- Subscribe
-
Recent Posts
For Your Pleasure
"For your pleasure
In our present state
Part false part true
Like anything
We present ourselvesThe words we use tumble
All over your shoulder
Gravel hard and looseThere all night lying
With your dark horse hiding
Abhorring such extremes" - Bryan FerryCategories
Archives
Category Archives: Coonawarra
2013 Rymill The Dark Horse Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Sometimes the length of a tasting note reveals more than a score ever could. Young, slightly cordial-like and simple. Ribena, blueberry and mint. Juicy with just a brief glimpse of something more stern in the short burst of tannin right … Continue reading
2012 Brand’s Laira Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
Coonawarra hasn’t been producing a hell of a lot of wines that have done much for me recently. I grew up listening to people talk about the region’s reds possessing finesse and the definitive stamp of the famous terra rossa … Continue reading
2013 Rymill GT Gewürztraminer
Eschews the more heady and salacious varietal characters of musk and rose water to an extent, allowing the chaste purity of citrus fruits to shine brightly. All the exotica, tropical and otherwise, is still present but in a diminished form. … Continue reading
2012 Richmond Grove Limited Release Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Does a prominent Cabernet Sauvignon doughnut make the wine more varietal? Should it be rated more highly as a result? Lashings of fruit, a touch of dustiness on the nose and a substantial amount of mint. Blackcurrants, truffle, dark chocolate, … Continue reading
2010 Jacob’s Creek St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon
A very polished and balanced release even if it lacks any real excitement. Lots of eucalypt/peppermint too, so don’t say I didn’t warn you. Malty, toasty chocolate oak adds to the commercial appeal. It’s quite elegant with a touch of … Continue reading
2010 Brand’s Laira Tall Vines Shiraz
The last of four new Brand’s Laira releases sent to me. I really enjoyed the One Seven One Cabernet, had plenty of time for the August Tide Dry Red and didn’t much appreciate the Stentiford’s Shiraz. This isn’t my sort of wine either but … Continue reading
2008 Brand’s Laira Stentiford’s Shiraz
From vines planted 110 years ago. Has won gold medals at the Rutherglen, Cowra and Limestone Coast Shows. That ol’ rum and raisin nose. Prunes and currants, chocolate and vanilla. Stern, oaky tannin. Diesel power. The alcohol heat interrupts the … Continue reading
Posted in Coonawarra, Shiraz
4 Comments
2009 Brand’s Laira One Seven One Cabernet Sauvignon
Classy Cabernet from Coonawarra that’s just begging for a long stint in the cellar, where it is sure to improve. Not that it ain’t impressive already. Cedar and vanilla oak, blackcurrants and mulberry, pouch tobacco and gumleaf. Has terrific form … Continue reading
2003 Redman The Redman
Often, flagships can be a letdown. No such problem here. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot that’s in a gorgeous place right now but hasn’t finished its journey yet. Intriguing bottle-age characters of meat jus, tomato seeds, jerky, faded … Continue reading
2010 Riddoch Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
What a coup getting the “Riddoch” name onto the label of a bottle of Coonawarra Cabernet? I would have thought in this day and age someone would have snapped it up in copyright legislation. This is an admirable wine at … Continue reading