Tasting Notes - Mount Trio Shiraz 2002 (Recommended)

For those who don't know Mt Trio is Gavin Berry's side project away from Plantagenet. All fruit is sourced from the Great Southern area.

A classic cool to medium climate shiraz by most measures. Blood red in the glass, not heavy, with some lightening at the rim. Soft berries and pepper on the nose, the latter with a ever so slightly hard / leafy edge that suggests a lack of ripeness. I am knit-picking a bit here.

Warms up more in the mouth, retaining a pleasant berry / spice / pepper combo. Quite pleasant. Medium finish with some fine tannin. Fruit gets a bit one dimensional in the middle and pack palate but still a reasonable sub $20 example from this underrated shiraz region.

Tasting Notes - Taminick Booths Premium Shiraz 2003

After drinking a couple of decidely modern cabernets from Booths ('modern' of course being a relative measure) it was back to traditional values for the shiraz. This wine, tagged the 'premium' weighed in at a mere 16%. Dark blood red with faint purple tinges....kinda looks Victorian. Biggish nose, a little sugary, and of course very ripe. Fierce tannic bugger in the mouth. Some heat (although not as much as you'd expect), and cheek coating tannins claw at the lining of my mouth. Some good fruit is hidden but not sure it will ever see the light of day. This needs time but not it's worth the punt. Drinkers with a history on cellaring Booths are well placed to make the best decision.

Tasting Notes - Bidgeebong Tumbaruma Chardonnay 2003 (Recommended)

One of the few 100% Tumbarumba wines to hit our desks. Pale gold in the glass, looks about right for the age. Lively nose, crips acid, nervy, faint oak and a touch of the 'traditional' dry whites about it. Old fashioned?Interesting palate. Quite dry, buzzing acid, taunt, almost chalky ahla Clare Riesling, the latter standing out to the extent I may have called this riesling if tasting blind, although the suble sweet oak notes on the nose give the variety away. Some spritzy lime drives a long tight finish. One of the wines that is very easy to write a TN on. Good stuff.

Tasting Notes - Brini 'Koota Gra' Merlot 2004 (Recommended)

Soon to be released cheapie from Brini, an excellent QPR focussed operation in McLaren Vale. Merlot dominant with a touch of grenache. At the likely retail price (sub $13) I'm pretty sure this isn't sourced from the estate vines (age 50yrs+). Slightly old fashioned nose; ripe but not sweet, with dark berry fruits. Quite firm in the mouth and a pretty serious wine at the price point. More ripe berry fruits and some drying tannin, quiet grippy, but seems sophisticated considering the price point. Ok length and finishes with just a touch of cooling licorice. Impressive wine at the price (have I mentioned the QPR thing enough?). Me thinks we will sell a lot of this wine.

Tasting Notes - Brini 'Blewitt Springs' Shiraz 2002

No mention of the grape source in the press material so I assume this is made from contract fruit. Nice nose, fairly soft with gamey, savoury traces and some ripe berry fruits. Palate is a little hard to work out; a little subdued if one was looking for bright fruit but it does have a nice balanced feel. More savoury notes, licorice, finishes a touch short but some heat and acid makes an impact, although not obtrusive. Needs more obvious fruit to match the tannins. Not sure where the wine is just now - just resting? - but I need more juicy fruit action to get excited. Nothwithstanding these thoughts I'd love to see this wine in 3 years time.

Tasting Notes - Brini 'Sebastian' Shiraz 2003

Flagship wine from a less than stellar vintage. Good nose with quite a pronounced lift of bright berry fruits. Not at all heavy, almost aromatic with a good lick of funky savoury fruits, providing a good level of complexity.Palate provides an interesting contrast. Front half is all about light delicate berry fruits, almost dances across the tongue. Firms up a little with some prominant tannic matched with savoury fruits and trade mark licorice. As with the Blewitt Springs the fruit just needs to step up a notch but the wine is looking good right now.Probably well priced at $24 and it will be interesting to see how it compares with other 2003 shiraz like the Marius, Foggo Road, Chalk Hill, Koltz etc. To be honest there are probably better buys from 2001 and 2002 at the minute but regardless this is a solid wine.

Peel Estate Chenin Blanc 1999 (Recommended)

Nice bright golden sheen, the nose was quite heady with a nutty character.The palate was rich and almost viscous in texture. This is very different from French or South African Chenin Blanc I've tried. Some sweet notes of honey and vanilla and then some more savoury nutty or avocado flavours on the back of the palate. A long spicey finish rounded off the wine well. I didn't expect to like this at all but it sat well with the oak. I tried it chilled and it was more bitter and crisp but left to warm up a little the richness really came forward. Surprisingly pleasing and quite interesting wine to try.

Tasting Notes - Murray Street Shiraz 2003

Sweet light fruits on the nose; confectionary like, but has appeal. Palate shows more intense ripeness and sweetness, again in the lighter fruits spectrum. Finishes a touch hot and tannic.

Tasting Notes - TK Lenswood Riesling 2004

Tim Knappstein strays from his native Adelaide Hills with this riesling from Clare Valley. Competent wine but doesn't really get the pulse going. Has the classic regional fruit profile - ripe lime and citrus fruits - but feels just a tad dilute and 'soft' on the finish. Nothing terribly wrong, just doesn't get out 2nd gear IMHO.

Tasting Notes - Minot Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

Berry fruits on the nose, feels sweet and simple. Not a heap of depth. Fruit quite predictable in the mouth, light, again in the simple berry fruit mould. Some tannin, not too severe. Medium finish. Not really in the class of the 2001 and just doesn't have the fruit character to lift it into a wine worth thinking about.