Parri Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

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-

Foggo Wooded Chardonnay 2004

Wine: Foggo Wooded Chardonnay
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

Wine: Banrock Station Sparkling
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

Wine: Yalumba Y Series
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-

St Hallett Rosedale Shiraz 2008

Wine: St Hallett Barossa Rosedale Vinyard
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-

Foggo Sparkling Grenache NV aka White Myriah

Wine: Foggo Cleanskin 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

Wine: Foggo The Wild Thing
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

Wine: Pauletts Polish Hill River
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

Wine: Whisson Lake White Label
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-

De Vito Molo Ridge Shiraz 2002

Wine: De Vito Molo Ridge
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

Wine: Hardys The Riddle
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-

Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rosé 2009

Wine: Yalumba Y Series
Type: Sangiovese Rosé
Year: 2009
Price: $8.33
Date: 15/10/2010
Reason for purchase: Another wine club offer from work.

Review: I'm not a huge fan of rose, but the use of the increasingly popular Sangiovese variety swung me into purchasing a few bottles of this wine.

The variety imparts a slightly sweet and slightly sour quality to the wine, which is a lovely quality for a nice summery drop. It reminds me a little of a Sauv Blanc or Pinot Gris, but the unique flavour that is Sangiovese creates a perfect light and refreshing wine, perfect for any summer meal.

I'm more impressed with the wine giant Yalumba branching out into this little Italian. Keep a bottle in the fridge this summer for that picnic lunch on a beautiful day.

Rating: 7/10 -DF-

Hardy's Oomoo Shiraz 2006

Wine: Hardy's Oomoo
Type: Shiraz
Year: 2006
Price: $4.15 (retail $15.00)
Date: 5/03/2010
Reason for purchase: Wine club from work had an offer too good to refuse!

Review: This stuff is meant to be about $15 per bottle, so at this price it was impossible to turn down a case.

Price aside, this is a fairly easy drinking Shiraz from one of SA's largest wineries. You kind of expect it to be consistent and non-threatening, and lacking any pizazz. Given those assumptions, it delivers exactly that.

The smell out of the glass is rich and fruity, and has great potential for the first sip. Initial taste is dark and slightly peppery, just like you would expect from a McLaren Vale Shiraz, and keeps going with a nice aftertaste.

It isn't as heavy as it could be and I'm not sure how much it will develop in the bottle, given its price. However this is a standout table wine when you factor in the bargain basement price. If I were to pay full retail for it I might be a bit disappointed, however I am more than happy to keep buying case after case at this price and have it at the ready for any meal.

Rating: 8/10 -DF-

Coopers Clear - Low Carb

Style: Low carbohydrate style
Price: $38 for a 24 pack carton
Size: 355ml
Alc/Vol: 4.5%
Date: 24/01/2010
Reason for purchase: Coopers release new beer, I purchase new beer. Simple really.

Review: Well poor Coopers has had to play with the big boys, and just last week they threw their hat in the ring with their low carb option. I've never been a fan of the pure blonde or similar offerings, with similar reasons to why I don't drink light beer. To me it's simple: you either drink beer to enjoy it, or you drink low carb / low alc options as a compromise. Beer shouldn't be about compromise!

Well my rant aside, this beer pours clear, as its name suggests. The initial taste is crisp and carbonated but there isn't any real burst of flavour that you would normally expect from a Coopers beer. Something I'm a bit disappointed about really.

As you go back for another sip you wish there was something else to keep you going back, but unfortunately there isn't much going for it. Whilst I have must respect for the brewers at Coopers, I must say all this beer tells me is they must hide all their flavour in the form of carbohydrates. As an all malt beer, perhaps they needed to add a hint of something else to open it up a touch.

I have tried Coopers previous new kid on the block, the 62 Pilsner, last year. Perhaps I'll need to review that one again and redeem my fondness of Coopers once more. At least the Vintage Ale has pride of place in the liquor cabinet at home, until I drink all of it of course.

Unless you're watching your weight and have to drink a compromised beer, this one is not recommended.

Rating: 6/10 -DF-

d'Arenberg Stump Jump GSM 2007

Wine: d'Arenberg Stump Jump
Type: Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre
Year: 2007
Price: $9 (approx)
Date: 24/01/2010
Reason for purchase: left over from party revellers

Review: This is my first review of one of the great d'arry wines.

The initial look and taste is very dark, thick and heavy. Something that is very inviting in a big, bold McLaren Vale wine.

First taste gives a really rich port or brandy flavour, that slowly mellows out and leaves without fuss. The smell gives the same impression.

There is a definate Shiraz burst at the start, but either the Grenache or Mourvedre settle it down and give it a clean finish.

The only thing that might be lacking is a longer Shiraz aftertaste. However that could be remedied with a couple of years in the cellar. Perhaps I'll put one away to test.

Overall I'm quite pleased with this entry level darry wine. I may even put it up against The Footbolt and see how it goes.

Given it's price and great taste, this wine is highly recommend.

Rating: 8/10 -DF-

Winery: Foggo

Region: McLaren Vale
Visit date: 31/12/2009
Contact details: http://www.foggowines.com.au/

Very small and quaint cellar door, but with great service and an extremely knowledgeable host.
Our little group was lucky enough to catch a couple of their regular bottles on special too, which should make their way to the blog as a full review in due course.

As per most wine tasting trips, we sampled almost everything on the list... however remembering everything on the list is another story! I'll try and list the few tastings that made it into my notes for the day, with some basic first impressions. Many of the wines listed here will be reviewed in their own right eventually... I hope!

Unwooded Chardonnay 2007 - we were lucky enough to have a back to back tasting of the unwooded and wooded chardonnays, with expert commentary from winemaker Sandie. The unwooded version certainly has the clean, crisp tastes you would expect, with quite a nice fruity flavour.

Wooded Chardonnay 2004 - this was quite a standout! The wooded chardonnay was just magnificent, with a real soft oak flavour and plenty of sweet, fruity parts to go with it. I'm unsure how long it was in oak, although my memory recalls it being around the 2-3 year mark (I should check with the winery again). I'm only just starting to develop a liking for white wines, and this one certainly has won favour with me so far.

GSC (Grenache, Shiraz, Cincaut) 2004 - having never heard of or tasted cincaut before, this one was bound to be interesting. Apparently they use it in similar fashion to viognier, as many wineries do today, as a light balancing white to a heavy shiraz blend. This gave it just the right amount of boldness and softness to be a really well balanced red.

Old Vine Shiraz 2005 - my memory of this is a little clouded, however I do recall the rest of the party getting quite excited about this drop. Perhaps another trip to the Vale will provide a more comprehensive review!

Black Myriah Sparkling Shiraz NV - sparkling gold! What more can I say? Most... in fact ALL sparkling reds I have ever had were rubbish. They have always been force carbonated, seemingly using cheap end-of-barrel shiraz. But not the Myriah. This is bottle fermented, just like an expensive Champagne. I can't rave about this wine enough, except to say its light, fruity bubbles are the perfect example of what sparkling shiraz should be.

Golden Botrytis - close to the end of the days drinking and the sweet wines make their way out. This botrytis style wine is only bottled when the grapes naturally age and start their fungal decent. Apparently conditions have been so bad with no late rain, that there hasn't been a vintage made for a while. This dessert wine was a real treat.

Well that concludes our taste testing of Foggo Wines. A real boutique, family run winery in one of South Australia's finest wine regions. I'm really glad we stopped off here, as I'm sure it will be one of my regulars from now on.

-DF-

Miller Chill - Chellada style lager

Style: Chellada style lager
Price: $48 for a 24 pack carton
Size: 330ml
Alc/Vol: 5.6%
Date: 16/12/2009
Reason for purchase: summer beer time!

Review: I recall a couple of years ago buying a 6 pack of this, and recent hot weather prompted me look into this interesting summer beer again.

Being American it is very mild, to say the least. You really do get the sense you're drinking soda water with this beer, which for some people might sound terrible. However if you're in the mood for something light, summery and refreshing, I think this beer can be a winner.

It's light flavour is matched with a slight limey tang, as is the chellada style. Think of it as a Sol or Corona with its lime wedge on display.

I would put this beer in similar light to Barefoot Radler (for the benefit of those who have tried that), and is definately a summer hit when you've had enough of the gin and tonic.

If you're a big malty, hoppy fan, you probably won't be impressed. As I said, it's not for everyone but I have enjoyed it this summer.

Rating: 7/10 -DF-

Knappstein Reserve Lager

Style: Bavarian Lager

Price: $15 for a 4 pack.

Size: 330ml

Alc/Vol: 5.6%

Right, I've finally gotten around to buying something a bit different to sample. The bloke in the bottle shop reckoned this beer was great. I'll assume, at $15 for a four pack, that it's because he's getting a commision when he moves some units.

Having a sniff after popping the top I'd have to say this is the winiest smelling beer I've ever encountered. Might be a good beer for the wine lovers to try.

Not overly bubbly, really fruity, not too bitter. The fruity floral hoppyness lingers for a bit. The Sauvin hops used in this are similar to the Saaz hops that seem to be in every second craft beer and mircobrew these days. If you like the Saaz you'll like this.

This could be a good beer to have with a meal, but for a session beer I think the hops would become cloying after three or four.

The second one is about the same, but I'm getting bored with the hops already. At this price one of these is enough. Something different to sample with some nibbles or a meal before you get stuck in to some serious drinking beer. Worth a try, especially if you like the Saaz hops, but not a beer for a big night.

Penfolds Rawsons Retreat Shiraz Cabernet 2008

Wine: Penfolds Rawsons Retreat
Type: Shiraz Cabernet
Year: 2008
Price: $5.40
Date: 31/07/2009
Reason for purchase: Number 5 on the May half dozen.

Review: At this price there can be no expectations. But it is seriously hard to fault once you keep this in mind.

There is a nice fruity start, which moves to a quite mellow aftertaste. There are no unpleasant moments, which you'll find in similar wines of this price.

The only criticism would be a slight sharpness when you first taste. Not really acidic, but most likely its lack of age. Hard to tell if a wine of this price would mature over time in the bottle, or whether its mellow flavours were bottled that way to help it drink straight away.

No matter its faults, this is quite a nice drop, which is accentuated by its bargain basement price. I might buy another bottle to try soon, and if it matches my previous expectations, might be worth buying a case to keep the weekday table supplied.

Rating: 8/10 -DF-

Warburn Premium Reserve Barossa Cabernet Merlot 2008

Wine: Warburn Premium Reserve Barossa
Type: Cabernet Merlot
Year: 2008
Price: $8.50
Date: 24/06/2009
Reason for purchase: Another of the batch from May.

Review: This has some nice fruity flavours that come through at the start of each mouthful. However there is a bit of a heavy aftertaste that isn't particularly welcome.

There is a bit of balance between the softer Merlot parts and the heavier Cabernet parts, making this an alright drink.

The whole point of this under $10 challenge is to find out which wines are worth persevering with, and those that are just plain vinegar. This one is closer to the vinegar mark, and given it's getting closer to the $10 mark than some of the others, not highly recommended.

Rating: 6/10 -DF-