2/10/2011 - RRees wrote:

It has been a pleasure to look and re-look at this wine - pity I had not had the benefit of Cellartracker from the beginning of the tracking of this wine.... Powerful yet well considered smack across the chops on the nose. A prize-fighter punch but happy to take it on the chin as I am in the hands of a pro for sure. The mouth-feel is again balanced and considered. Left with memories of white pepper and dark bruiser ripe fruit that takes no prisoners. The wine is power and light in a kind of ying/yang balance that is enticing.

I see it maturing quicker than I expected now but will still reward for 5-8 years minimum.

Am seeing a similar trend out of cooler climate Victoria Shiraz of the 2005`s starting to show their ability with an encouraging longevity in hand.

See my video notes on the wine at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X3mwQPKrQA

(You need to cut and paste the link into your browser)

2/3/2011 - RRees wrote:

This wine has all the classic Central Otago Pinot spice and richness of fruit, but at this very early stage in it`s development it is an unfair to make any sweeping statements about the wine as it appeared to me as untamed and almost "raw?" in it`s flavor profile. The nose is very shy but hints of impressive things to come. There will eventually be a floral component to the nose which will make it very distinctive. The color is possibly one of the darkest I have ever seen and again enthuses me for the future of the wine.

The predominant impression left behind after tasting this wine is a sense of depth and weight that excites me. The DNA of this wine is no doubt as good as it comes and I see great things for it in 6 - 12 months and beyond for at least five years. Happily I have a fair bit of this and will look at it every six months as it will be an adventure to see this baby unroll.

See my video review of the wine at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC15s3xEh28

(You need to cut-n-paste it into your browser)

2/1/2011 - RRees wrote:

Medium bodied Barbera from the cheaper end of Piedmonte, the most impressive part of this wine experience is the density of flavor in the mid palate.Not so much the direct taste but depth and duration of after-taste. Nose is soft, clean and promises cherries and milky chocolate with a dusting of truffles. There are the expected rustic characteristics, but after a bit of work in the glass - ends up presenting like a friendly muscle-bound giant who is into chocolate dipped cherry candy. It is fun to look at and a great starting block for Barbaresco beginners like myself.

2/1/2011 - RRees wrote:

The further I get along the path of drinking good California Cabernet - the more nervous I get. As a virtual virgin in this field, I am falling head over heals for the multitude of impeccably tailored, rich and balanced Cabernet I have been lucky enough to taste, many of which cost a bomb here in Singapore. This bottle last night came at the end of a line-up of predominantly Australian Cabernets and was tasted blind. Everything about the wine spoke of top-shelf style and grace.

The nose was considered and rich - full of spice and mature, ripe fruit promise. The palate was gentle but very certain in its approach and delivery. Length was long and I was sad to see it end. I reckon the wine has a plenty of time to go in it`s life and is a joy and privilege to have enjoyed this wine. As a mainly Australian Cabernet drinker to date, I am humbled and delighted to drink a wine of such elegance and quality.

1/30/2011 - RRees wrote:

Dark and rich color - the nose is a lot more inviting than any other Cabernet I recall form the Hunter in recent sober memory. The wine was opened for an hour preceding examination and it paid off. I got more alcohol than I expected at 13% but it blew away and left a lush ripe wine that I can still taste a long time after ditching the bottle. Hunter tannins are there, but are showing in clean and finished way. The wine has at least five years to go but I am drinking it now. The vines must have seen some hot days around harvest time as the wine is crazy-ripe and rich. The remaining wines in the blend with 68% Cabernet are Petit Verdot, Merlot and Shiraz and all of these combine well to provide a finished product that I like.

1/30/2011 - RRees wrote:

Have drunk a lot of this wine in the past - by far and away this bottle was the least impressive by my recollection. It is always so important to consider the time, place and conditions under which one looks at a wine, but in this instance, none of the classic strokes of masterful Dave Powell wine-making were present in the wine. It was shy on the nose - lighter on the palette and regrettably not what I remember and look forward to in all Torbreck wines. If all Struie 2005`s are heading in this direction, it is time to drink them up and look for other vintages - maybe a flaw?

I remain a fan of the brand and what they do - will look at it again.

1/30/2011 - RRees wrote:

I have been gagging to try this wine for some time and this weekend offered an opportunity to taste it. This wine is without doubt the most famous of Lebanese wineries and with good reason. There was an initial wave of hospital bandage-type of eucalyptus and more fire than expected on the nose, but decanting and patience blew that away.

The nose eventually presented a gentle rose-water and light cherry nose with the front and mid palette showing dates, figs and stewed stone fruit. Full marks for front, mid and back palette. I really liked the gentle sense of poise and balance all through the wine experience.

Regrettably the table with whom I shared the wine didn`t on the whole share my view - but that after all is what wine evaluation is all about. This wine will not appeal to those who are dogged followers of New World Cabernet and its blends. It is a distinct interpretation of the grape and one which I will revisit regularly - great value in Singapore at sub $60.

1/26/2011 - RRees wrote:

Deceptively light in color and nose. Hailing from the Mnt Rosa sub-region and what may be the highest and coldest point in the region, this wine gets more and more interesting with time. Cherry and mint. A kind of freshness on the nose that is pristine and invigorating. Am sitting in our tin shed with the monsoon belting down outside and can find no possible reason not to finish this of slowly and carefully as each sip is giving more dimension to what was initially a lean front and mid palate. Clearly this wine should be accorded due respect and placed far back in the recesses of the cellar as time is going to reveal a very clever and pleasingly unique interpretation of the terroir and fruit.

Balance is brilliant - the blueprint for where it will go in years to come.

1/25/2011 - RRees wrote:

The background to this wine is amazingly interesting - a one hundred year old winery in the foothills of the Andes. This wine is a blend of vintages with 50% being set aide from each year for re-blending in a "solera" style with each ensuing edition.

Texture and flavor is amongst the most impressive I can recall - ever. Almost too evolved? Possibly my new world upbringing looking for something in the tannin construct that is not needed. The nose is all about coffee, vanilla and deep dark fruit. The mouth-feel and flavor profile is impressive and 100% full of richness and delight - hang on world the Chileans are coming and are gonna kick butt...

1/25/2011 - RRees wrote:

This wine is into it`s maturity window, but holding its own really well. Masses of McLaren Vale spice and a dominant ripe cherry flavor profile, it has a whisper of portiness which is a hint of things to come but for right now and at around Sing$40 it is kinda tough to beat. The length is the thing which possibly impresses the most. Immaculately made wine and a great drink.

1/22/2011 - RRees wrote:

A tad disappointed after reading the high ratings from the gurus on this one. Classic Majella in every way but a restraint on the nose and a vague ropey sort of taste and texture amongst the beautiful minty, blackberry ride. Maybe six months will straighten it out and I will look at it again soon to see if my mood and mind was not right on the night for this.

1/22/2011 - RRees wrote:

Am lucky enough to see the winery and its releases regularly and have to say that the recent excitement over the 91 point rating for the entry level Musician 2009 from Wine Advocate, I have not concentrated on this estate level Cabernet as much as I ought - loving the classic ripeness of the wine with Bruce Gregory`s trademark handling of oak which i love. Cassis, violets and cedar wood. This wine is evolving on track and has 5-8 years to run. Interesting to note that this - more expensive wine - albeit from a year before the Musician 2009 got the same rating of 91 points. I whole-heartedly endorse the rating of this wine, but feel the Musican 2009 got a lucky break with 91 points.

1/22/2011 - RRees wrote:

Carries the badge of its region, style and lineage. Classic Coonawarra in every regard, but not something to cherish and babysit for too long a period. An ok drink. Not sure that time will do much for it.

1/22/2011 - RRees wrote:

Am keen as kid at a funfair to taste the 2009 Pinot releases from New Zealand. Have been lucky enough to see some of them in their "just finished" state last year in NZ, but its good to see how they are settling and if my hopes for them as a body of work are justified.

The first thought that comes to mind is that the wine is "pretty". Cherries and pot-pourri nose. A gentle and seemless experience from whoah to go. Well tailored and safe - kind of like sitting buckled up in a powerful car - hoping that the driver eventually puts his foot on the accelerator. I guess I am trying to say that I hope that in time the flavor profile will broaden and fill out a little to elevate it to become an experience to be cherished.

1/22/2011 - RRees wrote:

Glad to be trying this wine again within a six month period. No doubt 2007 as a vintage in Margaret River will be the stuff of stories to my unborn grandchildren. I am getting home runs from a large majority of established labels from this year. The wine is providing all the butterscotch, caramel, pear, vanilla bean and grandma`s marzipan that made me fall in love the first time, but with an extra six months, the flavor profile is broadening - as it should but faster than I had expected it to. The wine is in it`s window now - no problem for me at all but surprised by this so soon. How long to go - another 3-5 will do the trick I think.

The devil on my shoulder whispers to me that maybe the wine needs a fraction more prevailing acid, but maybe I am being too fastideous about it.

Always amazed to note that the cost of this wine is precisely half of the cost of Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay in Singapore and deserves a seat at the same table without doubt. For this reason I am giving it a higher than expected rating at this point in its life and mine.

1/22/2011 - RRees wrote:

This wine is the product of an interesting venture - specialising in "once-off" productions - never to be repeated again. Not sure how the economics of what is essentially a "non-brand" release can possibly work as a business model, as that essential brand-loyalty that I have always believed wines need to become an economic reality in the long term- is not part of this wine and it`s story. That said - I love innovation in the business and am always up for a new approach.

This Shiraz spent 60 months in oak - and the wine needed. Looking at the wine at this point in it`s life is just about beyond the right time to be doing it. It is kind of like looking at an actor who is at a point in his career where he starts to take on "mature" roles. He knows his craft, performs it immaculately, but with possibly with a little bit of creakiness in his knees when he does his stunt scenes... a rich story of a nose promising a profusion of flavor. Cocoa, moccha and wood-smoke prevail in the front and mid palatte, with the necessary dark and red berry presence all combining together to make a good glass or wine. The length is good but starting to fade.

I loved the chewiness of the tannin and fear for this wine when it was just produced - it must have resembled a troubled teen in its early stages.

The wine is closer to Hermitage than Barossa in style which is a good break from what is an almost daily ritual for me. I loved the ride and had a sense of loss after it was finished - realising that I would never see this expression of this particular patch of soil and style in this form ever again...

1/18/2011 - RRees wrote:

If one wanted to put in a bottle what it means to be Australian, this wine is a great contender for the task. It epitomises the very life and soul of McLaren Vale, its terroir and class. A classic blend of Cabernet and Shiraz - it rocks your palette with a multitude of layers of sun-kissed ripe dark blackberries, Cohiba-box and pencil shaving aromas. The wine has softened up well and at a recent vertical of 2003-2008 Block Six, it showed better than all the rest - given the various stages of maturation calibrated by vintage.

1/18/2011 - RRees wrote:

Pinot is such a problem child to pin down - at dinner this week we rolled through a fair number of "high-brow" versions from both Australia and New Zealand - but for me this was the one that won the golden ring for me. Mornington is possibly the Burgundy of Australia to many and with good cause - whilst I personally usually slag myself out for Gippsland and Beechworth (Giaconda etc) . Either way - the eastern state of Victoria- where all these regions are - is the place to look for Pinot (also the Great Southern Region of WA) in my view.

The aspect I love about Kooyong is their effortless aging ability and I still remember the first 2004 I had from them made me recalibrate my idea of matured Australian Pinot for ever. This wine is deceptively light in the mid pallette - throwing cherries and strawberries at you and dancing around in a "pretty" but considered way. Like a Picasso sketch - almost childlike and wymsical at first but upon closer inspection, the DNA of greatness is there. Superb length and structure - it is going to grow up to be an impressive wine.

1/18/2011 - RRees wrote:

I am continually proven wrong in vinicultural matters - not least of which is the path of evolution that many wines take over time. The first time I saw this wine was six months back - alongside its older sister - the 2007. The 2007 was a lean "Chablis" style almost but not quite like an unwooded Chardonnay - so light was the handling of oak in the wine. I loved the 2007 for what is was and drunk deeply.

When looking at the 2008 - it was truly the awkward little sister that spoke out at the table and hadn`t quite settled into her adoloscence. As a worried parent I had concerns that it would never match up to the performance of her elder sibling and be the Cinderella of the clan - how wrong was I yet again. This wine has opened up on every level - I hate cliches so much but all I can think of (with apologies to John at Bellvale) -is the silkworm has become the butterfly and for me is now the poster-girl of the winery.

Unlike 2007 it is full, rich and golden (kind of how I imagine many people like their poster-girls to be). I expect many blind tastings in future to expound on how this wine can only be a Puligny because of its impeccable tailoring, generous pallate and the balance that leaves many Australian chardonnays in the oaky dust - everybody is speaking of the need for regional expressionism if Australian wine is to survive and if this is the future of Gippsland Pinot and Chardonnay- its time to get excited about times ahead...kudos to Bellvale.

1/18/2011 - RRees wrote:

This wine has come a long way since I first had this wine at the winery. The basics of butterscotch and lemon have broadened, with a longer and fuller finish. My concerns the last time about acid and longevity still linger but are not as much of a concern as they were six months back. The nose is still a little shy but I reckon will evolve further.

1/14/2011 - RRees wrote:

A lesser known winery - a rockstar winemaker (Peter Douglas from Wynns) - the most expensive Australian Cabernet ever to be released at the time at AUD$120 a bottle - a lot of noise and expectation created around this one. It is paying off in spades. I saw this wine many years ago and thought I could see its path and future as being a rosy one - a good young wine is the DNA always needed to make a great mature wine in my beginners book of wine worship.

If Coonawarra is the Bordeaux of Australia I guess Coonawarra Cabernet is king of that particular castle. This wine is a representation of that.The nose was something I wanted to dive into butt-naked in the moonlight - sexy, lush and almost guarenteeing a taste experience which was gonna be legendary. All the classic stuff of champions in the flavor profile, with added dimensions of savoury and spicy dimensions that elevate this wine from great to legendary. It is in the window and will rock on for another five or so years or so with ease.

1/14/2011 - RRees wrote:

The search for a chardonnay from NZ that takes on the likes of Quartz Reef and Kumeu River for my taste has been a long and winding road - until I found the Desert Heart 2007 Chardonnay. When I got to see an early release of the 2008, I was kinda nervous about it as I am down to a few of the 2007`s and REALLY wanted it to blow my mind - it didnt.

Like a vague memory of a great dream almost forgotten, it had some of the characteristics of its predecessor in 2007, but somehow the concentration and majesty wasn`t there. The balance was fine, fruit fine, length fine etc etc. It was all just fine. I was a dissenter from the table who see a future for the wine over time, but I cannot see the fantastic acid of 2007 in this year and am not gonna run out and fill up the trunk with this one - Its not bad, its just fine. The search continues...

1/13/2011 - RRees wrote:

There are very few wineries out of Barossa for me with the possible exception of the likes of Rockford, the Greenock Creek (earlier years) and a couple of others that have the winemaker`s stamp all over it no matter where you are and what mood you are in when drinking them. For me - Torbreck is king of its domain in most respects. From the humble Woodcutters Red all the way into the heady stratosphere of Run Rig and beyond, the style, soul and very life-force of Dave Powell and his winery shines through in every bottle. My pallete is by no means a trained or qualified one, but I like to think that I can recognise this winery and its style anywhere. I am crazy for it and with every subsequent vintage release, I hold my breathe a little - hoping that the edgy uniqueness continues to prevail.

This is my first bottle of the 2007 Struie - even in the crazy grillionaire playground of the Singapore Celebrity Restaurant scene, the price was reasonable. The nose had all the promise of what makes Barossa Shiraz famous, possibly with an element of rich, spicy yet subtler than usual power. The front, mid and back pallette was a roller coaster of beautifully sculptured fruit and oak. Balance prevailed and promised more to come in the years ahead.

This wine is in a price bracket that makes it almost an impluse drink - certianly not the sort of price that you have to wait for an occassion to drink - Powell strikes again and all kudos to him. A world class wine.

1/13/2011 - RRees wrote:

The whole issue surrounding Pinotage - its appreciation and promotion, is mostly all about that crazy kind of funky wood-smoke filled palatte, with what some of the edgier wine gurus may call "burnt rubber tyre tracks". To steal a metaphor from a far better writer than I - "Pinotage is like opera - either you love it or hate it". I am in the second camp (and definitely not the former). I had dinner with Pinotage virgins last night who are preparing for their Abercrombie and Kent attack on Africa - and who were keen to have a ramble amongst the South African wine list we were considering.

The wine was a limp-wristed re-write of the attributes that made the varietal so famous and contentious for the past 200 and more years. There was no nose of any significance, the palatte was a generic PG rated and a frankly boring construct of fruit and oak. The length was not there at all - disappointment reigned supreme. I am a major fan of Kanonkop and until now have never had one that disappointed in any way... I hope that SA winemakers are not trying to turn the volume down on the style of production of a varietal that is as quinessentially South African as Braaivleis (BBQ), Rugby, Sunny Skies and that compelling and almost dangerous kind of x-factor that prevails over all aspects of what is means to be South African.

1/3/2011 - RRees wrote:

Again - I made a mental gear change before tasting this - owned by Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, and clearly a rising star amongst the veritable galaxy of new super premium South African wines, I wanted to be sure that I was being scrupulously objective about the wine before tasting it. The first thing about it for me was a very sexy and stylish nose. It was poised, ripe and promised in a kind of whisper - a Cabernet that was going to be a cut above most. This proved right - the fruit and oak treatment was world class and the words that kept coming back again and again to me were "effortless balance". A word to the Cabernet fans of Napa and Barossa - you may find this possibly too gentle and cast it aside as not up to scratch, but run with it - it may well be a new benchmark in SA cabernet and is a rock star of a wine. This was no common or garden "New World" cabernet at all. I guess like rummaging around a surf shop on the beaches of Cape Town and finding a Coco Chanel two piece amongst the wet suits and thongs - this wine is amazing and worth seeking out as it price is crazy low for the quality.

The safe metaphor to use when talking about this wine is to draw "Old World" wine references to it stylistically, because it is owned by a glamour French wine maker, but that does it a disservice. This wine is good in it's own right - period.

1/3/2011 - RRees wrote:

This wine has been creating something of a storm amongst communities of South African wine drinkers wherever I go in the world. Many South Africans express a certain annoyance about having missed out on this wine in years gone by - it being a relative newcomer and celebrates its ninth vintage with this the 2009. Chocolate is an evocative word that sells almost as well as the word "Sex". The branding is simple, forthright and straight to the point, and many people I speak to about this wine say they were interested in the bottle from the moment they laid eyes on it - a point many so-called "experts" in wine branding could do well to take note of.
Bottom line is that once you strip off the clever labelling (the winery name "Boekenhoutskloof" does not appear on the front of the bottle and this is good news for non-Afrikaans speaking wine drinkers in the world as pronouncing it is virtually impossible with coaching) - there is a certain kind of magic that happens when pouring this wine. It is thick and dense in colour and nose. Impossible not to consider chocolate in all aspects of the experience of drinking it. The wine is awesome and possibly unique in body and finish for me. I guess a main reason why I really rate this wine and keep coming back to it, is that whilst there are many wines of this genre which are technically superior, it evokes in me - memories of wood smoke filled nights in the beauty and rawness of the African bush. At risk of sounding like a copywriter, it is without doubt a little piece of Africa in every sip - complex, a bit bewildering, unique and definitely not main-stream.

If I was going to be technical about it, the increasing dominance in the front-end sweetness of the wine in recent vintages is a concern but may well be an aspect that settles over time. I prefer the 2008 to the 2009.

1/3/2011 - RRees wrote:

Good solid performance from a well trusted producer. I got a lot of raw meat action on the nose with a jazzy load of fruit promise too. It delivered on front and mid palette and may be accused of coming up a little short if one was gonna be anal about it all, but I was happy with the price point of sub £10 and delighted to note the use of stelvin enclosure as well. The wine overall left me with a feeling of it being lighter than in previous vintages that I have had them, but full marks and a great drink.

1/3/2011 - RRees wrote:

This is a tough grape in the New World to get right as a rule when being produced as a single varietal. Often we are faced with tight chalky tannins that need time to release their potential. Given the relatively high price tag of around £25, I was kicking back and expecting something special - it failed to pay dividends. Given that we were drinking the wine too early, I cannot be too heavy-duty about it, but it worries me to see SA wines here in Europe starting to tick up into the mid-price range when they are not delivering sufficient bang for the buck. I bought a bit of it to see how it rolls out, but it is expensive for what we got. The texture and balanced of the wine was ok but it is all about how that fruit matures in the mid term to see if this wine warrants too much attention.

1/3/2011 - RRees wrote:

Man the Yaapies know Cabernet. The wine was all about balance and poise for me. Nose was fragrant and fed me layer after layer of white pepper, dark fruits and plain sex appeal on the pallatte. Flavour lingered long afterwards. Cellaring is a solid ten years potential and awesome class given its crazy low price point of 9 pounds Sterling. There are many countries that could take a leaf out of the South Africans books when it comes to considered, balanced stylish and balanced wines.

1/3/2011 - RRees wrote:

When tasting Sparky and Sarah's wines, I find myself subconsciously doing a gear change - anticipating all the stuff that made them famous and contentious - big, full, rich, full throttle wine. This wine was none of that for me. In fact it was none of anything. Sure you could recognise that it was South Australian and McLaren Vale but that is where it all ended. The wine was just blah...no particular character - good or bad. Not gonna rush out for more.

12/16/2010 - RRees wrote:

An interesting example of the stylish results of a cooler vintage from this particular Barossa Shiraz. Nose is lavish and multi-dimensional, front and back palette are not as profoundly impressive as the mid palette, with full and rich Barossa expressionsim at it`s best here. Am left with lingering memories of white pepper and jazzy ripe blackberries. Even aside from the massive hype this wine has recently enjoyed in the Wine Spectator Top 100 for 2010 at number 7, it deserves recognition as a good wine which is worth a roll at the crazy-cheap price in Singapore of $37.
I am not sure about the cellaring potential for it - but in my house it is not gonna be there for long...

12/16/2010 - RRees wrote:

Had this six months back and impressed more then - possibly the food and environment made more than its usual difference to the experience (was in the pool overlooking Hermanus the other time, about to have a "braai"). The thing about South African Syrah that I really love is its ease on the pallette and almost too-gentle flavor profile sometimes - after having been virtually raised on Barossa Shiraz in all it`s high octane glory. This wine needs 2 more years in the depths of the cellar before being opened. One of the drawbacks of the renaissance in the popularity of South African wine is that we as consumers will see younger and younger reds being released on the market and this may damage the expectations of lovers of this genre of red.
There are hints of wonderful gaminess and smoky fire scented leather - the fruit a little stalky and green but this will disperse over time and knit together in my view.

12/16/2010 - RRees wrote:

Been lucky enough to drink this wine many times since release and to witness its journey from good to great has been a trip. All the classic stuff that ensures the future of Central Otago winemaking , is settling into its stirrups and showing where it is going as a wine and it is exciting to see. The exuberance (Spelling?) of youthful spice and massive ripe rich fruit is starting to mature with the excellent tannin and acids all pulling together into a wine that will be a classic over time....can`t wait to drink more of this in six months or so...

12/16/2010 - RRees wrote:

Light on the mid-palette - but this is to be expected because of the vintage conditions generally in the region. The thing that makes this wine distinctive for me is the craftmanship of the wine. Full marks for a product from a fairly difficult year. The classic expressions of spice and fruit are slightly muted than previous vintage, but will improve and deepen classically over time.

12/16/2010 - RRees wrote:

No matter what people have to say about the "Parkerisation" of Barossa Shiraz and its ensuing damage to the reputation of Shiraz from that region, this wine is for me with the possible exception of Torbreck Run Rig 2003 is the purest form of the style and is a benchmark for all the high octane, high alcohol, high everything that endeared this style to Parker when this was the approach which he liked. It is however distinctive in somehow producing a finished product which is balanced, resolved and contained in a perfectly (?) made product which Australia should be proud of in every way.

12/15/2010 - RRees wrote:

All the usual sex appeal of a marvelously constructed wine, it needs more time to come together but I am sure it will in due course. Beats the pants off a lot of other New World blends at this price point. May be a little sweet for my front palette.