TN - August Drinking

[dan_smee]

Hi All,

Soon to post these on my blog http://thewinebl0g.blogspot.com.au/

Basically, I write a short tasting note for any wine I have never tried before on my blog at the end of each month. I write slightly longer notes for bottles that I rate over 90-91. I usually try and incoroporate the story behind the bottle as well (why it was opened, celebrations etc). Haven't done that so much this month.

Thomas Wines DJV Shiraz 2010 - 95

Beautiful aromas of berry, spice and meat. Before tasting, it is evident that this wine will be beautifully drinking young. The colour is crimson-red with fantastic clarity. The palate is elegant and smooth, no overt influence of tannin or oak, both integrated seamlessly. The wine is lifted by a 9% semillon verjuice component, which gives the wine a bright, acidic spine that allows the fruit to shine through. Red berries a-plenty. Perfect example of the progressive nature of modern Hunter shiraz.

Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon 1996 - 94

Golden colour suggests that the development is going according to schedule. Not a deep yellow-gold, but a lovely tint foretelling the honeyed flavours to come. The nose too is a great waft of honey, buttered toast, still showing a small degree of citrus-fruit indicating that the wine may have a couple of years left in it. A pretty good place for me to be honest, I like when aged semillon still has some lemon and acidicity left in it. The palate was slightly more subtle than I expected, not the intensity of the 1998 or 1999, but still showing the complexity that great Vat 1's can.

Grosset Watervale Off-Dry Riesling 2011 - 94

Masterfully balanced off-dry riesling. The sweetness is truly compliments the acidity and powerful flavours. Luscious lime and lemon, with only the suggestion of residual sugar acting as the perfect counter-balance. The most palatable and moreish off-dry riesling I have ever had the pleasure of tasting.

Vintage Cellars Chalkboard Hunter Semillon 2012 - 92

Bought mostly out of curiosity following it's astonishing success at the 2012 Hunter Valley Wine Show. Made by Tyrrell's, and taking out the trophies for best current vintage semillon and best dry white. A tartness that so wonderfully underlines the citrus notes that dominate the nose and palate. Length is solid, and a true bargain at under $10 in a dozen buy. No great ageability, but at this price, well worth getting a case or two and quaffing them over the year.

Tempus Two Botrytis Semillon 2008 - 91

Rich and intense, light golden coloured with apricots and marmalade. A solid acidic spine, good length. Tempus Two really know their stuff with this variety.

Gundog Estate NV Rutherglen Muscat - 90

Well balanced, well rounded. Classic Christmas cake and intense sultana palate. The alcohol is modest, and makes for a wonderfully drinkable fortified.

Four Winds Dessert Riesling NV - 90

Lovely rich fruit flavours, acid well balanced. Great value. This and the riesling are my picks of the Four Winds range.

Tyrrell's Lost Block Sauvignon Blanc 2012 - 89

Not the biggest Sauvignon Blanc fan, bought for my wife. The Tyrrell's Lost Block consistently puts forward a leaner, well balanced style that straddles the extremes that turn me off the variety. Not too green and grassy, not too forward and fruity. I usually find the latter variety has all the subtlety of a brick to the face. This wine avoids that issue well.

Four Winds Canberra District Sangiovese - 88

A light and bright wine. Not overly generous with it's fruit flavours. Perfectly pleasant, but lean and not particularly exceptional. The wine settled after a few hours open, and the fruit came through a little more.

Di Giorgio Lucindale Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - 87

A flavoursome Cabernet, that struggled a little bit with balance. The oak was toasty, but too prominent, overpowering the fruit. Unfortunate, as it could have been a very good wine.

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2010 - 87

A consistent value option, not overly expressive or complex, just solid fruit flavours, well integrated oak. A little short on the finish.

[sjw_11]

Curious on the Thomas Shiraz - do you really mean it has 9% semillon verjuice i.e. unfermented and hence non alcoholic? Or do you mean they are co-fermented (i.e. the semillon is added as must or verjuice pre fermentation)?

[dan_smee]

Curious on the Thomas Shiraz - do you really mean it has 9% semillon verjuice i.e. unfermented and hence non alcoholic? Or do you mean they are co-fermented (i.e. the semillon is added as must or verjuice pre fermentation)?

99% sure it is verjuice. There is no information on the bottle about it, but I read a review by Chris Shannahan in the Canberra Times that referenced it, and saw some other reports of its use as well.

As an aside, I did see somewhere a link to Andrew Thomas teaching people how to make verjuice.

He is an innovative and very talented winemaker.

[sjw_11]

I did a quick google and your right, 9% verjuice... there you go something new every day.

[porschemad911]

Wish I still had my bottle of Gundog Muscat, that was delicious!

[dan_smee]

I did a quick google and your right, 9% verjuice... there you go something new every day.

Was a surprise to me too. Kind of the Hunter's take on Shiraz Viognier - Apparently Maurice O'Shea did similar things in experimental blends. He called it DJV because Deja Vu was trade-marked I believe.

[dan_smee]

Wish I still had my bottle of Gundog Muscat, that was delicious!

Yep - expected no less from a) Rutherglen 15 y/o muscat and b) Matt Burton and the Gundog team.