D’Arenberg The Laughing Magpie 2007

Michelle picked this up at the Wine Expo, and it is no longer available.  Sounds like that’s not a bad thing.

— Michelle’s Review —

This wine is a 90% Shiraz and 10% Viognier.  I was assuming from trying similar blends that the Viognier would give the Shiraz a bit of a minerally edge, round out the pepper, mellow  the dark fruit. I have to say,  I was a bit hesitant buying this wine because of the experiences with other d’Arenberg wines. I found them a bit to “hot” for my liking.  Well, this one happened to be the same. Perhaps I should have decanted it, let it breath for at least ½ hour…something.  It literally burned my eyes as I brought it up to my nose. At 14.5% its so over the top alcohol.  Personally I think that is a bit ridiculous. I lost everything in the tasting because of that hotness.  Very disappointed. I would give it 2/5 for value (since it was about $25 from what I remember) and a rating of 75/100.  Do people really enjoy that style? Alcohol so overwhelming it burns your eyes before it gets to the lips. Perhaps I am overly sensitive to it and I would love to hear if anyone else had the same experience.

Sandalford Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Wow!  I haven’t had much cab lately, as I’ve had a hard time finding one I like at a price I’m willing to pay.  So this is a great find.  It’s drinking beautifully already – great nose, perfectly integrated tannins, excellent fruit and depth, without being the stereotypical Aussie fruit bomb.  I’m very sensitive to the green flavour of under-ripe cab, and there is not the slightest hint of that.  But it isn’t in the least jammy either.  These grapes must have been picked when they were perfectly ripe.  Good complexity already, and only three years old.  This is excellent value at the price.  I will definitely be picking up a bunch more of this, both for drinking now and to see how it evolves.

d'Arenberg The Hermit Crab 2008

I can't say anything bad about this wine, but I don't have a lot of good to say about it either.  Reasonable nose, on the green apple side of things, well balanced, good body, but there isn't anything that stands out for me either.  Kelly and I had it on one of those hot weekend afternoons a couple of weeks ago, side by side with another white (an Aus Verdelho, not an ANBL product), and it didn't stand up very well.  We didn't finish it that day and I put it in the fridge.  Pulled it out a couple of times since then, but it just never particularly appealed to me.  A perfectly decent white wine, but I won't buy it again at this price.

$19.79
Value 2.5/5
Viognier, Marsanne

Rymill Coonawarra MC2 2003

This blog is intended to be about diversity of opinion, so I checked out the review this wine at Nick’s, a major Australian retailer that usually provides well balanced reviews (given that they are trying to seel the stuff).  They didn’t much like this wine.  This makes me think of Gallo Barrelli Creek Cab - WS gave it an 86 in 2003, but we liked much better than when we tried it in 2009.  There’s lots of it left, so if anyone else has tried this wine, please let us know whether you agree with Nick’s or with Iron Chef.

— Iron chef’s Review —

My Coonawarra adventure continues.

Colour - Ruby core, to orangish rim.
Nose - Dried spices - cloves, green peppers, currants and plums. Some hot notes mixed with Vicks. New shoe leather. Floral components. Deeply aromatic and interesting.
Taste - Currants and plums -  more dried cooking spices. Mint and menthol. Some sweat. Very drying palate somewhat austere. Faint coconut and stewed apples late on the palate. Good tannins.
Overall - Loved this wine. Not as peppery as the Yearling, but more complex. I have a feeling that this would improve in my cellar. Screw cap - decanted 45 minutes.

Are there any other Coonawarras except for the Jacob's Creek St Hugo at $40 at ANBL?

Score 91
Value 5/5
Australia – Coonawarra
65% Cab Sauvignon 23% Merlot, 12% Cab Franc
13.5% Alcohol
Price: $19.99
UPC: 9315128981089

Rymill Coonawarra Yearling Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

After the early spring we're back to red wine weather, so here's a red wine review.

(BTW - tancred, I know this wine is right up your alley, so leave a comment and let us know if you agree with Iron Chef.  No excuses.)

— Iron Chef’s Review —

Recently I had an aged (1999) Coonawarra Cab and was blown away; I had to try another, not aged though.
Nose- Very pronounced Menthol and Mint. Somewhat Hot. Grenadine mixed with coffee and cocoa. Had an aroma of a very good wine.
Taste- Very peppery, hot alcohol and rich cassis. Again loads of menthol and mint. Smooth tannins and a slight red apple taste. Very happy with the reduced levels of sweetness, drier and peppery.
Overall- highly impressed with this wine- a real step up from the ‘animal wines’ of Yellow tail and Little Piguin. At this price point, comparable to the Merlot Trio from Concha y Toro, Dona Paula Los Cardos Malbec, or  The Wolftrap.  Can’t wait to try the Rymill Coonawarra MC2 this weekend.

Price: $14.99
Value: 4.5/5
Score: 90
Alcohol: 14%
UPC #9315128051010

Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz 2006

Here’s my pick for the value wines sweepstakes.  This has always been a classic

good value Aussie Shiraz, but it seems to me that the price was creeping up towards $30 in the past few years (or maybe that was the Show Reserve?)  Anyway, this one is a winner at the price if you’re looking for a Aussie Shiraz with good fruit but without the overdone jammy-ness that makes the cheaper wines to unappealing.

Price $19.99
Score 88
Value 4/5
UPC 9300727140517

Rosemount Estate Diamond Label Sangiovese 2005

Here we go at last.  Is Iron Chef just pulling our legs, or have we discovered the Holy Grail - a 90 rated wine for less than $15!?  Give it a try and let us know what you think.

— Iron Chef’s Review —

Colour- Pale red with orangish rim.
Nose- Plums with orange marmalade. Olives and a weird Sun dried tomatoes smell. Quite perfumy, some twigs and gravel and rosemary. Interesting.
Taste- Peppery Plum fruit, abundant liquor, earth, nutmeg and green coffee. Sourish with a tart acidity. Very complex for the price.
Overall- This was a solid example of a robust Sangiovese- give me hope for this grape, Italy can learn from this.

Price: $14.99
Value 4.5/5
Score 90
Alcohol 13.5%
South Eastern Australia
UPC #012894100919

Penfolds Kalimna Shiraz Bin 28 1998

It’s not so long ago that I started building a cellar, so it’s only now that I’m starting to drink some wines that have been cellared for a few years.  This Bin 28 illustrates that older is not necessarily better. This is from the middle of the Penfolds range – the current release is almost $40 in NB – and as I recall, 1998 was supposed to be a very good year, yet this wine didn’t show particularly well.  It was well balance and well made, but the fruit had faded and it there wasn’t a lot of complexity to replace it.  Still enjoyable, but at least a couple of years past its peak.  A solid 88 nonetheless.  It’s not fair to give it a value score.  If you have any of these in your cellar, drink up.

South Australia, Shiraz
Price: $38.29 (current release)
UPC: 012354071834

Sandalford Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Australian wines generally are known for being "big." That can be a good thing, depending on your tastes, but sometimes it just gets overdone, and they end up with "big" but lose everything else.

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

Smell- Very deep and complex. Herbs of ground cloves, dried sage and mint. Nice coconut aromas mixed in with the oak and densely extracted cherry stew.
Taste- Compared to nose, it was a little disappointing and almost boring. Cassis and cherry brandy. Loads of dark fruit. Palate numbing heaviness.
Overall- it started great, but the palate was too thick without much more than cherry brandy.

Price: $32.48
Score: 83
Value: 1/5
Region: Australia, Margaret River
Alcohol: 14.5%
UPC: 9312175008011

Angoves Nine Vines Shiraz Viognier 2007

A brief foray back into red wine. Sad to say, but summer is almost over. But here's a wine to make you feel better about drinking red again.

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

Ever since the Wolftrap opened my eyes to the Shiraz/Viognier blend, I have been meaning to try this wine.

Nose: Cola- like Dr Pepper. Mint and Asian spice like Sesame seed oil. Vey full and deep nose.
Taste: Plummy with a creamy mouth feel - malolactic fermentation. Good tannins, some gamey notes. Not sweet as I have come to expect with Aussie wines. Warm integrated oak. Long finish that really excels in the mid palate- somewhere that many, many wines go flat or hollow. Very creamy and enjoyable. Food friendly matched well with Korean marinated steaks, balanced.
Overall- didn't love it as much as the Wolftrap, I went bananas over that btw. But I liked it a lot more than most aussie sugar bombs. It was just austere enough for me. I have been picking up nice Australians for a while now, it is beginning to give me some confidence in the area again.

Price: $13.29
Value: 5/5
Score: 90
Region: South Australia
Alcohol: 14%
UPC: 9300694347445

Château Reynella Cabernet-Merlot Basket Pressed 1997

It's always interesting to get reviews of wines that have been cellared for a while, even if they're not available any more, as it gives us an idea of whether the current vintage will do well.

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

The last of the Reynellas I own. Sorry to see them go. The best of the Shiraz, Cab and the Cab/Merlot was the Cab/Merlot.
Nose- Some barnyard notes or brett (Brettanomyces- a fungus, old barrels are frequently touted as the main culprits). Rich cherry and plum favours. Mint and dried spices like cloves. Lots of stuff going on in the nose.
Taste- Stewed Cherries and plums, Chocolate and Coffee. Cedar and sandalwood. Very smooth tannins. Rich, velvety texture. Seemed fresh and vivid. No trace of age or dullness. Finish that lasted for a long time.
Overall- had this with a couple of good friends, but probably had it 3-5 yrs too early. Lots of life left in this one. This had all the elements, smell, taste, complexity, length, everything. It tasted a lot like a Super Super Tuscan. Spoke with a representative of the NFLD Liquor and they still have a couple of this vintage amazingly.

Price: about $40
Value 5/5
Score 94
Grape- Cab/ Merlot Blend
Region- Australia- McLaren Vale
Alcohol: 13.5%
UPC: Not available in NB; purchased from NS Port of Wines

Wolf Blass Premium Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Did you get turned on to wine with Australian Shiraz? What are your your views now? I'll be interested in the comments on this post.

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

Confession time, I don't even go down the Australian aisle at ANBL any more. I find the whole area over done and boring. Every now and then I am surprised, the d'Arenberg's often surprise and now I see the Reynella is back, but for the most of that country…boring.
My best friend often says that I should lay down one of the WB Prem Selection Cabs each yr. I have ignored those recommendations …. Unfortunately.

Nose: new American oak, Mocha, mocha, Mocha. Cola favours and hot cherries. Deep aromas.
Taste: Highly extracted, Latte. Lots of cherries mixed with cedar wood. Great favours. Smooth and integrated tannins.
Overall: This still tasted young, no age at all, could easily sit for another 5 yrs or more. I will be buying one of these every year.

Price: $29.99
Value 4/5
Score 92
Alcohol 13.5%
Region: South Australia
UPC: 087000308503

Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz 2005

Tancred is an Aussie Shiraz afficionado amd the Leasingham Bin 61 was one of my favourite wines in its price range a few years ago, around the 1998 - 2000 vintages. Sounds like it has slipped since then.

--- Tancred's Review ---

This is a trophy and gold medal winner from a winery based in the clare valley of south australia, a region known more for some excellent and very dry Rieslings. Wine spectator gave the bin 61 a 91 and NBliquor has only a limited supply, so I took a chance and bought four on faith (though I have had earlier vintages). Lots of red berries on the nose and palate, and some decent complexity, though I didn't detect much of the bold spiciness that is characteristic of Australian shiraz. As well, there was a some harshness on the finish that I did not enjoy - maybe this will soften with age. WS called the finish 'lively' and I would agree with that. We'll try it again in a couple of years.

Price: $31.79
Score: 87
Value: 3/5
UPC: 9311043064418

Penfolds Thomas Hyland Chardonnay 2006

This weekend's wine from Iron Chef

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

Nose: Cantaloupe Mellon, Pineapple, Lemon curd and oaky notes. Very pleasant aromas.
Taste: Crisp woody favours, Butter Rum ice cream. Some wood tannins giving off nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon. Some copper tastes late in the palate.
Overall - a very steady wine that was given the full malo and oak treatment. A style of Chardonnay that I like. Finish was shorter than expected much shorter. I think the original price was something like $24 to $27 compared to $21.55 in SAQ, which is too expensive. I just remember this wine being very, very good in the past- not just steady.

Retail Price: $17.99- Sale wine
Score: 85
Value: 2/5
Region: South Australia
Alcohol 13%
UPC #012354071940

Jacobs Creek Shiraz 2006

It looks like Peanutman's review got the ball rolling again. Here's one from Iron Chef:

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

I have had good memories of this wine from years ago, but have almost completely stopped drinking Australian wine all together. I thought this might be a good place to start again.
Nose- smells hot, extracted cherries in heavy sauce. Some dried spice like cloves. Nice white pepper also. Straightforward nose, not real complex.
Taste- Strewed Black Currant Jam, Peppery spray and black coffee. Strange mouth feel- itchy- like when I eat the skins of plums or peaches. I might have sensitivity to pectin.
Overall- straightforward wine- good, but not memorable. I am glad I took notes or I might have forgotten it. The pepper was the best attribute and that is only a good comment when you are talking about Dr Pepper or a Pepper Steak.

Retail Price: $14.29
Score: 84
Value: 3/5
Region: South Eastern Australia
Alcohol 14%
UPC # 9300727488114

Lehmann Clancy's Red 2005

Single vineyard varietal wines are all the rage - and Clancy’s Red from Lehmann shows why this is a mistake. With a blend of grape of different varieties sourced from various Barossa vineyards, Lehmann has put together a great wine at a great price. This is not at all the kind of candied fruit bomb that I worry about getting from Aus at this price - Kelly first guessed every country in Europe, and then said 'well, it's not Australian." (I love it when a wine fools her.) It has good fruit, but with restraint, and a twist of something a bit different at the finish for interest. Just a bit of a rough edge, though that dissipated with air. Excellent balance. I wish I knew how long this is likely to cellar.

Here's Kelly's note: "Nose of dried flowers, stewed fruit, warm spices (cinnamon, cloves, pepper). Much more earthy and spicy on the palate; long, with maybe an eensy hard note at the very finish. No way I'd have guessed it Australian - I was pretty sure it was Italian and certain it was old world. At least I got the blend right."

Kelly and I independently gave it the same score. Ok, not 89.5, but we were both wavering between 89 and 90.

Price: $19.99
Score: 89.5
Value: 5/5
Region: Australia, Barossa
Grape: 35% Shiraz, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc.
Alcohol: 14.5%
UPC: 9311910102069

Jacob's Creek St. Hugo 2003

Here's a review from Vasco da Gama that I lifted from the Make a Suggestion thread. Despite the review, because there are so few bottles left I haven't listed it as "Recommended" in the price range.

--- Vasco da Gama's review ---

Secret Opportunity for Fredericton readers of this blog!!!

Last week I tasted the 2003 Jacob's Creek "St.Hugo" Cabernet from Coonawarra. This was at a restaurant and I heard NBLC was sold out of it.
I found that actually there were 11 bottles left in Saint John, so I had them bring in 3 for me. They ended up shipping in all 11, so there are 8 more up at Prospect St NBLC, as of this afternoon.
This is a blockbuster beautiful cab with rich layered fruitiness, and possesses great new world characteristics, along with licorice...mmmm. This has a proportionate amount of tannins and acidity to carry it another few years, should you wish to hold a bottle or two. One of the nicest Cabs I've had. Coonawarra region can produce some awesome Cabs...I would highly recommend!!
Looking at the NBLC website, this no longer shows up, so I can't give you the UPC code

Price: $37.99
Score: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
UPC: 9300727483232

Colonial Estate Explorateur 2005

"The cheap wine style, without the nasty cheap wine taste." That was my comment to Kelly after having a glass of this wine. I didn’t enjoy this wine at all. I suppose they were going for the big, bold Aussie Shiraz style, but to my taste it came across as unbalanced and garish. I don’t know what the residual sugar is, but it certainly tasted cloying sweet. And while Kelly says “fresh cherries, with a hint of evergreen,” I’d say cherry cough syrup with menthol. Maybe it will mellow with age, but there are less expensive wines with more to offer in the same style (for example the Wynn’s Coonawarra.) I can’t understand how this wine and the Envoy came from the same winery in the same year. This wine is making me seriously second guess the high score we gave to the Envoy. But Kelly thinks it really was just a lot better. Anyway, we agreed on the score; while I didn’t enjoy it, it was well enough made in the style.

Here's what Kelly had to say. Note that we agreed on the score:

"The nose is predominantly fresh cherries, with a hint of evergreen and spice and also a bit of hotness. There's more fruit on the palate, which is clear and fresh, and a bit sweet, and ends with firm tannins. It is lighter and clearer on the palate than I'd expect from shiraz, which tends to be more rich and spicy. This wine is very difficult to score. It has some very nice flavors, and a decent structure and clarity on the palate, but it also has some objectionable flavours and qualities, such as sweetness and a funny cheapish edge. I'd like to pay under $20, although I could easily see it being as much as $30."

Price: $28.10 (on Sale)
Score: 85
Value: 2 / 5
Region: Australia, Barossa
Grape: Shiraz
Tasted: March 2009
UPC: 9338498004301

De Bortoli Deen Vat 4 Petit Verdot 2006

I was quite interested when Iron Chef sent me this review, as I've had my eye on this wine for a while, but just haven't gotten around to trying it.

--- Iron Chef's Review ---

Colour- Redish Purple, Great Colour.

Nose- Plummy, Vanilla oak, Lavender ??, Dusty Gravel notes. Smells great.

Taste- less than ripe cherries, Aussie Mist Shampoo (coconut) & bananas, a bit candied but not overblown. Surprisingly acidic, fine tannins- some apple crispness- a real backbone to the wine. Smooth Fruit forward wine.

Typical Aussie but something different, not austere, not completely candied overall complex. Of all the PVerdots I have had, it has always the acidity or crispness of the palate and the structure of the wine that sets it apart from the normal. As a primarily blending grape to add structure to a Bordeaux or meritage blend, I am always happy to try it by itself.

Price: $20.49
Score: 88
Value: 3.9/5
Region: Australia- Riverina
Alcohol 14.5%
Grape: Petit Verdot
Tasted: March 2009
UPC #679940000533

Colonial Estate Envoy 2005

This is an example of my favourite style of Australian wine. It is fruity, but not dominated by fruit; it is elegant in style, but not austere; and it has all kinds of other interesting flavours. I noted blackberry and plum, minerals, earth, fungus, tar, smoke, maybe sage, pepper, cloves, and violets. Really. It is very well balanced and smooth on the palate, and long. The tannins are fine but firm.

It is possible that the smoke flavor I detected was from the duck breast Norman was roasting at the time, not the wine. (We did have to open all of the doors and windows to clear the smoke from the house.) It is also possible that my 93 rating was influenced by the exceptionally good mood I was in the evening we opened this wine, but in any event I would have rated it at least 92 and it is excellent value at $37.

Price: $37.16
Score: 89 (downgraded from Kelly's original score of 93 in light of comments and subsequent tasting)
Value: 3.5/5
Region: Australia, Barossa Valley
Grape: Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvèdre
Tasted: March 2009
UPC: 9338498004806