The Auswine Forum

After 18 months since my last visit to the Pyrenees I decided it was time to return and experience the local produce again from three of classier names. I had watched the weather carefully and chose a day when I could sit on the balcony of Dalwhinnie while enjoying their wines. Wednesday was perfect, not a cloud in the sky and a gentle breeze from the North East made for perfect tasting conditions.

I have kept my notes brief.

Dalwhinnie
Great winery and CD, modern styling with a fantastic outlook over the vineyards, valley and rolling hills in the distance.

2001 Cab Sav
Cherry and blakcurrant flavours with cassis, slight mint and dusky oak in the mix. Sold out of their 2002 vintage already due to its low yield but extremely high quality fruit. Recommended

2002 Shiraz
I ordered a full glass of this so I could stretch out the drinking time over one and a half hours. Initially the nose was full of vanilla and dense fruit, over time it had loads of sweet berry fruit and floral notes. On the palate it has loads of fresh fruit and savoury flavours, packed full of power, a super concentrated and intense wine but held together beautifully with stylistic structure and a sweet aftertaste, class in a glass. Outstanding


No Pinot Noir, sold out.

A great way to spend the afternoon relaxing in the sun on the balcony with the wife.

Summerfield
Stopped here on the way back to the cottage.

2002 The Tradition
Cab Sav and Merlot blend that was very approachable with medium bodied palate and cherry berry flavours, showed typical varietal characteristics. Recommended

2002 Shiraz
A meddley of blackberry and savoury flavours with nice tannins, well integrated. I liked this a lot and thought it was up there until I tried the next two. Highly Recommended

2002 Reserve Shiraz
Big mouthfilling flavours of dark berries, rich and full with savoury oak, a monster packed to the hilt. A more SA style compared to Dalwhinnie, big bold and loaded. Highly Recommended

2002 Reserve Cab Sav
This knocked our socks off, what a massive concentrated mouthful, loads of red currant and berry, long juicy flavours that extended with firm tannins, slight mint offering as well but a lovely wine overall which should last a long time in the cellar. Outstanding

Taltarni
Clover Hill Champagne
Not a bubbly drinker but this was very nice, clean crisp finish, would be good on Melbourne Cup day.

2001 Cab Sav
Medium bodied with berry fruit flavour, especially blackberry with dusty oak and strong tannins, not my favourite. Ok

2001 Shiraz
Black fruit flavours and pepper, tight, layers of complexity were noticable, more time out of the bottle would have done it justice to allow its true character to be revealed. A good wine that will improve. Recommended

2003 Heathcote Shiraz
Surprise of the two days. This is humming with typical Heathcote Shiraz,
strong and intense flavours, spicy fruit with firm tannins set this apart from the Pyrenees wines of this winery. Apparently this wine had just won a gold medal at the Adelaide wine show, so said the attendant, not hard to see why, a gem. Outstanding

All up the results were not out of character with the only surprise being the Taltarni Heathcote Shiraz, keep your eyes open for it.



Colin

Hi Colin,

Thanks for the notes, glad you followed instructions and had that glass of Shiraz for me.

Your notes on Summerfield indicate you found the wines very much the same way I did. Interesting about the Taltarni, I have not tried them for years but it looks like they may be worth seeking out again.

Hi Ric
Yeah I took your advice, no doubt Dalwhinnie Shiraz is pure class, one of our best and the day was perfect to sit back and relax at the CD which made it all the more enjoyable.

I first tatsted Taltarni in the early 80's when I bought some of their 1980 C.S. which was a stellar year in Vic, since the mid 80's it has been down hill for the winery IMO, too much oak and tannin in their wines. The C.S. is still a little off the mark but their Pyreness Shiraz shows signs of improvement. Their Heathcote Shiraz is from young vines but shows great promise for the future. The label is very modern and a complete departure from the original label. Look out for it, it is a pleasant surprise in style and packaging.

Colin

Thanks Colin.

Has Dalwhinnie revamped it's cellar door? Sipping a full glass of shiraz and overlooking Moonanbel would be idyllic.

Hi Jamie
Apart from minor works to expand the laboratory the CD is up and going.


Colin