This month, we decided to do a little retrospective – a horizontal tasting of red wines from 2015. There were no restrictions on style, grape varieties or place of origin. This could have meant all sorts of unusual blends and rare grape varieties. Instead, we got lots of cabernet and shiraz
As usual, the wines were tasted blind – the only concession to wine style was for tasters to judge whether the wine/s they had brought to the tasting were light- medium- or full-bodied.
Also as usual, these notes are a compilation of the group’s comments, and not just my own. The discussion on each of the wines included some speculation on the grape varieties in the wine, and its likely place of origin. This was a bigger line-up than usual, with 15 wines tasted.
Mount Mary Pinot Noir 2015 (Yarra Valley Victoria): Slightly tawny hue, like a ruby port. A fair whack of VA on the nose, with cola, cherries, kirsch and eucalypt. Lots of leather on the palate, with soft but noticeable acid, grippy tannins, some saline character and only just medium length. Guesses as to grape variety included Grenache and Valpolicella, as well as Pinot Noir. Declining, I’m afraid, and not reflective of the grape.
Polperro Pinot Noir 2015 (Mornington Peninsula, Victoria): Pale garnet with tawny flecks and cloudy. Developed red cherries and strawberries on the nose, with wet leaves and barnyard. The palate showed some earthiness, sour red cherries, and strawberry puree. Tannins are light, with noticeable acid and modest length. Well regarded by the group, most of whom picked it as a Pinot.
Grove Estate Nebbiolo 2015 (Young, NSW): Granet colour. Leather, VA, vanilla, slightly medicinal and not a lot of fruit on the nose. More leather on the palate, with stewed red fruits, blackberry, and herbs. Slightly tangy acid and fully integrated tannins led to a moderate finish. Some considered this might be a Hunter Shiraz. Declining.
Howard Park Leston Shiraz 2015 (Margaret River, WA): Crimson colour. A very ‘young’ nose, with cedar, vanilla, and almost primary fruits (blackberries and plums), violets and savoury oak. Some tasters noted mint, green peppercorns and lantana. There’s some chocolate on the palate, with blackberry and blueberry, almost zingy acid and a slightly short finish. Despite the fact that some tasters thought this was a Coonawarra cabernet, it was well regarded by the group.
Palacio De Primavera Riserva Tempranillo 2015 (Rioja, Spain): Deep ruby with tawny tinges. Stewed black and red fruits, vanilla, leather soy, tapenade lantana and sour cherry on the nose. Some tasters noted hydrogen sulphide (rotten egg gas). Tangy red fruits on the palate, especially raspberry, dried cranberry, and sour cherry. There’s enough acid to keep the wine fresh, slightly prickly tannins and reasonable length.
Highbank 2015 (Bordeaux blend, Coonawarra, SA). Crimson/purple in colour. This was picked as a Coonawarra wine by the majority of the group, with some herbs, blackcurrant, leather , coffee and tomato leaf on the nose. There’s blackberry and mocha on the palate. Tannins are grippy and a little astringent, and there’s high acid and a reasonably long finish. I thought the wine was suffering from a little cork taint, but most disagreed. Regardless, I have had better bottles of this.
Wynns ‘Black Label’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (Coonawarra, SA): Crimson colour. Vanilla, stewed black fruits, bramble and clove on what was a somewhat muted nose (as far as I know, none of the wines were decanted prior to service). The palate is showing quite developed red and dark berry fruit, and some mocha. There’s a slight glycerol texture to the palate, with chalky tannins and noticeable acid leading to a medium to long finish.
Carpe Diem Reserve Shiraz 2015 (Margaret River WA): Ruby colour. A spicy nose, with cloves, nutmeg, leather and some furniture polish and iodine. There’s more leather and iodine on the palate, with developed red fruits. Acid is soft, and the tannins are dusty and well-integrated. Medium length. One taster noted a touch of Brett. Declining.
Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz 2015 (McLaren Vale SA): Crimsom colour. An almost perfumed nose, with developed red fruits, vanilla, coconut, butterscotch / caramel and chocolate on the nose. There’s more of the red plummy fruit on the palate, with cranberry and a touch of leather. Soft gentle acid and chalky tannins led to a savoury finish of some length. Most of us nailed this as shiraz, and it was highly regarded by the group.
Happs Three Hills Petit Verdot 2015 (Margaret River WA): Crimson / purple. Mint / eucalypt on the nose, with vanilla, cedar, blackberries, spicy oak and mocha. There’s juicy blueberry and blackberry on the palate, with a little mocha. Some tasters noted pepper and a medicinal character. It’s high alcohol, with soft juicy acidity, and tannins are prominent on the gums. Medium to long finish. Mistaken for a Coonawarra Cabernet.
Kellermeister Wild Witch 2015 (Barossa Valley SA): Deep ruby colour. Christmas cake, raisin, milk chocolate, slightly tart red fruits including raspberry, cloves and aniseed on the nose. There’s more Christmas pudding (with brandy) on the palate, beef stock, and one taster noted capsicum and butterscotch. There’s glycerol texture(one taster referred to it as ‘squirty’), with soft acid and fine grippy tannins. leading to a long finish. Most tasters agreed it was shiraz, and it was highly regarded by the group.
Glenmore ‘Isabella’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot 2015 (Margaret River WA): a 60/20/20 blend. Deep ruby. Leather, cinnamon, cedar and black fruits on the nose, with some tasters detecting pepper. The palate is showing big but soft fruits (red and dark) and some capsicum. The palate is soft, with supporting acid, fine grippy tannins, and a long and slightly astringent finish.
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 (Margaret River): The black label one. Crimson colour. Eucalypt, cedar, vanilla, blackcurrant and spearmint on the nose. Black and red berries on the palate, with chocolate and a leafy character (maybe tomato leaf). Supportive acid, fine grippy tannins (gums again) and a medium to long finish. The group agreed this was cabernet, but divided between Magaret River and Coonawarra.
Dowie Doole Reserve Shiraz 2015 (McLaren Vale SA): Ruby colour. Christmas cake, black and blue fruits, savoury oak, vanilla, menthol and tar on the nose. More Christmas cake on the palate, some earthiness, blueberries, dark and red plums, and mocha. Soft acid, moderately grippy tannins and a long finish. No mistaking that this was Shiraz, although there were several opinions on location. Well regarded by the group.
Majella Cabernet Sauvignon 2015(Coonawarra SA): Ruby colour. The overwhelming first impression was mint, followed by mint, and then some choc-mint. Also some cedar and blackcurrant on the (quite primary) nose. The palate was further dominated by choc mint and spearmint, with some blackberry and mulberry in support. Juicy acidity and grippy dusty tannins leading to a long finish. At ten years of age, this is too young! This may be a very good wine when it grows up
Wine of the night by a large margin was the Kellermeister Wild Witch 2015, We were advised that this wine was awarded Best Wine in the World at some point, by some organization. Nice to know that our humble group is aligned with some exalted palates.
Our thanks to the staff at Mayfair Lane for their unfailingly reliable service, and to those who attended for their diverse and eloquent opinions.
Cheers
Allan