Wine Talk, April 2007

Something Special To Impress

Shaw and Smith Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2005

Deep dark purple crimson. Cool climate pure fruit - blueberries and blackberries especially - exquisitely pure and succulent. Spectacular purity of fruit. All of this is supported by a fair bit of sweet coconut young oak. Aromatic, intense and distinct, this wine has gravitas from its first pour. Complexity ensues - concentrated dark berry fruits, violets, earth, and a touch of black olive. Opens up in layers. Smooth ripe fruit flavours, well rounded - a hint of menthol and aniseed as well as liquorice. Rich and juicy in style. Young fresh and vibrant on the finish. Still an infant wine with a long future. Try it with Wagyu beef.
Drink Now to 2020. About $38.





Value For Money Drinking

Coldstream Hills Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2006

Lemony straw. Tight and elegant yet with quite intense nectarine and melon. Hints of citrine lemon and minerality follow, melded with integrated French oak. Complexity abounds from the aromas, evolving in layers over time. Tangy lemons, ripe peaches and toasty oak flow onto a long refined palate, lingering long with a crisp finish. As much as it was tight and elegant at the beginning, it is distinct, pronounced and Australian Chardonnay at the end. Very nice drinking now and it has a promising future. Try this with slow roasted pork fillets.
Drink Now to 2013. About $27.





Spoil Yourself

Koonowla Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

This small winery owned by Andrew and Booie Michael certainly made the right move when they appointed respected winemaker David O'Leary of O'Leary Walker fame to make this wine. Still young, fresh and vibrant - aromatic spicy black fruits fill the air. An alluring intense earthy wine of persistent pure and distinct fruit emanates. Blackcurrants, cedary and cigar box oak, satsuma plums, dried herbs and coffee mocha carry through to the palate along with silky fine tannins. A medium bodied savoury style red in structure with an extended length of finish. Try it with pepper steak.
Drink Now to 2012. About $25.





Put This In Your Cellar

Juniper Estate Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2003

This wine is powerful. It has power of fruit, most pronounced oak characters and a distinctive Cabernet structure. A big wine indeed. Dominating black fruits with lashings of cedary and mocha oak at first. Think also mulberry, allspice, menthol, tea leaf, tobacco as well as gameyness in what is a complex aroma profile. Then persistent and concentrated distinct black fruits follow, with smooth ripe tannins and cedary oak characters. A well rounded ample bodied wine that needs time to soften and develop but has a promising future. Try it with a beef casserole.
Drink Now to 2023. About $34. 90/100.





Try Something Different

Millamolong Chardonnay 2005

Another quality Chardonnay coming from the cool climate Orange region in Central NSW. The Ashton family, who are better known for their sheep and cattle grazing, and polo events, have also turned their hand to wine-making from their vineyard, and produced this top notch wine. Classically varietal in presentation with nectarine, melon, mandarin and almonds emanating from the beautiful aromas. Impeccably melded with a good tight dose of French oak and lively fruit acidity accompanying the stylish fruit characters. An alluring yet vibrant wine follows of complexity and deep concentration of fruit flavour. A swirl of butterscotch and stone fruits on the finish resulting in a very well balanced and very drinkable wine. Try it with a king prawn salad.
Drink Now to 2009. About $20.





Good White Wine Drinking

Wirra Wirra The 12th Man Chardonnay 2006

This wine celebrates Wirra Wirra's founder, the late Greg Trott's passion for cricket. Wirra Wirra is a McLaren Vale establishment but the fruit for this wine is sourced from the Adelaide Hills region. A classic Chardonnay and testimony to how modern winemaking can craft Chardonnays that have traditional full rich stone fruit character but do so with refinement and complexity. The wine exudes stone fruit, orange blossom, wild yeast, minerality, French oak all in a classy tight manner. A creamy luscious mouthfeel ensues of peach, melon and a touch of citrine. Chardonnay lovers in your household will enjoy this white. Try it with marinated roast chicken.
Drink Now to 2012. About $24.





Good Red Wine Drinking

Primo Estate Merlesco Merlot 2006

Joe Grilli put this together from his McLaren Vale vineyards. It is meant to be a drink now bistro style red. Savoury and quite European, there is quite a bit of fruit driven character to this wine as well. Think sweet dark red cherries, spicy yet succulent plums and ripe fresh raspberries. Medium dry in presentation, it has a subtle earthiness to it. Well balanced, delicious and well rounded in mouthfeel making it quite delicious to savour. A perfect drink with food wine. Try it with oven baked penne` with tomato and chorizo sauce.
Drink Now. About $15.

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Paul Ippolito writes about wine for publications across Australia, overseas and the Internet. He speaks on radio and writes a free monthly wine newsletter for consumers. Paul can be contacted by email at Paul_Ippolito@hotmail.com where you can also request to be placed on his mailing list for his newsletter. or visit his website at: www.paulippolito.com.au

2007 Reviews

Wine Talk - January 2007
Wine Talk - February 2007
Wine Talk - March 2007
Wine Talk - April 2007

2006 Reviews

Wine Talk - January 06
Wine Talk - February 06
Wine Talk - March 06
Wine Talk - April 06
Wine Talk - May 06
Wine Talk - June 06
Wine Talk - July 06
Wine Talk - August 06
Wine Talk - September 06
Wine Talk - October 06
Wine Talk - November 06
Wine Talk - December 06

2005 Reviews

Wine Talk - March 05
Wine Talk - April 05
Wine Talk - May 05
Wine Talk - June 05
Wine Talk - July 05
Wine Talk - August 05
Wine Talk - September 05
Wine Talk - October 05
Wine Talk - November 05
Wine Talk - December 05

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