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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
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Category Archives: McLaren Vale
2013 Yangarra Roussanne
This is Australia’s best Roussanne and my, oh my is it looking fine this year. I tasted several of the individual barrels that went into making it with Pete Fraser last year and it was clear that he had some excellent material … Continue reading
2013 Three Dark Horses Rosé
Very solid Grenache based Rosé from McLaren Vale. Vivid red aromas à la Dario Argento’s horror masterpiece “Suspiria” – primary colour filters. It’s not terribly complex in terms of texture but very light phenolics play foil to abundant and flavoursome fruit … Continue reading
2012 Three Dark Horses McLaren Vale Shiraz
Shiraz from the Romano vineyard in the Seaview subregion of McLaren Vale, vinified by ex-Coriole winemaker Matt Broomhead. Spends eighteen months in new French hogsheads. Fascinating aromas, the most distinctive being a kind of musky men’s cologne. Earth, plum pudding, … Continue reading
2012 Cascabel McLaren Vale Carignan
Eleven year-old vines. Two weeks maceration on skins for structure before it sits in old French oak puncheons for a further twelve months. As good as it is already, you can’t help but be excited by what lies ahead as … Continue reading
2011 Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz
McLaren Vale has been a fascinating case study for the predominantly wet 2011 South East Australian vintage. Some remarkable wines and some real disappointments. This sits somewhere in the middle. The acid really is too pointy and sharp. Eventually that … Continue reading
2012 Longline Blood Knot Shiraz
The second of two inaugural releases for the Longline label, brought to you by Paul Carpenter of Wirra Wirra fame. A quarter of the grapes come from a vineyard in the Adelaide Hills about four kilometres from Wirra Wirra with the rest sourced from … Continue reading
2012 Cascabel McLaren Vale Graciano
Graciano has a big future in both McLaren Vale and the Barossa. It’s ability to maintain acidity and offer loads of character make it perfectly suited to these warmer climes. I believe this is the first time Cascabel have released it as … Continue reading
2012 Year Wines McLaren Vale Grenache
Single vineyard wine with vines around the 60 year-old mark. Some whole bunch work. Small husband and wife operation. Beautiful labels. Light red berry/cherry aromatics with a hint of wilted roses. The fruit lacks a bit of focus and intensity … Continue reading
2012 Longline Albright McLaren Vale Grenache
Paul Carpenter’s love of Grenache was evident the first time I met him in 2011 and he’s already got runs on the board with Wirra Wirra’s The Absconder and Original Blend wines. Longline is his own small venture and damn this is … Continue reading
2011 Cascabel El Sendero
Tempranillo isn’t mentioned on the front label but that’s the variety used. Considering its current popularity perhaps this is a statement of intent – a move by Cascabel to situate the wine in a Mediterranean stylistic bracket…which of course begs … Continue reading