Nothing like a quality bargain. I can't buy only one bottle of wine at a time, so to go with the Seppeltsfield tokay I wanted, I picked this up as well for a tenner.
This is made more in the Rioja style, rather than the typically sweeter Australian style of tempranillo. Already showing some age with a nice garnet colour. Dried fruit and herbs with some berry freshness, roast meat, finishing with leathery oak and soft, mouth-drying tannins. Acidity is high, but complimentary to the wine's character, and seems to add a sherbety feel to the finish. It changes quite drastically with time in the glass, which may indicate that it's drinking time is now.
Give me a bottle of this and a roast leg of lamb with rosemary, and I'll be happy... and still have money left over for the next bottle.
Rated: 91 points
Tasted: May 2009
Closure: Screwcap
I realised that I drink far too many young red wines and, since I don't have a cellar happening yet, decided to buy a bottle of this at auction. ($32!) I have heard that this is drinking at its peak now, and thought it would be a safe choice.
Cork opened in perfect shape. Brick red in colour, reflecting its age. Slight blackcurrant and dusty tobacco aromas with most of the action happening on the palate (though this may change after being open for a while longer). Still has plenty of fruit flavour (blackcurrant, cherry), but the fruit is supported by savoury, coconutty
oak, grippy tannins and a lively acidity. I'd say it could take at least another six years without faltering. Finish is long and pleasing, and for this, it deserves an extra point.
Rated: 93+ points
Tasted: May 2009
Closure: Cork (high quality)
The texture is so pleasing that the wine is hard not to like. Tight and focused on the palate with layers of honeydew melon, lemongrass and guava balanced by fresh acidity. This wine is slightly less fine only because it is short across the palate - it's very up-front, you might say, and lacks the length that a better wine would have.
It's slightly limited, but still pretty great
Bought this from the lovely Lost Lake cellar door in Pemberton. I've always loved the label designs with the ammonite shell.Chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, berries and strong aromas of coffee. Berries and chocolate on the medium-full bodied palate. Has a slight harshness about it which should soften with time. Powdery tannins and a fairly long finish. A good example of a Pemberton shiraz.Rated: 90+ pointsTasted: March 2009Closure: Screwcap
An old (cheap) favourite of mine. And Kitty's...
Aromas of limes, lemons, apples, passionfruit. Has a refreshingly crisp mouthfeel and palate evokes biting into a green apple and lemon sorbet. Seems to be hiding in its shell slightly as some whites do after a year or two, but should emerge as a slightly more interesting beast in another year or two.
Rated: 91+ points
Tasted: January 2009
Closure: Screwcap
After watching Jancis Robinson's Wine Course
DVD, my respect for Marcel Guigal increased considerably. His rigorous vetting of the grapes used in his wines is impressive: he turned down the fruit grown by an old friend because it didn't meet Guigal's high standards. My feline friend Annabelle seemed to approve as well...
The blend comprises of 55% syrah, 35% mourvedre, 8% grenache, and 2% of something probably not worth naming.
Cherry, pepper and licorice on the nose. Meaty and spicy palate with fine, powdery tannins. Balanced levels of oak and acid.
The best budget wine in the world? Maybe not, but still great value, and one of only a very few French wines worth buying for around the $20 mark.
Rated: 90 points
Tasted: January 2009
Closure: Cock Cork
This was a gift from a friend's visit to her home state in California. I asked for a zinfandel because it's a rarity over here. The cork was very firm and snapped halfway, but I managed to get it out without it crumbling into the wine.
Sweet, ripe berries - blackberry, blueberry and cherry, raspberry cordial, grape soda, cola, cinnamon. Finishes with a touch of black pepper and nice, toasty oak. Unmistakably made by an American palate (I'm surprised I couldn't detect maple syrup and all-beef patties...)
Rated: 91 points
Tasted: January 2009
Closure: Cork
I'll make it clear right away that I'm on the side of those who gave this wine a gold medal. I've seen a few other reviews that didn't rate it too high, and others who just may have gone overboard (Halliday; 95pts). I think it's a pretty special wine and shows off some of the versatility of shiraz. This has so much going on that I'm going to put the tasting notes in bullet points.
- Plum
- Orange peel (not just because it's from Orange!)
- Fennel seeds
- Parma Violets
- Pepper
- Blackberry
- Cherry
Smooth, almost buttery, mouthfeel. Fairly average level of tannins, but I see this more as a youngish style of wine. That said, it has a decent level of acid and is very well balanced. Satisfying length. I think if somebody served it to me in a Cotes du Rhone bottle, I'd probably be fooled into rating it higher.
Rated: 94 points
Tasted: January 2009
Closure: Screwcap
This wine used to be a favourite of mine and got me liking grenache a lot. I've since had two or three dubious bottles which were either oxidised or hadn't coped with 2-3 years aging. I'm a big fan of Serafino wines in general, however.
Glace cherry, jubes, raspberry, menthol, spice. Took a hell of a shake-and-swirl to bring out those flavours too. Fairly hot on the finish (this weather doesn't help!).
It may have been from a bad dozen because I think I've bought my last few bottles from the same store.
Rated: 86 points
Tasted: January 2009
Closure: Screwcap
http://www.serafinowines.com.au/
Couldn't resist the buddha statue. It was just begging to cuddle a nice bottle of pinot... Aren't we all? I've tasted a few vintages of Ninth Island now and have never been blown away, but probably one of the better quality pinots in its price range ($22).
Obvious cherry and raspberry aromas, with some strawberries and cream coming across. In some of the previous vintages, the strawberry aroma was more prominent.
A fairly savoury, earthy palate with some black tea bitterness. On the second day of tasting (a 42 degree day) the savoury flavours dominated the palate, and the alcohol heat was lifted. Definitely needs to be served at a lowish temperature.
Rated: 90 points
Tasted: January 2009
Closure: Screwcap
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Good Drop - A Wine Blog said:
It was pretty great for the price, but boy was it awful the next day. I tipped out half a... read more
on Vintage Cellars Chalkboard Tempranillo 2005 -
jeremy said:
Noice TN, cheers eh. First visit to your site...on the back of a No Country For Old Men reco ;)... read more
on Vintage Cellars Chalkboard Tempranillo 2005 -
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Ok, maybe not for me then. Love my Temps & it sounded promsisng but usually I'm imbibing alone, so 2nd... read more
on Vintage Cellars Chalkboard Tempranillo 2005