Six nations tasting

a different venue for a new year and with a new country (Canada) replacing the long stay Argentina. I took the same approach as last year with similar success then concentrated on the US and Canada (as these are the least likely to be seen anywhere soon in Australia)

• 2014 Arbe Garbe

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  wonderfully floral and perfumed with white blossom, white peach, lychee…lovely and engaging. Very pretty.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Au Bon Climat Hildegard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  rich creamy and dense with muted citrus and stone fruit. Buttery. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2011 Forlorn Hope Sémillon Nacre

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Slightly cheesy and funky over apples…juicy with fresh apple notes, okay

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Cowhorn Viognier

  USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Applegate Valley

  Apricot, peach, pretty floral top notes…off dry but still quite fresh - good balance - nice

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Howard Park Chardonnay Allingham

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Medium plus intensity aromas of peach, cream, butter and toast…Juicy with citrus notes joining the peach fruit. Long. Bit of a show wine but very good regardless

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Greystone / Grey's Peak Chardonnay Erins Reserve

  New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara

  Medium minus intensity aromas of butter over lemon with slightly dusty notes…buttery over some slightly sharp acidity but a bit lacking in fruit for me.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Sandhi Wines Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  buttery and rich tending to tropical fruit. ..tangy buttery, balanced, long, generous. Nice

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Thomas Fogarty Chardonnay Albutom Santa Cruz Mountains

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Little closed. Upon agitation peach and apricot…lacks freshness though and finishes oak bitter. Meh

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Mission Hill Chardonnay Terroir Collection Lone Pine

  Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA

  confected peachy fruit, butter, slight spice….surprisingly spicy and juicy on the palate but the fruit isn't really there…hmmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Ravine Vineyard Chardonnay Reserve

  Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, St. David's Bench VQA

  toasty, nutty with wild ferment, savoury leesy, tangy and more of the same on the palate. It's got plenty of acidity but a distinct lack of fruit. Nice structure though

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Hamilton Russell Vineyards Chardonnay

  South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

  muted peach, slight wild ferment, spice…slight confected but otherwise more of the same on the palate. Enjoyable

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Liquid Farm Chardonnay White Hill

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  wild ferment, spice over stone fruit…juicy, fleshy, lacks fruit on the palate but the savoury elements travel long. Hmm

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Chanin Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  candied peach, butterscotch, bit flabby…nah

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Wenzlau Vineyard Chardonnay Estate

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  spicy and peach with a fair amount of oak as well. Tart and peachy and a little on bitter on the finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Eldridge Estate Pinot Noir MV6 Clone

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Muted raspberry and cherry. pretty fruit forward nose…Juicy fruitiness is balanced by with slightly drying tannins. Nice

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Oakridge Pinot Noir 864 Block B Lusatia Park Vineyard

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  cream and spice, red over black cherry. Juicy and fleshy, a little bitter on the finish, alcohol warmth and slightly drying tannins. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Akarua Pinot Noir The Siren

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Bannockburn

  Perfumed and fragrant, cream and muted fruit. Juicy , again fruit muted and plentiful front of mouth tannic grip. Okay

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir Prima Donna

  New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara

  spicy and dense, quite black fruit and a bit shitty as well…on the palate it's tight, bitter and unpleasant.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  beautifully perfumed and elegant with polished oak and fruit. Polished on the palate as well, difficult to spit, very good indeed.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Bergström Pinot Noir Temperance Hill

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  meaty and dense, concentrated and in the black fruit spectrum. Feels quite warm, exceedingly dense and chewy, bit of a beast though there is dark fruit here as well. Not my cup of tea. Lots of time may help…or not

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Longoria Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  beginnings of some cork taint here over dense red berry fruit and spice…hmm...not marking it as flaw as it may be a dodgy nose incident (see my earlier comments)

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Ojai Pinot Noir Fe Ciega Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  spicy with muted cherry fruit, cedar. Bit average on the palate…not much going on other than tannins…

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Brick House Pinot Noir Evelyn's

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  slight clove and nutmeg, spicy and stalky…savoury, dusty, closed…nah

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 CedarCreek Estate Winery Pinot Noir Platinum Block 4

  Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA

  slight red cherry and coffee…savoury with slight butter, fine mouth coating tannins. Meh

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Domaine Queylus Pinot Noir La Grande Réserve

  Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA

  muted cream, sweet spice and cranberry…tastes like oak spiced alcoholic cranberry juice (with the associated fine tannins)..long finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Clos des Fous Pinot Noir Arenaria Pucalán

  Chile, Aconcagua Valley

  slight cream, red cherry, polished oak…more of the same on the palate…simple but okay, perhaps time will lend it complexity?

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Bouchard Finlayson Pinot Noir Galpin Peak

  South Africa, Cape South Coast, Walker Bay, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley

  Oaky and creamy over slightly burnt red fruit…better on the palate but not much better alas…Meh

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Ankida Ridge Pinot Noir

  USA, Virginia

  Perfumed red berries (especially strawberries) backed by sweet spice…acidic and a bit hard after initial sweet fruit drops quickly.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 WillaKenzie Estate Pinot Noir Emery

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  That Oregon pinot nose, juicy, fleshy, balanced, elegant, lovely superb in fact

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Chehalem Pinot Noir Ridgecrest Vineyards

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

  funky and stalky, bit farty, tart on the palate. Awful

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2011 Montebruno Pinot Noir Crawford-Beck Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  ripe, dense, stalks, cream, vanilla spice. Funky….juicy, fine drying tannins, fruit carries rather well. Okay

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 A Tribute to Grace Wine Company Grenache Besson Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Clara County

  muted red berry fruit, a little savoury, more savoury on the palate

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 A Tribute to Grace Wine Company Grenache Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  perfumed red berry fruit, generous, warm, robust and rambunctious

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Paix Sur Terre Mourvèdre The Other One Glenrose Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  sappy and fruity , very slightly corky, perfumed….juicy, fleshy rather lovely, medium plus length

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Chateau Tanunda Shiraz 100 Year Old Vine

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  concentrated blackberry and red cherry, dense, thick, spice underpinned by vanilla…over-concentrated black fruit, thick, a bit old school but not in a good way, clumsy in fact. Nah

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  red and black cherry and berry, a little dusty and muted backed by sweet spice….more of the same on the palate with grippy (and drying) front of mouth tannins and alcohol heat heft on the finish. Kind of nice in an odd way…not my thing normally

  Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Mount Pleasant Wines Shiraz Mountain 'D'

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

  Plummy and reductive (just opened) balanced by a whack of peppery spice…shines on the palate - juicy, fleshy and balanced plummy fruit and spice working against fine textured tannins, long, really rather good

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Wakefield Shiraz The Pioneer Clare Valley

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

  black cherry, cream, vanilla, almost chocolate and, oddly, a very slight herbaceous note…juicy but a bit over concentrated fruit with drying tannins. Hmm, probably for the long term judging by previous wines from this producer.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri

  Australia, South Australia

  blackberry and black pepper with spicy oak. Quite dense on the palate. There is, though, an inherent balance between the acidity, drying but fine textured tannins and dark, spiced fruit, but it's all very young at the moment. Having said that I like this and, based on vague recollections of previous vintages, I think it shows good typicity for what they have previously aimed for.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2010 Jim Barry Shiraz The Armagh

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

  Pronounced intensity fuck off Aussie shiraz nose with vanilla, cream black cherries, sweet spice assaulting ones olfactory nerves. In the mouth, though, it's exceedingly polished and smooth on the palate, a harmonious balance of acidity fruit and tannin whilst retaining it's massiveness. Preposterously long and really quite glorious.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Craggy Range Syrah Le Sol Gimblett Gravels Vineyard

  New Zealand, North Island, Hawke's Bay, Gimblett Gravels

  just opened and suffers from it - muted cream, vanilla, jubey blackberry and a touch reductive. Very quiet on the palate. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Clary Ranch

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  meaty and reductive then fine peppery spice underpinned by brambly fruit. Nice nose. A little tart on the palate though, sharp and a little searing. Meh

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Betz Family Syrah La Serenne

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

  gamey, meaty and savoury over quite perfumed & lightweight black berry fruit…in the mouth it's peppery and rich. Woof: Plenty of chalky drying tannins as well - the nose belies the palate (or the other way around)…crikey!

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Black Hills Estate Syrah

  Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA

  Perfumed and peppery with red over black fruit…juicy, long, savoury fruit, spice, balanced…Rather nice

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Painted Rock Syrah

  Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA

  funky, meaty, savoury and peppery, perfumed top notes…juicy, chewy peppery and rather lovely

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Burrowing Owl Syrah

  Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA

  black and green pepper, clay, crushed rock…fresh and juicy on the palate. Balanced, very northern Rhone. Exceedingly good.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Creekside Estate Winery Syrah Broken Press Reserve Queenston Road Vineyard

  Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, St. David's Bench VQA

  slightly candied black fruit over peppery spice…refreshingly acidic black fruit and pepper, slightly drying fine textured tannins. Good

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Painted Rock Syrah

  Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA

  Savoury but perfumed with peppery elements, meaty…savoury, peppery and meaty on the palate with talc textured tannins. Okay

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Polkura Syrah Block g+i

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley, Marchigüe

  funky and meaty over peppery notes and some black fruit but this is all very harsh and sharp on the palate. Nah

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Ventisquero Syrah Pangea Apalta Vineyards

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley

  porty and unpleasant with baked fruit. Nasty

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Boekenhoutskloof Syrah

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Franschhoek Valley

  green and black peppercorns over black fruit…dense and savoury black fruit and pepper and gripping tannins but all balanced and good

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Richard Kershaw Wines Syrah Clonal Selection Elgin

  South Africa, Cape South Coast, Elgin

  muddy and slightly dirty, meaty and savoury…more of the same on the palate with quite muted dark fruit. Nah

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Drew Family Cellars Syrah Valenti Ranch

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino Ridge

  Peppery and perfumed. A little short on the palate though

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Piedrasassi Syrah

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  green peppercorns, almost medicinal, cherry fruit…Not very nice on the palate, lacks generosity

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Copain Syrah Halcon Vineyard

  USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands

  Red fruit, cream, slight pepper and an oddly confected note as well. The palate is less enjoyable.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Parker Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Block

  Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

  Violets, cream vanilla, blackcurrant cordial, rich…juicy and fleshy but bold and bullish with chalky tannins. Quite polished. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Yeringberg

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  perfumed with more red than black currant, spice, plums and cream…fleshy and generous, very pleasant and approachable but with obvious longevity. Yum.

  Read 4 Comments / Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2011 Ventisquero Cabernet Sauvignon Enclave

  Chile, Maipo Valley, Pirque

  slightly sweaty blackcurrant, perfumed cedary notes and Ribena. A little confected by juicy and fleshy with drying front of mouth tannic grip and spice on the finish. It's a bit out of whack but otherwise okay.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Mvemve Raats MR de Compostella

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  herbaceous with pencil shavings over blackcurrant and spice. Juicy and generous, very good indeed

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Antica (Antinori) Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak

  confected black fruit, spice vanilla, almost cherry…generous tannins dominate the fruit at the moment.

  Read 5 Comments / Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Neyers Cabernet Sauvignon Neyers Ranch - Conn Valley

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  slightly confected black fruits under plentiful spice. Concentrated to the point of savouriness, ridiculous tannins that would make a Barolo lover quake. Too much.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  polished black currant, sweet spice, cedar…on the palate that blackcurrant is there but it's dense and the tannins are gloriously thick but the whole is balanced and there is sufficient acidity to hold this together. Very nice.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Matthiasson Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District

  slight struck match, black very red currant fruit, spice and very slight vanilla…fruit battles gamely with overbearing tannins, bit of alcohol warmth on the finish. Okay.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  slightly confected Ribena and sweet spice with oak notes…exceedingly dense and chewy tannins close things down on the palate. It's a bit too much.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Ridge Monte Bello

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  red and black currant, light herbaceousness with cream and vanilla…it has a slightly sour tartness with huge drying tannins. Lacks ripeness for me and, also, balance.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Cadence Bel Canto Cara Mia Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain

  perfumed red berry, black plums, quite florally herbaceous…very nice nose…more of the same on the palate. Rather pleasant.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Ravine Vineyard Cabernet Franc Lonna's Block

  Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, St. David's Bench VQA

  Graphite, pencil shavings dominate the nose…exceedingly juicy and fresh with red currant fruit then plentiful drying tannins close things down a bit. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Burrowing Owl Cabernet Franc

  Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA

  pencil shavings and spice, cedar, red berry fruit and cream but the palate is far from as enjoyable or stimulating as the nose unfortunately

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 CedarCreek Estate Winery Meritage Platinum Desert Ridge

  Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA

  Herbaceous, blackcurrant, sweet spice…juicy, more red fruit than black on the palate, bolshy tannins. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Mission Hill Compendium

  Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA

  full on; concentrated and massive, black fruit, oak…juicy & thick but with savoury drying tannins. Hmm

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Thirty Bench Benchmark Blend Flawed

  Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA

  Corked - FLAW

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Stark-Condé Cabernet Sauvignon Three Pines

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Jonkershoek Valley

  pencil shavings, cedar, leather…a bit sweet and sour on the palate with massive chalky drinking tannins. Nah

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Broc Cellars Cabernet Franc Whole Cluster Santa Barbara County

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  pencil shavings, red currant spice…juicy but a little bit sour on the palate with floury tannins. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Estate Ferguson Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  worked black fruit, spice and oak…it's a little candied on the palate. Nah.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2014 Neyers Zinfandel Vista Luna

  USA, California, Central Valley, Borden Ranch

  more lean style zinfandel for me, berry, bit too savoury for me but with an odd candied fruit core on the finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Fields Family Wines Old Vine Zinfandel Sherman Family Vineyards

  USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi

  Red and black plum over cherry, spice…juicy and spicy with plummy fruit. Simple, fruity, pleasant

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

well, I had a plan of attack and I stuck to it. Unfortunately three things hampered me: I had arrived back from the UK the previous evening and 24 hours in a tin box does wonders for the nose and exhaustion levels, it was a warm day; the glass fronted venue faced the setting sun and I was wearing a three piece suit & it turned into the usual drunken scrum. Having said that I would not miss this tasting for the world - it is such a learning experience.