greetings,
at our recent wine club meet the topic was "wines of the world".
wines were tasted masked and wines and comments follow:-
Robert Mondavi Cabernet - 1994 Napa V
lifted cedar/menthol/currants/perfumed raspberry
palate showed chocolate/caramel/savoury tones/some heat/ "thinners' effect/dust and spice
non-oz style showing more skin than banana
av. points 17.4/20
Abadia Ruerta - 1996 sardon de duero spain (tempranillo65% cab 30% merlot 5%)
green/lifted cedar/currants
lactic/cherry choc/hints of yarra yering style concentrated berry fruit/savoury and soft.
liter but sustained structure - non-oz style
points 17.8/20
Port phillip estate shiraz 1998 mornington
lifted strong plums
classic cool climate shiraz with pepper,spice,plums and complimentary wood
balanced cherry plums/choc/pepper and raspberries
magnificent
18.4/20 (i actually pointed it at 19+)
Wynns michael shiraz 1994 coonawarra
mint/esters/fine wood/lifted fruit
overriding acid with fading fruit
"history in a glass" - smoky/tobacco/acid leading remaining fruit
showing some merlot characters!!
bugger!!
18/20
St hallett "The Reward' cabernet 1996 - barossa
paint thinners/cabernet fruit/estery/menthol/tobacco/cedar
lactic character/sweet licorice/mint/dust with FGT
overall acid shows out with this elegant liter style
17.6/20
Antinori guado al tasso 1996 - tuscany (sangiovese 65% cab 35%)
choc/cherry/green/honeycomb/currants/caramel/lactic/dust with whiff of moth balls!! - wow!!
mouth coating texture/lactic/choc/cherry/coffee with cleansing acid
very smart style
18/20
Clos de l'eglise merlot 1998 la lande france
old currants/green
menthol/dried currants/sinewy structure
some plastic characters with overt acid - some thinness
17/20
Allan scott cabernet 1998 - marlborough NZ
over ripe plums with strength
palate of plums and currants done in amarone style with density and mouthcoating flavours albeit in a simpler style.
didn't pick this as NZ!!
late in nite for many notes!!
17.3/20
but - the wine of the nite (tasted as 5th wine)
Leeuwin art series chardonnay 1997
what a wine!!!
butterscotch/caramel/grapefruit/nougat
grapefruit pith/nectarine stone/butterscotch/opulent
faint touch of botrytis that enhances complexity
complete and balanced - brilliant
18.8/20 (i gave it 19.5!)
regards,
Rosco