Mayer Big Betty Shiraz 2005 – Recommended

This is good stuff. I always find it interesting to read scribes that claim the Yarra Valley is famed for the quality of its shiraz yet we rarely cross paths with decent examples in the small producer space (Warranmate being a recent exception). Medium blood red with some lightening at the rim. Good lift on the nose; pepper (mild), cherry and quite ripe cherries. Fresh and lively. More pepper in the palate along with riper than expected red berries and cherry. To be honest perhaps a smidgeon too ripe (14.2% on the ABV meter) as the wine finishes a touch sweet and thick but in reality I’m being too critical. It’s a good cool – medium climate style that offers a bit more simple fruit stuffing than the classics of the genre (say Craiglee or Knight Granite Hills) and should work well for those looking for a much needed alternative to the SA ball-buster.

Brindabella Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Recommended)

In some ways this wine is quite the opposite of what one would expect from a Canberra cab – rich fruit, soft structure and sweet berries – and that is precisely why this wine is a good story. Simply it’s a decent, friendly drink now cabernet sauvignon for around $20. Ripe nose, generic berries, not overblown. More of the same to taste although some more typical cab / herbal notes kick in mildly on the back palate. Finishes a touch short. No matter, this drinks very well right now.

Rugged Ranges Shiraz 2005 (QPR Reco)

Sub $10 wine made by the well regarded Master Wine Makers crew. Goes nicely. Generic red berry nose with tangy, musk-like notes, tough to pick the exact character. Less happening to taste as the fruit falls away relatively quickly but still a very serviceable dry red wine. Well structured style although sunshine in a bottle it ain’t. Won’t disappoint as a cheapy mid-weeker (early midweek?).

Paracombe Cabernet Franc 2004 (Adelaide Hills)

I’m not sure if Adelaide Hills cab franc should ever hit 15% but I think these guys pull it off. Light blood red in the glass. Lots of lift in the bouquet with well defined berries, a smidgeon of herbs, and a fraction of alcohol sweetness. Soft palate early but the heat is more evident on the finish. Berry fruit is a bit more generic and sweet. Some alcohol sweetness evident but doesn’t really detract. Some spice on the finish, along with a slightly ragged edge. Nearly but not quite.

Cathcart Ridge Chasselas 2000 (Great Western)

Chalk one up for the stats – a rare tasting of an Australian grown Chasselas. This grape is a Swiss variety that Great Western / Seppelts had historically used as part of their sparkling base. Medium gold in colour, perhaps looking like a chardonnay at 3 – 4 years of age. Strange nose, tough to pick any dominant character.

In fact, reminds strongly of a gueze beer (spontaneous fermentation, wild yeast) from Belgium – slightly sour citrus and fruit, almost like you may experience in a winery cellar. Palate doesn’t really catch fire. More slightly pongy, sour gueze notes early but then fade fairly quickly as the wine loses its primary fruit and mellows out. I reckon this wine would have looked a lot better 2 years ago, and in this case 6 years is a stretch.