Recent Tastings.

[Rory]

Some recent tastings in brief description:

Stonier "Reserve" Chardonnay '00.
Very good example of what quality the Peninsula can achieve with Chardonnay. Very well structured wine, still a way to go before it displays all it can. Tight citrus fruit with a layer of cashew and melon, but with a good hint of minerallity to it. Great wine, persistant finish.


Bests Bin "O" Shiraz '98.
I was so looking forward to this to see how it was developing, so it was a bummer it was just enough corked to flatten the nose and palate out.

Giaconda Aeolia Rousanne '00.
Lovely wine. I've had a few of these over the past three years, and although it's still drinking lusciously, I possibly prefer it a bit younger. It's fat, but not flabby, rich, but not cloying, and is a great alternative to Chardonnay. A wine to slowly drink and marvel at.

Te Mata Woodthorpe Syrah/Voigner '02.
Very Rhonish, more so than most Oz blends I've tasted. Not overly sweet, more savoury, well structured wine. But as I seem to have a low tolerance to Mr Brett, I didn't think that much of it. If, however, you liked the '98 Hamiltons Burtons Grenache/Shiraz or a Scorpo Shiraz, you may well appreciate this wine. It is complex.

Marienberg "Reserve" Shiraz '98.
A great example of Shiraz from a great vintage from McLaren Vale. Yum.

Yering Station ED Pinot Rose '03.
The ED stands for extra dry and this was pretty much correct. Unfortunatley it lacked a bit of depth of palate I like in Rose, but would be a great drink on a hot day. Having said that, well made, nothing out of place.

T'Gallant Holystone '03.
A Chardonnay/Pinot blend Rose that I personnaly think would go better with a little less Chardonnay. Not bad though.

Rory

[Ed W]

Te Mata Woodthorpe Syrah/Voigner '02.
Very Rhonish, more so than most Oz blends I've tasted. Not overly sweet, more savoury, well structured wine. But as I seem to have a low tolerance to Mr Brett, I didn't think that much of it. If, however, you liked the '98 Hamiltons Burtons Grenache/Shiraz or a Scorpo Shiraz, you may well appreciate this wine. It is complex.

Hi Rory, yeah this Woodthorpe syrah/viognier blend is as opposite to wines like laughing magpie as you can get. Very savoury indeed but I feel its complexity is OK only, which provides enough interest as a "drink-now" wine for the next couple of years. Interestingly Te Mata also has another rhone style wine called Bullnose syrah which has a bigger backbone and more fruit but at the same time retains that rhone influence, as with many other Hawkes Bay syrahs.

cheers
Ed

[simm]

Some recent tastings in brief description:

Bests Bin "O" Shiraz '98.
I was so looking forward to this to see how it was developing, so it was a bummer it was just enough corked to flatten the nose and palate out.

Marienberg "Reserve" Shiraz '98.
A great example of Shiraz from a great vintage from McLaren Vale. Yum.

Rory

Hi Rory,

I tried the Bests Bin'0' 99 a long while back, and although I couldn't take notes at the time, I do recall it was huge, unbalanced, not terribly complex, and didn't seem like it would go far on the shelf. More something for earlier drinking and those who like big brash stuff.

I agree with you on the Marienberg. Very big surprise with lots of liqourice and chocolate, and after turning down some earlier vintages, I'm really glad I managed to try and then buy up a few for the future.

cheers,

[bob]

sim,

no bin 0 was made in '99 neither was there any thomson family produced, instead a shiraz called f.h.t was produced. i find it hard to believe you thought the '99 FHT 'unbalanced, not terribly complex, and didn't seem like it would go far on the shelf', are you sure of your impressions?

bob