Category Archives: Shiraz

2011 Mount Pleasant Phillip Hunter Valley Shiraz

More approachable than the OP&OH and Rosehill in its youth although best to thoroughly decant it right now. That’ll take the edginess away from the acidity. There’s less oak apparent but it still benefits from time to relax and feel at home … Continue reading

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2011 Mount Pleasant Old Paddock and Old Hill Shiraz

I’m not sold on this release of the OP&OH although it may just be a sleeper. It feels uneven and lacks flow. There’s a heck of a lot of oak in the mix and it is clearly built for the … Continue reading

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2011 Mount Pleasant Rosehill Vineyard Shiraz

A very good vintage of the Mount Pleasant Rosehill. Good to see the alcohol back under control in these 2011 releases although there is still a fair clip of cedary oak. Primarily red fruited and lighter on its feet than … Continue reading

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2012 Best’s Great Western Bin No 1 Shiraz

The follow up to the Jimmy Watson winning 2011 Best’s Great Western Bin No 1 Shiraz which I am still (inexplicably) yet to taste. I’ll try to rectify that this week if there’s still some stock left at one of … Continue reading

Posted in Grampians, Shiraz, Syrah | Tagged | 1 Comment

2010 Radford Spice Bush Shiraz

20% new French Hogsheads with some whole bunch incorporation. Matured in barrel for 30 months. Has quite a bit of Rhone-like stink and some prominent rustic notes of tanned animal hide but there’s also plenty of upfront black and purple … Continue reading

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2012 Shaw + Smith Shiraz

For my money, this has become one of the more anticipated Australian releases each calendar year. The 2006 and 2010 vintages were excellent and this is of a similar standard. When it shows a little black and white pepper you … Continue reading

Posted in Adelaide Hills, Shiraz, Syrah | Tagged | 3 Comments

2011 The Story Garden Gully Grampians Shiraz

I thought I may have lost a bit of interest in the 100 year-old Garden Gully vineyard but this wine has changed my mind to some degree. It has the falling leaf savouriness of the vintage and it’s one of … Continue reading

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2011 Meerea Park Terracotta Syrah

The most immediately appealing and approachable of the current Meerea Park reds that I tasted – I’m yet to tackle the 2011 XYZ. There is a touch of Viognier in here but it’s less prominent than I recall in previous … Continue reading

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2011 Meerea Park The Aunts Shiraz

I had an interesting chat with Meerea Park winemaker Rhys Eather last year on the matter of brettanomyces. Rhys is of the opinion that all red wines have brett and that it’s just a matter of whether that aspect is … Continue reading

Posted in Hunter Valley, Shiraz, Syrah | Tagged | 6 Comments

2011 Meerea Park indie Shiraz Pinot

 A blend of 70% Shiraz and 30% Pinot Noir, all from the Hunter Valley, co-fermented with stalks. A 10% increase in the Pinot element from the 2010. It’s (fittingly) in a Burgundy bottle this year but we’ll make do with … Continue reading

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