Archive for September, 2013

Amherst Daisy Creek Shiraz Cabernet 2012 Review

Posted: September 25, 2013 in Australia
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Spitting: OptionalDaisy_Creek

Amherst Daisy Creek Shiraz Cabernet

Vintage: 2013

Style: Mid-full bodied red

Country: Australia 

Region: Pyrenees, Victoria

Overview: The blending of Shiraz and Cabernet is a quintessential Australian concept. Most commonly this blend comes from the warmer climes of Australia but this Pyrenees example oozes elegance. The Pyrenees region in Victoria is classified as cool-climate and is renowned for its spicy Shiraz and lean Cabernet. This wine is 65% Shiraz and 35% Cabernet but in stating this it’s the Cabernet characters that jump out of the glass. It’s a wine worthy of terms such wine wankery terms as; silky, sexy, suave and sophisticated. Not only this but it is also bestowed the title ‘Bargain!’

Tasting note: Attractive, vibrant fruit on the nose, plum, blackberry and raspberry with undertones of crushed herbs and cedar from well integrated oak. The palate shows characters of blood plums, cassis and blackberry with white pepper, subtle briny, black olive and chalky tannins. It finishes a touch short but great for the price.      

Final Say: Grab it for $16, can’t go wrong.

Score: 16 out of 20

For any questions or feedback feel free to email me on spittingoptional@gmail.com

Jack Davis

Zonte’s Footstep Doctoressa di Lago Pinot Grigio 2013 Review

Posted: September 18, 2013 in Australia
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Spitting: Optionalzontesfootstepdoctoressadilago

Zonte’s Footstep Doctoressa di Lago Pinot Grigio 2013

Vintage: 2013

Style: Dry white

Country: Australia 

Region: Adelaide Hills, SA

Overview: I have mentioned that poor old Pinot Grigio suffers a bit of an identity crisis in Australia so I won’t bang on about it further but I will say that there are some producers that simply nail the Pinot Grigio style. Zonte’s Footstep are one of these producers. Zonte isn’t the Australian version of Bigfoot, tromping around South Australia leaving behind footprints and suspiciously blurry photographs. They’re named after 19th century Zante currant vineyards as their new plantings follow these original Zante footsteps. Currants are out and wine is in. Zany, yet meaningful, names are part of the Zonte’s Footstep’s charm. When introduced to the range one may think: what the hell are they putting in the water tanks where these guys hang out? Doctoressa di Lago means, ladylike Lake Doctor. This is probably about as vague in English as it is in Italian but what it refers to is the breeze that comes off Lake Alexandrina and cools the vineyards in Adelaide Hills, thus revitalising the vines during summer.
This is a crisp, dry, Italian style with hints of texture that will become more apparent as the youthful, primary fruit of this young wine settles down over the next couple of months.

Tasting note: A delicate nose of talc, jasmine and just a hint of nashi pear. The palate has substantial characters of pear and citrus, complemented by more subtle savoury, herbal notes. There is some nice texture and crisp, zippy acidity making it a pleasant drink with or without food.    

Final Say: Let this vinous Doctor revive you as summer approaches. $18 a bottle.

Score: 17.5 out of 20

For any questions or feedback feel free to email me on spittingoptional@gmail.com

Jack Davis

The Cohorts by Auldstone

Posted: September 11, 2013 in Australia
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Cohortd

The Cohorts by Auldstone

 

Co-hort (n): A group or band of people.

In the wine industry we sometimes need to pare back the flowery, technical terms we use so that we don’t alienate people are who thinking of getting into wine but find it daunting and confusing. I’m sure sometimes when a beginner listens to a full blown wine wanker speak about wine they’re left thinking: ‘Malolactic what softens who and what did tannin do before the must was what?’ We all know that the best way of learning is by doing. Auldstone in Glenrowan pitch themselves as ‘winemaking without wank’ and have come up with a great way of introducing people who may be interested in wine to fully immerse themselves in the winemaking processes.  They gather a crew of wine interested individuals and pick a small parcel of Shiraz from their top block, they then get the ‘cohorts’ involved in the crushing of these grapes and starting the ferment. It’s a small part of the winemaking process but one of the most integral. This parcel is made into their Cohorts Shiraz and the crew that helps start this latest vintage of this wine also takes home a 6 pack of the current release.

If this is something that sounds like it has your name written on it head on over and like the facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/thecohortspage

Tyrrell’s Lost Block Semillon 2012 Review

Posted: September 3, 2013 in Australia
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Spitting: OptionalTyrrell's Lost Block Semillon 2012

Tyrrell’s Lost Block Semillon 2012

Vintage: 2012

Style: Dry White

Country: Australia 

Region: Hunter Valley

Overview: Wine wankers like me can get caught up in the hype of boutique, small production and ‘handcrafted’ wines and we can forget about really solid commercial wines. But how much of that hype is real and how much is just marketing guff that we fall for, hook, line and sinker? Most of us probably wouldn’t even be able to define ‘handcrafted wines’ and that’s because it’s a bit of a wine industry clique term, something touchy-feely to make us feel good about what we’re drinking.

Sometimes all it takes is to taste, perhaps somewhat reluctantly, one of these ‘commercial’ wines that we have been overlooking for so long to make us say ‘Holy s%@^, I forgot how good this wines is!’ The Tyrrell’s Lost Block Semillon is one of these wines.

Tasting note: Notes of straw and lemon on the nose, clean and fresh. These two typically Semillon flavours also feature on the palate, joined by some tropical notes, most notably pineapple. It finishes crisp and dry. A fantastic afternoon, spring drink.

Final Say: This wine gets a big gold medal for value for money – wear it with pride. Sells for between $14 and $18 a bottle.  

Score: 16.5 out of 20

For any questions or feedback feel free to email me on spittingoptional@gmail.com

Jack Davis

Petaluma Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Review

Posted: September 3, 2013 in Australia
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Spitting: OptionalPetaluma Cabernet 2012

Petaluma Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Vintage: 2012

Style: Full bodied red.

Country: Australia 

Region: Coonawarra

Tasting note: It floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee. A fast left jab that stuns you and a right cross that leave you reeling. What I’m trying to say is that this wine is the perfect balance of power and elegance. The nose is just what I would expect from a Coonawarra Cabernet: dusty with notes of cassis, some subtle leafiness and just a hint of that trademark menthol. Raspberry, plum, blackberry and cherry on the palate are all tied together by lovely, spicy oak. This is one for the cellar; give it three to five years to settle down and it really should start to strut its stuff.

Final Say: This wine has everything there is to love about Cabernet. You can pick it up for $25-30 a bottle, which is relatively cheap for a cellar dweller like this wine.

Score: 17.5 out of 20

For any questions or feedback feel free to email me on spittingoptional@gmail.com

Jack Davis

Haselgrove Bella Vigna Chardonnay 2011 Review

Posted: September 3, 2013 in Australia
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Spitting: OptionalHaselgrove Bella Vigna Chard 2011

Haselgrove Bella Vigna Chardonnay 2011

Vintage: 2011

Style: Dry White

Country: Australia 

Region: Adelaide Hills

Tasting note: The seductive (oh yeah, that’s right, seductive) oak owns the nose of this wine, with very subtle hints of citrus and stone fruit. An elegant palate with some nutty, cashew characters complements the racy lemon pith and honeydew melon. A linear acid helps this wine finish squeaky clean.

Final Say: Definitely a more elegant style of Chardonnay, it sells for about $17 a bottle.

 

Score: 16 out of 20

For any questions or feedback feel free to email me on spittingoptional@gmail.com

Jack Davis

Driftwood Shiraz 2010 Review

Posted: September 3, 2013 in Australia
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Driftwood Shiraz 2010Driftwood Shiraz 2010

Style: Full bodied red.

Region: Margaret River, Australia

Tasting note: The vibrant colour of this wine first caught my attention – bright and very attractive. Sweet red berry nose with underlying hints of menthol. A palate bursting with fruit character: plum, blackberry and black cherries. This black forest-esque palate is complemented by some cedar oak tones and grainy tannins. It does finish a little hot with an alcohol level of 15%

Final Say: If you like a big juicy ‘carve with a knife and fork’ style Shiraz then look no further. Sells at the winery for $25 a bottle.

For any questions or feedback feel free to email me on spittingoptional@gmail.com

Lagoon View Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Review

Posted: September 3, 2013 in Australia
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Spitting: OptionalLagoon View Cabernet 2008

Lagoon View Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Style: Mid to full bodied red.

Region: Central Victoria, Australia

Tasting note: Blood plums on the nose, rich with some spicy oak. A nice touch of development, plum and some blackcurrant. A wine drinking perfectly now.

Final Say: Great value for $12 if you are after a wine to be drinking now with a touch of age on it. Get to it before it brings its walking frame out.

 

Score: 15.5 out of 20

For any questions or feedback feel free to email me on spittingoptional@gmail.com

Jack Davis