Tayls and Tribulations
Still maturing
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Slainte
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Vale: A Final Word
- 2006 Geoff Merrill G&W Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2007 Geoff Merrill Wickham Park Merlot
- 2008 Geoff Merrill Fleurieu Cabernet Shiraz
- 2008 Kay Brothers The Cuthbert Cabernet Sauvignon - STANDOUT
- 2008 Kay Brothers Basket Pressed Merlot
- 2008 Kay Brothers Basket Pressed Cabernet/Merlot
- 2008 Maxwell Wines Lime Cave Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2008 Maxwell Wines Little Demon Cabernet/Merlot
- 2007 Mitolo Serpico Cabernet Sauvignon - STANDOUT
- 2009 Wirra Wirra Sparrows Lodge Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2010 Wirra Wirra Original Blend Grenache Shiraz - great qwoffer [honourable mention]
- 2009 Penny's Hill Grenache - Fleshy, sea salt and summer fruits
- 2009 Chapel Hill Old Bush Vine Grenache - dried apricots, light confectionary
- 2009 Kay Brothers Grenache - fairy floss, confectionary, lovely tannins and clean finish [GREAT DROP]
- 2009 Shingleback Red Knot Grenache - Limestone & Orange
- 2009 Maximus Cadenzia GSM - This is featuring on the PM's table [TOP PICK]
- 2008 d'Arenberg Ironstone Pressing GSM - Love to see in 5-10 [honourable mention]
- 2007 Yangarra High Sands Grenache - I can't believe there is no oak! [GREAT DROP]
- d'Arenberg
- Samuel's Gorge
- Chapel Hill, and
- Woodstock
Another Day in the Vale
- 2010 DogRidge The Pup Sparkling Chardonnay
- 2010 DogRidge Moscato
- 2010 Geoff Merrill Bush Vine Grenache Rosé
- 2010 Paxton Shiraz Rosé
- 2010 Scarpantoni Ceres Gamay Rosé
- NV Scarpantoni Fleurieu Sparkling Red
- NV Scarpantoni Black Tempest
- 2009 Mitolo Jester Cabernet Sauvignon - slight grippiness to the tannins, menthol, stewed oranges
- 2009 Penny's Hill Cabernet Sauvignon - great length, fruit cake
- 2009 Kangarilla Rd Cabernet Sauvignon - well structured lines, great tannin and length with the signature mid palate fruit
- 2009 Woodstock Cabernet Sauvignon - Savoury, tobacco, definitive oak
- 2009 Chapel Hill The Chosen Cabernet Sauvignon - Dark, brooding, ripe fruits [honourable mention]
- 2009 Shingleback 'D' Block Cabernet Sauvignon - Chunky fruit, dark ruby colour, mintiness [honourable mention]
- 2009 Wirra Wirra The Angelus Cabernet Sauvignon - Cedar Wood, brambly fruit [Best of Class]
- 2003 Geoff Merrill Pimpala Vineyard Cabernet Merlot - Greenery/Shrubs, oaky, aged and still going. [Great Drop]
5 years in Air Force, 50 in the Wine Industry
Following on, the first afternoon in McLaren Vale tour was started with Shiraz and Shiraz Blends Tasting at Kangarilla Road. 40 different samples from the region where on show, further to those that stood out in the Master Class, my picks were:
- 2009 d'Arenberg Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier
- 2008 d'Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz
- 2008 d'Arenberg d'Arry's Original Shiraz Grenache
- 2005 Geoff Merrill Reserve Shiraz
- 2008 Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz
- 2008 Kay Brothers Basket Pressed Shiraz
- 2008 Maxwell Ellen Street Shiraz
- 2008 Mitolo Jester Shiraz
- 2009 Mitolo Savitar Shiraz
- 2009 Paxton MV Shiraz
- 2009 Paxton AAA Shiraz Grenache
- 2009 Penny's Hill The Skeleton Key' Shiraz
- 2007 Yangarra Ironheart Shiraz
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The First Morning
- 2008 DogRidge CADENZiA Grenache
- 2008 Chapel Hill McLaren Vale Bush Vine Grenache
- 2009 d'Arenberg The Cadenzia GSM
- 2008 Yangarra Old Vine Grenache, and
- 2008 Yangarra Cadenzia (GSM).
"Cadenzia - n. A creative and individual expression of McLaren Vale Grenache made by an inspired winemaker to demonstrate harmony, excitement and energy.
McLaren Vale’s CADENZIA project makes music from Grenache. Great composers like Beethoven and Bach often left gaps in their sheet music, where the lead soloist could play a Cadenza, letting go some heartfelt improvisation before returning to the score.
At the end of vintage, McLaren Vale’s winemakers look away from the score and infuse some virtuoso interplay with Grenache, each blending something that’s rhythmically driving: CADENZIA. Music you can drink."
Really the Cadenzia project is one of those organised things that define a region, a deliberate pursuit of an expression of place and style. Similarly, for Shiraz, McLaren Vale has recently launched the Scarce Earth project. And although these great wines weren't on the schedule, a Shiraz Master Class was -- off to
On show turned out to be (with my notes of curiosity):
2006 Ulithorne Frux Frugis Shiraz - Aged Release (Feb 2009), Graceful
2008 Mitolo GAM Shiraz - Made by Ben Glaetzer
2008 Maximus Shiraz - Colour & Blackcurrant
2008 DogRidge Shirtfront Shiraz - Surprise Find
2008 Paxton Jones Block Vineyard Shiraz - Great Savoury Drop
2008 Woodstock The Stocks - Great one to age, Nearly get splinters
2008 d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz - Well known, Greatness
2008 Chapel Hill Vicar - Could've sworn it was a Grenache... Apricots
2009 Maxwell Silver Hammer - Ripper food wine
2009 Shingleback The Gate - Taste directly follows nose
2009 Wirra Wirra Woodhenge Shiraz - Another great Foody; and
2009 Yangarra - Perfume and Purple.
You can see how detailed tasting notes could get lost! If I had to pick the top 5... Shirtfront, Silver Hammer, The Stocks, Vicar & Dead Arm with honourable mentions to GAM, Woodhenge and Maximus.
Well it was now 1225 on Day 1, and time to head for the burgeoning varieties tasting at Chapel Hill. The highlights were:
2010 Coriole Sangiovese
Thursday, May 12, 2011
One Thing Leads To Another...
- Ancient Rocks,
- Sand and Sandstone
- Limestone Country,
- Clay Plains of Aldinga,
- The Piedmont,
- Talus Slope, and
- Alluvial Flats.