Tasting Notes - Burra Burra Shiraz 1999 (Recommended)

I believe this is the second vintage from Stephen George's shiraz vineyard located in Burra, north east of Clare. Nice dark blood red in the glass, looks youthful. Smells kinda traditional, maybe old fashion, with some ripe berry fruits. Almost like an old Rutherglen red. Young palate, fruit appears to still be wound up, although this wine was never destine to be a fruit bomb. Quite a lick of tannin running through the palate, again an old fashion feel, and helps carry a nice core of licorice. I'll decanter next time but certainly worth putting down for another 2 to 3 years to see where its going, but the class is evident.

Tasting Notes - Vynfields

Vynfields is a relatively new player from Martinborough that we haven't seen much of previously. The 13 acre was planted some 16 years ago and acquired by current owners Kaye McAulay and John Bell a number of years back.



2002 Pinot Noir (Recommended)

Lightish blood red, a touch murky. Great nose, lifted spicy sour fruits, quite powerful and intense. Faithful replay in the mouth, with more powerful spice and sour cherry. Good length and mouthfeel. Smacks of quality. QPR ok in the Martinborough context at mid $40's. A little similar to the 2002 Yabby Lake from Mornington.



2003 Pinot Noir

Much deeper dark red hue. Very closed nose - nothing doing. Again quite tight palate. Some sweet fruits are starting to poke through but very early days yet. Almost certainly will be a lighter weight wine than the 2002. Needs time and wouldn't be fair to pass opinion now.

Tasting Notes - Langanook Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 (Recommended)

Deep dark plum red, looking very youthful. Trademark Langanook nose with lifted aromatic fruit - often a highlight of the reds. Beautifully defined nose, sweet blackberry, blueberry and herbal notes - very pretty. Big mouthfeel, much more powerful than what we have seen historically from the winery. The characters from the bouquet do replay but are a little overshadowed by some quiet overt berry fruits and some firmness from oak and slightly bitter tannins. Fairly large at 15% but carries the alcohol well. This wine does need some time for the fruit to settle. Should age well over the next 5 years.