Sydney good food and wine show

Olympic Park, Homebush, Sydney
Tasted Sunday, June 29, 2014 by chatters with 586 views

Introduction

Ben from wine-ark persuaded me to wade through the hordes at the Sydney Food and Wine show. Perseverance was required and notes were clumsy and ham fisted.

Flight 1 - Bracket 1 - Yelland and Papes (9 Notes)

The second take wines are are rather interesting. The Eden Valley Riesling was very fresh and enjoyable. Fruit forward and pleasant.

  • 2014 Yelland & Papps Riesling

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Lime and slight passion fruit with spice on the nose. In the mouth the wine has lime and passion fruit with mid palate, silky phenolic grip, juicy with a bit of alcohol warmth on the finish. Nice.

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  • 2012 Yelland & Papps Roussanne Devote

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    unripe stone fruit over lemon - smells like it will taste tart - and bees wax. In the mouth there is a citric tang, wax textured, slight bitterness. Meh.

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  • 2012 Yelland & Papps Delight Vin de Soif

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    red berry and cherry, slight sweet tobacco, spice . In the mouth red berry fruit, spice, talc like tannic grip, medium length, slightly sour

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  • 2012 Yelland & Papps Devote Shiraz/Roussanne

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Muted blackberry, peppery spice, stone fruit and slight meaty almost reductive notes. In the mouth the wine has medium plus body, flavours of blackberry and spice and a touch of mid palate scoop/drop out with a medium plus length finish.

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  • 2011 Yelland & Papps Grenache Devote Old Vine

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    On the nose spice, leather, red berry, meaty and more spice! In the mouth the wine has juicy red berries that are quire savoury. Medium intensity chewy but still fine textured tannin (I'm aware this sounds contradictory but that was the impression given). On the medium plus length some chocolate notes are introduced

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  • 2013 Yelland & Papps Grenache Second Take

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Cream, red berry, quite herby. In the mouth the red berry juice is sour and there are green notes with bitterness and a hint of astringency. Nah

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  • 2010 Yelland & Papps Grenache Divine

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    slight oxidised, red berry fruit, spice, vanilla and chocolate hints. In the mouth there are flavours of muted red berry then a meaty almost cheesy quality with spicy notes. The wine is long on the palate thick textured with slight chalky tannins. Big and, perhaps, lacks a little fruit. Hmmm

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  • 2012 Yelland & Papps Shiraz Devote Greenock

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Muted black fruit spice, toasted vanilla beans and cream In the mouth there is concentrated (think reduced and slightly burnt jam) black fruit, spice, vanilla and medium plus intensity chalk like tannin. Long finish. Hmmm.

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  • 2013 Yelland & Papps Shiraz Second Take

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Green notes, black over red berry and perfumed green peppercorn elements. In the mouth the wine is dominated by flavours of green and black peppercorn and is very spicy all of which dominates the black fruit. Having said that rather like it.

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Flight 2 - Bracket 2 - Rolf Binder (6 Notes)

I liked that Eden Valley Shiraz and the Cuvee Stephanie was very good…The bull's blood is a bit of a favourite of mine: In the interest of disclosure I'm on their mailing list.

  • 2013 Rolf Binder/Veritas Riesling

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Lime juice, crushed flint…in the mouth tart lime juice with slight cordial notes, mid palate phenolic grip. Meh

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  • 2010 Rolf Binder/Veritas Heinrich

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Muted blackberry, slight peppery spice over cream, vanilla and slightly perfumed/floral top notes. In the mouth the wine has a generic black fruit flavour supported by cream, vanilla and spice. It's all reasonably juicy and has talc like tannin joined by spice on the shortish finish. Well made but Meh.

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  • 2010 Rolf Binder/Veritas Shiraz

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Blackberry, cream, vanilla, spice and slight toasted oak notes. In the mouth the wine has flavours of juicy blackberry, medium plus chewy tannins, strong black fruit dominates the long, spiced - but not overtly so - finish. Yeah, rather nice in an old school kind of way.

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  • 2009 Rolf Binder/Veritas Shiraz Stephanie

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Concentrated medium plus intensity aromas of blackberry fruit over slight dusty spiced oak.. In the mouth there are flavours of concentrated black berry fruit, spice then medium plus tannin, slightly oxidised notes then the tannins come back again in a second wave a tsunami of chewy, ripe, joy, lovely long fruit carry surfs this on the long finish and, as it diminishes, introduces a fine compote quality. Very nice indeed.

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  • 2010 Rolf Binder/Veritas Petite Sirah

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Ripe plums, chocolate, vanilla, cream and sweet spice. In the mouth there is more of the same with plenty of alcohol heat and robust tannins. Chewy. Hmm. Something slightly sour and bitter here as well that starts to come to the fore on the finish.

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  • 2009 Rolf Binder/Veritas "Bull's Blood"

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Black and red berry, vanilla, spice, almost perfumed notes, lovely nose, confected black and red fruit, residual sugar, spice then tannin joins in a non-intrusive but still medium plus intensity. Great balance. Yum yum.

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Flight 3 - Bracket 3 - Teusner (6 Notes)

The Dog Strangler is fun and needs time but the Albert was the stand out in this bracket for me.

  • 2013 Teusner Joshua

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    red berry fruit, spice, very slight herbaceous notes, slight bitter red fruit…a bit meh.

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  • 2012 Teusner The Independent

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    red berries, - raspberries and cherries, spice and more of the same on the palate with cream and then encroaching alcohol heat on the finish. Tannic grip is quite talc like. It's a bit out of whack.

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  • 2012 Teusner Mataro The Dog Strangler

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa

    Thick red berry tending to plum. Spice notes, biscuit and toast. In the mouth there is an impression of thick red berry initially and masses of spice come in then medium plus chalky tannic grip leaves a bone dry palate. Hmm. Nice actually. Long. Perhaps a little simple but still quite young.

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  • 2013 Teusner Shiraz 'The Riebke' Northern Barossa

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Biscuit and toast over black fruit, cream, vanilla and liquorice. In the mouth the flavours of liquorice are more to the fore with muted blackberry fruit, black pepper, chocolate, quite thick textured. Medium plus alcohol, medium plus length.

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  • 2012 Teusner Shiraz Albert

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Savoury black berries, spice and pepper, cream and vanilla. In the mouth an instant hit of blackberry jam, spice, juicy acidity then pepper notes, tannins grow on the palate to a big mouth grabbing grip but all very balanced. Very impressive.

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  • 2012 Teusner Durif The Playground

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Muted plum, toast, chocolate, BBQ meat. On the palate chewy, thick, massive tannin, hot, spiced plums, chocolate, huge. Rambunctious. Feisty. Medium plus length. Requires charred steak.

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Flight 4 - Bracket 4 - Gibson wines (9 Notes)

The rock garden was interesting and pleasant, the Isabelle quite good, the Dirtman nice but the pick of the bunch was the Reserve Shiraz which was quite lovely.

  • 2013 Gibson Rock Garden

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Aromatics! Ginger, rose petal, citrus notes, peach, lychee, melon. That cornucopia of fruit is present on the palate as well but drops quite quickly. Hmm.

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  • 2014 Gibson Riesling

    Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

    Already showing slight kerosene characteristics, lime, slight mineral, lime tending to passion fruit on the palate, font of mouth phenolic grip. Fresh but drops away. Nah.

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  • NV Gibson Sparkling Merlot

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Low intensity aromas of cream and spiced red fruit. On the palate a vivacious bubble, off dry, alcohol heat and a little fruit but lacks oomph and/or acidity.

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  • 2010 Gibson Isabelle

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Blackcurrant, red plum , leather, cream, spice and meat on the nose. In the mouth the wine has juicy black and red fruit, cream, medium plus chewy tannin and, though there is oak/cedar notes here, they are not overdone. Good.

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  • 2010 Gibson Merlot Reserve

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    red plum chocolate, spice, slight vanilla. In the mouth red plums, spice, chocolate, velvety texture, medium length, perhaps a touch flabby.

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  • 2012 Gibson Shiraz The Dirtman

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa

    An initial impression of blackberry and cream then spice and vanilla notes. More of the same on the palate and a coffee elements joins the spice . The chalky tannin is pleasantly chewy. Nice.

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  • 2010 Gibson Shiraz Reserve

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa

    Meaty, savoury, blackberry, toast and cedar, chocolate. In the mouth the wine has medium plus acidity that lends a juicy, coffee, spice over black very fruit, chewy tannins, rich textured mouth feel. Great balance, fresh and fun to drink . Beautiful

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  • 2008 Gibson Shiraz Old Vine Collection

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Slight cork taint or premature oxidation then vanilla, cedar, red currant fruit and chocolate. Move of the same on the palate over sweet and concentrated red fruit with touches of residual sugar massively chewy, chunky tannin. Quite hot. Meh.

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  • 2010 Gibson Shiraz Old Vine Collection

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Medium minus intensity aromas of sweet back fruit, touches of black olives, chocolate, cream vanilla, slight floral and perfumed top notes here as well. In the mouth black cherry and berry, chocolate, cream…touch of alcohol warmth and residual sugar...we're straying into Black forest Gateaux territory here...

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Flight 5 - Bracket 4 - Blue Rock (5 Notes)

The reserve Shiraz was nice but the rest of the bracket didn't really work for me.

  • 2011 Blue Rock Wines Merlot

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Red berry tends to plum, chocolate, slight leather and spice. In the mouth spiced red berry and plum, fairly chunky tannin competes with the fruit and the overall impression is quite juicy but, though all the right elements are there these feel disparate and disassociated.

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  • 2011 Blue Rock Wines Shiraz

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    red berry black pepper and green peppercorn, perfumed and very slight cream notes. In the mouth there are flavours of red berry and spice, medium plus chewy talc like tannic grip, chunky in fact. Medium plus length and a touch of non-intrusive alcohol warmth on the finish. Hmm.

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  • 2011 Blue Rock Wines Shiraz Black Velvet Shiraz

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Blackberry, toast, black peppercorns, spice…in the mouth concentrated blackberry and spiced chewy, chunky, grippy, chalky and ripe tannin. Long with plenty of alcohol heat & spice here as well. Big, needs time. Nice

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  • 2011 Blue Rock Wines Cabernet Sauvignon

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Mint, eucalyptus, unripe blackcurrant tending to bramble, cedar and spice, with slight chocolate. In the mouth the flavours are dominated by a rather off putting sweet chocolate note which rides the black fruit hard. Very disappointing after the nose.

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  • 2011 Blue Rock Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Pantelis Reserve

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Concentrated black fruit with mint undertones, spices and a touch of maraschino cherry. Again on the palate things go awry - spicy, chewy tannin with slight chocolate flavours. No fruit here for me. Nah.

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Flight 6 - Bracket 5 - Landhaus (10 Notes)

Other than the oxidative note (which was odd considering it's under screwcap) the Rare Shiraz was nice.

  • 2012 Landhaus Estate The Sinner

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Muted generic red fruit, touches of spice and cedar. In the mouth the fruit takes on a candied note and there are slightly burnt/stalky notes here as well. Nah

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  • 2012 Landhaus Estate Shiraz The Saint

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Perfumed red fruit, meaty notes as well with some spice. In the mouth spice, medium tannin, lacks fruit. Meh

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  • 2012 Landhaus Estate Pinot Noir

    Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

    medium minus aromas of ripe and slightly confected red cherry and berry. Spice and hints of bonfire. In the mouth there are flavours of slightly stalky and, contradictorily, ripe red fruit, fine tannin, spice and a bit of alcohol heat intrudes on the finish. Meh

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  • 2012 Landhaus Estate Grenache

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Slight reductive notes, red berry, smoky, spicy. In the mouth the wine has juicy red berry fruit, slight smoky notes and a touch of residual sugar.

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  • 2012 Landhaus Estate GSM Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    meaty, stinky, red berry fruit, spice and slight herbaceous notes and touches of pepper and smoky elements. In the mouth the wine has meaty flavours with toast and red berries, textured chewy tannin closes down the palate. A little short and the fruit comes on as a little sweet on the finish.

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  • 2012 Landhaus Estate Shiraz Mourvèdre

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    blackberry, blueberry, perfumed almost rose notes over chocolate and cream. In the mouth there is residual sugar, generic fruit, spice notes, chewy chunky tannin. Fruit drops off quite quickly. Meh.

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  • 2010 Landhaus Estate Shiraz - Cabernet

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    black pepper, slight rubber, black cherry, chocolate notes, cream and spice. Residual sugar, chewy tannin - especially front of mouth - plain chocolate, quite juicy, grippy. Hmm

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  • 2012 Landhaus Estate Shiraz Classics

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Bramble and blackberry, there is cedar notes here as well but the fruit is to the fore. On the palate the wine is fruit forward, spiced, hot alcohol then massive chewy grippy tannin with fruiting carry on underneath. Touch of residual sugar. Old school Aussie. Hmm.

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  • 2008 Landhaus Estate Shiraz Rare

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Slightly oxidised/rubber quality (but this is under screw cap) blackberry, cream and chocolates, touches of black pepper, slight leather. Blackberry, cream, chocolate, vanilla, juicy medium plus acid, medium plus tannin - ripe, talc textured though persistent, fruit carries through. Long very good but the oxidised note is a concern.

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  • 2010 Landhaus Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    Mint, toast, sour blackcurrant tending to cherry, cedar. In the mouth there is residual sugar, slight herbaceous notes, alcohol heat, red over black fruit, slightly tart then massive overdone woody but ripe tannin. Time required but I'm not sure it will get through to the other side.

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Flight 7 - Bracket 6 - Chapel Hill (6 Notes)

The vicar is lovely but young and the mclaren vale shiraz is quite pleasant. That chosen gorge is quite nice as well but needs time - perhaps a little simple for the cost

  • 2012 Chapel Hill Sangiovese il Vescovo

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    muted red cherry and toast. In the mouth residual sugar, red cherry, muted simple, coffee notes an touches of chocolate. Some chewy tannins. Meh

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  • 2011 Chapel Hill Grenache Bush Vine

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    Muted red berry and slight re currant, cream and slight spice. In the mouth there are flavours of chocolate over red berry fruit, very spicy, chewy front of mouth tannic grip is very firm. Hmm

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  • 2013 Chapel Hill Shiraz The Parson's Nose

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    Herbaceous, blackcurrant fruit, slight toast and tiny cedar touches. In the mouth the wine has herbaceous flavours, ripe slightly jammy black fruit, then feisty chewy tannin dominates…on the other side there is no fruit. Entry level I'd suggest.

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  • 2012 Chapel Hill Shiraz

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    dusty blackberry, meaty and peppery, biscuit and toast. In the mouth it is more about chocolate flavours, thick bodied, chewy tannin, quite juicy and savoury. Medium plus length carries subdued savoury fruit.

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  • 2012 Chapel Hill Shiraz The Vicar

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    Savoury meaty, rocky, graphite, bonfire, muted black fruit, toast. In the mouth chocolate then juicy, concentrated but not overpowering black fruit is joined by medium plus ripe, fine tannin that persists long long long on the finish. Very pleasant

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  • 2012 Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon The Chosen Gorge Block

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    green notes, almost menthol then perfumed black currant fruit. Very pure. On the palate it tastes like slightly green cab sav. Not a problem for me but it needs some time.

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Flight 8 - Bracket 7 - Chambers (7 Notes)

The Old Vine Muscat was my personal favourite…very good, very cheap for what it is.

Flight 9 - Bracket 8 - Bleasdale (7 Notes)

Just tried these wines on my way out - Bleasdale is one of those moderately large producers who's wines I always see but have never tried. As time was pressing I only went through their reds. The entry level wines were, well, entry level - clean, well made but a touch dull. The Frank Potts was interesting.

Tried the Jim Barry on the way out the door. Not as good as I'd hoped it would be.

  • 2012 Bleasdale McLaren Vale / Langhorne Creek Tempranillo/Malbec

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu

    red cherry and berries slightly meaty. In the mouth cherry and berry, slight leather. Meh.

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  • 2012 Bleasdale Malbec

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

    Muted plum and chocolate, slight spice. In the mouth flavours of plums and spice over chocolate. Talc like tannin. Bit alcohol warmth on the finish. Meh

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  • 2012 Bleasdale Cabernet Sauvignon Mulberry Tree

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

    ripe blackcurrant, chocolate, vanilla with perfumed, cedary top notes. In the mouth the wine is slightly bitter with black fruit, juicy, chalky front of mouth tannin. Quite polished and commercial which isn't a bad thing. Probably at the right price point. not for me though.

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  • 2012 Bleasdale Frank Potts

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

    ripe blackcurrant, slight eucalyptus/menthol notes, plums and violets. In the mouth more of the same with tough, chalky tannin. Borderline cool climate from a good vintage (if that makes sense). Good but lacks complexity at this time. Come back in a couple of years?

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  • 2010 Bleasdale Shiraz Generations

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

    Ripe blackberry fruit and spice, cream and vanilla, touches of chocolate. In the mouth chocolate and black berry, drying tannins. Meh.

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  • 2012 Bleasdale Shiraz Powder Monkey

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

    Blackberry and black peppercorns, cream. In the mouth there are flavours of toast, sour blackberries. For me this is a failed attempt at a more elegant style wine. Failed because the balance isn't there and they're asking AUD 65 for it.

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  • 2010 Jim Barry Shiraz The McRae Wood

    Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

    Chocolate, red over blackberry fruit, cream, toast. In the mouth cream, red over blackberry fruit, slight sourness and medium chalky tannin. Hmm. Bit meh. Disappointing.

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Closing

It was interesting to try full and partial brackets from winery's that I'm not that familiar with, so big thanks to Ben for that.

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