Wine: Parri Estate
Type: Cabernet Sauvignon
Year: unknown
Price: unknown
Date: 11/05/2011
Reason for purchase: By the glass at Nino's Victor Harbor
Review: I though I would branch out an review some wines when I'm out and about, and this one is first cab(ernet) off the rank!
Firstly I've only heard good things about Parri, after I was given a bottle of their Shiraz Viognier many years ago that was superb. This cab is lovely and fruity, rich in flavour but delicate enough not to hit you with tannin overload.
The aftertaste is subtle and mild, with no hint of acid or sulphur as with some cheap reds.
While I tend to favour bolder reds in the main, this is a really nice cab sav that I'll be looking for at the bottle shop in the future. It might also persuade me to visit the Parri Estate as well.
Rating: 8/10 -DF-
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Foggo Wooded Chardonnay 2004
Type: Chardonnay
Year: 2004
Price: $10
Date: 18/12/2010
Reason for purchase: On the winery tour back in 2009.
Review: This is the savior of Chardonnay as we know it. Wooded Chardonnay is a complex beast, with most people I speak to, including rather experienced wine drinkers, all seeming to dislike wooded whites preferring the crisper fresh tastes of steel fermentation and more acid and zing. I on the other hand prefer mellow whites, with body and character which this wine has in abundance.
Our first trip down to Foggo opened my eyes to this style of white that was a staple before the glut of Sauvignon Blanc, and I was lucky enough to have a side by side tasting of their wooded and unwooded variety to compare. My favourite was this one, with beautiful oaky mellowness, creamy yet fruity. It's just a wine that keeps on giving having been aged for 4 or 5 years on oak, it has developed an amazing flavour without the tartness or acid of cheap whites.
Yet another wine that I wish I had bought more of, as they sell out of each vintage rather quickly. I have a couple of bottles of the 2005 left which I will review in the future.
Rating: 8/10 -DF-
Banrock Station Sparkling Chardonnay NV
Type: Chardonnay
Year: NV
Price: $3.75
Date: 2009 sometime
Reason for purchase: Wine club purchase
Review: This is a great stock standard sparkling white to keep handy for any occasion. Compared to some Blanc de Blanc's out there, this Chardonnay still holds up as a great sparkling for the Christmas table, Mother's day or any day really.
Most impressive of course is the price, but of course that is bulk wine club pricing and I have no idea what this stuff would retail for (google? $7 thankyou). Even for that price this is still a worthy wine, and I now lament buying only 1 carton and not a trailer full. Yes you can get much better sparkling whites that this, it doesn't even compare to Champagne, but that's not the point. This is a fantastic bargain wine that goes great with anything and won't break the bank.
Buy a dozen today!
Rating: 8/10 -DF-
Yalumba Y Series Pinot Grigio 2009
Type: Pinot Grigio
Year: 2009
Price: $8.33
Date: late 2010 sometime...
Reason for purchase: Part of the work wine club.
Review: While I reviewed the Y Series' sister wine, the Rose, earlier in 2010 I'm having a hard time recalling when I tasted the Pinot Grigio. The busy Christmas period was the likely culprit, and the empty bottle is proof and so I must review!
Another grape variety that is gaining traction in the Australian market is Pinot Grigio. A fruit white that is not too sweet and not too dry, it competes well with the influx of Sauvignon Blanc that has littered the shelves for so long. Slightly lighter and great for summer, it is the white wine that you should bring out at a barbecue or picnic.
Like the other Y Series wines, this is a typical table wine that is easy to drink but not anything special. The slight tartness that is there is indication that the winemaking was done for quantity not quality, and for that reason (and the fact I can't remember the wine that well) it gets a solid 7.
Rating: 7/10 -DF-
Monday, May 9, 2011
St Hallett Rosedale Shiraz 2008
Type: Shiraz
Year: 2008
Price: unknown (google says around $17)
Date: 9/05/2011
Reason for purchase: Birthday gift
Review: I've seen this at a few bottle shops before, and I think they sell for around the $15-18 mark. After only cellaring it for 2 months, and given it was free, I thought it would be ok to crack it open and see what it's like.
The first taste is slightly acidic, but fruity and full bodied. There is a solid spicy Shiraz flavour, something you would expect from the Barossa region. The mouth feel is dry but doesn't leave you clicking your tongue. There is a definite lack of age, possibly no oak even which is hard to work out because there is no mention of the production method on the label. Of course not leaving it for 3-5 years didn't help, but at this price I don't think it has serious cellaring potential anyway.
Overall this is an average red, nothing special, but certainly better than some of the sub $10 rubbish. I'm not quite sure I would pay retail price for it though, and based on that it doesn't get any higher than a 7.
Rating: 7/10 -DF-
Monday, April 4, 2011
Foggo Sparkling Grenache NV aka White Myriah
Type: Sparkling Grenache
Year: NV
Price: $10
Date: 27/02/2011
Reason for purchase: Part of the birthday party wine selection.
Review: Unofficially named "White Myriah" by our little wine group (as in the baby version of Foggo's Black Myriah Sparkling Shiraz), this Grenache is a fantasticly light and fruity bubbly that is fit for all occasions.
While the Black Myriah is made using méthode Champenoise, the Grenache is made using bulk tank fermentation and bottled under pressure. This produces lovely light bubbles, that although aren't as special as Black Myriah, are still excellent - and a million times better than forced carbonation.
It's a lovely summer drink, that is soft and smooth, not too sweet, yet not too powerful. A fantastic start to any dinner party. Anyone who has been disappointed with cheap sparkling Shiraz needs to give this a try. It will change your world!
Rating: 8/10 -DF-
Foggo The Wild Thing Shiraz 2005
Type: Shiraz
Year: 2005
Price: $13.33
Date: 27/02/2011
Reason for purchase: Part of the birthday party wine selection.
Review: Well another Foggo gem won its way onto my party wine list, and this one could well become a staple. It is a typical Foggo Shiraz, well aged and well rounded.
There is typical McLaren Vale pepper, with great fruit flavour that has mellowed nicely with the benefits of 5 years on oak. I'm told this one can last the distance in the bottle, so I might need to keep a couple for the long haul and see how it goes.
Definitely up there with wines like the Oomoo as the perfect every day red. Grab a case when you're next at the 'vale.
Rating: 8/10 -DF-
Pauletts Polish Hill River Wooded Chardonnay 2008
Type: Wooded Chardonnay
Year: 2008
Price: $14
Date: 27/02/2011
Reason for purchase: Part of the birthday party wine selection.
Review: Looking for a nice starter wine with scallops, I was on the hunt for a Chardonnay or Riesling that was up to the task. In my search I came across this beauty, mainly inspired from the great review of their Shiraz here.
This beautiful Chardonnay has a sweet fruit tingles smell and rich creamy, buttery mouth feel that is clean and smooth. It is not too acidic, but not watery either. The delicate balance of sweet and dry makes this one of the best white wines I've tasted.
Rating: 8/10 -DF-
Whisson Lake White Label Pinot Noir 2007
Type: Pinot Noir
Year: 2007
Price: $35
Date: 27/02/2011
Reason for purchase: Part of the birthday party wine selection.
Review: I first tried this as a mystery wine from the Adelaide Hills Wine Show, and this little gem was a complete surprise.
The subtle fruit is sweet, yet dry and doesn’t overstay its welcome. The smooth silky taste lingers slightly with no acidity or tartness, it just slides away gently and leaves the mouth salivating and wanting more. Definitely one of the best light style reds I've tasted.
I chose this wine as an entrée wine at the party, matched with Chinese style duck, and was an absolute cracker.
Although on the more expensive side of my wine collection, this is a magic wine that is worth paying the extra for. This is the textbook example of price equaling quality. Cannot recommend this one enough!
Rating: 9/10 -DF-
Saturday, April 2, 2011
De Vito Molo Ridge Shiraz 2002
Type: Shiraz
Year: 2002
Price: unknown
Date: 31/03/2011
Reason for purchase: Sitting in my cellar for so long I can't remember... likely a gift.
Review: Well off I went to a dinner party with friends thinking its about time I started drinking some of my well cellared bottles. After all there is no point collecting wine if you don't one day enjoy it. I picked this 2002 off the shelf (one of the oldest in my collection) and had high hopes.
Firstly this is a Riverland Shiraz, Waikerie to be exact. I've never had any wines from there, so had no idea what to expect. The next thing is the age - 2002 - 9 years. This should be special, given most bottles in my collecting are lucky to last a year on the shelf.
After a good 30 minutes of breathing time, the first pour was a deep rich red that sat thick in the glass. The first sip was full of rich, syrupy cherries, a light pepper and liqueur finish. It was extremely smooth and had a lovely lingering finish. My guess is the aging had a big impact on the great flavour.
This is a fantastic Shiraz that I want to drink again. Better than some of the $50-80 premiums from the big labels, but then again, they're not usually 9 years old. Highly recommended.
Rating: 9/10 -DF-
Hardys The Riddle Shiraz Cabernet 2009
Type: Shiraz Cabernet
Year: 2009
Price: $24 (restaurant price)
Date: 27/10/2010
Reason for purchase: Cheap dinner wine.
Review: This can be summed up quite neatly as uninspiring. Quite a negative start I know, but it's not all bad news.
Hardys have captured the ultimate cheap drinking wine here without any fanfare. It is fruity, medium weight and very palatable without any funny sulphide aftertaste.
This is the ultimate of average, yet I can't stop drinking it. If you're a fan of Merlot this is your bag, if you're a fan of cheap this is you're bag. Well done Hardys, not bad at all.
Rating: 8/10 -DF-
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