Tasting notes from the cellar
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2025 10:04 pm
I just got back from a couple of weeks in Adelaide and thought I would share some tasting notes from wines I had during my trip, almost always wines that have been cellared by me from release (with a couple of exceptions):
- 2009 Jim Barry Riesling Watervale - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Watervale (3/4/2025)
Apparently I had one more bottle of this vintage which was lost in the cellar, now found and consumed. For a fairly modest label at 15 years old this is drinking well. Still fairly pale coloured. Lime juice and toasty development on the nose, but still quite clean and fairly fresh. Really enjoyable. Not sure this will improve but its clearly (like so many other rieslings under screw cap, in a good cellar) on a very long plateau. (92 pts.) - 2011 Grosset Noble Riesling - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (3/4/2025)
Cellared from release. Developing colour, perhaps a little darker than I expected. Complex, inviting nose of cumquat, rich apricot and spice. Obviously luscious on the palate, really a dessert in a glass. Just lacks a lick of acidity to score higher and probably therefore also slightly less good than it might have been a couple of years ago. Time to drink I would suggest. (90 pts.) - 2010 Petaluma Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (3/1/2025)
To be clear this was the “Coonawarra” label which is a cab/merlot blend with a touch of Shiraz. This is a very elegant wine which is drinking very fine today. Essence of blackcurrant, cigar box notes, just a touch of green or mulch which adds complexity. Fine and persistent in the mouth. No problem drinking these now with potential for a smidge more improvement and certainly likely to hold for a fair time if cellared well. 93-94 pts (94 pts.) - 2008 Kay Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon The Cuthbert - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (3/1/2025)
This is genuinely delicious with dark blackberry/mulberry fruit still clearly present framed by cedar like oak notes and some tertiary development. Drinking really well now but I expect will hold for some time in a good cellar. (93 pts.) - 2009 Briar Ridge Vineyards Sémillon Dairy Hill - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley (3/1/2025)
Still fairly youthful looking yellow even with a touch of green. Citrus and a touch of lanolin on the nose, but again still quite fresh. Fairly crisp and mid length on the palate. Amazingly considering the age I think this could be better with some years to add further complexity. Still very pleasant as is. (92 pts.) - 2016 Petaluma Riesling Hanlin Hill - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (3/1/2025)
Quite pale colour still. Fairly fresh and youthful on the nose with lime and lime cordial notes and just a bare hint of petrol. Fresh and crisp in the mouth. Developing slowly and likely to improve and then hold for at least a decade in a good cellar. (92 pts.) - 2008 Leabrook Estate George South Australia - Australia, South Australia (3/1/2025)
Didn’t really intend to leave this so long (not sure if I still have another bottle or two somewhere as well) but this is holding up alright. Probably better a few years ago but the fruit is still there, cooler climate red berry and mulberry type notes. A touch of undergrowth. Fairly cool and light weight in the mouth. Pleasant but clearly time to start drinking up if you have any left. (90 pts.) - 2023 The Crafty Punter Riesling - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (3/1/2025)
Had a couple of bottles of this while back in Adelaide and for the price it’s a cracking little wine. Has what you want in a young, crisp Aussie Riesling. Great value, great easy summer drinking. (89 pts.) - 2016 Hugo Shiraz - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (2/28/2025)
This is still quite deep purple red. Lots of sweet brambly purple and red fruit flavours. Quite plush and lush mouthfeel. Fairly rich but not overly heavy. Reasonable balance. Representative of the style and region. Enjoyable overall and probably a good age to drink it. (91 pts.) - 2012 Petaluma Riesling Hanlin Hill - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (2/27/2025)
Still fairly pale yellow. Some kero development but pretty clean citrus as well. Decent acidity. Drinking very nicely and likely to have a long plateau of maturity. (91 pts.) - 2014 Woodvale Shiraz Woodberry - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (2/27/2025)
Don’t remember buying this but there it was in the cellar. This is lovely Clare Valley semi mature Shiraz with lots of elegant plummy fruit and fairly soft, furry tannins in the mouth. Really easy to drink. 91-92pts (91 pts.) - 2024 Jim Barry Assyrtiko - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (2/27/2025)
Never had an Aussie wine of this variety be for but this was surprisingly good. Really zingy acidity, help up even open for several days. Citrus driven fruit. Very pleasant but perhaps a shade over priced. (90 pts.) - 2013 Marius Wines Shiraz Simpatico McLaren Vale - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (2/27/2025)
Just a quick impression but this is drinking nicely. Plenty of life left. - 2010 Gundog Estate Shiraz Hunter's - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley, Pokolbin (2/26/2025)
Actually the 2011 not 2010. Still deep magenta. Surprisingly youthful for the age. Classic mid bodied hunter Shiraz. Quite pure mid weight red fruits with just a hint of barnyard texture underneath, but I really mean just a hint. Even and almost juicy still on the palate. Medium length but just so pleasant to drink. This is genuinely sensational for a wine that perhaps lacks the recognition factor of some and was probably not envisaged for a long sleep in the cellar. (94 pts.) - 2010 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir Te Wahi - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago (2/26/2025)
Cellared from release. Still fairly deep red. Very complex nose with red berries, sous bois, and a mushroom like complexity. Even and balanced in the mouth with the acidity still sufficient to give life. Far from over the hill despite the age. Genuinely terrific. (93 pts.) - 2010 Charles Melton Richelieu - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (2/26/2025)
Fairly deep mid red. Some separation but not very aged by appearance. A touch porty on the nose but still with nice underlying red berry aromas. Some spicy and mulch like complexity as well. Rather appealing. Good purity still in the mouth. Delicious. Best drunk now or the next couple of years I suspect. 92-93pts (92 pts.) - 2016 Tyrrell's Chardonnay Vat 47 - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley (2/26/2025)
My initial thought is that this is rather blooming good. Still yellow/green. Crystalline peach/nectarine. Almost a smoky element as well. Great acidity balance and good persistence on the palate. Maybe lacks a shade of intensity or depth to score higher but really very good. Developing slowly, certainly no rush to get to the rest of these. 92-93pts (92 pts.) - 2017 M. Chapoutier Hermitage Blanc Chante-Alouette - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage (2/26/2025)
This has not been cellared particularly well since I had the last bottle but nevertheless it still shows impressively. Feels more rounded now with a fuller colour and presenting quite round in the mouth. Very harmonious wine with light white floral and citrus flavours and a very even finish. I would now think to drink over the next year or two if I had more. (92 pts.) - 2010 Skillogalee Riesling - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (2/26/2025)
Two years on from my last bottle and this is hanging in fine. Maybe a touch fuller yellow but not golden. Lime cordial nose. Touch of petrol. Acidity still present on the palate. Sitting on a long plateau of maturity (in a good cellar, and thanks for the screw cap). (91 pts.) - 2012 Clonakilla Riesling - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District (2/26/2025)
I suspect my note from many years ago reflected my older more generous scoring system but this remains very good. Mid yellow. I jotted down “developing but not developed” which I think captures it well. Aromas of lime, maybe a touch of green apple. Some slight perception of sweetness but obviously still dry with good acidity remaining on the palate. This will hold for some years but I think it’s about right to go now. (91 pts.) - 2005 Skillogalee Basket Pressed The Cabernets - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (2/26/2025)
Only a quick impression but this continues to hang in there. Sweet Australian style fruit, fading a little bit but still pleasant to drink. - 2010 Lake's Folly Cabernets - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley (2/23/2025)
This vintage is 67pc Cabernet with 13pc Petit Verdot, 11pc Shiraz and 9pc merlot. This is absolutely lovely medium bodied red. Vaguely reminiscent of Bdx but in a uniquely Australian / Hunter guise. Very harmonious red fruit flavours with a mellow, even flow to the palate. Genuinely excellent and drinking well at the moment. 93-94pts (93 pts.) - 2012 Turkey Flat Shiraz - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (2/23/2025)
Fairly similar to my last note from a couple of years ago, albeit a shade more developed (unusually these haven’t been in climate controlled storage so that may accelerate the aging). Still classic semi mature Barossa with plummy fruit and a soft mouth feel. (91 pts.) - 2016 Henschke Keyneton Euphonium - Australia, South Australia, Barossa (2/22/2025)
Quite rich and glossy with dark purple fruits and a fairly plush mouth feel. Belies the eight years of age. Youthful and fleshy. Very easy to drink but lacks the complexity to score higher. Still very good (albeit a little over priced these days I feel). Probably best consumed now to three years to enjoy the fruit I would think. (92 pts.) - 2010 R. López de Heredia Rioja Rosado Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (2/22/2025)
So this time I really am having the last of the three pack (I obviously forgot I took one to Adelaide but didn’t consume it) and this still drinks nicely. Very unusual oxidative style. Cherry notes. Weird but in a good way. Something that is worth trying at least once for any wine lover but perhaps not something I want to drink every day. (91 pts.) - 2023 Philip Shaw Chardonnay No. 11 - Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange (2/22/2025)
I've always liked this producer that I visited once in orange but I haven't tried anything from them for some time. This is a brilliant cool climate Chardonnay with crystalline citrus and nectarine fruit and bracing acidity balanced by excellent mouth feel and weight on the palate. Delicious. 91-92 pts (91 pts.) - 2021 Skillogalee Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (2/22/2025)
Just a quick impression but this seemed pretty classic Clare valley cabernet with juicy blackcurrant flavours and finely grained oak treatment. Medium length and weight completes the package. Overall very pleasant. (90 pts.) - 2022 Katnook Estate Merlot - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (2/22/2025)
Medium bodied. Needs air to show it's stuff at which point some bright cherry / berry / mulberry aromas emerge with just a touch of greenery. Fairly acid forward palate with moderate grippy tannins. Overall pretty good if perhaps lacking the complexity of old world examples. (89 pts.) - 2016 Capital Wines Shiraz The Frontbencher - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District (2/21/2025)
Quite nice medium bodied and moderately spicy Shiraz from the Canberra region. Drinking nicely and not over the hill despite 8 years of age. Surprisingly good. (89 pts.) - 2014 Grosset Nereus - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (2/20/2025)
One of 3,600 bottles of the first vintage of this Shiraz / Nero d’Avola blend. Probably didn’t intend this to be kept so long but it got lost in the cellar I suppose and despite that it’s still drinking very nicely. Still juicy, with deep plum and berry fruit. Possibly better a couple of years ago but holding well. (91 pts.) - 2014 Head Wines Shiraz The Contrarian Moculta - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley (2/20/2025)
Just a quick impression but 18 months on from my last bottle this is still drinking very nicely. Seems to have filled out or relaxed a bit, not sure I saw the same spicy elements as I described in the past. That said, it remains a fairly medium bodied interpretation of the Barossa and all the better for it. 91-92 pts (91 pts.) - 2023 Sidewood Estate Chardonnay Mappinga - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills (2/20/2025)
This is a terrific example of Adelaide hills Chardonnay. Subtle but still expressive. Aromas of smoke, nectarine and a touch of citrus. Crisp but with good length and weight on the palate. Drinking well now, not sure it needs a lot of further aging but it will probably drink well for some time. 91-92pts (91 pts.) - 2019 Penfolds Bin 8 - Australia, South Australia (2/15/2025)
Pretty classic Aussie Shiraz cabernet that would surprise no one to learn it was Penfolds. I've never really been a deep fan of this marque but this is a pretty decent example of slightly over ripe SA red that I would quite happily drink. Think plums and Xmas spice. (88 pts.)