An entry level wine for Meerea Park, and a blend of 80% Hilltops fruit and 20% Hunter Valley fruit. Good strong red in colour. Bright red cherries, plums, raspberries, clean earth and a touch of spice. Medium weight, just, red fruits and a soft peppery spice. Unobtrusive tannins and solid value. Sealed under screwcap. 14.0% abv. 87 points. Drink 2012-2015
A short note on this one. A pleasant nose, cherried fruits and spice, but the palate, despite having dark cherry fruits with plums and some lovely spices, is too hot, with the alcohol slicing through the palate and wrecking the balance. Think Darth Vader, a light sabre and Luke Skywalker. A tough wine to drink. $20ish. 15.0% abv, but tastes like more. Drink now. 82-84 points.
This has been sitting in the cellar for a few years. And since I have high humidity it was covered with all sorts of growths. God knows what they are. A bit of stink, which ebbed with time. Earthy cherries on the nose, with some old leathery undertones. The palate is savoury, dark cherries, strong tannins and acid, with a drying finish. Not any spice or anything much else going on, but satisfying for the fruits and the structure. Good with some wood smoked knackwurst and a green salad. Sealed under cork. 13.5% abv. Was $49 from Festival Cellars. Drink now. 90 points.
Kooyong ferrous 2009 stoney minerally savoury
Jadot clos de garenne 2004 long and complete – seriously great wine
Coche dury les rougeots 2004 green tight revealing with time incredible tannins & structure
Mystery red burg decent nuits from monsieur burgundy
My Christmas Day selections:
Ployez Jacquemart Selection Rose: Lovely – just right, and its pinkness was Christmas-appropriate. And it won over a non champagne crowd with its delicate strawberry and lemon notes.
Ployez Jacquemart Brut 2000: Served too warm – tasty nonetheless for being Christmas day. Another bottle will get consumed very shortly.
Auburn Lowburn Riesling 2010: Improving out if sight with a year’s age (personal interest disclaimer on this label).
Joseph Sparkling Red 2010 disg: My favourite disgorgement of this wine so far. Sweeter and fruit-fresher than earlier versions, although the alcohol seems to stick out a little more these days. Like it a lot.
Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Auslese 1993: A cellar release from 2010. Best bottle so far out of a sixpack. Shows its pradikat through weight rather than sweetness, with juicy acidity balance perfectly by racy green pineapple and lemon fruit which is nly now showing signs of its 18 years of age.
Its an 04. Friend or foe? Well this is definitely friend
…Colour a little cloudy and browning slightly. Nose is kid leather and mint. Palate is sweet and generous – nothing of the 04 green streak. Leather, cedar, raspberry and rhubarb mellowing to gentle blackcurrant juice. Lovely presence and intensity, and justifies its price as a relatively expensive village wine. In a nice spot – drink now. 90/100
Just a brief note-at release this revealed little – a deft touch with fruit & oak- a pretty wine a hint of funk/earth in a good way… Pinosity in spades
88.5
Had a glass of this last night with some brie, and it was then into the fridge. Today it is out on the stage again, and I cannot believe I’m saying this, but this one is a real glass stainer. An inky purple red in colour. A youthful nose; yeasty red fruits, vanilla, red cherries and black cherries, interlaced with warm summery spices and a bit of earth and minerals. Good length. Quite acid dominant really. Dusty dry tannins and dried mushrooms on the finish. Very similar flavour profile to the GSZ I tasted recently. Sealed under screwcap. $32 from the cellar door. 14.7% abv. 91 points.
First release in five years- sometimes I see colours when I drink wine- some white burgundy- brown – in a good way- this wine has a wet stone character & a hint of brown. Shellfish oyster mineral structure with poised acid and lingering palate and lean nectarines.
Tried with smoked trout & experimental ciabatta….
89-90
