 2003 set on raising their children in a decent place, but also on making a site-driven, single vineyard wine. They bought an established vineyard and have put extensive work and expertise into it. The first release comes from the grapes they salvaged for themselves - the rest of the harvest was sold off to a larger company. Only 200 cases of this wine were made. They utilised open-top fermenters, a basket press, and have matured it in all French oak, only 40% of it new. In other words, they have done everything right.
You need a subscription to The Wine Front to see this part of the post
Price : $25Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2007 - 2012
Print this article
Email this article
Moss Wood Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
You need a subscription to The Wine Front to see this part of the post
Price : $100Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2015 - 2022
Visit winery website
Print this article
Email this article
Moss Wood Margaret River Chardonnay 2006 ($55) screwcap:
You need a subscription to The Wine Front to see this part of the post
Print this article
Email this article
Zema Estate Family Selection Shiraz 2004
This not what you would normally expect of Coonawarra shiraz and I reckon some will go nuts over it. I prefer a lighter style myself (or the brilliant Cabernet sibling) but there is no denying the quality here. Release date is 1st August.
Aromas of Muscatel raisin, blackberry, vanilla, licorice, chocolate and black pepper. Big sweet and spicy. On the palate full bodied with flavours of blackberry, raisin, spice, vanilla and chocolate. Very fine dry tannins, clean acidity and some warm alcohol. Finishes with excellent length of flavour with a spicy chocolate aftertaste. It’s big and luscious but retains a fine sense of balance. Pretty impressive wine.
Tasted : Jul07Alcohol : 15.5%
Price : $45
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2007 - 2014
Source : Winery Sample
Visit winery website
Print this article
Email this article
Contributors
-
Double Take
Next Double Take :
Howard Park Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2005
