Domaine A tasting

I must confess that I'm a bit of a sucker for Domaine A, especially there cabernet's which are about as close, for me, as you can get to classic Bordeaux in Australia. I had a chat to the wine maker. He said that they do 30-50 different lots, vinify them all separately, then assemblage. It goes into 100% new French oak for 3 years which really doesn't show in the wine.

• 2011 Domaine A Sauvignon Blanc Stoney Vineyard

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Aromas of grass, green capsicum, slight passion fruit and gooseberry. In the mouth there is some residual sugar that runs nicely against the medium plus acid and also helps bring the fruit to the fore with some peppery notes. Alcohol is a touch warm. Nice, embracing mouth feel but without too much weight. It's okay.

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• 2008 Domaine A Sauvignon Blanc Stoney Vineyard

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Lovely oak, maybe even a touch of malo, but more cream, battonage? All of this over muted passion fruit. In the mouth the fruit is more pronounced with passion fruit, pear and pepper over cream and slight caramelised vanilla. Some phenolic grip throughout the mouth. Warm & spicy on finish, very nice.

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• 2011 Domaine A Pinot Noir Stoney Vineyard

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  biscuit and toast over cherry and slight earth notes. hints of 'that' pinot noir smell. In the mouth initially concentrated sweet cherry finishes savoury and slightly bitter and a touch warm. Oak is mouth coating. Long finish but a bit out of whack. Meh.

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• 2007 Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon Stoney Vineyard

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Aromas of graphite, pencil shavings and mint, cedar, slight herbs over black currant and bramble. Glorious. In the mouth, though, the fruit enters a little jammy with notes of mint. There is a discernible mid-scoop, the wine lacks a little structure and weight on the palate. The finish is also a little short. Great nose though.

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• 2008 Domaine A Petit 'a'

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Slight farmyard (or oxidative handling?) on the nose followed by blackcurrant and cedar. The fruit is quite rich and concentrated, and there are some floral - violet notes. In the mouth the fruit is thick and weighty which is joined by some peppery spice and then chased down by a sizable chunk of fine but chewy tannin that carries, with oak notes, on the finish.

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• 2008 Domaine A Pinot Noir

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  Medium minus intensity aromas of slight herbaceous, plum notes...hmm. In the wine the fruit is ripe, the alcohol hot, and there is plenty of 'stuffing'. Not for me.

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• 2006 Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  On the nose graphite, pencil shavings, mint and cedar over ripe blackcurrant and violet and slight toast notes. In the mouth there is rich blackcurrant, slight cedar, bramble and spice slips under smooth, ripe, tannins on a long, long finish. Incredibly balanced, complex and glorious.

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• 1998 Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon

  Australia, Tasmania, Coal River

  From magnum. On the nose slight leather, sweet tobacco, cedar, clove, nutmeg, graphite, touches of tomato leaf and hints of muted black fruit and violets. In the mouth there is some savoury blackcurrant cordial, a tiny mid scoop, then the fruit comes crashing back with some red fruit/tomato notes, leather and spice. The tannins are, for me, marginally unripe but the wine is held together quite well. Lots going on, most of it good, huge length. Very good.

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I must confess I don't know why they do Pinot Noir...never tasted a good one...but the cabernet sauvignon takes me to a happy place!