Tasting Notes - Ladbroke Grove Cellar Door Visit

Brief impressions from a cellar door visit at Xmas 2005...........

Riesling 2005 (Recommended)
Lime, citrus nose. Quite fresh. More of the same to taste but the structure doesn't have the bracing intensity of a Clare Valley (a good thing). Good drink now style.

Compadres Cabernet Merlot 2002
Rich, expressive, blackberry nose. More subdued in the mouth, quite tannic, finishes a touch hard. Tough to work out where this wine is going.

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Perfumed, plush milky nose, a touch gamey. Tight palate, a little grainy, subdued fruits, but very early days. Again tough to evaluate right now.

Flat Broke Lad Chardonnay 2004
Contains 3% semillon. Big tropical fruit and pineapples on the nose. Broadens out considerably on the palate and doesn't really get going.

Flat Broke Lad Chardonnay 2005
Contains 4% semillon. Similar in style to the 2004, just not my bag. Too broad and lacks intensity.

Township Shiraz 2002
Medium intensity on the nose, ok lift with savoury notes. Drying palate with tight fruits.

Reserve Shiraz 2002 (Recommended)
Lifted, assertive nose of generic berries. Oak aromas evident. Big and bold in the palate, liquered fruits, firming oak. Quite powerful.

Shiraz Viognier 2002
Gamey, funky aromas; good lift. Strong oak underpins but the fruit drives the structure. Drys out a touch on the finish.

Flat Broke Lad Shiraz Viognier 2003
Gamey, funky style done nicely. Some wood is apparent. Viognier component is quite obvious - drives a slippery palate structure. Pleasant drink but no world beater.

Flat Broke Lad Shiraz Viognier 2004 (Recommended)
Fruity nose, big, classic of the genre. Again soft, slippery palate. Very morish.