Picked up at 10:00 after a pretty good breakfast.
Only 6 of us in the tour group, so very roomy and relaxed. Optimal size for a tour group?
First stop was Xanadu (www.xanaduwines.com)
8 wines on for tasting. Prior to tasting the senior attendant (ouch) gave us a detailed lesson on how to hold the wine glass, how to sniff and swirl, and how to taste a generous mouthful. I always wanted to know how to do it the right way.
Xanadu currently has a Dragon series (every day affordable wines) and a Xanadu series (just a little up market). Alas we weren't privileged enough to taste any of their Lagan estate Cabernet reserves.
With a very long day of tasting ahead, we decided on using the "smiley face" rating scale.
2008 Dragon Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Quite a surprise to see a Sauvignon dominant blend, however the Semillon controlled the palate, and it was crisp lemon sherbet and acid and a little distant cut grass, guava and passionfruit. That said, it was very gluggable, and would suit a warm summers day. 1 smiley face.
2008 Dragon Unoaked Chardonnay
Pure fruit, with apple, melon and crisp bitey acidity. WOuld really cut through a creamy chicken dish, but otherwise a little bland. 1 smiley face
2006 Xanadu Chardonnay
The first surprise of the day, I'd not had this before, and was pleasantly surprised.
Peach, nectarine, pears and spicey toasty oak. Grilled nuts and a medium long crisp finish.
Compared to the post-apocalyptic chardys we had on day one, this was very much "vive la revolution!!"
2 smiley faces, and a good buy at $22.50 Gold Medal Royal Melbourne 2007
2006 Secession White Cabernets
Yes, a "white" cabernet. Quite a unique taste sensation, and a favourite with the girls.
Forest berries and fruit, strawberries, raspberries, confected watermelon, Turkish delight.
Too sweet for me, and if this is what Southern Italian Rose tastes like, pass....
Begrudgingly 1 smiley face, because you can pick it up for $10
2007 Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon
Early drinking Cabernet? Not really made to go the distance, but I reckon it would do 5-10 years.
Blackberries, Dark mocha chocolate. Background toasty oak. Bloody good, 2 smiley faces.
2005 Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon
Gutsy, pure MR Cabernet, what we want!
Mulberries, blackcurrants, old gold dark chocolate, very ripe tannins and spicy oak.
Now where's that thick steak we are longing for. 3 smiley faces, what? did I hear $25 a bottle, then back up the truck!
Silver medallist, but I forget where.
2005 Xanadu Shiraz
A light bodied shiraz, but good, and almost pinot like (following on from the full bodied Cabernet above).
Plums, forest berries, Redskins!, spicey, but elegant oak.
Tannins nowhere to be seen. Also a Gold medallist, but only 1 smiley face from me.
2004 Xanadu Shiraz
Listed as a clearance wine, but it compared well with the 2005 shiraz above, maybe hinting at where the 2005 is heading.
A little more full-bodied, but still south of medium-bodied, but at least it had some guts and glory, genuine violets, plums, and wood. Still couldn't find the tannins, but was generous and gave it 2 smiley faces.
A great way to spend a morning, the 10am start was daunting, it's a hard job, and somebody had to do it!
Well worth the visit. 7/10 smiley Feng Shui faces.
Then we moved on to Leeuwin Estate winery.....
To be continued...
Did you spend the whole day there 
LOL
