Grand Cru (Perth) Tasting Group – Something Different – April 2026

[Waiters Friend]

G’day

This month’s theme was one out of the ordinary – Something Different (that you want the group’s opinion on). As you can imagine, this opened up the field to all sorts of potentially weird and unusual wines. We definitely got a few of those, and each person was able to tell the group why they had chosen the that particular bottle. The explanations were as varied and interesting as the wines themselves.

However, the first wine was neither different nor required explanation. One of the group brought a couple of bottles of Veuve Cliquot NV to celebrate her birthday. A bready nose, with lemon curd and pith. Some pastry and yeast autolysis on the palate which has good weight and supporting acid, and finishes with a reasonably full mouthfeel.

Then the first of the ‘something different’ wines:

Veuve La Perriere Blanc De Blanc NV (Loire Valley, France). Selected as an alternative to Champagne, and made from Chardonnay instead of Chenin Blanc (for which the Loire is known). Pale straw colour. The nose shows red apple, grapefruit, kiwi fruit and some sherbet. The palate is very light and fresh, with a velvety mousse and a degree of sweetness. A clean and moderate finish and would accompany mildly spicy foods.

Cape Mentelle ‘Wallcliffe’ Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2016 (Margaret River, W.A.). I believe this was selected because it is an earlier example of a Margaret River wooded SBS. Medium yellow in colour. A honeyed nose, with Fuji apple and preserved lemon. The palate shows the oak influence, and some smoke or reductive notes. There’s also some texture (possibly from time on lees) and mouthfeel, and acid is modest and slightly tart. Short finish but a most interesting wine. Highly regarded by the group.

Balaton Boglari Szurkebarat 2008 (Hungary): Based on Pinot Gris, and probably should have been drunk 15 years previously. The wine shows some sweetness underneath the oxidation and cork taint.

The Last Warrior Red Blend 2022 (Ningxia, China): 15% alcohol. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Pale purple colour with red tinges. Blackcurrant, earthiness, red plums and milk chocolate on the nose. A savoury and earthy palate, with black fruits, grippy tannins, alcohol heat and a surprisingly modest length. Slight bitterness also on the finish. A big and heavily extracted wine.

Batista Pinot Noir 2022 (Manjimup W.A.). 13.5% alcohol. Ruby colour. A spicy nose, with strawberry, mushroom and dark chocolate. The palate also shows earth and mushroom, with some light cherry and strawberry notes. Soft acid and gentle tannins. Medium length but with some intensity and highly regarded by the group.

Mayer Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (Yarra Valley, Victoria) 13% alcohol. Selected (I think) because it is not a typical Cabernet Sauvignon. Crimson colour. A jubey nose (showing some carbonic maceration) with red berries, mulberry, cigar box, truffle / mushroom and almost porty. There’s gentle but lifted red and black fruits on the palate, with soft acid and firm drying tannins. Medium to long finish.

Brown Brothers Shiraz, Mondeuse, Cabernet Sauvignon. 2015. 51%Shiraz, 25% Mondeuse, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.5% colour. Chosen as an unusual blend (not produced every vintage) and purchased at the cellar door. Apparently the 2005 was also on tasting on that visit. Crimson colour. Developed dark fruits (plums, blackberry), vanilla, bay leaf, mocha and a touch of leather on the nose. A soft palate, but with some intensity and a touch of alcoholic heat. Juicy fruits, especially plums, and fine drying tannins. Structure from the cabernet component and the firm drying tannins. Long finish and well regarded by the group.

Olive Farm Aglianico 2024 (Swan Valley, W.A.): 12.7% alcohol. Crimson colour. A bright and red-fruited nose, with plums and red berries, some earthiness and dried Italian herbs. The palate reminds me of cherry cola. There’s dusty tannins, supporting acid and medium length and body. Aglianico in Italy is apparently known as the Barolo of the south, but this Australian version is a different wine entirely.

Twin Woods Estate ‘Optimus’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 (Margaret River, W.A.): 14% alcohol. Chosen possibly for rarity, small production and sale of the vineyard. Purple black in colour. An intense and dusty nose, with graphite, blackberry, mocha, blueberry, and vanilla. There’s mocha, dark chocolate and a little coconut on the palate, with integrating tannins and a little warmth on the back palate. Long finish and well regarded by the group.

Valenciso ‘Ten Anos Despues’ Rioja 2015 (Spain): Apparently a recent release. 15% alcohol. Tempranillo dominant. Crimson colour. Polished leather and coconut on the nose, with dark fruits in the background to some extent. More American oak on the palate -caramel, chocolate and coconut. Grippy and drying tannins, noticeable acid and a long finish.

Wendouree Muscat of Alexandria 2022 (Clare Valley, S.A.): 16.5% alcohol. Pale yellow colour. Apricot, musk sticks, and Vanilla on the spirit-heavy nose. There’s lemon meringue on the palate, with honeysuckle, marzipan and good supporting acid. Medium length. The wine has youthfulness and some delicacy.

Keo St John Commanderia (Cyprus). 15% alcohol. Unknown age. Tan/ brown colour. Vanilla bean and caramel on the nose, with more caramel and toffee sweetness on the palate. A long clean finish and highly regarded by the group.

Wine of the night was the Batista Pinot Noir 2022, but this should take into account the disparate range and contrast of wines on offer – there were a few wines that could have won the prize. We weren’t comparing apples with apples, and this was the appeal of this tasting – as well as the stories behind each wine.

Many thanks to the team at Mayfair Lane for hosting us, and to those who offered their wines and stories to the group.

Cheers
Allan

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[GraemeG]

The 'something different' nights are usually a lot of fun. We had one five years ago and finished up with fourteen wines from thirteen regions, from seven different countries, and at least a dozen different grape varieties without counting the CdPape! WA pinot really is a mystery to the rest of the country.

[Ian S]

I've never seen, nor tasted the Brown brothers wine, but it's one I've always wanted to try (and indeed try it with some age on it).