Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 1987

It’s not enough for an old wine to simply present as ‘fresh’ – though it’s always impressive when you come across it. That said, this is incredibly fresh for a chardonnay that is twenty years old.

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Olssen Bass Hill Vineyard Carmenère 2006

This is thought to be the first commercial release of Carmenère in Australia with a production of 150 dozen. It tastes like Carmenère too although better than some of the Chilean examples I have had recently - a little cleaner and fruitier. I also admired the bottle for an unusually long time too. Very nice packaging.

A typical mix of dried herb, spice, ash and volcanic rocks with bright red fruit and some vanilla oak. On the palate medium bodied with fresh red cherry, spiced red jelly, dried herb and subtle oak in support. It has fine light dry tannins, clean acidity and feels nice and airy in the mouth. Good juicy finish. No heat or heaviness. I think this is a really good drink.

De Bortoli Gulf Station Shiraz Viognier 2006

Better than the 2005 I think.

Very fragrant offering a mix of sweet small berries, pepper, grilled meat and an aniseed perfume. On the palate medium bodied and a little more serious than first impressions suggest. It’s meaty, spicy and peppery with tangy red berries, stalks and a little dollop of vanilla oak. Dry and lightly grippy tannins coupled with sappy acid give this real vigour and energy in the mouth. Finishes dry and long with a redcurrant and dried herb aftertaste. How do they do it at the price?

Other vintages : 2005

Plantagenet Omrah Shiraz 2005

I was tasting this alongside a Shiraz Viognier and thought ’stuff me if this does not have a bit of Viognier in it too’ ..and so it does. I looked it up. Only three percent mind you..but that’s enough to swing an election (and don’t try saying that if you have a lisp).

Ripe juicy and sweet berries, licorice, pepper, spice, vanilla and some BBQ meat. A heady mix of sweet and spicy. On the palate medium bodied with flavours of cherry jam, berries, pepper and a little stalkiness to straighten things out. It has a slippery glycerine texture with fine powdery tannins that move along real nice and easy. Closes with a sweet cherry and dried herb aftertaste and a little dustpan of tannins to clean up the finish. Pretty delicious and pretty good value too.

Orlando Gramp’s Grenache 2006

I like Australian Grenache a fair bit and sometimes prefer it to Shiraz. This style of wine makes for a very jolly BBQ drink in my opinion. Goes well with a sausage sandwich (slice of white bread folded in half enfolding slightly burnt sausage squirted with sauce - BBQ, HP, Chilli or Tomato - I am not fussy) which is one of my very favourite foods.

A bit cosmetic but offers juicy red fruit, red licorice, pepper and a floral lift. On the palate medium bodied with sweet red fruit and more meaty peppery flavours. It has good shape courtesy of light dry raspy tannins and clean acidity. Finishes with a bit of grip and a red fruit and dried herb aftertaste. Good quaffing with a bit of character.

d’Arenberg “The Custodian” Grenache 2005

I’d normally let this one go through to the keeper but think I’ll try knocking out a note in record time.

Colour looks a bit developed. Smells of ripe red fruits, raw meat, some licorice and earth. On the palate medium bodied with flavours of sweet red fruits, earth and a little spice. It has light but dry tannin and some slightly intrusive spirity alcohol. Finishes up a little metallic but fairly fresh. A nice enough drink but based on this bottle probably not one of the best vintages of Custodian.

Other vintages : 2004, 2004

Helen’s Hill Pinot Noir 2006

This Helen’s Hill pinot noir caught me by surprise. I tasted it with its identity masked and then again with dinner, and on both occasions it stood out for its elegant sense of flavour and structure; I dare say it will be a beauty when it reaches maturity in a few years.

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