Zonte is a super-cool project created to "show off" different expressions
of Shiraz from different regions throughout Australia - this is one of those stories
Zonte's Footstep 2018 Hills Are Alive Shiraz
Showing posts with label Wines of Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wines of Australia. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Zonte's Footstep 2018 Baron von Nemesis Shiraz (Australian Wine)
I love these labels, but labels mean nothing if the wine inside isn't good, with Zonte's both come together
Zonte's Footstep 2018 Baron von Nemesis Shiraz
--- The Written Review ---
Zonte's Footstep 2018 Baron von Nemesis, Limited Release Shiraz
Super juicy black fruit, namely cassis and blackberry with some vanilla notes - loads of licorice and blackberry flavor with a touch of floral and white pepper - especially on the finish ... This screams Australia and don't let me forget about the cherry-plum finish that raises the bar to the next level. Rating: ****+
Monday, November 8, 2021
Bleasdale 2018 Broad-Side (The Wine Review - #321)
Looking for an Aussie fruit-bomb? This ain't it :
Bleasdale 2018 Broad-Side
available at the winery
(and other fine wine stores).
Monday, August 23, 2021
McPherson 2017 MWC Shiraz-Mourvedre (The Wine Review - #311)
Something that is missing from many Aussie wines is balance; now let's talk about the
McPherson Wines 2017 MWC Shiraz-Mourvedre
available at the winery (and other fine wine stores)
Monday, June 14, 2021
Bleasdale 2018 Mulberry Tree Cabernet Sauvignon (The Wine Review - #302)
There's something in this bottle of Aussie wine that I found very surprising (and out of character?)
Bleasdale 2018 Mulberry Tree Cabernet Sauvignon
available at the winery (and other fine wine stores)
Monday, April 5, 2021
Jim Barry 2017 Barry Bros Shiraz Clare Valley (The Wine Review - #292)
Shiraz out of Australia is showing more character these days - here's one example :
Jim Barry 2017 Barry Bros Shiraz Clare Valley
Monday, March 1, 2021
Peter Lehmann 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, The Barossan (The Wine Review - #...
Think Australia is all about Shiraz? I have news for you, it's not :
Peter Lehmann 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, The Barossan
Monday, June 19, 2017
Monday, March 20, 2017
Monday, February 6, 2017
Monday, January 23, 2017
Monday, July 25, 2016
Monday, March 21, 2016
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Report from ... Australia's First Families of Wine - May 26, 2015
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| First Families by the number |
Every time I get the invite to the Australian First Families of Wine, I'm always reminded of the Godfather movies and the "Five Families". But the Australian First Families are a group of 12 families that are making wine over 16 regions and between them they have some 5000 hectares of vineyards. They span 48 generations and 1200 years of winemaking experience - pretty impressive really.
They are "The custodians of some of Australia's finest vineyards, most famous wine names and some irreplaceable history" and surely names you recognize: Brown Brothers, Campbells, D'Arenberg, De Bortoli Wines, Henschke, Howard Park, Jim Barry Wines, McWilliam's, Tahblik, Tyrrell's Wines, Wakefield and Yalumba (only Campbells was not in attendance today).
Today's tasting was structured as a speed dating event, each group had 10 minutes with each winery representative (it may have been 5 minutes, felt like it anyway) and tasted two wines, gleaning as much information as could be imparted in that short period of time. Of the 22 wines poured here were the best of the best ...
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| The room set-up for the "speed dating" afternoon |
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| Jim Barry 2006 'The Armagh' Shiraz ($270) this wine makes up less than 1% of Barry's production gentle with blackberry and black pepper with a back-drop of smoke (*** 1/2+) |
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| Jim Barry 2013 'The Florita' Riesling Clare Valley grows more Riesling than any other region in Australia dry and fairly refreshing with lemon and hints of lime (*** 1/2+) |
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| McWilliam's 2013 Appellation Tumbarumba Chardonnay this is a 138 year old company a little lemon/lime note, and hints of peach; more delicate than the usual Aussie-Chardonnay (*** 1/2+) |
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| Tyrrell's 2011 Vat 47 Chardonnay made since 1971 - started vineyard on stolen cuttings surprisingly good acidity, peach, apple, vanilla with a long tannin-pith-like finish (*** 1/2+) |
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| Wakefield 2012 St. Andrew's Shiraz Jim Barry was their first winemaker creamy and lovely mouthfeel: chocolate, touches of white pepper, raspberry, black cherry, silky smooth long finish - stunning (**** 1/2) |
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| Wakefield 2009 The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon ($150) also made from fruit taken from the St. Andrew's vineyard fruit forward with big raspberry, cassis, and blueberry with nicely integrated oak - another silky smooth offering (****) |
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| Yalumba 2014 Eden Valley Viognier tropical aromas with honeydew rind, grapefruit and pith on the finish (*** 1/2) |
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| Yalumba 2005 FDR1A Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz shows the ageability of this quinessential Aussie blend mocha, black cherry with an mineral/stoney finish (****) |
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| d'Arenberg 2013 The Money Spider Rousanne fresh and cheerful with apple puree, peach, mineral and Bosc pear skin - lovely long finish (****+) |
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| d'Arenberg 2006 The Ironstone Pressings 70% Grenache / 25% Shiraz / 5% Mourvedre - this wine is foot-trodden peppery and spicy with black cherry, cassis, mineral and good acidity on the finish (****+) |
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| De Bortoli 2011 Noble One Botrytis Semillon ($32 / 375ml) sweet apricot and peach, honeyed tangerine, hint of floral, thick yet unctuous this is really delicious (****) |
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| Henschke 2012 Mount Edelstone Shiraz - 60th Anniversary Vintage ($188) first made in 1952, vines were planted in 1912 smoky, dark fruit, cassis, black raspberry, mineral and cocoa powder (****+) |
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| Henschke 2005 Hill of Grace 100% Shiraz - 500 cases made maximum in any vintage an absolutely beautiful wine with black currant, strawberry and blackberry - so much depth of flavour; stunning (**** 1/2+) |
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| Howard Park 2014 Porongurup Riesling dry with lime and lemon pith with hints of zest and good acidity (*** 1/2) |
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| Tahblik 2009 '1860 Vines' Shiraz ($164) made from half an acre of ungrafted pre-phylloxera vines make 100-150 dozen per year - red raspberry, white pepper, cocoa and blueberry with a touch of floral (*** 1/2+) |
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| Tyrrell's 2010 Vat 1 Semillon ($55) this winery has "an obssession with Semillon" and this wine is bottle-aged before release honey with lime and lemon zest, hint of floral and a clean mouthfeel and finish - only 11% alcohol (****) |
The Personalities ...
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| Peter Barry shows off a bottle of 'The Armagh' |
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| Scott McWilliam, Family Ambassador and Senior Winemaker, talks Chardonnay from Tumbarumba |
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| Alister Purbrick, from Tahbilk (left), talks old vines Shiraz, while Zoltan Fekete, of Kylix Wines (agent) does his best Vanna White impression |
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| Bruce Tyrrell waxes poetic on the subject of Semillon |
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| Justin Taylor, Company Director & Export Manager (Wakefield) has the confidence to know he has one of the best wines in the room |
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| Chester Osborn knows he's got a winner on his hands with this Money Spider |
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| Stephen Henschke preaches the gospel of family and history that goes into every bottle |
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Report from ... Stem Wine Group Annual Tasting, 10th Anniversary - October 20, 2015
That the Stem Wine Group called this an "annual" tasting is a little bit of a misnomer, my understanding is that this is to become a biennial event ... so you have to wait every two years to enjoy / taste this level of quality wines. The majority of the portfolio is Italian wine, 30 producers in attendance this year; four from France, eight from the US, two from Australia and one each from Argentina and New Zealand ... many had at least one wine that was worth the price of admission.
Italy ...
Italy ...
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| Villabella 2005 Amarone 'Fracastoro' ($56.99) pleasant richness of black cherry and red cherry, elegant tannins and a long finish (****+) |
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| Delibori 2012 Ripasso della Valpolicella ($17.99) finesse and elegance with rich cherry with really pleasant mouthfeel and good flavour (****+) |
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| Zyme 2009 Valpolicella Classico Superiore ($44.99) rich red fruit from beginning to end; cherry up front with a gentle, delicate finish - very drinkable (****+) |
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| Zyme 2008 Kairos ($74.99) a 15 grape variety blend which offers up complexity and intensity with a big spicy/tannin finish (*** 1/2+) |
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| Zyme 2007 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico ($144.99) black cherry, coffee, mocha, blackberry, vanilla, rich and smoky; nice balancing acidity on the finish - damn fine wine (****+) |
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| Zyme 2003 Amarone Classico Riserva 'La Mattonara' ($379.99) richer and smokier than the other Zyme Amarone with coffee, toffee, and black cherry extract; rich and flavourful - there are layers of flavour that make this very decadent (**** 1/2) |
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| Casina Bric 460 2010 Barolo, Bricco delle Viole ($84.00) elegant yet juicy with lovely fruit, good acidity and chalky mineral (****+) |
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| Casina Bric 460 2010 Barolo ($68.00) fruit driven with raspberry, sour cherry and vanilla (****) |
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| Ca' del Baio 2009 'Pianrosa' Barbaresco ($32.99) 2 years in oak, 6 months in bottle ... shows dried cherry, smoke, nice mineral and acidity mix - lovely and elegant food wine (****) |
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| Ca' del Baio 2013 Moscato D'Asti ($19.99) pretty Moscato with tropical notes; sweet but elegant - biscotti and almond notes on the finish, nice acidity (****) |
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| Braida di Giacomo Bologna 2011 Montebruna ($29.99) single vineyard offering Barbera black cherry, cassis, raspberry, smoky-vanilla and a nice tannin grip (****+) |
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| Braida di Giacomo Bologna 2010 Bricco Dell'Uccellone ($74.99) grapes from 53 year old vines aged 14 months in oak robust yet shows elegance, dark berries, coffee, chalky / mineral and smoky (****) |
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| Gaja 2011 Promis ($47.99) great fruit forward wine with red and black fruit - balances acidity, wood smoke and tannins (****) |
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| Siro Pacenti 2012 Rosso di Montalcino ($45.00) big coffee flavour with creme de cassis, red berries and rich blackberries (****) |
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| Collemattoni 2012 Rosso di Montalcino ($25.99) easy drinking with cherry and spice (*** 1/2+) |
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| Villa a Sesta 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva ($32.99) rich, robust, and juicy yet shows backbone with blackberry, cassis and other dark fruit and good spice (****) |
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| Villa a Sesta 2009 Chianti Classico 'Il Palei' ($22.99) mocha, coffee, cinnamon, vanilla, smoke - very pleasant (*** 1/2+) |
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| Fattoria di Magliano 2011 'Sinarra' ($23.99) 100% Sangiovese mineral and red fruit mix in this deliciously fruit-driven wine (*** 1/2+) |
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| Fattoria di Magliano 2010 'Poggio Bestiale' ($49.99) 40% Merlot / 35% Cabernet Franc / Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot yummy - big black fruit, smoky yet with nice tannin backbone and a deliciously long finish (****) |
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| Arnaldo-Caprai 2011 Montefalco ($22.99) 70% Sangiovese / 15% Sagrantino / 15% Merlot lovely fruit of blackberry and cassis with gentle spice (****) |
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| Arnaldo-Caprai 2008 Sagrantino di Montefalco ($89.99) big, spicy and rich, full of dark fruit, and hard tannins; it's a food wine and sipping it brings me back to Montefalco (****+) |
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| Masciarelli 2012 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo ($15.99) rich and fruity with red and black berries and gentle tannins; this is a nice fruit driven wine (****) |
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| Feudi di San Gregorio 2013 Primitivo di Manduria ($18.99) always a pleasurable drink with rich red cherry, blackberry and plum (****) |
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| Argiolas 2013 'Costamolino' ($17.99) lovely floral, creamy mouthfeel, pineapple, good acidity (*** 1/2+) |
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| Argiolas 2010 'Is Solinas' ($17.99) Carignan and Bovale (same family as Mourvedre) 1 year oak / 1 year cement / 2 years bottle herbal, raspberry, nice spice and good acidity with a long salty/mineral finish (****) |
France ...
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| Henri Abele NV Blancs de Blancs ($79.00) almandine and bruised apple, crisp, clean and biscuity toasty with hints of buttered bread (****) |
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| Chateau du Val D'or 2010 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru ($34.99) gentle and soft with nice balance of fruit and wood: hints of smoke, blueberry skin and tannins (****) |
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| Daniel Chotard 2013 Sancerre ($25.99) nice mineral with grapefruit pith and grassy notes, great mouthfeel and a stony mineral finish and good length (****) |
United States ...
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| BNA Wine Group 2012 Butternut Pinot Noir ($24.00) light and easy drinking with nice fruit (****) |
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| BNA Wine Group 2012 Humble Pie Cabernet Sauvignon ($21.99) red fruit with touches of red licorice and anise; nice spiced finish with good length (****) |
Other Wines ... (no pictures)
United States ...
Michael Sullberg 2012 Chardonnay ($16.99) - ****+
Michael Sullberg 2012 Merlot ($17.99) - *** 1/2+
Highway 101 Cellars 2012 Zinfandel ($18.99) - ****+
Husic Vineyards 2010 Palm Terrace, Cabernet Sauvignon ($66.99) - ****
Merry Edwards Winery 2012 Sauvignon Blanc ($47.99) - ****
Merry Edwards Winery 2012 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($64.99) - *** 1/2
Merry Edwards Winery 2012 Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir ($74.99) - ****
New Zealand ...
Marisco Vineyards 2013 Sauvignon Blanc ($18.99) - *** 1/2+
Marisco Vineyards 2011 Pinot Noir ($20.99) - *** 1/2
Australia ...
Rockbare 2012 McLaren Vale Shiraz ($22.99) - **** 1/2
Woolshed 2013 Merlot ($14.99) - *** 1/2+
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