Firstly thanks to Ray and Patrik Jones for provising these as samples for this tasting group. Thsi came about as we couldnt arrange a time to be at cellar door or winery at the same time on a recent Adelaide visit. I thought the offer of samples instead was commendable.
These three tasted as part of a regular group tasting.
02 Sellicks Beach: 14.5%, Shiraz grenache blend. Purple. Spicy, white pepper, and funky nose. Earthy, savoury Dark berries, pepper and spice, this holds its alcohol on the palate better than the nose. Reasonable length too. Over time this evolved to musky red fruits, and eventually became volatile as the wine hit room temperature (probably 28 degrees) on a warm night. On night 2, this has settled and shows as blackberries, not jammy, and still some spice. Good BBQ wine, and could use a year or two in the cellar. $20ish. Good.
01 Lighthouse Cabernet Sauvignon: 14.5%, Mclaren Vale/Langhorne Creek, 20 months new & 1 yr french oak. Dark purple. Inky cassis nose. Redder berries initially on the palate, then a bit of leaf, eucalypt and blackberry. Other tasters notes residual sugar. Non varietal, but a good dry red. $26ish, Good.
02 Doyen Shiraz: 15.5%, McLaren Vale. Purple Black, very dense colour. Fennel, licorice, herbs, cola, menthol, thyme, al lmake an appearance on the nose. The palate is a juicy purple jube, cola and liqueured black barries. Some oak on the finish, but the fruit has largely soaked it up. Very fruit sweet, and very ripe, maybe overripe. Low tannin, but acid is good, and again some residual suger methinks. I reckon this would have been a significantly better wine if it was picked at lower baume, and fermented to a degree less alcohol. Nonetheless, in its style this is very good. $42 or so.
If you like 'em big and bruish, this is a label for you.
cheers
Andrew
Arakoon: 02 Shiraz/Grenache, 01 Cabernet, 02 Doyen Shiraz
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radioactiveman
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Thu Aug 14, 2003 9:38 pm
- Location: canberra
Re: Arakoon: 02 Shiraz/Grenache, 01 Cabernet, 02 Doyen Shira
Hi wizz,
I tasted some of the Arakoon range at one of the the recent Divine tastings held in Canberra. They aren't too bad but I wasn't a huge fan of the cabernet.
My notes were,
Cabernet: Dark red/purple, blackberry nose with a little spice. On the palate, blackberry/dark fruits with some raspberry and cherry. Some green stem/capsicum. Slightly cedery with noticeable acid and finished a little hot (but this may have been a result of the serving temp).
'01 Reserve shiraz: Medium to dark purple, aromas of plums and raspberries with a little white pepper/spice. Lovely and soft in the mouth with more plums and red berries. Smooth and balanced but it just seems to lack something. Maybe a little closed still. I'd like to retaste this. (14%)
I didn't taste the Doyen, but I sorta wish I did, as I don't mind big wines.
Your comment on the cabernet not really showing varietal characteristics made me remember something the handout we were given at the tasting. From the blurb on this winery, "Our aim is to focus on the quality-side of wines and to bottle blends that reflect particular wine styles rather than varietal names or geographical origin. Having said that, we still like to identify our blends with their geographical and varietal origin and see a great future in areas such as Blewitt Springs and Willunga."
Earlier on it is stated that fruit is sourced from Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek. I like the shiraz and I'll keep a look out for it.
Thanks for your notes
Cheers
Jamie
I tasted some of the Arakoon range at one of the the recent Divine tastings held in Canberra. They aren't too bad but I wasn't a huge fan of the cabernet.
My notes were,
Cabernet: Dark red/purple, blackberry nose with a little spice. On the palate, blackberry/dark fruits with some raspberry and cherry. Some green stem/capsicum. Slightly cedery with noticeable acid and finished a little hot (but this may have been a result of the serving temp).
'01 Reserve shiraz: Medium to dark purple, aromas of plums and raspberries with a little white pepper/spice. Lovely and soft in the mouth with more plums and red berries. Smooth and balanced but it just seems to lack something. Maybe a little closed still. I'd like to retaste this. (14%)
I didn't taste the Doyen, but I sorta wish I did, as I don't mind big wines.
Your comment on the cabernet not really showing varietal characteristics made me remember something the handout we were given at the tasting. From the blurb on this winery, "Our aim is to focus on the quality-side of wines and to bottle blends that reflect particular wine styles rather than varietal names or geographical origin. Having said that, we still like to identify our blends with their geographical and varietal origin and see a great future in areas such as Blewitt Springs and Willunga."
Earlier on it is stated that fruit is sourced from Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek. I like the shiraz and I'll keep a look out for it.
Thanks for your notes
Cheers
Jamie
Hi fellas,
Tried their Doyen 2002 and I tot it's more refined. Love their 2001, a wine that never fail to elicit a BIG<b>"WOW"</b> by those who let it passed thru their throat. A hedonistic wine strictly for gourmands NOT recommended for intellectuals.
Tried their Doyen 2002 and I tot it's more refined. Love their 2001, a wine that never fail to elicit a BIG<b>"WOW"</b> by those who let it passed thru their throat. A hedonistic wine strictly for gourmands NOT recommended for intellectuals.
MC
<i>"If our life on earth is so short, why not live every day as if it were our last. This is the path to happiness and spiritual enlightenment"
Omar Khayyam 1048 -1122</b>
<i>"If our life on earth is so short, why not live every day as if it were our last. This is the path to happiness and spiritual enlightenment"
Omar Khayyam 1048 -1122</b>
MartinC wrote:Hi fellas,
Tried their Doyen 2002 and I tot it's more refined. Love their 2001, a wine that never fail to elicit a BIG<b>"WOW"</b> by those who let it passed thru their throat. A hedonistic wine strictly for gourmands NOT recommended for intellectuals.
I wondered how long it would take for you to reply Martin
Despite being intrigued by these for a while, these were my first Arakoons. By all accounts the 01 Doyen was indeed bigger. I guess you would have to be a fan of this syle, and its a bit over the top for me.
I'm now intrigued by what might by in the two limited release wines they have put out from 02, I think a Blewitt Spirngs Shiraz and another whose name escapes me.
BTW, expect some flak for the Gourmands vs Intellectuals thing...
AB
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Gavin Trott
- Posts: 1860
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2003 5:01 pm
- Location: Adelaide
- Contact:
Wizz wrote:MartinC wrote:Hi fellas,
Tried their Doyen 2002 and I tot it's more refined. Love their 2001, a wine that never fail to elicit a BIG<b>"WOW"</b> by those who let it passed thru their throat. A hedonistic wine strictly for gourmands NOT recommended for intellectuals.
I wondered how long it would take for you to reply Martin
Despite being intrigued by these for a while, these were my first Arakoons. By all accounts the 01 Doyen was indeed bigger. I guess you would have to be a fan of this syle, and its a bit over the top for me.
I'm now intrigued by what might by in the two limited release wines they have put out from 02, I think a Blewitt Spirngs Shiraz and another whose name escapes me.
BTW, expect some flak for the Gourmands vs Intellectuals thing...
AB
The Blewitt Springs is the old "Reserve Shiraz' now to be named for its vineyard source.
The other is a tiny production wine for cellar door only I believe.
regards
Gavin Trott
Gavin Trott
Hi guys,
The Blewitt Springs Shiraz was one part of the 01 Reserve together with another batch. In 02 we thought the BSS was good enough to be bottled on it's own. Whilst a lighter style (in context) than the Doyen and JJ, and perhaps not "big" enough to make Martin excited (blink, blink), it has the complexity to be released on it's own as a single vineyard wine. The lesser component now ends up in the Sellicks Beach.
The JJ Clarendon Shiraz ended up as a single barrel (new Siruge) that we split between the grower and us, hence only 10 cases left. It's more of a fun thing this year given the limited volume but I would suspect that this essentially dry-grown vineyard will be our top vineyard in the years to come.
Personally I think the 02 Sellick's Beach, 02 Blewitt Springs and 02 Doyen are all better wines than their respective 01s. I expect them to last better as well.
We've got some 16.5 baume Aldinga Beach Shiraz trickling away as we speak, that should get Martin happy again in a year or two!
Cheers,
Patrik
The Blewitt Springs Shiraz was one part of the 01 Reserve together with another batch. In 02 we thought the BSS was good enough to be bottled on it's own. Whilst a lighter style (in context) than the Doyen and JJ, and perhaps not "big" enough to make Martin excited (blink, blink), it has the complexity to be released on it's own as a single vineyard wine. The lesser component now ends up in the Sellicks Beach.
The JJ Clarendon Shiraz ended up as a single barrel (new Siruge) that we split between the grower and us, hence only 10 cases left. It's more of a fun thing this year given the limited volume but I would suspect that this essentially dry-grown vineyard will be our top vineyard in the years to come.
Personally I think the 02 Sellick's Beach, 02 Blewitt Springs and 02 Doyen are all better wines than their respective 01s. I expect them to last better as well.
We've got some 16.5 baume Aldinga Beach Shiraz trickling away as we speak, that should get Martin happy again in a year or two!
Cheers,
Patrik