Bright cherry red. Light, medium bodied. Ripe cherries and ripe strawberries - with hints of "strawberries and cream" confection; predominant sweet musk and rosy floral aspects throughout the wine; a touch of caramel oak complimenting with cocoa texture and flavour; forest floor freshness. Acid driven but fully encapsulated. Very fine, drying, talc-like tannins open with air providing grip and control, and drive a lingering finish. Elegant; a leaner style but not thin, particularly with its controlled juiciness on the front and middle palate, and good depth and intensity throughout the wine. Balanced and focussed. A charming Pinot Noir that laughs at its price. Calling for a rich sauce. Needs another year to reach its peak and will remain there for another three. 17/20, 90/100. $8.33 (no this is not a misprint). Edges out the 2006 Long Flat Destinations Pinot Noir as the best under $15 Pinot Noir going around, and would sit comfortably at $20-$22.
2003 Mike Press Merlot - Adelaide Hills - 13.5%
Blood red. Medium bodied. Plums, cocoa, hints of coffee and nuances of fruitcake. Generous and sweetly flavoured, but seriously structured with pleasing firmness. Ripe, powdery, slightly chalky tannins are prominent from the end of the front palate but are always carrying the wine's rich, dark earth, flavours. This is what Merlot is all about - no blending required thank you! A rich, dry finish of good length. Food and a little more time in the cellar would be appreciated. A house wine for Right Bank lovers. 16.8/20, 89/100. $8.33, this wine would hold its own against Petaluma!
2003 Mike Press Cabernet Sauvignon - Adelaide Hills - 13.5%
Blood red. Medium bodied. Developed, harmonious and slightly savoury mulberries with blackcurrant, plums, dark chocolate and sweet peppermint. This wine has really opened up over the last 6 hours. Ripe, sumptuous but still controlled with supple, fine, slightly drying tannins, which start relatively early on the palate but carry the flavours exceptionally well. Tobacco has opened prominently throughout the wine. Good length with lingering, ripe but drying finish. Probably drinking at its peak now, but another year or two could provide pleasing results. 16.5/20, 88/100. $8.33.
I have previously written up the 2005 Mike Press Shiraz with the following tasting vibe:
Now I was never going to go gaga over the wine as 14+% alcohol wines are not my cup of tea, but this wine is still very impressive at the price for what it is.
No doubt it is sweet and quite dark, but it definitely has enough sweet spices and fine grained tannin to provide wonderful balance. There is superb acid in there too - totally undetectable on the palate but control that this wine displays does not occur unless a wine has it. Yes, the sweet flavours are quite exotic like Gavin describes... but a sweet flavour profile is, for the most part, a sweet flavour profile to me. It is about what else the wine has inside... and this wine does convey an elegance that is true to its region. The length is very good but I would not go as far to say “length to burnâ€Â
and there are no holes on the palate. The alcohol sticks out a bit upon opening but as I write and taste, the fruit overtakes it. No, it is not a big bruiser, full/medium bodied at largest. In a sentence, it is generous with good line from start to finish with enough elegance and control for an educated palate to enjoy what they are drinking. It will improve over the next 2-4 years. 17.5/20, 91/100; at $11 it is absolutely fantastic value. In fact, I can’t remember a better Australian Shiraz so good at this price level.
Similar to a few others' experiences, I have since had a bottle not as pleasing as the above, but I still recommend the wine with the same enthusiasm and encourage letting the wine sit in the cellar for 3-6 months before opening. Recently bottled wines can, unfortunately, display considerable variation... but this wine has the goods!
Kind regards,
Adair
