Grand Cru Tasting Group (Perth, W.A.) – Shiraz 2016 and older

[Waiters Friend]

G’day

This was the invitation to this tasting:
“Time to head into red wine territory as winter sneaks up on us. This time, Shiraz with at least a little bottle age, so 2016 vintage or older.
If you're bringing a Grange, please make it MUCH older .....Otherwise 100% Shiraz (no blends), from anywhere in the world. Do you opt for a big Barossa style, a Rhone St Joseph Syrah, or any of the wide variety of shiraz wines released. They don't have to ALL be big reds.”

And they weren’t – well not all.

We started with a sparkling shiraz: the Teusner MC 2013 from the Barossa. Purple in colour with considerable mousse. The nose showed bright red fruits, a little chocolate, mint, and some leather. One taster noted “Grape Chup a Chup”. The palate is medium bodied, with a velvety mouthfeel, vibrant fruits, and one taster (not the same one) noted “gentle astringency”. Persistent tannins, moderate acid leading to a short finish. An enjoyable opening wine, and considered to be “drink now”.

Then to the still wines – all Australian, but from a range of regions:

Curtis Family Martins Vineyard 2016 (McLaren Vale): Deep purple in colour. Spicy oak, dark plums, cloves, white pepper and leather on the nose. There’s more dark plums on the palate, slight alcohol heat, dusty tannins, and the wine shows almost juicy acid, leading to a medium to long finish. I recognised this wine as McLaren Vale straightaway and was not surprised to have the wine unmasked as I have several of these in my cellar. Plenty of life left in this.

Giant Steps 2015 (Yarra Valley): Deep purple. A smoky nose, with celery salt, and confectioned red fruits. More confectioned fruits on the palate ad lots of drying tannins. A good length. However, the nose was quite different to the palate, and we considered whether the wine had (at least partially) undergone carbonic maceration. There was something not quite right about this one.

Olive Farm Reserve 2014 (Swan Valley, W.A.): Purple in colour, lighter than the previous two wines. An intriguing nose of iodine, vegemite, umami, white pepper and red fruits. The palate shows juicy acid, red plums, some savoury notes and has drying tannins. It’s well balanced and leads to a long finish. Well regarded by the group.

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Voyager Estate 2013 (Margaret River W.A.): Purple bordering on red. Initial impression on the nose was freshly baked croissants, followed by red plums and white pepper. The palate is modest on the fruit front, and shows fine tannins and good acid. Reasonable length and balance.

Penfolds Bin 28 2012 (South Australia): Purple in colour. Lots on the nose, including vanilla, black pepper, dark plums, and mocha on the nose. The palate has soft acid supporting lots of plummy fruit, chocolate, and blue and black berries. Tannins are fully integrated, and the wine is rich and full, with a long finish and well balances. Highly regarded by the group.

Jamsheed Syrah 2012 (Beechworth, Victoria): Purple red in colour. The nose shows iodine, moss, and smoky notes. The palate is sharp, tart, with powdery tannins and very little fruit. Past it.

Kalleske Eduard 2010 (Barossa Valley, South Australia): Crimson in colour. Christmas pudding, dark plums, dark chocolate, toffee, coconut and rhubarb on the nose. The palate shows soft acid, integrated tannins, and is almost port-like. There’s viscosity which one taster likened to a sticky wine, and it is rich and full with a long finish. Highly regarded by the group.

Plantagenet 2010 (Great Southern, W.A.): Crimson colour. A contrast to the Kalleske, with red plums, blueberries, mocha, cloves, red berries and some baking spices on the nose. The palate has integrated tannins, medium acid, fleshy fruit and a moderate length and finish. Time to drink this wine – unlikely to improve.

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The wine of the night was the Kalleske Eduard 2010. Big is best? Well, in this case, yes. There were other interesting wines in the mix, and I personally have been appreciating McLaren Vale and Great Southern shiraz more in the last couple of years. Can’t argue with the vote, however, and a worthy Wine of the Night.

Cheers
Allan

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[sjw_11]

Nice tasting as always*Allan... What is the story with the slightly disturbing sounding "hybrid ale" can?

[Waiters Friend]

Nice tasting as always*Allan... What is the story with the slightly disturbing sounding "hybrid ale" can?

Ah, yes, the can. This was brought along as a curio by one of the tasting group, because of the inclusion of shiraz into the sour beer.

[GraemeG]

That St Martins Vineyard - it's everywhere. My wife was even given a bottle as a present by a student at Christmas last year. I'd never heard of it, then looked it up and it seemed to be for sale at $100+. Is it a Grey's Auctions special or something?

[paulf]

Nice tasting as always*Allan... What is the story with the slightly disturbing sounding "hybrid ale" can?

Ah, yes, the can. This was brought along as a curio by one of the tasting group, because of the inclusion of shiraz into the sour beer.

I haven't had that particular beer, but Beerfarm have done a couple of different shiraz based beers over the years. There was a Berliner Weisse with shiraz juice they did a few years back that was fantastic if you are into those styles of beer. It's a good place for a palate cleanser too if you are in the Margaret river region.