Sommeliers Australia – Shiraz Benchmarking
Est. Restaurant, George Street, Sydney
Tasted Tuesday, June 26, 2012 by chatters with 648 views
Introduction
Shiraz Benchmark tasting with Australia vs Northern Rhone (with a token saffa and kiwi). The tasting was in two brackets - the first focusing on the Australians and the latter the rest and, to add fun, it was completely blind.
Flight 1 - Australians (10 Notes)
The Jim Barry was the wine of the bracket for me - it's a bit old school but it is right up one of my many palate streets (whatever that means)...mind you, I'm a sucker for Clare Valley and for Jim Barry in particular when it comes to Shiraz.
Flight 2 - Rhone and other internationals (8 Notes)
For this bracket it was the Rene Rostaing la landonne that most appealed.
Closing
Lovely tasting with some very, very nice wines...The big surprise of the day was the VDP which was popular on the obligatory show of hands at the end of the tasting. As for the Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier, well, sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it. Not sure why. The Jim Barry was my overall winner...
2009 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz Langi
Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Grampians
Colour: medium intensity, purple, clear, legs
Nose: Clean, medium intensity, developing, concentrated blackberry, tiny black pepper, slight apricot (?), sweet spice, clove, cream, liquorice
Mouth: Medium acid, medium body, flavour intensity, alcohol, tannin…Dry. Black peppercorn, spice, silky and supply tannin, slight alcohol warmth on the finish. Meh.
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2009 Frankland Estate Shiraz Isolation Ridge Vineyard
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River
Colour: Medium plus intensity purple, clear, legs
Nose: Clean, medium intensity, developing, black peppercorn, farmyard, cedar, sweet spice, nutmeg, clove, blackberry (slight jammy)
Mouth: Medium Acid, flavour intensity, tannin but powdery front of mouth grip. Medium alcohol, savoury blackberry, farmyard, black pepper, spice…medium plus length…meh
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2010 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier
Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District
Colour: Medium intensity purple, clear, legs
Nose: Clean, medium intensity, developing, green peppercorn, ripe blackberry, sweet spice
Mouth: medium plus acid, juicy black and green peppercorns and black fruit. Medium body, medium flavour intensity, Medium minus front of mouth chalky tannin and a long finish. Very nice.
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2009 Greenstone Vineyard Shiraz
Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote
Colour: Deep purple, clear and legs
Nose: Clean, medium intensity and developing. Vanilla, caramel, blackberry, slight spice
Mouth: Medium plus acid, and tannin – dry, front of the mouth, grippy, slightly course. The tannin dominates…oak…medium plus alcohol that is a bit hot, blackberry, slightly jammy…Nice
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2010 Shaw and Smith Shiraz
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Colour: Deep purple, clear, legs
Nose: Clean, developing, medium minus intensity. Subdued blackberry and blueberry, slight cream, spice, slight herbaceous
Mouth: medium plus acid, medium plus flavour intensity, cream, blackberry, big mid palate scoop, bit belchy, generous alcohol finish…meh
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2009 Brokenwood Shiraz
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Colour: Medium minus intensity purple, clear, legs
Nose: Clean, medium intensity, developing. Slight lifted red and blackberry (and plum), slight vanilla caramel, oak, sweet spice – cinnamon, chocolate/mocha
Mouth: Juicy red and black berry, cream chocolate, oak, balanced, very nice.
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2010 Head Wines Shiraz The Brunette
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Colour: Deep purple, clear, legs.
Nose: Clean, medium minus intensity, developing. Sulphur, burnt rubber, slight porty, meaty, cream, slight mineral, black peppercorn over black berry.
Mouth: Medium plus acid and medium plus tannin – chewy and grippy – black peppercorn, blackberry and leather
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2008 S.C. Pannell Syrah
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Colour: Medium plus purple, clear, legs
Nose: Clean, medium minus intensity, developing. Green peppercorn, slight funky farmyard, slight perfumed, slight sweet spice.
Mouth: Medium plus acid and medium plus tannin – chewy and tight, dry, black peppercorn, quite closed, green, stalky, tight, slightly off on the finish…nah
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2006 Henschke Shiraz Hill of Grace
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Colour: medium plus purple, legs
Nose: Clean, medium intensity, developing. Cream vanilla, slight stalk, black and green peppercorn, toast, slightly perfumed notes
Mouth: Medium plus alcohol that is a little hot on the finish. Medium plus tannin that is silky, smooth, grippy, flavours chocolate, blackberry, slight leather. Very nice.
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2007 Jim Barry Shiraz The Armagh
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Colour: Deep purple, clear, legs
Nose: Clean, medium intensity, developing. Farmyard, sulphur, meaty and savoury, yeast extract, very slight blackberry, venison and juniper stew
Mouth: Medium plus acid, body, flavour intensity and tannin that is silky but chalky. Chocolate, sweet spice, cream vanilla, blackberry, savoury, meaty…the gift that keeps giving…absolutely glorious.
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