The nose suggests a fruit bomb with big but simple aromas of plum, blueberry and vanilla. More sweet dark fruits follow on the palate, but this is a bit more restrained than I'd expected with medium body, good acidity and a silky texture. Pleasant wine to sip on its own and with pizza, but nothing particularly distinctive or memorable.
2007 Steve Bird Big Barrel Pinot Noir Old Schoolhouse Vyd (Marlborough, NZ)
Miracle discovery here - this is a ~$20 Pinot that tastes fantastic and is under screwcap!
Clear ruby red colour with a lovely nose showing sweet red fruited flavours, earth and hints of cinnamon and clove. Silky and medium bodied on the palate with bright acidity giving it lift and flavours of strawberry, black cherry and spices. Finishes elegant and clean, and I was surprised to find the label indicating 14.5% alcohol (as it feels far lighter without any sense of heat).2006 Torzi Matthews "Schist Rock" Shiraz (Eden Valley)
This is what happens when Garagiste REALLY nails it. Bought a couple of bottles of this from them over a year ago in one of Jon Rimmerman's "Deal of the Year!" emails where he raved and raved about this wine and his descriptors sounded like something I'd love to drink. When I finally got my hands on it last year, I cracked one and immediately went 'wow!', drank through my other bottles in no time and started hunting for more. This has fabulous spicy aromatics that can be smelled from a couple of feet away - initially this is all white pepper and cinnamon with some smoky notes. With time the spicy character becomes a little restrained and pure red and dark fruits, tar and floral elements emerge on the nose and palate. Silky in texture with bright acidity, plenty of complexity and depth and a clean medium-long finish. The best bottle of this I've had so far, really delicious and I'm glad there's still some more left.
2006 Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz (Western Cape)
Clear dark red in colour with a nose that brings a Cornas to mind with aromas of meat, leather, funky earthy notes and dark fruits with faintly herbaceous elements underneath. Medium bodied on the palate with high acidity, silky tannins and dark fruits, dusty earth, leather and tobacco leaf flavours. Finishes a little short, but at the price no complaints.
2003 McWilliams Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon (Hunter Valley)
Mmm, Aussie Semillon.
This has a great nose combining youthful fruit with the beginnings of developed/aged flavours, showing citrus fruits, lemongrass, herbs, flowers, lanolin and faintly toasty notes. The palate shows similar flavours with a medium bodied, creamy mouthfeel and bright acidity underneath. Finishes clean with medium length. Lovely wine with lots of depth and complexity and a reminder that I really need to drink more Semillon.2005 Seppelt Mount Ida Heathcote Shiraz (Heathcote)
Decanted three hours before serving and shows a fabulous nose of plums, blackberries, violets, earth, smoke and leather. In the mouth this combines power with precision and elegance, showing rich red and dark fruit flavours over savoury meaty and smoky notes with chewy tannins and lifting acidity. Seamless and elegant with great length. Outstanding.