TN: Some recent Antipodean wines

[JDSJDS]

• [url=https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1457129]2010 Balnaves of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon[/url] - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (2018-05-25)
  A deeply coloured wine, almost purple, with some bricking now. A deep, rich nose too, with lots of blackcurrants, cedar and tobacco. These are echoed in the flavours of this full-bodied, powerful yet balanced wine. Smooth tannins give it nice structure. This is a great Coonawarra cab, a little less overt with oak than many other versions, though still very powerful. Drinking well now with a little air, but this will last several years yet. (A-)
• [url=https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2177217]2014 Mud House Wines Pinot Noir Estate Claim 431[/url] - New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago (2018-05-14)
  Medium brick in colour, with a nose of cherry liquour, earth and herbs.More cheery on the medium-bodied, smooth palate and a long, pure finish. Still a nice QPR pinot with life left. (B+/A-)
• [url=https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=745305]2006 Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon[/url] - Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Nagambie Lakes (2018-04-04)
  Deep ruby in colour. A powerful and classic cabernet nose of blackfruits, a hint of mint, cedar and basil - lovely. There is more of the same on the medium-full bodied palate, but the very healthy tannins are the main attribute here. They are still quite aggressive, and I am a fan of tannins. So there's a weird juxtaposition between the nice nose and fruit and then the huge wall of tannins at the end. Hold off several years if you can - hopefully the tannins will subside over time without losing the fruit too quickly. I still enjoyed the wine, though. The second day, the tannins did subside somewhat. (B+)
• [url=https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2285837]2013 Blue Pyrenees Estate Shiraz Section One[/url] - Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Pyrenees (2018-02-03)
  Deep red in colour, with plums and spice on the aromatic nose. Medium-full bodied with a very elegant style and velvety, rich (but not too rich) texture. More plums and pepper and a hint of mint (on the second day) on the well balanced palate: fruit is dominant but there are supporting acid and light tannins too. Classy wine that's ready now but should last a while. (A-)
• [url=https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=547382]2006 Majella Cabernet Sauvignon[/url] - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (2018-01-01)
  Still very dark purple in colour with only a tiny bit of bricking. A powerful nose of blackfruits, mint and oak notes. The palate is still powerful as well, medium to full bodied, with similar flavours as the nose on show. A bold, exuberant wine, as Majella cabs normally are. But they do settle down a little with some age, as this one has, although it's still a big wine with some overt oak notes remaining. But the fruit, tannins, acid and oak are pretty well balanced, and this should last quite a while yet. (A-)

[paulf]

I'm pleased to hear your impressions on the Balnaves in particular as I have an untouched 6 pack I wasn't planning to have a look at until some time after 2020. I'm also a little surprised that they let Blue Pyrenees out of the country given the geographic sensitivities.

[marsalla]

Nice notes, Pyrenees is a registered GI, no problem with export, no wines in France or Spain from a Pyrenees zone either I think.

[JDSJDS]

Actually, I acquired that Blue Pyrenees wine the last time I was in Australia. We have what seems to be an increasingly disappointing and limited range of Aussie wines here in BC. Not many small producers left here, just all the labels from the big guns.

The Balnaves seems in no danger to be going downhill anytime soon, but it's drinking well now too.