Tasting Notes - Jean-Marc Brocard Petit Chablis 2006 (Recommended)

Pretty good but not quite what I expected. Looks a little more developed than I'd expect of a 2006 with a medium gold hue. Richly fruited aromas; soft and broad. Palate shows plenty of ripe fruits, and very slightly pongy undertone. Fruits are again soft and broad, but not dumb. A slight kick of acid in the back palate. Another good example of forcing the question; just how good are the 1er and Grand Cru versions? Because this is no slouch.

Tasting Notes - Dawson's Patch Chardonnay 2004 (Recommended)

Old fashioned style but good fun and provides very good drinking as a 4yr old. Quite youthful in appearance with a pale gold hue. Nose and a palate is all about rich chardonnay fruits, ripe peachy character etc etc. Definately a hint of brett here, or at least some funk, probably wine-maker induced. And perhaps just a touch of oxidisation as well. But all in good measure.

New Releases - June Pt.3

Cabernet & Blends
Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $36 (Coonawarra)
Glaymond "asif" 2005 $33 (Barossa Valley)

Chardonnay
Mahi "Twin Valley" 2007 $28 (Marlborough)

Chenin Blanc
Huet "Moelleux Le Haut Lieu" 2005 $60 (France)
Huet "Sec Le Mont" 2006 $55 (France)

Durif
Taminick Cellars 2006 $19 (Glenrowan)

Merlot
Poverty Hill 2005 $25 (Eden Valley)

Pinot Grigio
Tanjil 2008 $17 (Gippsland)
Tontino Estate 2007 $16 (Adelaide Hills)

Pinot Gris
Herzog 2007 $48 (Marlborough)

Pinot Noir
Ashton Hills "Reserve" 2006 $62 (Adelaide Hills)
Rippon 2006 $65 (Central Otago)
Silverwood "Estate" 2006 $29 (Mornington Peninsula)
Tapanappa "Foggy" Pinot Noir 2007 $47 (Fleurieu Peninsula)

Riesling
Radford Dale 2007 $21 (Eden Valley)

Red Blends
Cullen "Mangan" Malbec Petit Verdot Merlot 2006 $42 (Margaret River)

Sauvignon Blanc
Brindabella Hills 2007 $16 (Canberra)

Shiraz
Archer 2006 $24 (Heathcote)
Colonial Estate "Richard Lander" 2006 $76 (Barossa Valley)
Glaymond "Distinction" 2004 $82 (Barossa Valley)
Radford Dale 2005 $30 (Eden Valley)
Thomas Wines "Kiss" 2006 $47 (Hunter Valley)

Verdejo
Angel Rodriguez "Martinsancho" 2007 $28 (Spain)

New Releases - June

Cabernet & Blends

Ridgeline 2005 $32 (Yarra Valley)

Chardonnay

Maven 2006 $21 (Marlborough)

Schild Estate "Alma Reserve" 2006 $19 (Barossa Valley)

Wedgetail Estate "Par 3" 2005 $14 (Yarra Valley)

Mourvedre

Tosca 2005 $13 (Spain)

Pinot Noir

Barringwood Park "Forest Raven" 2007 $31 (Tasmania)

Manna Gum 2005 $16 (Mornington Peninsula)

Nicholson River "Gippsland" 2005 $16 (Gippsland)

Ridgeline 2005 $32 (Yarra Valley)

Sarsfield Estate 2005 $24 (Gippsland)

Willow Creek "Tulum" 2006 $35 (Mornington Peninsula)

Rose

Charles Melton 2008 $22 (Barossa Valley)

Sangiovese

Domaine Day 2004 $25 (Eden Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc

Gravitas 2007 $27 (Marlborough)

Shiraz

Eastern Peake 2005 $45 (Ballarat)

Hastwell & Lightfoot 2006 $20 (McLaren Vale)

Reilly's Wines "Barking Mad" Shiraz $15 (Clare Valley)

Reilly's Wines "Ryder" Shiraz Cabernet $13 (Clare Valley)

Ridgeline 2004 $32 (Yarra Valley)

Schwarz "Nitschke Block" 2006 $33 (Barossa Valley)

The Story "Grampians" 2006 $21 (Grampians)

Sparkling White

Di Giorgio "Traditional" Pinot Noir 2007 $22 (Coonawarra)

Tempranillo

Cascabel 2007 $21 (Langhorne Creek)

Cloudwine / Slowbeer On-line Beer Store

Alrighty,

I've been mucking around with a properly functioning on-line beer style for a few weeks. The first 'draft' can be found at http://www.slowbeer.com.au/.

I still have to fill out the content (ie pics, tasting notes etc) but the site does function from a transaction point of view. Regular visitors to the store will note that I haven't loaded all the beers onto the site, rather I'm sticking to the gear I know we'll have in-stock pretty much all the time.

Pricing will continue to be amongst the best in the nation and I reckon it's pretty clear we blow the doors off our key competitors in Melbourne and Perth with respect to competitiveness. But, of course, the consumer will ultimately be the judge.

Offerings are either singles or 6 packs but always happy to provide case prices etc. Just shoot me a note in need.

cheers

New Releases - June Pt.2

Cabernet & Blends
Arlewood Cabernet Merlot 2004 $22 (Margaret River)
Munari Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $35 (Heathcote)

Chardonnay
Hoddles Creek 2007 $19 (Yarra Valley)
Staete Landt 2005 $32 (Marlborough)
Yeringberg 2005 $49 (Yarra Valley)

Durif
Massena "Howling Dog" 2006 $38 (Barossa Valley)

Grenache & Blends
Massena "Moonlight Run" GSM 2006 $25 (Barossa Valley)
SC Pannell "Pronto" 2006 $26 (McLaren Vale)
Spinifex "Cigale" GSM 2006 $19 (Barossa Valley)

Pinot Noir
Hoddles Creek 2007 $19 (Yarra Valley)
Home Hill "Kelley's Reserve" 2004 $35 (Tasmania)

Riesling
Muller Catoir "Trocken" 2006 $38 (Germany)
Wilson Vineyard "Polish Hill" 2007 $23 (Clare Valley)

Rose
Crittenden "Pinocchio" 2007 $15 (King Valley)

Sauvignon Blanc
Staete Landt 2007 $25 (Marlborough)

Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Gapsted 'Victoria' Selection 2207 $16 (King Valley)

Shiraz
Black Jack 2006 $37 (Bendigo)
Connor Park 2004 $22 (Bendigo)
Deviation Road 2004 $20 (Adelaide Hills)
Marius "Symposium" Shiraz Mourvedre 2006 $29 (McLaren Vale)
Massena "11th Hour" 2006 $35 (Barossa Valley)
Munari "Lady's Pass" 2005 $45 (Heathcote)
Torbreck "Woodcutters" Shiraz 2007 $21 (Barossa Valley)

Tempranillo
Hastwell & Lightfoot 2005 $20 (McLaren Vale)

New Releases - May

Amarone
Tedeschi "Classico" 2000 $79 (Italy)

Arneis
Ceretto 2005 $40 (Piedmonte, Italy)

Cabernet & Blends
Le Poidevin Cabernet Merlot Shiraz 2006 $16 (Adelaide Hills)

Chardonnay
Charles Sturt "Limited Release" Chardonnay 2007 $20 (Central NSW)
Oakridge "Over The Shoulder" 2007 $20 (Yarra Valley)

Dessert Wines
Alois Kracher "TBA" Traminer 2000 $77 (Austria)

Gewurztraminer
Mystery Creek 2007 $22 (New Zealand)

Langrein
Hofstatter 2005 $35 (Italy)

Montepulciano
Zaccagnin Montepulciano D’Abruzzo DOC 2005 $26 (Italy)

Pinot Gris
Mystery Creek 2007 $22 (New Zealand)

Port
Tallis "Max's Selection" Fortified Shiraz NV $17 (Central Victoria)

Riesling
Mystery Creek 2007 $16 (New Zealand)

Sangiovese
Galli Estate Sangiovese Shiraz 2006 $18 (Sunbury)

Sauvignon Blanc
Bit 'O Heaven Wines Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007 $15 (Central NSW)
Steely Dan 2007 $23 (Marlborough)
Le Poidevin 2007 $15 (Adelaide Hills)

Shiraz
Black Estate 2004 $16 (Bendigo)
Buckshot 2006 $28 (Heathcote)
Galli Estate "Block 2" Shiraz 2005 $20 (Heathcote)
Le Poidevin 2004 $16 (Adelaide Hills)
Veronique "Regions" 2006 $21 (Barossa Valley)

Tempranillo
Tosca 2003 $13 (Spain)

Vintage Port
Black Estate "Seven Rows" 375ml 2005 $12 (Bendigo)
Black Estate "Seven Rows" 750ml 2005 $21 (Bendigo)

Tasting Notes - Domaine Epis Cabernet Vertical

1999
I really wanted to like this mature Epis but unfortunately, as recent tastings would indicate, this wine does look its best within 3-4yrs of vintage. Structurally quite ok; soft tannins and fading acid, but the elegant fruits have really run their race. Starting to thin out and lose any primary notes, although lovers of older cabernet might like the fading herbal fruits. Not compelling.


2000 (Recommended)
Getting tired but still a very nice drop. Silky mouthfeel, fading fruits and a softening tannin structure. Much better than the 2001. (65 views)


2001
Tough to read this one. 2001 was supposed to be good for the winery but it doesn't show here. Fruit has largely dropped out although structure is still very classical in anyone's language. There are better options in other vintages.


2004
Nose steps up a gear on the 2005 but ultimately very similar. Soft and delicate cabernet fruits. Not as good as a very good showing in late 2005.


2005
Massively perfumed nose of pretty blueberry and cassis. Leaner palate, softly fruited but clearly the structure to age is apparent.


2006 (Recommended)
Tight but not hard or unyielding (if that makes any sense). Mineral and iron notes speak more of Burgundy than Macedon. Nose shows nice 'milky' cabernet fruits - a nice house character. Will be good in time.

Tasting Notes - N.V. Seppelt Palomino Fino DP116 Amontillado

Although this wine is a non-vintage blend it is fact labelled as a 1998 bottling, thus fair to assume the real age of this wine is somewhat older than 10 years. Colour depicts some age with a darkening gold. Nose is very varietal with a dry piecing tang. Palate not quite as hard as expected although still the drying acid still has plenty of burn to, well, 'burn'. A lick of sweetness comes through as well, perhaps as result of the softening impact from the aging. No rush to drink.