Region Coonawarra Grape Merlot Tasting Notes Medium red-purple; the bouquet is at once subtle yet complex, with savoury/foresty aromas which flow through seamlessly to the palate, where they are a little more intense, backed by plummy fruit and supported by soft tannins. One of the many faces of Australian Merlot. -89 pts by James Halliday
Region Coonawarra Grape Shiraz Tasting Notes Jammy, sweet and forward, this raw and gritty shiraz has a modest presence of dark berry and plum flavour that is hammered and flattened by what appears to be clunky, unconditioned and oily oak influences. It’s quite assertive but angular, with some brightness and intensity of fruit framed by… Read More »
Region Heathcote Grape Shiraz Cabernet Franc Tasting Notes Less dense colour than Georgia’s Paddock; overall, far more savoury and less luscious; bitter chocolate, spice and blackberry power the long finish to redeem the wine. -94 pts by James Halliday This wine needs plenty of time for its reserved expression of spicy, currant-like flavours of cranberries,… Read More »
Region Heathcote Grape Shiraz Cabernet Franc Tasting Notes Jasper Hill has experienced some of the worst of the Victorian drought, and there’s little doubt that this wine does reveal some of the stress endured by this now-famous dryland vineyard. There’s a meaty animal hide quality to its aroma of dried herbs and vanilla oak, while… Read More »
Region Heathcote Grape Shiraz Tasting Notes From a top-notch estate in Victoria’s Heathcote region, the dense ruby/purple-colored 2004 Shiraz Georgia’s Paddock offers up scents of licorice, white pepper, cassis, and new barrel smells. Full-bodied, rich, and heady, its big, earthy style reflects the Cambrian soils of Heathcote. It should drink well for a decade. -90… Read More »
Region Heathcote Grape Shiraz Tasting Notes Very deep garnet-black colored, the 2002 Georgia’s Paddock Shiraz gives a great intensity of mulberry and dried plum aromas with hints of figs, mocha, prosciutto, soy and a whiff of camphor. Full bodied and generously fruited, it has a solid foundation of medium-firm grainy tannins and high acid, finishing… Read More »
Region Eden Valley Grape Merlot Tasting Notes Lithe and floral, with a minty streak running through the pretty currant flavors, finishing with a touch of cedar and fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2003. 89 cases imported. -83 pts by Wine Spectator Medium to full red-purple; the bouquet is very concentrated and complex, with distinctly savoury… Read More »
Region Eden Valley Grape Shiraz Tasting Notes Medium purple-red; vanillin oak is immediately evident on the bouquet, but without subduing the smooth supple fruit, showing none of the ‘sauvage’ characters of the ’93. A lovely wine on the palate, although the oak is very evident, perhaps supporting, perhaps distracting from the fruit. A mild, dry… Read More »