Category Archives: Shiraz

2012 Mike Press Shiraz

A particularly good release of the Mike Press Adelaide Hills Shiraz this year. I like the balance, the vitality and the structure. Plummy and peppery with typical vanilla accents from the American oak that Mike favours with his Shiraz. Maybe … Continue reading

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2010 Yelland & Papps Divine Shiraz

I’m of the opinion that the real excitement at Yelland & Papps lies with their ‘Second Take’ and ‘Devote’ labels. These ‘Divine’ releases are glossy and showy – quite traditional flagships really – and they will have their fans but … Continue reading

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2011 Head Wines The Blonde Shiraz Viognier

From a single vineyard in the Stonewell subregion of the Barossa with between two and five percent Viognier skins incorporated depending on the vintage. Not marred by the cool, wet conditions in any way that I can see and my favourite of the 2011 … Continue reading

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2010 Cappa Stone Wines Clare Valley Shiraz

When I review wines that aren’t particularly good I try to be polite but sometimes it really is difficult. Skinny, awkward, mawkish. Plums and menthol alongside some vegetation. Shrill acid, harsh tannin. Finishes on a coffee oak note. Cheap coffee too. … Continue reading

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2011 Spring Seed Wine Co. Scarlet Runner Shiraz

The cheaper wines from the rain effected areas during the 2011 vintage are the ones more likely to suffer. Commonsense really. This isn’t a bad effort but I think that it costs a bit too much for what it offers. … Continue reading

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2011 Marques de Tezona Shiraz

The least impressive of the Marques de Tezona wines I’ve tasted revently but if you factor in the price it’s hardly a poor proposition….or a bad wine. Contains 10% Tempranillo and 5% Grenache Sweetly spiced, dilute black and red fruits … Continue reading

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2011 Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz

Named “Undercover” after the McLaren Vale Shiraz that used to (and probably still does) make its way unlabeled into wines produced in other regions. Rich, chocolatey oak, peppermint and black fruits with a hint of pastrami. Supple tannin. Mouth-coating with sinuous acidity and … Continue reading

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2011 Oliver’s Taranga McLaren Vale Shiraz

Whipped through a bracket of 2011 McLaren Vale Shirazes over the last couple of days. Not a bad wine amongst them, although no great heights were scaled. A bit of the old bracken to mark the wet season but this … Continue reading

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Get Yer Rocks Off: McLaren Vale Scarce Earth 2011 Releases

The Scarce Earth project is the brainchild of Dudley Brown and Adrian Kenny, who worked together at Inkwell Wines for a number of years. It’s an exploration of the diversity of McLaren Vale’s terroir through single vineyard Shiraz wines from … Continue reading

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2010 Schwarz Nitschke Block Shiraz

The 45 year-old Nitschke Road Shiraz block lies in Bethany towards the east of the Barossa. The fruit saw 25% new French oak. Clovey chocolate oak, dark plum and blackberry, licorice and espresso. A little earthiness. There’s nothing to criticise. It has enough fruit freshness, … Continue reading

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