Wine Review
Archive: Australia: Grenache & Blends
($61). A mouthful of
bright, red plum and cherry fruit, with
loads of exotic spice notes, a touch of
perfumed herbs and a long, focused, slightly
smoky finish. Ready to drink now and over
the next seven or eight years. (Weekend
Wine 04/07)
($70). A favorite from
the tasting, with delicious, sleek blackberry,
violet, licorice, cigar box and lavender
folding together on a pretty, lush finish.
Delicious! Ready to drink now and over
the next seven or eight years. (Weekend
Wine 04/07)
($70). The other
tasting favorite, this one offers a firmer,
fuller-bodied character than the Kangarilla,
with concentrated plum and blackberry
fruit accented with black pepper and anise
notes that emerge on the focused finish.
Ready to drink now, with a bit of decanting,
and over the next seven or eight years.
(Weekend Wine 04/07)
($100). Overflowing with
lipsmacking black cherry aromas and flavors,
with licorice, mushroom and black pepper
notes that stay rich through the complex
finish. Ready to drink now and over the
next 10+ years. (Weekend Wine 04/07)
($30). Interesting bouquet of spicy, slightly
funky blackberry and floral aromas lead
to a rich, ripe wine that is nonetheless
balanced and utterly drinkable, with concentrated
blackberry and cherry fruit layered with
anise and clove and zingy acidity. A blend
of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre. Ready
to drink now and over the next four or five
years. (World Wide Wine 04/05)
($65). Deeply colored and intensely flavored,
with loads of red berry and spice notes,
along with anise, dark chocolate and espresso
accents - all wrapping up in a long, complex
finish. Needs a bit of decanting to fully
appreciate now. Should age nicely for
at least ten years. (Splurge Wine 06/06)
($10). Clean,
pure fruit flavors and aromas feature
bright, sweet strawberry and raspberry,
with a hit of white pepper on the pretty
finish. Easy to drink -- great value.
A blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre.
Ready to drink now. (World Wide Wine 04/05)
($N/A).
Wild blueberry and concentrated raspberry
flavors are accented with dusty sage.
Long, fleshy finish opens up to include
more cherry and a kick of black pepper.
(Drinks with Les Dames, 10/06)
($N/A). Deeper and more concentrated than
the Loam wine, with meaty black currant,
plum, black pepper and earthy vanilla
bean notes, with a deep, but smooth finish.
(Drinks with Les Dames, 10/06)
($N/A). Most interesting, with fig, caramel
and iron aromas introducing smoky blackberry
and olive and leather flavors, with loads
of tannic grip on the tightly wound finish.
(Drinks with Les Dames, 10/06)
($19). Harmonious
and smooth, with ripe red cherry and berry
flavors that are laced with fresh herbs,
subtle spices and toast. Bright acidity
and fine tannins support a long, fleshy
finish. Ready to drink now and over the
next three or four years. (Drinks with
Les Dames, 10/06)
($19). Beautifully
balanced, with deep blackberry and cherry
flavors laced with warn spices and toasty
oak. Finishes long and supple. Ready to
drink now and over the next two or three
years. (World Wide Wine 04/05)
($34). A
combination of Australian ripe fruit and
Rhone Valley funk, with lush red cherry
and berry fruit laced with exotic spices,
game, earth and toast. Pair with game, roasted
poultry, or a mixed grill. Ready to drink
now and over the next three or four years.
(Splurge Wine 06/06)
($8). Easy quaff here,
with juicy red berry, light toasty oak and
a smooth, moderate finish. Ready to drink
now. (Bargain Wine 10/06)
($35). The second
vintage of this GSM from former Penfolds
winemaker John Duval - it offers concentrated
blackberry and currant flavors laced with
cedar, clove and toasty vanilla notes. Smooth
texture, but with structure to make it cellar-worthy.
Ready to drink now and over the next eight
to ten years. (Splurge Wine 06/06)
($30). Rich, aromatic
blackberry and black currant fruit is
layered with white pepper, wild plum and
earthy notes, with rich, creamy vanilla
emerging on the long, mouthwatering finish.
Delicious now and should age beautifully
over the next five to eight years. (Splurge
Wine 06/06)
($30). Beautifully aromatic,
with waves of ripe berry, floral and spice
notes and just a touch of sweet vanilla.
Plummy and supple, with ripe fruit accented
with loads of spice and bourbony oak in
the background. A compelling wine that's
hard to put down. Very good now and over
the next four or five years. (World Wide
Wine 04/05)
($45). Just a beautiful wine, with subtle
spicy French oak supporting opulent, elegant
red plum and berry fruit laced with baking
spices and vanilla. Ripe, lingering finish.
Very good now and over the next six or seven
years. (World Wide Wine 04/05)
($N/A). Richly colored and aromatic, with
lush red berry and plum fruit laced with
warm spices, a touch of earth, and nicely
integrated toasty oak. Appealing and complex,
with a rich finish. Ready to drink now and
over the next three or four years. (World
Wide Wine 04/05)
($25). Meaty blackberry and cherry aromas
and flavors pick up rose petal, baking
spices and toast through the smooth finish.
Ready to drink now and over the next four
to six years. (Weekend Wine 09/07)
($25). A blend
of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre, it
is bursting with jammy blackberry that
is full-bodied but balanced, and picks
up a warm shot of black pepper and roasted,
nutty nuances through the complex finish.
Very nice. Ready to drink now and over
the next six to eight years. (Weekend
Wine 09/07)
($25). Super concentrated, with aromatic
blackberry laced with violet and exotic
spices. Focused, plush finish is supported
with a bit of grip. Nicely balanced all
around. Delicious now and over the next
six to eight years. Great value. (Weekend
Wine 09/07)
($25). A "wow"
wine -- huge and still just a baby, with
concentrated blackberry and plum fruit
layered with briar and an array of warm
spices. Finish lingers impressively. Tempting
now and over the next seven or eight years.
(World Wide Wine 04/05)
($25). Appealing bacon
fat aroma mingles with ripe red plum and
blueberry aromas and flavors, along with
a burst of black pepper spice on generous
finish. Very, very good. Ready to drink
now and over the next seven or eight years.
(World Wide Wine 04/05)
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