$28, Screwcap, 13.5%
Winner of 4 gold medals now and with a 96/100 in the Oct/Nov Gourmet Traveller Wine. Quite an achievement for a new name on the block. I drank this over dinner and can confirm the drinkability quotient is very high, as is the value on offer.Ruby red in colour with just a smidgin of purple, this smells authentically Canberran, in the Clonakilla/Collector/Kyeema vein - Musk, scorched red fruit, cranberry and peppery spice & Cherry Ripe, with fruit to the fore and no oak in sight. It's definitely in the red fruit end of the spectrum, but avoids the heavy overripeness of similar wines. Palate is silken in texture, with a peppery, slightly stalky expression of mid weight Canberra Shiraz, all wrapped in fine tannins and a whack of bacon fat on the finish. Nice lilt to the tannins too that has me thinking this has had some whole bunch action.
It's a Shiraz built in a rather juicy and glossy, modern grapey style, but its so unforced and impeccably balanced, with proper subtle structure, that you just can't argue with it. The second half of the bottle made its way home with us, and a glass poured of it this evening is going down just as well as it did last night, boding well for the future too.
Big buy from me. 18.2
2009/10 WCA Wine Journalism 'Young Gun; Wine Judge; Gourmet Traveller WINE and Breathe Hunter Valley magazine contributor; LattéLife & The Retiree columnist; National Liquor News tasting panellist and Chablis lover who fell into the liquor industry chiefly to buy cheap beer.
Cheers for the review Andrew. I've got a bit of a thing for Canberra shiraz right now. Not easy to get down here though...
ReplyDeleteHave you had the 08 Clonakilla O'Riada yet? Any impressions? I've seen it at my local for less than $40 and am mighty tempted.....
As always big thanks,
Chris P
Tasted again on the weekend with similar notes
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ozwinereview.com/2009/09/clonakilla-vs-yves-cuilleron.html
Well worth a punt.
I found this light and crisp white wine, from Portugal, and thought i’d pass it along to you. Its called JM Fonseca Twin Vines. They actually have a sweepstakes they’re doing for a free smartphone. The link for the wine and sweepstakes is below:
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/meko65