Auswine Tasting Panel (9-July-2004)

[markg]

An Impromptu tasting panel was hastily organised for last Friday night, hosted by myself and my wife and attending were Gavin and Robyn, Gary and Chris. We would have loved to have had more people along but were pushed for space. A selection of the latest releases were served blind.

Wine 1
Cherry red in color with a sweet nose of plum, a little black cherry, chocolate and spice. Chris picked it for a merlot from the nose, what a legend! The palate was full of plums, some violets and long fine tannins on the finish. A very good wine. It was a Smidge 2003 LeGrenoville Merot.

Wine 2
Dark red in color with a tight, dusty nose of cherries and rasberry. The palate was medium bodied and soundly made. Binder Mitchell Dovetail 2002 Shiraz Cabernet

Wine 3
This was one of my favourites for the evening as it was for most others at the table. A deep dark, glass staining purple color with an intriguing nose of leather, barnyard, white pepper and slight hints of vegimite. The palate was equally as interesting with gripping, almost aggressive tannins and rich layers of well integrated fruits and oak, good depth and intensity of flavour. An excellent cellaring wine. It was a Stelvin release of a Hugh Hamilton The Villian 2002 McLaren Vale Cab Sav.

Wine 4
A dark, teeth staining, opaque purple color with a savoury nose of bacon, charry oak, tar and licorice. Nice ripe fruits and tannins, with good depth and intensity with tar and licorice dominating the palate. A long and persistant finish. very good wine. It was a Five Geese 2002 McLaren Vale Shiraz.

Wine 5
Another favourite for the crowd, for me coming a second with the Hugh Hamilton but for others this was the WOTN. It was a lovely purple color with an inviting nose of blackfruits, choco cherry and some mint. A wonderfully structured, medium to full bodied palate with tightly wound berries, licorice and chocolate, a hint of mint and a great backbone of fruit tannins. A touch savoury on the finish and very persistant. An excellent wine, it was the 2002 Kilikanoon The Oracle Shiraz.

[Gavin Trott]

Wine 3
This was one of my favourites for the evening as it was for most others at the table. A deep dark, glass staining purple color with an intriguing nose of leather, barnyard, white pepper and slight hints of vegimite. The palate was equally as interesting with gripping, almost aggressive tannins and rich layers of well integrated fruits and oak, good depth and intensity of flavour. An excellent cellaring wine. It was a Stelvin release of a Hugh Hamilton The Villian 2002 McLaren Vale Cab Sav.

Wine 5
Another favourite for the crowd, for me coming a second with the Hugh Hamilton but for others this was the WOTN. It was a lovely purple color with an inviting nose of blackfruits, choco cherry and some mint. A wonderfully structured, medium to full bodied palate with tightly wound berries, licorice and chocolate, a hint of mint and a great backbone of fruit tannins. A touch savoury on the finish and very persistant. An excellent wine, it was the 2002 Kilikanoon The Oracle Shiraz.

Mark

Thanks for the hospitality!

Agree re the Hugh Hamilton, excellent wine that was the surprise of the evening, lovely stuff.

The Oracle was certainly my WOTN, spectacular!