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-

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-

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-

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-

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-

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-

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 Estate Gossips Merlot 2008

Wine: Warburn Estate Gossips
Type: Merlot
Year: 2008
Price: $6.00
Date: 17/11/2009
Reason for purchase: Given to me to try.

Review: Well I can't say no to free wine (thanks to a colleague), so I cracked this cheap red to try over dinner.

It starts soft and pretty much stays there. Nothing wrong with that, but if like a gutsy red you'll need to look elsewhere.

The flavour is nice and fruity and is a great easy drinker when you feel like something a bit lighter, and don't want any pepper.

Definately one I'll purchase as a regular table wine, and cheap to boot!

Rating: 8/10 -DF-

Pauletts Polish Hill River Shiraz 2005

Wine: Pauletts Polish Hill River
Type: Shiraz
Year: 2005
Price: $19.00
Date: 4/11/2009
Reason for purchase: I decided that drinking was more fun than going to the gym

Review: As recommended by the bottle shop guy, this apparently is the best value shiraz under 20 bucks. I'm always a fan of the Clare Valley shiraz, so easily handed over (not my) $20.

Given it's had a bit of aging, it is a nicely rounded shiraz that has mellowed out enough to be quite easy to drink. The bottle actually has "the complexity of oak" written, which is oddly true. I don't normally believe what the bottle has on it, but this one really has a nice oak flavour. Right on the money!

If your a fan of shiraz, this one is certainly recommend.

Rating: 8/10 -DF-