Some CD experiences in the Barossa and Coonawarra
Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:02 pm
I've been having a lot of visitors from Norway lately and haven't had much time to write up any tasting notes. I've visited quite a few wineries and here are my thoughts (no tasting notes - sorry!):
Barossa Valley:
Trevor Jones/ Kellermeister
Facility: Very nice and polished tasting room. Good structure and well balanced.
CD staff: Female. No significant perfume one the nose. Biting acidity and closed. Opened up slightly after 20 minutes.
Wine: The whites were OK but nothing special. The same went for the reds. The higlight was the 2005 Wild Witch Shiraz. The chocolate port was interesting, but sickening.
Child friendly? No toy chest, but nice little lawn to play on outside. One of the CD staff (of another vintage than the one that gave us the tasting) gave the kids a little chocolate when we arrived, which was very kind.
Recommended? No, since the selection of excellent CDs in the Barossa is so vast.
Turkey Flat
Facility: Very cool! The old rustic brick walls of the butchery gave a nice contrast to the modern furnishing.
CD Staff: Male. Neutral aroma. Medium to full bodied. Very approachable and well balanced.
Wine: In general very good over the whole range, especially the 2008 rose and 2005 Shiraz. The '05 Shiraz had a great fruit purity, great balance and good length. Had to buy a couple.
Child friendly? Thick layer of gravel in the driveway makes a good spot for digging, but no toy chest and no windows towards the yard that let us keep an eye on the kids.
Recommended: Yes.
Torbreck Vintners
Facility: Good and small/intimate. Could probably not handle more than 10 people .
CD staff: A medium bodied male and female, both showing good structure and having flavours of good mood and humor. Especially the female had seen some bad storage the night before and would probably have done better with proper breathing to remove the traces of acetaldehyde.
Wine: The wines were generally good, both whites and reds, but to expensive (low QPR). The favourite (and overall favourite of the Barossa trip) was the 2005 Runrig, which was in a class of it's own. Extremely dense in colour, complex nose oozing of dark fruits and subtle oak. The palate was massive and perfectly structured, giving waves of flavours and an endless finish. At over $ 200 it's too expensive though....Picked up a bottle of The Struie, which we really liked.
Child friendly? No. No toy chest. Lots of doors for the kids to disappear into. Huge (very nice) outdoor area for the kids to get lost. No way of seeing the kids when tasting.
Recommended: Yes.
Coonawarra
On our way to drive the Great Ocean Road we (myself and two friends of mine) dropped by some wineries in Coonawarra. Due to limited time we only visited three:
Balnaves
Fantastic looking property (with huge banners boasting “Hallidays Top Winery 2008”). Very nice tasting room with an amazing round table made of a gigantic eucalyptus trunk. We were the only ones there and could do the tasting in peace and quiet.
CD staff: Light to medium bodied, feminine, light flower aromas. Although gentle and well structured, appearing quite closed and unrevealing.
Wine: The whole range of wines was impressive, showing pure fruit and impeccable structure. However, the tannins were, although finely grained, very present. Almost too present. The red wines will be great when those tannins become a bit smoother.
Recommended: Yes
Wynns Coonawarra
Very classy tasting room, almost like a stylish hotel lobby with huge leather couches where one can enjoy a glass of wine and nibbles. Just as we came in a bus full of tourists arrived filling the tasting bar to the brim and squeezing us far out on the left flank.
CD staff: Started off really enjoyable, but soon developed stressed characteristic followed by a lack of presence.
Wine: Decent, but shockingly soft compared to what we just had tasted at Balnaves. Must be very different winemaking practices. Most wines were perfectly drinkable, but nothing to write home about. John Riddoch was not on tasting (disappointingly), but we got to taste the 2004 Michael Shiraz, which was impressive and the highlight of the tasting.
Recommended: ......I guess so.
Majella
Again a very classy and modern cellar door. The property was also beautiful, especially as it was lit by the magic light caused by the sun setting. We were once more the only ones tasting and could enjoy it to the maximum.
CD staff: Very feminine and floral. Upfront and delightful.
Wine: By far the best lineup of the day, suiting my palate “hand in glove”. Very nice rose. The reds were excellently structured with a perfect tannin presence. The 2004 Mallea was especially impressive showing great complexity and everything else expected of an excellent wine. The Merlot was also an impressive wine (although the nose was a bit too volatile before the wine had seen much time in the glass) We finished of with the excellent 2005 Sparkling Shiraz.
Recommended? Strongly!
Barossa Valley:
Trevor Jones/ Kellermeister
Facility: Very nice and polished tasting room. Good structure and well balanced.
CD staff: Female. No significant perfume one the nose. Biting acidity and closed. Opened up slightly after 20 minutes.
Wine: The whites were OK but nothing special. The same went for the reds. The higlight was the 2005 Wild Witch Shiraz. The chocolate port was interesting, but sickening.
Child friendly? No toy chest, but nice little lawn to play on outside. One of the CD staff (of another vintage than the one that gave us the tasting) gave the kids a little chocolate when we arrived, which was very kind.
Recommended? No, since the selection of excellent CDs in the Barossa is so vast.
Turkey Flat
Facility: Very cool! The old rustic brick walls of the butchery gave a nice contrast to the modern furnishing.
CD Staff: Male. Neutral aroma. Medium to full bodied. Very approachable and well balanced.
Wine: In general very good over the whole range, especially the 2008 rose and 2005 Shiraz. The '05 Shiraz had a great fruit purity, great balance and good length. Had to buy a couple.
Child friendly? Thick layer of gravel in the driveway makes a good spot for digging, but no toy chest and no windows towards the yard that let us keep an eye on the kids.
Recommended: Yes.
Torbreck Vintners
Facility: Good and small/intimate. Could probably not handle more than 10 people .
CD staff: A medium bodied male and female, both showing good structure and having flavours of good mood and humor. Especially the female had seen some bad storage the night before and would probably have done better with proper breathing to remove the traces of acetaldehyde.
Wine: The wines were generally good, both whites and reds, but to expensive (low QPR). The favourite (and overall favourite of the Barossa trip) was the 2005 Runrig, which was in a class of it's own. Extremely dense in colour, complex nose oozing of dark fruits and subtle oak. The palate was massive and perfectly structured, giving waves of flavours and an endless finish. At over $ 200 it's too expensive though....Picked up a bottle of The Struie, which we really liked.
Child friendly? No. No toy chest. Lots of doors for the kids to disappear into. Huge (very nice) outdoor area for the kids to get lost. No way of seeing the kids when tasting.
Recommended: Yes.
Coonawarra
On our way to drive the Great Ocean Road we (myself and two friends of mine) dropped by some wineries in Coonawarra. Due to limited time we only visited three:
Balnaves
Fantastic looking property (with huge banners boasting “Hallidays Top Winery 2008”). Very nice tasting room with an amazing round table made of a gigantic eucalyptus trunk. We were the only ones there and could do the tasting in peace and quiet.
CD staff: Light to medium bodied, feminine, light flower aromas. Although gentle and well structured, appearing quite closed and unrevealing.
Wine: The whole range of wines was impressive, showing pure fruit and impeccable structure. However, the tannins were, although finely grained, very present. Almost too present. The red wines will be great when those tannins become a bit smoother.
Recommended: Yes
Wynns Coonawarra
Very classy tasting room, almost like a stylish hotel lobby with huge leather couches where one can enjoy a glass of wine and nibbles. Just as we came in a bus full of tourists arrived filling the tasting bar to the brim and squeezing us far out on the left flank.
CD staff: Started off really enjoyable, but soon developed stressed characteristic followed by a lack of presence.
Wine: Decent, but shockingly soft compared to what we just had tasted at Balnaves. Must be very different winemaking practices. Most wines were perfectly drinkable, but nothing to write home about. John Riddoch was not on tasting (disappointingly), but we got to taste the 2004 Michael Shiraz, which was impressive and the highlight of the tasting.
Recommended: ......I guess so.
Majella
Again a very classy and modern cellar door. The property was also beautiful, especially as it was lit by the magic light caused by the sun setting. We were once more the only ones tasting and could enjoy it to the maximum.
CD staff: Very feminine and floral. Upfront and delightful.
Wine: By far the best lineup of the day, suiting my palate “hand in glove”. Very nice rose. The reds were excellently structured with a perfect tannin presence. The 2004 Mallea was especially impressive showing great complexity and everything else expected of an excellent wine. The Merlot was also an impressive wine (although the nose was a bit too volatile before the wine had seen much time in the glass) We finished of with the excellent 2005 Sparkling Shiraz.
Recommended? Strongly!