Morning Star Pinot Gris 2004 - Recommended

At first glance this wine didn’t really appeal; lacked a bit of obvious fruit and seemingly a bit tired (not totally surprised at 2yrs of age) but this wine did charm over time. Mild nose of chalky floral notes. Palate was subdued early, quite mature, but did remind strongly of the lower end Alasatians we see in Australia that are a vintage or two off the pace, and thus had, to me at least, some appeal. Fruit opened up as the wine warmed up; sweeter musky notes with a liqueur lick in the back. No world beater but the European ‘hum’ of this wine did hook me in.

Sandy Farm Cabernet Merlot 2004 - Recommended

Dark blood red in colour, no fading at the rim. Soft nose, lifted cabernet notes of blackberry and a underlying herbal edge. Attractive and very text book for the style. Ripe fruits run through the palate, more blackberry, but also a sliver of acid keeps the wine a little tighter than the nose suggests. Drinks very well now given the mild tannin presence but should continue to look the goods over the next 2 – 3 years.

Ladbroke Grove Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

Unfortunately this wine didn’t show as well as when tasted over Christmas at the cellar door. Garnet red, a little lighter in the glass than expected. Ok nose, a mix of herbs and sweet berry fruits. Nice but lacks conviction. Tightish palate, dark fruits, some oak, drying tannins. Quite serious but not really all together just yet. Drying finish. Ladbroke typically know what they are doing do I’d give this one a chance and rest for another 2 years.

Le Mins Pinot Noir 2004 (QPR Recommended)

This is the labelled version, not the ‘higher profile’ $9 cleanskin. Lightish cherry red in colour with a little fade at the rim. Friendly nose, light cherry, berry notes, some lift with what almost seems like alcohol heat but 13% abv unlikely. Light mouthfeel, some sour tinges around the edges of the palate but falls into the feather weight dry red class right now. Firms up at the finish, bearing a little teeth, and gives the impression it could do with 6 – 9 months in the cellar. At $12 this is well made, if a touch light, pinot.

Ladbroke Compadres Blend Cab Merlot 2002

I’ve had the past 3 vintages (2001 – 2003) and this is the weak link, but not by a huge margin. Lightish garnet red, somewhat underwhelming. Serious nose with inky berries, a touch of sweetness and a faint herbal edge, easy to pick the cab element. Palate doesn’t travel as expected; a touch chewy, sweetish berry fruits, some hardness from what seems to be a little acid sear. Medium strength finish. The vintages either side of the 2002 are a better bet.

Tasting Notes - Small Fry Riesling 2005

Small Fry is a new label from the Barossa that effectively operates as a local negociant for ultra small regional growers. All wines retail around $16 - $19.

Deliberately made in an off-dry style with 20 grams of residual. Sweet, grapey nose. Nice but simple. Palate definitely on the sweet side but comes across as short and simple. Starts out like a kiwi riesling but doesn’t have the balance or stuffing right across the palate to successfully pull it off. Will have appeal for those looking for the simple sweet style.

Port Phillip Estate Pinot Noir 2004

Blood cherry red, kinda dark rose like. Massive herbal kick on the nose; nettles, freshly cut hay, a touch stalky perhaps. Striking. More herbal, slightly green notes on the palate and some noticeable oak. Doesn’t seem under-ripe but there’s not a whole lot of fruit powering the palate – yet. Oak drives the wine, a little too much to my liking, but it’s early days yet, and the house has a decent track record.

Hoffman Chardonnay 2001 – Recommended

Purchased at a cellar door visit in 2002. I must have been a bit wet behind the ears buying McLaren Vale chard but this wine has held up well (good storage conditions has evidently not hindered). Aged, nutty nose; some oak evident and good sweet fruit aromas. More mellow sweet fruit in the palate, mild maderised characters kick in late, more spicy / nutty oak. Finishes a touch short but to no detriment. One of those cellaring surprises that just doesn’t happen often enough.

Te-Aro Estate Shiraz 2002

Another grower come vintner. New label to us and holds a certain amount of interest given the vintage and the fact the wine has a component soucred from 95yr vines. Classic shiraz in the glass; dark garnet with a pink edge. Despite the Barossa origins I found the region hard to pick on the nose, rather mixed berries of medium weight with a tingly, almost talcum powder nose. Palate is well balanced but the fruit power struggles a touch to really get going. This is strictly an elegant style, but mostly in a good way. More generic red berries in the mouth, early, and then tightens up noticeably with some acid and powdery tannins. Good, but not great, and any comments on recommendation will be driven largely by the retail price.

Mac Forbes Barbera 2004

Dry red generic style. Quite tight with touch of noticeable acid and drying tannins. Some sweet berry fruits late in the palate but otherwise lacks excitement.

Elgee Park Family Reserve Chardonnay 2004

Rich, ripe style, probably over the top despite the 13.5%. Viognier like with some heat and full palate weight. Quite attractive but not befitting of the variety. No doubt will have its fans.

Elgee Park Riesling 2005

Rich, fresh, lively. A touch too ripe for my liking, perhaps built with a 1 - 2 year cellaring time frame in mind. Nice touches of ripe lime and musk - well matched with a sliver of acid. Some obvious heat takes the edge off what is otherwise quite a good drop.

Domaine Epis Cabernet Merlot 2004 - Recommended

Dark blood red in the glass, almost black. Elegant, leafy nose - classy. Some herbal notes and berries as well. Soft, milky palate with more cool climate berry fruit coming through. Class personified. Maybe a touch subdued right now but will nearly certainly get better.

Schoenberg le Gus De Rouge

Sparkling cabernet from Barossa made by Liebich connections. Very obvious cab with firm blackberry fruits. Dosage very noticable (liquered blackberry). Attractive ripe style but it struggles to mount a strong value arguement given the lack of track record and $42 price tag.

Trevor Jones Mink NV (Recommended)

Bizarre wine, more in the West Coast cooler mould. Sweet, fizzy, probably a fair whack of residual sugar, but harmless. Awesome label...think Barossa Pearl. No updates in 30 years me thinks.

Tasting Notes - Bass Phillip Rose 2005 (Recommended)

Drunk over 2 nights, a rare event for rose and me, but the wine showed well on both occasions. Pale raspberry, looks almost dilutive. Nose was relatively tight on day 1 but showed enough of the 'house' style sour fruits and bitterness. Both characters much more pronouced 24hrs later.Firm palate early, undeniably pinot with sour cherry, stiff acid; quite powerful and very dry for the style. Palate weight faded a little near the end of the bottle but still impressive.

Tasting Notes - Paradigm Hill Riesling 2005 (Recommended)

Dry white style that is a little tough to pick as a riesling. Ripe tropical fruit on the nose, maybe like a sav blanc? Full palate, a little oily, almost Germanic in this regard. Up front, drink now style with a certain amount of appeal.

Tasting Notes - Peel Estate Chenin Blanc 2001 (Recommended)

Stinky nose, aged with orange peel like notes. Old world, rustic mouthfeel with dirty, funky fruit, good depth. Quirky, pongy - I like it but not for everybody.

Tasting Notes - Hunter's Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (Recommended)

Return to form after a lacklustre 2004. Forceful nose of sweet cut grass and a hint of tropical fruit. Ripe palate, some heat at the finish but shows good balance and varietal fruit for the most part.

Tasting Notes - Seresin Sauvignon Blanc 2005 (Recommended)

Relatively tight style that shows some class. Big ripe nose, a fraction oily, perhaps a little over the top. More controlled in the palate but still ripe with generic tropical fruits. Needs a slight chill to show its best.