The Auswine Forum

Finally!
Here are my collected notes from this term's wine appreciation classes - reds only! Approx retail prices, points out of 20.
Exam tomorrow night, and the lecturer has promised to bring out some big ones to test our palates.
Next week is the graduation dinner at Jackson's

Pinot Noir

Salitage 2003 Pemberton $36 Clear bright garnet with brick tinges, orange/pink at rim. Sawdust, cedar, beetroot, berries later on the nose. Soft approach, not much tannin, some acid, dry, sawdust, black olive, more fruit as it opens up. Not bad, not interesting. 16.
T'Gallant 2002 Mornington $23 A bit hard to see through ruby, brick hints, purple/red rim. Red fruits, farmyard, cedar. Very smooth mouthfeel, some tannin grip, complex mix inc. beetroot, rhubarb. Medium length. 18.
Hunter's 2003 Marlborough $38 A bit hard to see through garnet/ruby. Strawberry, beetroot, sweet and leafy. Smooth sweet fruit, good acid, cherry, rhubarb, fine tannin, long finish. Give a bit of age to get great complexity. 18.5 now.
d'Arenburg Feral Fox 2003 Adelaide Hills $29 Fairly transparent brick red, orange/red rim. Subtle initially, gradually gives up spicy stewed strawberries. Soft , stewed strawberries and plum, smooth tannins, medium length, quite balanced. 17.5.
Different night...
Tamar Ridge 2001 Tasmania $25 Transparent ruby/garnet, brick/red rim. Cherries, cedar, underbrush. Rasberry, cedar, initial sour acid finish, sweetens with air. 17.5
Grosset 2003 Clare Valley $52 Clear ruby, brick tinge at rim. Sweet fruit, a bit funky. Elegant cherry, rasberry, strawberry palate. 18.

Merlot (no, really!)

Yering Station 2001 Yarra Valley $23 Bright opaque ruby, garnet rim. Rasberry and plum jam, spice, some smoky oak. Soft, full, Stewed plums with rasberry tones, dry leafy finish. 16.5.
Brookland Valley 2002 Show wine... reserve label? Margaret River $40+? Almost opaque dark, dark ruby with ruby/garnet rim. Earthy red capsicum with black fruit underneath. Soft approach to fairly strong tannins, silky feel, warm black fruits and cherries, some leafiness. Not complex, but well balanced. 17.
Chalice Bridge 2002 Margaret River $25? Almost opaque dark ruby/garnet. Cedar, blackcurrant, faintly cheesy, hints of rubber. Soft and full, silky tannin, red and black fruit, leafy, tobacco, cedar, dark chocolate. 18.
Fox Creek Reserve 2001 McLaren Vale $48 Opaque garnet, ruby/purple rim. Tight nose, cedar, pencil shavings, black olives. Soft approach, full, builds to astringent tannins and long very dry finish. Black tastes all over the palate... licorice, olives, assorted black fruits. Needs food and/or time to mellow (if it can!). 17-18.

Rosemount Orange 2002 Orange $24 Opaque dark garnet, garnet rim with violet hints. Herbs, cassis, sweet coconut oak. Blackcurrant, leafy, powdery tannins, a bit hollow, but long finish. 16.
Brown Bros. Patricia 2002 King Valley $46 Opaque, glass staining dark garnet, dark garnet rim. Closed to start, then beautiful dark chocolate, black cherry, rasberry, smoky oak. Soft, red fruits, pepper, coconut, subtle oak which becomes more pronounced at finish. Easy to drink! 18.

End of part one... stay tuned for part two... some rather serious shiraz and cabernet.

Bugger... it appears that I timed out on my login while typing up that message!

Let that be a lesson to you all

Continuing on...

Shiraz

Batista 2000 Pemberton $30 Opaque, slightly cloudy (rough decant?), dark ruby, verging on brick at rim. N: Farmyard, licorice, bandaids, game. P: Licorice, pepper, acid finish, not much fruit, somewhat hollow. Brett lives here! Apparently popular in some circles, would go better with food. 13.5.
Lamont's 1999 Swan Valley $28 Fairly opaque, bright dark ruby, ruby/brick rim. N: plums, alcohol, mint, warms to a porty smell. P: soft throughout, tannic, full flavour, smoky rasberry and plum. Very tasty. 18.
Rosemount Balmoral 2000 McLaren Vale $60 Dark opaque garnet, purple hints, garnet rim. N: Meaty, smoky, vanilla, cedar. A bit closed for fruit. P: licorice, stewed plums, very full, warm, long and rich. 18.5.
Ingolby Reserve 1999 McLaren Vale $55 Sedinent from rough decant, fully opaque, dark garnet, dark garnet/brick rim. N: Closed to start, then coconut, pencil shavings, cedar, coffee. P: Solid, warm, big, rich, concentrated, very long and packed with flavour. 18.5
Heathcote Mailcoach 2001 Heathcote $28 Almost opaque, dark garnet/red, garnet rim. N: herbs, mint, black fruit P: Herbaceous, tangy acid, black fruits, medium weight, full flavour. 17.
Willow Bridge The Black Dog 2002 Ferguson Valley, Geographe $62 DARK garnet, dark garnet/purple rim. N:Vanilla yoghurt, coconut, port, charry oak. P: High alcohol, very ripe but not jammy fruit inc. plums. 18.


Cabernet Sauvignon

Howard Park Scottsdale 2002 Denmark $35 Opaque bright dark garnet, ruby rim with purple hint. N: All green... tomato leaf, capsicum, herbs. P: Soft approach, minty, grippy, some fruit, cedar, a bit hollow, long astringent finish. 16.
Juniper Estate 2001 Margaret River $33 Almost opaque dark garnet with garnet/purlpe rim. N: Sweet spice, herbs, cassis underneath. P: Soft approach, very tannic and dry, dark berries, long astringent finish. Nice oak. 17.
Dalwhinnie Moonambel 2001 Pyrenees $45 Opaque dark ruby/garnet, dark ruby rim. N: Licorice, prunes, cassis, eucaluptus, mocha. P: Soft, plum, spice, long finish with a bit of grip, balanced and elegant. 18.5
Turkey Flat 2000 $55 Opaque dark brick/garnet, sediment. N: mint, tomato, cassis. P: Full, warm, sweet, hints of capsicum. 18.5
Redman 2001 Coonawarra $32 Opaque, dark purple/garnet, violet/red rim. N: Herbs, cassis, sweet coconut oak. P: Blackcurrant, leafy, powdery tannins, a bit hollow, long finish. 17.
Plantaganet 1999 Mt Barker $32 Opaque dark garnet, dark garnet/brick rim. N: Beetroot, chocolate cake, cinammon and spice. P: Very soft approach, full, some mint, good tannin, long soft finish. 18.5.

Cheers!