The Auswine Forum

1997 Wynn's Shiraz. Birth year wine for the youngest lad who flew in tonight and dodged all the Corona hoo ha.
Cork stained 2mm very much brick red with the tiny hue of brightness. Initial whiff of VA which blew off...savoury with the faintest hint of fruit character and sweetness. For $4 it's done the job, 3-4 left which we will knock off. Premiums in the range of the same vintage, which should be singing are next.
Cheers Craig

I've either been lucky with Grillo, or it is a very good grape for making tasty yet inexpensive white wines in warmer climates. Not sure I've had a fancier version yet.

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Woodland Margaret 2016
I bought a case of these and they are getting better thanks to the bottle ageing. I gave this bottle a 7hrs decant and it softened noticeably, for the better. 67% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 16% malbec. Nose full of blackberries and some cedar. Theres a vegetal stalkiness and some pyrazines coming through. Pleasant but it needs a lot more time and it has a bit too much green for my liking. Whilst I like this wine, I think their special edition flagship wines are worth the step up. Paired with a wagyu striploin done in a pan.

Sean wrote:Re the grillo -

This is a “supermarket” wine and a nice intro to grillo for me.

I like the simplicity - both the varietal and where it comes from. Those scented aromatics and texture are very pleasant.

Not sure where else you would get it from except Sicily. Nothing fancy about this, just enjoying it for what it is.

Lino Ramble (Yarra Valley) and Parish Hill (Adelaide Hills) both make a Grillo.

Ok, here's something out of left field. We all poo poo 2011 as a year for wine, but picked up a couple of bottles of this at auction recently and trying one tonight ...

2011 Wynns Cabernet Shiraz Merlot (under screw cap, red sash label)
nice medium deep red colour, no real bricking. slightly savoury nose, some dried herbs, medium weight mouthfeel, some blackberries and plums, soft fine tannins, soft fruit, reasonable length

For a $12 wine from an allegedly poor year, this is drinking rather well, what's not to like? Haven't tried the Black Label from this year yet, but talk is that it is looking ok as well.

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mjs wrote:Ok, here's something out of left field. We all poo poo 2011 as a year for wine, but picked up a couple of bottles of this at auction recently and trying one tonight ...

2011 Wynns Cabernet Shiraz Merlot (under screw cap, red sash label)
nice medium deep red colour, no real bricking. slightly savoury nose, some dried herbs, medium weight mouthfeel, some blackberries and plums, soft fine tannins, soft fruit, reasonable length

For a $12 wine from an allegedly poor year, this is drinking rather well, what's not to like? Haven't tried the Black Label from this year yet, but talk is that it is looking ok as well.

I had the Yarra Yering Underhill 2011 the other day and I was very good despite the poor vintage. I aliken wine making to footie in that, the more difficult the conditions, the more class is emphasized. The good makers still tend to make decent wines albeit not as good as they would normally.

2011 Curly Flat pinot still knocking preferred vintages about.

Hammered on release.

Yes remember trying the 11 BL on release and thinking it very green weedy and sharp...reminded me of the similarly poor 95. I have had 4 bottles of the gables...sent from the winery as a mistake. All very ordinary. 11 BL is the only vintage I don't have going back to 96. Must track down a couple although not seen at retail or at auction. I do applaud the winery for not making any premiums that year...wise decision.
Cheers Craig

mjs wrote:Ok, here's something out of left field. We all poo poo 2011 as a year for wine, but picked up a couple of bottles of this at auction recently and trying one tonight ...

2011 Wynns Cabernet Shiraz Merlot (under screw cap, red sash label)
nice medium deep red colour, no real bricking. slightly savoury nose, some dried herbs, medium weight mouthfeel, some blackberries and plums, soft fine tannins, soft fruit, reasonable length

For a $12 wine from an allegedly poor year, this is drinking rather well, what's not to like? Haven't tried the Black Label from this year yet, but talk is that it is looking ok as well.

Perhaps one of those situations where the blend helped mitigate the problems. The merlot is a good insurance in cooler vintages, shiraz in warmer vintages.

Had a Rockford Hand Picked Eden Valley Riesling 2006 which was beautiful with a monster-sized Coffin Bay lobster. Eden Vally and the Southern Ocean meet. The riesling had fascinating aromatic development and old fashioned weight and extract, making good measure of the lobster with its clean acidity and buttery fruit.

Home alone in Adelaide with wife stuck in Sydney so have been bringing up some interesting wines to help with the boredom in the evenings. At my father's wake at Doyles at Watsons Bay in 2008 we put a Coonawarra cabernet (can't remember which one) up against a 2005 Vasse Felix Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon (under cork). The MR was the standout winner. Bought a few for the cellar and brought one up the other day. Popped and poured It's initial funk did not blow off until the last 2 glasses which goes to show how important breathing is. Tertiary flavours developing with pencil shavings and cigar box notes adding to complexity. IMO it's right in its drinking window but should hold for another 5+ years but I wouldn't expect any improvement.

2010 Tahbilk Marsanne.

Drinking beautifully. Relatively fresh, complex. Perhaps not as long as I would have liked, but hey, kills most 10 year old OZ Chardonnay!

A wonderful bottle of 2000 Metala Black Label Shiraz. Deep red colour perfect cork, really smoky charry nose soft fruits cherry every so slightly cool climate. Lovely palate balanced between mellow and a touch of acid. A little sweetness and dry chalky tannins. Nigel Dolan said 12 years but at 21 not slowing yet.
Cheers Craig

Domaine Bruno Clair Aloxe Corton 2014
Interesting garnet colour (exacerbated by the light) hides the brooding power within this wine. Lots of cassis and dark fruit but well balanced with the acid. Tertiary notes of mushroom and forest floor. Long finish.

WAwineguy wrote:2001 Chapoutier Ermitage le Pavillon

Clearly this wine left you speechless!

George Krashos wrote:

WAwineguy wrote:2001 Chapoutier Ermitage le Pavillon

Clearly this wine left you speechless!

Hilarious ...

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Tappanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir 2009: 2nd of a 6 pack bought about 8 or 9 yrs ago, found the 1st a bit light and uninteresting but this one was stunningly good. One of the best Aussie pinots to go down my throat. Such amazing texture and balance, beautiful flavour, lovely scented nose, hope I can find the other 4....

Ian S wrote:I've either been lucky with Grillo, or it is a very good grape for making tasty yet inexpensive white wines in warmer climates. Not sure I've had a fancier version yet.

On the Grillo theme.

2018 Vignetti Zabu Grillo Sicilia

My first.

Tropical fruit. Enough acid to give it structure. Great drinking in the hot weather.

I ama fan at the price point.

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2012 Shaw and Smith Shiraz.

Standard release, not the single vineyard.
lovely seamless savoury Shiraz, in a great place now. Seems it would hold for another 5 years,as the acidity is balanced with the tertiary flavours, and keeps it fresh.

Last one, always the case, the last one is always the best.

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A couple of cheapies
2016 Chalk Hill MV Atomic Cabernet...lovely drinking, very gluggable
2016 Gomersal BV Shiraz...a large chain had these in the bargain bin...lush ripe fruits fair bit of oak, but another 5 years easily.
Cheers Craig

2013 Yangarra Small Pot 'ceramic egg' Grenache.

Looking at this in the glass.... Red/Dark cherry cola with a little hint of bricking on the rim.

ON the nose... fresh red currants, red/dark cherries, fruit pastille, dried tea leaves and sweet herbs and a little hint/whiff of aniseed and bitumen to finish.

Having a taste the tannins are very soft and resolved and there's an amazing bright red fruit lift that lingers giving way to some fantastic length.
There's an amazing fine bone structure too and it seems very far removed from your atypical SA grenache. Delicate red fruit to the core and every element seems to be perfectly in place. Really enjoyed this and i think it's at the top of its game right now. I don't know if i'd be leaving it much longer. Maybe 12-18 months tops.

Love to see this in a blind tasting lineup. I think it would throw a lot of experienced palates.
The complexity, structure and balance is quite a ways from those confected/lolly water bombs we so often see in SA Grenache.