Minot Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

We tried the 2002 on a number of occasions and it consistently under whelmed, perhaps reflecting a less than stellar vintage for Margaret River. The 2003, however, it pretty much back in the grove. Minot are clearly aiming for a more traditional, slightly austere, longer living style and the pricing ~$27 puts it at the bottom, price wise, of a growing bracket of mid-priced premium cabernets.Dusty, earthy nose with some spice and oak. Good lift. Softer flavours than the nose suggests with berry fruits more apparent. Oak pops up, just faint enough to classify the role as ‘supporting, and some nice herbal notes round out a pretty decent palate. A fraction tight and obviously young, this wine is well worth some mid term cellaring.

Schloss Vollrads Riesling 2005 - Recommended

Region: Rheingau

Light golden in colour, perhaps looks a touch developed for the age. Rich nose of ripe lemon and citrus fruits. Smells like a ripe Crawford River. Riper and more intense again to taste. Less lemon, more dry generic in style. Very complete palate, quite serious and gets progressively drier and minerally on the finish. Very well made and structured but value is an issue at somewhere above $45 pb. The use of a re-usable glass stopper is a fantastic idea and I can vouch for the wine’s freshness 3 days after the initial opening. In fact I would go so far as to claim it blows a stelvin seal away.

Fermoy Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Subdued nose compared the $16 Fermoy cab merlot from the same vintage. A hint of sweet blackberry is the most obvious fruit trait. The ‘reserve’ tag is much more evident to taste with plenty of furry tannins and length. Fruit is sinewy and tight, almost astringent with a citrus overtone (oak?). Not at all convincing at this stage but to be fair this wine is very young and really needs another 3 years before a proper assessment can be made.

Cathcart Ridge Mt Ararat Merlot 2004 (QPR Recommended)

Despite the obviously simpleness of this wine and arguably a lack of varietal definition there’s a lot to like about this $12 wine in a value sense. Medium blood red in colour, the nose shows plenty of ripe berry fruits with a slight talcum powder edge. Friendly flavour profile driven (again) with ripe berries and some tingly acid that never gets aggressive. Not sure that this wine screams ‘merlot’, in fact I’m sure it doesn’t, but the soft, forward fruits have a degree ofappeal.

Cathcart Ridge Estate 2000

The merlot is somewhat of a flag bearer for the winery and this 6 year old example should keep a good reputation intact. Colour is about bang-on for the variety – medium blood red – but the nose points to the age. Balanced plummy / leafy notes on the nose are very settled and mature. Some herbal secondary notes push through. Palate is also showing some mature character – more herbal plum – but the primary fruit is settling and fading. Structually appears sound and plenty of acid zing keeps the mouthfeel fresh. Not a show stopper given the subdued fruits but a good example of how Oz merlot looks at 6 years. Drink over 2006 and early 2007.

Tasting Notes - Trevor Jones Boots Gris Blanc 2006 (Value Reco)

Sweet fruity nose; perhaps a touch of residual sugar? Hints of cooler climate grassy notes. Fruity to taste but not the dumb "sunshine in a bottle" style. Nice generic dryish white style with a very level and balanced palate. Has the texture and feel of a Gris but doesn't really shout its variety. Good value @ $12.

Tasting Notes - Trevor Jones Boots Riesling 2006

Thankfully the grapes are sourced from Eden Valley fruit. Very pale lemon in colour. Ripe nose with a slightly liquered note of citrus fruits. Full bodied style, thick palate for the region, lacks fruit drive at the finish. Some sharp acidic notes arrive late. Lacks varietal character.

Chrismont Craig's Hut Sangiovese 2005

Grapey sweet nose, fresh, a touch sugary but it ain't Sangiovese. Leaner on the palate, thankfully, but perhaps due to lack of fruit ripeness rather than genuine savoury Italian fruit structure. Tannin structure is quite impressive for a $10 wine - drying coal tea notes - shades of Bordeaux? Believe it or not! In aggregate not enough bright fruit for the punter at this price level.

Delas Crozes-Hermitage Tour d'Albon 2001

Region: Norther Rhone
Appelation: Crozes-Hermitage

A little tight and acidic early but opened up gradually over time. Meaty and slightly savoury style. Cherry and bacon notes on the nose. Doesn't deliver a massive fruit hit but rather a tight, neat structure that would appear still young as a 5 year old, somewhat surprising given the wine's modest claims in the house line-up at ~e12.0.